JEOR MORMONT

CASTLE BLACK

When Joffrey became King he cut off all support to the Watch and ordered all the kingdoms to do the same. Everyone but the Riverlands and the North obeyed, especially with the south gearing up for war. Before Robert died he sent many new recruits to the wall. By the time of his death the Night's Watch had three thousand new recruits, not including what the Northern, River, Vale, and even the Iron Born Lords had sent to the wall. Orphans, former thieves, rapists, second and third sons of noble and common birth raised the ranks of the Watch. Castle Black, Shadow Tower, and East Watch were overflowing with recruits.

Plans were made to open two castles on the wall; Hoarfrost Hill and Sable Hall. Masons and carpenters were sent to both castles to make them ready. Lumber was coming in from all over the North. Those recruits with skills in carpentry and masonry were sent to help get the castles ready. Food came from the Reach in abundance until Robert died. Jorah walks with Ser Allister, Benjen Stark, and First Builder Yarwick beside him, "This idiot boy was at Winterfell with his father and saw the dam White Walkers and he cuts us off...With all these dam people to feed..."

"There is hunting in the Gift and we can send at least a hundred Rangers North to scout for food..." Benjen says.

Jeor stops on the porch and sighs, "I am loath to send men North of the wall with what is waiting out there for us..."

"We can make contact with Mance Rayder and make peace..."

"With the fucking Wildlings...They'll stab us in the back first chance they get..." Ser Allister says.

"Call the senior members of the Watch...We have a decision to make..."

After three days of talking Jeor decides to lead two hundred men to the Fist of the First Men to make contact with Mance Rayder the self-proclaimed King Beyond the Wall. With Benjen at his side Jeor rides through the tunnel to the other side and head towards Craster's Keep. They arrive at the Keep after a week's march. "Jeor Mormont and Benjen Stark...What do ya want?"

"We need shelter for the night and information..."

Craster is hard man, of five feet eleven inches. Not well respected by the men of the Watch or the other free folk; because of his practice of sleeping with his daughters, having children with them and them and sleeping with the next generation. "You know the law around here..."

"Aye your house...Your rules..."

"And if any man touches my daughters..."

"No one will touch your daughters...You have my word..."

They sit around the fire and Craster tells them everything he knows about Mance Rayder. The next day Jeor leads them North towards the Fist of the First men. Within two weeks they reach the Fist of the First Men. When they arrive the Half Hand is waiting with fifty men and four prisoners. "You made it." The Half Hand says.

"Of course we did..."

"This angry son of bitch is Tormund Giant's Bane...The ginger is Ygritte...The other bitch is Vale and that is called Fox..."

"Release them..." Jeor orders shocking the Free Folk and the Half Hand. "I have a message for Mance Rayder...Tell him I want to meet face to face to discuss terms of peace...We know why you are gathering and we have seen the Wights…"

"How do I know this ain't some type of trick?" Tormund asks.

Jeor nods and looks at his men, "I need a volunteer to go with them..."

"I'll go..." Benjen Stark says.

"I'll go as well..."

"Tell Mance to get here as quickly as possible...If your people kill my men you can stay beyond the wall when the Long Night comes for all of us..." As they wait for Mance's arrival Jeor has his men fortify their position. They dig trenches, build barricades, and archer towers. They also booby trap the path up to the fist. During the work a new recruit named Pyp finds a cache.

"Dragonglass…" A young man by the name of Allan Mazin; a noble born and third son. "The Old legends say Dragonglass is useful against White Walkers and their Whites...We can kill them with it...Dragonglass , fire, and Valyrian steel."

"How do you know that?" Pyp asks.

"My father made sure his children are aware of the old legends of the North..."

"Distribute them among our best fighters..." On the second day after finding the Dragonglass it starts to get colder. The wind starts blowing, a fog moves in and the snow starts falling. "Where the hell did this come from..."

Ser Will runs up to Jeor, "My Lord they are here...This is how it starts..."

"Prepare for battle! All men prepare for battle..." Jeor yells commanding.

A horn sounds three times, "They're coming up the path!" An archer yells from the tower as he fires arrows down the path.

Men pour oil on the boulders, then Edd cuts the rope releasing the boulders down the path. Horrible screeches echo up the fist. The trap slows them down, but eventually the first Wights make it up. "Archers!" Mormont screams. They light their arrows and fire. The Wights swarm the archer towers knocking all twelve down and killing the men.

"Rally to me!" Jeor screams, that is when an ice spear flies past him and strikes Will in the chest killing him.

"Will!" Edd screams.

Mormont raises his sword Long Claw, roars and leads the charge against the Whites...

BENJEN STARK

Benjen and the Half-Hand lead Mance, Tormund, Vale, Rattleshirt, Ygritte, Magmar of the Thenns, and Orell towards the Fist of the First Men. They pause when they come upon the path that leads up to the Fist, It is blocked by boulders. "What the hell is this?" Rattleshirt asks.

"No...no...no!" Benjen leads them to another path and when they arrive at the top of the Fist the camp is in ruins.

"Looks like the White Walkers got here before us..." Tormund says.

"We were too late." The Half Hand says.

"All is not lost..." Mance says looking at Orell, "Find them..."

Orell sits down crossing his legs and then his eyes turn white as he enters the mind of his Eagle. The Eagle flies off heading south. Many hours pass before he returns to his mind. "They are alive...Heading south on foot..."

"Is Lord Mormont alive?" The Half Hand asks.

"Yes..."

"How many survived?" Benjen asks.

"Less than sixty..."

"Now what?" Rattleshirt asks.

Benjen looks at the Half Hand and they nod, "We return with you to your camp and then we march to the wall together..."

JEOR

After two weeks of hard marching they finally make it to Craster's Keep. "You lot look like shit..."

"Aye! We need food and rest..."

"What you got to trade..."

"Look my men have been through hell...We need a few days to tend the wounded and rest...Then we will be on our way..."