They burned the corpses of all those who had fallen, black brothers and wildlings alike. Brian set the torch to Ygritte himself. He didn't like doing it, but he knew if he didn't, she might become a wight.
Next to Brian, Stewie sat in his wheelchair. "Brian, I'm so sorry," he said. "Was that woman… was Ygritte… a friend of yours?"
Brian smiled sadly. "You could say that." He didn't know which of his brothers had shot her, and he didn't want to.
Afterward, Brian went to try to get some sleep. But he was woken up in the middle of the night. Four men he did not know were standing over him. "Brian Griffin," the tallest of them said brusquely, "pull on your boots and come with us."
Brian rubbed his eyes. "Come where? Who are you?"
"We're from Eastwatch," the leader said. "Just come!"
Brian got out of bed and followed them upstairs to Mormont's old office. Alliser Thorne and Janos Slynt were sitting at a table. Steve was sitting on the other side. The Eastwatch men made Brian sit down next to Steve.
"Ah, here's the turncloak at last," said Thorne.
"What?" said Brian.
Janos Slynt spoke. "Brian Griffin, Steve Smith, you've been charged with oathbreakin', cowardice and desertion!"
"Huh? We didn't do any of that stuff!" Steve protested.
"Yeah," said Brian.
Slynt pointed at Brian. "Durin' the battle, we captured a wildling named Tormund Giantsbane. He said you betrayed the Watch and tried to join the wildlings!"
"They don't like being called wildlings," Brian said reflexively. "They're the free folk."
"You see?" Slynt said to Thorne. "He's gone native!"
"Look," Brian tried to explain. "It's true that I joined up with Mance Radar, but it was just to spy on him. I was acting on Qhorin Halfhand's orders."
"An' I suppose the Halfhand also told you to kill him?" said Thorne. "Tormund told us you did that too."
"Yes! Qhorin said I should do whatever they asked of me!"
"Why am I here?" Steve piped up. "I wasn't with Brian for any of that!"
"No, but you did bring a wildling girl here," said Slynt.
Steve gaped. "You know about Gilly?"
"That's right. I found her hidin' in that storage room."
"Well, I only brought her here to protect her from the mutineers who killed her father. If I'd left her behind, they might have killed her too, or raped her! And her son… he's a newborn baby! I had to keep them safe, didn't I?"
"You foreswore yourself by bringin' this girl here," said Thorne. "We're supposed to be at war with the wildlings."
"The free folk aren't our true enemies!" Brian shouted. "The White Walkers are! That's the only reason they wanna get through the Wall, to get away from the White Walkers! Mance told me that!"
"Funny you should mention Mance," said Thorne. "He's still just on the other side of the Wall. He sent us a message sayin' he wants to see you. Well, not you specifically, just anyone from the Watch. But we're sendin' the two of you. Givin' you two slugs one last chance to prove your loyalty."
"So, you just want us to go talk to him?" said Steve.
Slynt smiled. "No. We want you to kill him."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Jeff Fisher came down to Tyrion's cell that morning. "Mr. L? I'm supposed to escort you to court."
"Jeff, you believe I'm innocent, don't you?" Tyrion demanded desperately.
Jeff hesitated. "I don't know, man. I mean, if you didn't do it, who did?"
Tyrion sighed. "That's the million-dragon question, isn't it? Never mind, Jeff. You've been a good squire to me. Better than I deserved. Whatever happens, I thank you for your loyal service."
Jeff brought Tyrion to the courtroom. No sooner had he taken his place before the judges than a group of gold cloaks led in…. Shae!
