Warg Maiden
Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones
Languages:
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Old Tongue
Chapter 30: Hardhome
Imogen's POV
For the next several days, I watched the coast as the armada of ships sailed along the Bay of Seals and into the Shivering Sea. The coastal side of the North was far colder, as the mist and drops from waves splashed the coldness onto my clothes. I shuddered, adjusting my furs.
The clothes I wore were not the same when crossing the Wall. The Crows had taken them and, out of spite, burned them. However, when Jon returned from the Nightfort, he brought clothes my mother had given him. Dark heavy leather leggings with wool inside and the wool tunic that went to my knees and split at the front. A hard leather vest with etching of my clan's artwork. And lastly, the Dire cloak. A wolf's pelt made the collar in black and gray fur. Along with a new torc my mother gave me. Since my previous one was broken by Jon Snow.
My hair was braided with white paint. Charcoal smeared along my eyes, while blue paint was down my chin, three along my right eye, down the cheek, and a crescent around my left temple.
I sighed, tracing the clasp forged into a wolf's head. The many layers of clothes kept me warm, as I was used to the climate, but if I had gone farther North, I would be in all furs. The Dires were always different from the others. We kept the First Men's customs in our clothes and weapons. Our morals kept us from falling back, while most clans lost who they were. Other clans dressed like Dires, those who lived in towns and were stationed.
There are ninety clans. We all come from the Sealgaireans and those who migrated to the True North to fight a common foe. The Others. For thousands of years, our ancestors tried to cultivate the True North. There were settlements, small cities, and towns. Yet, as the separation from the Andals occurred, resources became limited, with riots and feuds building between clans. Many burned to the ground, for a home is nothing when it is all but ash.
Many clans took refuge in specific locations. The Dires found several hot springs in the Frostfang. The mountains became dense to hide the valley my people took advantage of. The only place where warmth simmered in the air due to the springs. Meanwhile, others found refuge in other areas, as many took shelter in the forests, near rivers, and caves. Maybe the Cave-dwellers had something going. For I recall, when with Mance, the deeper you went in, the warmer it was.
Anyway, there was one city that lasted longer than anyone. And that was Hardhome. It was a settlement that lies on the tip of the peninsula Storrold's Point on the Shivering Sea. Located beneath the great cliffs pocketed with cave mouths. It sits on a sheltered bay and has a harbor. The location had teemed with fish and colonies of seals and sea cows. There were many resources, and with the snow constantly coming, simply melting it, provided fresh water.
The Free Folk settled, and four clans managed the city. It was a trading post for the eastern clans, and trading flourished with southerners who sought exotic furs and traders across the Narrow Sea from Essos. There was also a chance to create a kingdom in the North, as many settlements grew along the True North.
Six hundred years ago, the Great Fire happened. No one knows what truly happened. How this fire was started, but the seas were silent, and the winds carried the flames from one wooden longhouse to the next. The fire rose so high that many thought the sun had risen again across the North while snow of ash blanketed the Haunted Forest. Leaving nothing but the massive wall of wood and stone. The Gate of Shivers. Any survivors were carried off into slavery by the slavers across the Narrow Seas. And those who managed to escape were slaughtered by the Skaggos for food or bed to wife.
In the last century, Hardhome tried to rebuild itself. Still, with limited resources, they could not build the Longhouses and shelters for everyone. The main longhouse was used for gatherings and meetings among the chieftains. Known as the Council otherwise, people lived in their tents or huts.
Hardhome, a city lost in the ashes. Because of the Great Fire, no one dared build a city again. Hardhome had two thousand years, and it was gone in a flash.
Skadi nudges with her snout, sensing the sorrow within. I petted her behind the ear, for I was lost in thought that history weighed me down. There were times I felt like I was out of place. I don't feel like a member of the Free Folk or even a Dire. Mance once said it can be challenging to reconnect with what we truly are when exposed to the Southerner's way. Bloodraven had taught me to fight, read, and write. He taught me languages, advanced vocabulary, and basic mathematics. The Raven gave knowledge from the past in Westeros and Essos.
I've seen death in people who died before I was born and those when I'm still alive. I've seen things that no one else will understand. My people can easily see the Others and the curse they placed on our lands. But some things are impossible to grasp.
I sighed, staring out to see Hardhome off in the distance. Where the Eastern Clans reside with members from the North and South. Along the shores were several longhouses and huts in-between in the increase in numbers and clans bringing resources to provide more structure.
"Let them know we are here," I said.
Skadi nodded as she raised her head and howled to announce that a Dire was present. A moment later, several direwolves howled back.
Jon came over.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked. "There'll be more Thenns here."
Jon nodded, "It's only right."
A caw could be heard as a seabird landed on the rail. A Northern Gannet. The heavy-bodied seabird, with a white and yellowish head, stared at me. This kind of species has gray eyes with a rim of blue around them. However, this one had green eyes. In other words, this Northern Gannet was being warged.
"I am Imogen, Daughter of Magnar Fenrir and Priestess Boudica, member of the Dire Clan," I announced. "I have come with Tormund Giantsbane and the new Lord Commander Jon Snow of the Night's Watch. He has come to speak with the Magnars, Chieftains, and Elders and bring the Free Folk south of the Wall."
The Warg stared at Jon, glaring at him before turning to me.
"Let them know we are coming in peace," I said.
To show I mean the truth, I removed my torc. It was a new one, and because it was new, the metal was difficult to bend. I felt the ends digging into my neck, pressing in and scraping along my skin and, for a moment, cutting off air. I winced, suppressing a gasp, taking it off and handing it to the Gannet. The Warg took it, giving a caw before returning to the shore to deliver my message.
"Why did you give him your necklace?" Jon asked.
"My torc has my crest and will confirm to the Chieftains, Magnars, and Elders that the daughter of Fenrir is here," I answered.
"You called your father Magnar. I thought he was a Chief?" he added.
"He is a chief in the common tongue," I explained. "But in the Old Tongue, he is a Magnar."
"And what does Magnar mean?" he asked.
"Lord," I answered. "Although, be prepared to be called Sygrerrik."
"A what?"
"A Sygrerrik," I repeated.
"What does that mean?" he asked with a frown.
I petted Skadi, staring out to the shores, "A deceiver."
Jon sighed as the crew got ready.
.o0o.
We got on the longboats and made our way to the shore. Skadi swam next to us, staying close to my side. Most of the Free Folk had gathered around the shores, seeing ships and rowboats making their way. I took a deep breath, waiting for the judgment and conflict. I adjusted my mask and stared at Tormund, who was nervous about what was to come. Meanwhile, Jon stood in the front, preparing for what would come.
Once docked, we made our way up, seeing the many Clans, primarily four Clans, many glaring at the Crows. Skadi got to shore, giving a massive shake to dry before standing next to us and providing a warning growl.
Jon stared at them with concern.
"You trust me, Jon Snow?" Tormund murmured.
"Does that make me a fool?" Jon replied.
Tormund shook his head, "We're fools together now."
"Let's greet the Eastern Council," I murmured.
Tormund grumbled with a nod as he led us through the city. The Free Folk stepped back, allowing us passage. We walked through until there was a loud whistle. The Bone Clan marched their way over, led by Lord of Bones, also known as Rattleshirt. The last we saw him was many months ago with Mance. He still wore bones all over his furs and a skull on his face. A staff with a seal skull on top of the club, in hand, waiting to strike.
"Lord of Bones," Tormund greeted. "Been a long time."
Rattleshirt glanced at Jon, and then back to Tormund, "Last time I saw you, the little crow was your prisoner. The other way around now. What happened?"
"War," Tormund answered.
"War?" Rattleshirt challenged. "You call that a war?" he then glanced at his men. "The greatest army the North has ever seen cut to pieces by some southern king."
"The Western Clans had defeated the Crows at the Shadow Tower and crossed." I reminded in a sharp tone, adjusting my spear. "Do not speak ill of our fallen brothers and Mance Rayder."
Rattleshirt glared at me.
"We should gather the elders, find somewhere quiet to talk," Tormund advised, standing between Rattleshirt and me.
"You don't give the orders here," Rattleshirt reminded.
"I'm not giving an order," Tormund said.
Rattleshirt glances at Tormund's attire. Still in his original furs, "Why aren't you in chains?"
"He's not my prisoner," Jon answered.
"No?" Rattleshirt replied doubtfully. "What is he?"
"We're allies," Jon confirmed.
Tormund's hand slowly moved
Meanwhile, Rattleshirt had gotten furious, "You fucking traitor."
Everyone stepped back as I gestured for Jon and Edd to pull away.
"You fight for the Crows now?" Rattleshirt seethed.
Tormund stepped forward, "I don't fight for the Crows."
"We're not here to fight. We're here to talk," Jon explained.
"Is that right?" Rattleshirt asked, staring at Tormund. "You and the Pretty Crow do a lot of talking Tormund?" As he shoved the seal skull of his club into Tormund's shoulder. "And when you're done talking, do you get down on your knees and suck his cock?"
Rattleshirt tapped Tormund in the chest again, only for the Red to grab the staff out of the owner's hand. Tormund jabbed it hard into Rattleshirt's chest and swung it around so the seal skull collided with the man's head, knocking him down. Tormund, being insulted, continued bashing the staff into Rattleshirt's head, destroying both a seal skull and a human skull, leaving the man with an obliterated face.
Jon was about to step in, but I stopped him. This is how Tormund proves himself to the Four Clans, along with a reprieve from the insult. One thing you never do is insult a man's sexuality. Let alone insinuate a sexual encounter with the enemy.
Tormund hammered away until the skull's fragments joined the peddle ground and blood coated the ice and grain. He heaved the final strike and tossed the staff aside. He glared at the Bone Clan with a gravel voice, "Gather the elders and let's talk."
The Bone clan stepped aside as Tormund marched forward.
I faced the Free Folk who witnessed this and shouted, "All Dires, get on the boats and aboard the ships. You have my word, no harm shall come to you."
Afterward, I followed Tormund with Skadi. Jon, Edd, and the Crows who joined him were baffled by what had happened. Yet I turned around and gestured to them to follow.
We reached the Council Hut, where members of the Council stood. One I recognized was Karsi, Chieftess of the Ice-River Clan from the Antler River. There are many Ice-River Clans, so one has to be specific about which Ice-River they come from. Since there are the Ice-River Clans whose river reaches Thenn territory, some also participate in cannibalism. Karsi stood there in furs more fitted while seashells decorated the front of her tunic. Her matted brown hair was partially pulled back to expose her blue eyes. In her hand was my torc.
"Imogen," Karsi greeted.
I removed my mask, revealing my face to her, "Karsi."
Karsi glanced at Jon, "So this crow wants to speak with us."
"Yes," I confirmed.
"Is it true that the Western Clans have crossed?" she asked to be sure.
"Yes," I confirmed. "My mother made sure of it. The Dires and the Western Clans have claimed the Nightfort as well."
Our eyes linger on a match. She was testing me to see if I was telling the truth. She had this way of knowing if someone was lying or not. Seeing that I spoke the truth, she nodded, handing my torc back. I accepted it, handing my spear and mask to Tormund to hold. She and others watched as I put the torc back on. As the wolves ends uncomfortably, pressed against me through a moment of suffocation and secured. A Dire barely takes their torc off because of this. But we do it to prove others who hold doubt.
Karsi nodded in approval, letting us inside the Main Longhouse. Tormund returned my mask, which I secured to my cloak, and then took hold of the spear going inside. The others followed as the essential members of the East Clans gathered. The center was a fire pit, where the members of Hardhome took with the elders. Yet in the far corner sat Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun. The Giant of Hardhome.
I bobbed my head in his direction as a sign of respect, which Wun Wun gave in return.
It took a moment to get everyone to settle down.
Once it was settled, Tormund gestured for Jon to speak.
"My name's Jon Snow," Jon began. "I'm Lord Commander of the Night's Watch."
Silence engulfed the room, leaving the sound of the crackling fire, the wind, and the crashing waves along the shore.
"We're not friends," Jon continued. "We've never been friends. We won't become friends today. 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." As he gestured outside.
Wun Wun gave a grunt.
Dim Dalba, an elder of the Shore Clan, was the first to say, "You built that wall to keep us out."
"Since when do Crows give two shits if we live?" Loboda asked. He was an elder despite not being old. He used to be Styr's lieutenant and a possible candidate to be the Thenn's new Magnar.
"In normal times we wouldn't," Jon agreed. "But these aren't normal times. The White Walkers don't care if a man's a Free Folk or Crow. We're all the same to them, meat for their army. But together, we can beat them."
"Beat the White Walkers?" Karsi challenged sarcastically. "Good luck with that. Run from them, maybe."
"Karsi, you forget I have slain three," I reminded.
"By that spear from the Children," Karsi said. "But they did not make enough for the rest of us."
Jon removed the satchel he had and handed it over to them. They were hesitant as their men gripped their weapons.
"It's not a trick," Jon promised.
Karsi took hold of the satchel and lifted the flap, causing a rattling sound.
"It's a gift for those who join us," Jon said, walking back to Tormund and me.
Karsi cautiously put her hand inside and took an obsidian dagger. My eyes widened because I did not know the Crows had dragonglass daggers. Karsi was surprised as she stared at Jon.
"Dragonglass," Jon confirmed. "A man of the Night's Watch used one of these daggers to kill a Walker."
Karsi passed the satchel to the council members as each took a dagger to examine them.
"You saw this?" Loboda asked.
"No," Jon answered. "But I trust the man."
Karsi stared at the dragonglass dagger, "There are old stories about dragonglass."
"There are old stories about ice spiders as big as hounds." Loboda countered.
"And with the things we've seen, you don't believe them?" Karsi asked casually.
Loboda rolled his eyes.
"Come with me, and I'll share these weapons." Jon offered.
"Come with you where?" Karsi asked.
"There are good lands south of the Wall," Jon explained. "The Night's Watch will let you through the tunnel and allow your people to farm those lands."
There were mutters around.
"I knew Mance Rayder," Jon continued. "He never wanted a war with the Night's Watch. He wanted a new life for his people, for you. We've prepared to give you that new life."
"If?" Karsi asked.
"If you swear, you'll join us when the real war begins," Jon added.
Karsi glanced at Loboda and Dim Dalba.
"Where is Mance?" Loboda asked.
Tormund and I straighten up.
"He died," Jon answered.
"How?" Loboda asked.
Jon hesitated, shifting on his feet as he stared at the Thenn. "I put an arrow through his heart."
The Free Folk shouted in protest.
"Hey, hey!" Tormund exclaimed to end the shouting.
Many Free Folks grabbed their weapons while Karsi stared at me in silent questioning.
Wun Wun gave a heavy growl, silencing everyone.
After a moment, Loboda spoke, drawing his dirk, "I say we send the Lord Commander back to Castle Black with no eyes."
Tormund moved around, blocking the Thenn, "Hey, none of you saw Mance die. I did. She did as well," as he gestured towards me. "The southern king who broke our army, Stannis, wanted to burn him alive to send us a message. Jon Snow defied that cunt's orders. 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."
"I lost my father, my uncle, and two brothers fighting the damn crows." Karsi seethed in anger.
Jon snapped, "I'm not asking you to forget your dead. I'll never forget mine. I lost fifty brothers the night that Mance attacked the Wall. Twenty more by Boudica at the Shadow Tower." Jon took a deep breath. "But I'm asking you… to think about your children now. They'll never have children of their own if we don't band together. The Long Night is coming, and the dead come with it. No clan can stop them. The Free Folk can't stop them. The Night's Watch can't stop them. And all the southern kings can't stop them. Only together, all of us. And even then, it may not be enough, but at least we'll give the fuckers a fight."
Everyone stared at the Council, who contemplated what Jon had said. Karsi glanced at Loboda, who bowed his head in defeat while Dim Dalba nodded in agreement. Karsi, still not convinced, spoke.
"You vouch for this man, Tormund?"
Tormund glanced at Jon and then at Karsi, "He's prettier than both my daughters, but he knows how to fight."
Karsi scoffed, rolling her eyes after that comment.
"He's young, but he knows how to lead," Tormund said. "He didn't have to come to Hardhome. He came because he needs us, and we need him."
"And you, Imogen?" Karsi asked. "The visions you saw from the Raven led us to this."
I took a deep breath, "I never saw the absolute. For the future is never set in stone. But I saw our people across the Wall. And when the time comes, the dragon, the wolf, and the raven shall confront the Night King when the Long Night casts its shadow over the North from where we stand all the way down the hot deserts."
Everyone comprehended my words.
Loboda spoke again, "My ancestors would spit on me if I broke bread with a crow."
"So would mine, but fuck 'em, they're dead," Karsi sarcastically said.
Jon sighed in relief.
Karsi made her way over to him. She sighed heavily, shaking her head slightly, "I'll never trust a man in black." She then moved over to Tormund and me. "But I trust Tormund and Imogen. If you say this is the way, we're with you."
Tormund was surprised and quickly recovered, "This is the way."
"I'm with Tormund," Dim Dalba agreed. "We stay here, we're dead men. At least with King Crow, there's a chance."
"Tormund!" Wun Wun spoke, finally joining the conversation.
Tormund bobbed his head in thanks to the Giant of Hardhome.
Loboda raised his ax in warning, "Keep the new life you want to give us." He moved his way around the fire pit. "And keep your glass, King Crow." Then looked at the elders. "As soon as you get on his ship, they're gonna slit your throats and dump your bodies to the bottom of the Shivering Sea." He pointed at Jon. "That's our enemy. That has always been our enemy. A Sygrerrik. "
I stepped forward, separating Loboda from Jon, "Then you have chosen extinction for the Thenns. The moment we sail south, you and your people shall be slaves to the Night King."
Loboda towered over me, his ax in hand while I held my spear. He glared, knowing I spoke the truth. Not wanting to face the truth, he left the longhouse. All eyes watched him leave and then turned to me. Not a moment longer, those who agreed with Loboda followed afterward, rejecting the offer. The majority are from the northern clans.
"I fucking hate Thenns," Karsi announced.
Tormund nodded in agreement.
So far, it has got the Ice-River Clans from the Antler River, the Shore Clan, the Bone Clan, the Red Clan, and the Clans of Hardhome. It was a start, but the others will see reason and get on the boats.
.o0o.
The Elders and Chieftains, who decided for their clan to sail south, ordered their people to pack the essentials and get on the boats. We had arrived in the early hours of light, and by day, the rowboats were going back and forth to deliver the people to the ships.
I stood next to Jon, watching as the Crows and sailors helped the people.
"How many are with us?" Jon asked. "Five thousand?"
Tormund made his way over, "I'm not good at counting."
"We're leaving too many behind," Jon sighed.
"The Free Folk are stubborn," Tormund said, grabbing a sack to carry to the boat. "You know how long it took Mance to band them together? Twenty fucking years."
"And he knew them better than I ever will," Jon murmured.
I stared at those who watched, "The Northern Clans have accepted their fate."
Tormund returned, "They're running out of food, and there's nothing to hunt. They'll come around."
"He has a point," I agreed. "As much as I hate to admit it."
Jon nodded.
Karsi made her way over, holding both of her daughters' hands.
"I'm scared," the youngest, Willa, said.
Karsi stared at her daughter, "Johnna is gonna look after you. She's in charge. You listen to her."
Karsi picked up Willa and handed her over to a member as he secured her on a boat. Seeing the sailor on the ship, I know which boat they'll be on. Karsi would have joined, but by customs, the Chieftains are last to join.
"I want to go with you," Willa said.
"I need to get the old folks on the boats. I'm right behind you. I promise." Karsi assured, hugging her daughters and giving them a kiss. She pulled back. "Go on."
The sailors rowed the seven people on the boat back to the ship. I walked over to Karsi as she watched her family leave Hardhome. I placed a hand on her shoulder. She tensed, looking at me, then sighed. She rested a hand on my shoulder.
"If anything happens to me, watch over my daughters," Karsi said.
"I'll do my best," I promised.
Karsi nodded as she went to help the sick and elderly get on the boats.
.o0o.
Time seemed to pass as the afternoon was fast approaching. We got the majority of the clans who agreed to board the ships aboard and somehow convinced the eastern cave people to join. I helped Karsi with her people, then stopped.
The dogs were barking. All the birds that were not warged were flying away. The seals and walruses that lazed about along the shores barked and wailed, hobbling back into the ocean. Soon, the marking on my body pulsed as pins and needles throbbed. I panted as my body began to shiver.
"Imogen," Karsi murmured. "What is it?"
I clenched the spear and looked at her, "They're coming."
Her eyes widened.
Some of the markings the Children of the Forest left on me were active. The markings pulse and create numbness, letting me know when wights are nearby. But when the Others are near, the numbness becomes sharper.
Jon had helped an elderly couple onto the boat and turned around, hearing the barking. He glanced at me, noticing the change in my posture.
There was a rumbling sound of thunder that could be heard off in the distance. Turning around, a storm from the west and North was gliding through like a tidal wave. The winds howled with the sounds of continuous thunder. The people began to shout and panic.
The avalanche of death, I thought.
That was what we called it—a blizzard that came crashing like an avalanche. However, it did not bring a wave of snow. No, the snow was the wights crashing towards us.
"Close the gate!" people bellowed.
Screams and protests could be heard from the other side of the Gate of Shivers. There was a pounding sound, an echo crossing over as the screams and cries continued. The storm washed over Hardhome, obscuring our view of the cliffs and massive gate. The wood creaked loud, as did the shouting.
Until silence.
The wind whistled along the other side.
The echoing sounds of cries and gasps.
And a new sound could be heard.
A shriek.
Not of an animal.
Not of a living person.
The shrieking became louder and louder as more shrieks joined in, turning into roars.
I turn to Jon, "Keep loading the boats."
Countless sounds of hacking could be heard. The wights were going to chop down the Gate of Shivers. The gate wouldn't stand forever, as the wood was thousands of years old.
All order and stability vanished as everyone started running towards the shore. Many shoved and trampled over each other. Everyone was in the act of survival, pushing and shoving each other, trying to either get into the boats or swim towards the ships.
Jon yelled at them to keep in line, but there was no point. The Gate of Shivers will fall any moment now, and the wights will come to slaughter the rest of us.
Karsi saw a man fall and rushed to help him.
"Duncan, hold the line!" Jon ordered. "Hold the line."
I ran over to Jon, "There's no point. They either swim or row to the ships."
One Crow named Toad came over, "Lord Commander."
Jon took my words in and faced Toad, "Get them to the ship and come back for me!"
"But you'll never make it!" Toad yelled.
"Now!" Jon ordered.
I rushed over to Karsi, who was helping a woman now.
Jon made his way over to us, "You should be on one of those boats."
"So should you," Karsi countered. "My little girls got on. They're gonna let them pass the Wall even if you're not there?"
Jon hesitated ` then lied, "You have my word. I've given orders."
"Don't think you're gonna be there to enforce those orders," Karsi challenged.
I took her shoulder, "Fenrir and Boudica will ensure it. As well as the Western clans."
Karsi looked at me and nodded.
Tormund rushed over, "If they get through, everyone dies."
Jon nodded, drawing Longclaw.
I secured my spear while Tormund held his sword.
"Night's Watch, with me!" Jon ordered. "Move. Move!"
The Crows started charging in while the Free Folk ran to escape. Tormund and I followed along with Skadi. We made our way to the Gate of Shivers, where wights had broken through the cracks. I twirled my spear around, stabbing it in the chest. Instantly, the wight shrieked before dropping dead.
Jon rushed to the gate, pinning a wight to it. He called out for Tormund to bring the sleigh. However, archers fired arrows at the wight, yet it did not die. I rushed over to Jon, stabbing the wight and killing it. We moved out of the way so the men could seal the hole.
"Basic steel won't kill them," I yelled. "All we can do is chop them up. Or destroy the skull."
Separating the head from the body tends to work. The head would be active, but the rest of the body would stop. Unless you crush the skull entirely. Otherwise, it's dragonglass and burning the bodies.
Jon panted, blocking another wight, and moved to allow me to kill it.
My marking pulsed as I gasped, looking up at the top of the cliffs to see the White Walkers on their skeleton horses. The blizzard obscured them, yet I could make out their shapes and sense their presence. Jon turned around and saw them as well. Our attention turns to the Council Hut, seeing the wights making their way there.
"The dragonglass," Jon yelled.
"You and me, then!" Loboda yelled.
"Go!" Tormund shouted.
All four of us ran to the Council Hut. We fought our way through as the men tried to slice the wights in halves, chopping off their heads or spines to make their legs useless. I swung and stabbed my way, Skadi tackling any wight getting close to me, crushing their skulls. The wights break through the holes or climb up the gate.
Just as we reached the Council Hut, Wun Wun had broken through, tearing a wight in half. A wight on top of the roof leaped on top of his back. He grabbed the wight and ripped him in half. More wights went after Wun Wun. Tormund and I rushed to help the giant while Loboda and Jon went inside to grab the dragonglass.
It was utter chaos as more wights were breaking through the gate. The Gate of Shivers creaked loudly as more wights pressed on into it.
I stabbed another wight, hearing its shriek, until the markings pulsed again, only stronger when an Other crossed through. A White Walker. I looked around, knowing I had to kill him before he got hold of the dragonglass. Skadi growled in the direction of the Council Hut.
Jon was staggering out with Longclaw in hand. He tripped and lost his grip on his sword. That was when the White Walker came out of the burning building and marched over to Jon. Based on his armor, he was an older son of the Night King, in other words, he was stronger. I rushed over to Jon.
Suddenly, Jon got hold of his sword and immediately stood up, blocking the White Walker's attack. A ringing sound echoed as their blades collided. I stopped, for a White Walker ice blade can shatter any metal. The ringing continued as the White Walker stared in shock, his icy blue eyes wide and mouth slightly open.
The White Walker pulled back, about to strike again. Jon managed to deflect it and went for the attack, going for the torso with a brutal slash. I had expected Longclaw to damage the armor. However, that did not happen. Instead, the sword went straight through and shattered the White Walker, turning him into ice and snow.
Impossible, I thought.
Only dragonglass can do that. The only other weapon that could shatter a White Walker was Dark Sister.
Jon stood there dumbfounded at what happened and collapsed onto his knees, holding his side. Skadi barked, snapping me out of shock, and we ran over to Jon. I grabbed his leathers, startling him as he looked up at me. He hunched over, spitting out blood.
"We have to go," I yelled.
Glancing at the gate, I saw it shifting more.
I forced him up, yet he collapsed once more.
Edd spotted us as he ran over, grabbing Jon's other side. "Come on!"
"The dragonglass," Jon panted.
The Council Hut then collapsed, burning away.
"Fuck the glass!" Edd scolded. "We are gonna die here!"
"The gate won't last!" I added.
Screeching could be heard. Our attention turned to the cliffs where the rest of the White Walkers stood. Their ice blades point toward us. Not a second long, wights were falling down.
"Shit!" I yelled. "Run!"
The men were still frozen, seeing the wave of corpses falling to the ground. They crashed on the ground, some limbs falling apart, and stopped. A moment later, they shot up with blades in hand.
I grabbed their collars, yanking them away.
"Oh, fuck!" Edd yelled as he ran for his life.
"Tormund!" I screamed for him. "Tormund runs!"
Skadi spotted Tormund by the gate. The gate started to collapse. She ran over to him, getting him and two other fighters on her back, and sprinted to the shore.
"Wun Wun, to the sea!" Tormund exclaimed at the giant.
Wun Wun stomped on a wight, making his way to the shore while crushing skeletons in his wake.
As we ran, I tried to keep a lookout for Karsi. She was nowhere to be seen.
The gate fell as the wave of wights chased after us. Wun Wun was right behind us as he grabbed a massive pole that was on fire to keep the wights away.
Once we got to the dock, the men jumped off Skadi and ran to the last longboat. Skadi rushed into the water. Jon, Edd, and I barely made it onto the boat, as impact gave enough push, and the brave sailors who waited started rowing. We sat up, seeing Wun Wun thrashing a few more before getting into the water, throwing wights off him. Seeing a rope tied to the boat, I lunged at the other end.
"Wun Wun!" I exclaimed.
Wun Wun stopped as he saw me with the rope. He came over, grabbed it, and started pulling us further into the water, creating distance. We were about hip deep when I felt my markings pulse and turned around. All the men and giants stopped to stare back at the shore. The wights had finished the rest of the living as screams and cries diminished to silence. All those innocent people were slaughtered.
Dark memories of seeing the first Long Night flashed before my eyes, and I nearly collapsed. Jon and Edd caught me as we watched the silence.
The marking was blazing as the numbness became burning hot. I had never felt this, and I knew only one person could inflict this warning magic.
An Other clad in black armor made his way into the dock. He was tall and gaunt, with ice and stone carved into his flesh. The ice forged a crown upon his head. His cold blue eyes were like burning ice illuminating the blizzard.
My breath hitched to see him for the first time in the flesh.
"The Night King," I whispered.
Jon was quiet as he stared at the creature that had brought trouble for the Free Folk in the last three hundred years, the monster that had brought on the first Long Night.
The Night King did not say a word. He glanced over the victims of this bloodshed and then back at us. Slowly, he raised his arms, and I knew what was about to happen. Those who did not bear the protection mark opened their eyes in the same blue eyes as his and stood.
They were now part of the Night King's army.
All their eyes watching us.
As I felt the Night King's eyes staring at me.
And I glared at him.
We were bound.
Damn, another long chapter. This was more Imogen's focus on perspective.
I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Thanks for reading, and please leave a review.
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