When William and Malora emerged from the cave, they encountered knights cautiously exploring its depths. To his relief, after being attacked by the ravens, they had merely fallen into the pool beneath the waterfall, most sustaining only minor injuries.
The group returned to High Heart to reunite with Dora and the others, spending the night on the summit.
That night, William had a dream. Hazily, he saw a raven with a third eye on its forehead staring intently at him. He woke with a start to pitch darkness, the only sound the mournful wailing of the wind outside his tent, like sobbing and lamentation.
Early the next morning, the party set out with the rising sun. They traveled day and night, quickly returning to Harrenhal. Hearing the roar of machinery, watching the hurried steps of the workers, and recalling the vast, mysterious, and treacherous forest, William felt as if a whole lifetime had passed since he was last here.
The banquet was grand, with the Hall of a Hundred Hearths filled to capacity with guests.
As the wine flowed freely, William recounted the events of his journey with a mixture of truth and jest, describing the objective merely as searching for the Ghost of High Heart. His tone shifted between thrilling and humorous, his gripping tale of the colossal bear, the sky-blotting ravens, and the mysterious cave eliciting gasps and admiration.
A group of young knights frequently pounded the table, raising their glasses in unison and shouting toasts: "To the Bear-Slayer!", "To the Raven-Beak Survivor!", "To the Ghost of High Heart!" and so on, keeping the hall filled with laughter and a lively atmosphere.
After the banquet, William, Walter, and Shella retired to the study.
As soon as the servant left and the door closed, Shella asked with concern, "You truly encountered such a large bear? You weren't injured, were you?"
William flashed a brilliant smile. "Please don't worry, Mother. Hurting me isn't an easy thing to do."
"The finest knight in the Seven Kingdoms," Walter laughed, his voice filled with no small amount of pride.
Shella shot Walter a slightly exasperated look and pressed for more details.
Upon hearing William explain the whole story behind the Harrenhal curse, the tragic fate of the Green Seer, and the countless tragedies that ensued, she couldn't help but sigh, lamenting the unpredictability of fate.
Walter's expression turned serious. "So what now? Leaving this matter unresolved is a lingering worry."
"That's why I've decided to go North, to resolve the curse of Harrenhal once and for all."
"North? To the North?" Walter asked.
"Uh, further north."
Walter drew a sharp breath. "You mean beyond the Wall?"
"Beyond the Wall..." Shella thought for a moment, then her face paled with shock. "That's the Land Beyond the Wall! With the wildlings! No, it's too dangerous!"
"Don't worry, Mother," William said, taking his mother's hand, which was cold from fear. "Perhaps it truly is the will of the Seven that I resolve this curse. If I don't, and after my time, the Whent family has no one else capable of wielding magic, disaster will still befall us."
He looked at Walter, then back at Shella. "Unless this curse is lifted, Harrenhal will never know peace."
Seeing Shella's eyes redden and well with tears, Walter gently pulled her into his arms, kissed her forehead, and whispered softly, "It's alright. The child has grown up."
The next day, the tailors of Harrenhal received orders to begin prototyping cold-weather gear.
When selecting William's guards, consideration had been given to his secrets, so these guards were all tight-lipped. The outside world only knew that Ser William had accompanied Lady Malora on a trip to High Heart but returned disappointed, having failed to see the legendary Ghost of High Heart.
In the following days, Malora resumed her travels and excursions, while William was exceedingly busy: working with the magician to create magical metal; expanding the production scale of the hydraulic workshops with Lavender; and frequently going out to train with the cavalry.
This busy routine lasted for over half a month, until William received a letter from Tobho, stating that the materials for the Valyrian steel armor from the various families had arrived. He immediately set out for King's Landing with his guards.
On the Street of Steel, at Tobho's smithy, William saw the Valyrian steel items piled up like a small hill in the secret room and smiled with satisfaction.
The Westerlands and the Reach were the two wealthiest regions in Westeros, and Renly was the king's beloved brother. These three parties were truly lavish, sending far more material than needed for three sets of armor. Without a doubt, the two of them were about to make a hefty profit once again.
Considering that the upcoming trip beyond the Wall would likely involve dealing with wights, and possibly even White Walkers, a Valyrian steel weapon was essential. After the appraisal, William pointed to the largest pile of Valyrian steel items sharing the same origin. "Once reforged, these materials should be enough to make a short sword, right?"
"Indeed," Tobho immediately understood his meaning. "If you need it, I can have it shaped by tonight."
"Then I leave it to you, Master," William was pleased with Tobho's perceptiveness.
Tobho then gave a mysterious smile. "Ser, my serving girl heard some news."
"Oh?"
"She accidentally overheard the servants from Highgarden who delivered the materials chatting. They mentioned that Lady Margaery is currently in King's Landing."
William was taken aback for a moment, a youthful smile flashing in his mind.
"Thank you for the news, Master Tobho."
The wealthy Tyrell family naturally had their own property in King's Landing. After leaving the smithy, William and his guards went to a luxurious mansion near the Old Gate. The entrance was planted full of roses of various colors and shapes.
Even without banners, one of the guards at the door recognized the visitor immediately. "Ser William!" he said, his voice tinged with what sounded like pleasant surprise, much like a fan meeting their idol.
Soon, a steward came out to receive William and his party. A seemingly shy young maid led William to the rear courtyard.
The courtyard was very quiet, filled with flowers and shaded by green trees. A bird landed on a branch, sang a few pleasant notes, then another bird flew over. After a moment, the two birds flew away together.
A rockery stood in the center of a pond, with water continuously flowing from its top, creating a splashing sound. By the pond was a small pavilion, shaded by trees and reflected in the rippling water. The little rose stood gracefully beside a white stone table, the breeze stirring her brown hair and carrying a faint, delicate fragrance.
Margaery wore a smile and said lightly, "Good day, Ser William."
William gazed at her, catching a flicker of joy in her eyes. "Long time no see, Margaery."
Hearing his distinctive greeting, Margaery's three companions couldn't help but cover their mouths with light laughs. After greeting William cheerfully, they moved to a corner of the courtyard to amuse themselves.
Margaery turned gracefully and sat on a long white stone bench, appearing somewhat languid. "How does it feel to be home?"
"Home is warm, and I've been very busy," William walked over to stand opposite Margaery, placing a hand on the stone table but not sitting down.
"Busy?" Margaery tilted her head. "That's true. You are the heir to Harrenhal. I imagine many people are eager to make your acquaintance."
"No, busy thinking of you," William looked deeply into her eyes.
The moment Margaery lowered her head shyly, William walked around the table and sat down beside her. The wide stone bench easily accommodated both.
She didn't move away, merely shooting him a charming, adorable glare.
"What brings you to King's Landing?" William asked.
Margaery averted her gaze, seemingly watching the water casually. "I just came for a visit."
William naturally didn't believe that was the whole reason, but he didn't want to press the matter now. "Then why not visit Harrenhal?"
Unprepared for the invitation, a hint of hesitation appeared on Margaery's face. "Going to Harrenhal... wouldn't that be somewhat inappropriate?"
"Why should it be?" William said. "Lady Malora has been staying at Harrenhal recently."
"Oh? Aunt Malora hasn't returned to Oldtown?" Margaery looked surprised, and her gaze at William became complex. "Well then. It just so happens I've finished my business in King's Landing. I can leave at any time."