The procedure for the Free Folk to enter the Wall was as follows: the Night's Watch had constructed a temporary wooden palisade at the ice tunnel entrance of Castle Black and dug deep surrounding trenches. The main host of Free Folk remained encamped at the edge of the Haunted Forest outside the quarantine zone, while the three Giants scheduled to pass through the Wall were gathered alongside a designated tribe within the palisade. After surrendering all their weapons and carrying all their belongings, they would enter the narrow and dim tunnel that passed through the Wall.
What awaited them was a Castle Black on full alert.
During this month-long standoff with the Free Folk, Queenscrown, fully stocked with raw materials, had produced several jars of wildfire. Now, these highly destructive liquids had been mixed with large quantities of pitch and stored in barrels placed atop the Wall. Should the Free Folk show any sign of breaking the agreement, the Night's Watch sentries stationed above would not hesitate to ignite and drop the barrels, sealing the tunnel with fire and explosion. Simultaneously, the more than a thousand members of the Night's Watch and gray-area citizens stationed at Castle Black could easily eliminate any Giants and the bulk of the Free Folk who had already passed through.
...
If the first step succeeded, the Wildlings would proceed obediently through the tunnel and emerge in Castle Black, where several registration desks had been set up near the exit. There, literate record-keepers would log basic information for each new resident of the Gift—tribe, name, age, gender, and identifying characteristics—and issue identification accordingly. Then, dozens of Night's Watch members would weigh the food brought in, count livestock, select listed items for requisition, store them in the warehouse, and compensate the original owners in coin. Afterward, they would be required to leave Castle Black.
Aegor's initial plan had been to purchase all edible supplies at a low price, but considering that some livestock still needed to be raised, he ultimately only purchased horses, allowing the Wildlings to retain their other belongings for settlement.
If even this step went smoothly, that batch of Free Folk would have officially become New Gift People—residents under the authority of the Night's Watch. They would be led out of Castle Black to a newly constructed row of stalls outside the reinforced high wall. There, the Free Folk who had exited Castle Black could use their freshly acquired copper and silver coins to purchase daily necessities—food, warm clothing, tent cloth, even simple hunting tools.
While selling these supplies, the "stall owners" would also inform the New Gift People that there were two ways to earn more coin: pawning off non-edible, non-weapon items not already requisitioned, or working for the Night's Watch.
---
Any observant Free Folk would quickly realize that the price at which they sold their food was only half of the price at which they bought it back afterward. The Night's Watch was forcibly purchasing provisions at half value and reselling them at standard rates with limits. Effectively, the Free Folk were giving up half their food and accepting rule in exchange for the right to pass through the Wall.
Aegor still remembered the first meeting of his first grade class in primary school. After the homeroom teacher finished the usual announcements, a middle-aged man entered carrying a box and handed out a bag of crispy noodles and a small box of candy to every child. He told them, "There's a shop behind the teaching building. If you want snacks, you can buy them there."
This was the 1990s. In an era when preschool education was rare and "snacks" and "pocket money" were still novel ideas, countless children were introduced to the concepts of "small shops" and "you can buy snacks with money" by mere handfuls of coins at the school store.
That, in part, inspired Aegor's plan. If the goal was only to seize half of the New Gift People's food, the Night's Watch could have used a more direct and brutal method. But to teach these former barbarians the value of money and how to use it, there was no better method than to "give them some and show them how to use it on the spot."
These copper and silver coins could be exchanged for a variety of goods. Once the New Gift People realized that, they would quickly become captivated by the power of money and willingly become small, obedient pieces in the miniature nation of the Gift.
---
After each batch of Free Folk completed population registration, food collection, purchase of supplies, and other steps to become fully-fledged New Gift People, they would be led to designated settlements. At that point, the next batch—those who had already surrendered their weapons within the wooden palisade outside the Wall—would be permitted to enter upon receiving the signal.
This ensured that those within Castle Black remained under constant military disadvantage, allowing the Night's Watch to stay in full control.
Due to cultural differences and mistrust, none of this progressed as smoothly as described. But under the watchful eyes and "guidance" of the heavily armed black-clad soldiers surrounding them, the first and second waves of Free Folk reluctantly but in orderly fashion passed through the Wall and Castle Black, completing their transformation in status.
To those south of the Wall, they were "Wildlings." To themselves, they were the "Free Folk." But from Aegor's view atop the King's Tower, they looked neither wild nor free—only fearful, numb, and confused about the future.
...
Bowen Marsh approached Mormont and Aegor, who were watching the procession of Free Folk pass through the Wall, and said heavily, "I never thought I'd live to see this day. We once risked our lives to keep them out. How many of these men fought against our brothers? And now, we're letting them in by our own hands."
Othell Yarwyck looked troubled as well. "From now on, we'll be a joke to half of Westeros. People will spit at the mention of the Night's Watch."
"My Lords, that just shows your will is lacking," Aegor replied coldly, without turning his head. "For the Night's Watch, what's more important—defending the Wall from the White Walkers, or maintaining a good image in the eyes of the Seven Kingdoms? We are protecting the people of Westeros, no matter the cost. How they view us doesn't change that. Once you understand this, you'll stop doubting yourselves."
Jon Snow asked in a quiet voice, uncertain, "Will the Free Folk really follow orders and obey our laws?"
"A wise man doesn't waste time guessing whether they will. He thinks about how to make sure they do, and then puts that into action," Aegor said simply. "Our laws clearly spell out how to handle lawbreakers. Enforce them with iron discipline, and you'll find that after the initial hardships, the problem will solve itself."
...
"Aegor, the Free Folk have entered the Wall just as you planned," the previously silent Mormont suddenly said. "But the food crisis is only temporarily eased. Your plan to use them and the mountain clans to fight back against the Ironborn should now be put in motion. It was your idea, so you'll take the lead. The Night's Watch will cooperate fully. Don't fail us."
"Leave it to me," Aegor replied, nodding confidently at the solemn Mormont. Then he remembered something important. "Commander, there's one thing—minor, but vital. I propose we prohibit the use of charged terms like 'Wildlings' or 'Free Folk' in public within the Gift. Instead, let's call them 'New Gift People.' If we expect these people from Beyond the Wall to build this land, obey our laws, and serve the Night's Watch, we mustn't treat them with prejudice."
Mormont frowned, confused by the suggestion. But after thinking a moment, he saw no harm and nodded. "Fine, add it to the laws of the Gift.
Now, the Gift was about to develop its own political correctness. And it had to be said—though only just beginning to take shape, it was already starting to resemble a true small country.
(To be continued.)
***
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