GOT/ASOIAF: Ruler Beyond the Ice

If something must be done, the first step is to figure out what should happen next. How many major events tied to the main storyline were set to unfold during the king's stay in Winterfell?

Searching his memory, Aegor tried to recall the sequence of events.

In the far North, beyond the Wall, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder, was rallying the wildlings. They had gathered in the Frostfangs, attempting to use the rugged terrain to hold off the White Walkers. When that strategy failed, they began planning their migration south. Aegor hoped to avoid being involved in that mess. Thousands of miles away, across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys Targaryen—still a young girl—was being sold to Khal Drogo by her brother Viserys and the magister Illyrio. The preparations for her wedding were already underway, a situation far beyond Aegor's reach.

In Winterfell, Lord and Lady Stark were soon to receive a secret letter from Lysa Arryn, widow of the late Jon Arryn, accusing the Lannisters of murdering her husband. That, too, seemed unrelated to Aegor, who was simply a ranger of the Night's Watch.

Compared to these monumental events, the "accidental fall" of a mischievous young Stark boy while climbing the walls of Winterfell seemed like a trivial episode. Yet, this minor incident was directly tied to Aegor's immediate future. Bran Stark's fall would lead to a cascade of events. Littlefinger would use the incident to spread lies, framing Tyrion Lannister as the one responsible. On his journey back from the Wall, Tyrion would be arrested by Catelyn Stark in public and taken to the Eyrie, where he would barely escape death.

These episodes, which seemed thrilling on page or screen, carried a level of danger in real life that rivaled even the threat of White Walkers. Aegor had no intention of getting swept into that storm. All he wanted was to leave the Wall safely with Tyrion's help.

From a knight in Robert Baratheon's retinue whom he had met during dinner, Aegor learned that the king and his entourage would be staying in Winterfell for half a month. Robert and Eddard, reunited after many years, would spend their time reminiscing and discussing matters of importance. As Benjen Stark was the Lord of Winterfell's brother and an important member of the family, he would need to accompany his brother and the king out of respect and courtesy.

This was excellent news for Aegor. With only two Night's Watch brothers currently in Winterfell, and the senior ranger occupied, no one, not even high-ranking nobles had the authority to interfere with Aegor's daily activities.

This meant Aegor would have half a month to himself, enough time to focus on what mattered.

Initially, he had planned to use this time to scout the terrain, gather intelligence, and plan his escape. But now that he had secured Tyrion's promise of assistance, his priorities shifted. His new goal was to ensure Tyrion's journey south went as smoothly as possible.

The tragedy that hadn't yet happened could still be prevented at its source.

---

As a guest of Winterfell, Aegor enjoyed his time. With no one watching over him or assigning him tasks, he spent his days wandering the castle, chatting with anyone willing to talk, and learning more about the world. At night, he returned to his room to read about the history of Westeros and its great families. Occasionally, he made up elaborate stories to satisfy Tyrion's curiosity about the "technology and culture" of his supposed homeland, Tsena. His days were full and productive.

After several days of observation and investigation, Aegor identified the location where the next key event would likely take place: the First Keep.

Winterfell was indeed constructed by Brandon the Builder, but in its earliest days, it lacked walls. Historical accounts suggested that the Stark family initially relied on fortresses and watchtowers for defense.

The northeast corner of Winterfell still retained two such structures: a ruined tower and the First Keep.

---

The ruined tower, once the tallest structure in Winterfell, had been struck by lightning over a century ago. The subsequent fire caused the tower to collapse inward. By then, Winterfell's outer walls had already been built, and the Stark family had firmly established themselves as the leading house of the North. Thus, the ruined tower was never repaired. Situated beside the high walls, near the old inner courtyard flanked by the mausoleum and guardhouse, the area was secluded and rarely visited. The tower's height and climbable structure made it a plausible site for the infamous incident in which Jaime Lannister pushed Bran Stark after being caught with Cersei.

However, Aegor's investigation revealed that the stairs leading to the upper floors of the ruined tower were completely destroyed, making it inaccessible.

Confused and unable to find another abandoned tower, Aegor turned his attention to the First Keep.

The First Keep was a round, squat fortress adjacent to the ruined tower. Though dilapidated, it remained structurally intact due to its sturdier construction. Upon climbing to its upper levels and looking down, Aegor had an epiphany. He had initially dismissed the First Keep as too short, partly because of its wide, squat design and partly because it was overshadowed by the towering, ruined structure next to it. However, when judged on its own, the First Keep's height, four or five stories was more than sufficient to cause severe injury, if not death, from a fall.

How could he prevent the plot from unfolding without drawing dangerous attention to himself? Standing in the weed-filled courtyard beneath the ruined tower and First Keep, Aegor pondered his options.

Exposing Cersei and Jaime's relationship? Even if Aegor had the courage, he didn't have the means. The story of A Song of Ice and Fire could be summarized in one brutal truth:

"All men die, but the ones who stand out die faster."

Even someone as cunning and manipulative as Littlefinger met a swift end the moment he stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Why would Aegor willingly paint a target on his back by meddling in such a dangerous affair?

Moreover, exposing Cersei and Jaime would jeopardize Tyrion, who was about to help him escape the Wall. If their incestuous relationship were revealed, Robert would undoubtedly erupt in fury at being cuckolded. The Lannisters would face the same fate as the Targaryens, becoming public enemies of the realm. In such a scenario, Tyrion's ability to assist Aegor or even ensure his own survival would vanish entirely.

Targeting Cersei and Jaime was out of the question. But what about Bran? Could Aegor dissuade the boy from climbing the walls?

On paper, this seemed like the simplest solution. But in reality, would a lowly ranger sent to the Wall for theft have the authority to lecture a noble son of House Stark? Even if he managed to speak with Bran, what could he say to change the boy's behavior?

Should he try anyway?

---

Days passed without progress. Aegor grew closer to Tyrion, and Jon at least acknowledged him with a nod when they crossed paths. But aside from these two, Aegor had no success interacting with any of Winterfell's key figures. The stark differences in their social status made it nearly impossible for him to even meet the story's main players, let alone form relationships with them.

This sobering reality reminded Aegor of his place in the world. He was, for now, a minor character.

Still, Aegor was an optimist. After some frustration, he found solace in his current progress. If not for his quick thinking and willingness to engage Tyrion at that fateful dinner, he might not have gotten this far. With his primary goal—escaping the Wall—within reach, he decided not to push his luck by meddling further in the plot.

---

With a clearer mind, Aegor spent another leisurely day enjoying his freedom. He admired the southern maids working in Winterfell and watched the young nobles and servants sparring with blunt swords in the training yard.

After some thought, he devised a new plan: if he couldn't influence the people involved, perhaps he could focus on their surroundings.

If he couldn't stop Bran from climbing or prevent the Lannister twins from their rendezvous, then maybe he could ensure they never crossed paths in the first place.

---

The next day, Aegor resumed his daily training, but instead of using the main training yard, he relocated to the abandoned courtyard beneath the ruined tower and First Keep. He brought along a borrowed scarecrow, a worn archery target, and a chair from his room.

Every day, Aegor practiced his swordsmanship on the scarecrow for an hour, shot arrows for another hour, and then sat down to read for a couple of hours. In this way, he spent half the daylight hours occupying the space beneath the tower, making it an inconvenient spot for any secret rendezvous.

The hope was simple: by preemptively occupying the area, he could deter Cersei and Jaime from using it as their meeting place. As guests in Winterfell, they would be unlikely to confront him directly.

As for the long-term consequences of preventing Bran's fall? Aegor couldn't afford to worry about that right now. His survival and escape from the Wall were his top priorities. Everything else could wait.