Jon and Aldarra walk behind the battlements holding hands to stand next to Tyrion as the three stare out over the wall.
A man shouts, "Form up! Get yourselves back!"
Jon nodded at Aldarra and squeezed her hand. Aldarra bent down and kissed Tyrion on the cheek. They all three left together.
—--
In an icy haze, the mangled legs of a dead horse trot forward before stopping. A white walker was sitting upon the dead horse and the entire army of white walkers standing in a line upon their horses is slowly revealed. In front of them is the faint glow of Winterfell in the distance.
—--
Sam shivers and rubs his hands as the wind whistles.
A Northman said, "Oi!"
The Northman surprises Sam by forcing the hilt of a dragonglass sword in his open hands. An armored soldier pushed by Sam is overwhelmed and anxious.
Another Northman shouts, "Move out!"
A Northman said, "MOVE!"
Sam, still shivering, walks through the dark passageway, passing many northern soldiers. He emerges in the courtyard, which is full of activity in spite of the darkness. Men chatter as they prepare. Sam stops short, cut off by soldiers, marching double time.
A Northman shouts, "Look, on the west wall!"
A soldier shouts, "Get down to the crypt!" A baby cries somewhere in the courtyard. Sam looks, then nervously changes direction.
A soldier said, "Just hold."
A man said, "We'll take him." Lyanna Mormont appears behind him, directing her men.
Lyanna shouts, "Come on, help the lads!"
A soldier said, "Yes, my lady."
Lyanna shouts, "Quickly, now! Quickly! Get those in position."
A soldier said, "Come on."
Another soldier shouts, "Close the gate!" Sam walks away and leaves.
A soldier said, "That's it."
Bran rolls by, pushed by Theon and accompanied by Alys Karstark and some northern soldiers. They walk through the courtyard on their way to the godswood.
—--
Warmed by their fires, men stand in anticipation, eyes scanning the darkness in the ramparts. Davos delivers a bucket of arrows. Sansa and Arya stare into the darkness. Sansa looks worried. Her eyes turn upwards in response to Drogon's screech. Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal fly overhead.
—--
A company of Lannister soldiers double march to join the formation. The entire Tyrell company stands at attention in rows and columns. Ahead of them stands a line of catapults, with stones and braziers by their sides. In front of the siege weapons, the entire Karstark army is mounted and waiting, swords drawn.
The Northmen also stand at the ready, fronted by Jamie and Brienne. Tormund and Beric helm the motley wilding force. The Hound and Gendry push their way to the front to join them and Edd. A nervous Sam arrives. jostling Edd.
Edd said, "Oh, for fuck's sake. You took your time."
Horses snort and whinnies. A mounted Jorah waits, seasoned and determined, yet also nervous. Ghost stands nearby. The wind blows and the darkness reveals nothing.
—--
On a nearby mountain top, Jon walks by Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal. They growl. He joins Aldarra and Tyrion to survey the great army that waits before Winterfell. The moon shines through the clouds above.
—--
On the ramparts, Arya and Sansa look out. The wind whistles. A lone rider approaches slowly amidst the darkness, catching the eye of Davos. He strains to see.
—--
Outside the walls of the castle, the rider is Melisandre. She silently leads her mount to stop in front of Jorah. She looks at the Lannister soldiers.
Melisandre said, "Tell them to lift their swords."
Jorah and Melisandre take measure of one another. Then Jorah turns to the mounted horde.
Jorah commands, shouting, "Lift your swords!"
The Lannister soldiers respond by raising their swords. Jorah returns his apprehensive gaze to Melisandre. She nudges her horse forward and stops next to a soldier. She clasps his sword in her left hand, her index finger pressed against the cutting edge. She concentrates as she offers an incantation. Melisandre speaks in Valyrian.
The blade she holds ignites in flame. Quickly, the other raised weapons blaze with flame as well, surprising the Lannister soldiers who hold them. They yell in celebration of the magic.
—--
On the ramparts, Arya and Sansa look on in amazement. The flames travel in a wave through the entire company of Lannister soldiers, lighting up the night. Davos watches cautiously.
—--
Brienne, Tormund, Beric, Sam and Edd marvel at the sea of fire and the cheers of the Lannister soldiers.
Jorah nods in approval to Melisandre. She rides quietly past the soldiers. Jorah turns his mount and draws Heartsbane with renewed vigor. Melisandre reaches the last of the Lannister soldiers and turns to ride in front of them.
—--
On the ramparts, Davos watches as Melisandre turns again and heads towards the gates of Winterfell. He is not pleased to see her again.
Davos shouts, "Open the gate!"
A soldier shouts, "Open the gate!" Arya and Sansa look over to Davos.
—--
Four soldiers lift the great beam that secures the gate. The doors open and Melisandre rides in. Davos descends the stairs to intercept her. Melisandre has dismounted and a Northman sees to her horse. She walks through the courtyard.
Davos and Melisandre meet at a raised walkway. She lowers her hood and approaches while Davos stares.
Melisandre said, "There's no need to execute me, Ser Davos. I'll be dead before dawn."
Davos gives way as Melisandre walks past. She pauses, halfway up the stairs, where she can see Arya atop the ramparts. In the distance, a soldier yells. She walks on.
—--
Arya rejoins Sansa as the mounted Lannister calvary spur their horses forward into a charge. The soldiers gallops. Jorah rides among them.
—--
Aldarra, Tyrion and Jon watch the charge. The flaming swords allow them to see the full shape of the onslaught as the Lannister calvary pulls far away from the rest of the forces.
—--
Northern soldiers light the stones on the catapults and trebuchets. The stones arc like meteors over the heads of the charging Lannister calvary.
Jorah and Ghost gallop among the calvary. The flaming stones crash to the ground in front of them. The snarls of the undead army precede them. Suddenly the two armies are upon one another, the ferocious undead emerging from the darkness, massive in size and in numbers. Some soldiers are surprised by their sudden confrontation with ghoulish giants.
—--
Aldarra, Tyrion and Jon watch the flames of the Lannister calvary swarm around their darkened foes. Burning stones continue to rain down, landing just beyond the mounted fighters. Aldarra's eyes are wide.
—--
Brienne and Jamie watch from afar. They exchange a look. The lights of the ignited swords dance in battle.
A soldier in the Lannister calvary shouts, "Cease fire!"
Slowly the lights dwindle until most are extinguished. The distant sound of battle gives way to the whistling wind. The Hound and Beric look on. The lights become sparser still. Jamie squints to make out the movements in the dark. Then the last of the fires disappear. Sam and Edd exchange a worried look while Gendry scans the horizon. An eerie quiet takes hold, save for the sound of the wind. Tormund ponders.
—--
Arya and Sansa watch silently. The wind carries the sound of a few hoofbeats. They listen. A single, riderless horse neighs as it gallops out the darkness towards Winterfell. Alys Karstark watches for more signs of the Lannister calvary. Gendry looks about, nervous.
A horse whinnies in the darkness, followed by more neighing. Riderless horses trickle back towards Winterfell. Sam is forlorn. Some Lannister men run past, retreating on foot, followed by more horses. Jorah rides from the darkness along with some of the calvary. Tormund looks carefully at Jorah for more information. Jorah is exhausted and hopeless, eyes unfocused and leaning heavily to his left side.
—--
Aldarra is shocked and horrified. She turns to find her dragons and help those people. Jon grabs her arm and stops her, reminding her of the plan.
Jon said, "The Night King is coming."
Aldarra shrugs off his grip. She fumes as she looks Jon in the eye.
Aldarra said, "The dead are already here. We should reduce their numbers."
Aldarra walks back to mount Drogon. The dragon roars.
—--
The northern army looks worried. Sam and Edd listen to the whistling wind. The Hound is edgy. Tormund and Beric stand tense and ready. Gendry grips his sword. Podrick takes a breath.
The wind blows stronger. A soft patter becomes a rumble of running feet as the undead army starts to boil forth the darkness, running at full tilt. Once visible, they come in like a tidal wave.
The Tyrell's take their braced battle stance, spears pointed forward. The army of wights crashes over them, shrieking and snarling. They stab and slice the Tyrell's as they barrel through. Tormund and the Hound stand just off to the side with the Northmen and marvel at the sheer force and number of the undead. Then the undead wave reaches them as well.
Tormund yells as Jamie, Brienne and their company brace for the coming onslaught. One soldier abandons his post in fear, pushing his way through the soldiers towards the gates of Winterfell.
Brienne shouts, "Stand your ground!"
The undead crash into their cadre at full speed and the battle begins. Jamie fights. Beric swings his flaming sword. The undead land gruesome blows to the Northmen. Brienne is knocked off her feet by a speeding wight and is trapped in a crowd of the undead. Jamie notices and leaps to help. He pierces the wight that has tackled Brienne and throws it aside. Just then, the dragons above shoot forth a wall of flame as they dive past, disintegrating a swath of wights. Jamie looks up at the dragons.
—--
Aldarra and Drogon ascend as the inferno below them burns. Aldarra surveys the battle as she looks for her next line of attack.
—--
The rush of wights continues. Tormund dispatches some of the wights while behind him, Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal lay down crossing walls of fire.
—--
Jon rides Rhaegal above the devastation, taking stock of the battle.
—--
Sam, illuminated by flames nearby, looks up at the dragons.
—--
Rhaegal banks past Arya and Sansa. Further away, Drogon spews forth an arc of flame with Viserion coming from the opposite direction. Rhaegal joins in. Arys and Sansa take in the power of the dragons and the enormity of the undead army.
—--
Jon, Tyrion and Aldarra fly side-by-side, away from Winterfell. Where the plain meets the woods, Jon sees the mounted White Walkers. The White Walkers notice the approaching dragons. Suddenly, a ferocious gale of blowing snow rolls out from the woods, enveloping Jon, Tyrion and Aldarra. Jon loses his bearings and fight to remain aloft. Aldarra and Tyrion rip through the undead below with the dragon's fiery breaths, then struggle against the great storm winds.
—--
Arya and Sansa do not like the way the battle is going.
Arya said, "Get down to the crypt."
Sansa said, "I'm not abandoning my people."
Arya said, "Take this and go."
Arya extends the hilt of a dragonglass dagger. Sansa accepts it tentatively.
Sansa said, "I don't know how to use it."
Arya said, "Stick them with the pointy end."
Sansa leaves, and Arya turns to face the battle. She takes her bow from her back.
—--
Jamie grunts as he dispatches another wight. Behind him, Podrick and Tormund fight their own foes. The arctic blast from the woods reaches them, and visibility worsens. Tormund looks up as Drogon and Aldarra spew forth another fire line of devastation.
—--
Theon stands by Bran, his bow strapped around his back. The roiling snow blast reaches them and creates a white out.