Riverlands 302 AC.

Jaime Lannister.

The rest had been needed, Jaime not even thinking about how Jae had done what he'd done and just thankful for it. As he was to see him rest even if it was just for an hour or so after he'd done it. He'd eaten, drank and while he'd not closed his eyes, he had taken the chance to rest himself too. As he had taken the opportunity to speak to his brother and uncle. Tyrion was well, tired and hungry as were so many of them, but he was well. Kevan on the other hand was anything but. It took him some time to realize what it was that was truly bothering his uncle and he felt a fool when he did so. Unlike the rest of them, Kevan and the men he brought with them hadn't truly seen the dead and certainly hadn't faced them.

Jaime did his best to comfort him, to offer him up whatever words he could, and to give him advice on how to face them when next they came. While he didn't relieve all his uncle's concerns, he felt he was in a far better place when he left him than he had been prior to him speaking with him. He talked to the men, offered them his thanks, and told them all how very proud he was to fight by their sides. His words were perhaps not as meaningful to some as Jae's were but they still resonated. Then he took up his position when Jae said it was time and with Blackfyre in hand, he waited.

He'd thought he'd seen it all today, the wildfire lighting up the sky with a vivid green light and Jae creating a wall of light by simply willing it into existence. As he and the others looked on they saw the scorpions fire the first of the firebolts and as they then cut through the dead as if they were nothing. The second volley was even more impressive and he heard some cheers ring out from the men and he then looked on relievedly as those who had fired them soon came riding towards them. Their lines opening to allow them to ride through and to then form up alongside them.

Then he like everyone else there watched as Melisandre, Moqorro, and the Fiery Hand showed off the power that faith in their god had given them. The wind wheels, catapults, and trebuchets all catching fire so quickly and suddenly that it could only be a magical thing that caused it. He and others heard the chanting and watched as a barrier of fire was made and then looked on in amazement as when the dead moved between the gaps between each obstacle they now faced, the flames reaching out and taking them as they did so. Jaime didn't see Melisandre and the others fall, but he had no doubt they had, as soon enough it was a full-on attack they were faced with.

"For the King and to Bring the Dawn." he shouted as he moved forward and held Blackfyre high.

"For the King and to Bring the Dawn." Arthur shouted.

"For the King and to Bring the Dawn." Oberyn did likewise and Jaime heard the shouts rise as they spread down through the lines.

He stepped back in line, roared out for those around him to ready their shields and spears and form a shield wall, and then heard the sound of the dead as they crashed against the shields. As the gaps opened up he thrust his sword into them. The dead he hit falling as soon as the Valyrian Steel pierced their flesh. Arthur was some distance away, not too far and still in his view as was Oberyn, but now that the fight was truly upon them and so he barely paid them any mind. Over and over he thrust Blackfyre and occasionally when a wight managed to break through the shield wall it was a slash of the sword that ended its journey.

When it happened, he knew not. Why it happened he understood very quickly as he felt the air chill even more and saw the line began to break. It had been inevitable, try as they might they'd not be able to hold the line forever and though he wished it had held for longer, they'd planned for this too. He moved back and readied his sword and then in his loudest voice he began to shout.

"Close Quarters. Close Quarters." he shouted out and heard others call out once he had.

In time if they were able to they'd reform the lines, for now, the fight was one that any man who had fought in a battle had faced more than once. It was one on one, side by side, enemies in their ranks, and all men were now to fight with all they had. That it was against dead things and not living men made no difference as the only thing you left a fight with was your life. Nothing else truly mattered other than that and he knew that these men knew that too.

The dead came at him, Jaime moving from their poor attempts to take him down with ease. Blackfyre was not being swung with elegance because it didn't need to be. Slashes replacing thrusts as he side-stepped away from wights and it was only the sheer number of them that provided any real danger to him. Down the line, he could see good men fall and good men fight on and he found he couldn't judge how many of which side there was and what way the battle was turning. In the sky, in the distance, he could see flames being let loose and all three dragons being brought to bear. When the dead around him began to feel lesser, Jaime almost believed that they'd taken the advantage, almost.

It moved gracefully and cut down his men as easily as he had cut down the dead. The White Walker was almost nonchalant as it killed any who faced it. For a man who had seen, fought, and was one of the very best swordsmen that ever lived, it was an impressive sight. Jaime though was not just a swordsman, he was a leader, Hand of the King and so he began to call out and told his men to move away from it and to leave it to him. Happy when they did as they were bid, though not at the look on the White Walker's face as he swore he saw it smirk at him. With a quick glance behind him, he saw more of them move. One towards Arthur, another towards Oberyn, and he knew it then and it angered him greatly.

"You think you'll break my king's spirit?" he shouted furiously as he moved to the White Walker "You don't know my king and it'll be your own who breaks here today." he said as Blackfyre clashed against a sword of ice.

For all the lack of skill he'd shown so far today, he now fought with everything he had in him. Every lesson, every spar, from when he was a boy to now had led him to this point, and as the two swords clashed it was perhaps one of the evenest matchups he'd ever faced. Jae had gotten closer to him and perhaps even surpassed him by now, Arthur was still the very best he'd ever known, the very best there had ever been he'd wager. The White Walker was on a par with the Bold, with himself and perhaps with Arthur too.

Each move he made was countered, feints were not fallen for and he found himself on the defensive more often than not. There were openings there though and if he could just manage to be ready for one when it came, then he'd win this fight. He heard the cheers as a White Walker fell and were he to guess he'd say it was Dawn that had ended its fight. As he swung Blackfyre and moved away from a strike aimed at his head, he smiled and then jumped into the air. The spin was a thing of beauty, Jaime turning n a complete circle as he flashed Blackfyre wide before thrusting forward only for the blade to be parried. His Dragonglass dagger however was not and he felt it as it struck home and had to shield his eyes from the explosion of ice that now covered him.

Around him, dead men fell, hundreds of them, maybe even thousands of them and he understood that while some near Arthur may have seen him take down the White Walker, more would have seen the dead as they fell and had cheered for that. He heard the cheers ring out again as those nearest him had seen what he had done and those a little further away found some breathing room with no dead around them. It was not to last long and as he looked to see Arthur face off against another White Walker he could see no sign of Oberyn and tried not to think the worst. Truth be told he had no time to think that way as the dead soon came charging towards them. The only thing that was moving faster than them was Rhaenix and she let loose her flames on dead men to even louder cheers.

"The King." he shouted as Jae flew over his head, their eyes meeting and he gave him what he hoped was a reassuring nod to let him know he was unhurt "For the King and to Bring the Dawn." he called out loudly as Jae and Rhaenix flew out of his view.

"For the King and to Bring the Dawn." those nearest to him said and then he and they were facing off against dead men once more.

Riverlands 302 AC.

Dany.

She rested, ate, checked that Grey Worm and her men were safe and well or as safe and well that anyone could be on the edge of a battle. Tyrion spoke to her as did Jae and tried to offer her comfort for Bonifer's loss, but Dany was feeling numb and their words though welcomed, just didn't hit home. Not yet at least, perhaps later once she had a chance to breathe for true, then they'd mean so much more to her and would be more appreciated. Now all she wished for was to be back on Ellagon's back and to bathe the dead and the Night King himself in flames.

How long she sat and rested for she couldn't tell, Jae had slept some, the exertion of the magic he'd used to form the wall of light having necessitated it. While she perhaps could have done with some sleep herself, she feared what her dreams may bring her and so she stayed awake. Eventually, it was time and she, Tyrion, and Jae made their way to the dragons and she was glad they spoke no words, and instead they just readied to go back into the fray. With a nod to her and to Tyrion, Jae and Rhaenix took to the sky and the other two dragons quickly followed.

As they flew over the lines of their men she heard the cheers and these did at least bring a smile to her face. Dragons and their riders should be cheered, they should be feted, and given the army that they faced and the threat they were here to deal with, they were very much needed. Marwyn and Aemon had both said to her that there were those, Maesters mainly, who had doubted the reason for dragons existing. She had when she spoke to the Maesters in the Citadel brought up the reasoning for her family coming here, for the conquest, and for their right to rule. Today had shown that reason even more clearly than any words she'd spoken.

Robert Baratheon wasn't equipped to face this threat, Jon Arryn wasn't and Tywin Lannister would not have been. Other houses may play their part and she was most pleased they'd come to Jae's side and fought side by side with them in what was the most important battle any of them would ever fight in. It was dragons though, her house, and her kin that would win the day and without her children, without Jae's, they were lost.

"Dracarys." she said as she flew over the dead and as Ellagon let out her flames, Dany smiled once more.

Just like before they'd gone to rest, they'd split up and this time it was she on the left and Tyrion on the far right with Jae taking up the middle again. Though it looked to all intents and purposes as if they'd not even made a dent in the Night King's army, she could feel the truth of things and it was very much different. There was panic, annoyance, anger, and she heard him order them to take them down and to do so now. Dany was not sure who they were, but she found herself most happy to hear the worry in the Night King's voice. Feeling her shoulder tingle, she wondered if when he was dead would she feel it still. It was as she was thinking this that the other voice called out to her, softer, quieter, a whisper almost.

"Come, come, help me." the voice said and Dany looked to the dead below, to the two dragons in the distance and to their men fighting against the dead further back and then she and Ellagon moved away and went in search of that voice.

They didn't just fly over the dead in search of it, Dany had Ellagon lay down her flames at any large group they flew over until there was none beneath them, and then and only then did she begin to worry that she was being led into a trap. She closed her eyes and sought him out, listened for his voice, and found it to be there, still worried, still angered and there was something else there too. It was more than an annoyance, more than anger, it was a fury she'd never felt before. For some reason, this comforted her and when she heard the voice again, she felt that it may be the reason for that fury.

"Come, hurry, come." the voice pleaded and Dany bid Ellagon fly faster.

She saw the dead running beneath her, a large group of them and as she flew towards them she saw they were chasing something, no someone. There was someone up ahead of them and the dead were gaining on them.

"Dracarys." she said almost impatiently, her rush and hurry seemed odd to her and she knew not why she had felt the need for either "Dracarys." she said not more than a blink of an eye later, Ellagon's flames barely having been loosed, and yet her dragon then did as she bid once again.

The dead beneath them burned and she saw the lone White Walker move past the flames, bidding Ellagon fly faster still, her dragon responded to the desperation in her voice. When she reached who it was that the dead had been chasing she felt a fool. It was a trap, she'd flown into a trap and the White Walker though it wouldn't burn in her dragon's flames, would feel them anyway.

"Dany." the voice called out and it stayed the order at her lips "Dany, help me." the voice said and she looked and saw it then.

This wasn't any White Walker, this was Shiera, Gods what had they done to her? What had he done to her? She told Ellagon to land and her dragon did so a few feet away from where her aunt or what was now her aunt was standing. Dany climbed down of her dragon's back and drew her daggers before moving closer to Shiera. Her aunt was ice, made of ice, and yet there was more of her true self there than she had expected. Seeing her mismatched eyes gave her some hope that she was still in there, that it wasn't a mistake she was making and she wasn't being lured into a trap by a woman she named as kin.

"Shiera?" she asked softly.

"Take me from here, please Dany, take me from here." Shiera answered, there were no words spoken aloud and yet Dany heard them as if they were.

"I…"

"Dany, I'm almost free, almost, please, I beg of you." Shiera begged, her voice in her head once more and Dany looked at her and nodded.

She helped her to climb up onto Ellagon's back and felt the relief coming off her aunt in waves. Not even the cold of her skin as it brushed against her own made her doubt that she was doing the right thing. The ice spear came when they were in the air and Ellagon easily dodged it, Dany swearing that she heard an angered cry from a voice she'd grown now to know was his. Yet as they flew it was a different voice in her head that she listened to.

"Thank you, I feared you'd not come." Shiera said softly, her words coming from her mouth this time and Dany almost lost her grip in Ellagon's reins.

"I...Are you, can you?" she said, stumbling over her words as she couldn't manage to form a coherent question.

"The losses weakened him, enough for me to break free from his control. I am as you see me and until he falls I'll remain that way. Though for now, he cannot change me further."

"Rhaegal, we should bring…"

"NO" Shiera said loudly "I cannot risk it, Dany. I'll see Rhaegal again, for now, he's better where he is, safe and away from here and far from me." her aunt's sadness at being parted from the green dragon clear to hear in her voice and it relaxed Dany enough to be sure that it was truly her aunt she flew with.

"Aemon." Dany said softly.

"Is with his brother and sisters, with his mother and nieces and nephews. He will be missed and in the days to come, mourned, but for now, there is much we must do. Jae, you need to take me to Jae, Dany." Shiera said and despite herself, Dany felt apprehensive about that "You can place guards around me, keep me some distance from him, do whatever you need to ensure his safety, but I must speak and he must hear."

"Hear what?"

"What he plans to do, where he's going." Shiera said her voice sounding worried.

"Where?" Dany asked.

"The Isle of Faces, he means to kill the Children and the Three-Eyed Raven."

"Adere, ellagon, adere hae se jelmio." (Fast, Ellagon, Fast as the wind) she said and her dragon needed no second invitation to do as she ordered.

Riverlands 302 AC.

Stannis.

It was no great comfort that brothers who'd not believed him when he'd told them of the threat beyond the Wall now looked at him in a very different light. If anything Stannis would have much preferred them to be right and he to the one that was wrong. Had it meant there was not an army of dead men coming their way, then he'd have gladly lived the rest of his life being mocked and named a liar. That was far better than the alternative ever could be.

He was not a liar though, not a fool, and at the Wall when they'd faced them he'd watched as brothers who'd named him such had fallen to the Night King's army. As they'd marched through the North he'd expected many more would fall. He, Jeor, Symon Santagar, Bowen Marsh, Eddison Tollet, and others had spoken of it often. Only Cotter Pyke and Denys Mallister had said that it would not be the way. Both men saying that the king had a different plan in mind and Stannis was glad they were proved more right than he.

It was Jeor who told him the truth of that plan, hit and run, make the dead chase, and then fight them only when you were ready to. Stannis felt it a good one and it made him think back to the War of the One True King, to how they'd all lost out to a boy who should have been green and who had beaten them before it had even truly begun. This war was different he knew, but he was relieved they had that boy leading him and that they had dragons to burn the dead. His relief though was soon gone once the battle started for true. Seeing his brothers fall and watching how despite all they did the dead kept coming was enough to take away his relief, if not his faith. It was why he fought as fiercely as he did and why he led not by words, but by example as he did so.

"TOLLET." he shouted as he pushed Edd out of the way, Stannis catching the wight across the head with his Dragonglass morningstar.

"Fuck." Edd said as he rose back to his feet and then swung his ax at another wight that moved his way.

"Pay attention, dumb fucks they may be, but they'll still end you, Edd." Symon said with a chuckle and Stannis admired how the man could do so given what they faced.

He heard a scream and saw another brother in black fall, Denys Mallister and Bowen Marsh having lost their own fights not too long ago and he felt this loss as much as he had theirs. Stannis may have been born a lord, but he was a black brother now and these were truer brothers than the ones the gods had seen fit to give him.

"The Lord Commander." he heard a shout call out and despite the dead moving towards them, he, Edd, and Symon moved to where he believed Jeor was.

What he saw when he got there was something he'd never imagined possible. Around Jeor there were maybe twenty or thirty black brothers fighting and strewn along the ground was almost twice that number. The reason for such carnage was now cutting his way through his brothers as if they were green boys and not former soldiers of the Golden Company.

"Protect the Lord Commander." he shouted as he and those with him joined the fight.

The dead came at them before they could reach Jeor and the others, Stannis and those with them fighting furiously to move past them. His morningstar was a blur, as was Edd's ax and Symon's mace. Wights were falling to the ground only to be replaced by more and more of them. Ahead of him, he could see the White Walker cut down and through men as if they were not there. Stannis called out for an archer to take the fucker down and his words seemed to fall on deaf ears. There were no archers around and it would be up to them to take the White Walker down. If they could ever manage to get to it that was.

By the time they'd fought through the dead, Jeor was fighting for his life. Around him lay the men that had just been killed by the White Walker and reaching into his belt, Stannis took the knife and hoped his aim proved good and true. It was not, or to be more accurate his aim was good but the White Walker had anticipated it, and stepping back and to the side, he blocked the knife and Stannis watched it fall helplessly to the ground. The White Walker then went to raise its hands only for Jeor to almost catch it with a blow from his mace. Stannis running towards them both and he was but a few feet away when the strike came that cost Jeor Mormont his life.

"NOOO." he shouted out and then he was there, the gasping breaths that Jeor made as he tried to take in air sounding loud in what had become to Stannis a still and quiet night.

The swing of the Morningstar was as powerful a swing as he had in him. As was the one that followed and the one that followed after that. Stannis forcing the White Walker back and allowing his anger and rage to fuel him for the fight ahead. He dodged the blows aimed at him or deflected them with the head of his Morningstar. It was clear the White Walker sought to hit its shaft and cost him his weapon, but Stannis wouldn't allow him the chance to do so.

"Ours is the Fury." he shouted loudly and then he repeated it as he forced the White Walker to take a step and then another step backwards "Ours is the Fury."

Moving out of the way of a thrust from the icy blade, he swung as hard as he could and heard the sound of the ice as it exploded. To his left Edd and Symon fought side by side with Wildings, Free Folk, and were it another day and another place, then even Stannis may have smiled at that. With the White Walker's death the dead fell, not all, but most of those nearest to him and those that Edd and the others fought against. Stannis moved away from the pile of ice and to the man laying on the ground. The Old Bear was holding his wound and his eyes were closing.

"Jeor." he said kneeling down, Edd and Symon moving to him as did the last of their men.

"I fought bravely, Stannis. I go to my gods happy with that, even though I wished it was not today." Jeor said.

"Aye, Lord Commander, no man fought more bravely." he said and he hoped his words showed their truth.

"I leave it to you, Stannis. It's in good hands. For the Watch." Jeor said as he closed his eyes and breathed no more.

"For the watch." he said as he rose to his feet.

"And now his watch has ended." Edd said, his voice for once feeling apt for the situation, the dolorous tone feeling right at place here today.

"Your orders, Lord Commander?" Symon asked and Stannis looked at him incredulously.

They were few, less than twenty near him, and though he hoped there were more remaining he feared the Watch had ended here this day. Even had it not, it soon would given that this was all there was left and that the dead kept coming.

"We are the swords in the darkness, the watchers on the wall, the shields that guard the realms of men. Those things are not men and we are what stands in their way. For the Watch." he said his words growing louder.

"For the Watch." Edd, Symon, and the others said, and as one they turned ready to face the next wave that came their way, they would not have long to wait.

Riverlands 302 AC.

Oberyn.

They came out of nowhere, or that's how it seemed. Amongst the dead and covered by them if he was to wager a guess. Certainly not out in the open or he and their archers would have seen them. Then once they breached the line they split off, the dead who were with them moving to any man with a bow and the White Walkers moving to their own targets. Jaime, Arthur, and him, and was he to hazard a guess then he'd say Garlan, Loras, Ned, and Benjen Stark along with Robb and Cregan too had been targeted. The Night King was going after those his nephew loved and cared about and it angered him greatly.

It had been that anger that had taken down the White Walker, that and his spear proving more true than the icy blade it wielded. Oberyn hearing the cheers as a large group of the dead fell as it did. His victory was short-lived and this time it wasn't one that came at him, but two. Both of them working as a team and quickly forcing him on the back foot. When his men rushed to his aid, the White Walkers ended them as if they were nothing. So many falling that Oberyn had needed to order them to back away.

Just as he was doing now, his spear blocking the blow that would have ended him while his jump dodged the one from the other icy blade. Back and back he was forced and the sheer effort of just doing enough to stay alive was tiring him out. The luck he'd had for most of his life was perhaps playing a part too, both good and bad. Throwing the dagger underhanded, he watched the White Walker block it contemptuously. Little knowing that it was but a feint and Oberyn moved more quickly than he had up to that point. He thrust his spear and felt the ice crack and then explode. A high-pitched scream ringing out that was music to his ears.

He thought it was the one who'd fallen who'd screamed at first, only to then realize it was the other one. Oberyn smirking at it as he had taken away something it cared about just as it had sought to do the same to Jae. Its anger was clear in how furiously it then attacked him, forcing him further and further back and here bad luck replaced good. The stone took his footing and he felt the spear fall from his hands, a flash in his mind of another fight a long time ago now. This time there was no Ghost nearby, there was no Jae to warg into the Mountain to give him the chance to save himself.

Knowing what was to come, he thought of his girls and how proud he was of each of them, how much he loved them all. His grandniece who would one day be queen, Elia she'd been named for the sister he loved so much. Arianne and the babe she carried, a babe he'd now not get to see, or to hold and spoil. Jae and all he'd given him, justice and a reason to believe once more. Lastly, he thought of her face, his love, his wife, his life.

"Ellaria." he said softly as the blade moved to end him.

It never stuck home, the White Walker was there and then it was not. So quickly did it disappear that Oberyn wasn't sure what had happened, or even that he may not have just dreamed the entire thing. Only the sight of his spear on the ground a few feet away allowed him to know it was real. Rising to his feet he moved to the spear and picked it up and then looked around to see if he could make sense of what had just happened. As he did so he saw her, Rhaenix was flying high in the air and he could see something in her talons. Something that she dropped to the ground before landing beside it.

Despite the fight around him, it was to his niece that he rushed and he arrived just in time to see Jae climb down off her back. Lightbringer was in his hand as he moved towards the thing on the ground, Oberyn looking to see it was the White Walker that he had fought. The fight it would now have was to be a much quicker one and he looked on as Jae deflected the blow and then thrust forward. Never did he think that ice exploding could be such a beautiful sight and maybe the light from Jae's sword played a part in that. Or perhaps it was that he'd come so close to dying at this thing's hands only to be saved by his niece and nephew.

"Jae." he said moving to him and he saw the worried look on his nephew's face "I'm well." he added quickly "How?" he asked.

"The bird, I saw you were in trouble, Rhae and I came as quickly as we could." Jae said, sadness clear in his voice as he spoke.

"Who?" he asked and he saw his nephew's head drop and heard his pained cry and so he moved to him, allowing him to lean against him and hearing him say he'd lost one uncle today and he refused to lose another. Jae telling him that t Ned Stark and Jors Whitewolf were both dead and he'd been too slow, too far away to save them.

"You saved me, Jae. You saved me. Think about that and not what you were not able to do. Think about that and know how Ellaria and my children will feel. You are not a god, Jae, no matter what power you wield, you don't control fate, and were it me in your uncle's Ned's place and he who stood with you now, he'd tell you the same." he said as Jae moved from him.

"I…I must go, I need to.."

"Go, be safe and I'll do my best to remain the same." he said as his nephew nodded and then moved to Rhaenix who looked at Jae and then at him, his niece's purple eyes showing what he felt was relief and was perhaps mirrored in his own.

He watched them as they took off and flew back towards the army of the dead, Oberyn spinning his spear as he too made his way back to his men. When he arrived back he saw Jaime Lannister and Arthur both unharmed and he thanked the gods that they still stood. His nephew had lost too much in this war already and he feared for him should he lose any more.

Riverlands 302 AC.

Garin.

The Water Wizards used the Green Fork to wash the dead away as they came at them, his spearmen taking care of any that the waters missed. He and Loras fought side by side, his spear and Loras's sword taking down as many of the dead as the Water Wizards or spearmen did. Still, they came. Despite the dragons, the wildfire, the red priests, and the scorpions, still they came. He believed they were lesser, that even their numbers didn't or couldn't manage the losses they had inflicted upon them. A part of him feared though that perhaps their numbers would run out before the dead did. Another part wondered why they'd not raised those who fell, why they'd not been faced with or needed to kill their own men.

Was it the king?

Was it his magic?

Was the Night King unable to do so? Weakened somehow?

The answer when it came was simple or at least to him, it seemed simple. They'd not raised the dead because they couldn't do so from a distance, they needed to be close to them to be able to. Mayhap the Night King could do so himself, but his minions, his generals, his White Walkers, they only possessed a fraction of his power. They had what he gave them and no more, a small piece of magic and that was it. Paranoia or greed he knew not which but the Night King was not for sharing.

"Loras." he shouted when he saw the White Walker raise his arms, and Loras raised his sword and the arrows flew.

Some were easily dodged, but a volley was a volley, and some hit home. Garin leading the cheers when the White Walker fell and the dead nearest to it fell with him. He moved from Loras to where Nesila stood with the other Water Wizards, Garin quickly telling her what he'd noticed about the White Walkers and what he believed to be true and then he told Loras to gather their men and to move from the river.

"Why?" his love asked and he told him the same thing he'd just told Nesila.

The wave was large and he watched it as it swept over the bodies of the dead and those of his men who'd fallen. In time he'd see their bodies returned to Chroyane, or should he fall then it would left to others to do so. For now, they'd find peace in the river's waters and though it was not the Rhoyne, he felt it would do just as well. The Green Fork led into the Trident and that river meant much to his king. It was where Rhaegar Targaryen had fallen and if it was good enough for Jae's father, then he was now honoring his men.

"More." Loras called out and he looked on as the next wave of dead moved towards them and noticed the White Walker being covered by them so their arrows could not hit home.

"Him, Loras, him we need to stop." he said pointing to the White Walker and together with a large group of their men they moved towards it.

They easily cut down the dead in front of them and had it not been that he was so focussed on the White Walker, then he may have wondered about that. Instead, he and Loras just kept moving and eventually found themselves face to face with it. It was only then he realized that they'd done as it had wished, as around them the dead made sure they could not be reached and given where they were their archers were even less useful now. Seeing the White Walker move towards Loras he soon realized something else. Loras was the target and this hadn't been about raising more dead. This was about going after those that Jae cared about, trying to break his spirit by taking away those he loved.

"Loras." he shouted in panick as he moved towards him, his spear deflecting the blow that almost took his love's head.

Together they were more than a match for the White Walker, its speed was impressive as was its power, but against both a spear and sword, less so. Garin tried to get create an opening and even though they had the upper hand, he prayed that Loras kept as cautious as he was. The two of them moving in and then out and it was then he heard the pained cry from his love and saw Loras fall to the ground. One of the dead had moved in from behind and had thrust a knife into Loras's side and though it was not a fatal wound, the one that came next would be.

"Mother Rhoyne, I beseech you to come to my aid, to strike down my enemies and protect those I love." he called, and then a moment later he felt the water as it swept over their heads.

The dead were washed some distance away as was Loras, Garin looking to his love as he rose to his feet and placed his hand on his side. In front of him, the White Walker looked confused and seemed perplexed as to where his icy blade had gone. As for him, he carried his spear in his hand and he moved quickly. Garin attacking the White Walker before he could form another blade, the spear hit him and the Whiter Walker exploded into shards of ice. The dead who'd not yet made it to their feet, now never would. As for those who had it would be only briefly that they did so as some began to fall and others were soon cut down by his men.

"Loras." he called out worriedly as he moved to his love, his hands moving Loras's own away as he checked his wound and saw to his relief that while bad, it was not life-threatening.

"I'm well. You, you're unhurt?" Loras asked and Garin nodded as he bid him lean against him and moved to cross to the other side of the river where they'd set up their wounded.

He heard the bird chirp loudly, it's question one that he knew even though it never truly asked. Looking to it, he smiled and nodded as if to say he had this and heard the bird make a relived chirp. His king, his love's friend, and brother by choice had nothing to fear in regards to Loras's safety. Garin would do all he could to ensure that.

Riverlands 302 AC.

Yohn Royce.

Other than those who'd broken through their lines, he and the Knights of the Vale had little to do so far in this battle. Given the dead that had attacked their lines, their cavalry even a heavy one had no true part to play. Not yet at least. He and the others watched as those on foot fought, Lord Tytos and the men of the Riverlands, the Wilding's, men of Dorne, the West, and the North. Behind him were more than 20,000 mounted knights all bearing lances tipped with Dragonglass or for those lucky enough, Valyrian steel.

Though they bore their steel swords and other castle forged weapons, it would not be those they wielded should the call come. Instead, it would be maces of Dragonglass, and the axes, and Halberds made from the same material. Dead men feared no steel other than Valyrian and there was simply not enough of that to go around. Yohn had sat and watched and see incredible things, things he'd never have imagined he could see or never would have believed had he not. He'd not seen the dragons in action against the Knights of the Vale or the Golden Company, but as he'd watched them today he was glad they had used restraint against one rather than the other. Even the Golden Company had not faced flames such as these and he thanked the gods that they were on the same side.

"Lord Yohn, Lord Yohn." he heard a voice call out and turned to see Ser Morton Waynwood point to the riders that came his way.

Men of the Reach, the West, and the one leading them was a man he now knew all too well. Ser Richard Lonmouth the King's Master of Whisperers had become perhaps the most talked-about member of Jaehaerys's Small Council. The man was even more feared than the Spider had been and very much more respected. With a nod to Ser Morton, he turned from the front of the line and rode to where the Knight of Skulls and Kisses and the men he rode with now were.

"Ser Richard." he said with a respectful nod and he looked to see Ser Garlan, Mathis Rowan who looked as if he'd aged ten years, Kevan Lannister and Lord Beric Dondarrion along with Ser Lyle Crakehall and Ser Addam Marbrand amongst the group of riders who'd come his way.

"It's time, Lord Yohn. A double envelopment, ride and ride hard and do not dally. To the other side, my lord, regroup and then ride back to your place in the line. One charge is all his grace asks of you and I beg you listen to mine and the king's words. You'll find no glory by standing and fighting, should it come it'll come by doing as you're bid. Our king believes it will take but one charge and he wishes you to then be ready should you need to be deployed again." Ser Richard said and Yohn nodded.

"The Knights of the Vale will do as his grace orders, Ser Richard, on that you have my vow." Yohn said.

"As will the Men of the West." Lord Kevan said.

"And we of the Reach." Ser Garlan added.

"And the men of the Storm." Lord Beric said loudly.

"Make ready your men and at the king's signal ride and ride hard. May your gods go with you." Ser Richard said and Yohn was the first man to ride back.

He rode down the line and repeated the orders, his words firm as he told them that this is why they came here, this is why the Knights of the Vale had been called.

"We ride for our King and for our Families. We ride for the Realm and we Bring the Dawn." he shouted to cheers.

He heard it then, the loud roar of the king's dragon and the light that shined from his sword lit the way. Yohn had no need to blow his horn, the order was received loud and clear and as one the horses moved forward. A walk, a trot, a gallop, and finally a charge. Lances were lowered down as they rode faster still and he felt the crash of his horse into the first of the dead in front of him long before he felt his lance hit home. Some men behind him fell, some horses were brought down, but the Knights of the Vale rode hard and they rode true.

Sooner than he expected they passed the men of the Reach, West, and Storm. The dead they now faced were fewer, the gaps between them were larger and after losing his lance, Yohn took out his mace and began to swing it left and right. When he reached the other side and turned his horse around, he looked to see the large open space they'd cut through the dead and then the dragon's flames as they burned those on the other side of that space. There were gaps, large gaps, and the army that had seemed to have none now had many. Looking to the Knights of the Vale he could see their eagerness to ride again, the desire to charge one more time. They'd lost few men in the charge, a thousand maybe less he'd wager.

"We retreat, as per the king's orders." he shouted loudly and there was no dissent, no angered cries, and no breaking of his ranks.

Yohn led his men back behind the lines and then they formed up once more, the Knights of the Vale ready should they be called upon again.

"My lord." Ser Morton said handing him the water pouch which he drank from eagerly and Yohn smiled, glad to have played his part and to see so many of those with him ready to do so again, should the call come.

Riverlands 302 AC.

Garlan.

He forewent a lance, a sword was his best asset and the one he bore was as good a one as any. Far better than most even if it had not yet been decorated or had its design added to. Its hilt was plain black leather and its pommel was a piece of black Dragonglass. There were no jewels and other than the ripples in the steel it didn't look special at all. Valyrian Steel was Valyrian Steel though and a gift from the king was something that was to be appreciated. In time he'd make it look as impressive as its blade demanded. For now, it was everything he needed it to be.

The Apple's Bite he'd named it, having considered many other names and discarding them. Names such as Thorn, Roselips, and Gallant, he'd always hated been named as such but he found the idea of being able to draw his blade when someone did so to be a most amusing one. In the end, he wished to honor his wife and her house too and so it was with Leonette and their babe in mind that he'd named the sword.

Perhaps that was a funny thing to ponder upon as you readied to charge into an army of dead men, but it at least took your mind away from the fact you were riding into an army of dead men. He looked to the men with him, 5,000 men of the West, 3,000 men of the Storm, and almost 10,000 men of the Reach. The finest cavalrymen the realm had to offer, barring the men on the other side of the field. Men they'd be riding with and not against and that gave him even more hope that this was the right thing to do. Though truth be told he had placed his faith in his king and had yet to see anything to threaten that faith. As he heard the roar of the dragon and saw the light shine in the distance, he gave the order and heard Lord Beric and Lord Kevan do the same.

"For the King and for the Dawn." he shouted loudly as the horses began to move.

The ride was soon at full pace, the lances were down and The Apple's Bite was ready to be swung. Its first swing taking a head and then its second crashing against a dead thing's jaw. Beneath him his horse rode well and yet he cursed himself for not bringing one of Willas's with him. He had three back at Highgarden and yet he'd left them there. Instead, he purchased a Garron for the harsh lands of the North and had found that to be a wise move, then. Here and now he rode a borrowed Destrier and wished it was his own horse instead.

As he crashed his sword down on another dead thing, he saw the Knights of the Vale just ahead of him and he looked to the dead behind them. There were fewer, much fewer, and he could see now that while men would wish to regroup and charge once more, they'd already done sterling work here today. As he passed a Vale Knight and crashed his sword into another dead thing, he felt the horse go out from under him and he flew through the air, unfortunately for him it was not on a dragon.

The fall was hard, the ground even harder and he was winded when he got up and saw the true extent of the situation he now found himself in. Fewer the dead may be, but there were still far more of them than there was of him, and was that not enough of a problem, then the Whiter Walker that moved his way would surely be so. He was surprised that the dead left him alone. The White Walker alone moving to him and its icy blade raised up in a challenge that he had no choice but to accept. All his life he'd spent practicing his swordsmanship and very quickly he began to worry that he'd not practiced enough.

The White Walker had him beat in almost every aspect and Garlan was beginning to fear it was toying with him. Though he dodged the strikes aimed at his body, he felt himself faltering and while he was tiring, the White Walker very much was not. The sound of the bird chirping distracted him only briefly, the eagle flying at the White Walker and the icy blade that had been aimed at him now moved to take the eagle down. Moving forward quickly, Garlan thrust The Apple's Bite and heard the sound of the ice as it shattered and then the sound of dead men around him falling. His joy soon turned to horror when he saw the group of White Walkers that moved towards him, two, three, no four he counted and he knew he was fucked.

"Ser Garlan." he heard a voice call out and he turned to see Mathis Rowan in front of him upon a horse, the man holding out his hand to help him up onto it.

Why he placed him in front of him he knew not, but now was not the time to question such things. So taking hold of the reins he urged the horse to ride and ride fast. He felt it when Mathis slumped against him and when his arms loosened their grip on his waist. Garlan reaching around with one hand to make sure that he didn't fall from the horse as he rode quickly to where his men had formed up. As he reached them Mathis fell and he stopped the horse to jump off and to see to him. Only then did he notice the ice arrow that was stuck in Mathis's back.

"Mathis, Mathis, we'll get you help, hold on." he said looking at the man, the shake of Mathis's head and the look in his eyes along with the wound itself telling him that there would be no healing for Mathis today or any other day.

"I...I served my king. I protected his kin, may it be enough to forgive me my mistakes and earn me a place with my gods." Mathis said as he coughed and Garlan looked at the blood that began to flow from his mouth.

"You're a good man and true, Mathis, I know it, his grace knows it and I'll ensure the realm knows it." he said and saw the smile begin to form on Mathis's face before it and Mathis were gone from this world.

Riverlands 302 AC.

Tormund.

Green fire, Dragonfire, a wall of light, flames that seemed to come from the woman in red and her red warriors, all had hit the dead, and yet they still kept coming. Jae, the Silver Princess, and the Half Man all took their mighty beasts and laid down more flames than he had ever seen in his life, and yet still they kept coming. Even after the men on horses had ridden through them and cut them down as if they were nothing, still they kept coming.

How many his ax had ended for true was something he'd never know, he simply couldn't count that high. Nor could he count high enough to know how many of his people had fallen, only to know it was too many, far too many. Tormund fought side to side with the Giant of Umber, Mance was a little further away from him with the Giant's son and other men of the North and True North. Those of the Company of the Rose were mixed between his people and the North's and far too many of those had fallen too.

The Giant of Umber was a mighty man, both on and off the battlefield. He was a man he was happy to name as a friend and one that he was more than happy to fight side by side with. Yet even they together were no match for the dead as there were simply too many of them. Tormund felt it, the chill getting ever worse and he saw him before the Giant did, the White Walker moving towards the man's son and Mance and so he shouted out in warning.

"MANCE, GOATSBANE." his voice carrying in the wind and despite the fights the men were in, they looked to him "WALKER." he shouted and began to swing his ax as hard and as fast as he could, the Giant of Umber doing likewise with his own once he saw who it was that the White Walker was moving to.

Whether it was Mance that was its target or the Giant's son it mattered not, the White Walker he knew would cut down one to get to the other.

"SON." the Giant called out his worry for his boy plain for all to see and Tormund then was witness to true unadulterated rage.

If he had named the man fierce before, then watching him now would name him a liar. The swings of the ax were furious and the dead were simply swept away as the Giant of Umber brushed them aside. Those he didn't hit with the ax were hit with a clubbing blow from his arm. Tormund quickly moving with him and trying to keep up as he watched yet another dead thing fly and land some feet away from them both. Two things soon became clear to him as they moved, the White Walker was more than a match for both Mance and Goatsbane and neither he nor the Giant would make it to their aid in time.

"SON." the Giant called out in pain as Goatsbane fell to the ground, he'd not been hit with the sword but had been slapped away by the White Walker.

"Mance." he shouted out as his king, his friend, now fought for his life while the White Walker readied to pick his spot.

"OOOOWWWWWWWWW."

"OOOOOWWWWWWWW."

Even despite the fact they were still fighting the dead themselves to try and reach Mance and Goatsbane, both he and the Giant of Umber looked to each other.

"OOOWWWWWWWWW."

"OOOWWWWWWWWW."

He saw them, tens of them, hundreds of them, the wolf pack was the largest he'd ever seen and they were moving far more quickly than wolves should move. Yet it was the one who led them that brought a smile to the Giant of Umber's face. The wolf that moved faster than any of them and as Tormund felt dead men around him fall to the smaller wolves, he watched as the giant white one soared through the air and took the White Walker to the ground.

"Ghost." the Giant of Umber said almost reverently and Tormund looked on as Goatsbane, who'd now risen back to his feet, moved to the White Walker and crashed his ax down on it as the white wolf moved away to allow him to do so.

Around him the other wolves too moved back, Tormund watching as more men came running their way and the dead who'd been knocked to the ground soon found they'd not be rising to their feet. He heard some cheers and looked on as the dragon the half-man named his laid down its flames a little closer to them. The warmth of them was a welcome respite from the chill in the air and he then saw the Silver Princess's dragon and Jae's doing the same not too far from their lines. He and the Giant of Umber finished off the dead nearest to them and he saw the way the man looked to the white wolf. Tormund finally getting a good look at the mighty beast himself. Its eyes were as red as blood, its fur as white as the purest snow. Were he to name it as anything he'd call it a Weirwood come to life, a gift from the Old Gods in wolf form.

"The king's wolf." The Giant of Umber said smiling as the wolves moved away from where they had been and followed the white one down the lines, their work obviously not done as of yet.

Around them, there were far fewer dead than before, so few that it took them time to reach them and allowed for he and the Giant of Umber to speak to Mance and Goatsbane as well as the man leading the reinforcements that had come to their aid. Him, he liked instantly. Bronn was a man he could certainly see himself enjoying an ale with. As for Mance, he looked as if he'd seen a ghost, which given what the Giant of Umber had named the wolf as, he had. Yet it was the look on Goatsbane's face that he'd remember later when he told this tale, a look of awe and gratitude he'd rarely seen and he wore a smile bigger than any man he'd ever known.

"I always liked that wolf." Goatsbane said to a loud laugh and a slap on his back from his father.

"Here they come." Mance said barely a moment later and he, Mance, the Giant of Umber, Goatsbane and Bronn joined the line and readied to fight once again.

Riverlands 302 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

As he was laying down the flames he heard them in his head, the birds calling out that his family was in trouble. That it was more than one that did so, worried him greatly. Beneath them the dead were thinning, to look at them you'd not know that, but he did. He could feel the magic as it dissipated, the loss of it almost felt like a warm breeze on a winter's day. That it was not his loss pleased him greatly and yet he had not time to celebrate or take comfort in that. Jae told Rhaenix to fly, to leave the battle for now, and to fly fast and as she did so he closed his eyes.

Loras and Garin fought against a White Walker, Jaime, Oberyn, and Arthur too. Cregan had taken down a White Walker and Garlan was safe on horseback ready for his own orders. His uncle and his Leal Kingsguard, it was to Ned and Jors that he looked and he knew he was too late, as were Robb and Benjen. As Rhaenix flew faster he was torn between screaming out in anger or breaking down in tears and were it not for the fact that his family was still in danger, it may have been the latter instead of the former that he gave into.

"AAAAGHHHHHHHHHH" he shouted as loudly as he could, his fury fuelling him and Rhaenix welcomed that it was that he channeled, it would be much needed for what was to come.

His sister continually laid down her flames as she flew, they may be leaving the battle for now, but they were still a part of it. Jae looked into himself, he opened the doors and told the birds what he wished from them. Then he called upon another flock and bid them fly fast. The two White Walkers who'd taken his uncle from him had more of his family in their sights and he feared that he'd not reach them in time either.

In this he was proved right, he'd never have made it to Robb or Benjen and as the White Walkers moved towards them, the birds he'd called upon arrived. Jae watched as they attacked the White Walkers, as Robb moved to pick up Ice from his uncle's hands, and then as Benjen brought down one of the White Walkers, Ice was swung and the birds moved away from the other White Walker. The look on Robb's face was one of pure fury while the White Walker bore one of surprise, only one of those looks would last a moment longer.

"Oberyn, Jae." he heard Rhaenix say and he moved from the bird that he'd watched his uncle and brother through to the one nearest his uncle. Robb and Benjen were safe for now, Oberyn was anything but.

"Faster, Rhae, Faster."

In truth, he didn't need to tell her and whether it was her own will, the gods, or if in the end, it all came down to luck, it mattered not as they arrived not a moment too soon. It was Rhaenix and not he who chose their course of action. Jae almost laughing and he would have if the situation was not so serious when she picked the White Walker up in her talons and flew high before dropping him some distance away, and then landed close to him. Jumping from her back, he moved to the White Walker and sent him back to the seven hells that he came from before then speaking to his uncle and making sure that he was unharmed.

He welcomed his uncle's arms and the resolve his words brought back to him. Then he and Rhaenix flew back to do what they needed to do. When he saw the amount of the dead that the three dragons had burned away he knew it was time and so once again it was to the birds he called out to. His orders had been specific, one charge and one charge only and he believed they'd be followed, he prayed they would. As the cavalry formed up, it was to other birds he looked, to different birds and he smiled at what he saw.

Moons they'd walked for and most still remained safe and far from the fight, some though had wished to play their part and so he'd allowed them to. The Pinnacles had picked them up in Eastwatch and though it was less than fifty, they and the weapons they carried would turn the tide even further. All he had to do was give the call and the Giants would be brought to bear. Soon he thought as he looked at them as they crossed the river as if it was a mere stream, the Green Fork no match for Wun Wun or Mag the Mighty. The Dragonglass scythes in their hands may have not been tested, but he believed they'd work and Gendry had not let him down so far.

"Dany, Jae." he heard Rhaenix say and he looked to see where his aunt and Ellagon were, only to not find them.

"Has she?" he asked worriedly as he went searching for her with other eyes, relieved to see she had not and was well, though for some reason she flew away from rather than towards the fight.

"She is doing as she must." a voice called out in his head, Jae taking a moment to realize it was the Three-Eyed Raven he was hearing "As must you, my prince."

The cavalry charge was a thing of beauty, his orders followed just as he had bid them be. Dead rotting bodies were no match for lance, horse, or man, and he felt the magic dissipate even more. After it was done, he again had Rhaenix lay down her flames and he felt she was beginning to tire. Looking into himself he wondered if he had another wall of light left in him or if it was to be a different form that his magic would need to take. For now, he needed her to rest, and if Rhaenix must then so must the other two dragons as well.

So flying to them both, he found Tyrion first and bid him fly back to camp, Dany it seemed having already decided to. Just as before they weren't idle when they flew, both Lygaron and Rhaenix laying down their flames on those who would seek to reinforce the Night King's army's lines. He felt Ghost before he heard the howls, and was in him less than a moment later. The white wolf was not in King's Landing by his wife's side and it both annoyed and worried him, though he was grateful to see what he did and the pack that he'd brought with him.

"Fight, pack." Ghost said, when he questioned him and then he watched as the white wolf went looking for those that he and Jae considered so.

"He knows, Jae, he knows." Rhaenix said as they passed their lines and landed next to Ellagon and Lygaron.

"Knows what?" he asked as he climbed down from her back.

"That it's time to sing your song." his sister said happily.

Were it not for what or to be more precise who it was that he saw standing next to Dany, then he'd have questioned Rhaenix and even Ghost more. As it was he moved to the thing that was his aunt, his hand hovering over Lightbringer's hilt as he did so. Dany shook her head, the smile she wore a true one and he heard her then in his own.

"I am me, nephew. Not fully me, but even more so than I was when Dany came to me." Shiera said and Jae looked more closely at her.

She looked almost like a White Walker, except very much not. Her silver hair was almost fully back and only some of it looked white. Her skin though icy and cold to the touch was soft and fleshy and her eyes, her eyes sparkled as much as they always had.

"How?" he asked and this time she spoke for true.

"He is weak, Jae, he is weak, and now is the time." Shiera replied.

"I don't know where he is, aunt, I've sought him out but he remains hidden from me." he said frustratedly.

"He seeks more magic, Jae, he's not with his army because he seeks more magic." Shiera said and she had no need to say more.

"Jae." Dany called as he ran to Rhaenix.

"I must go, I must.."

"We'll come with you, Jae, both of us." Tyrion said and Jae shook his head.

"Fly when you can, bring more flames down on the dead. This is not a fight you can take part in." he heard his words and how resigned they were and he shook his head, that was not how he meant them to sound "I will beat him, I am unafraid." he said far more determinedly.

After he hugged first his aunt and then his uncle, Shiera then moved forward and it was like holding ice in his arms, the chill remaining with him even as he and Rhaenix took to the sky. It took him no time at all to find him and he actually laughed at his good fortune. Of all the places that he could go, of all the roads he could take, it would have to be this one. Rhaenix laid down her flames at the dead who marched with him, yet he could feel her tiredness even more now and so he bid her stop.

"Jae." she said angrily.

"Land and fly high, Rhae, and watch." he said and reluctantly she did as he bid.

They were perhaps a few hundred feet apart from each other. Jae was now as close to him as he had been in Hardhome. He saw the ice spear as it formed in his hands and waited for it to be thrown towards him, catching it with Lightbringer when it was and feeling his anger and annoyance even from this far apart. When the Night King raised his hands and his wights began to run towards him, Jae smiled and closed his eyes. The birds called out loudly and flew leading them to him and he knew they'd be here soon.

"Now it ends." he said as he began to move away from the river and towards his fate.

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. The next chapter will be up directly after this one with the last coming this weekend. Up next Jae and the Night King finally cross blades in a fight that only one of them can survive and where only one of their destinies will be fulfilled.

A/N 2: For those who don't know a Double Envelopment is the Pincer Movement that we see Stannis do against the Free Folk. A true Double Envelopment closes the circle completely, but that's not what we ever really see with a cavalry version.

Marathon, Alexander the Great at Hydaspes, and most famously Hannibal at Cannae are examples of its use in history.

What's amazing about it is that we not only see it being used by Stannis in the show, we then later hear Jon Snow bring it up when speaking with Tormund before the Battle of the Bastards. At Winterfell, we have Jaime Lannister, Yohn Royce, and Jon Snow himself, all who know the blood maneuver, and yet they instead come up with the mind-bogglingly stupid tactic of a blind cavalry charge face on.

Mmmnight: In the books, Jae is born in 283 AC. So he's 18/19 here. In the show, he's born two years earlier and at this time he'd be in Season 5 and about to be stabbed. Jon is named Lord Commander of the NW in 302 AC in the show at 20/21 and in 300 AC in the books, so he's 16 I think at the time.

Xan Merrick: Thanks my friend, so glad you liked it.

Daryl Dixon: I thought long and hard about not but I felt it had to be him.

Victoria: Thank you, my friend. That's exactly it with the NK, I kind of hinted at this all the way through the story, Jae had a need to save everyone, he blames himself for losses, and it's taken him so long to be able to function and work through them. Here the NK strengthened his resolve and forced Jae to act to save as many of them as he could. Dany and Shiera both played a big part in things, as you say she used what she learned and it cost the NK greatly. I hope this chapter in some way made up for the losses too, in that Jae was able to save more and weaken the NK even further. I will speak about the surprise at the end of the next chapter because I think it can work then. Stay safe and well my friend.

Nina: Sorry, it was at least a good end.

MalSer: Thanks for saying so.

Vfsnake: I'm glad you thought that, he played a much larger role here, and yes it's sad to see him go, but without him, Jae wouldn't have been able to succeed.

Irish Hermit: Hope you enjoyed this chapter as we pretty much reach the end and it's now almost one and one. I wanted to make this a more hopeful chapter after the last one and in a way show the NK actually messed up.

Celexys: Ned's death is a hard one to take, it was a decision I didn't take lightly. Glad you liked the Mel/FH part, I felt her end in the show was very meh, I seriously expected her to turn up at WF with the FH and be all like the Elves arriving at Helms Deep scene, so I wanted to give her a more fitting role here, she will be remembered. Dany as you see at least got to do something positive here, not payback for all she's gone through, but something she can be proud of.

The Sphynx: First of all, hope everything went well my friend. You have my best wishes for s speedy recovery. Secondly, as always awesome poem my friend.

Keb: There will be a further explanation on the dead bodies in the next chapter, we'll see it through another pov. It was the intention, I think partly it being Sean Bean as Ned in my mind and partly because it's just such a damn good line lol. Glad you liked the ends they both got. We see more of the wolves' powers here.

Remi: Sometimes the site can be a bit weird. I was thinking about how to handle the dead other than dig them up and burn the corpses and well we'll see it more next. As for the final battle, it's pretty much one on one now and is next.

Guest: I think that's the biggest thing, when you kill off a character it should if they're like make you almost dislike the story or their ending. Ned was in a much better place which makes his death a bigger tragedy.

Groovy: The Wildfire originally was to be almost a final desperate act, Jae turned it into more once he realized the Wall wasn't where the fight was to happen. The deaths are hard to take, we've lost a lot of good characters in this war, and some we've had around from the very beginning, hopefully, this made up a little for that.

Jman: Ouch, sorry to hear that, nothing worse than being spoiled. He had around 500.000 yes. I mean if we take it that there were what 100,000 in Mance's army, or even just in his camp in canon and then factor in how many have died since the NK last attacked, we're probably looking somewhere in the millions he could raise, so 500.000 seems about right to me without going way too overboard.

Flame: It was hard to write, this one a little easier.

Hkt29: He supported his nephew, saw him rise to be a king, saw his son wed, his daughter betrothed to a good man, and his other son named a lord while his other daughter got to live how she wished, all in all, not a bad life.

Xand007: Thanks my friend, funny enough I really use the Tombstone quotes in my Aemon the Dragonknight fic "Make no mistakes, it's not revenge he's after, it's a reckoning". Sean does die better than anyone lol. He only eve nearly dies in Sharpe. Stay safe and well, my friend.

Lady Ocatarina: It's funny I mention it above about the Double Envelopment, but I think one of the most egregious things they did in the show was take characters who knew something and made them for lack of a better way, Kinda Forget. You have all these characters who have been given a lordly education, hell one of the Maester's forged links is for Warcraft, yet we get to the biggest battles in the show (the non-George ones so they're all the Idiots doing) and all these characters turn into morons.

So I wanted to show both characters coming up with some plans, hidden and otherwise (Jae for example kept a lot of plans close to his chest so the NK couldn't find them out) and also to show people think on their feet. Benjen and the Free Folk fought at Hardhome here, they should come up with a plan when fighting again, even in the heat of battle.

The NK picked a smart plan and yet a dumb one as it turned out, in that Jae isn't the boy he once was. Not only is he more mature, so he won't break by the losses (though they will hurt) he's more powerful magically and so more able to counter certain actions as we see here.

We'll see what Bran was up to next. Robb and Ice got to be used, yet. At the start of the war Jae had about 120,000 to 150.000 at the Wall and the NK 500.000 by making him chase him and limiting his losses and those the NK could raise. Then adding in the reinforcements and by using the dragons, taking out White Walkers, he was able to make it a far more level field.