Massive stone walls of Winterfell loomed out of the mist like sleeping giants. As the party rode through the Hunter's Gate, the familiar sounds of the castle greeted them. The rhythmic clanging of the blacksmith's hammer, the barking of hounds, and the shouting of men at drill filled the air.
For the other guards, it was the sound of home. For Link, it was a ticking clock.
As soon as they dismounted, the news of the direwolves spread through the keep like wildfire. Servants and soldiers gathered around to catch a glimpse of the pups. Link watched as Robb and Bran led the way. Their faces were bright with an excitement that made them look their age for once.
Link led his horse toward the stables. He needed a moment to think. He had successfully altered the first major event of the story by speaking up during the discovery of the wolves. But the Butterfly Effect was a dangerous thing. Every small change he made could ripple outward. It could turn the future he knew into something unpredictable.
Current Anchor: Discovery of the Direwolves
Status: Fatigued
He felt a slight throbbing behind his eyes. Using the Save and Load function did not just cost him focus. It drained his physical energy. He needed food and sleep if he was going to be ready for what came next.
"Link! A word!"
He turned to see Rodrik Cassel, the master at arms, walking toward him. The man's great white whiskers twitched as he squinted at Link. Rodrik was a man of iron and discipline. He had been training the guards of Winterfell for longer than Link had been alive.
"I heard what you did out there," Ser Rodrik said. His voice was a low rumble. "Stepping forward to advise Lord Stark on the wolves. Some would call that overstepping your station."
Link stood straight and met the old knight's gaze. "I meant no disrespect, Ser. I only saw a sign that I thought his Lordship should consider."
Rodrik walked a slow circle around him. His boots crunched on the frozen dirt. "Lord Eddard is a fair man. He saw the wisdom in your words. But do not let it go to your head. A guard's job is to watch and listen. It is not to play philosopher."
He stopped in front of Link and jabbed a thick finger at his chest. "You have been sluggish in the yard lately. Tomorrow morning at first light, I want to see if that brain of yours is as sharp as your tongue. You will spar with the others. If you fail to impress me, you will be back on stable duty for a month. Understood?"
"Understood, Ser Rodrik," Link replied.
As the master at arms walked away, Link felt a grim smile tugging at his lips. This was exactly what he needed. In his previous life, he was no fighter. In this body, he had the muscle memory of a basic soldier but he lacked the elite skills required to survive the coming wars.
But he had the Time Machine.
He did not need to be a natural prodigy like Jaime Lannister. He just needed to die and reload enough times until his body learned every move through sheer repetition.
That evening, Link sat in the Great Hall eating a bowl of thick mutton stew. The warmth of the hearth fires began to thaw the chill in his bones. Across the hall, he saw the Stark family sitting at the high table. They looked perfect and united. They were completely unaware of the tragedy that was only weeks away.
The King was coming. Robert Baratheon would arrive with his golden queen and his court of vipers. That was when the true Game of Thrones would begin.
Link finished his meal and headed toward the barracks. He found a quiet corner in the armory and sat down. He needed to prepare for the morning.
"I can save right now," he whispered to the shadows. "I can use tomorrow's sparring match as a training loop."
He closed his eyes and focused on the interface in his mind.
Initiating New Anchor Point: Armory Night 1
The ripple moved through his consciousness. It locked the moment into place. Now, no matter how many times Ser Rodrik beat him into the dirt tomorrow, he could simply return to this moment and try again. He could turn a single morning of training into a year's worth of experience.
He laid down on his thin straw pallet. He was a nameless guard. He was a speck of dust in the history of Westeros. But as he drifted off to sleep, he knew he was the only man in the world who could see the blade before it struck.
Tomorrow, he would begin his transformation. He would not just be a guard. He would become a weapon.
....
Author Note
Hi guys! Thank you for reading my fanfiction.
I wanted to let you know that I'll be releasing bonus chapters for Power Stones. Here are the goals:
15 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
30 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
50 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
75 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
100 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
Thanks for the support!