Sansa's arrival shattered the atmosphere Galon had carefully built.
Worse, the scene truly looked... inappropriate.
At that moment, Asha's hair was disheveled, strands of dark hair clinging to her sweat-damp forehead.
The fierce pride in her eyes had not fully faded, but there was now something else lingering within them—an odd trace of agitation, even submission.
She stood pressed against the cold wall, her legs drawn tight together.
And the distance between her and Galon was far too close for a prisoner and her captor.
No matter how Sansa looked at it, it seemed like something had just happened.
Fortunately, Galon regained his composure quickly.
He stepped slightly to the side, subtly blocking Sansa's view of Asha, and spoke as if nothing was wrong.
"Sansa, what brings you here?"
As Galon stepped back, Asha's expression flickered with something unexpected—a faint sense of loss.
Sansa caught that detail immediately.
A hint of jealousy stirred in her heart, and she let out a soft snort.
"Hmph. Winterfell is my home. Why shouldn't I come?"
"Or is it that I arrived at the wrong time?"
"No," Galon replied calmly, pretending not to notice the meaning behind her words. "You came at the perfect time."
He paused, then added,
"Just now, Miss Asha has agreed to cooperate with us."
Sansa's blue eyes were like frozen lakes as they slowly returned to Galon's face.
"Cooperate?" she said softly, her voice carrying a sharp chill. "It seems your methods of persuasion are quite... effective."
She deliberately emphasized the word persuasion, her gaze sweeping over Asha's flushed face.
The implication was obvious.
Galon did not bother explaining. There was no time for that.
"Sansa, where is Maester Luwin?"
"The situation is urgent. Euron's target is the dragon. We must act quickly... This isn't the place to talk."
Sansa bit her lip and looked at him, her eyes showing a trace of dissatisfaction—like her territory had been intruded upon.
"Follow me."
She turned sharply, her skirts swaying coldly as she led the way toward the Great Hall.
Galon gestured for Asha to follow.
Asha's lips curled slightly, as if she found some strange amusement in the tension she had caused.
She stepped out of the cell she had been confined in for days.
Galon followed behind.
A short while later.
In the Great Hall, the fire burned brightly, but it could not dispel the invisible tension between the four of them.
Maester Luwin had been arranging accommodations for the Skagosi in Winter Town.
After receiving Galon's summons, he hurried back.
The moment he entered, he saw Sansa standing very close to Galon, glaring at Asha across the table. A map lay spread between them.
"Asha Greyjoy... Lord Galon, why have you brought her out?"
Luwin immediately sensed something unusual. A flicker of understanding passed through his wise eyes before he turned calmly to Galon.
Galon nodded slightly and explained,
"Miss Asha has agreed to cooperate with us. In return, we help her reclaim the Seastone Chair."
Luwin was stunned.
"Reclaim the Seastone Chair?"
"How?"
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"Euron is already king. That means he controls the Iron Islands.
The southern war is not over. We are barely managing to defend our own lands. How can we possibly help her reclaim anything?"
Galon shook his head.
"Maester, this is not just for Asha. It is for us."
Without wasting time, he laid out everything—Euron's true objective, his plan to cross the North and reach Skagos, and the danger it posed.
"Euron has only two paths to reach the dragon. Either march across the North...Or sail around Westeros."
He pointed at the map as he spoke.
"The Iron Islands chose the first path. Though he failed, Euron has returned, killed Balon, and can now organize another invasion at any time."
Galon's logic was sharp and clear, painting a vivid picture of Euron's madness and the looming threat to the North.
"According to Asha, the Iron Islands are divided among many captains. Euron seized power through kinslaying, so he will need time to stabilize his rule.
And that gives us our opportunity.
Maester, waiting passively is suicide. We must act first and destroy his plan before he consolidates his fleet."
He finished and looked at both Sansa and Luwin.
Luwin frowned deeply.
"Even if that is true, we lack the manpower. The Iron Islands have many forces.
How do you expect us to strike first? Cross the sea?"
Leaving aside whether we can win, Lord Galon—we don't even have enough ships!"
Galon smiled slightly.
"Maester, I seized a number of ships along the Stony Shore. With some repairs, they will be enough for us to cross."
Luwin fell silent, momentarily at a loss for words.
Before he could respond, Asha stepped forward.
She had fully embraced her role as a collaborator. Or perhaps, she simply enjoyed demonstrating her value in front of Sansa.
"Lady Stark, Maester Luwin."
Her voice was hoarse but steady.
"Euron is a kinslayer. He has defied the will of the gods. Not everyone in the Iron Islands supports him.
My father and I still have loyal followers. My uncle, Rodrik Harlaw, among them."
She paused, then continued, "If I appear and openly oppose Euron, most of the Iron Islands will rally behind me."
She pointed at the map, tracing a route along the sea.
"I also know several hidden sea routes. We can bypass Euron's patrols and strike directly at Pyke.
These are the foundations of our victory."
Then her tone hardened. "And if you do not strike Euron, do you think he will spare you?"
At the mention of Euron, hatred burned in her eyes.
"For the dragon on Skagos, he has obtained some kind of magic—something said to control dragons."
She remained composed, carefully concealing the existence of the Dragon Horn.
"He believes he can control the dragon. He sees the North as an obstacle… and a stepping stone."
Galon noticed the omission but chose not to expose it.
Instead, he turned to Sansa.
"Sansa."
His tone softened, becoming earnest.
"If Euron launches a full invasion, even if we withstand it, we will be severely weakened. That will drag Robb down with us.
But if we ally with the Iron Islands, defeat Euron, and seize his fleet, we can threaten the Lannisters from the sea and relieve pressure on Robb."
Sansa remained silent.
She knew his reasoning made sense.
But the image from the dungeon lingered in her mind like a block of ice.
Then Galon mentioned Robb.
That name was like a key.
It unlocked the strongest part of her heart.
Her concern for her brother and her sense of duty to her family ultimately outweighed her personal feelings.
Luwin, however, still hesitated. "This plan is too risky…"
"Maester, trust me." Galon met his gaze steadily. "Since the war began, my judgment has not been wrong. Please believe me."
Luwin looked at Sansa, then sighed and nodded.
"Very well. We will need to plan this carefully..."
At that moment, Sansa took a deep breath and turned to Asha. Her gaze was no longer just cold—it carried authority and judgment.
"Miss Greyjoy, remember the oath you make today.
The North will help you reclaim what is rightfully yours. In return, the Iron Islands must honor this alliance."
Asha nodded solemnly.
"I swear it in the name of the gods."
__________
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