Chapter 150: The Land of Always Winter
Dinner had ended some time ago, yet none of them seemed ready to leave each other company. So they settle in a room nearby.
Bjorn, Aldric and Sera had followed Lord Valen into a smaller chamber near his solar. It was not a room meant for council meetings or receiving guests. There was no great table covered in maps and contracts. Only four comfortable chairs arranged near the fire, a shelf filled with old books and tall windows overlooking the dark canals.
The distance between Bjorn and Lord Valen had not disappeared, but it no longer felt uncomfortable. Something had changed after their earlier conversation. A more positive outlook.
Neither had decided what name their relationship should carry.
But For now, it was enough that one existed.
Lord Valen sat with a cup of wine in one hand, studying Bjorn across the fire.
"So," the Sealord said, "how is your father?"
Bjorn leaned back in his chair. "Busy."
"That tells me nothing. Artos has been busy since the day I met him."
"And probably before that," Aldric added.
Valen nodded. "True."
Bjorn smiled. "He is well. Tired, though he won't admit it. King's Landing has given him more work than he expected. It's a different struggle from North, though he had found his own enjoyment in this."
"King's Landing, He is Hand of the King after all. Power gives every man more trouble than he expects," Valen said wisely " Choose things carefully especially concerning Power. It may look on the outside but inside it is laced with thorns unknown. That's I never stood up for position of SeaLord in past until it was absolutely neccesary " he said " Another lesson that day that you need grab power when neccesary " he said dropping his wisdom.
That seemed to put thoughts in both Bjorn and Aldric minds.
Aldric had been quiet since dinner, listening more than speaking. Now he leaned forward.
"Is he safe?" Aldric asked now more aware of the realm living and playing the game of politics in Bravos.
"As safe as Father can be while serving beside King Robert."
"That does not answer the question."
"It is the only honest answer I have brother. But Father is Father. He is a man that few can dare to mess with."
Aldric accepted that with a small nod.
Sera did not.
"He should not be there. He should be here with us. With his family and not abandon it for a King that stays too far." She says although very little and naive but also angry at her Father too much and recently Bravos forced her to grow up rather than he a child forever.
The warmth in the room weakened.
Sera sat closest to the fire, her arms folded across her chest. She had been cheerful through much of dinner, especially whenever Bjorn told a story about Winterfell or the journey south. Yet every mention of Artos brought the old anger back.
Bjorn looked at her in small regret and pity. "He had little choice in that regard."
"He always has a choice."
"Sera," Aldric said quietly.
"No." She glared at him. "Everyone keeps making excuses for him. The king needed him. The realm needed him. Grandfather needed us here. There is always some reason why we cannot be together."
Lord Valen watched her without interrupting. Nothing he could say that will calm the little girl who has been feeling that her father abandoned her.
"He sent us across the Narrow Sea," Sera continued. "Then he stayed in King's Landing. He did not even come to Braavos with us."
"He could not leave," Aldric said.
"He could have."
"And if he had?" Aldric asked. "Who would control the king? Who would protect Uncle Eddard and the others?"
"I don't care about the king. I don't care about anything." She threw a tantrum, albeit a justified one.
"Sera—"
"Enough," Bjorn said with a sad and loving face.
Aldric fell silent.
Sera turned toward him, expecting another defence of their father.
Bjorn gave her none.
"You have every right to be angry."
The answer caught her off guard.
"What?"
"You wanted Father, and he wasn't there. You were sent across the sea while he remained behind. Whatever his reasons, that still hurt you."
Sera stared down into the fire.
"Yes."
"Then be angry."
Aldric glanced at Bjorn, but Bjorn continued before he could speak.
"Just don't make the mistake of believing he wanted this. He may have done this but wanted—no." Bjorn shook his head. "Yes, Everyone has a choice but some choices are forced upon us in life that we can't undo no matter what."
Sera's jaw tightened. "How would you know?"
"Because I saw him after you left."
That silenced her.
Bjorn rose and walked toward the travelling bag he had brought from his room. He opened it and searched beneath several folded tunics before removing two small bundles wrapped in dark clothes.
Bjorn returned to the fire.
"He gave me these before I left King's Landing."
Sera stared at her name.
"He sent gifts?"
"And a message."
Aldric accepted his bundle but did not open it yet. Sera took hers more slowly, running one finger across her father's writing.
"What did he say?" she asked.
Bjorn sat between them.
"He told me to wait until the three of us were together. He said if I gave them to one of you first, the other would complain for the rest of the year."
Aldric smiled faintly.
Bjorn looked from one sibling to the other.
"He said he misses you. Both of you. More than he knows how to say."
Sera looked down.
"He wanted to bring you home himself," Bjorn continued. "He wanted to stay here until you settled. He wanted many things, but he could not do them all."
"That does not make it better," Sera said.
"No. It doesn't."
Her fingers tightened around the bundle.
Bjorn lowered his voice.
"He also asked for your forgiveness."
Sera looked up sharply.
"Father said that?"
"Aye."
Artos was not a man who apologised easily. All three of his children knew that. When Artos believed he had done something wrong, he usually tried to repair it through action and hoped no one forced him to speak about it.
"He said he sent you away because he believed Braavos was the safest place for you," Bjorn said. "Not because he wanted to be rid of you. He asked me to tell you that he was sorry he could not come. And that when his work in King's Landing is finished, nothing will keep him away."
Sera's eyes filled before Bjorn finished speaking.
She tried to blink the tears away.
It did not work.
"He should have said it himself."
"He should have." Bjorn agreed at that
"He should be here then ."Sera cried but still trying to hide.
"Aye." Bjorn said
"And I'm still angry with him." Sera not even trying to hide her tears anymore.
Bjorn nodded at that.
The tear ran down her cheek.
Then the rest followed.
Sera placed the bundle aside and pressed both hands against her face. Bjorn moved closer and pulled her into his arms.
She did not resist.
"He sent us away," she cried against his chest. "What if he never comes?"
"He will."
"You cannot know that."
"No," Bjorn admitted. "But I know Father. If he has to tear half of King's Landing apart to reach you, he will."
Aldric turned away from the fire and wiped quickly at one eye, hoping no one noticed.
Lord Valen noticed.
He said nothing.
Sera remained against Bjorn for several moments before finally pulling away. Her face was red, and she looked furious about it.
"If you tell anyone in Winterfell that I cried, I'll deny it. Especially Robb, Bran, Sansa, Arya and Arty. They will tease me endlessly." Sera said still crying
"Of course." Bjorn said a bit emotional himself.
"And then I'll hurt you."
She struck his shoulder.
Bjorn laughed. "Was that it?"
Sera hit him again, harder this time.
A reluctant smile appeared on her face.
Bjorn reached for her bundle and returned it to her. "Open it later. Father said they were private."
Aldric nodded and placed his own beside him.
"I brought something for both of you as well," Bjorn said.
Sera wiped her face. "What?"
"Swords."
Lord Valen raised an eyebrow.
Bjorn laughed. "Aye, real swords. Proper ones, fitted for each of you."
Sera's eyes widened. "Father said I could not have one yet."
"Father isn't here. So it's isn't all bad coming here. Is it now."
Aldric looked pleased despite trying not to show it.
Lord Valen took a slow drink of wine. "I begin to understand why Artos sent you instead of coming himself. He wanted someone else to be blamed."
"I can carry the burden."
"Who will train us?" Sera asked.
"Uncle Waymar ofcourse, who better than him."
From the look on her face, Bjorn might as well have promised her a dragon.
"You'll ask him?"
"I'll do more than ask. I'll tell him."
Valen chuckled. "You are brave."
"He cannot refuse me."
"He refused your father several times boy. When it comes to being stubborn he had your father as a teacher" said Lord Valen smirking.
"And how many times did Father listen?"
"Not once, as I remember." Lord Valen
Aldric laughed, and even Sera joined him.
The heaviness in the room eased.
Lord Valen allowed their laughter to settle before placing his cup upon the table.
"There is another matter we should discuss."
Bjorn looked toward him.
"I have arranged a feast."
"A feast?"
"A large one?," Aldric said, understanding immediately.
Valen nodded. "Yes, The most important merchants, bankers, keyholders and shipowners in Braavos will attend. Several of Artos's principal trading partners have already accepted."
Bjorn frowned. "Already?"
"The feast is in three days."
Lord Valen smiled.
Aldric looked between them before something became clear to him.
"So that is why they came."
Bjorn turned to him. "Who?"
"Several important men arrived in Braavos over the past few weeks. Merchants from Pentos, Lorath and Myr. Some of Father's partners as well. I thought they were here for negotiations with Grandfather."
"They are," Valen said. "Only not the negotiations you expected."
Aldric stared at him. "You have been preparing this since you learned Bjorn was coming."
The Sealord's smile became a smirk.
"Did you believe the most important new ally Braavos has gained in years would arrive without a proper welcome?"
Bjorn did not answer immediately.
A whole feast had been prepared for him before his ship entered the harbour. Important men had crossed seas and left their businesses because Lord Valen had asked them to meet the new Lord of Sea Dragon Point.
The thought left him strangely warm.
In the North, he had known where he belonged. He was Artos's son, Robb's cousin and a Stark in all but name. Braavos was different. He had arrived unsure whether even Lord Valen would consider him family.
Yet a family across the sea had prepared for his coming weeks before he knew if he would be welcomed.
Lord Valen with cup made a cheer "For House Startos," siad. Then his expression softened. "And for you."
Bjorn smiled and cheered back "For House Startos"
Beyond the Wall, The Land of Always Winter.
The cold grew worse with every mile.
It cut through fur, wool and leather as if none of them existed. Snow covered the ground in an unbroken white sheet, hiding stones, roots and old tracks beneath it. Dark trees rose around the party, their branches heavy with ice.
Jon Snow rode at the front.
Six Winterguards followed him. Their cloaks had frozen stiff at the edges, and frost covered their beards. None complained. Artos Stark's men had been chosen because they knew the cold and could keep their discipline when others lost theirs.
That did not mean they liked where Jon was leading them.
They had ridden beyond the safety of the Wall to speak with men they had spent the last year and a half fighting.
At first, the wildlings had come in scattered groups. Small raiding parties tested the Wall and attacked isolated patrols. The Night's Watch had answered from its castles, and the Winterguards had joined the defence.
Then the attacks became organised.
Different clans began fighting together. Raiders who once killed one another over hunting grounds now shared camps and struck the Wall beneath the same banners.
In the last few months, they had become something close to an army.
The Old Bear had kept Jon away from most of the direct fighting at first. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont said Artos would tear down the Wall stone by stone if Jon died under his command.
Jon suspected the old man was only half joking.
So they had defended. They had watched. They had waited.
Jon was tired of all three.
A Winterguard named Harl rode closer.
"You're certain they want to talk?"
"No," Jon answered."Not really, Neither I expect them to be."
Harl waited for more.
None came.
"We've killed a fair number of them," he said. "They've killed some of ours. Bad ground for a friendly meeting. Too much of bad blood" he paused "For centuries now."
"It isn't meant to be friendly."
"And if this King-Beyond-the-Wall wants your head?"
"Then he could have taken it when he asked for this meeting."
Harl glanced toward the silent forest. "He may still try."
"Aye."
The answer did nothing to comfort him.
Jon's gloved hand rested near his sword hilt.
Ghost moved through the trees somewhere to their left, appearing only when his white shape crossed the darkness between the trunks.
"Why agree to this at all?" Harl asked. "We can return to the Wall. Let them break themselves against it."
"They've been doing that for more than a year."
"And we have been successfully defending it every time."
"They won't fail forever."
Harl frowned.
Jon looked north. Nothing waited there but forest, snow and mountains hidden behind the grey sky.
"We cannot keep defending without understanding what is happening," he said. "The free folk have fought among themselves for thousands of years. Now they're united beneath one man. Even clans that hate each other have come south together."
Jon continued
"Mance Rayder.Their king. Though No king of mine but That doesn't make him less dangerous."
Another Winterguard urged his horse closer.
"You think he plans to take the Wall?"
"I think he plans to cross it and I intend to learn why?"
They continued north.
The trees grew thinner, and the wind became stronger. Jon could feel it pushing against him, carrying small pieces of ice sharp enough to sting exposed skin.
He had spent months asking himself the same question.
Why now?
The wildlings had raided the North for generations. They came for steel, food, women and whatever else they could carry. But this was not a raid. Too many of them had gathered.
Entire families were moving south, not merely warriors.
Something had changed.
Something had frightened them enough to follow Mance Rayder.
"I'm at the end of my patience," Jon said. "I want to know why they've united and why they keep throwing themselves against the Wall. There must be a reason."
"And if we don't like the reason?" Harl asked.
Jon looked toward the empty white land ahead.
"We probably won't. They are coming here and we don't even like that, we don't need a reason for it. Thier mere presence is the problem."
Ghost emerged from the trees and stopped.
His red eyes fixed upon the path.
Jon raised one fist.
The party halted.
Figures appeared among the trees ahead.
Wildlings in mismatched furs, armed with spears, bows and axes. More emerged behind them, spreading through the forest until the Winterguards were surrounded.
Steel whispered from sheaths.
"Keep your swords down," Jon ordered.
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