The Wall
"Snow! Come here right this instant!"
"Specify please!" someone shouts to the laughter of Northern bastards, but Ser Alliser doesn't take kindly to the jest.
"I'm not asking for a second time, bastard."
Jon groans, for this horrific week is steadily getting worse and worse. Guess there's no luncheon today. "Alright," Jon stands, giving his meal to Grenn. "I'm not gonna come back in time so just finish my bowl."
"Should'a given it ta Sam, ya know?" Grenn makes a bloated expression. Jon kicks his leg and the rest of the table laughs. Sam is away with Maester Aemon anyway. At least some of us are enjoying the week…
Buttoning his coat, he heads out the common hall and is greeted by Ghost, his footsteps light on the snow. Jon gives him a good ruffle before confronting the scowling master-at-arms. "What do you need, Ser Alliser?"
"You're a steward of the Lord Commander yet I see you sitting on your ass away from his supervision," he growls. "Go to his tower; he wants you to be present."
"But lu-"
"I don't want to repeat myself, unless you're asking for extra training. But I've got my hands full with the greenboys, so consider yourself lucky. Now scram," Ser Alliser says before trudging away towards the Wall.
Jon sighs, knowing that he'll have to deal with that man for the better part of his life. "I think you'd be a better teacher of swords than him, right boy?" he asks Ghost. The direwolf nudges his hand in response. "Yeah, we'd better not be late. Let's go."
The air at Castle Black is colder than ever. Not due to the weather, mind you; Maester Aemon noted that today is a particularly warm day at the Wall. No, but for the events of the last week. Not many Brothers are out and about, most staying inside their quarters or up at the Wall. And Jon understands why.
The bodies, he recalls. He still dreams of that night, of those blue eyes and cold hissing breaths. Sometimes he wakes up in terror, clutching at his neck though he does not remember what it was he dreamt. And sometimes he dreams of his Uncle Benjen, decapitating him with a wood axe. Was it he that killed his Uncle or his Uncle killed him?
The Lord Commander reassured him that what he did was lifesaving, that he did not commit kinslaying. He gave Jon his Valyrian steel sword Longclaw as a gift, yet the weight of the sword felt too heavy in his hands; he kept it underneath his bunk ever since that day. Jon felt no honour with what he has done.
But then again, when has there been honour in the Night's Watch? he wonders as he enters the Lord Commander's tower. His fellow Brothers who sees him give him an odd look. Not only a bastard, but now a kinslayer as well. And I had slain the reason I have come to the Wall. Should I even stay at this forsaken place?
Ghost stands by his side, Jon preparing himself in front of the Lord Commander's door. He rubs his hands, warming it with the tower's warm air, and knocks. "Come in," hears a soft voice speaks.
Maester Aemon? If he's here, then it must be something important. Jon opens the door and Ghost rushes past him, his tail wagging.
The Lord Commander Jeor Mormont sits at the table's head, looking quite happy for someone who was about to be killed a few days ago. His raven, really the last raven of Castle Black, is tending to its wounded wings. Jon doubts if it can fly well anymore, not even around this sparsely furnished room.
Maester Aemon sits by his side, with Sam attending behind him. Sam waves at Jon and he gives a weak smile back. But unlike the Lord Commander, Maester Aemon is not in a cheery mood. The loss of the ravens must have hit him hard, Jon worries. I hope we'll have some more from Eastwatch.
But at the front of the table is two people he didn't expect to be here. Sitting in front of the Lord Commander is the red-and-white Lady Reimu, one of the strangers they found Beyond-the-Wall. She's far too light-clothed to be anywhere in the North and Night's Watch have to endure her constant complains of the cold. And for Jon, he has to endure the Lady constantly sinking her hands into Ghost for warmth. Why didn't you pack thicker clothing…
The other stranger from Beyond-the-Wall… Frankly, Jon always tries to keep his eyes away from her. Ghost does not like her and neither does Jon; something about the way she looks at people makes him feel pinned like a rabbit. Of course, there's also those yellow tails on her back, which squirm and gyrate in an uncomfortable manner. And those creepy eyes… The only good thing about her is that she's nice and polite, but sometimes I feel like she's playing with us.
But in truth, Jon find the both of them very creepy. He saw a few times before how Lady Reimu would walk on snow with no footprints. Frankly, he wishes-
"Are you thinking of becoming a statue, Jon, or are you going to sit?"
"Right, sorry, Lord Commander." Jon takes his seat next to Lady Reimu where he can be away from that fox-lady.
"Nice to see you again, Jon Snow," Lady Reimu greets him, smiling quite bright in his presence. Or is it in Ghost's presence?
"Oh, don't be so harsh on the boy," Maester Aemon chuckles. "He's just surprised to see his Uncle, that's all."
Uncle? I don't know what- "Uncle Benjen!" he gasps, realising that his Uncle's head is on the table, all neatly wrapped with some paper and twine. There's two other heads as well, one burnt and one unburnt.
"Sorry to interrupt your luncheon, Snow, but we want to discuss an important matter involving your Uncle."
"Y-You mean about my kinslaying?" Jon gulps, imagining himself being beheaded or hanged.
"What? We've talked about this, boy! Get those thought out of your head unless you REALLY want to die for something foolish. The man's Watch ended the moment he died, just like the others," the Lord Commander growls at him, but soon calms back down. "No, it is simply of another matter."
"Lady Ran and I have spoken together about many things," Maester Aemon continues, twiddling with his chains like a necklace. "Your Tarly friend here has given us some help as well. What we want to know from you, Jon Snow, is how you were able to kill these three… Undeads, shall we say."
"I've given my side," Lady Reimu speaks, her hands still deep in Ghost's fur. "It was short, but they keep asking me to repeat myself over and over again. I know it's for consistency, but it's just so… Time consuming. You do it now."
"Alright then," Jon settles into his seat. "Where should I-"
"The night of the attack," says the Lord Commander, cutting a piece of meat and bread for his raven. "Let's start with the first wight."
Wight, Jon shivers. Hearing the names of things from legends and bedtime stories spoken so seriously give him a foreboding feeling. "I encountered the first wight, the one in the cold storehouse, after hearing some commotion at night. Ghost and I went out to investigate and found five-"
"Six," the Maester corrects him. "No worries; their bodies now lie in the ice cells, just in case they rise again."
Rise again. Another chill goes down Jon's spine. Fates worse than death. "We found the first one with a bloody dagger. I tried coaxing it, thinking that it was alive. After realising it… Wasn't, I drew my sword and stabbed it in the back. It didn't work and my sword was lodged in it."
"And how did you know to burn him?"
"I didn't know," Jon confesses. "Ghost and I were panicked, so I started throwing things at it. Books, potatoes, and finally a lit torch. The thing went up in flames as if made of tinder, Lord Commander. Then it collapsed."
"So that's this burnt head," the Lord Commander points to it with his dagger. "Jafer Flowers, a bastard like you and skilled with a sword. Even in death he managed to beat Ser Jaremy," he chuckles, but it is a dry one. "What of the unburnt one, then? Othor?"
Jon looks at the head, meeting its eyes. A part of him expects the thing to blink, but Jon manages to calm himself down to speak. "…Me and Ghost went out of the storehouse after realising the other corpses weren't there. I forgot my sword in the burning body so Ghost fetched me a wood axe."
"Well aren't you a good dog~" Lady Reimu coos Ghost.
"I found the door to this tower open. We went in and saw Othor ready to climb the stair. I lopped off his hand and Ghost pulled him down from the stairs. I chopped his head but the thing still kept moving. So I chopped and I chopped and I chopped and I-"
"You killed it," the Lord Commander smiles. "You should be proud of that, Jon Snow. Not many in the Night's Watch can claim that they have killed a wight. You've grown well since I first met you."
Did I? Jon wonders. Sometimes in his dreams, the chopped bits of Othor would crawl over him in rotting flesh and devour him whole, leaving nothing but ice and corpse. He dares not to look at the cuts on the floor again.
"You did good," Lady Reimu speaks softly. "We all have our duties and you managed to stick through it, even if you absolutely loathe it. Don't worry," she pats his shoulder. "You'll get used to it."
But I don't want to, Jon complains. But he keeps his mouth shut.
"And of course," the Lord Commander continues, "your Uncle, the First Ranger Benjen Stark."
Uncle Benjen… He can't bring himself to look at his head, even when it's wrapped in paper. Just the sight of the long hair is enough for him to start remembering the night. "I went up the stairwell, hearing some groaning and footsteps. That's when I saw my Uncle. He was dead, a wight-"
"Not a wight," Lady Ran interrupts, opening her eyes for a moment. "Jiang Shi."
"What?"
"It's something we've discussed," Maester Aemon speaks. "Please continue the story for now."
"Right… He turned and looked at me," smiling with sharp white teeth like a hound, "and tried to give chase. I tried to strike at him with the axe but he managed to block it with his arm. Gods, Uncle was strong, stronger than when he was… So both of us ran out and Uncle followed. I thought it'd be easier here in the open, but it wasn't. He jumped at me." And I still remember it, those cold hands gripping my throat. His breath, like vomit and cold air…
"And at this point, Lady Reimu intervened. Is that correct?" the Lord Commander asks.
"I… I don't know. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I saw some paper stuck to his head and I was able to push Uncle off of me. And then…" I raised my axe, but I hesitated. I heard the words coming from his mouth; he was alive. I heard my name, I heard my father, I heard Robb, and I heard Winterfell. But even then-
"You managed to decapitate it while it was incapacitated."
"…Yes," Jon lowers his head.
"Well," the Lord Commander picks up his Uncle's head and stares at its paper-covered face, "come to my place any later and I would've been dead. Or worse, right, Lady Ran?"
"Quite correct, Lord Commander," Lady Ran speaks, sounding quite pleased with herself. "When a Jiang Shi bites a human, that human shall turn into another Jiang Shi. If the bite was non-fatal, then it will only last for a night until they return to normal at sunrise. But if it's fatal, like the one on the late Benjen Stark, then it would be a permanent transformation."
"Hear that, Jon Snow? Oy!" the Lord Commander snaps his fingers, catching Jon's attention. "Quit sulking. You're hanging your head lower than a man at the gallows. What you did was amazing; if it wasn't for you, Castle Black would be overrun by these moving corpses."
"I'd prevent that," the red-and-white scoffs.
"Of course you will, Lady Reimu. And from his testimonies, will you say that their accounts are accurate, Maester Aemon?"
"Very much so," Aemon nods his head. Sam continues to eat luncheon behind him, which Jon feels a bit jealous of. "Of course, it would have been better if all of this was a farce."
"So, what do we do now?" Jon asks.
"Now," the Lord Commander turns grim, "we must prepare. We know almost nothing of the things called wights, and only these two ladies here know of Jangsi. And while they can trace this demon of theirs, we do not know of the origin of these wights. Who placed them there for there was no footsteps? How? Why?"
"…The Others," the words slip between Jon's lips. Now everyone present feels the full chill of the Wall. The icy mist. The demons of snow and ice. The thing that brought the Long Night. The cold…
"Maybe," the Lord Commander sinks back into his seat. "And we're not prepared. The Night's Watch has never been prepared for the past thousand years. We barely even know who built the Wall and how! It won't take that many of them to bring all these criminals and bastards into their cold doom."
"Um," Sam speaks, a bit of bread sticking to his cheek. "I-I heard Lady Ran talk about the Wall being a magical barrier?"
"You have sharp ears, Samwell Tarly," the fox-lady smiles at him with her slitted eyes. "Why yes, I've found out through a few analyses that this ice Wall of yours was constructed through some form of magic that is unknown to me. I hypothesise that they sent these three corpses as they cannot cross the Wall themselves. Getting the Night's Watch to take them in was quite easy for them as well."
The Lord Commander rubs his beard, thinking on her words. "That may be true. However, you've yet to understand the magic of the Wall and wights, is that correct?"
"I must apologise, Lord Mormont," she bows her head. "I still need time to conduct my research on the magic of this world. Though Maester Aemon and Samwell Tarly have aided me in this task, it is a slow progress. Isn't that right, Miss Reimu?"
"Hey, I'm helping!" she replies, sounding offended.
"I didn't say you weren't."
"What of the heads?" Jon asks. "Would they be… Coming back to life?"
"For safety reasons, we shall burn all remains of Othor and Jafer Flowers. However," the Lord Commander taps Uncle Benjen's head, "I hear you have some plans for this one?"
"I plan to reanimate the corpse, yes," Lady Ran replies.
"Wait, you can revive him? How!?" Jon stands, but is sent back down a the Lord Commander's glare.
"Not revival," she corrects him. "He will still be a Jiang Shi, but his brains should be quite stable as he had been in the extreme cold beyond this Wall. With the correct procedures, we should still be able to extract his personalities and memories. Maybe then we can see the nature of the killers and find out why there's a Jiang Shi beyond the Wall."
"I'm still unsure of this," the Lord Commander frowns. His raven caws in agreement. "What if that thing goes loose and bites all those in Castle Black? It won't be long before the North is overrun by Jangsi."
"It won't," she smiles. "Jiang Shi follow written commands attached to their heads. It's magically imbued, so they are unable to break it. If I write them to not hurt a fly, they do nothing. To hunt, they'll hunt. To die, they'll die. It is that simple."
"But won't you be too preoccupied with your magic research?" Lady Reimu asks, now looking quite serious. "I really don't want to take care of something that should have been exterminated."
"I'll do it," Jon stands to the surprise of all present. "I'll take care of my Uncle."
"…Do you know of any necromancy, Jon Snow?" Lady Ran asks curiously.
"No. But if need be, I can learn how to maintain him by your side. We need any resources we can get, even if it means doing things that are uncomfortable to us. Isn't that right, Sam?"
Sam flinches at his name drop. He twitches and sweat in fear as all eyes look at him "Work with me," Jon mouths him.
"Y-Yes, as Jon said, Lord Commander," Sam stammers out. "We k-know next to nothing of what's beyond. B-Books in the vaults are useful, but so are the First Ranger's memories."
"So you vouch for him?" asks the Lord Commander.
"Yes," Sam replies.
I owe you one, Jon smiles back. This is perhaps his last chance to do his Uncle well, to apologise and make sure that the Stark name is not tainted. Maybe he'll make a name for himself as well, learning magic.
Maester Aemon raps his fingers on the table before nodding his bald head. "I see… Certainly if this Jangshi can be controlled, it may not pose any harm to us. And you seem to know a great deal about them, more than anyone at Castle Black at least, Lady Ran. So I see no reason to not conduct your experiment."
"…Fine, do what you want," Lady Reimu concedes. "I can just exterminate it if it goes awry."
The Lord Commander closes his eyes and Jon waits for an answer. He lets out a long sigh before opening them again. "If that thing does go awry, I shall hold you responsible for it, Jon Snow. You'll be practising necromancy with Lady Ran, something in the eyes of many Gods, both Old and New, find detestable. Are you sure you want to go forward with this foolish act?"
"Yes."
"…Fine then. Lady Ran, you may do what you wish."
"Thank you, Lord Mormont," Lady Ran bows to him before turning to Jon, her golden eyes staring into his soul. He shivers at the sight. "Of course, this means that you shall be under my tutelage, Jon Snow. Necromancy is not a simple magic to be trifled with. Are you truly ready?"
Jon gulps. This may all come crashing back down on him, but he has already made the decision long before this meeting started. On that snowing yard with an axe in his hand, looking down at his Uncle's face… He knew then that if the opportunity to do him right arises, he will take it. He owes the man at least that much. "I'll do it!"
"Good," she chuckles. "Then we shall begin today."
"You're just like Yukari," Lady Reimu murmurs.
"Please don't say that, it hurts my heart," the fox lady whimpers.
The Wall
"Jon," Robb says with great suspicion, "what's that on the table?"
"Oh this?" Jon lifts up the heavy bag. "You've never seen a bag before, Robb? Maybe you ought to get out once in a while," he chuckles, but his half-brother doesn't reciprocate.
"I'm not playing around, Jon. I'm far too tired right now for your jests."
The strange wolf-woman approaches the bag and takes a whiff at it, not unlike what Ghost does to unwashed clothing. "A corpse," she frowns. "And not a new one, too. It's been rotting for a while, but the smell is not pungent yet."
Jon sinks into his chair while Robb covers his own face, looking very much drained. How should Jon begin explaining to Robb the events of the past two hours? That he was entrusted with his Uncle's head for a safekeeping trial? That they're going to use necromancy to revive him? Or the fact that their Uncle is dead in the first place?
Did the Old Gods really gave him such bad luck that he'd run to his half-brother on the way out of the Lord Commander's tower? Maybe.
"Do I want to know why you have a corpse in a bag, Jon? Please tell me at least that that's a rat or dog."
"Human," says the wolf woman. "Unmistakably so."
"Someone's head," Jon whispers. Robb answers with an even longer groan. "And I think it's important for me to… Show you."
"Yes," the wolf-woman tilts her head, her red eyes boring down on Jon and Ghost. "It smelled far too close to you to."
Jon unclasps the bag and pulls out the head wrapped in some cloth and paper. Jon avoids Robb's curious eyes as he untangles it, revealing the corpse beneath. He turns the face towards Robb, dreading his reaction.
At first, Robb looks both horrified and disgusted at the head. But as soon as he recognises the face, he air tenses up. Jon even notices a snarl coming onto the wolf-woman's face but dares not to look anymore at Robb's. He hears the grinding of wood and teeth. "Is that… Uncle Benjen?"
"Yes."
Jon hears a whimper and some stifled gasp, but he feels more the burning gaze the two land on him. "If that's Uncle Benjen, then WHY? Why the hells is his head in a bag?"
"…It's a long story," Jon sighs, now having the courage to meet eye-to-eye with Robb. He looks… Haggard and teary-eyed. Just like Jon after he beheaded his Uncle. "This isn't the way I wanted to let you know, Robb. I'm…"
"How did he die? And what the hells are those paper on his head? And why are you carrying HIS HEAD!?"
"It is because we have plans," the Lord Commander strides into the room, nearly as silent as Ghost in his steps. His presence causes Robb and Jon to stand to attention. "Please, do sit back down, Lord Stark. A Lord so willing to visit the Wall is of a far higher standing than the Night's Watch who serves it."
Jon notices that he's not here with his raven. The Lord Commander takes the seat next to Jon, causing both him and Ghost to flinch. But the most interesting response comes from the wolf-woman, whose eyes are now bright and her tail is wagging happily. "May I know your name?" she asks.
"Ah yes, you may not be familiar about me. I'm Jeor Mormont, the nine-hundredth and ninety-seventh Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady…"
"Momiji Inubashiri," she declares proudly, not unlike that time Jon saw the bratty Prince. "A White Wolf Tengu, daughter of the Inubashiri Family. It is great to finally see someone of your calibre, nightlord."
"Nightlord?" the Lord Commander chuckles. "First time I've heard the moniker."
"Please forgive me for my retainer's eccentricities," Robb bows his head. "She never even refer to me as Lord or Robb, so it's growing to be quite a pain."
"You earn your name, wolfcub."
"Wolfcub," Jon snickers.
"Well, at least it has quite the ring to it. Welcome to the Wall, Lady Momiji. And what a coincidence that you are quite beastly as well; not a warg, I assume?"
"Correct assumption," she smiles. "But coincidence? Am I not the first of my kind you saw?"
"Well," the Lord Commander taps the floor with his boot, "I've not heard of a thing called 'White Wolf Tengu', but a guest of ours that's staying just downstairs also have quite the beastly qualities. Sharp ears, strange eyes, tails…"
"Lady Ran Yakumo is her name," Jon speaks, remembering those cold and sharp-
"Wait, the ninetails is here!?" she asks abruptly. "Since when?"
"A few weeks ago, I reckon. But Lady Momiji, they-"
"Wolfcub, I'll be heading out for a bit. No need to wait for me."
Before Robb could stammer out his refusal, the woman is already dashing out of the room with a strong gale. "Gods, what the- DAMMIT! She's going to cause me more trouble!" Robb cries out, nearly tearing out the hair from his head.
"Oh, no worries, Lord Stark. Your retainer seems capable enough," the Lord Commander laughs, lowering the tension in the room. Jon and Ghost feels more relaxed with the wolf-woman's presence having disappeared.
"Capable enough to cause problems," Robb murmurs before slapping his cheeks and setting himself straight. He's much older now, Jon thinks, looking at Robb's lord-like attire and stern face. And yet, there's still very much that childish person I've known for some time. "So," Robb begins, "would you, Lord Mormont, tell me exactly how my Uncle died in your Watch?"
"Men always die in the Night's Watch, Lord Stark. Even good and skilled men like Benjen Stark. However," the Lord Commander brings the head closer, careful not to tear the paper, "his death was a special case. Would you mind telling it, Jon?"
Wouldn't it be better if you tell Robb instead? Jon thinks, but only sighs away his concerns. "Uncle Benjen and two others were found dead Beyond-the-Wall. It was after a few weeks of him going missing. And after we retrieved them…" Jon feels again that strain in his neck. "They were walking again as corpses. Wights."
"And Jangshi, though we have a hard time pronouncing it," the Lord Commander shrugs. "Jon Snow dealt with them quite quickly, thus I must thank him for my life."
"…Yes," Jon replies softly, looking into the eyes of Uncle Benjen. "I did that."
…
Robb's eyes are closed, his fingers rapping on the table. Jon is sure that none of what they said made much sense to him; it didn't make sense to Jon until he experienced it himself. "Lord Mormont," he speaks, "I know that I'm new to this position as Lord of Winterfell. You've perhaps met my father and was impressed by him. I, too, am trying to follow in his footsteps. However," he hisses, "I will NOT be made a fool out of when a member of my family dies! I'm far too tired to see any fun in your jests. You as well, Jon."
Sorry, Robb.
"Now," Robb relaxes himself, yet Jon still sees the anger in his eyes, "tell me again how Uncle Benjen died. With truth, not some fairy tale Old Nan would tell us."
"It is with my deepest regret to tell you that what Jon said was the truth, Lord Stark. Not only will I corroborate that, but so too Maester Aemon, his steward Samwell Tarly, the guests below us, and a dozen other Brothers who watched the terror go down that night." The Lord Commander pats Jon's shoulders, causing him to cough. "This Stark bastard saved many of our lives that night, and you should be proud to be sharing blood to someone like him."
Jon feels Robb's eyes set on him. For once in his life, he feels contempt and anger from his half-brother, the one he often felt from Lady Catelyn. It… Saddens him, to be seen like that in his half-brother's eyes. "You've done all that?"
"Yes," Jon answers. "And if need be, I'll do it again."
"How are you so sure that they are fairy tales, Lord Stark, when you yourself rode in to Castle Black on a whirlwind? Is that not some form of sorcery?"
…Oh yeah, Robb did that, didn't he? He got you there, Jon smirks to Rob's annoyance.
"This and that are different things," Robb groans. "But I see your point, Lord Commander. You truly want me to believe of sorceries at play with my Uncle's death."
"Lady Ran, our fox-tailed guest, assured us that those sorts of sorcery are possible. Necromancy, Lord Stark. Playing with the dead," the Lord Commander states grimly. "But most of all, we fear what it will mean for the coming winter.
"The Others."
A cold breeze flows through the royal quarters, causing everyone to shiver. Even Rob, in all of his furs and coats, can't stop the chill down his spine. Jon looks at Robb, and he sees a mixture of horror and confusion on his face. "W-What do you mean?" Robb asks. "They're just Old Nan's fairy tales… Aren't they?"
"Winter is Coming; those are the words of your House. And the Night's Watch," the Lord Commander knocks on the table. "By Gods, the Night's Watch was built to fight against the dark, though much of it has gone into disarray over the past thousands of years. What of those two? Were the Starks not aware of the true threat of winter? Not only of the food and snow, but the living cold who wanders the North?"
"Do you have proof?" Robb asks, a hint of desperation in his voice. "Proof that this involves… Them?"
"No." The answer is plain. "However, we may have a chance to find out for ourselves. And that is where your Uncle and Jon Snow comes into play."
"What? How?"
"Uncle Benjen… He wasn't turned into a wight like the others. Apparently, he was killed and… Reanimated. Yes, by a thing called a Jangshi. Lady Ran," those disturbing eyes, "she told us that she has experience in necromancy. That she can bring forth Uncle Benjen's memories and tell us of the things he saw. By reworking his corpse." And I'll be helping her, but he keeps that to himself.
…
"Necromancy…" Robb says with a hint of disgust. The words felt wrong in Jon's mouth, and he's the one who made the decision to partake in it. How will his half-brother take such a revelation?
"Lord Stark," the Lord Commander speaks, "I'm sorry that it must come to this with your Uncle. It may seem like we're trying to desecrate his body but that is never our intention. No, your Uncle will help more of us figure out what's happening Beyond-the-Wall, of the rumours, of the dead… And of the Others."
"The Night King," Robb whispers. "Every man, woman, and child in the North knows of that story. And what you're suggesting… If people find out what you're doing here, Lord Mormont, then I fear I will not be able to side with you."
"And so no words shall spread between us," the Lord Commander smiles. "You shall send riders from Winterfell to intern his body to the Stark crypts. And when they arrive here, we will have a body ready. But it will not be your Uncle's. Officially," he pulls out two papers from his coat, "his cause of death is an attack by Wildlings who then burnt his body as a show of contempt. And your riders shall receive a letter and statement saying so, signed both by Lord Stark and the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.
"And Jon, in a few days you shall be put into charge of a special recruit to the Night's Watch. A man that might be slow of wit and unable to show his face, yet strong and skilled enough to be put into the order. You shall train him, watch over him, and perhaps bring him along to your duties. But most of all, you will speak to him and find out how he… Came into our service, shall we say."
Jon looks at the head. Will it truly be my Uncle when I talk to him? he wonders. Will he even be able to talk? What will he even say? "I see, Lord Commander. I shall carry out my duties."
Ghost walks up to Robb, giving him some comfort through his fur. Jon hopes that it may alleviate his heart, even just a small bit. "But that's not all, is it?" he asks.
"No. The next step is more important. Here," he hands the papers to Robb, "is a list of things the Night's Watch, or more specifically the Wall, needs. Thousands of years of decline does no good to the Realm of Men, Lord Stark. We could barely defend ourselves against savages in pelts, let alone the winter. Men, food, new weapons, supplies… We're all lacking."
Jon watches Robb examine the papers, with his frowning growing deeper and deeper. "I- The North don't have such numbers, Lord Commander."
"But your father, the Lord Hand, surely can muster people and supplies to the Wall. Even if it's for a temporary service to the Night's Watch, any helps is appreciated."
Robb puts the papers down. "But I can't."
"But you must!"
"I can't!" Robb nearly shouts. "Winterfell, Cerwyn, Dreadfort… By the Old Gods, all of them lost their ravens. We've been stuck here in silence while the Lannisters… I can't even contact my father."
The mention of ravens perks the ears of Jon and the Lord Commander. "Robb, what do you mean no ravens?"
"The ravens. They escaped many nights ago, causing a large commotion at Winterfell's rookery. And now I can't even ask for help."
"The ravens of castle black was lost a while ago as well," the Lord Commander voices his concern. "And Lord Stark, you're telling me that all the great Houses of the North lost theirs around the same time?"
Something dawns on all who's present. It's not a coincidence then that the ravens are lost; someone is controlling them. They're blinding them all to the North and all matters of the Realm. But who? And for what ends? Is the South of the neck also affected by a loss of ravens? Is that why they've all heard nothing about the goings on with the Lannisters and the Iron Throne?
…Is it sorcery?
"Can you send riders South, Lord Stark?"
"No," Robb groans, tapping the table. "My mother, Catelyn Stark, she has been kidnapped by the Lannisters."
"Lady Catelyn?" Jon asks. "How? Isn't she with you in Winterfell?"
"Someone… Someone tried to kill Bran."
"What!? And you didn't tell me-"
"Let him finish, Jon Snow. Continue."
"They tried to kill Bran but failed. Summer and mother saw to that," Robb smiles, but it soon fades. "My mother went to King's Landing, sending me ravens all the while. The last I've heard from her, she was returning from the Riverlands when she encountered the Lannister dwarf and… Took him to the Eyrie against his will."
…Jon can't really believe what he's hearing. He knows that Lady Catelyn can be quite vicious at times, but to do something as foolish as kidnapping a Lannister? A Lannister!? Don't tell me that it's because of her the Riverlands is being scourged by those lions.
"And you may have heard of the Lannisters' pillaging."
Of course.
"Yes," the Lord Commander answers. "We managed to receive that news as well. It was the last raven to arrive at Castle Black, a horrid news."
"Aye, same for Winterfell as well."
"So you're marching South?" Jon asks. "Someone tried to kill Bran, and you're marching South, leaving him alone in Winterfell?"
"My mother is in the Kingslayer's hands, Jon," Robb speaks through gritted teeth. "I will not let those damned Lannisters do anything to her. Bran and Rickon are safe in Winterfell; they have Theon."
"Theon?" Jon scoffs. "You're trusting that prick for protection?"
Robb smiles. "Nah, it would mostly be Ser Rodrik, of course. The next thing I know, Theon would be bringing them to whores in Winter town." The two laugh, with the Lord Commander chuckling along with him. For a moment, all their worries are gone and Jon feels like he's back in Winterfell. But dreams only last for so long. "Gods, do I need a rest."
"Well," the Lord Commander stands, "I shall leave you two to it then. It would be unkind for me to let a tired man like you talk for so long. Welcome to the Wall, Lord Stark. I do hope you enjoy your stay."
"I'll make the best of it, Lord Mormont."
"And Jon Snow?"
"Yes, Lord Commander?"
"Keep the head safe; I'd rather not have the two of us be berated by our guests," he cautions before exiting the room.
…
"So," Jon speaks, eager to lighten the mood of the room, "how did you meet someone like her? Lady Momiji, I mean?"
"Gods, I don't know. I found her in the Godswood bathing in the hot springs, and…"
"You're red-faced," Jon grins. "Don't tell me you're-"
"Shut it!" Robb shouts to Jon's laughter. "Gods, you're just as bad as Theon."
"Oh wow, thank you for the insult." After calming themselves down, Jon goes about placing the head back in the bag, careful to not damage it. "Are you sure of this, Robb? That you'll be marching South?"
"I must," Robb answers. "If our father had been in my position, then I'm sure he'd done the same. Actually, I know he would be; he's Lord Hand now, and I'm sure what the Lannisters are doing are breaching the laws of the Realm. He's no doubt marching North to the Riverlands, or at least the King's men are. There'll be one less living Stark in the North, but I promise to bring mother back home."
"Yeah…" Ghost trots back to Jon, having been thoroughly ruffled by Robb. The look on the direwolf's face saddens his heart. "We can only pray that it all goes well."