The procession moved like a long, metallic serpent carving through the heart of the North. But amidst the cacophony of military gear and heavy hooves, there was one sight that washed away the exhaustion from my heart. I looked to my side and saw Bran atop his small horse, filling the air with his childish laughter. He was showing off to Jon and me, boasting of his ability to control the reins. He sat tall, chest out like a seasoned knight, performing small maneuvers just to catch our eye.
"Look, Alex! Look, Jon! My horse is faster than I thought!" Bran shouted, galloping alongside us.
I smiled genuinely, feeling a lump of joy and relief in my throat. Seeing him like this—whole, healthy, laughing—instead of a broken body in a coma on a cold bed, was my greatest reward. This sight was living proof that I wasn't just a passerby in this world; I was a weaver of destinies.
We finally reached the "Crossroads." Here, the paths diverged just as fates do; one road led to the frozen Wall, and the other to the roaring Capital.
We dismounted. I stepped toward Jon and Bran first. I embraced Bran tightly and whispered: "Be a cautious wolf, Bran, and always listen to Jon." Then I turned to Jon, gripping his hand with a strength that conveyed everything left unsaid. "We will meet again, Jon. Be certain of that."
I stepped back a few paces, giving them their privacy. I watched Jon approach his father, Lord Ned. Jon looked small, burdened by questions as he asked his father about his mother. It was a heartbreaking scene; Ned promised him that he would tell him everything the next time they met. I knew that in the original history, that "next time" never came, but I was here to change the endings.
Hours after parting with Jon and Bran, a stillness fell over the caravan as we rested near the Inn at the Crossroads. But this silence did not last. An urgent message arrived via raven from the East, and soon King Robert's thunderous, angry voice echoed through the camp.
I was standing near the royal wheelhouse when Robert summoned Ned. The scene was exactly as I remembered from the books, but seeing it in reality was far more intense. Robert was screaming about Daenerys Targaryen and her marriage to "Khal Drogo."
"Another Targaryen marrying a barbarian with a hundred thousand swords!" Robert bellowed, slamming the table. "She will invade the kingdoms, Ned! We must kill her and her brother before she sets foot in our waters!"
Ned defended her with honor as usual, refusing the idea of murdering a child on another continent. The shouting match between them reflected the growing chasm between the two old friends.
While the elders fought with words inside the tent, I was performing my duty, guarding the carriage that held Sansa and Arya. I approached the window, where Arya was sticking her head out in boredom, with Sansa behind her, trying to maintain her poise despite her clear interest in the outside commotion.
At that moment, I looked every bit the formidable warrior. My dark hair was slightly tousled by the road wind, my leather armor accentuated my high physical fitness, and my calm, steady gaze gave the impression of a man who knew more than he let on. My reputation as the "Hero of Winterfell" who had humbled the Lannister guards had preceded me among the King's retinue, and everyone looked at me with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.
"Will they keep arguing all night?" Arya asked with a groan.
I smiled at her—a smile that made even the stern Septa Mordane inside the carriage soften her features slightly. "Politics, Arya, is mostly a lot of shouting and very little action. The important thing is for you to stay ready. Tomorrow, we begin your 'balance' exercises while on the move."
I caught a glimpse of Sansa behind her; she was watching me with glowing eyes. She wasn't looking at me as just a master-at-arms' son anymore, but as a man who possessed a mysterious charm and a strength her "Prince" Joffrey lacked.
"Ser Alex," Sansa said in a soft voice, "do you think the King will be angry with my father for long?"
"The King loves your father, Lady Sansa," I replied with dignity. "And disagreements between brothers always end in fond memories. Sleep well; the road is still long."
I stepped away from the window, feeling their gazes follow me. I knew the Capital was drawing near, and with it, the vipers would begin to emerge from their holes. But I was ready. Beside my sword, I had a charm that opened doors and a mind that closed them in the faces of my enemies