... I am back.
Chapter 62: Farewell My Heart and Soul
Arthur
The Dread Wolf let out a sigh as he gazed upon the North, particularly White Harbor.
After spending nearly a month at sea, significant time had been lost. However, during this time, no raven had been sent from the Wall. This left him with mixed emotions; nervous that the Wall may have fallen to the dead, yet relieved that it may still be standing.
As he gazed upon the bustling harbor, he let out a relieved sigh, realizing that the situation was not as dire as he had initially thought.
Mya and his mother approached, "Do you plan to take them all to Winterfell?" Howland asked, joining them a moment later.
"No, we'll split ten thousand from the host here and march them to bolster the Wall's castles." It's the first line of defense, Winterfell will be the second, and Moat Cailin shall be the third.
Jaime and six hundred of the men who chose the Wall will also be heading for the Wall, he thought it peculiar that he and Jaime barely spoke since they set sail for the North.
Either way, with several thousand men manning the Wall and its Castles, should slow the dead or stop them in their tracks, for if, in the coming battles, Winterfell and the Wall fall, then they may need to retreat further South. He hopes that ain't so, and they defeat the Night King right then and when he shows himself.
"Then let me go, Arthur, I shall lead them up." Howland offered, and Arthur wanted to disagree, to say he should be at the frontline of defense as his father would have done if he had survived. "Let me repay House Stark; let me repay your father and Lya."
A smile formed, and he reached over to shake Howland's hand, "Send word should anything happen, anything." He insisted, and the Lord of Greywater Watch nodded without a word. "We will send dragonglass with you, have Castle Blacks and Eastwatch's smiths forge weapons from them."
Mya, Arthur, and the Southern armies set out on a long overnight march to Winterfell after greeting and speaking with Wyman Manderly who went about how glad he was able to keep his Crown, he had mentioned that he made sure the possibility wasn't possible which made Wyman break into laughter.
Looking onward, he hoped that Jon and Daenerys were making their way with their half of the coalition.
Arthur observed that the snow had become much deeper since he left. Initially, the snow was only a few inches, but now it has reached the knees of both men and horses. The winter winds have become rougher, and he was almost knocked off twice.
The wagons needed repairs multiple times due to the frozen wheels. It caused some frustration, but all the stress vanished when he caught sight of his home's walls.
"Arthur? About our child... " He turned and faced Mya, the cold adding a rosey red to her cheeks.
"You, Sansa, and Val should leave for the South. Jon and I should be the Starks fighting for our home." He knows they won't, it goes hand in hand with his choice of falling for stubborn women who follow their own minds and hearts. "Yet I know you both won't. We will decide where to go after the Long Night ends."
Mya nodded, "Yes, till after the dead are stopped."
Arthur looked up as the harsh gusts of wind filled the air, and a deafening roar echoed through the sky. He saw Jon and his Queen flying their dragons toward Winterfell.
The column of Unsullied resembled a massive black snake, guiding the way to his residence, with the other armies presumably trailing behind.
Upon his return home, he dismounted from his horse and embraced Sansa as she ran over to hug him and Jon. However, her joy was short-lived when she asked, "Where's Arya?" He was at a loss for words and didn't know how to respond.
Luckily, Jon took care of it for them. "Arya and Edric departed to make their own journey, Sansa. At least we know she's okay and secure... Wherever she might be."
Arya's decision to leave seemed to upset Sansa, and she wore a frown on her face. He had reacted similarly when Jon first shared the news, but eventually came to accept it. "Sansa," he called out, touching her shoulder. However, the eldest Stark sister brushed his hand away and left.
Daenerys approached them, departing from Jorah Mormont's company who was currently speaking to Maege Mormont.
"How do you and your pets like the North, Queen Daenerys?" He asked with a bit of smugness, seeing the Dragon Queen shivering slightly due to the weather.
"Brother?" Jon warned and he chuckled, raising his hands up to let it go. "We are here together now,"
"King Arthur, I have observed a missing number in my army. Would you kindly inform me of their whereabouts?" Nothing escapes her, does it? Arthur removed his gloves and felt the cold embrace it.
"I sent 10,000 Dornishmen and some Commanders led by Lord Reed to bolster the Wall, Eastwatch to be precise." She didn't appreciate him telling her banners where to go, "Bran saw the Night King eyeing Eastwatch; the Wall is our first defense against the dead."
Jon cleared his throat, "He is right, Dany."
"Right, he may have been, but that doesn't give him the prerogative to order my armies where to go." Daenerys frustratedly said but calmed a second later, "What's done is done, let's begin and get our people ready for the dead." Yes, let's see it done.
It wasn't till the Hour of the Wolf that he could finally lie back on his bed, sore from fighting battles, traveling by sea, and riding on horses.
Winterfell and a good league or two resemble that of what Jon described Hardhome before it fell, just thousands of tents and people walking about building defensive catapults and trebuchets or deepening the trenches and filling them with Wildfire.
He was a little put-off, but an unextinguishable flame should aid them greatly should the dead get past the Wall.
"So my husband returns at last?" His eyes opened, and he rose to smile at Val as she closed the door behind her. She was dressed in furs and had her silver wolf crown he had made for her sitting on her head. "I half expected a Southern whore to have stolen you right from under me." He missed her accent very much.
"I didn't see you when I first arrived. Where have you been?" He asked of her, and she smiled, lowering and kissing him fiercely, which he reciprocated. "How is our son?" He brought a hand to her womb and smiled at feeling his heir kick at his touch.
"I was away to the woods, certain things must be done before Greyfang enters the world." He looked at her with an expression before remembering what Jon had mentioned.
Greyfang? It has a nice ring to it, "Come, lie with me… " He whispered and helped Val slip into bed, where they just lay for several minutes, "I want to talk to you about… Something."
She turned her head to look at him, and Arthur found himself a little unsure, thinking she may hit him or worse, but he swallowed his fears to spit it out. "I want you and our baby to leave here, you are far too along, and I don't want to see you in the coming battles." She started for a long moment before even uttering a response.
"You die on me, I swear to the Gods I will hunt you and tear your blue eyes out with my knife," He chuckled at what Val said, a threat or a promise as in if he does, he and all within Winterfell will be Wights.
Leaning down, he kissed her tender lips, gentler than before. "I promise you I will."
He was happy to have gotten her to flee South with any other who don't wish to fight, White Harbor, then to the Vale, and finally, to King's Landing should the worst occur.
The next morning he was by the weirwood tree, running a stone on Dawn while thinking about his cousin Edric and sister Arya.
"There's Dawn, I haven't seen it since Ser Arthur wielded it against the Laughing Knight." Arthur stopped, and his eyes narrowed as it rose to meet Jaime's own green pools.
Grey Wind and Dusk growled at the man, both feeling his mixed emotions for the Kingslayer who he was sure was with the Dornishmen heading up to the Wall.
"I thought I sent you to the Wall? Could have sworn Daenerys made her wish known to never see you again." He recalled and rose from his seat, "Why are you here, Ser Jaime?"
Jaime sighed and shrugged, "I wanted to see if my pupil would honor me, I do plan to serve my sentence... After this." He chuckled and approached the Young Lion, taking the cup of wine and glancing at it before drinking it. "I want to thank you, sparing my life was no small feat, especially with how Daenerys sees me and my family."
Arthur can never look past what Jaime has done, but the Knight was fair to him when he could very well have turned him away, as Jaime taught him to wield the sword as well as he does.
It's a shame he couldn't have tested his mettle against the Kingslayer; it may have rivaled the duel between Daemon Blackfyre and Gwayne Corbray.
"She has her father's fire, that's certain, but she seems reasonable." However long that will last, he doesn't know. "You have my protection for tonight, Ser Jaime. Tomorrow, you will ride for Castle Black and begin a renewal."
Jaime accompanied him to the main gate, Val and over 300 others were prepared on wagons to travel to White Harbor.
Jon and Daenerys were off flying, Arthur chuckled, thinking that the Dragon Queen didn't want to unexpectedly run into Jaime while he was here. Some looked at the Kingslayer with disdain, and it was warranted, the war between the North and South is a wound not to be mended for many years.
Sansa stood next to Maege Mormont's daughter, Lyanna, who had come from Bear Island. Both Ladies were chatting amongst themselves as he and Jaime approached.
He had wanted to know how Sansa was doing, especially since Nymeria is without her master and companion and, over the time they were away, had stuck beside her littermates companion.
"Lady Lyanna Mormont, welcome back to Winterfell. Your Mother and Cousin are about the castle." Lyanna gave him a stiff nod and sent a scowl toward Jaime before bidding farewell to Sansa and sauntering off. "How are you, sister? I know Arya's departure has caused some... " Sansa stopped him by embracing him tightly, which startled him.
She whispered in his ear then, "I understand, Arthur." She pulled away and smiled, "I actually have decided to go with my Good-Sister and Lady Allyria Dayne to White Harbor." She had no idea how relieved he was to know this, elated, to be more specific.
Arthur breathed, "Should anything happen, I will send word. Could I trust you to do the same, if Val goes into labor, I would wish to- " She stopped him again, nodding yes.
"I promise, brother." Sansa turned to Jaime, "Might I ask how Tyrion is doing? I hear he is the Hand of the Queen."
Jaime smirked, "Ah, he is well as I recall. He rules his Queen's Realm while we fight and die for your Brother's Realm." He looked at Jaime with a chastising eye which the older knight noticed, and retracted his comment, "I will fight tooth and nail for the North, my Lady or should I say Good Sister? As you and my brother are still married."
"A marriage has to be consummated, Ser Jaime. I assure you my maidenhead is intact." Jaime seemed impressed at his sister's response. The Knight bowed out and walked off, leaving them both alone. "I spoke with Daenerys this morning, and gauged her mind as Cersei taught me," Sansa said, and he was a bit curious about what she found.
"Think she will honor our alliance? Will she keep the peace after the dead are defeated?" These were honest questions he might ask Jon, but his brother is clearly in love with Daenerys and might not see her worst traits as everyone else does.
Sansa frowned, "Let's just say we should be glad that she is tied to us in marriage. As for Jon, however?"
"I said let it go, Sansa, I made my choice. Father gave his life keeping the secret of his birth hidden, we should too." He saw she understood, and he embraced her again, "I should see you off. The farther you lot are, the safer you are." She smiled, and he led her to the wagon she shared with Val and Allyria. His mother was saying farewell to her sister again... Possibly the final time.
Val stood next to him, Grey Wind and Dusk trailing behind her. "Sansa will be taking the wolves with, extra protection for you and the baby." He whispered and placed his hand on Val's womb. "I'll miss you. Last night, I was so much warmer." He joked, and she scoffed at his lewd comment.
"I'm sure Queen Mya can warm you enough, no?" He frowned, and she sighed, "You both knew one another in a way we've only begun. I understand, even if I don't like it."
"... She's having my child," He saw her eyes widen in surprise, "I want you to know that me sending you to safety over her means something to me, I love you and you alone."
She rested a hand on his cheek and lightly smacked it, "Quit talking like you're going to die; you are not. You made a promise." That he did.
He remained at the front gate, watching them leave, Jon joined him after landing Rhaegal in the courtyard.
"We should be hearing from Lord Commander Edd in some time, maybe you should rest, brother," Jon suggested, and he smiled, turning to his twin, who he's come to terms with all the secrets he knows.
"Perhaps you are- "
Melisandre approached, Bran, being dragged in his chair beside her, which caused Arthur and Jon some confusion, "What did you see, Bran?" He asked, sensing something was wrong, that he never sees his brother and Melisandre side by side.
Daenerys and Grey Worm joined them a second later as Bran spoke, "The dead are laying siege to the Wall, attacking Castle Black and Eastwatch."
AN: I have returned after a rather long absence away, I guess I did just need to find my mojo again and now I am prepared to finish this thing.