Chapter 210

“Meera, Jojen—pleasure to meet you both. You can call me Aegor.”

The Night’s Watch officer feigned ignorance, smiling warmly as he spoke, though his mind was already racing. Perhaps he had been too quick to relax—there might not be any mortals in the North who could hinder him, but there were “inhuman” forces to contend with.

Compared to the Old Gods or the Great Other, someone like Renly Baratheon was merely a minor player.

Why had Jojen Reed sought him out? Was it mere curiosity from a boy intrigued by the famous “Night’s Watch officer,” or had he been sent by the Old Gods—or the green seers who served them—with a message to deliver?

“Lord Aegor, we’ve heard of the disaster unfolding beyond the Wall,” Meera began, her tone a touch apologetic. “Our father wanted to send men to help, but with the war in the south and Robb Stark taking so many of the able-bodied men, we could only just manage to defend ourselves. We couldn’t send soldiers, but we’ve managed to gather food supplies to send north. It’s a small contribution, but it’s the least we could do.”

“That’s a noble effort,” Aegor replied, his tone formal. “On behalf of the Night’s Watch, allow me to express our gratitude to House Reed for your generosity.” He smiled at her, watching as a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

The way Meera looked at him reminded Aegor of Nina. By now, he had mastered the art of appearing dignified and authoritative, his every gesture exuding the air of someone important. Coupled with the embellished rumors surrounding him, it was no surprise that young women found him admirable.

“You’re returning from the south to deal with the wildlings and White Walkers, aren’t you?” she asked, her voice filled with sincerity.

Deal with wildlings and White Walkers? It would be ideal, but Aegor had no illusions about his role. He wasn’t leaving King’s Landing to play the hero. Still, he nodded solemnly. “Exactly. The Wall faces an unprecedented crisis, and as a member of the Night’s Watch, I cannot remain in the south while my brothers stand in harm’s way.”

Meera’s expression brightened. “With someone like you defending the Wall, the people of the North can sleep easier. On behalf of all the descendants of the First Men, I thank you, Lord Aegor.”

She was clearly familiar with The Fantastic Adventures of the Night’s Watch, a sensationalized account of his exploits. Her shy, admiring demeanor made her seem every bit the infatuated girl. Knowing she wasn’t a key figure, Aegor engaged her in light conversation before shifting his attention to Jojen, locking eyes with the boy.

Despite being only thirteen or fourteen, Jojen carried himself with an air of maturity and gravity far beyond his years. For a moment, the two simply stared at one another, neither speaking. The boy’s green eyes glimmered with an eerie intensity, and Aegor found himself growing uneasy. Breaking the silence, he asked, “What brings the two of you to Winterfell?”

...

The question was meaningless. Aegor already knew why the Reed siblings were at Winterfell. Thanks to the letter that had driven Littlefinger away, events had diverged significantly from the original timeline. Many key moments had been delayed or derailed—including Theon’s betrayal and capture of Winterfell. Meera and Jojen were clearly waiting for the right moment to whisk Bran Stark away beyond the Wall.

With Bran still safely in Winterfell and no immediate chaos to cover their departure, there was no way they could sneak him away unnoticed. That green seer beyond the Wall must have grown impatient by now.

Meera fumbled for an answer. “We’re here to serve the Lord of Winterfell, Bran Stark—”

“I saw you in a dream, Night’s Watchman,” Jojen interrupted, his voice calm and unyielding. “A blood-soaked storm is brewing in the North, and only a stranger from beyond the Wall can stop it. Your place is at the Wall—not here. You must go north without delay.”

Aegor stared at Jojen in surprise.

The boy was undoubtedly a mouthpiece for the green seer, but Aegor couldn’t determine one key detail: had Jojen’s prophetic abilities been fully activated, granting him true visions of the future? Or was the green seer manipulating his dreams and senses, making him believe he had foresight?

This distinction was critical. If Jojen’s words reflected an actual vision, then his warning might carry weight. But if the green seer was using Jojen as a pawn, it could just as easily be a ploy to deceive or manipulate him. Was this an attempt to drive Aegor away from Winterfell, out of fear that he might interfere again?

...

“I plan to depart for the Wall tomorrow,” Aegor replied, his mind whirring with possibilities. He hadn’t yet untangled the implications of Jojen’s warning, but his response came swiftly. “Boy, I don’t trust your dreams. But I’ll go north—not because you told me to, but because I am a brother of the Night’s Watch.”

“Let’s hope that’s true,” Jojen said gravely. “Remember—your place is at the Wall. Do not stray.” Without another word, he turned and walked away. “I won’t disturb you further.”

“Apologies for my brother,” Meera said with an embarrassed smile. “But his green dreams always come true. Please, Lord Aegor, don’t dismiss his warning.” She gave him a polite nod before hurrying after her brother, leaving Aegor standing alone.

What was the meaning of this? Aegor was baffled. If the green seer had gone to the trouble of sending Jojen, why share only a vague warning? Why not elaborate, as the Undying Ones had done with Daenerys, providing enough detail for meaningful interpretation?

It wasn’t as if Aegor hadn’t already planned to head north. Why push him to hurry? Unless... the green seer was setting a trap? But Melisandre had claimed the Red God’s mark on him would deter the Old Gods from harming him.

Puzzled, Aegor continued toward Winterfell’s gates. Though Catelyn Stark had arranged a room for him, he decided to stay in the winter town with his men. He wanted to remain close to his people and avoid the potential scandal of Arya sneaking into his bedroll again. In Winterfell, such behavior would raise far more questions than it had on the road.

...

As Aegor neared the gates, a conversation between two guards caught his attention. He joined them under the pretense of idle chatter, his black cloak lending him an air of authority that loosened their tongues.

“Did you hear the news? Renly Baratheon was assassinated right before the Northern army and Stannis launched their assault on King’s Landing,” one guard said. “The Stormlands and Reach forces started fighting each other in the city. Stannis took the throne back with Robb Stark’s help.”

“Captured so many prisoners, they say the dungeons are overflowing. If Randyll Tarly hadn’t shown up, that Tyrell girl might’ve ended up warming Lord Robb’s bed.”

“Tarly’s supposed to be one of the greatest commanders in the south, but against us Northerners, he’s run away twice already! Ha!”

“And this business with Loras Tyrell killing Renly—who could’ve seen that coming?”

“Maybe he got jealous of his sister, eh? Sharing a bed with Renly every night? Wouldn’t put it past him to get rid of the competition.”

Aegor froze as the guards laughed.

Renly’s death had been inevitable. That Stannis had waited a month before acting was the real surprise. But this claim that Loras had killed his lover? Preposterous.

Still, Aegor now faced a dilemma. He had fled north to avoid being caught up in Renly’s doomed ambitions. With Renly gone, should he return south to King’s Landing and continue expanding the Night’s Watch’s influence, or should he stay the course and address the threat beyond the Wall, as Jojen had urged?

The boy’s warning now seemed to take on new significance.

As Aegor exited the gates and approached the inn where his men were staying, he forced himself to refocus. He was no longer a powerless nobody; he was a leader, responsible for his followers. He couldn’t allow fear or doubt to cloud his judgment.

The green seer’s intentions remained a mystery, but one thing was clear: Aegor couldn’t afford to be reactive. He would stick to his original plan—head to the Wall, inspect Crown's Rest, and assist in the Watch’s defense. Once those goals were achieved, he would decide his next move.

For now, the path ahead remained his to choose.