Chapter 99 - Negotiations with Free Folk (VI)
"I want to have giant babies with her." Tormund, after being defeated by Leda.
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Passing through the tunnel that led to Castle Black, Val noticed pairs of eyes staring at her with contempt and hostility. This didn't surprise her. If hatred could be easily forgotten, the world would have been at peace long ago.
But hatred, like resentment, didn't disappear, it only grew stronger over time. The Free Folk and the Night's Watch could never be friends, they hated each other, even though there were exchanges on both sides.
The closer he got to the end of the tunnel, the more blinding the light became, until he was through it and his vision gradually became accustomed to his surroundings again.
When her eyes had adjusted, Val looked around and saw the members of the Night's Watch in elevated positions. They carried swords, but none wore bows, which eased her worries slightly. As for Castle Black, it was the first time she had seen such a large structure and, despite being in a terrible state, she still found the place majestic.
She wondered if other castles were as big as the one she was in. However, her eyes soon settled on the chairs and tables set up in the center of the courtyard, obviously prepared for them.
Then her blue gaze fell on the main table opposite the Free Folk. There, sitting in a larger and much more comfortable chair, was he.
The color of his hair was something Val had never seen before, a mixture of gold and white, a very beautiful shade. His eyes were as striking as his hair, a shade of purple she had never seen on anything other than a cloth from a city called Myr, brought by Mance.
As for his beauty, she had never seen a man, or rather a young man, so handsome. But she soon put these trivial thoughts aside when she saw him get up from his chair and walk over to them with a smile.
"Your Grace, it is an honor to finally meet the King Beyond the Wall." When the young man said this, the members of the Night's Watch let out a few mocking words, but Val realized that the young man himself had spoken with due respect to the King of the Free Folk.