Castle Black

[Ellinda]

Teddy spat in harmony with Sal. "Gobshit," he muttered but then set about his business.

[facelessmaester]

During the whipping Alester had concentrated hard not to cry that he bite him self, making his mouth taste blood. He made a silent vow that the Steward someday would regret having him whipped. 'A Lannister always pays his debt ' the saying went, but Alester Morrigen did too.

He felt ridiculous when he came out, dressed in the wool, it wasn't the first time, living exactly by the sea with the wind blowing all the time, had made him dress in wool when he was home. But these clothes itched anyway.

[Ellinda]

The new recruits were given dinner and shown the large bunk room they would all be sharing.

"If I had my way, you'd all start training tonight," said Morden. "But softer men than I set the rules on this one. I'll be seeing you at day break to begin your training."

[mel]

Jared had went through the greeting without saying a word, even though that was hard. This Morden was not the kind of Brother he had hoped would welcome them up here. So he had played along, pretending that he had no doubts about taking the black.

So he found himself with his new brothers, in their new cloths, in a smelly bunk room.

[facelessmaester]

Alester walked over to the new boy and introduced himself. The burns after the whipping still ached, but he was enduring the pain.

"I should introduce myself, Alester Morrigen, Lord of Crow's Nest for now, soon to become a Black Brother."

He'd never thought that the Night's Watch treated nobles this way, but he obviously was wrong. If he ever became leader in the Watch he would see too it that they did. They needed men, and whipping a noble wasn't the best way to get their notice.

[mel]

"I hope that bastard didn't get you to hard. I thought they were despartely in need for men. If those welcomings make the round in the south I doubt that anyone will willingly come. But perhaps they'll never learn about that, since they are keeping everyone in cells like that one and watch every single move they make." he said grinning "By the way i'm Jared Snow."

[facelessmaester]

"I'll live, he'll get what he deserve in the end, but I'm sure when I see the Lord Commander.. but nevermind that."

He offered the young boy his hand.

"So, what brought you here, Jared Snow"

[mel]

"Well.... actually I just wanted to see the Wall and them decide if I'm to join the Watch. But I firgure it dosen't work that way..." he looked down on himself, all in black " but well see... And you're a Lord then? What crime did you commit, that they sent you here? Or are you here for honours sake?"

[facelessmaester]

He laughed.

"I've commited no crime, if of course having a disgrace of a son isn't seen as a crime, then I'm guilty."

He had travelled up here, his mind completely set on joining the Watch, but since seeing what kind of men ruling it, he wasn't so sure anymore. Maybe his plan to scare his son into getting his act together wasn't working, at least according to the last letter that Ser Stewart sent him.

"Snow, that means your a bastard then?"

[mel]

Grinning: "No, just like the sound of the name..... my father said he was a bastard son of Hothar Bolton, but who knows. But as far as I know even bastards my rise high among the Black Brothers. And it looks like they could need some good bastards up here, by the looks of those Crows who gave us this warm welcome."

[mel]

"Do you know anything about the Lord Commander?"

[facelessmaester]

"I don't really care if you're a bastard or not, as long as you move about yourself with some dignity. That's the most noble trait there is"

He glanced at Gorben.

"I don't really know anything, but Gorben over there tells me he's a good man. We'll see if he has as big mouth as he's ugly"

He grinned at Gorben.

[Ellinda]

The next morning just as the cock was crowing they were all roused out of their beds. The night had been uncomfortable and cold but the morning was freezing. All the men could see their breath in the air. They dressed quickly and broke through skims of ice to wash their faces and hands.

Once all the men were ready they were marched out and ferried up to the top of the wall. The view was unlike any other in the world. Already snow blanketed the surrounding areas. In the bright cold sun of the day, the world shone, and brightest of all shone the icy Wall. From their perch on top, the brothers could see the land of the Wildlings, all the trees and mountains and crags of it stretch to the horizon, similarily the tamer forests of the cold north of Westeros stretched to the southern horizon.

"This is what it means to be part of the Night's Watch, what it really means to be a Black Brother," said Morden. "You and the Wall, We and the Wall, are one. You pledge to keep this Wall and thus all of Westeros safe from what lies beyond. Demons are walking again, giants and wildling small folk are fleeing them. And your job is to stop them. The Wall is not just a physical place, it is the men of the Night's Watch. And it is my job to make sure you are ready for facing the demons of this world, ready to protect the Green Lands who have no fucking clue of the dangers they face without us. We are what let maidens and old crones sleep safely in their beds at night." He paused and looked at the rag tag group of men.

"Are you Green Land pussies, or are you men? Men who give their lives to protect the weak and undeserving? Men who freeze their asses off so others can live?"

The recruits didn't say anything so they were prompted by a dusty old soldier. "The answer is 'We are men, sir!'"

A weak chorus began. "I can't hear you!" shouted Morden, and the chorus repeated the phrase until they were screaming and hoarse.

"Good!" said Morden finally. "Time to patrol the Wall. Two by two, double time." He promptly moved forward and the men followed. The dusty man prodded the laggards into formation.

The march along the wall was freezing and exhausting, made more so by the vast tracts of untouched land that stretched in both directions.

[Ellinda]

The men marched for four hours and were more than ready for the short break for lunch they'd heard they would get. Just as they sat down, the flakes began to fall, wet and heavy.

Morden looked into the wind and then barked, "Get off your lazy asses. We eat on the march or we die of exposure." Despite some low grumbling, the men made ready to set off again, pieces of hard tack in hand.

The sky was pewter and the winds howled across the wall. The flakes of snow swirled around them. It was all they could do to stay on the well trodden path in the center. The snow began to accumulate around their feet.

[facelessmaester]

Alester walked back and forth on the wall, panting. He hadn't moved this much in ages, and the muscles in his leg were started to ache. He was to old to walk up here, but he wasn't going to show any of these bastard that, so he continued to put one foot in front of the other, not looking down, only forward.