Chapter 54: The Wall
Sat on his horse, Jon looked on forwards as the rhythmic sound of two thousand men marching through the snow sounded behind him. Next to him, Eddison seemed entirely uncomfortable with being at the front and so many people being behind him.
"You seem uncomfortable," Jon noted and in turn, Eddison shot him a reproving look earning a smile from Jon.
"This is all your fault, why am I leading an army like this from the front. It ain't normal."
Jon laughed at that.
"You get used to it after a time. I felt the same way you did at first." Jin admitted before patting Eddison on the shoulder. "Besides, you're a brother of the Night's Watch, it's only right that you lead from the from by my side as we march to your aid."
Eddison looked at Jon diffidently. "You're different. Less brooding, I'd say."
"That would be the influence of the Greatjon. You can't be quiet when he's around, he doesn't let you." Eddison chuckled at that, he'd nearly pissed himself when he'd met the Greatjon for the first time at the Wall, the man had not only been huge, but he'd been a terrifying individual. Especially with his great-sword and the handle made of bones. "You seem nervous."
"Aren't you?" Eddison shot back. "A hundred thousand Wildlings marching to take the Wall and all we've got to defend is less than three thousand men. Why wouldn't I be nervous, we've already had several deserters and I've considered it myself."
The admission of this wasn't surprising to Jon. With the war in the south, it was all but impossible to keep track of deserters. And it wasn't like they could go out of their way to hunt down deserters because they just didn't have the men to spare. Knowing this, it seemed many brothers of the Night's Watch had fled and would probably never be seen again.
Either they'd manage to escape and find a new place to stay and hide, or they'd be killed. Whether it be at the hands of muggers, the Ironborn or the men of the North, it didn't matter.
"Aye, I'm nervous. Always have been, even now whenever I head into battle I feel terrified. Doubt it'll ever go away." Eddison just looked grim at this. "But I would wager every man here with me against a hundred Wildlings."
"Well, when you put it that way, who am I to say no."
"We'll win, my friend. Hopefully without ever having to fight." Jon's words confused Eddison, but he never clarified what he meant.
The journey to Castle Black continued apace, Jon's mind was filled with thoughts on what had just been discussed. As far as the Night's Watch and men south of the Wall were aware of, the Wall was there to keep the Wildlings in check. However, Jon knew differently.
He'd seen it, Jafer Flowers and Othor somehow coming back from the dead, the latter attempting to kill the Lord Commander. Those sounded like the stories Old Nan used to tell him and the other Stark children about the White Walkers. He didn't want to believe it was true, that there were creatures, monsters like that in the world. Yet, he didn't know what else to describe what he saw.
Even ignoring all that, Jon knew that the Wildlings could prove to be especially useful in liberating the North from the Ironborn and defeating the Bolton-Dustin rebellion. The biggest problem for him was numbers, the Wildings could provide those extra numbers needed to tip the edge of the war in his favour.
All he was waiting on now was a return letter from Robb on his opinion of Jon's plan. He doubted Robb would deny his request Jon knew Robb would accept. If he could see that lack of numbers was the main problem, then Robb could as well.
The Wildings were the answer to that problem.
In the meantime, though, he'd make his way to the Wall, prepare his men to defend against the Wildlings while waiting for Robb's letter. He just hoped it arrived before the Wildlings attacked.
"We're here," Eddison muttered as saw the Wall in the distance.
The week-long journey had finally come to an end and Jon was thankful for it. "Mors, you lead the men. I'll go on ahead with Eddison to meet with the Lord Commander." He didn't need to hear the confirmation as he knew his order would be carried out. Instead, Jon urged his horse forward as he and a few others galloped towards Castle Black, the gates opening to allow him entry.
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