GOT/ASOIAF: Ruler Beyond the Ice

"Aegor, why didn't you go?" Will grabbed him by the arm, his eyes wide with panic. "Are the men going out on patrol this time going to die? Is that what's going to happen?"

It was just before dawn, and most of the Night's Watch were still deep in sleep. Only Aegor had risen early, wanting to see off the rangers who were about to head beyond the Wall in search of the White Walkers. He was supposed to be among them.

Faced with Will's panicked questioning, which was dangerously close to the truth, Aegor was left speechless. He could only grip his companion's hand tightly and say, "Don't let your imagination run wild. I was just assigned to another task."

"No! It must be like this! It has to be!" Ever since Aegor's warning had saved Will's life, the poacher had developed a near-superstitious trust in him. Now, learning that Aegor would not be joining the patrol, and seeing the unease in his expression, an ominous premonition swept through Will's mind. Fear overwhelmed him, and he shouted out, "Lord Benjen! This patrol—no one's coming back! The White Walkers are waiting for us in the Haunted Forest! We can't leave the Wall!"

"What nonsense is this?" Benjen's voice cut sharply through the early morning air. He stood just a few paces away, already saddling his horse. His piercing gaze bore down on Will as he secured his pack of provisions to the saddle. "Do you have any idea what kind of pressure the Lord Commander endured to convince the realm that you three deserters were telling the truth? Enough of this. Get your things and mount your horse. We're leaving now."

Aegor knew he'd made a mistake, allowing his unease to show, and he quickly recovered. Plastering on a calm, confident expression, he pulled Will aside. Stuffing an obsidian dagger into the poacher's trembling hands, he said in a firm tone, "Keep this safe. Be careful. You'll come back." It was a lie, but one meant to comfort.

---

Aegor woke with a start.

Since his terrifying encounter with the White Walkers—their pursuit, the harrowing battle, and the moment he managed to kill one—he had come to understand these ancient enemies of mankind in a way few others did. Perhaps because of that, the nightmares that had once plagued him had vanished entirely.

Instead, his dreams were now haunted by a different scene: Benjen, Will, and the other elite rangers mounting their horses and disappearing into the darkness of the Wall's tunnel, heading north on what was likely a doomed mission. The memory of Will's nervous, desperate expression before being scolded into silence by Benjen lingered in Aegor's mind, clear as day.

Benjen had gone north to confirm the existence of the White Walkers. Will, however, was being forced to confront his nightmares again—the horror of creatures he had already barely survived. Aegor imagined the fear must weigh even more heavily on him than it did on the others.

Where were they now? Had they found any sign of the White Walkers? Were they… still alive?

The warmth of the room, heated by the hot spring water flowing beneath Winterfell, should have been comforting. But Aegor sat motionless in the soft bedding, feeling as if a heavy weight pinned him down.

This was one of the guest rooms in Winterfell. A few days after Benjen's patrol had set out, Aegor had joined Tyrion and his party in leaving the Wall. During their journey south, they had been attacked by wildlings. In response, Commander Mormont had "generously" assigned ten rangers to escort the group, ensuring the safety of the queen's brother and a vital source of future support for the Night's Watch. They had arrived in Winterfell the previous evening, where accommodations had been arranged for them.

The room Aegor now occupied was far more spacious and comfortable than the one he had been given on his first visit. But this wasn't home, and the unfamiliar surroundings did little to ease his thoughts. Finally, after lying in bed in a daze for what felt like an eternity, he got up, dressed, and stepped out into the cold morning air.

The chill hit him immediately. Outside, the world felt quiet, almost dreamlike. The parade ground was nearly empty, save for a few Winterfell guards going through their drills. The departure of the king and his entourage had taken Lord Stark, his two daughters, and more than a quarter of Winterfell's guards and servants. The castle had not been this empty since the last war.

As a result, the butler who greeted Aegor, Tyrion, Yoren, and their small escort had been able to easily arrange a private room for each of them.

But they would only enjoy these accommodations for a single day. Tomorrow, they would continue their journey south. In the south, the words "Night's Watch" carried no respect—only disdain.

Before leaving, however, Aegor had something important to confirm.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he said, stopping a passing servant. "There's something I'd like to ask you—"

"I'm not a lady, sir," the maid replied respectfully, cutting him off. "Just tell me what you need to know."

Aegor gave her a small smile. "It's nothing serious. I just wanted to ask—when Lord Bran fell, I was the one who found him first. How is he now?"

"He's awake," the maid said, though her tone turned somber. "But he's not doing well. His head… it seems like something's wrong. He can't remember a lot of things."

"Hmm..." Aegor frowned. It was still in line with the original events. "And while I was gone? Did anything unusual happen?"

"Unusual? Plenty of things. What are you asking about specifically?" The maid tilted her head thoughtfully. "The most notable thing was probably the fire in the library tower. Such a shame—so many books lost."

The fire. Aegor's heart skipped a beat, and his voice came out sharper than he intended. "And Lady Stark? Is she all right?"

The maid gave him a puzzled look. What did the Lady of Winterfell have to do with a black-clad member of the Night's Watch? If she didn't know her mistress better, she might have suspected some sort of secret relationship. "She's fine. She doesn't read much, so the fire didn't affect her. She spent all her time crying and staying by young Master Bran's side. Now that the boy's awake, she's doing much better."

"She's still in Winterfell, then?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?" The maid's frown deepened.

Aegor studied her face and found no sign of deceit or hesitation. The confirmation came more easily than he'd expected, and the weight on his chest lifted. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. His small intervention, his risk in deviating from the original events had worked. There was no "higher power" forcing events back on track. The timeline had shifted. He no longer had to worry about Catelyn Tully intercepting Tyrion on the road.

"Thank you. That's all I needed."

"You're welcome. Breakfast is ready, by the way. You can head to the hall to eat," the maid said, still baffled by his odd questions and changing expressions. She gave him a polite nod before hurrying away.

One of Aegor's two major concerns had been resolved. Now, all that remained was figuring out how to tackle the tasks ahead. Though he still hadn't come up with a solid plan, he had a rough idea of how to approach things in the short term. Feeling lighter than before, he went to wash up and have breakfast.

On his way back to his room, a guard approached him.

"Brother of the Night's Watch," the man called.

"What is it?"

"The Lord of Winterfell is receiving guests in the hall. Please follow me."

***

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