Jon
Jon found the King surrounded by his knights. Most of them were Queen's men, but they served him as willingly as his Queen.
"Your Grace," announced King Stannis' pale-faced squire."I bring you Lord Stark."
Jon wanted to kneel, but the King gave a quick jerk with his head and spoke.
"No need for that, Lord Stark. I assume you know my knights and captains."
"I do," Jon confirmed and let his gaze sweep over the group of men. He tried to learn all their names, but that didn't change he low opinion most of them seemed harbor for him. For them he was an upstart bastard and nothing more.
"There is wine for you or boiled water with lemons."
Jon was not in the mood for wine and the bitter water the King liked to slur down everyday didn't entice him either.
"No, I am fine," he told the King who gave him a grim nod and came straight to the point.
"I understand what you did for Mance Ryder, but I don't like it when people are going against my orders.
"It was Ser Denys who gave the order, your Grace," Jon replied, but the King cut him off.
"Do you think me a fool?" The King asked."It was your idea."
Jon sighed and nodded his head in confirmation.
"I didn't want him to suffer…death is enough punishment," Jon explained honestly."Forgive me."
The King nodded his head."You are forgiven, but next time I want to be informed beforehand. Is that understood?"
"Understood," Jon countered and the King moved on to the next point.
"Yet it is not the topic of Mance Ryder that I want to talk about," King Stannis added and picked several raven scrolls from the table before him.
"I have news from your Lords," the King announced."Tell me about Mors Umber."
Jon swallowed and unfurled the scroll, before turning his attention back to the King.
"He is the the Greatjon's brother and they call him the Crowfood. A crow once took him for dead and pecked out his eye. He caught the bird in his fist and bit its head off. When he was younger he was also a fearsome fighter. His sons died at the Trident, his wife in childbed and his only daughter was carried off by Wildlings."
The King nodded his head and braced himself on the table."That is why he wants Mance's head."
"Probably," Jon confirmed."He hates Wildlings. He likes to display the skulls of those he killed in his solar. Father told me about it."
"I care not for the man's obscure habits," the King replied."Can he be trusted?"
"Mors Umber is one of my father's most loyal bannermen. Grant him what he asks of you and he will fight for you. Give him Mance's head and pardon his brother like he asks of you in this letter. I doubt that his brother Hother Umber really serves the Bolton's. The only reason that comes to my mind would be that they hold the Greatjon captive, but if you want to be sure about his loyalty have him swear an oath before a heart tree."
"And you think having him swear an oath before a tree will work?" Godry the Giantslayer asked, his voice ringing with amusment.
"I forgot that you Northmen worship them as gods," Ser Clayton Sluggs added quickly."What sort of god allows himself to be pissed upon by dogs?"
Jon flexed his hand and tried to ignore his biting comment.
"Call Mors Umbers here," Jon asked of the King."Let me speak to him from face to face. We will have need of him if we are to fight against the Boltons."
The King grimaced and picked the other raven rolls from the heap, before sorting them.
"There are others who replied to our call," King Stannis informed him and handed him the scrolls.
"One raven came from a certain Lady Mormont and another from Arnolf Karstark," the King explained.
"This Mormont girl has need of manners, but Arnolf Karstark seems enthusiastic enough," he added.
Jon read first Lady Mormont's written words and couldn't help but to smile.
Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North, whose name is Stark.
"That seems to amuse you?" the King asked and Jon brushed the smile from his lips.
"Lyanna Mormont is a girl of ten. She does not know what she says, but she still promises us help. In regards to Arnolf Karstark…he seems too eager for my taste. I know him, your Grace. He is a lickspittle and who will demand much in exchange for his help. Besides, the Karstarks betrayed my brother. I wouldn't trust him, but if you must call him here to the Wall and let him swear his fealty before the heart tree."
Godry the Giantslayer disagreed."If we pardon this Mors Umber you will make us look weak, Stark. It would be better to burn Last Hearth to the ground and ride to war with the Crowfood's head mounted on a spear, as a lesson to the next Lord who presumes to offer only half."
Jon tried to keep his growing frustration at bay and met the King's gaze.
"Half is better than none," Jon declared."Besides, he is my lord. Let me be the one to pardon him if you fear to loose your face, your Grace."
"You are not the King are you, Stark?" Sluggs asked tauntingly.
"I never assumed such a title," Jon replied through gritted teeth."I am only trying to help us to an army. Pride does not serve us well in our situation, your Grace. Compromises are necessary or you will fail. Allow me to call Mors Umber to the Wall. He hates the Wildlings, but he is no man without reason. Ask the same of Lord Karstark and remind him of the vow he is expected to swear. He is a lickspittle, but vows are another matter. Even Arnolf Karstark would not swear a false vow in face of a heart tree. If he refuses to come you will know how sincere his intentions really are."
Godry snorted."Now, you are again harping on about those trees…," he muttered but the King's sharp gaze silenced him.
"Be quiet," the King snapped when the knight made and attempt to speak again."I want to speak alone with Lord Snow.
Scowling Godry the Kingslayer followed after the others.
Once they were alone the King turned back to Jon.
"I sent my Onion Knight to White Harbour as this Lord Manderly refuses to answer my call. What do you think of the man?"
"His family owes much to the Starks," Jon explained."The only reason for his silence has to be that one of his family members is hostage."
"Very well," the King said and straightened himself."How long do you think will Lady Stark need to bring this Tormund before us?"
"Val assured me that she will able to return to us in a few weeks," he told the King."She plans to leave tomorrow if that pleases you, your Grace."
"It pleases me," the King confirmed and sighed."And it gives us time to call these Lords to us. I am inclined to follow your suggestion, even though I don't like it. However, I value your honest opinion. Nobody can call you a dishonest man, Lord Snow. You are much like my Onion Knight."
Jon swallowed, unsure if he should thank the King for this compliment. He decided to be polite.
"I am honored," Jon replied, but the King scoffed.
"Spare me your politeness, Lord Stark," the King replied."Go back and make sure that Lady Stark knows her duty. Tell her I know mine. There will be no more sacrifices, but I expect of this Tormund Giantsbane and his men to swear fealty to me. They can even swear it before one of those trees they like so much. Make that clear to Lady Stark and I will be pleased."
Jon bowed his head in acceptance.
"I understand, your Grace," he replied and returned to the tower. He was surprised to find Val without Gilly's presence, but it was better that way. She will depart tomorrow and he wanted to speak alone with her.
She sat next to her nephew's cradle, watching the comings and goings of Castle Black through the open window.
"Are you not cold?" he asked when he realized that she was only dressed in a wool shift.
Val rolled her eyes and rose to her feet, before making her way over to the bed.
"I was born in the cold and I will probably die in the cold if the Long Night kills us all," she replied.
"We will not die," he told her but she gave him an empty smile.
"We of the Free Folk see death as our constant companion, "she explained and pulled off her dress, before moving under the fur."That is why we try to live every moment as if it is our last."
Then she smiled and patted on the bed.
"Won't you come and tell me what the grim kneeler King wants from me?"
Jon sighed and pulled off his tunic and boots, but she stopped him before he was able to slip under the furs.
"Off with it," she ordered him and sat up to open the binding of his breeches."Now tell me?"
Jon helped her, before slipping under the fur.
"He said a lot," Jon told her and felt her warm body pressed against his. How could he have thought that she was cold?"He told me that there won't be any more fire sacrifices, but that he still expects Tormund to swear fealty to him. He won't even have to kneel and can swear his vows by his own godds. It is better than nothing."
She sighed and brushed her hand through his hair.
"Better than nothing, but Tormund will not like it. He is a stubborn mule," she added and kissed his neck.
Jon grasped her hair and pulled her into a kiss that seemed to last forever.
He had been inside her a dozen of times, but her lips were of as ever and her nimble body pressed against him was enough to forget the grim future.
He should feel guilty, he knew but it was too late for such thoughts of regret.
When he opened his eyes again he found her smiling down at him, her hand again brushing through his hair.
"Where is your mind, Lord Crow?" she asked teasingly, rubbing herself against him.
He stifled a gasp and pulled her down to kiss her.
…