KINGDOM FALL
— 84. We Are One

Dodging numerous wights, Robb arrived at the cabin where the dragonglass was supposed to be in. He hoped Annalys would be there as well. He prayed that she was there. He refused to believe after everything, Annalys was just gone.

Robb passed numerous wights and killed each of them with Lionsbane. It was the first time since being gifted it by Annalys that he was using it for actually fighting something instead of just sparring. And Annalys had been right. There was something about Valyrian Steel that made it feel better to fight with than ordinary steel.

Robb stopped when he heard a loud growl coming from the cabin. He turned his head, watching as Wun Wun, the last giant, busted through the roof of the cabin with numerous wights attempting to attack him.

He pulled each and everyone of them off of him and tore them apart as if it were nothing. Robb's eyes practically bulged out of its sockets at the sight.

As he began to walk away, Wun Wun stepped on many others. Robb quickly moved out of the way as he did so, not wanting to be one of the things that Wun Wun stepped on. Once the giant was out of sight, Robb ran into the cabin, which happened to have a fire erupting inside of it.

"Annalys?" Robb called out, only to find the woman nowhere in sight.

He suddenly stopped looking around, turning his head to find a blue glow coming from one of the exits of the cabin. His eyes when he witnessed what he presumed to be a White Walker entering the cabin. The flames near the White Walker immediately extinguished and he began to walk forward.

The White Walker glanced around, looking for something. Robb studied him closely and it felt as though the blue-eyed creature had been expecting someone else to be there, not Robb. A part of Robb felt like the White Walker had been targeting Annalys when he arrived there. However, Robb felt as though that was impossible and shut that thought down right away. What he did know was that he was right. The White Walker, in fact, had been sent there to kill Annalys.

The White Walker moved toward Robb, beginning to swing his spear made of ice at him. Robb quickly dodged each hit, trying his best to avoid the spear that was bound to kill him if he was touched by it.

Despite having to fight a White Walker, all Robb could think about was Annalys, scared for her wellbeing since he had no idea where she was or if she was dead.

Robb glanced down at the sword in his hand, recalling what Annalys had said.

"If we're ever to fight in battle, whether it be on the same side or opposing sides, just remember that the swords we carry are one. We're connected to each other. Always and forever."

A hint of determination in his eyes, Robb glared at the White Walker, lunging forward to attack him.

On the cliffs, Annalys and Freyja continued to try to outrun the wights that were trying their best to chest after them.

Just then, as they went to turn a corner, Annalys' eyes widened as a White Walker appeared, "Watch out!" She shouted at Freyja, whose back was facing the creature.

Before she could react, Freyja was stabbed in the back by the unknown White Walker. "No!" Annalys screamed, tears filling her eyes as she watched Freyja collapse to the ground.

She noticed the way Freyja was unable to get up, as if where the White Walker stabbed her in the back had paralyzed her in some way.

Annalys looked toward the White Walker, whose eyes glowed an icy blue as he locked eyes on Annalys. He began to move toward her and Annalys lifted Lady's Wrath, preparing to fight the creature.

She swung first and the White Walker was quick to parry with his spear. He pulled his spear back before swinging at Annalys, who ducked to dodge the hit. He continued to swing at her and Annalys blocked most while dodging others.

With all the strength she had, Annalys screamed out and slashed the White Walker across the front of his body, causing him the explode into the shards of ice. Annalys' eyes widened in disbelief, shocked that her Valyrian Steel sword had the ability to kill the White Walker.

Recovering from her shock, Annalys turned toward Freyja, who laid bleeding on the ground, unable to stand. Annalys cried out, immediately running over to her, "No, no, no," She muttered under her breath, shaking her head frantically as tears began to form in her eyes.

    On the ground underneath her, after being thrown face first into the ground outside of the cabin, Robb quickly forced himself in a kneeling position. Just as the White Walker was about to swing his spear at him, Robb lifted up Lionsbane. The swords deadlocked and the White Walker almost seemed shocked that Robb's sword hadn't broken.

Seeing that the White Walker was distracted, Robb pulled his sword back before slashing the creature across his body as hard as he could. Robb's eyes widened, watching as the White Walkers exploded into numerous pieces of ice.

After killing the White Walker, Annalys began to tear up, rushing over to Freyja's body. She picked her up, placing her in her arms as she laid dying. The wights that had been chasing after them had somehow died the moment Annalys killed the White Walker, much to her relief.

Blood slowly spilled from Freyja's mouth and she had a wound on her lower back, one that somehow made her paralyzed from the waist down. Annalys didn't understand it. She had never seen anything like that happen before.

Freyja panted, choking back a sob as she stared up at Annalys, becoming weaker as each moment passed, "I-I can't feel my legs, Annalys," She cried softly, tears falling down her now pale and bloodied cheeks, "I can't move them."

Annalys nodded, trying her hardest not to cry in front of the dying woman as held in her arms, "I know, I know," She whispered to her softly, trying to hold back her tears, despite it feeling like it was the hardest task.

Annalys intertwined her fingers with Freyja's, looking down at her as she held her close to her chest. The girl was shivering and Annalys tried her best to keep her warm in her last moments. Freyja began to quietly cry, looking up at Annalys with a devastated look on her face.

"I'm not going to live, am I?" She asked and began to cry even more when Annalys didn't answer. She shook her head, continuing to look devastated as she thought about leaving her daughter an orphan, "I don't want to die. Please don't let me die."

"You won't," Annalys argued, despite both of them knowing it wasn't the truth, "I won't let you die."

They both knew Freyja wasn't going to survive long, but they were far too stubborn to come face to face with their fears. Freyja's greatest fear was dying while Annalys' was losing people she cared about. She cared about Freyja deeply. Perhaps not romantically as Freyja cared for her, but she cared about Freyja a lot.

"Where is she? Where's Torra?" Freyja asked Annalys worriedly, forcing her eyes to remain open.

"She's on the boat already. She'll be taken to the Wall." Annalys replied in a calm tone, trying her best to not to cry in front of Freyja.

"You must protect her," Freyja demanded urgently, a pleading look on her face.

"I will, and you will help me, Freyja," She tried to assure the woman, smiling sadly, "You'll survive this. I know it."

They both knew it wasn't true, though. If it had been, they'd be fleeing and heading to the ships. It wasn't true, though. Freyja was going to die and because of Annalys' refusal to leave her, there was a chance Annalys would as well.

Freyja began to cry since she knew Annalys was lying, "I won't. You must promise me. Promise me you'll protect her." She begged Annalys, the only thing on her mind being the wellbeing of her daughter.

Annalys nodded, holding back her tears becoming harder to do as each moment passed, "I will. I'll protect and love her as if she were my own," She promised and after a moment of silence, she began to cry, stroking Freyja's hair as she laid dying in her arms, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"This isn't your fault, Annalys," Freyja assured Annalys quietly, weakly shaking her head, "None of this is."

"It is. Hundreds of Free Folk have died today because of me," Annalys continued to argue with Freyja, who clearly thought the opposite.

"You couldn't have known, Annalys. It isn't your fault. You must remember that almost seventy thousand Free Folk are being saved at this very moment because of you," She explained as it fell silent between them for a long moment, "I knew, you know. I knew this entire time."

"Knew what?" Annalys questioned in confusion, not realizing she purposely changed the subject to force Annalys to stop trying to blame herself.

"That I loved you," Freyja confessed softly and Annalys' eyes widened, her mouth gaping open in shock, "It's okay. I know you never cared for me as I cared for you, but I did...I loved you. Since the first day you came to Hardhome. You reminded me that love wasn't a weakness like I always tried to view it to be. It can be someone's greatest strength. I didn't care that you'd never love me in the same way--"

"That isn't true," Annalys cut her off, despite it being a lie, in a way.

It was true. Annalys never loved Freyja in the way Freyja loved her, but Annalys refused to let the woman die thinking she didn't care for in the slightest.

Freyja began to tear up once more as she nodded her head, "It is. You love Robb. More than anything in the world," She explained, beginning to quietly cry at the thought, "I saw it firsthand today when you laid eyes on him after we pushed through that crowd around him. I saw the way you looked at each other. You love each other deeply. I know because Torrhen and I used to look at each other the same way," She paused, the two of them beginning to cry at her words, "But it's okay. When I die, I'll reunite with him. And I'll be okay, because I know you'll take care of Torra. She won't be alone."

Hearing her words, Annalys couldn't contain herself and began to sob loudly. Tears streamed down her face and her chest began to hurt due to her hard sobs.

"You won't die," Annalys argued, shaking her head in disapproval, "You're not going to die."

"Don't start lying to me now, Annalys. Not after everything," Freyja argued, but before she could continue, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her back, just above the place on her body that marked where she could feel nothing below it.

Feeling the sharp pain, she cried out in agony, beginning to whimper. Blood began to pour out of the wound in a faster pace and began to cover both of them, "It hurts, Annalys--" She began to say, but before she could continue, she was cut off.

"I know, love," Annalys whispered to her softly, nodding her head slightly, "I know."

"Make it stop. Please make it stop. I can't take it anymore," She pleaded with Annalys, begging her to end her suffering, "Not after everything I've been through. I won't survive this. Please make it stop."

Hearing Freyja's words, they both began to cry harder, knowing Freyja was no longer talking about the physical pain. She was talking about everything. She was talking about how she lost everything. Her parents, the man she loved, her son. Almost everything that meant the most to her. After everything, she couldn't take it and in a way, Annalys felt as though she could relate.

Annalys hugged Freyja tightly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as she rocked the younger woman in her arms, trying her hardest not to cry any more.

Freyja slowly looked up at Annalys, a pleading look. "I'm begging you, please. Take it away. Just take the pain away." She pleaded and Annalys looked horrified, knowing she meant she wanted Annalys to kill her.

Annalys began to cry once more, shaking her head in disapproval, "I can't, Freyja. Don't make me do this." She begged Freyja in a pleading tone, tears streaming down her face, "Please don't make me do this."

"I don't want to live my last moments like this, Annalys. Just please, take it away," She pleaded, only to notice how hesitant Annalys looked, "It's okay. You must do this. For us both," She continued on and as Annalys opened her mouth to argue, Freyja cut her off, "If you ever cared for me at all, you'll do this for me."

Annalys looked torn on what to do, knowing it was what Freyja wanted, but she still didn't know if she had the guts to do it. She remained silent for a moment, wondering what she should do.

After a moment, she assisted Freyja into a sitting position before making it so that Freyja's chin was leaning against her shoulder. Annalys tried her hardest to choke back her sobs as she stroked Freyja's hair, cradling her in her arms. Freyja cried softly, hugging Annalys tightly as she waited for her to kill her once and for all.

"You're going to survive this, Freyja. I know you will. But first, I'd like to let you in on a little secret," She whispered to Freyja, trying her hardest not to cry as she lifted Lady's Wrath in her left hand behind the wildling woman, preparing to kill her.

She pulled Freyja back slightly with her right hand, making it so they were looking each other in the eye. Annalys cupped Freyja's face with one hand while using the other to hold her sword. She smiled sadly, leaning forward so that her forehead was pressed against Freyja's as they looked each other's eyes, "There is whole world out there, waiting for you south of the Wall, Freyja. Great, big cities with art, music, and castles with towers so high they reach the clouds. There's genuine beauty down South and I will show you all of it," She explained, her voice cracking, "I promise."

"I love you," Annalys suddenly spoke up, tears streaming down her face as she looked into Freyja's eyes.

"You don't," Freyja argued, shaking her head in response.

"I do. I do love you," Annalys argued and deep down, she had no idea if she was telling the truth or if she was just doing it to give Freyja one last moment of peace before she died.

They looked upon each other's eyes and Freyja looked up at her, smiling softly. Annalys weakly smiled back, leaning forward as she softly pressed her lips against Freyja's. Just then, Freyja let out a loud gasp as Annalys stabbed her in the heart from the back with Lady's Wrath.

Freyja slowly pulled away from the kiss as she stared at Annalys, continuing to smile softly, "Thank you," She whispered softly as she slowly died in Annalys' arms.

Annalys tightly held Freyja's body in her arms, screaming out in emotion pain as the woman died from her wounds.

She began to sob, rocking Freyja's lifeless body in her arms, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," She whispered softly, devastated after what she had done.

Just then, Robb suddenly arrived, finding Annalys, sobbing as she held Freyja's corpse in her arms.

"Annalys, we must go! Now!" Robb shouted in an urgent tone.

Annalys remained silent however, making no motion to acknowledge Robb as she stared down at Freyja's corpse, devastated.

"Annalys," Robb called out again and was answered by Annalys shaking her head.

"I can't, Robb," She argued, crying as she continued to shake her head, "I can't leave her. Not like this."

   A saddened look on his face, Robb walked over to Annalys, speaking to her in a quiet tone, "She's dead, Annalys," He pointed out to Annalys, trying to remind her of the fact that there was no point in staying with her.

"You don't think I know that, Robb?!" She screamed, looking up at Robb with a glare.

"I don't know what happened between you and her during your stay with the Wildings, but I do know you and I need to get the hell out of here if we want to live to see the day where we reunite with our children again!" Robb shouted at Annalys, knowing the only way to snap some sense into Annalys was to mention her children.

The children she practically abandoned at Winterfell during her stay North of the Wall.

"You carry another child inside you. Our child. Are you really going to sacrifice yourself and our son to White Walkers just to spend one last moment with someone who is already dead?" He continued on, a saddened look on his face, "Please, Annalys. Please come with me. I refuse to leave here without you. Not after everything I've gone through to get here."

Annalys slowly looked up at him, clearly affected by his words. Robb held out his hand as he locked eyes with Annalys, who slowly grabbed his hand.

She placed Freyja down on the ground, giving her one last parting look before running in the direction that Robb had gone in to get there.

They ran in that direction, only to find the army of the dead cornering them. They turned, running in the other direction. They continued running, only to find themselves suddenly on the edge of the cliff, the Greyjoy fleet just across the shore. Annalys' eyes widened at the sight of the black sea under them, recalling the same vision in what Melisandre had shown her.

Annalys and Robb turned to each other, exchanging an uneasy look.

Robb looked behind them at the water while Annalys kept her eyes locked on the army of the dead, which was getting closer to them by the second.

"We must jump," Robb suddenly spoke up, causing Annalys to turn to him in shock.

"Are you mad?!" Annalys exclaimed, looking at him as though he was crazy.

"We've done it before," Robb reminded Annalys, who gave him an annoyed look.

"The water is below freezing, we'll never survive it," Annalys continued to complain.

"We must," Robb confidently argued and Annalys felt the situation to be familiar to the time in the Riverlands when they were trying to outrun the Baratheon soldiers. However, this time, it seemed like they had switched roles.

She slowly nodded her head in agreement, the two of them wasting no time locking hands. They both moved closer to the edge of the cliff, taking a deep breath before jumping off.

After a few short moments of flying through the air, the duo submerged underwater. When they rose up to the surface, Annalys gasped loudly for breath, shivering from the water.

They exchanged a look before weakly swimming toward the shore. Before they had to, however, one of the row boats made their way over to them. The wildlings inside grabbed ahold of Annalys and Robb, placing them inside the small boat.

As they began to row in the direction the Iron Fleet was located in, Annalys was severely shivering to the cold. Robb turned to look at her to see her practically blue from how cold she was, especially her lips. Her eyes were puffy, too, but Robb knew that was from crying.

"Come here," Robb spoke up, causing Annalys to frown as she turned to look at him with a puzzled look on her face.

He gestured for her to come closer, refusing to let her freeze to death due to having no warmth. After a moment of hesitation, Annalys moved closer to Robb. The Stark man tightly wrapped his arms around Annalys, transferring some body heat into the girl. She instinctively her head on his shoulder as he rubbed her back. She closed her eyes, feeling safe in Robb's arms. She always felt safe with him, no matter what was going on around them.

"Where's Freyja?" One of the Wildings suddenly spoke up, causing Annalys to turn to them, tears threatening to spill from her droopy eyes.

"The White Walker..." Annalys trailed off, trying her best to keep conscious, despite feeling as though she was about to faint, "He stabbed her in the back...She died in my arms."

Robb continued to hold Annalys in his arms, only to suddenly freeze at Annalys' choice of words. The Wildlings didn't see it, but Robb did. She never said that the White Walker had been the one to kill Freyja. She only said that he stabbed her.

Robb had the feeling that Annalys had been the one to kill Freyja and that was why Annalys had been reluctant to leave Freyja.

"I didn't get to burn her body..." She weakly trailed off, beginning to silently cry, "She'll come back a wight...It's my fault...It's all my fault."

The sudden long moment of silence after Annalys spoke her confession caused Robb to frown. He lifted Annalys' head from leaning against his shoulder. He cupped her face in his hands, only to find Annalys' unconscious, "Annalys?" He called out, shaking her slightly, "Annalys?"

"I'm fine," Annalys spoke up and was so quiet, her chapped lips barely moved as she spoke to him, "Just hold me. Please."

Robb stared at Annalys in concern, wondering what the hell was going on with Annalys. It seemed like she was barely awake or even drugged. Instead of questioning her statement, Robb continued to hold her close, feeling a pain in his chest as he heard the quiet sobs escaping her lips when she thought he couldn't hear her.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I wasn't that sad writing Freyja's death scene until she mentioned reuniting with her first love 😭

BUT WHAT REALLY GOT ME WAS WHEN ANNALYS WAS PROMISING HER ABOUT TAKING HER SOUTH OF THE WALL. It was like she was trying to distract not just Freyja, but herself before preparing to kill her.