Riverrun, council chamber.
The air was heavy, as if a storm was about to break.
Not long ago, the news brought by the raven struck like three thunderbolts, shattering the rationality of all the Northern generals.
Firstly, the North is under siege by three armies from the Iron Islands. Galon Glover has already defeated one of them and is now defending Winterfell.
Secondly, Stannis and Renly successively declared themselves kings, and their war was imminent.
Thirdly, Duke Ned Stark was beheaded by King Joffrey in King's Landing before the Great Sept of Baelor.
Initially, the Northerners present breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing that Galon had blocked the Iron Islands.
Upon hearing the next two pieces of news, the Northern vassal's anger was instantly ignited: "Kill the Kingslayer!"
Greatjon Umber was the first to roar, slamming his massive wolf-like paw on the table, making the wine glasses bounce wildly.
"Let Jaime Lannister's blood be offered as a sacrifice to His Majesty the Duke!"
Earl Rickard Karstark's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was filled with rage over his son's death.
" Lord Robb, let's march directly on Harrenhal, join forces with Bolton, and then attack King's Landing!"
"Crush Red Keep!"
"Make the Lannister family pay for their crimes in blood!"
The crowd was filled with rage, and the flames of revenge nearly blew the roof off Hall.
Even the Riverlands nobles, who had just returned to Riverrun after being defeated by Jaime, were indignant and wanted to execute Kingslayer.
Edmure Tully sat on the high seat in the council chamber, watching the endless bickering between the Northern and Riverlands vassals, feeling a headache coming on.
He couldn't see the situation clearly, nor could he control the crowd, so he could only look awkwardly at his nephew.
Young Robb sat opposite Edmure, pale-faced and clenching his fists.
The images of his father's gruesome death and the news of the fall of the North intertwined in his mind, almost suffocating him.
The immense grief and the even greater responsibility weighed heavily on him, making it hard for him to breathe.
Robb seeks comfort from his mother, only to overhear her demanding that Jaime be kept, hoping to exchange Jaime for the safety of her daughter and son.
To this day, Robb and Catelyn still don't know the whereabouts of Arya and Rickon, and still believe that they are being held captive in King's Landing by Cersei and his men along with Ned.
But Catelyn's remarks intensified the argument in the council chamber, with everyone opposing the proposal.
Jaime Lannister killed so many of them, how could he possibly let the lion return to the mountains just because of two insignificant Stark children?
Catelyn argued forcefully, attempting to subdue the crowd with the promise of a title and an oath.
Unfortunately, the effect was minimal, and the topic quickly veered off to which king to pledge allegiance to.
Amidst the roars of "revenge" and "march," an even more radical voice rang out.
"My lords!"
Greatjon suddenly leaped up and shouted loudly.
" Lannister murdered Lord Stark —utterly unjust!"
"And Renly and Stannis, disregarding the lives of those in the North, have successively declared themselves kings. What justice is there in that!"
"Does someone like that think he can make us kneel down?"
"Kneeling is fine with me, but I will only kneel before this one king!"
His voice boomed, and he drew his sword, placing it at Robb's feet.
"King in the North!"
The council chamber fell silent during the foggy hours.
Robb's heart skipped a beat, and he stared intently at Greatjon.
Before he could say anything, a second person chimed in. Karstark, grieving the loss of his son, said in a deep voice, "That's right. If that's the case, I'm willing to make peace! Let the Southerners continue to hold onto the Red Keep and that iron chair. We support our own king!"
He drew his longsword, knelt beside Greatjon, and whispered, "King in the North!"
Robb finally realized what was happening and recalled his secret meeting with Galon in Winterfell about the plan to legalize Robert's illegitimate son, Gendry Baratheon.
"No, I can't!"
" Gendry, the king's legalized illegitimate son, is my father's adopted son. We should place him on the iron throne."
" Gentry?" Lord Bracken, a nobleman from the Riverlands, said with disdain. "Who knows where he is now? He's probably already been killed by Lannister!"
To Robb's even greater surprise, Blackwood actually agreed with this explanation.
"That's right, the whereabouts of legally fathered illegitimate children are unknown, and we don't have time to look for them."
"Besides, Stannis and Renly don't care about these two legalized bastards; they're destined never to sit on the Iron Throne. " Robb's words confirmed his suspicions. "Yes, Gendry is nowhere to be found; he's probably already been killed by Joffrey, just like the bastards of King's Landing!"
At that moment, Lady Maege Mormont, with her imposing figure, also stood up. "The North doesn't know any Gentry, we only know Stark!"
She placed her spiked mace beside the two swords, knelt down, and cried out, "King in the North!"
At this moment, the nobles of the Riverlands also rose, drew their swords, and knelt down.
They chanted an ancient name, unheard of for three hundred years: "King in the North!"
""King in the North!! "King in the North!"!! "
Robb stood up abruptly, his blood flowing freely.
An indescribable emotion welled up in his heart, causing his grief and ambition to intertwine and boil.
"If this is the will of the North and the Riverlands...::"
"If this is the only way to avenge my father and reclaim justice..."
"Then I, Robb Stark, choose to accept!"
He drew his sword and raised it high, declaring, "In the name of the gods, I swear that I will lead you to crush the Western Frontier, wash away the shame, and reclaim the honor!"
Boom! Flames roared within the council chamber!
The King's Landing.
Inside the Red Keep, in the Imperial Conference Room, the atmosphere was quite oppressive.
Tyrion sat in the prime minister's seat, feeling a splitting headache.
Since arriving in King's Landing and learning that Joffrey and Cersei had killed Duke Ned, he had been feeling terrible.
With Ned Stark dead, there was absolutely no room for maneuver between the Westerlands and the North.
The plan to exchange prisoners was also completely ruined.
Tyrion's only hope now is to capture Arya and Gentry, who are still on the run, so that they will have some leverage in negotiations.
"How's the search going?"
Tyrion's voice, filled with suppressed anger, swept over the assembled high-ranking officials.
Intelligence chief Varys looked worried about the country and its people.
"Oh, my dear Acting Prime Minister, we have indeed found some clues, but unfortunately we're always a step too late."
"The girl was like a little wildcat, slippery and hard to catch, and that blacksmith boy... seemed to have someone secretly helping him as well."
"Secret assistance?"
Littlefinger Petyr Baelish chuckled lightly, his tone sarcastic.
"The only people who could keep this from all of us in King's Landing are probably...some all-knowing friends, right?"
" Lord Varys, did your little birds fly in the wrong direction this time?"
"Or, did you simply close your eyes on purpose?"
Varys looked aggrieved when faced with Littlefinger's accusations.
" Lord Petyr, those words are truly heartbreaking."
"My loyalty will forever belong to Iron Throne!"
"As for you, with such a tight budget, you're still able to maintain such a vast... information network; that's truly admirable."
He skillfully steered the conversation back to Littlefinger's funding sources.
The two went back and forth, undermining each other.
Their words were laced with hidden barbs, which ignited Tyrion's anger, yet he had no choice but to rely on them.
"Enough!"
Tyrion let out a low growl, interrupting the silent battle between the two.
"I want results, not riddles!"
" Lord Varys, what is the final clue?"
Varys seemed to hesitate for a moment, then finally sighed, as if he had made a great decision.
"Based on some... vague intelligence, they might... I mean, possibly... have infiltrated a group of new recruits heading to the Great Wall."
"As you know, Nights Watch recruits indiscriminately, accepting all comers, a real mixed bag."
Nights Watch!
A glint flashed in Tyrion's eyes, and he instantly recalled the Nights Watch team he had encountered near Gods Eye Lake.
"I think... I know where they're hiding!"
He immediately summoned his guards and issued a secret order appointing himself as acting prime minister.
"Send men to search every village near Gods Eye Lake."
"Even if we have to search the ground three feet deep, we must find them for me!"
At Imp's command, several Lannisters and Gold Cloaks galloped out of King's Landing and headed toward Gods Eye Lake.
Meanwhile, Yoren, who was still wandering around Gods Eye Lake, worrying about how to get through Harrenhal, had no idea that his whereabouts had been revealed.
As for Galon, who was still in the North, he was even less aware of the turning point that was about to occur in Arya's fate.
Now, his gaze is fixed solely on the Ironborn entering Ox Horn Mountain.
The Great War in the North is about to break out!