Castle Black

[Percy Rivers]

When he reached the intersection he dismounted, the snow coming up to his chest. He started to wade through the Lord Commander's tower.

[Tallahar]

A eleven year old boy walked up to Roose before he reached the Lord Commander's tower, "Milord Stark. I have kept watch on the Wall as you ordered me to." The boy was dressed in the Black and white of House Karstark.

[Percy Rivers]

"And yet you sent your men home...absolutely extrodinary."

[Tallahar]

"No I sent some. There was no need to keep such a large number here. The Night's Watch did not like the idea of having these men forced upon them. There often fight's at night and talking behind backs so I thought it best to send most back to Karhold and home. I have started here with 500 to help where they and I could."

[Percy Rivers]

"Don't even try to sell that line to me Lord Karstark. I remember a certain ranger saying that they needed the armies. That the wildlings press them hard all along the wall." He clenched his fists, "My kinsman Benjen Stark is one of those rangers, I will not abandon him."

[Tallahar]

Edmure shakes his head, 'Does he even care what he thinks. He believes he is always right and all powerful.'

"And I believe in protecting the Wall and helping your kinsman which is why I stayed here."

[Percy Rivers]

Roose looked exasperated. "Which is why you shouldn't have sent home your men."

[Tallahar]

"Do you know how hard it is to feed 2500 men during Winter? It's not easy. I could of done it but that would of meant having to use grain stocks and other resources that must be saved for later in the Winter. The Watch always ask for men, but once they have them here they are not so nice. They were nice to use but did not like the fact of us having to be here. It made them feel as if they weren't strong enough to protect the Wall."

[Percy Rivers]

Roose raised an eyebrow. "That's the biggest load of bullshit that I've ever heard. So you're trying to tell me that the Watch wants help, but doesn't want it at the same time?"

[Tallahar]

"Of course they want help but not men who do not wear black." Edmure was clearly growing angry at Roose.

[Percy Rivers]

"Have you read any history of the North Lord Edmure?"

[Tallahar]

"Yes I have. And I know what you will say. The North have helped the Night's Watch many times. But that was against a figure head and over the Wall. Not sitting on this side doing nothing."

[Percy Rivers]

"If you recall Lord Edmure, I was summoned south to King's Landing. For the sake of the gods, I'm a man, not a bloody worm eel that can divide himself between two places."

[Tallahar]

"And I am only Lord that can only do so much. If I kept my whole army here it would mean starving my people. That would put a tax on the whole of the North for I know you would seek to help us."

[Percy Rivers]

"Of course I would seek to help you. But what happens when wildlings pass over the Wall and burn down whatever stores we have? Believe me, it happens; two years ago, while squiring for Benjen Stark, we routed a small wildling group that had burned down three graneries before we found them." Roose held out his hand, "Believe me Lord Edmure, I want what's best for our people, I will not let the Watch nor the Wall fall. Will you follow me northward?"