Chapter 31 – Cooperation with the Wildlings
Saelen's counterquestion left Robb and Jon staring at each other in silence.
To them, at this point, who still cared about the fate of the wildlings?
Saelen ignored their expressions. He walked over and sat casually on the ground among the group. When Robb and Jon joined him, he pulled out a wineskin, took a mouthful of grape wine to wet his throat, and then looked around at everyone.
"I think I understand what you're all thinking," Saelen said calmly.
"After our encounter with the White Walkers, we were lucky to escape at all—but the cost was enormous. We set out with fifty or sixty men. Now we have barely more than twenty left."
"Benjen has been found. The existence of the White Walkers has been confirmed. By all accounts, our mission is complete."
"So it's only natural that everyone wants to return to Castle Black as soon as possible—no one is eager to face those monsters again. I understand that."
He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the group.
"But have any of you stopped to think about this?"
"What happens to the hundreds of thousands of wildlings once we leave?"
"And why do you think Mance Rayder chose this moment to gather the free folk and march on the Wall?"
Saelen's voice lowered slightly.
"I believe it's because they're running from the White Walkers as well."
He took another sip of wine, then continued:
"So I've been thinking—if our true enemy is the same… is it really impossible for us to cooperate with the wildlings and resist the White Walkers together?"
A moment of stunned silence followed.
Then Smalljon Umber exploded.
"Damn bastard, what nonsense are you spouting? Cooperate with wildlings?" he roared.
"If my father heard this, he'd chop your head off on the spot! The people on my family's lands would probably tear you apart, eat your flesh, and drink your blood!"
Eddard Karstark also stepped forward, jabbing a finger toward Saelen's face as he cursed:
"Lucky little bastard. You were only fortunate enough to be granted the Stark name by Lord Eddard. You may carry the Stark surname, but we all know you're not a real Stark."
"Your name might hold weight in Winterfell and in your little castle, but beyond that it's worth less than a dog's bark. You have no right to make decisions for House Stark—much less lecture the North. The North will never listen to an outsider bastard telling us what to do."
The lands of both House Umber and House Karstark lay close to the Wall. Their people had suffered countless raids by wildlings; blood debts ran deep. After hearing Saelen speak of cooperation, their rage boiled over.
At that moment, Ode, one of Saelen's guard, suddenly drew his sword. He led the remaining ten soldiers forward, surrounding Smalljon Umber and Eddard Karstark.
"You two damned dogs dare insult Lord Saelen and his name?" Ode roared.
"I'll rip your tongues out!"
He was about to seize them when Saelen raised a hand, stopping him.
Before Saelen could speak, Robb stepped forward, his voice cold and steady.
"Choose your words carefully," Robb said, staring straight at Eddard Karstark.
"My father has always treated Saelen as his own son. He and I grew up together—brothers in all but blood. His surname was granted by my father himself."
"To insult him and his name is to insult my father and House Stark of Winterfell."
"By that alone, I would be justified in taking your head right now—and I doubt your father would object."
Smalljon Umber and Eddard Karstark finally realized they were at a disadvantage. Outnumbered and with the heir of Winterfell standing against them, they fell silent—though the resentment on their faces was unmistakable.
Saelen, however, showed no reaction at all.
In the past, anyone who called him a bastard would be challenged to a duel—or lose their tongue. He had long since learned that responding only encouraged it. Ignoring it made the insults fade on their own.
"I know your houses bear irreconcilable blood feuds with the wildlings," Saelen said calmly.
"And I'm not asking you to forgive them, or to forget your dead."
The expressions of Smalljon and Karstark softened slightly. They nodded, saying nothing.
"But think about this," Saelen continued, turning to the group.
"If we refuse to let those hundreds of thousands of wildlings pass south—what do you think will happen to them?"
He paused, letting the question sink in.
"I guarantee this: they will be slaughtered and raised as an army of the dead. Tens of thousands—maybe more—added to the White Walkers' forces."
"Now imagine that army," he pressed.
"What do you think they'll do next?"
"Attack the Wall?" Jon said uncertainly.
"Yes," Saelen replied flatly.
"They will attack the Wall. And when hundreds of thousands of wights come for it—if the Wall falls—what will we use to stop them then?"
"So for our own survival, and for the survival of the entire North, we must cooperate with the wildlings against the White Walkers."
"With their numbers added to ours, the pressure on the Wall will be far less."
Benjen finally spoke.
"Your reasoning makes sense," he said slowly.
"But how exactly do you plan to cooperate? Hundreds of thousands of wildlings, blood feuds everywhere—trouble is inevitable."
Saelen thought for a moment.
"As I said before: allow the wildlings through the Wall to escape the White Walkers."
"Settle them in the Gift—the lands abandoned by the Night's Watch. They've been lying empty for years anyway."
"Let them farm, feed themselves, and in return, draft a portion of them for training. They join the Night's Watch as auxiliary forces and help defend the Wall."
From the Night's Watch perspective, that meant swallowing hatred—and surrendering land.
Benjen exhaled slowly.
"Convincing the Watch won't be easy," he admitted.
"But if we're talking about fighting the White Walkers… I agree with you."
"I'll help persuade them."
"So we won't return directly to Castle Black. What's our next move?" Qhorin Halfhand asked.
"I agree as well," Benjen added.
"Half man, half monster or not—I still stand with the living. Tell me what you need."
Robb and Jon had no objections.
As for Robett Glover, Leobald Tallhart, and Wyman Manderly, their lands lay far from the Wall. They had suffered little from wildling raids. With Robb and Benjen in agreement, they voiced their support as well.
Only Smalljon Umber and Eddard Karstark remained. Under the weight of everyone's gaze, they reluctantly nodded their assent.
Saelen finally continued.
"Our immediate priority is locating the wildling host."
"There is one place that might give us answers," Qhorin Halfhand said suddenly.
"Craster's Keep."
"That place may have information on the wildlings' movements."