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The Redfish (Edmure SI) chapter 108
🕑 Added 2023-09-01 16:16:26 +0000 UTCKneelers
Robb POV
Seeing the Wall before us, I could tell it wasn‘t just me who visibly relaxed. Eastwatch by the sea was prepared to accompany us. I wanted to say that the nightmare was over, but I knew better. The men of Night‘s Watch expected to see us, but not the wildlings, giants, and mammoths that boarded the land first.
Benjen Stark quickly took command of Eastwatch, telling them to send ravens. The gates must be closed and sealed; nobody is to go beyond the Wall, nor is anyone to come from beyond the Wall. The news of their Lord Commander‘s death would spread soon, as would the word of tens of thousands of wildlings landing on the North's soil.
People were quickly ushered into making camps outside Eastwatch. It would take some time to divide the wildlings and send them to various parts of the North. Then there was the hostage-taking part I liked the least, but it had to be done. I already could tell that some wildlings would cause trouble for me and the North if they were left unchecked even for a moment.
As I walked off the ship to the courtyard of Eastwatch, some men quickly volunteered to lead me to chambers prepared for me. I was too tired to refuse, and the sun had already started to set. A soft and warm bed sounded grand to me. I needed a good rest, so with Grey Wind, I followed the men to chambers with a bucket of warm water prepared for me to wash.
Once I was left alone, I just sat down on the bed. I still couldn‘t stop thinking of what happened beyond the Wall. I thought of How many people I have sacrificed and how many will not return to their families and homes. Did I do the right thing? I have saved tens of thousands of people, even if they were the wildlings. I knew I did what I had to do, but why wasn't it any easier to accept the death of my people?
I removed my gloves and took the bucket of warm water to wash my face. I looked at my reflection for a good moment. I knew I should rest, but part of me couldn‘t bring myself to the bed. Yet the moment I forced myself to the bed, I heard rushed footsteps nearing my chambers. The boots hit the floor hard, and soon, someone knocked on my door.
“My lord, I apologize for your disturbance, but there is a situation,” A young man wearing a black cloak said urgently.
I took Ice, leaning on the wall, and motioned for the man to lead me. I climbed down the stairs and then entered the courtyard. There was a commotion. People gathered around it, but I could see division among them. On one side were men from the North and Night’s Watch. On the other side were the Wildlings. I pushed my way through to the center of it.
I found Uncle Benjen in an argument with one of the leaders of the wildlings, if I remember correctly, called Rattleshirt. On the ground, I noticed a bowl with gruel and a man of Night’s Watch, more like a boy than a man with a bleeding nose. From the way it was twisted, it was probably broken. We just arrived, and we already have a problem.
“Back off and return to your camp,” Benjen said sternly.
“Don’t order me, crow,” Rattleshirt replied. “We are not yours for you to command. We are free folk! I am not some green boy you can push around. I'm Rattleshirt, the Lord of Bones, and I bow to no one. Your rules mean nothing to me, and your commands won't change that.”
I looked around and saw that many wildlings seemed to agree with Rattleshirt. However, I couldn’t find Mance among them, yet I noticed his wife’s sister, Val, observing the situation. I might be wrong, but it seemed that Mance predicted such a reaction from the wildlings and wanted to see how I would handle it.
“What is this about?” I interjected.
“Tch, Lord of Winterfell,” Rattleshirt looked at me. “You want me to drink some piss and eat pig’s leftovers? Do you think we accept being treated like animals?”
“I expect you to follow the rules you people agreed on,” I replied, stepping toward him.
“I agreed to shit,” Rattleshirt said. “What reason do I have to listen to a whelp like you?”
“What reason?” I asked back, shocked that he even would question it. “Maybe because you are in my lands, or we saved you. Or maybe you would show some respect for those who died, so your sorry ass could escape a certain and cold death?”
“I owe you nothing,” Rattleshirt replied. “If I asked for ale and meat, I want ale and meat, not piss and pig’s food.”
“You get what you are offered, or you get nothing,” I said, not backing away.
“I don’t want anything to be handed to me; I will take what I want,” Rattleshirt spat on my face. “And a green boy like you won’t stop me, neither will these crows.”
I cleaned my face as the wildlings cheered. Images of Lord Umber flashed through my mind. I remembered all who didn’t return with me, and then I looked at Rattleshirt and everyone who seemed unsatisfied by the sacrifices the North made. Ice went from my back through the air, fighting Rattleshirt's arm as he waved arrogantly.
Ice cleaved through the shirt made of bones. It cleaved through Rattleshirt’s skin and bone as blood splattered on the ground, and an arm flew into the air. Silence descended as Rattleshirt screamed in pain, clutching his stump as blood spilled. Grey Wind beside me snarled at the Wildlings as they seemed ready to attack me.
“You shall listen to the order of everyone around you,” I said coldly, looking at the wildlings. “You shall listen to me, to the men of Night’s Watch, to my lords. Or you shall return to where you came from.”
“We are no kneelers,” Rattleshirt said as he got his bearing back. “We don’t fear your swords. Whatever deal you have with Mance doesn’t apply to me or others.”
“It wasn’t a request,” I said. “If you want to live in my lands, eat my food, and raise your children under my roof, you shall abide by our laws. Those who fail to do so shall be returned to where they came from.”
“Then I'd rather go back than kneel to the like of you,” Rattleshirt replied.
“Very well,” I said. “Take him up the Wall and drop him down. He shall die as a Free Folk.”
“What?”
“Free Folk, as you call yourself, is the enemy of the North,” I explained to him. “If you are unwilling to change, we shall not accommodate you. We shall not tolerate you. We shall not let you threaten us. And we shall not let our enemies live. Drop him From the Wall.”
“Stop it, you bastard!” Rattleshirt screamed as three men took him and dragged him away.
“Is there anyone else who has any complaints?” I asked the silent wildlings. “Then return to your camps, eat your food, and be thankful that you shall not be killed and turned into the slaves of the Others.”
The crowd dispersed soon after. There might be more trouble with them, but it didn’t seem everyone thought the same as Rattleshirt. Only a few hundred of them crowed behind Rattleshirt, and it was expected he was one of the leaders of the wildlings. But hopefully, they realize that their way of living isn’t acceptable anymore, and they will have to put down their pride and kneel to our laws.
“It could been handled differently,” Uncle Benjen said.
“The wildlings aren’t the only ones unsatisfied,” I said. “If I show any weakness to them, they will exploit it.”
“Kindness isn’t a weakness,” Benjen replied.
“If I showed them kindness, then my lords will see it as injustice,” I said. “In the end, this is our land. I can’t let them think they are above us and the law. If fear keeps them at bay, I am fine with it.”
I was now beyond tired. It was a hard climb back to my chambers. After washing myself, I collapsed on the bed. Just thinking about the future brought me a headache.
…
I woke as tired as I went to sleep. My body creaked in protest, but I still forced myself to get up. I had work to do. The sun barely left the horizon before I climbed down to the yard of Eastwatch. I didn’t know my way around, so I called a boy to lead me to the dining hall. I wanted to see the other men of the Night’s Watch, see how they reacted to me.
As I sat down at the table with my food. The men started whispering to themselves, but none stared at me with hate or disrespect. The show I gave them yesterday seemed enough for them to realize that I wouldn’t let the wildlings do as they pleased. After I finished my breakfast, I told a messenger to bring Mance Ryder and my lords to me.
As soon as the men of the Night’s Watch finished their breakfast, they vacated the dinner hall. There wasn’t any room big enough to accommodate all of us, but the dinner hall, so we were given it to use. Tables were pushed to mine, and food and ale were set on the table. I didn’t even ask for it, but they seemed ready for anything.
“My lord,” Lord Karstark came before everyone followed close behind.
“I see that everyone has come,” I looked around the lords of the North. “Sit down. We have many things to discuss.”
“Shall we begin with yesterday’s incident?” Smalljon Umber, now Lord of the Last Hearth, asked.
“It was dealt with,” I replied. “And any similar cases will be dealt with similarly.”
“Let’s get this over with,” Lady Mormont said. “I want to return home after so long.”
“Very well, let’s begin,” I said. “We start with allocating the wildlings to various lands. Firstly, Dreadfort is vacant. Without any heir, the Bolton lands are getting emptier with each day. With the agreement with the rest of you, I am willing to give the castle and the lands to Mance.”
“I get a castle?” Mance asked. “How generious.”
“Don’t dilute yourself,” I replied. “It will be your prison. If you accept Dreadfort as your new how, you shall not leave without my permission, no matter what. And most of the land is already divided into House Karstark, Umber, and Hornwood rule. Still, it shall be enough for twenty thousand new settlers. There are enough farms and fishing villages for your people.”
“You make me a prisoner?” Mance asked.
“What did you expect that your dissertation from the Night’s Watch and other actions shall be forgotten?” I asked. “That is the best offer I will give you. And your son shall be raised in Winterfell.”
“I will do my part of the deal, but you must do yours,” Mance said. “You shall marry Val, my wife’s sister, and make her Lady of Winterfell. Her children shall be your heirs.”
“It shall be done,” I agreed. “Now, let’s continue.”
“House Mormont is willing to take the Thenns,” Lady Mormont said. “They are small enough of a tribe for the Bear Island to accommodate and civilized enough for us to rule.”
“Even though I don’t like it, House Umber will take three thousand of the wildlings to our lands, not a single one more,” Lord Umber said.
“To settle more than seven thousand into my lands would be difficult,” Lord Karstark replied.
“Very well. I shall not ask of you anymore,” I agreed. “Benjen, see if there are any who will join the Wall, and part will be left in the Gift. Mance, list the tribes that are good at fishing, hunting, and other things. That way, I will know where to send them.”
It took a whole day to discuss the allocation of the wildings. But we barely scratch the surface of the laws that would be implemented for the wildlings as well as from the North as a whole. I had to ensure they realized that I would not tolerate any harm done to the northmen or the wildlings. Everyone shall be judged equally and justly.
