Warning: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire, nor this Story.

This story deserves to be available for readers to read. This Story was removed, it deserved to be available, Original Author is Blackwolf2019 as i don't own this story or its work.

Comments and everything below is from the OA.

Chapter 36: A Return to the Pack

Hope you all enjoy it! Feel free tae comment as always. Sorry I'm a wee bit late, currently in Austria and been busy.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Sansa

The ride through the Riverlands had shown Sansa what the Dothraki had been doing. She had seen all of the towns and villages that had been razed to the ground and looted of anything of value. It made Sansa understand why her Uncle Edmure had decided to send small parties to defend whatever towns he could.He cares about his smallfolk.Edmure Tully had done something similar when the Lannisters had started burning the Riverlands before the War of the Five Kings. It was admirable but prevented the River lord from having a full host when the Lannisters came in force and had ultimately trapped him until Robb came. History had seemingly repeated itself with only half of Edmure's Ten Thousand Men being at Riverrun when she arrived. A quarter of his force was scattered defending villages to the East. The other quarter was primarily foot and stuck at Sea Guard by the bulk of Dothraki that had snuck North to Oldstones. It would be a death sentence to leave Sea Guard and risk being ambushed by cavalry.

It wasn't a good start for the war and the Dothraki being that far North would give them the chance to raze the Northern Riverlands as they pleased. The reveal at Riverrun had forced a very quick wedding between Hoster Tully and Minisa Arryn to renew the two Kingdoms' alliance before going Northward to fight the Dothraki and thus regain a quarter of the Riverlands army. Sansa was currently riding Northward with her Uncle Edmure's forces and ten thousand of the knights of the Vale to meet the Dothraki in battle; with the Lady Regent observing the battle from a safe distance.I know I can't fight but I will be there.Sansa thought as she rode with her Uncle Edmure and Lord Royce; the two Lords' sons and grandson leading the host from the front. She wished her Uncle Brynden was still alive. He would have been too old to fight but she knew he would have been a part of it regardless of age. It was why he had trained knights of the bold in King's Landing and it ultimately killed him.I hope you made better knights than the ones that plagued the capital in my time Uncle.

"One of the Lannister hosts had been defeated by the Dothraki. Do you feel confident about the Knights of the Vale meeting the Dothraki on the field Lord Royce?" Edmure asked, Tully blue eyes turning to the old Lord of Runestone.

Yohn nodded, his aged face only showing confidence. "I am Lord Tully. As should you. The Dothraki may have a talent for riding on horseback and breaking unprepared foot soldiers or unguarded villages but they have not adapted to dealing with armour and better equipment. Our armoured knights will be more than a match for them alongside good strategy."

Sansa smiled at the Old Lord's words. The aging Lord of Runestone's knowledge on military tactics made her feel all the more confident on the battle to come.

"Randyll Tarly has proven himself quite adequate in dealing with Dothraki raiding parties over the years too." Edmure said with some confidence after hearing the old Lord's words.

"And the Lannisters were only defeated by them due to being attacked in an open position by surprise if I remember from news of the Targaryen Restoration." Sansa added.

Edmure nodded. His gaze had turned to their armies at the front. "I'm lucky in a way that the Dothraki were sent into the Riverlands. I don't think I'd have been able to gather most of my banners otherwise to fight your brother's war based on Lord Blackwood and his men's words that the Northmen command giants. Even with news of him wiping out the Iron Born permanently."

"Our war Uncle Edmure. They killed my sister and your niece." Sansa said sharply.

It was our war they moment they burnt her alive without a care. And it was our war before that because the North Remembers.

Edmure sighed. "I haven't forgotten that Sansa. I mourn her as much as you do or as much as Cat would. But this is still a war that your brother started nonetheless. A one that could very well get us all killed for him being foolish enough to dare fight dragons."

Sansa knew that her Uncle had a point. She knew her histories and Arya's death were more than enough proof of the power of dragons. They did risk a field of fire. Sansa had heard it enough when she had called the banners as her last act as Lady Regent. Lords and Ladies of the Vale had been reluctant to support it. Many for the same reason that Edmure pointed out as well as the memory of what Jon did to her late husband despite knowledge that their liege lord had been a puppet of Littlefinger. It had taken the words of the knights Yohn Royce had sent North of giants and arrows by both men and giant piercing dragon scales, Sansa's own politicking and the fact that the dragons had taxed them harshly throughout winter to get them on board. Her unwavering conviction that Jon had a solution and her own desire for justice gave more steel to her words.Arya would have wanted that from me and Jon gave his word to Brienne that he had every means to give us justice for the pack.

"My brother has not taken us on a fool's errand Uncle. If Jon wanted a fool's errand, he wouldn't have waited for fifteen years to exterminate the Iron Born root and stem to start a war. He could have killed the Targaryens at the Wall if he wanted to commit his surviving forces to death and let dragons reign fire upon us all wherever they pleased because they were no longer under control. Jon did none of those things except wait." Sansa responded firmly.

"You believe he has the means to win." Edmure stated.

Sansa nodded. "He loved Arya more than anyone else in this world. Jon wouldn't stop until he had a way of avenging her. I have no doubts."

And with that Sansa pushed her horse forward with the host as thoughts of Arya consumed her.We will avenge her.

The hill Sansa was stood a top of gave a clear view of the battle that was taking place. It was also far enough away for her and Lord Royce to be safe with only a few guards which had allowed for the Lady Brienne and Sandor Clegane, her personal guards, to join the fight even if it was to the former's chagrin on not guarding Sansa.She also wants to prove herself as capable as any knight. I don't doubt she'll regret that once the battle is won.

Lord Royce's plan had involved goading the Dothraki to abandon their raiding and reform into their larger Khalasar by sending in small hosts of knights led by Andar, Robar, Hoster and Brienne. The knights would engage the Dothraki parties then feign a retreat, luring them towards the main host of the Riverlands and Vale that would trap them and smash the Dothraki. Sansa was aware from lord Royce that the Dothraki would have engaged them regardless in battle but by doing this they would reduce the number of their own lost and in the process round up most, if not all, of the Dothraki in one move.

I hope you're right.Sansa thought with a hint of worry as she looked down at the waiting host of knights. It made an imposing sight, seeing thousands of Vale and Tully men at the ready but it did not ease her worries. This was the first true battle she would witness. The relieving of the Riverlands from the Lannisters had been a quick affair and a one that her husband and Baelish had kept her eyes from, only bringing her in when the deed was done. This was the first time she would truly see a battle unfold in all of its horror. Sansa turned her gaze to her aging friend instead. Looking at Lord Royce, Sansa could see the calm on his face as he looked over the host of men at the bottom of the hill. He almost looked relaxed except for the grasping of his sword; something that wasn't a sign of nerves but a longing to fight with his son and eldest Grandson.Too old to fight but not old enough to not long for it.

Sansa's thoughts were broken by the sounds of hooves pounding quickly into the clearing. She could see that the four parties of knights had merged into one at this point as their horses sped across the fields. They were moving extremely fast, galloping harder than she'd seen any rider. The beating of hooves almost sounded like thunder.

"Are they supposed to be coming in this fast Lord Royce?" Sansa asked tentatively, neither of their gazes leaving the battlefield.

"It means they've succeeded in their part of the plan my lady." Lord Royce answered calmly.

It only took a moment for him to be proven right as the sounds of thousands of screams in a foreign tongue rolled through the air, followed by thousands more hooves. The Dothraki were here and there were thousands of them.They've done too well in goading them all.Sansa hadn't seen them before on the field, having only seen them in Daenerys' court when she had come to bend the knee. They looked fearsome then but this was something else as she watched ten thousand Dothraki ride across the field like a knife would across butter. The riders rode effortlessly as if they were born on the horses, gradually gaining on the escaping host. They were also poorly armoured. That was something else that was clear even from above when compared to the forces of the Vale and Riverlands. She could barely see any chain or plate armour glistening off them. Barely any furs either. It more than explained why many Dothraki had died during the winter. They weren't prepared for it. And Sansa doubted they would be prepared for her armoured knights when her forces began to charge, becoming sooner and sooner as the small host started to split into two so it could join the east and west flank that would be used for trapping the Dothraki in a circle. The Dothraki were hurtling behind them though, not far from the small host.

"The men will charge now." Lord Royce said calmly.

Sansa's gaze turned back to the main host; beginning their charge into the Dothraki. They were moving fast. Faster than the small host Brienne had been a part of due to being better rested. The Dothraki had finally realised that there was a large host before them as the last of the host moved to the sides. It clearly didn't deter them as their screams loudened and their horses grew faster. Arrows started to fly on the Dothraki side as their archers started to volley arrows into the knights of the Vale.

"They're going to charge straight into the Knights of the Vale." Sansa said incredulously.

Lord Royce leaned forward on his horse to look closer at the charge. "The Dothraki don't miss a fight head on. Charging forward is their primary tactic."

Sansa simply nodded as she watched more arrows fly into her host. The arrows did very little damage though as the two sides kept charging. And then they clashed. From Sansa's perspective it looked almost like two large fists colliding with each other. And it felt like it too. She could swear that she felt the vibrations even from above, adding to the power of the Dothraki's screams. It looked like a stalemate from her perspective too as Sansa watched both sides merge on the front of each host. Neither side was giving leave for the other as the two battered into each other. It felt like that for an age until her host started to push forward in complete unison.

Sansa breathed a sigh of relief as she watched her forces start to move into the Dothraki lines, the east and west flank joining the fight to box the Dothraki in. Pike men would be moving in shortly from the South to prevent the Dothraki from escaping if they tried.

"How long did the two sides hold like that?" Sansa asked.

Lord Royce chuckled slightly as he looked at their army pushing further into the Dothraki lines. The Dothraki were still screaming furiously as they fought from three sides.

"Less time than you would think. It was only a few minutes. More than to be expected given the lack of armour on the Dothraki side but something they make up for in their abilities on the horse."

"It felt like an age." Sansa said solemnly as she watched her knights continue to fight the Dothraki. It felt good to watch them gradually get pushed back and their army grow smaller. The Dothraki had been there when Arya had been killed.Arya always dreamt of commanding armies.

"The first time you see two hosts clash always feels like an age Lady Sansa. The reality is much quicker." Lord Royce said sagely.

"Especially when we're winning." Sansa said confidently.

It was hard to deny it. The Dothraki were growing smaller as the knights of the Vale and Riverlands army cut into their forces. You couldn't argue that the Dothraki weren't fighting hard. Sansa could feel their fury from above as they cut down knights that had less armour on than others. But that was the Dothraki's problem tenfold. They weren't armoured enough to defend themselves and that was cutting numbers down on their part. And to her shock it had broken their morale from the back as a group of one thousand Dothraki turned and galloped off.The Dothraki never retreat.

"Maybe time here has given these savages some sense." Lord Royce said as he watched the group ride Southward while the rest of the Dothraki continued fighting and losing.

"Where's the Southern Flank?" Sansa asked with worry as she watched the Dothraki run at speed.

Lord Royce looked annoyed as he realised the same thing. "We need that flank to come quickly."

If we lose them, it will take time to find them again and they'll have raided more and delayed the forces at Sea Guard again.Sansa thought with anger as she watched the Dothraki escape; their horses going even faster than in the charge. They were going to make it out of the trap.

And then she heard the roars of giants as they charged out of the Southern flank with crows flying above them. Sansa's mouth was agape. Sansa hadn't seen the giants once, having only heard of them from Brienne's words and that of the Blackwood and Royce men. Their words weren't good enough in describing them as she watched them run into the shocked Dothraki; giant great swords cutting through multiple horses at once as arrows didn't even lock into their steel armour covered in leather. Sansa watched in awe as the fifteen-foot Giants turned Dothraki into broken corpses with Giant Great Swords, Steel Maces and shields blazing with the Stark Direwolf. It looked like one of Old Nan's tales come to life as they made short work of the Dothraki, killing almost every man but a few stragglers that tried to get behind the giants. Those were met with wolves led by a small group of riders; their howls filling the clearing as they ripped into what was left of the Dothraki with the giants. She knew one of the riders would be Jon. She could see three giant Direwolves with him the size of horses at the head of the slaughter they were making. Howls and roars filled the air as Dothraki blood covered the ground.He's not taking prisoners.Sansa realised as every straggler fell dead to the floor. Torsos split from limbs and blood drenching giant armour and wolf fur.

Lord Royce was watching in shock at the sight. And so was everyone else on the battlefield now that the Dothraki had been wiped out, crows pecking at their corpses. The battle had ended in silence at the sight of giants and wolves. Sansa's lips curved into a smile. It felt wolfish.My Pack's here.

Jon or the giants and wolves hadn't stayed after taking their part in the battle. He'd simply left a rider to inform them the Northern host wasn't far away and he wanted to lead them to their encampment. The rider had quickly ridden away after the details had been given by her and Lord Royce; leaving an army of stunned Riverlords and Vale men. Any doubts of Brienne's words and that of those who had been North had been squashed in an instant. Sansa had seen the mix of fear, awe and astonishment on the men, Uncle Edmure included, from the sight upon her descent to the battlefield. She'd seen it on the men who were supposed to have guarded the Southern Flank as well; shocked at the sight and unable to refuse Jon's offer to cover the Southern Flank. That shock was still there in the encampment as they waited for the Northern army to come.

Sansa expected it to be a tense affair. For all that they were allies; there were still Lords of the Vale that held a grudge at Jon killing their liege Lord despite their knowledge that he was nothing more than a puppet of Little Finger. And the Northmen would still not have forgotten the Vale's lack of involvement in trying to free her father and fighting with Robb. But they would work together for this war. There would be no other option at this point. It was Win or Die.But for now, I see my family.Sansa thought with more than a hint of excitement. She wanted to see her brothers and pack.

Her hopes seemed to be answered with a series of howls that turned the Lords towards the direction of the makeshift entrance to the camp. The Northern army had come. Sansa smiled as she took a horse to greet them. The closer she got to the entrance, the more she could hear the feet of giants, the howls of wolves and the chatter Northmen, accents so like her father's. Sansa could feel herself spur her horse onward. It was instinctive as if she were answering the call to go home for all that it was her people coming south for war.

And war they were clearly planning for by the looks of them as Sansa finally got to see her people from a raised part of the camp. There were thousands of Northmen at the ready in their mail and leather; their house banners attached to their attire and flying above them. Sansa could see a mix of men and women with faces that looked hard and determined regardless of age."Winter does not allow for Green Boys and children of summer."Her Father's words echoed through her mind as she looked at the procession of grizzled Northmen. Sansa turned her horse so she could get to the front of her own Lords that were forming up. Her own men gradually cleared a path for her and took her horse from her once she got to the centre. Directly opposite to Jon and Rickon at the front of the Northern Army, Three Direwolves at their side and two fearsome women in Stark colours and armour.

Sansa hadn't seen Rickon since leaving Winterfell but she could tell it was him in an instant. She could see his reddish-brown hair and broad build with a long Stark face behind those Tully locks. He looked like Robb even in the eyes despite the tinges of grey within the Tully Blue. He was truly alive and before Sansa as she watched him share a grin with a woman dressed in the colours of House Mormont and Stark over her armour.Lyanna Mormont. The wife Brienne mentioned on one of her visits North for me.Sansa thought with a smile as she tried to hold back the tears of joy at her youngest brother being before her.

"That woman's wearing Valyrian Steel armour." One of the Lords whispered with a hint of distaste as they looked at Rickon's wife.

Sansa ignored the comment as she turned her gaze directly to Jon. The King in the North was wearing similar attire in their last meeting at Moat Cailin with Stark coloured Tartan adorning his breastplate. His savage appearance hadn't left him either, seeming to look more fearsome with the strands of white along the sides of his hair and within his beard. The only true difference Sansa noted in her brother was his weapons. There were two strapped to his back. One that looked to small for him to use and too thin for war. The second weapon though… That almost made her gasp as she looked at the great sword strapped to his back. She knew it in an instant by the pommel."Ice."Sansa whispered almost reverently as she looked at the sword and her brother. His grey eyes so like Father's met hers. Sansa didn't break her stare with her brother as he raised his hand for the Northern army to stop. She could see his savage side soften to solemn. He looked like Father then. Rickon's gaze turned to her as well, face looking like he had seen a ghost. The Northern army had turned silent as Jon and Rickon got off their horses.

Sansa started to walk forward slowly for a formal welcoming to the camp. Her youngest brother seemed to disagree on formal as he started sprinting towards her and a shout coming off his lips; his accent thick with the North.

"Fuck Propriety!"

And then Rickon had her in a bear hug within an instant. She could feel his grip as he hugged her tightly like the world would end if he didn't. She could feel two Direwolves licking her hands behind Rickon's back. The two hugged like that in silence until she felt another strong hand on her shoulder. Sansa looked to see her eldest brother with a wolfish grin on his face; Ghost by his side. Sansa answered it with her own smile.

"The Knights of the Vale and Riverlands are yours Your Grace."

Jon didn't answer her as he gave his own bear hug, the world seeming to erase around them. All but the pack was there as Sansa felt the wolves come together again.We'll avenge you Arya. The Lone wolf dies but the pack survives.Sansa repeated to herself as she looked into the bright, joyful yellow eyes of Nymeria.

Hope you all enjoyed it! As you can see this is the bulk of the Dothraki dead. What is left is inconsequential now. Edmure in this made the same cock up the first time around but there was good reason fir it. In the books in some part it is more because he wanted tae protect his lands as well as bad strategy. Sansa has managed tae keep lords in line wae some littlefinger tactics and it has paid off now that the Northmen have shown giants. They will know about cannibal soon too.

The Next chapter is Jon and Daenerys. After we have the big battle.

Feel free tae comment as always and ask any questions!