A.N. I hate that I have to say this, as it seems like common knowledge to me, but if you don't like a story...DON'T READ IT! It really is that simple. Going into the comments and cussing out the author for liking a character you don't is not the flex you think it is. Especially when that author couldn't care less what your opinion is, and think the time you took on said comment reflects more poorly on you than on their story.
Now, that being, to the rest of you who enjoy my story...or are at least just giving it a try to see if it turns into something you like, thank you, and I hope you enjoy the rest of it.
He stood, casually leaning against the Heart Tree nearest to Castle Black. The last year had been a very productive one, and he just hoped King Crow had send back someone who would be willing to cooperate. He would hate to think that he had put so much blood, sweat, time, and effort into getting the free folk to agree to his plan, only for some kneeler to blow the whole thing up.
He heard the snow crunching under a set of boots, and looked up to see an almost familiar looking face. For a moment, he almost thought he was looking at the King Crow himself, but the closer the man got, the more he realized just how wrong he'd been. The build of this man alone was enough to show him his mistake. "Not what you was expecting, aye?"
The man shook his head a bit, before approaching him, "I must admit, when Jon told me he would send someone to help me, I had not pictured it to be a wildling. Though now the choice of meeting place makes more sense."
"Not the first time anyone's wished the King Crow spoke a bit more." Tormund spoke with a grin. "Now, down to business, I'm assumin the Crow told you what was comin?"
"Aye, told me it was important to bring your people south of the wall. Spent the last year getting my lords and the brothers of the Nights Watch to agree to let it happen. Your people will be settled on the Gift, and pay taxes to the Nights Watch in way grain as well as gold." And Lord Stark proceeded on to explain the finer details of the agreement.
"Just like the King Crow did last time, don't like it much, but at least you're bein fair as he was." He was relieved to see that not much had been changed from the last time around. Just like Jon had, Lord Stark said the wildlings would fill the empty keeps and holdfasts. They would also be held to the laws of the south when it came to rape and kidnapping. The kneelers would respect their customs, but they must respect those of the kneelers in return. The part that he didn't like was that if the Warden of the North called his banners they would all have to respond, but this was a small price to pay given how many would be saved by being south of the wall.
"There are two more conditions, and they are ones I myself have designed." He felt his blood run cold, "The first the second son of every wildling be made to join the Watch."
"Absolutely not!" He felt the anger rise in him, "That lot of backstabbers will never have any of us in their ranks. You may be blind to what they have become, but I saw first hand what a sorry lot that was. I mourned the King Crow when they murdered him. Only time I was ever thankful for that blasted red witch." He saw the other man pale, and gave a sinister grin, "The little Crow didn't tell you that one did he. Didn't tell you that but did he? That his so called brothers planted knives in him, all because he let us free folk through the wall to keep us from being added to the Night King's army. Would be the utmost betrayal to the King Crow for me to force any of my people to join the fucking watch."
"We will help you man your castles as we did for him, but none of us will wear black. If that means we all return to the frozen lands north of the wall after the Long Night is defeated then so be it." He didn't know how he would sell not being allowed to stay south to his people, as they had only agreed to this plan because it offered them a better chance at survival. Resources were scarce North of the wall, and many had been buried because of starvation or because they froze to death. The thought of burying less and less loved ones is what sold the people on the idea of at least trying to treat with the South for a chance to pass through the wall.
"No, that won't be necessary, I can agree to your people helping to man the castles." Lord stark was quick to compromise, and the dark look that took up residence in the man's eyes only made him respect him more. "The next condition is that some of your leaders unite the wildlings and the North through marriage. I have a list of lords willing to offer a son in marriage..."
"Not the lord themself or an heir I'd wager." He scoffed, but knew there was little he could do about that.
"I do have one Lord...well Lady actually, who has agreed to marry, but it must be one of the leaders, and the clan must settle on her lands and be loyal to the North." Tormund hoped he knew who Lord Stark was talking about, for if he was, it would make planting his cub in the woman's belly much easier this time around than it had been last time
It had taken some doing, but eventually he got the free folk to agree to the final terms without the threat of the Others. It had taken some time getting everyone settled, and setting up plans for repairing and rebuilding the holdfasts.
The marriages went along way to tying the two people together. The brother of a Lord Umber had married the leader of the spearwife tribe. Lord Karstark's sister married the head of one of the many tribes. Many brother sisters and cousins married when the free folk came through, and even some betrothals were made for younger members of the houses. Lord Stark himself had mad an agreement with him that his first daughter would marry one of the Stark's younger sons. He would be pleased to see his little she cub married to one of the man's children...but only if they could keep the tree fucker away from the older one and keep the younger one alive.
They had decided to start with the oldest ones to get them inhabitable. The giants made quick work of this, over 100 of them being saved. Their mammoths also helped with hauling supplies, making the whole process go that much quicker. Seeing the work the giants and mammoths had done, Lord Stark commissioned them to repair the rest of the long abandoned keeps in the so called North. These would be given to people who earned them, and/or kneeler and free folk who married each other.
They were able to introduce some of the crops that did well North if the Wall, and were surprised to find how much better they grew in the warmer climate. They had been hesitant when Lord Stark had started talking about opening trade with the southern kingdoms, just as the southern kingdoms were leery of trading with them. However within a couple of years trade was thriving, and so were the rest of the free folk.
The best part was when he found out the She Bear of Bear Island had agreed to take a husband from the free folk. He jumped at this opportunity, knowing it was the only way to be sure his little she bear was conceived.
He didn't care so much about being a "lord", but he did have to admit there were some advantages of tying his people to house Mormont. One of the biggest being the chance to learn battle strategy. The free folk had never really had much strategy when it came to battle, always just attacking what was in front of them, and trying to get through on brute force.
Mance was great at uniting the people, but was not as good of a battle commander. Jon had the makings of a good commander in the past life, but was still quite young and had had a lot to learn and no one to teach him. His true strength was in gaining the respect of the people who followed him. Even the Dragon Queen's men, had been eventually won over by the lad.
Having met the man that raised him, he could see where that quality had stemmed from. The Warden of the North had been a staunch presence in all the villages, making sure the people didn't freeze or starve. More than once he or Lady Stark had shown up with either their Maester, or one from one of the neighboring holdfasts to help assist with someone who had been ailing. In return, their healers had gone to neighboring lands to assist the Maesters when they struggled.
The fact that the couple always had the older children with them, was also well liked by the people. It showed a level of trust they hadn't expected from the so called Northerners. Watching Little Sansa also was a stark reminder of why it was illegal to steal the southern women, and something that pulled at the protective instincts of many of the free folk. The women of the free folk would fight back if the attention wasn't wanted, while he wasn't sure little Sansa would survive the trauma.
The same could not be said for her older counter part...now she was a force to be reckoned with, and he personally hoped she was one the King Crow chose to send back. Had that woman been stolen, she would have returned leading that particular tribe. What's more, they would have thought it their idea to put her in charge. Seeing her as she was right now, it made him hope he got to be a part in killing the ones responsible.
Watching the younger Jon, it was easy to see the man he would grow into in the making. The boy was quiet, and often shy, with features often mistaken for being brooding. He also was one of the more serious children he'd ever seen. He was well liked by all the free folk, often seen playing with the little children, or helping the older learn to fight. He was also willing to learn their ways of fighting, and many looked forward to seeing the great warrior he had already seen him become.
Another real surprise had been the little man. From what he had gathered in the past, the man had not been close to the family, so this was obviously a new development, and one he had been excited for, and there were few who could drink him under the table. When he had first seen how young he was, he feared he hadn't built up his tolerance to drinking. He was pleasant surprised to find the man was just a natural at it, and could drink any man under the table, which earned him respect from free folk and kneelers alike.
The last couple of years had been interesting, but he hoped to enjoy some peace before chaos reigned.
A.N. So I personally like Tyrion and Sansa as a pairing, but wanted to see if anyone had other ideas for pairings for each of them.