chapter 34 : Jon and the free folk

Jon finally arrived quickly at Eastwach and disembarked to go directly to Castle Black after leaving orders for the Wildlings to be guided and assisted in setting up camp.

Mance and the others wanted to see Jon and thank him but he had already left. Once at Castle Black, Jon called a meeting of all the senior officers of the Night's Watch to report on the situation and he told them everything that had happened at Hardhome.

Everyone was attentive but above all intrigued by the actions of the Night King so Jon gave his hypotheses as he did to his men earlier.

 He returned to Nightfort where Duncan, his second in command, gave him a report of events in his absence.

Things were going relatively well there, the men were still training and the patrols were going quite well although they reported hearing often very loud wolf howls far away in the haunted forest.

Duncan also spoke about the situation of the resistance, he had received a raven announcing the arrival at Winterfell of Sansa Stark apparently escorted by two persons who were Brienne of Tarth who had sworn to protect and serve the daughters of Catelyn as well as Sandor Clegane who had betrayed the crown for some time.

He had found Sansa by pure chance before escorting her back to Winterfell for a reward.

 Jon listened to this and didn't really feel anything in particular, he considered her responsible for their father's death just like Arya because if she hadn't run away when Ned organized their extraction, he wouldn't have stayed and she would not have served as bait.

In addition, he had received an invitation to the royal wedding of King Tommen Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell, an invitation sent by Tywin Lannister himself, an invitation which made him laugh .1These people attack the North but have the nerve to invite a sworn brother to a wedding. The Lannisters knew about his return and that was a good thing. 

 Only, Jon wasn't going to go to the wedding because he found these kinds of events highly boring.

He replied by raven that he had no interest in the royal wedding but that he would come in a few months for a little courtesy visite for his plans, he didn't hate the king, he had never met Tommen but just had some things to settle in his future kingdom. Even though they were trying to take over the North, Jon saw them as flies that he could sweep out of his way at any moment, he knew what the real threat was. 

 He immediately began working and managing his fortress again, especially with the recent arrival of the maesters they had sent under study at the citadel, they had completed their full training and it was time for them to return to serve with their brothers.

Castle Black had received several pleading messages from the grand maesters of the citadel wanting these gifted students to stay and help them in their research but they were ignored, these guys looked down on everyone for a long time.

 Later, Jon was sitting at a table in the garden of Nightfort with several of his men gathering around him watching what he was doing and across from him, Shireen was also sitting with a serious look on her face. 

They were playing a board game, it was actually another version of the chess game that Jon had made a while ago and he had shown his men how to play it, Shireen had also learned and she was unbeatable except against Jon against whom she never won.

 He even received encouragement from his men who had been beaten by the girl completely frustrated by Jon's tactics.

 Jon: You've been thinking about it for a long time. When are you going to decide to push a pawn, little doe ?

 Shireen: I have to think, you haven't left me any openings.

 Jon: (sighs) I have a lot to do and I need to get to Winterfell, someone will finish the game for me.

 Shireen: WHAT ?! BUT WE'RE NOT FINISHED!!

 Jon: I know little angel but there are a lot of things I need to take care of.

 He stood up and whispered something in Ser Davos' ear, who looked enlightened as if he had just discovered something extremely impressive before sitting down in Jon's place with a playful smile. 

 "Thank you very much your majesty…" He thanked Jon who gave him the tactics to beat Shireen who looked at Jon with a betrayed look while he winked at her before leaving.

 He got ready and rode with some of his men to the large camp of the free folk who in a few days of installation and construction with the help of the Night's Watch had managed to build a huge temporary camp.

Jon had not seen Mance and his people since his return from Hardhome so when they were informed of his arrival, they quickly organized so that he would be given a proper welcome because he had saved their people.

 Jon had promised them a place where they won't want for anything and he was far, far from having lied because this place was a paradise.

The forest composed solely of large mutant fruit trees and the abundant mutant game allowed them to not lack any food resources.

 "You weren't lying about this place, everything is better than the other side and we don't run out of food. Thank you very much Jon Stark, you can't imagine everything you've done for my people" Mance said sincerely, extending his hand towards Jon.

 Jon: (Shakes Mance's hand) I only did my duty as protector of humans but above all as king in the North. I hope my men were helpful.

 Val: They helped us in every way here and brought us food. It's extremely weird that the people we've fought all our lives are like this. They even advised us not to go into the forest or try to hunt big black game but some idiots among us still tried their luck and ended up injured. If your patrols hadn't been there then they would have died, your...healer is still taking care of them.

 Jon: Our healer ?

 Mance: She's talking about Maester Aemon, he helps a lot here. Jon, he gave birth to my son, takes care of my men and ensures that our children lack nothing.

 Jon: I didn't know he was there, please lead me to him.

 They took Jon to Aemon who was tending to the wounded and taking care of children. He was assisted by a few sworn brothers and especially Della, Mance's wife who watched Jon come and nodded at him to which he responded.

 "Maester Aemon…if I knew you were here then I would have provided you with a lot more help." He said as Aemon turned to look at him with a smile.

 Aemon: Jon, I already have enough help at Castle Black. The gift that the gods have given me thanks to you gives me boundless energy, I am not tired and we have more medical equipment than necessary in the forts, especially since our men have been in excellent health conditions for years.

 Della: He hasn't stopped helping here and he still has so much energy. (shows his baby) Mance and I hope that the little one will have as much energy as him.

 Aemon: I'm honored but I'm not sure it's worth it.

 Jon: I'm not sure I understand.

 Mance: "Aemon Steelsong" that's how we're going to call the child. I've been on the other side of the wall for a very long time and this man doesn't seem to have aged since I left.

 Aemon: I tell him that the years have taken their toll on me and that I have become younger thanks to the acts of the gods, but he doesn't want to believe me.

 Jon: Mance, it's the truth. The ancient gods haven't abandoned the North. Maester Aemon may be a Targaryen, but the North is in him and the gods have rewarded him for it.

 Aemon: (Surprised) You knew? 

 Jon: The Lord Commander told me about it once.

 Aemon: It was another life. (sighs) Is this war necessary ?

 Jon: Yes, they have to fight if they want to earn their places.

 Mance: We are committed to paying our debt and earning our place.

 Jon: No, that's your commitment. I told you, the choice will be individual for your men because with or without you we can repel the invaders without any difficulty. Saving you from the White Walkers, I did it largely because of my oath. However, there is a difference between living in the North and having a place there.

 Jarl: What will you do with us ?

 Mance: What do you want us to do ?

 Jon: For the next three days, I hope you gather volunteers to fight. It's not the army of the dead so it won't be obligatory. When I return, we will make the battle plans and we will organize for your final installation.

 Mance: I gave my word that my people would fight alongside you.

 Jon: I know, just do as I said. Let's say that this is a means of a very particular selection that I am making among your people, it will be very useful for later. We are going to separate the gold from the rock.

 Jon got out of there and Ygritte came to him.

 Ygritte: The crow with the pretty feathers is finally here, I was waiting for you.

 Jon: I'm on my way back.

 Ygritte: What ?! But I was told you just arrived and even Mag the Mighty was excited. He wants to fight you again, it seems like he really likes you.

 "I'm not going to fight now, we have a lot to do but out of respect for him, I should still go see him and his people." Jon said tiredly while scratching the back of his neck.

 Ygritte: I'm going to take you to him and we'll take the opportunity to talk, I didn't have the opportunity to ask you certain things because of the others.

 Jon: What kind of thing ?

 Ygritte : Do you have a wife ?

 Jon: No but a future wife . I plan to marry her after liberating the North. There's nothing formal between us, we met very recently but I like her.

 Ygritte :…

 Jon: And you?

 Ygritt: Do you like her ? She's one of those perfumed castle girls who speaks with complicated words ? 

 Jon: Far from it, she is a noble girl but she's also a warrior.

 Ygritt: I'm not sure the women on that side of the wall know how to fight. Do you think she can beat me ?

 Jon: I've never seen you fight but she could beat any man you know.

 They continued to talk while walking and Val watched them leave without saying anything, Jon looked at her with some interest before but since his discussion with Jarl this interest had disappeared and it bothered her greatly.

Jon and Ygritt arrived at the giants where Thormund was also and they talked and ate, Jon discovered that the giants were actually big vegetarians and were addicted to mutant fruits.

They had quite a good time where he made the giants laugh by telling them some of his sworn brothers' jokes in the ancient language before he left.

***Sorry for the delay in updating, my dog is sick and he is 12 years old. It's old and... I know what to expect guys...i know ***