JEOR

Jeor Mormont had joined the Night's Watch, after his son Jorah Mormont disgraced House Mormont by selling poachers into slavery. His sister Maege Mormont rules the House and Bear Island. Eventually Jeor rose through the ranks to become Lord Commander of the Watch. Recently his sleep had been disturbed by dreams of White Walkers and messages of doom. While at meal with his commanders the horn sounds once for returning Rangers. "Benjen Stark...You are late." Mormont says greeting him as they enter the courtyard from the tunnel.

"And with good reason Lord Commander...We bring a message from Mance Rayder."

After the message was delivered Jeor meets with his commanders and allows Benjen to tell them what he told him. "Its a lie!" Alliser Thorn yells, "A trick! To lure us into a trap!"

"If you had seen what we saw. You would not say that." Benjen replies. They argue for hours on whether or not to meet with Mance.

Jeor stands up, "My brothers...For days now I have been haunted by dreams of White Walkers. And in the library I found these." He raises two scrolls, "A treatise between the First Lord Commander of the Watch and Free Folk...It allows them to pass south of the wall should ever the Night King and his White Walkers return...We have fought the Wildlings for years and they us...The cold winds gather, Winter is coming, and the dead with it. We must be ready. I will contact Lord Stark and tell him of Mance's request to Parlay." Jeor's decision is not well liked, but Benjen and the others are able to convince them that it is necessary. Instead of sending a Raven Benjen rides for Winterfell to tell Eddard Stark the Warden of the North in person.

It takes two weeks to reach Winterfell and another two for Benjen to return with his brother. Robb, Theon, and Jon accompany them to Castle Black. "Lord Stark...Thank you for coming Ned."

"I could hardly pass up a chance to see a White Walker with my own eyes...May the gods help us all...These are my sons Robb my eldest and Jon...This is my Ward Theon Greyjoy."

"I have prepared rooms for you in the King's Tower."

Over the next few days Lords from all over the North arrive to meet with the Free Folk. "I do not like this Ned." Jon Umber says in the main hall, after all the Lords had arrived and assembled. "Meeting with the Wildlings...Tis not right."

Robb is in earshot, "What would you have us do Lord Umber? Allow women and children to die and rise again in the army of the dead. They are people same as you and me. They worship the old gods same as we do...Do not begrudge them life just because they do not bend the knee..."

"Forgive my son he speaks out of turn."

"The lad may have spoken out of turn, but he's right." Mormont says speaking up. "And I ashamed to say that the Night's Watch is not what it was meant to be. My brothers! My Lords! We can change that!"

The day finally came when the Commanders of the Watch and the Lords of the North would meet with the Free Folk Elders. "If something goes wrong...You will have to intervene." Bran says to Robb in his mind.

"I know..."

"Raise the gate!" Jeor commands. They ride up the tunnel, twenty-five lords of the North and fifteen Commanders of the Night's Watch. Waiting for them at the weeping-tree are an equal number of Free Folk Elders. Guest Rights are observed by both sides.

Mance Raydar stands up, "I guess I should begin. Thank you Lords Stark and Mormont for meeting with us...We Free Folk and you men of the Watch, we have a long history of Killing each other. But the true purpose pf the Watch is to protect the realms of men from the White Walkers..."

Men like Jon Umber and Alliser Thorn wanted to say something disrespectful, but Robb who has his hand on the root of the weir-tree is mentally keeping everyone calm and respectful. He can feel the shock of men like Rattleshirt and Tormund when certain people do not interrupt Mance.

"...Are we Free Folk not men? We laugh, love and breath same as you who live below the wall." He wanted to say Knee-benders, but something prevented him from using those words. The Free Folk likes to throw around insults to test people. "We serve the old gods same as you. We ask for a chance to live. As the Starks say Winter is coming...Them with blue eyes are coming as well..." Mance nods and some men standing off to the side bring forth a large wooden box. They open it and from inside a Wight comes out. It snarls beneath its gag as it struggles against the chains.

"We can kill them with fire, Valyrian Steel, or Dragonglass."

"Wait!" Robb yells just as the Free Folk are about to demonstrate how to kill the White.

"Wait! Why?" Mance asks raising his hand to stop his men.

"We need to show that to the Lords in the South...All of Westeros united together against a common enemy."

"The Old legends say that the wall is laced with magic...They cannot pass through the wall."

"Then we take it around."

The Free Folk whisper among themselves. "I would rather not risk it." Unable to influence them any further they burn the White. "Now you see...All we ask is for sanctuary South of the wall...And in exchange we will help man the wall and fight when the time comes."

"And after?" Alliser Thorn asks.

"If we can destroy all the White Walkers and their leader...Then we will return to our lands beyond the wall. We will not bend the knee to anyone, but we will respect your laws so long as we live below the wall."

"Before we come to any agreements there must be an assurance of trust." Lord Glover says.

"And how do we accomplish that?" Tormund Giant's Bane asks.

"A Prisoner or Ward...Someone of importance from each side to make sure that both sides abide by the agreement set forth today." Lord Glover replies.

"I do not feel that necessary." Mormont says speaking up. "The First Lord Commander of the Watch signed a treaty with your ancestors. It allows you south of the wall. If we abide by the treaty..."

"A prisoner exchange will prevent either side from committing treachery."

"I say Mance and..." Alliser looks at Jon Stark. He smiles as it is a way for him to get revenge. Alliser had supported the Targaryens during Robert's rebellion. "...Jon Stark."

"Mance is the reason the Free Folk are working together..." Tormund says speaking up, "...Without him the Clans fall into chaos."

Eddard stands up, "We have much to think on. I say we part ways for now and meet back in four days time."

"Agreed!"

It was not an easy decision to make, but for the good of all Jon agreed to be a prisoner of good will to the Free Folk with a little encouragement from Robb. When they met again Mance agreed so long as he was under Eddard Stark's protection. No one else could be trusted. With an agreement in place the Free Folk would be allowed below the wall until the White Walkers were defeated. Mance would stay with Lord Stark and Jon would live among the Free Folk until it was over.