Chapter 21

If something had to be done, the first step was to figure out what should happen next. During the king's stay at Winterfell, how many key events tied to the main storyline would occur?

Sifting through his memories, Aegor tried to recall the sequence of events.

North of the Wall, the wildlings were gathering under the banner of the King-Beyond-the-Wall at the Frostfangs, trying to use the natural defenses to hold off the White Walkers. When that failed, they began plotting their march south—a situation Aegor fervently hoped to avoid being entangled in. Across the Narrow Sea, a young Daenerys Targaryen was being sold by her brother and Illyrio Mopatis to Khal Drogo. Preparations for the wedding were underway, but Aegor was powerless to influence those events. Meanwhile, at Winterfell, the Stark couple had just received a secret letter from Lysa Arryn, the widow of the late Hand of the King, accusing the Lannisters of murdering her husband. While this was a significant plot point, it seemed to have little to do with Aegor, a mere Night’s Watchman.

Compared to these major events, a northern lord's son—one who wasn’t even the heir—falling off a tower while climbing seemed like an insignificant footnote. However, it was precisely this minor event that now directly affected Aegor’s immediate interests. News of Bran’s fall would quickly be exploited by Littlefinger, who would frame Tyrion Lannister for the attempted murder. On his way back south from the Wall, Tyrion would be seized by an outraged Catelyn Stark and taken to the Eyrie, where he would suffer greatly before narrowly escaping.

What seemed like a thrilling and dramatic sequence when experienced on paper or screen now felt as dangerous as facing a White Walker in person. Aegor’s goal was simple: follow Tyrion southward, away from the harsh and perilous Wall. He had no intention of risking his life to experience an alternate version of the narrative firsthand.
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From the Baratheon knight's squire Aegor had met at the banquet, he learned that the royal party would remain in Winterfell for two weeks. Robert and Eddard had years of catching up to do, and as the Warden of the North’s younger brother and an important family member, Benjen Stark was expected to stay by the king's side. This was excellent news—Winterfell now had only two Night’s Watch members in residence. With Benjen occupied and no one of higher station able to interfere with a sworn ranger, Aegor essentially had two weeks of freedom to do as he pleased.

Originally, he had planned to spend this time scouting terrain and gathering intel to plan his escape. But with Tyrion’s promise of help, escape became less urgent. Instead, his priority shifted to ensuring that Tyrion’s journey south went smoothly.

The best way to avoid disaster was to stop it before it started.

As a guest at Winterfell, Aegor had ample food and drink and was enjoying a comfortable life. With no one watching over him or assigning him chores, he spent his days wandering the castle, striking up conversations, and learning more about Westeros. By night, he returned to his room to read about Westerosi history and the great houses. Occasionally, he had to concoct more stories to satisfy Tyrion’s curiosity about the fictitious land of “Zaina.” His days were full but peaceful.

After a few days of investigation, Aegor identified the likely location of the next major plot event: the First Keep.

Winterfell had indeed been built by Brandon the Builder, but it lacked walls initially. Before the outer and inner curtain walls were constructed, the Stark family had relied on fortifications and watchtowers for defense.

The ruined tower in the northeastern corner of Winterfell, near the First Keep, was once the tallest structure in the castle. However, it had been struck by lightning over a century ago, causing the top to collapse inward and rendering it unusable. Surrounded by the First Keep, guardrooms, and crypts, the overgrown courtyard nearby was secluded and rarely visited. It seemed like the perfect spot for the Lannister twins' illicit meeting and Bran Stark’s subsequent fall.

But upon inspecting the tower, Aegor discovered that the stairs inside had long since crumbled, making it impossible to climb.

Puzzled, he turned his attention to the nearby First Keep. This stout, circular fortress was much shorter than the ruined tower but still quite tall—at least four or five stories high. Standing at the top and looking down, Aegor realized it was more than enough height to cripple or kill someone.

The location was clear, but how could he prevent the events from unfolding? Standing in the overgrown courtyard and looking up at the ruined tower and the First Keep, Aegor fell into deep thought.
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Expose the queen's affair? He wouldn’t dare. If the story of A Song of Ice and Fire could be condensed into one sentence, it would be:

"All men must die, but those who stand out die faster."

Even someone as cunning and manipulative as Littlefinger met his end the moment he stepped into the spotlight. Aegor had no intention of drawing attention to himself.

Moreover, revealing the relationship between Cersei and Jaime Lannister could doom Tyrion, who had promised to help Aegor escape the Wall. If Robert discovered Cersei’s betrayal, his wrath might turn on the entire Lannister family, potentially making them the second house he sought to eradicate after the Targaryens. In such a scenario, Tyrion might not even leave Winterfell alive, let alone help Aegor.

If he couldn’t target the Lannister twins, what about Bran? Convincing the boy not to climb would be the simplest solution. But as a minor ranger with no standing, Aegor had neither the authority nor the opportunity to give advice to a Stark child. Even if he managed to meet Bran, persuading him to stop climbing seemed a near-impossible task.
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Days passed with no progress. While Aegor grew closer to Tyrion and exchanged nods with Jon Snow, he had no success in meeting anyone else of importance. The vast social and hierarchical gap made it difficult for him to even approach the central characters of the story, let alone influence them.

The cold reality crushed the illusion of progress Aegor had gained after befriending Tyrion. It reminded him that he was still a minor character in this world.

But Aegor was an optimist. After the initial frustration, he found solace in his accomplishments. If he hadn’t struck up a conversation with Tyrion at the banquet, even his current progress would’ve been impossible. With his primary goal of escaping the Wall seemingly within reach, Aegor decided to let the rest unfold naturally.
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Having come to terms with his limitations, Aegor resumed his carefree days, strolling around Winterfell, admiring the southern maids, and watching the noble lads and squires spar in the yard. With a clearer head, he quickly came up with a plan: If he couldn’t catch the twins in the act or stop Bran from climbing, why not find a way to prevent them from crossing paths?

If dealing with the people was impossible, then he would focus on the setting.

The next morning, Aegor relocated his training routine to the courtyard near the First Keep and ruined tower. Bringing along a straw dummy, a battered archery target, and a chair from his room, he spent hours each day practicing swordsmanship, archery, and reading. With nearly half the daylight hours spent in the area, Aegor hoped to discourage the Lannister twins from choosing the spot for their rendezvous. As fellow guests, they couldn’t exactly order him to leave.

As for the potential ripple effects of Bran avoiding his fall, Aegor decided not to dwell on them for now. Ensuring Tyrion’s safe departure from Winterfell—and securing his own escape from the Wall—was his top priority. For now, he couldn’t afford to worry about the larger consequences.
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With that settled, Aegor relaxed, focusing on the task at hand while awaiting whatever the future might bring.