The sun had started to rise. Jon was saddling his horse next to the hand of the king. Ser Davos Seaworth was going to accompany Jon to treat with Mance representing the king's interests. Jon also readied another horse for Tormund. Tormund was captured in the battle and was also being held captive by the men of the Night's Watch. Jon thought it'd help if they brought him to treat with the King beyond the Wall. It took a lot of convincing to get Tormund to help them with their plan, but after hours of trying and hours of insults Tormund came around and agreed to help. A couple of brothers of the Night's Watch came into view escorting Tormund in chains. The brothers stopped in front of Jon. Jon requested that Tormund be released from his chains. The men, with shaking hands, released Tormund. Once the chains fell with a heavy thud from his wrists he looked at the men with one raised eyebrow and then made a loud roaring noise and took a sudden step forward to give them a good scare. The men took a step back and made a noise of fright. Seeing the men scared, Tormund laughed loudly.
"Some men o' the Night's Watch! Mo' like babe's o' the Night's Watch." He laughed.
"Enough Tormund. We have to get going." Jon said passing him the reigns of a horse.
Tormund took the horse and mounted it. And with that, the three men parted beyond the wall to find Mance Rayder.
"Ser Davos, this is Tormund Giantsbane. Tormund, this is Ser Davos Seaworth, the Hand of the King." Jon said making introductions for both men.
"Hand o' the King, eh? Did your father grant you that position?"
"No. I was chosen by the king t' serve 'im. If anythin' I wasn't born with any privilege. I was just a smuggler from Flea Bottom. The only reason I have a name and a title now is 'cause I did a service for Stannis a long time ago. He rewarded me with a title and power. But at the same time he punished me for the smuggling." Davos confessed and showed his hand, proof of Stannis' punishment.
"Hmph. A smuggler eh. We don't have a lot o' your kind up in the North. 'Ere, have a drink o' this. I like you Davos." Tormund said to Davos while he passed him a water skin with some mead.
Davos took a drink of the water skin. He has tried his fair share of rums and meads in his lifetime, but this mead was like drinking fire. That'd be sure to keep him warm up beyond the wall. Davos let out a subtle cough and passed the mead back to Tormund.
"So Jon Snow, I forgot t' ask. What happened t' Ygritte? Did she make it out?" Tormund looked to Jon with concern.
"Yes. She made it. She's safe in Hardin's Tower." Jon said.
Tormund let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank the gods. I'd feared the worst. I told her t' stay from the battle especially in 'er state but she kept on fightin' me on it."
"You knew she was with child?" Jon asked astounded.
"I figured it out immediately Jon Snow. I know what an expectant woman is like. Seen it many times. An' I've known Ygritte since she was a young lass, I know her well. She can't hide a thing from me." Tormund announced proudly.
"Why didn't you make her stay away from the battle? She almost died." Jon asked.
"I tried t' talk some sense int' 'er but she wasn't 'aving any of it. Even if I tied 'er up in chains and locked 'er away she would've escaped and made it t' the fight either way. S' I let 'er go but I kept an eye on 'er as much as I could. But then I lost sight o' 'er when I was fighting that Crow. He put up a good fight but I had the last laugh."
Jon gave up the argument, seeing that Tormund was right. Whatever he could've said or done, Ygritte would've done whatever she wanted.
"Girl seems like a fiery one eh?" Davos asked jokingly.
"Ha! She's like fire itself! Even as a young lass she was a spirited one. When I met 'er I tried t' steal her game and she ended up cutting me arm. She was a wee girl all alone huntin'. Barely twelve an' there she stood in front o' me ready to fight. She barely even reached my knees at the time. I found it interesting how this wee one thought she had a chance at a fight. So I took her in with me. Sure she resisted and even bit me on the way 'ome but after a while she was as good as a daughter at my 'ome."
Jon had never heard of that story. In fact, he'd never heard of anything of Ygritte's family. He was sure to ask her about them once he returns to her after this. Mance's camp was now in the line of sight. The saw wildlings working and walking about. Some greeted Tormund jovially and sneered at Jon. All three men dismounted their horses and securely fastened them to a tree. They approached Mance's tent but Tormund made sure they stepped aside. In his tent, Mance was playing his lute while his very pregnant wife listened to his singing. Davos was about to interrupt but Tormund halted him and shook his head, signifying to let him finish the song. The song was as good as done anyway so the men patiently waited for Mance. Once the song finished Mance turned his attention to them.
"Tormund good t' see you're alive, Snow… What would be the reason for your visit?" Mance asked as he got to his feet and put his lute away.
"We're here to treat with you." Jon answered.
"You want peace? You want the fighting t' stop? Well you know the price for that Jon Snow. As long as that price is not met, the fighting will continue."
"And we're here to agree to that price." Jon announced.
Mance crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. Dalla was now listening intently. Mance was now intrigued.
"At my behest, King Stannis has allowed the Free Folk to pass through the wall and settle in The Gift. But there are certain conditions for said arrangement." Jon said.
"And what would those be?" Mance asked.
"You will no longer refer to yourself as the King Beyond the Wall and you and your people will accept Stannis as your true king. In exchange you will be granted Lordship and power over your people. You will abide by his laws and serve him as his subjects. And finally you will provide your armies in service of fighting to retake the North and to fight the White Walkers." Davos answered.
Mance thought it over for a while and even paced around his tent.
"And with this, me and my people can have safe passage down south?"
"Aye." Tormund answered.
"Alright, I'll agree, but under some conditions o' my own."
"And what would those be?" Jon asked.
"I don't want any lordship. In this new land, my people chose who gets to be their leader."
"As long as you all serve Stannis in the end you can chose your ruling lords." Davos interjected.
"And our spearwives stay in our armies."
"Done." Davos agreed.
"Then I will announce this to our people right away." Mance said.
Mance walked out of his tent with everybody following him out. Mance called out for the attention of all of the people.
"My friends, these men here have made us an offer to our people." Mance announced gesturing to Jon and Davos while Tormund stood by their side.
All the free folk were now listening intently.
"We will all be allowed past the wall and be settled on a land of our own. But we will have to accept the southerner's king as our own and his laws as well and we shall provide him with our loyalty and our armies, both men and spearwives. This means that we will give up most of our freedom to follow a king and then his son and then his son's son…"
Most of the free folks started murmuring and talking disgruntled.
"I know this is a hard sacrifice to make. But it is your choice to make we are free folk. And we choose our destiny. So you will choose, will you follow me past the wall into safety to a land of our own safe from the white walkers or stay here. Even with a king and his laws we will always be Free Folk, our customs will still stand no mater the sacrifices we shall make."
Many others of the free folk started murmuring and looking solemnly at each other. Mance gathered his few belongings and his wife and followed behind Jon, Davos, and Tormund. And many of the other free folk followed Mance. But a few, most of them Thenns, stayed behind. Everybody marched over to Castle Black. All the Free Folk passed through and entered through the gates of Castle Black. Stannis waited in the courtyard for Davos, Jon, and the so called King Beyond the Wall. Jon and Davos escorted Mance to meet Stannis.
"You must b' the King." Mance stated.
"And you, Mance Rayder. I see you have accepted the proposal."
"Aye, I 'ave."
"As a sign of your acceptance you must bend the knee before me…" Stannis insisted.
Mance grit his teeth and with a wounded pride, bent the knee, renouncing his title as King Beyond the Wall, and becoming the elected Lord of the Gift. Jon and Tormund led Mance and the people through the other side of the wall and led them to the Gift. Mance took it upon himself to help the Free Folk to settle and adjust to their new lifestyles. Tormund was about to stay with Mance but Jon went to him and said.
"Tormund, are you staying here with Mance?"
"Aye, where else would I b'? Tormund shrugged.
"Come with me and Ygritte. Winterfell needs a new Master at Arms, Ygritte trusts you and I trust you. And I think she'd like to have a friend who's as good as family with her in this new life."
Tormund thought it over and with a big hearty laugh he agreed as he patted Jon quite hard in the back. Tormund said goodbye to Mance and Dalla and set off with Jon back to Castle Black. Upon arriving at Castle Black, Jon was instructed to follow a brother inside the main hall. Inside, Stannis was gathered with Ser Alliser, Janos Slynt, and Maester Aemon. Once in front of all these men, Ser Alliser, who looked a bit in pain from his injury but still standing nonetheless started out.
"Well Lord Snow, It seems that the King has given an order to release you from your vows. From now on, you are no longer a brother of the Night's Watch. Thank the gods you're no longer going to be a pain in my ass."
"And from now on you will be known as Jon Snow no more. Now you are Jon Stark, rightful Lord of Winterfell." Stannis said handing Jon the official decree of his legitimation.
With that all the men left, except for Maester Aemon. The old man approached Jon Snow.
"Congratulations, Lord Stark. I pray to the gods for the very best."
Jon was a little thrown off by being addressed as Lord Stark. He figured to had to get used to it from now own.
"A curious little letter had arrived a few months ago at East Watch by the Sea. It was never forwarded to Castle Black because of current situations. But it arrived a few days ago here. It was addressed to the Lord Commander but after being read there isn't any major importance for us. But it might mean something for you."
Maester Aemon passed the letter on to Jon. He opened it and began reading.
'I, Robb of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and King of the North declare that my half brother, Jon Snow, as a legitimate Stark. I also declare Jon Stark as my heir and successor in the event that I fall during the war and have no son to succeed me.'
Jon felt a single tear fall from his cheek. He always thought he wasn't worth to live the life that was always meant for Robb. But Robb wanted him to carry on for him. He truly did want to carry on in his name. He always thought that he was telling himself that to lessen the guilty feeling he had, but now he was now holding the proof of what his brother wanted. He loved Robb, loved him with all his heart. And now his resolve to be the best Lord he can be in his memory.
