299 AC, The Wall…
The return of the Stark party to the Wall was short but the planning of the defence of the Wall took away all their night. 15000 Northmen were going to hold the Castle Black and sixteen hundred were going to be holding the abandoned castles. And the remaining 13000 men were going to hold Shadow Tower and Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.
Of course, Lord Commander was responsible for Castle Black's defence but considering the support he's got for election from Lord Stark, he voluntarily gave it to Lord Stark. Lord Karstark and Lord Umber were sent to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea and Shadow Tower, respectively and they were to cooperate with the commanders of the castles. The remaining castle's command was given to other little lords as there was not going to be a big battle at those places.
When Ned returned to his tower to rest a little bit, he saw Jon waiting for him at the door. He was avoiding him since he came to the Wall as there were many answers Jon was seeking that he couldn't give and this caused a tense relationship between them.
"Father, you've said we could talk when you have free time so I came after your meeting with other lords," Jon said.
Ned sighed and rubbed his temples, "Jon, I've just left a meeting and I need to rest." He tried to get into his room bypassing Jon but Jon moved and stood before him.
"Father, you were avoiding me for the past three months. You did not even believe what I, your son, was saying. Today I may die in the fighting, at least tell me of my mother"
Ned looked at him for a while and then he sighed, "Let's go in." he said and they went in together.
Ned poured himself a cup of wine but didn't give any to Jon and sat onto a chair. "Ask anything you want, I will answer all of them," he said.
Jon didn't know what to ask as he expected him to send him away like always but there was a question that lingered in his mind for years but he wanted that answer for his last question as there were many immediate threats he still needed to ask his father.
"Never did I tell you a lie but you don't listen to me for the last three months, why father? I told you we are all in danger but you avoid me every time I raise that matter."
Ned looked at his wine and swirled it, "There are many things you don't know, son. I knew the danger even before you talked to me about it. Lord Commander Mormont talked to me about it in his letters and we did take some precautions about it already." He raised his head and looked at Jon, "Did you really think our ancestors did not take any steps for their second coming. They made a deal with Skagosi… They were not going to pay any taxes but in return, they are to give the forged weapons to us when the time comes. I'm sure you know the thing that kills them…"
Jon's eyes grew out of their sockets, "They are mining dragonglass!"
"Yes, they are mining it for thousands of years and forging it as weapons."
"Then why didn't you tell me this before?" Jon yelled out.
"I have other plans for you and me being seen with you would have raised questions later but if I were to treat you coldly then that could answer many questions about your disappearance during the war."
Jon frowned and asked, "What disappearance?"
"You will be escorted by night to White Harbour and then to Pentos. I have some friends there, they will help you in a matter I asked for help."
"But the Night's Watch…" Jon wanted to remind him about his oaths but Ned cut him off.
"You are released from your oath by orders of the Lord Commander," Ned said.
Jon frowned and looked at him with confusion in his eyes, "You were the one who told me that Night's Watch was an honourable calling. How could you expect me to abandon my brothers?!"
Ned snorted, "If not for me, they would have executed you the instant they saw you coming from the south. Besides, do you want to waste the opportunity before you? I pulled many strings for this and he also asked to see you."
"He? Who is he?" Jon asked.
"You will see him only if you go now, I will not tell you no more. If you are done with your questions, I will rest for a few hours."
Jon tightened his fist and then loosened it. "I want to know my mother and I want to know everything, not half words stacked with mystery."
Ned rose to his feet and went to the window. He looked at the empty yard as he weighed what to say. This topic was very sensitive for him but all was in the past and the Prophet's plans were going to bring it to light anyway so he decided to come clean. He turned around and looked at Jon, "You are not my son."
Jon stiffened up and he gaped with astonishment. "What?"
However, Ned intervened before he was able to utter any more words, "You are my nephew."
"Is it Uncle Benjen?" The first one to come to mind was his uncle as he was the one who had been a father to him when Ned was not there.
Ned shook his head, "Your mother was my sister Lyanna and your father was Rhaeger Targaryen. Contrary to what Robert said, she was never kidnapped and went willingly. Though I don't know what happened after that still they made a mistake that cost them a lot."
Jon's voice was lower than a mosquito as he lowered his head and asked, "Why… why didn't you tell me, I… I always believed that…"
"One wrong word, Jon. Only a word and then everything would have crumbled. You were just a child last I saw you, what was I going to do? Announce you to everyone so they can send assassins after you?" Ned held him from his shoulders. "I love you, Jon, but I couldn't risk everything just so you can learn something that is not important."
Jon threw off his hands from his shoulders.
"Something that is not important?" He was barely holding his anger as his hands shook, "I… I need time to think."
Jon turned around to leave but the only thing Ned did was watch him as he left.
…
It was two days after Jon left, albeit to some protests, the wildlings descended onto the Wall like waves of the Storm's End. The giants broke the gates leading to the castle and wildlings poured throughout the tunnel but the experience and the training of the Northmen showed its worth as the narrow tunnels were held by them.
The steel clashed with stone and bronze as the blood poured onto the cold ice and dyed it red. In the end, the corpses were piled so high that even the head of the giants could not be seen.
The arrows were raining high on the Wall as with each wave of wildlings many were dying. The only ones who were not fighting were the temple guards of the believers. Their excuse was they did not have any obligation to do so. However, many temple guards voluntarily fought side by side with Watchmen and Northmen.
Ned and other commanders watched from on top of the Wall as the wildlings charged. It was said that there were at least a hundred thousand wildlings at Mance's army but now looking at it, he could only see thirty or forty thousand fighting men. It was obvious that they all were here and the other castles were going to have a free day for the rest of the battle. The remaining wildlings of the host were probably children and elderly as they camped back in the forest.
There was also an attempt to attack from the southern side of the castle but their numbers were too low and they were slaughtered quickly. Ned could already see a victory and was thinking about his future plans. This was not an important battle as the real players were playing the game in the south. Though there were walkers beyond the wall he got word from the Prophet that he was going to come to the Wall, personally when the time was right and strengthen the magic of the Wall so he was not worried about them as long as they stayed beyond the Wall.
His mind was on Jon as they separated from each other in a cold mood. He let him collect his thoughts but still wanted to say many things. Though his wishes were not granted as Jon did not want to see him.
By the end of the day, the fighting had ceased and wildlings retreated to their camps. The Northmen did not clean the corpses in the tunnels as they were good obstacles for wildling charges.
The second day of the battle was much the same as ten wildlings died for every one Northmen and Mance Rayder's body was found amongst those who tried to reach the other side of the tunnel. Apparently, he tried to bolster the morale of his people as he fought side by side with them. Their numbers diminished to 10000 fighting men and they knew they were not going to win this battle so they sent a group under white goatskin to parley.
Ned went out with some guards and lords beside him and met the wildlings and a giant. The head of the wildling group was a man with some animals beside him. Ned did not remember seeing him at the first parley.
"Speak," Ned spoke simply.
"Does your offer still stand, Stark?" the man looked at Ned with slanted eyes.
"Which one?" Ned asked.
"The one about bending the knee."
"What is your name?"
"Varamyr, Six-skins they call me," Varamyr said while eyeing his animals.
"That was a one-time offer but my other offer about the children stands." Ned paused for a while then said, "However, I am a merciful man and will allow giants to settle to my lands but no men will come." Ned said.
Wildlings grumbled at his words and the giant beside Varamyr took out a large warhorn at least two meters long. It was black in colour with gold bands and engraved with runes of the First Men. "Mance gave this horn to me and told me to blow it if we lose. Do you know this horn, Stark? This is the Horn of Winter, it is said that it will bring down the wall if someone blows it. If the Wall won't protect us then it won't protect you either."
Ned frowned at his words but just as he was going to open his mouth, one of his companions came to his side and whispered to his ear. That man was the Bishop of the Wall who was ordained by the Prophet.
Ned smiled after he heard the words whispered by the Bishop and looked at Varamyr, "Go on, blow it. We both know that it is not real and don't you dare open your mouth again. If you utter one more nonsense then I will not even accept your children… Now, considering you wildlings' children are closer here, I will allow you to send them throughout the tunnels with giants, of course, if they want to come."
Ned turned around and went back with his group to the Wall as he left a group of dumbstruck wildlings behind him as they were expecting for their bluff to have some effects at least but it was to no avail.
The next day, nearly ninety per cent of the children were sent throughout the tunnels with all the giants accompanying them. The wildling children met with hard stares from the Northmen but Ned did not mind it as their minds were going to be moulded and they were going to become proper Northmen.