RoWE - Chapter 39
Chapter 39: The Butterfly Flaps Its Wings
"Aeg, why aren't you going?" Will stared at him with wide eyes, fearfully grabbing his arm, "Is it true that those who go on this patrol will die? Is it!"
Dawn had just broken, and most of the Night's Watch were still fast asleep. Only Aeg had woken up early, wanting to catch a glimpse of the team that would set out in the early hours to search for signs of White Walkers, a team he was supposed to be a part of, to see them off.
Faced with Will's questioning that hit the truth, Aeg was completely speechless and could only grip his companion's hand tightly, "Don't think nonsense, I've just been assigned other tasks."
"It must be like this! It must be!" Ever since Aeg had saved him with a single word, Will had developed a near-superstitious blind worship for him. Suddenly learning that he wouldn't be participating in this patrol, and now seeing his expression and actions were off, an ominous premonition swept over him. The poacher was so nervous that he called out, "Lord Benjen! Those who go on this patrol will not return, the White Walkers are waiting for us in the haunted forest, we must not leave the Wall!"
"What nonsense are you talking!" A few steps away, Benjen Stark, who had already saddled his horse, turned and glared at his subordinate, placing the provisions on the horse, "Do you know how much pressure and effort the Lord Commander has endured to prove that you three are not deserters! Prepare immediately and mount up, we leave now!"
Aeg knew he had given himself away and adopted a prophet-like confident demeanor and tone, handing his obsidian dagger to Will with a lie meant to comfort, "Keep this safe, be careful, you will return."
***
Aeg woke up again.
Since facing the White Walkers, being pursued by them. and killing one in a heart-stopping close combat, his understanding of these natural enemies of humanity had become more vivid. Nightmares about them, however, had vanished with the wind and no longer troubled him.
Now, what replaced them were images of Benjen Stark and the other rangers mounting their horses, stepping into the pitch-black tunnel of the Wall, and resolutely setting out on a reconnaissance mission from which it would be hard to return. Will's tense and bewildered expression as he reluctantly mounted his horse after being scolded by the Chief Ranger was still vivid in his mind.
Benjen Stark and the other rangers were heading north to confirm the existence of the White Walkers, but Will was being forced to face them again, having already witnessed the terror of these creatures. Compared to Benjen and the other elite rangers, he would probably be tormented by fear for longer.
I wonder where the patrol is now. Have they found the White Walkers? Are they. still alive?
The walls were filled with flowing underground hot springs, bringing geothermal heat that warmed the room like spring. Aeg sat among the soft, comfortable bedding, but his heart was too heavy to move.
This was a guest room in Winterfell. After Benjen Stark and his patrol had left the Wall and headed north for a few days, Aeg followed Yoren and Tyrion's group and left the Wall. Due to an attack by wildlings on their way back to the Wall, to protect the Queen's brother and the provider of the legion's next batch of supplies, Commander Mormont "generously" assigned ten rangers to escort them south. They arrived at Winterfell the previous evening and were settled in.
After all, this wasn't his home. After a while of restlessness in bed, Aeg still got dressed, tidied up, and left the room.
The cold air hit him as he stepped outside. It was still early, like in a dream, and the training ground was empty, with only a few Winterfell guards conducting drills. The King's party had taken Lord Stark, his two daughters, and more than a quarter of the Winterfell guards and servants when they left. The castle was now emptier than it had been since the last war. For this reason, when Aeg, Tyrion, Yoren, and ten rangers, plus two Lannister servants, arrived, the steward who greeted them was able to easily arrange a room for each of them. Aeg's room was even more spacious and comfortable than the one he had stayed in during his first visit.
Unfortunately, this good life could only be enjoyed for a day. Tomorrow, they would continue their journey. And in the south, "Night's Watch" was not a good term.
Before that, there were some very important. or rather, crucial things he needed to confirm.
"My lady, I have something to ask you."
"I'm not a lady, sir. What can I do for you?" The maid stopped and replied respectfully. With no king and a bunch of nobles in Winterfell, the Night's Watch were the most distinguished guests. Although they were both at the bottom of the social hierarchy, she didn't dare to neglect them.
"I'm not a sir either." Aeg smiled, "It's nothing important, I'm just asking. I was the first to find your second son when he fell. How is he now?"
"He's awake, but he's not in good shape, and his mind seems to have been affected. He can't remember a lot of things."
"Hmm…" Aeg frowned. This was still no different from the original plot, "Has anything happened since I left?"
"Something happened? A lot of things. Which one do you want to ask about. The most notable one, I guess, would be the fire in the library tower. So many books, what a pity."
The library tower still caught fire. Aeg's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately asked, "How is Lady Stark?"
The maid gave him a strange look. What did the well-being of Winterfell's lady have to do with a Night's Watchman? If she didn't know her own lady, she might have thought there was something untoward between the black-clad man in front of her and Lady Stark, "She's fine, I guess. She doesn't read books, so what could happen? The lady used to cry all day, never leaving young Bran's side. Now that the boy is awake, she's obviously much better."
"Is she still in Winterfell?"
"Yes, why do you ask?" The topic was getting stranger, and the maid furrowed her brow.
Aeg observed the maid's expression, confirming that she wasn't lying or hiding anything. The answers to what he wanted to confirm came so easily, and the weight on his heart was suddenly lifted. For a moment, he didn't know what to say next. His little butterfly had taken a risk and flapped its wings, finally producing a significant impact. It was proven that there was no "mysterious force" at play, the plot had changed, and he didn't have to worry about Tyrion being intercepted by Catelyn Tully on the road!
"Thank you, that's all."
"You're welcome. Breakfast is ready; you can eat in the hall." The maid had no idea what the series of strange questions and changing expressions from the black-clad man in front of her were about. She blinked and kindly reminded him before hurrying away with her arms full.
One of his two major concerns was gone, and now he only had to consider how to deal with the pile of tasks. After days of thinking, he hadn't found a way to complete them, but he had a preliminary idea of how to handle them in the short term. Aeg felt much lighter on his feet. After washing up, he went to the hall, enjoyed breakfast, and on his way back to his room, he encountered a guard.
"Brother of the Night's Watch!"
"What is it?"
"The Lord of Winterfell is receiving guests in the hall. Please come with me."
*****
A/N: Hi guys. Be sure to check my new novel "Horizon of Glory".
I'm sure you'll find it interesting.
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