Chapter 199

“Lord Aegor, please wait!”

Hearing the shout, Aegor turned to see three Gold Cloaks galloping toward his convoy, visibly out of breath. His heart sank. The scene conjured memories of Yoren’s doomed attempt to smuggle Arya north in the original timeline. Was he now walking the same dangerous path as the old black crow? Would his fate be the same?

A quick glance at his surroundings reassured him somewhat. His convoy was surrounded by over fifty armed and trained Night’s Watch logistics soldiers, not to mention dozens of drivers and support staff. Three City Watch soldiers wouldn’t stand a chance of taking Arya away by force.

No, they wouldn’t succeed, but that wasn’t the problem. These men wore the gold cloaks of the City Watch—they represented the king. To oppose them meant to oppose Renly Baratheon himself.

Should he refuse them outright or silence them permanently?

There’s an old saying: “The barefooted fear nothing, but those in fine shoes tread carefully.” Aegor was far from barefoot—he was practically wearing gilded boots. With the majority of the Night’s Watch industry’s assets still in King’s Landing, he couldn’t afford to sever ties with the Iron Throne so recklessly. Without the industry’s income, he wouldn’t even be able to sustain the soldiers surrounding him, let alone build any kind of fallback base in Crown Hill.

So, what was the lesser evil? Hand Arya over to protect the industry? Or deliver Arya safely to the Starks, knowing that doing so might prompt the Iron Throne to seize his assets, forcing him to start over from scratch?

Logic dictated that the Starks couldn’t offer him anything of comparable value to the industry he had built. But emotionally, he couldn’t bring himself to betray Arya. Torn between these two impulses, Aegor signaled Arya to hide inside the nearest carriage, then slowed his horse to a stop, waiting for the Gold Cloaks to catch up.

“Gentlemen of the City Watch, what brings you here?” Aegor feigned ignorance, putting on his best polite smile. If they insisted on searching, he’d let them search. If they found Arya… well, he’d see if bribery could settle the matter.

“By order of King Renly,” the lead Gold Cloak said, nodding courteously as he handed Aegor a sealed document.

...

No mention of Arya? Aegor’s smile didn’t falter, but unease churned in his chest as he broke the seal and unrolled the parchment. Relief washed over him as he read the contents.

“By the authority of Renly I, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, all titles and powers of Ser Jaime Lannister, the ‘Kingslayer,’ are hereby revoked. He is sentenced to join the Night’s Watch to serve the kingdom and atone for his crimes.”

...

“The king asked me to relay this as well,” the lead Gold Cloak said. “He does not wish for you to exercise your right to reject Jaime’s conscription.”

“Additionally, Lord Tywin Lannister has specifically requested that either Lord Commander Jeor Mormont or you, as Chief Logistics Officer, be the one to escort Ser Jaime to the Wall. Should there be no objections, you are to collect him from the Golden Tooth fortress before crossing the Neck.”

So that’s what this was about. Aegor’s anxiety subsided. As long as it wasn’t about Arya, it was manageable. As for being named specifically to escort Jaime, it was undoubtedly Tyrion’s doing. The reasoning was clear enough: without a Night’s Watch officer of sufficient status and notoriety, ensuring Jaime’s safe arrival at the Wall would be nearly impossible.

“I understand,” Aegor replied. “But if I may speak candidly, our path to the Wall will take us through the Riverlands and the North. Whether Jaime Lannister is allowed to join the Night’s Watch will ultimately depend on the Tullys and the Starks.”

“That’s your problem to solve, Lord Aegor,” the Gold Cloak said with a grin. “His Grace is confident that ‘the Chief Logistics Officer’s capabilities will smooth over any difficulties.’” He hesitated, then leaned in slightly. “Consider this a bit of friendly advice: Lord Tywin has sent letters to all relevant parties. He’s promised that the Westerlands will swear fealty to whichever king allows Ser Jaime to don the black.”

...

So that’s how it was. Aegor immediately understood Tywin’s ploy. Both Renly and Stannis would inevitably seek to punish the Lannisters for Robert’s murder once they solidified their rule. Tywin’s strategy was to preemptively negotiate terms, using Jaime as a bargaining chip. In exchange for sparing Cersei and the rest of the Lannisters, he offered Jaime’s life and service to the Night’s Watch.

Renly’s role was simple: agree to the deal. Whether the Tullys and Starks accepted Jaime’s conscription was of no concern to him. In fact, Renly likely hoped they would reject it—or even execute Jaime—since such an act would guarantee Tywin’s allegiance in the coming war.

The timing of this maneuver was impeccable. There was no denying Tywin’s cunning.

After slipping the Gold Cloaks a generous bribe, Aegor sent them on their way. His convoy picked up speed, continuing north along the Kingsroad.

...

Three days after entering the Riverlands, Aegor’s convoy encountered local villagers who brought news that lifted a great weight off his shoulders: Northern and Riverlands forces were assembling at Harrenhal, just a short distance away.

If the information was accurate, Robb Stark was already there. Delivering Arya to her brother would rid Aegor of the most dangerous burden he’d ever carried. What happened next would no longer be his problem.

...

Harrenhal, even in its ruin, was impossible to miss. Following their maps, Aegor’s convoy reached the legendary castle two days after leaving the Kingsroad.

The massive fortress was three times the size of Winterfell, with walls nearly as thick as the Wall itself. Its five colossal tower keeps, though twisted and deformed by dragonfire, still loomed like a hand of stone clawing at the sky. Even from a mile away, the cursed castle was an imposing sight.

Built by Harren the Black over forty years using the Riverlands’ vast resources and manpower, Harrenhal was designed to be the ultimate stronghold, capable of housing over ten thousand soldiers. Harren had hoped to rule both the Riverlands and the Iron Islands from this fortress for generations. But he had chosen the wrong enemy.

After Aegon’s Conquest, Harrenhal became a burdensome relic. Its vast size required a staggering number of soldiers, servants, and resources to maintain. Few houses in Westeros could afford to occupy it fully. Worse, every family to hold Harrenhal had met a grim fate, feeding its dark reputation.

...

As Aegor’s convoy approached the castle, scouts from the assembled Northern and Riverlands armies intercepted them. After confirming their identity and purpose, the convoy was allowed to enter Harrenhal’s towering gates.

The cursed castle was anything but desolate now. Thousands of soldiers filled its courtyards and halls, celebrating their victories in the Westerlands. Merchants moved through the crowds, selling their wares, and the air buzzed with festivity.

From the walls, Aegor spotted the banners flying over Harrenhal: the black bat of House Whent, the silver trout of House Tully, the blue falcon of the Vale, and towering above them all, the grey direwolf of House Stark.

Robb Stark had made it to Harrenhal. Arya’s journey was finally at its end.

...