33 chapter 32 : Because I'm the King of the North
Jon arrived with the others near the large wildling village and even outside the large wooden walls around the coastal village there were hundreds of tents set up where all the free folk now lived thinking their leaders were dead until now.
They saw them coming with Jeor Mormont and Mance Rayder on the horses in front, People began to gather to look at them with great astonishment.
The captain commander was behind with the others while they suffered the astonished, hateful or curious looks of the crowd .
Others were quite surprised because everyone believed that Mance and his lieutenants were dead.
They arrived in front of the great gates where Loboda the elder of the Thenns stood with several men armed and ready for battle.
Mance: Let us pass, we have important things to discuss. The survival of our people depends on it.
Loboda: We thought you were dead but now you come back on the crows' horses and with them ?
Mance: I don't have time to discuss this with you, my goal is to save the free folk from extinction. I have no accountability to you until I have failed.
Loboda: (looks) I see that almost all the leaders are there but I don't see our magnar. Where is Styr ?
Jon: He's dead.
Loboda: Which of you killed him?
Jon: None, he was decapitated in a duel by one of my sworn brothers.
Loboda: Do you take me for an fool ? Our magnar was not weak enough to perish by the hand of any-(interrupted)
Thormund: You know nothing elder of the Thenns. We fought the crows and as much as it pains me to admit it, they were all much stronger. Just one of them was worth 20 of ours.
Harma: Strenght, speed, discipline and combat skills, they were far better than us without even taking into account their archers who did not miss any of their targets. There were no arrows planted in the scenery and even the giants were of no use...
Jarl: Those who escaped didn't tell you anything ? We were screwed...
Loboda: So you begged for your lives and here you are...you of cowards.
Mance got off his horse and approached Loboda who looked at him before also advancing towards him and Mance gave him a violent punch which caused his knee to bend.
Mance: Do you think it gives us any pleasure to talk about how inferior we were to crows in battle ? No one begged but they gave us our lives and stopped a pointless fight. The vast majority of our men were just wounded and they tended our wounds, very few were killed during the battles. They want to help us survive as crazy as it sounds, now go get everyone together and we'll talk. Those who want to collaborate will do so but we need to talk.
Loboda:…
"Call everyone inside without exception, the choice of survival is individual and everyone will choose for their future, the elders and leaders will not save anyone from themselves…" Mance said as he got back on his horse then that Jon and the others returned.
The Wildlings outside also began to enter inside the village to listen to what was going to be said.
Quickly, people gathered outside the large cabin where the elders met. Mance and Jeor chatted with them inside while Jon and the others were outside waiting for them to finish.
Jon was sitting patiently , sharpening Longclaw when Ygritte came to sit next to him, Jon looked at her without saying anything before continuing as if nothing had happened.
Ygritte: So you're the Raven King ? Why do they call you that if you're not even the Crow's leader ?
Jon: It's you wildlings who nicknamed me like that, I am indeed a king but not the Raven King.
Ygritte: You are the king of what then? Pretty faces ?
Jon: I am the King of the North...my North.
Ygritte: You're lying.
Jon: For what purpose ?
Ygritte: If you are truly a king then where is your crown ?
Jon: I don't have one and I don't want one. A crown is not what a king needs.
Ygritte: What does a king need?!
Jon: (looks into her eyes) First of all, he must love his kingdom and have the love of its inhabitants. Then, he needs the ability to protect it and then make it prosper. A crown does not make a king, that's what I admire most about Mance.
Ygritte: Do you admire Mance ?! You, the Raven King?
Jon: Why wouldn't i ? He is not my enemy, none of you are. The proof that you aren't my enemy is that you are still alive. Out, here we are.
Ygritte:…
Jon: Coming to Mance, he loves you free folk, he also loves this place and You can see it very well . However, he doesn't have what it takes to protect you and make you prosper. I would undoubtedly have been like him if the ancient gods had not chosen me.
Ygritte: Ahahahah!
Jon: I'm serious! When was the last time you killed one of ours ?!
Ygritte: It's been…it's been a little over 4 years.
Jon: When I appeared right ? After that, the crows became even more numerous, much organized and formidable in combat to such an extent that it was difficult for you to approach the wall, wasn't it ? Who do you think made this possible ?
Ygritte: The Raven King…
Jon: Now you know why I am a king, what I brought to the night's watch I will bring to the entire North and the free folk will be able to benefit from it too.
Ygritte: We'll not kneel before you...
Jon: I don't need that, I just want everyone who shares the blood of the first men to no longer be separated by a wall. We can live together Ygritte.
Ygritte:…
Jon and Ygritte did not speak in whispers and they were even heard a few Wildlings who looked at Jon strangely, in idea and appearance, he was really different from the other crows.
He got closer to Mag the powerful who preferred to stay outside and they started talking, Jon asked him questions about the giants and Mag insisted that they start fighting again in front of the others who were watching them without even knowing what to think. Several giants even came closer to listen.
A few minutes later, Jon, the giants and some free folks were laughing at the jokes he made and the anecdotes Oberyn had told him.
They were laughing together when Jeor and the elders came out of the cabin, they saw Jon talking with the others and remained without saying anything.
Loboda: Their ancestors would curse them if they saw them now. They laugh with a crow.
Karsi: Is he the Raven King ? Where are his black wings and his crown of feathers?
"Chief Crow, you can start talking…make it quick and let's get this over with…" One of the elders said to Jeor.
Jeor: My second is much more talkative than me, he will speak for us. (to Jon) Jon, it's yours.
"Alright, about time..." Jon said going to a higher point to start speaking as the Wildlings looked at him.
"Free folk, I am speaking to all of you men, women and children. You here and my people behind this wall know the story of the Long Night, that nightmarish event when the continent was hit with the most intense cold in living memory and the sun was gone for an entire generation. This wall didn't yet exist and the famine was gnawing away at the rich and the poor alike, but it was not the worst.
The worst was to come, the worst was returning from the icy lands, the worst was coming with an army of living dead thirsty for blood and flesh, the worst were riding the corpses of emaciated horses and each man who fell was joining their ranks.
Our ancestors the first men clenched their fists, sharpened their swords and implored the ancient gods to defeat this enemy and they succeeded.
Many had fallen, humanity on this continent was almost exterminated, but they managed to push these creatures back into the lands of always winter.
You know these stories and I'm not teaching you anything. It's been eight thousand years since it happened and in the lands of the south, this story is only a story to put children to sleep, a fable to scare them.
Only my brothers, in my veins and in yours flows the blood of the first men, we have torn each other for millennia before and behind this wall so that the descendants of the Andals in the countries of the South laugh as much at us as at you while our ancestors saved this world.
They consider this threat a joke because none of their ancestors shed their blood against the White Walkers but we in the North behind or in front of the wall have not forgotten. And do you know why ?!
Because the North remember...» Jon began his speech under the gaze of some who became attentive and others approving. Many agreed with him on several elements of this part as he continued.
"This wall was never built to keep humans out, but it was made for others. We have been killing each other for millennia because some considered others savages and others considered the inhabitants south of the wall to be arrogant weaklings who did not deserve what they got.
Now, it's time to stop this, It's time to stop these unnecessary injuries because now the enemy is back, but you know that even better than me.
You don't like us and that's understandable. How many of your friends and brothers have been killed by us ? How many of my brothers were killed by yours ? Only, the enemy is coming for us all and wants to swallow us .
However, all isn't lost and it's not enough just to cross this wall to be safe, it will come and we can beat it once and for all so that our children and our descendants never have to fear its return.
For this, we must unite and reform the powerful people that our ancestors once constituted. There is a place for you behind the wall and people are ready to welcome you as long as you deserve these lands.
The contemptuous peoples of the South attack the North for its riches and want to subjugate us.
This war, I could win it without you, they are nothing to me but this chance to show your worth, I leave it to you.
Show the others behind this wall that we can fight together despite our differences because we are all children of the North here. » He finished as a commotion began. More than half of the Wildlings were won over by his speech and the most skeptical asked questions.
"I heard you earlier with the redhead and you told her that you are a king. Shall we bow down before you as you do behind the wall ?"
Jon: Never! Only you will have to follow changes. Looting will be completely prohibited and the Night's Watch will punish with death those who kill and pillage the inhabitants behind the wall. Likewise, the villagers who persecute you will also be punished according to their crimes. We will help you establish fields and farms, I myself will ensure that you and your children lack nothing. I swear it to you on my name.
"Why would you do this for us ?"
"Because I am the King of the North and you're in the North " Jon said as he descended among them as a royal and noble aura emanated from him.
