Val
She watched the crows burning their departed brother. Val forgot his name, but she knew that he was an important person to the crows.
He was running for the position of Lord Commander, Jon Snow's friend Sam had told them when he came to visit Gilly. Now they are only two men left. Old Ser Denys Mallister and this Janos Slynt.
To Val these names meant nothing, but Sam was very concerned about it. He spent hours talking about it with Gilly, though Val doubted that the girl understood everything he was telling her. The ways of the crows were as strange to her as to Val.
"I think he is full," Gilly remarked softly, rocking Val's nephew in her arms. Her own was sleeping peacefully. At first they feared that there won't be enough milk for both of them, but they soon realized that their fear was unfounded. Gilly had more than enough milk for both of them.
Val nodded her and kneeled down next to Gilly, glancing down at the small boy. It was hard to tell if he favored after Mance or Dalla, but she supposed that was common for babies his age. Yet she doubted that Mance would eve care about such crude things. He would only care about holding his son in his arms, but that was another thing the kneeler King denies him.
Mercy was another thing the King denies him, though it is no surprise to her that the King and the crows want to see him die.
He broke his vows, Jon Snow had explained to her when she cursed the King. He is an oathbreaker.
You crows love your vows, she had answered and still angered that the kneeler King's didn't even allow Mance to see his own son. Afterwards she felt a little ashamed of herself. Jon Snow had been nothing but kind to her so far. When Ygritte brought him before Mance she didn't know what to make of him. Back then he was a pale-faced boy in crows's clothing, but now he was a grown man.
Sharp. That was the way she would describe his demeanor. Sharp like the rippled dark blade he likes to carry around with him day and night.
"You look unhappy," Gilly remarked.
Val smiled and squeezed the girl's shoulder."The kneeler King wants to burn Mance, or that is what I heard his knights whisper among each other. This Lady Melisandre wants to give him to the fire. Fire is the cleanest death they say."
Gilly's eyes widened in fear."That is cruel of the King. Sam said he is going to help us, but now I am not sure…"
Val snorted.
"He wants my people to kneel to him. That is why he wants to burn Mance…to break our resolve."
"Sam told me something different," she countered meekly and lifted Val's nephew back into her arms, before picking up her own boy."He said the King wants to grant your people lands in exchange for your loyalty or something like that...Sam always uses such complicated words.
Val didn't know what to make of the King's plans, but Gilly's affection for the chubby boy warmed her heart. More than once the girl confessed to her that she wants to take the boy to bed, but that she also fears his refusal.
Sam takes those vows very seriously, she had told her.
Jon Snow does as well, though he broke them for Ygritte or better said she forced him to break them. Not that it surprised her. Ygritte was always the kind of person who took what she desired.
Jarl was similar and as if fated willed it the both of them found an early grave.
Now I will have to wed one of those kneeler knights, she knew and frowned, before turning back to Gilly.
"Giving us lands is one thing, but swearing loyalty is another. It means he expects us to fight against his enemies. For many of us this would mean certain death."
"But if your people remain beyond the Wall they will die too," Gilly argued clutching her babe tightly to her chest."They are going to come for your people…I saw them too."
Val nodded her head in agreement and patted. Blue eyes of frost were blinking before her in that moment and she shivered.
Val saw them herself, but never fought them. They come at night when it is the coldest and their breath is sharp as ice. Just mentioning them could frighten every Wilding child into obeying their mother.
"They are terrifying, but my people are a prideful lot…," Val wanted to add, but then the door opened. It was one of the kneeler knights.
Ser Massey, she recalled his name. He was a large man, graced with a mop of blond hair and blue eyes.
"My ladies," the knight greeted and dropped his head, an easy smile playing on his lips."I hope I am no bother?"
Val tried to remain polite and dropped her head a little. She knew that he expected more than that, but that was all he would get from her unless his kneeler King allowed Mance to hold his son in his arms.
"No bother," she replied quickly."What do you want?"
"His Grace expects you to attend the funeral feast held in honor of the departed brother Cotter Pyke," he explained."An exception is not possible."
Being paraded around by the kneeler King was the last thing she wanted, but then there was her nephew and Mance. Maybe he will reconsider his decision if I show myself willing.
For my nephew's sake, she told herself and forced a smile on her lips."
"I will do so if that is what your King expects," she replied in cold politeness and patted on her grey woolen tunic and pants."Will this be appropriate or do I have to change?"
Ser Massey seemed pleased by her answer and gave her a smile.
"Our King doesn't care for such things. Besides, you are a Princess of the Free Folk. I have seen many of your womenfolk wearing such garb."
"That is good to hear," she replied."I assume you are my attendant?"
The man nodded his head."I am, but it would be appropriate for you to be accompanied by another female companion."
She sighed, trying to wrap her head around those strange traditions.
"Well, then Gilly will come with me," she answered and jerked her head at the clueless girl."Will she be appropriate enough?"
The man paled and gave her a strange look. It was the kind of look her kind always received whenever they did something that went against the pretty traditions of these southron lords.
"She is your sister's wetnurse…someone of a higher position would be more appropriate," he explained, but Val could only wrinkle her brows.
"I don't understand...the other Wildlings are my brothers and sisters and Gilly is now one of us."
The man gave her another strange look and an uneasy smile crossed over his lips."My Lady…you are a Princess…," he began, but Val cut him off.
"Your King made me into that, but such names do not mean anything among the Free Folk. We named Mance our King, but that doesn't mean he considers himself above our brothers and sisters. He knows that he can be unnamed if he acts against our interests."
The man sighed and ruffled through his mob of pale blond hair.
"My Lady, I am only serving my King…," he began and looked over to Gilly, who sat there in utter silence. Then he shook his head as if to reconsider his words."Very well, bring her to the feast if you deem her appropriate."
Val was glad for it and gave Gilly a smile."Did you hear…we are going to a feast?"
A gentle smile crossed over her lips."I see… I hope Sam is there."
It was an hour later that Ser Massey escorted them into the Shieldhall where the funeral feast was to be held. It was a long hall made of dark stone with tables placed on each side and on the front. There at the high table sat the kneeler King, his Red Woman and two other familiar faces. One was the old Maester Aemon and the other one he hard-faced man who wanted to execute Lord Snow.
Alliser Thorne, she recalled and settled down next Gilly. Val felt more than out of place among these men. Their mistrustful looks told her everything she needed to know. Especially, Alliser Thorne was flashing her piercing looks at her as if he wished for nothing more than to cut her apart. Val knew men like him, all bitter and fixed in their opinions about the world.
Straightening herself she flashed him a smile and received an even darker look. It was a small triumph, but better than nothing.
The feast proceeded like most feast. There was ale, bread and meat served among the guests. Later one of the younger brothers came forward and played a song on his lute, which earned him laughter and clapping from his brothers. The happy melody made he King frown, but he made no attempt to send the boy on his way.
"That was beautiful," Gilly remarked gently and leaned closer. Then she lifted her finger and pointed over to Sam, „but Sam sings even better. You should hear him. His voice is so soft it could even put a giant to sleep."
"Next time we will ask him to sing for the babes," she added and spotted Lord Snow joining Sam's side. There was a ghost of a smile tugging on his lips, but the rest of his face was frozen in it's usual expression of glumness.
Val wanted to add something to her words, but then the kneeler King demanded their attention. He, his knights and the Red Woman stood out against the black-garbed brothers not only in their garb, but also in their demeanor. The crows glowered at the King, but the knights stood all straight to attention like a group of well-trained pets.
"King Stannis demands your attention!" one of the knights announced loudly. Then the grim kneeler King rose from his seat and let his bottomless gaze sweep over the crowd of people.
"Tomorrow a new Lord Commander will be chosen," he declared in a cold tone, his gaze wandering over to Lord Snow, „but there is more. I intend to retake the North from the Boltons, but to accomplish this task I am in need of a Lord of Winterfell. Lord Snow is the last living son of Eddard Stark and thus I will use of him. His vows were spoken in earnest, but a King can remove those vows in times of need," the King continued and paused, allowing his words to sink in.
Val was stunned and listened to the hushed whispers of the crows. She heard surprise, dislike and anger alike.
It was no surprise her when the glowering Alliser Thorne rose to his feet and made his disapproval known.
"Your Grace," he spoke."What does a vow matter if it can be removed at a King's convenience?"
She heard claps of approval, but the King seemed unaffected by the man's resistance.
"I explained the need for my actions, Ser Alliser," the King insisted." Without me the Night's Watch would be dead. The times have changed and the men of the Night's Watch have to change with it if they wish to survive the coming winter."
Then he turned back to the rest of the audience."We are besieged by enemies, both in the North and South. The Boltons will not lift a finger to aide the Night's Watch and the true enemy lurking beyond the Wall will not care for your vows. The Wildlings may have been our enemies, but I intend to make them faithful subjects of the realm. Curse me as much as I will, but I also know my duty. It is to protect my kingdom from the enemy lurking beyond the Wall. We both serve to protect the realms of men."
There was clapping heard from his knights and even a few crows joined in, but Ser Alliser was a stubborn man and not yet ready to give in.
"The Night's Watch has been fighting the Wildlings for thousands of years, your Grace," Ser Alliser growled, „If we allow them past the Wall the whole North will curse us."
"They will not," Jon added more sharply and rose to his feet."Not if I make them understand. I intend to call them here and make our plans known to them. My father's lords are stubborn, but not without reason. There has to be a way to make peace with the Wildlings."
"They raped and plundered our lands for thousands of years!" Ser Alliser replied through gritted teeth, his eyes fixed on Lord Snow.
"And now they are fleeing from the same enemy that will be coming for us," Lord Snow countered, not flinching under the man's hateful gaze."The Others are our common enemy. Many of your brothers them at the Fist of the First Men and Lord Commander Mormont was nearly killed by one of their servants. Thousands of Wildlings means thousand of such creatures. How will we fight them with only a few hundred brothers at our disposal?"
Ser Alliser was about to retort something when old Master Aemon raised his voice.
It was the voice of an old man, cracking like faded paper."There is truth in Lord Snow's words. I might not agree with his choice, but I am not the one who will be fighting against the Others. I am too old and brittle and I fear I will not live far into winter, but I believe those who told me about the Others. Thus I agree to with the King's proposal, though I doubt he will care much for the council of an old man like me."
The King gave the old man a quiet nod, before shifting his attention back to Ser Alliser."Do you have more to add, Sir?"
Ser Alliser grounded his teeth and settled down again.
Then the King turned back to Lord Snow.
"Now Lord Snow," the King declared."I ask you again. Will you pledge your sword to me?"
Val, Gilly and all the others watched in silence as Lord Snow stepped before the King, his cloak swishing after him like a dark shadow.
Then Lord Snow knelt down before the King, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword and his head slightly bowed.
Even from here she saw the tension in his body.
"I pledge your sword to you, your Grace," Lord Snow's firm and quiet voice rang through the hall, before dying in the emptiness of the room.
Whether the kneeler King was pleased about this was hard to say. His face was not meant for smiling.
"Then rise!" the King replied."Rise, as Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell."
Thus Lord Snow rose, though even from here Val could see the discomfort written on his face. Why did he forsake his precious vows, she wondered and watched him leave. Sam and several of his friends joined his side as if to shield him from the hostile looks of Alliser Thorne. Most of them laughed and patted Lord Snow's shoulders as they left the hall.
"I think we should leave as well," she remarked and took Gilly's hand, leading her along. It would have been so easy to slip away, she thought until Ser Massey stopped their escape.
"Is it time to return to my prison?" she asked.
Ser Massey gave her an uneasy smile and jerked his head towards the kneeler King."My King wishes to speak alone with you, my Lady.
She rolled her eyes at her title, but didn't dare to refuse.
"If that is what your King wishes, I will do it."
The knight smiled and pointed ahead."Please follow me. It is a rather delicate matter and thus we should seek out a more private location."
She followed him along the gloomy unwashed corridors, leading into some a private solar.
The kneeler King was awaiting here there with his hands clasped behind his back.
"I thank you Ser Massey," he told the knight and dismissed him with a quiet not, before shifting his attention back to her.
"You heard my plans for your people…I intend to unite the Northern Lords and the Wildlings against our common enemy and thus I turned Lord Snow into Lord Stark, but I fear that won't be enough. Two mark this new allegiance I intend to wed you to Lord Stark."
Val was stunned, but there was also anger. She held no dislike for Lord Snow…Lord Stark, but she was still a woman of the Free Folk. No kneeler King can force her to do anything against her will.
"My people will not accept it unless Lord Stark steals me," she explained, but the King remained unimpressed by her words.
"Lord Stark told me so much," the King countered and stepped closer, „but I also recall that Lord Stark had already captured you, Mance and the babe when my men came to defeat your people."
Val's cheeks started to glow with warmth.
"I…," she stuttered like a silly maid, feeling ashamed of herself. Dalla would laugh at me if she could see me like that.
"I intend to make the Wildlings into valuable allies and that means I will respect your strange traditions. Do as it is demanded by your people's custom, but do it quickly. Your King's death is already settled."
Val froze, fear washing over her. I need to ask now or never.
"Your Grace," she forced the words over her lips."I agree to your proposal, but there is one condition."
The King grounded his teeth in displeasure."Speak, but speak quickly."
"My sister's husband has yet to see his son. Allow him to hold him before he faces death."
A heavy silence followed until the King gave her his decision.
"I agree. Once you are wed I will have the boy brought to Mance Ryder. He will have several days to say his farewells. Nobody shall call Stannis Baratheon a heartless man."
"I thank you," she replied forcefully and left the kneeler King.
Gilly was feeding her boy when she returned.
"You look rattled," she remarked with a dying smile."Was the King cruel?"
She closed the door and made her way over to the furs, searching for her hidden dagger. It was a simple weapon carved out of bone and covered in numerous spirals.
"What are you doing?" Gilly asked when she came to her side.
Val looked up and gave her a sly smile."I am going to steal Lord Stark."
…