the good queen / alysanne

Her words are met with silence and gaping stares, the men's eyes wider than smallfolk children who glimpse the dragons for the first time. She looks around at each of the surly, weathered men dressed in blacks; one towards the back of their company is trying not to laugh, another rolls his eyes, and the rest just stand there, floundering for words.

Finally, the Lord Commander finds himself. "Pardon, Your Grace?"

"I said, why don't you build a new castle? If the structure of the Nightfort is in such a state that it can't currently handle the demands being placed on it, why not build another castle? Surely, the Watch is not averse to more garrisons along the Wall?"

"Of course not, Your Grace!" The Lord Commander says quickly. "It's only that, well, the expense…it would be-"

"Paid for by me." Alysanne pulls her furs closer and looks up at the Wall weeping in the sunlight. Silverwing weaves through the clouds high overhead, her shadow no more than a speck upon the ice. "The men of the Night's Watch do a great service to this kingdom. It's time the kingdom does something for the Watch in return."