Arik Frost (Lord Commander)
Arik Frost was a Lord Commander of the Night's Watch during the start of the Andal Invasions. He was born into House Frost. He was elected Lord Commander in 17 A.I. and was preceded in his post by Lord Commander Adrek Fisher. He was uncle to King Bormir Frost of the Frosthold. He died in his sleep in 40 A.I., and was succeeded in his post by Osric Ryder.
Life Pre-Night's Watch[edit]
Arik was the second son of King Jon Frost of the Frosthold and was born in 18 B.I. His older brother was named Arnolf. When the two brothers were only boys, their father died, making Arnolf King of the Frosthold. Unfortunately, Arnolf did not take well to ruling. Though Arik tried his best to help his king, Arnolf was more interested in listening to the bottle than his brother. Their relationship became quite strained after Arnolf married Lyra Dormund and they had their first child together. Arnolf was an abusive husband, and though Arik tried to intervene many times, Arnolf would not change his ways.
The Kinslaying[edit]
During Lyra's second pregnancy, Arik found her bloodied and unconscious in a hallway near her chambers. He immediately tracked down his brother and killed him with his dagger, knowing that no one else could have been responsible for this brutality. Not wanting it to appear as if the murder had been out of ambition, while also wanting to avoid being beheaded for his crime, he took a horse from the stable and fled to the Wall to take the Black.
The Night's Watch[edit]
Early Days[edit]
Arik Frost would end up joining the order of the Rangers after he took the Black in the year 10 A.I. Though many of his new brothers distrusted him for being a Kinslayer, he ended up forming a great relationship with Lord Commander Adrek Fisher. After taking his vows, he would go on to become the Ranger with the most time spent North of the Wall, despite being a man of the Watch for half as long as many of his new brothers. He developed a reputation of being honest, and a good worker. After a couple years, many, though certainly not all, of his brothers could easily look beyond his past.
He would be tested on a Winter Ranging several years into his time at the Wall. The command was his, and when his party was several days from the Wall, a brutal storm came in from the North. He made the decision to dig in, and the party would end up staying in the cramped snowcave for almost an entire month. He took every watch he could, and stayed next to the brothers who he knew wouldn't make it through the night, so he could try and comfort them.
The Election[edit]
A few years after the Winter Ranging, Lord Commander Fisher passed away, and so an election was held. The most popular candidates were Dannel Stark, Karlon Banefort, Harrag Goodbrother, Gyles Flowers, Morick Whitehill, and, to his own surprise, Arik Frost. Almost sixty votes were taken - one of the longest elections in Night's Watch history. However, Karlon Banefort dropping out and endorsing Frost began pushing things forward and eventually, Arik was elected the new Lord Commander.
Quotes[edit]
"Throst and Gelmar may be my brothers in the eyes of the Gods, but in my eyes I have six thousand brothers now. Word will eventually reach those brothers that Arik Frost is a kinslayer. Accursed in the eyes of the Gods." - Lord Commander Adrek Fisher during his first meeting with Arik Frost.