The wedding procession returned a day later than expected. Along the way, noble parties traveling to Highgarden to attend the wedding joined them—families whose lands lay north of Highgarden: the Rowan family from Goldengrove, the Meadows of Grassy Vale, the Merryweather family from Longtable, and many others. The procession grew larger and moved more slowly, finally reaching Highgarden the day before the wedding.
The previous day, hunting parties led by the Lord of Highgarden, the Lord of Storm's End, and the Prince of Dorne had already returned, bringing together all the Riverlands lords at Highgarden. That evening's banquet was on a scale William had never seen before. Nearly a hundred long tables filled the hall, yet every seat was occupied; the hall was teeming with guests.
On both sides of the hall, bands played continuously; dozens of singers, clowns, and acrobats weaved among the tables, performing energetically. Nobles clinked glasses and drank heartily. Singing, music, laughter, and the clatter of cups blended together, filling the hall with a lively, almost blazing atmosphere.
William sat at a long table far from the high platform. Beside him were Harrenhal's instructor, Ser Robin Guberk, and Ser Rosso Brunn, whom William had personally recruited. They had also only arrived at Highgarden that afternoon. At the same table were several knights from the Stormlands, whom he did not know well.
"Thank you both for your efforts," William said, raising a glass to Rosso and Robin. "Fortunately, the wedding is tomorrow, and the tourney starts the day after—you can take a proper rest."
"No worries, Ser William. The journey was comfortable enough," Rosso replied with a confident smile. They had first traveled along the King's Road to King's Landing, then taken the Rose Road to Highgarden. The road was smooth, filled with merchants; if hungry, they could eat at an inn; if late, they could sleep at a lodge. The pace was relaxed, nothing like the desperate, wandering life he had led as a hired knight. This only made him more grateful to William.
"Even if the tourney starts tomorrow, there's no problem!" Robin nodded in agreement, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Master Tobho has also arrived, staying at an inn in town."
"Oh?"
"He asked if you could bring him to the wedding tomorrow, so that when gifts are presented, he can explain them publicly, ensuring no one misses the subtle details."
"Not bad. He's thoughtful," William nodded repeatedly. "Ser Robin, please take Master Tobho into the castle tomorrow. When presenting gifts to Garlan, I'll bring him along."
The food was delicious, the wine exquisite. The three of them ate heartily while discussing Harrenhal matters. To sum it up: money makes things easier! The power of the Whent family was visibly recovering.
Recently, a dispute had arisen between the Darry family and the vassal Haigh family of the Freys. In Westeros, minor noble conflicts were common; since they were weak and small-scale, the great houses rarely intervened. But this time, for some unknown reason, the old Frey sent five hundred soldiers to support the Haigh family. Naturally, the Darrys requested Harrenhal's aid, and Lord Walter immediately dispatched eight hundred cavalry.
Seeing the situation escalate, Riverrun stepped in to mediate. The conflict was ultimately avoided, but it sent a strong message: the powerful Whent family had returned.
By mid-drink, many guests began moving about.
Seating was arranged by status and family, but affinity could not be dictated, so many people called friends or formed small circles. The atmosphere grew even livelier.
William was quite popular in the Riverlands; people continually approached to drink and converse. William spoke cheerfully with everyone, and thanks to his enhanced body, he could drink endlessly without getting drunk.
Suddenly, Erren came over excitedly. "William, Ser Garth wants you to come over."
"What's the matter?"
"Good news—you'll see when you get there."
William, puzzled, followed him and saw Garth with a few knights holding wine cups, standing in a corner of the hall, surrounding an elderly man with a full head of white hair. Though aged, he still radiated a strong presence.
"Him!" That was William's first reaction upon seeing the elderly man.
Garth was tall, broad-shouldered, and imposing; walking down the street, most people instinctively felt they couldn't provoke him and would try to keep their distance.
But compared to the elderly man beside him, Garth suddenly seemed approachable, almost like a charming young boy.
William stepped forward and stood at the edge with Erren. Seeing him, Garth gestured for him to come closer, then respectfully introduced the white-haired man. "Ser, this is my squire, William Hightower."
The elder nodded gracefully, his eyes full of satisfaction and approval. Even the blue eyes that usually carried a hint of sorrow now seemed gentler.
"William, this is Ser Barristan Selmy, Commander of King Robert's Kingsguard."
"So it's him," William thought with relief, then straightened with respect. "Ser Barristan, it's an honor to meet you. I grew up listening to stories about you."
Barristan smiled serenely, radiating calm and composure. "No need to be so formal, William. Your uncle was never like that."
William's memories of his uncle were few. "Uncle Oswell died in battle not long after I was born. I don't know much about him—could you tell me about him?"
His uncle, Oswell Whent, and Barristan had both served in the Kingsguard under King Aerys II, working together for over a decade. Oswell, with his dark sense of humor, had always been the life of the Kingsguard, and Barristan had grown fond of him. Seeing William, who resembled Oswell in some ways, naturally stirred a sense of affection.
The older one loved reminiscing; even someone as mighty as Barristan was no exception. Once he started, he couldn't stop, recounting events from the Brotherhood of the Kingsguard battles years ago, all the way back to the tourneys in King's Landing decades earlier.
Barristan recalled being knighted after a King's Landing tourney, King Aegon gently placing the longsword on his shoulder while he stammered his oath. Everything felt like it had happened yesterday, leaving him deeply moved.
Garth seized the moment. "William is sixteen this year. Would it be possible to have you knight him?"
William was both shocked and overjoyed. Barristan looked surprised.
"When he first arrived in Oldtown, I thought he would only become an ordinary knight, inheriting his title and being known as the Lord of Harrenhal. But he has proven far more capable than I imagined," Garth said, patting William's shoulder with emotion. "Whether through his remarkable tourney achievements or his fearless actions at Tenmile Town, he has exceeded all expectations. His future is limitless, which is why I specifically invited you to Highgarden for this matter."
Looking at the composed Garth and then the vibrant young William, Barristan's face showed satisfaction. Yet the more he liked William, the more he hesitated to knight him. Although he had King Robert's pardon, it still violated the vow he had sworn to Aerys II—a stain that could never be washed away.
"Garth, I am touched that you value this old man so much. But I should have died more than a decade ago… There is no excuse. William is a fine boy with a bright future; he should be knighted by one who truly embodies the spirit of knighthood."
Garth fell silent.
William's eyes shifted, and he spoke. "To mortals, fate is unpredictable and mysterious. But I believe the Seven Gods have already arranged each person's path—who shall die when, and who shall bear a mission and move forward."
Hearing such poetic words, everyone looked at him in confusion.
Yet he fixed his gaze on Barristan. "Perhaps the Seven Gods arranged an easier path for Uncle Oswell and the others, while your path was far more arduous. Perhaps the future holds more trials, more challenges for you."
Barristan's eyes narrowed slightly, as if dazzled by the bright lights of the hall.
William knelt halfway before him, his tone reverent. "You have become a legend, yet the legend is not finished. To be knighted by you would be the greatest honor of my life."