like so much kindling [ video ♐ 002 ]

[kindlings]

[ Ygritte activates the video feed. When the camera focuses she's seated cross-legged on Jon Snow's bed, looking into it intently, features stern—and with her other hand tapping the flat blade of a carved bone dagger against her sheepskin-covered thigh.

Her voice is steady and light, but with just a hint of iron underneath it. ]


...I'll speak now t' the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, 'f he's willing.






[ ...No encryption of any sort, b/c wildling. Takes place after a particular conversation with Alayne Stone.

...Jon Snow, you got some 'splainin to do, boy. ]

Comments

[kindlings]

[ asgjk;l Stannis. She mislikes your face. ]


Doesn't concern you, now, does it?

[bruxisms]

[ he mislikes your face far more. ]

In this case, it does. The Lord Commander is... [ not a friend, certainly. ]

An ally.

[kindlings]

This's between him n' me.

What're you even doing up in th' North, anyway—I thought Robb Stark was suppos'd t' be King.

[ Try that one on for size, Stannis. ]

[bruxisms]

And as his king, I have a right to know such.

[ particularly if it concerns vows. He frowns, remembering the Wildling woman Lord Snow said he broke his vows with. ]

Robb Stark is— [ he stops himself, remembering his vow to Lord Snow, and curses. ] indisposed, and no true king.

[kindlings]

He bent th' knee t' you, did he?


[ This just keeeeps getting better. And by better she thinks worse. ]

[bruxisms]

[ oh how he wished the man had done so. But he hadn't, and all Stannis can do is frown, moving his teeth from side to side. ]

We share a common foe.

[ a foe that the wildlings may also share, perhaps. ]

[kindlings]

That's no answer.

[ Come on, Stannis, out with it. Either Jon Snow knelt to you and swore fealty to you, or he didn't. ]

What foe is that, then? Free Folk?

[bruxisms]

[ oh, he is going to have to say it, isn't he? well, he does so through gritted teeth... ]

The Night's Watch takes no part in the conflicts of the realm. Therefore, such a man cannot bend then knee to any ruler.

[ but as for that foe. ]

You and I both know there are far more dangerous things beyond the Wall than Wildlings.

[kindlings]

[ That's a tiny modicum of relief to her. ]

'M well aware of that. So if y'believe these things are far more dangerous, why're you fightin' us?

[bruxisms]

[ a frown ]

The Wildlings sought to invade the North. If you are to reside in Westeros, you abide by Westerosi laws.

[kindlings]

We're invadin' the North t' get away from the Others. How d'you not see that, bein' King and all?

And if we reside in Westeros, we won't follow your laws. We'll obey our own. Robb Stark agreed with me on this.

[ She felt the need to shove that last little comment in there. ]

[bruxisms]

I saw that plainly enough, ut I will not have you running rampant on the North.

[ the law is absolute. something that those wildlings knew not. ]

Robb Stark is not king.

[kindlings]

Says who.

[ She likes Robb, despite how he trips over his honor all the time like his half-brother—it's kind of become an endearing trait to her, somehow—but she also thinks he might make a better king than you, Stannis. ]

[bruxisms]

So says the law.

[ and the fact that he's... dead ]

[kindlings]

What law's that? He sounds like he's got a legitimate claim, t' me.

[bruxisms]

The laws of the realm. He has no claim, save to a traitor's crown.

[kindlings]

[ Traitor's crown? ]


Y' mean his father? Ned Stark?

How was he a traitor?

[bruxisms]

Ned Stark was no traitor, but his son picked up a crown long since cast aside, and for what? Glory? Honour?

...Certainly not duty.

[ though he really doubted the wildlings knew the meaning of the term. ]

[kindlings]

[ She shrugs, noncommittally. ]

The Starks don't seem t' be too concerned with glory, if y'ask me.

Mayhaps he just thought he'd make the best King out of all o' you.

[bruxisms]

[ flatly ]

He would not.

Regardless, it matters not even if he would. The law is absolute.

[kindlings]

[ Ooh, it's wildling tirade time. ]

...You southrons and your laws. None of 'em t' actually mean anything, they're just so all o' you can make a grab for a throne and lord everything o'er everyone else.

Y'could use some tips from the free folk. Would be easier for you t' just follow strength and not some stupid oaths and laws and birthrights, aye?

[bruxisms]

If we wished for a war to break out every time a ruler died, perhaps.

[ and you did not just... ]

There is nothing that means more than the law.