A/N: I hoped to have this finished earlier but I have been ill. I'm not sure if the timeline fits perfectly with time elapsed since the last Jon chapter but it will tell you what is happening at the Wall and we can assume just a little time has passed since the events here. I will brace myself for reactions to the content...

Chapter 77: Davos

Davos Seaworth misliked the Nightfort. It was an ill-omened place, it was old and dark and still in ill-repair even after all the work the builders had put into it. The look of the place was not what truly bothered Davos though, it was the feel of the place. It felt cursed and he tried to tell himself he only thought so because of the tales he had heard. It did not matter. Doubts still gnawed at him.

At night they heard the rats but of all the things to move in the night the rats posed the least harm. They had learned of the story of the Night's King. Davos had not dwelled on it and Stannis had even less patience for what he termed myths. They had soon learned that myth and truth were not so far apart as once thought. The attack by dead men proved that.

Up until the attack, Stannis had been despondent. He brooded on the many slights he suffered and refused to admit men to his presence, even Davos. The rejection by the Northern lords and Arya Stark rankled and made him more bitter. Melisandre's abandonment of him was salt in the wound. He shut himself away in the Nightfort, spending his time reading, fixating on the mystery of the Black Gate and admitting Shireen to his presence.

The attack changed everything. They received a raven in advance to warn them. Duty spurred Stannis into action. All the preparation in the world could not dull the shock of seeing a dead man, a corpse, walking. Stannis remained methodical in command, barking orders as men froze or ran in fear. Only three men were lost but they learned. Davos himself was one to set a corpse aflame and see it fall lifeless once more.

It took time to adjust to the experience and for things to settle down to a routine again. Strict procedures were put in place to be even better prepared the next time. Stannis called on him afterwards. He looked as drawn and haggard as ever, he had become thin and the shadows around his eyes made them look almost sunken. The sight was one Davos had grown accustomed to but now there was a brightness in his eyes that had been lacking for some time.

"I have a duty Davos. That has not changed."

Davos felt his hopes rise. "Tell me what you would have of me. I remain your loyal man."

Stannis ground his teeth. "I am not a fool Davos, I know what they say of me. They think I was led by the red woman, that I believed I was the subject of the prophecy." He unsheathed his sword, the supposed Lightbringer. "I told you once before that I do not believe in gods. My claim is just, it is right but they will not accept that. I needed her power."

"Power is not wisdom your grace."

Stannis snorted. "Melisandre certainly proved that." He inspected the sword before sheathing it again. "Selyse remains dedicated to R'hllor. She would have me find another priest or priestess to aid my cause."

The thought might have troubled him more if Stannis had not looked so repulsed by the idea. "What will you do Your Grace?"

"I would be the fool the men say I am if I listened. My claim remains sound. Robert defeated the Targaryens and I am his heir but I cannot pursue the throne. The Targaryen might take it but he is not worthy of it. You gave me good counsel once. A king must protect his people. My place is here. The war is here."

Davos might mislike the Nightfort but he could not disagree. He wished for home and for his wife but the red woman told one thing true. The cold winds were rising and with the cold came the Others.

"Your Grace." Davos stepped forward. "What you say is true but the Wall is still undermanned." The defection of the Northmen had been costly. Stannis' supporters had continued to dwindle in numbers.

Stannis made a fist. "The Iron Bank offered their support then withdrew it just as quickly. The sellswords might have made a difference."

Davos shook his head. "Men who fight for gold are not loyal. There is another who is more likely to hear your plea. The Lord Commander will not take the action required. His oath should have it make no difference but he will resist nonetheless."

Stannis ground his teeth again. "Speak your mind Davos. Who do you mean?"

Davos took a deep breath. "Arya Stark."

The King's face darkened. "That child woman spat on me. She is rumoured to dabble in sorcery."

Davos had heard the newest rumours. He forged on. "You said you needed power. What do rumours of sorcery matter?"

Stannis did not look appeased. "The North used me to divest them of Boltons then turned their backs on me the moment a more likeable option presented itself. That girl will not heed me."

The Arya Stark Davos had seen was one who put duty first, he was sure of that. She was not unlike Stannis in that but unfortunately they were both stubborn and proud. He remembered the boy, Lord Rickon. Both Starks cared deeply about the North. It was Northern pride and a hunger for Northern justice which drew their men south.

"She is of the North" Davos pointed out. "The Starks are raised to respect the Night's Watch. Her men will follow her command and she has sway over the Targaryen prince. The Northmen will not remain in the South when their homes are at risk."

Stannis snorted again. "I can imagine what type of sway she has. I cannot see her as an ally. She is no queen and her brother is no king. I will not suffer another pretender."

"What of the cost Your Grace? When the dead men overpower us the pretenders will be all who remain."

Stannis gave him a withering look and the silence lingered. "Leave me Davos."

Davos sighed but he knew that look. "As you wish, Your Grace."

By the next morning Stannis was still grinding his teeth but he had clearly thought on Davos' counsel. When Davos joined him he was giving orders. He turned his attention to Davos.

"We must go to Castle Black. I must see the Lord Commander."

Preparations were already underway and they were ready to leave by the next day. When Davos stopped to collect Devan who remained Stannis' squire, Shireen looked forlorn. Davos felt for the girl. The Nightfort was not a welcoming place, it was not a home and certainly not suited for a princess.

"We should not be gone long princess" he assured her.

Shireen nodded and offered a smile. The fool, Patchface, twitched and shuffled.

"Under the sea the dead fish float, up here the fish will gloat. I know, I know oh oh oh."

Davos was unsettled. He saw that Shireen looked troubled too.

"He keeps saying that" she explained.

Davos made himself smile. "Your father will make certain you are kept safe. The Nightfort is well prepared in case of another attack."

Shireen took his hand. "I know my Lord. Father has been most unhappy. Will the Lady Melisandre return?"

She was stronger than she looked. Davos shook his head at the thought of Shireen reassuring him. She truly was a sweet child. She is a fine heir for Stannis. He watched Devan bid Shireen a warm farewell and they set off to join the party bound for Castle Black.

The journey between the castles only took a few days. The weather was terrible and they dare not travel North of the Wall where the dead things roamed. A raven preceded their arrival and a steward met them in the yard. Stannis shrugged off the offer of refreshment, moving towards the King's Tower.

"Tell your Lord Commander I require his presence."

The steward faltered. "S-sire, the Lady Melisandre requested-"

Stannis cut him off. "You have my instructions."

The steward nodded and they were shown through to the King's Tower. Stannis stopped still just as they reached the steps and Davos stopped with him to see what had caught his gaze. A young black brother was passing, a damaged breastplate tucked under his arm. Davos could not contain his shock and he heard one of the black brothers assisting them snigger.

For a brief moment the close resemblance had him thinking it was Edric Storm. Then the man stopped and took a knee. He had the same black hair and Baratheon blue eyes but not the Florent ears. Those blue eyes contained the same suspicion as Stannis, the jaw clenched in a similar way. He looked as though he smiled just as infrequently.

"I know you" Stannis remarked. Silence lingered for what seemed like an eternity.

The man remained on his knee. "I am Ser Gendry, Your Grace."

Stannis finally allowed Ser Gendry to rise. He is one of Robert's bastards. Davos looked at Stannis and saw his unhappiness. He does not like the reminder. It only took him a moment longer to think of the red woman. He was immediately ill at ease. The young man was looking at Stannis with what looked like resentment. In fact, the two men wore almost identical expressions.

"Do you know who your father was?" Davos asked.

Ser Gendry pushed his shaggy black hair out of his eyes and gave Davos a look of reproach. "I have no father" he said stiffly. "I only have brothers."

It was the Night's Watch line but Davos saw through it by his expression and the way he glanced at Stannis. He knows he is Robert's bastard. Ser Gendry began to look impatient.

"The Lord Commander needs me to get back to the armory. Do I have your leave, Your Grace?"

Stannis grunted out his assent and Ser Gendry strode away. Davos watched him leave and saw the young man look back at them. When he turned back to Stannis he saw that Stannis had proceeded up the steps into the King's Tower. He followed and once they entered the quarters where Stannis would reside, he waited for them to be left alone.

"The armourer is one of Robert's bastards."

Stannis looked at him sharply. "You do not need me to confirm it Davos. Your eyes are as good as mine. I saw him in Kings Landing with Jon Arryn."

So he is the one. Davos knew the tale. If the red woman left him untouched, he might be the key to proving Stannis' claim. The presence of the Targaryens however complicated things. Davos knew they would care little. Daenerys was on her way with dragons and Aegon had the support of the majority of the High lords. Neither would have much regard for the legitimacy of Stannis' claim as Robert's heir.

"You should meet with him" Davos urged. He saw Stannis begin to grind his teeth. "You are in need of an armourer's services" he reminded him. The response was a grudging nod.

Davos went to his own quarters briefly before returning to Stannis in time for his meeting with Jon Snow. Melisandre was with the Lord Commander though Snow did not look happy about it. He took a knee before Stannis and Davos noted Melisandre's expression of disapproval. Stannis bade him rise and Snow took a seat.

"What do you intend to do with Ser Gendry" Davos blurted, ignoring Stannis' annoyance.

The Lord Commander looked almost amused. "He is an armourer. I put him in the armoury so that the Night's watch might have use of his skill."

Stannis interjected. "Do not play the fool. You know what he is."

Jon Snow's expression gave nothing away. "He is our armourer Sire."

Melisandre spoke up. "He is much more than that. You all know this. Through his father-"

Snow became stony faced. "That is enough my lady. The blood of the father means little and none to me. He is a black brother. His blood is no matter to the Night's Watch."

Davos watched the two of them. He means more than what he says. Uncertainty flickered on Melisandre's heart shaped face but she fell silent. Davos glanced at Stannis. He was looking at the red woman with unconcealed bitterness, no doubt brooding on the wrongs she had committed.

"What are you doing here Melisandre."

Her red eyes fixed on Stannis. "I wish to make amends. We are all servants fighting against one true enemy, the Great Other. I misinterpreted the signs, that is true but we are still on the same side."

Stannis did not look at all placated. Davos tried to turn his focus away from the grudge. "My Lord" he said to Jon Snow. "His Grace requested your presence for a reason. There are matters of importance we must discuss."

"Your sister" Stannis ground out. "You must send for her. You are aware the Wall is undermanned."

Snow paled and although he did not say a word Davos read his resistance.

"He cannot" Melisandre said smoothly. "The time will come but it is not yet here. I have seen her. She will return North without our asking."

The Lord Commander's mouth was an unhappy line. "This is not Arya's place. You made me a promise."

The red woman did not back down. "Promises will not matter. Your wishes will not matter. She will come. There are other more pressing matters. I have seen the dead men coming. Those who perished at sea have risen again."

Stannis began to pace. "You mean those from Hardhome. This is all the more reason to contact the Stark girl"

Melisandre shook her head. "It is too late for that. They are on their way. I have seen them and I have seen a sea of skulls."

Davos thought for a moment. "We must return to the Nightfort."

"You cannot. You must stay here." The priestess' red eyes almost burned into them and her robes swished as she moved across the room. "I do not wish you harm but harm will befall you if you leave."

The tension in the room made it feel like a standoff. Stannis broke the silence. "Leave us."

The Lord Commander left respectfully and Melisandre stayed close by his side. Davos saw her thread her arm through Snow's as they walked. She spoke in a low tone but Davos was certain he heard mention of Azor Ahai and a dragon. Stannis interrupted his train of thought.

"I must find safety for Shireen."

It was something Davos had considered previously. He voiced his thoughts preparing for resistance. "Mayhaps Winterfell might offer refuge."

It was received about as well as he might have expected. "She will be a hostage."

"She will be alive" Davos corrected "and she will be safe. The North is independent. I do not believe they would harm her."

Stannis was silent for some time then he nodded. "Send the ravens."

The attack came more suddenly than anybody expected. The wights might be slow, shambling creatures but they descended in much greater numbers than ever before and they attacked from both sides of the Wall. Davos feared for those in the other castles along the Wall and thanked the gods that his wife remained safe. His son, Devan, was not. Davos looked for him fighting by Stannis' side.

Men were positioned strategically throughout Castle Black, on top of the Wall and on the stairs leading to the top of the Wall. Night fires burned and there was a steady procession lighting torches. The night air echoed with curses as men fumbled and ran. The initial order and discipline did not last long. Davos heard Stannis shouting commands from ground level at the castle. Jon Snow gave his own commands from atop the Wall. Each of them had strategic positions where they might each reach the men and try to ensure success or at least maximum survival.

Melisandre stood atop the Wall with the Lord Commander. Davos could not see her but he saw her sorcery. At intervals the sky lit up with flame and figures fell from the Wall. He watched little of it, intent on following the orders of his King. The men on the ground and positioned throughout the castle had bows, the arrows set aflame to combat the dead men. Barrels of burning pitch fell from the Wall but that had little effect on the ground. They made do with the arrows. Davos himself wielded a torch and Stannis armed himself with Lightbringer.

He saw Devan with his own torch. The boy looked afraid but he stood his ground. The sentry's horn blew at intervals and he heard the regular command being shouted to rearm.

"Again" Stannis shouted and another wave of arrows fired at the shuffling shapes.

We need more valyrian steel. The sword in Stannis' hand flamed and cut through the men with ease. The slightest contact with the steel did for them. It did not even require a mortal blow. Arrows were less effective. Many missed their mark. Torches required too much close contact and fumbles increased the risk but they persisted.

The men tired as the hours wore on. Those by Stannis' side dwindled and Davos noted that one still standing was the armourer, Gendry. He rather reminded Davos of a young Stannis. He might have Robert's build but his determination and body language was that of Stannis. Davos drew up alongside him and saw that Devan was no longer there.

"My son" he asked, trying not to panic. "Have you seen him?"

Gendry answered as Stannis disposed of another foe. "He could barely stand m'lord. I sent him to the armoury."

Davos felt relief rush through him. The numbers of the enemy finally dwindled. He saw the weariness on the faces of Wildlings, black brothers and soldiers alike. They hesitated to let their guard down when no dead men appeared for a time. Even once the men on the ground began to retreat back into the castle and survey the damage, those on the Wall lingered.

The Lord Commander looked haggard and aged when he came down. He spoke quietly with Stannis, discussing their losses. His albino direwolf stayed close by his side and Davos noted the wolf let the red woman touch it when she approached. Jon Snow turned to Gendry briefly.

"Tell the men to get rest while they can. Summon those who have already had respite. We must burn the dead."

Ser Gendry nodded and left promptly. Davos knew he must be tired but he did not hesitate. Stannis watched him leave and Davos wondered what he was thinking. A steward brought hot soup out to them while Stannis walked with the red woman and Snow, supervising the burning. Dozens had died, many of them wildlings but given that so many wildlings resided near the Wall now Davos supposed that was to be expected.

"You should go to your son" Melisandre prompted.

Stannis nodded and Davos did not delay. He found Devan sleeping in the armourer's quarters. He was unharmed apart from a cut on his wrist. Ser Gendry found him there. The young man looked over Devan before glancing at Davos.

"I can wake him Ser" Davos offered. "You must need your own rest."

Gendry shook his head and his thick black hair fell into his eyes. "Leave him be m'lord. I have more to do before I can sleep."

Davos watched him moving around the armoury, putting everything in its place and gathering new items in a very focused manner. His face was screwed up in concentration as he made his selections.

"You are very like him" Davos observed.

Ser Gendry's head snapped up and Davos saw the anger in his eyes. "I am nothing like him" he spat. "He was a sot and a womaniser."

"You mistake me" Davos said quickly. "I meant you are very like Stannis."

The anger seeped out of him to be replaced with a doubtful expression. "Oh" he said. "I wouldn't know. He seems alright."

Davos fought the urge to smile. Gendry begrudged his words just like Stannis too. He excused himself. They lingered at Castle Black for some time, despite the fears held about the other castles. Recovering from the attack took a while and Stannis wished to converse with the Lord Commander at length about future preparations, allocations of men, methods of defense and sharing of resources.

Ravens came in from the other castles along the Wall, all reporting attacks. Castle Black bore the brunt of it. It had clearly been specifically targeted. As the days passed, nothing came from the Nightfort. The silence was chilling and while Stannis remained focused on his duties far longer than even Davos expected, as time stretched on with no word even he showed concern.

They gathered the supplies needed for the return trip. The Lord Commander sent some wildlings with them despite Stannis looking rather displeased. He was still talking strategy during his final exchange with Jon Snow.

"As difficult as the attack was sire, we have yet to face the Others" the Lord Commander was saying. "I fear that will be our truest test and I fear for if we fail."

Stannis grunted. "The Wall will hold them for now."

The Lord Commander did not look appeased. For a young man, he looked worn down. The burdens of his position were clearly weighing on him. Melisandre swept forward and Davos started when he realised she spoke to him, not Stannis.

"Stannis is going to need you Onion knight. He will need you more than he ever has. You must keep him focused on the enemy."

Davos bristled. "Stannis knows his duty and he knows I remain his man. I do not need your reminders priestess."

She smiled and it almost looked sad. "You should heed me nonetheless."

They set off for the Nightfort and Davos saw the armourer watch them leave. Stannis was speaking of the ravens, griping about the possibility of a reply from Winterfell and what it might contain. The weather hindered them less on their return journey and they made good time. Nothing could prepare them however for the sight which greeted them when they arrived.

They did not see any dead outside the castle which surprised him. At the entrance though was a head mounted on a pike. It was hard to tell how long it had been there but from the degree of decay Davos wondered if it might have been mounted not long after they left. Despite the decomposition it was still recognisable by the tattoos on the face.

It was Patchface.

Davos recalled the last words he heard from Shireen and began to hurry. Two men emerged to greet them and their faces only increased his fears. Stannis did not seem to have grasped the full ramifications. His first words were a reprimand.

"Why did you not send a raven?"

They looked at one another and did not speak straight away. "We did not know how to tell you Sire" one finally offered.

Davos rushed into the castle, looking frantically. He heard the footsteps behind him. The chambers were empty as he searched. Of the men left in the Nightfort, few remained of the garrison. All had identical traumatised expressions, even the seasoned men.

"Where are they?" he asked. "Where is the princess?"

They pointed out to the yard and Davos saw Stannis striding in the direction. They both stopped still once outside. The bodies were piled high. Somebody had attempted to burn them but the task was not completed. Davos made himself look but he could not see Shireen.

"It was the fool" one man said. "He lost what wits he had while everybody slept. The Princess and the Queen were the first and then..."

The story was told in fragments. The Nightfort came under attack by wights but Patchface had already done his worst by then. Some of the dead rose to join them. Davos watched Stannis, trying to figure out what he could say. The King's jaw worked as he looked at the dead.

"Burn them" he choked out. "Burn them all."

A/N: When you were worried about the battle in KL I almost wanted to give you a warning that brutal stuff was coming earlier than you might expect. I'm really sorry all. I didn't completely make this up myself. If you google Patchface theories you will find some really disturbing stuff. It is believed there are foreshadowings that he will kill Shireen. I decided not to include the messed up details here.

Wights on the Southern side of the Wall during the attack is because they managed to get past the sentries on the Wall... they crossed without being seen
Next chapter will begin the coverage of the battle in Kings Landing