Version 2.0
As the battle for the north and the west intensified, Brandon, Hother, and Harmond found themselves actively pushed back by the Others, striving to prevent the relentless advance toward the mountain. The Others had started to show up more in person for the attack against the mountain lands as they tried their best to push into the mountains. The fighting was intense, but the mountain clans would not be easily budged from their strongly defensible locations.
Though steep slopes, winding paths, narrow gorges, and precarious valleys that Others had to march where they were picked off and attacked from high above them, from flying stones and massive boulders, the mountain clans through and stopped them in any way they could.
To the west, the petty kings found their realms being consumed by the encroaching darkness as they moved their armies. Their assembled force, gathered on the island as they made hasty fortifications to hold back the Others before they were attacked. Their battle was focused and quick and by only the greater abundance of obsidian provided by the Warg King did they manage to not be over ran the first day.
They managed to survive the second day with the help of the children of the forest reinforcements who with the help of the wood dances helped erect better and stronger defences. Along with the wargs from bears, wolves, eagles, and more they managed to hold out.
Fortunately for Brandon and the Northen armies and forces, the reinforcement from the Slate, Amber Locke, and Tower King arrived along with the children, who came from the western groves along with Acorn. Now that Hawthorn finished his quest of uniting the children of the forest. And though the forces were small they were equipped with obsidian. They arrived just in time to save them before they were completely pushed out from beyond the final river. Saving them and then helping to create some defences to hold the line.
/
They Sat around a campfire in the wilds, not far from the Last River, now completely frozen over, the fish underneath completely frozen over were hacked out of the ice before being defrosted and eaten.
"It is not enough, Brandon," Hawthorn says, exasperated.
"Hawthorn, I see my comrades die every day. I can see it is not enough." Brandon grumbled as he pushed the fire with a stick.
"There is more we can do, Brandon. There must be more," Hawthorn insists.
"Well, I can't see it. The giants don't respond, we don't have enough obsidian, we barely have enough men hear. I am doing everything in my power." He sighed. "But it is not enough, I don't see how we can win. Every day we continue to be pushed back; Harmond's home could not even be spared as we fled like wind in the night."
"Stop being so melancholy, Bran," Jon says. "There is always hope as long as we live, listen to what you said."
Brandon signed again. "I know, Jon. but that doesn't stop me from feeling tired."
"If I gave you a chance, Brandon, would you take it?" Hawthorn asks as he starts to bounce his leg.
"Depends on the chance, Hawthorn."
"Over the months that I was working to unite the Children of the Forest, I learned much from every grove. I had plenty of time to stew over the Others. I planned and I planned, and I think I have come up with a ritual to save us." He says as he starts to bounce in his seat
Brandon raised his head. "Well, you certainly have my attention now."
"I could not find a way to kill every Other, and I don't think there is any ritual out there that could. But I did create the next best thing, which is a way to banish them from our lands." He smiles brightly
"Well, that sounds great," Jon says.
"It does, but what is the catch, Hawthorn?" Brandon asks.
Hawthorn scratches his head. "Yeah, we need to capture one of the Others. They have to be alive for the ritual to work, and then I have to perform the ritual."
"Let me just pop to the market and get one for you, Hawthorn," Hother says, listening back into the conversation.
"I know it sounds bad and it is not ideal but that is all I could think of. Sorry." Hawthorn said dropping his head.
"Ah don't sweat it Hawthorn," Jon says.
"It is better than having nothing," Edric says.
"I like the enthusiasm kid." Hathorn and Harmond say at the same time before they high-five each other.
"No Hawthorn. It's good." Brandon cuts in. "Let's do it."
Everyone is quick to turn towards him, looking at him like he is a crazy person.
"What, like you said it is better than nothing, at the current rate we are going to lose, we barely have enough Obsidian for weapons, the only large source we can get is in the Flink King lands, and if what Halvar says another army lead by an Other is marching towards it meaning two armies are in the north. The Other kings barely lend any help, not like they could do much anyway. Don't even remind me of the Red King. We are losing lads. But if Hawthorn says that he can change that I don't see why we don't take it."
There is silence for a moment. Before Harmond shrugs his shoulders. "Fuck it. I've got plenty to gain back if we can get rid of them. Without the head of their army, the white walkers will be headless chickens without organisation."
"God's you are mad. But sure." Hother says as he shakes his head.
Lyanna just rubs the bridge of her nose before gesturing that she is in. One by one every says they are in.
"Alright then let's catch ourselves an Other one," Brandon says a smile on his face for the first time in a while.