The Winter King
Chapter 15: Venturing North
Stannis Baratheon was host up in the Lord Commander's office. Ser Alliser was kissing his ass in order to become the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Hoping Stannis Baratheon would use his influence to give Ser Alliser the votes he needed.
The moment Harry saw Jon being led by Baratheon guardsmen to the Lord Commander's office Harry stopped what he was doing to follow them. Just as the guards were about to close the door Harry burst through and walks in. The guards attempted to draw their swords, but Brise and another Ranger were quick and pull their long knives as they grab their chin holding it upwards with the blade at their throats.
"I would rethink your position and take your hand off your swords," Brise said.
Stannis nods his head and they did so. Brise lets go as the other Ranger did before the door closes again.
"This is a private matter between myself and Jon Snow." Stannis Baratheon said.
"I know what this is about. And I'm not the kind of man to let his brother stand before an enemy alone." Harry said.
Stannis took note of what Harry said and didn't comment on it.
"Your brother disobeyed my orders. I gave orders that Mance Rayder to be burned alive and he defied those orders. Do you know what I do to lawbreakers? Ask Ser Davos." Stannis Baratheon said. Harry didn't have to look to see several fingers were cut from Ser Davos right hand.
"With respect, we do not follow your ways up here. Not in the North. Neither of us could have stood idly by and watch a man suffer as he dies. If Jon hadn't shot that arrow I would have." Harry said.
"You know very little about leading. Show too much kindness people won't fear you. If they don't fear you they don't follow you."
This was a load of crap if Harry ever heard it. He was kind to all of his men and woman under him. They followed him because they believed in him. He only shows fear to his enemies to make them regret crossing him. Ned Stark would have approved of Harry's method as well. He would have also stood by Jon's decision to defy Stannis's orders.
"With respect Your Grace, the Free Folk will never follow you no matter what you do. You're the man who burned their king alive." Jon said.
"Who, then?" Stannis asked. "You?" Thinking Jon was speaking of himself.
"No. Only one of their own." Jon said.
Stannis took this in as he turns to a letter on the desk.
"Do you know this wretched girl, Lyanna Mormont?" Stannis Baratheon said as he slides a paper over to Jon. Harry felt anger boil up inside of him the moment he heard Stannis said Lyanna Mormont was a wretched girl. She was doing all she could to lead Bear Island the best she could. She was doing well and ruling as fair as she could.
"The Lord Commander's niece," Jon said.
"Lady of Bear Island and a child of ten. I asked her like so many other northern houses to commit their houses to my cause and that was her response." Stannis said.
"'Bear Island knows no King but the King in the North, whose name is Stark.'" Jon said. This brought a smile to both Harry's face and Jon's.
"You find that funny." Stannis Baratheon said who was clearly not amused.
"I've told you before Stannis. Lately, all you've done is hurt the North. Unless you do something for us, we'll never follow you. We're loyal to our own." Harry said.
"I know. My brother Robert often and loudly went on about how difficult it was to control them. Even with your father's help." Stannis said.
"Tonight, the Night's Watch elects a new Lord Commander. Ser Alliser Thorne is going to win." Ser Davos said.
"Most likely," Jon said.
"Unpleasant man. He thinks you're a traitor. What's your life going to be like at the Wall with Thorne in command?" Ser Davos said.
"Unpleasant I expect," Jon said.
"He won't dare give Jon a hard time. I'll kill him if he oversteps his bounds." Harry said. "And I'll make sure he knows that too."
"Your bravery made him look weak. He's going to punish you for it." Stannis said. "I don't punish men for bravery. I reward them."
"I don't doubt it," Jon said. "But I'm a brother of the Night's Watch. I pledged them my life, my honor, my sword. I don't know what I have left to give you."
"You can give me the North," Stannis said. Harry didn't like where this was going. He was asking Jon to betray House Stark. To betray Robb and so many Starks. To betray the North in what they believed in.
"I can't. Even if I wanted to, I'm a bastard, a Snow."
"Kneel before me. Lay your sword at my feet. Pledge me your service and you'll rise again as Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell." Stannis said.
It was a tempting offer. One that Jon would have trouble deciding.
Harry turns to leave as did Jon who went to his brothers.
Harry knew better than to intervene. This was a decision Jon himself would have to come to terms with. Harry knew more than anything that Jon wanted to be a Stark more than anything in his life. This, however, would also put Jon and Harry at conflict with one another if he did accept Stannis Baratheon's offer. However, he would not get much support from the Northern Lords, as they would see Jon Snow as a traitor. The Lord who sided with the Southern King after the North is after its own independence. Even Harry was having a hard time getting many of the Northern Lords to side with him. Only the Karstark's have sided with the Bolton's. The Cerwyn's withdrew their support from Harry's cause when Ramsay Bolton flayed Lord and Lady Cerwyn alive before he killed them. The only house that was supporting Harry was House Reed. Howland Reed spoke to Harry and told him he would always be a friend to House Stark. That he would continue to support House Stark even through the darkest of times.
Harry and Brise, along with a few of their Rangers walked inside the mess hall for the voting. He wasn't sure if he would kill Ser Alliser Thorne or not. All he knew was he was going to watch with great interest.
Maester Aemon stands up and speaks, silencing all chatter.
"Does anyone wish to speak for candidates before we cast our tokens for the nine hundredth and ninety-eighth Lord Commander of the Night's Watch?" Maester Aemon said.
Janos Slynt immediately stands up and speaks.
"Ser Alliser Thorne is not just a knight, he's a man of true nobility. He was acting Lord Commander when the Wall came under attack and lead us to victory against the Wildlings. He's a veteran of a hundred battles and has been a defender of the Watch and the Wall almost all of his life. He's the only true choice." Janos Slynt said.
Several men said 'Here, here' in response and gave a round of applause.
Another man stood and gestures to an elderly ranger sitting down. Speaking of Ser Denys Mallister and his service in the Shadow Tower.
Maester Aemon called for silence and asked if anyone else would speak before going on how the tokens would work. That was until Sam Tarly spoke up.
Janos Slynt speaks up, insulting Sam Tarly.
"Sam the Slayer. Another wildling lover like his friend Jon Snow. How's your lady love slayer?" Janos asked as several men laugh.
"Her name is Gilly. Brother Slynt knows her quite well. They cowered together in the larder during the Battle for the Wall." Sam Tarly said. This caused most of the men if not all the men to burst out laughing.
Slynt was offended and called out "Lies!".
"A wildling girl, a baby and Lord Janos. I found him there after the battle was over in a puddle of his own making." Sam Tarly said. This caused almost all the men to laugh. Harry himself found himself having a smile on his face. Even Maester Aemon broke out in a smile as he appeared to be laughing himself.
"Whilst Lord Janos was hiding with the women and children, Jon Snow was leading. Ser Alliser fought bravely, it is true. And when he was wounded it was Jon who saved us. He took charge of the Wall's defense. He killed the Magnar of the Thenns. He went north to deal with Mance Rayder even knowing it could mean his death. Before that, he led the mission to avenge Lord Commander Mormont. Mormont himself chose Jon to be his steward. He saw something in Jon and now we've all seen it too. He may be young, but he's the commander we turn to when the night was darkest." Sam Tarly said.
Several men clapped.
"I huh… cannot argue with any of that." Ser Alliser Thorne said as he stood up to speak. "But who does Jon Snow want to command? Night's Watch or the wildlings? Everyone knows he loved a wildling girl and spoke with Mance Rayder many times. What would have happened between that tent between those two old friends if Stannis army hadn't come along? We all saw him put the King-beyond-the-Wall out of his misery. Do you want to choose a man who has fought the wildlings all his life, or a man who makes love to them?" Ser Alliser said as he sits down.
"You are very ungrateful Ser Alliser," Harry called out as everyone turns to look at him. "You are forgetting something very important. If it wasn't for Jon Snow, many of you would not be here today. Do not forget if it wasn't for my relationship with Jon Snow, my army would not have been here to defend the Wall from the Wildling attack. He also helped plan and orchestrated the Wall's defense, possibly saving many brothers live. You seem to hate Jon Snow simply because of his abilities to lead and find it a threat to yourself. You may hate this fact the most Ser Alliser, but you and countless of your brothers owe their lives to Jon Snow for his actions and decisions." Harry said.
No one said a word as they took this in. Ser Alliser had a nasty look on his face as he looks at Harry. Maester Aemon stands up.
"It is time." He calls out as the votes began to cast.
Harry watched as the men began to cast their votes. All anyone could do was watch with anticipation as the tokens were being counted.
It was clear many took Harry's words to heart. As Jon Snow was currently leading over Ser Alliser and Ser Mallister. Ser Mallister had the lowest votes with Ser Alliser Thorne just having double his. But the real votes went to Jon Snow.
Everyone clapped and cheer for Jon who was a bit shocked himself and couldn't speak. Everyone was clapping him on the back as they Congratulating Jon. Harry walks up and pats Jon on the back in congratulation.
A week later
Brise and Harry were with Commander Cyrus who had arrived with reports from Meereen.
"Sons of the Harpy," Harry said as he read the reports.
"They're killing Unsullied and Second Sons," Brise said as she looks at the report.
"Where is Varys?" Harry asked.
"Our spies have reported that he is on his way to Mereen with the Imp. However, it appears they got separated." Commander Cyrus said.
Harry looks down spinning his knife in his hand to twirl around in place.
"Have our men in Meereen start searching for the Sons of the Harpy. Find out who supports them and how they get their funding's. Give the Targaryen girl support and help. Kill them if they must. The moment Varys arrives in Mereen make sure he gets the information. Have them keep their eyes open and ears and start eliminating possible threats as soon as possible." Harry said.
"Shouldn't it be wiser to let the Son's of the Harpy kill the Unsullied and Second Sons?" Commander Cyrus said. "Daenerys Targaryen could be a protentional threat to your rule. She is after the Iron Throne as you are."
"That is true. However, she is more of a wild card at this point. There is the possibility that we could form an alliance with Daenerys Targaryen. Though it is true we might end up fighting her at some point. For now, we'll provide assistance from the shadows. Then when the time comes, we'll send a message to her for an alliance. She how she takes it." Harry said.
"You think she will agree to the alliance. Our reports suggest she's obsessed with power." Cyrus said.
"She is merely this way because she believes it is her birthright. The real question is, is she loyal to herself, or her family." Harry said.
"What do you mean?" Brise asks.
"You'll learn soon enough. I shouldn't say anything on the matter not until the time has come for me to tell." Harry said as looks over the reports currently from Winterfell.
"Lord Baelish is heading to Winterfell. What does he want with the Bolton's? He can't be that naïve to think that the Bolton's have the strength to support him." Harry said as he read the reports.
"You think he's forming an alliance with the Bolton's?" Brise said.
"I'm certain of it. Which means the Knights of the Eyrie could become our enemies. They do have forty thousand men at their back. They also can travel and fight on the snow and ice. This could be problematic for us." Harry said.
"If the Eyrie backs up Roose Bolton, the war for the North could take a dangerous turn," Cyrus said.
"We know these terrains, these lands. We have the numbers and the experience to back us up. Therefore, we have to hold out for as long as we can." Harry said. Harry stands up tall before address him Commanders again. "We've won every battle we fought in. I doubt we'll start losing now even if the Eyrie chooses to fight us."
Sam Tarly walks up to them as Harry leans back.
"Jon wants to see you." He said as Harry nods his head. Harry gets up and heads to the Lord Commander's Office.
"Harry," Jon said behind his new desk.
"Jon, you wanted to see me," Harry said as he sits down before Jon.
"I have made a decision and I need your support," Jon said.
"What decision. You know I'll support you." Harry said.
"I'm going to offer the Free Folk safe passage through the wall," Jon said.
"Because of the White Walkers," Harry said.
"Aye," Jon said.
"You know I support you. I always will. What do you need?" Harry asked.
"I'm bringing Tormund here to help negotiate the terms to get them safe passage," Jon said.
The doors open and Tormund comes in as the Night's Watch close the door. Harry gets up from his seat and moves to the wall and leans back on it.
Tormund sits down with a scuff on his face as he looks at Jon Snow.
"Where have the Free Folk gone? Where have they gone?" Jon asks. "Who leads them?"
"They follow Mance. They won't follow anyone else." Tormund said.
"What about you?" Jon asks.
"Hard to lead when you're in chains," Tormund said he turns to look at Harry who was watching this very carefully.
"What if I unchained you?" Jon said.
"Why would you do that?" Tormund asked.
"Because you are not my enemy. And I'm not yours." Jon said.
"You sure seemed like my enemy when you were killing my friends."
"For eight thousand years, the Night's Watch have sworn an oath to be the shield that guards the realms of men. And for eight thousand years we've fallen short of that oath. You belong to the realm of men. All of you." Jon said.
"And now everything is going to change?" Tormund said.
"It is," Jon said.
"Why now?" Tormund asked.
"Because now, I'm Lord Commander of the Night's Watch."
"What would you have me do, Lord Commander?" Tormund asked.
"I'd have you go North of the Wall. Gather the remaining Free Folk wherever they are and bring them back here. I'll open the gates for them and let them through. I'll find them lands to settle south of the Wall."
"They won't kneel for you and neither will I," Tormund said.
"I don't want them to kneel for me. I want them to fight with me when the time comes." Jon said.
"The day I ask my people to fight with the crows is the day my people cut my guts from my belly and make me eat them."
"And how many of your people can't fight? The women, the children, the old, the sick… what happens to them. You're condemning them to death. Worse than death because you're too proud to make peace."
"Tormund," Harry said as Tormund turns to look at Harry. "I tried to offer Mance Rayder a way out. He didn't have to die but he went out anyway for his people. I will now make the same offer to you and your people. If you are speaking the truth and only want to hide behind the wall I will allow it. However, there are conditions that have to be met if any of your people are to hide behind the wall."
"Conditions?" Tormund repeats in confusions.
"One, all our laws and customs and traditions will be respected and follow," Harry said. "Two, the raiding and slaughtering of our people will end. You cannot enter our lands and kill our people. Three, when the war begins, the war with the white walkers, you and your people will support us in fighting them. We'll need every able body to fight them and you know it."
"Easy to say that when you're not chained," Tormund said.
Harry waves his wand and Tormund found his chains click before falling onto the ground. Tormund rubs his wrists as if he was in disbelief that he was free.
"We've told you. We're not enemies. We want to help." Harry said.
"Your people need a leader. And they need to get south of the Wall before it's too late." Jon said. "We don't have much time, and they have less. The walkers are coming and they'll hit your people first. I'm not asking you to make peace to save your skin. Make peace, to save your people."
Tormund was starting to get emotional. It was showing in his face. He took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Most of them are at Hardhome. You know where that is?" Tormund asked.
"Up on Storrold's Point. I can get you ten horses and nine other men. You can get there in a week."
"Jon, that won't work," Harry said as Jon turns to Harry. "Time is against us and we need to get there as soon as possible. It would take a week by horses. It would take an hour by ship." Harry said. Harry sighs as he stands up straight. "It will take me a day, but I'll get the Northern fleet ready for Hardhome."
"Alright then. You're both coming with me." Tormund said. "You're the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. And you're a Southern King. They need to hear this coming from the both of you. They need to know the ships they're boarding won't be torched in the middle of the sea. Or nobody is coming. You both come with me, or I don't go."
"Jon, make preparations. I can bring with me twenty of my best Rangers to assist." Harry said. "Tomorrow morning we ride for Eastwatch-by-the-Sea to take my fleet to Hardhome," Harry said. Harry grabs his mouth and wipes his face. "The Night's Watch will have a hard time taking this."
Harry left the room to make preparations. Something in his gut told him things were going to go bad.
Author Notes: I got a surprise for all of you in the next chapter. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed. All my chapters have been revisited and edited. I'll be posting more as season 7 is upon us. The next one should be up in two or three days.