Chapter 81: Agreements and Oaths
Outside the command tent, Saelen, Jon, Ygritte, Val, Tormund, Chief Mag, Styr, and several other free folk leaders gathered together, along with Lawrence and Maester Emil, who had been called back.
Because of Mag's massive size, the tent couldn't accommodate everyone, so they simply sat in a wide circle outside.
Voices rose one after another as opinions were exchanged. At times, arguments grew heated, faces flushed with intensity—but overall, the atmosphere remained controlled. No one stormed off, and no one openly showed disrespect. Even when dissatisfied, they held themselves in check.
Hours passed. Night had fully fallen.
A large fire burned at the center of the gathering, its crackling wood sending sparks into the air. The warmth pushed back the biting cold of the night.
After half a day of intense discussion and negotiation, they finally reached a workable agreement.
The terms were as follows:
Saelen, representing the North, would abandon the term "wildlings" and formally recognize them as "free folk" or "descendants of the First Men." This was the foundation of cooperation—the most important point of mutual respect.
The agreement granted the Gift to the free folk for settlement, farming, and self-governance. They would be allowed to live in their own villages under their own customs and laws.
Both sides would only act jointly in matters of major importance—such as resisting external threats. Once the White Walkers were defeated, the free folk would be free to choose whether to remain or return beyond the Wall. The North would neither interfere nor oppose their decision.
The free folk would be allowed to retain parts of their traditional culture. Raiding enemies would no longer be restricted—but raiding allies was strictly forbidden.
A joint army would be formed to fight the White Walkers.
Free folk warriors would not be broken apart and absorbed individually. Instead, they would remain organized as a unified force under leaders they trusted—such as Tormund Giantsbane.
However, this force would ultimately be under Saelen's command and deployment. The free folk could offer suggestions and opinions, but final decisions would rest with him.
The initial size of this army was set at two thousand warriors. Each tribe would decide how many to contribute.
Saelen would provide weapons, armor, and winter clothing free of charge.
There would be no wages. Instead, he would ensure a stable supply of food—and guarantee that the families of these warriors would not starve.
As for those who did not contribute fighters, Saelen would only provide minimal grain. The rest, they would have to secure on their own.
Although the agreement still had many rough edges and gaps, Saelen couldn't afford to dwell on perfection. Establishing a broad consensus came first—details could be revised and refined over time.
As for whether the northern lords would genuinely accept and uphold this agreement, that was no longer his concern. That responsibility would fall to Eddard Stark and Robb Stark of Winterfell. Saelen only needed to ensure that his own people stayed disciplined and didn't cause trouble.
"Good. Then it's settled."
"I'm not here to make you kneel. South of the Wall, kings and nobles see you as savages and outcasts. North of the Wall, the dead only want you dead."
"And I—Saelen Stark—"
"On behalf of House Stark of Winterfell, and on behalf of my own lands, make this solemn pledge—"
"The North and the free folk shall form an alliance. We will stand together through storm and hardship, never abandoning one another, and together we will fight the Night King and his army of the dead."
"For the living."
Saelen raised his cup and declared loudly to all present.
"For the living!"
The others rose as one, lifting their cups with solemn expressions and echoing his words.
They drained their wine in a single gulp.
"Good wine!" Tormund smacked his lips in approval.
"Tonight, there's plenty more where that came from!"
"We drink until we drop!"
Saelen announced again, his voice ringing out.
"Until we drop!"
Cheers erupted as everyone joined in.
Soon, more wine was brought out, along with black bread, steaming hot stew, and roasted lamb. The atmosphere quickly turned lively. Cups clinked endlessly as Saelen drank with the others, crude jokes flying back and forth, drawing bursts of laughter.
That night, all of Mole's Town was filled with joy. From nobles and chiefs to soldiers, craftsmen, and laborers—everyone ate and drank their fill. And when they were satisfied, they sang and danced late into the night.
By the third morning, the effects of the hangover had mostly faded. Once everyone had gathered, Saelen led the group toward a forest several miles away.
The Old Gods were a shared faith between the North and the free folk, deeply rooted and unquestionable. Only by swearing before a heart tree could the alliance gain true binding force.
By noon, they arrived before a weirwood tree.
Tormund slit a goat's throat with his dagger, filled a cup with its blood, and drank it before handing it to Saelen.
Saelen accepted it without hesitation, drank deeply, and poured the remaining blood onto the roots of the tree.
Then he stepped forward and swore:
"Before the Old Gods as witness, I, Saelen Stark, bind myself in alliance with the free folk. Their enemies shall be my enemies. Their survival shall be my responsibility. Should I betray this oath, may the Old Gods take my life and my honor."
Next, Tormund Giantsbane stepped forward and made his vow:
"Before the Old Gods as witness, we free folk pledge ourselves to Saelen Stark. We fight for the living. We will honor this pact. Should we betray it, may we freeze forever in the cold, never to find rest."
Saelen then presented Tormund with a finely crafted steel battle axe. Tormund accepted it solemnly and, in return, offered an ancient bronze armband engraved with a giant. Saelen took it in turn.
Thus, under the gaze of the Old Gods, they drank blood, exchanged tokens, and sealed their alliance. Bound by faith and belief, it carried far greater weight than any written agreement.
When it was over, the solemnity on their faces gave way to smiles. With oaths now binding them, the relationship between the two sides had grown closer, and the mood of the group lightened considerably. They chatted and laughed as they made their way back to camp.
Later, outside the command tent, they gathered again to discuss further plans.
They finalized the structure of a two-thousand-strong free folk army: five hundred spearmen, five hundred sword-and-shield infantry, three hundred archers, and seven hundred general fighters armed with swords, axes, and other blunt weapons.
The shield-bearing infantry, clad in full armor, would form the front line as a shield wall. Behind them, armored spearmen would support the formation. The remaining seven hundred would serve as reserves, while the archers provided ranged support from the rear.
When facing White Walkers and wights, all troops would switch to dragonglass weapons—spears and daggers.
With that, the basic formation was set. Lawrence would oversee their training in formation drills.
Meanwhile, the fifty giants led by Chief Mag were organized into a separate unit. Equipped with massive spiked clubs, giant shields, and armor, they could form an enormous defensive wall—or act as a powerful assault force to break enemy lines. On the battlefield, they would be an undeniable trump card.
Once everything was decided, Lawrence led Tormund, Styr, and the free folk warriors to the training grounds.
Saelen, meanwhile, brought Chief Mag and several dozen giants with him toward the forge.