Chapter 59

The Last Hearth
Four days later...

“This wildfire has certainly helped us buy time, no doubt. We’ve needed it. It has taken some time for so many troops from around Westeros to arrive. We’re making some definite progress, though, and the wildfire has cut the enemy’s numbers enough to reduce the risk of being overrun by these dead pricks!” Tormund Giantsbane, the overall commander in the field at the moment, told his various officers, but especially his famous deputy.

“Yes, as much as I hate and fear wildfire, I have to confess that it’s really put a dent in the enemy’s ranks. That’s for the best, because without our full strength, we’d have little chance of throwing them back without it. This at least gives us a fighting chance of survival,” Sandor Clegane, “the Hound” as he was often called, grimly admitted, as much as he indeed held onto a serious horror of fire.

“Well, our new and fresh troops have certainly aided us as well. Oh, and it appears that the Night King is now focusing entirely on the Bay of Seals. He is desperately throwing everything that he has into this fray, sensing that time is starting to work against him. Every day that comes and goes brings more soldiers, more wildfire, and every corpse burned is one that he can’t revive, either.

“Even so, it’s far from over. This enemy is relentless, implacable, and absolutely persistent. His resolve is undeniable. He has a fixed purpose and all of his soldiers are committed to the same objective, the same mission. He will not let go of his goal until he has either achieved it or has been destroyed. This is one foe that we can’t negotiate or reason with, can’t pay off, can’t scare or frighten away,” Lord Yohn Royce observed, even as the battle reached a temporary lull between assaults.

“Well, so far, we have with us, the Lannister captives ultimately bound for the Wall, the various bannermen of the North in this region, the Free Folk, and the Night’s Watch. Including more such Lannister men, now sworn brothers of the Night’s Watch themselves,” Eddison Tollett announced his arrival at last, having force-marched himself and his men all the way down from the Wall.

“Ah, at last, the Night’s Watch is here! I had heard reports that you were all coming down. I imagine that it took a great while to gather all of the brethren manning every last castle along the Wall. That, no doubt, explains your ... delay,” Tormund Giantsbane commented, “and to think that if I were still with Mance Rayder and the Free Folk were still your enemy, this would be the perfect time to strike.”

“No doubt of that, and indeed, the longest part of the wait was due to the mustering of the men of the Shadow Tower to the far west. It was ... exasperating, but necessary. We now have ... quite a gathering of troops. Whether or not it will suffice, well, it doesn’t have to do so forever. The King and Queen, and the bulk of their army, will no doubt be among us with all possible haste. It is still, however, a grave concern as to how well we can hold out until then,” Dolorous Edd yet again earned his famous epithet.

“They’ll be here. And faster than you can imagine. My brother won’t let you down. Yes, yes, I know that he’s actually my cousin by blood, but I grew up thinking of him as my brother. I can’t just suddenly stop thinking of him as that. In any case, whatever one thinks or doesn’t think of the Queen, we all know our King. He’s the White Wolf. He will be here, before we know it,” Arya Stark insisted, even as someone rushed into the war council chamber of the Last Hearth.