Craster's Keep #13

"Inside this keep, everything you see is mine. Women, livestock, pig shit, the very dirt, it's all mine, and you don't get to lay one finger on anything that's mine without my say-so," Craster declared in a firm tone. 

His eyes bore into Gale and Edd, emphasizing the importance of his words. "You steer clear of my wives, and keep your nose where it belongs, and we'll get along just fine, you hear me?" he demanded.

"Loud and clear," Gale affirmed without argument, while Edd responded with a simple nod.

"Good. Now get out of my sight," Craster dismissed them with a wave, his gaze finally moving away from the two men.

Gale and Edd exchanged bemused glances as they turned and made their way into the log hall. As they traversed the space, they observed Craster's wives busily attending to various chores. 

Craster's warning was still fresh in their minds, and they took care to avoid any interaction with the women, ensuring they kept a safe distance. Edd couldn't help but let his gaze linger on one of the more attractive girls for a brief moment before quickly redirecting his attention, bearing Craster's explicit instructions in mind.

Once inside the log hall, Edd and Gale were greeted by the warm, comforting glow of a central bonfire that cast flickering shadows against the wooden walls. 

The room was cozy but simple, with a rustic charm that reflected the harsh life beyond the Wall. They spotted Benjen, who was sitting on a log, hunched close to the fire, savoring a meal of plain bread and dried meat.

Benjen gestured for them to join him, and they readily complied, each retrieving their own rations.

Edd, his face still bearing a trace of bewilderment, couldn't hold back his commentary. As he bit into a piece of bread, he voiced his thoughts. "I don't know where a slimy geezer like Craster gets off having eight wives..." He mumbled.

"Some of them are actually good-looking to boot," he added, his eyes flitting towards a few of the women bustling about the hall.

Benjen couldn't help but chuckle at Edd's discomfort. "The man's got land, livestock, a roof, and a warm fire—all the luxuries of a wildling prince charming, you could say."

Edd's expression soured further. "I don't know about you two, but no amount of pigs would convince me to marry the old creeper were I a woman..." he grumbled, unable to conceal his disgust at the thought of being Craster's wife.

As they enjoyed their simple meal by the bonfire, Gale spoke up, his voice calm but matter-of-fact. He took a bite of dried meat, the tough fibers giving way to his strong jaws.

"Well, I don't think these women got the luxury of choosing," Gale remarked, gnawing on the meat. "Doubt Craster gave them any say in it," he added, forcefully biting off a piece with a distinct crunch.

Edd's brows furrowed in response to Gale's cryptic remark. "What do you mean?" he asked, a clear note of confusion in his voice.

Gale, his expression seemingly unfazed, continued to chew before explaining, "If you'll look closely, you'll see these women all have the same distinctive features: a drooping mouth, a flat nose, and blue eyes."

Edd's eyes widened with realization. "You... you don't mean?" he began, but his voice trailed off as he struggled to vocalize the unsettling conclusion he had arrived at.

"That's right," Gale affirmed, shaking his head with a grimace. "That slimy old bastard is fucking his own daughters."

Edd, still processing the disturbing revelation, turned to Benjen with a desperate look in his eyes. "That... that can't be," he stammered. "It can't be, right?" He implored, searching for reassurance in the eyes of the first ranger.

Benjen, with a heavy sigh, confirmed, "Afraid it is." He paused for a moment before continuing, "I just didn't think you'd figure it out so quickly," casting a meaningful look toward Gale, who remained nonchalant.

Edd's frustration and concern were evident as he turned to Gale, his voice laced with urgency. "That's not right! We have to do something about it!" he insisted, his eyes darting between Gale and Benjen, seeking their support.

Gale couldn't resist a smirk, taunting Edd with a playful tone. "So you're sympathizing with wildlings now?" he jestingly questioned. "This is completely different, and you know it," Edd retorted, eager to emphasize the distinction. 

"That wildling bitch came for our blood, but--" However, he stopped mid-sentence as Craster entered the hall, prompting a stern glance from Benjen that silenced him.

Craster, eyeing the trio suspiciously, settled into his seat and took a casual sip from the bottle that Benjen had offered as a bribe. He leaned forward, curiosity in his eyes. 

"And what's going on here?" he inquired, his gaze shifting from one man to another. "Something you'd like to share, maybe?" he added, a sly smile playing on his lips.

Benjen, maintaining his composure, gave Craster a pointed stare and replied, "Nothing for you to concern yourself with."

Craster's amusement faded into a sneer as he continued to study them, especially Edd, who was the most visibly uneasy. "Well, it better stay that way," he warned, his tone heavy with insinuation.

Benjen chose not to engage further, turning his attention away from Craster, which seemed to irk him. The old wildling's dissatisfaction was palpable, and he tried to regain control of the conversation. 

"Still... you crows sure have let go of any and all standards it seems," he commented, turning to Gale with an amused glint in his eyes. "Why, this one looks prettier than half my daughters," he said, chuckling mockingly.

Gale met Craster's jest with a deadpan response. "And you look uglier than half the animals in your pigsty," he retorted, unapologetically, earning a wince from Benjen and an involuntary chuckle from Edd.

Craster was taken aback by the retort, momentarily silenced. He started to laugh, seemingly in good humor. "A funny man, are you?" he mused, continuing to chuckle as he stood up and took another sip from the bottle.

Then, abruptly, his expression shifted from amusement to furious anger. With a sudden outburst, he hurled the bottle to the ground, where it shattered into pieces. "Think you can laugh at my expense?! Under my own roof?!" 

The tension in the room hung thick as the threat of violence loomed in the air. Benjen, struggling to maintain his composure, could feel a headache coming on, and he barely resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands. Edd's hand inched closer to the hilt of his sword, prepared to defend himself and his companions if necessary.

Gale, the source of the conflict, remained remarkably cool and collected. With a placating tone, he addressed Craster, raising his hands in a conciliatory gesture. "It's a jest, friend," Gale reassured. "There's no need to get heated. If my words have offended you, then I do apologize for that."

Craster seethed with barely contained rage, clearly unappeased by the apology. "You think apologizing is enough? After insulting me in my own home?" he spat, his voice tinged with fury. "I ought to get my axe and cut you where you stand!" He menacingly threatened.

Benjen, not willing to let the situation escalate further, swiftly stood up, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His tone was a clear warning as he intervened, "Let it go, Craster. The young man already apologized, and you were the one to start it."

Craster's gaze shifted back and forth between Benjen's face and the hand hovering near the sword. Finally, with a frustrated grunt, he relented and slowly sat back down. "Our agreement is mutually beneficial," he grumbled, "but there are limits to my generosity, crow."

With one final warning, Craster turned his anger toward Gale. "Let this be the last time something like this happens, or you'll be sleeping in the cold."

"Of course, you're a valuable ally to the Night's Watch," Benjen affirmed with a nod. The tension in the room began to dissipate, and he removed his hand from the hilt of his sword. 

"We are guests here, and so long as we remain under our Craster's roof, you two will treat him with the utmost respect," Benjen instructed, turning his gaze first to Gale and then to Edd. 

His voice was stern as he emphasized his point. "Do I make myself clear?"

Gale, maintaining his composed demeanor, responded with a nonchalant shrug. "Clear as ice."

...

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