6th month of 287 A.C. Castle Black
Eddard Stark
It was strange to be here at Castle Black, he had only been to the wall once before. When he was very young his father had come with him and his brother Brandon to speak with Lord Commander Donnor Snow about some issue or the other, Ned could not remember much of the visit, for it had been before he had been to the Eyrie, but he remembered being awed by the sight of the Wall. That same feeling he had had as a little boy was present now as well, the Wall truly was a magnificent structure, and the organisation that held it, though there was honour in it was not as truly magnificent as it had once been. That was why Ned was here, to deal with the issues presented before him.
Coming north had meant leaving his wife and their children behind. Something he had not been too willing to do, but something that had had to be done. He and Catelyn had developed strong feelings for one another, that much was clear, there was affection and fondness between them and a shared love for their children. There was also something more there, but what it was Ned was not sure he knew what to call it, nor what it truly was, but he knew that he dreamed of her often and missed her something fierce. He also missed his children, Robb his eldest and heir who was such a ball of curiosity who always wanted to know what was happening and why certain things were the way they were. Then there was Rickon, who reminded him even at this young age of his older brother Brandon in his fierce nature and strong personality, he was certainly going to be trouble in the years to come. Finally there was baby Sansa who was as sweet as a babe could be, gods he missed them all. He truly wished to get this business with the Watch over and done with.
But it seemed that this business at the Wall was not going to come to an end anytime soon. Word had come from Jeor Mormont and from Denys Mallister asking for assistance in dealing with Lord Commander Qorgyle who had descended into some sort of madness. Carrying out strange rituals at Castle Black and elsewhere, and the increasing presence of goat heads and goat skulls which unnerved many in the Watch. Ned had ridden north with men from Winterfell and Cerwyn as well as with Lord Jon Umber and some men from Last Hearth to find out the truth of the matter and right now was wondering what the watch had become. "Lord Commander Qorgyle would you care to explain what has been happening here?" Ned asked.
Qorgyle was a short man with broad shoulders and a formerly strong personality that seemed to have lowered in his time at the wall. His voice was delirious when he said. "I have been giving homage to our god. The true god, the one who will save us when the darkness comes."
"And what god is that Lord Commander?" Ned asks.
"The only god that matters. The Horned God. He who stalks the prey and catches the night in his horns and ends the threat of death. He demands homage and so I give it to him to prevent the darkness from coming." The Lord Commander responds.
Ned looks at Lord Umber and at Jeor and then asks. "And why does this sacrifice entail giving up goats?"
"Because they are the Horned One's special creatures. They are the animals through which his energy grows. His magic and power comes from their blood. It is the right way to bring about the end of the heathens." Qorgyle responds.
"Heathens?" Ned asks. "What heathens?"
"The heathens of the south. With their seven gods. They have forgotten the true way. They shall be burnt and broken when the Horned King comes down from his wintery palace to bring the world to rights. The darkness shall know no beginning or end." Qorgyle says.
Ned looks at his companions then and asks. "And what of the Watch itself? What of the orders you have given?"
The man is silent then and his voice is questioning when he says. "Orders? I gave no orders. I have not the power to give orders. Only the Horned King can give orders."
Ned looks at Jeor then who merely nods his head. "You gave orders for boys and girls to be brought from Mole's Town and led to the altar for slaughter. You did not say what it was for but it has been done somewhat. Who asked you to do that? Was it the Horned King?" Ned asks.
The man looks stunned his eyes growing wide for a moment. "Altar? Sacrifice? There is no sacrifice at Castle Black. We do not allow such things not since the Night's King. Not since the time where darkness ruled the land did we do such things."
Ned looks at Lord Umber and then says softly. "Sacrifices have been committed here Lord Commander. A woman named Rosella came south to warn us of this. What has been happening?"
"I…." the man pauses and then something inside of him changes and his eyes narrow his voice becomes harsh. "I have done what is needed to ensure he can come back. The darkness must not come again. But night must fall, the horned king has assured me of this. He must come back and rule this land again."
"Why is that?" Ned asks. "Is your duty not to prevent the darkness from returning?"
The man's eyes are bloodshot now when he looks at Ned. "Darkness is one thing, but night is another. There are two things that we must remember Stark. One is good, the other bad. The dance has come again and soon death will come with blue eyes, with skin as cold as ice. Death shall walk amongst us. I am merely preparing for the time when we must welcome our saviours to the hell we have created."
His words make no sense but before Ned can ask him anymore the man slumps forward and falls asleep. Jeor speaks then his voice gruff. "Leave him be, he shall sleep for a while yet." With that the man's steward and another man from the Watch known as Bowen Marsh stand guard outside the man's chambers, whilst Ned and Lord Umber as well as Jeor and Ser Denys walk out of the man's rooms and towards Maester Aemon's chambers. Jeor speaks first. "You saw how broken he is. He is not the man he once was and this talk of horned things and death is unnerving."
"What does he mean by it all?" Ned asks.
"I do not know my lord, no one does. But it is clear he must be removed. The Watch is falling into disrepair." Jeor responds.
Ser Denys nods in agreement. "Aye that is true my lords. With Qorgyle's madness growing, the wildlings have grown in their boldness and are more frequently trying to raid and get across the wall. We do not have the numbers to begin counter acting all their attempts. Qorgyle must go and a new election must be held."
Ned nods. "Aye. But a new Lord Commander is only chosen when the previous one has died. That has always been the law, and there is no honour in removing a man from his post because of some simple ramblings. Besides the man did not know of his orders. How do we know that he gave them?"
Jeor speaks then. "He gave them alright and his steward and others carried them out. The Watch is falling Ned. We do not have the strength to break through this madness without your aid. Winterfell has always aided us in our time of need, and as heir to the north you have the authority to state that the Watch is not living to its requirement."
Ned looks at the former lord of Bear Island and asks. "Is there such a thing?"
Ser Denys speaks. "There is my lord. Maester Aemon found the document, it dates back to the time of King Jonos Stark. It states that in the event of the Lord Commander failing to live up the vows he has sworn, and should his fellow sworn brothers feel he has become incapable of carrying out his duties due to illness or what not they may ask for assistance from Winterfell."
Ned ponders this and then says. "If I were to demand an election when would it be held?"
"Soon enough. As soon as Qorgyle has been removed." Jeor says.
Ned nods and then says. "I shall have to write to my father on the matter but, yes I do think it is necessary for there to be an election."
They come to Maester Aemon's rooms then and find the old maester sat at his chair reading through some letter or the other. He speaks softly when the door closes. "So you have met Arman then?"
"Yes Maester they have." Jeor says a tone of respect in his voice.
The maester nods and then says. "A shame, for Arman truly was a brilliant man in his youth. This madness has taken over his blood as it did his father before him. There is something wrong with them. But this horned one is what is troubling me."
"There is an actual horned one?" Ned asks curious.
"Rumours and stories abound from the free folk. Of things half men half animal that roam the lands furthest north of the wall. How true they are we know not, but this talk is making me wonder if perhaps there is more credence to them. Still we must remove Arman from the Commander's position before something worse happens." The maester says.
"You think the man could try to do as the Night's King did and turn the watch into something it was not meant to be?" Ned asks.
"I think he is already trying to do that. Intentionally or not, it is beginning and someone must needs reverse it." The maester responds.
Ned sighs then and then turning to Jeor and Ser Denys says. "Have your men place the Lord Commander in the Ice Cells it is time for this election be held. We cannot delay."
Both men nod and over the next few hours Qorgyle is imprisoned, Ned informs his own men and those of Lord Umber's that they shall be remaining here for a bit longer than intended. Three candidates emerge for the position of Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont an experienced man, Ser Denys Mallister an affable fellow but whether he could hold the Wall now is something Ned doubts and then there is Ser Bowen Marsh a man who is more sneak then Lord. The election goes on for three days straight, with no clear winner in sight, until the fourth day when Jeor Mormont emerges with a clear majority and is chosen as the 997th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. A good choice as far as Ned is concerned and someone who will be easy to work with.
It is when he has just finished speaking with Jeor about increasing trade between Winterfell and the Watch that Ned hears something. A rustling, a gust of wind he is not sure what it is but it unnerves him. He keeps walking back to his own rooms, he nods at the Greatjon who is drinking with his brothers and cousins, and as he is about to step foot into the King's Tower he hears the sound again. He turns around but there is nothing there. Sighing he walks into the tower and walks up the stairs to his room, where he shuts the door and begins to close his eyes when the sound comes back. His eyes fly open and he finds himself staring at a thing with the horns of a goat and a body of a man. Its eyes are blood red and its breath is that of blood. There is one word it says. "Qorgyle." And then in a blink of an eye it is gone, and Ned can hear the shouts and the cries of the men. When he walks out Jeor is standing there looking at the body on the ground that has had its neck torn open. Ned recognises the man as Arman Qorgyle the former commander of the Night's Watch.