Chapter Thirty One: Steady Preparations

The very next day, the king and the leaders of the Royal Army rose early to break their fast and strike their tents at first light. The Stormlords were the first to leave. The Reachmen and the Riverlords followed soon after. The Westerlords took their time, as they had less distance to travel. The last to depart were the Northmen, and the Sun was still not halfway over the eastern horizon when they vanished from sight of Casterly Rock. All those present who belonged to the Legion without Banners went with them.

After bidding his family a fond farewell, Lord Gregor Clegane and the Legionnaires began the long march north. On the way, they had to call upon the Lord of the Crossing for the use of his bridge again.

As Gregor had predicted, the majority of House Frey (including the Late Lord himself) held no ill will towards House Clegane for Ser Ryman's death. It had been an accident (or so Gregor had them believe), and the Mountain's "atonement" of one hundred golden dragons seemed to please Lord Walder more than his eldest grandson ever did.

Just as they did when they first came south, the Legionnaires and the Northmen had endure Lord Walder's "hospitality" for another night. In the early morning, they resumed their heading. This time, a number of the residents of the Twins accompanied them. This group was led by Ser Stevron Frey, and among its members were his grandson Edwyn and his half-brothers Danwell, Jammos, and Perwyn. They went to Gregor and informed him of their desire to join his forces.

Despite being the largest house in the realm, so far no Frey had entered the Legion without Banners. Part of Gregor still wanted the entire family to perish in misery, but he was not of a mind to deprive himself of potential allies. Plus, if he refused them, Lord Walder would most certainly have taken it as a slight. Aside from that, Gregor believed that some of the Freys had to be honorable, despite the horrid atrocities they had committed in another life.

A full turn of the moon elapsed between the moments when Lord Eddard Stark, Lord Gregor Clegane, and their companies left Lannisport and when they arrived back at Moat Cailin. Once they got there, the Northmen continued onward, but the Legionnaires regrouped with their colleagues.

Brynden Tully had managed the Legion's reserve forces well in the Mountain's absence. The damage inflicted by the small insurrection by the Ironborn Legionnaires had been minimal, thankfully. In fact, most of the Ironborn stationed at the moat had stayed loyal to the Legion. Only about a quarter of them had rebelled, and most of those had been put to the sword. The rest were locked in the dungeons, awaiting Lord Gregor's judgement.

After order had been restored, Ser Brynden proposed that the remaining three-quarters of the Ironborn Legionnaires be confined to their quarters. That was done for everyone's safety (including their own). Nearly all of the Ironborn voluntarily consented to that idea, and they kept to their rooms for the following months. When word of Lord Balon's surrender reached the moat, the Blackfish allowed them freedom of the moat again.

Once Lord Gregor's forces settled down at Moat Cailin, he assembled his secret council in their meeting chambers again. He permitted Lothor Brune and Willas Tyrell a few minutes to get acquainted with Brynden Tully and Lyn Corbray, and vice versa. After that, they started to discuss business.

Gregor apprised Ser Brynden and Ser Lyn of the gathering in the Main Hall of Clegane's Keep, as well as everything that had been covered there at length. Naturally, the Riverlord and the Valeman were just as shocked and perplexed as everyone else had been when they were informed of the terrifying crisis that would touch Westeros in little more than a decade. But they were not afraid. They were two of the most fearless men Gregor knew. They were confident that they would survive the Long Night, especially since Gregor and the king were already taking measures to overcome it.

When the meeting ended, Gregor retreated to his solar at the top of the Lord's Tower. Dacey was playing with Rickard in their quarters, so the Mountain had some time to himself. He sat at his desk and made notes on a large piece of parchment. On the left side, he wrote a list of the things that had incited the most turmoil in the Known World during the original franchise. On the right side, he wrote a list of the things he had done to avoid or alter each of them in this universe.

Unsurprisingly, many of his bullet points pertained to the War of the Five Kings.

Mainly, there was the legitimacy of Queen Cersei's children. That issue had been handled. King Robert's firstborn son, Crown Prince Jasper Baratheon, was black of hair and blue-eyed. So long as Cersei's children had that feature, Gregor could rest assured that Robert's seed went into making them. With Jaime now gone from King's Landing and away from his sister, that was all but ascertained.

Therefore, neither Stannis nor Renly would make a claim for the throne, and in the unlikely event they still did, Eddard would definitely not support either of them. Hence, there would be no need for Robb to call his bannermen or for them to declare him their king.

Lord Jon Arryn's line was now secure, as well. Gregor had guaranteed that when he arranged the death of Petyr Baelish. Not only would Littlefinger not coerce Lysa Arryn into poisoning her husband, but she was also able to provide him with more heirs.

In his first life, when he was but a fan of the series, Gregor had wondered if Sweetrobin was actually Littlefinger's bastard son. After all, Lord Jon made seven attempts at siring a child on Lady Lysa, and the only one she could produce was a halfwit weakling? Very unusual for two of the strongest lines in the Seven Kingdoms, especially since Robin looked little like either of them.

Furthermore, Gregor had believed that Petyr Baelish may have been directly responsible for Lysa's miscarriages and stillbirths in the original series. Granted, he was not entirely certain how Baelish could have pulled that off. He had been in the Vale during her early losses, and she had been in King's Landing with her husband. Of course, that did not entail that he could not communicate with her through raven or rider. Perhaps he had written to her, and his letters had instructed her to terminate Lord Jon's unborn children, ideally by tripping and falling on her abdomen or by taking moon tea in secret. After all, as unstable as Lysa was in the books and show, there was no other valid explanation as to why she was incapable of having more than one child. The fact that she was able to birth one at all proved she was not infertile.

Now that Lysa had successfully birthed a daughter, Gregor was convinced of the merit of his theory regarding Littlefinger's influence on her. In addition to that, Gregor was certain Lysa's daughter was indeed Lord Jon's; he had seen her at the tourney of Lannisport. Lady Alyssa Arryn had her mother's face, but she also had the hair and build of her father.

If Lysa could produce one child in this new timeline, she could certainly birth another.

Since Robert now had a trueborn heir of his own, the War of the Five Kings would at most be the War of the Two Kings. But Gregor had resolve that dilemma during Grejoy's rebellion, when he persuaded the king to send Balon Greyjoy to the Wall.

On that note, Gregor wondered if Balon would end up at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. If so, it would have been both poetic and amusingly ironic, as Eastwatch was under command of Cotter Pyke. Gregor could not help but snicker at the thought of the former Lord Paramount of the Iron Islands serving under a bastard from the Islands.

In any case, Balon had no means of rising up against the crown again. Additionally, his brother Euron had been killed, his brother Aeron was being held prisoner in Casterly Rock, and his sons had been taken as wards of the throne. Apart from his brother Victarion, the only other member of House Greyjoy who had total freedom of the land was his daughter Asha, and Gregor was not concerned that she would be a problem. It was unlikely that all the Ironmen would willingly follow a woman into battle.

What truly mattered was that the lordship of Pyke had been granted to Victarion Greyjoy, and the Iron Captain supported the concept of a unified Westeros. Gregor could count on him to keep the peace between the Iron Islands and the mainland. He would not be so rash as to declare himself king of the Islands or anything else.

Of course, the whole war truly came about as a result of Robert Baratheon's death. He was destined to die hunting a boar, but Gregor had even managed to avert that disaster.

In his youth, Robert Baratheon had been a man of indulgence. He loved to eat, drink, and whore greatly. When he had been a young lord with no immediate responsibility, such behavior was deemed acceptable. As king, he was expected to show some restraint. Alas, in the original universe, he did not even know the meaning of the word.

Whereas in this one, he evidently did. After hearing that fake speech about Lyanna's dying wish, the king had changed. Very much for the better. While he had already been strong in body, he became strong in mind and will overtime, too.

He drank sparingly. Rarely was he ever drunk anymore, and whenever he was, it was only in the late evening, when he had turned in for the night. He may have gained half a stone or even a full one since he took the throne, but he compensated for that by keeping active in the training yard. So while he was a little fatter, he was by no means lazy. Gregor had confirmed that himself during the tourney at Lannisport.

The issue of his many bastards had also been remedied. According to the reports from Lord Varys, the king occasionally flirted with the maids and the serving girls of the Red Keep. He even snuck in a mild grope every now and then. Be that as it may, the only woman whose bed he had shared was his wife. In spite of his devious nature, he had remained faithful to Cersei Lannister.

As far as Gregor knew, the only bastard Robert currently had was Mya Stone, and she had been conceived whilst her father was being fostered by Lord Jon Arryn. She had never set foot in King's Landing. She had never been outside the Vale. As long as she remained at the Eyrie, Cersei was pleased.

Robert had been very careful with the royal treasury as well. He did not throw tourneys at every opportunity. Nor did he waste money on selfish or aimless pursuits. He was very mindful with how the crown's finances were spent. In fact, it had managed to grow in wealth since the days of Aerys.

Most of all, Robert genuinely cared for the people of Westeros. He was far worthier of their love and adoration than his predecessor had ever been. Even Gregor was beginning to believe that the stag was what was best for the country, not the Targaryens.

But Gregor had never been one to make premature conclusions hastily. In both his lives, he would evaluate a scenario from every possible angle before reaching a verdict. In this instance, he had come to believe that the Baratheons and the Targaryens were equally qualified to rule the Seven Kingdoms. Nonetheless, only one house could be the country's ruling family, but he could not officially decide which for at least another ten years.

These were just a few of the many notes Gregor made. When he finished his list, he reviewed it thoroughly, and he made a gratifying discovery. It appeared as though he had successfully evaded all the events that were primarily responsible for bringing about the War of the Five Kings.

That was good. Extremely good, actually. With the looming threat of the Long Night, the Westerosi could not afford to waste any time fighting amongst themselves. The War of the Five Kings was ultimately resolved, but the outcome was totally and utterly undesirable. In fact, when the last book ended, Gregor honestly did not think there was anything left in the Seven Kingdoms that was actually worth saving from the Others.

Boltons in control of the North, Freys in control of the Riverlands, an unscrupulous murderer in control of the Vale, the Stormlands vacant of a liege lord, the Crownlands ruled by a female Aerys, the Iron Islands ruled by a one-eyed Aerys, the Westerlands still relatively untouched, the Reach occupied by selfish, power-hungry egomaniacs, Dorne occupied by backstabbing bastards… Gregor would almost have preferred to see all of Westeros obliterated than to have it ruled by the likes of such disreputable people.

The only thing that prevented him from actually believing that was the small amount of lingering hope that the Starks and the Targaryens would rise up and set the country to rights. In the show, they had at least begun to do that. But he did not know what happened after Jon was hailed as the king of the North and Daenerys finally set sail across the Narrow Sea.

Even though Westeros was finally united in this universe, Gregor knew it was still far from safe. The Long Night would be far more dangerous than any character could ever hope to be.

Gregor wished he could have lived long enough in his previous life to find out how the series ended. He was certain the Citadel would be involved somehow, otherwise Samwell's entire arc was pointless. As such, he thought about contacting the Conclave and addressing this matter directly. He hoped they would be willing to cooperate with him.

If they were not, then so be it, Gregor decided. He and everyone else in the realm would face the harshness of the Long Night through other means.

On the back of that same piece of parchment, Gregor made a list of predicaments that would crop up before or during the Long Night, along with a list of potential solutions to lessen or solve them. Again, he was extremely meticulous. Not wanting to overlook anything, he went over the entire sequence of events that led up to the Long Night, and he contemplated on all the possible ways he could intervene.

Once his list was complete, Gregor committed it to memory. Then he picked it up, walked over to the hearth, and placed it atop the burning logs. He eyed the parchment as it caught fire along the edges. Soon, the flames engulfed it, and before very long, it was reduced to a small pile of ash.

It would not do if anyone else found that parchment and learnt of the Westeros that could have been. Especially since that was the Westeros that would have been.

A couple weeks later, the white raven finally arrived, signaling the end of spring and the start of summer. That was when Gregor set into motion his plans to prepare Westeros for the Long Night.

He started by writing a letter to the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, who happened to be his wife's uncle. In the letter, he addressed two topics.

The first was the promise that the Watch could soon expect a number of new recruits, many of them willing volunteers. Hopefully, more than a few of them would be decent swordsmen, as well. Doubtlessly that would be met with much appreciation; it was practically common knowledge that the Wall was desperately undermanned.

The second related to a certain aspect of black brothers' oath, specifically how they were sworn to protect and guard the realms of men, and how the Free Folk – or wildlings, as they were called – happened to be a realm of men. They simply resided on the wrong side of the Wall. Gregor used that as the basis of his argument that an alliance should be made between the people of the Seven Kingdoms and those who lived north of them.

He did not include many details about the alliance or how it would be formed. Truthfully, Gregor himself was not entirely certain how it would be formed, or if it actually could be. He did not mention that, obviously. As it happened, the full extent of what Gregor wished to tell Lord Jeor could not fit on a single piece of paper. Essentially, all he said was that Lord Eddard and King Robert had given him the authority to open up negotiations with Mance Rayder. He also wished to meet with Lord Jeor in person to discuss the matter in greater detail. Lastly, he asked them to attempt to capture a wildling alive, and that their meeting wait until after they had done so. Once the letter was composed, he sent it out by raven.

Gregor had known from the start that it would be difficult – practically impossible, even – to convince the Night's Watch to make peace with Free Folk. But he had to try all the same. If he did not, it would mean another war. This war was even less desirable than the War of the Five Kings, seeing as every casualty of it would become another soldier of the Night King's army.

Less than a week later, a raven flew in from Castle Black. It carried Lord Jeor's response.

As Gregor suspected, the Lord Commander was very skeptical at the idea of forging an alliance with the Free Folk. Fortunately, he was not totally averse to it. It happened that he thought the way Gregor did: why have as an enemy one who could be an ally instead?

The Old Bear agreed to meet with Gregor face-to-face, and he would have a wildling prisoner beforehand. In his letter, he revealed that he had been planning to send a party of rangers north of the Wall to deal with a small host of wildling raiders. Initially, their mission had been to exterminate the raiders. However, at Lord Gregor's behest, they now had orders to capture at least one of the wildlings alive. As soon as the rangers returned, their Lord Commander would write Gregor again.

Surely enough, a fortnight passed, and then Gregor received another raven from the Wall. The Lord Commander apprised him that the rangers had managed to take five of the eight raiders alive. Right then, they were all being held in the ice cells at Castle Black. They could not hold the wildlings indefinitely, and Lord Jeor's duty to the Watch inhibited from going south. Therefore, the Old Bear bade the Mountain to come north as soon as possible.

Gregor did just that. Immediately after reading that missive, he assembled a group of Legionnaires at the stables. Within the hour, they left through the northern gates on horseback. Naturally, Gregor's wife was among them. He also brought his son, figuring Lord Jeor would like the chance to meet his grandnephew.

After riding for several days, the company reached the Wall. This was the very first time Gregor actually saw it in real life. Words could not sufficiently describe the awe he felt when his eyes fell upon the immense structure. Never mind the fact it was not even the tallest edifice in the Known World; it still had to be the most breathtaking. Gregor was so impressed that he almost did not mind the intense cold that appeared when he neared the Wall.

When the Legionnaires were within sight of Castle Black, they signaled their coming, and the gates were opened to them. They swiftly piled into the fortress' courtyard. There they were greeted by the Lord Steward, Bowen Marsh.

As the stableboys helped the Legionnaires with their mounts, Gregor heard the sound of steel clashing nearby. He gazed around and saw that a number of new recruits were being drilled by Ser Alliser Thorne in the training yard. Ser Alliser soon noticed Gregor was looking at him. To his credit, he did not sneer. But he did not smile, either. Still, a look of indifference was better than what most got from the bitter knight.

Ser Alliser was undoubtedly aware that Gregor Clegane had been in the Westerlander forces that had seized King's Landing at the end of Robert's Rebellion. However, he must also have known that it was Gregor who had ensured that the civilian casualties of the Sack were kept at a minimal. That was likely why he did not flash a hostile glare in his direction.

After their horses were stabled, Gregor Clegane asked to see Lord Jeor Mormont. He was swiftly led to the Lord Commander's Tower by Ser Jaremy Rykker. Dacey and Rickard accompanied them. Everyone else remained out in the courtyard.

When they arrived in the Lord Commander's chambers, they found him speaking with Maester Aemon and the First Ranger, Benjen Stark. When he saw the Mountain, Lord Jeor moved to dismiss his black brothers, but Gregor bade him not to. He declared that he preferred them to be present during his meeting with the Lord Commander.

Once the chambers were clear of everyone except the Old Bear, the First Ranger, and the ancient Targaryen, Lord Gregor and Lady Dacey sat at the table with them. It was then that Dacey showed off her son to her uncle and. As Gregor forecasted, Lord Jeor was delighted to meet Rickard Clegane. He commended his niece for producing such a stout heir.

The Old Bear was nearing his sixtieth name day, so he was older than both of Gregor's parents. Unlike Lord Tarrence and Lady Daliah, however, Lord Jeor was not a grandparent. But he was holding out hope that he would be one soon. Recently, his son had written him that he had gotten married again, and this time, it was to a Dornish princess (who apparently hated to be addressed as such). Since they had been in attendance at Jorah and Nymeria's wedding ceremony, Gregor and Dacey could verify that information.

Lord Jeor had expected his son to take another Northern girl as his bride, but he had no qualms about a Dornishwoman being the new Lady of Bear Island. His predecessor, Lord Commander Qorgyle, had been a Dornishman, and the two of them had gotten on quite well.

As far as Gregor knew, Jorah and Nymeria were not trying for children yet. But there was no question that sooner or later, they would. Lord Jeor seemed to share his conviction.

After Lord Jeor was properly introduced to his grandnephew, Aemon asked for a chance to hold Rickard as well. At first, Dacey was a little hesitant, considering the elderly man was blind. But her husband assured her that the former Targaryen knew what he was doing. At that, she gave in.

The young Clegane boy seemed strangely at ease in Aemon's arms. Dacey and Benjen helped the ancient maester hold Rickard properly. At one point, their eyes met, but they quickly looked away right after.

Gregor remembered Dacey once mentioned that her mother had considered a marriage contract between her and Benjen before he joined the Watch. Lady Maege never had the opportunity to approach Lord Rickard Stark on the issue. Still, it was possible that Benjen was aware of the prospect, just as Dacey was.

Maybe that was why he had joined the Watch. Or one of the reasons why, at any rate. It could not have been the only one. Gregor did not think of Benjen as someone who would resolve his problems by running away from them. Given his mysterious whereabouts throughout the majority of the original series, he was definitely someone who ran towards his problems.

While Aemon fawned over little Rickard, Gregor and Dacey turned back to Lord Jeor and Benjen. They proceeded to explain why they were at the Wall. Logically, Gregor led the conversation, and he included nearly everything that had been discussed in the Main Hall of Clegane's Keep. He even told them the truth about the country's probable impending doom.

Back in the Westerlands, Gregor had convinced King Robert and the Lords Paramount to go public with the news of the Long Night sometime in the future. They did not wish to incite a panic by informing their vassals and the smallfolk straightaway. First, they would allow the people to enjoy a period of serenity and opulence. Ideally, this period would last the first five years of the Great Summer. Then they would inform the public. That would give them five more years to fully comprehend and acknowledge that the Others were returning to the world.

Although the smallfolk and most of the lesser lords and landed knights were currently unaware of the approaching Long Night, they were still able to help prepare for it in their own way. They had been instructed by their liege lords to fortify their homes and store an additional ration of their crops at each harvest. This would ensure that they would be better protected and adequately supplied throughout the whole next winter.

In spite of the temporary "nondisclosure agreement" Gregor had established between the other thirty-one people he had told of the Long Night, he had chosen to be forward with the three men in the Lord Commander's chambers.

All three of them reacted just as Gregor predicted they would.

As Northmen, Lord Jeor and Benjen almost readily believed in Gregor's claims of the White Walkers. Of course, the Northmen also had the greatest feuds with the Free Folk, but Jeor Mormont was not one to lament on old grievances, and Benjen Stark had a firm grasp on the priorities of the world.

Aemon Targaryen did not reply right away. He needed a few minutes to reflect on everything he had heard. After sitting for a time in motionless silence, he lightly ran his frail fingers through the dark mop of hair on Rickard Clegane's head, and then he gave a short speech on visions and prophecies.

In it, he mentioned the prophecy his great-grandnephew Prince Rhaegar Targaryen had consulted him about. The one about the Three-Headed Dragon and the ending of all life. That prophecy was the very thing that had led to the demise of House Targaryen. While most called Rhaegar a fool for putting so much stock in a myth, Aemon had considered the possibility that the Silver Prince was actually wiser than anyone could have fathomed.

He ended his soliloquy by stating that due to the evidence provided by Lord Gregor's visions, he was now indisputably certain that the Long Night would indeed come again. He also agreed that there was no way to prevent it, but much could be done to prepare for it. That included uniting with the Free Folk.

Gregor was pleased he had won the trust and the friendship of Lord Commander Jeor, Maester Aemon, and Benjen. They carried a great deal of authority in the Watch, and they were greatly respected by their brothers in black. In that regard, they would prove invaluable allies to Gregor.

Once the conversation ended, Gregor asked to see the wildling prisoners. While Dacey stayed with Maester Aemon and Rickard in the Lord Commander's chambers, Benjen and Lord Jeor led Gregor down to the courtyard. There the Mountain and the Old Bear waited whilst Benjen gathered some of his rangers and went off to the ice cells.

All five wildlings were swiftly brought out. Their hands and feet were bound, but they were struggling angrily. The eldest of them could not have been more than three and twenty. Three were male; two female. One of the men and one of the women could have been siblings, based on their similarity in physique and appearance.

Gregor watched as the five captives were brought before him. They immediately took notice of his height, and it seemed to startle them. But they were not intimidated. Gregor did not expect them to be, given the land they had come from.

One of them made a remark along the lines of "So there ARE giants on this side of the Wall."

His companions chuckled at that before they were silenced by the watchmen who restrained them.

Jeor Mormont then looked to Lord Gregor and asked what he wanted with the prisoners.

To the vast surprise of everyone there (especially the wildlings themselves), Gregor proclaimed that he wished for them to be set free.

That command confused everyone there, and it angered Alliser Thorne. The Crownlander knight claimed that two of their brothers had died bringing these Free Folk back, and he declared that letting the prisoners live was an insult enough to their comrades' memory. Letting them go was an outrage.

Gregor calmly assured Thorne and the others present that he was not being inconsiderate or hasty. He debated that these five wildlings would serve a greater purpose than vengeance. Since Lord Commander Mormont was aware of Gregor's goal to bring the Free Folk south of the wall, he ensured that the Mountain's order was obeyed. The five prisoners were promptly released from their bounds.

As the tunnel to the Wall was opened up, Gregor approached the five wildlings and said that he had a message for them to deliver. Normally, they did not take orders from "kneelers," but since he had given them back their freedom, they chose to listen.

He told them to go back to their "King-beyond-the-Wall" and tell him that Moat Cailin was in need of a bard. Specifically, one who was "able" to carry any tune. He advised them to hurry, as it was a "long night" without music, and there were hardly any "others" who could keep his mind occupied. He instructed them to use those exact words.

The vagueness of the message baffled them, but they agreed to convey it. After committing it to memory, they turned to the Wall and sprinted into the tunnel at its base. Once they were all through, the gate slammed shut behind them.

At this point, there was nothing further Gregor could do to mend the relationship between the Night's Watch and the Free Folk. All he could do was wait for those five wildlings to find Mance Rayder and hope that Mance understood the hidden meaning of that message.

Gregor and the rest of the Legionnaires departed from Castle Black that same day. Before they left, Gregor bade the watchmen to have some faith in what he had done. Their Lord Commander and First Ranger did; there was no reason they could not.

Of course, the alliance with the Free Folk was merely the first of Gregor's preparations against the Long Night. When he and his colleagues returned to Moat Cailin, he shifted his focus to some of the other ones.

He thought on the truce and possible treaty with the Targaryens. At the present, that affair was mostly out of his hands. Be that as it may, the plan to recover Viserys and Daenerys was already underway. A small fleet of ships under the mutual command of Lord Monford Velaryon and Ser Davos Seaworth had sailed across the Narrow Sea to locate the two surviving children of the Mad King.

King Robert had given explicit orders that the Targaryens were not to be killed or harmed. Instead, they would be taken into protective custody. That was certain to gain the stag king some degree of support from the Targaryen loyalists. There was also the matter of the Targaryens' "advantage," which was currently unknown to everyone but Gregor.

Until Viserys and Daenerys were found, Gregor would not partake in that affair. He would instead concentrate on issues closer to home.

There was one particular matter that was quite close to home. That was the matter of House Bolton. Since the events leading up to House Stark's downfall had been averted, Lord Roose would have no opportunity to betray his liege lord. Thus, it was likely that he would remain loyal to Lord Eddard, in spite of his ever-present desire for dominance of the North. Gregor decided to keep a watchful eye on Roose Bolton, but he would not move against the Leech Lord unless he acquired some concrete proof that House Bolton was plotting against the Starks.

Even so, Gregor had no intention of extending that same courtesy to Roose's bastard son. Ramsey's fate had been sealed long ago.

The Mountain was willing to give just about any person in the series a chance of redemption. So far, Amory Lorch, Pycelle, and Petyr Baelish had been his only three exceptions. But he planned to make a fourth exception for Ramsey Snow. He was determined not to allow that inhuman monster to torment the realm. The same would go for his redolent servant, Reek.

In the books, Roose had made an argument that perhaps it was Reek who had corrupted Ramsey and not the other way around. While that may have sounded more plausible, Gregor was not going to risk finding out the hard way if it was wrong. He was going to kill both master and servant.

But not right away. He would have to wait for the most ideal occasion, and he would have to find the right people for the job. He could not use any of his Legionnaires, not even those on his council. Ramsey was still a child, after all, and officially, the Legion without Banners did not harm children.

Perhaps the Free Folk would be useful in that regard.

In any case, Gregor was not in any tremendous rush to have Ramsey killed. He just had to make sure the deed was done before Domeric Bolton made the mistake of seeking out his baseborn half-brother.

On the subject of family disputes, Gregor thought greatly on the predicament surrounding the future of the largest house in the country.

Stevron and the other Freys who had enlisted in the Legion managed to demonstrate their usefulness quite often. Whatever their assignment, they performed diligently, and they represented their house with honor, integrity, and valor. There was the possibility that they were simply the pick of the litter, but even so, that was enough to appease Gregor and the other Leigonnaires.

Before very long, more Freys joined the Legion's ranks. A few others voluntarily entered the Night's Watch. Ser Theo Frey even took up the vacancy in Robert's Kingsguard after Jaime Lannister was dismissed.

Gregor was amazed by just how much good the Freys were actually be capable of doing. He felt as though he had severely underestimated them. Most of them, at least. There was one he was certain he had been correct about all along.

House Frey may have been on the road to regaining its honor, but its patriarch was long overdue for retirement. However, for all his many flaws, Lord Walder was the only person who was maintaining the order of his house. Once he breathed his last, his progeny would likely be fighting and killing one another for lordship of the Twins.

While that prospect would have thrilled Gregor once, he was determined to avert it now. All he had to do was ensure that Ser Stevron had enough support to dissuade any challengers and uphold his ascension to the lordship of the Crossing.

As an officer of the Legion without Banners, Stevron already had plenty of support. In fact, Gregor doubted he would need any more than that. Since the Legion answered directly to the Mountain, who answered directly to the King, Ser Stevron would essentially have the backing of Robert himself. Gregor doubted any Frey would be so bold as to defy the will of the king.

Now that Stevron had all the support he would require, Gregor wondered on how he could assist him in replacing his lord father. He thought on the fact that Walder was past eight. No one would question the sudden death of an old man, but Gregor had given Eddard Stark his word that Lord Walder would not be assassinated. Furthermore, he knew Walder would not be kind enough to die on his own anytime soon.

As such, Gregor set his mind to finding a nonviolent and subtle technique to removing Lord Walder from power and installing Stevron in his place. Obviously, the old weasel would not step down voluntarily. He could not be forced to do so, either.

The only ways a son could succeed his father whilst the latter was still living was if the father joined the Night's Watch (just as Lord Jeor had), or if the father became incapacitated somehow.

Walder was too old and too proud to take the black, but… there were plenty of ways a man of eighty could be deemed unfit to lead his house. Gregor elected to think on these ways for a while. All the same, he would not decide on one until he was confident in both its success and security.

A few months after Gregor visited the Wall, a bard appeared in Moat Cailin. No one could say for certain who this bard was or where he came from. He just showed up and offered Gregor his services.

Only the Mountain realized these "services" were not his talents with a harp.

Gregor invited the minstrel up to his solar under the premise of discussing a contract with him.

Once the door to the solar was locked and the area was deemed secure, the bard dropped his act. It was then that Gregor Clegane and Mance Rayder met face-to-face.

Of course, Gregor had seen through the King-beyond-the-Wall's disguise right away. Then again, the farce was never meant to fool the Mountain.

Mance admitted that he had been highly skeptical about answering Gregor's summons. For all he knew, it could have simply been a trap meant to lure him south and face King Robert's justice. No one could fault him for developing that theory.

When Gregor asked Mance what ultimately encouraged him to give the meeting a chance anyway, the former watchman stated that since Gregor had spared five of his people, he felt partly indebted to him. He also quoted the words of House Clegane of Moat Cailin: All Are Welcome. He debated that even the Free Folk counted as "all." Most of all, there was the content of the message Gregor had sent him. The Mountain's references to the Long Night and the Others had convinced Mance that Gregor was not misleading or deceiving him.

In any case, Gregor was pleased the King-beyond-the-Wall had chosen to hear him out. That marked the completion of the first of many steps in the long process of bringing the Free Folk south. The second step was discussed at that meeting.

Again, Gregor provided the elaborate account of his "visions," and how one of them had warned him of the Long Night. Mance seemed to believe that story almost without question. That was not surprising, seeing as he himself had forecasted the Long Night through lessons learned from timeless tales and myths.

Mance did not deny Gregor's accusation that he was scheming to bring the entirety of the Free Folk south of the Wall. If he did not return from this meeting, he claimed they would still march without him. Only they would be less organized and more desperate. And they would have much less to lose.

Shortly after that, Gregor confessed he did not desire a war any more than Mance did. Be that as it may, he was hoping to give the Free Folk the safety and protection that had been provided to all the Westerosi who lived south of the Wall. The solution he was looking forward was the one that involved the least amount of bloodshed.

It was then that Gregor revealed that he desired to establish diplomatic relations with the Free Folk. In this endeavor, he had the support of Lord Eddard Stark, Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, and King Robert Baratheon. The three men would allow Gregor to bring the wildlings south, but only under the condition that he could ensure that they would be able to coexist with the residents of the Seven Kingdoms.

Gregor explicitly clarified what was expected of the Free Folk once they relocated south. Firstly, they would not have to kneel to Robert or any other man. They would not have to fight in any conflicts or disputes. For those that wished to live separately from society, certain tracts of land would be designated for them. Ideally, they could live on the hundred miles of the Gift. For those that were willing to live alongside the "kneelers," they would be provided ample housing.

Regardless of where they went, the wildlings were expected to abide by the same standards as the people of the Seven Kingdoms. They could not steal, rape, or kill. If they wished to, they could enter the services of a lord or a landed knight in exchange for gold, food, and shelter. Gregor would not protest if they thought to join the Legion. He would actually welcome any who came to him.

Mance thought long and hard on Gregor's proposal. He was impressed that the Mountain had accounted for virtually every detail. Clearly, he cared just as much for the well-being of the Free Folk as Mance himself did. He was also very much aware of the consequences of leaving them north of the Wall.

In the end, the King-beyond-the-Wall decided to accept Gregor Clegane's proposal.

That moment denoted the beginning of step three.

Since there were so many who lived north of the Wall, and due to the eight-thousand-year rivalry between the Free Folk and the Seven Kingdoms, Mance would not be sending all of them south right away. Gregor agreed with him that it would be wiser and more practical to bring a small group of select individuals down at first. Once the people of the Seven Kingdoms became accustomed to their presence, larger, more diverse groups of wildlings could be sent overtime.

At the end of the meeting, Mance told Gregor that he would head back north and gather the leaders of the Free Folk clans together. He would tell them of the Mountain's arrangement. There was little doubt some of them would question its plausibility. Some would question Mance's motives just for negotiating with a "kneeler" in the first place. It was his belief that most of them would look past the means and focus more on the ends.

Once he won them over, he would select which among them would be the first to go south. He would compose that group carefully, prudently, and heedfully.

Mance would bring this group to Craster's Keep in exactly four months. He beseeched Gregor to ride out to the Keep at that same date, as regardless of who he picked, the Free Folk would want to meet the man who was bargaining for their lives at the risk of his own.

As long as he did not have to go inside Craster's house, Gregor was content with having the keep as their meeting site. Apart from that, he would have liked the opportunity to encounter the wildling immigrants and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses directly.

After Mance left Moat Cailin, Gregor wrote to Winterfell, King's Landing, and Castle Black, informing Lord Eddard, King Robert, and Lord Commander Jeor that he had successfully negotiated what could have been constituted as a treaty with Mance Rayder. He told them of the plan to bring the wildlings south in incremental measures, and he asked them for clearance to go ahead with this plan.

All three men promptly wrote back, verifying that the Mountain could proceed with this endeavor. However, they were still unwilling to allow Mance Rayder himself to settle in the Seven Kingdoms. For the present, he was still seen as a deserter and a rebel to the Watch. Even so, they would allow the negotiations with Mance to go on, as they were for the greater good.

Near the beginning of 290 A.C., Gregor, Dacey, Smalljon Umber, and a party of Legionnaires – most of them Northmen – rode north of the wall. The Watch had supplied a team of half a-dozen rangers to escort them all the way to Craster's Keep.

Although Westeros was in the midst of summer, it felt almost as cold as a Northern winter in this part of the country. Gregor was clad in two lairs of thick leather and double-knit wool, but the chill was still very much detectable.

However, Gregor's primary concern was not for himself. It was for the one who rode beside him.

All throughout the ride to Craster's, Gregor's gaze constantly drifted to Dacey. A couple months prior, she had fallen with child again. The bump in her abdomen was not yet noticeable, but it was there all the same.

Gregor knew that Dacey was a capable fighter even when pregnant. Still, he could not be spared the worries typical of a caring husband and expectant father. Nevertheless, he had reluctantly granted her pleas to accompany him north of the wall.

It took them nearly a week to reach Craster's Keep. Mance and his countrymen were already assembled there when they arrived. To be precise, they were on the outskirts of the keep, as Craster had been a very gracious host. Gregor had expected as much.

On the plus side, Craster had declared his property neutral ground. He announced that if there was any fighting on it, no one – be they Night's Watch, Legionnaire, or Free Folk – would be welcome there ever again.

Some angry glances and insults were exchanged between the watchmen and the wildlings, but no weapons were drawn. The Legionnaires had no conflict with either party, so they were able to maintain the peace.

It was then that Gregor met the wildlings Mance had chosen to be the first to immigrate to the Seven Kingdoms. To his surprise and delight, Tormund Giantsbane was one of them.

Gregor took some time to briefly but thoroughly interview each of the Free Folk. Some refused to answer his questions at first, but when he claimed that their very lives depended on their level of cooperation, they were much more compliant then.

Ultimately, the Mountain decided that each and every wildling in this group was ready for integration into the Seven Kingdoms. In fact, they were probably the most ideal picks to represent the entire Free Folk. That was a very hopeful sign.

Gregor chose to bring this group south straightaway. Before they headed back to the Wall, he told Mance to pay another visit to Moat Cailin in two months. By then, the Mountain would have determined whether or not the moat's other occupants could tolerate the Free Folk enough to live with them.

If it did not work, they would not give up on the immigration plan. They would simply try settling the first group of wildlings somewhere more remote and wait a while.

If did work… then in four more months, Mance was to have a second group of wildlings assembled at Craster's Keep, and Gregor would meet them there once more.

Gregor had notified the residents of Moat Cailin in advance of his pact with the Free Folk. Naturally, many of them had questioned it, but after everything their lord had done for them, the vast majority were willing to give his proposal a chance.

Initially, having wildlings at Moat Cailin proved to be quite a challenge indeed. The first couple of weeks involved a number of fights and disagreements. No one was killed, but there were more than a few who were seriously wounded. Thankfully, Maester Kennick managed to treat them all before infection set in.

The top officers of the Legion decided to set an example for their comrades. They frequently sparred with the Free Folk in the training yard and shared meat and mead with them in the Great Hall. Gregor even established a seat for the Free Folk on his private council, which Tormund was appointed to.

Two months after the first meeting at Craster's, Mance returned to Moat Cailin as a bard. Gregor informed him that was so far a success, and he bade him to assemble a second group of Free Folk with all due haste.

Another two months later, Mance did just that. Gregor rode north to Craster's once more, and he examined the the King-beyond-the-Wall's newest choices for immigration. This group was slightly bigger and broader, but the Mountain gave each of them his approval. All of them were swiftly led south.

This process went on for the next five years. Every four months, the population north of the Wall decreased by a certain amount, and the population south of it increased just as much. The composition of each group of wildlings varied in size, nature, and overall status, but one thing they all shared was a desire for survival. As long as they did not ruthlessly murder others in this endeavor, that was enough for Gregor.

Not wishing to overcrowd Moat Cailin, Gregor had petitioned the Northern lords for possible sites to settle the Free Folk on. Most were unwilling to yield as much as an acre to the wildlings, but some of the more forgiving and good-natured among them agreed to set aside some tracts of land.

By the end of the fifth year of the Great Summer, wildlings camps could be found throughout a significant part of the North. Some of those camps even hosted lifelong residents of the Seven Kingdoms.

More than half of the Free Folk still resided on the other side of the Wall, but at the rate they were being incorporated into the Seven Kingdoms, most – if not all – of them would be on the right side by the time the next winter began.

Since the North was the largest of the Seven Kingdoms, no one was concerned that there would not be enough space for both the wildlings and the Northmen. Given how empty and desolate the North had seemed beforehand, insufficient land would not be an issue.

However, some had been concerned that there would not be enough food to go around. They were proven wrong. The Free Folk had survived the eons by hunting alone. They had ways of growing crops in even the harshest of weather conditions. Using a method similar to the glass gardens of Winterfell, they managed to sow their own crops. With the assistance of the Legion without Banners, the Free Folk even managed to open their own market and enter trade relations with the other regions of Westeros.

A lot of people had suspected that the Free Folk would merely be a danger to them or a waste of space and food.

The Free Folk were a danger indeed, but only to those who crossed them. And they were by no means a waste of space and food.

Gregor found they could be rather useful. Useful in ways that the Legionnaires could not be (or could not afford to be).

For instance, they were able to help Gregor resolve the issue of Ramsey Snow.

Two years, Gregor summoned a dozen of the most bloodthirsty wildlings to his solar, claiming he had an assignment for them. As long as it involved killing something, they were happy to oblige.

Once they were all together, Gregor told them that their objective was to murder a young baseborn boy. That took them by surprise. Not because they had any reservations about slaying a child, but because it was uncharacteristic of the Mountain.

Then he told them what Ramsey was and what he would grow up to be. Even the Thenns were appalled by Gregor's description of him. They accepted this job with no hesitation.

Their objective was simple: they had to kill Ramsey subtly and without being seen. Once he was dead, they were to find a way to frame his foul-smelling servant, Reek, for his death. A few of those twelve were experts at manipulation and deception, so this secondary goal was doable for them.

The dozen wildling assassins departed in the direction of the Dreadfort and its adjoining villages in the early more. They returned to Moat Cailin three days later. A few of them were spattered with blood, but most of it was not theirs.

They said nothing to Gregor; the leader of the team merely gave him a slight nod, which was all the confirmation the Mountain needed.

Sure enough, later that week, Gregor overheard two Legionnaires gossiping near the armory. One was telling the other that he had heard somewhere how Lord Roose Bolton had gone into a great rage over the death of a young boy on his lands. The alleged perpetrator of the crime – a man who smelt as though he had never bathed in his life – had been literally torn to pieces at Bolton's command. Gregor could only smile at the news.

Another instance when the Free Folk demonstrated their usefulness occurred in the fourth year of the Great Summer. This time, they helped Gregor in the affair surrounding the line of succession of the Twins.

When they first relocated south of the Wall, the wildlings had brought a number of herbs and other ingredients that were key to the art of alchemy. A person trained in that field could use those ingredients to craft medicines, poisons, sedatives, stimulants, and all manner of potions.

With the aid of a pair of experiences alchemists, Gregor was able to concoct a draught that functioned similarly to a certain drug he had once used as a CIA agent in his first life. That particular drug triggered a stroke in the one who ingested it. The stroke was not fatal, but the victim would be rendered indefinitely catatonic.

Once the draught was perfected, Gregor sought out Ser Stevron Frey and told him of the draught's effects. Lord Walder Frey's eighty-fifth nameday was approaching soon. The Mountain gave Ser Stevron the idea to attend his father's celebration and quietly slip him the draught.

Ser Stevron was stunned by the suggestion, but only for a moment. He was quick to go along with it after that.

A fortnight before Walder Frey turned five and eighty, Ser Stevron left for the Crossing with a party of his father's retainers and his fellow Legionnaires.

On the day of Lord Walder's eighty-fifth nameday, nothing especially exciting or noteworthy happened at Moat Cailin.

The day after, something did.

In the afternoon, a raven flew in. It carried a missive which was stamped with the symbol of the Twins. The missive contained a proclamation that House Frey's lord had gone into what could only be described as a shock-induced coma. There was no indication of what had triggered the attack, and Walder Frey showed no signs of recovery. As such, his son and heir, Ser Stevron, had assumed the position as head of their house.

Several days later, another letter arrived from King's Landing. This one was a declaration confirming the removal of the catatonic Walder Frey from power and the subsequent installing of Stevron Frey as the new lord of the Crossing.

As Gregor had hoped, there was no feuding over lordship of the Twins. Ser Stevron Frey still had the full support of the Legion without Banners, and many of his half-brothers and kin already preferred to have him as their leader over anyone else, including themselves.

Soon after, Stevron sent Gregor another message, saying that he would likely not return to Moat Cailin, as the Twins were in dire need of proper organization. Gregor wrote back that he understood, and he bade Lord Stevron the best of luck in bringing his house to order.

Gregor was not concerned that Stevron Frey would be unable to establish stability amongst his house. He was just glad Lord Walder was no longer in control. That old weasel had infested the world with enough of his seed. Now there would be more room for other children

That was rather fortunate, as a lot of couples had been busy lately. That included House Mormont and both branches of House Clegane. Gregor made sure to keep track of all the children who were born in the Great Summer, especially those of them that belonged to the families he was close to.

The first member of the post-Greyjoy's Rebellion generation was Arya Stark. She was born shortly after Balon yielded his crown to Robert.

A few months later, Lady Selyse Baratheon bore her lord husband a daughter, named Shireen.

In the middle of 290 A.C., Lady Dacey gave birth to her second child. This one was another son, whom she and her husband named Alyver after Gregor's paternal grandfather.

That same year, Catelyn Stark bore her husband another son named Brandon, and Queen Cersei birthed a black-haired daughter named Joanna.

Additionally, both Obara Martell and Nymeria Martell both fell with child, much to the glee of their father and husbands (and Gregor's, incidentally).

Obara gave birth in the first month of 291 A.C. She and Sandor had a daughter named Tyta.

Nymeria gave birth two months later. She gave Lord Jorah a son named Edwyle.

In early 292 A.C., Lysa Tully had her second child and first son. She named the child Robin, and he was by all accounts a healthy boy. An ideal heir for Lord Jon.

In late 292 A.C., Lord Gregor and Lady Dacey were graced by their third child and first girl. They gave their daughter the name Vallory, and she quickly became the joy of Moat Cailin.

Prince Oberyn Martell had not grown idle. Ellaria Sand provided her paramour with two more daughters: Dorea in 291 A.C. and Loreza in 293 A.C.

Both of these girls had been aunts from the moment of birth. Not long after, they became aunts again.

Near the end of 293 A.C., Nymeria produced a daughter named Jeyne for Jorah.

At the start of 294 A.C., Obara gave Sandor a son named Mors.

In the latter-half of 294 A.C., Queen Cersei gave birth to twin girls – Myrcella and Cassana.

It seemed that every year, Gregor's family – meaning both his blood relatives and the Legion without Banners –got larger.

Alas, at one point, it got a little smaller.

For the first year following Greyjoy's Rebellion, Victarion Greyjoy had been searching for an ideal wife. Despite Gregor's suggestion that he marry a woman from another region of Westeros, Victarion debated that the Islands were not quite ready for that form of diplomacy just yet. He would arrange for his own heir to wed outside his family's domain, but he himself would take an Ironwoman for his bride.

By the start of the next year, Victarion was courting Gysella Goodbrother, the second of Lord Gorold Goodbrother's twelve daughters. Less than a year after that, a drowned priest saw them wedded by the harbor in Moat Cailin.

Shortly after Gregor and Dacey were blessed with their daughter Vallory, Gysella was expecting a bundle of her own. That was when her lord husband approached Gregor on a personal matter.

As much as Victarion genuinely loved Moat Cailin and the people who occupied it, he wished for his children to be born at Pyke. Furthermore, he believed he had been absent from the Iron Islands long enough. It was time for him to properly take up his place as the Lord Paramount of the Islands, and he could not do that from the mainland.

Gregor completely understood Victarion's obligation to return to Pyke. He wished him the best of luck in his duties as the liege lord of the Ironborn, and he hoped Gysella would provide him numerous strong sons and daughters. The Iron Captain was greatly touched by those words, and he made a vow that if his first child was a boy, he would name the lad after the Mountain.

With Victarion gone, the Iron Islands had no representative on Gregor's council. But the vacancy was taken up fairly quickly. Oddly enough, it was filled by Maron Greyjoy.

Although Maron had come to the moat as a hostage, he had adapted to his captivity rather well. No one treated him unfairly or unkindly. He was allowed everything except the ability to travel outside the grounds of the moat alone. Victarion had taken the time to educate his nephew on the morals and principles of the Legion without Banners. Maron had been extremely resentful of his uncle and those lessons at first, but he eventually came to firmly grasp and appreciate them.

Gregor could actually see the change in Maron overtime. That was the type of change Victarion had undergone when he first joined the Legion.

By the time Victarion became a married man, Gregor had petitioned King Robert to release Maron from his role as a hostage. After looking over the Mountain's basis for this request, Robert Baratheon agreed to give Maron back his freedom. Not long after, Maron was given entry to the Legion without Banners.

Maron had been there when Victarion Greyjoy left the moat. He had watched as his uncle sailed down the Cut aboard the Iron Victory with his aunt. They had waved to him, and he had waved back.

Although Maron was already free to go home, he had chosen to stay at Moat Cailin by his own volition. That was when Gregor approached him with the offer to join his secret council. Maron accepted almost immediately.

In the middle of 293 A.C., Gregor received a raven from Pyke. He was informed that Lady Gysella Greyjoy had given her lord husband a son, and, true to his word, Victarion had named his heir Gregor.

So many new lives were coming in to the world. The majority of them would never have even existed in the original universe. Upon realizing that, Gregor felt a quaint sense of self-satisfaction.

The middle of 294 A.C. marked the halfway point of the Great Summer. It would not be long before the King and the Lords Paramount made the coming of the Long Night common knowledge. They had decided on a specific date when they would come forward; it would be the first day of the seventh month of that year.

Gregor spent much of the week leading up to that date in his solar. He was trying to think of a way to minimize the fallout of the Long Night being made public. There would be turmoil, obviously. His job was to ensure it did not devolve into anarchy and chaos. The people had to know; they couldn't not know about the Long Night. But some of them would be unwilling to listen or refuse to listen altogether. Gregor's job was to ensure that as many people as possible admitted to and comprehended the truth, and they do that as soon as possible. The sooner they faced reality, the better things would be for them.

While he was in the midst of his brooding, Gregor was visited by Polliver. The tall man with the black beard held out a piece of rolled-up paper and told his master "Message for you, Ser."

As Gregor took the parchment from his man-at-arms, he asked "Where from?"

"Well, there was no raven, Ser," Polliver disclosed, "A rider came up the Causeway. He dropped it off."

"A rider from the south?" Gregor muttered, a little perplexed.

The nearest house south of Moat Cailin was House Reed. After that, the closest house was located in the Riverlands, and that was over a fortnight's journey by horse.

Gregor shrugged off his bewilderment, opened the parchment, and read it.

Then he read it again, as he thought he had misread it the first time.

He had not. Every word was just the same the second time around.

Without looking up from the parchment, Gregor announced "Polliver… we're about to have a visitor. A rather unexpected visitor at that."

"Ser?" Polliver uttered, raising an eyebrow.

"I can't explain now," Gregor proclaimed, "Just… keep me apprised if any crannogmen come within sight of the gates."

"As you say," Polliver avowed. He then turned and exited the solar, leaving the Mountain alone once more.

Gregor watched Polliver leave, and then he closed his door and leaned against the adjoining wall. As he did, he looked down at the parchment in his hand, and he let out a deep sigh.

Currently, he already had plenty of problems to worry about. He had had the privilege of choosing to solve most of those problems himself. He had not asked for this newest problem. Nonetheless, it seemed as though he was stuck with it.

There was a saying in the North: If you take a wolf pup away from its mother, the she-wolf will always try to reclaim her child, even at the risk of her own well-being.

According to the message, Gregor would soon find out just how true that saying really was.