Hello Everyone, I'm Back!
First of all, I'd like to say thank you for the get well soon messages I received. Thanks guys, they made me feel better just by reading them. Second, I'd like to apologise in advance if this chapter isn't up to the usual standards you expect from me. In my defence, the painkillers tend to screw with my head a bit.
Enjoy the chapter and I'll try to post another chapter by next week.
Chapter 23 - Meetings with Wildlings
The next three days were full of meetings and preparations for the meeting with the Wildling leaders. Jon and Tyrion had finally gotten around to telling Robb and Greatjon about the truth of themselves being from a future Westeros that lost the fight against the dead. They told them everything including how Robb was killed and how Greatjon's son had betrayed the centuries old fealty to the Stark's. It wasn't until Jon had shown them his scars that they believed them. Greatjon knew from the position of those scars that they were fatal wounds and the fact that they were old and healed over and the fact that Jon was standing in front of him, alive, convinced him that at least some of what they told him was truth.
Robb on the other hand, didn't care. Jon was his brother and that was all he had ever known Jon to be. The way he saw it was if Jon had information that would save his family from the fates they had suffered in the Time Before, so much the better. But the burden of leading the North in battle should his father or brother fall was a daunting one and Robb didn't think he would be up to the task. Greatjon just sat there and reminded him that he was a Stark of Winterfell and the will to fight and lead was in his blood and Greatjon would back him all the way.
Lord Commander Jeor had sent out some of his best rangers to try and track the movements of the Wildlings without much success as they caught glimpse of the Wildlings who then just seemed to vanish when they tried to track them further. The rangers had strict orders to stay away from Crastor's Keep for the time being as even the Watch knew that Crastor was spat upon and despised by his own people for his sick interactions with his daughters-wives and the fact that he sacrificed his male children to the snowy elements of the north. The only reason Crastor hadn't been killed by his people yet was because they didn't know that Crastor's sons were in fact sacrifices to the White Walkers. Crastor's "Gods".
"And that's the last they see of them." Jeor finished his report to the representatives and Ned who were having one last meeting before they met the Wildling leaders at midday the next day. "We know they're out there but damned if we can find them or their camp. I hate to say it, but they know the territory out there better than we ever could. The only one of my rangers who would have even the slightest chance of finding them is Benjen and he still hasn't returned from his last ranging. I fear his watch may have ended."
Ned, who had been looking forward to seeing his little brother, was also worried that this was so. Jon though, knew that they worried needlessly. Benjen would be back any day now, limping with the aid of a stick due to a broken leg. Before Benjen had left on his last "official" ranging for the Watch in the Time Before, he had confided to Jon about the broken leg and the wildling woman who had saved him and helped heal his leg enough to get back to Castle Black. Benjen Stark was the only black brother apart from Jon himself to have earned the respect of the Free Folk, for he had protected them as much as he had protected his brothers.
Ned sat back and thought about all that he had been told. This meeting was crucial to the future of both his people and the Free Folk. It had to go right because they needed every warm body they could get to fight off the dead.
"First of all, there is nought we can do about my brother. He will either return here alive or he won't, as much as that possibility saddens me. We must concentrate on the Wildlings for they are currently the biggest visible threat. That they wish to meet and talk is both encouraging and worrying. We must find out why they gather in such numbers. I personally hope that they gather to protect themselves against a natural threat but with all the stories I've been told by the captured Wildlings who come south, well it concern me greatly. IF the dead walk once more, we are ill equip to deal with them." Ned told the gathered men. He then went on to lay down the ground rules for the meeting the next day then dismissed them with a comment about getting a good night's sleep. All of them left except for Jon and Tyrion.
Once the room emptied, Lord Stark left and Ned, a man with too many responsibilities and burdens was left siting in the "Kings" chair at the head of the table. As Ned looked as Jon and Tyrion, he remembered the argument that Tyrion and he had gotten into about Jon just a few days earlier.
"Jon, as you are the only one here who has extensive contact with those we are about to meet, I would like to hear your views on this." Ned said, deciding that Tyrion had been right. He had been at a neglectful father and best and an indifferent one at worst. Jon was a highly intelligent boy…man; Ned had to get into the mindset of treating Jon like a fully grown man.
Jon sat back and thought about his interactions with the Free Folk for while this situation was a new event, the people involved weren't.
"Well for one thing, those we bring with us are going to have to have a firm control over their temper, for I know for a fact that the Free Folk WILL insult them and their honour and our way of life. The Free Folk do not kneel, to anyone. Not even their own chosen leaders. Mance made a massive mistake when he refused to bend the knee to Stannis, who was a King of Westeros at that time. Mance's pride not only cost him his life but also the lives of his people. Those who escaped Stannis attack fled to Hardhome, increasing the already substantial numbers that were there. When the Night King and his army came for them, I could only save a little over two thousand of them. Two thousand out of ten thousand souls."
Jon shook his head, trying to dislodge the memory of the dead army that fell over the cliffs at Hardhome, only to rise again moments later and kill the living in a slaughter that had never been seen before in the history of Westeros.
"But," He continued, "But, Stannis also made a massive mistake in treating the Free Folk like he did. He should have asked for an alliance between them and not demanded their loyalty. Stannis is a hard man, fair, but cold and unbending. I believe it was inability to compromise that lost him his chance to be King of Westeros. That and his bloody Red Witch. Now I know I am only here because she brought me back the first time but still, her vision of the worship of R'hllor was to burn all unbelievers and demand that they give up their Gods. Old, New, Other Gods, it didn't matter. Convert or die was the basic message that she preached and Stannis, who should have known better, backed her up one hundred percent. He was so blinded by her promise that he was the Azor Ahai reborn that he was blinded to what was happening around him." Jon gave his father/uncle a grave look.
"My advice to you father, is to treat Mance and the other leaders with respect. Don't ask them to swear fealty to the Iron Throne or they will laugh in your face and walk away, and then attack the Wall at a later date. If you do allow them to come south, tell them that they do not have to bend the knee to the Iron Throne. Allow them to keep their independence but on the condition that they must obey the laws of Westeros and will suffer the consequences for not doing so." Jon finished off while thinking of what other advice he could give his father about the Free Folk and their ways.
"Should I let them come south, where do you propose I let them live? For the Northern Lords will not be happy if they must sacrifice some of their lands to people who have been killing and stealing from them for centuries." Ned asked Jon.
"The Gift." Was Jon's immediate reply.
"The Gift belongs to the Watch. I have no say in what the Watch chooses to do with the land." Ned stated the well-known fact.
It was at this point that Tyrion joined the discussion.
"It's true that the Gift does belong to the Nights Watch, but they have done nothing to cultivate the lands at all. If the Free Folk are allowed to settle there, they would be able to provide for themselves quite easily. The Gift is some of the best lands in the whole of the North. The soil is rich and fertile and the hunting without compare anywhere else in the seven kingdoms. You could allow them to settle there and turn Mole's Town in to a northern trading town, where the Free Folk could come and sell their wares to others. Actually, given the vastness of the North, you could set up several trading towns along the border of the Gift. The biggest problem will be keeping them out of trouble with the rest of the North. Trading with the North, will not only give the Free Folk independence means to make a living but it should also increase the revenues of the North itself. After all, the goods will have the same taxes and the rest of the realm." Tyrion smiled, while he continued laying out ideas for Ned.
"I know one of the conditions for being allowed south is that they will man the Wall with the Nights Watch but they could also be allowed thought the Wall to hunt. The meat and furs they would bring back would be excellent for trading. As Jon will tell you, the animal furs North of the Wall are thicker and warmer than anything the south has to offer and will be much appreciated when winter finally makes it to Westeros. The extra meat can be sold or preserved for the winter. Also, I happen to know of a particular map that is well hidden in the Red Keep, forgotten about for who know how long. This particular map shows the locations of valuable gems and minerals both in the North itself and North of the Wall. Now, who made this map, I don't know but it is an accurate one. These gems and minerals could be mined until it becomes too dangerous to be north of the Wall and knowing exactly where to mine will cut down the amount of time it takes to search out such resources."
Ned was intrigued. The thought of being able to mine such valuable resources would be a massive boon to the North. It would turn them in to a wealthy land, especially if they sold their goods across the Narrow Sea. Ned sighed. All this depended on the Lord Commander allowing the Wildlings to settle on the Gift as the Gift did belong to the Watch.
Ned sighed. This wasn't going to be easy.
"I thank you Tyrion for providing me with some ideas as to what to do with the Wildlings to keep them under control, but this is all academic until we speak with the Wildling leaders. This will be no easy meeting and I also thank you Jon for providing me with this information on them." Ned said then looked at Jon with a serious look on his face.
"Jon I want you beside me when I speak with the leaders. I'll need your advice during the talks" Ned told Jon. Jon looked back at his "father" with a shocked look on his face.
"Father, I understand why you want me next to you in this meeting but by rights Robb should be standing with you…" Jon trailed off as Ned interrupted him.
"I love Robb and I'm proud of the man he is becoming but he is young. He takes offence to easily and as much as I don't want to say it, he is a hot-headed, stubborn boy who is too quick to take offence and too ignorant to know when to ignore an insult instead of drawing a sword and demanding satisfaction. His actions and decisions in the Time Before show me that while an excellent fighter and leader in battle, his decision making leaves a lot to be desired. He should have never married that woman from Volantis and honoured the promise his mother made and married the Frey girl. We taught him better than that. He should have done his duty." Ned told Jon and Tyrion.
Of all the things his first born son did in the Time Before, Ned was most disappointed about that incident. If Robb hadn't been thinking with hic cock and married the Frey girl, then he wouldn't have been murder the way he was. Ned was going to have to sit Robb down and speak to him about doing his duty or the Starks will end up like they did in the Time Before, dead thanks to stupid decisions.
"It's late and we have an important meeting tomorrow so I suggest we head for our beds and try to get a good night's sleep." Ned told them
Jon and Tyrion bid the Lord of Winterfell good night and left the room. Ned continued to sit there, his mind once again overloaded with information. He understood what Tyrion and Jon were trying to accomplish but at this moment, it seemed an impossible task.
"Gods, please let us get through this meeting without blood being shed" Ned prayed out loud, then rose from his chair and went to bed.
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It was time. Ned looked at the inner gate of the Wall's tunnel, waiting for it to rise so the group of Northern representatives could go and treat with the people who choose to live beyond the Wall.
Ned and the rest of them were all dressed in their finest clothes in order to make a good impression to the Wildlings. Jon was secretly laughing at them. He knew that the Free Folk would look at this colourful group, wearing impractical clothing and laugh their collective asses off. This display would not impress the Wildling leaders. They didn't care about the Northern houses and ancient bloodlines. They respected strength and the deeds a person did.
Ned looked at Jon who was the only person not dressed in his finest. Jon wore sensible clothing, unadorned by jewels and silk. The only decoration on his clothing was a silver dire wolf to show he was a Stark. Ned saw a slight smile appear on Jon's face.
"What amuses you so my son?" Ned asked him.
"This lot. Their clothing is impractical for a meeting in the snow and the Wildling leaders will laugh their asses off at them. Are you sure these representatives and lords will be able to control their tempers? Anyone drawing swords in order to get satisfaction for an insult could start a war. A war we cannot afford to fight if we are to survive the Night King and his armies." Jon replied.
Ned nodded in agreement. They couldn't afford to go to war with the Free Folk. Ned had personally spoken to the Lords and representatives of the North about controlling their tempers and not responding to the Wildlings attempt to goad them into a fight. He has stressed the fact that if insulted, to reply verbally instead of drawing steel. He had explained that these insults were just the Free Folks way and they would happily insult their own just as quickly as they would other people. The brief meeting with the small delegation of Wildings he had met showed him this.
Ned looked around at the large group gathered in the courtyard of Castle Black. Robb was riding behind Jon with Theon at his side. Ned had taken Robb aside after breakfast this morning and explained that he needed Jon to be by his side in the meeting today. Ned explained to his first born and heir that Jon's knowledge and experiences with the wildlings would help Ned to negotiate with Mance and the other leaders and that Robb had a temper and would take insult at the slightest thing. Ned had stressed that he needed cool heads to give him council and while Robb was an excellent fighter and leader, Jon was the person he needed by his side today.
Robb had felt jealous at first but as his listened to his father explain his reasons, the jealously disappeared and understanding had replaced it. Robb knew that Jon had worked closely with the Free Folk in the Time Before and had managed to get the Northern Lords and the Free Folk to work together in order to survive the Long Night.
When Theon found out that neither he nor Robb would be riding at Ned's side, he started making accusations that Jon was trying to steal Robb's inheritance. Robb had shut down that line of thinking immediately. He explained to Theon that if the Wildlings do come south of the Wall, they would be Jon's responsibility. Jon would be the liaison not only to Castle Black but the Wildlings as well.
Ned's thoughts returned to the present when Jeor Mormont spoke to Ned.
"Are you sure about this Ned? The Wildlings are not to be trusted in any way. I still believe this is a prelude to an attack and I don't like the idea of them coming thought the Wall and settling on the Gift. They have no rights to it. The Gift belongs to the Nights Watch." Jeor Mormont stated.
"We've been over this. I have no intention of making any decisions today in haste and they would know this. Nothing major will be decided today my old friend but this meeting will set the stage for any future meeting to come. We need to make some sort of agreement with them or we could lose not only the Wall, but the Nights Watch as well. They are many and even with the new recruits, you don't have enough men to fight them off should they choose to attack the Wall in force." Ned replied
Jeor scowled at Ned and mounted his horse.
"Raise the gates!" he yelled
The inner gate of Castle Black rose and the group went into the tunnel in two lines. As they emerged from the tunnel and their eyes sight adjusted, Ned waited until everyone had cleared the tunnel before he spoke.
"Now, I would like to thank you all for coming today. We shall be meeting the Wildling leaders at the Weirwood tree a mile north of here. Remember; do not draw steel in response to an insult. The Weirwood tree is sacred ground. Do not dishonour yourself in front of the Old Gods. This meeting I hope, will be the beginning of a new alliance between the Wildlings and the North." Ned told the gather group and then turned his horse north and started the trek to the tree.
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"The kneelers are on their way Mance. They should be here soon." One of the scouts Mance had sent out to watch for the Northern party reported to him. Mance nodded and the scout departed. He wondered why the Warden of the North wanted to speak to him. Those who had been caught south of the Wall, had been returned North with a message to Mance.
"We need to talk." Was the simple message the Lord Stark had sent to him. Mance knew that gathering all the tribes in one place was going to upset the Nights Watch but he had no choice. Winter was coming and coming sooner than the southern lords realised. The dead were already starting to walk north of the Wall and it was for this reason, Mance had managed to gather the tribes in one place under his leadership, which was a feat for history itself.
Mance's ultimate goal was safety for his people during the Long Night and the best place for his people would be behind the bloody great Wall that the kneelers thought was built to keep the Free Folk out of the south. They had forgotten the old stories, forgotten the real reason why the Wall had been built. Mance hoped he could convince Lord Stark to allow his people to live in the North. His biggest problem was making them believe that the Night King had risen again and was slowly gathering his strength in order to some south, so Mance had surprise for the northern Lords that should help his case.
"Mance, I don't trust these fuckers. Why should they allow us behind the Wall? We've killed, raped and stolen from then for generations. They hate us and we hate them. Fuck em. I say we stay north of the Wall. We don't need them!" Darris, the leader of a tribe that lived North West of Castle Black said. There was a mummer of agreement coming from some of the others.
Mance just smiled that calm smile of his and looked at Darris.
"Darris, if you don't like what I'm trying to do here then your free to leave whenever you like. I'll just make sure that your corpse is the first one I kill when the fighting starts. The same goes for the rest of you." Mance replied.
"Karsi, you meet them. Tell me what you thought Lord Stark and his people." Mance asked the pretty leader of Hardhome.
"Well he definitely ain't no crow. He met with us, nice as you please. Gave us a version of guest rights so his people wouldn't attack us. He spoke to us with respect. Mance, be careful when speaking to him. He isn't your typical stupid southern Lord. He met with us as Warden of the North, not the Lord of Winterfell and I feel that distinction is important. He was speaking to us as the leader of his people, not the head of his family. The impression I got of him, he might just be willing to let us come south." Karsi replied.
"Tormund, Styr, Rattleshirt, do you agree with Karsi's thoughts on this?" Mance asked the other people of his peace delegation. They all nodded that yes, they did agree with Karsi on this.
"I don't like the southern kneelers but Lord Stark treated us with respect." The Lord of Bones reluctantly said. "But I won't kneel to him or anyone and if he makes me try, I'll kill him. My shirt doesn't have a bone from a southern lord and I'd like one." He finished with a nasty grin.
"As long as he doesn't ask my people to give up our ways, I won't cause him and his trouble." Styr said. Mance managed not to roll his eyes. Of course Styr would insist on this. Their practice of cannibalism was more of a ritual one. They ate their dead as a sign of respect and a way of keeping their peoples strength with the tribe. But that was not to say that they wouldn't eat a lost traveller or their enemies from time to time.
Mance was about to speak when he heard a noise that only a group of men on horseback were able to make. He smiled
"Well, I guess we're about to find out what the Warden of the North intends to do about us. They're here." Mance smile was still in place as he rose from his seat in the tent and went outside with the other leaders following him.
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As the Northern group approached the Weirwood tree, Ned saw that the Free Folk had raised a pavilion a little away from the tree. There was seating, Wilding style, and a low tables surrounding a fire in the middle of the pavilion. Mance Rayder and the leaders of the Free Folk were standing in front waiting for them to arrive. Ned signalled to stop and dismounted his horse. Ned, Jon, Jeor, Greatjon and Robb approached the waiting group, while the rest of them followed behind.
"Greetings Lord Stark. I'm pleased to see you here. I'm Mance Rayder, King in the North some call me. You may have heard of me." Mance said in a pleasant tone.
"Greetings Mance Rayder. I'm Eddard Stark, Warden of the North. I've come to treat with you and your people over the fact that you gather in large numbers in the Frostfangs Mountains." Ned replied as Jon had advised him to. Jon had explained that being Lord of Winterfell wouldn't get any respect from the free folk but the Warden of the North was someone they could respect.
Mance's smile got a little wider. Mance didn't know who was advising Stark but whoever they were, they were doing a good job of it. The way Stark introduced himself, as Warden of the North and not the Lord of Winterfell, would win some respect from the Free Folk as someone they could do business with.
"Come, Warden of the North. We've prepared some food and drink for you and your people. To help you warm up after your cold ride in the snow." Mance said, offering both hospitality and insult in the same sentence.
Ned and the rest of the group followed Mance to the pavilion and took a seat while the rest of the representatives found somewhere to sit behind Ned as Jon and Jeor took seats next to him. Once they were settled, a few young girls circulated among the men offering them the bread, wine and salt of guest rights, much to the surprise of some of the group who weren't expecting such civility from a bunch of uncivilised people.
All of a sudden, the sound of a slap rang though the pavilion.
Ned turned around to see one of the girls who carried the trays standing over Theon with a knife to his throat. Ned groaned. This was not a good start to this meeting.
"What did he do young one?" Ned asked the girl.
"He grabbed my ass then copped a feel of my tits." The girl replied.
"Is this true Theon Greyjoy? After all the warnings you were given not to molest the women?" Ned asked, knowing he had to sort this out immediately.
"Y…ye…yes my Lord. I'm sorry my lord." Theon replied, being careful not move in case the girl decided to gut him here and now.
"What's your name young one?"
"Alita, Lord Stark."
"Well, Alita, I know you're fully within your rights to slit his throat here and now but I would take it as a personal favour if you didn't. He's a stupid boy, thinking with his cock as all boys this age do. Would an apology from him satisfy your honour?" Ned asked the girl who didn't look all that forgiving.
Mance decided not to intervene, curious as to how Ned would handle this situation.
"Nay, milord. He got no right to touch me. His blood on the ground would satisfy my honour." Alita replied, knife still firmly held at Theon's throat. Ned tried not to groan outload a second time.
"As much as I'd like to honour your ways at this time Alita, I'm afraid I cannot. Theon is my ward. He is under my protection and I cannot allow you slit his throat. Now that being said, what can Theon and I do to rectify this situation?" Ned asked, truly being at a loss as to how to sort this out without Theon having his throat cut.
Alita turned her head and looked at Ned.
"Ward?" she asked him. "What does that mean?"
"Well to be honest, he is my hostage. Theon is my ward is so his father doesn't get any stupid ideas and attack my house. Theon is the last son of his father's line and will be King of the Iron Islands one day. If he survives the next five minutes that is." Ned explained to Alita.
"A king huh? Well King, get on your knees and beg my forgiveness and I might let you live." Alita told Theon who immediately got on his knees and begged for Alita's forgiveness, his pride forgotten about. Alita just looked at Theon in disgust as he begged for her forgiveness and his life.
"Ah pathetic. Are all you southern boys like this pathetic example?" Alita asked as she withdrew her knife from Theon's throat. Jon laughed.
"Nay Alita. Most southern boys actually have manners and wouldn't touch a lady without her permission. Now Theon and his people, they got no manners or common sense because if they did, they wouldn't have been stupid enough to attack the rest of Westeros. We taught them a fine lesson the day we came and got our revenge on his people." Jon said to Alita with a smile on his face.
Alita looked at Jon and smiled back as she started to walk towards him.
"Is that so? Well you pretty boy, you have permission to touch me." She said to Jon, still smiling at him. Jon laughed again.
"OH hells no woman. You are way too quick with that knife of yours and I don't need your father and brothers chasing me down in case they got the wrong idea. Besides, I haven't stolen you have I? So no touching if you please." Jon said with a grin to show he meant no offence.
Alita laughed and put her knife away as she looked at Mance.
"I like this one Mance so don't' kill him. He actually might be interesting." She said with a sly grin to both Mance and Jon.
Mance and the rest of the Wildling leaders laughed in appreciation of Jon's words. Unbeknown to Jon, Alita had a reputation for being fast with her knife when a man touched her without her say so.
"All right Alita, that's enough. Go, I need to speak with these pretty northern boys." Mance told Alita who just laughed and made her way out of the pavilion.
"Theon, go tend to the horses. You've forfeited your right to be here. Go now and keep your mouth shut." Ned told Theon who got up off his knees and raced for the entrance of the pavilion with the wildlings and the Northerners both laughing at him. Ned shook his head and silently cursed. What a way to start peace talks.
"Sorry about him Mance. You know how boys get sometimes. He had been warned that his usual behaviour wouldn't be acceptable here. Hells it's not acceptable in the North either but I've been unable to break him of his bad habits. Maybe now, he'll treat women with a little more respect." Ned apologised to Mance about what just happened.
Mance waved the apology aside.
"Don't worry about it. He's no worse than some of our boys and like you said, maybe he's learned his lesson about treating women with respect. We may steal our wives but she must give her permission to be stolen first." Mance said to Ned and the northerners at large, giving them a small but important look into their ways.
"Mance Rayder, leaders of the Free Folk, I come before you today to find out why your people gather together in numbers never before seen in north in the Frostfangs Mountains. I would know your intentions." Ned started off the official talks.
Mance looked at the other leaders then at Ned.
"What have my people been saying to you when they're caught south of the Wall Eddard Stark?" Mance asked.
"They say that the dead walk again with blue eyes. They say the Walkers have retuned. They say the Long Night is coming sooner than anyone thought." Ned replied to Mance's question.
Mance didn't answer straight away but instead nodded to a man near the entrance of the pavilion.
"They speak the truth Lord Stark. This is the reason why all the tribes band together in the Frostfangs for protection. Except those who fled to Hardhome, the majority of the Free Folk have come to me for protection."
The representatives started to mutter among themselves when Mance said what they had heard about the Walkers and the dead was true. Ned closed his eyes for a moment. Despite what Jon and Tyrion had told him, he had hoped that they were mistaken and it wouldn't happen now because that timeline no longer existed.
"I had hoped that they were having a jest at our expense and now my worst fears have come true. I believe you Mance Rayder. Too many of your people have told me and the northern lords the same story." Ned said to Mance.
"Excuse me My Lord, Mance Rayder, but I do not believe you nor does my Lord. Have you proof of your claims?" The representative of House Ryswell said.
Mance gave the man a smile that was full of pity. Mance did in fact have proof of his claims that the dead walk again and the northern lords were going to shit in their smallclothes very soon.
"If you wait a moment, proof will be brought before all. Actually, the proof comes now." Mance said as he heard the grunts and screeches of the wright his men had captured.
Everyone in the pavilion could now hear the disturbing noises of the dead. A group of men came into the pavilion, two of them, holding ropes that were tied around a dead body with a hood over its face. As they reached the centre, they stopped and one man cautiously stepped forward to remove the hood.
A foul smell was now in the air and not coming just from the dead body in front of them. Mance's prediction had come true and many northern men had shit themselves at a nightmare come to life as they scrambled to the rear of the pavilion, getting as much space between them and the dead man as possible.
"The Fenn tribe far to the North caught this one. It was alone and we presume it's a scout for its master." Mance told the panicking northern men.
"By the Gods, the stories are true!" Jeor Mormont was astounded. He never thought in a thousand years that the stories were actually true. The Nights Watch was originally formed for this reason. To keep watch over the true north and the Wall built to keep this abomination out of the realms of men. He studied the wright closely, watching as it hissed and try to bite the closest man who shoved a torch it front of him to repel the wright away from him. Suddenly a dreadful thought crossed his mind,
'I haven't the men to stop these abominations from crossing the Wall'
Ned had initially recoiled in horror as the truth was standing here in front of him. This was what his people were going to have to fight. The only thought going thought Ned's mind at this time was,
'How do you kill man who's already dead?'
Jon just sat there. To Jon, who had fought and killed thousands of wrights in the Time Before, a single wright was nothing to be afraid of. Jon wondered how the norther men would fair when faced with tens of thousands of them bearing down on the Wall.
Mance and the other leaders were enjoying the reactions that the wright was evoking with its presence. Mance was about to speak when he saw that Jon wasn't reacting at all at the presence of the wright. Mance was intrigued. Everyone, including his own people and himself had shit themselves over the nightmare that walked but Jon was calm. Mance wondered why and decided to find out later. Mance was about to speak again when the wright starting screeching loudly.
When the wright started screeching, Jon stood up and drew Ice, the Stark valyrian steel sword, out of its scabbard on Ned's back and quickly approached wright and beheaded it. The wright literally felt to pieces as the valyrian steel severed it's link to his master.
"What ya do that for you stupid cunt!? We only go the one." The Lord of Bones stood up as he was speaking and went to draw his mace of his back. Jon just looked back at the Lord of Bones with contempt and said to Mance,
"You made a big mistake, bringing this here. That screeching it was doing? That was its was trying to communicate with its master. I just hope its master was too far away to get the message." Jon hopped that this wouldn't start the Long Night ahead of schedule.
Mance was once again intrigued with this boy in front of him. How did he know that's was the wright was doing?
"How do you know that what it was trying to do?" Mance asked Jon. Jon just smiled.
"To quote a very dear friend, I read it in a very old book." Jon lied to the gathered men. "The library at Winterfell holds written information from the very beginning; it has texts that are eight thousand years old. I read a treatise by Azor Ahai himself on the Night King, his White Walkers and the armies of the dead. In this treaties, it is written that when a wright screeches like that, it is communicating with the one who raised it from his grave. It also said how to kill them and how valyrian steel seems to sever the link between the wrights and the White Walkers. Fire and chopping them to pieces also kills them again. Dragon glass and Valyrian steel are the only things what will kill a White Walker. Normal steel will just shatter then it touches them. As to how to kill the Night King, well, it's not clear because he escaped before Azor Ahai could kill him with Lightbringer, which is said to be the only weapon that can kill the Night King." Jon informed the crowed pavilion of what he knew about the Night King and its minions.
As calm returned to the gathered men, Jon returned Ice to its normal home on Ned's back. Ned on the other hand still couldn't believe what he had seen but now had a better idea of what Jon had fought in the Time Before. Ned cleared his throat and looked back at Mance.
"I see now why you gather in such numbers, so I ask, what are your intentions now?" Ned hopped that Mance would be reasonable in in his requests.
"My people, although numerous, cannot fight off these abominations. We seek a truce with the North and seek sanctuary behind the Wall." Mance replied.
"You seek sanctuary Mance, not I. I still think we can kill these fuckers off ourselves. I'll tell you now; I will not kneel to any southerner that sits on a fancy chair. We are the Free Folk; we do not kneel to anyone!" Rattleshirt roared at Mance.
"It won't matter how many you think you can kill. They'll come, you'll die and then rise again with blue eyes and attack the rest of us. To seek sanctuary behind the Wall is the smarter thing to do." Jon's flat tones rang out thought the pavilion. He knew the truth. After all, he had lived it and died trying to stop it.
Ned was in deep thought. He knew that even after seeing the proof with his own eyes, that the Northern Lords would have a hard time believing it. This would be no easy truce but a truce had to be made or the Free Folk would become the slaves of the Night King in death. But Ned had one thing going for him; he was the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. The Lords will obey his commands even if only reluctantly.
"Mance, I cannot offer you sanctuary immediately. I must speak with the Northern Lords about this but rest assured, you and your people will be given sanctuary behind the Wall before the Long Night starts. There will be conditions you must agree to before you can come though the Wall but I can promise you and your people one thing, you will not be asked to kneel to the Iron Throne and swear fealty. The Free Folk are by rights an independent nation and I shall treat you as such." Ned informed the Free Folk of his intentions.
Mance smiled to Ned in relief. What Lord Stark was offering was more than Mance expected. To be treated as an independent nation meant that they wouldn't have to change their ways. Mance had also expected that there would be conditions but he would wait and see what they were before presenting his in return.
Ned looked at the gathered representatives and knew that nothing else would be achieved today.
"Mance, I think we should finish this up for now. You have shown my people something that they thought was a myth and I am positive they are not in the right frame of mind to contribute anything to our talks at this moment. I propose my people return to the Castle Black and then meet here again in three days. By that time, I should have a better idea of the conditions that your people must meet in order to be given sanctuary behind the Wall. Is this acceptable?" Ned asked Mance.
"Yes that is fine. We shall meet you back here in three days." Mance answered Ned.
The Northern representatives were already exiting the pavilion, staying as far away from the dead pile of bones in the centre near the fire pit. Soon only Ned, Jon, Robb and Jeor were left.
"You've been fairly silent Lord Crow. What's your thoughts on this? After all this time, you crows have finally been faced with the truth of your Brotherhood. The Wall and the Watch was never meant to keep us out but it was built and manned to keep THEM out." Mace said as he pointed to the pile of bones.
"I'll be honest Wildling, I don't know what to think. I hate you and your kind but this…."Jeor Mormont, the nine hundredth and ninety seventh Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, trailed of into silence. He needed to call the council and speak to the senior members of the Watch.
"Make it a week Ned. I need to call the senior members of the Watch to inform them of what I witnessed today." Jeor said to Ned. Ned nodded his head in agreement along with Mance. While Mance hated the Nights Watch, he felt bad for his former brothers. They were in for a very rude awaking.
"A week it is and for what it's worth Jeor, I'm sorry I had to be the one to inform you of this. As much as I wish things could return to normal between the Watch and the free folk, we're gonna need each other to survive this." Mance truly was sorry that he had shattered the old man's preconceptions of what the Watch was truly formed for.
As they exited the pavilion and walked towards the horses, Mance stopped and snapped his fingers.
"Ah yes, before I forget again, I have something that belongs to you Mormont." Mance said as he motioned to a wildling that ran off to get what belonged to Jeor Mormont. They waited for a few minutes only to see a group of Wildlings walking slowly towards them. As they got closer to the small group, they parted to revel what Mace had found.
"Benjen! By the Gods! I feared you were dead!" Jeor Mormont exclaimed in surprise. Ned just rushed to his brother and hugged him.
"Careful Ned, you almost knocked me over with that hug. I have a broken leg so standing and moving is a little problematic right now." Benjen Stark, First Ranger of the Nights Watch and brother to the Lord of Winterfell, laughed as he hugged his brother back, happy to see him after being parted from his family for so long.
Jeor turned to Mance,
"Where did you find him?" He asked. Mance chuckled.
"I didn't find him old man. A woman from Tormund's tribe found him and brought him back to her place for healing. Benjen has the respect of the Free Folk; we would not leave him to die, unlike any other member of the Black Crows. As we knew we'd be meeting with you lot we decided to bring Benjen with us so he can return home and heal up. Were gonna need men like him in the days to come" Mance replied.
While Mance and Jeor were speaking, Ned and Benjen were doing a quick catch up, knowing that they could speak in depth later.
"I am happy to see you brother, I wasn't expecting to. Jeor said that you were long overdue from your last ranging. We both feared you were dead." Ned said to Benjen.
"Aye Brother, I also feared that I was going to die. I was far to the north when I broke my leg. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get home before some animal or Wildling would try to kill me. As it was, a few days after I broke the leg, a white bear tried to attack me." Benjen replied to Ned.
"A white bear attacked you!? Why are you not dead brother? Even with a perfectly sound leg, those bears are hard to kill." Ned exclaimed. Benjen gave Ned a strange look.
"I was saved. The Old Gods in their mercy and wisdom sent two saviours to save me from the bear and to bring me back home." Benjen tried to explain the circumstances that had occurred.
"Saved by who uncle?" Jon asked, he didn't know why, but he had a feeling that things were about to change for the Starks. Whether that was for the better or the worst was yet to be seen.
Benjen smiled and let loose a shrill whistle.
Ned was about to ask Benjen he same question as Jon when they heard a commotion coming from the Wildling camp. The wildlings were cursing as they moved out of the way of something. Suddenly something clicked in Jon's mind as he put processed what he had heard and what he was currently seeing.
"Oh you have got to be joking!"
Ned was about to ask Jon what he meant when he saw it for himself. Emerging from the Wildling camp were two wolves. They were huge, almost as big as a horse. Ned couldn't believe his eyes.
Dire Wolves. Two of them.
Both wolves silently moved up to Benjen. Benjen was grinning like mad at the reaction of his brother.
"Ned, meet Torren and Lya. My saviour's."
Next Chapter, We meet with the Wilding again and take a brief look at what's happening at Winterfell.