On the Wall, the silence was terrifying.
Every man of the Night's Watch stared fixedly at the uninvited visitors below.
Even in the bitter wind, their weapon grips were slick with sweat.
What the fuck was going on?
The monsters of legend, the ones that brought the Long Night and death, were now imitating humans and acting as messengers?
This frightened them even more than a direct assault would have.
The unknown was the most terrifying thing of all.
"My lord..."
A Ranger spoke, trembling.
"What... what do they want?"
Jeor did not answer. His aged eyes were filled with gravity and confusion.
He had spent his entire life in the Night's Watch.
He had seen Wildlings, giants, and even wights.
But the scene before him was utterly beyond his understanding.
"Open the gate."
A young but resolute voice broke the frozen silence.
Everyone whipped around to look at the speaker.
Jon Snow.
At some point, he had walked over to the winch and taken hold of the cold iron chain.
"Jon! Have you gone mad?"
A black brother cried out.
"You want to let them in?"
"No."
Jon shook his head, looking past the others and straight at Jeor Mormont.
"I'll fetch the letter."
"Absolutely not!"
"It's a trap!"
"Snow, you're going to your death!"
Protests rose from every side.
To them, this was undoubtedly a scheme by the White Walkers.
They were using a letter as bait to lure them into opening the gate, or to trick some unlucky bastard into coming out to die.
Jon ignored the clamor.
He simply watched Jeor Mormont.
He knew that the old man was the only one here who could truly make the decision.
Jeor studied Jon's young, stubborn face for a long while.
He saw those eyes that belonged to