Game of Thrones: Fanfic: Now my watch begins

[m_findlow]

Title: Now my watch begins
Fandom: Game of Thrones
Characters: Tyrion Lannister, Benjen Stark, Jon Snow
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,460 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for m_findlow's prompt "Game of Thrones, Tyrion, travelling with the Night's Watch" at fic_promptly. I don't own them, the belong to George Martin.
Summary: Trion learns much about the Night's Watch

Benjen Stark was sitting by the fire light, stoking it every now and then against the chill of the air. They were still well within the bounds of the Gift, but the weather was as unforgiving as anything Tyrion had ever experienced. He'd seen a few winters before, but the mild chill that plagued Casterly Rock was nothing compared to this.

It was for amusement's sake that he'd taken the journey. Having traveled this far north with Robert's entourage, it seemed a complete waste not to keep going north and see the greatest construction of the First Men that had ever existed, and was likely ever to exist. The Wall was a feat unmatched throughout all of history. That and the long march back to King's Landing with Jamie and Cersei was possibly more than he could stomach. He wanted to see how real men traveled, to experience it first hand, to the revel in the drinking, their baud jokes and songs that necessitated such a journey. Despite their vows and their garb, to Tyrion they still appeared to be a ragtag sort of bunch of misfits. If this was what stood between them and the monsters that lay beyond the Wall, he feared all of Westeros may be doomed.

He sat by the fire, wineskin in hand. It was very late and most of the men now slept except for those few keeping guard on the outskirts of their camp. They spoke of Wildlings and wolves, though Tyrion doubted they had any of those south of the Wall. As much chance of grumkins, he thought. Best he not wander too far tonight, in case their watch mistook him for one.

He watched Benjen Stark with a curious glance. Both he and his nephew Jon were still awake. No doubt Jon found all of this a bit of an adventure, though Tyrion suspected he would be disappointed with the outcome in the end. A life of servitude at the Wall, of chastity above all else, had put him well off the idea, however much it might have irked his father Lord Tywin to say that he was going. Then again, perhaps his father would have agreed that it was the best place for him. No Lannister would suffer servitude on the Wall, but dwarves were another matter entirely, even Lannister dwarves.

'Why are you here, my Lord?' he asked Benjen Stark. 'What does a lord of Winterfell see in serving the Night's Watch?'

Benjen chuckled at the title. 'I am no lord, good sir. Only a man.'

'A man who would serve the Wall,' Tyrion replied, 'which is served by criminals and cutthroats. Hardly a charming prospect for a gentile man.'

'All men who come to the Wall give up not only their titles and claims, but also their past. A man can find his purpose on the Wall.'

'As do men of the Kingsguard,' Tyrion countered, 'but there is far more honour and prestige to be held by a white cloak than a black. You would deny that the men who serve the Watch are criminals?'

Benjen turned to his young nephew who had so far sat in silence and watched their conversation.

'Jon, why don't you fetch more kindling for the fire? We shall burn out before night's end at this rate.'

Jon nodded, a brief, 'yes uncle,' before pulling his cloak tight about him and disappearing into the darkness.

'Every man on the Wall is a criminal, Tyrion.'

Tyrion seemed amused by this statement. 'Even you, Benjen Stark, First Ranger. What crime did you commit?'

He smiled gently. 'I am the brother of the Lord of Winterfell. I shall never hold that title unless disaster were to befall our family. Ned Stark has four good sons to lead in his stead. What else would a man such as me do, who will never inherit lands and titles?'

'Four good sons, you say?' letting his eyes follow the distant outline of Benjen's nephew. 'I counted only three at the feast table in the great hall.' He already knew the answer to his own question. Only true born sons would ever sit beside their Lord and King.

'Jon is as much a son as any other.'

Tyrion leaned casually back against the thick tree. 'And what crime has he committed to join the esteemed ranks of the Night's Watch?'

'He was born of the wrong mother. Ned Stark may treat all his sons and daughters as equals, but in truth Jon will never be their equal. He could be as he good as Robb, if not better. He is the most like Ned of all of them, mayhaps Arya, but he can never be anything other than a bastard. The Night's Watch is the only place for him. In times of war and discontent, even a bastard may find glory on the field of battle, and earn himself titles and lands to call his own. Westeros currently sits idle, like a bear full fed, hibernating for the winter. Jon will find no place in a world like that. True, he might wed, but all his sons thereafter will carry the bastard name, no matter what glory they might achieve. The only war left to fight in this world now is that of the Wall.'

Tyrion crossed his arms, as much from cold as it was piety. 'So it's off to join the brigands of the Watch?'

'In the Night's Watch, all men are equal, whatever their rank. Whether they be a cutthroat or the son of a lord, each man is no better nor worse than his brother. Only there will Jon find true equality.'

At that moment they heard the crunching footsteps of the young lad return, a large handful of kindling clutched in his arms. To Tyrion's mind, he already looked the forlorn sort that King's Landing often sent for the Wall. He had that look about him. Perhaps stupid or dim was the wrong word for it, but there was a greenness to him. If tales of the Watch were true, it would either break him or turn him into a man. Then he realised what that look was - downtrodden. The fate of all bastards in this world. Dwarves too perhaps.

'Good work, Jon,' Benjen said.

'Yes, indeed,' Tyrion toasted him with his wineskin. 'Tonight we shall not freeze to death, only lose those parts which the Night's Watch has no use for,' he added, grinning. 'And are you excited to be joining the Watch young man?'

'It will be a great honour to join the Night's Watch,' Jon replied, sounding as if he meant every word. Oh, what disappointment awaited him at the Wall, Trion thought. Then again, he'd never seen it either, but he did not think awe and wonderment would be his overriding expectations.

'Well, I must say I admire your tenacity. I've heard many things atop the Red Keep of things that lurk beyond the Wall. Is there truth to any of it, or does Commander Mormont only send ravens to rid the cities of their misfits out of the goodness of his heart?'

Benjen stiffened at the question, as if not wanting to say too much in front of the boy.

'Things beyond the Wall grow strange. Wildlings are disappearing from the reaches of the Wall. They seem to ebb back away into the Haunted Forest, like water flowing back from the shore at low tide. Never have their numbers been so few, but neither have rumors of their gathering at the feet of Mance Rayder been so prevalent. I mean to take a party north of the Wall when we reach Castle Black.'

'Yes, winter is coming, so I keep hearing, and the King Beyond the Wall raises an army.'

Benjen scoffed, though it was a small sound against the crackling of burning kindling.

'Wouldst that the King this side of the Wall took heed of that,' he said, sounding suddenly fierce.

'Mayhaps he might,' Tyrion replied, 'should word reach his ears from the right tongue.' He let the comment hang in the air.

'We would be most pleased if you would speak to King Robert on our behalf.'

Tyrion laughed. 'Nay, not me. What could a dwarf tell a King that he does not already know? But his new Hand might be far more persuasive. Starks at the Wall, Starks in King's Landing; one might think Starks shall rule all of Westeros at this rate. The Lady Sansa would make a fine betrothal for Joffrey.'

'Mayhaps,' Benjen agreed. 'Mayhaps also you might still be convinced to join us once you reach the Wall. It's said the sight of it changes a man.'

Tyrion grinned, trying to hide the look of horror on his face. Seeing the Wall was one thing. Serving it was quite another.