Benjen Stark was clad in a black raven-feather cloak, a black wool tunic, and black fur boots. He possessed the typical Stark features: dark hair, a long face, keen and sharp looks, and piercing grey-blue eyes. He was tall and lean, yet full of strength.
Benjen embraced Jon warmly, "Jon, you've grown taller."
Jon said happily, "Uncle, you must stay longer this time."
As the youngest son of the family, Benjen Stark had no inheritance rights. His elder brother Brandon was the heir to Winterfell. After Brandon's tragic death at the hands of Mad King Aerys, Winterfell and the North passed to Benjen's second brother, Eddard. Benjen chose to join the Night's Watch, becoming a black knight on The Wall.
Initially, Benjen was just an ordinary Ranger, but his early training in sword, shield, and horsemanship, combined with his literacy, allowed him to quickly stand out in the largely illiterate Night's Watch. Now, Benjen is the First Ranger of the Night's Watch, and is also considered a strong candidate for future Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.
Direwolf Ghost liked Benjen very much. It opened its mouth and licked Benjen's palm. Benjen exclaimed in wonder, "I never expected to find a Direwolf south of The Wall. Beyond the Wall, we often hear the cries of Direwolves, and occasionally encounter them."
"Jon, I've heard all about it. You dreamed of a Direwolf, and the dream came true. You also dreamed of the Night's Watch deserter Gared."
Jon nodded, "Yes, Uncle, I've found that some of my dreams always come true."
Benjen's gaze showed approval, "That's an extraordinary talent. I've heard Maester Aemon speak of it; some people have Green Dreams, and this talent is more common among the crannogmen, Northerners, and wildlings, because they are all descendants of the first men, and the first men worship the old gods."
Theon, standing nearby, approached with a wide smile, "Imagine, if a Ranger had the talent for prophetic dreams, your Night's Watch might be able to predict the movements of those infamous raiders."
Jon immediately saw through Theon's ill intentions.
Benjen pondered for a moment, "Theon, you're right. If a Ranger possessed the talent of dream prophecy, then whether it's "Doghead" Harrigan, Ygritte the Raven's Beak, Tormund Giantsbane, or King-Beyond-the-Wall Mance Rayder, we would know all their movements."
Theon smiled, "You should bring Jon Snow to join the Night's Watch. I believe, with Jon's abilities, he can certainly become a Ranger."
In the past, Theon had no regard for Bastard Jon. Theon, as the future heir of the Iron Islands, naturally wouldn't pay any mind to a baseborn like Jon. Jon had also always appeared sensitive and insecure.
However, Jon recently displayed his talent for dream prophecy, becoming a favored person in Winterfell and even the North. Whether it was Lord Eddard, Maester Luwin, Ser Rodrik Cassel the Master-at-Arms, or Hullen the Master of Horse, and Farrow, every one of them paid close attention to Jon.
Previously, Theon and Jon, both outsiders living under someone else's roof, shared a certain sense of camaraderie in Winterfell's halls. But now that Jon was in the limelight, Theon felt uneasy.
To drive away the rising baseborn, Theon suggested Benjen take Jon and have him join the Night's Watch.
As a transmigrator who had read *A Song of Ice and Fire*, Jon naturally understood what kind of person Theon was and saw through his motives. Jon responded with silence.
Theon exaggeratedly widened his mouth, "Why don't you want to join the Night's Watch? I remember you mentioning before that you wanted to serve in the Night's Watch and guard The Wall. Do you look down on the men of the Night's Watch? The Night's Watch is the kingdom's steadfast shield!"
Jon snorted, "Theon, Uncle Benjen is in the Night's Watch. How could I possibly look down on the Night's Watch? My respect for the Night's Watch doesn't mean I have to join it."
Theon persisted, a mischievous smile on his face, "You are a baseborn. If you don't join the Night's Watch, do you intend to live under someone else's roof in Winterfell your whole life? Joining the Night's Watch is your most correct choice."
"In the Night's Watch, even a baseborn has a chance to rise to a high position. The commander at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea is a baseborn from the ironborn. What was his name again?"
Theon looked at Benjen for help. Benjen said calmly, "Cotter Pyke."
Theon clapped his hands exaggeratedly, "Right! That's the name. Pyke is indeed the surname for baseborn on the Iron Islands, just like Rivers in The Riverlands and Snow in the North. Jon, you should learn from this Cotter Pyke and join the Night's Watch!"
Jon truly wanted to smash Theon's smiling face. He said calmly, "Thank you for considering me so thoroughly. Theon, perhaps you should join the Night's Watch. Your archery and wit would surely allow you to stand out in the Night's Watch."
Theon made a face, "I wish I could, but unfortunately, my father is the King of the Iron Islands, and I must inherit the Seastone Chair in the future, becoming the King of the Iron Islands and the leader of the raiders. This is my destiny."
The Direwolf Ghost let out a bark, and a plan formed in Jon's mind.
"Theon, I hate to tell you, but I've actually dreamed of your future. In the future, a whore in iron armor, a man with raven's eyes, and a bull in heavy plate armor will contend for the King of the Iron Islands at the Kingsmoot by Nagga's Bones."
"The Iron Islands and the Seastone Chair are not destined for you."
Theon sneered, "I don't believe your nonsense. There hasn't been a Kingsmoot in thousands of years, and I am my father's only son; I am the rightful and only heir."
He explained so much because Theon felt uncertain. Theon couldn't help but wonder, who was the whore in iron armor Jon spoke of? Asha? As for the man with raven's eyes, it was clearly his terrifying uncle, Euron Crow's Eye.
As for the bull in plate armor, Theon thought it might be some strong ironborn captain; such types were common on the Iron Islands.
Had Jon inadvertently foreseen his future? Theon grew increasingly afraid. In recent days, all of Jon's prophecies had come true, whether it was the Night's Watch deserter, the death of the hand of the king, or the Direwolf; there was no exception.
Theon felt uncertain, but he feigned composure, "I am the heir to the Iron Islands; there will be no Kingsmoot. Jon, you said you dreamed of a Kingsmoot, so I ask you, if I didn't participate in the Kingsmoot, where was I?"
Theon had taken the bait. Jon had clearly planted a terrifying seed in Theon's mind. Jon said calmly, "Dreams don't always come true. Perhaps if I dream of it later, I will tell you."
Theon forced a relaxed smile, "I don't care about a baseborn's dreams." Yet he was already calculating where to go to pray.
As an ironborn, Theon was originally a follower of the drowned god, but Winterfell was simply too far from the sea, and the drowned god had no power there.
Theon grew up in Winterfell. House Stark were followers of the old gods, and Theon also enjoyed soaking in the hot springs of the Godswood. Theon's first kiss, and his first taste of relations between men and women, also took place in the Godswood, but Theon was not, after all, a follower of the old gods.
As for the Seven, Theon was even more unfamiliar. There were few followers of the Seven in Winterfell. After Lord Eddard married Lady Catelyn, a small sept was built to give Catelyn a place to pray.
Ultimately, Theon decided to go to the brothels; the prayers there would help Theon forget his troubles more effectively.
The Night's Watch deserter Gared was held in the dungeon. Lord Eddard, Jon, Robb, and Benjen descended the spiral staircase into the dungeon together. Robb and Jon held torches high, dispelling the darkness before them.
Theon, carrying the Valyria greatsword Ice, followed at the rear of the group.
Lord Eddard said, "Benjen, you must know this deserter Gared very well."
Benjen sighed, "Gared has served in the Night's Watch for over thirty years. He has been on The Wall longer than Old Bear, and perhaps only Maester Aemon and a handful of others have been on The Wall longer than Gared. I never dreamed he would become a deserter."
Lord Eddard said, "Gared says Ser Waymar Royce's patrol was attacked."
At the mention of Waymar Royce, Benjen couldn't help but frown, "Ser Waymar Royce was completely reckless. He's just a young lordling. Old Bear and I originally intended to refuse his request to lead a patrol alone, but he is, after all, Bronze Yohn's son, and we still rely on the Vale to send men to the Night's Watch, so we couldn't offend House Royce. Therefore, we could only agree to him leading the patrol. I never expected that on Waymar Royce's first patrol, his Ranger squad would be attacked by wildlings."
Jon lowered his voice, "Not wildlings. Gared insists they were attacked by Others. The Others killed Waymar Royce and another Ranger named Will."
The name Others seemed to dim the entire dungeon, and even the torches in Jon and Robb's hands began to tremble incessantly.
Robb said with a tone of absolute certainty, "There are no Others in this world. The Others, like giants and the Children of the Forest, are just creatures of songs and legends."
Benjen pondered for a long time, "South of The Wall, that is certainly true. But Beyond the Wall, in the Haunted Forest, the Frostfangs, and the Frozen Shore, who can say?"