Chapter 76: Departure and Harvest
King's Landing, the southern shore of Blackwater Bay, White Sand Village
"Ser Barristan, allow me to introduce him properly. This is the son of my sister Lyanna Stark and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. My sister told me on her deathbed that his name is Aegon Targaryen."
"This… this is impossible! Prince Rhaegar never set aside Princess Elia Martell before he left. This child could only be a bastard; he cannot bear the name Targaryen. This…"
Inside a small hut in White Sand Village on the southern bank of Blackwater Bay, Eddard Stark solemnly introduced Jon to Ser Barristan Selmy.
Unfortunately, the information Eddard revealed was so shocking that even the usually composed old knight was momentarily at a loss for words.
"The High Septon before the current 'Fat High Septon' presided over the marriage between my father and mother. But that does not truly matter to me. Whether I am called Jon Snow or Aegon Targaryen, it is only a name. What I truly wish to do is save this world."
Jon's expression remained extremely calm. After experiencing so many events, his control over his emotions had become very strong. Even when telling a lie, his face showed not the slightest change.
"Save… the world?"
Hearing Jon's answer, Ser Barristan felt somewhat bewildered.
Soon afterward, Jon explained to him about the future calamity of the Others, as well as the secret prophecy supposedly left behind by Aegon I Targaryen, the Conqueror.
"You… you mean the reason House Targaryen united the Seven Kingdoms was actually to prepare for the return of the Others?"
Barristan was stunned by Jon's explanation.
Information of this magnitude was extremely shocking to him. Creatures like the Others were things that most people considered nothing more than ancient legends.
Barristan had spent almost his entire life serving the royal family.
From the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen to King Robert Baratheon, whom Jon jokingly referred to as the "second mediocre king."
Although Barristan knew many royal secrets, his understanding of the deeper forces shaping the world was still quite limited.
Thus, hearing Jon speak of such grand ambitions left him deeply shaken.
In King's Landing, the nobles constantly schemed against one another using dirty tricks and honeyed words in their endless pursuit of power.
Yet none of them had ever truly spoken about protecting the realm itself.
Now, however, someone bearing the blood of House Targaryen was declaring that he intended to save the world.
To Barristan, the idea was almost incomprehensible.
However, after witnessing Jon's miraculous abilities firsthand, Barristan gradually began to believe at least part of what he was hearing.
"So in the future… I will die at the hands of a few assassins? Heh… that really does sound somewhat ridiculous."
After hearing about his supposed fate from a certain "future story," Barristan laughed self-deprecatingly.
"We still have time. My plan is to unite the strength of two continents and eliminate the threat of the Others once and for all. For that reason, I have already established a base in the Stepstones."
"You are far stronger than I am. I think I should return to the North and continue preparing our military strength. Until the Wall falls, I will keep persevering. As for the rest… I will have to leave it to you, Jon."
Hearing Jon's plan, Eddard Stark, who had been quietly standing nearby, finally spoke.
When they first traveled south, Jon had attempted to persuade him many times.
But the stubborn Eddard had still left Winterfell to help the brother he had grown up with.
At the time, Eddard truly could not understand how Robert Baratheon had changed so much.
Yet after personally witnessing the corruption, decadence, and political manipulation of King's Landing, Eddard finally understood the helplessness once felt by his ancestor Cregan Stark.
Northerners were simply not suited to life in the South.
Religion, customs, and countless cultural differences caused Southerners to view Northerners as outsiders.
These differences only deepened the conflict between the two sides.
If Eddard had remained true to his instincts from the very beginning, perhaps he would not have suffered such a complete defeat.
But now, regretting it served no purpose.
"The Free Folk beyond the Wall are also a major problem. As I mentioned before, you could send them to Skagos to help develop the island. As long as they have enough food, they should not become too unruly. We cannot simply ignore them. If their bodies become wights, they will only strengthen the army of the Others."
"Yes, I have already begun thinking about that issue. House Umber and House Karstark take a very harsh stance toward the Free Folk, but as long as I am there, they should be willing to show some restraint."
By now, Eddard had completely recovered from the shock of his defeat in King's Landing.
Jon had already told him how the Others might be defeated.
What Eddard needed to do now was steadily gather strength and resources in preparation for the possible final war.
"Ser Barristan, what are your plans for the future?"
After finishing his conversation with Jon, Eddard turned toward Barristan and asked directly.
"I… can I still continue fighting?"
After glancing at Jon, Barristan lowered his gaze to his own hands and once again fell into hesitation.
Part of him wished to follow Eddard north.
Another part of him wished to remain at Jon's side and witness how this extraordinary Targaryen intended to save the world.
Barristan's personality was not so different from Eddard's—honorable, stubborn, and sometimes indecisive.
Now he once again found himself torn between two choices.
"Jon is only just beginning his journey. For the time being, the North will remain stable. I hope you can stay by his side and assist him."
Seeing Barristan's internal struggle, Eddard offered the suggestion directly.
Then Ser Barristan the Bold looked at Eddard with hopeful eyes, as if silently asking:
"May I?"
"Honored Ser Barristan, I sincerely hope you will help me. Most of my followers are ordinary people who have never received formal training. I hope a true knight like you can teach them what honor means—and how to fight."
Jon spoke with genuine sincerity.
Ser Barristan was one of the greatest knights in the history of the Seven Kingdoms.
Even though, in a certain poorly concluded tale, this legendary knight died somewhat tragically.
But that was only because Daenerys Targaryen—Jon's so-called aunt—lacked capable commanders.
Jon would never make the same mistake.
A battle-hardened knight like Barristan was perfect for training soldiers or commanding armies.
Most importantly, there was absolutely no need to doubt his loyalty.
As a member of one of the most respected generations of the Kingsguard, Barristan Selmy's character and honor had been proven countless times.
Like Eddard Stark, he was a man to whom one could entrust their life.
"I have no titles now. No honors. Not even proof of my identity. Is someone like me truly worthy of your loyalty?"
Sensing Barristan's inclination, Jon asked calmly.
"True heroes and kings are judged by the people. Your ancestor, Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was, was exactly such a noble and fearless woman. She never became queen, nor did she receive any grand title—yet the world still remembers her name."
After speaking these words, Barristan drew the longsword from his waist.
Then he knelt upon one knee, planting the sword's tip into the ground before him.
"The Father will judge the truth of my oath today.
The Crone has shown me the path ahead.
The Mother's mercy, the Warrior's courage, the Smith's strength, and the Maiden's blessing will guide me.
Should I betray this oath of fealty, the Stranger may claim my life, and my soul shall suffer the torment of oathbreaking in the Seven Hells.
I am Barristan Selmy of Harvest Hall.
From this day forward, I will be the sword in the hand of Aegon Targaryen, and I will fight for him until the final moment of my life."
After reciting the oath, Ser Barristan bowed his head deeply.
Jon quickly stepped forward and helped him to his feet.
"Thank you for your trust, Ser Barristan. I hope you will continue helping my family just as you once helped my grandfather."
Ser Barristan was a living legend.
Among his many legendary deeds, perhaps the most famous was the time he single-handedly rescued King Aerys II Targaryen from captivity during the Defiance of Duskendale.
"I will, Prince Aegon."
At this moment, Barristan's eyes were slightly moist.
Though knightly virtue prevented him from boasting about his own deeds, the thing a knight like him feared most was being forgotten.
The insults from Cersei Lannister and Joffrey Baratheon had once left him feeling lost and directionless.
But from the moment Jon helped him rise to his feet, Barristan the Bold felt a renewed sense of purpose.
In his heart, he made a silent vow.
He would continue serving House Targaryen until the final moment of his life.
"Alright. Since matters here are settled, my dear uncle… it is time for you to begin your journey."
After gaining Barristan's loyalty, Jon felt extremely pleased.
However, he still had one final task to complete.
He needed to ensure that Eddard Stark and his family could safely return to the North.
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