Author's Note
An as*hole reported my novel for inappropriate cover. I would like to say that if you have a problem then don't read it but don't annoy us authors like this. Most of us are not even paid for this and you clearly saw the tags.
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It has almost been a year since Sam started his journey of the North. It has been an interesting journey for him, and Sam got to enjoy almost everything the North have to offer from the wines and fruits of House Wolfe, sparring with the Knights of the Barrows, horse riding in Rills, sea food of Frost port, learned mountain climbing from Burleys, hunting in wolfswood, sparring with Umber giants, the harsh but beautiful lands of Hardhome and fooling around with the Karstark brothers. And now only House Bolton, Hornwood, Flints of Widow Watch, Manderly and Locke are left. But Sam have started to get tired of riding horses. He loves horse riding, but he is not someone who can spend their whole life travelling places on horses like Dotheaki, excess of anything makes it boring. Thankfully, Children of the Forest or as they have come to like to be called, Earth Singers came to my rescue.
They recently contacted Sam through the weirwood that they were able to gather all the Earth Singer and Giant clans and made them agree to atleast come and hear what Sam has to say. But for that Sam will have to come and swear infront of a Heart Tree that Sam will try his best to not let any harm come to them from me or my bannermen. So, Sam asked them to meet me at Fist of First Men in a months' time.
This created a small issue for Sam because if he decided to stop his journey in the middle it might upset these lords and they or their heirs can take this as an insult on them, especially with Bolton being one of these houses. So, Sam decided to invite them to this expedition and send them ravens telling them about an important expedition north of the wall and to come to Last Hearth if they agree, without specifying for what. All of them agreed except Lord Bolton who replied that his health has taken 'ill' and would be unable to join me. Truthfully, it didn't disappoint him in the least that he rejected, Sam was actually happy because he have timed this journey so that it will come to end near the start of Greyjoy Rebellion which will start from anywhere between two or three months after his return. So, Sam will have a reason to cancel his trip to Lord Bolton's castle as he never trusted him for what Lord Bolton may do once Sam enters his lands.
So, Sam approached Lord Karstark to take his leave. "Lord Karstark, it has been an honor to visit Karhold. Your halls are as grand as the stories say, and your people have shown me kindness beyond measure. I wish I could linger longer, but I have to continue my journey."
"You honor us with your presence, my lord. It is not often we receive such visits from our liege lords. Karhold stands with you, in peace as in storm. You are always welcome here. I believe you will be riding for Dreadfort from here." Lord Karstark asked.
"No there has been a change of plan, and I will be riding for the Last Hearth for a small expedition North of the Wall, I have called all the other lords whom I have to visit, to Last as well as they will be joining me for this expedition as well." Sam told him.
"If it is not too bold of me, could I ask you what the reason behind this sudden expedition is, as I believe you have already visited Lord Hard. Because my lord even if we control the Storrold's Point, it is still a very dangerous place." Lord Karstark asked, looking slightly concerned.
"I am sorry, but I will not be able to tell you this my lord. But why don't you join us on this expedition. I can guarantee you that it will be something you will not forget your whole life." Sam offered him.
"If it is as you say, then I will surely join you." Lord Karstark said after thinking a little.
And so, Sam rode with Lord Rickard Karstark, his twin sons, Harrion and Eddard with a score of Lord Karstark's men to the last Hearth. Within a fortnight of reaching there, all the invited lords also arrived. Lord Umber also decided to come with us. And together with more than a hundred man combined of all the lords we rode towards Castle Black.
When we reached the Wall, Sam was astonished by it, you could see it from miles off, a pale white line across the northern horizon, stretching away to the east and west and vanishing in the far distance, immense and unbroken. As we rode up a hill, he got a proper view of it, 300 mile long, 700 feet tall and 300 feet wide at the base and wide enough for 5 men to ride abreast comfortably at the top.
When we reached Castle Black Sam saw that it was less desolate and more lively than it was described in the books or shown in the show. Most probably due to the new found profits from the land of Gift and the new inmates I have been sending to them from the people arriving from South.
Sam had made it a law to deliver capital punishment on them, the block for rape or murder, no option given and a hand for theft and banditry or the Black, so the Night's Watch has already grown past 1,200 men and are rising every month. Septons and septa's are also banned from coming North and only the septons of Snowy sept of White Harbor are allowed in North and that too are confined to White Harbor.
We stayed there for two days during which Sam talked with Lord Commander about the Watch's condition, North of the Wall and other such things. We left with 3 of Lord Commander's best rangers for the First of First Men.
It took us a sennight to reach the Fist and we reached just a day before which Sam had asked Leaf to come here. Sam spent the day inspecting the fort and evaluating whether it can be our Western outpost here. Building one near frozen shore is a waste, it snows a lot there, most probably due to the icy winds of Lands of Always Winter sent by Others being stopped by Frostfang mountain range, which means more difficult survival and less production of whatever can be found here.
The keep has mostly turned into a ruin a long time ago. The stone ringwall has also withered away with only chest high rocks remaining. There is nothing that can be salvaged here, but it has a strong foundation and it gives a strong defensive position, is near the mountain range which may hold many minerals as this is the same range in which Mountain clans live and there side of the mountains are full of different minerals. There is an active source of wood and stone nearby for future expansion.
Looking at this fort, Sam can only conclude that it used to be an outpost during the War of the Dawn or in the early days of the Night's Watch but was forgotten and fallen into ruin. But for it become a bastion, the Free Folk tribes of the haunted forest needs to bend the knee or be eradicated. They cannot come between the transfer of supplies, specially when I can't even build more than a village currently, due to the White Walkers. Thinking all this, Sam fell asleep during the night.
When Sam woke up next, it was already morning and the men were preparing food for breaking our fast. It seems one of them was able to catch a deer and it was being prepared for our meal. After washing up and getting ready for the day, Sam sat down with the lords to break our fast. They all looked at each other and finally Mors Umber who came with Lord Umber spoke up.
"My Lord, can you tell what is this excursion about. This is a wild place and the more we stay here, and while no small tribe with any sense of self preservation will try to attack us but there are many things in these woods that will." He spoke seriously.
"I wanted you all here to witness something, specially as I couldn't come to your keeps. I wouldn't ruin the surprise for you all, but don't worry Mors we wouldn't be staying here for more than a couple of days." Sam told them. They all looked at each other again.
"What do you want us to witness, My Lord." Lord Manderly asked for all of them.
As they have finished our meal while talking, Sam stood up and said "Come with me."
Sam took them to the Heart Tree that grows near the cliff and teld them to stay, Sam approached the tree and accessed the magic flowing through it but he did not enter into the Green, no he used the magic to send out a pulse as a signal. As soon as he did that, he knew all about the area, he saw everything. Every object, every insect, every root, tree and animal within a huge radius.
But Sam couldn't control the magical output and exerted himself a little more than he expected and due to the sensory overload, Sam slumped forward slightly and groaned, his vision turning black and mind aching. This is a trick I figured out a while back, I basically use the same power that uses to 'see' everything around it in a large radius. But it still a tough technique and needs to be refined.
"My lord are you okay?" Lord Umber asked.
"Aye." Sam sat up and wiped the blood from his nose off his chin with his sleeve.
Sam stood and turned to the lords who were watching him with various expressions of worry on their faces. He just grinned at them. "I'm okay my lords. More importantly, they are here."
All three of the Lords tense up. Sam could see some of the guards on the outskirts tense as well.
"Who is 'they'?" Lord Karstark is the one to voice the question.
Sam just ignores them and looks into the forest. After a moment he speaks seriously and loudly, his voice carrying to all members of his party. "Keep your weapons sheathed! They are not our enemies!"
No one has the time to question him because on the other side of the large clearing a small shape starts making its way through the bushes. Sam can clearly see some men tense but fortunately no one draws their weapons. The mood gradually gets more tense until the figure steps out from the foliage and into full sight.
It was almost like a spell was put on everybody. As soon as the figure was visible, the clearing became unnaturally quiet. Like everybody was holding their breaths. The spell was broken by the gasps that started coming out of the men.
Lord Umber choked on his spit. "Is that….?"
"A Child of the Forest." Lord Karstark breathed quietly in awe. Lord Manderly just stood frozen, not moving his eyes from the sight in front of them. Sam knows that inviting him to this journey may be controversial but he knows that Manderly's are not fanatically devoted and just give them just a little more than necessary donations and services. So he is not too worried about anything.
Symeon cast an amused glance at the lords and the rest of the men. Allowing for an amused smirk to be seen on his face, Sam spoke. "I ask for your silence for a while my lords. I swear I will explain everything to you in a little while." Then he turned back towards the Earth Singer.
"Leaf" Sam said with a nod towards her.
"Symeon Stark" Leaf replied with a nod of her own. "Is our agreement still in place."
"Yes. There are still some details that need to be smoothen out. But they can be done at a later date." Sam replied. "Have the others arrived." More as a fact. He already knew they were here from when connected to the weirwood.
"Yes" and said something in her musical language after which they also started coming out of the forest. Thousands of Giants and Earth Singers along with a great number of mammoths. Some of the Earth Singers were riding direwolves, bucks, wolves, elks and many other different animals, some had different birds flying around them or sitting on their shoulders. "All of my kind North of The Wall were gathered and are prepared to meet our end of the bargain. All the Giants are gathered here as well. We managed to convince them to at least meet you but getting them to agree is something you will have to do. Be warned, Giants are proud, stubborn beings."
Sam turned and spared the lords a glance. He smiled when he saw how they were gaping at the scene. Then Sam brought his attention back to the others who had now started reacting to their arrival. The largest Giant, probably their leader, came forward and walked toward Symeon. Sam could feel the lords behind him tense, their hands moving towards their sword but thankfully no one drew them.
"Are you the Stark" The Giant said in Old Tongue. Thankfully Sam learned the Old Tongue from the different lords over this year on his journey. Lord Umber and Karstark translated the conversation for other lords and men.
"I am the Stark. Who are you?" Sam asked.
"I am the leader of these Giants, Mag Mar Tun Doh Weg." He replied.
"Are these all the Giants here, north of the Wall." Sam asked for confirmation.
"Yes, there are some who live in God's Eye along with Earth Singers and Green Men but these are all there are north of the Wall." Mag replied. "What do you want from us Stark."
"I have an offer for you. Have the Earth Singers told you about the offer. I gave them the same offer." Sam told him.
"Yes, they told us, we kneel, you protect us. But what do we gain from kneeling to you, we face no harm here." Mag asked. A good question but one I was ready for.
"Your numbers have been shrinking every year. You may be longed lived, but you don't have many children. You have to struggle for food for both your people and the mammoths. Coming south will give you better grazing ground and farmlands. Maybe overtime you will grow your numbers and live peacefully." Sam told them.
"We can ally with the free folk and break the wall. Why should we kneel." Mag said.
"You could. I will say you will be successful even, but then men from further south will hunt you down and I will not be able to stop them and believe me you will not be able to fight so many of them. " Sam explained.
"So, we must become your slave." Mag said, almost roaring. I could see lord Umber and Karstark going for their swords from the corner of my eye but stopped.
"No, become my people. You will have greater life. The Starks protects their people. If you will kneel and follow law you will have a better future, We will build great marvels together like Wall, Winterfell and Hightower once again." Sam said.
"The Starks led us to victory in the Great War, understood our talent for building. We will kneel, but we need guarantee, that we will not be hunted." Mag said.
"There is a Heart Tree here. We swear vows infront of it. Let the Gods judge our vows and sincerity." Sam proposed. Mag agreed and Sam, Mag and Leaf took vows together.
And so, the Giants and Earth Singer kneeled together infront of Sam and swear their oaths of fealty. The traditional oath that was swear by First Men before the Andals came.
"To the Starks we pledge our faith. Hearth and heart and harvest we yield up to you. Our arrows/clubs are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail you. We swear it by earth and water. We swear it by bronze and iron. We swear it by ice and fire."
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Author's Note
Yes, they kneeled easily, simply because Earth Singers could see that even if the world survived the Long Night their race will end anyway. With Symeon they atleast had a chance at repopulating.
In the books, the Giants agreed to help Free Folk break the Wall when the threat of Others showed itself and they are also long lived. It means they are not too arrogant or led by some muscle head, and they are probably aware of the threat of Others. So why wouldn't they agree when they could also see the extinction of their race approaching.