Raventree Hall, The Riverlands

Dareon sat at the high table in Raventree Hall the seat of House Blackwood deep in thought. The past few days had been chaotic and had stirred a mixture of emotions within him. The combined Northern and Riverland forces measuring in at 35,000 had crushed the remaining Lannister and Frey forces at the Red Fork, Emmon Frey and Lord Bracken were both killed, not a single soldier on the Lannister side was left alive, the Riverlands belonged to the Kingdom of the North once again and yet Dareon could not find it in himself to share in his Lords' and men's' joy.

For him the battle had been one he'd had to fight, not out of any sense of purpose but because he just had to. Unlike Robb, he was not fighting for justice, that had been gotten when the Boltons had been put to the sword, true he had been fighting to secure his niece's kingdom to ensure she could grow up in a peaceful land, and yet when he had returned the maester had informed him his niece had caught the flu and had died. Dareon had not exactly known how to react to that piece of news, he no longer felt like he had any tears left to cry, they'd all been shed first when father had died, then when he heard about Robb and mother's deaths. Robb's death had hurt the most though, without his twin Dareon felt empty so very empty, it was like a part of his whole being was missing and no matter how many battles he fought and no matter the fact that Rickon was alive and safe and that Arya was also back and safe, without Robb there to share in his achievements it almost didn't seem to matter. Dareon felt bad about feeling like that, he knew it was not the right thing to think when Winter had finally come and his people truly needed him now more than ever especially with what Jon had written to him about from the wall.

With that thought Dareon read through Jon's letter once again just to make sure he had read correctly:

Dear Dareon,

I hope that this letter finds you in good health.

No doubt you heard about the attempt on my life by my fellow brothers, but somehow despite severe stab wounds I survived. I had the most curious of dreams during my time sidelined from main duty, something to do with a tower and a lady who looked so much like Arya, it hurts and something about a promise and a child.

Anyway enough about my non-sensical dreams. I am writing to you to appeal for help and assistance, the Nights watch is struggling to deal with an ancient foe, a foe so ancient that they have been incorporated into stories. Remember the stories that Old Nan used to tell us about the Long Night and the others? Well they aren't stories the others are real, and they are coming south with haste, we just managed to prevent a breach of wights (that's living dead people!) from crossing. We are deeply in need of aid and supplies. So as your brother and as Lord Commander of the Nights Watch I am begging you to come to our aid before it's too late.

Yours Faithfully

Lord Commander Jon Snow

Dareon had no idea what to make his brother's letter, but he did know not to question what it said, that was something he had learnt to do over time, especially as he had found that the saying his parents had been fond of saying seemed to hold some merit "Dark Wings, Dark Words."

If the watch needed his help, then it was his duty as King in The North and Lord of Winterfell to ensure they had this help. This was why he decided to summon Lord Umber.

"Your Grace? Lord Umber is here to see you."

"Very good send him in."

The Greatjon Umber cut an impressive and intimidating figure at over six feet tall and with a hulking frame to match, but there was no doubting his loyalty to the Starks whatsoever which was why Dareon felt he could trust him to lead the first round of northern forces to the Wall.

"Lord Umber, I have a request to make of you, if you would be so willing."

"It would be my honour Your Grace, what can I be of assistance with?"

"My brother, the Lord Commander of the Nights Watch has written to me requesting aid to fight a millennia old foe, not the wildlings but something much more sinister and more deadly. I need you to lead a force of men say about 20,000 men up north to the wall to assist them fight this threat. The rest of the forces will join your men after we have made a trip to the Saltpans. Do you agree?"

"Of course Your Grace. Just one question, which is this deadly foe that we are required to fight if it is not the Wildlings?"

"You have heard of the Long Night My Lord?"

"Of course, but surely that is just a child's tale?"

"No my lord far from it, it is slowly becoming true again, the foe we go to fight is the same foe that our ancestors fought millennia a go."

"Are you sure of this your grace?"

"As sure as I have been of anything Lord Umber."

"Then I will gladly go and crush these scumbags, who dare threaten our homes."

"Good, you will leave at first light tomorrow."

With that discussion done, Dareon dismissed Lord Umber from the hall, and began re-reading the second letter which he had been presented with upon his return from the battlefield that morning.

Your Grace,

You may not know who I am, but I was a close friend with both you father and mother whilst they lived.

I write to inform you that, I have after much hard work managed to locate and find your sister Sansa, the scoundrel Lord Baelish had hid her amongst us here in the Vale. Needless to say that upon finding her, I managed to talk with her and she is now on her way to the Saltpans, she should be there within two days of you receiving this raven.

I wish to inform you that the Lords Declarant of the Vale wish to pledge fealty to you and to be incorporated into your domain and Kingdom, we have been out of this war for far too long and it shames me to think so.

I hope that this is enough for you to accept that the Vale is truly sincere in its wish to help the Starks and Winterfell gain justice once and for all.

Yours Faithfully,

Lord Bronze Yohn Royce.

Lord Protector of the Vale.

This second letter had sent tingles up Dareon's skin, the very fact that this man had found Sansa and had decided not to send her back to King's Landing but to send her on her way back to him, made him feel very happy and indebted to Lord Royce. The pledge of fealty to him also presented Dareon with a good source of men to send to the wall to help fight with the Nights Watch. He had to ensure that Sansa was definitely going to be at the Saltpans when he go there so he stopped the maester and asked "Maester, when did this letter arrive precisely was it today or yesterday or earlier?"

The maester paused for a minute, before saying "Your Grace, both letters arrived yesterday whilst you were out on the field."

Dareon briefed a sigh of relief; he could get to the Saltpans within two days if he rode hard enough and ensure that he and Sansa got there at roughly the same time. "Thank you maester, if you could take these three letters I've written and send them out at once, I would be very thankful." Dareon upon receiving the letters had read them and then written out responses, one to send to the Wall informing Jon of the incoming northern force which would help him, till Dareon could send more men, another was to Bronze Yohn thanking him for everything and asking if he could send as many men to the wall to help the fight there, the third and final letter was to the Saltpans to inform them of his arrival in a few days and to make the appropriate preparations.

The Maester took the three letters from Dareon's outstretched hand and said "Of course Your Grace. Will there be anything more?"

Dareon paused for a minute then said "No nothing more thank you, go and get some rest after those letters are sent. Thank You."

Once the maester had left the hall, Dareon sagged back in his chair and let out yet another sigh. The pack was nearly complete, Sansa was coming home. He would get her, then march north, then to the wall.

Outside the halls of Raventree Hall, snow was falling onto the ground in steady drifts... Winter had truly come.