The colossal white silhouette, stretching across the heavens and earth, seemed like a sigh left behind by the Creator.
The Wall.
It stood there silently, dividing the entire world into two.
On one side were the Seven Kingdoms,
with civilization and green lands.
On the other side was the Land of Always Winter.
There were wildlings, and the legendary Others, who had vanished without a trace.
Arya's small mouth formed a perfect 'O'.
Her grey eyes reflected the pale light bouncing off the ice wall.
This was grander and more magnificent than any story she had ever heard.
Jon reined in his horse.
He looked up, staring blankly at the ice and snow cliff.
This was the place he was about to dedicate his life to protecting.
The wavering he had felt because of Yoren's prisoner seemed to be soothed by this magnificent wonder at this moment.
Tyrion Lannister stopped reading.
He narrowed his mismatched eyes, scrutinizing this greatest creation in human history.
For the first time, his face showed pure, unadulterated awe.
Only Lynn remained calm.
He gazed at the familiar outline.
The shock his predecessor felt when first seeing the Wall, in his memory, seemed to still linger in his body.
But now, this wall, in his eyes, was no longer the end of the world.
Instead, it was a new beginning.
The group slowly approached Castle Black.
The fortress, built at the foot of the Wall, appeared small and crude compared to the grandeur of the Wall itself.
The black timber and stone buildings, against the backdrop of the pristine white snow, resembled ugly patches.
As they passed through the deep and gloomy tunnel carved into the ice wall, a bone-chilling cold assailed them from all directions.
Hoofbeats echoed in the narrow space.
When light reappeared, they were already in the courtyard of Castle Black.
The courtyard was muddy, a mix of melted snow and horse dung.
Dozens of Night's Watch brothers, dressed in black, were engaged in their daily drills and chores.
Their arrival caused the entire courtyard to fall silent instantly.
Everyone's movements froze.
All eyes turned towards them.
Not because of Benjen Stark, the First Ranger.
Nor because of Arya, a rare sight of a female.
And certainly not because of Tyrion's conspicuous dwarf stature.
Their gazes pierced through everyone, fixated on one person.
Lynn.
A strange, hostile atmosphere began to permeate the air.
"It's him."
"The deserter."
"He actually dared to come back?"
Whispers buzzed like mosquitoes.
A tall, thin man with a sharp face put down his training sword and slowly walked over.
It was Ser Alliser Thorne.
The Master-at-Arms of Castle Black.
His gaze pierced Lynn.
"A deserter, actually returned alive."
"Didn't Lord Stark send you to your death?"
Thorne's voice was sharp and acrimonious, filled with undisguised malice.
"And Benjen, why are you still bringing a Stark Guardsman?"
"What?"
"Does Lord Ned Stark intend to replace us, the Night's Watch, with his Guardsmen?"
The Night's Watchmen behind him also showed expressions of mockery and disdain.
In their eyes, Lynn was a disgrace.
A coward who had betrayed his oath and should have been beheaded.
Now, this coward had returned alive.
Lynn said nothing.
He simply sat calmly on his horse, looking down at Alliser Thorne.
The hundred elite Northern cavalrymen also simultaneously placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.
These elites followed Lynn's orders.
This was personally instructed by Lord Stark.
Now that Lynn was insulted, they naturally needed to draw their swords.
A chilling killing intent instantly spread.
The temperature in the courtyard seemed to drop a few more degrees.
Thorne's expression changed slightly.
The rabble behind him also involuntarily took a step back.
"Enough, Alliser."
Benjen Stark spurred his horse forward, his voice low and powerful.
"Lynn returned with me."
"If you have any issues, take them to the Lord Commander."
The First Ranger's authority made the mockery on Thorne's face freeze.
He snorted coldly, reluctantly making way.
But his resentful eyes never left Lynn's back... The Lord Commander's room was simple and tidy.
The flames in the fireplace dispelled some of the chill.
The Old Bear, Jeor Mormont, sat behind the table, poring over parchment scrolls.
He had white hair and a thick beard.
His weathered face was etched with the marks of time.
A raven perched on his shoulder.
It cocked its head, its dark beady eyes scrutinizing the two who entered.
"Benjen."
Lord Commander Mormont looked up, his voice hoarse, like aged wine.
His gaze passed over Benjen and landed on Lynn.
His eyes were sharp and heavy.
"How did he return?"
"Why didn't he die on the block in Winterfell?"
Benjen Stark briefly and concisely recounted the events.
From the Others, the guidance of the Old Gods, Bran's fall, to the assassination in the library, and then Lord Ned Stark's request.
Lord Commander Mormont listened quietly.
In the room, only the crackling of burning wood in the fireplace remained.
After Benjen finished speaking, Lord Commander Mormont remained silent for a long time.
He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the endless ice wall.
"Ned wants him out of the Night's Watch?"
Lord Commander Mormont's voice betrayed no emotion.
"He saved a Stark child; this is Ned's rightful reward to him."
Benjen added.
"Reward?"
Lord Commander Mormont turned around.
"Benjen, you are also Night's Watch."
"Have you forgotten our oath?"
"Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death."
"I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children."
"I shall wear no crowns and win no glory."
"I shall live and die at my post."
"I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the Wall."
"I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that Guards the realms of men."
"I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come."
Every word he spoke was as if chiseled from ice and snow, cold and firm.
Benjen's face grew somewhat grim.
He knew that the Lord Commander was not wrong.
The oath was the cornerstone of the Night's Watch's existence.
Once shaken, the entire order would fall apart.
Giving Lynn special treatment was clearly not that easy.
"But, Lord..."
"No buts."
Mormont interrupted him.
He walked back to the table and sat down again.
"Lord Stark is the Hand of the King, but he is not the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch."
"Although Lord Stark is the Warden of the North."
"But here, my word is law."
The atmosphere in the room became extremely tense.
Lynn stood there silently the entire time.
He knew that the Old Bear was stating his position.
This was something he had to do.
Rules are rules.
No one can trample upon them.
But Ned Stark was, after all, the Warden of the North.
He couldn't completely disregard Ned's feelings.
Most of Castle Black's supplies came from the Seven Kingdoms.
And Ned was benevolent, always giving more than other Wardens.
Lynn had a plan in mind.
Indeed.
Mormont sighed.
There was a hint of helplessness and weariness in his voice.
"However..."
He looked at Lynn, a complex expression flashing in his sharp eyes.
"Since Lord Ned values you so much, keeping you at the Wall would indeed be a waste of your talent."
Mormont's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"How about this."
"You are still a member of the Night's Watch; your oath is still valid."
"But your watch will not be at the Wall."
"Isn't Lord Ned going to King's Landing?"
"You can go with him."
"However, you must remember, you are still a Night's Watchman."
"This way, you haven't violated your oath, and it also... repays Lord Ned's favor."
Benjen's face showed a relieved expression.
This was a win-win solution.
Lynn lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting glint of shrewdness within them.
He knew.
Lord Commander Mormont was far more astute than he appeared.
This was hardly a win-win.
This was clearly throwing the "controversy" back into Ned Stark's hands.
Nominally, he was still Night's Watch.
But in reality, he was already free.
"As you command, Lord Commander."
Lynn bowed slightly.
Mormont continued.
"However, I agree that the attitude of the other Night's Watchmen is also very important."
"After all, this is not my personal domain."
"You'll have to find a way to convince them yourself."
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