[Winterfell Council Chamber: Power Disputes and the Rift in the North]
Early autumn in Winterfell always carried an lingering chill. Portraits of House Stark's past lords hung on the stone walls of the council chamber. Ned Stark's face was particularly clear in the candlelight, as if silently observing the disputes within the hall. Twelve major lords of the North sat around the oak long table, but the atmosphere was even more biting than the winds of the Wall. Earl Wyman Manderly slammed his bronze goblet onto the table, ale splashing onto the "Northern Military Strength List" laid in the center of the table. The red wine stain was like a glaring rift, cutting across the divided factions.
"Lord Jon is Lady Lyanna's son! He is the mingling of Targaryen and Stark blood!" Wyman's voice made the candlelight flicker. His corpulent hand pressed on the words "The North can send five thousand troops" on the list. "We should crown him, let the North once again become the core of Westeros, instead of letting him be a 'commander' at Queen Daenerys's beck and call!"
Earl Karstark, sitting opposite, immediately agreed. His eldest son had died fighting Wights at the Wall, and his eyes were now full of a thirst for power: "Wyman is right! Daenerys's council system allows commoners to dictate to nobles. If Jon ascends the iron throne, the lords of the North will regain the power that rightfully belongs to us! My House Karstark is willing to send two thousand cavalry to support Jon's claim to the throne!"
The hall instantly split into two factions: the "Orthodox" lords like Wyman, Karstark, and Umber advocated using Jon's identity to contend for the iron throne and restore noble rule; while the "Pragmatic" faction, including Earl Mormont and Howland Reed (Lord of Greywater Watch, representing the Crannogmen), were more concerned with the threat of the cold god, believing that vying for power now was tantamount to destroying the Wall itself. Earl Mormont clutched the dragonglass dagger at her waist, its blade reflecting her tense jaw: "Have you forgotten the ice mist beyond the Wall? The Night's Watch sent word yesterday that the walls of Eastwatch-by-the-Sea are already three feet thick with ice, and the Wights' roars can be heard at night! If we fight for power now, by the time the cold god breaks through the Wall, we'll all be turned into ice shards!"
"ice mist? That's just the Night's Watch exaggerating!" Earl Umber sneered. He was young and impetuous, had never personally experienced the Others' war, and remained skeptical of the cold god's threat. "Daenerys's Unsullied and Dothraki have dragonglass weapons, and Jon's allied army can stop the cold god! What we should be doing now is fighting for the greatest interests of the North, not worrying about outsiders!"
The arguments grew fiercer, the oak long table thudding with the lords' fists, and the Direwolf banners on the wall swayed with the noise. Sansa stood in the shadows of the council chamber, wearing a dark grey wool dress embroidered with the Direwolf sigil left by her mother Catelyn, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the hem of her skirt. Since Jon's identity was revealed, the rift in the North's power had never healed. Today's debate was merely a concentrated eruption of that conflict. She knew that if the dispute couldn't be quelled quickly, the North would not only be unable to support the allied army but might even fall into civil war, which was precisely the outcome the cold god most desired.
[Sansa's Breakthrough: Cold God Warning and the Crisis of the Wall]
"Silence, all of you!" Sansa's voice wasn't loud, but it carried the unique authority of a Stark lord, like a basin of cold water dousing the commotion in the hall. She walked to the center of the long table and placed a wax-sealed secret letter on it. The wax seal was Bran's exclusive Greensight mark. This was urgent intelligence that had just arrived from King's Landing last night, and she had deliberately saved it for today, precisely to break the deadlock at a critical moment.
"This is Bran's Greensight secret letter. See for yourselves." Sansa broke the wax seal and handed the letter to Earl Wyman. "He saw that the Wights army in the Arctic ice field has exceeded one hundred thousand, and the cold god's ice barrier is more formidable than expected. If the allied army cannot gather enough dragonglass weapons and R'hllor Warriors support within a month, the Wall will surely fall."
Wyman took the secret letter, his gaze slowly shifting from arrogance to solemnity. The letter detailed Bran's Greensight visions: the remains of the Ice Dragon Viserion resurrected by the cold god, the number of Ice Field Beasts increased to seven, and most terrifyingly, the cold god was using ice core fragments to transform "Wights Generals," who could manipulate localized ice mist and even be immune to ordinary dragonglass attacks. Karstark leaned over to read with him, his finger repeatedly tracing the words "the Wall will surely fall," his previous arrogance gradually fading.
"Not only that," Sansa pulled out another letter from her bosom, written by Night's Watch Commander Thorne, "the Wall only has eight thousand dragonglass arrows left, not enough for the Night's Watch to last ten days; the docks at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea are frozen by ice mist, and food transport has been interrupted for three days. The Night's Watch soldiers can only subsist on frozen hardtack. Jon sent word yesterday that he needs the North to send at least three thousand troops and ten thousand stones of provisions; otherwise, it will be impossible to establish an allied army landing point at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea."
Earl Mormont immediately stood up, slamming the dragonglass dagger at her waist onto the table: "My House Mormont is willing to send five hundred cavalry and donate two thousand stones of provisions! The North's root is the Wall. If the Wall falls, none of us will survive!" Howland Reed also expressed his stance: "Though the Crannogmen are not skilled in cavalry combat, we are familiar with swamp terrain and can send three hundred men to the Wall to assist in defending the ice fissures, preventing Wights from launching surprise attacks from underground."
The tide in the hall gradually turned. Earl Wyman put down the secret letter, a look of struggle on his face—though he yearned for the North to hold power, he also understood that the threat of the cold god was no exaggeration. Earl Umber still wanted to retort but was quietly tugged on the sleeve by his old steward. The steward whispered a reminder: "My lord, House Umber's lands are closest to the Wall. If the ice mist breaks through, we will be the first to suffer."
Sansa seized the opportunity, walking to Ned's portrait, her gaze sweeping over all the lords: "My father, to protect the North, preferred beheading to betraying his oath. We are Stark's vassals, guardians of the North, not slaves to power! If Jon wanted to contend for the throne, with his bloodline and the North's support, he could have acted long ago, but he didn't—he stayed at the Wall, eating frozen hardtack and sleeping on a stone bed, only to prepare the allied army against the cold god. Do you think he did it for his own power, or for the people of the North?"
Her voice carried a hint of a sob, yet every word was incisive. The lords looked at Ned's portrait and then recalled Jon's figure fighting the Others in Winterfell. Their desire for power was gradually replaced by guilt. Earl Wyman sighed and stood up: "Lady Sansa is right, I was muddled. House Manderly is willing to send one thousand cavalry and five thousand stones of provisions, fully supporting Lord Jon's allied army!"
Karstark also rose, his tone apologetic: "My House Karstark will send eight hundred cavalry and three thousand stones of provisions. I was short-sighted before and forgot the foundation of the North." Earl Umber, though reluctant, also had to state: "House Umber will send five hundred cavalry and two thousand stones of provisions, only asking that the allied army can hold the Wall."
In just half an hour, the Northern lords went from incessant arguing to a united front. Sansa watched the re-united lords, relieved—she knew this was only a temporary compromise, and the North's desire for power had not disappeared, but at least during this critical period of fighting the cold god, the North would not hinder the alliance.
[Winterfell Courtyard: Finalizing Specific Support Plans]
The afternoon sun shone through Winterfell's arrow towers, casting light on the snow in the courtyard (autumn snow always came early in the North). Sansa and the lords moved to a temporary tent in the courtyard to discuss specific plans for "how to support the allied army." Night's Watch messengers, Northern quartermasters, and dragonglass artisans sent by The Citadel all participated. On the parchment map inside the tent, red markers were densely packed, recording troop deployments and supply routes.
"The main cavalry forces of the North are concentrated in White Harbor and Winterfell. If they depart from White Harbor and take the coastal route to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, it will take five days," the quartermaster pointed to the blue route on the map. "However, the coastal ice mist has begun to spread, preventing ordinary merchant ships from passing. We will need the Iron Islands' longships—Lady Yara sent word earlier that she is willing to send five ships to assist with transport, on the condition that the North grants White Harbor's trade rights to the Iron Islands after the war."
Earl Wyman immediately agreed: "White Harbor's trade rights can be opened, as long as we can get the troops to the Wall as quickly as possible. I will have White Harbor's shipyards work overtime to equip the longships with dragonglass armor to prevent Wights attacks."
Lord Mormont, on the other hand, focused on the supply of dragonglass weapons: "The main dragonglass mine in the North is in Karhold. Currently, we can mine two hundred catties of dragonglass daily, but there aren't enough craftsmen to forge weapons in time. The dragonglass craftsmen from The Citadel said that if fifty Northern blacksmiths could assist, the daily weapon output could increase threefold."
Lord Karstark volunteered: "Karhold is very close to House Karstark's lands. I will send one hundred blacksmiths to the mine and transfer two hundred miners to ensure the dragonglass supply doesn't break."
Sansa watched the lords fulfilling their duties and gradually formed a complete plan in her mind: "First, troop deployment: one thousand cavalry from House Manderly, eight hundred cavalry from House Karstark, five hundred cavalry from House Umber, five hundred cavalry from House Mormont, and three hundred infantry from the Crannogmen, totaling three thousand one hundred men. They will be led by Wyman Manderly, Lord Manderly's eldest son, and will depart from White Harbor in three days, taking Yara's longships to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. Second, food and supplies transportation: five thousand stone from House Manderly, three thousand stone from House Karstark, two thousand stone from House Umber, and five thousand stone from other lords, totaling fifteen thousand stone. This will be transported in three batches. The first batch, escorted by Howland Reed and the Crannogmen, will depart tomorrow. Third, dragonglass support: House Karstark will be responsible for dragonglass mining and weapon forging in Karhold. In five days, the first batch of dragonglass weapons (at least two thousand dragonglass spears) will be sent to the Wall. Fourth, rear defense: I will remain in Winterfell to coordinate subsequent support for the North and simultaneously send scouts to patrol villages south of the Wall to evacuate civilians potentially affected by the ice mist."
No sooner had the plan been read than a Night's Watch messenger suddenly entered the tent, his face pale: "Lady Sansa, my lords, urgent news from the Wall—the Wights attacked Castle Black's granary last night, burning two thousand stone of provisions! Lord Jon wants us to send provisions as quickly as possible, or the Night's Watch won't last five days!"
Sansa's heart tightened, and she immediately adjusted the plan: "The first batch of provisions will depart this afternoon, escorted personally by Wyman Manderly, with two hundred cavalry accompanying him. The dragonglass weapons from Karhold will prioritize forging dragonglass arrows, with at least one thousand in the first batch, to be delivered to the Wall tomorrow along with the provisions."
The lords had no objections and immediately rose to make arrangements—Lord Manderly went to White Harbor to coordinate the longships, Lord Karstark went to Karhold to mobilize blacksmiths, and Lord Mormont went to rally the cavalry. The people in the courtyard instantly dispersed, leaving only Sansa and Howland Reed.
"Lady Sansa, you've done very well." Howland Reed looked at her, his eyes full of relief. "If Ned knew, he would surely be proud of you."
Sansa smiled slightly, her gaze fixed on the direction of the Wall: "I merely did what needed to be done. The unity of the North is the most powerful weapon against the cold god."
[Winterfell Godswood: Jon's Promise and Hidden Dangers]
At dusk, Sansa came to the Godswood alone. The branches and leaves of the weirwood swayed gently in the wind, and red sap dripped down the trunk, spreading dark red marks on the snow. She placed her hand on the rough bark of the weirwood, as if she could feel the power of the first men—this was House Stark's spiritual sanctuary. Ned had once taught Robb and Jon here that "the North remembers." Now, she too would make a promise for the North to Jon here.
"Jon, the North will support you." Sansa whispered, pulling a Direwolf badge from her bosom and placing it in the hollow of the weirwood. "I have convinced the lords to send troops and provisions. In three days, Wyman will arrive at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea with the cavalry. You no longer need to worry about insufficient forces."
She recalled another secret letter Bran had sent last night, which mentioned that "a small number of Northern lords are secretly in contact with Jason Lannister of the Westerlands and might oppose Jon after the war," but she had not told the other lords—the North needed unity at this moment, and no new cracks could be added. Sansa knew that Jason's goal was to use the North's internal conflicts to split the alliance. If these lords truly sided with Jason, the North might fall into new turmoil after the war. But for now, fighting the cold god was the top priority; other issues could only be resolved after the war.
"However, I will not let you repeat Robb's mistakes." Sansa caressed the bark of the weirwood, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "The North's support is to protect our homeland, not to make you a puppet of power. If the post-war council truly ignores the North's interests, I will lead the Northern lords to fight for our rightful claims."
The sun set in the west, and golden afterglow scattered across the snow in the Godswood. The shadow of the weirwood stretched long, like a protective barrier. Sansa stood up, brushed the snow from her clothes, and walked towards Winterfell—she still had much to do: checking the packing of provisions, confirming the cavalry's equipment, replying to Jon's secret letter... Every task concerned the fate of the North and the alliance.
When Sansa returned to Winterfell, the courtyard was already bustling—soldiers were packing provisions, blacksmiths were forging dragonglass weapons, and messengers on swift horses weaved through them. The air was filled with a tense yet hopeful atmosphere. She walked to the castle wall, looking towards White Harbor. The longships there should be ready, waiting only for tomorrow's sunrise to carry the North's support, sailing towards the Wall, towards the battlefield against the cold god.
Sansa knew that this was only the beginning of the North's support for the alliance. Subsequent provision transport, troop deployment, and dragonglass supply would encounter countless difficulties, and might even face obstruction from Jason Lannister. But she was not afraid—because she was a Stark, the Lady of the North. Behind her were the united Northern lords, the loyal Northern people, and the spirit of the North that Ned Stark had protected with his life. And this spirit would eventually become an important force for the alliance against the cold god, radiating the North's light on the Arctic ice fields.
[The North's Support and the Alliance's Hope]
Three days later, White Harbor's port was bustling with people. Wyman Manderly led three thousand one hundred Northern cavalry aboard the five longships sent by Yara. The deck of each ship was piled high with provisions and dragonglass weapons, and the sails were embroidered with the Stark Direwolf sigil and the house sigils of various Northern lords, fluttering in the sea breeze.
Sansa stood on the high platform at the port, watching the longships slowly depart White Harbor and head towards Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. Howland Reed, beside her, handed her a reply from Jon. The letter read: "Thank you for the North's support. With you, the allied army will surely hold the Wall and defeat the cold god. After the war, I will personally return to Winterfell to discuss the future of the North with you."
Sansa clutched the reply, her eyes glistening slightly. She knew that Jon's promise was not empty words; he would, like Ned, protect the interests of the North and the peace of Westeros. In the distance, on the sea, the shadows of the longships gradually diminished, finally disappearing where the sea met the sky. But the North's support, like a warm current, flowed along the coastline, towards the Wall, towards the heart of the alliance.
At the same time, at Castle Black on the Wall, Jon received news of the North's support departing. He stood atop the Wall, looking at the southern horizon, his heart filled with gratitude—the North was his root, the source of his strength. With the North's support, the allied army felt more confident. Thorne walked up to him, handing him a newly forged dragonglass spear: "My lord, intelligence from the R'hllor Warriors at The Citadel has also arrived. Melisandre will reach King's Landing in three days, and the training of the R'hllor Warriors can begin very soon."
Jon took the dragonglass spear, its tip glowing particularly brightly in the sunlight. He looked at the distant Arctic ice fields, his heart firm: "No matter how thick the cold god's ice mist, it cannot block the power of dragonflame, dragonglass, and R'hllor Warriors. No matter how far the road to the North, it cannot sever our determination to fight the darkness. This war, we will surely win."
The sea breeze of White Harbor still blew, the dragon banners on the Wall still fluttered, the North's support had embarked on its journey, and the hope of the alliance was converging. Under the shadow of the cold god, the people of Westeros were weaving a web against the darkness with unity and courage, and the North's support was one of the strongest threads in this web, which would ultimately firmly trap the cold god and protect this war-torn land.