End Game// Tormund Giantsbane (3)

5. I'm Not Sorry

"Hey sweetie, what's wrong?" 

"They are going to burn him." Jon whispered leaning into her.

"I gathered from all the wood." Caro agreed softly. "He's a friend of yours?" 

"Sort of. He's a good man, he just wanted what was best for his people." Jon informed her. 

"I wont bend to Stannis," Caro whispered running a hand through Jon's hair. Jon lifted his head from her shoulder. "I won't." Caro told him. "I don't like him, I don't trust him."

"Caro, don't speak." Jon begged. "I can't lose you too." 

"Mance Rayder, you've been called the King-beyond-the-Wall. Westeros only has one king. Bend the knee, I promise you mercy." Stannis remarked but Mance didn't move. "Kneel and live." Stannis offered.

"Yes, threats a great way to rule." Caro murmured, she caught Tormunds glance her way. "What's the deal with big red?" Jon looked to Tormund. 

"He's alright, loud, but a good guy." Jon remarked. "Why? What did he do?" 

"Flirt, but I'm used to that." Caro offered. "He just seems..."

"He's like a teddy bear with knives." Jon offered. 

"What?" Caro chuckled. 

"He looks like this big fluffy man and then he fights, Caro he's a great fighter, crazy but-" Jon shrugged. 

"arent we all a little bit crazy?" Caro mused. 

''This was my home for many years" Mance informed them. "I wish you good fortune in the wars to come.'' Stannis guards shoved Mance, pushing him to the post, to be burned alive.

"Gods I hate burnings, no decent person would ever... its cruel." Caro remarked. "It shows he will burn the world like the Targaryens did before us." Jon nodded holding tight to her. 

"We all must choose. Man or woman, young or old, lord or peasant, our choices are the same. We choose light or we choose darkness. We choose good or we choose evil. We choose the true god or the false. Free folk, there is only one true king and his name is Stannis. Here stands your king of lies." The red woman declared holding up a torch. Caro pulled from Jon's grasp. He looked to her confused. 

"I can't watch this." She whispered looking around as she moved through the crowd.

 "Behold the fate of those who choose the darkness." She declared as fire sizzled the wood around Mance, he squirmed feeling the heat. He gasped out as the fires got hotter around him. He cried out, as the flames seared his skin, whimpering in pain when an arrow came sailing through the air, killing him, sparing him, a quicker death.

Jon looked up to where the arrow had come from as Caro lowered her bow. She locked eyes with Stannis a challenging stare. Tormund fell even more in love. 

Wildlings at the wall were put in chains, Caro watched as Tormund stared back at her as he dragged away as though she could save him too. 

"The king would like to talk to you Lady Carolina." Daavos remarked. 

"I know, know king here." Caro countered innocently. 

"Please, dont make this harder on yourself." Daavos begged. Caro looked to Jon. 

"I'm sorry honey. I didnt mean to make things worse for you." Caro whispered bringing a hand to Jon's cheek. 

"I would have done the same." Jon assured. "I will take the hit."

"You won't." Caro corrected. "I'm not sorry."

+

"I ordered Mance Rayder burned at the stake.' Stannis remarked ''You prevented that order from being carried out.'' Caro stared back at him. ''You showed mercy to Mance Rayder. The King's word is law." He went on bitterly.