A deathly silence first fell over Castle Black. But Targaryen—that name was like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake.
Some of the older brothers of the Night's Watch certainly remembered the name; they were once members of the loyalist faction who, unwilling to serve the new king after their defeat, were sent to The Wall by Robert Baratheon to serve as Night's Watchmen.
Some of the younger brothers had also heard the name Viserys, the Dragon King rising in the East, a Targaryen who possessed giant dragons.
And now, he had actually come to this godforsaken Wall.
Mormont, hearing that Viserys had come specifically to find him, took a deep breath and stepped forward. "I am Jeor Mormont, the 997th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Your Majesty Targaryen, the vows of the Night's Watch include not interfering in the political affairs of the Seven Kingdoms, nor participating in their struggles. Therefore, you should not have come here."
Viserys had just noticed this tall, burly old man. Although he wore the same black fur cloak as The Others, he held a valyrian steel sword in his hand; after all, valyrian steel swords were magical, and he could sense it.
"I am not here to ask you to participate in the struggles of the south," Viserys said. "I have two main reasons for this visit. First, to see Maester Aemon of the Night's Watch. Second, to tell you news concerning a crisis that threatens the very existence of The Wall. Let me go inside and discuss it with you in detail."
Mormont hesitated slightly. Allowing a Targaryen into Castle Black was too risky; if The North found out, it might cut off the Night's Watch's supplies. But refusing might also enrage this Dragon King, and the consequences could be even more severe.
Just then, a voice came from the back of the crowd. "Please, let him in."
The brothers in black moved aside to make a path. Maester Aemon, supported by his assistant Clydas, walked slowly toward them. This old man was quite respected at The Wall.
He was now over a hundred years old, and his eyes had long since lost their sight, but he still lifted his head as if he could "see" the giant dragon ahead.
"I hear the sound of a dragon." Aemon's voice trembled, and he couldn't help but sniff the air. "I also smell the scent of sulfur. It is true; the dragons have returned."
Seeing this old man, Viserys couldn't help but feel a tightening in his chest. After all, this individual was somewhat uncanny; he didn't know if the man could see through his true origins. If he really found out, then he would have to eliminate everyone here.
He leapt down from the dragon's back and walked toward Maester Aemon.
The brothers in black surrounded them nervously, but Mormont raised his hand to stop them. He was likely the only one left who still knew the old man's true identity.
"Great-great-uncle." Viserys gave Aemon the bow of a junior, then took the withered hand the old man reached out, wanting to touch his face. "I am Viserys Targaryen, son of Aerys."
Hearing Viserys's form of address for Maester Aemon, the Night's Watch finally realized that this old man, who could be called a fossil of The Wall, was actually a Targaryen as well.
Aemon's hand trembled in his grip. "Viserys, I have heard your name. You are Rhaegar's younger brother. You are still alive, the Seven Gods be praised..." Tears flowed from his blind eyes. The reason he knew of Rhaegar was that Rhaegar used to write to him frequently to exchange thoughts, back when his eyes were not yet blind.
"It is true," Viserys said softly. "However, for now, let me first make things clear to them, and then our family can catch up slowly."
At that moment, another voice rang out, filled with a sense of anger. "A Targaryen should not be here."
Viserys turned his head toward the source of the voice and saw a middle-aged man in black pushing through the crowd. He had the long face and gray eyes of House Stark, bearing some resemblance to Eddard, but he was thinner than him, and his eyes burned with angry hatred.
Benjen Stark.
Eddard Stark's younger brother and the current First Ranger of the Night's Watch.
"Lord Benjen," Mormont spoke up, intending to warn him.
But Benjen ignored him and walked straight up to Viserys, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Viserys, your brother abducted my sister, and your father burned my father and brother to death. Now you dare to ride a dragon to The Wall? The Night's Watch does not welcome you."
Benjen had previously been out on a mission with a team of Rangers, but they had just finished. As they were returning to the vicinity of The Wall, they heard three horn blasts, so they hurried back to the castle as fast as their horses could carry them.
Upon arrival, he saw the three-headed dragon he had heard about back in Winterfell, the one from across the Narrow Sea, so he had also guessed the newcomer's identity.
Viserys simply stared at him. "Are you Benjen Stark?"
"I am." Benjen was taken aback for a moment by the question.
"Then Lord Stark, you should be well aware that your sister Lyanna left with my brother Rhaegar of her own free will. They were in love, but they went about it the wrong way and failed to consider everyone else. So, I do not wish to hear any more of your slanders against the Targaryen family in the future." Viserys's tone was very firm.
"But my father and brother died at Targaryen hands; that is a fact," Benjen argued nonetheless.
"I did not come here today to stir up conflict, nor to argue with you, but for the threat north of The Wall."
"What threat?" Benjen sneered. "More Targaryen lies?"
"The Others." Viserys's voice spoke calmly, but the word spread clearly throughout Castle Black. He decided to just make it public; there was really nothing to be gained from trying to reason with these stubborn black crows.
"An army of the dead is gathering north of The Wall. Long Night is coming, and The Wall where you stand is the first and last line of defense that can block their advance. I am here to warn you: Winter is Coming, Stark." He said the last sentence directly to Benjen.
Whispers broke out among the crowd. They had all originally believed that The Others were just ancient legends, horror stories told by grandmothers to their grandsons. But now, the Night's Watch had some different thoughts; after all, the dragons that had been gone for over a hundred years had reappeared, and with three heads at that, so it was possible that The Others truly existed as well.
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