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Chapter 36: Howls of Blood
Winterfell
Arthur
The hall was quiet, none but the hearth's crackling the wood made the slightest of sound as the King of the North processed what he has just been told about his kin, his cousin, his brother...
"Jon... Out of everyone, you should have been the safest... My brother." Arthur whispered to himself and his mind remembered when they last spoke and parted, the smiles he and Jon shared now having a bitter aftertaste.
He should have stayed at the Wall, he might have stopped those men from revolting and murdering his brother.
Jon's heritage is now meaningless, it always was because whether they were born from two different mothers or not, they were both raised as siblings by the same man and that is how it shall always be.
Arya's shut herself in her room, crying in her pillow. Sansa had left to the newly rebuilt Sept, praying for Jon to find peace. A great many others who remember Eddard Stark's other baseborn son have come forward with their condolences, each causing him further irritation.
In his heart, he can't will himself to cry or even shed a tear for Jon. I've suffered through too much, now I am simply numb to everything. Arthur thought and got up from his chair, his two Direwolf's following behind him out of the hall and toward the emptied kennels.
"Your Grace, I would carry this with you." The Night's Watch guard said and handed him a spear, the tip having that black stone Jon told him about. Mance Rayder was already inside, staring at the thrashing creature within the cage that was sent by Jon before his death.
"I am sorry about Commander Crow, he was a strong fighter," Mance said and he shook his head, sighing at the fellow King and the monster that looked at him like he was a hot meal to be feasted upon.
"So, this is what Jon was talking about? The undead soldiers." Mance nodded and he continued, "No steel blades work against them? Just this?" He asked and held up the small spear he was given, in his mind was a lot of thinking and worrying over the enemy they face.
Mance went into great detail, about how the Walkers raise the fallen to fight and kill for them.
"We need more stone like this, what we have won't arm even twenty men." Mance told him and the older monarch sighed, "There is one other thing, valyrian steel also works on them as well. One of the Crows who came with this one was on the trip to Hardhome." There are less of that in Westeros than this stone, he'll have to ask the Maester about it.
"I know Ice is valyrian steel, there might be a dozen or so with many of the highborn families in the South... Other than that, nothing." The King Beyond the Wall was disappointed to hear that, he was sorry to deliver the news.
He doubts that those families will hand over their ancestral blades, not unless all the Lords of Westeros agree to send not just their swords but their fighting men to stop what is coming.
Scratching his chin, Arthur thought that he could have these Night's Watchmen continue South, show every Lord this creature, and have them realize the threat that is encroaching upon them.
An obstacle stands in his way of doing this... It is himself.
His hatred of the South, all of their corruptness, and the ambitious leaders who would stab their own kin in the back than honoring their allegiances. He lost his family, he cannot in good conscience put aside his own hatred to put forward this idea.
Then again, he might put to a vote with the other Lords today as they all gather, it might be a good push in the right direction toward their survival.
"We must gather everyone in the great hall, have this thing brought inside and quickly." He commanded and left the kennels with Mance and his wolves, looking and seeing the life come back to Winterfell.
It has come a long way from that burnt down hold, and he fears that his home will be seeing battle near its walls once more.
Arthur and Mance went about their business, not even noticing the pair of eyes watching them from one of the battlements.
Gerold
"Ashara's bastard," Gerold whispered to himself, his kin with all things considered but he never once thought that her whelp was Ned Stark's bastard.
She bedded men like Arianne, oh yes, she acted gracious and mystical but he knew the real Ashara and saw her for the manipulative thief that she was.
He wished that the wench was still alive, he would have slain her with her son watching.
Tipping his helmet that was borrowed from a now-dead guardsman, his feet carried him around the castle walls to scout for his sword and the boy who must be the one to be wielding it.
Gerold thought back on the North, a true wasteland, and much like his own home in Dorne and differences being the rain, mud, and grass. So much grass and fields, it has me missing the dunes. Darkstar sighed and shivered slightly from the cold, wondering how Ashara's bastard could deal with this weather.
He was passing the Hunter's Gate and crossed into the small forest, it piqued his curiosity that the Northerners would think such areas as sacred.
The Dornishman did stop at one of the abandoned holds in the Riverlands, wishing to see this red tree that some people worship. It was disappointing to be honest, although, the carved face did make him slightly uneasy and he left not a moment after arriving.
"Ah!" Darkstar heard a grunting sound, walking further he found an interesting sight.
It was the boy he's come to see, Edric Dayne was training with a man who wore the star on his chest. Gerold found himself frustrated because he could not see where Dawn was, the whelp did not have in his hands or on his back.
"Lord Dayne!" A messenger approached the boy and his man, "The King's gathering everyone in the Great Hall." Edric nodded and sheathed his blade before following the messenger.
The man gripped his sword handle, itching to find the weapon and slay the boy before returning to Dorne.
The Sand Snakes
Nymeria, Tyene, and Obara had to find themselves some disguises to get into Winterfell.
"It was good thinking for Tyene to find us these servants robes," Nym said in appreciation for her and Obara's sister, the youngest Sand Snake smirked like a child.
Obara, on the other hand, had some doubts about their outfits as they pulled the long wagon, which concealed their arms through one of the gates. "This is uncomfortable, how can any woman here dress like this?" The eldest sister complained and pulled on her collar.
Tyene laughed and turned to Obara with an amused expression, one the elder hated very much, "We told you not to wear your leathers under that, Nym and I were smart to put everything in the wagon.
"Excuse me for being cautious, there is a possibility that... " That they won't make it out alive after they've killed who they came for, especially the King of the North.
Their mother wasn't very clear on it, back at High Hermitage. Tyene remembers crying and Nymeria remembered calming the younger sibling, Obara only remembers their father before he left with the Darkstar.
They wished they could have been there to see their put to rest with Elia, they yearned to comfort their other four siblings who are too young to be without the man who made them what they are.
It's with that wish, and yearning that they'll try to escape after slaying Arthur Snow, Edric Dayne, and Gerold Darkstar.
The three sisters stopped at what appeared to be the kitchens, they stopped because they saw one of their targets come out of one of the other buildings, wearing an iron and steel crown.
"Obara, don't!" Nymeria seethed quietly, "He's guarded... " Obara looked and saw two of the largest wolves that she's ever seen, nearly as big as a pony.
"Fine, we wait for an opportunity." The three decided to play servant, but they watched the King of the North eagerly awaiting a chance to eliminate the last males of House Dayne.
The Great Hall
The Lords of the North clambered into the hall, finding seats beside one another as their King took his place by the high table where Princess Sansa and Lady Ashara Dayne sat by the left and right of their liege.
Only a select few knew the reason they were summoned and not at their castles, preparing for the long Winter, many others were curious and were tempted to ask why they have been summoned before sitting down but kept their tongues shut when seeing the serious expression given by Arthur.
Only once everyone was seated did the King of Winter decide to speak.
Arthur sighed heavily and rose from his seat after a few minutes have passed, "My Lords, I understand our strained alliance with the Wildlings and Stannis must be bearing down on your pride, on the ancestors that fought Southern and Savage Kings." He began and cleared his throat to continue, "My brother, Jon had warned me of a great threat to the North, I trusted him to know what he was talking about and now... We have proof." Most listened to Arthur's words, except for one.
The red-haired Stark was silent as her brother talked about what they would be facing.
In her mind, she thought about Jon and the manner of his death. She was sickened at how her entire family was betrayed, slaughtered by those who were once allies and friends.
I can count myself among those traitors. She thought bitterly, the memory of her going to the Queen and telling her about her father's plans to depart for home was still quite fresh in her nightmares.
She turned and looked at Arthur, reprimanding herself about how she treated him and Jon so distantly. A tear rolled off her cheek, she was quick to wipe it away and straighten up in her seat.
"Bring it in." Her brother said, four guards, standing at the entrance left and six came back and all carrying a covered box that shook like a bear was inside of it but the growling and thrashing sounded very human to her and many others. Arthur stepped down from the dais, up close and personal with the cage, and gripped the cover, "This is the threat we are facing!"
It was a horrifying sight to behold, clawing and thrashing against the metal and she was hesitant on just getting up and running away.
Arthur wasn't even fazed or if he was, he wasn't showing an ounce of fear especially being so close to that monster. "The old stories we've all been told, the White Walkers, their undead horde, perhaps even Ice Spiders... They are all true." Her brother said and gestured for a spear to be handed to him, "Obsidian or Dragonglass is the only thing that can kill them, or valyrian steel if you have it." Many of the Lord asked Arthur questions such as Jon's assurance.
Arthur scanned the man who questioned him, her brother's eyes darkened. "Lord Cerwyn, I am wholeheartedly sure that my slain brother is telling me the truth." And like that, the news was shared about Jon's fate, "For that reason, I am allowing the Wildling forces to remain behind the Wall, to cultivate the land and have my protection... At a price." Arthur then turned towards Mance Rayder.
She supported the idea, having the Wildling warriors at their side will prove to be useful. "I don't expect you to kneel, but as long as the Free Folk are under my protection and on my land, you shall answer my calls to war whenever I or any King of Winter needs it." Mance was taken aback by the King of the North's terms, Sansa smiled and knew it was the right time to do it.
Mance Rayder was in her home, in this hall and full of Northmen and women who want nothing more than to send the Free Folk Kings people back to where they belong or elsewhere.
The older man gritted his teeth, but eventually gave in and held out his hand. "Very well, so long as the North and my people are allies, I shall fall under your command... But I must retain my Kingship." Arthur quickly agreed and although the Lords and Ladies were reluctant.
Everyone in this room knew that the creature in the center of this room, is the more important threat at the moment.
The gathering went on for several minutes, Sansa didn't feel comfortable being near that monster in the cage a second longer and left back to the Sept and to pray that these next few days are met with comfort and peace.
South Gate
A group of fifteen, wearing the crest of King Stannis on their chest arrived and told the men stationed.
Leading them was a knight by the name of Patrek of King's Mountain, his mission with a double tasked one.
To these Northmen, he is here to bring false news of a Lannister fleet coming North but his second is one given to him by the Queen who has taken to act for her husband and the true King.
To be truthful, the knight wouldn't have accepted the task if not for Axell Florent attending the meet before departure.
"My King has asked me to bring important news to the Lord of Winterfell, let us pass." The Stark guards looked at one another with hesitation, then went ahead to raise the portcullis.
The party of Baratheon troops waited until the two gates were raised, then Patrek signaled his attack and gutted the eight men guarding this gate and looking around. "Four of you, get these corpses aside and keep this gate open." They'll need an escape route when they've executed the usurper.
Elsewhere, six men were carrying back the Wight to the kennels. "Gods, this thing smells like dried guts." One soldier said and another laughed as they set it down, "Supposably these things aren't supposed to smell like rot, perhaps it isn't always the case." The six agreed and turned to leave the kennels but the monsters started thrashing against the bars.
Unfortunate be those unarmed soldiers when the lock to the cage broke, the terrified men heard nothing then, out from the darkness came the creature and the men tried to flee and were too late, before long the blood had soaked from under the kennel gate and cries became silent.
Chaos has come to Winterfell once more, in many different ways but all the same... Blood will flow.
Arthur and Edric, the boy had come to the gathering with Dawn on his back, the two cousins were having a conversation with Ashara following the two when one of the guards following them found a sword sticking out of his back.
Gerold Dayne might have impulsively struck when he should have waited, he didn't care, and once he saw his prize? He had to act and that meant slaying all in his way. What he didn't expect, however, was the ghost thief who was supposed to be dead was standing next to her son.
To the King of the North's mind, Arthur feared he was too late had drawn his own blade to stop the unknown enemy from bringing his sword on Edric. "Ashara? Ashara's bastard? Hehe, I am going to enjoy this!" The Dread Wolf felt himself fearing the man, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
At the kitchens, the Sand Snakes saw a fight break out and all three of their targets in the same spot. "It is time!" Obara said and ripped off the wool dress to reveal her leather protection then yanked her spear out of the wagon.
The three sisters were spotted with their arms, "Stop them! Intruders! Protect the King!" A guard yelled out to alert the rest of the castle guards, the servants and workers fled in fear of being caught in the fighting.
A pair of Stark and Wildling men were near Arthur and Gerold when several men came out of one of the doors leading to the top of the wall, all bearing the sigil of the burning stag. The King of the North shoved Gerold back and gave Edric and Ashara a chance to come at the assassin bearing the fallen star.
Patrek appeared atop a crate, holding a scroll then unfolding it to read aloud. "Arthur Snow! For the crime of usurpation, treachery, and the subsequent failure to uphold House Starks vows to the Iron Throne and its heirs, you are hereby sentenced to death! Take his head- " An arrow suddenly protruded from Patrek's head.
The shaft was shot by Arya Stark, and fury stormed in her grey eyes.
The act stunned everyone for but a moment, after that Gerold came at Ashara with a hard strike to her spear. "I never thought I would ever see you again, the thief who took my sword from me," Ashara remembers Darkstar a little bit, even as a young man the warrior was always wicked.
Frankly, Gerold's ego was a tad bit annoying. "It never belonged to you, it belongs to those worthy of it... And you are not!" She yelled and angered her distant cousin who began thrashing at her wildly.
Tyene finished killing a Stark and Baratheon soldier, looking and seeing how close her other two sisters were to their targets. She shifted her feet to follow but heard a rocking sound of a door slamming open, she barely saw what was running at her before some creature was on top of her.
She struggled and stabbed the man but the weapons made no effect, it then stopped and looked down at her and she saw nothing in its soulless blue eyes before it chomped down on her neck and made her scream loudly.
Obara was caught up in a fight with a Stark soldier but Nymeria heard and turned to see some creatures stabbing Tyene several times with her daggers, "Tyene... No!" She ran and whipped her whip around the monsters neck and dragged him down.
When Obara finally turned around to see the horrid sight, her eyes clouded with rage and knew Tyene was dead from how her sister was so still. No, she just needs to kill Arthur, Edric, and Gerold then leave this accursed place.
Arthur slew another Baratheon soldier, meeting Mance and Asha who arrived with more men. "The Wight, contain it!" He didn't know how the beast escaped but it isn't important right now. The King also wondered why Stannis sent men to kill him, and who in the Old Gods is this man who first attacked him and his mother and cousin.
"Arthur! Watch out!" He heard Arya scream and he turned just in time to hear a spear graze his cheek, using his swiftness he parried the blow and took a step back.
"You should be thankful it's me to kill you! I will be quick!" Arthur readied and parried a few of the woman's blows to him, but she moved too fast and he was disarmed and backed to a wall. Evading a spear thrust, the King rolled out of the way and whistled.
Theon had heard the fighting and went to arm himself to help defend the castle, he even went ahead to grab Ice from Arthur's chambers and rush to the courtyard. "Arthur!" He yelled out and threw the sword closer to the King, Arthur looked at the dropped blade and silently thanked the eunuch for aiding him.
Obara watched Arthur unsheath a greatsword from its scabbard, "A heavier weapon isn't going to save you!" The Dornishwoman came at him and didn't realize how quick her enemy swiftness with that sword which was swung so quickly, she tried to block it but the spear broke on the lightest bit of pressure. "Impossible... " She said in shock.
Arthur chuckled and took a deep breath, "This is Ice, she is made of valyrian steel, now you die." His words made her laugh at his assumption.
"I can still kill you, even with this." She held up the broken spear.
Arthur sighed and shook his head, "I am done fighting you... But they will." Not a moment after hearing him say that, Obara heard the growling and turned quickly to find two wolves on her and tearing at her limbs.
Nymeria lost two sisters and was subdued a moment after Obara's head was torn off to the sounds of Arthur laughing heartily, she cried silently as the binds were being roped around her hands.
To the three members of House Dayne, Edric made a foolish move in his attack on Gerold and found a dagger in his left knee causing him to fall over. Ashara was saddened, "Edric! Stay down," She said and smiled, watching Gerold circle around them both.
The woman noticed that the Darkstar had gotten them far from any help, Arthur and the others are still battling the Baratheon assassins.
She sighed and picked up Dawn from the ground, meeting Gerold who was fixated on the sword. "You've been searching for this for a long time, I see... I am sorry that you won't ever hold it." She told the man who frowned.
"Your brother was a fool, you know. He didn't carry himself as the Sword of the Morning as I will, give me the sword and I might let you live." She knew it was a lie, she wouldn't dare let someone so unworthy wield the sword of her House.
"Mother!" Her son's voice was heard behind Gerold, Baratheon men must have been slain and now they surrounded Gerold Dayne with spears and swords and a few bows. "You're done, intruder, you might as well surrender," Arthur demanded the man to choose.
"I cannot... Not until I hold Dawn in my hand." Arthur narrowed his eyes, getting frustrated from the chaos that's invaded his home again.
"... Fine, mother, give him the sword." Ashara looked at her son like he was insane, "He wants it, he'll die with it in his hands." She saw ice and reluctantly stabbed her ancestral sword into the ground then backed away and helped Edric to his feet.
"Son," She called and Arthur turned to her, "Don't underestimate him, he is a skilled warrior." Arthur chuckled and nodded, he'd be safe.
Gerold scoffed and approached the sword and gripped the handle, the first time he's ever held in his hands and it felt exhilarating. Arthur held Ice with both of his hands and stepped closer, causing both he and Gerold to look one another in the eye.
"I never killed a King before but I have killed a great many bastards, you'll be no different." Arthur didn't care to hear this man anymore, then charged and clashed Ice with Dawn for the second time in nearly twenty years.
Gerold Dayne was very swift, swinging Dawn at him but he and Ice caught it with each strike. Arthur swung the greatsword left then right, both attacks the Darkstar was barely able to defend from.
Arthur evaded a thrust, then a swing, then blocking a downward strike but he made a slip and the blade grazed his right arm. "First blood, a good omen, the Gods must bless my victory!" Gerold remarked giddily to which Arthur spat a sharp response.
"The only omen is red, for you're far too eager to beat me... Prepare yourself, tonight I shall howl to your bones!" Both hands clasped on the handle, Arthur savagely swatted away Gerold's attempts to deflect his attacks and once he was close enough, the young King used the pommel of the sword to hit the Darkstar in the eye.
Gerold fell back and on one knee, he tried to come back up but found snow and mud kicked in his face. "Damn you! Bastard!" Arthur twitched at the comment and slashed Ice across Gerold's chest which ripped the sigil of his House in half.
The King's opponent regrouped from the slash across his chest, poised to end Ashara's bastard son once and for all and both men came at one another one last time and the Gods favored Arthur as Ice slammed down and broke the guard on Dawn then cut off Gerold's sword hand, the Darkstar cried out in losing the sworn than his hand which dropped to the ground.
The assassin might have cursed at Arthur again, but the King of Winter gently put Ice's edge over Gerold's left shoulder and but an inch from the man's own neck. "I wouldn't say another word, unless it's to say who sent you." An answer came from behind the two, in the form of the woman who attacked his men.
"He's Gerold Dayne, kin to the Lord Dayne of High Hermitage. He murdered my father, came here to take Dawn from its wielder." Nymeria spoke and slightly felt a burning sensation, from the binds perhaps. "My sisters and I came here to kill him and the last of House Dayne, we failed to do even that." Arthur understood that sort of revenge, it cost him much but gained him even more.
He lowered Ice and handed it to Theon and picked up Dawn from the snow while Gerold winced in pain, then he walked over and cut the binds off of Nymeria and nudged to Darkstar. "Take your revenge, then take your sisters and go home." He said and Nymeria didn't think the rabid Dread Wolf could be so lenient to those who came to kill him.
The second eldest daughter of the Red Viper stalked over to Gerold who accepted his fate, "I held it, that's all I ever wanted... I'm the Sword of the Morning." Rage filled Nymeria who began stabbing Darkstar in the jugular a dozen times, tearing for her Tyene and Obara who now lay dead.
Arthur cleared his throat and turned to Greatjon Umber, fury fueling his eyes. "Stannis Baratheon will pay for this treachery, gather our army, and ready them to destroy the Dreadfort and its occupants!"
Dayne, Northmen, and Wildling cried with their King, blood will spill the field of the North once more and this time... It would the Stag.
AN: So ends the 36th chapter of the Hour of the Wolf, sorry to end it on a cliffhanger. The next chapter will be short the aftermath with interactions between Arthur and everyone, then we'll be taking a trip to the South to see what they are up to considering the way things went.
Tell what you all think, was it good? Was it bad? Or was it just okay? Either way, I can't wait to hear from you all.
C.E.W, To be honest, I've still never chosen a side but I'm sure it will lead to a great ending.
Silver Crow, I Hope the fight was grand. Nymeria and Sarella might not be able to even go home, her sisters and mother's actions in the South could have impacted her some. No doubt, I am seeing the North claiming many lands and Iron Isles included after this story.
