MANCE RAYDER

Long ago Mance Rayder was found as child and taken in by the men of the Night's Watch. They sheltered and trained him, then eventually he became one of them. But Mance never forgot about his people or who he is. He tried to change the Night's Watch from within, but failed. He left the Night's Watch and joined the Free Folk Clan White Tree, his people.

After a while Mance falls in love with a woman named Dalla and married her. Not long after he married Brynden gave him dreams of the White Walkers and showed Mance how to speak to Giants. He traveled the lands uniting the one hundred clans of the Free Folk for the next eleven years. Eventually they named Mance the King Beyond the Wall. He earned this title through his charisma and promises to escape the dead.

Mance is currently in Hard Home the only Free Folk city beyond the wall. He has the Giant Mag Mar with him, his wife's sister Val, Tormund Giant's Bane, and The Lord of Bones. They had been talking with the Elders for the pass two days about an alliance. "Who goes there?"

"I am Batrick of the Frost River Clan…I come seeking the King Beyond the Wall!" Batrick and his companions are allowed inside and taken to Hall of Elders.

"I am Mance Rayder…What do you want?"

"I bring a message from Lord Commander Mormont of the Crows."

"You spoke with Mormont?"

"Aye…Let us go on the promise that we would return North and give you this."

Mance takes the rolled letter from him and reads aloud…

To Mance Rayder the King Beyond the wall

I write this letter on behalf of Eddard Stark Warden of the North and his Banner Lords. We know you have been traveling the lands beyond the wall convincing the Free Folk to unite and get south before it is too late…

We invite you and the Free Folk Elders to come and speak terms of peace. We can meet at the Heart Tree near the wall on your side and to show you that this is no trap I have sent my sword Longclaw…Longclaw is made of Valyrian steel and is useful in killing White Walkers and Wights…You can return it when we meet

With Regards to you and all the Free Folk

Jeor Mormont of the Night's Watch

Batrick hands Mance the sword. "Couldn't believe they let us go…Gave us food horses and weapons."

As Mance travels he receives the same story from freed prisoners. Letters from Lords all over the Southern half of the Wall. A month later the Elders gather at Hard Home to discuss recent events. "I say it's trap!" Styr of the Clan Thenn says. "They want to lure us together and kill us!"

Mance holds up the sword Longclaw, "Then why give me this? I served with the men of the Watch…I know Mormont…He would not part with this sword lightly. Nor would he resort to tricks to deal with us. None of the North Lords would."

"What do you suggest Mance?"

"We gather our food and supplies and meet near Craster's Keep. The Elders go on to meet Mormont and the Lords at the Heart Tree." They all agree even the Giants. Then Mance leaves for his clan to get his people ready. Meanwhile the Elders return to their villages to prepare their people. Over the next few months the Free Folk Clans converge in the forest two miles south of Craster's Keep. Once all the Clans are assembled Mance and the Elders head to the Heart Tree.

They arrive the same time as Mormont and the Lords. Guest Rights are observed and introductions made. Then Mance returns Longclaw to Mormont. "Thank you all for coming." Ned says. "We have all agreed to allow you below the wall…The Watch will allow you to settle and build on the Gift. Any crimes committed by our people on your lands will be judged accordingly by you and yours and the same goes for us…Any crimes committed by the Free Folk on our lands will be judged by us…A witness will be present by the opposing side to ensure the accused is given fair treatment. All we ask in return is that you help us defend the wall from the White Walkers when the time comes."

"What about King Robert?" Mance asks.

"There are those who will object, but the King will back me on this. You will not have to bend the knee."

"You have given us much to think on…We have to present these terms to our people. We shall return in three days at sunrise."

"Three days then." Both sides part ways peacefully. Mance and the elders present the terms to their people and they all agree. On the third day at sunrise the two sides meet; they shake hands and swear oaths before the Heart Tree. Over the next few weeks the Free Folk are allowed to cross the wall. The Giants and their Mammoths have to head east and go around the wall. With help from the Free Folk the men of the Watch begin building more catapults atop the wall and a pully system to move food along the wall faster for the men who man those catapults.