The Next Day.
The usually quiet entrance of the Palestone Sword Tower was crowded with people.
There were spectators like Prince Oberyn, along with the bannermen and knights sworn to Starfall.
Allyria and Edric Dayne had gone to the sept early to pray for Arthur. Having finished their prayers, they emerged and stood beside Maester Oswell.
Beyond the spectators, two long lines of men extended from the tower entrance all the way to the practice yard. These lines were formed entirely by the squires and guards of Starfall.
They wore armor and held various longswords—some wooden practice swords, some blunted tourney blades, and others sharp steel forged in the smithy or marked with a peach sigil.
The swords were drawn and crossed in pairs, blocking the path to the Palestone Sword Tower.
"What are you looking at?" Arthur asked casually, adjusting his clothes in the mirror. Lady Nym was draped lazily over the balcony railing, peering down.
Without turning her head, Nym replied in a soft, lethargic voice, "Watching to see how you pass the test."
"Watch closely then." Arthur pushed the door open. His squires were already waiting outside.
"My lord, we're here to help you into your rattan armor and padding," Jimmy said, rushing to open the chest filled with Arthur's gear.
Just as Zach was about to lift out the [Rattan Armor], Arthur waved a hand. "No need. Just bring my sword and follow me."
Jimmy swallowed hard, seeing that Arthur wore only a loose silk shirt on his upper body. He exchanged a glance with Vic Five and Vic Six, seeing only helplessness in their eyes.
Last night, many of the castle's squires—and even some knights—had tearfully begged them to make sure Lord Arthur wore full armor for the ceremony. They were desperate to deny him any chance to take his shirt off.
"You're not armoring up first?" The old master-at-arms called out from below, seeing Arthur in his loose shirt. "There's still plenty of time."
Arthur looked at the long lines of men and the forest of swords blocking his path. He spoke calmly. "Let's begin."
The first step of the ritual required Arthur to pass through the path guarded by the squires and guards of Starfall.
If any man in that line believed the candidate lacked the qualifications or character to enter the tower and become the Sword of the Morning, they would refuse to retract their blade.
In that case, the candidate would have to overcome them with swordsmanship or force.
It was a test of martial prowess or charisma. You either convinced them with your skill, or you convinced them with your soul.
"In the light of the Seven..."
As the septons and septas chanted praises to the gods, Arthur began to walk.
He moved at a steady, unhurried pace. Step by step, as he approached, the pairs of crossed swords opened before him like folding screens. The movement was swift, synchronized, and silky smooth.
"The Dawn brings the Morning, the Stars do not fall!"
As Arthur passed each pair of swords, the squires holding them shouted the words in unison.
Halfway down the line, a single sword remained crossed, blocking his path. Arthur looked at the holder and saw it was Kyler.
"S-Ser... my hand cramped... s-sorry," Kyler stammered, his sword hand trembling uncontrollably. "A-and... your shirt... the button came undone."
Arthur unbuttoned another button on his shirt, patted Kyler kindly on the shoulder, and continued forward.
Accompanied by the rhythmic chants of "The Stars do not fall," Arthur walked all the way to the door of the Palestone Sword Tower without meeting any real resistance.
He waved to Lady Nym, who was watching from the main keep, and then pushed the door open to enter the tower.
Outside, Prince Oberyn watched with a hint of surprise. He turned to Ser Ilic, the captain of the Starfall guard.
"The squires and guards of Starfall are so united in their belief in Arthur's character? Not a single person tried to stop him?"
Ser Ilic had known this would happen the moment he saw Arthur wasn't wearing armor. With a twitch of his lips, he replied, "Everyone in Starfall knows Lord Arthur's strength and character."
"Your Grace, my lords, please follow me inside to witness the ceremony."
Inside the Palestone Sword Tower, each level was guarded by a fully armored knight of Starfall. Their role was similar to the men outside: the candidate had to pass them through combat or charisma.
Arthur climbed the white stone steps, level by level. Every time he passed a floor, the knight guarding it fell in behind him.
By the time he reached the eighth floor, seven knights were trailing in his wake.
This wasn't the top of the tower, but it was the floor where Dawn rested.
Looking at the door—a sight so familiar from his dreams—Arthur felt a moment of disorientation. The line between dream and reality blurred.
"The Dawn brings the Morning, the Stars do not fall!"
Standing on either side of the door, Ser Balon and Ser Bard shouted the words, just as every knight and squire before them had.
Hearing their voices snapped Arthur back to the present. He nodded to them.
He remembered it was Ser Balon and Ser Bard who had first brought him to Starfall. In the blink of an eye, two and a half years had passed.
Ser Bard pushed open the door.
The room had a high vaulted ceiling. Tiers of white stone steps spiraled upward from the outer walls toward the center. At the highest point, a greatsword with a blade as pale as milk glass stood embedded in a white stone plinth.
Above the greatsword Dawn hung the banner of House Dayne: a sword and a falling star crossed on a field of lavender.
Arthur didn't approach the sword immediately. He stood to one side.
The seven knights who had followed him moved forward, taking positions on either side of the steps, forming a corridor similar to the one outside.
Then, the spectators filed in, lining the sides of the path formed by the knights and gradually filling the room.
To the left, closest to Dawn in the place of honor, stood Prince Oberyn, Lady Nym, and Sarella.
To the right stood Allyria, Edric, and Maester Oswell.
Under the gaze of everyone present, Arthur began to ascend the steps.
"Bravery!"
As Arthur stepped onto the first tier, all the knights shouted in unison.
"Temperance!"
"Diligence!"
"Justice!"
With each step, the knights proclaimed the virtues upheld by generations of Swords of the Morning. Arthur reached the highest point of the room, standing beside the white stone plinth.
Hummmm—
In the sudden silence of the room, a crisp, abrupt sound, like a whisper, echoed through the air.
It hadn't been noticeable over the shouting of the knights, but now that everyone was holding their breath and watching Arthur, the sound was distinct.
Just as people began to look around, wondering where the noise was coming from...
"Dawn... Dawn is moving?" Edric, standing close to the sword, pointed at the milky blade in the stone with wide eyes. "The sound is coming from the sword!"
Everyone looked. The glass-like greatsword was indeed vibrating—visibly shaking.
Hum-hum-hum—
As Arthur moved closer, the vibration intensified, as if the sword were eager to break free of its constraints.
Arthur placed his hand on the hilt. It felt like white jade, smooth and cool.
The moment he touched it, the vibration stopped instantly.
A warmth flooded from the hilt into his hand, invigorating his spirit.
Arthur barely applied any force. Dawn slid from the stone plinth as smoothly as if it were drawn from a well-oiled scabbard.
Arthur turned to face the crowd watching him from below.
He raised Dawn high with a single hand, his voice ringing out:
"THE DAWN BRINGS THE MORNING, THE STARS DO NOT FALL!"