The Nightwatch (A Game of Thrones Fanfic)

"Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no
wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall
wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live
and die at my post. I am the sword in the
darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the shield that guards the realms of men. I
pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come." Jacob remembered saying those exact words last week, in a godswood. The Tully's had always worshipped the Seven, but for some reason he had always felt a connection to the old gods of the Children of the forest. He could see the heart tree he had recited it in front of from where he stood on the Wall. He was wrapped tightly in his black wool cloak and on his hands were gloves. It was always cold on the Wall, as he had found out on his first couple days there.
He shivered and continued walking, as he was told to do to keep the blood flowing.

Zeraph stamped out along the wall moodily holding a candle close to his armour in a vain attempt to warm it up somewhat, every time before he came out on watch he heated it up, and every time it was cold before he got to the top of the wall. his mind drifted off contemplating a complex device for storing and distributing the heat from burning coals. realizing he'd stopped walking he went back to stamping back and forth. he'd been there for not long, two weeks, possibly less, he was a odd case, no oath, no formal 'he's here' nothing but a 'here's your bed, here's your duties, oh and here's your food.' he spotted another one of the new boys on the section next to him, fishing out his spare pigs fat candle he lit it and offered it over. "not much but keeps some heat" he said not wasting words before going back to stamping up and down his 'patch'

"Thanks." Jacob said, holding the candle close to him. Eager for somebody to talk to to break the cold silence, he followed after and said "Never seen you around here. But seeing as how I've only been here a week, that's not saying much."

Zeraph nodded "Been here Two weeks or so. bloody cold, and not very much else" he said turning round and stamping back up the path. "though you could say that the lack of snowmen is rather pitiful." he joked and then swore as his candle went out "mind lending me your light for a moment kiddo?" he asked turning round "Names Zeraph by the way, ranger, and weapon maker by request. not that I make much anymore."

"Well, we need Tywin Lannister." Jacob said, handing over his candle. "They say he shits gold. With the gold, we could buy braziers for use outside Castle Black. Oh, my name is Jacob."

Zeraph let out a snort and lit his candle back up. "honestly the Lannister's and the rest can go stick it where the sun don't shine." he melted, or atempted to melt, a small lump of ice off his armour. "if you asked me I'd say give each of them one vote then sit them in a council, and more than half of them have to vote for something for it to happen. yeah sure someone would try force, but the problem then is everyone is even and he's trying to take away that evenness. therefore everyone will stand against him." he shrugged and rolled his eyes, spitting over the edge of the wall. "and anyway, the best we're likely to get up here is a Stark, there the only one's close enough to remember the what its like to be blasted with ice and snow. so what family you from lad?"

"Tully. Well, a bastard son of Lord Edmure." Jacob said. "And yeah, the Starks are better then those damn Lannisters. Hell, look at Lord Tywin's sons! One's a dwarf, one's a kingslayer. Then there's Cersei. I've heard she's gotten busy with more then good old King Robert."

Zeraph shrugged "as i said bugger the lot of them and stick to your job" he paused to set the candle down and lean out over the edge of the wall "hmmm, that was a warelight." he said picking up his candle and blowing it out then doing the same to Jacob's "keep the candle out for now lad." he started walking again "anyway, honestly non of them will matter if we cock up. no, let them have there throne and let them have there war, is it not said, the wall will always need more men." and with that, somewhat enigmatic response he started stamping off again, letting the runner at the top of the stairs that he'd seen a ware-light.

Jacob sighed and walked back to his post. "One more hour and you can go back to bed." He thought to himself, looking grimly down at the treeline.

Fox walked silently along the wall. He always walked silently just out of habit, after a few years as a scout it took conscious effort for him to make any noise at all. This better be the kid I'm supposed to replace. he thought putting a hand on the shoulder of the boy he'd approached from behind.