The War of the Dawn V

Winterfell

He was tired of being stuck in bed, Rodrik walked in front of the mirror in Sansa's chamber that she and the others put him in to see the dragonglass shard in his chest.

It was hard to believe he was dead, actually dead.

He saw his father, he saw his home and was sent back to the hellish Winter they face. The stone was cold, he closed his eyes as he felt pain coursing through his veins.

It never stops, it hasn't ceased from hurting since he woke up. Reaching for his shirt he threw it on, then his other garments and would have left if not for remembering Honor and reached for his sword, sheathing it and closing the chamber doors behind him.

"Where is everyone?" He asked Orion who stood outside the door, his kin told him that Prince Jaehaerys, King Waymar, and Queens Sansa and Daenerys had gathered everyone in the study to prepare for the Night King's arrival.

89,000 warriors were camped at Winterfell. 10,000 still at Moat Cailin. They lost 5,580 men at Eastwatch. Yohn Royce is dead among others against the dead.

He hoped that with the help of those atop the Wall and with the dragons that they slaughtered a few thousand enemies. The Night King had split his force and attacked Shadow Tower, they could be facing an attack from the North and East.

Rodrik wanted to rub his face, get over some of, everything that has transpired over the last few days.

A pair of Northmen greeted him and opened the door, he walked in and saw many of the faces turn to him. Daenerys and Jaehaerys lingered a little longer, even Sansa and especially Waymar.

His childhood friend was angry with him, he was saddened to hear about Yohn, a veteran of nearly a hundred battles had sacrificed his life to give the army time to get back to Winterfell. Waymar wanted to blame him, he wouldn't have minded if he did but Waymar only ran from the room.

Trystane Martell and his cousins. His former squire Gyles and his father, Gerold. Wallace Waynwood and Asher Forrester, Arya Stark, and Gendry Baratheon. Thoros and Beric, Sandor and Brienne, Lord Robett Glover and Lord Wendel Manderly. Lord Addam Marbrand, Lord Garrison Prester. Commander Grey Worm, Qhono, Jorah and Lyanna Mormont, and Davos Seaworth.

Even Theon Greyjoy had returned, he remembered finding him when they took Winterfell and let him go. Now the Ward comes to protect his home. He thought and so many people at this gathering, so many were missing from it because they gave their lives either in the North or the South.

"You have come, we were waiting." Bran scared him when he didn't see him, the boy's face was still and he felt uncomfortable and scratched his chest.

"I have, how are things coming along?" He asked around and Jaehaerys began to speak.

"Your insight was well placed, Rodrik. Two sets of trenches now span all around Winterfell, pitch and flame will work as a moat to keep the dead back." Jaehaerys placed pieces of carved rock on the board, "We've made more catapults and trebuchets on the Eastern side of the castle, we expect the Night King to come from North of the Wolfswood, and East of the White Knife, coming from Eastwatch." He nodded, glad somebody thought of it before he could.

"The army will be split," Sansa said to him and continued, "The Dornish, Stormland, and Unsullied will hold the Eastern side. The Northmen and Rivermen will man the castle walls with the Free Folk. The armies of the Westerlands, Crownlands, and Reach will hold the Northern side." She explained to him and everyone in the room.

"What of the Vale and Dothraki?" He asked and Waymar jumped in and told him what they plan to do.

"Shock and fear won't work on the dead, Rodrik. The Dothraki and our countrymen will be South, in between Cerwyn and Winterfell. Qhono will charge the dead coming from the East when the outer trench is lit aflame and I shall do the same for the Northern trench." A cavalry charge is risky, he doesn't like it but the Vale are elite in using the horse and the Dothraki are unparalleled in Essos for it.

"Rodrik." He looked up and saw it was Daenerys calling to him. "During the battle, Jaehaerys and I will be riding our dragons and breathing fire on them, avoiding whatever killed Viserion." He nodded, Sheepstealer will aid them in this.

"I will help- "

"No." He was perplexed by Daenerys telling him 'no', he gave her a face and the tension increased within the room.

"This is my fight, if there should be anyone that should be pulling their weight it should be me." He countered and she shook her head, going to argue the matter, thankfully, Sansa and Waymar cut everyone off.

"We've been here for some time, perhaps a break is in order?" Not too long, they don't know how long until the Night King comes for them.

He and Dany were left alone, Bran being the last to leave. Once they were alone, she stormed up to him and pushed him hard.

"I will not be putting you in danger, not after what happened." She wasn't at fault for what happened, it was war and death is apart of it. "You broke my heart when I saw those bright blue eyes turn dark, when you screamed like 'them', like those monsters." He frowned and lowered his head, he couldn't remember anything past being shot by that arrow.

"Daenerys, it is my duty to fight for my people, for my daughter." He tried to convince her, she gripped his jerkin leather and looked into his eyes.

"I lost one of my children, they are all I will have and if I lose you next... Rodrik, I don't want to think about you dying a second time and never coming back." He was shocked by what she was saying, he thought they had discussed this after Jon told them about his true heritage.

"Dany... Please." He begged, he couldn't bear it. He doesn't want to do this, not here on the eve of battle.

She didn't say anything, she simply reached up and kissed him. Instinct took over and he slowly reciprocated the move and wrapped his arms around her waist, she began to tear at his clothes and he wanted to do the same. He tried to fight the emotions back as hard as he could.

She stopped and cupped his cheeks, "My whole life was retaking my families throne, I wanted the Seven Kingdoms... Then I met you, I despised you for your stubbornness and fell in love with you in the end." She whispered and he closed his eyes, breathing deeply.

"... " He couldn't form any words, he could only listen to her words and felt compelled to remain.

"If we somehow survive the Long Night as Leaf said... I want you, I want to be with you." She told him, he sighed deeply and pulled on her waist.

When he was dying, he was afraid of never seeing Joanna or the Eyrie or the sun setting over the Vale of Arryn. Most of all, he was afraid of never seeing Daenerys face or the feeling of her silver hair.

"You would sacrifice your crown for a life with me, after all that you've been through?" He asked and she chuckled, pulling him closer as if their bodies would meld.

"If you asked me that a year ago, no, I wouldn't have but the woman I am now would be willing to have you in exchange for that." She said to him and he wanted to laugh with her. "Be with me for a moment, an hour, just be with me." She didn't need to say anymore, he kissed her and backed her up against the table and lifted her up.

They tore each other's clothes off and basked in the sensation, he feels like a new man today. He felt her bodice against his skin, she wrapped her legs around him and he pressed himself into her folds which caused her to moan and so did he, the feelings were similar of the night they spent at Queenscrown.

Dany gripped his back and he snaked his hands on the small of her back and one other on her thigh. He kissed her passionately, closing his eyes and the heat pumped closer and closer till he was nearly at a climax, she must have been as well but he suddenly felt the pain in his chest again, it hurt.

He pulled away and she pushed herself up, worry in her eyes and breathing hard.

"What's wrong, is it the object they put in your chest?" He nodded and pressed his back against the wall.

He and Dany re-dressed and left the room after avoiding her questions, he couldn't possibly answer because he doesn't know... But Bran might, he's been touched by the Night King.

Elsewhere within Winterfell, Asher and Arya were standing at the gates, they were arguing about the scouting party that House Forrester is heading.

"I said you can't go, you don't listen, do you?" Arya was fuming, she was angry over what was happening.

The dead and the Night King are behind the Wall, they are coming to Winterfell and Jon wanted scouts in the Wolfswood, House Forrester was the best at it besides the Wildlings who are also partnering with the seven groups of men and women.

"Arya, please, I chose to lead my men, my parents are gone, two of my brothers are dead. Mira is dead. I only have Ryon and Talia left... And you." She was stunned by the tall man who smirked, "Yes, I love you even if you are a hardheaded she-wolf." Royland whistled for Asher, she doesn't very much like the scarred up man.

"You better come back, we have adventures to see in the world." She told the man who she became closest to other than Rodrik and Gendry.

Asher cupped her cheek then ruffled her head, "That's a promise, Lady Wolf." He told her and walked over to Royland and thirty Forrester and Wildling men.

She was scared, she hated feeling scared and worried, like when she saw Rodrik fall to the ground with Daenerys, clutching his body and the blood... No! She thought and whistled for Nymeria to follow her, she has lessons with Sansa and Gendry while she waits for Asher to come back.

In Sansa's old room, Waymar fell to Sansa's side and they were breathing hard.

Sansa wanted to feel him once more, one last time before the storm comes to swallow them. She knows he shouldn't think like that, she should be optimistic about it all but they had all the preparation they could ask for, and it didn't even make a scratch against the dead.

Waymar was so broken when he came back to her, he lost his father and their child lost their grandfather before it could be born.

He cried when he came to her in their chambers, for his father, for Rodrik who was resurrected by the Children of the Forest. She lost a number of her own lords at the Wall, 2000 soldiers who will never see the end and return to their families, 3000 Southerners who will not feel the warmth of Summer again.

Now, they have to prepare for the arrival of the Night King.

"I'm happy my King is awake, I'm grateful the Seven gave him life." Or the Old Gods. She thought and remembered it was the Children who saved Rodrik, the Old Gods kept him from the clutches of the Stranger.

"I am dreading the battle, that we'll be fighting them." She whispered and Waymar got up, eyeing her with shock, "Waymar, please listen to what I have to say- " She didn't give him a chance to do so, he started shouting.

"Absolutely not. Sansa, you are carrying my child, that baby is heir to the North, to Winterfell and I will not lose you next." She huffed and stopped him, she will not be told otherwise about fighting with her people for the freedom of the North.

"I WILL fight in the battle, I have the best armor for Arya and me to wear, I will be protected- " Waymar stopped her again, panic running through his tone.

"I forbid it, Sansa. I am your husband and King." She was set back by his words, she got up and wrapped a robe around her naked body. She eyed Waymar with anger.

"... I am the Queen of the North. I am the Lady of Winterfell and you are my husband, consort to the Queen and father to the Crown Prince or Princess." She humbled him, his voice was caught in his throat and her expression changed from a stone cold look to a soft one, "Do you realize how worried I was to see you ride off, fighting when not knowing you will die or not... If we are to die, I would be at your side than have our child live in a world that doesn't have his or her father."

The room was quiet, Waymar looked to want to argue but he couldn't, he wouldn't do that. "Alright... Sansa, you will remain at my side, do you hear me? You will not leave my side." She nodded and he embraced her, a sigh escaped her as she clutched his back as if he would disappear if she loosened her grip.

Bran was taken to the Godswood, it was where he foresaw Rodrik entering the woods and walking towards him.

"You can feel him, can you?" Rodrik stopped, he looked nervous and in pain, the same pain he felt when he was touched by the Night King.

"Bran, how did you... " Rodrik paused and he smiled at the King of the Vale, "What is it, what is happening to me?" He was asked and he rolled his sleeve, showing the mark on his arm once more.

"He might not have physically touched you, but his magic is on you." He started to explain to Rodrik, "He can feel where you are, he is close, now. He has brought Viserion back to life and will bring his entire army here to kill me." Rodrik held the bridge of his nose.

"Did you know, about what would happen?" Rodrik asked him, he shook his head.

"I was young at training to use this power, I can see far but not every scenario." Bran was telling the truth, the Three-Eyed Raven told him not to linger in the past and he did the exact opposite, he paid for overreaching to find out the truths and stay in the memories of the past.

"Can you see us winning, can we defeat him here with what he have?" Bran sighed and thought about it, he isn't adept in seeing the future, but he tried and was gone for moments, possibly an hour as he looked through the future.

He opened his eyes and looked at Rodrik who was sitting down, the Falcon King waited for him to speak and when he did, he spoke with complete clarity.

"There is one way... All others end with the Long Night overshadowing the world."

The Wolfswood 

Asher Forrester was fighting tooth and nail, they had landed in a trap and was attacked by dozens of Wights.

He felt like a bastard, he promised Arya that he would come back and that gave him some encouragement to fight harder than he has ever done.

His men fell one by one, their horses were gone, dead and all other riders started running back to Winterfell to warn the others. Perhaps their not all cowards, the dead will be at Winterfell by nightfall. "Come on!" Holding the ancestral weapon of his House he began fighting fiercely, cutting down one after the other and forgetting the time that passed by.

He heard a cry and turned to see Royland falling to the ground, wounded and swarmed by the corpses and he roared in defiance.

"You bastards, I'll send you all to the deepest of hell!" He didn't make one more move before he was pierced by an ice-like sword. He gurgled blood and fell to his knees, his family sword piercing the snow and his breath became heavy.

The fighting stopped, the remaining scouts all dead. The White Walker who stuck him was an ugly bastard, he scoffed and wiped the blood from his lip. I'm sorry, Arya... It seems my adventuring days are over. His last thought was of Arya Stark, her wicked smirk as they fought Ramsay Bolton and the Whitehills, when they drank together at the feast of Winterfell and the promise he made to her at the castle gates.

"Get on with it... " The White Walker raised his sword and he felt nothing after that.

Out of seven groups of thirty, only eighteen returned and nearly killed their horses as they stomped into the courtyard where Sansa and Jaehaerys met them.

"What's happened?" Arya walked out of the hall, hearing the horn blast for returning soldiers.

The leader of the men huffed for breath, "It's the army of the dead, they are close." Sansa was horrified, Jaehaerys face turned cold and stiffened.

"How long do we have?" It was the question many of them wanted to know, a Wildling rider answered for the Forrester scout.

"... When the sun goes down, tonight."

In the few hours after they were informed, the many camps were lifted and the armies got ready, getting into formation. Beric watched the sun going down and nodded for Podrick to light the outer trench, within the inner trench the armies stood firm and worried.

The Dothraki and Valemen rode out of the gaps, Waymar and Sansa and Qhono led both groups to the hills a half-mile away from the castle, Melisandre followed to use her spell to light the Dothraki weapons with fire.

Atop the walls, Anguy and Arya watched from the Northside, the last Free Folk chief and several Northmen watched the Eastern side of the walls. At the front gate, Wun Wun stood ready in the case that both trenches and the cavalry charge don't stop them.

Within the Godswood, Leaf, her people, Meera Reed, several Crannogmen and two dozen Unsullied and Northmen were stationed to protect Bran, Theon joined them soon after with a fresh bow.

Daenerys and Jaehaerys got atop Drogon and Rhaegal, Rodrik was already ahead and was soaring around the Godswood, Sheepstealer's great wings casting a dark shadow.

The final battle was approaching, and an hour after the moon appeared over the clouded sky, a glimmer of its light shined down at the edge of the Wolfswood, a lone rider slowly appeared and his blue eyes looked at the flames so far away.

Grey Worm nodded to Jorah and raised his hand, on the Northside, Brynden Tully and Edmure Tully did the same.

The trebuchets launched and the battle commenced.