Chapter 27: First Camp
Harold Hardyng POV
He began to wake up with a great headache, not understanding where he was or what had happened. When he looked around, he realized that he was in a room on a large bed, while the lords who supported him were standing. Rising with difficulty, to sit up, Harrold asked, "What happened?"
"You were poisoned with a poison, that makes you lose consciousness. You've been in bed for three days."
Harold, put his hand on his head, recalling, that he challenged Ser Vardis for the Throne of Vale, and having won. Then he lost consciousness before falling to the ground. But when he remembered that, Harrold also remembered why he was leaving the Great Hall and turning to Royce, he asked, "Where's Baelish?"
"He escaped, the damn man. And we don't know where to look for him," Royce replied with his usual tone and expression.
Harold sighed, and said, "Then there's no time to rest," as he was about to get up. He just got what he wanted, and he certainly won't lose it. And now that Baelish is out there somewhere he must crown himself as soon as possible and above all secure the throne with a good wife. That damn man will surely plot against him in the near future.
"I want the coronation to take place within a week from today, and all the Lords of the Vale and their children must be present."
" Of course, your grace," replied Royce.
"Lord Royce, I would like you to become the new Hand of the King, now that Baelish escaped."
"You honor me," Royce said, and Harrold knew that this was what Royce had always wanted, but that Baelish's influence on Lysa Arryn stopped him.
"I'm not done. If I'm not mistaken, you have a daughter, not yet married, if I am not mistaken," Royce said.
"You want to marry my daughter, Ysilla?" asked Royce and Harrold could hear the surprise in his tone.
"Yes. If she is not already promised to someone else and certain with your consent," said Harrold. He knew how to play his cards with the lords of the valley and especially with Lord Royce. If he makes his daughter the future queen, and give him the maximum charge, Royce will be faithful to him forever. And if he is loyal, the other lords are loyal, since they respected Royce and his honor.
If the Lords are loyal, the army will be loyal, and Royce had more than 7,000 men among them. And a united Valley has more chances to resist King Tywin. But he will also have to think about how to kill the Tully's bastard and the bitch.
"You have my consent. And she will come for your coronation so you can get to know each other better," Royce said.
"Thank you, my lord. After my coronation we will prepare the defense of this kingdom," said Harrold, approaching the window and looking outside. From the Eyre, it could be seen almost all the Vale, despite this being the smallest castle. And now it was all his. His kingdom.
A week later...
Harrold was in the great garden, preparing himself mentally for the coronation, savoring the fresh air of the morning and the smell of the flowers that were in the garden. He was not a romantic man or one who loves flowers, but what was here was pleasant. But what he loved most was power. And in a few hours, he will have it completely.
"Anxious for the coronation, Your Grace," he heard a beautiful woman's voice ask from behind him.
Turning around Harrold saw a young girl, of average height, with wide light gray eyes and long brown hair which falls into waves.
"Yes, or maybe a little. Take a seat, my lady," replied Harrold, patting the spot of the bench next to him. Now he had to play his cards, and use all his charm in this.
"I suppose you are Lady Ysilla, Lord Royce's daughter," said Harrold, with his more charming smile, and look, after some silence.
"Yes," she replied, turning to him on the spot. Harrold couldn't help but deny the beauty of this girl. There were a lot more beautiful girls in the kingdom, but they didn't have a name or a powerful father.
"Yes, and I know what you want from me," she replied.
"A, you know?" asked Harrold, trying to sound surprised.
"Yes. Marriage."
"So what's your answer on that?" he asked.
"I accept. I always wanted to marry a king or a great lord, and my father told me a lot about you. About your honor, your goodness, and your honesty. Not to mention your courage in battle and in duels." responded Ysilla, and then adding with a smirk, "Especially with the lance." And Harrold didn't understand if it was a jock, or she was referring to something else. But he didn't want to embarrass her with something bad.
But Harrold was holding back all the laughters that were coming, regarding how she described him at the beginning. What a naive girl. To believe all those stories about him that were mostly not true, and except for the duels, battles, and his manhood, all the other things were lies. But if this earned him points, and he kept her good, who was he to destroy the idea that she made of him.
" Good. I'll make of you my queen within a month from today." Said Harrold, leaning toward her, and looking her in the eyes he said, "Can I kiss you?"
She didn't answer and Harrold took her silence as a yes, but when his lips were a few inches from Ysilla's, she stopped him, putting a finger over his lips, and said, "I agreed to the marriages, and you told me that it will happen within a month. This gives us a month to get to know each other better, and if I want to, I will allow you to kiss me." Standing up, she bowed and said "your grace." Then left the garden, leaving a Harrold speechless and unsure of what just happened.
But shaking his head he headed toward his room to start preparing himself.
Harrold was kneeling in front of Septon Robeson while he was saying the coronation prayer. Harrold did not listen too much, as he was immersed in his own thoughts, but he recovered from his thoughts when he heard the end of the prayer approach.
"May the Warrior grant him courage and protect him in these perilous times.
May the Smith grant him strength that he might bear this heavy burden And may the Crone, she knows that the fate of all men, show him the path he must walk and guide him through the dark places that lie ahead."
"In the light of the Seven, I now proclaim Harrold of the House Hardyng, Waynwood, and Arryn, First of His Name, King of the Kingdom of Mountain and Vale".
"Long may he reign!" Shouted the Septon.
And when Harrold stood up, turning toward the present in the room, Harold heard them shout, "Long may he reign!"
And Harrold sat on the Throne of the Arryns, a seat carved of Weirwood. From this moment his reign has begun, and let him be damned if he will lose it. He will keep his throne at any cost no matter the price to pay.
Tywin Lannister POV
Tywin was in his studio reading the scroll that his son, Jaime sends him. And also the sellsword commander.
He heard knocking at the door, "Come in!" and saw his son Tyrion and his nephew Gerion coming in. Tywin had sent for them to inform them of the latest events. He saw that Gerion was not in a good mood and was certainly angry with him because of what happened on his wedding night and because the lords were present. But it had been almost a month since then, it was time to clear this up and put him back in line.
"What news father?" asked Tyrion, putting himself some wine in a goblet, and then offering one to Gerion, who refused and to him, who also refused. Tywin didn't want to drink. He had to remain clear, especially now that the invasions to expand his kingdom have begun.
"Jaime has conquered Goldengrove, Lord Rowan has knelt to our House, making the oath, and Jaime is now marching on Highgarden. The loyalists of House Tyrell, are amassing their armies in the capital, and Lord Tarly is marching on Highgarden with 10 thousand men."
Tyrion was sipping from his cup as he listened, and Tywin heard Gerion ask, "What assures you that your new allies of the Reach will not betray you by luring my father into a trap."
"Nothing is assured, Gerion. When you are King you don't trust anyone, and certainly not the power-hungry and treacherous lords. Because they betray the Tyrells today, but as you said, tomorrow they might betray us," Tywin replied.
" Is there any other news, Father, about which you want to let us know?" Tyrion asked, finishing the goblet and putting in some more.
"Yes," said Tywin irritated by the behavior of his son, who was drunk instead of being focused. "The sellswords that I hired, took the Shield Islands and captured all the watchtowers. Our army has set sail for the Reach and will march on Highgarden from the east when it lands here. And he put his finger on the map. "My sources have also informed me that before being deposed, Doran Martell allied himself with Khal Drogo by giving him his daughter Arianne as his wife, but the Khal wants Daenerys Targaryen. And he promised him that too."
"And what good is that for us, Father? It's another army against us," Tyrion asked while sipping from his goblet.
"When the Khal lands in Dorne, you're going to deal with him. In exchange for his help in conquering the North, we will help him take Daenerys Targaryen," Tywin said, and Tyrion spat out the wine he had in his mouth, almost suffocating.
Coughing a bit and recovering, his son said, "Do you want to send me to deal with the Dothraki, Father?"
" Yes. I don't see what's wrong with that. You're the king's hand after all, and if I'm not mistaken, you and the Dotrackis have a lot in common."
"But father ... first thing I do not know the Dothraki ... and second, if you want me dead there are other ways, instead of sending me to the butchers?"
"Enough!" shouted Tywin irritated, "You'll do as I command you." And Tyrion got a little grumpy, crossing his arms.
"The Vale has rebelled against Lysa Arryn, and now Harrold Hardyng holds the power," Tywin said.
"Then this is a great problem," said Gerion.
"No," Tywin replied looking toward Gerion, "The boy is an arrogant brat. He will fall as soon as he sees our army. And I have allies in that regard." They just nodded, and Tywin turning to his son, said, "You can go now. I need to talk to Gerion in private."
When Tyrion left the room in an angry state, Tywin got up, took some wine, and also gave a goblet to Gerion, who shook his head.
"Drink!" Tywin said firmly. And he drank, while Tywin was leaning against the table.
After some time, when he observed Gerion, Tywin said, "How are things with Myrcella?"
"How could they go, Your Grace? She is still shocked by what happened on the night of our marriages," replied Gerion, irritated and putting the goblet back on the table.
"I did it for your sake and for the sake of the kingdom," replied Tywin sipping from his cup.
"It was not for my sake. That's for sure. But she was also your niece, how could you do that?"
"For the sake of the kingdom. When you are King, you will realize that there are certain things you have to do that you will not like but you have to do them. That is the duty of all the kings and the queens. But I did it so the Lords will know and will be sure that the child is yours. Because I'm sure she is pregnant already, by how she was moaning that night."
Gerion did not answer, clearly irritated, but he stood up from the chair and said, "With your permission, I will retire."
" Accompany your mother to Castamere, and spend some time there with your wife," said Tywin, despite not liking the idea. But he knows they would need to bond more, and Myrcella will need more time away from the Capital. It was the same way what happened with Ellyn. Gerion nodded, and left, with and even angrier mod that the one with which he entered.
Tywin sighed, getting back on his chair, and starting to read the scrolls that some Lords have sent him.
Jon POV
Jon and his men approached the first camp of the wildlings and once they were on the snowy hill he saw it. A large field, in a snowy valley, full of tents, and people who worked and ran.
"This is the first camp, boy. It' s full, of women and children, or rather of those who are not able to fight. But there are still clans there, and people who know how to wield a spike. Perhaps they are the weakest, but there are. "
In the distance, over the other hill, he saw how the sky was darkening, and how the storm was approaching.
"It's him," said Mance looking towards the clouds. "The storm always precedes their arrival. And they are moving divided. Or rather, he moves all his dead, but sends out groups from time to time, to find out if there are still living creatures people here. But the dead bodies exceed the bodies of the livings. He builds his army in these 8,000 years, reviving every body that had fallen. They roam around the north, back and forth from the Land of Always Winter. The tales say that he has an Icy Castle there."
Jon was thinking about what Mance said, and more he heard about this... White Walkers, more he is fearing them. Swallowing, Jon asked, "How many groups have you faced?"
"I haven't counted them. But I didn't kill any White Walkers. I just slowed them down by killing the dead with the fire." Jon nodded, and they resumed the ride towards the camp, "We should search for one of those groups and capture a dead man."
"I know. But you don't have to search for them. They'll find you," Mance said.
Jon didn't answer, and he kept riding.
As they approached the camp, Jon saw how the wildlings were quickly taking their weapons into their hands as the children were running away. Jon's company was made of about fifty men, so it was normal for the wildings to see them as a treat.
Jon put his hand on his knife because Ice was out of his reach at this moment. But he was confident that they would not attack him.
When he arrived at the main tent, Jon saw that there were some old and young men and women, and Mance and Tormund, getting off their horses.
Mance immediately approached and clapped the forearms with one of the leaders. But when their eyes fell on them who just climbed down from the horse, the Wildings leader immediately drew their swords out and grabbed their spears ready to attack. So did his men, with Arthur, Viserys, and Benjen in front of him. Mance and Tormund immediately got in the middle to stop any bloodshed that would have probably started immediately.
"The King of the North is here to deal," said Mance, "Maybe you'd better listen to him before you kill him, what do you say?"
The wildlings looked at each other for a while, and calming down, they went back into the big tent.
"Let's get in," said Mance, and they followed him in.
Inside there was a group of old people, some women, and even some children. And this did not seem like the tent of command.
" So Mance. The largest army we have ever seen in the North broken by a boy. It doesn't bring you shame to be defeated by a southern boy," asked a tall man with scars on his face.
"You were not there that night, Styr. You don't know what happened," Mance said as he approached him.
"No, I wasn't there. If I were, the brat over there would be dead," said the man
"Well, you were too much of a coward to attack. I give you the order to climb the wall and attack from the Southern part and yet you didn't , because you were afraid. Anyway, he wasn't the one who destroyed our army," Mance said, and Jon felt like things were going to heat up. "It was him," Mance said, pointing his finger at Robb. "He smashed our army. Defended the walls, and killed Mag the Mighty."
Everyone who was in the tent began to whisper between themselves when Mance mentioned the Giant that Robb killed.
"So if he did all this, why is the brat with the curly-raven hair coming to deal with us?" asked the man, Styr.
"Because I'm the King of the North," said Jon, coming forward, tired of all this bullshit, and approached Styr very closely. The man was much taller than him and even bigger. But Jon was ready. If he attacked him, he would stick the knife he had in his hand into Styr skull, and that the coat he was wearing was covering it. "I am the one you will have to deal with. Robb is the commander of my armies."
"So you're a coward. And the Free Folk doesn't follow the cowards," Styr said, and he almost had a smirk on his lips.
"I'm not here to fight you, but to save you. We both know what's coming against us, and if you want to survive its time to put this hatred behind us." Said Jon, moving away from Styr, and speaking to the others.
"Aren't you tired of fighting among yourselves? Of fighting against us? To attack the wall unnecessarily? The blood of the first men flows in my veins as well as in you. It is time to unite the whole North against its enemies, against the ones who want to destroy us. Alive and undead."
As they were arguing with each other, Jon said, "I know that almost most of those here are not fighters and are children. So I ask you, isn't their survival more important than your pride?" and the leaders started talking to each other again to find a decision.
"Where's Loboda?" Mance asked Styr.
"Hardhome, with half the Thenns clan. They attacked East Watch, but it was a bloodbath. Ten dead giants and nearly two thousand men, maybe more," Styr said. Apparently his men have successfully defended the wall, thought Jon.
"The Giants?"
"Not far from East Watch, but they were stuck in a storm. The two camps are isolated now, there's no way to get to them. Maybe to Hardhom from the sea, if you have ships, but the Giants are Doomed," Styr said.
"They're not. There's still hope," said Jon, and Styr looking toward him replied, "Who the fuck talked to you, little brat?"
Then he saw another leader come forward and say, "You're right. But what assures us that you won't kill us as soon as we pass the wall?" the old man asked.
"I assure you," Tormund said, in a powerful voice, and stepping forward. Jon was surprised but that, because he thought the big ginger man is heating him, but he was glad he steps forward. "As you can see I'm still alive. I've been hurt and I've been healed by their master. And Mance' s son and Val are in the capital."
"And who is to say that they don't kill them?"
"Val is Robb Snow's wife, and that gives us a voice in their king's ear," Tormund said.
"Is that true?" asked the man to Robb, and everyone turned to him. Jon smirked when he looked at him for the situation.
Robb swallowing said, "Yes."
"Then tomorrow at first light we will begin our march towards Castle Black before the great storm caught us too."
Jon nodded, but before he could retire, he heard Styr say, "I will not follow a brat that doesn't have the balls to fight us. The only way my clan will follow you is if you kill me."
"So you want to challenge me to the last blood?" asked Jon, without breaking eye contact.
"Yes," Styr replied, taking his double-edged axe, and they all walked out of the tent.
"Are you sure, Jon," asked Arthur, and Jon nodded unsheathing Ice. Around them, the crowd was gathering, and Jon was excited to show them that he was worthy for their trust and for them to fallow him.
Having taken the position, Styr immediately began to attack him by spinning his axe and Jon parried them with Ice, which was quite heavy. When he will return he will really need to melt it. It's a good sword for fights against more enemies but not in a duel.
Styr was fast and also strong, but he was a lot of uncovering himself when he attacked, and when Jon saw an uncovered part he attacked him immediately trying to be very fast and use the size of Icy at his vantage, until, as he backed, Styr fell to the ground, and Jon without hesitation, pierced him with Ice.
Blood was coming from his mouth, as he was saying his last words, and then spitting at him.
Now that Styr was dead, Jon apparently earned their respect. Nodding in approval, all leaders retired, and they too headed for their tent, following Tormund and Mance.
The next morning when they woke up, it could already be felt that the wind was colder and this was not good, because their horses were not suitable for all this, and He will have to send them away. He communicated this yesterday to his men, and today it was only confirming that. Winter was here, and on this side of the Wall, it was even harsher. Especially with the coming storm.
Looking around, he saw that there was no one in his tent and that was good because Jon really needed release, after dreaming of his naked Dany riding him. He was looking forward to returning to her, embracing her and getting inside her. Feeling her warmth.
Lowering his pants a little, releasing his cock, Jon began to stroke his hard cock, while he imagined that his hand was Dany's and that she was stroking him and then sucking him.
After a while, Jon groaned while he released. His seed was on his hand, and after cleaning himself with a wet cloth that was there Jon put his cock back in his pants. But his thoughts continued to turn to Dany, and what she was doing now. Sighing, Jon prepared himself to get out of the tent.
When Jon came out, he saw that there were guards outside the tent, "Good morning." Greeted Jon them, heading towards the water well that was near them. And they followed him.
"The water is cold. And so is the weather," said Viserys coming from behind him, with the armor on him.
"I'm sure your dragon's blood will warm you up," replied Jon chuckling, and breaking the ice that has formed over the water well, then washing his hands and his face. Old gods, if it was icy. But it's excellent for waking up well and extinguishing any heat caused by the dreams of a beautiful woman named Daenerys, naked above him.
! You know that if we don't have the horses with us it would take us even longer, Your Grace," said Viserys.
"Yes, but we have no choice. I don't know if the horses will make it to the next two camps. Especially since we're heading into that storm," Jon replied with his hands resting on the edges of the water well. He will have to send a raven to Daenerys to inform her of this change, for here to send ships North, and to give order the search of dragonglass around the mountains of the North. He just hopes that the raven will arrive in Winterfell in one piece.
Jon also saw Robb coming, "So, this is done, but I don't know if the next one will work. Giants, Jon."
"We'll make it also there, Robb." After some silence and after Robb washed, Jon said, with an eyebrow raised, "Wife?"
"Yes. According to their traditions. I defeated and captured her, so she is mine."
"Ah, I understand," Jon chuckled, and heard Viserys say, "But that won't stop him from getting into other beds, anyway."
"I don't know, man. The night I spent with her was special. She's special," Robb said looking into the distance with a lost look.
"From the way you talk, it seems you've fallen in love, Robb," said Jon chuckling, in a more mocking way, but seeing him with the mind somewhere else, and staring into the distance, this confirmed that he was surely in love, because Jon has never seen him like this with any woman.
Shaking his head Robb said, "If I'm not mistaken soon it will also be your wife's name's day. Have you thought about what to give her when you return?"
"And how do you know when it's my wife's name's day?" asked Jon raising an eyebrow.
"I have my sources," Robb said with a smirk on his lips, and Jon looked toward Viserys who said, "I had to say something or else he would just talk about his conquests. At least with that, he would teas you now."
Jon gives him a playful look, and a smack on the back, and turning to Robb he said, "Yes. I commissioned a beautiful gift for Daenerys, a surprise for the future. And that you'll see it when we get back. But I don't think that I will return to her in time. After all her name's day is in two weeks, I will be here for months thanks to that damned storm, and who knows how much snow we will find. After all, on this part of the Wall, there aren't roads."
When Robb was about to say something else, Jon immediately said, "Let's go eat something."
After sending the raven, and having eaten properly, Jon watched the wildlings dismantle the camp, and preparing for their march toward the wall. He decided that it would be Torrhen Karstark and SmallJon Umber, his Wolfsguard, who would lead the great group, with the addition of 15 men from his escort.
When the wildlings left, Mance said, "It's time to go. Now we'll go slower, but it's better considering that the storm is approaching soon. Without the horses, we will take different paths, where there are more caves, and where there are more dangers. And on foot, we can defend ourselves better."
Jon nodded, knowing that everything Mance said was true and taking a last look at the great group, with ice on his back they began their march towards the next camp, which according to what Val and Mance said, was that of Tormund, The red-haired man, and that most of them were Giants. At least 200 and eighty mammoths.
But now it was better to think about the march and the dangers they might encounter.