After speaking with both Jaime and Benjen, I knew it was time. Time to depart from this place. I was here to go north and that's what I intended to do.
I walked straight into Mance Rayder's tent once my talk with both Jaime and Benjen was done. I would just waste time if I stayed in this wildling camp any longer anyway.
The guards gave me a long look, but they didn't stop me. By now, they all knew who I was. The man who fought a giant and won. They knew better than to stop me without any reason just to stroke their own ego.
Mance sat by a fire, sharpening his blade. He looked up as I entered, his eyes sharp and steady. He didn't reply like he was sitting there waiting exactly for me, just to talk.
"So, I talked with them as well. What now?" I said.
He gave a small nod. "Now you know what happened to them. Do you still wish to pursue your plan?"
"Someone else failing doesn't explain why I should not look towards victory. I'm not the kind of man who goes back on his words. I'm going," I replied without hesitation.
"Aye, you don't seem the sort who goes back on his words." He nodded, accepting the fact a little too easily for my liking.
Even though I had the experience of a god who lived for thousands of years, I didn't have his experience to read the room well, nor could I see through a person's character. I had no idea what he was thinking.
Mance leaned back slowly. "And even after you heard what happened, you expect me to send my people with you?"
"I'd prefer your help," I said. "But I'll go even if I have to do it alone."
"You won't be alone," he said thoughtfully. "You have Benjen Stark and that Lannister."
At this, I raised my eyebrows, a little surprised at what he was implying.
"You'll let them go just like that? Though you planned to use your captives." I might not be the best judge of character, but I understood strategies well enough.
Why would he willingly give up two captives who could give him the necessary help once he and his wildlings crossed the Wall? Though chances of that happening were extremely unlikely, it could still happen.
"I almost thought that I had to fight you over their freedom."
"Would you, fight for their freedom?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Nah... too much work. One way or another they would have gotten out of here nonetheless. Spending a little more time in that cage is nothing in comparison to what would happen once they come with me."
"However, I still fail to see why you would let them come with me."
Mance didn't speak for a while. His eyes stared at the fire, lost in thought.
"Once upon a time their existence was nothing but stories for us to tell the children," he said. "Stories which were never meant to come to reality. Now those stories are coming to haunt us.
I'm not a delusionist, we Free Folk would be the first to feel the cold winds of winter, even before they fly towards the Wall. You're right, we don't have time, neither do we have many options.
Nowhere we go, on both sides we face death. And we were ready for it. Every man, woman, and child was ready for it in this army," he said as he kept staring at the flames ahead.
"There are hundreds of clans in this army and each speaks a different language. Everyone hates someone here. On any other day, they would slit each other's throats before even questioning whether it was worth it.
Yet they come together here, do you know why?" He turned to me with a solemn look on his face.
"Because we all know that death awaits us. That we have no other option but to act. So, even if it means death, they follow me because there is hope that we can cross the Wall. It's better than at least waiting for the Winter to catch up to them."
For a few short seconds, silence ensued after he said this. Neither of us said anything until he once again opened his mouth.
"Between death and a certain death, death isn't that bad, is it? For long we had the same idea—that they coexist together. Now, they are looking forward to that slim hope that beyond that Wall they could escape death.
However, if there exists a third option, then I would like to pursue it. Whether it's us to die or those crows and the northern lords. Ultimately the ones benefiting are those whites.
So, I'll believe you this one time, Thor Odinson. If there truly exists a way for my people to live without the bloodshed, I'll believe you and follow what you have planned." He said with utmost sincerity.
The weight of his words for the first time hit me. This was not just some random decision or some silly quest given to me by the system. If I fail, then many will die. I might survive with my powers, but those wildlings…
I remained silent for a while before finally making up my mind.
"And you have my word, as long as the Free Folk can coexist with those beyond that Wall, I'll make sure nothing happens to them." I spoke. For the first time, it felt like this is the time my worth was really needed.
Because if I can't do it, then perhaps these powers are useless by my side anyway.
He just nodded in silence.
"However, before taking them back to the Wall, I still intend to go North. Would you come?" I asked. Him coming or not doesn't matter much, but if he did, then the leader of the Free Folk might be more compelling to work with the northern lords later on.
"I do," Mance said. "But I also know my people. They've run from the dead before. That's why we came south in the first place. You're asking me to lead them back toward the thing they fear most."
"I'm not asking them all to come," I said. "Only those who are brave enough. Strong enough. Foolish enough to believe there's still a chance to stop it."
"Can you stop them?" he suddenly asked.
"That... that's one of the reasons I wish to go there. To know whether I can or not." I paused and then said with hesitation. Never have I ever felt so bad not continuing a show as this one.
If only I knew what happened in the story then I could have made an appropriate plan to kill the Night King.
Mance stared at me for a long time, then let out a quiet laugh. "You're mad, Thor. No doubt about it. But you fight like no man I've seen. And you speak like someone who knows more than he says."
He stood up.
"I won't order my people to go with you. But I won't stop them either. If anyone volunteers, they're yours."
I gave a nod. That was enough. If the initial few people can cross the Wall then others may follow. As for those who don't, I can't do anything about them. I can only minimize the damage by the end.
"Gather your supplies," Mance said. "It's colder up there. Darker. And more dangerous than you can imagine."
"On it," I said. I gave a smile and raised my hand. Suddenly, far away from where we were, a hammer laying dormant for way too long reacted.
"What are you?" Mance asked, confused.
However, what happened next almost made him have a heart attack.
xxx
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