Dragons.
A species that ended the conflicts of the Seven Kingdoms before Aegon's Conquest, and then vanished with the fall of the Targaryen dynasty.
Now, a living dragon, even more bizarre than the legends, appeared before them!
Appearing in the heart of the North, Winterfell.
They simply didn't understand.
Why could a dragon appear in the North?
This was... too outrageous.
The blood-red head on the right was clearly enjoying the terror of the two strangers.
It let out a threatening growl from its throat, stepped forward, revealing a mouth full of sharp, dense teeth.
"In the name of the Old Gods and the New..."
Robb instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, shielding Maester Luwin.
He could feel the scorching breath emanating from the monster, and a fear that originated deep within his bloodline.
"Lykirī."
Lynn calmly uttered a word.
The agitated blood-red head paused, shaking its head reluctantly.
Finally, under Lynn's gaze, it grudgingly retreated, once again lying prone on the ground.
This scene was more shocking to Robb than the dragon's existence itself.
Lynn... he could actually command a dragon!
Maester Luwin's lips trembled, and he barely managed to stand by holding onto the table.
His eyes, usually full of wisdom, now held only horror.
He pointed to the dark sister at Lynn's waist, then to Winter on the ground, his voice changing pitch.
"Targaryen swords... Targaryen dragons..."
"Lynn, you..."
He wanted to ask something, but didn't know where to start.
Who exactly was Lynn?
How many secrets that subverted their understanding were still hidden within him?
"Its name is Winter."
Lynn didn't explain the sword's origin; he just reached out and gently stroked the smooth scales on Winter's middle head.
"I brought it back from beyond The Wall."
His gaze turned to Robb, his tone becoming serious.
"I am about to go south to King's Landing, and Winter is still too weak; I cannot take it to that place."
"I need a place."
"A perfectly safe, perfectly secret place to foster it."
Silence once again fell in the room.
Robb's expression changed repeatedly.
Foster a dragon?
In Winterfell?
His first reaction was absurdity, refusal.
This was too crazy!
"Lynn, do you know what you're saying?"
Robb's voice was a bit dry.
"This is a dragon!"
"Once the news leaks out, what kind of turmoil will it cause?"
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"King Robert hates everything Targaryen with a passion."
"If he knew the North was hiding a dragon, what would he think?"
"He would think the Stark family wants to support a new Dragon King; he would think we betrayed him!"
"At that time, the entire continent of Westeros would regard us, the North, as enemies!"
Maester Luwin also recovered from his shock.
He nodded repeatedly, his face full of worry.
"Robb is right."
"Dragons are a symbol of power, but also a fuse for war."
"This is too dangerous, Lynn, the risk is too great."
"I know."
Lynn's answer was unexpectedly calm.
"I know Robert Baratheon's character better than you do."
"Therefore, this matter must become a secret between us."
Lynn looked at Robb.
"Robb, your father's situation in King's Landing is far more dangerous than you imagine."
"That place is a battlefield more terrifying than the ice wastes beyond The Wall."
"I am going south to help him, and also for our North."
"And Winter is our trump card."
Lynn's voice was very low.
"It is still very weak now, but it is growing."
"One day, it will grow into a true giant dragon."
"Imagine, when the Long Night comes, the army of Others breaks through The Wall, or when the North goes to war with the Lannisters."
"What will we in the North use to resist?"
"With the flesh and blood of soldiers?"
"Or a giant dragon that can breathe dragonfire?"
Every word Lynn spoke resonated with Robb.
The Others... he had heard Lynn describe them before.
Later, this was confirmed by raven.
Those monsters that could not be killed by ordinary weapons, that terrifying magic that could transform the dead into their own kind.
That was the true hidden danger of the North.
Compared to that destined war, the power struggles in King's Landing seemed less important.
Robb's breathing became heavy.
He looked at the three young dragons on the ground, then at Lynn.
Lynn's strength was the strength of the North.
He understood this principle.
The value of an ally who could possess a dragon was immeasurable.
The North needed this power.
The Stark family also needed this power.
"I understand."
After a long time, Robb finally spoke, his eyes now incredibly firm.
It seemed he had made his decision.
"Winterfell's oldest First Keep has been abandoned for hundreds of years."
"It connects to the crypts below, and also has a secret passage leading out of the castle."
"It's sturdy enough, and secret enough."
"I will order it to be completely sealed off and declared forbidden territory."
"Besides the three of us, no fourth person will know of its existence, including my mother."
Maester Luwin opened his mouth, as if to say something.
But seeing Robb's undeniable gaze, he finally let out a sigh.
Robb had grown up.
He was no longer the boy who followed Lord Ned.
He had begun to think and make decisions like a lord.
"What about food?"
Maester Luwin raised a practical question.
"A dragon's appetite must be astounding."
"I'll handle it." Robb looked at Lynn, giving his promise.
"I will use the excuse of expansion to have supplies delivered to the First Keep every day."
"Winterfell's best livestock, the freshest meat, will be plentiful."
Lynn looked at the young man before him, a warmth rising in his heart.
He had not misjudged the person.
Nor had he misjudged the Stark family.
When faced with difficulties, they truly helped.
Robb Stark, though young, already possessed the potential to become a qualified leader.
"Winter's temperament... it won't cause destruction, will it?"
Robb was still a little uneasy.
That blood-red head didn't look like a docile fellow.
"Don't worry." Lynn smiled.
"It's very intelligent and understands commands."
He squatted down, looking into Winter's three differently colored eyes, and said in a low, ancient-sounding language:
"Valyrīha, ñuha dārilaros."
(Wait quietly, my prince.)
"Skorkydoso glaesā, skorkydoso jikās." (Eat what, do what.)
"Ao ynoma iōrās."
(You must stay inside.)
Winter's three heads tilted simultaneously.
A hint of confusion appeared in its amber, dark blue, and blood-red eyes.
But they still let out a low purr obediently, as if in response.
Lynn stood up and patted Robb's shoulder.
"Then, I'm entrusting it to you."
"Don't worry." Robb nodded heavily.
"It is the hope of the North; since I choose to care for it, I will protect it just as I protect Bran."
The matter was thus settled.
Lynn left Winter in Winterfell, entrusting it to a trustworthy ally.
That same evening, Robb, under the pretext of inspecting the castle's structural safety, personally led his loyal guard to completely clear out the "First Keep" that had been abandoned for hundreds of years.
And sealed it from the outside with huge stones and iron doors.
Only an inconspicuous small door, hidden in a vine-covered corner of The Wall, had its key personally kept by Robb.
At the same time, Robb continuously dispatched troops here.
From then on, Winterfell gained its deepest secret.
And Lynn could finally embark on his journey south without worries.
Standing at the window of the Guest Tower, Lynn gazed at the Kingsroad shrouded in night in the distance, his eyes deepening.
Unlike the straightforward way of communication in the North.
King's Landing, that was a true den of intrigue where people were devoured whole.
This time, he was no longer an insignificant Night's Watch deserter.
He was an envoy entrusted with a heavy responsibility by Lord Commander Mormont.
He was a strong man wielding two legendary swords, longclaw and dark sister.
And even more so... a cheater.
He could even use skinchanging to secretly stir up conflicts.
Using Greensight to clearly see the enemy's movements.
He wanted to see.
Were those clever people in King's Landing, who fancied themselves "players," ready to welcome him, the true variable?
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