From Winterfell to The Wall, for an ordinary caravan, it was a long journey that would take weeks or even a small month to complete.
But for Winter, it was just a few flaps of its wings.
When that sky-obscuring shadow swept over the last line of defense in the North—Last Hearth—the Amber family soldiers stationed there were terrified, thinking that eternal Winter had arrived early...
"Woo—! Woo—! Woo—!"
Three long and urgent horn blasts shattered the eternal silence above The Wall.
The Night's Watch recruits, who were sparring on the training ground, froze, the color draining from their faces.
Three horn blasts.
White Walkers attacking!
"Everyone! To The Wall!"
"Archers, take your positions!"
Castle Black instantly erupted into chaos.
Countless Night's Watchmen in black rushed from their posts, swarming towards the giant elevator.
However, when they ascended the seven-hundred-foot-high ice wall and gazed north, they saw nothing.
There were no eyes glowing with an ethereal blue light, nor was there an army of the dead composed of corpses.
The Haunted Forest was eerily silent.
"What's going on? Was it a mistake?"
A new Ranger asked, puzzled.
"Impossible!"
An experienced veteran next to him had a grave expression.
"The horn blower wouldn't make such a low-level mistake!"
Just then, a sharp-eyed sentry suddenly pointed to the southern sky, his voice trembling with disbelief.
"Look... look south!"
Everyone instinctively turned their direction.
On the southern horizon, a huge black dot was rapidly enlarging at a speed visible to the naked eye.
What was that?
As the black dot drew closer, revealing its monstrous and colossal outline, the entire The Wall fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone stood rooted to the spot.
It was a dragon!
A dragon even more imposing than the ice wall beneath their feet!
It had three heads!
Its scales were glacial blue, a color only found in the Land of Always Winter in the far north!
"My... Seven Gods..."
A Night's Watchman's longbow slipped from his hand, his legs gave way, and he directly knelt on the cold ground.
This exceeded their understanding, subverting their worldview.
At this moment, "Old Bear" Jeor Mormont, emerging from the Lord Commander's Tower, and Benjen Stark, following behind him, also witnessed this scene.
Lord Commander Mormont's weathered face showed an expression of shock.
"Is this Winter?"
His raven, which was always by his side, was so frightened that it burrowed directly into his collar, trembling.
Boom—!
Winter ignored the tiny "crows" on The Wall; it folded its wings and landed precisely in the empty courtyard of Castle Black.
The immense impact shook the entire castle, and snow was swept up by the air current, scattering everywhere.
Winter's three huge heads curiously surveyed the strange yet faintly familiar environment.
The head on the left smelled the aroma of roasted meat wafting from the kitchen and couldn't help but stretch its neck, opening its mouth to try and steal a bite.
As a result, it was headbutted back by the "big brother" in the middle, and it let out a dissatisfied growl, as if being scolded for its lack of ambition.
Lynn, holding Myrcella, leaped off the dragon's back.
"Lynn!"
Benjen Stark was the first to react; his face filled with joy, he hurried forward to greet him.
He gave Lynn a strong hug, then curiously surveyed the giant dragon that had completely stunned the entire scene.
"You... causing such a stir."
Benjen's voice was filled with emotion.
Jeor Mormont also walked over.
He looked at Lynn, then at Winter, who was nuzzling Lynn's head with a wronged expression, his eyes filled with extreme shock.
He had lived for so many years and believed he had seen every kind of storm.
But the scene before him still made him feel like he was dreaming.
How long had it been, and Winter had grown so large?
"It's good that you're back."
Lord Commander Mormont's gaze finally fell on Princess Myrcella, who was being led by Lynn, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"This is..."
"Princess Myrcella."
Lynn introduced calmly.
"She's here on the King's command, to experience life in the North."
Lord Commander Mormont's pupils contracted slightly.
The waters of King's Landing were colder than the blizzards beyond The Wall.
He didn't need to ask about things he didn't need to know; he simply nodded and instructed his subordinates to take Princess Myrcella to a guest room to rest.
Winter seemed very interested in this strange yet familiar environment.
The left head was still persistently gazing towards the kitchen.
The right head was curiously examining the huge elevator.
Only the middle head kept its eyes on Lynn, like a loyal bodyguard... The cells of Castle Black were dark and dry and cold.
The air was filled with the unpleasant smell of feces.
Lynn, following Lord Commander Mormont and Benjen, walked into this place that rarely saw daylight.
"Those Free Folk are in there," Lord Commander Mormont said.
Passing through a narrow corridor, several cages welded from thick iron bars appeared before them.
Most of the Free Folk were huddled in the corners, looking at these "crows" with eyes mixed with fear and hatred.
Only one cage was different.
A lithe, red-haired woman leaned against the cold iron bars, arms crossed, coldly watching the three men approach.
Her face and body were smudged with dirt, but her grey eyes were like the cold stars of the far north, bright and stubborn.
Her fiery red long hair was the only bright color in this gloomy space.
Ygritte.
She saw a hint of disdain flash in Lynn's eyes.
Another soft-skinned Southerner.
She spat on the ground.
"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen the Free Folk before?"
"Crows who have knelt to the King for so long they can't stand up!"
Her voice was a little hoarse, but full of wildness.
Lynn's eyes lit up.
Benjen's brows, however, furrowed, and he was about to reprimand her.
But Lynn raised a hand to stop Benjen.
"It's alright, Uncle Benjen."
"I'll handle it."
Lynn walked to the cage, curiously observing this prickly Free Folk girl.
"I heard Benjen say you shot several of his brothers."
Lynn asked curiously.
"They deserved it."
Ygritte met Lynn's gaze without backing down, hatred in her eyes.
"Who told them to trespass on our land."
"Your archery is good," Lynn replied, not directly answering the question.
Ygritte was taken aback for a moment, then lifted her chin, a hint of pride on her face.
"Those born of fire are naturally the best archers."
Lynn smiled.
He turned his head and looked beyond the cage, at Winter, who was peering in through the courtyard window, curiously observing.
Winter's middle dragon head saw that Lynn seemed to be confronting a woman.
It opened its mouth, and a low, threatening hiss rumbled in its throat.
Just a low growl, and the terrifying dragon's might solidified the air throughout the entire dungeon.
The other Free Folk in the cages trembled with fear, wishing they could bury themselves in the ground.
Ygritte's face instantly turned pale!
She followed Lynn's gaze.
When she saw the monstrous dragon head, almost larger than her entire body, peering in from the window, her proud grey eyes were instantly replaced by fear.
What kind of monster was that?!
"Now, can we talk properly?"
Lynn's voice sounded again.
Ygritte's lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word.
In the face of absolute power, any stubbornness and pride seemed so pale and powerless.
"I need to see your leader," Lynn said, getting straight to the point.
"The King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder."
Hearing that name, Lord Commander Mormont and Benjen's faces both changed.
Mance Rayder was once one of the Night's Watch's most outstanding Rangers.
Now, however, he was the common leader of all the Wildling Tribes, a presence that gave the entire North a headache.
"What do you want to see him for?"
"He's a forsworn man!"
Lord Commander Mormont's voice was filled with bewilderment.
"To make a deal with him."
Lynn's gaze returned to Ygritte.
"Winter is coming, and the Long Night is upon us."
"The true enemy is awakening; we don't have time to fight amongst ourselves."
Lynn looked at Ygritte's shocked face and said, word by word.
"I want you to take me to him."
"Tell him I can give all his Free Folk a way to live."
"A way to no longer suffer hunger and cold, a way to no longer be hunted by White Walkers."
Ygritte was completely stunned.
Her mind was blank.
What exactly did this man with a dragon want?
He knew about White Walkers?
He wanted to make peace with Mance?
This was simply a fantasy!
"On what grounds?"
Ygritte instinctively retorted, but her voice unconsciously weakened after seeing the dragon.
Lynn didn't answer.
He simply reached out, and the iron lock of the cage sprang open.
"On the grounds that I can let you out of this cage."
Lynn looked at her, his eyes calm.
"Now, tell me your choice, girl born of fire."
"Do you continue to stay in this cold cage, waiting to be executed?"
"Or do you take me to see your new King, to gamble for a better future for your people?"
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