Second Oath // It shall not end until my death...

[direwolfbastard]

[So, though far from comfortable with his surroundings, Jon is starting to get used to being in the castle. Ghost, on the other hand, is getting stir crazy, not having anything to hunt.]

Can anyone tell me why there are no animals of any sort around the castle? Every time I've stepped outside, Ghost has gone off into the woods looking for prey, and I've yet to see him come back with anything. He's never gone this long without hunting, such that I've had to resort to feeding him from the castle's stores.

I'm also wondering about the seasons here. Do they always change this quickly?

[In an attempt to get Ghost some exercise, Jon is walking outside, with Ghost chasing after every tiny bit of movement he sees among the trees. Obviously, this calls for some in-person bothering, though Jon has his journal with him, waiting for responses to his questions.]

Comments

[ino]

[softly] If you're here long enough, you'll start to understand.

Now that it's finally stopped snowing I'm sure it'll be no time before someone wants to go out there.

[direwolfbastard]

I imagine I will. [His tone is firm. Jon isn't the type to be intimidated by the uknown, or the impossible. He's drank with Wildlings, and witnessed giants on the Wall.]

I've heard people often go out just to escape from the castle for a time. I'm sure they have their reasons, but it seems foolish to run from a danger such as this. In my home, the Night's Watch and the Wall stand as guardians against threats from the north. Threats that the rest of the kingdom prefers to ignore.

[ino]

[she's glad to hear it, but -- having been here for so long, she can't help but think he might change his mind after a year or two. she doesn't know what kind of dangers he's faced, but she's guessing they're not anything like the kind of shit that paradisa will put you through. she doesn't say anything more on that, though; she doesn't want this to turn into a pity session or anything like that]

You think if they left for a bit it'd be more dangerous for the rest of us?

[direwolfbastard]

I think, if one swears a duty to protect something, or someone, that duty comes before all else. The oath I took swears me to life at my post. It's an oath I mean to keep, even here.

[That was how it worked in the Night's Watch, anyway. Taking the oath was swearing one's life to their duty. Jon took it very seriously.]

[ino]

Well, that's noble of you ... but not everyone here is a guard or even a warrior, you know. I mean, obviously, I'd protect my friends at any cost, but there are plenty of people here who don't fight at all, or have nothing to do with that life.

[direwolfbastard]

Then it's up to the people who do to act as a shield for those who don't. All I'm saying is that I think it foolish for those with the will, and ability to fight to leave those who can't to fend for themselves. I realize that there are many such warriors here, but if Paradisa is as evil as everyone claims, we need every able warrior where they're needed.

[It sounds easy for him to say, but he knows what he's talking about. He wasted no time enlisting the Wildings, and King Stannis's forces to man the Wall, preparing for the inevitable confrontation with the Others. It didn't make him the most popular Lord Commander to start, but he did what needed to be done.]

[ino]

[yeah, she's ... mostly just defending the idea of being able to leave because ... she has, in the past, when she just couldn't take it anymore ... and now she feels bad LMFAO]

...

[put like that, it really does make her feel ashamed for having a moment of weakness]

Yeah, I guess you're right.

[direwolfbastard]

I realize that even warriors such as ourselves need time to recuperate, but I think leaving the castle to do so is irresponsible, when one considers the nature of the place. Even wounded, a warrior is still a warrior.

[Says the man who's almost had his eye torn out, taken an arrow to the leg, and more axe wounds than he likes to admit to. He's known men to rise from their sickbeds and ask for a sword, in defense of the wall.]

Of course, I know nothing of this place beyond the Dead Zone, so perhaps I'm being presumptuous. If I am, I apologize.

[ino]

Well, the Dead Zone is kind of a refuge from a lot of what the castle does. As long as you're out there, temporary losses won't occur, and stuff like that ...

Though, if anything big happens, usually people are brought right back immediately. Even if someone goes out there to take a break they usually bring their journal, too, just in case.

[direwolfbastard]

So the magic of the castle doesn't reach it. I can see why people would go out there. Are there any dangers out there?

Sounds like you've all got it well in hand. I didn't mean to...imply that you weren't doing your duty.

[ino]

There are dangers no matter where you go. But I guess those dangers are preferable to the ones here, sometimes.

It's fine. You're right that it's wrong to abandon the people here who need us.

[direwolfbastard]

True enough, I suppose. Better to deal with simple survival than fighting for one's life against a foe they cannot touch.

Perhaps I just have a fresh perspective? I'm sure my attitude will change if I'm here long enough. There are men of the Night's Watch broken by their duty. I've seen it more than once, though service on the Wall is a different sort of thing.

[ino]

Nah, it's nice to hear that perspective, honestly. Don't worry about it.

[direwolfbastard]

If I can do nothing else, perhaps I can serve as a reminder to those of the "Peace Patrol" that one doesn't need an organization in order to do one's duty. That sometimes, sacrifices need to be made for the best of the people.