Chapter 239

The procedure for allowing the Free Folk to pass through the Wall was as follows: At the entrance to the ice wall in Castle Black, the Night's Watch erected a temporary wooden barricade surrounded by a deep trench. The bulk of the wildling horde remained in a camp at the edge of the Haunted Forest, within a designated quarantine zone. Groups, such as the three giants scheduled to pass through with an assigned tribe, gathered inside the barricade, surrendered all weapons, and then, with their belongings in tow, entered the dark, narrow passage through the Wall.

Awaiting them on the other side was Castle Black, fully alert and braced for any potential threat.

In the month of tense negotiations leading up to this moment, Queenscrown had produced additional batches of wildfire under full production efforts. These highly destructive substances, mixed with tar and oil, were stored on top of the Wall. If the wildlings showed any signs of breaking the agreement, the Night’s Watch sentinels would not hesitate to ignite and drop the barrels, using explosions and fire to seal the passage. Simultaneously, the thousand-strong force of Night’s Watch soldiers and Gift militia stationed at Castle Black could easily eradicate any giants or wildlings who had already crossed.
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If the first group passed through without incident, the wildlings would proceed in batches. Each group would be guided through the tunnel into Castle Black, where registration stations awaited. Here, literate record-keepers documented each new settler’s tribe, name, age, gender, and physical characteristics before issuing identification papers. Then, Night’s Watch personnel weighed the foodstuffs brought by the wildlings, tallied their livestock, and confiscated items listed on a pre-determined inventory. Compensation was paid in cash for seized goods before the wildlings were escorted out of Castle Black.

Aegor’s original plan was to purchase all foodstuffs brought by the Free Folk at low prices. However, to ensure livestock could continue to be managed by their owners, only horses were confiscated, while other property was allowed to accompany them to their new settlements.

Once these steps were completed, the wildlings were considered officially transformed into the new residents of the Gift. They were taken to a row of fortified stalls just outside Castle Black’s gate. Here, they could use their newly issued coins to purchase essential items such as food, warm clothing, tents, and basic hunting tools.

As the new settlers acquired supplies, the "merchants" manning the stalls informed them of two ways to earn more coins: they could either pawn off surplus items not confiscated during the inventory or work for the Night’s Watch.
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Attentive wildlings soon noticed a glaring detail: the price at which they had sold their food was only half the cost of repurchasing it. Essentially, the Night’s Watch had forcibly purchased their grain at half price, only to resell it at full price. The wildlings’ right to cross the Wall came at the cost of half their provisions and their submission to the Night’s Watch’s authority.

Aegor recalled an experience from his childhood—a lesson during his first year of school. After a teacher gave a lecture, a man entered the classroom carrying a box. He distributed packets of snacks and small candies to each student, then told them there was a shop behind the school where they could buy more. In the 1990s, when pre-school education was uncommon and the concepts of pocket money and snacks were novelties, this was how children learned about shops and the transactional nature of money.

This memory inspired Aegor's approach. The Night's Watch could have outright seized the wildlings’ food, but to teach the concept of money and its usage, nothing was more effective than directly giving them coins and showing them how to use them in real-time.

Once the Free Folk discovered they could exchange coins for goods, they would inevitably be drawn to the allure of money and willingly integrate into the Gift’s nascent economy, becoming vital components of the burgeoning settlement.
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After each batch completed their registration, surrendered provisions, purchased supplies, and were escorted to their assigned settlements, the next batch—waiting outside the barricade—was allowed in. This ensured that the wildlings inside Castle Black were always at a severe military disadvantage, keeping the Night's Watch firmly in control.

Cultural differences and deep-seated mistrust meant the process wasn’t entirely smooth. But with the Night’s Watch soldiers keeping a close watch, the first and second groups of wildlings reluctantly but orderly passed through, completing their transformation into residents of the Gift.

To those in the Seven Kingdoms, they were "wildlings." To themselves, they were "Free Folk." Yet, from Aegor’s vantage point in the King’s Tower, they appeared neither savage nor free—only frightened, numb, and uncertain of what lay ahead.
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Bowen Marsh approached Mormont and Aegor, his tone heavy. “Who would’ve thought we’d live to see this day? Once, we gave our lives to stop the wildlings from crossing the Wall. How many of these people fought against our brothers? And now, we’re the ones letting them in.”

Othell Yarwyck shared his unease. “From this day forward, we’ll be a laughingstock in the eyes of Westeros. When people mention the Night’s Watch, they’ll spit on the ground.”

“You two lack resolve,” Aegor replied without turning. “Tell me: what is more important to the Night’s Watch—defending the Wall against the Others or worrying about what the people of the Seven Kingdoms think of us? Our duty is to protect the realm, whatever the cost. Public opinion doesn’t matter. Understand that, and you’ll stop doubting yourselves.”

Jon Snow hesitated. “Do you think the wildlings will follow our laws?”

“Wise men don’t waste time wondering if wildlings will behave. They think about how to ensure compliance and act on their conclusions,” Aegor said firmly. “The laws already outline how to deal with those who break them. Enforce them efficiently, and you’ll find that after the initial difficulties, the problem resolves itself.”
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“Aegor, the wildlings have been allowed through the Wall, just as you planned,” Mormont said at last, breaking his silence. “But the food crisis has only been temporarily relieved. It’s time to address your proposal to use the Free Folk and mountain clans to deal with the Ironborn raids. You’ll lead this effort, and the Watch will support you. Do not fail.”

“Leave it to me.” Aegor nodded confidently, then added, “Commander, there’s one more matter—minor, but important. I suggest we prohibit the use of terms like ‘wildling’ and ‘Free Folk’ in the Gift. Instead, we should officially refer to them as ‘New Gifted Residents.’ If we expect them to build and abide by the laws of the Gift, we can’t treat them unfairly.”

Mormont frowned in puzzlement but saw no harm. “Very well. Add it to the Gift’s laws. And let’s include another: ban kneeling customs in the Gift entirely. That way, if they try to mock us as ‘kneelers,’ we’ll have a strong rebuttal.”

Aegor raised an eyebrow. “Excellent idea, Commander.”

“Political correctness” might be a maligned term, but those in power understood its utility. As the Gift began to take shape, it was already starting to resemble a fledgling nation.