Hoax // Benjen Stark

11. Winters

'Don't stand so still it's hard to hit a moving target' Jon said trying to bond with his brothers 'Except for you.' he motioned to pip, 'you move too much,' he saw Tyrion watching him from the doorway above, 'you pull your sword out, jump around and you do all the work for me.' jon informed him.

'How many winters have you seen Lord Tyrion?'

'Eight no nine' he answered.

'All of them brief?' The maester questioned.

'No, the winter of my birth was three years long Maester Aemond.' Tyrion informed him.

'This summer has lasted nine but word from the citadel tells us that the summer grow shorter... winter is coming. This one will be long and dark, things will come with it.' Maester aemond told Tyrion.

'We've been capturing Wildlings more every month they are fleeing south the ones who we find say they have seen the white walkers.'

'And the fisherman of Lannister port say they see mermaids' Tyrion told them humorously.

'The night watch is the only thing standing between the realm and what lays beyond and it has become an army of undisciplined boys and tired old men' maester aemond told Tyrion. 'There are less than 1000 of us now,' he went on 'we cannot manage the other castles beyond the wall, we cannot properly patrol the wildlings, we barely have enough led to keep our men armed and fed.'

'Your sister sits by the side of the king. Tell her we need help' he requested 'When winter does come, God's help us all if we are not ready.' Aemond told Tyrion.

+

'I'm sorry to see you leave' Jon said as Tyrion finished pissing off the edge of the wall

'It's either me or this cold and it doesn't appear to be going anywhere.' Tyrion told him.

'Will you stop at Winterfell on your way south?'

'I suppose I will gods know there are not many featherbeds between here and Kings Landing.' Tyrion reminded him

'If you see my brother Bran tell him I miss him tell him I'd visit if I could.' Jon requested

'Of course' Tyrion said.

'He may never walk again' Jon informed him

'If you're going to be a cripple it's better to be a rich cripple. Take care snow' Tyrion said walking past.

+

"You got any fighting skills?" Donna glanced back at Benjens night watch rangers that joined them for their monster hunt.

"Not really." Donna admitted.

"Yet you wanted to come north of the wall for a little vacation?"

"Or perhaps our Benjen's cock."

"That's my sister you are talking about." Stephen warned.

"I'm going to keep Benjen from getting killed.' Donna said confidently.

"Is he going to die?"

Benjen held tight to Donna's hand as they moved, colder and colder by the minute. the thicker the snow and the flurries making it hard to see.

"That's why im here." Donna agreed. "Keep him alive." the men chuckled but Donna was done losing Benjen Stark...

+

"What are those things?" Stephen questioned. Donna lost track of days, only a few by her count, stephen had stopped worrying about their world for a hot minute when he saw the creatures moaning and groaning, the foot steps sluggish before them.

"Can't be."

"White walkers." Benjen confirmed.

"How does one kill a white walker?" Donna questioned quietly.

"They are legend. they dont exist."

"Tell that to them." Stephen sassed.

"Benjen?" Donna asked softly.

"I dont know how to kill them." Benjen admitted. "I've never seen one with my own two eyes before."

"Great. Stephen you can improvise right?" Donna suggested. Stephen forged a magical shield and the men stared at him. "He's a wizard." Donna told them nonchalantly. But stephens magic didn't protect them.

The men screamed out the horses ran off terrified the walkers took blades to the chest but it didnt phase them. donna looked around nervously as one grabbed her. she threw an elbow back pulling from its grip.

"Donna!" Stephen shouted and she felt her powers shifting.

"Stephen, it's happening." Donna said through pained breaths as she grabbed hold of Benjen.

"What's happening?" Benjen questioned noticing the portal forming behind her.

"Drop the blade or you are going to kill us on the trip." DOnna instructed the blade slipped through his fingers as they were sucked in.

+

Green grass and blue skies. Sunny days and no monsters in sight. Donna got to her feet and looked to Benjen. she saved him. she finally saved one.

"Stephen? you alright?" Donna asked as benjen got up and promptly doubled over vomiting in front of stephen's feet. Stephen took a step back at Donna ran a hand over Benjens back.

"Not as bad this time." Stephen informed her. "where are we?"

"No, clue." Donna told him.

"It looks more like home. My home." Stephen offered.

'Now remember the first thing about interdenominational travel,' Donna told them as Benjen got up wiping at his lips. 'Everything you think you know... forget it. Odds are its wrong.'