Chapter 185: Half-Baked Plan
Beyond the Wall, True North
POV of Domeric Bolton
"This is a magical armor. It might look like ordinary armor, but it has been blessed by the Children of the Forest. They carved runes on it in their own mystical language with the sap of the Heart Tree, along with a few other ingredients." Domeric said.
All of it was bullshit, of course, but they didn't need to know that.
"The Children of the Forest decided to give them to me as a favor for this dangerous mission." He added.
"This doesn't look like anything special." Benjen Stark said as the man knocked on the magical armor he had created with a skeptical look, "And what's this about the Children of Forest using magic. Nan never told us that the Children of Forest used to perform magic."
"How else did they help in the creation of the Wall?" He asked. "Or were you under the assumption that humans, ice brick by ice brick, made the Wall?"
Benjen Stark opened his mouth to say something, but then thought better of it and chose to stay silent.
"It will also keep you warm in the cold weather." He said, "And protect you from just about anything except for a White Walker's blade. Or at least that's what the Children of Forest told me."
"It is indeed warm." Jon Snow said as he put on the armor and fastened the clasp.
"Try it," Jon said to Robb, who nodded and started wearing the magical armor before Benjen Stark could even protest.
"This is a tight fit." Dacey Mormont said as she looked at her boobs, which were being squeezed by the armor, "But it's surprisingly comfortable despite that."
"Here, have these as well," Domeric said, and one of his men moved forward and gave each of them a Dragonglass dagger, at least to the ones whom he had already not given one.
"Dragonglass for the White Walkers? Can a White Walker survive from a blade to the throat or something?"
"I don't know." He said. He would need to capture a White Walker first to test that, "But I do know that normal steel shatters against their weapon. From the little I know, only Valyrian Steel and Dragonglass can kill them."
"It's a good thing then that you have a Valyrian Steel sword, don't you?" Smalljon said, "What was its name again, Excannibal?"
"Excalibur." He said, feeling a bit irritated at him for mispronouncing his sword's name.
"Excalibur. It's a mighty name." Benjen Stark said, "May I see your Valyrian Sword?"
Domeric nodded and took the sword out of its sheath and presented it to Benjen, who took it carefully with both his hands and stared at it curiously.
Everyone else stopped what they were doing to stare at the sword as well, as a lot of them had not seen it before.
"It's a new Valyrian Sword." Benjen said, "I heard you sold one to the Lannisters as well. Where did you get the Valyrian Steel to make two swords?"
There was no acquisition in his voice—only curiosity.
"One day I'll tell you." He said, took the sword back, and put it in its sheath. "That day is not today."
"I hear your other sword is as good as the Valyrian Steel one, Domeric," Robb said.
"Yes, it is, actually." He said.
"A sword that is not Valyrian Steel but is held in the same esteem as a Valyrian Steel sword. It's hard to believe, frankly." Smalljon said.
"It may be hard to believe, but it's the truth," Domeric said.
In fact, the Gryffindor was now far superior to a regular Valyrian Steel sword. After all, it wasn't just an ordinary sword; it was a magic sword crafted from Gryffindor goblin silver.
"If I remember correctly, its name was Gryffindor, wasn't it? Can I see it?" Robb asked.
Domeric had no reason to refuse. So he took the sword out of its sheath and presented it to Robb.
Robb carefully picked up the sword and began examining it. The others examined it with curiosity.
"Strange, it has Valyrian Steel patterns on it, but it doesn't look exactly like a Valyrian Steel sword." Dacey Mormont said.
"You have good eyes. This is a specially crafted sword. It contains some Valyrian Steel, though not all of it. Its other main ingredient is magical silver. The Children of Forest crafted it, and they say it is a sword blessed with magic."
Robb returned the sword to Domeric, and Domeric took it and returned it to its scabbard. Then he said, "There are still some matters I must attend to. Now, if you will excuse me."
He then left the tent and looked at his army leaving in the distance.
Now there were only about 60 of them left on this side of the Wall, with no backup and a single plan in their mind.
Well… a half-baked plan that he came up with on the spot, truly.
At first, he had thought that he would allow the armies to leave. Then he would take his 50 men, go North for a few dozen miles, and return by a different path.
When he returned, he would do so with only half his men, all injured in one way or another. The other half would be lost in the battle with the White Walker. Or so he would claim.
Then he would take out the Ice Sword that the First White Walker they killed had left behind, as well as the Wight they had captured, and show it as proof.
But when the man said they wanted to come with him, he decided that having them fight a real White Walker and their wights would be more beneficial than simply showing them the goods.
After all, if he, his companions, and 10 magically armored men could defeat 2 White Walkers and their horde. Then, with the 50 magically armored men and the additional unexpected addition of the heirs and the few brothers of the Night's Watch, they should be able to defeat two or even three White Walkers at once.
With that new half-baked plan, he had allowed them to join him.
Now he only needed to find a White Walker without the other Wildling tribes in the True North finding out about them.
---------------
Author's Note: You folks can also read up to +60 chapters on my P@treon Page as an early access privilege.
You can also read "+2 Free Chapter" and see some pictures as aFree Member.
www.patreon.com/vanguard_v
P@treon Page Name: V For Vanguard
Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.186: Searching for White Walkers
Ch.187: Solution