For an ordinary merchant caravan, the journey from Winterfell to the Wall was a long trek that could take several weeks, or even the better part of a month.
But for Winter, it was a distance covered by merely a few beats of its wings.
When that shadow, which blocked out the sun, swept over the Last Hearth—the final line of defense in the North—the soldiers of House Umber stationed there looked up in terror, believing the Long Night had descended prematurely.
...
"Wooo—! Wooo—! Wooo—!"
Three long, urgent horn blasts shattered the eternal silence above the Wall.
The Night's Watch recruits sparring in the training yard froze, the color draining from their faces.
Three blasts.
White Walkers!
"Everyone! To the Wall!"
"Archers, ready!"
Castle Black exploded into chaos instantly.
Countless brothers of the Night's Watch in black cloaks rushed from their posts, swarming toward the giant winch elevator.
However, when they reached the top of the seven-hundred-foot ice wall and looked north, they saw nothing.
No eyes glowing with ghostly blue light, no army of the dead.
The Haunted Forest was dead silent.
"What happened? Was it a mistake?"
A new ranger asked in confusion.
"Impossible!"
A seasoned veteran beside him looked grim.
"The horn blower wouldn't make such a novice mistake!"
Just then, a sharp-eyed sentry pointed toward the southern sky, his voice trembling with disbelief.
"Look... look to the south!"
Everyone instinctively turned.
On the southern horizon, a massive black dot was rapidly enlarging at a speed visible to the naked eye.
What was that?
As the black dot grew closer, revealing its hideous and colossal silhouette, the entire Wall fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone stood rooted to the spot.
It was a dragon!
A dragon exuding even more oppressive pressure than the ice wall beneath their feet!
It had three heads!
Its scales were the glacial blue found only in the Lands of Always Winter!
"My... Seven Gods..."
A longbow slipped from a watchman's hand. His legs gave way, and he knelt directly onto the cold ground.
This exceeded their understanding, overturned their worldview.
At this moment, Jeor Mormont, the "Old Bear," emerging from the Lord Commander's Tower, and Benjen Stark following behind him, also saw this scene.
Shock appeared on Mormont's weathered face.
"Is that Winter?"
The raven that was his constant companion was so frightened it burrowed straight into his collar, shivering.
Boom—!
Ignoring the tiny "crows" on the Wall, Winter folded its wings and landed precisely in the empty courtyard of Castle Black.
The massive impact shook the entire castle, sending snow flying in all directions from the shockwave.
Winter's three massive heads looked curiously at this strange yet faintly familiar environment.
The head on the left smelled roasting meat drifting from the kitchen, stretched its neck, and opened its mouth, wanting to steal a bite.
It was promptly head-butted back by the "big brother" in the middle, who let out a dissatisfied growl as if scolding it for being disgraceful.
Holding Myrcella, Lynn leaped down from the dragon's back.
"Lynn!"
Benjen Stark reacted first. With a look of joy, he strode forward to meet him.
He gave Lynn a strong embrace, then looked curiously at the dragon that had completely awed everyone present.
"You... making such a big commotion."
Benjen's voice was filled with emotion.
Jeor Mormont also walked over.
He looked at Lynn, then at Winter, who was pitifully rubbing its head against Lynn, his eyes filled with utter shock.
He had lived a long life and thought he had seen everything.
But the scene before him still felt like a dream.
How long had it been? And Winter had grown this big?
"It is good you have returned."
Lord Commander Mormont's gaze finally landed on Myrcella, whose hand Lynn was holding. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"And this is..."
"Princess Myrcella."
Lynn introduced her calmly.
"By order of the King, she is here to experience life in the North."
Mormont's pupils constricted slightly.
The waters of King's Landing were colder than the wind and snow beyond the Wall.
He didn't ask about things he didn't need to know. He simply nodded and ordered his men to take Princess Myrcella to a guest room to rest.
Winter seemed very interested in this strange yet familiar place.
The head on the left was still persistently looking toward the kitchen.
The head on the right was curiously studying the giant winch elevator.
Only the middle head kept its eyes fixed on Lynn, like a loyal bodyguard.
---
The dungeons of Castle Black were dark, dry, and cold.
The air reeked of excrement.
Following Mormont and Benjen, Lynn walked into this sunless place.
"The group of wildlings is in there," Mormont said.
Passing through a narrow corridor, several cages welded from thick iron bars came into view.
Most of the wildlings huddled in corners, looking at these "crows" with a mix of fear and hatred.
Only one cage was different.
A lithe, red-haired woman leaned against the cold iron bars, arms crossed over her chest, watching the three approaching men coldly.
There was dirt on her face and clothes, but those grey eyes were like cold stars of the far north, bright and stubborn.
Her long, fiery red hair was the only bright color in this grey space.
Ygritte.
She saw a flash of disdain in Lynn's eyes.
Another soft-skinned Southerner.
She spat on the ground.
"What are you looking at? Never seen a Free Folk before?"
"Crow who's knelt so long to a king he can't stand up!"
Her voice had a rasp to it, full of wildness.
Lynn's eyes lit up.
Benjen frowned and was about to scold her.
But Lynn raised a hand to stop Benjen.
"It's fine, Uncle Benjen."
"I'll handle it."
Lynn walked up to the cage, looking with interest at this prickly wildling girl.
"I heard from Benjen that you shot several of his brothers," Lynn asked curiously.
"They deserved it."
Ygritte met Lynn's gaze without shrinking back, hatred in her eyes.
"Who told them to trespass on our land?"
"Your archery is good." Lynn replied irrelevantly.
Ygritte paused, then lifted her chin, a trace of pride on her face.
"Those kissed by fire are born the best archers."
Lynn smiled.
He turned his head to look beyond the cage, where Winter had poked its head through a window from the courtyard, looking in curiously.
Winter's middle head saw Lynn seemingly in a standoff with a woman.
It opened its mouth, a low, threatening growl rumbling in its throat.
Just one low growl, and the terrifying dragon aura solidified the air in the dungeon.
The other wildlings in the cages trembled in fear, wishing they could bury themselves in the dirt.
Ygritte's face went instantly pale!
She followed Lynn's gaze.
When she saw the hideous dragon head poking through the window—a head almost larger than her entire body—the pride in her grey eyes was instantly replaced by terror.
What kind of monster was that?!
"Now, can we have a proper talk?"
Lynn's voice sounded again.
Ygritte's lips moved, but she couldn't say a word.
In the face of absolute power, any stubbornness or pride seemed pale and weak.
"I need to see your leader," Lynn said directly.
"The King-Beyond-the-Wall, Mance Rayder."
Hearing this name, both Mormont and Benjen's expressions changed.
Mance Rayder, once one of the Night's Watch's finest rangers.
Now the common leader of all wildling tribes, a headache for the entire North.
"Why do you want to see him?"
"He is an oathbreaker!"
Mormont's voice was full of confusion.
"To make a deal with him."
Lynn's gaze returned to Ygritte.
"Winter is coming. The Long Night is long."
"The true enemy is awakening. We don't have time to fight amongst ourselves."
Lynn looked at Ygritte's shocked face and spoke word by word.
"I want you to take me to him."
"Tell him I can give all his Free Folk a way to live."
"A way to live without enduring hunger and cold, without being hunted by White Walkers."
Ygritte was completely stunned.
Her mind went blank.
This man with the dragon... what was he trying to do?
He knew about the White Walkers?
He wanted to make peace with Mance?
This was like a fantasy story!
"Why should we believe you?"
Ygritte asked reflexively, but upon glancing at the dragon, her voice involuntarily grew weak.
Lynn didn't answer.
He simply extended his hand, and the lock on the cage clicked open.
"Because I can let you walk out of this cage."
Lynn looked at her, his eyes calm.
"Now, tell me your choice, girl kissed by fire."
"Will you continue to stay in this cold cage, waiting to be executed?"
"Or will you take me to see your new King, and gamble for a better future for your people?"