The Prince of Thorns

🌹From the Water🌹

The Night King mounts his horse, and the undead army begins to march away from the frozen lake. The eerie quiet that follows is interrupted only by the faint sound of hooves. The battlefield is littered with the bodies of the fallen, and the remaining survivors of the Brotherhood stand in solemn silence, watching as the undead army retreats.

The hilt of Longclaw lies on the ice near the water. Suddenly, Jon and Alester emerge from the icy lake, gasping for air as they struggle to pull themselves from the water. Both are battered, their bodies trembling from the cold, and they cling to the remnants of their strength. Their clothes are soaked and frozen, but their resolve is clear.

JON SNOW: (weakly) Not like this...

ALESTER: (breathing heavily, wiping water from his face) You don't get to die like this, Jon. Not yet.

They both rest for a moment, gathering their strength, but their time is running out. The undead army is closing in. Jon and Alester begin to stagger away from the lake. Jon falls to his knees, using Longclaw to prop himself up, while Alester struggles to stay upright beside him.

JON SNOW: (gritting his teeth) We fight... we keep fighting...

ALESTER: (nodding, though struggling) No choice. We die here, or we die standing. We don't go down easy.

Alester, his eyes full of determination, manages to pull Jon to his feet. Together, they face the advancing undead, the weight of their exhaustion pressing down on them. Suddenly, the horde surges forward, but before they can reach the two men, a dark figure plows through the advancing army, spinning a flaming blazier that fells the soldiers as he passes. The rider charges through to Jon and Alester, dismounting swiftly.

Benjen Stark pulls back his hood, his face grim, yet his eyes filled with purpose.

JON SNOW: (in disbelief) Uncle Benjen! How?

ALESTER: (catching his breath, but still defiant) You shouldn't have come... but I'm glad you did.

Benjen grabs both Jon and Alester, pulling them toward his horse. He helps Jon mount first, then looks at Alester.

BENJEN: You two ride for the pass. Go, now.

JON SNOW: (desperate) Uncle, come with us. Please.

ALESTER: (shouting, pulling at Jon's reins) We need you, Benjen! Get on the damn horse!

BENJEN: (shaking his head) It's not my time. You must survive, Jon. You both must.

With a firm slap on the horse's flank, Benjen urges the steed to move forward. Jon and Alester look back at him one last time as the horse gallops away, but Benjen remains behind. He ignites his blazier again, charging back into the fray. The undead surge forward, and the blazier goes out as Benjen is overwhelmed. The wights swarm him, dragging him down into the chaos.

JON SNOW: (shouting, voice cracking) No! Uncle Benjen!

ALESTER: (gritting his teeth, watching helplessly) Gods damn it, no...

Jon and Alester turn away and spur the horse onward, but Jon's gaze lingers on the spot where his uncle fought, knowing that Benjen has given everything.

As Jon rides away, the sounds of the battle behind them begin to fade. The two men ride in silence, both knowing the price of survival.

Top of the The Wall

Daenerys and Jorah stand in a watch tower as Drogon flies by.

JORAH: It's time to go, Your Grace.

DAENERYS: A bit longer.

Resigned, Daenerys turns to go. A horn blares in the distance.

MAN: Rider approaching!

Daenerys and Jorah turn back to look over the edge

MAN: Rider approaching!

The sound of the gate opening. Below, two exhausted riders approach, doubled over and held up by only each other.

Alester wakes up in the ship's quarters, his body sore and stiff from the plunge he and Jon took into the icy water. The room is dimly lit, the sound of waves gently rocking the ship providing a calming rhythm. His breath is shallow, his limbs aching, but slowly, he regains consciousness, groaning slightly as he tries to sit up.

He attempts to rise, but the pain is too much, and he falls back against the bed. As he struggles, Daenerys enters the room, her face etched with concern. She notices his attempts to get up and quickly steps toward him.

ALESTER: (weakly, trying to push himself up) Your Grace...

DAENERYS: (sternly, but with concern) Alester, no. You need to rest. Please, lay back down.

Alester reluctantly complies, sinking back into the pillows, his body still aching. He looks up at Daenerys, his eyes searching for any sign of Jon's condition.

ALESTER: (hoarsely) Jon... is he alright?

DAENERYS: (softening) He's fine. I spoke with him already. He's recovering. (Pauses, looking at him seriously.) You saved him, Alester. You did more than anyone could've asked.

Alester shifts slightly, still exhausted, his face showing both relief and fatigue. He tries to sit up a little more, but the pain is too much.

ALESTER: (quietly) I wasn't sure we were going to make it out of there. The ice... and Jon... (His voice trails off, remembering the moment.) I didn't know if I could pull him out.

DAENERYS: (softly) But you did. You brought him back. I'm... I'm thankful for that. We all are.

Alester looks at her, taking in her words, and for a moment, there's silence between them. He nods slowly, his exhaustion evident, but there's a sense of quiet pride in his eyes.

ALESTER: (gently) It wasn't just me. Jon would've done the same for me, Your Grace.

DAENERYS: (with a small, sincere smile) That's true. But you're the one who acted, Alester. You saved him. And for that, I can't thank you enough.

ALESTER: (quietly) It was the right thing to do. I'm just glad I was there.

Daenerys gives him a soft, grateful nod, standing up straighter. Her gaze softens as she watches him for a moment.

DAENERYS: You've done more than enough. Now, you need to rest. We'll need you when you're feeling better.

ALESTER: (with a small, grateful nod) Thank you, Your Grace.

DAENERYS: Rest well, Alester. I'll make sure Jon knows your awake.

As Daenerys leaves the room, Alester watches her go, a feeling of quiet satisfaction settling over him. He leans back against the pillows, allowing his body to relax as his eyes close, finally allowing himself to rest.