Chapter 11. The Price of Peace

Eddard Stark

The King in the North Eddard Stark had been asked to come to the Castle Black by the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch on urgent business, along with all the Lords of the North. As a he approaches the castle a Raven watches from a tree. Ned as his closest friends often called him came to the castle with a hundred men. Gendry is with him as he wanted to see the wall.

When they arrive the Lord Commander along with the Commander of East Watch and Shadow Tower are present. They all bow to the King in the North. Eddard is wearing a silver crown with a wolf's head on it, it was in the vaults of Winterfell and had been worn by King Bennard Stark father of Torrhen Stark. Lords Umber, Glover, Bolton, and Lady Mormont are already present for the meeting.

"My friends please rise…"

"The King in the North…" Mormont says walking up to Eddard. The two men hug, then Mormont introduces Eddard to the other commanders. Afterwards he takes them to his solar and gives Eddard the letter from Mance Rayder.

Eddard looks at Mormont, "What do you think?"

"Mance is not a man given to tricks and intrigues to get what he wants…If he is asking for peace terms…I am open to listening to what he has to say…"

"It could be a trap. Don't trust the fucking Wildlings I say." Small Jon Umber says.

"The Northern Lords will not take kindly to this…" Lord Glover says.

"I have something else to show you…" He takes out the second letter that has been sent anonymously. The letter gives detailed instructions on how to deal with the Free Folk. Over the next few days the Northern Lords arrive. Wylis Manderly is sent to represent his house, his father is unable to make the journey. When everyone is gathered they all meet in the main hall. The sigils of each House are lined on the walls near where they sit. As expected many do not agree with the idea of making peace with the Wildlings.

Eddard Stark stands up raising his hands, "My friends! In two days we meet with the Free Folk. Let us hear what they have to say and let us see what they wish to show us before we jump to conclusions…" The two days come quickly and all those who were mentioned by name are taken to the meeting. When they arrive Mance is waiting with Tormund, Rattleshirt, Karsi, Mangar, and Mag Mar the Giant. Ned, Mormont, and the others that attend the parlay eye the Giant in wonder.

"My name is Mance Rayder and I would not stare to long…Giants are shy but they do not abide anyone staring at them for too long and they are easily angered…"

"Right…" Eddard says looking away, "…I am Eddard Stark…the…"

Mance interrupts him, "I know who are Eddard Stark. I visited Winterfell long ago the day I decided to leave the Night's Watch…You had just come home from war with the Usurper against the Targaryens and were celebrating Your son's second name day. Now King in the North…"

"I am honored…"

They sit opposite each other a few feet from the weir-tree by a huge fire. "So Mance…You called us to here…Why?" Mormont says.

"House Stark has a saying Winter is Coming!"

"Aye!" Ned responds.

"Aye…and with it the dead walk again, and them with blue eyes; the only way we survive the long night is together. The legends of old walk the land and they come for all of us…The Elders have agreed to make peace with the Night's Watch and all them that live south of the wall…For peace we are willing to man the castles of the wall and help fend off the enemy to all living…We want to buy the gift from the Night's Watch…The Free Folk will govern themselves and if any of us break any laws outside the gift the King in the North and his Lords are free to deal with that person as they see fit…We ask for the same consideration…Any man no matter his rank in life…If they break our laws on our lands he or she is ours to deal with as we see fit…"

"Buy the gift with what?" Qhorin asks.

"We have pooled the wealth of the Free Folk and will buy the gift at a fare price…"

"Why should we trust your word?" Benjen Stark asks.

"I will show you…" With a signal from Mance four men carry a crate and open it. From inside a Wight comes howling and screeching under the gag in its mouth.

"By the gods its true…"

Eddard Stark gets up and walks up to the creature, "Becareful my King." Lord Glover warns.

"How do you kill them?"

"Fire, Valyrian steel, or Dragonglass…Obsidian."

"Eddard looks at Mormont and he nods, "We must discuss this in private and will give you our answer in four days time…Is that acceptable?"

"Four days and no more…While you talk the days grow colder…"

"If we say no, what will you do?" Qhorin Half Hand asks.

"We will find another way to escape them with Blue Eyes…"

They mount their horses and ride back to castle in silence, heading straight to the main hall. He looks at Jon Stark, "Well lad what are your thoughts?"

"We are told about these things as children…Then to come face to face with it…I see no other choice, but to make peace with the Wil…I mean Free Folk…We also need to find Dragonglass wherever it may be…and make weapons out of it…"

"Your son has the right of it Your Grace…"

"Why should we make peace?" Roose Bolton asks speaking up. "The fuckers can't pass the wall…Let the Wildlings fend for themselves." His words cause an uproar and people start shouting back and forth.

"My Lords!" Jon screams getting everyone's attention, "For generations we have been killing Wildlings and they have been killing us…But I ask you…Did our ancestors really put up an eight hundred foot wall to keep people out? We call them Wildlings because they do not bend the knee or live as we do…But they are of the North and Winter is Coming for all of us. Can we afford to allow men women and children to die and become members of the Night King's Army?"

Slowly many of the Northern Lords and members of the Night's Watch agree with Jon. Then Alliser Thorn stands up, "We have been fighting the Wildlings for generations….If the King in the North grants us an army then we can hold out against anything they throw at us…Let the Wildlings fend for themselves…I say we sell them the Dragonglass…But we should not allow them south of the wall."

Some people like Roose Bolton, and a few members of the Night's Watch agree with Thorn. The final decision lies with the Lord Commander. "Ser Alliser…Perhaps if you had seen what we have you would change your mind…We will make peace with the Free Folk and allow them to buy the gift so long as they help us fight the White Walkers when they come…"

Those who disagree with the peace treaty can say nothing against the King and the Lord Commander. The four days pass and the Commanders of the Watch and the Lords of the North meet with Mance and his Elders. At the meeting Mormont asks Mance to show Alliser the Wight. Despite seeing the White Alliser secretly does not wish to make peace. A price for the gift is agreed upon and it is immediately paid. On the same day the peace terms are agreed upon the women, children, and the old are allowed through the wall.