Cold Hands

14

Benjen waited outside the camp of Mance Rayder, staring at the various columns of smoke rising from the tent city. His elk snorted in the cold night, stomping at the icy snow. The Three Eyed Raven had told him exactly where he'd find them...they were slowly advancing on the wall. And they had Jon Snow as their prisoner.

At least he was still alive.

——-

Izzy watched her daughter play in the sandy dirt, smiling all the while remembering that she was never allowed to play in the dirt.

Ellaria and Oberyn walked the gently packed pebbles hand in hand. Coming upon little Elia covered in dirt and her mother, just as filthy, both with flowers in their hair, giggling and creating the most precious memories together warmed their hearts and cemented special memories of their own.

Elia looked up and laughed, raising her tiny arms up as high as she could. "Obon!"

"Ahhh! There's our little Princess!" Prince Oberyn reached down and removed her from the dirt with a swoosh. In return, the small child placed a colorful flower in his hair, causing Ellaria to chuckle.

"An improvement, my love."

Oberyn grinned. "Oh? Do you think so?"

"I do, yes."

"Then it stays."

She reached for Ellaria and smashed her chubby cheeks to the Dornish woman's beautiful face then touched her very muddy fingers to the woman's cheeks, causing giggles from the three adults.

"So beautiful, my beloved," Oberyn cooed.

"I'm so sorry." Izzy stood and held out her arms for her child. "Elia, it's time for bathies."

Elia squealed in Oberyn's ear causing the handsome man to wince. "What a set of lungs this one has."

"It's the Northern wolf in her, I'm afraid?"

"Are the wolves that loud," Ellaria asked.

"What?!"

She shook her head and led him back toward the palace, closely followed by Izzy and Elia.

——-

Benjen stood outside Mance Rayder's small unassuming tent. He cleared his throat and pulled the flap back after cutting the ties.

"Who are you," Mance asked sleepily.

Benjen merely stood in the doorway, the moonlight creating a startling silhouette. Mance gasped.

"Cold Hands..."

With tense aggravation, Benjen pulled down his hood and removed the kerchief from his face.

"You're not Cold Hands at all...you're...you're Benjen Stark!"

"How about we test your theory by my hands circling your neck, traitor?"

"You were my best Ranger, Stark...you know what I can do..."

"I also know that you're old and tired."

Mance chuckled and sat up then patted the mat where he lay. "Come sit with me, my Brother."

"You're no brother to me," Benjen spat.

"As you wish, Stark, as you wish." What the hell happened to you? You look as you've seen better days."

"The Night King happened."

Mance shook his head. "You're not as any of the Others that I've ever seen."

"The Children of the Forest happened upon me as I was near death."