chapter 3- This is pretty much a Mance-Qhorin-bonding-chapter. Not slash though, I tried slash, but it doesn't work for these two (I think). So, just friendship here. I own nothing, except for the two random brothers of the Night's Watch that I made up.

Also, I got my first review! Ever! Couldn't be more proud! Thanks, reviewing person, this means a whole lot to me! More is always appreciated *hint hint, nudge nudge*


"Qhorin! Jeor and the older boys are taking me to Moletown, Qhorin! That's the first time they'd ask me along! You have to come too, Qhorin!"

Qhorin looked up from the sword he had just sharpened and mildly shook his head at his friend. In the last few years, Mance Rayder had grown from a nosy twelve-year-old kid into a fifteen-year-old gangly adolescent, still plucking his old lute in every free second, still in love with the sound of his own voice, but also just as feared on the training yard as Qhorin himself was. Now he was nearly out of it with excitement for the older recruits taking him whoring for the first time.

"No", Qhorin answered him. "We mustn't. We have a duty. They'll make us speak the oath soon."

"Gods, you're always so -so- ugh! Live a little, will you?"

"No", Qhorin repeated stoically. "I'll cover up for you if you must go, but I'll not go with you. It's not allowed. We have a duty."

"Well, screw your duty and be happy with her. I'll gladly show you a place where you can stuff your duty tonight. I'm going."

"Run along, then. If you spend any more time talking my ear off, you won't make it home 'till dawn. And the Lord Commander would not be pleased if he knew how you violate the rules. Again. And do me the favor of coming home quietly."

He went back to his sword.


Of course he did not come home quietly.

Unfortunately Qhorin had not remembered to lock his door, so there was no stopping Mance from peering in in the middle of the night.

"Qhorin, hey, Qhorin", he whispered.

Qhorin did not react. He stayed in bed and pretended to be sleeping.

"Qhorin."

"Qhorin"

"Qhorin."

"Qhorin."

"Qhorin-"

"YES."

"Are you awake?"

"I am now." Qhorin stirred and sat up under the covers, making a show of being woken up. "What do you want?"

Mance came in and sat down on Qhorin's bed. "I have to tell you what happened tonight."

"Can't that wait until tomorrow?"

"No. You see, Jeor and Jaremy insisted on picking a woman for me, since it was my first time, and she was gorgeous! She had blonde hair and-"

"Does it matter? One whore looks like the other."

Even in the darkness, he could see his friend scowl. Maybe he had spoken a little too harshly, but still. He hadn't asked for being woken up like that.

Then it occurred to him that Mance had, apart from his mother, probably never seen a female. There weren't any at Castle Black and his parents, Mance had told him once, had chosen to live reclused for some reason, far away from the other wildlings. Qhorin, who had asked around, knew that the reason was probably that his father had been a deserter and was being pursued by the Watch, but he had never mentioned it to Mance. Anyway, even if Mormont and Rykker had picked him a one-eyed toothless whore, he would have probably found her breathtaking.

He tried to be a little more patient. "Please go on", he bid his friend.

"We-ell, I'm sure you know what happens in a brothel. Have you ever been to one? She took me to-"

"I'm sure I don't want to hear the details."

"Right. Of course. Well, after we were, you know, finished, she asked me if it really had been my first time, and I said yes, and she said 'wow' and told me I've a natural talent. She then said that she didn't want my money and that I had a gift from the gods. She wants me to come back! And that is what I'm doing tomorrow!"

"No you won't."

"But, hey, did you listen? She said I had a natural talent!"

"Be glad, then. Everyone should have a talent. Too bad yours won't be of any use."

"Eh? What?"

"The oath, Mance. They're making us speak the words soon."

"So what? Words are wind."

"These aren't. An oath to the faces of your Gods! Don't you dare make fun of that."

"But everyone does it! Everyone goes down there!"

"You should strive for greater things than that."

"Don't give me the talk, Qhorin. You're not my mother."

"No, I'm not. Your mother is dead."

Mance stood up. "You needn't remind me. I haven't forgotten" he said. "I'm going to bed."

"Yes, g'night" Qhorin grumbled and turned around to face the wall as Mance closed the door. He heard him open his own bedroom door, which was right next to Qhorin's, and then a quiet clicking noise as the door snapped shut again. Then there was only silence.

Tomorrow he would probably have to apologize to his friend for tonight's events. He hadn't asked Mance to intrude his bedroom, disturb his sleep, and tell him stories of his first time with a whore. And yet he would be the one to have to apologize. It was always like that with Mance.

Qhorin sighed and went to sleep.


"Tonight you will all go to the sept and take your oath. Anyone here who worships the Old Gods?"

Mance raised his hand. He didn't actually consider himself a worshipper of anything –he wasn't the religious sort - but the Old Gods were the Gods of the North, and he had more North in him than anyone else here. If he was to take an oath, he would definitely not do it before the seven kneeler gods. And he had also heard the older Brothers say that if you chose to say your oath to a Weirwood tree, they took you beyond the Wall.

The thought alone gave him chills of anticipation. He hadn't been beyond the Wall for years – ever since he'd been adopted by the Night's Watch. It would be like going... home.

"Ah yes, Mance, you" The Lord Commander said, nodded his approval, but also gave him a sidelong glance that had a hint of a warning in it.

He knows my thoughts, Mance realised. Your place is here. He remembered it quite well.

"Anyone else?" Two other recruits also raised their hands. "Lennett, Wyll, alright. I'll show you the way to the Weirwood. We'll have to go beyond the Wall, but", he added as Wyll shuddered, "it's not very far and we won't happen about anything dangerous. There's no need to let anything bother you."

And here the Lord Commander looked at Mance rather than at Wyll.


Next chapter: Oathtaking!