The Winter King
Chapter 16: Against Time
Harry gets on his horse with Brise and twenty of his Rangers. They quickly ride to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea as Tormund, Jon and several other Night's Watch ride with them. That was easy. His fleet had over five hundred warships. But it also had merchant ships and other ships as well. So he had just over eight hundred ships. His prize where the man of war, these huge ships were both troop transports and supply runs. Making pirates very wary of attacking them. Due to the simple fact, they were military transports.
Harry was on the sail and watch the sea cut through. The sky was very dark and gray with many clouds up. Blocking the sun. Just as Harry said, they got to Hardhome within the hour from leaving Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.
Now Harry and Jon were on a longboat paddling to Hardhome where he could see thousands of Free Folks watching their arrival. He was sure they were panicking a bit. The ships all had the Stark sigil on them and they thought they were under attack. However many were curious and watch with interest as the longboats arrived.
The moment the boats touched land, Harry jumps out with Jon and Tormund as Brise and his Rangers all get out.
"Have some men stay with the boats," Harry said as he looks around.
They weren't attacking, which was a good thing. They were simply watching them.
"You trust me, Jon Snow?" Tormund asks.
"Does that make me a fool?" Jon asks.
"We're fools together now," Tormund said as he walks forward. Harry and Jon follow with a couple Night's Watch along with Brise and a couple of Rangers following.
A wildling with a skull on his face walks forward and started talking. It was clear he was upset about the Battle of Castle Black. Tormund tried to reason with him to gather the elders to talk but the 'Lord of Bones' was not having it. Tormund responds by beating him to death with his own staff.
"Burn the body." Harry orders as Tormund walks on after ordering to gather the elders. Harry looks back at his men and gestures his hand to have them stand down. They knew better than to fight the Free Folk. For one, they were badly outnumbered. Their mission wasn't to fight them either.
They walked into a large hut where the clan leaders began to gather. Jon and Harry were feeling nervous. Harry made sure to keep his hands off his weapons and bow to show no hostilities.
"My name is Jon Snow, this is my brother Harry Stark who is King of the North," Jon said as he began. "I'm Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. We're not friends. We've never been friends. We've been fighting for a long time. We won't become friends today. But this isn't about friendship. This is about survival. This is about putting a seven-hundred-foot wall, between you and what's out there."
"You built that wall to keep us out." A woman said.
"Since when do the crows give two shits if we live?" A Thenn asks.
"In normal times, we wouldn't. But these aren't normal times. The white walkers don't care if a man's a free folk or a crow. We're all the same to them, meat for their army. But together, we can beat them." Jon said.
"Beat the white walkers." The woman said in disbelief. "Good luck with that. Run from them, maybe."
Jon removes his knapsack and holds it up. Several Free Folk looked uneasy. They moved forward as Jon took a step forward. Many of them resting their hands on their swords.
"It's not a trick," Jon said. The woman takes it and begins to open it. "It's a gift, for those who will join us."
The woman pulls out a spearhead of interesting design. She looks at Jon in confusion.
"Dragonglass. A man of the Night's Watch used one of these daggers to kill a walker." Jon said.
"You saw this?" A red beard man asks.
"No, but I trust the man," Jon said.
"There are old stories about Dragonglass." The woman said as she examines the dagger.
"There are old stories about ice spiders as big as hounds." The Thenn said.
"With the things we've seen, you don't believe them?" The woman said.
"Come with me, and I'll share these weapons," Jon said.
"Come with you where?" The woman asks.
Harry placed a hand on Jon's shoulder and steps forward. He steps forward to speak.
"I know you seek to hide behind our wall. To get away from the walkers. Unfortunately, no matter how simple I wish it was, it's not that simple. We just can't let you through the wall without rules being put in place." Harry said.
"What kind of rules?" The woman asked.
"The North has good lands. Lands you can settle in. There is plenty of areas for hunting. However, if I simply let you south of the Wall, then many people… many lords will simply see your people as invaders and will rally up against you. You'll be walking to certain death south of the Wall if you do come. Mance Rayder told me, you don't want to conquer, you want to seek safety and hide behind our wall. Is that true?" Harry asked.
"That's all we've ever wanted." The woman said.
"Then understand that unless all my conditions are met. I cannot let you south of the wall."
"What are they?" The woman asks.
"One, you will respect our customs and traditions as well as our laws. You need to hear this, but these are not your lands. The lands your about to settle in is my domain. I simply cannot let you through the Wall unless I have insurance that your people will follow our laws. The same could be said when you go to someone else's house. You don't take over, you respect that person's house and their rules. Respect us, and I promise you you'll be respected in turn." Harry said.
"What else?" The woman asks.
"Two, the pillaging and killing of our people end. If you enter our lands you cannot harm our people. Many of them will not like the Free Folk settling in the lands. But if you give them no trouble I assure you, you'll get no trouble from them." Harry said.
Many of the Free Folk looked around themselves before looking back at Harry.
"Third, when the walkers come, and they will come. You will assist us in fighting them. To beat them back or end them. We've learned that they're not invincible but are vulnerable. We can kill them. We'll share weapons with you. If you decide to come, we can't take you by foot. For one it would take us several weeks to get everyone out and it's too dangerous and night attacks could kill your people. It's an hour ride on a ship to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. I have men there ready to assist and help your people settle in." Harry said.
The room was silent as they took this in. they look around with clear confusion.
"I knew Mance Rayder," Jon said. "He never wanted a war with the Night's Watch. He wanted a new life, a better life for his people, for you. We're prepared to give you that life if you swear you'll join us when the real war begins."
"Where's Mance?" The Thenn asked.
"He died," Jon said sadly. It was clear he didn't want to remember how Mance Rayder died.
"How?" the Thenn asked.
Jon swallows his lump in his throat before answering. "I put an arrow through his heart."
This got everyone angry as they get up to charge at Jon. Tormund was trying to restore order. He pushes a few of them back.
"Hey!" Tormund shouted after finally getting some order.
"I say we send the Lord Commander to Castle Black with no eyes." The Thenn said. He then pulls out a knife and walks to Jon but Tormund intercepts him.
"Hey. None of you saw how Mance die. I did. A southern King who broke our army, Stannis, wanted to burn him alive to send us a message. Jon Snow defied that cunt's orders." Tormund said as he looks around the room as everyone takes this in. "His arrow was mercy. What he did took courage, and that's what we need today. The courage to make peace with men we've been killing for generations." Tormund said.
"I lost my father, my uncle and two brothers fighting the damn crows." The woman said.
"This cycle will continue unless we make peace," Harry shouted. "I'm offering a way out. To make peace and to live safely behind the Wall. If you don't make peace, you will find something worse than death for you here. I will grant safe passage to those who make peace. I have over an eight hundred ships ready to take your people to safety if you make peace."
The room was silent.
"You vouch for these men, Tormund?" The woman asks Tormund.
"They're prettier than both my daughters and they know how to fight. They're young, but they know how to lead. Neither of them didn't have to come to Hardhome. They came because they want to make peace with us and because they need us, and we need them." Tormund said.
"My ancestors would spit on me if I broke bread with a crow." The Thenn said.
"So would mine but fuck them their dead." The woman said. She then walks up to Jon. "I'll never trust a man in black." She said before she turns to Tormund. "But I trust you Tormund. If you say this is the way then we're with you."
"This is the way. Our best way to get out of here." Tormund said.
"I'm with Tormund." An elder said. "If we stay here, we're dead men. At least with King Crow, there's a chance."
A giant makes a noise causing everyone to look at the giant. "Tormund." The giant said.
Others began to voice their agreements as well.
"Keep that new life you want to give us." The Thenn said. "And keep your glass, King Crow. As soon as you get on their ships, they're going to slit your throats and dump your bodies to the bottom of the Shivering Sea. That's our enemy. That has always been our enemy." In saying that the Thenn walks out the room.
Others began to leave as they began to prepare to leave. The woman turns to Tormund and says, "I fucking hate Thenns."
"Doesn't everyone?" Harry said. He turns to look at her. "What's your name?"
"Karsi." She said.
"I need you in the advancement party. When you get to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, I need you to instruct your people into settling down. My men are already in place but I cannot leave as I have to oversee the evacuation." Harry said.
She nods her head.
Brise turns to Harry.
"That went better than I expected. I honestly thought a fight was going to break out." She said.
"So did I. Have the Rangers prepare the Free Folk to enter the ships. We have to make haste. As soon the ships are loaded, they are to head to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea as soon as possible.
Harry stood by the docks watching the Free Folks enter the boats. They started gathering in the crowds of the thousands to get out. The day was going by them fast yet they were moving slowly. They've already evacuated close to fifty thousand people yet there were still hundreds of thousands of people. Brise was standing beside watching carefully.
"It will be night soon," Brise said.
"We don't stop, we keep loading the ships as fast as we can," Harry said.
"We need more ships. There are simply too many of them." Brise said.
Yes, that was the problem. Half his fleet was already at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and the rest of the half was still loading up. They were pushing their ships to the max load capacity.
"This is a lot of mouths to feed," Brise said.
"We'll manage. We always do. The North is covered with wild game." Harry said.
"We need to speed things up," Brise said.
Harry pulls out his wand and changes some of the rubble into longboat. They had no oars and like the boats at Hogwarts, they would move magically.
"Have them get inside the boats and load up quickly," Harry said as he puts away his wand.
The winds began to pick up as the snow began to gather. Harry tries to see what was going on as he could hear people screaming and shouting.
"They're here. Rangers, battle positions!" Harry shouted as he withdraws his new sword from his back. The Rangers all draw their swords and prepare to fight.
What happened next was mayhem. It was clear everyone was trying to escape.
"Night's Watch! With me." Jon shouted as he follows Harry Rangers into battle.
Harry runs through and could see several wights have broken through the line and were killing others.
Harry runs to them without any fear and cuts them with ease. Harry stops to see Jon was looking up a hill and could see that Jon was looking at walkers on dead horses.
"The dragonglass," Jon said.
"You and me now." The Thenn clan leader said.
"Go," Tormund said.
Harry was cutting through them with his Rangers. Thankful, because his Rangers wearing plated chainmail they weren't taking any damage. A few were getting hits but the weapons couldn't penetrate the armor.
Harry looks around him to see Jon had come out and a walker was advancing upon him. Harry tries to get to Jon, to save him.
Jon brings up Longclaw and to Harry's and the walker's amazement, his sword did not shatter. Jon was quick to strike at the Walker and the moment he cut the walker, the walker burst into a million pieces of ice. Jon as gasping as for breath as he tried to regroup.
Another Walker was advancing and Harry moves forward and brings his new blade to block the killing blow that was meant for Jon. Harry didn't stop running. His momentum was too much. Instead, he spins around and cuts the walker just as the walker attempt to attack Harry as well. The Walker burst into a thousand million pieces of ice.
"Jon," Harry said as he helps Jon get up.
Jon stabs his sword into the ground and climbs to his feet. Edd, one of the Night's Watch comes up to them just as thousands of Wights jumps off the cliff.
It was at this moment, the Resurrection Stone caused Harry's hand to shots up and the wights began to explode and disappear.
"I didn't know you could do that," Jon said in amazement.
"Neither did I," Harry said.
"Let's get out of here," Jon said.
"Wun Wun, to the sea," Tormund shouted as they all took off. Harry brings his hands up killing the wights in the process. Everyone was turning tail to run the moment the wall came down and the wights started charging in.
Several walkers seem to have realized what he was doing and jump down to meet him. To end him.
Harry brings his wand up and launches a blasting hex at the walkers, launching them away from him. However, there was no visible damage. They soon get back up, holding their ice spears and walked towards Harry.
Harry knew he couldn't fight five walkers at once, so turns and run. This allows the remaining wights to charge forward. The moment he reaches the shore line he brings his hand up and destroys the wights from getting near the people. They all climb into the remaining boats and set sail.
"Your Grace, come in," Brise said.
"Go, I'll hold them off for as long as I can. I'll join you shortly." Harry shouted as he keeps his hand up. The wights kept charging and kept exploding the moment they got too near. Brise knew better than to challenge Harry and the boats began to leave.
Harry stood his ground keeping the wights away. However, the walkers were approaching. They were unaffected by Harry's attempt to stop the wights and they came in with their ice spears, as they prepared to stab him.
The moment they got close enough Harry Disapparates and reappears in the boat next to Brise who looked shocked before her face looks back to see the carnage of Hardhome.
A lone walker walks on the port. This walker was different from the others. He didn't have the white beard like the others did. He did have ice thorns coming out of his head. Almost as if it was a crown of some sort. He raises his hands up and the dead began to rise as he did so.
Harry knew the war against the walkers was going to be more difficult than he originally thought. Though he did know it was going to be a fight. Harry looks back at the White Walkers. Just by looking at Hardhome, there was an army of undead. More than a hundred thousand. Could be two hundred thousand. Maybe even more. Their numbers alone was frightening.
There was only one spell he knew would work in this weather that would kill the wights and possibly the White Walkers. Harry pulls out his wand and fires Fiendfrye at the endless horde.
On the shore, the White Walkers seem to have realized the dangers of the incoming fire and climb onto their dead horses immediately take off. The wights also took off by the incoming fire, but because of their endless numbers, not all of them could escape the incoming inferno. countless ended up screaming for a few seconds before they were reduced to ashes.
Hardhome, soon became engulfed in a blazing inferno that turned everything it touches into ashes.
Harry stood on his boat and ended the fiendfyre, and looks at the carnage. High on the mountain, that lone Walker looked out. Harry stares into his eyes and knew this walker was their King. The King, he needed to kill.
Author Notes: I hope everyone enjoys. As you can see Harry has a special effect on the wights (undead, yes they're called wights in GoT) Don't get your hopes up. Just because Harry can stop the army of the dead, doesn't mean he'll be able to stop the White Walkers. Also, even if Harry dies, he can't be revived as a wight, he stays dead. That's because he's the master of death and the White Walkers won't be able to manipulate his body.
Please review and like. I hope everyone enjoys the rules I put in place for the Free Folk. I found it stupid that they went south of the wall without any rules being placed upon them.
I'm getting set up for the Battle of Winterfell.
Some of you are questioning why Harry lets Stannis Baratheon do what he wants. The truth is, he isn't. As the rights of Victor go to Stannis Baratheon for defeating Mance Rayder. This allowed Stannis Baratheon to control the fate of Mance Rayder. Harry has to respect that, even if he doesn't agree with it. Remember Harry is an honorable man. He's not a Bolton or a cut-throat sellsword. Strategically Harry can not fight a war with Stannis Baratheon. He's already at war with the Bolton's, the Frey's, the Lannister's and the Greyjoy's. Harry can't waste time and resources fighting Stannis Baratheon. He also can't risk his own resources and trade routes being raided by Stannis when he's been trying to choke the Bolton's out of Winterfell. Even though he has the men and could easily crush Stannis, you can't fight one enemy with another one at your doorsteps. That's ill-advised and not a smart move. Harry merely offered a truce to prevent their armies from clashing. For if he went to war with Stannis Baratheon, the Bolton's could enter the battle late and defeat Harry and Stannis.
Harry also won't ever serve a Southern King again. He believes in the independence of the Northern Kingdom and will continue to fight for Robb Stark's dream.
So many of you think Harry should fight Stannis Baratheon, but he can't afford to fight on so many fronts. His men are stretched in the North fighting for control of the North from the Bolton's. Many northern houses, are also trying to recover from the Red Wedding and cannot support Harry's war against the Bolton's. Remember a total of thirty-five thousand men were killed at the Red Wedding.
Please Note even though Harry has the largest army in the Seven Kingdoms, I will be starting to kill them off in large numbers.
His total numbers are just over a hundred thousand. After the Battle of Winterfell, thousands will start dying.