He doesn't share his plan with his superiors right after they report their findings, as he doesn't want them to think of it as impulsive. Indeed, he takes a whole day to imagine its details, so he can bring as much information as possible to the table.

After breakfast, instead of going to the yards, he goes to Mallister's chambers. Fortunately, the man is only reading letters when he arrives. "Lord Mallister, if I may have a word," he says politely.

His submissive tone seems to satisfy him, for he easily lets him in. "What is the subject of such an early visit, Lord Tywin?" he asks. "Was there anything missing from Ser Endrew's report?"

"No, there wasn't," he replies, sitting on a vacant chair in front of the commander, "but I'd like to talk about our findings, indeed. As Ser Endrew reported, a medium-sized group of wildlings have settled near the Giant's Stairs. He is fairly sure they intend to cross the Wall, as he said in the meeting."

"Indeed, he said it," Mallister agrees.

"I asked Ser Endrew if we were going to go back there soon to attack them before they crossed, and he said no. He explained to me it would be better to wait for them to cross then fight those who do. However, as new as I am to all of this, I disagree, and I've come here to propose another strategy."

Mallister doesn't reply right away, taking his time studying him. Finally, he says, "Tell me what you think we should do. You are new here, yes, but I gather you are an experienced battle commander."

"I am," he agrees. "Well, the fault I found in Ser Endrew's plan is that, from what I've gathered about the Night's Watch, we should prevent crossings, not just stop them when they are already happening. This strategy is not effective anywhere."

"So you want to push them away before they come closer to the Wall?"

To be honest, that thought hadn't even crossed Tywin's mind. "From what little we saw of them, I fear it won't be enough. We'd only delay the inevitable. No, my lord, my idea is to eliminate them before they stir trouble."

Mallister raises his eyebrow. "Your suggestion is to kill them while they are still in their camp." It isn't a question, but he nods anyway. "Well, Lord Tywin, while I try to take all ideas into consideration… this is a strategy we try to avoid. Ser Endrew reported the presence of women and children. While we do catch and execute women—spearwives, as they call themselves—they are not even half of our prisoners." He sighs. "Most wildlings live and die beyond the Wall, sometimes not even seeing the Wall up close. It is not fair to deny them their lives because of a handful who try to escape. It isn't honorable."

And there is the word: honorable. Tywin knows, from that word alone, there will be no further discussions. "I apologize for my suggestion, then, my lord," he says. "I'll go back to the yards."

He finds Qhorin Halfhand training with other crows, and he offers to spar. As they duel, he says, "Is it protocol to wait for wildlings to cross the Wall to attack them?"

"Yes," he confirms. "At least here in Shadow Tower. I cannot speak for Castle Black and Eastwatch-by-the-sea. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering how effective such a strategy is, and if it wouldn't be better if we prevented crossings instead of just stopping them."

At that Halfhand blocks his blow and holds him in place. "I can guess what you're thinking," he says, "and I'm saying it already: no." He retreats, putting his sword back on his belt. "Don't even mention it to Mallister."

"Noted," he says politely.

He doesn't mention his idea to anyone else for the rest of the day. He observes the other black brothers instead, trying to guess which ones will support his plan. He's seen what honor leads someone, and it's nowhere he wants to go. Someone in Mallister's position should be practical, not honorable. If they eliminate that entire group, not only there won't be any need to wait for them to reach the Wall, word of it will spread to the other wildlings, and they will think twice before coming near them again.

Shadow Tower already faces problems due to the wide openings the wildlings have to escape—the abandoned Westwatch and the entire Bay of Ice, uncovered by the Wall. They should not make their lives even harder by waiting for trouble to come in their direction.


A week goes by before he decides to approach Shadow Tower's third-in-command. While Blane seems to follow Mallister's and Qhorin's ideas, he also seems to be much more open-minded. As such, when he gets a moment between the two of them, he says more or less the same words he used with the other two.

"It's a risky plan," Blane says when he's finished. "I'm not comfortable with killing women and children. If you have leave to go, you should pick someone else to go with you."

He assumes Mallister and Qhorin approve, he realizes, and does not correct the man. Instead, he thanks for the advice and leaves to reflect on who to call.

Begrudgingly, he picks Eugene and Edric, as they are the most ruthless among those who went with him the first time. He tells them their mission, although sanctioned by their commanders, is meant to be conducted discreetly due to its controversial nature. If we succeed, it won't matter whether I had Mallister's or Qhorin's approval or not.

Other five men are picked by either Tywin or his companions. Part of him feels he's lowering himself by working with all these commoners, but life taught him to see value in the humblest of servants when they were of use, so he endures.

A fortnight after his trip to the Giant's Stairs, they march back there in the dark of the night. No reports of crossing attempts have reached them from the Frozen Shore, nor from Bear Island, but that means nothing. For all they know, the wildlings are biding their time, waiting for the Night's Watch to forget about them before they take action.

If everything goes according to plan, they'll never get the chance.

The full moon is bright enough that they don't need torches to climb the Stairs. Edric tries to light one up when they all reach the top, but Tywin quietly tells him not to. "We'll draw attention to ourselves," he explains, a bit exasperated—in his defense, he should not have to teach that to the man at all. It is obvious.

Step by step, they reach the settlement. He can see two big bonfires in the distance. "We'll light up our torches there," he tells the others, "with those flames, then we'll throw them at the tents." It is not the first time he explains the plan to them, but, given Edric's attempt a few moments ago, he wants to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Each one of them carries two torches on their backs—sixteen in total. All wildlings seem to be either sleeping or fucking, so nobody comes out of any tent at their approach. Perfect.


They run from the settlement as soon as the screams begin. Despite their hurry, they are still careful when they go down the Stairs; it won't do to leave dead rangers behind.

The moon is still high up when they return. Tywin reminds them of their need for secrecy. "I will personally report to Mallister in the morning," he declares, fully aware he won't do such a thing. Not before he and the others realize the good he's done for the Night's Watch.


Another fortnight goes by. Surprisingly, their secret mission remains as such; the men only comment that night amongst themselves, in whispers no one else can hear. Tywin even puts up a show of kinship so they won't betray his trust.

However, when Mance, Blane and Dalbridge come back from a visit to Westwatch, he is summoned to Mallister's office and is met with the commander, Qhorin and the three rangers.

"There was a small camp of wildlings by the Wall when we reached Westwatch," Mance says when he asks the reason behind his summoning. "They were not trying to cross; they were waiting for 'crows' to show up, because they wanted to have it out with us."

At Mance's side, Mallister sends him a stern glare. "A month ago, you came to me with an idea to deal with the wildling settlement at the Giant's Stairs. I listened, and I advised you against it. You asked Qhorin and Blane about it, likely hoping for a different answer, and got no support from either of them. And still you went along with it."

"We found survivors of a very much provoked fire," Blane adds. "They were rightfully furious, because never before had the Night's Watch attacked innocents this way, for all the animosity between us."

Tywin clicks his tongue. "Yes, I took matters into my own hands—"

"You disobeyed your superiors, you mean," Dalbridge mumbles.

"—but you left me with no choice. Lord Mallister, I understood your hesitance, but if there is anything life has taught me is that honor cannot come before reason or practicality."

Mallister lets out a mirthless laugh. "'If there is anything life has taught you', you say. If by 'life' you mean how you dealt with your father's vassals years ago, then I suppose that is the kind of lesson you'd learn."

He stands up and paces around the table, although he looks oddly calm. "I was still in Seagard when I heard about Castamere and Tarbeck Hall. Your reputation precedes you, Lannister, and perhaps I should have foreseen your contempt with my veto on your plans. I suppose I thought you had learned the importance of hierarchy in your time before the Night's Watch and would respect when I told you 'no'. Clearly, I was wrong.

"You mistake me—us—for the Starks, don't you? All 'bloody honor' and no sense. In that case, I have bad news for you: the Night's Watch is far from honorable. We are full of criminals, as you should know since you are one yourself, sent here for treason against the Crown. We often have to face hard choices, with no honorable path to follow. Still, we try to be marginally decent, and avoiding excessive killings is part of it.

"But, as honor and morality are beneath you—since you are oh so practical—let me explain all the faults in your plan, Lord Tywin. Unlike with Houses Reyne and Tarbeck, you left survivors to tell the story. Perhaps this was on purpose, because you wanted word of the incident to spread. You wanted the rest of the wildlings to know the Night's Watch wouldn't cower before them, or whatever else you think about our approach. However, you underestimate the intelligence of the Free Folk. Mance, care to explain to our brother how his plan was doomed to fail?"

Mance nods and sighs. "For centuries, the Free Folk has defied the Night's Watch by crossing the Wall. Even though we push most of them back, every year a handful of them escape right under our noses. They are smart; always picking up routes we don't know or don't care to watch over. If word is spread that the Night's Watch now burn settlements in the dark of the night, they will simply change their strategy to something even harder for us to track."

He blinks. He hadn't thought of that possibility, truth be told. Qhorin raises his eyebrows. "The Great Lion of Lannister did not think of all possible outcomes, huh. It does not surprise any of us, and do you know why? Because that's exactly what happens when you act out of pride and arrogance."

"Which is why you will no longer be a ranger," Mallister adds, announcing his punishment. "You'll be a builder. You won't ever work alone, and you'll spend most of your time in the lower levels, fixing the Wall's structure. But this will be after your imprisonment ends."

"My imprisonment?"

"Of course. You'll spend two months in the ice cells before assuming your new post. Also, any and all letters you receive from the South throughout the next year will be kept from you, unless they inform you of the death of someone in your family. Do you have any questions?"

He takes a deep breath to compose himself. "No, my lord," he replies sternly.

"Good. Qhorin and Blane, would you please escort him to his cell?"

The second and third-in-command stand up and grab him by one arm each. He does not protest as he is taken to the dungeons and placed inside a cold cell literally made of ice. There are no windows and no one for company, and he suspects this will be his life from now on, even after he leaves prison.