Game of Thrones: Of Lions and Roses
Chapter 6 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.
Jon
Jon sighed as he sat at the desk of the Lord Commander; in spite of himself, his new role, he couldn't think of it as his desk yet. It had been three days since the Night's Watch had almost unanimously elected him as the new Lord Commander. There had been only one vote, Janos Slynt's, against him.
'I never expected anything like this; especially not so soon.' He reflected; a strange mixture of loss, longing and concern stirring inside him. 'Sam said Lord Commander Mormont was grooming me for command, but he died before he could finish…But still; they elected me to the post.'
He looked around the chambers that had for so long been Jeor Mormont's. It was still impossible for him to think of them as his, he wondered if he ever would feel that way.
He shook his head sadly as he considered the documents before him. 'I am not ready for this; I don't know enough…But, all those people of the Watch, they elected me and I can't let them down. I must do my duty.'
He sighed, it may be easier said than done, but he knew he would do it. He began by reading the documents, noting they were reports of various functions for the Night's Watch; concerning reports on the condition of the men, injuries that had been sustained, treated, supplies.
Jon sighed as he read through them, there were still a few men injured, and even with them, manpower was sorely lacking in the Night's Watch, just as Lord Commander Mormont had said; even though their supplies and everything else were plentiful.
Later; Jon was still seated at the desk; he had gone through all the reports and had now called for a meeting with the more senior members of the Night's Watch; Ser Alliser Throne, Bowen Marsh and Maester Aemon, in order to determine the next course of action for the Night's Watch.
'Throne and I have had our differences in the past, but now we must work together.' Jon thought to himself. 'Hopefully we'll manage that.'
He straightened up as he heard the knock at the door and waited as the men entered, taking seats around the table.
Jon nodded once they were all seated. "We have much to discuss, let us begin."
The others nodded and Jon decided to turn to their first problem.
"We are in need of more men, as always." He explained. "Our numbers have dwindled due to recent attacks, more so than usual. Plus those who are injured…?"
He trailed off, looking towards Maester Aemon.
Aemon nodded. "We are doing all we can, unfortunately, some of them we may not be able to save."
Jon nodded in confirmation. "I see, well then, we need to send out for more recruits."
"In the middle of a war…That's going to be a slim chance at best." Alliser remarked.
Jon sighed. "True, but what other choice do we have."
The others knew he was right and so together they drafted a letter to be copied and sent throughout the Seven Kingdoms, seeking aid for the Night's Watch, to have more men sent to them.
Soon the letter was finished and was prepared to be copied and sent via ravens after the meeting. As they finished Bowen Marsh shook his head.
"I doubt we will get much of a reply at all, let alone any positive one."
Jon sighed. "True, but we must try."
The others all agreed on that, Jon knew the next issue would be a difficult one, perhaps the hardest of the lot.
"There's something else too." He told them.
They all observed him carefully.
Aemon was the one who asked however. "What is it?"
Jon observed them all, looking for their reaction as he spoke. "We now know that the White Walkers are back, along with their army of Wights."
As he expected they tensed; he continued.
"I'm afraid that we're not prepared; we need to make better preparations, new men will help, but we may need more than that."
There were murmurs from them, clearly concerned; they all knew the danger; that was certain. The only question now was how they could counter it. They also knew after all, that Jon was right, they were ill-prepared. Still, none of them could see any ready suggestion; although it was clear Jon had some idea, they all wondered however what it was.
Jon prepared himself; this was a gamble, but it might be their only choice; their only chance for survival.
"If we're going to have a chance fighting the White Walkers; we may need to put aside our prejudices and seek an alliance with the Wildlings." He stated calmly. "We will need their numbers and fighting skills, especially if we do not get any reply or are refused by the Lords of the Seven Kingdoms."
The others gasped and finally Bowen shook his head.
"The Wildlings, is that…truly wise?" He asked.
Jon shrugged. "I cannot say; but as I said, it may be our only choice, our best chance."
Alliser nodded slowly. "He has a point, the Wildlings…they fight well and we're talking about a common enemy between us. But, I doubt they'd be willing to work with us."
Bowen sighed. "There are also those amongst our own who would be unwilling to work with them."
Jon agreed. "True, but, we'll need to try; it may be our only hope after all. Right now they are in the Gift…we must approach them there, neutral ground."
"Hmmm, you may have a point Lord Commander; that could work." Bowen remarked.
Maester Aemon agreed. "The army of the dead uses both men of the Night's Watch and Wildlings. They are an enemy to all; that was why the Wildlings tried to move south after all, to escape them."
Jon pondered for a moment before finally remarked. "If this is our course of action, we must let our intentions be known and we must find a man suitable to bring word to Mance Rayder."
The others agreed and the meeting ended, with them preparing to begin, first to send copies of the letter, then to spread word of their intentions to make an accord with the Wildlings, as well as searching for a man to bring their message to them. Jon knew this was it; either his gamble paid off, or backfired horribly; to the ruin of them all.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.