The frost-bitten wind howled over the wooden walls of Hardhome, but within its growing perimeter, life had begun to stir with new rhythm. Jaymee, Vaeron, Nyra, and their cohort of engineers, guards, and craftsmen worked tirelessly, transforming the ruins into a bastion of survival and opportunity.
With the initial contact made with the smaller Freefolk tribes and trade beginning to take root, it was time to reach out to the dominant clan—The Thenns.
The Thenns' Arrival
The Thenns were not like the other tribes. Disciplined, militaristic, and culturally distinct, they were led by their Magnar, Urren. A message was sent inviting them to Hardhome under the flag of parley. After weeks of waiting, they came—not in ragtag groups like the others, but in a column of order,axes strapped, and wary eyes scanning the rebuilt walls.
Jaymee welcomed them at the gates with a formal gesture of respect. Urren Magnar eyed the fortifications with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.
"We expected a trap," Urren said bluntly, "but this... this is something else."
Jaymee offered food, mead, and furs as symbols of peace. Over hours of tense negotiation, Jaymee laid bare the mission: a trade hub, neutral and safe, in exchange for fair barter.
Urren did not answer immediately. The Thenns stayed the night, observing the camp, tasting the food, and listening to Jaymee's guarantees. Finally, Urren agreed to limited trade—iron ore and obsidian in exchange for medicines and steel tools. The dam had cracked. With the Thenns on board, the rest would follow.
As months passed, Jaymee began to see the Freefolk not just as hardened barbarians, but as survivors—products of abandonment. They were the same blood as those south of the Wall, but shaped by ice and neglect.
Their women, fierce and forward, took a special interest in Jaymee. More than a few tried to seduce him, laughing at his discomfort and stiff noble demeanor. But Rodrik had warned him: "You're not to get entangled with Freefolk women. Too much risk, too much uncertainty." Jaymee respected that.
Vaeron, however, was bound by no such orders. Charismatic, bold, and wild in spirit, he took to Freefolk culture with ease. He charmed women and cowed dissenters. His days were split between negotiations and, as he would jest, "northern hospitality."
Nyra remained vigilant, watching the perimeter and studying the Freefolk's movements. Her instinct for threats never dulled.
But Jaymee never forgot his true mission. He questioned the Freefolk discreetly about legends and truths:
Wargs: There were many among the Freefolk. Jaymee identified them and marked their presence, but made no move. Rodrik's orders were clear: no action yet.
Giants: Most claimed they still roamed near the Everwinter, a brutal, frozen land few dared enter. Jaymee realized any expedition there would require specialized equipment and planning—something Rodrik himself would handle.
Children of the Forest: Here, legends grew silent. None had seen or heard from them. If they existed, they hid deeper than even the oldest tribes remembered.
Mapping the locations of large weirwood trees was another of Rodrik's orders. Jaymee enlisted a Warg guide who charged a heavy price—several crates of wine. But it was worth it. After nearly a year of effort, the major Weirdwood sites within the Haunted Forest were mapped.
Passing Time and Southern Winds
A year has passed in ice and stone. The settlement grew—its market square bustling, its docks active with supply ships, its walls stronger after the Ice Reaver attack months before. Jaymee received frequest news regarding the ongoings of the seven kingdom through the Vale ships
Princess Rhaenyra had married Laenor Velaryon.
Prince Daemon's marriage to Rhea Royce had been annulled.
Jaymee smiled when he read that. He truly wanted his cousin to be happy. Which he knew she couldn't be with Daemon.
All the information—maps, Warg identifications, giant rumors, and trade reports—was compiled and sent back to the Eyrie. A raven returned two weeks later.
Rodrik's reply was simple: "I will be there within a month."
Hardhome braced for the next chapter.
Because the Lord of the Vale was coming to the true north as they say.