GOT/ASOIAF: Ruler Beyond the Ice

"Good afternoon, brothers of the Night's Watch. How can I help you?"

Eddard Stark, now Hand of the King, remained as courteous as ever. Aegor had come to understand that this politeness wasn't a façade. Knowing this gave him confidence as he prepared to present his request.

"My lord," Aegor began steadily, "a hundred thousand wildlings are gathering north of the Wall, and the smaller groups that have crossed it are already causing trouble in the North. By order of Lord Commander Mormont, we've come to King's Landing to seek aid from the Iron Throne."

Yoren coughed lightly and interjected. "I'm here to recruit men for the Wall, my lord. Normally, I'd wait for the king to hold court, explain our needs, and see if the dungeons have any scum they'd like to be rid of. But this lad insisted we come directly to you, so here we are."

Yoren's casual use of "Aegor" seemed to jog something in Eddard's memory. His gaze shifted to Aegor, and recognition dawned in his eyes. The young ranger's distinctive features made it impossible to forget their first meeting.

"You were right to come to me," Eddard said, his tone carrying layers of meaning. "If you waited for an audience with the king, you might still be waiting when winter arrives." He paused, studying Aegor. "So, Aegor… why are you here?"

The double meaning in the Hand's question was not lost on Aegor. Eddard no longer bore any ill will toward him, but the events surrounding Bran's fall and Joffrey's subsequent assassination attempt were clearly still fresh in the lord's mind. Aegor knew that any mention of those events could cause chaos—for the Starks, for the Night's Watch, and for himself.

"I've been tasked with collecting supplies and equipment, recruiting new men, and organizing the mining of dragonglass on Dragonstone, my lord," Aegor replied calmly, his tone steady. "These tasks require someone who can read, calculate, and make plans. That's why I was sent here."

---

Eddard Stark was a man of rules and honor, someone who valued tradition and legal authority. He would never tolerate something as underhanded as "paying a ransom to let a member of the Night's Watch leave the Wall." Aegor knew this well. The leaders of the Watch—Jeor Mormont, Maester Aemon, and Benjen Stark—would never have told Eddard about the deal with Tyrion Lannister.

This was Aegor's greatest advantage. Only Mormont, Aemon, Benjen, and Tyrion knew the full truth of why he had come to King's Landing. Even the stewards and craftsmen at the Wall believed Tyrion's funding was merely financial aid for the Night's Watch. As far as everyone else in Westeros was concerned, Aegor was an official representative of the Watch, sent south to secure critical resources.

While this identity might not win him respect among the nobles of King's Landing, it ensured he wouldn't be ignored. The Night's Watch, though diminished, remained an independent force protected by the Iron Throne. Legally, it stood on the same level as the great lords of Westeros.

---

"Collecting supplies, recruiting men, and mining dragonglass on Dragonstone?" Eddard repeated, his voice thoughtful. For a moment, a faint smile softened his stern features. "You have quite the burden on your shoulders. How many men has Jeor Mormont sent to assist you?"

"The Night's Watch is short of manpower, my lord," Aegor explained. "It's just the two of us for now, and Yoren will soon return to the Wall with any new recruits he finds. After that, I'll be alone in King's Landing. But Lord Commander Mormont has given me the authority to act at my own discretion and decide how best to complete my tasks."

As he spoke, Aegor placed a parchment on the table—a certificate signed and sealed by Jeor Mormont himself. He silently thanked Tyrion for insisting on this document. Without it, convincing anyone of his legitimacy would have been far more difficult.

Eddard unfolded the parchment but didn't read it in detail. A quick glance at Mormont's signature and the seal of the Night's Watch was enough to satisfy him. No member of the Watch would dare forge such a document and risk being branded a deserter. Aegor's words rang true.

"Very well," Eddard said, setting the parchment aside. "How can I help you?"

---

Aegor noted the Hand's expression carefully and allowed himself a small, private smile. Even if Eddard had scrutinized the parchment word for word, he wouldn't have found any flaws. The document was genuine, and every word Aegor had spoken was technically true.

The key lay in his interpretation of Mormont's instructions. When the Old Bear had told him to "act at his own discretion," it was meant as a warning: the Night's Watch would provide no support, and Aegor would have to rely on himself and Tyrion to accomplish their goals.

But Aegor had deliberately twisted those words, framing them to mean he had full authority to represent the Night's Watch in King's Landing. By exploiting this ambiguity, he had successfully drawn Eddard Stark the steadfast Warden of the North and Hand of the King into his plans.

With Mormont's certificate in hand and another endorsement from Eddard, Aegor would have all the legitimacy he needed to operate in King's Landing. This was the beginning of his bold plan.

"I understand the kingdom is facing financial difficulties, so I don't expect the treasury to provide direct assistance," Aegor began carefully. "However, after some investigation, I've learned that more than ten years of peace have allowed King Robert's… 'plan to share wealth with the people' to develop rather well." He paused, then added with subtle tact, "Since the treasury is tight, I've decided to think creatively. I plan to raise funds from the public."

Eddard raised an eyebrow, suppressing the urge to smirk. Share wealth with the people? If Robert heard that description of his reckless spending, would he laugh or feel ashamed?

"But such a task isn't something I can handle alone," Aegor continued. "I need one or two people who can read and count to help me organize everything. Yoren..."

"I can't read or count," Yoren interrupted bluntly, shrugging.

Eddard nodded slowly, masking his amusement at the honesty of the old Night's Watch recruiter. The request wasn't unreasonable, and Aegor's calm demeanor made it hard to doubt his sincerity. "I understand. I'll assign two guards who meet your requirements to assist you."

"Thank you, my lord," Aegor replied, his face shifting into an expression of gratitude. "There's another matter. I may remain in King's Landing for some time to handle supplies and recruitment. I need a space to serve as an office—not too large, but preferably on a street where it will be easy for people to find. That way, I can start recruiting new members for the Watch efficiently."

An office? Like setting up a storefront to recruit men for the Watch, as if opening a shop? Eddard couldn't help but feel skeptical. The Wall's defenders were in dire straits, but this approach seemed almost absurd. Still, the Hand of the King could hardly refuse such a simple request.

"I'll speak with the City Watch and see if they know of any unused properties owned by the Iron Throne," he replied.

"Thank you again, my lord," Aegor said with a bow of his head. Then he hesitated, his tone becoming more cautious as he continued, "There's one last thing."

---

Eddard frowned slightly but remained silent, signaling for Aegor to speak.

"Commander Mormont instructed me to oversee recruitment and the mining of obsidian. Both tasks require funding, but I can't carry large sums of money with me. To address this, I've decided to buy materials and hire workers on credit, with the promise that the debts will be repaid by the Night's Watch once the work is complete. However, I've run into an obstacle."

"Buying on credit?" Eddard shook his head and gave a wry smile. "Mormont must truly be desperate. First the Iron Throne, now even the Night's Watch is borrowing money." The thought of Robert's mounting debts had already left him bitter. Now it seemed the Wall was facing a similar crisis. "What's the obstacle?"

"The merchants and nobles in the South don't recognize the authority of the Night's Watch," Aegor explained. "They might think I'm a charlatan, taking their goods and coin with no intention of paying. To reassure them, I'd like to ask for your help. A certificate, issued in your name, confirming that I'm indeed a Night's Watchman and that I've come to collect supplies and recruits on behalf of the Watch."

Eddard leaned back in his chair, his expression pensive. His fist rested under his chin as he considered the request.

---

As Hand of the King, Eddard Stark was naturally cautious. While Aegor's proposal seemed simple on the surface, issuing an official certificate in his name carried weight. It was no small favor. Yet, unlike Aegor who had seen his share of scams in his previous life, Eddard lacked the instinct to spot potential risks in such situations. He didn't immediately grasp how much power such a certificate could wield in the wrong hands.

After a few moments of silence, Eddard reached for a blank parchment from the pile of documents on his table. Picking up a quill and dipping it in ink, he glanced up at Aegor.

"This is the first time I've issued a certificate like this," he admitted. "Tell me, how should it be written?"

***

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