Selfish // Sandor Clegane

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐗𝐋𝐈

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"𝐖𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐖𝐄'𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 with you, King Crow, when the time comes and we meant it, but this isn't what we agreed to" One of the Wildlings at their camp complained "These aren't White Walkers. This isn't an Army of the Dead. This isn't our fight"

"If if weren't for him, none of us would be here. All of you would be meat in the Night King's army. And I'd be a pile of charred bones just like Mance" Tormund argued

"Remember Mance's camp" The same Wildling asked "It stretched all the way to the horizon. And look at us now. Look what's left of us. And if we lose this, we're gone. Dozen of tribes, hundreds of generations. Be like we were never there at all. We'll be the last of the Free Folk"

"That's what'll happen to you if we lose" Jon explained "The Boltons, the Karstarks, the Umbers, they know you're here. They know that more than half of you are women and children. After they finish with me, they'll come for you. You're right. This isn't your fight. You shouldn't have to come to Winterfell with me. I shouldn't be asking you, it's not the deal we made. I need you with me if we're going to beat them and we need to beat them if you're going to survive."

"The Crows killed him" Tormund points out "because he spoke for the Free Folk when no other southerners would. He died for us. If we are not willing to do the same for him, we're cowards. And if that's what we are, we deserve to be the last of the Free Folk" His speech made them reconsider, at least a bit, I hope

I look down at Bran, who sat silently in my arms and glanced around, curious, trying to understand what did the big people around him discussed. The one that caught his attention the most was the giant starting to rise up after the silence fell.

"Snow" He declared, choosing his side before the rest of them did, then the Wildling who was prone on not helping Jon, held his hand out for him to shake.

"Are you sure they'll come?" my brother asked Tormund discreetly

"We're not clever like you southerners" he states "When we say we'll do something, we do it"

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𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 was Bear Island, where we were supposed to meet Lyanna Mormont, the niece of Jon's former Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont.

"Lady Mormont" My brother greets her and all of us bow our head to the young lady of Bear Island

"Welcome to Bear Island" She greeted us back, saying nothing after

Jon looks at Sansa, hopping she'll stop the unpleasing silence that fell upon us "I remember when you were born, my lady, you were named for my Aunt Lyanna. It was said she was a great beauty. I'm sure you will be, too" She compliments Lyanna

"I doubt it" Lyanna Mormont's reply came like a knife, cutting of Sansa's praise "My mother wasn't a great beauty or any kind of beauty. She was a great warrior though. She died fighting for your brother Robb"

"I served under your uncle at Castle Black, Lady Lyanna" Jon also attempts to escape the Lady's fiery attitude "He was also a great warrior and an honorable man. I was his steward in fact-"

"I think we've had enough small talk. Why are you here?" The sleeping Bran in my embrace shifts a little at Lyanna's sudden snap. I try to change his position maybe he'll find a better one, however my arms were too sore from carrying him all day, it was clear that he'll follow his father's physique. Perhaps I shoud've let him with Tormund, but Gods know what shit he'll teach my son.

"Stannis Baratheon garrisoned at Castle Black before he marched on Winterfell and was killed. He showed me the letter you wrote to him when he petitioned for men. It said-"

"I remember what it said" she cut him again "Bear Island know no king, but the King in the North whose name is Stark"

"Robb is gone, but house Stark is not" Jon stated "And it needs your support now more than ever. I've come with my sisters to ask for House Mormont's allegiance" Lyanna leans to her maester for information

"As far as I understand you're a Snow, Lady Sansa is a Boltion or is she a Lannister? And if Lady Danya is still a Stark it means her child is a bastard. I've heard conflicting reports."

"I did what I had to do to survive, my lady" Sansa barks back "But I am a Stark. I will always be a Stark"

"If you say so. In any case, you don't just want my allegiance. You want my fighting men" Lyanna observes

"Ramsey Bolton cannot be allowed to keep Winterfell, my lady. It is our duty to stop him. Even more so because he holds our brother Rickon Stark as prisoner. What you have to understand, my lady, is that-"

"I understand that I'm responsible for Bear Island and all who live here" She makes her point, snapping and interrupting Jon, again. "So why should I sacrifice one more Mormont life for someone else's war?"

When we were speechless, Ser Davos steps forward "If it please, my lady, I understand how you feel"

"I don't know you, Ser...?"

"Davos, my lady, of House Seaworth. You needn't ask your maester about my house. It's rather new."

"All right, Ser Davos of House Seaworth. How is it you understand how I feel?"

"You never thoght you'd find yourself in your position. Being responsible for so many lives at such young age. I never thought I'd be in my position. I was a crabber's son then I was a smuggler and now I find myself addressing the lady of a great house in time of war. But I'm here because this isn't someone else's war. It's our war"

"Go on, Ser Davos" Lyanna seems calmed by Davos

"Your uncle, Lord Commander Mormont made that man his steward. He chose Jon to be his successor because he knew he had the courage to do what was right, even if it mean giving his life. Because Jeor Mormont and Jon Snow both understood that the real war isn't between a few squabbling houses. It's between the living and the dead. And make no mistake, my lady, the dead are coming"

"Is this true?" she asks Jon and he nods in agreement

"Your uncle fought at the Fist of the First Men. I fought them at Hardhome. We both lost"

"As long as the Boltons hold Winterfell, the North is divided. And a divided North won't stand a chance against the Night King. You want to protect your people, my lady. I understand, but there's no hiding from this. We have to fight and we need to do it together"

Lyanna stops the maester who was about to bend and whisper in her ear again "House Mormont has kept faith with House Stark for a thousand years. We will not break faith today"

"Thank you, my lady. How many fighting men can we expect?" Jon asks

Lyanna leans on the other side to whisper with the man on her right "62" My pleased face fell at the answer.

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