Chapter 17: Legendary Creatures

Finally, they came within sight of the cave's mouth that they entered from after long hours of getting lost in the icy caverns down below.

And that is when they heard the wing beats, Jon wasn't sure what everyone thought of the disturbances they heard, but to him it sure as hell did sound like something very massive with leathery wings descended to the mouth of the cave.

With its arrival, the winds started to pick up and it raised up a snowstorm as the winds started howling and the snow and ice drifted up into the air creating a whiteout as fallen snow blew around. No one could see anything anymore as they had no more visibility.

"What is going on?" his nuncle shouted to no one in particular as he covered his face with his hands blocking the winds and snow that drifted in.

Jon looked at them all then back at the mouth of the cave which was now just a wall of drifting wind and snow. "I don't know," he muttered, though in his hearts of hearts he knew what was outside.

Suddenly everyone fell to the ground as there was a loud tremor from outside as if something very heavy and powerful landed on the ground.

Getting up as Jon wiped the dust and snow particles that landed on his hair, he took a deep breath in and then walked towards the mouth of the cave. Somehow Jon knew he would have to face this all on his own as he clinched the eggs tighter to himself.

As if sensing his thoughts, Fenrir, his new Direwolf companion bite into the sleeve of his clothing, shaking his head to stop him in his track. Turning to look at him, Jon could see just from his friend's eyes that he thought it was a really bad idea.

"I have to do it buddy," Jon declared as he rubbed his wolf companion behind the ear. "You got to let me go, buddy! You just got to let me go," he uttered.

Voicing a low whine, the direwolf let go of his sleeve and watched him with sad eyes as he walked on.

His nuncle didn't seem to like this idea one bit at all as he shouted at him, "Where are you going, Jon?!"

"I am just going to check it out," he said pointing to the blizzard outside, lying partially really. But there was just no way the older man would swallow that he somehow felt that he needed to go out into the blizzard because his very soul was telling him.

"Come back here, come back here boy," the older Stark shouted as he tried to go after him, but couldn't as the winds stopped him in his tracks since he was further in the cave.

Jon had an easier time of it as he was closer to the exit when the snowstorm picked up and just had to cross a few feet. Still it was like fighting through a mire as each step was a battle against the winds and snow. Once he got to the cave entrance, he didn't dare to look back, all he could do now was take the final step which he did into the eye of the storm.

Unlike the cave tunnel, here it was much more peaceful as the snow only drifted lazily in the air.

Suddenly Jon felt a presence nearby and he froze up in place like a scared little rabbit. His little puny mind knew that he stood before the ultimate predator alive and it was screaming at him to just run! Run far away from here as far as his legs could carry him.

However Jon stood stock still as he felt the presence come nearer to him. He could feel its icy breath against him and even though it's ribcage he could feel the low thumbing of two hearts!

Bowing low to him, the presence suddenly sniffed him as would a dog another one's ass. It's deep inhale of breath nearly sucked him right in, but he was able to hold his ground, unlike the snow and ice that was ripped right off the ground and up into the air.

"Mmmm," he suddenly heard as if the thing right next to him was contemplating something.

That was only when Jon dared to turn around to face the humongous presence. What he meet two large cerulean colored globes the sizes of a cart each. They peered down at him with an ancient gaze that experienced so much and had done even more.

"Very rare indeed," Jon heard a very deep rumbling and ancient voice that hissed out in a reptilian language that he seem to understand instinctively.

"The mixing of Ice and Fire, who would have ever thought," the voice continued as it chuckled to itself causing Jon's very bones to vibrate at the noise and cracks run along the ground sending long fissures.

Glancing back at him as its gaze carried such a heavy weight that Jon nearly collapsed to his knees, it muttered, "I see why they called out to you!"

"Go with glad tidings then," the enormous creature said as it beat its heavy wings. "I will await for your ascendance!"

Watching as what could only be a Dragon left off and take to the air. Jon had no words to describe his emotions at that very moment, so many things were going through his mind and all he could do was stand there frozen in shock and awe.

He was found there later by his nuncle and Nonya and his men as the snowstorm subsided and the skies became clear.

He of course got an earful from his nuncle and Nonya, who were distraught and worried for him as he went into the howling blizzard that came out of nowhere, risking his life.

He reassured them as they headed back to where their horses were and the rest of the men. When they came back to the group that stayed behind they were in a mess with horses neighing in fright and men looking about nervously.

Jon realized they must have caught sight of the Dragon, and when he questioned them they admitted they only saw something very large and powerful striking through the sky.

Thankfully, they couldn't connect it to being a dragon, and all they could say was that they say something very big. And it wasn't made easier when some of their friends who came with him made fun of them about it, who he knew deep down they couldn't explain that snowstorm that came out of nowhere.

Jarlaf though was admitted of what he saw, telling everyone especially him, "I told you so!" and everything along those lines.

Still they made a very wonderful haul including many priceless treasures, gems, jewelry, and gold. And the highlight of it all was the Valyrian weapons including the three Valyrian Daggers, four Valyrian Blades which were a longsword, two bastard swords, a rapier, and a hammer! And most importantly of all a Valyrian Armour!

Still, no one even dared to risk going back there even though plenty more bounty awaited.

"Let's head out," Jon said, as he didn't want to get too greedy and get himself killed in the process. He earned more than he ever imagined and should be happy with what he got instead of looking towards what he could get.

Getting on to their horses as the treasures were secured, everyone rode out heading back the way they came.

Every thing they came here to do in the land beyond the wall was concluded. Now it was time to go home. His men seem to know that as well as they were all a very cheerful bunch.

As they were riding out along their way with smiles on their faces something unexpected happened.

Jon had already sent out black brother scouts to check the way ahead and to keep an eye on wildling bands and other threats along the way. However what do you about something that isn't a very mundane threat?

They never really expected to be attacked along the way, the scouts were reporting that everything was clear up ahead so they didn't have their guards up.

Coming along to an open stretch of land covered in ice and snow with two ridges to either side, Jon should have picked up on it when Fafnir's ears perked up and Fenrir started to growl a low threatening sound.

"What's wrong boy?" Jon asked and then suddenly the open snowy field ahead exploded in a shower of ice and snow. The horses in the front reared up on their hind legs some unmounting their riders and others neighing in fear.

The procession came to a complete stop as everyone stared up ahead.

"Move out of the way," Jon said as he came to the front of the procession.

"Get up and get back on your horses," he shouted to the men that fell off their mounts. Thankfully there was only one injured soul, one man who had his arm crushed by his horse's hoove, he had him lead away to the back and was glad it wasn't his head that got stomped on.

"What the hell happened?" he asked those in the front, but he only got shrugs and shakes of heads.

"My lord," one soldier called out in a quivering voice.

"What wrong, man?" he asked in a harsh voice.

"Look," he simply said as he pointed ahead.

Doing exactly just that Jon could believe what he saw and could only swear, "By the Old Gods and New!"

Crawling out of the ground where things... dead things he should say. They were covered in cloth pieces in tatters and shreds with their flesh long gone and only bones in places.

Their empty eyes glowed a deep blue ethereal glow that seemed otherworldly and unnatural.

He watched frozen as they came upon them with their cold steel and weatherworn shields.  He could do nothing, say nothing as he was clutched in the grip of fear and terror.

'This couldn't be, it just couldn't be,' his mind kept on repeating.

Then suddenly a very familiar dark furred creature leap at the first oncoming dead thing and tore it apart with claws and teeth.

As if that suddenly brought him back, Jon looked around at his panicked men ready to flee at a moment's notice. Each of them must have been in the grips of fear just like he was until Fenrir snapped him out of it with his brave onrush.

He needed to do the same for them just as Fenrir did for him.

"COME ON," he shouted, "come on you sons of bitches, FORM UP!"

"Let's go, let's go," he shouted as he banged one of the Valyrian swords he picked up against his shield.

The men seem to be roused up by his shouting as they slowly followed through with his order.

Looking at the oncoming horde of those dead things, Jon counted over a 100 maybe nearing 200 of them all coming at them with deadly menace in their eyes. Fenrir retreated back to his side after he dealt with a couple of them by breaking them down to pieces.

"Ready boy," he said to which the direwolf just growled in answer.

"Shields to the side," Jon commanded as riders went to either sides with shields up.

"Arow Formation!" he then shouted.

"What are you doing?" his nuncle asked as he came up besides him.

"Getting the hell out of here," Jon simply answered.

"CHARGE," he screamed at the top of his lungs as he raised his sword up high, giving his last command.  At this point, his men were just following him because they were just going through the motions to keep the fear away.

He knew if they fought a prolonged battle against this enemy, his men might break so better to just break through and get the hell out of here. Some might think he was fleeing in fear which he might be, but better to say they were retreating to fight another day.

This was an enemy they had no idea of including their capability, might, weaknesses, and so forth. He didn't want to even think about what would happen if they had a one on one fight.

Leading the formation with his nuncle riding besides him, Jon let out a loud battle cry as they crashed against the enemy's front line. Riding on horses, they had the clear advantage as bones shattered and heads were separated.

Jon clearing a path through with his Valyrian sword that sung in his hand with each blow. It was like nothing he ever held in his hand, every strike was swift and deadly as it sundered apart each enemy.

His nuncle, Benjen Stark was only a terror of the field even before he was a cut above all warriors as he was been trained at a young age in Winterfell's training yard. But with his own Valyrian sword, he was like a legend on the battlefield of unsung heroes and champions.

The two of them along seem to be carrying everyone and their feats were stirring along each and every soilder as they gave it their all.

They were so near to getting out of here as it finally seem that this was the end of them all. He was glad to see no man was left behind as they made easy prey of these dead things.

Then suddenly a ghostly apparition seem to step before them, it was tall and gaunt with long white flowing hair, pale blue flesh, and blue eyes like burning ice. It wore a delicate, reflective armor that was able to pick up the images of the things around it like a clear, still pond. And in its hands were a thin crystal sword that seem to be made of ice and in the other was a long spear of crystallized ice.

It was astride another dead thing, that of a dead snow bear with its flesh raking off and half it's skull shown.

Pitching its spear towards them as they came on, it hurled it towards them and Jon only felt the wind pass right by his ear and blood well against his cheek. Turning around he saw to his horror the spear go through one man followed by another and another until four men were strung up by the long spear and collapsed to the wayside.

Turning his gaze back to that cold thing with rage on his face, Jon raised his sword high and let loose a loud battle cry as he charged it.

The thing seem to expect him as he smiled a cruel grin and met his blade with its own. It was his to his great joy as he watched the thing's face transform into surprise and fear as his Valyrian sword shattered its icy crystal sword.

Jon didn't stop there as he pulled back and swung down at the thing. It was like his blade meet ice as it cut through the horrid being before him and he watched as it shattered into a thousand pieces before him.

The battle all around seem to stop as everyone took in the sight of him defeating the creature as it let loose a final unearthly death cry.

Suddenly the dead things started to collapse as if the strings that held them up were no more and they fell to the ground in a heap of bones and rags.

Jon breathed in and out through his nose as he took in the sight of his enemies collapsing before him.

A cheer went up followed by another as men started to chant his name at the top of their lungs. They all let out their wild jubilation as they faced things beyond the grave and unknown and won.

Jon let them rejoice at their victory while he looked at the four stung up men, feeling a bit of sadness well up in his chest.

"They were fine men," his nuncle uttered as he clapped him on the back to which Jon nodded his head.

"Burn their bodies," he said.

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As the party of Stark household men along with Umber and Black brothers left the battlefield, they did not take notice of the beings on top of the ridge over looking them as headed out.

There were four of them all together, each of them on dead mounts silently watching and sitting stock still.

Behind them, in the valley below there were a thousand more dead things all shuffling awkwardly on their dead bones.

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Valyrian Armour: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/9992430412354509/

Wight: https://asoif.fandom.com/wiki/Army_of_the_Dead?file=Wight.jpg

White walker: https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/File:Marc_Simonetti_an_Other_ice_sword.jpg