ASOIAF/GOT: The King On The Wall

Winterfell is not a city, but a castle. Its purpose, much like the Red Keep in King's Landing, is to serve as a fortress and provide shelter for its lord and his family. It lacks any urban functions and has no "citizens" in the traditional sense. According to legend, it was built by Brandon the Builder with the aid of giants. As a noble stronghold, Winterfell is undeniably impressive, but when compared to another structure said to have been built by the same man—the Wall—it pales in scale and grandeur.

Excluding the surrounding villages and the winter town, which lay temporarily abandoned during the warmer months, the area enclosed by Winterfell's high stone walls spans less than 100 acres, with a portion of that space taken up by the Godswood. The permanent residents within the castle walls amount to only a few hundred, consisting mostly of followers, servants, and their families, all of whom serve the Stark household. Despite this, Winterfell commands the largest standing force in the North, second only to the Night's Watch.

For someone like Aegor, who had stood watch on the Wall and survived encounters with White Walkers in the Haunted Forest, there weren't many things in the world that could still inspire fear. When he first laid eyes on Winterfell, his initial reaction wasn't awe or admiration, but surprise: This small place is the political center of the North and the home of so many key figures in this world's history? It was no wonder, he thought, that even the king constantly struggled to manage his realm.

But the longer he considered it, the more Aegor found himself subconsciously comparing Winterfell to the Wall. And when placed next to that towering expanse of ice, nothing else in this world could truly be called "big."

---

It was late when Aegor and Benjen arrived at Winterfell. Aegor, lost in his thoughts, followed the chief ranger through the castle gates.

"Welcome home, Lord Benjen," said a guard who had clearly served the Stark family for many years. Taking the reins of the ranger's horse, he continued, "I'll arrange accommodations and a bath for you right away."

"No need for that," Benjen replied. "Where is my brother?"

"My lord just finished receiving the king. He's likely still busy in the main keep now… but I can't say for sure."

"The king is here already?" Benjen frowned. "Damn, I thought I'd arrived two days early. At least I didn't miss the dinner. Go on, then. I'll find him myself."

"Yes, my lord."

Winterfell was teeming with activity. The large parade grounds were packed with horses, wagons, chests, and bustling servants. King Robert Baratheon had brought hundreds of escorts on his journey north, and Queen Cersei and Princess Myrcella had brought even more luggage. With no room to house all the guests, many of them had been diverted to the nearby winter town for lodging. At the moment, the castle gates were a flurry of motion, with people constantly coming and going.

Benjen led Aegor through the winding, uneven corridors of the castle, eventually reaching the main keep where the Stark family resided. After a brief exchange with the household staff, they entered and found Eddard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell, in his study. The Warden of the North was taking a brief respite from his duties, issuing instructions to servants regarding the arrangements for his royal guests.

"Benjen!" Eddard's face lit up with a genuine smile when he saw his younger brother. Standing, he waved the servants away before striding forward to embrace him. "How is life on the Wall? Still as hard as ever?"

"I've grown used to it." Benjen returned the hug briefly before stepping back. "But there have been troubling events beyond the Wall recently. I thought it necessary to bring this directly to the Warden of the North."

"Yes, the wildlings. I've read your letters." Eddard sighed, running a hand through his dark brown hair. Though his long face resembled Benjen's, there was a gravity about him, a quiet authority befitting his role as lord. Even when he smiled, his demeanor was solemn and composed, a ruler through and through. To Aegor, he was the first person he'd met in this world who truly carried the bearing of a leader. "But you don't know how much trouble I've had dealing with Robert today. He's grown as fat as a pig!"

He gave his brother a wry smile but quickly added, "Can we talk after the welcome feast tonight? It's been an exhausting day."

"No, we need to talk now," Benjen said, shaking his head. His tone was serious. "What I have to tell you is more important than the banquet, the king, the queen, or anything else."

Eddard's expression darkened at his brother's tone. Putting aside his complaints, he turned to Aegor, who had been waiting silently by the door. "And who is this?"

"This is one of my rangers. He will explain what happened," Benjen said, gesturing for Aegor to step forward.

Eddard's sharp gray eyes studied Aegor. "Your name, friend?"

"Your lordship may call me Aegor," he replied respectfully. "I'm not from Westeros, and I don't have a surname in the fashion of the Seven Kingdoms."

"Not from Westeros?" Eddard's curiosity was piqued. He turned to Benjen, silently seeking an explanation.

"Aegor comes from an unknown continent far west of Westeros," Benjen explained. "He encountered a White Walker while patrolling beyond the Wall with Waymar Royce and managed to return to warn us."

"White Walkers?" Eddard's face grew grim, his gaze shifting back to Aegor.

It was clear he didn't believe in the existence of White Walkers. To him, Waymar's disappearance was more likely the result of a wildling ambush. Yohn Royce, Waymar's father and a key vassal of Jon Arryn, had passed through Winterfell while escorting his son to the Wall. During their meeting, Yohn had made it clear he expected Eddard to look out for his son. Although it wasn't Eddard's responsibility as Lord of Winterfell to account for the fate of a Night's Watch ranger, the situation left him feeling uneasy, almost as if he had failed to honor his promise.

"Wait a moment," Eddard said, his tone shifting to one of suspicion. "If I'm not mistaken, you were one of the three rangers Waymar took beyond the Wall. If White Walkers killed your leader, why did they let you and the other man escape?" His voice hardened. "And according to the rules of the Night's Watch, what is the punishment for desertion?"

"They didn't let us escape," Aegor replied calmly, despite the growing tension. "We fled, barely surviving the ordeal. And as we neared the Wall, the other ranger and I managed to kill one of the White Walkers that pursued us."

"Where's the body?"

"When White Walkers die, their bodies disintegrate, leaving no remains," Aegor explained. He knew this sounded unconvincing, so he quickly added, "But I've brought other evidence."

"Show me," Eddard said, his skepticism evident. He exhaled lightly, gestured for Aegor to proceed, and sat at his desk.

Aegor moved quickly, retrieving the items he had brought from Castle Black. Inside his pack were three broken swords, carefully wrapped in puncture-proof leather, as well as an obsidian dagger. He laid them out on the table, piecing together the shattered blades one by one. Waymar's sword, in particular, had been broken so thoroughly that it took several minutes to arrange.

Eddard frowned as he watched, though he waited patiently for Aegor to finish before asking, "Three broken swords and a black dagger. What are they supposed to mean?"

"The broken swords belonged to three rangers who fought against the White Walkers," Aegor explained steadily. "Waymar died in battle. Gary was gravely injured and remains in Castle Black recovering. I am the only one fortunate enough to have survived." He picked up the dagger, holding it out for Eddard to inspect. "And this is the obsidian weapon that killed one of the White Walkers."

"So all three swords were broken during the fight?" Eddard asked, his brow furrowing. "How do I know they weren't just broken by you?"

"Please examine the edges closely, your lordship," Aegor replied, gesturing to the shattered blades. "The damage is unlike anything caused by normal wear or combat."

Eddard leaned closer, studying the pieces with a practiced eye. He had seen countless broken swords over the years, but none like these. Picking up a fragment of Waymar's blade, he tapped it against the table, confirming it was real steel.

"What caused this?" he finally asked.

"Ice," Aegor said simply. "Or rather, the ice magic wielded by the White Walkers. Their weapons appear to be made of ice, and they can shatter steel on contact."

Aegor then recounted the events beyond the Wall, refining the explanation he had given to Commander Mormont and Maester Aemon. This time, he spoke with greater clarity and confidence, his body and mind fully recovered after days of rest. His explanation was precise, his tone measured, and his details persuasive.

He described how the steel swords had shattered in moments against the White Walkers' weapons, then recounted the desperate escape back to the Wall and the lucky blow that felled one of their pursuers. He omitted nothing essential, keeping his narrative clear and concise.

Eddard listened in silence, his hand supporting his chin as his sharp gray eyes bore into Aegor. Once Aegor finished, Eddard lowered his hand, his thoughtful gaze shifting to his brother.

---

Benjen observed Eddard carefully, sensing that his brother was still reluctant to fully accept the existence of White Walkers. But that hesitation was not surprising, Benjen himself had only secondhand reports to rely on, and while he trusted Aegor, he had no firsthand proof to offer.

"The Shadow Tower has also reported sightings of White Walkers," Benjen said, making one last effort. "And Castle Black's rangers, as well as those from Eastwatch, have witnessed signs of wildlings migrating in massive numbers. Villages north of the Wall are being abandoned, their people fleeing something." His voice grew more insistent. "All signs point to a new and deadly threat gathering in the far North. And you know the state of the Night's Watch, we're stretched thin and struggling to hold the Wall as it is. We need aid, and we need it now."

Eddard exhaled deeply. "I'll inform my men to let you take prisoners from the dungeons," he said after a moment, his tone cool.

"What the Night's Watch needs now is not just a handful of criminals or untrained recruits!" Benjen interrupted, his voice sharp. "Do you expect a band of barely disciplined convicts to defend the Seven Kingdoms? They're barely capable of maintaining order during peaceful times, let alone against the current dangers." He stepped forward, his frustration clear. "I didn't bring Aegor here to repeat the same tired requests as other brothers of the Watch. This is bigger than that."

Silence filled the room as Benjen's words hung in the air. Eddard sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the obsidian dagger in his hand. He turned it over slowly, his brow furrowed in thought.