The Day Winterfell Fought Without Her: Nightking invasion K157

The cold weather got to King's Landing before the news arrived. Lady Vhaera could feel it. The streets were crowded, but something seemed wrong. People talked more quietly, laughed less. It felt like the winter was very close to them. She didn't like being here.

Winterfell was the place where RoD would be. Meridianos, Hyber, and Jackdaws were all waiting. That's where the Night King would show up and bring his armies. But she was sent to the south. Not because she was weak or unwanted, but if Winterfell was destroyed, more dead would keep appearing. They would keep walking until there were no walls left, no cities, no people. And King's Landing would be the last one.

"We'll be back. If we are able to. " She couldn't stop thinking about that last part. After they left, King’s Landing felt unsafe. Lady Vhaera focused all her energy on her work. She looked at the gates. Looked over the patrols. Checked the supplies. Corrected small errors before they turned into big problems. At night, she walked by herself along the walls, with the wind blowing loudly in her ears. If Winterfell is taken, there won't be another chance to get ready. 

Whenever she had some free time, she looked to the north. The first message arrived at dawn. "Winterfell. It's snowing a lot. We are ready". 

It sounded calm. Very calm. Too calm. A few hours later, another message came in more reports came in. The dead approached through the storm like a sea of undead creatures.

RoD made the first move. She felt better quickly, but she tried not to show it. Then more bad news arrived. "The east side of the wall was broken. We barely managed to close it". Those word felt heavy in her stomach. It meant the line was almost broken. It meant that someone had dropped down. It meant that Winterfell was almost falling apart. She could see it clearly in her mind. Snow and mud mixed together. Banners flapping in the strong wind. Soldiers stood close together, holding their weapons with cold hands. 

Meridianos was at the front, where it was the most dangerous. Hyber was going back and forth between the plan and the field, shouting orders into the storm. Jackdaws were standing still, watching the dark corners to make sure no one sneaked past the guards.

Then she got the message she was most afraid of. "The Night King is here." 

Everything was different. Battling the undead was one thing, but now knowing that the undead have a leader, someone commanding them all. He was thinking, looking, deciding where to hit.

Another report came in, written quickly. "Meridianos is fighting him. Strike for strike. He is holding the line but not for long. " 

She pictured swords hitting each other. Snow hurting eyes. Fire burning in the gray sky. 

Soldiers fought until their arms trembled, in the middle, Meridianos is standing up to something that doesn't get tired or feel hurt. 

Then the next message changed the mood even more. Hyber said the leaders direct the army. Jackdaws is taking them down. She realized right away, if the generals of the army got killed, the enemy would lose their pace. 

Soon, another report came . "One general is dead." The wights stumbled. "Press now," she said to herself. This was the moment that could help them. She didn't know she was holding her breath until she saw the last message. 

"The Night King is dead. Winterfell is still standing. We are standing." 

Her legs got weak, and she sat down right there. First, there was a feeling of relief, then something heavier came. Staying alive has always come with a price. When they came back to King's Landing, they didn't sing any songs.

Meridianos's armor was badly damaged. Hyber had dark rings under his eyes , from spending sleepless nights coordinating the attacks. Jackdaws was moving slowly, not broken, just exhausted. 

She saw them at the door and didn't say anything at first. She looked at them quickly to see if they were real. They shared all the information with her. The broken wall in the east. The fear when the Night King got nearer. The generals failing. The moment the group got out of control. 

The final task that had to be done at the perfect time. As she listened, she still felt upset about being sent away, but it turned into something simpler. She wasn’t at Winterfell, but she also succeeded. King's Landing was ready in case the undead army won. If Winterfell had been lost, she would have handled the last fight. 

That night, she approached the wall and looked to the north again. 

"Next time," she said gently, "I'll go be where I'm needed, even if I don't want to.