Lord Brandon Stark

Winter is coming, those were the words of his house, and they had always sounded ominous, even during the winters Brandon had seen as a child, he had laughed at them and thought that winter would never come for him and his. He was the wild wolf and he bowed to nothing, he knew different now. He had a family to care for and look after, his wife was his rock, anchoring him to real life and away from the fantasies of his youth, his children Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon all gave him joy, joy he had never thought to have again when Lya died, and every day he cursed that damned fool Rhaegar for taking advantage of a girl who dreamed.

His son Robb was a man grown and soon to be wedded once this damnable war in the north was done. His son was sixteen years old, tall and broad of shoulder like Brandon himself, with a mop of fiery auburn hair a sign of his Tully heritage, though there was the mischievousness that Brandon recognised from his own youth. His son had proven to be a good soldier and even better commander; during the battle of the skulls Robb had commanded the northern flank whilst Brandon had charged the host. Both of them had scattered the wildlings and sent them cowering back beyond the wall.

And yet the wildlings remained, an ever present threat beyond the wall, hiding in the shadows and waiting for their next chance to move. Brandon's youngest brother Benjen was now Lord Commander of the Night's Watch replacing the slain Jeor Mormont and had taken steps to ensure that the Watch and its castles were as garrisoned as they could be, the men sent from King's Landing were put under the command of those experienced commanders Ser Allister Thorne and Ser Bowen Marsh and others like them and were told to hold the wall at all costs.

Something was forcing the wildlings south of the wall, or atleast forcing their attempts at coming south. Mance Rayder the king beyond the wall, the first one of those in nearly one hundred and thirty years had assembled a large host, made up of wildlings and giants and other things that Brandon had long thought only existed in stories. Benjen had told them that such groups never mixed beyond the wall and that there must be something truly terrible out there to force all the warring groups to merge together. Aye something terrible indeed, Brandon had read his grandfather's journal and had read the notations his own father had made about the writings there. At first he had been sceptical and then he had heard of what had happened on the Fist and something had clicked something, some ancient evil was coming back, and if they let the wildlings through something might happen to allow this other darkness through.

It was a point that was heavily contested between the three Stark brothers. "Our grandfather was not known for being completely sane or the most rational of people Brandon. It is perfectly possible that these are the rantings and ravings of a mad man." Ned had said when Brandon had brought this up during a meeting in Castle Black.

"But our father has commented on the ravings of our grandfather and seemed convinced that what he was saying would come true. And you cannot say that our father was mad Ned, for if you did I would name you liar." Brandon had replied heatedly.

"So are you saying that you believe in snarks and grumpkins as well then Brandon? The wildlings have been the enemies of the north for a long time, since the wall went up in fact. Mance Rayder must be trying to lead them all south once more with promises of riches and gold. What more could he offer them?" Ned had argued back.

"A safe haven perhaps? Benjen has already told us what he saw on the Fist, and there are giants in their army Ned. Snarks and grumpkins might not be real, but we sure as hell know that giants are now. What's to say there isn't something more out there, some other darkness. If there is it is our duty as northmen to fight it and defeat it." Brandon had stated.

Ned had sighed then. His eyes troubled. "If there is something out there, is it not our duty, or rather your duty to alert the king as well, to let him know of our need. For the men of the north and the watch will not be enough to stop whatever other strength is out there if there is anything out there that could force the wildlings to join together."

Brandon had hesitated then, for though he knew that his friend would listen to what he had to say, there were those who would bid him to focus on the south and as such he did not wish to trouble Aemon with problems that might not be all that persistent. "Aemon has enough problems of his own without me adding to them just now. We do not know the full truth of what is out there and until we do then we cannot act on it."

Ned had seized on that. "So you do admit to being uncertain as to the truth of what is happening beyond the wall then? I knew it, we must discuss this with those more in the know than us brother. We cannot look like fools before the others."

And so they had brought their findings and their beliefs to maester Aemon, Castle Black's age old maester. The man had sat in silence and listened to their words and then in his ponderous tone had said. "These are indeed troubling times my lords. Wildlings have marched south again, and this time the giants have come with them. I have lived a long time, and never have I seen giants move with wildlings as a united force. Something must be stirring beyond the wall to merit such a mass movement of their people and the giants. If we continue to fight them, the Watch will bleed as will the north. There might be another solution to the problem we face."

"You cannot mean making peace with the Free Folk maester Aemon. They have killed as many of us as we have of them, and they are the ones threatening the peace we are sworn to defend." Benjen had said then.

"It might be the only way to prevent a wholesale massacre my lord. Think on it if you will." Maester Aemon had said.

And they had discussed it all of them brothers of the watch and the northern lords, and eventually it was agreed that an envoy would be sent to find out was Mance Rayder and his men wanted. The envoy had not returned as of yet and had been sent four days ago, news had trickled in from the south. War was raging there, as Aemon fought yet another threat to his throne. The Brightflames were invading and waging war on the Stormlands and the Riverlands, when he had read that he knew Cat would be troubled and willing for her husband back, but he had a duty in the north and he intended to see it out.

"Father," his son Robb said stirring him from his thoughts. "Uncle Ned is looking for you."

Brandon nodded got up, and found his brother standing on one of the walls facing north, Brandon joined his brother to look out and see the fog and the mist. "It is not clearing and there will be more fighting before it is all done." Ned said his voice ominous.

Brandon was about to respond when the sound of horns was heard throughout the wall. One blast, rangers returning, two blasts wildlings, silence, and then a roar. They were to fight once more, Mance Rayder had given his answer.