Ice and Fire: Conquering the World Starting from the Wall

Chapter 51 Negotiation 1

Lynn didn't take Morse's threat seriously, because Last Hearth was extremely vulnerable at the time, as evidenced by the siege of Winterfell.

House Umber, who had fought alongside House Stark for centuries, did not send a single soldier to rescue them when Kingshold was occupied by the Ironborn and Eddard Stark's two sons were taken prisoner.

It is evident that the Amber family has likely deployed all its elite forces, and all the able-bodied men have followed the young wolf lord and are trapped in the Riverlands.

(In the original book, the army led by Ser Rodrik Caesar to relieve Winterfell did not bear the banner of House Umber. Even later, when Stannis faced Bolton, House Umber only managed to muster 800 men and women. Four hundred young soldiers, led by Ravencutter Morse, joined Stannis's side, while the other four hundred were elderly men, led by Morse's brother, Hother Umber, joined Bolton's side.)

However, the Night Watchers of the Shadow Tower couldn't hold back any longer. After several rounds of negotiations, they finally agreed to come to Castle Black for talks.

By this time, some of the faster-moving savages had arrived outside the Wall and, under Mans's supervision, were passing through the tunnels in batches to set up camp outside Castle Black.

Fearing an attack from House Amber's army, they have not yet headed to the abandoned Night's Watch fortresses, intending to wait until everyone has passed through before proceeding as a group.

However, the savages were incredibly inefficient, managing to get only four or five thousand people through in a whole day. Their livestock and vehicles frequently caused congestion, and the chaos caused by arguments and queue-jumping was countless.

In the end, Mans had to resort to brute force to finally increase the speed.

The areas outside the Great Wall that were originally covered in forests have been replaced by densely packed tents, stretching all the way down to the Great Wall.

North of the Great Wall, outside the Free People's Camp, a makeshift snow bear skin tent stands out starkly in the snow.

Lynn waited there with Nemo and his thirty Thane warriors, while four giants wielding large stone hammers stood outside as a deterrent.

When the appointed time arrived, three riders slowly emerged from the distant woods, their black wool cloaks standing out starkly against the snow.

As the watchmen approached, Lynn noticed that the one leading them was an old man.

He had a pair of blue-gray eyes and a long, white beard, but almost no hair left, and his face was covered with deep wrinkles.

He wore an exquisite black velvet coat, with mink trim on the collar and sleeves, and his cloak was fastened with the claws of a pair of outstretched silver eagles, the coat of arms of the Melist family of Seafront City.

The other two Night's Watchmen followed behind him. They clearly stirred when they saw the giant, but the old man silenced them with a rebuke.

"Dennis Mellist, Commander of the Shadow Tower."

The old man approached Lynn, introduced himself, glanced at the new chainmail and steel sword on the Thane warrior, and at Nemo's makeshift plate armor, and then said:

"Chief of General Affairs Bowen Marsh was seriously wounded in the Battle of Skullbridge, so I have temporarily assumed the role of acting commander-in-chief and come to negotiate with you."

In any other context, Nemo would have rattled off Lynn's titles like a menu.

However, the common language of the Thane people is quite basic, and they most likely wouldn't understand what Dennis Mellist was saying, so Lynn simply replied:

"I am Lynn Morningstar," he glanced at the other group, "Why isn't 'Severed Hand' here?"

"He's now called 'The One-Limbed' by the brothers," Dennis said with a forced smile. "Colin's leg injury has been recurring, and Maester Mullin is treating him."

After Lynn finished speaking, he turned and went into the tent. Dennis and the other two Night Watchmen were about to follow him in, but Nemo stopped them.

"arms!"

Nemo growled in broken Common Tongue, and patted the steel sword at his waist as if afraid the other party wouldn't understand.

Dennis protested, but in the end he just untied his sword and threw it on the ground with some dissatisfaction, and the other two followed suit.

"Barbaric..." he muttered. "According to etiquette, I would hang my sword on the tent wall after entering."

Nemo didn't make things difficult for them; instead, he lifted the tent flap and went inside first.

The firewood inside the tent was burning brightly.

Lynn had a simple, thick wooden stake placed in the middle to serve as a table, with two smaller ones as stools. He and Sir Dennis sat opposite each other, while the others stood.

Before weeping Blood had been dozing in the corner, it slowly crawled to Lynn's side upon seeing strangers arrive, raised its slender neck, and scrutinized the Night's Watchmen with its cold, golden-red eyes.

Lynn could feel that the other person's breathing had become much more rapid.

"Is the King so stingy with even a cup of warm wine when entertaining guests? Or are you not prepared to grant us the rights of a guest?"

Dennis used questioning to quell his fear, and it was clear he was putting on a brave face.

"This was my oversight. You are still a guest in my tent, that much is certain. But I must clarify that I am not yet a king."

Lynn smiled and said:

"Sir Dennis, time flies, let's be efficient and start by discussing our terms."

"Before that, I need to confirm whether you are certain that the White Walkers are coming. I have announced this to many lords in the North, but their replies have been either disappointing or nonexistent."

Dennis's face looked somewhat stiff.

"We...are certain that the surviving rangers have reported to me the brutal battle and the mutiny at Caster Fortress."

Lynn nodded and said:

"Great, we have reached our first consensus, which is a good start."

"Well then, Sir, state your terms for surrender! My patience with Colin has worn thin, so I hope you'll be realistic."

Dennis looked like he'd been punched by Lynn; his face was flushed.

"surrender!"

He repeated it aloud.

"The Night's Watch will never surrender to the peoples beyond the Wall!"

The old knight, panting heavily, said:

"We are loyal only to the Kingdom, yes, the Kingdom!"

"But right now there are five kings in Westeros, and they all claim their rights over the Seven Kingdoms."

Oh, I heard that one of the Baratheons is dead.

Lynn said casually.

"Okay, okay!"

Sir Dennis has decided to stop beating around the bush:

"This is a decision made by my brothers and me through a democratic vote. We pledge our loyalty only to the King. Yes, that is our only condition."

"Colin says you were not born a wildling, but are a descendant of the Dragon Aspects of ancient Valyria. Three hundred years ago, Aegon Targaryen conquered the Seven Kingdoms, and now you have conquered the peoples beyond the Wall."

Lynn chuckled, but then realized that this might hurt Sir Dennis's dignity, so he quickly tightened his expression.

"I have not conquered anyone; they have followed me voluntarily, and I do not enjoy any of the rights of a king."