The cry of "rider approaching" woke the new leader of the Night's Watch to yet another busy day for a military group forgotten in the far reaches of the Seven Kingdoms. Robb Stark was received rather warmly by the members of the Watch, who inquired about his "traveling companion." The former King in the North only smiled at the recruits' futile enthusiasm and headed straight to the New Lord Commander's room.
Unlike Jon, who maintained a high level of formality with his former subordinates, Eddie greeted Robb with a weak handshake and invited him to sit closer to the fire after a considerable journey through the snow.
"Is there any problem with Jon? Are the Northern lords not cooperating?" Eddie's initial comment, mentioning only the Northern houses as potential sources of unrest, did not go unnoticed.
"I can't say if Jon and Sansa are managing to convince the Northern lords, Lord Commander, but I'm here to solve one of our problems during the battle." Eddie looked at him confused. "Most of the Free Folk have committed to supporting us when the time comes, but the rest are made up of the elderly, children, and women with babies. We can't just leave them behind."
"And you want to leave them here, Stark?"
"Yes! If Ramsay's allies advance on them, it will be a massacre. And all the effort you made at Hardhome will have been in vain."
"That's something your brother would certainly agree with. It's not just about Hardhome; these wildlings didn't even hesitate when I asked them to contain the rebellion against Jon. Meanwhile, the Northern lords never bothered to respond when we begged for help... If you lose, we are lost anyway." Robb listened attentively to the Watchman's outburst and felt guilty once more for ignoring the message about the Army of the Dead. "Not that these mindless folks could offer much security here, but tell the Free Folk that their people can stay at Castle Black."
The Amazon noticed her traveling companion's absence as soon as the new day began. Diana understood his reasons considerably, despite still abhorring the practices of Westeros men. Though she tried to search the camp at every moment, she didn't have the courage to question the leaders about the former King in the North. When he didn't return before the moon replaced the sun on the horizon, the princess showed a bit of her anxiety and received a vague response from the red-haired wildling: "on a mission."
The sentinels' warning call. The meeting requested by Tormund for all the camp members. And that familiar face. Almost imperceptibly, Diana smiled slightly at seeing him again, partially covered by snow and exhausted, yet whole. He seemed genuinely pleased to be back, despite being surrounded by unfriendly faces.
"So, southerner, did the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch agree to your plan? Do we have his word?" Tormund asked.
"Yes, Dolorous Edd agreed to take in those who cannot march to battle." Several Free Folk members questioned the southerner's truthfulness and demanded action from Tormund. Diana then raised her hand, and the crowd promptly made way for her to approach the center and speak without interruption.
"The Lasso of Truth compels anyone to be honest and sincere. If you trust the Amazons' legacy, I ask that you trust what Robb Stark will now say," the northerner's expression eased as he realized he could again count on Diana's help and trust, promptly extending his right arm to receive the powerful Lasso of Truth. "Can the Free Folk believe in their pact with the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch?"
"Yes." The word was spoken firmly and caused no reaction from the Amazonian weapon.
"Will those who cannot fight by your side in the upcoming battle be safe at Castle Black?" Again, the positive response and no indication from the Lasso of Truth.
Finally, the Free Folk took the answer as definitive, and Tormund ordered that those who couldn't march to the battlefield should prepare their belongings to head to Castle Black promptly after Jon Snow's return.