Gared's Prologue

**"Gared's Prologue"** is an additional part of Badgershite's Season Two AU.

## Plot Synopsis

After deciding to head south from the North Grove, Gared begins training Josera in combat without Shadow. Josera wants to learn as he has a desire to be like his father (which he cannot admit).

Away from camp so they could get peace and quiet to train, the duo are pounced upon by wights - and Gared recognises them. They are men of the Night’s Watch who died hunting him down after his desertion - with Frostfinger at the head of the pack. Though they successfully fend the dead off, Gared cannot help but feel guilty for indirectly ending these mens’ lives.

Back at camp Gared is convinced by Finn to confront Sylvi, who is still in a foul mood after Cotter’s blood sacrifice (which is reasonable). As Gared tries to convince Sylvi that things will improve “Gods be Good”, Sylvi turns on him and says that there *are*no Gods, and any god who would reward what happened to her brother is evil.

Finn admits Sylvi needs time, and the two leave her be.

Gared is alerted by stirring in the night while on watch. He quickly spies a figure stealing some of their supplies and brandishes an ax, hoping to catch up and regain their stolen food. As he approaches the small figure, he turns them around and is shocked to see it is only a child (Willow). The girl quickly cries out and her father, Targan, makes himself known.

The man attempts to attack Gared and free his child, but is halted by Finn who was woken up by the screaming. The two get into a fight, but it is halted by Sylvi. The group learns of Targan’s history - that he and his family were left roaming the harsh lands beyond the Wall after their village was destroyed by wights. Gared then convinces the family to join up with them and come south - if they help him reclaim the Forrester lands he’ll promise them a home of their own.

Josera catches Sylvi warging and confronts Gared about it. When questioned why she didn’t tell them about her abilities, Sylvi admits she’s only recently worked out she can warg and Elsera explains this may be due to the North Grove’s power unlocking abilities in her, as it did with her blood magic and Josera’s warging.

Gared hesitates, then asks if Josera can train her. He reluctantly agrees given their tense relationship, but Sylvi is thankful for the opportunity and lightens up now that she is less confused about her abilities.

 As the group reaches the coast, Gared scouts ahead and makes a discovery - an abandoned ship. It appears as if those on board left long ago and headed into the lands above the Wall, never to return. The others want to take the ship and sail south, but Gared is reluctant as its original owners may still be alive and could be stranded. Those who have lived beyond the wall all their lives state that any southerners would likely already died and Gared was lucky to have lived this long, which alleviates his concerns a little.

With some minor repairs the ship is back in working condition and they manage to get it moving. Gared searches the captains’ quarters and recognises the colours and sigil of House Draper from when he was taught about Houses of the North by Lord Forrester, and the group agrees their destination should be Stillport, to return the ship.

After half a week of sailing, almost undershooting their destination and making landfall at Sea Dragon Point, the ship pulls into Stillport and Gared and Sylvi disembark to survey the area as they note no other ships are in port. Sylvi is in awe at the size of the town, unable to recognise the state it is in as she has never seen anything like it, but her admiration is cut short when she and Gared see a peasant being abused by three soldiers of House Warrick with a more authoritative man overseeing them. His name is Black Galtry.

Noting the threat of enemy soldiers, Gared knows he cannot risk anyone being hurt and tells Finn to turn the ship around and head to Sea Dragon Point, neglecting to let himself or Sylvi board so the ship has the maximum amount of time to escape.

Stranded, Gared and Sylvi have to evade Galtry and the Warricks, but fortunately for them a door inches open and a man beckons them to join him inside.

## Credits

In order of appearance:

* Gared Tuttle
* Josera Snow
* Lobor (wight)
* Denner Frostfinger (wight)
* Casper (wight)
* Sylvi
* Willow
* Targan
* Signa
* Newt
* Elsera's Hollows
* Shadow
* Rigs (Warrick Soldier)
* Warrick Soldier 1
* Warrick Soldier 3
* Black Galtry
* Mors Mason

## References

1. ↑ http://badgershite.tumblr.com/post/154857281225/heres-what-happened-with-gared-in-the-au-before
2. ↑ http://badgershite.tumblr.com/post/154900511515/s2au-gareds-prologue-part-2-no-gods-back-at
3. ↑ http://badgershite.tumblr.com/post/154985882180/s2au-gareds-prologue-part-3-meeting-targans
4. ↑ http://badgershite.tumblr.com/post/155030489755/s2au-gareds-prologue-part-4-warg-josera
5. ↑ http://badgershite.tumblr.com/post/155078825730/s2au-gareds-prologue-part-5-heading-south-as
6. ↑ http://badgershite.tumblr.com/post/155125837545/s2au-gareds-prologue-part-6-arriving-at
7. ↑ http://badgershite.tumblr.com/post/155172170225/s2au-gareds-prologue-part-7-a-new-face-noting