CHAPTER 177: THE ENEMY WAS PUSHED BACK

Chapter 177: The Enemy Was Pushed Back

Beyond the Wall, True North

POV of Domeric Bolton

"The Stark brothers are holding well," Domeric said as he noticed Jon Snow holding an area breached by the Free Folk with a few men as his direwolf protected his back until Robb Stark brought some back up and filled the gap, pushing the Free Folk back down the mountain once again.

"Better than most people do in their first battle." Lord Commander Jeor Mormont reluctantly agreed.

"Your lassie seems to be doing especially well." He said as he looked at where Dacey Mormont had fought on the front lines, not giving an inch to the Free Folk as they walked up the incline.

The Mormont men as a whole fought more fiercely than any other Northern men.

"She has fought Wildlings before." Lord Commander said, trying and failing to hide the pride in his voice, "The wildlings and the Ironborns attack Bear Island more frequently than any other area in the North. They’re used to such battles."

They stayed silent and watched the battle unfold from atop their horses.

At this point, the only thing they could do was sit where they were and look stern and imposing. That alone would give his forces the morale to continue fighting.

Of course, his fighting midst them would be even better for their morale, but this war would be won anyway.

"The Bear Island seemed to have recovered well from its situation in the last few years." He said and noticed how Jeor Mormont’s grip on his reins tightened at the reminder of how Jorah Mormont had bankrupted his whole house for his wife.

"In case you want to know. Jorah’s wife left him for a merchant in Myr when he couldn’t fulfill her... Expensive tastes. The last time I heard of him, he was working as a sellsword somewhere in Pentos."

"This is neither the time nor the place for such talk." Lord Commander said, looking straight ahead at the battle, and Domeric nodded, not wanting to needle the man any more than necessary.

He might not admit it, but he was still a bit pissed at how the Lord Commander was almost ready to attack him a few days ago. Even asking if he wanted them dead.

Even if he knew that people often lost their way in highly stressful situations, Lord Jeor Mormont turning against him so easily had still irritated him.

After all, Domeric was now the Night’s Watch’s largest sponsor. Besides the weapons, food, furs, blankets, and gold dragons he gave during his past expedition to the North of the Wall, Domeric still regularly sent the Night’s Watch supplies and equipment.

Not to mention Domeric’s assistance to House Mormont in their most difficult time after Jorah Mormont fled from Bear Island, his aid to Bear Island marked the first time Domeric had sent High-Yielding Seeds outside his own domains.

Moreover, Domeric had never forced anyone to come to these lands beyond the Wall. The lords of the North had willingly sent their heirs to join his expeditions, sometimes even threatening to make things difficult for him if he refused to let them join the host.

Lord Commander Jeor Mormont of the Night’s Watch was no different from any other lord of the North in this regard. Whether he was concerned about the safety of the heirs or not was irrelevant. Lord Jeor Mormont had forced himself and the Night’s Watch to join this expedition, and Domeric knew that if he refused, the Lord Commander would not allow him to go beyond the Wall.

And now, after everyone had forced their way on this expedition, Lord Commander Jeor Mormont dared to question whether Domeric had brought them here to die.

Hypocrisy. Ingratitude. Shamelessness.

Yes, Domeric was indeed angered by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont’s behavior.

But he knew there was nothing he could do about it right now. So, for now, he contented himself with a few snide remarks.

Domeric knew how deeply Lord Commander Jeor Mormont was bothered by the disgrace Jorah Mormont had brought upon House Mormont and the difficult situation he had placed Bear Island in. So, as long as Lord Commander Jeor Mormont irritated him, he wasn’t about to hold back from opening his old wounds.

Perhaps after returning from this expedition, Domeric should adjust the amount of aid he was sending to the Wall. Maybe then Lord Commander Jeor Mormont would learn not to bite the hand that feeds him.

They spent the next hour in silence as the battle continued around them.

Every so often, the Free Folks would break through the lines, but the reinforcements he had put in place quickly moved forward to fill the gap and push the Free Folks back down the mountain.

By the end of the hour, there was a large pile of bodies scattered through the slope of the mountain. A fair few of them were sliding down to the bottom and forming a large pile there.

Ygritte would release an arrow now and then, reaping the lives of any leader who was doing too well against the allied forces.

He was particularly proud of the fact that his men had not broken even once throughout the whole battle. They had held firmly against anyone that the Weeper sent after them.

After a while, the Free Folk attacking that area started to trickle down less and less until Weeper started using his men on the other weaker regions, hoping to gain a proper foothold where he would rally his men and take over the rest of the mountain.

Safe to say that after not getting any foothold for a whole hour and after losing almost half of his men, even Weeper understood that he was not going to win this battle and called for a retreat.

He looked at the retreating form of what remained of Weeper’s army and smiled.

If he wanted, then he could have asked Ygritte to kill Weeper any time, but he had explicitly told Ygritte not to kill the man.

Weeper being alive was important for his plans.

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Next Chapters’ Name:

Ch.178: Knockoff Invisibility Cloak

Ch.179: Weeper - I