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Chapter 2: Crows And Wildlings (Part I)

A group of four wildlings were heading towards Mance's camp. Their king would march on the wall soon, they've heard. The sooner they go south of the wall, the better. People go missing everyday in their country. Trouble is when they return. Not as themselves but as something monstrous. The free folk are relatively safe in Mance's camp. They help each other there as they all have a common goal. Survive. Hence these four wildlings have abandoned their own home, their own village and going to join their king as many of them already have. They've been traveling for days now but still they have a long way to go.

"We should stop. The sun's coming up" said Isegg. The other three agreed with him. It was safer to hide in a cave during the day and travel at night. Crows often patrol the lands when the sun is up. They can't do much when it's dark.

"There's a cave there" said Hilwen. She was the only female traveling in the group. But it made no difference since she was just as much a fighter as the rest of them.

"It's not well hidden enough. Anyone can see it. Some wild animal could already be living inside" said Golaf, another wildling of the group. He spoke with thick accent of the free folk just like everyone else. What he said was true but there wasn't any other place to hide in that area. And they all knew that.

"I hope you're right. It's been a while since we ate well." The one who said it is named Braval. He started walking towards the cave with a spear in hand. The others followed close by. As they got close to the cave, an unexpected temperature hit them. Instead of being cold as usual, the air around the cave was very warm. The wildlings looked at each other.

"A hot spring?" Hilwen asked with confusion.

"Not likely. There is no hot water in this area" said Isegg.

"There must've been a fire burning inside not long ago" said Hilwen. It was the only logical conclusion. Though a fire couldn't have made the air so warm.

"Then perhaps the cave is occupied after all." Braval said with a huge grin. He hoped it was crows. If they are asleep it would be easy and fun to slaughter them. But it was highly unlikely that a group of crows were sleeping in a cave without having at least one crow keeping watch outside the cave.

"It could be a trap" said Golaf. He was not wrong to think that. Crows knew of many ways to kill them.

"Only one way to find out." Braval being as wild and bold as a wildling could be, he entered the cave without second thought. The others though feeling reluctant but followed him nonetheless. As they entered they found that the cave wasn't very huge but it was indeed occupied. However, not by crows or even wild animals but by a girl. She appeared to be in a deep sleep. The wildlings looked at each other again, feeling utterly confused. Not only there was a girl sleeping in a cave, all alone but it was clear that she was no wildling woman. She was wearing pants made of fine leather and boots. Not to mention she was wearing a dress, also made of fine material. There was no doubt that she was a southerner. What a southerner girl was doing in a cave in the north was a question that any wildling would want to know the answer to. But that's not what had the four wildlings so baffled. There was something more confusing about the girl other than her being a southerner. It seemed she was the reason the air was so warm outside the cave and it was downright hot inside. She was literary radiating heat.

"What do you think she is?" Braval asked in a whisper as to not wake up the girl.

"Well she looks human, doesn't she?" Said Golaf. Also speaking in low tone of voice.

"What if she isn't?" He asked back.

"What should we do?" Golaf asked Isegg and Hilwen. Wishing to know their opinion.

"Human or not, let's just kill her and be done with it" said Hilwen.

"And if she's human? Don't you wanna know what is she doing 'ere so far in the north?" Isegg asked. He for one didn't want to be so hasty about killing the girl. He had his reasons. For starter, she was the most beautiful woman he has laid his eyes upon. Her long hair and smooth silk like skin had him mesmerized. And despite living in a cave and sleeping on the ground, her beautiful face wasn't marred with dirt. She looked so clean as if she took bath on a regular basis. They should really take her captive and question her instead of just killing her off. And if she didn't turn out to be an enemy, then maybe he'd take her as his woman. If she'll have him.

"I agree. I wanna know what a southern girl is doing 'ere?" Said Golaf.

"Let's wake her up then." Saying that Braval walked closer to the girl. He poked her with the other end of his spear. But the girl didn't wake up. She didn't even stir. He looked back at his companions.

"She's in a deep sleep." He said.

"Well then kick her you fool" said Hilwen rolling her eyes at him. Braval looked back at the girl. He was about to kick her but she snapped open her eyes right then and jolted up into a sitting position. She started breathing heavily as if woken up from a nightmare. For a while she looked lost and the temperature in the cave increased too. The wildlings there felt like taking off their clothes as they started sweating. It looked to them as if the girl was trying to put herself back together and calm down. But they weren't going to give her the time.

"Who are you?" Golaf asked with stern tone of voice. Trying to sound intimidating. But the stranger southern girl said nothing as if she never heard him.

"He asked you a question." Hilwen said with anger in her voice. The girl should be afraid of them. She should be trembling with fear, not act as if she couldn't even see them there.

"Answer us or you'll kill you" threatened Braval. This time the girl stopped ignoring them and finally looked up to meet their eyes.

"Kill me? I don't think you can." She said, more like stated it as a matter of fact. Braval took this as an insult and took it upon himself to prove her wrong. He pointed his spear at her right away. He even pressed the pointy end into her cheek and put just enough pressure that it lightly cut the skin and spilled a drop of blood. This obviously strung her. The girl touched her face and the blood got on her fingers. She then looked at her fingers and the blood on it. The wildlings got confused as the girl smiled instead of getting scared. She actually started laughing.

"You are real." She said more to herself than to them and she sounded very joyous about it as well. The girl looked at them with a huge grin. Not caring about the spear that was still pointed towards her.

"I'm not hallucinating. You are really here." She said and she tried to stand up but Braval threatened to stab her with the spear.

"Oh there's no need for that. I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." The girl said making the wildlings have a good laugh.

"Hurt us? You should be thankful we haven't slit your throat yet southerner" said Golaf. He wasn't worried anymore about this girl being a human or not. If they could spill her blood, then surely she wasn't that dangerous. And about the heat coming off her, well perhaps there's some technique invented in the south that allowed one to stay warm in such cold weather. Golaf thought in his mind.

"My name is Hope actually. And of course thank you for not slitting my throat. I wouldn't have liked that very much. I must admit, I'm so happy to finally meet you. I was hoping to come across wildlings. It's been months since I met another person. The solitude was driving me crazy. I-"

"Shut up!" Braval snapped at her. The girl was blabbering things that made no sense. Who in their right mind would be happy to meet wildlings? The wildlings could barely tolerate each other. And having a southerner say that she's happy to meet them just made to sense at all. After all the free folks are considered savages by all southerner scums.

"Let's take her outside first before we question her. She must've done something to this cave. It's getting hotter in here." Hilwen said wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. Something felt fishy to her.

"Get up." Braval said to Hope. She got up without any complain. She tried to take her bag but he stopped her.

"Don't. What's in that?" He asked.

"Just things I need." Hope replied. They obviously didn't believe her. Isegg took the bag and looked inside. There were knives for skinning animals and some burnt meat. A roll of papers and quill and ink. And some unknown things inside small bottles. It seemed strange that the girl was carrying no other weapon. No sword, no bow or arrows. Nothing at all. Perhaps she thought to never get into any trouble. Which was dumb of her. But then again, southerners are stupid. Anyway, Isegg took out the meat and threw it to Golaf who caught it with ease.

"That is supposed to be my breakfast but I wouldn't mind sharing" said Hope even though it was obvious she wouldn't be getting any.

"Walk." Braval walked her out of the cave at spear point. Once they were out, the cold engulfed the wildlings again but with Hope near them, they still felt warmth. And it was rather comforting. Even though they'd never say it out loud.

"Tie her hands" said Hilwen.

"No need for that. She's alone and there's four of us. What could she possibly do?" Isegg saw no harm in letting the girl have untied hands.

"You fool. Can't you see, there's something wrong with her. Why's she so warm? Look at the clothes she's wearing. She should be freezing to death." She pointed out. Something was off about this southerner girl and she felt it in her guts.

"Well let's question her and find out what's wrong with her" said Isegg. Then he approached Hope. She still didn't look frightened or worried for that matter. And she still seemed very happy about being in their company.

"So you're called Hope you said. Tell us what you are doing here?" Isegg asked.

"First tell me your names. I'd like not to keep calling you wildlings" said Hope. She spoke as if her life wasn't in danger. And it really wasn't. But the wildlings didn't know that.

"Just answer the question kneeler." Braval snapped at her with stern tone of voice. But what he said only amused Hope.

"Kneeler? Is that another term you use for the people south of the wall?" She asked with mirth in her voice. Braval was about to hit her for not being a good captive but Isegg stopped him.

"You want to know our names. I'm Isegg, that's Braval and Golaf and her name is Hilwen. Now tell us why a girl from the south is wondering all alone in the north? If you don't answer, I won't stop Braval this time." He said and he was very serious about it. Isegg thought she would refuse to answer again but she did.

"I'm looking for white walkers." Hope said rather nonchalantly. It made the wildlings think that she was lying. That she was messing with them. Besides, who in their right mind would seek those demons?

"Braval break her arm. That should make her spill the truth" said Hilwen.

"I already told you the truth." Hope said but Braval was still willing to hurt her.

"I wouldn't touch me if I were you." She even warned him but still he grabbed her arm. Just as he did and tried to twist her arm, something happened and all on a sudden his hand was on fire. Thankfully he was wearing thick fur gloves. Braval quickly took it off and threw it away before his hand got burned. They all watched the glove burn into ashes.

"Can't say I didn't warn you" said Hope, feeling relieved that it was only a glove she burned and not the man's hand. She really had no wish to harm them unless absolutely necessary. Not growing up in Westros, she didn't have any sort of hatred for the wildlings. And there won't be any unless they give her a reason to hate them. The wildlings looked back at Hope. She saw fear in their eyes now.

"What are you?" Golaf asked, instinctively taking a step back from her.

"The answer to that question is rather complicated. I can tell you what I'm not. I am not your enemy. But you've to be careful around me. My powers are not stable yet, I'm afraid." She said.

"Powers? What powers?" Hilwen asked. She was too curious not to ask.

"Fire" said Hope. "I would've put on a show for you but I don't think that's a good idea as I could accidentally kill you all."

The way she spoke so easily about killing them, it scared the wildlings. They were supposed to intimidate her but the opposite was happening. And Hope wasn't even trying to scare them off. She was just warning them for their own good.

"What should we do?" Hilwen asked Golaf in a low tone of voice so that the girl wouldn't hear them.

"Let's kill her and leave" suggested Golaf.

"You saw what happened to Braval. What if she kills us instead?" Hilwen expressed her worries. Though the wildlings were brave people but they weren't all that keen on dying.

"Are you saying we should run? I'm not running from a girl." Golaf stated, already feeling offended at the mere thought of running away like a coward, not to mention from a girl. Yes a very strange girl, and apparently with powers but a girl nonetheless.

"Then there's only one thing we can do. Take her to Mance. He'd know what to do" said Hilwen. Golaf agreed to that and he knew that Braval and Isegg would agree too. Besides, once they are in the camp, the girl wouldn't be able to cause any trouble. Because she'd be all alone and there are already hundred thousand wildlings at the camp.

"You are looking for white walkers, you said." He started speaking to Hope who nodded her head in response.

"We can help you find them. We know where they are. But you have to come with us." Golaf said.

"Of course, I'll come with you." She said very enthusiastically. Hope obviously knew that she was being lied too. The wildlings know better than anyone what the white walkers are and they aren't stupid enough to go anywhere near them. But despite knowing that she played along. Hope wanted to know where they've actually planned to take her. Besides, she has finally found some company. She'd be damned if she lose that and let isolation swallow her again.


So that's how Hope and four wildlings started traveling together. It wasn't a very enjoying journey though. Hope could see that her companions not only distrusted her but felt wary of her as well. But she was fine with it as long as she has someone to talk to and someone to talk back to her. They were hiding a lot of things from her but so was she. Hope maybe happy about finally having company of other people but she hasn't lost her mind as to give away important information about herself. Such as she's a part of the Night's watch and she knows a lot about the wall. Moreover, the lord commander himself really cares about her. These information could hurt a lot of people. Because if the wildlings even got a sniff that she was important to the crows, they'd be after her like mad hounds. But that wasn't the main concern here. Hope feared that if they attacked her, then her magic would lash out in order to protect herself and the outcome of it could be utterly disastrous. No, telling the wildlings as little as possible was best for everyone. It'd be more sensible obviously to not stay around the wildlings at all since the risk was so much but the fear of isolation didn't let Hope be sensible. Besides, having these four wildlings around made her control her magic as best as she could and be careful about it as well since she didn't wish to harm them. For the first time, in a long time Hope had some control over her powers. Jon was right. It takes motivation to achieve something. And her companions proved to be her motivation.

"What are you gonna do with white walkers when we find them?" Isegg asked Hope with utmost curiosity in his voice. It's been two days since they started traveling together. Though they didn't really bond with each other but Hope never backed away from a conversation. Even if sometimes it was more like interrogation. It didn't matter though since Hope was capable of answering every question without giving away anything important.

"Try to kill them of course." She replied making the wildlings laugh hysterically. Obviously they thought she didn't know what she was talking about. Hope didn't mind letting them believe that she was some naïve southerner; out in the north trying to find and kill white walkers as if they are some insects in a garden.

"Why do you care about them anyway? You are from south." Hilwen asked.

"I just do." Was Hope's short nonchalant reply. Golaf narrowed his eyes at her when she said that.

"Do you even believe that they exist? Or you just wanna find them to know if they're real." He asked. Hope didn't answer the question right away. Instead she asked.

"Have you seen them?" The wildlings looked at each other.

"We've seen dead man trying to kill people girl" said Hilwen.

"So you haven't really seen one with your own eyes. And yet you believe that they exist" stated Hope as it was a fact.

"Of course they exist. Who else can wake up the dead?" Hilwen said, defending her believe.

"Exactly. I've heard from trusted source about dead man coming back to life. So if you can believe into something without seeing it for yourself then why can't I? I don't doubt the existence of white walkers. I've read books stating clearly that they existed once. And it's obvious they're coming back again. That's why I want to find them. Don't you think we ought to know how to kill them before the long nights come?" Hope asked her fellow wildlings.

"And you think you can kill them with whatever powers you have? White walkers can't be killed. Not with some stupid magic tricks" said Golaf.

"That's right. The only way to live is to go south of the wall" said Isegg.

"But if you go anywhere near the wall then the night's watch will kill you." Hope stated the obvious.

"Not when we go to the wall with an army of thousands." He said with a smirk. An army of thousands? That was a useful and alarming information. Hope noted it in her mind right away and thought that she should get more information about it.

"You're talking about Mance Rayder's army I suppose. He calls himself king beyond the wall, doesn't he?" She asked curiously. Hope has heard about Mance Rayder but only from the men of the night's watch. Therefore she was interested to know what the wildlings said about him.

"WE call him king beyond the wall because he's worthy to be our king" said Braval. Defending their king.

"I see. But don't you think it's a bit hypocritical of you to call southerners kneelers when you're doing the same here?" She said which earned her a glare from her companions.

"We don't kneel before him. We do not bow to him. He doesn't expect us to show him respect for nothing. This is not south where you bow before some king you don't even like. Our king doesn't sit on some chair all day and drink and eat and whore around. Our king cares about our survival. We chose Mance as our king despite him being a crow once because he could lead us and help us survive" said Golaf with pride in his voice for the free folk and respect for their king.

"Well he sounds like a very interesting king. I'd like to meet him someday" said Hope. She saw Hilwen and Braval smirk at that.

"Perhaps your wish will come true." Hilwen said to her. Hope understood right away exactly where they were taking her. They were taking her to Mance Rayder. Their king. That wasn't very shocking or unexpected though. It was obvious that they'd go to their king when encountered a trouble. And she was trouble for them. A stranger southerner with some magical powers. The four of them believed that their king would know how to deal with her. Only if they knew the extent, and the ferocity of her powers. If they did, they would've known that they are taking a dragon to a horde of sheep.