Thread: A Rose in the Snow (heartlesskitten x Rivine)

A lone figure stood atop the Wall in the early dawn, wrapped in a black cloak. The man's lavender eyes scanned the lands below, covered in the morning mist, taking in the beauty below him. But Vorian also saw more then beauty, for he also saw danger and decline. The forests below were now much closer then they were when he had come to the wall two decades before. It used to be that the Brothers would keep the trees back from the wall, but now he knew that there were places where the forest came up right to the wall almost. And within those woods, Wildlings and other dangers would be waiting. His contemplative peace was broken when there was a groaning of metal behind him and the chain on the winch began to move. Vorian glanced back at it for a moment, knowing well what it heralded the Lord Commander was coming. For Vorian had not come to the top of the Wall only to take in the sights, but also to meet with the leader of the order. The ranger had just returned from a patrol that had been months long and had yet to report to the commander. Vorian thought over the details of the ranging as he waited Vorian had left Westwatch four months ago with orders to scout beyond the Wall. Parties were leaving from each of the five castles along the wall, but his own was the smallest, numbering only five men in all. They had moved into the Frostfangs, making their way through the mountains to the area that they'd been assigned to scout, the Frozen Shore. The journey to the Frozen Shore was hard enough, but once they'd made their way there, things had gotten even harder. They were only five men after all in a land with several different tribes. It had only taken a hunter from one of them to find their trail to foul everything up. Pursued by wildling tribesmen, Vorian had lead his men to the Skirling Pass in order to escape them. But of course escaping from one enemy had only delivered them to others. It was while they traversed the past that his party had been ambushed by yet more wildlings from a different tribe. In short, the patrol had been a success when it came tot he scouting, but it had also cost them the lives of two rangers and maimed a third. The man sighed and shook his head slowly. He'd made it back late last night with his men and had written up a report for the Lord Commander, but he knew the man would have other questions. Bloodraven always did. He heard the winch jarring to a stop, then turned to face the lift as the iron gates opened. Out stepped two men who moved too either side of the opening, Raven's Teeth, men from the company that had so loyally served Bloodraven in the field of battle and who now served as his guard as he served at the Wall. After them a thin but tall man stepped out, hooded and cloaked, his body hidden from the sunlight as he made his way over to where Vorian waited for him. Lord Commander, Vorian greeted him, his tone even. Many men showed deference to Bloodraven, due to his position and birth, but Vorian had known the man for nearly thirty years. Dayne, the older man greeted him tersely, then went on, Your ranging ran into some obstacles it seems for you to have journeyed all the way here. You did not read my report? Vorian asked as he looked into the other's red eye and the empty socket. The Lord Commander rarely, well never, wore a patch over it, but the Dayne had known him long enough to no longer be intimidated by it. Bloodraven shrugged and said, I did. But I still find it curious that you traveled all the way here. After all, the Shadow Tower is closer. Vorian did not reply immediately, taking a moment to gather his thoughts before he said to the Lord Commander, I knew the tribes would be moving out of the valleys in the mountains this time of year. So by swinging out further away from the Frostfangs I was able to make it to Craster's Keep, where my wounded man could rest for a few days before we pushed on. Besides, our best maester is here. The white haired man took all of this in, then nodded a bit before he said, Good enough. Besides, your ranging has told us more of the current disposition of the wildlings then any of the others. With them moving I think that we shall start to see more of them in the southern parts of the forest. I'll have to increase the patrols along the Wall. Yes Lord Commander, the dark haired Dayne agreed. With your leave, I'll take my remaining ranger and head back to Westwatch then. We can take the Wall. The response was immediate and terse, No. Vorian blinked a bit, then asked, Do you have a new assignment for me then Lord Commander? Bloodraven nodded, then said, We are expecting a new batch of recruits today, a fairly large group. I would like you to observe them in their training over the next several weeks. I want you to cull out those that you deem worthy of training as rangers and assist the master-at-arms to that end. Is that plain enough? Well this was a curious thing. Vorian knew that he was considered to be one of the better rangers, but usually the Lord Commander preferred them to be at their duties beyond the Wall, not training the newest lot of reprobates from the south. But it was his duty to follow the Lord Commander, so Vorian nodded, Aye. Good. Now come and breakfast with me and I will tell you what the other rangings found, Bloodraven said, then turned away, walking back towards the lift. Vorian followed after the Lord Commander, joining him on the lift. The two spoke extensively during breakfast, discussing the Lord Commander's plans for the upcoming winter. Before long there was a knock on the door and one of the stewards that tended to Bloodraven told them that the recruits had arrived. The two men rose together and exited the half Targaryen bastard's quarters. It was Vorian who commented first, Oh... how generous of the lords. Two wagon loads of prisoners deemed so bad that they cannot be unchained until they are here. Lovely. The Lord Commander chuckled dryly at that, then reminded Vorian, I was sent on a prison ship. And look how well that turned out for all of us, Vorian retorted sarcastically. Bloodraven shook his head a bit, but Vorian knew well that there was a hint of a smile on the man's lips. He followed the Lord Commander to a spot where two stairways met above the courtyard, pausing there with him as the recruits were herded into the square. His lavender eyes moved over them and he spotted maybe half a dozen of the two score that might work. But his eyes paused on one lad in particular, a redhead who was still mounted on a horse. It was not the youngster's size, but rather the fact that he wore a sword and had a bow. It was not often that recruits came to the Wall with their own equipment these days, so he found it intriguing. His attention was pulled away from the youth as Bloodraven stepped up to the railing. The Lord Commander, still cowled, put his gloved hands upon the railing, leaning on it slightly as he began to speak, Each of you are here for a purpose, a second chance. All of us were something else before we came here, someone else. None of that matters now. You are here to become men of the Night's Watch. That is what you will become. And as men of the Night's Watch your purpose is simple, he paused then, motioning to the Wall behind him, We are the watchers on the Wall. We protect the realms of men. And we look forward to calling you all brothers. Well if that doesn't scare the piss out of them all, then they're all a bunch of dumb bastards. The thought was a brief one in Vorian's mind... but to his chagrin none of the louts ran. The Dayne sighed then and wished that he had never come to Castle Black.