"Aegon, why aren't you going?" Will's eyes widened in panic as he clutched him. "Are the people going out on patrol this time going to die? Are they!"
It was barely dawn, and most of the Night's Watch were still fast asleep. Only Aegon had gotten up early, wanting to see the team that was set to depart beyond The Wall at dawn to search for traces of the White Walkers, a team he was originally supposed to be a part of, to bid them farewell.
Faced with Will's question that cut straight to the truth, Aegon was utterly speechless. He could only grip his comrade's hand just as tightly. "Don't overthink things. I was just assigned other tasks."
"It must be like this! It must be like this!" Ever since Aegon had saved his life with a single word, Will had developed a blind, almost superstitious admiration for him. Suddenly hearing that he wouldn't be participating in this patrol, and now seeing his unusual expression and actions, an ominous premonition swept over him. The poacher cried out in tension: "Lord Benjen! The people participating in this patrol will go and never return. The White Walkers are waiting for us in the Haunted Forest. We absolutely cannot leave The Wall!"
"What nonsense are you talking about!" A few steps away, Benjen Stark, who had already saddled his horse, turned his head to glare at his subordinate, placing his dry rations on the horse. "Do you know what kind of pressure the Commander endured and how much effort he put in to prove that you three are not deserters! Immediately get ready and mount your horses. We're leaving now!"
Aegon knew he had given himself away just now. He put on a determined, almost divine expression and tone, stuffed his Dragonglass dagger into Will's hand, and told a kind lie: "Keep this safe, be careful with everything, you will come back."
***
Aegon woke up again.
Ever since he had faced the White Walkers head-on, been chased by them... and killed one in a thrilling close-quarters fight, his understanding of these human enemies had become more real. His nightmares about them, however, had vanished like smoke, no longer bothering him.
Now, in their place, was the scene of Benjen Stark, Will, and several other elite Rangers mounting their horses, entering the pitch-black tunnel of The Wall, and heading out on that reconnaissance mission from which it was unlikely they would return. He still clearly remembered Will's tense and bewildered expression on his face before he reluctantly mounted his horse after being reprimanded by the First Ranger.
Benjen Stark and the other Rangers were heading North to confirm the existence of the White Walkers, but Will was forced to face these creatures again after having already witnessed their terror. Compared to Benjen and the other elite Rangers, he would probably be tormented by fear for much longer.
He wondered where the patrol team was now, if they had found the White Walkers, if they... were still alive.
Warm spring water from underground flowed within the walls, and the geothermal heat it brought up made the room as warm as spring. Aegon sat amidst the soft and comfortable bedding, his mood heavy and unwilling to move.
This was a guest room in Winterfell. A few days after Benjen Stark and his patrol team went North beyond The Wall, Aegon also left The Wall with Yoren and Tyrion. Due to an attack by Wildlings on the way back to The Wall, and to protect the Queen's brother, and even more so to protect the provider of the army's next batch of supplies, Commander Mormont "generously" allocated ten Rangers to escort the group South. They arrived in Winterfell yesterday evening and were settled in.
After all, this wasn't his own home. After tossing and turning in bed for a while, Aegon still got dressed, tidied himself up, and pushed the door open to leave the room.
The cold air outside rushed in. It was still early, just like in his dream. The training yard was empty, with only a few Winterfell guards practicing. The King's party had taken Lord Stark and his two daughters, as well as over a quarter of Winterfell's guards and servants, with them when they left. At this moment, the castle was more empty than it had been since the last war. It was also for this reason that when Aegon, Tyrion, Yoren, and the ten Ranger guards plus two Lannister servants arrived, the steward who received them was easily able to arrange a room for each of them... Aegon's was even more spacious and comfortable than the one he had stayed in the first time.
Unfortunately, he could only enjoy this good life for one day. Tomorrow, they would continue their journey. And in the South, "Night's Watch" was not a good word.
Before that, there were some very important... to be precise, crucial things he had to confirm.
"Lady, there are some things I want to ask you—"
"I am not a Lady, Lord, just tell me what you need." The maid who was called stopped and replied respectfully. At this moment, there was no King and a large number of nobles in Winterfell. The Night's Watch were the most distinguished guests. Although they were at the bottom of the social hierarchy, she did not dare to be negligent.
"I am not a Lord either," Aegon smiled. "It's nothing big, I'm just asking casually. Your second young master fell last time, and I was the first to find him. How is he now?"
"He's awake, but he's not in good shape, and his mind seems to have been affected a bit as well. He can't remember a lot of things."
"Hmm—" Aegon frowned. This was still no different from the original plot. "Has anything happened while I was away?"
"Has anything happened? A lot of things. Which one do you want to ask about... The most noteworthy thing seems to be the fire in the library tower. Alas, so many books, what a pity."
The library tower still caught fire. Aegon's heart sank, and he immediately asked, "How is Lady Stark? Is she alright?"
The maid gave him a strange look. What did the mistress of Winterfell's well-being have to do with him, a man of the Night's Watch? If she didn't understand her Lady, she might have thought there was some unspeakable relationship between the black-clad man in front of her and Lady Stark. "She's fine. She doesn't read, so what could happen? Lady used to cry all day and stayed by Bran's side without leaving him for a moment. Now that the child is awake, she's clearly much better."
"Is she still in Winterfell?"
"Yes, why are you asking this?" The topic was getting stranger and stranger, and the maid frowned.
Aegon observed the maid's expression, confirming that she was not deceiving or concealing anything. The stone weighing on his heart was suddenly lifted when he got the answer to what he wanted to confirm so easily. For a moment, he didn't know what to say next. His tiny butterfly had bravely flapped its wings, and it had finally had a significant impact. It proved that there was no "mysterious force" causing trouble, the plot had changed, and he didn't have to worry about Tyrion being intercepted by Catelyn Tully on the way!
"Thank you, it's nothing."
"You're welcome. Breakfast is ready, you can go to the great hall to eat." The maid didn't understand what was going on with the black-clad man's strange questions and changing expressions. She blinked and kindly reminded him, then hurried away with the things in her arms.
One major worry was gone, and now he only had to consider how to handle a pile of tasks. After a few days of thinking, he hadn't found a way to complete them, but he had a preliminary idea of how to deal with them in the short term. Aegon felt much lighter on his feet. After washing up, he went to the great hall, finished his breakfast, and met a guard on the way back to his room.
"Night's Watch brother!"
"What is it?"
"The lord of the city of Winterfell is receiving guests in the great hall, please follow me."
—