"The true King of the Seven Kingdoms... Gendry Baratheon the First?!"
The lords of the Vale exchanged bewildered looks.
None of them understood why a king named Gendry had suddenly appeared.
Back at the Gates of the Moon, Galon had proposed raising one of King Robert's other bastards to the throne.
Lord Royce, however, recognized Ser Barristan the Bold at once.
His heart stirred.
In an instant, he realized the situation in the Riverlands did not match what Galon had previously described.
Frowning, Lord Royce instinctively turned toward Galon.
The northern and Riverlands lords did exactly the same.
That single reaction immediately told Barristan who truly held authority within the camp.
'So...'
'Galon Glover... the King's Protector.'
He sighed quietly, a rare spark of excitement flashing across his eyes.
Since arriving at the Crossing, Barristan had heard countless stories of Galon's achievements.
Some northern lords had even proclaimed him the finest swordsman in all Westeros.
'The greatest swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms?'
'Were the king not my priority, I'd truly like to see what gives you the confidence to claim such a title.'
Seeing everyone's attention fixed upon Galon, Barristan realized they were all waiting for him to respond.
He stepped forward, fixing Galon with a sharp gaze, intending to once again emphasize Gendry's legitimate claim.
But Galon acted first, effortlessly breaking the awkward silence.
He did not look at Gendry.
Nor did he question Barristan.
Instead, after the initial shock faded from his face, it transformed into overwhelming joy.
He hurried down from the commander's seat, walked straight past both Barristan and Gendry, and stopped before the girl dressed as a boy.
"Arya..."
"It's really you!"
His voice trembled with disbelief and genuine happiness.
He embraced her tightly.
"You're alive!"
"When Sansa hears this... she'll be happier than anyone."
Only then, surrounded by Galon's familiar presence, did Arya's grief finally burst free.
Her nose twitched.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.
"Galon... Father's dead... Robb is dead... Rickon is dead... They're all gone..."
"I'm the only one left..."
As Arya broke down sobbing, Barristan's prepared speech died in his throat.
Exactly as Galon intended.
While quietly comforting Arya, Galon's thoughts raced. Gendry's appearance had completely disrupted everything he had planned.
'We're standing on the brink of a decisive battle with the Lannisters. I can't allow anything to divide the army now.'
'The North and the Riverlands aren't the problem. They don't care who Gendry is.'
'But the Vale...'
His promise to the Vale had been simple:
Acknowledge one of King Robert's bastards as king.
Now Gendry had arrived bearing the status of Robert's legitimized heir. To the Vale, he was the perfect candidate.
'If they acknowledge him... My command could be in danger.'
'Even the prestige I gained through the Trial of Seven might begin to crumble.'
'And this isn't the original course of events. Gendry has suddenly become a king.'
'What will he choose to do?'
Countless questions flooded Galon's mind.
Gendry's arrival affected everything.
One wrong move could shatter the fragile balance Galon had built with such effort.
'No. I can't allow this to continue. At least not yet. I need time to think.'
His decision was made almost instantly.
He would delay.
Only after carefully considering every consequence would he decide how to deal with Gendry.
'First...'
'I need to send Arya away. Her identity is too sensitive.'
'She can't be here speaking on Gendry's behalf.'
A faint smile appeared on Galon's face as he gently ruffled Arya's hair.
"Don't cry. It's over now."
"Thank the Old Gods. If Sansa and Jon knew you were alive... They'd be overjoyed."
He released her and carefully wiped away her tears.
"Oh, Arya. Lady Catelyn came back with me."
Arya's eyes widened instantly. "Mother's here too?"
Galon nodded with a smile.
"She was wounded and now she's recovering. I'll have someone take you to her."
He looked toward the tent entrance.
"Guard."
"Escort Lady Arya to Lady Catelyn's tent."
One of Galon's guards immediately stepped forward.
Galon smiled at Arya.
"Go."
"Don't keep your mother waiting."
Arya nodded vigorously before hurrying out of the tent.
Galon watched her disappear. Only after her footsteps faded did he slowly turn toward Gendry.
The gentle smile still rested upon his face.
But behind it, his deep eyes examined the young man as though they could see straight through him.
The atmosphere inside the command tent froze once again.
Under Galon's penetrating gaze, Gendry shifted uneasily and instinctively took a step backward.
Barristan's heart tightened.
Thinking Galon intended to act against the boy, he immediately stepped in front of Gendry like a lion protecting its cub.
Yet that very gesture only exposed Gendry's weakness.
To the battle-hardened lords of the North and the Riverlands, the sight was almost laughable.
Greatjon openly snorted with amusement.
Even several Vale lords looked at Gendry with faint contempt.
Galon shifted his attention to Barristan.
"And you are...?"
Lord Royce answered before Barristan could.
"Lord Galon, this is Ser Barristan Selmy, known as Barristan the Bold, former Lord Commander of King Robert's Kingsguard."
Galon nodded thoughtfully before asking, "Ser Barristan. What brings you here?"
"When I left King's Landing, I seem to recall you swore yourself to Joffrey."
Royce's words immediately stirred discussion throughout the tent.
Galon continued smoothly.
"So it truly is Ser Barristan.
I've also been wondering... What exactly happened in King's Landing?
Why have you appeared here... Together with Lady Arya... And the young man standing behind you?"
At the phrase "the young man behind you," laughter spread throughout the tent.
The assembled lords looked upon Gendry with even greater disdain.
Barristan inwardly cursed the situation.
Before he could explain, the silent Hugh Hill stepped forward.
"My lords."
"Allow me to explain."
After a brief pause, he introduced himself.
"My name is Hugh Hill of Maidenpool.
When the events in King's Landing unfolded, I served as King Robert's attendant."
He recounted everything that had happened on the night of King Robert's death.
How he had informed Lord Eddard Stark. How Littlefinger and the City Watch had betrayed Ned Stark.
Bang!
Greatjon slammed the table so hard it shook.
"That damned Littlefinger! He betrayed Lord Stark! I'll kill him myself!"
"So King Robert wasn't mortally wounded by a boar..."
"Cersei murdered him!"
"The Lannisters murdered their king!"
"Their crime deserves death!"
The long-hidden truth ignited righteous fury among every noble who had been unaware of what had truly happened.
Galon allowed the outrage to build before adopting an expression of solemn grief.
"Ser Barristan."
His calm voice instantly silenced the entire tent.
"You were Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. You swore to protect your king.
Yet King Robert still died to Cersei Lannister's conspiracy.
Then, when Lord Stark presented the king's lawful command... You abandoned the Hand of the King... And bent the knee to the false king Joffrey.
Now you come before us... Claiming Lord Stark's command was legitimate all along."
He looked directly into Barristan's eyes.
"Ser... What exactly is your purpose?"
His voice was icy.
He had to cast doubt upon the legendary Kingsguard.
Only then could he weaken the authority of the royal testament Barristan had brought and buy himself precious time.
"I..."
Barristan opened his mouth.
His aged face, so long associated with honor and integrity, became filled with profound shame.
Galon's words struck him like repeated lashes.
He found himself unable to answer.
Finally, he lowered his head.
"I... am guilty.
I failed my oath as a Kingsguard. I failed to protect King Robert.
I allowed him to fall to the Lannisters' conspiracy.
I clung to the honor of the Kingsguard... And ignored Lord Stark's lawful testament.
Instead choosing to kneel before the incest-born Joffrey."
His honesty won no sympathy.
Instead, many of the assembled lords regarded him with open disdain.
A knight who could not protect his own king had little standing to lecture anyone else.
With only a few sentences, Galon had stripped away nearly all of Barristan's former prestige.
Yet Barristan refused to abandon his duty.
After admitting his failures, he stepped aside to reveal Gendry once more.
"My sins... Should be judged by the king and by the gods.
But Gendry Baratheon is the lawful king of the Seven Kingdoms. Everyone present should swear their loyalty to him."
Barristan looked hopefully toward the gathered lords.
Galon merely smiled.
"My lords." He looked around the tent. "Ser Barristan asks us to recognize a king."
After a brief pause, he slowly shook his head.
"But a true king... Does not require recognition."
His gaze moved past Barristan and settled directly upon Gendry.
"Gendry... Prince. You heard everything the good ser has just said.
If you wish us to acknowledge you... then tell me. Tell every lord gathered here.
What makes you worthy of earning our support?"
Instantly, every eye in the command tent focused on Gendry.
They silently evaluated the supposedly legitimized bastard. What could he possibly offer in exchange for their allegiance?
Even Barristan and Hugh remained silent.
Both understood that this was Gendry's greatest opportunity to win over the assembled nobility.
Whether through personal ability or political value, he simply needed to present something tangible.
Unfortunately...
Gendry stood there completely bewildered.
He had utterly failed to grasp Galon's hidden meaning.
"I..."
His lips moved.
But in the end, no words came out.
Disappointment spread across every face.
The northern, Riverlands, Vale, and Ironborn nobles looked at him with growing contempt.
Even Barristan and Hugh could not hide their disappointment.
Galon stood quietly for a moment.
The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.
At last, he understood.
'Gendry was only ever a blacksmith's apprentice. Politically, he's a blank sheet of paper.'
'Aside from Barristan... he has no real supporters.'
'And that... is my greatest opportunity.'
'If I can place my wager before anyone else... and cut off every other hand reaching toward him...'
'Then his fate will rest entirely in mine.'
Looking at the embarrassed Gendry, Galon's thoughts continued racing.
'The only problem is... How do I prevent the other factions from making direct contact with him?'
'He's still unmarried. Every noble house will want him.'
He suddenly paused.
'Unmarried... A marriage alliance?'
A flash of understanding crossed his eyes. In an instant, he knew exactly what he needed to do next.
Suppressing the thought for the moment, Galon spoke calmly.
"Guards."
"Escort Prince Gendry away. Let him take some time to think."
He offered Gendry no further opportunity to speak. For now, he intended to leave the young man isolated.
Barristan wanted to argue.
But Gendry, red-faced with embarrassment, had already turned and hurried out of the tent without looking back.
With a helpless sigh, Barristan followed him.
Once they had left, Galon behaved as though nothing unusual had happened and resumed the military council.
Only after the meeting concluded did he finally leave the command tent.
He politely declined the invitations of the assembled lords.
After standing in thought for a moment, he turned and headed toward Lady Catelyn's tent.
Galon intended to arrange a marriage alliance.
__________
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