A Game of Thrones-Prologue

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Prologue
A Game of Thrones chapter
AGameOfThrones.jpg
POV Will
Page US HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
 ← Prologue →  Bran I

Three rangers in the Night's Watch track a group of wildling raiders north of the Wall, until they encounter the Others for the first time in 8000 years.

Synopsis

Men of the Night's Watch Gared, Will and Ser Waymar Royce their commander are ranging several days out north of the Wall. Gared is uneasy, but Waymar Royce makes light of his fears. They have been riding for nine days, on the track of a band of wildling raiders. Gared insists that they should turn back, because according to Will, the wildlings are dead. Ser Waymar asks Will again for the details of what he saw.

Will says he saw their encampment, with eight wildlings, men and women, their lean-to covered by snow, no fire, nobody moving after he watched for a long time. They were lying on the ground, no blood but some weapons visible. There was one woman up in a tree, but she didn't move either. Gared says they must have been killed by the cold. Ser Waymar points out that the weather has not been cold enough to freeze men like that. He asks Will to lead them to the dead men.

They ride close to the camp, and then Will dismounts. Both he and Gared say that there is something wrong, but Waymar Royce mocks them again before he too dismounts. He tells Gared to stay behind and guard the horses; Gared says he will start a fire, but Waymar Royce says no fire. Gared comes close to drawing his sword, but acquiesces.

Will and Ser Waymar climb up the ridge, Waymar much noisier than Will. When Will crawls his earlier vantage, he sees that the bodies are gone. Waymar, walking upright, reaches the top of the ridge and stands in plain sight. Will warns Waymar to get down since he feels something is wrong, but Waymar just laughs. A battle-axe still lies on the ground. Will rises reluctantly at Waymar’s command. Waymar Royce says that he will find the wildlings before returning to the Wall and commands Will to climb back up the tree and look for fires.

Will reluctantly begins to a climb a tree. Down below him, Ser Waymar challenges an unseen foe. Will thinks he sees movement and then a white shadow down below, but is not sure. He is about to call down warning, but stops unsure. Waymar calls with unease in his voice to Will for status. Will sees Waymar is turning in a circle with his sword out, and then Ser Waymar asks about the sudden cold, which Will notes he can feel. Shadow emerges from the woods, tall, gaunt, white dappled with a gray green shimmer. Waymar nervously commands the shadow to come no further. When the shadow continues, Waymar states then fight. Others appear among the trees. The Others's sword is made of inhumanly sharp translucent crystal. Weymar is able to check the blows until a parry comes a bit too late and the Other’s sword cuts through the mail under Weymar’s arm. Weymar screams “For Robert” and charges. The next time Weymar strikes, his sword shatters on the Other’s sword. Shards of steel spray everywhere, into Waymar's eyes, and he falls to his knees, blinded. The Others move in and slash at him mercilessly.

Will turns his head away and a long time later he looks to see the Others are gone. Will climbs down, examines Royce's body, then picks up the Weymar’s broken twisted sword. He decides to bring it back to show to their commanders, hoping Gared is still with the horses. Then Ser Waymar stands up, one of his eyes burning blue, and his hands go around Will's throat, his touch icy cold.

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References and Sources

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