Chapter 57

Version 2.0

"More problems, Bran?" Lyanna asks.

"Gods, yes. They seem to never end," Branon said. "Some of Alden Amber's men insulted Eyron Reed's men, made fun of their height, and that one of them had webbed hands. It was a fucking disaster because when Eyron heard of this, he stuck his lizard-lion on the man, and ate him whole. I had to stop them from killing each other and move around the kings again so that they were not close to each other."

"Sorry, we can't help more, Brandon. No one listens to the friend of a leader," Lyanna says.

Brandon just shakes his head. "Come on, let's gather the men; I feel that the battle is going to start up again."

"Just think Bran it is the last day we need to hold," Lyanna says.

"Hopefully," Brandon says before sighing.

Under the dim moonlight, Brandon and his comrades gather their men for the looming battle. The clinking of armour and the unsheathing of swords echoed through the fortifications. Men, still groggy from a brief rest, rally together, tightening their grip on obsidian weapons.

As they approach their designated section of the wall, the sound of battering wights becomes increasingly audible. The cold wind carries the scent of death and decay of flesh as the wights assault the defences.

The wights, hurl themselves against the barricades, Ice spiders, climb over the wall, descending into the heart of the struggle as 'fight' rings out hopefully for the last time in the war.

Amidst the chaos of clashing obsidian and slashing blades, time seems to lose its steady pace. The battle rages on, and the defenders cling desperately to the wall, fending off waves of relentless wights and ice spiders. Then in the north of the village, where the Fisher and Ryder Kings are stationed, its wall fell, and the Others released their next tricks as a group of wight giants passed the wall. Without hesitation, Brandon rallies any available men, and any giants that he finds along the way charging towards the beleaguered front lines.

As he arrives, the scene is one of pandemonium. Fisher and Ryder Kings, along with their forces, are in a desperate retreat, quickly giving ground as the wight giants batter his line. Brandon dives into the fray, fighting tooth and nail to hold the line. The clash of weapons intensifies, and the once stalwart defence begins to buckle under the relentless assault.

With each passing moment, the news becomes grimmer. The wall forces of Brandon, Umbar, and Greenwood are also forced into a retreat. The enemy advances, and the defenders, despite their valiant efforts, are forced to give up ground. Winterhaven starts to buck and break, echoing with the sounds of retreat and desperation.

The clash of bronze and obsidian and the groans of the dying fill the air as Winterhaven's defenders, wage a desperate battle in the narrow streets. The once well-organized defence now gives way to chaotic skirmishes, with men fighting fiercely in the alleyways and behind makeshift barricades.

Brandon's voice cuts through the chaos. "Hold the line! Fight until the end!" he shouts. Every street corner becomes a battleground, as the defenders, driven by survival, cling to their positions.

As the fighting intensifies, more reports reach Brandon. Other sections of the wall are succumbing to the relentless assault, and retreat becomes a necessity. The wall defenders, now pressed on multiple fronts, begin to fall back. Streets echo with the clatter of armour and the clash of weapons as the defenders regroup and make their stand.

Houses transform into impromptu fortifications, with men using furniture and debris to create barriers against the advancing death. Archers find vantage points on roofs and in windows, raining arrows down upon the encroaching darkness. Every inch of Winterhaven becomes a contested battleground, with defenders holding their ground, determined to fight until the last breath.

Despair swept through the air like a cold, suffocating fog as the Others, finally emerged from the shadows. The magic that had shielded Winterhaven began to waver, faltering under the relentless pressure exerted by the Other's winter power. Even the children of the forest, who had valiantly defended the village with their trees, found themselves overpowered, retreating reluctantly into the heart of Winterhaven.

The Others move attacking the barricades and defences smashing through them. Blockades freeze and break under their supernatural strength, and the warriors who stand in their path meet swift and merciless ends.

The once-organized resistance now crumbled under the weight of the Others' assault. The invaders moved through the village like a spectral tide, leaving destruction and death in their wake. Winterhaven echoes with anguished cries of people as they face an unstoppable enemy.

As the Others pressed forward, the villagers' efforts to hold their ground became increasingly futile. The air became thick with despair as Brandon's line was pushed into the heart of the village where the grove can easily be seen. With the Others prise in their grasps they move their magic as it surges forward towards the heart tree.

"Son watch over me now." Hother calmly says as he charges into the group of Others swinging a massive obsidian great sword. He dismembers and decapitates his way through the wights, felling them in groups before making it to the Others. The White Walkers try their hand at stopping him only to fall to him.

He pushes straight into the group of Others slashing at hacking at anything that he can get close to trying his best to stop their magic, managing to slow them for a couple of seconds.

And yet, as quickly as they came, a calming stillness descended upon Winterhaven. The relentless advance of the Others and their minions abruptly halted, leaving the village frozen in a moment of surreal silence.

It all suddenly stopped. The wights, frozen mid-step, stood motionless as if time itself had come to a standstill. The ice spiders, initially charging with confusion, now lingered in a state of bewilderment. White walkers found themselves caught in a state of indecision.

A single all-mighty crack of ice rings out to linger in the air for a moment before falling quiet again, before all around the Others, melt into the air.

The storm that had shrouded Winterhaven dissipated, revealing a village buried in snow. The villagers, warriors, and kings, who had fought fiercely against an implacable enemy, now stood frozen, unsure of what had just transpired.

In the wake of the surreal pause, the kings seized the fleeting opportunity. Shouts of determination echoed through the air as they rallied their forces, fuelled by a renewed sense of purpose. The enemies, still dazed and disoriented, faced a united front that surged forward with vengeance in their hearts.

With a roar, the kings and their warriors charged into the chaotic battlefield, seeking revenge for fallen comrades, shouting for justice, and wielding obsidian with unwavering resolve. The white walkers, though attempting to regain control, found themselves divided and overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught.

Some white walkers pressed forward, leading another assault, while others turned and fled, caught off guard by the ferocity of the counterattack, some panning to go back to the cold far to the north, whilst others found refuge in any place they could find. Ice spiders, caught in the confusion, hesitated in their advance before they too followed in the wake of the White Walkers.

The wights, spit in two, some remained loyal to the Other's last command charging back into the fight against the humans, others following their White Walker masters.

Amid the chaos, an explosive battle unfolded. Determination, revenge, and the rallying cries of the kings turned the tide in their favour. The divided and disoriented forces of the Others struggled to cope with the sudden onslaught, ultimately leading to their defeat.

As the kings fought valiantly, the perpetual darkness that had enshrouded them began to dissipate, and slivers of sunlight pierced through the once-blackened sky. The dawn of a new day heralded the triumph of Winterhaven, now bathed in the glow.

"VICTORY" screams out all across the village.