Chapter 201

The journey back to Castle Black was slow and dreary. No one talked with each other for the first few days. Even the few that talked did it in whispers, as if the White Walkers were lurking around and would come for them if they talked a little too loud.

Smalljon whose sword hand they had to amputate because it stopped functioning at all winced in pain every now and then but remained silent.

He supposed that losing a sword hand would do that to anyone.

It would also teach them to take his warnings seriously.

Robb and Jon stayed solemn faced through the entire journey back to Castle Black. He had no doubt that the death of Benjen Stark and the presence of the White Walkers had turned their whole world upside down.

Using a legilimency probe told him that Jon was grieving for Benjen Stark because he was the only other elder in the family aside from his father who showed him love and care.

Robb on the other hand was also grieving about his uncle but he was mainly wondering if the North will even survive this upcoming Winter and if both him and Varko couldn't defeat a single White Walker together then what chance do they have.

He left them to their thoughts and focused on getting them back safely to the Wall.

Thankfully, they didn't came across any other Wildling group on their way back.

One week before they reached the Wall, they came across a searching party made of a dozen Night's Watch brother.

They informed him the Lord Commander had sent out a dozen such search parties when they didn't return after four whole weeks.

Walton informed them of what happened. Blood drained from their faces when they heard about the return of the White Walkers and saw the Ice Sword and the Wight held in the cage.

Then the brothers silently joined them in their way back to Castle Black without any more words.

After one more week of sleepless nights thanks to the Wight screeching every now and then, their group finally reached Castle Black.