Fire Beyond the Wall

Lord Commander

By that night Stannis had decided to hold Mance's trial. We were all gathered in the courtyard, the wildings were made to watch as well. Chained and Forced to stand and watch their leader bend the knee or die. Mance slowly descended the stairs, all eyes on him. His chains clanked and only ceased when he stopped in front of Stannis and his Red Priestess.

"Mance Raydar, you have been called the king beyond the wall, Westeros only needs one king. Bend the knee and I promise you mercy" Stannis laid his offer out. There was a tense pause as Mance was silent, people exchanged glances, I tried found myself watching Tormund and the other Wildlings.

"Kneel and live" Stannis said trying to get Mance to make his decision.

Mance looked at Stannis with a calm face, "This was my home for many years" Mance said looking around at Castle Black. "I wish you good fortune in the wars to come" Mace said. I swallowed hard, Mance was going to die, I quickly found my eyes flashing to Tormund, worried for him in a way.

Stannis' men brought the King beyond the wall to the pyre, that was made just for this outcome and chained him to it.

The red lady stepped forward, "We all must choose, man or woman, young or old, lord or peasant. Our choice is the same, choose light or we choose darkness" with that she took a flaming torch from a soldier and lite the pyre and as she did she spoke, "Free Folk there is only one true King and his name is Stannis, here is your king of lies and watch the fate of those who choose darkness".

I was growing angry that she was addressing them like this and that they were murdering Mance, this wasn't the light to me, this was very very dark. Mance stood tall at first, but as the flames began to dance around his feet and bite at his legs, you could see the fear and pain growing on his face. I couldn't watch any longer, not when his screams started. My head fell and i pushed through the people heading to the armoury and grabbing a bow and a single arrow. I hadn't known Jon had left right after I did, not until I turned and bumped into him, the bow and arrow between us. We looked at each other with stone cold eyes, we had the same thought. He gently took the weapon from me and we walked atop a boardwalk where we could have a clear shot. Jon lined it up and shot Mance straight through the heart. As the arrow hit people looked over their shoulders to see me and Jon standing stoic. We were the last thing Mance Rayder saw through the flames before he died.

The next day Jon was sent to see Stannis, who blamed Jon for killing Mance against his command to have him burned. I was waiting outside for him, waiting for the door to open and hopefully my brother would walk out in no too much trouble.

When he did we just looked at me and nodded saying he was fine and not punished. I smiled lightly and we walked towards the main hall for dinner and the ceremony where the Night's watch would elect a new Lord Commander.

"Who do you think will win?" I ask Jon as we walk.

"Most likely Thorne" He said voice held mild disgust.

"You don't like him i'm guessing" I laugh.

He smiles and nods.

"Well than I hope the prick doesn't win" I say wistfully and push past Jon and race into the main hall.

I jogged up to Maester Aemon, who I had grown close to, he enjoyed my company as well.

Normally I would sit with Jon and such, but Aemon requested I sit with him on this occasion, as there was to be a vote and I wasn't apart of it so I shouldn't sit with the voting population.

I gracefully plopped down beside the old man, "Hello Maester Aemon" I smiled.

His voice was slow and shaky, he was old, "Hello dear" He said reaching out for my hand and patting it, once he found it on the table.

I sat up with Maester Aemon and we conversed quietly waiting for the men to file inside.

As Rheanna sat with the kindly old man, Jon and Sam talked quietly in the corner.

They talked of how Stannis had offered to legitimize Jon and Rheanna.

"I'm happy for ya, both of ya. You and Rhae deserve it" Sam said.

"I haven't told her, and I'm not accepting" Jon said looking at his sister while she smiled.

"What do you mean, you'd be lord of Winterfell" Sam said with surprise.

"I swore a vow to the Night's watch" Jon said "What sort of lord would I be if I broke that and Rhae doesn't need Lord's knocking at her door if she becomes legitimate, she is more than a title or vow".

I whispered to Maester Aemon that all the men were in the room. He nodded and pushed himself up from his chair, I held his elbow as he did on instinct.

"Does anyone wish to speak for candidates before we cast our tokens..For the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch" Aemon spoke.

There was barely a pause before some bald man stood and spoke for Ser Alidair Throne, the man Jon doesn't care for. He talked of how this Thorn defends the wall when the Wildlings attacked and how he was the only true choice, which was a load of shite, but I would have never said it out loud.

Another man stood to speak about a man named Malister, I didn't pay much attention to what was said I watch Jon and Sam, seeing Sam wanted to speak just as I did.

"If there is no one else we will begin the voting" Aemon spoke, back to sitting.

I willed with all my might that Sam look at me and speak what we both wanted to say, but he was the only one who could say it. He did and I nodded at him, I could see his nervous sweat as he piped up.

"Maester Aemon!" He called closing his eyes in nervousness, "Jon snow was leading, during the battle, Ser Alidair fought bravely tis true, but when he was wounded it was Jon who saved us. He took charge, He went north to talk to Mance, He and his sister killed the magnar of the Thenns. Mormont himself choose Jon, He may be young but he is the Commander we turned to when the night was darkest" Sam finished.

I smiled with delight and clapped along with the other men.

Ser Alisdair thorne stood and made a rebuttal against Jon, "Do you want a man who has fought Wildlings his whole life or a man who loves em".

It was quiet no one made a sound, not a clap nor cheer.

"It is time to vote" Aemon spoke through the silence.

The tension of watching everyone place their token in a pot was nerve wracking, even more so as Aemon's assistant began to place each token in piles according to person, watching each one grow slowly. Everyone was on the edge of their seats, Malister had lost by a long shot but Alidair and Jon were tied.

I shared a look with Aemon's assistant and he nodded. I leaned towards Aemon my eyes still on the tokens, "There seems to be a tie".

Aemon rose with his assistant to balance him, he felt the tokens, feeling the shape to know who is was between. He reached up with a hand and plopped a circle down, he voted for Jon, Jon was Lord Commander.

I smiled and jump from my seat clapping and watching my brother.