Version 2.0
As they moved further and further away from the battlefield Hother started to slum more, he barely managed to make it through the day, and when they made camp to rest he collapsed to the ground next to the fire.
"Hother." Brandon sadly said he popped his friend up.
"Don't look so down you dozy cunt." Hother smiled. "We all die eventually and if there is anyway, I would want to die then it was being a hero. Just as Harlon wanted." He said as he closed his eyes.
"Hother!" Brnadon and Harmond say together.
"Ay, quite please, just wanting to rest my eyes." He says as he smiles more faintly as he feels the ice start to reach his heart, his men start to gather around as they slum looking at their commander.
As Hother takes his last breath his body finally falls weak, and he flops down next to the fire his hands brushing its embers.
"May you rest in peace my friend and may the Gods have mercy on you," Brandon says.
The camp falls silent. The first of Brandon's friends and comrades dies. Before Hother gulps in the air.
/
As Brandon and the party retreated to Winterhaven, the landscape shifted from open plains to dense forests. The captive Other, wriggling and squirming in their grasp as it continually scratches out into the cold air.
Arriving at Winterhaven, they noticed changes in the village. People were busy outside, digging a trench and hastily erecting a simple palisade wall for defence. Elder Oak greeted before delivering news of the change in battle.
The Others had quickly heard their actions and reacted, charging straight towards Winterhaven. On the northern front, Harmond's second-in-command reported the Others aggressively pushing through, disregarding other targets and charging straight into the forest and ignoring the children of the forest's grove. Simultaneously, news arrived of the army attacking the mountain redirecting its course to join the forces in the north.
From the west, another army joined up with the first army, colliding with the united king's army and breaking the defences causing the united army to retreat. They now rampaged through their lands, assaulting villages and anything in their path as they moved swiftly toward Winterhaven.
Fortune has answered his call. The Kings responded to his call for aid, the response was swift and resolute. The kings, each marshalled their reserve forces to stand united against the impending threat. Over the next couple of days, they arrived, each bringing their share of obsidian and determined warriors ready to face the encroaching darkness.
Brandon surveyed the men, observing the variety of arms and armours of every king, now standing shoulder to shoulder against a common foe.
Though not all the kings have fought on the front lines they have all given their own, with either men or provisions that they could spare. But now all the Kings stand on the front line reading for battle, with every king either at Winterhaven or chasing after the Others, the scene was set for a grand battle.
"It feels good, you know," Brandon says to Edric and Jon. "Everyone is working together. All the Kings unite as one. Not divided and fighting among us."
"Mmm. Took them long enough," Jon says.
"Shame that it will never happen again after this," Edric says.
"Edric, my man. Why are you always so pessimistic?" Jon asks.
"Because you're here," he says, smiling irritatingly at Jon.
"So, you don't want me around. I see how it is, so cruel, Edric," Jon says, faking a hurt expression.
"Oh, what I put up with," he says, walking off to help with something.
"Ah, such love," Jon says.
"We know you care, Edric," Brandon shouts after Edric.
"Okay," he says, continuing to walk off.
Brandon just smiles as he walks off.
"Did you talk to your parents," Jon asks.
"Aye. They aren't doing too good," he says, a sad look taking over his face. "Trying to spend as much time with them as I can. While I still have the chance. Same with Alys."
"Sorry to hear that," Jon says.
"It is a part of life. How's your family?"
"Ah, they are good. With so many people visiting the village, there are plenty of people in the inn, so business is good. They seem happy, so that's all I care about." He smiles for a moment before squinting towards the distance. "What the hell is that?" Jon says.
Brandon looks, fearing the worst, but is instead confused. Off in the direction of the open plains to the southwest, he can see large humanoid figures coming towards the camp.
As the figures approached, their colossal silhouettes emerged against the backdrop of the sun. Towering above the landscape, they cast elongated shadows as they drew near. The camp stirred with curiosity as it shook with the thunderous reverberation of their footfalls.
As they loomed closer, details of their appearance became discernible. Covered in a shaggy pelt of fur, thicker around their waists. Their hair had succumbed to the passage of time, revealing streaks of grey and white, as bones of animals mixed in with their furs and hair.
The giants' heads jutted forward from powerful shoulders, their faces bearing a distinctive, squashed-in appearance. Square teeth protruded amidst folds of flesh, and tiny eyes looked around before they snuffled constantly, as they drew closer to the camp.
Sloped chests and disproportionately wide lower torsos carried their massive bodies and the thick weapons they carried from massive tree trucks to hammers. Arms hung lower than those of men, while splayed feet supported their colossal frames.
As they revealed themselves, the camp watched in awe and fascination, realizing that these were the stuff of legend. Giants, with their massive stature and rugged features, stood before the assembly.
"Where chief, small squirrel people," one of the giants boomed, his voice reverberating in the air.
Brandon was quick to answer, "I am the leader of this alliance. May I ask who you are?" Brandon asked cautiously.
"I, Tun Wun Tun Dar Weg. You kill small ice things. Yes!" he commanded.
"If you are talking of Others, then yes, I have killed them."
"Good. I want to kill. Revenge for attack on tribe. You help me kill them. Return for favour. Good," he said, turning away from the gathering of small squirrel people and heading back to his camp.
"Okay," Brandon responded before turning to Jon. "Well, I think we just gained some more allies and a favour if we help them?"
Jon just turned to Brandon, shrugged his shoulders, and walked off.
"Thanks for your help, Jon."
"No problem, man," Jon said.
Turning away from his friend Brandon looked to the giants and watched as they set up camp.
The giants' camp sprawled across the open plain, marked by a massive campfire that roared at the center, casting flickering shadows on the mammoths grazing nearby. The mammoths, colossal creatures resembling shaggy, woolly elephants, towered over the camp, their tusks jutting out like massive spikes. Some of the giants were busy setting up a makeshift settlement, while others tended to the mammoths, securing wooden structures on their backs and weaving thick ropes into their shaggy coats.
The mammoths, with great tusks gleaming in the firelight, left enormous footprints in the snow-covered ground. Their woolly coats ranged in colours from pristine white to mottled grey.
"I think things are starting to look up for us." He says observing all around him from the giants towering over all to the small villagers who despite looking worse for wear still held themselves high.
With time on his hands, Brandon joined the villagers as he helped with the building of the fortifications, joking with them.
"Aye Brandon, you don't need to do so much." One of the villagers said. "You are already doing enough as is, let us help where we can. Get some rest you deserve it."
"Thank you, William, but I can still give more." He says patting his arm as he helps to lift the timber into place.
They could die soon but if that is so why not go in a blaze of glory?
"To either die in battle or to see the Dawn of a new day," Brandon says to himself.