Fire Beyond the Wall

Bringing Winter

The morning came quickly and I wasn't sure if I was glad or not. I was to stay back with Sansa, incase Ramsey won and she needed protecting. It bothered me some at first, but Jon had to have asked me to stay back for a reason. The more I thought of it the more i came to understand that Jon knew it was going to be a bloody battle and just wanted me safe.

Mine and Sansa's horses sat together as we watched the Bolton army across the open battle field. As we sat in wait for something to happen I saw Tormund wander down the line of men to us. He stood by my leg, looking forward, his hand clasped on my calf.

"You stay safe, ya hear" He said gruffly.

I scoffed, "Me, you better not die ...or i'll kill ya" I swatted his ear when I said this.

He chuckled half heartedly and walked back to the front lines.

Ramsey had something planned, I could tell, the way he was still. I could sense the bastards smirk from across the field. He is lucky I didn't see it or I would have slapped it off his face.

Ramsey had his men bring someone forward, he was leaning close to them. Their stature was smaller, a young boy.

My horse trotted slightly on its feet, making my head spin more than it already was. It was Rickon.

Rickon became walking forward, running when Ramsey readied a bow n arrow. I gasped, my horse trotting forward slightly, "Rickon".

Jon leaped onto his horse and bolted for Rickon, I prayed that Jon reached him.

I watched in horror as arrows began to fire off, landing close to Rickon. Jon was close, hand out stretched for our young brother. That's when the arrow came down from the sky piercing Rickon's chest and sending him to the ground.

I clutched the reins hard as I shook with sadness and rage, Ramsay Bolton is going to die.

I stayed and watched as the horses charged, I watched my brother be engulfed by people on either side.

I let out a breathy growl and I "tsked" for my horse to move turning it around.

"Where are you going?" Sansa asked, slight panic in her voice.

I looked at her with hard reassuring eyes, "Bringing winter" with that my horse bolted away. I went backwards into the woods and looped around the field. Ramsey wanted to prove to Jon, show him, that he had more men. All his men were on the field, only a small handful would be in Winterfell. They would be spread out on posts to keep watch. Usually there would be more, but Ramsay knew Jon did not have enough men for a secret attack on Winterfell, so why post too many men there. There were two men over the main gate. I climb off my horse and readied an arrow, I shot one down, alerting the other who looked out into the thinning trees. I spooked my horse with a top on it's back, she ran into the open, distracting the guard before he could alert any others, that's when I shot him down.

I waited, bow ready to see if any guards had seen the men fall, nothing. I ran low to the wall and along it until I reached the tower Bran had fallen from. It was good cover, anyone inside the walls couldn't see me climb the outside of it. Luckily having to watch Bran climb so much came in use. I climbed to the first window and slipped inside. This tower was old and abandoned, even when Father was here, so why would Ramsey put it to use. I had my arrow ready as I creeped out of the room and found a window that overlooked the courtyard. I surveyed for the guards, the courtyard was mostly people, not Ramsey's men. I could shoot most of the guards from my position and I only prayed that the people may fight for themselves once i've thinned out the danger. I took a breath placing my quiver on the ground to easily reload. I shot, taking out the ones on higher ground first. The first two men went down easy, little noise and no one seemed to notice, not until the third, he fell over the railing. That is when eyes began to wonder, looking who released it. I had two left and made good use of them. Once all my arrows were gone I grabbed my sword and ran downstairs, I knew they saw me and were headed to the tower. I waited by the door waiting until their yelling and footsteps were close. Then I threw my body weight into the door sending it into the men. One was on the ground and I drove my sword through his chest. This gave the two behind him time to regain themselves. They both came of me, but I was ready.

I ducked missing their strikes, I kicked the one on my left off his feet, sending him on his back. I sent my sword up into the other one's stomach.

I felt a searing pain in my thigh, looking down I saw the man I knocked down had drove a dagger into my leg. I glared and reared my knee into his face and plunged my sword down into him.

I grunted as I pulled the dagger from the thigh. I heard yelling behind me, turning I saw a few other guards running my way. I stood upright, lipping on my leg as blood soaked my pants. I had my sword ready, but the men began falling to the ground, getting beaten by pots and pans, sticks.

The people were fighting back, screaming "For Winterfell and the Starks". I grinned through the growing pain in my leg and ran to help them finish off Ramsey's men. Once it was done, the people thanked me. I walked into the halls of Winterfell and sighed, it was still home under the dirt that the Boltons brought. I found some cloth and tore it into strips to bind my leg. The people were scurrying about, still on edge as Ramsey's army could return and not Jon's. I was in the castle sitting, resting when I heard it. The banging and yelling. I creeped from the door to see Jon had Ramsey cornered, Ramsey had his back to me. No one had seen me, as they were focused on Ramsey or Wun Wun who was shot to death by the men Ramsey had brought back for his protecting.

"You suggested one on one combat didn't you" Ramsey spoke with bow in hand. No one seemed to notice the dead bodies of the guards I had killed, they blended with the ones of the now dead men that came running back with Ramsey.

"I've reconsidered" Ramsey spoke, he was now outnumbered, "I think that sounds like a wonderful idea".

I could see Ramsey readying an arrow. I growled, throwing my sword down, ignoring how Jon had done the same and had picked up a shield. Before Jon could proceed toward Ramsey and before Ramsey could fire and arrow. I ran up, cringing through the pain and kicked Ramsey right between his legs. He instantly groaned, dropping his weapon and falling to his knees. I gripped his hair reeling his head back and growled in his ear, "Winter can be a bitch". I released his hair and limped to my brother who still had his eyes locked on Ramsey. I felt someone gripped me tight from behind. I looked over my shoulder and saw Tormund, I smiled weakly.

I watched as I brother yelled and dropped down over Ramsey and began to beat his face in. Jon kept punching his face bloody until he caught Sansa in his gaze and stopped.

Jon walked away and came to me. Tormund let me go so Jon could hold me. He hugged me tight, "I told you to stay put" he whispered.

"I couldn't" I said he pulled away and looked at me, "you have to admit I did good" I tried jesting.

He smiled weakly and shook his head.

"You're hurt" Sansa soft voice spoke.

We looked to her and saw she was speaking to me. I looked down at my leg and saw blood was leaking through the bandage and was soaking my pants again.

"You need to get of your feet Rhae" Jon began to fret.

"I'm fine-" I was stopped by Tormund picking me up.

He carried me towards the caste, "I can take care of my own bleeding leg and walk on my own" I spoke to the Ginger man covered in blood. He looked onward, face intimidating, but his hands were soft as they tried not to touch my wound.

"I know you can" He paused then finally looked at me, "pretty crow".

I smiled and shook my head allowing him to carry me inside to get my leg stitched up.

A fresh snow began to fall as the Stark banners flew once more. Once the snow had settled on the ground and the Lords of north grouped around the newly regained castle, Jon Snow was announced as King of the North by his people, by the north.