Chapter 200

In this foreign land, Aegor no longer carried the “godfather” reputation that made him a respected and feared figure in King’s Landing. However, his position as Chief Logistics Officer of the Night’s Watch, combined with the respect that black cloaks naturally commanded among Northern soldiers, still worked in his favor. It didn’t take much effort for him to gain an audience with Robb Stark and the assembled Northern lords in one of Harrenhal’s towering halls. After a brief announcement of his arrival, Aegor was permitted to enter alone.

Inside the room, the lords of the North, Riverlands, and Vale sat gathered around a large table. Aegor scanned the room before greeting them, “Good afternoon, my lords.”

“Ha! The Night’s Watch does one thing well—it moves fast,” grumbled a Northern lord Aegor vaguely recognized. “We haven’t even finished debating what to do about the ‘Kingslayer,’ and here you are. Guess we’d better wrap this up quickly, or it’d be rude to keep the Chief Logistics Officer waiting.”

“What’s there to debate? Have him lure the Kingslayer out, then kill him on the way.”

“That’d ruin the Night’s Watch’s reputation. Ask the Chief Officer here if he’d agree to that.”

Aegor ignored the squabbling lords and turned his attention to Robb Stark, the Young Wolf, who had some prior dealings with him.

Robb rapped the table to silence the room before speaking plainly. “Tywin Lannister has reclaimed much of the Westerlands after our armies and the Dornish withdrew. He now commands ten thousand troops stationed at the Golden Tooth and has sent word declaring he will support whichever king allows his son, the Kingslayer, to take the black. Aegor, I assume this is why you’re here. What is your perspective on the matter?”

The Young Wolf asking for his opinion? Aegor couldn’t help but feel a bit flattered. Was this a sign of his growing influence and credibility, or merely a testament to Robb’s personal trust in his judgment?

...

Aegor cleared his throat and began, “The wildlings have reached the Wall. When I received this news, I was leading new recruits north along the Kingsroad to reinforce the Wall’s defenses. That is why I was able to arrive so quickly. As for my position—while I have no personal ties to Jaime Lannister, I must state unequivocally that I will not agree to any plan to use me as bait to lure him out and then assassinate him. Rules and principles, no matter the circumstances, must never be broken.”

“Rules and principles? With a dishonorable man like the Kingslayer, what’s the point?” one lord sneered.

“This isn’t about honor,” Aegor replied sharply. “It’s about the sanctity of agreements and unwritten rules. Allowing someone to join the Night’s Watch is a signal of reconciliation. Using that as a trap to kill him would set a dangerous precedent. If everyone followed that example, the Night’s Watch’s neutrality would be destroyed.”

Aegor turned back to Robb, realizing the debate with these lords would be fruitless. “Lord Stark, since Tywin Lannister has stated he will support whichever king permits his son to take the black, I must ask: does the North support King Stannis?”

The room fell silent.

For most of the Northern, Riverlands, and Vale lords, the Baratheon brothers were distant figures. Robert’s younger siblings were strangers to them, and the Iron Throne was little more than a remote symbol. If left to a democratic vote, many would likely choose to return home with the gold they had seized from the Westerlands rather than march south to fight for a king they barely knew.

However, Eddard Stark’s imprisonment in the Red Keep weighed heavily. Any lord foolish enough to abandon the cause would be branded a traitor, torn apart by their peers before an enemy blade could touch them.

...

“Renly is not a king,” Robb said after a long pause. “If the late King Robert’s sons are truly illegitimate, then the throne rightfully belongs to Stannis. On this, my father and I are in agreement.”

“If not for the throne, it wouldn’t matter to us who rules,” Roose Bolton said coldly. “But since the Baratheon brothers are at war, and we are marked as Stannis’s allies, any inaction on our part will only embolden Renly and cement the Tyrells’ dominance.”

“Dominance?” Lord Umber snorted. “The Iron Throne is drowning in debt. What ‘dominance’ could the Tyrells possibly gain from that?”

“Dominance is not just about gold,” Roose countered. “It’s about influence. Since Aegon’s conquest, every king has deliberately kept the Tyrells at arm’s length from the power center, ensuring the Reach remained fractured. But if Margaery Tyrell secures her position as queen, it would give the Tyrells an unprecedented opportunity to consolidate their hold over the Reach. With the Westerlands weakened, the Reach could rise as the undisputed power in Westeros.”

“If that happens, the Iron Throne may bear the Baratheon name, but the Tyrells would be the ones truly ruling,” Edmure Tully added. “They would become the undisputed overlords of Westeros, marginalizing the rest of the great houses.”

“What nonsense,” Lord Umber barked. “If that happens, we’ll simply declare ourselves kings in the North again. Let the Tyrells rot.”

“The North may have the Neck to protect it, but what of the Riverlands?” Roose’s voice turned icy. “For three centuries, the North has relied on the Riverlands’ grain to survive winter. Cut off from southern trade, how many Northerners will survive a single harsh winter?”

“Enough!” Robb raised a hand, silencing the growing argument. “This is not the time to debate the merits of supporting Stannis or Renly. My father is imprisoned in the Red Keep, and I will march south to free him. As for Jaime Lannister, Stannis has left the decision of allowing him to take the black to me. With the Chief Logistics Officer here, we must reach a decision.”

“It’s simple,” Edmure said. “If we say no, Tywin will harass the Riverlands while our armies march south. A two-front war would be disastrous.”

“Negotiation is cowardice,” Greatjon roared. “I’ll never allow the Kingslayer to live out his days on our lands!”

...

The room erupted into chaos once more, with every lord shouting over the other. Aegor, thoroughly exasperated, finally shouted, “Enough! Hear me out!”

The room fell silent as Aegor continued, his voice steady but firm. “The situation is simple. If we deny Jaime Lannister’s application to join the Night’s Watch, which one of you will march against Tywin Lannister at the Golden Tooth? And how confident are you that you can hold him back and protect the Riverlands?”

“Afraid of sacrifice? Then why are we even at war?” Lord Karstark sneered.

“That’s not the point,” Aegor shot back, his tone sharp. “You marched on the Westerlands to punish the Lannisters for their crimes and protect the Riverlands, not to prove how fearless you are. I respect your courage, my lord, but we must not lose sight of our purpose.”

Karstark fell silent, glaring but offering no retort.

“This isn’t about supporting the Lannisters or the Baratheons,” Aegor continued, his frustration spilling over. “It’s about ensuring the safety of the North and the Night’s Watch. If we recklessly provoke Tywin now, how many Northerners will survive to fight the real enemy—the White Walkers?”

Taking a deep breath, Aegor added, “Before I left King’s Landing, Renly offered me a position on his council. I declined, choosing to honor my vows and return to the Wall. If I wanted comfort, I would have stayed in the capital. If I wanted power, I would have accepted his offer. But I chose to uphold my duty, not just to the Watch but to the North. Can any of you say the same if you refuse to see reason now?”

The room fell silent again. Even Greatjon was left grumbling under his breath.

Robb stood and declared, “Enough debate. We will allow Jaime Lannister to take the black. Let this matter be settled.”

...