On the southern bank of the Blackwater Rush, thousands of tents stretched across the landscape.
Golden quartered banners fluttered proudly above the camp, overlooking King's Landing on the opposite side of the river.
Beside them flew the banners of many great houses—the black stag on gold of House Baratheon, the golden rose on green of House Tyrell, the gray direwolf of House Stark, the pink flayed man of House Bolton, the blue-and-white falcon of House Arryn, the orange pebble sigil of House Belmore, and the emblem of House Clegane depicting the giant Clebb dancing with a pine tree while riding a bison.
Lords from every corner of the realm had gathered.
The camp was filled with heavily armored knights from the Stormlands and the Vale, their magnificent warhorses adorned with silver and gold.
Newly recruited slave soldiers stood alongside the disciplined ranks of the Unsullied from Astapor.
Not far away, the surviving prisoners captured after the disastrous Battle of the Blackwater were confined inside a wooden stockade near the river, watched closely by the Roundhead guards.
---
To celebrate Eddard Stark's miraculous return from the brink of death, Gendry had ordered a grand feast beside the Blackwater Rush.
Although Ned himself had never cared much for lavish banquets, proper hospitality demanded such a celebration.
The squires bustled about preparing everything.
Stormlands cooks worked tirelessly over massive fire pits.
A whole goat slowly rotated over the roasting spit, repeatedly basted with butter and fragrant herbs until its skin became golden, crisp, and glistening with dripping fat.
Nearby, long banquet tables overflowed with fresh bread, roasted vegetables, ripe strawberries, beets, and countless other dishes.
---
Gendry occupied the seat of honor at the center of the high table.
His principal ministers sat on either side.
To his left were Stannis Baratheon, Mace Tyrell, Selwyn Tarth, and several other prominent lords.
To his right sat Eddard Stark, Roose Bolton, Yohn Royce, and the northern nobles.
Several young heirs were also present.
Loras Tyrell.
Garlan Tyrell.
Anguy.
Robar Royce.
Among them sat Jon Snow.
He felt somewhat out of place.
Although he was Eddard Stark's bastard son...
He was also one of Gendry's Attendants of the Storm, making him a rightful guest at the feast.
---
"What a wonderful banquet."
"The aroma alone is enough to make anyone hungry."
Eddard smiled faintly.
After walking through the gates of death...
Everything now felt precious.
His eyes slowly swept across the gathering.
He couldn't help remembering the magnificent feasts held in Winterfell.
The laughter.
The music.
Robert's booming voice.
It had been during one of those celebrations that Robert had arranged the marriage between Sansa Stark and Joffrey Baratheon.
How unpredictable fate truly was.
---
Gendry looked toward the old wolf.
"Lord Eddard..."
"Have you truly decided to resign as Regent and Protector of the Realm?"
Today, Gendry wore an elegant black velvet tunic embroidered with rows of golden stags and crimson dragons.
Resting upon his brow was a black steel circlet set with gold and rubies.
It resembled the ancient crown once worn by Aegon the Conqueror.
Looking at him...
Eddard couldn't help seeing Robert as he had been in his youth.
Tall.
Strong.
Handsome.
Black-haired.
Blue-eyed.
Laughing freely while riding across the fields.
Now...
Robert had long since returned to the earth.
And Eddard himself had nearly shared the same fate.
After a moment of silence, Ned shook his head.
"I can still lead the northern armies."
"Whether we march against the Westerlands or the Iron Islands..."
"I'll fulfill my duty."
"But King's Landing..."
He sighed softly.
"Prince Gendry."
"Lord Stannis."
"My lords."
"I must apologize."
"I'm simply not suited for court politics."
"I've had enough of the capital."
"I wish to return home."
"To Winterfell."
"To my family."
---
The journey south had utterly exhausted the old wolf.
Both generations of Starks who had traveled south had met tragedy.
Perhaps...
Future Starks would think twice before ever leaving the North again.
Even the blessings of the Old Gods had proven insufficient to protect them in King's Landing.
Gendry nodded respectfully.
"If that's your wish, Lord Eddard..."
"I won't try to persuade you otherwise."
Stannis opened his mouth as though to speak.
Then quietly closed it again.
Whether Eddard remained in King's Landing or returned north...
The capital would continue to function.
Meanwhile...
The North urgently needed its true lord.
---
"Lord Eddard's survival is a blessing for the Seven Kingdoms."
"And an even greater blessing for the North."
Roose Bolton bowed respectfully.
Not even the slightest trace of resentment appeared on his face at the prospect of Eddard once again commanding the northern armies.
Yohn Royce then spoke.
"The North appears to be in even greater danger than the South."
"The Ironborn continue raiding the coasts."
"And the situation at the Wall grows worse every day."
The bronze-armored Lord of Runestone looked weary.
Ancient runes covered his armor, said to protect its wearer from harm.
Though shorter than Gendry...
Yohn still possessed an imposing presence.
His weathered face and powerful hands gave him the appearance of a man capable of breaking someone's neck without effort.
Today...
His expression carried only grief.
"My youngest son has disappeared."
"I fear he's already dead."
---
"Waymar Royce?"
Eddard asked in surprise.
He remembered the young man well.
When Yohn had brought Waymar to Winterfell before sending him to join the Night's Watch...
Ned had welcomed him personally.
Waymar had been elegant.
Handsome.
Well-mannered.
His gray eyes and impeccable appearance had left a lasting impression.
Gendry remained silent.
After all...
He already knew the truth.
Waymar had been one of the first victims of the coming darkness.
Jon Snow spoke quietly.
"My uncle Benjen has disappeared as well."
Eddard's face changed immediately.
"Benjen?"
"My youngest brother?"
Yohn nodded.
"Lord Commander Mormont explained everything in his letter."
"Less than half a year after taking his vows..."
"Waymar led two rangers—Will and Gared—beyond the Wall in pursuit of a group of wildlings."
"Only part of the patrol ever returned."
"My son..."
"And one of his companions..."
"Were never seen again."
"The Lord Commander then sent Benjen Stark to search for them."
"He also vanished."
---
"When I traveled south..."
"I executed several deserters from the Night's Watch."
Eddard spoke quietly.
"There have already been four deserters within a single year."
"My brother's letters mentioned that the Watch now numbers fewer than a thousand men."
"The losses aren't caused only by desertion."
"Their patrols have suffered enormous casualties."
"I believed Mance Rayder..."
"The King-Beyond-the-Wall..."
"Was preparing to invade."
He slowly clenched his fist.
"If that's truly the case..."
"Then besides driving out the Ironborn..."
"I may also have to face the King-Beyond-the-Wall."
---
Gendry's expression became serious.
"I believe the enemy may be even more terrifying than the wildlings."
"Commander Mormont's latest letter warned that an unprecedented age of darkness is approaching."
"Strange creatures have begun appearing throughout the haunted forests."
"Direwolves."
"Mammoths."
"Snow bears as large as bison."
"Even fishermen along the eastern coast claim they've seen White Walkers walking beside the sea."
He paused before continuing.
"Lord Denys Mallister, commander of the Shadow Tower, also reported that entire mountain clans are fleeing south."
"They're passing the Wall in numbers never seen before."
"What could possibly frighten them enough to abandon their homes?"
---
Stannis added quietly,
"There's something else."
"When Tyrion Lannister served as Hand of the King..."
"Lord Commander Mormont sent Ser Alliser Thorne to King's Landing to request aid."
"He supposedly brought with him the severed hand of a wight."
"Unfortunately..."
"The hand rotted away before anyone could examine it."
"Even so..."
"Ser Alliser insisted he personally witnessed dead brothers of the Night's Watch rising again."
Mace Tyrell rubbed his palms nervously.
"Surely that coward exaggerated."
"For thousands of years we've heard tales of the Children of the Forest..."
"The White Walkers..."
"And the undead."
"I've always believed they were nothing more than old legends."
His words reflected the great divide between the North and the South.
It was also one of the reasons the Night's Watch had steadily declined.
Families such as the Starks and the Royces, who still honored the traditions of the First Men, willingly sent their younger sons to serve at the Wall.
But noble houses like the Lannisters and the Tyrells...
Rarely saw any reason to do the same.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)