20 I hate this

Hey guys and galls. Yeah I went full crazy with the last chapter and slogans but to my defense the chapter was 3k words so it's like three chapters in one. Be gentle and stay safe! Written on my phone so don't bash me!

"Ser Davos please don't look at me like that... I already apologized..." I said while we were still standing at the shore solving all the issues that needed to be taken care of after battle.

I looked around and could not spot even one soldier not covered in blood, dirt or pieces of flesh at some parts of their armor.

I did imagine it will be a nasty thing but not so... well, bloody.

The smell of iron was heavy in the air, there were wounded that were groaning from pain from all of our houses but the medics I brought with us were taking care of them now and I can assure you there are no better field medics than my people in this world with maybe some exceptions in the Citadel.

"My lord... Was... that really necessary?" Ser Davos had pain in his eyes while looking and pointing at the stuck Sea Serpent.

"Don't worry Ser, I'm sure it will be as good as new after we push it back." I just finished saying that as my ship captain came with his report.

"My lord! We will not be able to push it back." He said and waited without knowing he just made his near future experience really, really painful.

""Pfff"" Dale Seaworth, my close friend, and Ser Bryce couldn't hold it in anymore. To be truthful I couldn't as well.

"I'm sure you can solve it Ser Davos! Good luck!" I patted him on the back while saying that with a twitching lip trying not to laugh and started to walk away in The Bear Hall direction while being followed by may sworn shields and Dale.

Ser Arthur has a mask on his face at all times while outside, he used different swords as well just to be sure.

"What are our losses?" I asked as we slowly walked, observing the beauty of Bear Island.

"82 dead, twice as much wounded my lord." Dale said lightly.

"No lost ships?" That made me happy but I still wanted to be sure.

"No my lord, but we took eleven from the squids. The rest went down after we rammed them.

We found the women, children and few men from the previous village that they didn't kill at some of the ships. The ships we sank were only with Ironborn crew." He said with relief.

"That's really good for our first time." He nodded to what I said and I continued "We did have the superior numbers and element of surprise, but even so most of the men didn't even held a sword in a real fight before."

"They did good my lord." Dale was always a man of few words.

I watched the houses made of wood and the forest behind them and felt connection to it for unknown reason.

"How many men did we capture?" I walked and talked but some of my attention was observing the Mormont people as they were watching us back.

"317 my lord. Their wounded were given grace as per your orders." I listened to him but my attention was taken by a small girl that was standing in the mud, covered in dirt without any shoes on her feet and crying.

I hate this kind of thing... Game of Thrones world...

Sometimes I wonder how many orphans will we make during the future wars... This is the thing that bothers me the most making me question my decisions.

I shook my head getting rid of the useless thoughts. I can't help my enemies children but I can help my own people.

I moved closer to her surprising my men, the girl was three maybe four name days, small as a frightened and fragile rabbit. Fortunately she didn't even flinch at the sight of blood I was covered in.

I squatted in front of her, my warm cloak that my men gave to me after the battle was now covered in mud but I didn't care.

"What's your name little one?" I asked as gently as I could.

"B-Bri m'lord." She was weeping and trying to wipe her tears with her dirty, torn sleeve. Her voice broke as she sobbed.

"Why are you crying little Bri?" I was still looking at her and with each teardrop on her little face my heart hurt more.

"M-mommy didn't come back... She promised... S...she said for Bri to hide and that she will come for Bri but she didn't!" She broke and started to cry harder.

I couldn't hold myself and hugged the girl not paying attention to the dirt on her or the blood on me.

Just wanted the child to feel warmth.

I picked her up and walked back to my smiling men while putting my cloak around to cover her.

"You there!" I shouted at the group of Mormont soldiers that were passing us and watching.

"Yes m'lord?" The leader stepped with lowered head.

"Do you know the child's family?" After my words he looked at Bri and then nodded but his sad face already told me what I wanted to know.

"Everyone?" I wanted to make sure.

"Yes m'lord. Father in the initial clash and we found her mother later..." Fuck.

"You may leave." I really didn't want this to be the truth, but that's the world I live now.

I pulled the little girl a bit further from my body, she was so light.

"Little Bre... do you want to come with us?" I looked at her with concern.

"I have to wait for mommy!" She answered and I was thinking if I should tell her the truth.

"Little Bre... your mommy and daddy went far away, but before they went, they told me to take good care of you or your mommy will whoop my hide!" I said and touched her nose making her giggle a bit.

"So... mommy and daddy won't be back?" She was really sad.

"You will see them in the future so don't worry!" I said that, but I really hoped it will be a really far future.

"Really?" She looked troubled.

"Bri! I'm a Lord! Would I lie to you?" That was my last trump card, I really don't know how to talk to children.

"No...m'lord." Good girl! Her reply made me smile and tickle her.

I looked up and there were more children walking around.

"Ser Bryce!" I shouted and not more than a second later the man that was following me like a shadow was just behind my right shoulder waiting for orders.

I turned my head and looked at him.

"Go back and tell Ser Davos to give you every spare blanked and some available men he has.

Tell my cook to prepare something warm to eat with our supplies for everyone. I mean everyone." I moved my head and looked at the small folk and children and he followed my gaze.

"Yes my lord!" He wanted to go but I stopped him.

"Wait! Get some free medics to check on them as well! If you hear any grumpiness make sure to show the person what I think about it! Painfully..." I want my soldiers to be human as well. Ser Bryce moved swiftly.

"Dale!" I was still in my serious mode.

"Yes my lord?" He stepped up at attention, straight like a pole, I could see he was tired as adrenaline started leaving his body but we all were.

"Find me a good, warm place for all the children. Pay with gold if you have to, I don't care! I just want the children out of the cold!" He was looking around while listening to me, unfortunately most places here were burned or destroyed.

"Hey! You! I shouted at some soldiers in green that were watching us. They were probably making sure we don't do anything wrong.

"Yes m'lord?" He was scared. I took out a silver stag from my pouch and threw it at him. After he caught it he looked back surprised.

"You will go with my man here and help him in finding a warm place for all the people here." I looked at him coldly to motivate him. Carrot and stick.

"Yes m'lord!" He was giddy but I don't mind.

"Go! Don't look at me! Go!" Sometimes incompetence pisses me off.

I felt really tired and a bit weak but nothing I can't handle.

"Are you cold little Bri?" I asked as the girl was hugging me all the time.

I thought that she might be freezing so I tried to keep her covered with my furry cloak tightly.

"No m'lord." She hid her face in my shoulder.

"It's nice to see you like that my lord..." Ser Arthur said but I could swear he had his usual smirk on his face under the mask.

I was patting little Bre on her back while we waited.

"Like what Ser Arthur?" I looked back.

"Like this my lord..." he pointed at me. "Human my lord..." I agree that sometimes my decisions can be ruthless but not to the innocent bystanders. At least that's my opinion.

"I was always human Ser Arthur. It's this world that is fucked up." I turned back and felt some chills on my back and started sweating.

"My lord! We found one!" Dale came back with the Mormont soldiers breathing heavy.

"Everyone!" I shouted loud. "Come with us to eat something and rest in warmth! We will help you look for your family!" I started to move up too after Dale.

We gather every child and small folk with the help of nearby House Mormont soldiers that proactively started to help us lowering their guard against us.

The trip lasted about 15 minutes when we moved up the hill and came upon two bigger houses.

The adults went to one and the children And some women to the other.

Soon after, my men arrived with Ser Bryce and Ser Davos.

"My lord..." Ser Davos looked at the gathered children while I helped with the wood for the fire that one Mormont soldier was starting.

"Ser Davos! Did you bring what I asked for?" I looked behind him and my men had the food. Good.

"Yes my lord, we took the food from Sea Serpent but the blankets are on the way from other ships."

"Good! Tell them to start cooking!" I moved and took my cloak off, I kneeled in front of Bri and two little girls that were sitting on her sides and placed it around them.

I wanted to stand up, but felt light headed and knelt back down feeling some pain in my back.

"My lord!" I could hear my men shouting and running to me but everything was blurry.

I placed my hand where the pain was.

I felt the torn leather strap where to armor connection was, then my hand touched something wet and gave me the chills... I moved my hand in front to check it. Fuck.