Winterfell.
The snowstorm that had raged throughout the night finally subsided at dawn.
The morning sun rose above the horizon like a candle nearing the end of its wick, offering no warmth whatsoever.
The castle was bustling with activity.
Sansa had long since discarded the trappings of girlhood.
She wore a sky-blue velvet gown embroidered with the silver fist and direwolf sigil, with a thick bear-fur cloak wrapped around her shoulders.
Accompanied by Maester Luwin, the captain of Winterfell's guard, and several others, she hurried along the passageway on the second floor toward the castle gate.
"Master Luwin, Ser Royce returned to Winterfell last night. You should have told me.
They've come to support the North.
If I don't receive them personally, they'll think we're slighting the Knights of the Vale."
Sansa walked quickly, the authority of Winterfell's lady lord evident on her face.
Luwin followed beside her and explained,
"It was very late last night, and there were many people outside. I had to be cautious."
"I had them spend the night in Winter Town."
Sansa understood that the maester had been worried about someone impersonating Vale knights and attempting to trick the guards into opening the gates after dark.
She stopped and turned toward him.
"There's no longer any threat to Winterfell.
Even that damned Ramsay Snow is trapped inside his castle by Jon and can't get out.
No one would dare come here and cause trouble.
Master Luwin, if something like this happens again, you must tell me."
Luwin lowered his head slightly.
"Yes, my lady."
Sansa let the matter drop and continued toward the gate.
"Have Ser Royce and the others been settled properly?
Now that the Knights of the Vale have returned, the wildling crisis at the Wall must have been brought under control as well.
Galon will be coming back soon too. We need to make preparations in advance."
There was unmistakable happiness in her voice.
The thought of finally being reunited with her husband instantly drove away the irritation she had felt moments earlier.
But Luwin, walking behind her, shook his head and poured cold water over her excitement.
"Ser Royce and the others have been settled. However, Sansa..."
He hesitated.
"Ser Royce told me last night that Galon went to Eastwatch. From there, he intended to travel to Skagos.
I'm afraid he won't be returning to Winterfell for the time being."
Sansa's footsteps abruptly stopped.
"Skagos?"
She remembered the promise she had once made to the Skagosi, and worry immediately appeared on her face.
"That place..."
"It's far too dangerous."
Luwin reassured her.
"Don't worry. The gods favor Galon. He will certainly return safely."
Even so, Sansa could not suppress her concern.
She sighed.
A trace of resentment toward Galon rose in her heart.
"Excellent shot!"
At that moment, a cheer came from the training yard below.
Sansa turned her head and looked down.
She immediately saw Arya, dressed like a boy, holding a bow and shooting at a target.
Several attendants had gathered nearby to watch.
When Arya effortlessly struck the target, they immediately applauded.
"Arya!"
Sansa's expression darkened.
"What are you doing? Didn't I tell you to learn embroidery? Why are you shooting arrows again?"
Arya turned her head toward Sansa on the second floor and answered without the slightest concern.
"I don't want to learn embroidery. I want to ride horses and shoot arrows..."
"You..."
Sansa grew even angrier.
She hurried toward the training yard, cursing under her breath.
"That damned Arya. Just wait until I get my hands on you."
But the moment Arya saw her sister disappear from view, she immediately dropped her bow and ran toward the walls.
Clearly, she had no intention of being caught.
The other attendants scattered as well.
Luwin could only shake his head with a bitter smile.
Ever since Lady Catelyn's death, the sisters' relationship had improved for a brief period before quickly becoming strained again.
Sansa wanted to follow their mother's wishes and turn Arya into a proper lady.
That way, if Arya eventually married a king, she would not embarrass House Stark.
Arya, however, had no intention of following that path.
She dreamed of becoming a knight like Galon. She had no desire to hide in a room embroidering flowers all day.
When Galon had been in Winterfell, the two girls had at least restrained themselves somewhat.
But ever since he had gone to the Wall, Sansa and Arya had quarreled almost every day.
No one could persuade either of them otherwise.
Luwin had long since grown accustomed to their arguments.
He sighed and advised,
"Sansa, you still need to go to Winter Town to meet Ser Royce."
"Talk to Arya after you return."
Sansa could only force down her anger.
She stopped heading toward the training yard, turned around, and continued toward the castle gate.
A short while later—
Sansa and the others emerged from the passageway and reached the gate.
She was just about to order the gates opened so they could travel to Winter Town when a shadow suddenly blotted out the sky above Winterfell.
"Hmm?"
Sansa instinctively looked upward.
A terrifying, enormous silhouette entered her field of vision.
"That is..."
Her body began trembling involuntarily, her face turning deathly pale with fear.
"A dragon!"
"It's a dragon!"
Luwin's pupils contracted.
He instinctively pulled Sansa beneath the gatehouse, taking cover in case the dragon unleashed its flames.
He shouted almost frantically toward the surrounding guards,
"Sound the bells! Warn everyone..."
Before he could finish—
Arya, who possessed the most courage of anyone on the walls, had already seen the black dragon land outside the castle gate.
And someone familiar had jumped from its back.
"Galon?"
"It's Galon!"
"Hey! Galon is riding the dragon!"
"Look!"
Arya's incredulous voice instantly turned into one of excitement and delight.
Ignoring everyone else, who remained frozen in shock and terror, she raced down from the walls.
"Quick! Open the gates!"
Arya hurriedly ordered the guards.
At that moment, Luwin finally came to his senses. He grabbed Arya and urgently asked, "Are you certain it's Galon?"
"Of course! I saw him with my own eyes!"
"Hey, hurry up and open the gates. I want to see the dragon!"
Arya looked thoroughly impatient.
A legendary dragon was right in front of her. She had no patience to waste talking with Luwin.
As the drawbridge slowly descended, Sansa finally recovered from her shock.
She raised her head.
On the other side of the drawbridge stood the man she had been longing for.
"Galon!"
Sansa cried out in delight.
She had completely forgotten about behaving like a proper lady.
Together with Arya, she ran toward him and threw herself into his arms like a swallow returning to its nest.
"It's really you!"
Sansa breathed in Galon's familiar scent, tears of excitement glistening in her eyes.
"It's me, Sansa."
"I'm home."
Galon smiled and allowed Sansa to hold him tightly.
"Wow!"
"What a huge dragon!"
Arya, meanwhile, paid no attention to the couple beside her.
Her eyes shone as she stared at the enormous creature nearby.
She spread her arms wide, feeling that the black dragon was even larger than the dragon skeletons beneath King's Landing.
"Galon! Galon!"
Arya bounced excitedly as a string of questions spilled from her mouth.
"How did you capture such a huge dragon?
Does it eat people?
Can I ride it and have it carry me through the sky?
What is the monster inside the cage beneath its foot? And there's something else..."
Sansa, who had been hoping to enjoy some private time with her husband, finally lost her temper at the barrage of questions.
She pulled away from Galon and shouted, "Arya, be quiet!"
Arya pouted and looked toward Galon for help.
"All right, don't be angry. Arya's still a child. Of course she'll be excited when she sees a dragon."
Galon kissed Sansa lightly on the forehead and smiled as he defended Arya.
"Besides, don't you want to ride a dragon too? To fly through the sky with me..."
Before Galon could finish, Sansa's face immediately lit up with delight.
"I can ride the dragon too?"
"Of course!" Galon laughed. "You're my wife. I'll make sure Placidusax remembers you."
"Placidusax?"
Arya hurried over to Galon's side.
"That's its name?"
Galon nodded.
Arya's eyes spun mischievously.
She immediately grabbed Galon's hand and shook it while pleading.
"Galon, let me ride it too!"
"I've dreamed of riding a dragon! If you let me ride it, I'll do anything you want!"
Sansa's anger, which had only just subsided, flared up again.
Her eyebrows rose sharply.
She was about to scold Arya and tell her to let go of Galon's hand when the sound of approaching hoofbeats came from the distance.
Sansa turned her head.
Ser Andar Royce was hurrying toward them.
Just moments earlier, the sudden appearance of Galon riding a dragon had terrified the Vale knights' horses.
The knights had struggled to calm them down, and only after they had finally regained control had Andar gathered enough courage to come over and investigate.
Now, when he saw the enormous dragon lying in the snow, its body comparable to a castle, terror immediately filled his eyes.
"Gods above... Galon, you... You conquered another dragon?!"
"How in the world did you do it?"
Galon gave him a mysterious smile.
He did not explain immediately.
Instead, he motioned for Arya to release his hand before saying,
"I'll explain the matter of the dragon later... What's important right now is that I've captured two Others.
This proves the Night's Watch's reports beyond doubt."
Galon's expression became solemn as he pointed toward the Others imprisoned in the wooden cage beneath Placidusax's foot.
"The Others beyond the Wall are gradually approaching. And their numbers are enormous.
We need to prepare for the coming battle as quickly as possible."
Everyone's expression changed.
"Galon, what exactly do you mean?"
Luwin looked at the icy creature curled beneath the dragon's foot and could not help asking.
"I intend to ride the dragon south to King's Landing as soon as possible.
I'll report everything to the king and call upon the entire realm for aid.
We're going to wage the great battle that will save the world against these creatures of ice."
Galon paused.
Then he looked toward Ser Andar.
"Ser Royce, it seems you'll have to remain in the North for a while longer."
Andar laughed heartily, his eyes shining with a desire for glory.
"Of course. The Knights of the Vale aren't afraid of a few creatures of ice!"
Galon nodded.
"Although the Others are strange and terrifying, they are extremely vulnerable to dragonglass weapons.
I've already arranged for the people of Skagos to mine dragonglass and transport it to Eastwatch.
Every soldier will be equipped with it."
He then briefly explained what had happened on Skagos.
When everyone heard that Galon had actually climbed onto the dragon's body and wrestled with it in midair like a wild horse being broken, they were left utterly speechless.
"The Old Gods..."
Sansa hurriedly ran her hands over Galon's body, terrified that he might have suffered even the slightest injury.
Galon caught her hands and gently patted them, reassuring her that he was fine.
Then he looked toward Luwin.
"Maester, have there been any reports from Jon recently?"
Luwin was still struggling to process the scene Galon had just described.
He remained silent for a long while.
Only after Galon repeated the question did he finally force down his astonishment and answer hoarsely,
"A letter arrived from the Dreadfort a few days ago.
Jon has convinced all of Roose Bolton's bannermen to surrender. Ramsay has retreated into the Dreadfort alone.
Because the castle is heavily fortified, Jon has been unable to breach it and can only keep it under siege for now.
Ramsay took the opportunity to send a letter offering his surrender.
He placed all responsibility for the betrayal on Roose Bolton."
Galon nodded after hearing this.
"Just as I expected."
He looked around at the others.
Ignoring Ramsay's plea for mercy, he explained his intentions.
"The situation is urgent.
We don't have time to let Jon continue the siege.
I intend to ride the dragon to the Dreadfort shortly and help Jon..."
Before Galon could finish, Arya eagerly interrupted.
"Galon, I'm coming too!"
"Let me come! I haven't seen Jon in so long. I miss him."
Her eyes kept drifting toward the dragon. Clearly, missing Jon was only part of the reason.
Getting a chance to ride a dragon was the real attraction.
Luwin could not help frowning.
"Arya, what nonsense are you talking about? This is war, not some children's game!"
Arya bit her lip and fell silent.
She looked at Galon and blinked pitifully.
Seeing her miserable expression, Galon could not help smiling inwardly.
He nodded slightly.
"Very well. I was planning to take Sansa to the Dreadfort anyway.
After that, I'll return to Deepwood Motte to take care of a few matters. I'll bring both of you back in three days."
The moment he finished speaking—
Arya immediately jumped for joy.
"Hooray!"
Even Sansa looked excited.
"Then... what should I prepare?"
"Bring some dried provisions. We may have to eat on the way."
Galon answered casually.
Luwin looked as though he wanted to say something.
In the end, he could only sigh and follow Galon's instructions, sending people to prepare everything they would need.
Before long—
After explaining to Maester Luwin how to guard the captured Others, Galon took Sansa and Arya onto Placidusax's back.
Then—
Placidusax spread its wings and took flight.
Galon guided it toward the Dreadfort.
Along the way, Arya stared around in amazement, constantly exclaiming over everything she saw.
Sansa could not help frowning again and again.
She had wanted some time alone with her husband, yet her younger sister kept interrupting them.
Whenever she thought about it, Sansa would turn around and glare unhappily at her husband, blaming him for bringing Arya along.
But after Galon whispered a few sweet words to her, her irritation quickly disappeared.
She happily leaned against Galon's chest and looked down at the beautiful landscape below.
One day later—
The dragon arrived at the Dreadfort.
Under Galon's command, Placidusax unleashed its black-green dragonflame from above.
The flames instantly melted the Dreadfort's massive iron gates.
"Surrender, or be reduced to ashes!"
When Ramsay's soldiers saw Glover arrive riding a dragon, their resistance collapsed completely.
One after another, they dropped to their knees and surrendered.
At last, Jon led his forces into the castle and captured Ramsay Snow alive.
Seeing that everything was settled, Galon gave Jon a few brief instructions before once again mounting Placidusax and flying toward Hornwood.
The soldiers were left behind to enthusiastically clear the battlefield.
Half a day later—
Galon arrived at Hornwood on dragonback.
Under the dragon's overwhelming presence, the knights who had originally refused to submit to Lord Lawrence were terrified out of their wits.
They dropped to their knees and swore allegiance.
The following day—
Galon rode the dragon to Deepwood Motte, the place where he had once lived.
After calming the frightened villagers who had panicked at the sight of the dragon, Galon reunited with Aunt Sybelle.
The family happily shared dinner together.
The next day—
After discussing matters with Maester Beckman, Galon bid farewell to Deepwood Motte with Sansa and Arya and took them back to Winterfell.
Half a day later—
Everything was ready.
After saying a reluctant farewell to Sansa, Galon mounted the dragon once more.
This time, he carried the captured Others and began his journey south.
Placidusax was extraordinarily fast.
Within only a few days—
Galon arrived in the Vale on dragonback.
Under the stunned gaze of Lord Royce, the terrified gaze of Robert Arryn, and the worshipful gaze of Mya, Galon told them of the coming invasion of the Others and showed them the captured creatures.
After a lengthy discussion, Galon successfully convinced Lord Royce.
Once word arrived from King's Landing, he would lead the soldiers of the Vale north.
Then Galon spent a wonderful night at the Moon Gate.
The following day—
Under Mya's reluctant gaze, Galon rode the dragon away from the Vale.
Over the next month or so—
Galon visited the Riverlands, the Iron Islands, the Reach, the Stormlands, and Dorne in succession before finally arriving in King's Landing.
After years away, the story of the dragon once again began spreading throughout the Seven Kingdoms.
And as the dragon's master, Galon Glover's prestige reached unprecedented heights across the realm.
Even Prince Doran, when he looked upon the black dragon that resembled a fortress in the sky, completely abandoned his thoughts of helping the Targaryens restore their dynasty.
"With Glover standing against them, how could Daenerys and that young Aegon possibly win?
In terms of political skill, strategy, or military ability, Daenerys and young Aegon together wouldn't be a match for Glover.
I originally thought that Daenerys's dragons would give her the advantage.
With their power, perhaps she could defeat Gendry, who has Glover's support.
But now Glover has a dragon of his own.
And not just any dragon.
The legendary Cannibal, the dragon famed for devouring other dragons!
Daenerys's three dragons won't stand a chance against the Cannibal without several decades, perhaps even a century, of growth.
But will Daenerys wait that long?
More importantly, now that Glover has a dragon, will he really continue bowing his head to that blacksmith?"
During Galon's visit to Sunspear, Prince Doran had privately said these words to his brother and daughter.
That very night—
The heir to Sunspear, Arianne Martell, quietly slipped into Galon's chamber.
Between the sheets, Princess Arianne pressed him step by step, attempting to uncover Galon's true intentions in coming to Dorne.
But Galon spoke with such righteous conviction and impassioned sincerity that Princess Arianne was left completely disarmed, reduced to tears.
In the end, she was utterly defeated.
When Galon finally reached King's Landing— He landed on dragonback within the Dragonpit.
The entire city immediately became restless.
Gendry was especially fearful and deeply uneasy.
He was terrified that Galon might force him to surrender the throne.
As wave after wave of people came to test his intentions— Galon calmly answered them one by one.
Through the reputation and honor he had accumulated over the years, he earned the trust of those around him.
Including Gendry.
After Galon's persuasion, Gendry officially issued a general mobilization order calling upon the Seven Kingdoms to support the North and resist the invasion of the Others.
In an instant—
The entire realm began moving at tremendous speed toward a single goal.
Vast quantities of supplies were gathered for the North.
More than a hundred thousand soldiers gradually began marching north.
From Dragonstone, shipment after shipment of dragonglass was loaded onto ships bound for the Wall.
The alchemists mobilized in full force, sending ships loaded with wildfire toward the Wall.
Even the Citadel dispatched large numbers of maesters to the North to handle medical care, military affairs, magical research, and countless other tasks.
From Dorne to the Neck.
From the Reach to the Vale.
From Cape Wrath to Eastwatch.
Everywhere, men and supplies were being sent to support the North.
The scale of the mobilization was so enormous that even Braavos, Myr, Tyrosh, and Pentos across the Narrow Sea were fully aware of what was happening.
And amid this gathering storm—
Daenerys and Aegon's armies finally departed Meereen and sailed toward Dragonstone.
Another three months passed.
The armies of the Seven Kingdoms gradually converged upon the Wall, while mountains of supplies were piled up behind the defenses.
The final battle between the living and the dead had begun.