In the North, cold bites into every part of a being. It chills the skin, burns the eyes and freezes the heart. Those who live up in the barren whiteness might as well be carved from stone, according to the southerners who enjoy nicer climates and easier ways of life. However, that is not true. As you, dear reader, will soon find out is that those who live on the edge of humanity are the most feeling of all the people in Westeros.
Our story starts out on the Wall, the giant ice barrier between the wildlings and the civilized people. The Night's Watch guards the Wall, making sure all of Westeros is safe from the dangers that lurk beyond the Wall. One of the older members of the Night's Watch was a man who went by the name Rumpelstiltskin. Rumple had been given over to the Watch as a young boy and served ever since. Most of the Brothers didn't bother him, for the man had all sorts of rumors hanging over his head. Talk of warlocks and wizards flew around the dinner table but none had ever tried to seek out the truth. Dressed all in black, the man kept to himself and while the others were wary of him they knew he could solve any problems they might have. He was an expert in herbs and could give any brother of the Night's Watch any remedy he might need. Some said he dealt in deals far darker than a rash, but those claims have yet to be proven.
Near the wall was Mole's Town, a chilly little village where nearly all the buildings were held underground. In one of the freezing shacks huddled in the snow lived Belle. The young girl felt trapped in the claustrophobic tunnels that made up Mole's Town, and dreaded what her future might bring. Few people ever left the village and if they did it was to join the Night's Watch because they had no other choice. The only choices Belle seemed to have hidden away in the snow was to marry one of the pox ridden boys that lived there or take a job with the brothel. Neither option was appealing in the least, and Belle made sure to keep clear of the tiny shack with the red lantern hanging above the door. Alas, her home town had proven to be more boring than anything else. Most nights, Belle would climb up the shaky wooden stairs to the outside and sit out in the forest until her fingers nearly fell off. She'd look up at the stars, or at the wall reaching up to meet the tiny pin points of light in the sky. Sometimes she'd try to picture what the other side of the wall looked like. She had heard stories from musicians who come through town (most on their way to serve their sentence on the Wall) of how the other side was a completely different world and others said the Wall was the end of the world. So many possibilities, so many places to explore, and yet the girl was trapped in the tiny little hovel she shared with her father who kept hinting at "how lovely that young boy is, what is his name? Oh yes, Gaston!" Belle'd rather have grey scale than marry that lump of coal, yet as the days went by the narrower her prospects became. Maybe she'd have to settle for the red lantern.
"Some of the boys are 'digging for treasure' tonight, you wanna come along, old man?" one of the brothers, a little tipsy from rum they had taken from the store room, asked Rumpelstiltskin. A sharp look from the man made the boy reconsider his phrasing. "I mean, Rumple."
Of course none of the brothers were actually allowed to leave Castle Black unless ordered and the whole reason they were headed that way was in violation of their vows, however most men looked the other way. Life in the north was hard and they couldn't blame the lads for wanting some warmth where there seemed to be none. Most of the time Rumple brushed the boys off. He had lived his whole life at Castle Black and didn't care for the company of others, but that night there seemed to be a twinkle in his eye. Standing up, Rumple slammed his hands against the wood of the table, looking at the rowdy young men he called brothers. "When do we leave?"
Tonight seemed to be no different for Belle. She slipped through the muddy corridors of Mole's Town, only to be caught in the corner by a rather drunk Gaston. He wasn't all that difficult to deter, a little mutter of excuse me, a quick slip under his arm and she was home free down the next tunnel and up the stairs into the cold night before he had figured out she was gone. Walking to the edge of the forest, the girl sat down on a tree stump, wrapping her cloak tighter around her shoulders. Winter would soon be on them and she wasn't looking forward to it. Blue eyes drifted to the giant wall of ice that seemed to consume the night sky. Thoughts drifted to the past, how had the men back then built such a thing? They must have been brave and hardworking. Visions of attacks and battles filled her head, and she had not realized her eyes were closed until the sound of horses made them snap open again.
The group was coming from the north, and the only thing that is north of Mole's Town is the Wall. It must be some black brothers come to town to visit the brothel. They come every so often and make a lot of noise, but everyone welcomes them. Without them Mole's Town would be even poorer than it is now. Not exactly a fan of unwanted attention, Belle slipped further into the forest, hidden in the shadows as the riders flew past. They were definitely from the Night's Watch, their black cloaks were unmistakable. All the men threw the reins of their horses to one man and went straight to the red lantern, disappearing down the stairs as the noises from inside drifted across the snow. Suddenly a thought invaded Belle's head. One of those crazy once in a lifetime thoughts that could change your life in the blink of an eye. Her eyes settled on one of the black horses that stood outside the brothel and steeled her heart from cowardice. Looks like she had three options now.
With his boots stuck in the snow, Rumpelstiltskin stood outside the tiny shack that was the entrance to Mole's Town, watching as the horses snorted and kicked at the white powder that coated the ground. He thought a quick escape from Castle Black was just what his heart needed, but alas fresh air had done him no good and he doubted some poor peasant girl would help either. As all the thieves and murderers had their fun underground, Rumple looked to the south. He might have actually traveled that path if he hadn't been caught. All his neighbors had turned him in that day when he was a boy. Afraid of what he might do when he grew older, they dumped him at Castle Black like he was a bag of potatoes. Maybe he could go back to that village and show them exactly what he had become.
The man's thoughts were interrupted by the loud whiny of a horse behind him. Whirling around, Rumple managed to snag a glance at the blue cloak the rider wore before they tore off into the night to the south. Without any hesitation, Rumpelstiltskin mounted his own horse and started after the thief. They'd surely be punished for this, possibly even drafted into the Night's Watch. Wouldn't that be a laugh! Having to serve your sentence with the men you stole from? Some people are idiots, taking from an entire group of men known to be criminals. How foolish men can be.
The rider came into sight just ahead and Rumple dug his heels deeper into the horse, urging it forward. The thief took a sharp turn into the forest, slipping through the trees and into the dark. Rumple cursed under his breath and followed them, yanking at the reins. The trees on the edge of the forest were not so close together, but farther into the woods the limbs tangled together and trunks grew nearer to one another. Soon Rumple's target was trapped between him and three large pines that blocked his path.
Slowing his stead, Rumpelstiltskin gave a laugh that bounced off the trees and echoed into the night. Eyeing his victim, the man could make out little of what was hidden beneath the rider's cloak. "I'll give you two choices thief! You can die here for your crime, or you can join the Night's Watch!"
Giddy with excitement, Rumple waited for the man's reply. What an interesting night this was turning out to be- much better than visiting the same skinny girl three other brothers had in the same night. However, what happened next wasn't something the man could ever had predicted. The rider yanked back his hood to reveal a pale face framed with brown curls. Red lips pursed together and blue eyes stared at him defiantly.
"I'll be taking the black."
Despite the way her knees felt like they were going to spill her out in the snow, Belle was determined not to show any fear to this black brother. Sure, she technically stole from the Night's Watch but that didn't warrant death… did it? Whatever the verdict, the man had taken both of the horses and made he walk in front of him all the way back to Mole's Town so he could keep an eye on her… from his horse. It was quit absurd and she made sure to tell him that many times.
"So what is your name?" Rumple asked from atop his horse.
"Belle," she sighed, trudging through the snow, lifting up her skirts in order to move one boot in front of the other. "What's yours?"
"That's none of your business," he said, lips pressed together in an impish smile.
"Well, that's not fair at all!" Belle said, stopping to turn around and glare at her captor.
"Criminals shouldn't talk about anything being fair, now turn back around," Rumpelstiltskin cackled. Reluctantly, the girl turned back around, stomping through the snow again and rubbing her hands together to keep them warm.
"You can't talk much either, black brother. I know the sort of men who join the Night's Watch," she said, her voice cutting through the chill air. Rumple brushed off her comment, not even bothering to reply to it. Frustrated Belle continued. "What are you going to do with me, anyway? You haven't killed me yet and everyone knows I can't join the Night's Watch so why are you making me march through this snow? So I'll die of cold?!"
"How about this, dearie," Rumple said, stopping his horse and sliding off of it's back. "I'll offer you a deal."
Taking a few steps closer, Belle eyed him suspiciously. "What kind of deal?"
"Well, killing you would just be a waste, but you do lack certain parts in order to take the black. So I offer you this- instead of turning you over to the authorities, you can serve as my personal servant. Like a, squire you might say," he said, his lips pulled up into a delighted smirk.
"I highly doubt they'll let me live in Castle Black," Belle said flatly.
"Oh we won't be staying at Castle Black, I have another place in mind…" Rumple said, his grin filling every part of his face with that mischievous excitement that caused everyone around him to worry. "Beyond the wall."
