Winterfell, the Great Hall.
Galon entered with Jon. Sansa, Bran, and Maester Luwin were already waiting.
"Sansa. Bran. Maester Luwin."
After nodding to the three of them, Galon went straight to the point and described what had happened at Cerwyn Castle.
"Cerwyn is finished. Everyone inside is dead. Even the castle itself has been burned to bare ground."
"The air is filled with the stench of corpses..."
He only described a small part of the slaughter Euron had carried out, but it was enough to make Sansa cover her mouth in horror. She nearly screamed.
"Damn those Ironborn!"
Maester Luwin cursed bitterly. Fear flickered in his eyes.
If Winterfell had fallen, he could hardly imagine what the result would have been.
"And Euron?" Luwin asked once he regained his composure. "Did you capture him?"
Galon shook his head and sighed.
"He escaped."
"Escaped?" Jon asked immediately. "Where did he go?"
Galon glanced at Jon and Bran before answering. "My cavalry scouts discovered that they moved along the Kingsroad toward Moat Cailin."
Luwin's face turned pale.
"Moat Cailin? He plans to join Victarion?"
Galon nodded. "That's right. By the time I realized their direction, it was already too late to catch them."
"That is why I hurried back."
"Maester, we must respond immediately."
Luwin frowned deeply. He glanced at Bran, sitting weakly in his chair, then at the anxious Sansa.
A heavy worry filled his heart.
Bran was still a child and physically disabled. Sansa had been carefully protected by Lady Catelyn all her life and could only handle simple affairs.
Though he had been trying to teach her, she still needed time to grow.
In the end, he sighed inwardly.
For now, they could only rely on Galon.
The moment Galon finished speaking, Luwin understood his true meaning.
If Euron and Victarion combined their forces, Winterfell would have to expand its own army as well.
House Glover alone could not carry such a burden.
But expanding the army required House Stark's authority. House Glover did not possess that authority.
"So you are suggesting that Winterfell summon the bannermen again?" Luwin asked.
"Before Euron attacked, I already sent ravens requesting aid. Judging by the time, the reinforcements should be arriving soon."
Galon nodded, then asked another question. "Maester, have we received any recent news from Robb?"
Sansa suddenly spoke with excitement.
"We received word this morning. Robb defeated the Kingslayer in the Whispering Wood. He is now proposing to exchange him for Father."
"That's right," Luwin added. "Lord Stark and Robb should return soon. When they do, the North will finally be safe."
"Really?" Jon asked with relief.
Bran smiled and nodded.
"Yes. By the time the raven reached Winterfell, Robb may already have begun the prisoner exchange."
Jon finally exhaled in relief.
"That's wonderful."
Galon's eyes flickered.
"In that case, we only need to hold out against the Crow's Eye brothers until Robb's army returns."
He paused before continuing his analysis.
"Victarion commands nearly two thousand men. Adding Euron's remaining forces, their total should not exceed three thousand."
"As long as we hold our castles, they will never be able to take them."
"Wait," Luwin interrupted, confused. "You mean we should defend the castles instead of fighting them?"
"That's correct," Galon replied firmly. "The North has just had a good harvest. If we hold our castles and wait for Robb's return, Euron will be forced to withdraw."
But Luwin stared at him, sensing something deeper behind his words.
"Defending the castles is reasonable," he said slowly. "But what about the villages outside the walls?"
"With Euron's cruelty, he will slaughter them all. Why not organize an army and fight them directly?"
Galon shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Maester, it is not that I do not want to fight. The problem is that we cannot."
He glanced briefly at Bran and Sansa before continuing.
"Robb has marched south. House Stark cannot personally command the Northern armies."
"In such a situation, a commander with enough authority must lead the forces.
Originally, Ser Rodrik had the seniority and reputation to do so. Unfortunately, he has fallen."
"As for the others..." Galon shook his head again. "I fear none of them could unite the North."
Silence fell over the hall.
Luwin understood perfectly what Galon meant.
Without a unified commander, the Northern lords would fight separately and be defeated one by one by the Ironborn.
Galon seemed to be speaking about others. But in truth, he was asking House Stark for greater authority.
The matter was too important for Luwin to decide lightly.
Time passed slowly as he struggled with the decision. Then Bran's voice broke the silence.
"Galon."
Everyone turned toward him.
"I remember Robb appointing you before he left," Bran said calmly. "He said you could organize the Northern forces to resist the Iron Islands."
"This is the moment to use that authority."
Luwin immediately looked up.
"That is true. Robb did say that."
Relief appeared on his face.
But Galon glanced at Bran and pretended to hesitate.
"Robb said those words to the bannermen marching south with him. Those men are not here now."
"If I claim authority with nothing but my own words, others may not accept it."
Bran's eyes flickered with understanding. "Then we will use the name of House Stark to grant you rightful authority."
He turned to Luwin.
"When the Northern reinforcements arrive, we will hold a banquet."
"At that time, Sansa will appoint Galon as commander of the Northern armies in her capacity as acting lord of Winterfell."
"What?" Luwin exclaimed in shock.
Even Sansa and Jon stared in disbelief.
Only Galon narrowed his eyes slightly, quietly judging how sincere Bran truly was.
Sansa pointed to herself in astonishment. "Me? But Bran, you are the heir of House Stark."
Luwin frowned deeply.
"Bran, why would you say this?"
Bran glanced down at his motionless legs. His voice remained calm.
"You have all seen how often I fall asleep recently. In this condition, I cannot fulfill the duties of lord."
He looked at Sansa.
"Sansa, you must act as lord in my place."
Meeting her hesitant gaze, he continued. "And you are Galon's betrothed. If you personally appoint him, it will remove many obstacles."
Then he turned to Luwin.
"What do you think, Maester?"
After careful consideration, Luwin nodded. "Bran's condition makes it necessary. Sansa, you must take responsibility."
Sansa took a deep breath.
The weight of responsibility suddenly felt heavy on her shoulders.
But seeing the support in everyone's eyes, she gathered her courage.
"I understand."
"For Winterfell. For the North. I will accept."
As she finished speaking, Bran quietly nodded toward Galon, as if confirming that everything he had said before was sincere.
A trace of approval flashed in Galon's eyes.
"However," he said, "this matter requires careful preparation."
"Currently the only reinforcements here are the Boltons. And this Bolton... seems to have ill intentions."
Luwin looked surprised.
"You noticed something?"
Galon recalled Ramsay's face. "He arrived too quickly."
Everyone immediately understood.
The Dreadfort lay far from Winterfell. Even if Ramsay had received the call for aid immediately, it should have taken at least a week to arrive.
Yet he had appeared only a few days after Galon.
It was impossible that he had come without preparation.
"No wonder you ordered Jon not to open the gates," Luwin said slowly. "You suspect someone among them may betray House Stark?"
Galon nodded.
"The North is in turmoil. Some people may develop dangerous ambitions."
"Since Robb entrusted me with the defense of the North, I must take precautions."
His words won agreement from Jon and Maester Luwin. Even Sansa looked at him with growing trust and admiration.
At that moment, footsteps echoed outside the hall.
Ramsay Bolton had come to meet House Stark.
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