Editing Conflict beyond the Wall (section)

==The Battles at Castle Black, the Bridge of Skulls, and beneath the Wall==
[[‎File:Tomasz Jedruszek Stannis at the Wall.jpg|350px|thumb|right|King [[Stannis Baratheon]]'s soldiers taking [[Mance Rayder]]'s army in the flank - by Tomasz Jedruszek. © Fantasy Flight Games]]
:{{Main|Attack on Castle Black|Fight at the Bridge of Skulls|Battle beneath the Wall}}

[[Mance Rayder]], now knowing that the bulk of the Watch's fighting forces have been wiped out on the Fist by their mutual enemy, makes his way out of the [[Frostfangs]] and starts his march toward the [[Wall]]. Mance forms a plan to divert the remaining fighting men from both [[Castle Black]] and the [[Shadow Tower]] to the far west so he can send a team to scale the Wall and take the unwalled Castle Black from behind by surprise. With his diversionary force riding hard for the west, Lord Steward [[Bowen Marsh]] marshals his forces and takes the bait, leaving only the old, the green, and the sickly behind to defend Castle Black. 

Mance's attempt to take Castle Black from behind by surprise fails, as [[Styr]]'s [[Thenns]] are defeated. Mance assembles his host and assaults the Wall for several days. King [[Stannis Baratheon]], who had landed at [[Eastwatch-by-the-Sea]], takes Mance's army in the flank, routing it utterly and capturing Mance himself.