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ZIPPORAH

They had to leave the cave. The curious eyes and inquisitive sentiments disappeared and were replaced by something much more sinister.

"I no longer feel comfortable in this place." Ben declared with worried eyes. His posture became more defensive.

"Aye." Samwell muttered in agreement. Zi, meanwhile, tried to remain even and let the force naturally flow in and out of her--to reveal its intentions or pending consequences. Presently, all she could feel was darkness and ice. A frigidity that permeated more than the body; it naturally sought out souls.

'Not a good sign.' She thought with slight anxiety as she'd never encountered soul-snatching darkness. Snoke had gone after her mind, and from what she could gather from Ben, he'd tried to purge Ben of his light but was ultimately unsuccessful. Snoke wasn't capable of the coldness she felt. 

As Ben shifted on his feet, both force wielders experienced a tidal wave of malevolence adorned in fire and magic. Then a loss--and sadness--originating deep in the South. It wasn't a mass casuality event, but the loss was important enough to have a large ripple effect across the land. 

Zi stiffened and directed, "We need to get back to Castle Black and then Winterfell--fast. Something big happened."

"The power shifted." Ben somberly affirmed with a grim expression.

"In what way?" Jon questioned in a concerned tone.

"An important loss, in the South, west of King's." Zi informed as her eyes scoped out the frozen landscape. No movement. However, there was a shadow-like feeling, that the power shift was self aware and seeking a way to further expand. To convert and claim. 

"Once we start moving, no stopping." Jon advised, glancing at Sam who appeared to be growing more and more anxious with each passing moment. The group hauled the chest to the horses and secured it to Jon's.

Jon's demeanor had increased its confidence, which was good and bad. Now was not the time to possess any bravado or extra gall. Get to Castle Black. Organize the Wildlings. Go home. That was the plan.

They pushed the horses to their limits, and the force wielders had subtly directed energy into the horses to keep them going. It'd been a long shot. Miraculously, it worked, and they made it back before the sun truly began to sleep. Providence. The force had assisted them in their travels. 

 Ben glanced back and stated, "Whatever that thing is, he's gotten wise. What was the plan?"

Zipporah, who was on her last legs, summoned her last bit of strength and sighed, "Evacuation. I'll send word to the wildlings. Jon, you need to alert the Watch that our time table just sped up."

"Aye. Sam and I will take care of that. You and Ben get them in." Jon returned in an even tone, but his dark eyes communicated his concern that the time change  could prove to be disasterous for the northerners. Their people needed to time to prepare and then adjust. 

Closing her eyes, she found each leader and calmly yet sternly shared, The Others have figured out the plan. Pack and evacuate to the Wall...now.

Glancing at her older brother, she muttered, "When we get to Winterfell, let's sleep for a few days."

A small smile wove onto his face, and he added, "And food. Lots of food. Steak." Of course that's what he wanted. Then again, hadn't she wanted a steak not too long ago? There was something to be said about a good steak. The Solo siblings deserved some steak.

Nodding, she added, "And some sort of coffee. They have herbal root tea. Can we invent coffee?"

Caffeine was missed by the brunette.

"We can certainly try." He shrugged back, his broad shoulders lifting and lowering and then he bitterly asked, "What else do they not have around here?"

"Technology." She lilted with a smirk. It had been an adjustment . No doubt, he'd suffer the same fate and be irritated and frustrated, especially since he had lived on fancy First Order ships.

"Stellar." He deadpanned as he sensed the free folk beginning to head their way.

Zipporah sensed their dread and knew that a chase was presumably on, and since she was faster, she muttered, "I'll go help usher them forward, get them in."

Ben nodded and directed, "Stay connected. Call for help? We don't need any heroic deaths just yet. We haven't had our drunken night at the cantina."

"Or a demoralizing disagreement where we dramatically part ways; only to have a struggle between life and death that emotionally brings us back together?"She quipped as she disappeared into the darkness. Pulling the force in, she sensed where the Others were, and they weren't neceassarily near but too close for comfort. Edging toward the Free Folk, she ignited her saber and used it to motion toward the Wall's only opening. Ben, following her lead, did the same.

In time, the folk passed by her and muttered their thanks. Most were families, dressed in animal skins, carrying their entire lives with them. The ground shook, and her eyes spotted the few giants left in the realm. They'd asked for the nearly uninhabitable mountains and with Jon's silent agreement, she'd approved their space.

The army of the undead grew closer, challenging Zipporah's resolve to stay put. 

When would they be able to get him? He'd always loom over them, over Bran. A constant threat to their way of life. Aiden was not going to grow in a world where every snow storm was a pending mass extermination.

Sensing her new decision, Ben pleaded, Don't fall for his bait.

When are we going to be able to kill him? Once the folk are evacuated, we blow the tunnel. He cannot remain.

It's a trap. He accused her with alarmed eyes.

A damn good one. I'm going for it. If I'm not back, blow the tunnel.

She turned off her saber and found another to do her job with a torch. It was imperative that the people keep moving. If she failed, evil would always try to take over.

BEN

Her entire signature disappeared, and he knew she did it on purpose. Cloaking herself from him and the Night King. He'd give his little sister some credit: under pressure, she chose selflessness. He strained to search for her, but to no avail. How was he supposed to explain to their Dad what happened? Her husband? Her son? The boy was her only reason for risking life and limb--to end the threat of a permanent, unrelenting winter that would consume mankind. Sam, on the way to the cave, had been very descriptive. No doubt that had fed into rash decision. 

As people began trickling in, most let out sighs of relief, and some even cried. The people of the North wouldn't call them this, but he would: refugees. They were escaping a terrible life and threat of death. Hopefully, the free folk would keep their promises. 

His sister and her husband had shown mercy and strategy. The free folk could be called upon to fight, and by observation, Ben concluded that most could muster a formidable punch or swing of the sword. Her husband had gained decent fighters. In the event of another war, those individuals would come in handy. Jon had been candid; another war would come as the Lannisters had not acknowledged the North's declaration of independence and new government.

If he were in the Lannister's shoes, he'd probably relent as the Starks had allies everywhere, and the Lannisters had them nowhere, but from what he gathered, the Lannister king was brash and ignorant. 

More time passed. Thousands had come in, including the redheads who asked where Zi was and Ben had easily lied, "Coordinating and taking care of details."

They bought it and kept moving. Meanwhile, he grew more and more anxious about his family being alone in the darkness. He'd been there, done that. It sucked. She'd most likely either die, get captured, or come back barely alive. All these options were subpar, but there was nothing he could do. Every so often, he sent out a force pulse and measured where the Others' leader was. He was still a great distance but gaining speed. If Zi didn't intervene soon, he'd overtake the stragglers.

"Cmon people, a little faster, okay?" He verbally encouraged them with a fake smile. Panicked cries echoed across the tundra-like landscape, but immediately halted and cheers replaced it. Ben could see that someone had lit the largest forest fire he'd ever seen. The people kept moving, and soon the stragglers were off in the distance. Using the force, Ben tugged them into the tunnel and tried to sense any others.

A presence stood beside him, and the gravelly voice of Mance Rayder quietly asked, "She went after him, didn't she?"

"He'd keep coming. At least, that's her reason. She didn't want my nephew to grow up in fear." Ben murmured back with worry. He also became aware that he'd finally caved on Aiden's designation. Family wasn't exactly a pleasant topic or experience for him, but he'd admit that Zipporah was the healthiest familial relationship he ever had.

"Aye. She is worthy of our devotion." His tone was filled with reverence.

"She'd tell you bullshit." Ben fired back as he waited but no signal. Nothing. Hurried footsteps crunched behind them and an out of breath Jon Stark questioned, "Where is Zipporah?"

Ben's face crumpled, and he darkly replied, "You know where she is."

Jon shook his head in dismay, and his tone matched, "No. No. That wasn't the plan. Aaahh promised Robb. Promised. She has to come back. Tell her to come back. Now."

Ben gulped down the emotion of sadness and returned in a calm voice, "I can't. She's blocking me and presumably him. I can tell you she's not dead; I'd feel it."

The saber in his hand went out and immediately soared out of his hand into the illuminated snowy landscape.

"See? Only she could do that."

Jon hung his head, "We have to blow the tunnel. How is she supposed to get back to us? To Robb? Aiden?" Rage consumed him, and he clenched his teeth in hatred of the situation they'd been put in.

The trio closed the tunnel and headed up to the main where the leaders tensely waited. Jon, avoiding the Old Bear's knowing gaze, numbly stated, "Blow it."

Tormund did a head count and paled, "No, she---"

"Made her choice." Jon finished with closed eyes and then opened them, "And don't yah fucking forget when you're alive and the North mourns her."

Ygritte shook her head and challenged, "She'll make it."

The ground shook from the detonation, and Ben immediately wandered to the top of the Wall to watch the large fire spread across the North.

"Come on. We have a cantina to go to."