To welcome King Robert and his entourage, a grand feast was held in the Great Hall of Winterfell.
Servants brought barley venison stew, honey-glazed roasted chicken, roasted suckling pig with apples, lemons, and pineapples in its mouth, roasted peacock, roasted quail, and roasted steak sprinkled with cinnamon and spices from the kitchen.
The singer Erlbe sang loudly in the middle of the hall.
Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and even three-year-old Rickon, were all seated at the high table of honor.
They shared a table with Prince Joffrey, Princess Myrcella, and Prince Tommen.
Bastard Jon did not have the privilege of sitting at the same table as the princes and princesses, and Jon also disliked Joffrey.
Joffrey looked at Winterfell's smoke-blackened beams and fireplace with a look of disdain, unable to understand why the castle of a Lord of the North could be so shabby.
Jon's seat was in the corner of the Great Hall, with the young Squire from the royal retinue.
Jon enjoyed being with these strangers; here, Jon could listen to these young people boast about their dreams, tell gossip about their affairs, and share various vulgar jokes.
Uncle Benjen also sat beside Jon, looking gloomy amidst the noisy crowd.
Jon asked, "Uncle, have you petitioned the King?"
Benjen had come from The Wall, partly to interrogate the Night's Watch deserter Gared, but also for a more important reason: to petition King Robert.
With the Night's Watch in continuous decline, the Night's Watch hoped King Robert would lend a helping hand, providing funds and manpower.
Benjen said dejectedly, "I spoke to King Robert. I asked King Robert to visit The Wall and personally inspect some of the castles along The Wall.
King Robert just laughed and said that since The Wall had stood for many years, it could certainly last a few more years."
"I mentioned the threat of King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder, but Robert was indifferent, considering it merely a minor ailment.
King Robert thought Mance Rayder was just a Night's Watch deserter and wouldn't amount to anything Beyond the Wall."
That was Robert.
At this moment, Robert was on the dais in the Great Hall, enjoying the food, with a voluptuous beauty sitting on his lap.
Robert passionately caressed the beauty on his knee, completely disregarding Cersei's somber gaze from the side.
If the Night King's army were to attack, a king like Robert would surely be unable to organize an effective counterattack.
Then again, would a king like Robert even live until the Night King's arrival? It's likely King Robert would already be a member of the wight army by then.
Jon took a sip of beer. "Uncle, the Night's Watch deserter Gared mentioned the threat of the Others.
You could tell King Robert about the threat of the Others."
Benjen chuckled, "Then King Robert would pay even less attention.
Even the Night's Watch still believes the Others appeared eight thousand years ago.
A king living in the warm South would never believe the Others truly exist."
Jon didn't notice that Tyrion had quietly sat down beside him; the dwarf was so short Jon hadn't even noticed.
Tyrion also brought the singer Erlbe.
How did Tyrion the dwarf and the singer Erlbe end up together? They truly were an odd pair.
Tyrion had been listening to Jon and Benjen's conversation for a while, and he chuckled, "If you tell King Robert there are Others Beyond the Wall, King Robert will probably swing his warhammer and go Beyond the Wall himself to duel the Others.
If there are Others in this world, then I have a mansion in Valyria, sea monsters on the Iron Islands, and an army of mermaids in Lannisport!"
Jon said earnestly, "There really are Others; I dreamed about them, and my dreams always come true."
Tyrion scoffed, "Bastard Little Brother, I walked around the castle today.
The servants, blacksmiths, and Stable Hand of Winterfell all say your dreams always come true.
They say your dreams successfully predicted the death of Jon Arryn, the Night's Watch deserter, and the King's visit.
I don't believe in evil, so what exactly is going on?"
Tyrion the Imp was a curious man.
As soon as he arrived at the castle and finished his hot spring bath, he wobbled his deformed short legs and toured Winterfell.
Whether it was the soldiers Halwin and Quint, the Stable Hand Hodor, the blacksmith Mikken, Maester Luwin, Ser Rodrik Cassel, or Farrow, Tyrion humbly sought their wisdom.
And in Winterfell, the most bizarre thing Tyrion heard was Jon Snow's dream-prophecy talent, which piqued Tyrion's curiosity.
"If you truly have the talent of a prophet, then the singer Erlbe should compose a song for you."
The singer Erlbe played a mocking note.
Jon said, "Tyrion, I know you are devoted to books; surely you know the story of Daenys the Dreamer?"
Tyrion nodded. "Of course, Daenys the Dreamer, she was the ancestor of Aegon the Conqueror.
Before the Doom of Valyria, she dreamed of Valyria's destruction.
House Targaryen therefore fled Valyria and came to Dragonstone.
Later, Valyria was torn apart by volcanoes and engulfed by the sea, and over forty dragonlord families of Valyria met their end, but House Targaryen escaped, becoming the only dragon-riding family."
Jon said calmly, "My talent is the same as Daenys the Dreamer."
Tyrion suppressed a smile. "Is that so? But that's a talent of House Targaryen.
With all due respect, you are merely a bastard of House Stark; how could you have the talent for dream prophecy?
I'm not so easily fooled."
Benjen, like Eddard, detested the Lannisters.
Benjen said, "Jon, you don't need to prove anything to someone from House Lannister."
The singer Erlbe laughed, "Lord Tyrion, it seems Jon does not possess the talent of a prophet at all.
At his age, lying and boasting to make himself seem different from his peers is perfectly normal.
We shouldn't waste time."
Alright! Since you're asking for it, I'll just lay my cards on the table.
Jon sneered, and he watched the singer Erlbe, his eyes gradually becoming sharp.
"Singer Erlbe, I certainly possess the talent for dream prophecy.
I've dreamed of you; I know your true identity."
The singer Erlbe still appeared very calm, but Jon, Benjen, and Tyrion all noticed that Erlbe was sweating on his forehead.
Erlbe smiled and said, "I'm just a bard; what true identity could I have?"
Jon stood up and shouted, "Winterfell guards, Kingsguard, there's an assassin here!"
Tyrion and Benjen were both startled, and the singer Erlbe also panicked a little.
The clamor, clinking of cups, and laughter in the Great Hall of Winterfell suddenly ceased, and silence fell all around.
Everyone turned their heads to look at Jon and the singer Erlbe, and even Robert and Eddard on the dais cast confused glances.
Jory Cassel, Captain of the Winterfell Guards, Jaime the Kingslayer, Meryn Trant, Boros Blount, and others, all drew their swords and rushed over.
Jaime the Kingslayer demanded, "Who is the assassin?"
Jon Snow pointed at Erlbe. "This man is a wildling, impersonating a singer."
The singer Erlbe's eyes widened. "Who is a wildling? I am a singer with the blood of the first men."
Jon said proudly, "I've dreamed of you.
You are not Erlbe; you are the King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder!"
Tyrion the Imp gasped.
Benjen Stark, Jaime the Kingslayer, Boros Blount, Meryn Trant, and others all drew their longswords, and Mance Rayder could only give a helpless bitter smile.
"I never thought I'd fall into a baseborn's dream."