One by one, the royal family members and the heirs of the Great Lords walked through the crowd to their designated seats.
Mufasa was originally going to walk alone, but Robb Stark must have whispered something to Sansa because she blushed and came over to him, asking to walk the red carpet together.
Mufasa assumed she wanted to exchange this favor for a kiss, so he agreed.
Sansa linked her arm through Mufasa's and walked down the red carpet imported from Lys, secretly glancing at him as they went.
Robb Stark had just told her that he had lost a bet to Mufasa, and the penalty was that both of his sisters had to kiss Mufasa.
Arya had already paid the forfeit; only Sansa remained.
That was why Sansa decided to approach Mufasa.
That afternoon, while doing needlework with the Queen and Myrcella, she had heard many stories about him.
After they were seated, Mufasa apologized to Sansa, saying he needed to step away for a moment.
"Ser Mufasa, where are you going? Am I not pretty enough for you to stay with me?" Sansa Stark asked.
"No, no, no, my Lady, you are utterly beautiful. I merely need to check on my white lion, Hraka. I hope he doesn't come to the feast, as it's time for him to eat."
No sooner had Mufasa finished speaking than a massive white lion strode through the crowd, approaching Mufasa amidst the fearful and terrified looks of the guests, and rubbed itself against him.
"See? He came! He must be hungry!"
Mufasa gave Hraka a roasted chicken from the table. Hraka devoured it in a few bites, so Mufasa gave him an entire platter of suckling pig.
It wasn't just Mufasa's white lion; Joffrey's little lion and Jon's direwolf pups were all gnawing on bones, pork, or chicken meat beneath the tables!
"Ser Mufasa, Myrcella told me you once told her the story of Bambi when she was little. Could you tell it to me again?" Sansa Stark looked at Mufasa expectantly.
"Bambi, you say? How about I tell you a new story this time? It's called: The Lion King."
As Mufasa began his tale, not only Sansa, but also Arya, Robb, Jon, Joffrey, and even Jaime, Tyrion, and Cersei were all drawn into the mysterious world he described.
"Finally, Simba defeated the tiger Shere Khan and became the King of the Pride Lands," Mufasa said, quickly taking a drink of water when he finished.
"It's wonderful that lions, wolves, stags, bears, and leopards can all live together peacefully!" Sansa exclaimed, clasping her hands together in excitement.
In the story Mufasa told, Simba had a good friend who was the protagonist of Bambi, though his name was changed.
"I wish I had magic too! Can the weirwoods of the North grant me the power of Ursa Major?"
Joffrey asked.
"Hahaha, Little Joff, why don't I take you to see the Heart Tree here in Winterfell? You'll definitely jump out of your skin! Hahaha!" Robb Stark couldn't help but laugh. Having spent time with Joffrey, he realized the prince was quite childish and melodramatic.
"Fine, let's go! It's just a tree; why would I be scared?"
Robb Stark then led Joffrey away to the Heart Tree.
Arya still wanted to hear a story. She squeezed Sansa away from Mufasa, sat in her place, and tugged on his hand.
"Brother Mufasa, tell me another story! Your stories are much better than Old Nan's. Just one more!"
"Yes, yes! Mufasa, tell another one!" Bran also ran up from somewhere, grabbing Mufasa's other hand.
"Alright! Since we are in Stark territory, I imagine the story you'd most like to hear is about wolves. I will tell you the tale of 'The Wolf King's Dream'!"
Mufasa began telling the story again.
The she-wolf Zilan endured the pain of sacrifice, training her pups at the cost of her own maternal love. Unfortunately, her sons were successively killed in the cruel competition of the wolf pack.
Finally, to ensure the continuation of the Wolf King's dream and to protect her newborn grand-pup, the desperate Zilan died alone while battling an old eagle.
"Every wolf is worthy of becoming the Wolf King, wouldn't you agree, Jon?" Mufasa finished and looked toward Jon Snow, who was seated near the door.
Jon suddenly snapped back to attention.
"That's right. A wolf travels a thousand miles to eat meat; every wolf is worthy of being the Wolf King."
As soon as he spoke, Jon regretted it, because Catelyn Tully shot him a malicious glare that seemed intent on killing him.
She threw an equally venomous look at Mufasa.
Catelyn Tully strongly suspected Mufasa was making veiled references to the Houses Stark, Lannister, Baratheon, and Arryn.
After all, the sigils of these houses were the stag, the wolf, the lion, and the falcon.
"Mufasa, it's a shame you aren't a storyteller by trade! The Lannister family has produced quite the talent in you!" Cersei looked at him with pleasure. She was delighted to see Catelyn frustrated.
"Auntie, you jest! I am your nephew, after all!" Mufasa replied.
"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. Whether it is the Lion King, the Stag King, or the Wolf King, one must pass through many trials to become a ruler. Especially now, when winter is coming!" he continued.
Eddard Stark set down his wine cup.
"You speak of winter coming. Do you truly believe the Others have returned, Mufasa?" he asked.
"I have always revered two orders: the White Knights and the Black Knights."
"The White Knights safeguard the King, and the Black Knights protect the Realm. Neither can be dispensed with."
"For a noble Black Knight to abandon his honor and desert, the terror must be caused by more than just wildlings and heavy snow. Some unknown horror is spreading beyond the Wall," Mufasa stated.
Suddenly, the atmosphere throughout the feast grew strange, no longer filled with merriment.
The Others became a topic that lingered in everyone's minds. They found the wine no longer tasted good, nor the meat delicious.
With a loud bang, King Robert slammed his wooden wine cup down onto the table.
"This was a perfectly good feast, and you've ruined it! What are you trying to do, Mufasa? You've spoiled the King's mood." Robert fixed Mufasa with a fierce stare.
Mufasa let out a laugh.
"Your Grace, I wonder if you can still lift your warhammer? The one you used to smash Rhaegar?"
"Why do you ask that?" Robert asked, confused.
"I have a proposal, Your Grace! And Lord Eddard, how about we conquer the entire region beyond the Wall and make all the wildlings subjects of the Realm? History books would surely record our achievement in grand detail," Mufasa proposed.
"That is an excellent idea! That way we can truly understand what's happening beyond the Wall!" said Benjen Stark, who, speaking from the perspective of the Night's Watch, felt Mufasa's suggestion would help the Watch eliminate their enemies in the North.
"If the King truly wishes to wage war, I am willing to swing my sword for you. I'd like to test the power of my Valyrian steel blade, Lion's Roar!" Jaime Lannister declared.
Following him, more knights and hedge knights grew spirited. They were eager to earn glory and renown.
Eddard Stark also realized that if they could resolve the issues beyond the Wall first, he wouldn't have to go to King's Landing, as he was the Warden of the North and would need to oversee the campaign.
Thus, Eddard Stark agreed to go beyond the Wall to fight the wildlings in a decisive battle and thoroughly investigate whether the Others had truly returned.
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