The Great Hall of Winterfell had never seen such a spectacle. The long wooden tables groaned under the weight of roasted boars, smoked hams, and flagons of heavy Northern ale. The heat from the massive hearths clattered against the damp cold of the stone walls.
Link stood at his post near the heavy oak doors. His duty was simple: keep the drunken squires from starting a brawl and ensure no "unauthorized" servants approached the high table.
From his vantage point, he could see the hierarchy of the Seven Kingdoms laid bare.
King Robert sat at the center, shouting stories of old battles, his laughter booming louder than the music of the pipes. To his left sat Ned Stark, looking like a man who would rather be anywhere else. And to the King's right sat Queen Cersei. She did not eat. She simply watched the room with a look of quiet, shimmering loathing.
"They look like gods, don't they?"
Link turned to see Desmond standing a few paces away. The younger guard was mesmerized by the golden embroidery of the Lannister surcoats.
"They look like people, Desmond," Link replied, his eyes scanning the room. "And people who have too much power eventually break things."
Link's gaze moved to the shadows. He saw Jaime Lannister leaning against a pillar, his white Kingsguard cloak draped over one shoulder. He wasn't sitting; he was hunting. His eyes were constantly moving, assessing the exits and the guards.
Then, there was Tyrion. The dwarf was seated at a smaller table, nursing a large horn of wine. He seemed more interested in the quality of the vintage than the royal conversation.
[Status: Alert]
[Observation: Jaime Lannister is restless.]
Link felt a ripple of tension. In the original timeline, the feast was a night of heavy drinking, but it was also when the Lannisters began to coordinate their "private time."
Suddenly, a commotion broke out near the kitchens. A young squire, clearly several cups deep into the ale, had tripped a servant girl. Plates shattered, and the boy began to laugh, reaching out to grab her arm.
"He's a Lannister man," Desmond whispered, his hand going to his sword hilt. "We should stay out of it. The master of horse said not to provoke them."
Link didn't hesitate. "The law of Winterfell applies to everyone under this roof."
He stepped forward, his boots heavy on the rushes that covered the floor. He caught the squire's wrist just as the boy was about to pull the girl closer.
The squire froze, his face turning a deep shade of red. "Let go of me, you grey-clad dog! Do you know who my master is?"
"I know you are making a mess in Lord Stark's hall," Link said. His voice was not loud, but it carried a cold authority. "Release the girl and go back to your bench."
The squire tried to twist away, but Link's grip was like iron. Thanks to his "Reload" training, Link's physical strength was backed by a precise knowledge of pressure points.
The boy gasped as his arm went numb. "you'll pay for this!"
"Link, back off," a voice hissed. It was Hullen, the master of horse, hurrying toward them. He looked terrified.
Link released the boy, who stumbled back, cursing under his breath. The squire looked toward the high table, hoping for his masters to notice, but the Lannisters were busy in their own world.
Hullen pulled Link aside. "Are you mad? That boy serves the Kingslayer's personal retinue. You don't lay hands on them!"
"He was breaking the peace," Link said simply.
"Peace is for lords!" Hullen whispered harshly. "For men like us, survival is the only thing that matters. Get out of here. Go to the North Gate. I'm putting you on the night rotation. If Ser Rodrik hears about this, you'll be lucky to keep your head."
Link nodded and turned to leave. He wasn't angry. In fact, he was satisfied. He had just tested something important. He wanted to see if the "Save/Load" confidence would make him too bold.
As he walked toward the exit, he felt a pair of eyes on his back. He looked over his shoulder.
Jaime Lannister was no longer looking at the room. He was looking directly at Link. The Kingslayer's smirk had vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating curiosity.
Link stepped out into the night air. The cold hit him like a physical blow, but he didn't mind.
I just made the Kingslayer remember my face, Link thought. I need to be very careful. One mistake now, and I'll be reloading before the sun comes up.
[Current Anchor: Arrival of the King]
[Warning: Anomaly Detected in Jaime Lannister's Behavior.]
....
Author Note
Hi guys! Thank you for reading my fanfiction.
I wanted to let you know that I'll be releasing bonus chapters for Power Stones. Here are the goals:
15 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
30 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
50 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
75 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
100 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
Thanks for the support!