The wildings from the villages are not attacking his castle, the Shadow Tower and after being sure of this, Qhorin was sure the wildings are going to have an internal war.
For the night’s watch, there is no better news. Let these wild men kill each other and they can take a breath.
When the riders brought the news of the large-scale march of these wildings to the Castle Black, they were already prepared to lead the men to fight these wildings. Still, the next rider brought the surprising news about the internal war of wildings tribes and it made them cheer loudly.
> “Lads, we have time. A critical time to cut down those trees without the fear of a wildings attack or anyone slicing your throat when you are taking a piss outside.
> Now, we act with Lord Mormont and speed up the work. Cut down the trees, increase our patrol and gather the supplies.”
After Jeor Mormont – the new Lord Commander made the final decision, the work of cutting down the trees picked up the pace considerably and more and more men joined the team.
There was only a symbolic resistance from the wildings living in the villages. They had no men and they knew their own situation. Hence, they just kept their activities restricted and avoided any direct contact with the crows.
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“Elros, the work here is on the right path. It might take a few months to clear these trees. I will leave this work to you. Also, the supplies promised to the wall and the livestock for the Winterfell is also your responsibility.”
“M’Lord, you are leaving?” Elros who was talking to Lord Jorah Mormont asked with a little panic in his voice.
“Why? Scared?” Jorah asked with a playful smile. Elros hardened his heart and spoke with resolve.
“No, not for a moment M’lord. I will bring back these men with the logs we need.”
“Good. I will wait for you on the Island. In case, there is trouble. Assist the night’s watch and come back safely.”
Jorah gave the final order and started packing his bags. After a silent meeting with his father and a tight hug, Jorah started his journey back to the Island where his presence was more important.
He missed his home and was worried about the new lands they received from Winterfell. Plus, there is a wife waiting with a baby in her stomach. He couldn’t waste a lot of time here on the wall.
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For the return journey, Jorah and his small team of five fighters also moved from Castle Black to the Shadow Tower before deciding to cross the little mountains of Frostfangs and go straight to the Bay Of Ice.
“M’Lord… there is something strange ahead?”
One of the scouts returned with a strange face to Jorah who was riding behind.
“What’s the situation? Are there wildings fighting up ahead?” Jorah kept his distance from the wildings as much as possible during this return ride. He knew his small team had no power to fight a horde of wildings and hence, the smart decision was to avoid any clash.
“No M’Lord. There are flags. Our flags. Just ahead!”
Jorah also felt the matter was a little strange. After all, their watch tower is too far behind the borders of the Frostfangs.
“Hmmm…. Okay. Everyone be on guard. It might be a trap!” Jorah spoke before giving a nod to the scout and they followed him to the strange sight of new watch towers and a wall being made by some men covered with thick furs.
It was like a construction site. A huge construction site and on top of those newly made watch towers, there it was. The proud flag of his Island.
“Ha Ha Ha…. It’s our people. They are definitely our people. C’mon.” Jorah spoke laughingly and rushed with his horse while others tried to catch up with him.
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While Jorah and his band of riders were closing on the wall, bells started ringing on the watchtowers and few men hurriedly brought their longbows to deal with this wildings.
However, Stephon who was overseeing the construction of the wall was very much familiar with the rider in the lead.
“At ease! It’s our Lord. Prepare some wood and wine. I will receive our lord.” Ser Stephone spoke before riding out with his own men.
Jorah and Stephon met just outside the wall and Stephone welcomed Jorah and his team to their new outpost while sharing the news he missed during this time.
“Gobin… I remember. He was a wild one. Wasn’t he?” Hearing the unbelievable tale of the war of 15 warriors from Bear Island fighting against the 500 wildings men and women, Jorah was eager to know more about Gobin.
“Aye. But he grew up during the time of rebellion and I trained him well. He can use his head unlike most of these men.”
“Ser Stephon, keep an eye on him. Warriors like Gobin can be trained to be proper generals and in future, he can lead his own army.”
“I believe the same. Now, let’s have some supper. Shall we?”
“Aye!”
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Jorah eventually returned to Bear Island after a long journey that was almost five months long. The journey brought some of the best news. New lands, far exceeding their expectations, free wood that can save them a lot of coppers and a war giving complete control of the Bay Of Ice.
Jorah counted all these things and there was one huge problem he found.
He lacked men! Population had always been a limiting factor and it was more evident now.
Trading ships and shops in ports need men, new lands need men, the Bay of Ice need men and the Bear Island also need men for basic security and daily work.
That night, sleeping beside his pregnant wife, Jorah was plagued with this new trouble.