CHAPTER 184: THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MUST BE DONE

Chapter 184: This Is Something That Must Be Done

Beyond the Wall, True North

POV of Robb Stark

"You continue to say ’you’. Are you not coming with us?" his uncle Benjen asked with a suspicious look. Apparently, he had noticed the same thing as Robb.

Lord Bolton rolled his eyes and shook his head, "No, I will not. But my army will go with you. Walton will lead them as he has done so far. I, on the other hand, will continue further North to complete the task I set out for. I’ll also take my two sworn swords, Ygritte and the 50 elites from my army."

"You just said that going further North is foolish." Harrion Karstark pointed out what Robb and probably everyone else in the tent were thinking.

Lord Bolton shrugged, "It is. But this is something that must be done."

"What must be done?" he heard Jon’s words and was surprised. Jon usually stayed silent in meetings like these because of his status as a bastard.

Robb himself felt somewhat proud of his brother for speaking up.

Lord Bolton just cocked his head and smiled a grim smile. "I think I already told you."

There was a silence in the tent after those words.

"You’re going to the Land of Always Winter?" he asked.

"If we’re lucky, then we won’t have to go that far." Lord Bolton said with a dry chuckle that held no mirth in it, and then his face became serious. "But I think we’re going to be unlucky."

"I’m coming with you." He heard Jon say and turned to look at his half-brother, who had a resolute expression on his face.

"Aye. If this is not some stupid fantasy of yours, then you’ll need all the help you can get." Qhorin Halfhand said.

"All the muscles as well," Smalljon said with a proud smile.

"The Mormonts are with you in this as well." Dacey Mormont said. "I don’t know whether there is any White Walker as you claim or not. But House Mormont always helps its friends."

"We’ll aid you in this task as well." Jojen Reed, who had remained silent throughout all the meetings so far, spoke up.

"This... is not really necessary." Lord Bolton said with a strained smile. "And I cannot risk your life on my own. You are the heirs of your respective houses. I cannot take you into something so dangerous, even if I wanted to do so."

"Perhaps. But I’m not the heir to any house." Jon said, "I’m just a bastard. You should not have any problem taking me with you, right?"

"You may be a bastard, but you’re still the son of Lord Eddard Stark and someone whom he loves like a true son. I’ll not risk your life." Lord Bolton replied.

"I’m neither a lord nor an heir. You should not have any problem with taking me. Or do you have any excuse for me as well?" Qhorin Halfhand asked, and Lord Bolton looked at him with a strained smile. Then he gained a thoughtful expression for a short moment before he nodded.

"Very well then. If one of you is coming with me, then those of you who want to come might as well join me." Lord Bolton said.

His eyes widened at that, and he said, "Then I’ll join you as well..."

"Absolutely not." His uncle Benjen said before he even finished, "My brother put you in my care. Both of you, actually." He said, looking at Jon as well, "I’m not allowing you to go on a risky mission like this."

Before he could protest, his uncle added, "Not alone at least."

Lord Bolton nodded his head. "Very well then. Those who want to join me may remain behind. As for the rest, you should leave for Eastwatch-by-the-Sea as soon as possible." He said, "Now if there’s nothing else, I have some preparations to do for our journey ahead."

When Robb heard that Lord Bolton was organizing a new expedition beyond the Wall and asked his father for permission to join, he never imagined things would turn out this way.

An expedition beyond the Wall now turned into a pursuit of the remnants of a legend in the Lands of Always Winter, where no one dares to tread.

He didn’t know whether Lord Bolton’s beliefs were real. After all, these were the White Walkers they were talking about.

It was a story that had become a legend, a story no one could prove had actually happened, a story told to children at night to keep them well-behaved.

But Robb had no intention of returning to the Wall. At least not while Lord Bolton and the others continued their advance.

If Lord Bolton’s purpose in organizing this expedition were to find the White Walkers, then Robb would not return until it had achieved its goal. Or until Lord Bolton was satisfied with the expedition and decided it had come to an end.

Robb might have been inexperienced and had much to learn, but he was not a coward. Of course, that didn’t mean he would do anything foolish or risk his life for something absurd.

But Robb trusted Lord Bolton in this matter. He knew, first and foremost, that if Lord Bolton hadn’t harbored strong suspicions about the matter, he wouldn’t have gone this far and risked his own life and the lives of his men.

And Robb was certain that Lord Bolton would have high-level protection for the remainder of the journey. Therefore, he didn’t hesitate for a moment to continue with Lord Bolton.

Perhaps continuing with Lord Bolton and the traveler would even be safer than returning to the Wall with the other men.

But he still needed to make as many preparations as he could for the rest of the journey and make arrangements for his men to return. He also needed to speak with Jon, Ser Rodrik, and his uncle, Benjen Stark.

Knowing he could trust Lord Bolton and get help in many matters was no reason for him not to make his own preparations and not to worry about worst-case scenarios.

On the contrary, Robb’s status meant he should take on more responsibility than the others.

One of the reasons he joined this expedition was to realize his shortcomings and learn from his mistakes, and he had no intention of repeating them.

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Next Chapters’ Name:

Ch.185: Half-Baked Plan

Ch.186: Searching for White Walkers