Chapter 361

What a perfectly awful coincidence in timing: the Night’s Watch, the Northern threat of the Others and their army of the dead—just as the script was playing out, the Ironborn and the Dragon Queen decided to intervene. If one were to follow the logic of conspiracy theories, one might suspect that these two forces are subconsciously manipulated by the Great Other and R’hllor, respectively, arriving at the battlefield at the most pivotal moment as if guided by some unseen hand.

Euron Greyjoy is undoubtedly an enemy. But can Daenerys Targaryen be considered an ally?

When it comes to resisting the Great Other, the answer is evidently yes. In fact, she’s far more than just an “ally”—she’s central. If the “Proxy War Theory” suggested by the greenseer Bran is true, Daenerys, the one who hatched three dragons, is likely R’hllor’s top candidate, while people like Aegor and Jon Snow are just backup options, an insurance policy in case the primary fails.

But the world isn’t merely a stage for the conflict between the Great Other and R’hllor. The relationships between factions are tangled beyond belief. For one, Daenerys did not return to Westeros to fight the Others but to “take back what is hers.”

The Dragon Queen’s perfectly timed arrival placed Aegor in an awkward position. He had forced Petyr Baelish to flee with the threat of a letter, risked aiding Tyrion Lannister in escaping back to the Westerlands, and safely escorted Arya Stark back to Winterfell. Though he had never left Westeros, his actions as a transmigrator had rippled across the Narrow Sea, drawing Daenerys—once an isolated figure far across the world—into the picture.

Because her actions could no longer be predicted using the original timeline, Aegor had planned his arrangements for the Gift and the Wall without considering the Dragon Queen’s existence.

If the Gift could stand against the Great Other’s minions without the aid of her dragons or Unsullied, her eventual arrival would simply be a welcome addition, ensuring an even more decisive victory.

Progress on wildfire and dragonglass weapons was going well, with enough stockpiles to kill hundreds of thousands of wights. Troop recruitment and training were not perfect but sufficient. And the “dragonglass bomb” designed specifically for the Others had reached a stable prototype after several rounds of testing and improvements, awaiting only a steady supply of gunpowder for mass production.

However, that was precisely where the problem lay:

The freezing climate of the Gift made large-scale experiments and production involving chemical reactions, particularly those requiring specific temperatures, impossible. Tasks such as locating saltpeter deposits or attempting to manufacture it had been assigned to the exploration teams and researchers in King’s Landing’s industrial hub. Yet if war erupted between Daenerys and Stannis, the Night’s Watch facilities based in King’s Landing would inevitably be affected, leaving Aegor potentially without the crucial gunpowder needed to use the dragonglass bombs against the Others.
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Myrcella slipped quietly into the room, having been granted permission to enter, just as a visibly annoyed Melisandre brushed past her. Despite possessing beauty that rivaled the Red Priestess’s, the young princess was at a disadvantage in terms of both height and presence. Fortunately, the sorceress had no interest in bothering with a little girl, casting a casual glance her way before leaving.

As the door closed, Myrcella, feeling as though she had been glared at by Melisandre, timidly asked, “Lord Aegor… Did I… interrupt you?”

“No, it’s just a small disagreement.” Aegor forced himself to pull a thread of thought from his chaotic mind and gave her a kind smile. “How was it? Did you see your brothers?”

She had. Joffrey was as impetuous as ever, grumbling about this and that without the slightest trace of joy at seeing his sister. Tommen, on the other hand, had cried his heart out, clinging to her for half the day. Not only did he steal her role as the tragic one, but she, a girl, had ended up comforting him instead.

Of course, these minor details didn’t need to be shared and trouble Lord Aegor.

Despite their differing accounts, Myrcella was clever enough to piece together the important parts: the Gift’s situation was far better than its grim reputation suggested. And while her brothers weren’t living in comfort, they were clearly well-protected and cared for. Relieved, and mindful of etiquette, she had come to thank Aegor for all he had done.

“I did,” Myrcella said, suppressing the lingering sadness from parting with her brothers as she walked lightly toward Aegor’s desk. “They’re doing well, thank you for taking such good care of them, Lord Aegor.”

“No need for thanks. Have a seat, make yourself at home,” Aegor replied.

Though swamped with responsibilities, Aegor was still a man, and it was hard not to feel at ease in the presence of someone as sweet as Myrcella. In truth, he hadn’t done much for her brothers beyond entrusting them to the care of the Crownlands Academy teachers with a few instructions. Still, his subordinates had done their jobs well, and as their leader, he accepted her gratitude without guilt.

Then he remembered something he’d meant to ask. “You’ve come at the right time—Lady Myrcella, during your time in Winterfell, did you hear anything about Daenerys Targaryen returning to Westeros?”

Myrcella, shorter and younger than Arya, stood on the other side of the desk, barely taller than the seated Aegor, which didn’t make her seem out of place. Tilting her head slightly in thought, she nodded. “I think I heard the servants in the castle talking about something like ‘the Mad King’s daughter has returned.’ But I don’t know the specifics. You could ask Arya or Lady Catelyn—they might know more.”

It made sense. Myrcella was just a young girl living under the roof of a family hostile to her own, spending most of her energy simply trying not to attract negative attention. She likely wouldn’t have the time or means to gather such information. Whether it was Stannis, Aegon, or Daenerys, none of them were allies to the Lannisters. Whoever won wouldn’t change the fact that none of it concerned Myrcella Baratheon. Why would she care how ferociously they fought?

Her porcelain skin seemed flawless, her golden hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders, and her radiant presence lit up the dim room. Her bright eyes, pearly white teeth, and plump, peach-like lips made her look almost edible…

But Aegor had no time to admire her beauty. Subconsciously stroking his chin, he began seriously considering Melisandre’s proposal—not because he was eager to recruit Daenerys as an ally, but because he needed to safeguard the Night’s Watch office and industries in King’s Landing.

It reminded him of when Renly Baratheon had besieged King’s Landing, and Aegor had gone to plead with him to avoid plundering the industrial hub during the attack.

This time, however, was different. Even if he took the fastest ship from Eastwatch and Daenerys was waiting in the south for him, the journey would take at least ten days round trip. If the Others attacked during that time, wouldn’t he be abandoning his post on the eve of battle?

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