Chapter 41: RoWE - Chapter 41
Chapter 41: Thanks from the Starks
At the new Lord of Winterfell's gesture, the guard turned and left, closing the door behind him, leaving the two alone in the room. This one-on-one situation slightly eased Aeg's nervousness. It didn't seem to be against him.
Robb gestured for Aeg to sit down, "Friend, were you the one who found my brother after he fell?"
The word "friend" put Aeg completely at ease. The Starks weren't good at, nor did they bother to hide their likes and dislikes. He nodded, "I'm ashamed to say I could have stopped Bran's dangerous behavior, but I didn't succeed."
"I know Bran's temper better than you do as his brother. Once he's on the wall, no one can persuade him to come down. We're also to blame for spoiling him too much," Robb spoke with the air of an adult, sighing and shaking his head in an old-fashioned manner.
Indeed, they had spoiled him too much. From chatting with the guards, Aeg learned that at first, the Stark family had tried various ways to help Bran break his habit of climbing high places, but after several attempts, the child still climbed. Eddard Stark eventually acquiesced to the situation.
Bran's fall was undoubtedly related to Jaime's scare and Aeg's interference, but did the parents bear no responsibility? From a modern person's perspective, wasn't this a case of both poor education and poor supervision? To put it bluntly, if you never fall, it's your skill; if you do fall, it's what you deserve. And for a naughty child, when reasoning doesn't work, a spanking is in order!
Aeg had also gone through childhood, been spanked by his parents, for playing in the river and fishing alone, for stealing money to buy snacks, for skipping school to go to the arcade. Looking back as an adult, he felt not only no resentment but even a bit of gratitude. As long as the degree was controlled and the reasons were explained during the spanking, the rod was not an unacceptable monster.
A flexible mind can wander and think of many things. Of course, Aeg, as a member of the Night's Watch, had no right to lecture the eldest son of Lord Stark on these matters. He waited quietly for Robb to continue.
"Let's not dwell on the past. It was your message that saved him again."
"My message?" Aeg's expression became serious, "The assassin. struck!?"
"Not long after you left, one night, the library tower suddenly caught fire. Most of Winterfell was busy putting out the fire, but the guards my father had posted inside and outside Bran's room did not leave their posts."
"He made a move even with guards present?"
"No, he just showed his face. When he saw someone at the door, he left," Robb explained. "The guards were afraid of a trap and didn't pursue him, but Winterfell is only so big, and everyone knows each other. After mobilizing everyone to search, we found him."
The assassin was caught. Aeg really didn't know what expression to make. During the two weeks he stayed in Winterfell, he tried his best to change the plot, only to have his plans become a joke, slapped in the face by both adults and children. In contrast, the few whispered lies he told Benjen Stark under the cover of darkness had achieved his goal, clearing the threat from the southward journey for Tyrion and himself.
All the busywork was less effective than a pack of lies. Was this a mockery of him, or was reality just that absurd?
"Has he been interrogated?"
"He refused to comply and was killed during the arrest," Robb shook his head. "Actually, I ordered them not to leave him alive, since we know who sent him, he had to die."
"I understand." Aeg nodded, feeling somewhat relieved. If the assassin had been caught and confessed that it wasn't Joffrey, that would have been a huge blunder.
"Uncle Benjen says you're a smart man, so you must understand that this assassin had to disappear, and this matter cannot be made public," Robb said solemnly. "Most people in Winterfell don't know what happened, but since you provided the information, I decided not to hide it from you out of respect, but I hope you will keep it a secret for us."
"Understood."
Aeg nodded. In this world, there was no concept of "the law is the same for princes and commoners." Even if the assassin was sent by Joffrey, the Starks would find it difficult to pursue the matter. Unless the two families went to war, even if they made a fuss, it would end with Robert disciplining his son.
In peacetime, they could make a fuss. Given Eddard and Robert's relationship, the Starks would certainly not suffer a loss. However, at this critical juncture when Eddard had just received news of the Lannisters' plot against Jon Arryn and the head of the family had left for King's Landing, the Starks did not want nor could they afford to fall out with their most important ally, the Baratheons.
The Starks could only swallow this matter.
"Here, take this," Robb said, taking a leather pouch from behind the table and handing it to him.
Aeg took the pouch, which was heavy and made a metallic clinking sound, making it easy to guess what was inside. He feigned unease, "This?"
"We found it where the assassin was hiding. It must be the payment from his little employer," Robb showed an angry expression. "My brother's life was only worth this much."
"This could just be a deposit. there might be more upon completion, why give it to me?"
"You're going to King's Landing to handle affairs for the Night's Watch, and the expenses will surely be considerable. I added a gold dragon to the commission for the assassination of my brother. I hope you can use it."
Holding the pouch of not-so-light coins, Aeg almost wanted to refuse it as firmly as he would a red envelope in his previous life, but he quickly realized that the customs and habits of this world were vastly different from modern China. This was a gift from a great noble, and he did need the money.
Aeg's departure from the Wall was not an official mission from the Night's Watch, and Commander Mormont certainly wouldn't fund a ranger who should be fighting on the front lines to avoid danger in the south. Living without a penny, relying on Tyrion to pay for lodging and meals, was too tough.
"Thank you, my lord," Aeg replied.
"Keep it safe," Robb nodded. "Thank you again for your help with my brother. Remember what I told you, and there's nothing else. I'll see you at dinner."
"The North respects the Night's Watch."
Aeg had heard this countless times from his black-clad brothers, but it wasn't until he visited Winterfell again after Robert's departure that he realized it wasn't just an expression.
The young new Lord of Winterfell actually dined with the twelve Night's Watchmen who visited.
Aeg learned from Yoren that Robb's gesture wasn't unprecedented or special treatment because he had "saved" Bran, but rather followed the example set by his father, Eddard Stark: before going to King's Landing to serve as Hand of the King, Eddard would personally welcome every Night's Watchman who arrived at Winterfell. If they were deserters or oathbreakers, he would personally execute them; if they were soldiers on a mission, he would not only provide good food and drink but also dine with them, asking about the situation at the Wall face-to-face.
Strictly speaking, Aeg's previous visit to Winterfell with Benjen Stark was due to the King's visit, they were unusually "neglected."
But such treatment could only be found in the North. The ten-man ranger escort stayed for a day before heading north back to the Wall, while Aeg, Yoren, and Tyrion's group set off on their leisurely journey south.
*****
A/N: Today We have 2 chapters instead of one.
Unfortunately the next update will be on Monday. But fret not, it's because I am working on a new FanFic which also will be out on Monday.
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