Ella Snow and her twin brother are outsiders in the house of their father, Lord Eddard Stark. Ella has no one else in the world, except her brother Jon. Join Ella on her journey as she uncovers truths that could destroy her and those she loves.
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"We said we'd fight with you, King Crow, when the time comes. And we meant it, but this isn't what we agreed to. This isn't what we agreed to. These aren't White Walkers. This isn't an army of the dead. This isn't our fight." One of the wildling elders, named Dim Dalba, stated when Jon pleaded with the Free Folk to fight on their side against Ramsay.
Jon took a detour to the wildling encampment to persuade the Free Folk to fight with them. Brienne of Tarth and the small boy, Podrick left on a special mission requested by Sansa. Ella saw the sadness wash over Tormund when the great fighter left their group, but he carried on.
Ella, Sansa, Jon, Ser Davos, a few elders, Tormund, and Wun-Wun the giant, all gathered around a fire pit that cold afternoon. Jon requested a meeting with the elders in order to request their help in the battle against Ramsay. Ella could tell by the disgusted glares they received from the elders that their mind was already made up. There was a slim chance the wildlings would come around and fight with them.
"If it weren't for him and the girl crow, none of us would be here," Tormund spoke up, his eyes fixed on Ella. "All of you would be meat in the Night King's army. And I'd be a pile of charred bones just like Mance."
"Remember Mance's camp? It stretched all the way to the horizon. Now look at us." Dim Dalba glanced around the camp, indicating how small the Free Folk grew over the course of one year since Hardhome. "Look what's left of us. And if we lose this, we're gone. Dozens of tribes, hundreds of generations. Be like we were never here. We'll be the last of the Free Folk."
"That's what will happen anyways if we lose," Ella spoke up. Everyone jerked their head towards the lone wolf. She had not spoken since they arrived, but she found it was her time to say something. "The Boltons, the Karstarks, the Umbers. These names may seem unimportant to you lot, but they're the houses of the North. They all know we let you through the Wall. They know you're here. They know that more than half of the Free Folk are women and children. After they finish with us and take my sister again, they'll come for you. They'll slaughter each and every one of you because of who you are and where you come from."
Silence fell over the elders. Some even looked away to avoid the glares coming from Ella. The lone wolf was respected among the wildlings, and Ella knew she could use that respect to persuade them.
"You're absolutely right. I know this isn't your fight," Ella stepped forward, looking at each elder surrounding her. "I know the Free Folk did not abandon their homes and their land just to wind up dying South of the Wall. You shouldn't have to come to Winterfell to fight a battle that isn't yours. My brother and I shouldn't be asking you. It's not the deal you made with Jon. But, Jon and I need you with us if we hope to beat them. We need to beat these people and take back Winterfell, especially if you lot do want to survive."
Tormund looked to the small girl standing before him. His blue eyes met hers, before he spoke up. "The crows killed him," Tormund gestured to Jon. "All because he spoke up for the Free Folk when no other southerns would. He died for us. And the girl, you all know she almost lost her head killing Mance. Why would a girl crow risk her own life going against the man who gave the orders to burn him? Because she cares for everyone. She knows that the Free Folk are not that different from the rest of the southerners. They risked their lives going to Hardhome to save us. This girl fought the walkers for us when the southern twats who call themselves men were to scared to. And if Ella had been there the night the crows murdered their Lord Commander, she would have given her life, too. She would have died protecting us. If we're not willing to do the same for them, we're cowards. And if that's what we are, we deserve to be the last of the Free Folk."
Surprise fell over Ella's face. She looked to the wildling leader, giving him a nod in appreciation. He returned the gesture, then diverted his eyes to Wun-Wun. The wildling giant stood up, capturing everyone's attention.
"Snow," was his only word he said before walking away. Ella exhaled a puff of air she held in for a moment too long. Though giants were not new to her, her nerves got to her every once in awhile.
Dim Dalba glanced at the elders next to him, each nodding their head. The red headed elder approached the Snow twins, extending his hand out to Jon and Ella. Each took turns shaking the hand of Dim Dalba, before he returned to his men.
Tormund stood in front of the twins as the elders left. Ella prayed to all the gods above that the wildlings would actually fight on their side. Jon and Ella depended on them to win the battle against Ramsay.
"Are you sure they'll come?" Jon asked Tormund.
"We're not clever like you southerners. When we say we'll do something, we do it," Tormund stated. He nodded in Ella's direction before joining the rest of the Free Folk. Ella sighed. In her head, Ella knew her insecurities and jealousy were not important at this time. But in her heart, she was losing Tormund to someone better.
