Chapter 360

When Aegor received word that a member of the Stark family would be arriving at Crown's Rest to retrieve their child, he wasn’t surprised. Winterfell’s response to the news of Bran’s survival and his intent to join the Night’s Watch had already informed him of Lady Stark’s impending visit. With Robb Stark leading armies elsewhere, it fell to Catelyn Stark, who hadn’t left Winterfell in years, to personally travel north to retrieve her “wayward” son.

Thanks to the newly completed road connecting Winterfell to Crown's Rest, what once required many days of hard riding now took only three to five days by carriage. It explained how they had arrived so swiftly.

At first, Aegor had assumed Melisandre had magically divined this trivial piece of information out of boredom. Upon questioning, he learned that Crown's Rest patrols had spotted the Stark entourage along the Kingsroad during their routine activities. Since Aegor had been in a meeting at the time, the Red Priestess had simply intercepted the news, deeming it non-urgent.

Aegor quickly straightened his clothes, tidied himself, and headed to the square outside the southern gate. There, he found a carriage flanked by Northern guards, stopped at the gate and awaiting clearance. Aegor immediately ordered the guards to let them through and dismounted, personally greeting Lady Stark.

Of course, it was worth noting that there were currently two Stark ladies in the North: Catelyn Tully, Eddard Stark’s widow, and Roslin Frey, Robb Stark’s pregnant wife. This, of course, was the former. As Catelyn descended from the carriage with the help of her attendants, she appeared noticeably older than when Aegor had first met her years ago. Still, her spirits seemed high—a reflection of the joy brought by Bran’s miraculous return.
----


“Lord Commander,” Catelyn said, her voice formal but filled with gratitude, “thank you for the effort you’ve spent in finding my son. The Stark family has troubled the Night’s Watch far too much, and I sincerely apologize. Where is Bran? Is he well?”

“You’re too kind, my lady. It’s no trouble at all.” Though, truthfully, Aegor hadn’t spent any effort—Bran had more or less shown up on his own. Still, understanding a mother’s concern, he responded with an air of sincerity. “Bran is safe and well. I’ve arranged a room for him, and he’s being cared for. I’ll have someone take you to him immediately.”

Aegor called over a guard and instructed him to escort Lady Stark. As she moved to follow, another figure jumped down from the carriage—a girl whose face was familiar to many present, though it took a moment for recognition to set in. Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Arya Stark.

Aegor wasn’t surprised to see Arya accompanying her mother. The Stark family’s second daughter had long treated Crown's Rest as her playground, and it made perfect sense that she’d seize the opportunity to hitch a ride north. Moreover, having Arya appeal to Bran’s sense of family was an excellent strategy for dissuading him from joining the Night’s Watch—one Catelyn likely couldn’t refuse.

In the months since he’d last seen her, Arya had transformed dramatically. Once a scrappy, wiry child, she now stood over five feet tall, nearly matching her mother in height. Her face had softened into a charming, oval shape, and her once hastily chopped brown hair had grown out, styled into an intricate braid with a high ponytail. Dressed in a sleek, light gray outfit designed for ease of movement, she looked every inch the lively young maiden.

“If she’d always looked like this,” Aegor mused privately, “I might’ve been more willing to tolerate her antics.”

He managed a smile, but Arya, acting as though she didn’t recognize him, disembarked quietly and stood at her mother’s side without so much as a glance at her surroundings. Aegor, with too many matters demanding his attention, chose not to dwell on the girl’s behavior. However, just as he turned back to his duties, another figure emerged from the carriage—a petite girl trailing behind Arya. Aegor recognized her immediately: Myrcella Baratheon, or as she was now called, Maeve Snow.

Three female guests? Aegor frowned. Bran’s return might explain the presence of Catelyn and Arya, but what was Myrcella doing here? Thankfully, the carriage didn’t unload the rest of the Stark children—Winterfell couldn’t be left entirely empty, after all.

Before he could voice his confusion, Catelyn stepped closer and spoke in a hushed tone. “The two Baratheon boys are here, aren’t they? Myrcella has been asking about her brothers incessantly. I thought bringing her here to see them, even briefly, might give her some peace of mind. If it’s possible, could you arrange a safe, secluded place for them to meet, out of sight of prying eyes?”

Aegor’s lips tightened. He could already imagine how Myrcella had charmed her way into Catelyn’s good graces—something only the kind-hearted Stark family would entertain for an enemy’s child.

“Understood,” Aegor replied, though he was clearly reluctant. It wasn’t an unreasonable request, so he had no grounds to refuse. Summoning another guard, he gave detailed instructions to arrange the meeting discreetly. Turning back to Catelyn, he added, “The dead, led by the White Walkers, are advancing on the Gorge. The Night’s Watch is overwhelmed with preparations. I won’t be able to personally attend to your needs, but the guards will ensure your safety during your stay. Please remain within the inner keep.”

“Thank you, Lord Commander,” Catelyn said graciously. She understood the burden she was placing on the Night’s Watch during such a critical time and was cooperative. “I’ll speak with my son as soon as possible and ensure he returns to Winterfell promptly, so as not to burden you further.”

“Lady Stark, a member of your house joining the Night’s Watch is an honor, not a burden,” Aegor replied truthfully. Not wishing to linger on pleasantries, he gestured for her to follow the escort. “If you have any other needs, just let us know. Someone will see to them.”
----


As the Stark party followed their guide into the keep, Arya shot Aegor a scornful look before turning her head away with an audible huff. In contrast, Myrcella offered him a polite curtsy, her demeanor as poised and endearing as ever. Watching her, Aegor couldn’t help but admit that her charm was irresistible—a quality that likely explained Catelyn’s willingness to indulge her.

Once satisfied that the Stark family had been appropriately accommodated, Aegor handed the remaining responsibilities to Crown's Rest’s mayor and hurried back to his office to address more pressing matters. There, he found Melisandre waiting for him.
----


Throwing his coat onto a rack, Aegor sank into his chair, his expression grave. “As expected, the White Walkers are trying to destroy the weirwood forest. Once the wights finish cutting it down, they’ll create a breach in the magical barrier stretching across the continent, allowing the Cold God’s power to seep through. That’ll mark the beginning of their full-scale assault. We have only a few days left to prepare. Is it really just you, Melisandre? Where are the other priests and the funding you promised?”

“That’s precisely what I came to discuss,” Melisandre replied, her tone calm as always. “Most priests, including High Priest Benerro, believe Daenerys Targaryen is Azor Ahai. The Great Temple in Volantis has diverted most of its resources to support her, aiding her campaign to reclaim Westeros. Unfortunately, she’s only just returned to the Seven Kingdoms and has no immediate plans to aid the Night’s Watch.”

“So even the servants of the Lord of Light can’t agree on their prophecies. And you, Melisandre, are the stubborn outlier?” Aegor quipped, but his humor faded as realization struck. “Wait. Did you say Daenerys Targaryen has returned to Westeros? Where did you hear this, and is it reliable?”

“Relax,” Melisandre said with a faint smile. “It wasn’t from intercepting Crown's Rest’s ravens. My sources are beyond your comprehension. The flames have shown me her arrival, and I’ve sensed the presence of other priests. The Lord of Light has made it clear: her dragons and army are powerful allies we must win over. I intend to meet with her and convince her to march north. You should join me.”

"Think about it. A legendary adventurer from the Sunset Sea, a slayer of White Walkers, the man who built the Night’s Watch’s industry from nothing, the Lord Commander of the Watch, the uncrowned king of the Gift… The Dragon Queen has just landed, and right now, she needs high-profile supporters like you. Your presence will give weight to my proposal."

“Her army? No. Soldiers untrained in fighting the dead will only cause chaos. Her dragons… maybe,” Aegor admitted, though he remained wary of the Night King’s ability to claim and corrupt dragons. “Where did she land? Has she attacked King’s Landing?”

“I don’t know,” Melisandre said curtly. “The flames don’t reveal such specifics without a great cost. I’ll be leaving for Eastwatch tomorrow to sail south and find her. Will you come?”

“Are you mad? The dead are at the Gorge. If I abandon the Gift now, it’ll destroy morale.”

“They’re cutting down trees, not storming the Wall,” she countered with a smirk. “Besides, morale won’t matter if we have three dragons and the Unsullied on our side. If you’re worried, make it a short trip. The Cold God’s power isn’t at its peak yet, and that forest won’t fall in a day.”
----


So the final battle wouldn’t erupt as soon as he had feared? Aegor listened carefully but remained cautious—he hadn’t forgotten that everything Melisandre said was based on her judgment alone. And she was no god. She could be wrong.

The red priestess continued, analyzing the situation from every angle, skillfully weaving her words in an attempt to persuade him to go with her. Aegor listened in silence, offering no counterarguments, but in the end, he remained unconvinced.

Just then, a light knock came from the door. A guard pushed it open slightly, peeking inside. "My lord, a girl named Maeve is asking for you."

Melisandre scoffed. "Another little admirer?" She found Aegor’s cautious nature exasperating and felt as though she had wasted too much time. With clear irritation, she turned toward the door. "Fine. Think it over if you must. But remember—if you decide to come, do so quickly. I won’t delay my departure for you."

Aegor only shrugged, making no commitment either way. Instead, he gave the guard a simple nod. "Let her in."