The north wind, carrying crushed snow like countless icy blades, scraped through Daemon's silver hair.
When The Cannibal's wings swept past that barrier spanning the heavens and earth for the first time, even the black dragon subconsciously slowed down—the outline of the Wall rose from the ground in snow and mist. The grey-blue ice wall pierced straight into the leaden sky, its top hidden in clouds, as if one with the world.
Seven hundred feet high, it looked less like man-made fortifications and more like ice peaks casually piled by ancient giants. Every ice crystal exuded the chill of ages; the sound of wind passing through ice cracks echoed like whispers of the First Men.
"This is—the Wall?" Gael's voice held awe. Dreamfyre's pale blue wings trembled slightly, clearly shaken by this majestic aura.
The reflection of the ice wall shimmered in the girl's violet eyes; that grey-blue luster flowed in her gaze. "More magnificent than any legend written."
Daemon pulled on The Cannibal's reins. The black dragon's breath condensed into white pillars in the cold air; frost on his scales grew thicker.
He looked down. The base of the Wall was wide enough for three carriages abreast. The ice surface at the top was smooth as a mirror. Faint black shadows of Night's Watch patrols were visible—small as ants, yet marching in orderly formation on the ice wall, verifying the legend of "twelve knights riding side by side."
In the texture of the ice wall surface, faint silver light seemed hidden—traces of "ancient spells" mentioned in documents, silently proclaiming its mission to resist the Others.
"Prince, ahead is the tunnel entrance of Castle Black!" Brandon Stark spurred his horse forward, voice excited. His uncle Rodrik followed in the Night's Watch contingent; grey-black cloaks were exceptionally striking in the wind and snow.
When the retinue reached the clearing outside the tunnel, the Night's Watch welcoming party was already waiting.
The leader was a tall man with grey eyes and black hair—Lord Commander Qorgyle (Note: Text says Karon Karstark, likely an OC or specific divergence, keeping translation faithful to source: Karon Karstark). His black cloak edges were frayed. At his waist was a longsword inlaid with black crystal; the scabbard carved with the Karstark sunburst sigil was worn blurry by time—clearly an old item before he took the black, now the last thought of his family.
"Prince Daemon, Princess Gael." Karon stepped forward, not kneeling, just bowing slightly, movements carrying Night's Watch steadiness. "Received Lord Ellard's raven. Welcome to the Wall. I am the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, Karon Karstark."
His gaze swept The Cannibal and Dreamfyre. Low moans of black and blue dragons echoed between ice walls but didn't make him show any fear. "True dragons stepping on the Wall; this is the first time since Queen Alysanne and Silverwing came back then."
Rodrik Stark stood beside Karon, black cloak stained with snow from beyond the Wall. He nodded to Brandon, then looked at Daemon: "Prince had a hard journey. The Lord Commander specifically had us clear the snow in the tunnel early."
Daemon dismounted, Blackfyre's scabbard tapping lightly on frozen soil. He looked at Karon, respect in his violet eyes: "Lord Commander Karon, we come to pay respects to this barrier guarding Westeros for eight thousand years, and to the brothers of the Night's Watch."
"Respect?" Karon smiled, warmth flashing in his grey eyes. "For a Targaryen true dragon to say this is more precious than any gift." He stepped aside to guide, pointing to the tunnel behind him—three heavy iron gates stood at the entrance, heavy chains wrapped around them, ice thick in the lock cores. "The Wall has no gates, only these tunnels. Every gate is cast from ancient iron; chains can withstand giant impacts. If wildlings or Others attack, we seal the tunnel with ice, snow, and gravel, letting them touch not even ice chips."
Everyone followed Karon into the tunnel. The chill of the ice wall seeped through clothes, fiercer than the wind of the Gift. Innumerable shallow marks were carved on the ice surface of the tunnel walls—some were patrol dates recorded by Watchmen, some First Men runes, and one deep claw mark said by Karon to be left by a giant attack a thousand years ago.
"Brandon the Builder laid the foundation of the Wall in the Age of Heroes." Karon's voice echoed in the tunnel, carrying historical weight. "The Citadel says First Men used sleds to transport ice for piling, but we Watchmen believe giants helped move boulders, and Children of the Forest wove spells into the ice—look at this ice wall; cold of Others can't penetrate, bone spears of wildlings can't pierce."
He paused, tone adding pride. "When King Aegon conquered, Harren the Black's brother was Lord Commander, but our ten thousand brothers remained neutral and unbiased; when King Maegor suppressed the Faith Militant, three-quarters of two hundred knights chose to take the black, and we accepted them; and your grandmother Queen Alysanne, she gave us the New Gift, renamed Snowgate to Queensgate, and pawned jewelry to build Deep Lake—the statue on the wall is to commemorate her."
Beren held his notebook, pen tip sliding fast on paper, ink almost freezing: "Lord Commander, is the Wall really seven thousand feet high? And spells, can they really stop Others?"
"Seven hundred feet, child of House Dustin." Karon noticed the sigil on his clothes, correcting with a smile, grey eyes gentle. "As for spells, old Rangers have seen—wights beyond the Wall burn up approaching the ice wall. regarding height, you'll know standing on top tomorrow; can see the snow line of the Haunted Forest, the ice fields of the Bay of Seals; twelve knights riding abreast is more than enough space."
Gael walked to the iron gate, fingertips lightly touching the ice wall, shrinking back instantly—the ice surface was cold enough to stick to skin. "So cold; how do Watchmen survive winter?"
"Relying on New Gift ale, Mole's Town bread, and each other's body heat." Karon's tone held no complaint, only calm. "We are Night's Watch, sworn to guard the realm, regardless of how cold the winter or fierce the wildlings."
Larys Strong leaned on his cane at the end of the retinue, black robe sweeping the tunnel ice.
His gaze remained on the ice wall cracks and Watchmen's weapons—some Rangers had daggers at waists, some spear tips wrapped in ice shells, clearly to counter threats beyond the Wall.
When Karon mentioned "Night's Watch accepting Lucamore Strong," Larys's black eyes moved slightly but didn't ask, just continuing to observe the tunnel defense structure.
Jarmen Waters stood at the tunnel entrance, single eye scanning the Night's Watch formation—most had weathered faces, some missing ears or fingers, but all stood straight, weapons polished bright.
He subconsciously touched the bow and arrows at his waist. Barbed arrows in the quiver glinted coldly, clearly having new recognition of these black-clothed men's combat power.
"Rest at Castle Black before dark." Karon stopped, pointing to the light at the tunnel end. "Tomorrow at dawn, I'll take the Princes to the top of the Wall, let you see the true face of this barrier—from the Frostfangs to the Bay of Seals, three hundred miles of ice wall, all our Night's Watch duty."
Daemon nodded. Looking through the tunnel light, the outline of Castle Black was visible—wooden fortress nestling under the ice wall. Bonfire light swayed in wind and snow like stars in a cold night.
Low moans of The Cannibal and Dreamfyre came from outside. Different from usual roars, these sounds held vigilance, clearly sensing the ancient power deep in the Wall—just like Queen Alysanne's Silverwing recorded in history, disliking the aura of this ice wall.
Walking out of the tunnel, Castle Black Watchmen had lit bonfires. Several people dressed as black-robed stewards were adding wood to the fire. Seeing Daemon's group, eyes were full of curiosity, but no one dared approach, only stealing glances at the dragon shadows.
"Please stay in Castle Black's guest rooms tonight." Karon led everyone toward the main keep. "Not as warm as Winterfell, but can block wind and snow. Kitchen stewed wild venison, hunted by Rangers beyond the Wall last week, enough to warm everyone."
Brandon walked to Rodrik, patting his uncle's shoulder. "Uncle, the Wall is more magnificent than last time I came!"
"You were ten last time, not even half a horse high. Previous times sending letters only reached Mole's Town at furthest," Rodrik laughed back, grey eyes full of gratification. "This time following Prince Daemon, you kid take a good look."
Night deepened. The Wall's ice wall glowed pale blue in moonlight, like a giant sapphire.
Daemon stood on Castle Black's terrace, watching that barrier spanning heaven and earth. The brand on his right shoulder grew slightly hot—he knew this ice wall blocked not only wildlings but also the shadow of Others.
Every word in Karon's history introduction spoke of Night's Watch perseverance, reminding him the future storm was far more terrible than the Dance of the Dragons.
"Thinking again? Since coming to the North, you are like this every night, heavy-hearted," Gael walked over, still wearing the thick fur cloak, holding hot tea brewed by Alys. "My turn to watch you today. Tomorrow we stand on the Wall top; excited?"
"Thinking of Brandon the Builder." Daemon took the tea, warmth flowing down his throat. "He built this Wall for protection, not war. Our trip shouldn't be just for sightseeing."
Gael didn't understand his words but silently walked over to hug him. "Whatever it is, please don't think blindly alone, okay? My Little Daemon, you have me, Mysaria, Alys, The Cannibal and Dreamfyre, Rayford, Rupert and the others, and our family in King's Landing—"
By the distant bonfire, Karon discussed tomorrow's patrol route with Rodrik. Night's Watch singing rose in the wind and snow, lyrics full of loyalty to the land, adherence to oaths.
"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 walls. 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."
Songs and oaths flowed. The Cannibal and Dreamfyre curled in the castle clearing. Breath condensed into white steam in cold air, echoing the ice light of the Wall.
Daemon watched the ice wall, suddenly feeling this trip to the Wall might be key to rewriting history—here, there was ice resisting darkness, people guarding light, and dragon blood and oaths on his shoulder that shouldn't be failed.
Tomorrow, the top of the Wall would witness the meeting of True Dragon and Night's Watch, and unveil a new prelude about Eternal Winter and Fire.
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