AN: Thank you for the excellent response to the previous chapter! I was able to get this one out much sooner than usual since it is really the second half of the previous chapter. I very much appreciate the constructive criticisms that help make my writing and the story better. :-) Anyway, enjoy!
Jon left the performers' camp feeling slightly put out after his mutton lunch with the recruits. Though there were many people milling about, he was unable to find Camen or Ygritte.
It looks like I'll be spending more time with Maester Luwin than I anticipated today. There are still three potions books that I have to read before I can get to the other books that he has in store for me. There is Song of the Alchemists, De Rerum Dirennis and Herbalist's Guide to Westeros. Since I will have more time today for reading, hopefully I will be able to get through all of them today so I can start on the other books tomorrow.
Jon's musings were with him as he moved through the castle up to the maester's chambers. Jon knocked as he called out, "Maester Luwin?"
"Is that you, Jon? Do come in," The Maester opened the door and ushered Jon to the chair that he had sat in when reading A Game at Dinner and Mannimarco: King of Worms. "Did you want to start with Song of the Alchemists or did you want to get a better understanding of the foundations of brewing with De Rerum Dirennis or Herbalist's Guide to Westeros?"
"From what you told me about De Rerum Dirennis and Herbalist's Guide to Westeros, it sounds like Song of the Alchemists is probably the best of the three to start with today," Jon said, accepting the book that Maester Luwin had plucked from the shelf and handed to him. "I don't know what to expect after A Game at Dinner and Mannimarco: King of Worms."
"Right you are, Jon Snow," the maester agreed while picking up several plants from the table and dropping them into a cauldron that was simmering over the fireplace and causing a pleasant smell to fill the chambers. "The tale it tells is quite differently from the two books that you have read on the subject of potions so far. However, I find that it really adds a human element to the art of potion making. Anyone can put ingredients together by following instructions, but to have a feel about why certain ingredients will work together is something different entirely."
"Alright then, let's see what the Song of the Alchemists is all about," Jon said while opening the book. "It should be interesting at least."
Song of the Alchemists
Jon felt a deep terror in the very marrow of his bones. In the beginning, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It was well known that there one was always risking their life when they went North of the Wall. It was a sad truth that ranging parties often returned with fewer men than when they left on their ranging.
However, over the past months their ranging had become increasingly perilous. A group of 30 Brothers of the Night's Watch had left on a great ranging, intent on going further North than anyone had dared since the former First Ranger Benjen Stark had disappeared when Jon had first arrived at the Wall. Two moons had passed before the remainders of that group had staggered back to the Wall. The thirteen men who had returned were mere shades of the men who had left. They had seen the worst the North had to offer and found themselves to be woefully inadequate.
They told tales of dead men stalking the unexplored wilderness beyond the Wall and how those men did not feel the way that normal men did. They told of how the dead had no fear for their lives. They told of how the dead attacked without a shred of concern for their wellbeing. They told of how the dead did not stop attacking when wounded beyond what the human body should be able to withstand. They told of how the dead attacked until either they had achieved their singular objective or until their body was so destroyed that the pieces could not move to continue their assault.
The broken brothers told of how they would huddle around the campfires at night as it seemed to be the only thing that the dead feared. The broken brothers told that even the fear of fire was not enough to keep the dead away for long. The broken brothers told of how relentlessly they were stalked by the dead. The broken brothers told of how the dead would be coming for them and how there could be no escape.
Jon was not alone in heeding the warnings of the broken brothers. The group refused to be separated and kept a roaring fire in their dormitory at all times as if they expected the dead to break into their chambers and steal them off into the night.
Jon's closest friend and ally also took the warnings to heart. Though the large man was, admittedly, less proficient with a sword than his stature would suggest, he was also committed to doing his part to make sure that, if the broken brothers were speaking true, the Night's Watch would be prepared. He had made the library of the Night's Watch into his temporary chambers as he sought a solution to the problem that was looming in the darkness.
Jon watched as his loyal friend devoured book after book, never finding the answer that he sought. Eventually, the portly member of the Night's Watch exclaimed, "Aha! That's it."
Jon rushed to his friend's side to see for himself what Sam had proclaimed to be the solution to their ever approaching problem. "Wildfire? How will that help us?"
"Don't you see, Jon?" Sam asked while gesturing to the pages of the book. "Wildfire is a substance that was created to mimic the effects of dragons' fire. The only difference being that Wildfire, once burning will continue burning until its target has been destroyed."
Jon nodded. "That's all well and good. I think I remember hearing about Wildfire in one of Old Nan's tales. Hasn't the recipe been lost for ages?"
"It has," Sam whispered, his face fell as he seemed to remember that knowing the one thing that could stop the dead was still out of reach. "We'll just have to keep looking."
Sam resumed his efforts picking up and discarding books after skimming through their contents. Jon was impressed with Sam's efforts and wished that he could be more helpful but books were never his strongpoint. He was one of the few men of the Night's Watch who could read and write but he was much more proficient with a sword in his hand than with a book. Jon paced the room for several minutes before he heard a horn blowing.
One blast, that meant that Brothers of the Night's Watch were returning. That was good. With how high tensions were after the broken brothers had returned, more men would go a long way in making the place feel more secure. A second horn sounded, Jon knew that meant that the Castle Black was under attack. Jon looked quickly at Sam before he unsheathed the Valaryan sword Longclaw and rushed from the library to meet the attackers. A third horn sounded causing Jon to stop in his tracks.
The signal was taught to the greenest of recruits. The blows of the horn had not been sounded in a thousand years. Three blasts of the horn meant that the Others were coming. The broken brothers were right. The dead had come back from their eternal slumber to wage war upon the living.
Jon rushed determinedly through the castle, to the crankshaft that would allow him to take his place at the top of the Wall to rain down arrows upon the attackers. The minutes that Jon spent in the carriage waiting to get to the top of the Wall were undoubtedly the longest of his life. He couldn't help but to think of what an army of undead would do if they managed to gain entrance to Castle Black.
Finally, Jon reached the top of the Wall and looked out upon the frozen wasteland on the North side of the Wall. What he saw left him speechless. As far as his eye could see, a horde of corpses were throwing themselves against the wall. He shoved his doubts to the corner of his mind and moved among the archers positioned at the top of the wall while grabbing one of the recurved bows used by members of the Night's Watch. The recurved bow provided much more penetrating power than a standard bow and was able to fire flaming arrows with accuracy into the army of the dead.
Jon and his Brothers could not count how many arrows they fired. They fired until their bowstrings cut their fingers. Still they kept firing. They fired until they no longer had the strength to draw the bowstrings. At that point, Jon and another Brother took the steps to let loose the large metal hook connected by an ancient chain to the other side of the castle which would scrape along the face of the Wall and drop tons of debris upon the attacking menace.
The apparatus performed just as it was designed and buried all attackers within fifteen feet of the Wall. This did what their flaming arrows failed to do. The horde of Others began to retreat. The men of the Night's Watch cheered at the small victory that they had achieved. With the Others attacking, living to see another day was victory for the Night's Watch.
Jon and the other Brothers made their way to the carriage slowly descended to the base of the Wall to join the rest of the Brothers within Castle Black. There was jubilation among the men as they congratulated one another for performing a feat for the ages by repelling the Others attack. However that was short-lived.
"They'll be back." Donal Noye promised with a grim expression. "We will need to prepare for the worst. We may have won the battle but the war between the living and the dead is far from over. Their army grows with each passing day. Ours does not. Get some sleep. The Seven only know how long we have until their next attack."
The cheeriness that had filled the air was replaced with wariness and a feeling of uneasiness. Jon agreed with the words of Donal Noye but, instead, chose to check on Sam to see if he had made any progress in the library since he was nowhere to be seen among the men.
Jon was struck by the cold he felt in the library. It was as if all warmth had been sucked from the air leaving a cold that sunk deep into his bones. Jon worried for his friend and moved to the table where Sam had been conducting his research.
What he saw nearly broke his heart. Sam was lying motionless on the floor in a pool of his own blood with an Other biting at his neck.
Jon's body moved of its own volition as he unsheathed his sword and brought it crashing down on the neck of the Other, separating it's head from its shoulders. The body immediately stopped moving and collapsed onto Sam's downed form. Jon steeled himself and stabbed the Valarayn steel through the back of the Other intent on piercing Sam's heart to prevent him from rising as a minion of the dead.
Jon found his body moving again as he moved to the table and put both hands on its surface, leaning over while breathing heavily. His best friend was gone. The Night's Watch had only delayed the Others but it was a certainty that they would be back. How much time did they have? A day? Two? Not enough.
Jon's eyes found Sam and the Other, both still impaled by Jon's sword. He looked away quickly and noticed that the book on the table was open to a page with the word Wildfire boldly printed at the top.
Sam had done it! Sam had found the recipe for Wildfire. Jon's eyes darted to a large cauldron that was sitting in the fireplace.
So that is what Sam had been doing. He had made his stand in the library while trying to give the Night's Watch true victory over the Others. Jon would see to it that his last efforts would not be in vain. He shook his head and took out his flint to spark the fire, adding more wood to stoking it until it blazed and brought the potion to a boil.
Judging from the color, Sam had almost completed the recipe. All that was left were a few ingredients that almost cost Jon the contents of his stomach.
To breathe life into Wildfire, there must be death. The more death that can be added to the potion, the more intense the fury that will be unleashed when the Wildfire seeks out your enemies.
Jon hardened his heart and retrieved his sword. The Valaryan steel sliced through the Other as if it were butter. One by one, Jon removed it's limbs and added them to the boiling cauldron which caused an acrid smoke to shoot up the chimney. Jon added the torso and the head last which caused the solution to become a faded green color.
Jon returned to the book and read.
The most potent Wildfire will have a vibrant green color. Only the freshest death can pay for the deaths that the mixture is sure to cause.
A tear formed in Jon's eye as he moved from the desk and brandished his sword as his fallen friend. Though the sword cut true, Jon could not stop the tears from splashing down upon his friend as he proceeded to chop him into pieces to add to the Wildfire.
Sam's left arm was added first. Then his right was added to the mix. The tears were still flowing as a bloodied Jon deposited Sam's legs into the solution causing it to become steadily lighter. Jon struggled a bit in lifting Sam's Torso but, soon enough, it too was deposited into the mix. It disintegrated almost immediately and the color became more vibrant still.
Jon was sobbing heavily as tears flowed onto Sam's disembodied head that was clutched to his chest.
He looked at Sam's face and killed the boy in his heart by dropping it into the solution while saying, "For the Watch."
After the last addition, the potion was practically glowing. Jon sagged to the ground, motionless as the fire slowly dwindled before him. He could not say how much time had passed before he was finally able to move again.
Jon grabbed the lid from the cart that had been used to bring it to the library next to the fireplace and secured it to the now cooled, but still glowing, mixture. With a superhuman effort, Jon lifted the potion to the cart and began pulling it out of the library and through Castle Black. Though Jon was covered in gore, no one stopped him. He pulled the Wildfire to the crankshaft that would take him to the top of the Wall.
Unlike the last time he made the journey to the top of the Wall, Jon felt that the journey passed in a blur. With what had happened and what he had been forced to do to his one true friend, Jon was completely numb to everything else in the world.
The cold touched his skin but he did not feel it. The only thing that existed within him was his singular purpose; the reason that Sam had died.
Jon looked out from his position on the top of the Wall and smiled at what he saw. The army of Others was once again marching on the Wall to resume their attack. This sight, which should have caused Jon to tremble in fear, caused him to smile instead.
Closer and closer marched the army of the dead. Jon heard the three horn blows to signal the return of the Others. The Others climbed upon the mound of ice and stone that had been dropped earlier. Jon pushed the cart over the edge and watched it fall. It seemed to take an eternity for the cauldron to hit the ground. When it did there was a resounding explosion and a flash of light that caused Jon to shield his eyes with his arm.
When Jon removed his arm, he was greeted by a larger than life image of Sam made of fire that blazed the same color as the potion brandishing a large sword made up of the same fiery substance.
The Wildfire Sam struck out against the Others causing bits of green flame to break off from his sword. Those bits rapidly consumed the dead flesh of the Others and grew in size until they too took on the likeness of Sam and wielding similar swords of fire. The Wildfire Sams were easily cutting through their undead opponents. After a few minutes, hundreds of Sams were making their way through the army of the dead. Wave after wave of Others fell to the army of Sams until eventually there were no more Others attacking the Wall.
At that point, the original Wildfire Sam turned to face Jon before raising his sword in salute. The gesture was quick and the Wildfire Sam took off northward intent to seek out the Others and put an end to their menace for good. The others quickly followed causing the eerie green light to fade from the base of the Wall to be replaced by an unnatural darkness.
Jon was sure that they would accomplish their mission to eradicate the Others but the thought brought him little solace. He friend had just saved them all and granted a victory that would echo through the centuries but it all felt hollow since he would not be there to enjoy his victory. Samwell Tarly may not have been the greatest swordsman that Westeros had ever seen but he had done more with his particular talents than most could ever dream of in their lifetimes.
He may have come to the Wall as the greenest of boys but, in his death, he had become the greatest of heroes.
S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Level up! Through repeated mental exercises, you have increased your Intelligence.
Speech +1000 experience!
Archery +1000 experience!
One-handed +1000 experience!
Sneak +1000 experience!
Skill Level Up: Alchemy +1000 experience!
"Woah," a heavy sigh escaped Jon's lips. "That's definitely not what I was expecting."
"Indeed the Song of the Alchemists is worthy to be sung for all of time," the maester acknowledged while moving to take the book from Jon and put it back on his shelf. "What did you learn from the tale, Jon?"
"Potions really can be more than just a mix of ingredients. Even though the potion required death, it seems like it was the intent behind making the potion is what caused it to work so well," Jon puzzled thinking back on Song of the Alchemists. "I wonder if the tears that found their way into the potion, by accident, were part of the reason that it worked so well?"
"Indeed that could be the case," Maester Luwin agreed. "I like to think that they were the human element of the tale. The potion was so much more to the protagonist than simply a combination of ingredients. His very best friend gave his life and soul in order to give our main character a chance to survive. I like to think that his intentions and the fury that he felt against the creatures that took his friend from him are the reason that he was so successful in finishing the potion."
"What of the Others?" Jon asked while staring into the fire. "I never expected them to make an appearance in such a notable book. I always thought that they had been made up to scare younglings into following the rules set by their parents. This story makes it seem like they could actually be real."
"Don't let your preconceived notions get in the way of your venture for knowledge," the maester cautioned. "As you learn more you may find yourself taking new stands on matters that you firmly believed at an earlier time."
"How can a man live if everything that he knows is constantly changing?" Jon asked, not truly expecting an answer. "Wouldn't it be easier if everything stayed the same?"
"Of course it would be easier, Jon. However, life is not easy and you will find that change is one of the only things that is constant for all things living. A life without change would be the life on one of the Others," The maester declared while moving to present De Rerum Dirennis and Herbalist's Guide to Westeros to Jon. "Now, which of these would you like to read next? I hope that I am not being too presumptuous with your time but I assumed that since you got here so early that you would be interested in continuing to develop your knowledge today?"
"If it would not be too much of a bother," Jon took De Rerum Dirennis from the Maester. "Only one left after this before we can discuss those other six books that you agreed to let me read after finishing the potions set."
"No bother, Jon Snow," the maester waved off the concern. "Finish these two and we can certainly delve into the subjects of the other books."
"That sounds good to me," Jon happily agreed. "Now, let's see what De Rerum Dirennis is all about."
A strange thing happened when Jon opened the book.
Increased Intelligence comes with many benefits. You can now Absorb the content of books as an alternative to Experiencing them. Be warned that though Absorbing the content of a book will give you access to the book's main content, it will not be as deep of an understanding of the unwritten messages in the text as can be gained by Experiencing the book. Additionally, if you choose to Absorb the content of a book, it will feel as if no time passes to you. However, to those around you the amount of time that passes will be exactly equal to the amount of time that it would normally cost you to read the book.
Absorb the content of this book or Experience the content of the book?
Maester Luwin said that I may struggle getting through this book since it is more of a reference book than a story. I'll give Absorbing the contents a try.
As soon as Jon had thought that he wanted to absorb the content of the book, he felt it grow warm in his hand. A glowing, golden script was traveling up Jon's arm surely fading as it got further from the source.
De Rerum Dirennis Absorption successful!
Alchemy + 1000
Alchemy Skill Unlocked: Potioneer's Instinct: Tasting ingredients will unlock their properties for use in poison and potion making.
Wow, that was something else. I didn't get as much experience but I did get a new Alchemy skill which is sure to come in handy in the future. I wonder how much time has passed during the Absorption.
"Maester Luwin, is there enough time for me to read the Herbalist's Guide to Westeros, today?"
"Finished have you, Jon" the maester asked with a smile. "You were so intent on your studies over the last three hours; I would have thought you to be asleep but for the turning of pages."
"Definitely not asleep," Jon assured. "You were right that De Rerum Dirennis did not quite strike me the way the other books did."
"That is not terribly surprising, I'm afraid. De Rerum Dirennis is more of a reference book than a testimony of human character," Maester Luwin explained. "Herbalist's Guide to Westeros is much the same in that regard. It is getting late in the afternoon but, if you do not mind being a bit late for supper, I have no qualms with you staying to read the last of my most prized books on the subject of Alchemy."
Jon moved to meet the maester at the book shelf and took the Herbalist's Guide to Westeros from the maester's offering hand before returning to his chosen reading spot.
Herbalist's Guide to Westeros
Absorb the content of this book or Experience the content of the book?
Jon chose to Absorb the content of the book and experienced the same phenomenon as before with the glowing script seeming to enter into his body.
Herbalist's Guide to Westeros Absorption successful!
Skill Level Up: Alchemy + 1000
He let out a small groan which passed without comment from the Maester. Jon looked around and found the chamber to be empty. He stood from his chair and set the Herbalist's Guide to Westeros on the desk before exiting the chamber and closing the door.
Jon hurriedly made his way down to the dining hall to take his supper. Though he was a bit late, he was able to take his place at the lower table without much fanfare. Had he been sitting with the Starks at the upper table, it is likely that he would have been chastised for arriving late. As it was, he took his meal of rabbit and potato stew quietly before leaving to make his way to his chambers for the night.
In his contemplation of the events of the day, Jon had not noticed the comings and goings of the other people at dinner. Due to this, he was very surprised to find Lord Eddard Stark standing at the door to his chambers.
"You have outdone yourself over the last two days, Jon," the Lord of Winterfell stated with pride. "Let us talk in your chambers."
"As you command, Lord Stark," Jon opened the door and beckoned for his father to enter. "It is a pleasurable surprise to have a chance to speak with you."
"Aye, it is overdue. I'm sure you have questions for me and equally sure that I do not have all of the answers that you seek."
"Where did you get that ring?"
"That is not the first question that I expected you to ask. That ring came into my possession shortly after the war that put Robert Baratheon on the Iron Throne. If the man who gave it to me is to be believed, it was once another color and turned black due to an enchantment that would act as a boon to the one worthy of wearing it. I admit that, in my younger days, I hoped to be the one worthy of the ring but, as the years passed, eventually I realized that it was not to be. I was unable to give you my name and hope that the small token makes me even just slightly more worthy of your forgiveness."
Jon was taken aback that the Lord of Winterfell felt that he needed to apologize to Jon of all people. "There is nothing to forgive, my lord."
"Father," Ned reminded. "We're alone, call me father."
"Yes, father. There is nothing to forgive. You have given me a home and a place in your castle when you did not have to do either of those things. You bear the ill will of your Lady wife every day on my behalf. Truly, not carrying your last name is far from the worst thing that could have happened to me."
Speech +100
"You deserve a better name than Snow but I cannot give that to you. If that ring does not find you worthy then keep it and give it to your own son so that I may have contributed in a small way to the blood of my blood."
"As you say, father."
"That matter aside, I had another reason for seeking you out tonight. There has been a raven from King's Landing. The Hand of the King has died. The King rides North and will arrive at Winterfell within a four moon's turns. I have commissioned the players to stay through his visit and, when he gets here, I must insist that you become but a shadow. Nothing good can come from the King paying too much attention to you."
Jon averted his gaze thinking of how his very existence brought shame upon the honorable Lord Stark. "I do not wish to dishonor you, father. I will make myself scarce when the King arrives."
"I'm proud of you, Jon," the Lord of Winterfell admitted while ruffling his hair. "You have a bright future ahead of you and I don't want you to get caught up in the game that they are so fond of playing in the South."
"I don't intend to get caught up in any games," Jon stated reassuringly. "Right now my focus is on training to reach my potential."
"That is a noble path to follow. I hope to hear many more tales of your prowess from Maester Luwin. You have impressed him quite a bit for him to give you one of the Winterfell Captain's Jerkins after only two days of significant training under him. Be sure that when you wear it that you bring honor to House Stark. I don't want to imagine what my Lady wife would say if you were dressed in the garb of House Stark and causing any harm to the image of the House."
"I promise that, when I choose to wear that jerkin that I will be able to bring honor to House Stark."
"See that you do. That is all for now. Remember my words when the King arrives. Do not bring any more attention to yourself than necessary. Sleep well, my son."
"Thank you, father. It will be as you say."
The Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North nodded grimly before turning on his heel and leaving Jon alone in his chambers. Jon disrobed and got into bed. Sleep came very quickly that night.
AN2: What did you think? Jon finally gets his Intelligence moving and we get a means for him to obtain information relatively quickly. We have a sub-plot which really took on an identity of its own, some answers from Ned and a bit of movement in the greater scheme of things (outside of Jon grinding). I think the grinding makes sense considering that there have only been two days since Jon got the Stargaryan Ring in the first place. Any guesses about the ring's original color? Anyway, the updated stats are posted on my profile and I have updated the way that I will indicate experience gain to hopefully make it more intuitive without distracting from the narrative. Please review and let me know what you think of the chapter! :-)