... "Hey, Bran!"
"Where are you?"
Winterfell in the early morning, benefiting from being surrounded by the ancient Godswood and the fact that the last winter was many years ago...
This capital of The North was always full of vitality; the calls of various birds and insects echoed each other, and the air seemed to be filled with the fresh scent of earth.
But at this moment, the Lady of Winterfell, Catelyn Tully, was in no mood to appreciate such beauty.
Lifting her skirts, she ran around anxiously, calling out repeatedly in an attempt to find her son.
Since marrying Eddard Stark, this virtuous and strong woman had dutifully borne him five children.
The eldest son, Robb, had gradually grown up and would soon become a man of The North capable of standing on his own.
The youngest son, Rickon, was still small, still in that adorable state of clinging to his parents all day, which was very reassuring.
It was the second son, Brandon Stark, nearly ten years old, who caused Catelyn the most worry.
This fast-growing brat always loved to race through Winterfell on his strong legs, climbing the high walls whenever he had the chance.
Though Eddard and Catelyn had warned him countless times, Bran, who inherited the "Wolf Blood" genes of his parents, had the spirit of adventure flowing in his bones.
He would promise faithfully to her Face that he would never climb the walls again, only to forget it the moment he turned around, continuing to go his own way.
Catelyn was frantic with worry; normally it wouldn't matter, but according to reliable reports, King Robert and his party would soon arrive at Winterfell.
Out of hospitality, all of the Duke's children were expected to stand at the castle gate to welcome the King.
Bran's four siblings had been obediently waiting at the East Gate since early morning; now only this brat was missing.
"Hey, Mother!"
Just as Catelyn's blue eyes were searching anxiously, a crisp shout suddenly came from above her head.
Looking up, she saw a young boy who shared forty or fifty percent of her features peering over the wall, greeting her sneakily.
"What are you doing, Bran?"
Afraid of startling her son, Catelyn lifted her skirts and lowered her voice, waving him down with as gentle a tone as possible:
"Come down quickly, the King is almost here!"
"It's fine, Mother."
Unlike Catelyn's anxiety, Bran shook his head, his auburn hair fluttering in the wind.
His blue eyes, identical to his mother's, were full of innocent hope:
"I haven't seen the Stag banner yet!"
"Oh, you little rascal!"
Seeing her son's unhurried manner, Catelyn urged him even more urgently:
"For the Face of the old gods, come down quickly."
"If your father doesn't see you in a moment, I'm afraid you won't escape another reprimand!"
Hearing his mother bring up Eddard, Bran, who had always held his serious and stern father in awe, didn't dare to be stubborn any longer.
But before climbing down the wall, he still turned back reluctantly to look outside the castle once more.
In his expectant gaze, a golden Stag banner slowly appeared on the Kings Road.
Immediately following it were crimson Lion banners that blotted out the sky, like a flood nearly swallowing the golden Stag.
"The King is here, the King is here!"
An excited Bran turned his head and shouted loudly to his mother, climbing down the wall with nimble hands and feet in just a few steps.
Clearly, for the sport of climbing, he was more gifted than Tyrion's short legs... In the King's party, Robert, who was walking at the very front, had a long Face, as if everyone owed him millions of Gold Dragons.
He had really been stifled these past few days.
As a prime male with immense desires, Robert had bedded almost every whore in King's Landing over the years.
Going a few days without a whore was almost more painful for him than death.
It had been a long time since he had been on such a long journey; under the watchful eyes of the public, it wasn't convenient to bring a few whores along, and since he was unwilling to bed his beautiful Queen, he could only keep it bottled up... though Cersei had absolutely no interest in him either.
Fortunately, Robert could still hunt occasionally along the way to vent some of his unspent energy.
Moreover, the outline of Winterfell was now faintly visible.
Gazing at Winterfell in the distance, a flicker of deep nostalgia flashed in Robert's eyes.
It was not just for his good brother and comrade-in-arms of many years, Eddard, but more for the lover he missed so dearly, who had died long ago.
"Lyanna..."
Softly calling the name of his beloved, Robert seemed to see that beautiful figure with long brown hair again.
Though so many years had passed and he had almost forgotten her appearance, the obsessive love in his heart had become a fixation that haunted his thoughts day and night.
"This damn fat pig..."
In the carriage nearby, Cersei pulled back the curtain, her emerald eyes full of anger.
Seeing Robert shaking his head and sighing, how could she not know what he was thinking at this moment?
She hadn't expected that after all these years, she would still never compare to a dead person in his heart.
Gritting her teeth in resentment, Cersei turned to look at the handsome man riding a tall horse in white plate and a white cloak nearby:
"Ser Jaime!"
After many days, finally hearing his lover's call again, Jaime immediately trotted his horse over eagerly:
"Your Majesty, what are your commands?"
Leaning down, the excitement in Jaime's eyes was impossible to hide; Robert had indeed been stifled these days, but hadn't he been as well?
Since leaving King's Landing, Cersei hadn't spoken a single word to him; even when he found excuses to talk to her, she would just turn away.
This had plunged Jaime into deep worry, fearing that Tyrion might be right—that Cersei had truly been attracted to Arthas and changed her mind.
"Dear Ser Jaime."
Cersei leaned her head out, almost pressing against Jaime's ear, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Winterfell is coming; I'm sure there are very 'quiet' places in the castle."
Knowing Jaime would never refuse her, a flicker of vengeful pleasure flashed in Cersei's eyes:
"I think you should serve your Queen well."
"As you command, my Queen!"
Having received his orders, Jaime hurried his horse forward, constantly urging the procession to move faster, the fire in his chest seemingly uncontrollable.
At the back of the procession, The Imp, who had been riding close to The Mountain, watched Jaime's excited behavior and shook his head helplessly, yet he also felt a sense of relief.
It seemed Arthas hadn't climbed into Cersei's bed, which was why she was so angry.
Otherwise, he would have been the only brother in this family who hadn't bedded the Queen...
"Your Majesty, I think you should see this."
Just as Robert was lost in deep nostalgia, a Kingsguard also in white plate and a white cloak trotted from the back of the line to his side, respectfully handing over a slip of paper.
"What is this, Ser Arys Oakheart?"
Taking the paper nonchalantly, Robert asked casually.
For this Kingsguard who protected him at all times, Robert's trust in the upright Arys far exceeded anyone else's, perhaps second only to Barristan.
"News from King's Landing, Your Majesty."
Bowing his head slightly, Arys showed the respect due to a king.
"It seems to be from your Master of Whisperers, Lord Varys."
Though this King was no longer the warrior of his youth, his methods of winning people's hearts remained brilliant.
After the Kingsguard were defeated by Arthas, Robert had not only refrained from blaming them but had shown them extraordinary magnanimity and concern.
Arys was very satisfied to be able to guard such a wise monarch, even if the man's private life was a bit messy...
Hearing his subordinate's report, Robert frowned and opened the note with some confusion.
Despite leaving King's Landing, he had already arranged for Renly to oversee state affairs for him before he left.
Logically, in just a few days, no major changes should have occurred.
Reading the contents of the note carefully, Robert's eyes grew wider and wider.
Killed the High Septon of the Faith and privately appointed a new one? The King's Landing Hundred-Day Purge?
Renly and Barristan stood by and watched, even providing some support?
The more Robert read, the angrier he became; his chest heaved continuously, and his fat Face couldn't stop trembling.
What he found most unacceptable was that the former Commander of the Gold Cloaks had actually been found guilty of corruption, with all Gold Dragons confiscated to the public treasury?
With a snap, he crushed the note in his hand, his eyes under heavy dark circles almost spitting fire.
This Arthas is truly too much!
Who in all of King's Landing didn't know that Janos was working for him, the King!
Of those million-plus Gold Dragons, ninety percent belonged to him!
And what were those two fellows, Renly and Barristan, doing?
It was one thing not to stop such crazy behavior, but to actually aid and abet it by showing support?
No, this cannot go on.
Recalling what Varys had said in the letter—that the commoners of King's Landing were actually cheering 'Long live Arthas'—Robert's heart couldn't help but twitch.
Though the cheers of these low-level commoners had no impact on his throne, a Lannister stirring up trouble in King's Landing and actually thriving...
This was not a good omen.
Robert now deeply regretted the decision to appoint Arthas as the commander of the city watch.
But who would have thought that a golden-haired youth who seemed so loyal, honest, and upright would rebel immediately after he left King's Landing?
"Arys!"
With no time to lose, Robert immediately shouted to Arys beside him:
"Write a letter in my name and send it back to King's Landing."
"Tell Renly and Barristan to keep a close eye on Arthas; they cannot let him do anything else out of line. Everything will wait until I return to King's Landing."
Slapping the back of his horse hard, this once-valiant warrior narrowed his eyes, a killing intent radiating from him as if he had returned to his invincible youth:
"Tell Renly I give him the greatest authority, acting as hand of the king."
"If necessary, he can directly dismiss Arthas from his position as commander of the city watch!"
The string of orders left Arys somewhat startled and uncertain, wondering what Varys had told the King in the letter.
But being immensely loyal, he didn't ask further and immediately trotted his horse toward the back of the procession.
After Arys left, Robert looked with burning eyes at the now clearly visible gates of Winterfell, a strong sense of crisis rising in his heart for no reason.
In all his years as King, this was the first time.
"Ned, I think I've made another mistake."
Clenching his fist tightly and smashing it against his leg, Robert was now impatient to see the person he trusted most in this world.
He prayed silently, having made up his mind to use whatever means necessary to get this lord of winterfell from the far North to come out of retirement.
"Unknowingly, the Lannisters have surrounded King's Landing, surrounded your King."
"Now only you can help me."
"You must help me, Ned."
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