Northern Conqueror

Chapter 3: Warmth at the Wall

Chapter 3: Warmth at the Wall

Few things felt as cold as the top of the Wall. Even beyond the Wall, the air wasn't as thin or harsh, threatening to throw him over the edge if he got too close. When Jon did, it felt as if he were truly standing at the edge of the world, at the edge of life itself, daring death to take him.

And now he'd stared into death's eyes and knew it was coming for him.

The Night King would come, and with him a hundred thousand corpses armed and undying. A hundred thousand things waiting to kill him, to end the life of anyone they saw and make them join their ever growing army.

There was no hope for victory, only retreat. They couldn't cross the water, that was obvious, otherwise they might have crossed the bodies to either side of the wall by now. They would have found a way to reach the boats and kill everyone fleeing Hardhome. They couldn't cross the Wall and they couldn't cross the water.

Hope was south of the Wall.

Yet passing through the gates to Castle Black he felt only dread. The Night King would come, but now he'd have to face Thorne and the others, make them put aside their concerns and see reason. He'd have to convince them to work together, or they'd all die. At least he'd had the sense to open the gate and let them return.

"Every one of them is alive because of you," Sam told him as they watched the free folk pass through the gates. "And no one else."

"I don't think that fact's lost on them," Jon said with a slight nod to a group glaring at the free folk. He watched Wun Wun pass through, saw Olly angrily hurry off.

Sam went to speak but stopped and stepped aside when he saw Thorne approaching.

"You have a good heart, Jon Snow," he said dismissively. "It'll get us all killed."

Watching Thorne leave, his attention turned to Sam as he stepped to him. "We received a guest while you were gone."

"Is it King Tommen this time?" Jon asked with a derisive laugh.

"No. A girl, says she knows you. In passing," Sam clarified with a laugh. "Alayne Stone, came to trade on behalf of her uncle."

"Trade what?"

"Gilly says she's mentioned the Vale has supplies that could help us. Enough that it's become a bother to store it all, so she says."

Edd sighed. "I bet she's pretty."

"She remembers Jon from seeing him in passing," Sam said shaking his head. "Of course she is."

"Where is she?" Jon asked, ignoring their teasing.

"I suggested she stay in her room until they've passed. Thorne mentioned we housed a wildling girl and she seemed a bit worried, so I thought it best not to frighten her."

"Surprised a southerner would even know what a wildling is," Jon said dismissively. It seemed as if the southron kingdoms didn't even know the Night's Watch existed until they came to empty their cells.

"You said she's from the Vale?" Edd asked. "Her name's Stone?"

"Niece to the Lord Protector."

"Send her to my solar," said Jon.

Sam placed a hand on his shoulder. "You alright Jon?"

Jon offered a weak smile. "I'm alive. That's enough."

Back in his solar he removed his cloak and downed nearly half a mug of ale to help warm him as he stood before the hearth. The chill he'd felt since Hardhome lingered. It felt as if something had attached itself to him, marked him and was draining all the warmth from him, waiting to leave him cold and dead as a wight. Pulling all the warmth from the world until it was as cold as the Night King's eyes.