A/N: Axel and Jon flyin' north to see the wildlings!
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They depart from King's Landing the next morning. Axel has Jon bundle up in a couple of extra layers and as many furs as they can possibly get their hands on. Then, they strap Jon to Axel back-to-chest and then strap supplies to Jon's chest for good measure. With Axel's still-unnamed Colossal Sword strapped to his back, they're all set to go.
Once they're in the air, Axel begins to test his limits with Jon strapped to him. Sansa's brother is positioned in such a way that he can reach back and tap Axel if he needs him to slow down enough for them to speak, but other than that… Axel starts flying and he slowly but surely picks up speed.
With Jon's face mostly covered by the furs, they're able to make good time. Not as good a time as Axel would have made on his own, but Westeros flies past beneath them all the same. They pass over Harrenhal and the God's Eye within half an hour and are zooming up along the Kingsroad faster than any dragon could ever hope to fly.
The Twins are the next major landmark, the fortified crossing appearing on their left after another hour of flying. And then Moat Cailin is right after that a mere thirty minutes later.
Two hours in, Jon finally taps Axel and Axel slows down to a snail's pace, still moving north but at a speed where the wind isn't liable to wash away any words that might come out of his passenger's mouth. Jon's voice nevertheless sounds hoarse as he calls out from below.
"Your Grace, I would appreciate us stopping for a break soon. Perhaps at Winterfell?"
Axel hums, considering that for a moment before shaking his head. Of course, Jon can't see that so he also has to respond with actual words.
"Not Winterfell. I'd prefer as few people as possible know that I'm up here 'visiting'. Besides, do you really want to give Lord and Lady Stark a chance to question you on just how their youngest daughter made her way to King's Landing?"
Axel hadn't gotten involved in that whole mess for a reason. He was the King and he was supposed to be above such things… or at least that was his excuse anyways. Really, he just wanted to leave it in Sansa's hands so that he didn't have to be the bad guy for either side. His Queen had it all well under control though from what he'd been told last.
Still, there was no denying that the Lady Stark in particular apparently had it out for Jon and would be more wrathful than her lord husband by far if he were to show his face in her vicinity any time soon. Not that Axel would let Jon be killed or even injured for any reason while he was in his care, of course.
And yet, even though Sansa's brother must know that, after a long moment of silence he nevertheless agrees with Axel.
"… No, Your Grace. Quite right. Then… maybe just somewhere with water so we can take a moment to breathe and I can walk around, please?"
That's more than reasonable. The longest flights that Axel has done with any passengers at this point were with Sansa back before her pregnancy was known. And even she had been rather shaky when after a couple hours in the air with him, despite absolutely loving every last second of it.
Eventually, they settle down along the White Knife, a river that leads all the way from the Lonely Hills down to White Harbor. Southeast of Winterfell by a few hours on horseback, there's no real danger of anyone coming across them for the short amount of time they'll be on the ground.
Jon certainly relishes in the chance to unstrap himself from Axel's chest and unstrap the pack from his own chest. He also sheds a layer or two, despite it being MUCH colder up here in the North than it was down in King's Landing when they left earlier this morning.
Axel barely feels the temperature, of course. He stands there in his armor, accepting the food and water that Jon offers him and watching as the Night's Watch Brother then goes down to the White Knife to refill their water supplies.
When Jon comes back, Axel tilts his head to the side.
"When we get to the Wall, I can drop you off at Castle Black if you like. I'll have to talk to the Lord Commander eventually and I suppose you can prepare the way for me."
Jon grimaces at that idea, shaking his head.
"If it's all the same to you, Your Grace, then I'd rather come with you to the wildling camp. My familiar face might help… so long as the Free Folk that saved my and my Uncle's lives still live, I suppose."
That second part, Jon sounds worried and even a little melancholic. Axel is reminded of a conversation he and Sansa had, in which his wife had been convinced that Jon was sweet on a wildling woman. Ygritte, that was the name Sansa had bandied about. Grinning, Axel can't resist prodding.
"Ygritte, right? I'm sure she still draws breath. She was capable enough to save your sorry ass, after all."
Jon jolts, looking at Axel wide eyed and shocked. This prompts a laugh from the King, who shakes his head in amusement.
"You've given too much away, Jon Snow. My Queen was able to put the pieces together after you inadvertently dropped one too many hints."
Flushing, Jon looks down at the ground for a moment… and then back up, jaw clenching.
"I still believe the threat from the Others are real, Your Grace. I haven't been lying to you. And… I'm a brother of the Night's Watch. It doesn't matter what I feel or think… my vows prevent me from such things."
Axel jabs a finger north.
"The Mountain Clans of the Moon that I sent to the Gift will be the first of my plans to reform the Night's Watch. None of them will be expected to give up their families or the right to wield their cocks. None of them will be expected to swear vows of celibacy. But they'll defend the Wall all the same, because it will be their home as much as it is yours."
Jon's mouth opens and closes wordlessly and Axel can tell he's shocked the other young man into something of a stupor. When Sansa's brother finally gets his wits about him, he shakes his head, baffled.
"I… but the vows, Your Grace. It wouldn't be proper…"
That brings a grin to Axel's face. Heh, would he ever stop getting the chance to use this line?
"I'm the damn King, Jon Snow. I decide what is and isn't proper. The Night's Watch isn't going to just die off. Not while I have a say in things. But that means it has to change. And what better way than for honorable sorts like you to take wives like this Ygritte of yours and pop out a few sons and daughters that you can raise to be just like you?"
Silence reigns as Jon Snow seems to mull over Axel's words. But then, he knows by now that Sansa's brother can be a little broody. In the end, whether he chooses to personally take advantage of Axel's reforms or not will be up to him.
But he's certainly not going to convince Axel that they aren't necessary. Even if they're able to send the Others packing again, Axel doesn't know if they'll be able to take down the Great Other permanently. And that means the Wall will need to be manned far better than it is now going forward.
As the silence drags on, Axel just snorts derisively.
"Take ten more minutes and then we're getting back in the air. We're burning daylight."
To be fair, they're actually making plenty good time at this point. They're two thirds of the way to the Wall and it's not even past midday yet. Still, Jon doesn't try to argue and soon enough he's strapped back into place against Axel's chest and they're rising up into the air once more.
They pass Winterfell less than a half hour after that, and around that time Axel finally manages to lay eyes on the Wall as well. It truly is as spectacular as all the stories say. Three hundred miles long and approximately seven hundred feet tall from what Axel recalled. It went from the west coast of Westeros to the east without stopping, though to be fair it was made at the thinnest part of the entire continent save for perhaps the Neck.
Regardless, based on their conversation, Axel doesn't bother aiming for Castle Black as they approach the massive structure. Instead, he flies them right over the Wall itself near the Shadow Tower, it's most western castle, and then descends hundreds of feet on its northern side.
From there, he begins traveling along the Wall's length, hunting down the wildling camp. It doesn't take too long to find it though… its less of a camp and more of a settlement at this point, given just how many wildlings are huddling in the shadow of the Wall, relying on its immense size to protect them.
Grunting, Axel considers briefly setting down outside of the camp and approaching normally… but that's not really his style. Instead, he goes for the center of the camp, coming down from the air and landing with enough weight that the ground shakes and snow explodes up in every direction.
He frees Jon from the straps even as he hears shouts of anger and fear all around him. In short order, they're both surrounded as Jon begins to shout himself, trying to calm tensions.
"Hold! I am Jon Snow of the Night's Watch and this is the King of Westeros, Axel Baratheon! We have come to speak with the King Beyond the Wall! We have come to speak with Mance Rayder!"
Axel just watches on in amusement, his eyes moving this way and that as he assesses who may or may not be a threat. Not to himself of course, but rather to Jon. There are a few archers with bows in their hands, but none of them have arrows notched yet, clearly disturbed by his armor… and perhaps the crown upon his brow as well.
There are also some other interesting individuals that catch Axel's eye. One of them is a woman with golden hair done up in a long braid that is draped across a shoulder. She's gorgeous in a particularly fierce and primal way. She's also wearing all white, interestingly enough. White woolen breeches, white leather boots, a white bearskin cloak, and even a white tunic with bone fastenings.
She definitely draws the eye in a way Axel can't admit, though eventually he tears his gaze off of her when another of the interesting wildlings begins stomping forward. This one is wearing a mask and chestplate of bones and he's moving towards Jon with silent, wicked intent.
Jon doesn't see him, busy trying to convince everyone that they mean no harm as he is. Maybe the bone man is just going to try to embarrass Jon Snow because he's a member of the Night's Watch. Or maybe he's planning something worse. Whether he intends something humiliating or legitimately threatening to Jon's life… it doesn't matter.
Letting out a single breath, Axel reaches up… and whips his Colossal Valyrian Steel Sword off of his back faster than anyone can blink. The point of the massive blade is leveled at this bone-wearing individual in an instant, cutting off his path to Jon and causing the entire camp to go silent as Axel shakes his head.
"Don't."
The bone covered wildling tenses up, his eyes narrowing and his lips curling back in a snarl as he bares his teeth. Axel is neither amused nor impressed, simply raising an eyebrow. He didn't come here to kill anyone, but he will if he has to.
However, before anything else can happen, the golden haired wildling in white speaks up.
"This isn't a fight you can win, Rattleshirt. I would heed his words."
The appropriately named 'Rattleshirt' glares at the woman and Axel almost wants to take his head just for that.
"Pah! This is the kneeler king who has barred us from stepping past the Wall. If we take him prisoner, they will be forced to let us through!"
It's not a bad plan… if one actually thought for even a moment that Axel could actually be beaten by any number of wildlings. He could easily kill every single person in this entire camp. He won't, of course. But he might just kill Rattleshirt to set an example if the man keeps running his mouth.
"No."
A hush falls over the gathered crowd of wildlings as another makes himself known. Stepping up alongside the golden-haired woman, a man who Axel can only assume is Mance Rayder shakes his head.
"King Axel has come to treat with us in good faith. Bring bread and salt that we might establish guest rights."
Axel smiles, still holding his blade aloft.
"Actually, shall we make it a proper meal? It's been quite the journey and it is about midday, is it not?"
Mance Rayder eyes him for a moment before nodding sharply. Rattleshirt growls but moves away, while others also start to disperse, some to get ready to eat and many others to spread word of Axel's arrival to the rest of the sprawling wildling camp.
Looking into Mance Rayder's eyes, Axel sees an intelligence in the King Beyond the Wall that isn't shared by all of his subordinates. The man knows he's dealing with someone, or rather something, that is beyond him and his people. Privately, Axel suspects that the offer of bread and salt isn't really to protect him from the wildlings… but rather to protect the wildlings from him.
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A/N: Everyone else: *tense as can be*
Axel Baratheon: "Man, I am STARVING!"
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