...

He was feeling nervous, if he was honest with himself, as he stood behind the multiple groups of recruits around him- His uncle at the front of them, eyeing them all with a steel gaze.

They'd all been called up to Castle Black's practice yard, this time mere days before their supposed first ranging beyond the wall.

The first time it had happened, he'd thought it a normal occurrence for the Lord Commander to cancel such a thing, but at the very least he had done it long before they'd even picked out which recruits would get to glimpse what lay beyond.

Surely, the reason for calling them all here this time, was simply to make sure they were prepared. Surely the man wouldn't delay it again, so close to the day.

The sound of crunching, caused his head to turn and land on one of the 'veterans' of the Night's Watch.

Eddison Tollett.

The most faithless man he'd ever met.

And the only one to laugh when the sky was set on fire, and they'd all been ceremoniously introduced to the blasphemous criminal currently running around Westeros.

Eddison had found it funny, quipping that with their luck the 'fucker' would be one of their brothers soon enough.

"Whatchu staring at Snow?" The man questioned him passively for a moment before, to Jon's embarrassment, he offered him what was left of the bone he'd been chewing on.

"Um." He blinked at the outstretched bone. "I am good Edd..."

"Huh." The man deadpanned before idly continuing to chew on said bone. "I know a few girls that used to say that to me," He paused for a moment. "Same face too."

"Right..." He remarked awkwardly before shifting on his feet as he turned back towards his uncle.

"You know what," The man continued, idly walking a few feet to stand beside him. "Ever since you joined, I haven't had to work half as hard."

His words were quickly drawing the other members of the watch towards him, causing him to lower his gaze the slightest and pretend he wasn't the man the paranoid steward was talking to.

"You're a good luck charm is what you are," The man remarked, patting him on the back. "I ought to stay by you from now on."

"...Uh..." He fumbled for the words before letting out a sigh. "Thanks, Edd."

He didn't need to turn his gaze to know the man was grinning at him with that disturbing smile of his, though he did notice his uncle now staring at him with amusement.

Everyone around him seemed to be somewhat amused for that matter, though that might've had something to do with the fact the Lord Commander had decided to finally walk out of his solar, a waddling Lannister behind him.

Ever since they'd received the letter detailing what had happened to the Queen, Tyrion Lannister had decided he ought to stick around for a while longer.

Everyone thought it was because he feared returning given his family was in danger and he was, well, a dwarf.

Edd had thought it was because the dwarf had taken it as a good sign to stick around, detailing his own strained relationship with his own Tollett sister.

He didn't believe either- Personally, he'd thought the Lannister felt more welcomed here, amongst thieves and criminals who wouldn't judge him for his status, but rather his coin.

When the sky was set on fire, Lannister had elected to delay his return even more.

That time he'd figured it was out of fear.

Even Edd had agreed with him, though the man had stopped spending any time near the Lannister out of fear of getting caught between the vengeful 'god' running around killing deities and royalty.

He'd never thought such a sentence would ever come out of his thoughts.

"Good, you're all here." The Lord Commander barked out to gain everyone's attention. "I have some bad news for all of you, I am afraid." The man started sternly, his words earning a grumble out of most of the recruits around him, all of them itching to experience the infamous lands beyond the wall- Even himself.

Hell, even those who'd been before looked annoyed, which he couldn't blame really. He figured anything was more exciting than the mundane daily chores they'd been saddled with.

Edd was, once again, the only one happy.

Still, to their credit, no one voiced their opinion.

"However, I assure you- You'll get your first journey as soon as Eddard Stark has made his way here."

His eyes widened at the words.

His father was coming here?

Even Benjen looked somewhat surprised, turning a slightly raised eyebrow towards their commander.

Of course, that time someone did make their opinion of the notion known. The words and voice immediately setting his blood cold-

"Stark?" Alliser Thorne barked out. "The Night's Watch does not care for southern politics- Why is Stark any different?"

Benjen much like himself, held their tongue back on the man- Only because the Lord Commander had spoken instead.

"And you know it's politics that brings him here do you?" Mormont remarked, crossing his arms. "I'd no idea you had access to my letters,"

Thorne wilted the slightest bit as all eyes turned towards him before he scoffed.

"What other reason would he have to visit? Unless he wants his bastard back beside him."

Silence fell over the crowd, as eyes subtly turned towards him.

Thankfully said silence didn't last too long as Tyrion Lannister of all people, broke it with a laugh. One that Mormont silenced with an annoyed look to the dwarf.

"I know not what Eddard Stark wants- Only that we delay our expedition until he arrives." The words turned the anger up on Thorne's face all the more. "And before you decide to parrot your words, do remember that the food you enjoy, the weapons you hold, and the armor you wear, without Stark's help we'd have less than half of it." Mormont rose himself up. "So if Eddard Starks asked of me to wait. That is the least we can do."

Gratitude and pride filled him at those words as he puffed his chest out a little bit more- An action his own uncle, despite clearly holding the urge back to, copied.

"...Well that is true, but only because my father would never consider opening his purse for this place." The Dwarf's words cut through the silence that temporarily filled once again. "Granted, I doubt Stark has us beat in the criminals you recruit." The quip managed to earn a snort out of even the Lord comm-

All of them immediately stiffened as they felt the sudden heat that swept all around them, before once again to their shocks, they watched the sky split open.

His mouth gaped even as the recruits around him started panicking.

"Old gods help us whose the cunt trying to kill this time!?" Eddison deadpanned beside him.

He barely heard him, nor the commotion that followed as he stared at the literal army that showed up in the flames in the sky-

Only for his gaze to find out why everyone was actually panicking.

"Is that..."

"Gods be good..."

He couldn't help but agree as he took in the dragon that was on the other side of said army.

As he took in the dragon whose head was currently been stepped on by who could only be Karma The Mad.

"Woops. I think everyone's watching us now- Now listen here you little shit-" His mouth couldn't help but open and close as the echoing words washed over him. As he took in the man literally holding his foot over a dragon's neck and bearing his face so dangerously close to the beasts mouth."You can either submit, or you can taste gravity again."

A single beat passed as absolutely no one said word- Though a handful of recruits had dropped their swords, all of them were frozen in pure fear.

All except Tyrion Lannister whose eyesight seemed to have made up for his deformity as he eloquently pointed out the Reach banners on one side.

"Well. Fathers going to be happy about something." A single beat passed. "The Tyrells are about to burn through their influence."

...The dwarf really could make fun of anything, he thought numbly.

Temporarily gazing at the dwarf, he found the man as enraptured as them though... For some reason, he looked excited about it.

Karma raised his gaze up towards them before he raised and pointed a finger towards the army on the side of the field of burning clouds.

"Stick around boys and girls- That over there is the Warrior come again- You may have read about him in the Seven Pointed Fuckwits, or just heard of him from a Septon while he was buggering you!"

"...Gold dragon on Karma." Eddison Tollett immediately deadpanned following the... The...

He couldn't really think of a word to describe that.

He just knew that Catelyn Stark might have finally found something to hate more than him.

On account of Edd Tollett however... "You don't have a gold dragon." He mindlessly whispered back, his gaze captured and held.

"I will if one of these dumb fucks accepts."

...

Hope You Enjoyed! Don't Forget Feedback!