I dreamed that the King broke his right hand."
Jon Snow announced mysteriously in the Winterfell Training Yard.
Theon gave a sharp smile. Theon Greyjoy was always smiling, as if only he understood everything around him. "bastard, last night I dreamed I was at the Smoking Log Inn, sleeping with the Queen."
Jon Snow had long been accustomed to Theon's arrogance. Nine years ago, Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, launched a rebellion. Lord Eddard Stark, along with King Robert, suppressed the Iron Islands rebellion, forcing Lord Balon to kneel and offer a hostage. As Lord Balon's only surviving son, Theon was sent to Winterfell to become Lord Stark's ward.
When Theon first arrived in Winterfell, he was only ten years old. He was a few years older than Jon and Robb, and they grew up together. Theon always saw himself as the heir to the Iron Islands and looked down on the Bastard Jon.
Jon Snow had long been accustomed to Theon's arrogant attitude. He didn't mind, crossing his arms and placing them under his armpits. "Theon, my dream is not the same as your dream. My dream is a prophetic dream, and it will surely come true."
Actually, Jon Snow was a transmigrator. He had traveled from the Blue Star to the continent of Westeros. Jon Snow knew the tragic fate of House Stark and himself in the future, and he decided to pretend to be a prophet first, hoping to change his destiny against the heavens.
Theon sneered, "Is that so? Are you one of those Greenseers from Old Nan's stories?"
Robb looked at Jon thoughtfully. "Jon, since when do you have prophetic dreams? The King broke his right hand? What does that even mean?"
"Which King? Mad King Aerys? Torrhen Stark, the King Who Knelt? Or the current King on the iron throne, Robert Baratheon?"
Jon Snow cleared his throat. "Of course, it's the King Stag currently on the iron throne, Robert Baratheon. In my dream, King Robert broke his right hand."
The sigil of House Baratheon is indeed the crown stag.
At this moment, Lord Eddard Stark walked over, surrounded by a group of people.
Eddard Stark had a long face and black hair. Although he was only in his thirties, gray strands already appeared in his black hair. He wore a simple gray wool coat. The white-haired Master-at-Arms of Winterfell, Ser Rodrik Cassel, Maester Luwin, and Winterfell's Captain of the Guard, Jory Cassel, among others, followed beside Lord Eddard.
Jon's seven-year-old younger brother, Bran Stark, was also among them.
Jon Snow, Robb, and Theon successfully attracted Lord Eddard Stark's attention. Lord Eddard walked over with his entourage.
"What are you talking about?"
Robb said proudly, "Father, Jon had a dream, and he believes it's a prophetic dream."
Lord Eddard immediately became interested. "What dream?"
Jon Snow recounted the dream of the King breaking his right hand. Lord Eddard frowned deeply. "The King's right hand? Isn't that the hand of the king? Could it be related to Jon Arryn?"
Jon Arryn was the Lord of the Vale. Jon Arryn was not only Lord Eddard's foster father but also his good-brother. Many years ago, during the War of the Usurper, Lord Jon Arryn and Eddard, together, married the Tully sisters in Riverrun, thereby establishing the great alliance of the Vale, the North, The Riverlands, and The Stormlands, which completely ushered in the demise of the Targaryen dragon dynasty.
Jon Snow turned gracefully, looked at the sky, and then said apologetically, "my lord, last night I observed the celestial phenomena, and stars fell in the direction of King's Landing and The Vale of Arryn. These past few days, I dreamed that the King broke his right hand. Under the new moon, a falcon falls to the earth. I believe Jon Arryn is about to pass away."
Lord Eddard was a little angry. "Jon, Lord Arryn is a good man. Your name was given after Lord Arryn. Are you cursing Lord Arryn?"
Maester Luwin, who was standing by, excitedly stroked the chain around his neck. "Jon, have you been listening to Old Nan's stories too much? You've been rambling these past few days. How do you know anything about prophecy?"
Jory Cassel, Captain of the Winterfell Guard, echoed, "Yes! Jon also told me that a Night's Watch deserter would surely be caught near Winterfell these days."
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances. Lord Eddard stroked his Ice sword belt. "Jon, what's this about a Night's Watch deserter?"
Jon Snow said with certainty, "I dreamed it. Three ravens lost their way in a Haunted Forest, and one is flying towards Winterfell. A bronze broken spear, a poacher dies, and only an old soldier who has lost his ears survives. That deserter will arrive soon, bringing a bronze broken spear and tidings of pale death."
There was a moment of silence among the group. Beads of sweat covered Maester Luwin's bald scalp. "This child is becoming more and more erratic."
Captain of the Guard Jory Cassel frowned uneasily. "Jon even told me the deserter's name and appearance."
Theon Greyjoy let out a pheasant-like laugh. "But that's impossible. A Night's Watch deserter caught only faces death. If a deserter has any sense, he wouldn't dare approach Winterfell."
Ser Rodrik Cassel, Jory's uncle, tugged at his white beard with his fingers. "Jon, you've been talking nonsense these days. This is not a good omen."
Farrow walked over, leading a pack of hounds. He said gruffly, "Jon Snow told me that a Direwolf's body would be found in the Wolfswood, along with six pups."
Bran, a sweet seven-year-old boy, came closer. "Are there really pups?"
Theon said in an undeniable tone, "Bran, if you believe Jon Snow, then your intelligence is no different from Hodor's! Everyone knows that Direwolves have long been extinct. For hundreds of years, at least south of The Wall, there has been no trace of them."
Jon Snow showed a profound smile. "Time will prove me right."
At this moment, Harwin Moran, Deputy Captain of the Winterfell Guard, hurried over. "my lord, the patrol caught a Night's Watch deserter in the Wolfswood outside Winterfell."
Lord Eddard, Maester Luwin, Bran, Robb, Farrow, Ser Rodrik Cassel, and others all looked at Jon Snow in shock.
Robb broke the silence. "Jon, is this Night's Watch deserter the one you dreamed of?"
"Yes. In my dream, the old gods showed me his appearance and his name."
Lord Eddard's face stiffened. House Stark were devout followers of the old gods. "Jon, you mentioned the old gods. I hope you are not lying. What does that deserter look like? What is his name?"
Jon Snow said calmly, "His name is Gared. He lost both his ears to frostbite, and he will bring terrible news."
In the courtyard, soldiers in chainmail with the Direwolf sigil emblazoned on their chests escorted the Night's Watch deserter. The man was dressed in black wool breeches, a black cloak, black gloves, and a black coat, all dirty. His hood covered his head and the sides of his face.
Lord Eddard stroked Ice. "What is your name?"
The old soldier lowered his head. "Gared."
Robb, Jory Cassel, Theon, Bran, and others looked at Jon in shock.
Lord Eddard was not superstitious. He said, "Take off your hood and let me see your ears."
The hood was removed, and just as Jon Snow had said, Gared's ears were replaced by two fleshy lumps. Gared said, "my lord, many years ago I was on watch on The Wall. It was snowing heavily, and I lost my ears to frostbite."
Theon touched his chest in shock, looking at Jon Snow. "By the drowned god! How can such a thing happen? Is Jon Snow a wizard? He actually prophesied all of this."
Lord Eddard was not too concerned about the deserter before him. He was worried about his foster father, Lord Jon Arryn, in King's Landing a thousand miles away. Jon Arryn now served as King Robert's hand of the king.
The King lost his right hand. Lord Eddard instantly felt that a storm was brewing.
Lord Eddard pulled himself together. "Gared, why did you desert?"
Gared spat out some blood. "It was that damn fool Waymar Royce. He took me and Will to patrol the Haunted Forest. Will used to be a poacher, and then we encountered... encountered... an attack. Young Lord Waymar Royce and the poacher Will both died."
Maester Luwin, Theon, Robb, Lord Eddard, and others gasped in shock. A bronze broken spear. The sigil of House Royce is bronze. When Waymar Royce went to The Wall, his father, Lord Bronze Yohn Royce, brought him and stayed in Winterfell for many days. Everyone in Winterfell was deeply impressed by Waymar Royce.
Jon Snow not only predicted Waymar Royce's death but also the poacher Will who died with him.
Jon Snow had grown accustomed to the shocked gazes of the crowd.
Lord Eddard began to worry. If Jon could predict the future, did he already know his own parentage?
On the surface, Jon Snow was Eddard's bastard, but in reality, Jon Snow was born to Eddard's sister, Lyanna. His biological father was the last true dragon, Rhaegar Targaryen.
Eddard had kept this secret for many years. Jon Snow was a remnant of the former dynasty, and if Robert found out, not only would Jon's own life be in danger, but House Stark would also be implicated.
Lord Eddard had no choice but to push aside his thoughts and said to Gared, "Waymar Royce and your poacher companion are both dead, but that is no reason for you to desert."
Gared said helplessly, "It was the Others..."