Chapter 84

Bahamut's colossal form landed near Jon and Eddard, the ground trembling beneath the weight of the dragon. A resounding roar filled the air, echoing into the sky, and Bahamut began his transformation into human form. Whisps of flame adorned the ends of his hair and dress, flickering perpetually. His golden eyes glowed intensely as he turned his gaze toward the multitude of wildlings gathered.

Addressing Eddard Stark, Bahamut uttered, "Let them in, Lord Stark." Eddard, feeling the urgency, quickly commanded his men to open the gate, allowing the wildlings to pass through. The first to approach was a giant, avoiding eye contact with Bahamut after their recent encounter. One by one, the wildlings streamed through the gate, and though the Northerners were uneasy about the decision, the sheer spectacle of Bahamut, a dragon transformed into a humanoid, silenced any objections. It was as if they had lived in a world of lies, and now the truth was unveiling itself before their eyes.

During this moment, Aithusa attempted a playful surprise on Bahamut, silently inching closer on his back. Although Bahamut was well aware of her presence, he pretended to remain oblivious. Aithusa moved through the snow, approaching Bahamut cautiously. Seizing the opportunity, she lunged from the snowy cover, only for Bahamut to catch her mid-air. Aithusa expressed her disapproval, but Bahamut responded with a smile. Cradling her in his arms, Bahamut briefly glanced north before crossing the Wall.

As the last of the wildlings and Northerners entered the Wall, Eddard Stark, his son Jon, Mance, and other wildling leaders, along with the Northern Lords, followed suit, sealing the gate behind them. Meanwhile, at the Three-Eyed Raven's abode, Night King and Corpse Queen arrived to witness the aftermath—burnt weirwood trees and the crumbled cave. The once sacred sanctuary of the greenseers had been obliterated. Corpse Queen, gazing upon the destruction, remarked, "Wherever he goes, destruction follows him." She turned away from the desolation, eyeing her undead army and the colossal ice dragons, including the undead dragon brought from the land of bitter winter. Among them, an iconic dragon from the past, Cannibal, fixated his green eyes on Nissa Nissa. With a final glance, Corpse Queen departed, leaving the remnants of the once-hallowed ground.

In the grand hall of Castle Black, the tension was palpable as wildlings and northerners exchanged disdainful glances. The murmurs of discontent echoed through the cold stone walls. Eddard, Mance, and Bahamut took their seats at the forefront, anticipating the inevitable clash of ideologies.

Just as Mance Rayder was about to rise and address the assembly, Bahamut stood, holding a mug. A collective hush fell over the hall as everyone's attention shifted to the dragon-humanoid.

"People of the North, and our newfound comrades among the Free Folk," Bahamut's voice echoed with an otherworldly resonance, cutting through the tense air like a blade. "I stand before you not as a conqueror but as a harbinger of a threat greater than any division between us."

The dragon's words penetrated the silence, resonating with the weight of impending doom. "The enemy we face does not discriminate between wildling and northerner, dragon or man. It is a force that seeks to consume all life, extinguish all warmth, and reduce the world to a frozen abyss."

A brief pause allowed the gravity of his words to sink in. "In the vast expanse of the North, you have been divided by history, mistrust, and prejudice. But I implore you to cast aside these grievances, for we face a foe that recognizes no borders, no allegiances."

Bahamut's gaze swept over the assembly, his golden eyes meeting those of wildlings and northerners alike. "The ancient prophecies speak of a Long Night, a time when darkness blankets the world. This is not a tale of folklore; this is a looming reality, and it cares not for our petty disputes."

As Bahamut raised his mug high, the hall remained silent, captivated by the gravity of the moment. "Let us forge an alliance, not out of convenience, but out of necessity. Together, we stand a chance against the encroaching darkness. Divided, we are but morsels for the approaching storm."

His call for unity resonated with the assembly. "I ask you to look beyond the scars of the past and recognize the greater threat that looms. Join hands, freefolks and northerners, for the night is dark and full of terrors. Let our unity be the torch that guides us through the impending Long Night, For the North."

Mance Rayder and Eddard Stark joined Bahamut in raising their mugs high, and a resounding chorus echoed through the hall. "For the North!" The unity was sealed, at least in that moment, by the shared acknowledgment of the impending danger.