The Gate at the Wall

[edricdayne]

OOC: Since we're no longer at the Wall, I'm going to make a new thread.

[barker520]

Ser Jon Lydden led the column of some 5,000 knights from the westerlands, every one of them freezing like hell and glad to be leaving this miserable land and return to their homes, ironborn waiting on them or not. It was dark and the snow was falling heavily through the trees, but he could still faintly make out the outline of the Wall in the distance. It was pale and soft in the darkness. The majority of the men were silent, all inwardly trying to ward off the gripping cold. When he heard a war horn in the distance, he knew that they were close.
"Ser Tommen," he called to a young knight riding behind him, "ride ahead with twenty men and explain our purpose so they don't take us for wildlings." Jon huddled further into his thick furs after Tommen nodded and left to finish the order.
An hour later they rode out of the trees and slowly made their way across the plain leading up to the Wall. As they approached the gate, Jon noticed that his brother Lewys had rode up to the front of the column beside him and was coversing with a short, thick black brother with a scraggly beard at the gate. When Jon approached, Lewys halted him.
"Brother, the Watch has opened their gates to let us pass. I am handing you the command and wish for you to see that all of our men reach the other side tonight," Lewys commanded.
"Consider it done, brother," Jon answered quickly, eager to please his brother.
"Very well," Lewys said, clasping his brother on the shoulder. "I must seek out the Lord Commander and discuss matters of provisions and a warm bed for the night."
"And...tidings?" Jon asked after a moment. If the west has been attacked... He didn't want to think about it. A war finally comes to our homeland, and I'm not there to win glory, he thought bitterly.
"Yes," Lewys added grimly, "and tidings."
With that Lewys dismounted and led his horse through the narrow tunnel.
Turning his attention back to the men, Jon yelled. "Alright, men. Move along now, move along. If we're lucky we just might have a warm place to sleep tonight. And if there's time, maybe we could visit those wenches from Mole's Town we met on the way up here!"