GOT/ASOIAF: Ruler Beyond the Ice

"What?" Jon asked, unable to keep up with Aegor's train of thought.

"We, the Night's Watch, exist to combat the wildlings and the threat of the White Walkers. Now think about it: what's better—endlessly maintaining a defensive stance, or eliminating the threat at its root?"

Jon's eyes widened as the meaning behind Aegor's words became clear.

"Imagine," Aegor continued, "if someone could lead the Night's Watch to completely wipe out both the wildlings and the White Walkers, eliminating every threat north of the Wall. Would this Wall, or even the Night's Watch itself, still need to exist? Think about it, Jon: after the Watch's mission is complete, every brother would finally be able to declare, 'My watch has ended.' This tradition of service lasting until death has gone on for thousands of years. Why hasn't anyone stood up to end the threat once and for all? Why hasn't anyone proudly proclaimed, 'Our watch ends here'?" Aegor fixed Jon with a steady gaze. "Imagine disbanding the Night's Watch, returning to a world of warmth and light, and being celebrated as a greater hero than Azor Ahai. Wouldn't that be something?"

"This... how could that be possible?" Jon asked, his eyes wide, his voice almost trembling. "How could anyone achieve that?"

"White Walkers are humanity's enemy," Aegor said flatly. "There's no reason to show them mercy. Kill every last one of them. If possible, push further into the Land of Always Winter, find their nests, or the source of their power, and destroy them completely. End it at the root." Aegor gestured sharply, mimicking a killing strike. "As for the wildlings, Tyrion's right. They're just people living north of the Wall, yearning for freedom. I admire their spirit, but true freedom doesn't exist. Use whatever means are necessary to make them understand that and bring them to heel."

The room grew quieter. Jon wasn't the only one captivated; even Tyrion, standing beside them, didn't interrupt. The dwarf watched Aegor closely, fascinated by the boldness of his words. For all his sarcasm and cynicism, Tyrion found himself respecting this adventurer from across the sea.

Aegor pressed on. "The Night's Watch doesn't produce anything. It exists solely to maintain the Wall, a massive, nearly useless structure in peaceful times. Thousands of men in black are fed, clothed, and armed at a staggering cost. Now imagine: if the White Walkers were destroyed and the wildlings subdued, hundreds of men would no longer be tied to the Wall. Tens of thousands—maybe even hundreds of thousands—of wildlings could become productive members of the North. Think of how that would transform the North's standing among the Seven Kingdoms."

Jon stiffened. Growing up as a Stark, he had always been aware of the North's tenuous position—a vast, cold land with sparse resources, struggling to hold its place among wealthier, more populous kingdoms. If what Aegor described could come true... his father might finally regard him with pride. Even Lady Stark's disdain might soften.

"But none of this can be achieved as just a soldier," Aegor said suddenly, his voice cutting through Jon's daydreams. His sharp tone snapped Jon back to reality. "You'll need to climb to a position of real influence within the Watch. The position of Lord Commander is ideal. And the Watch uses an election system, Jon. If you act like a sulking child or gloat over beating a few untrained recruits, you'll never gain allies or the respect of your brothers. Without that, you'll never rise to power, let alone accomplish anything meaningful."

"I… I never wanted to be Lord Commander," Jon stammered.

"Really?" Aegor's tone softened. "A soldier who doesn't aspire to command isn't a good soldier. From a personal standpoint, you're the son of Eddard Stark, Warden of the North. You shouldn't settle for mediocrity. And from a moral perspective, only by wielding power can you make the world a better place. Power, Jon, belongs in the hands of those with the vision and ability to use it wisely. This isn't ambition for ambition's sake. It's about responsibility."

Jon fell silent. Aegor's words rang in his ears, reverberating with a clarity that left him speechless. Tyrion, for his part, smirked faintly, as though remembering something, but said nothing.

"If you've already decided to leave the Watch before taking the oath, even if it means being mocked as a bastard and a coward, then we'll leave together in two days," Aegor said, his voice steady. "If you've decided to remain a soldier for the rest of your life, forget everything I've just said. But if you're still unsure, lie in bed tonight and think about it."

---

"You're quite the dreamer," Tyrion remarked, grinning as they exited the armory. "The boy's eyes were practically shining back there. A greater hero than Azor Ahai, eh? You have quite the talent for painting grand pictures."

"I hope he succeeds," Aegor replied. "Imagine it. I'd be slogging away in King's Landing, scraping together supplies for the Watch, expecting a dull, thankless life. Then one day—poof!" Aegor made a dramatic gesture, mimicking an explosion. "The Night's Watch completes its mission and disbands, and I'm free. Wouldn't that be a miracle? A fantasy, perhaps, but isn't it worth dreaming?"

"Hahaha," Tyrion chuckled. He appreciated the humor. Aegor's unorthodox way of thinking was refreshing, even entertaining. In a world full of sycophants or enemies, Tyrion found himself genuinely enjoying this man's company. "You know, sometimes I wonder: was I also fooled by your silver tongue? Did you trick me into helping you leave the Wall?"

"If I said yes, would you kill me?"

"Of course not. I'd bring you before my father and have you convince him why he should name a dwarf his heir. See if your silver tongue could win me Casterly Rock."

"That might be tricky," Aegor said thoughtfully. "But from what I know of Westerosi laws and customs, you are the rightful heir to Casterly Rock."

"Forget it," Tyrion said, his tone suddenly bitter. "He'd give it to my sister before he'd give it to me."

"If he won't give it to you, why not take it yourself?"

"This isn't a crown we're talking about. It's not 'winner takes all.'" Tyrion's smile turned wry. "Be careful with that kind of talk, Aegor. It might get you killed."

"Fair enough," Aegor replied, steering the conversation away from treason. "So, tell me about your meeting with the Lord Commander. Aside from Benjen Stark giving you a hard time, did anything else cause trouble?"

"Trouble?" Tyrion wrapped his cloak tighter against the cold. "I'm the queen's brother. No one dares give me much trouble—except your friend, Benjen. He's not overly fond of Lannisters, but he didn't object to my plans outright. The Lord Commander was thrilled at the idea of receiving supplies, though he frowned when I mentioned my conditions."

"What conditions?"

"Nothing too demanding. Maester Aemon was reasonable enough to agree after some persuasion. As for Benjen… well, let's just say he doesn't trust me, but he couldn't refuse the offer outright. In the end, we came to a 'friendly' agreement. Everyone has a price, Aegor. Be thankful yours wasn't too high."

Aegor feigned a look of sorrow. "Should I be grateful that I'm worthless?"

"Quite the sweet dilemma, isn't it?" Tyrion's smirk returned. "You know my brother's most infamous nickname, don't you?"

"Everyone does. The Kingslayer."

"You answered quickly, and rightly so," Tyrion said, his tone growing somber. "After the Rebellion, Eddard Stark insisted that Jaime take the black. Back then, the Baratheons, Starks, Tullys, and Arryns had formed an unbreakable alliance. The Targaryens were dead, the Tyrells defeated, and the Martells despised us after my father's men butchered Princess Elia. If Robert had agreed to send Jaime to the Wall, what would my family have done?"

"Your family couldn't have stood against the other great houses, especially after their victory in the Rebellion. Even Tywin Lannister would have been forced to comply."

"Exactly. Thankfully, Robert refused. If he'd agreed, I doubt all the gold in Casterly Rock would've been enough to ransom my brother. Sometimes, being too valuable isn't a blessing." Tyrion gave Aegor a sharp look. "So, enjoy being worthless while you can. Because after what I'm about to tell you, you may not feel that way anymore."

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