Chapter 175: The Wolf King Heads South, Robert is Shocked

"Lord Eddard, the dragon will bring death and destruction to Winterfell and the North!"

In the study, Maester Luwin watched the cat-sized dragon hatchling on the table while issuing a warning to Eddard.

Eddard stroked the black dragon's neck with his rough palm, and the dragon's red-garnet-like eyes stared at him. Eddard and his children named the hatchling Winter.

This was the first dragon of House Stark; since the sigil of House Stark was the direwolf, the name Winter was quite fitting.

Archmaester Marwyn's thick neck wobbled incessantly; he puffed on his bronze pipe, exhaling clouds of smoke, looking as if his mind were wandering far away.

Eddard scratched the neck of the black dragon, Winter. "Maester Luwin, since you believe the dragon will bring disaster to Winterfell, why did you not stop me before I hatched it?"

Maester Luwin stroked his chain and pondered for a long moment.

"To be honest, I did not think you would succeed in hatching a dragon in the godswood. Previously, when you prayed for the dragon egg to hatch in the godswood, when the alchemist offered wildfire to hatch it, and finally when Catelyn Stark, Septa Chayle, and Septa Mordane took the egg to the sept to pray, they all failed. I thought you would fail just like the previous times. If I had known a dragon would crawl out of that egg, I would have certainly done everything in my power to stop it."

It was also in the godswood that when people saw the direwolf Summer give birth to seven pups, they would roar "Father of Life" and "Long live the Starks." When they saw the dragon crawl out of the shattered egg, they knelt in silence, prostrating themselves on the ground as if they had encountered a god; every face was filled with heartfelt awe.

Maester Luwin stared at the hatchling. "Dragons are creatures of blood and fire, destined to invite blood and flame."

The hatchling yawned and looked at Maester Luwin.

Eddard said, "The dragon was born in the godswood of Winterfell; this is a gift from the Old Gods. Whether it be the wildlings, the learned maesters, the skinchangers who master animal magic, or the ancient giants, everyone has seen it."

Maester Luwin stubbornly said, "The dragon was born in the godswood, but do not forget, Lord Eddard, your direwolf Night discovered this egg on the seventh level beneath the Crypts of Winterfell, a realm belonging to the undead and the darkness. Do not forget, the patterns on the black-grey dragon egg were blood-red and azure."

Eddard nodded. "I remember your words. Blood-red represents blood and slaughter, azure represents cold and death. That was the egg; now I have hatched a hatchling, and this is new life and hope."

Maester Luwin said cautiously, "Hope that emerges from the crypts is more likely to be a curse! Lord Eddard, I have served you for many years, and you treat me like family, which is why I risk offending you to offer this counsel. When the dragon was still an egg, it was worth more than any gemstone, a miraculous creation of nature. But once the dragon breaks its shell, it becomes the embodiment of death."

Eddard smiled. "Winter cannot even feed itself; how could it be the embodiment of death?"

After the black dragon Winter was born, how to feed the hatchling became a problem. Arya, Robb, and Jon brought fresh pork from the kitchen to feed it, but the hatchling would not eat, and Eddard's children were frantic.

At this moment, both Eddard and Archmaester Marwyn remembered that only dragons and humans enjoy cooked food, so Eddard called for the cook Gage to roast pork for the hatchling. Winter devoured food heavier than its own body weight.

The mother wolf Summer was in the corner of the hall every day, nursing the pups Grey Wind, Ghost, Shaggydog, Summer, the forest wolf, Nymeria, and Lady. When the dragon hatchling saw this, it squeezed in among the pups to suckle.

This terrified Eddard, because the black dragon hatchling was about the same size as the direwolf pups, and the mother wolf Summer and the nearby father wolf Night could easily tear the hatchling apart. Dragons breathe fire, and although the dragonfire at this time could only be used to light pipes or candles, it would be disastrous if the hatchling roasted the mother wolf's belly while suckling.

Fortunately, the hatchling never breathed fire while suckling, and the mother wolf Summer and father wolf Night liked the hatchling Winter very much; they licked the hatchling just as they licked their own wolf pups.

In the study, Eddard stroked the hatchling Winter. "Winter is such a cute little thing; what danger could it possibly pose?"

Maester Luwin said, "Lord Eddard, the hatchling is only the size of a cat or dog now, and it needs people to feed it, but dragons do not stop growing. Who will be able to control it in the future? Except for the Targaryen family, no one can tame a dragon. The Master of Kennels Farlan says so, and the Sixskins Varamyr says so too."

"Raising a dragon is inviting disaster. Dragons cannot be tamed. Once Winter grows into a dragon, it might kill everyone who feeds it. It could easily burn the godswood, the main keep of Winterfell, the crypts, the Winter Town outside, the glass gardens, and the Stark Estate with dragonfire. When that time comes, who could stop the dragon's slaughter?"

In fact, on the first night the hatchling Winter was born, Eddard tried to warg into it, and he succeeded in controlling the hatchling just as easily as he controlled the mother wolf Summer, the father wolf Night, the black bear Randolph, and the white bear Little Gasol.

Eddard's skinchanger ability was becoming increasingly powerful, and when the hatchling Winter was born, it used Eddard's blood; from a magical perspective, Eddard could be considered the hatchling's blood kin.

However, the secrets of a skinchanger could not be told to Maester Luwin and Marwyn. Eddard said, "The hatchling Winter drinks the milk of the mother wolf Summer, and I feed it every day; it will become my pet."

Maester Luwin said in horror, "A pet? In time, it may grow into a terrifying monster like Balerion, Vhagar, or Meraxes."

Archmaester Marwyn puffed on his bronze pipe. "Maester Luwin, the mount of Aegon the Conqueror, the Black Dread Balerion, was the largest, capable of swallowing a giant's mount, a mammoth, in one bite. Visenya's mount Vhagar was equally impressive in size, with a throat large enough for a cavalryman to ride through on horseback, and Rhaenys's dragon Meraxes had a skull even larger than Vhagar's."

"In the hundred-plus years that followed for the Targaryen family, no dragon grew larger than Balerion. Maester Luwin, your assumption that the hatchling Winter could eventually exceed Balerion in size is unlikely to happen."

Maester Luwin said coldly, "Archmaester Marwyn, even if the hatchling Winter cannot exceed Balerion's size, a dragon is a dragon, enough to spread fear. The noble lords living throughout Westeros will not forget the tragedy and terror that dragons created in this land with blood and fire."

"Harren the Black, King of the Riverlands and the Iron Islands, saw his line extinguished at Harrenhal because of dragons, and the ancient and proud Gardener House, Kings of the Reach, saw all their descendants and kin wiped out in the Field of Fire."

"The King of the Vale, who sat behind the natural defenses of the Bloody Gate and the Eyrie, could only surrender when Visenya descended riding Vhagar; the ancient and proud House Stark, the last King in the North, Torrhen Stark, could only kneel and submit to Aegon the Conqueror and abandon his crown when faced with dragons."

"The Dornish were unyielding before the dragons; they shot down Queen Rhaenys's Meraxes, causing Aegon's sister and queen to perish alongside her dragon at the Hellholt in Dorne. The Dornish achieved a great victory against the dragons, but they also suffered the most deaths. Over generations of war, countless Dornish castles, villages, and commoners were buried in the flames of the Dragonlord's wrath."

"If King Robert Baratheon in King's Landing, the Small Council, Lord Tywin of the Westerlands, Lord Tyrell of the Reach, and Prince Doran Martell of Dorne heard the news that the North possesses a dragon, what would they think? They would certainly view the North as a threat and then do everything in their power to weaken it."

Eddard smiled. "The Reach and Dorne are far from the North; they will not care whether the North has a dragon, just as they do not care about the Others beyond the Wall. As for Lord Tywin, the Lannisters are greedy for power; regardless of whether the North has a dragon, the Lannisters will use every scheme and trick to weaken the North."

"As for King's Landing, King Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn are my friends. If Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen had hatched dragons, Robert would view the dragon remnants as a huge threat. The Starks are firm allies of the Baratheons; I know Robert, and he would be happy to accept that the Starks have a dragon."

Maester Luwin said excitedly, "Lord Eddard, the Robert you know is the young Robert who was a squire with you at the Eyrie, the Lord Robert who fought alongside you against the Targaryens. The one sitting on the Iron Throne now is King Robert."

"The Iron Throne and the crown change a person's temperament; accompanying a king is as dangerous as accompanying a dragon. The last time you and King Robert met was years ago during the Greyjoy Rebellion; how do you know King Robert's current thoughts? What if, incited by the ministers of the Small Council, King Robert believes the Starks are attempting to rebel with a dragon? Would the North and House Stark not face total annihilation?"

Eddard sighed helplessly. "So you think this hatchling Winter is a hot potato? What do you think I should do?"

Maester Luwin thought for a moment. "The best method is to kill the dragon. First, seal all news regarding the hatchling's birth; make those who witnessed the birth in the godswood swear an oath in the godswood or the sept to never leak the secret."

Marwyn, standing to the side, smiled bitterly. "Luwin, you are too naive. This is a dragon; there is no such thing as a secret that doesn't leak. Even if Lord Eddard hatched the dragon in the crypts, it would still spread throughout Winterfell, then to the Winter Town, and gradually to the entire North."

Eddard said, "Archmaester Marwyn is right. If we deliberately hide the news, not only will we fail to hide the fact that a dragon was hatched in Winterfell, but if it reaches King Robert's ears, he will suspect that the Starks hatched a dragon behind the crown's back with ill intent, and the loyalty of the Starks will be questioned by the Iron Throne."

"The Master of Whisperers on the Small Council, Varys, nicknamed 'the Spider,' has an intelligence network that spans the Seven Kingdoms; do not doubt that there are Varys's spies in Winterfell. A dragon has been added to Winterfell; it would be strange if this news could be hidden from Varys."

"Ever since I annexed the lands beyond the Wall and relocated over a hundred thousand wildlings, shaking the Seven Kingdoms, I have known that I have become a threat in the eyes of some in King's Landing. Some nobles in the South will also fear the rise of the North. Adding a dragon might deepen their hostility, but the more powerful the North is, the less these restless enemies will dare to act rashly."

"Do you expect me to stop raising dragons, stop building Wolf Castle, and stop training troops just because I fear inviting hostility? Dragons invite hostility, forging armor and weapons day and night invites hostility, and the North building ships invites hostility. Do you want me to burn the ships, kill the hatchling, disband the Winter Wolves, tear down Wolf Castle, and turn the direwolves into sheep just to eliminate hostility and please others?"

Maester Luwin frowned. "Lord Eddard, you are being too extreme; I never meant that. I only hope to handle the dragon properly."

The hatchling Winter climbed onto Eddard's shoulder. "How should I handle it?"

Luwin pondered for a long time. "We could release the hatchling into the wild and let it fend for itself; that is the safest method."

Marwyn exhaled a puff of smoke and said disdainfully, "Luwin, you are too stubborn. Lord Eddard went to great lengths to hatch the dragon; if you put it in the Wolfswood, wild wolves, eagles, or even foxes could easily kill it."

Luwin said, "I heard from the financial advisor Klar that the Sealord of Braavos is obsessed with dragons. Come to think of it, Braavos is the descendant of runaway slaves from Valyria, and this city has always lived in fear of magic dragons. How about this: we sell the magic dragon to the Sealord of Braavos; that way, we can easily repay the debts to the Iron Bank."

Eddard shook his head. "This is impossible; the dragon must never fall into the hands of Braavos."

Marwyn said, "Braavos has the Sealord's fleet, the Faceless Men, and the Iron Bank. If they were to obtain a dragon, Braavos would truly become a dangerous neighbor."

The Free City that trades most frequently with the North is Braavos. Eddard's financial advisor Klar and the Water Dancer Syrio Forel are both Braavosi, and the Braavos Iron Bank is Winterfell's largest creditor. Northern wool, timber, maple syrup, and blue noble are popular in Braavos, and Braavosi crafts are also very common in the North.

However, Braavos is a dangerous neighbor.

The purple-oared fleet of Braavos dominates the seas. If they had a dragon, they could dominate the skies. The Braavosi fleet controls the Shivering Sea, and the western part of the Shivering Sea is the most fertile fishing ground in the known world. This sea area is controlled by the Sealord's fleet. Fishermen from all over the world, whether they are Sistermen fishermen, Ibben whalers, or even Northern fishing boats, must obtain the consent of the Braavosi fleet to fish there and must pay taxes to Braavos.

This is a hegemony, because the western waters of the Shivering Sea are closer to the North. The Shivering Sea borders Skagos and the Grey Cliffs of House Karstark; the Rockborn and the North's doorstep are the Shivering Sea, yet the naval supremacy is controlled by Braavos.

Currently, Northern fishing boats mainly fish in Seal Bay, the Bite, and the Bay of Ice; they rarely go to the Shivering Sea. The North Fleet cannot compete with Braavos, so they let Braavosi warships collect taxes and fish in the vast Shivering Sea.

In the future, Eddard must at least reclaim the naval supremacy of the Shivering Sea near the North's waters. The North Fleet might not be able to contend with the Sealord's fleet even after a hundred years of development. If the dragon were sold to Braavos, and Braavos mastered both the sea and the sky, there would be no hope for the North to reclaim the naval supremacy of the waters at its own doorstep.

Luwin frowned. "If Lord Eddard refuses to sell the hatchling to Braavos, then what about Pentos? Some of the governors and spice merchants of Braavos are wealthy beyond measure. Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr could also be considered. Doesn't Lord Eddard love craftsmen and artisans? A hatchling could be traded for a large number of skilled craftsmen from Myr."

The Dragon, Flying Wolf, was on Eddard's shoulder, licking Eddard's cheek. Eddard said, "Maester Luwin, you want to send the Dragon away simply because you fear that if it remains in Winterfell, it will arouse the suspicion of King Robert and provoke the hostility of the southern lords toward the North. Have you considered that sending the Dragon to the Free Cities could potentially constitute treason?"

Maester Luwin was stunned. "Lord Eddard, taking the initiative to send the Dragon to the Free Cities proves you have no ambition; how could that possibly constitute treason?"

Eddard said calmly, "The last True Dragons, Viserys and Daenerys, are in exile in the Free Cities. They appear at times in the palace of the Sealord of Braavos, at times in the mansion of the Magister of Pentos, and at times as honored guests of the Archon of Tyrosh. The Targaryen bloodline has a strong attraction to dragons; only those with Targaryen blood have the potential to become Dragonriders."

"If I were willing to sell the Dragon, there is no doubt that those Magisters, Archons, and Princes would be willing to pay for it. Many of them are descendants of Valyria, and dragons are exactly what they dream of. Then, they would hand it over to Daenerys or Viserys to ride. When the last Targaryens mount a dragon across the Narrow Sea, what do you think Robert would think?"

"Selling the dragon to the Free Cities without King Robert's consent would only enrage King Robert and even offend the nobles and commoners of the Seven Kingdoms. Selling a Magic Dragon that has reappeared in the world to a neighboring country—once the Magic Dragon returns, attacking the Seven Kingdoms with fire and blood, recreating the dragon conquest of Aegon the Conqueror—people would all believe that I, Eddard Stark, am a traitor to the Seven Kingdoms."

Cold sweat beaded on Maester Luwin's forehead, and he wiped it away with his grey sleeve. "Lord Eddard, I hadn't thought of that level..."

Eddard said, "The discussion regarding the dragon ends here."

Maester Luwin turned and left the study. Marwyn watched Maester Luwin's back and sighed, "This is the kind of Maester the Citadel produces on an assembly line! Rigid and conservative, unable to adapt. They are mentors, physicians, and advisors to noble lords, always able to give a lord a pile of suggestions, but don't expect any good ideas from them."

The Dragon, Flying Wolf, flapped its wings and landed in front of Marwyn. Nowadays, the Dragon could only fly a few meters, and it often fell from mid-air due to exhaustion.

Marwyn stared at the Dragon's scarlet eyes and black jade-like scales. "Lord Eddard, that day in the Godswood, you used the sap of the Weirwood Heart Tree and a little bit of fresh blood to summon the Magic Dragon from the Dragon Egg; it was simply inconceivable to me. I didn't expect that the blood of a Stark and Weirwood sap could also summon a Magic Dragon."

In truth, there was also the blood of Jon Snow and Obsidian involved, but these were things Eddard would not tell Marwyn.

The Valyrian Steel Chain around Marwyn's neck shone with a silvery-white light. "In Asshai, some shadowbinders mentioned to me that the ritual to awaken a Magic Dragon requires sacrificing life to obtain a Dragon Soul. But that day, I didn't see you sacrifice any life. What exactly is going on? Could the shadowbinders' claims be wrong?"

Eddard thought for a moment. "The Godswood of Winterfell is very ancient; it has stood there since the Age of Heroes. The Weirwood there has witnessed too many people coming and going."

Marwyn had a sudden realization. "There is a theory that Green Seers can see the past and future through the Weirwood Heart Tree. The Dragon Egg was discovered in the Crypts of Winterfell, where there are statues of the Starks everywhere. Lord Eddard, do you remember the swords suppressing ghosts on the knees of the statues? The swords on some of the ancient Stark statues have rusted away completely."

"Since there is no sword, the ghost must be wandering in Winterfell. It must be that a certain Stark entered the Dragon Egg and became the Dragon Soul. Lord Eddard, your brother Brandon and sister Lyanna's statues have no swords; does this mean that the Dragon, Flying Wolf, is one of them?"

Brandon died miserably in King's Landing, and Lyanna passed away at the Tower of Joy. Eddard did not believe at all that their souls had transformed into a Dragon Soul and become the Dragon, Flying Wolf.

But Lyanna gave birth to the last True Dragon's son. In the eyes of many, Rhaegar Targaryen was the last True Dragon. Eddard suddenly thought that if Robert believed Lyanna's soul had become the Dragon, Flying Wolf, he would surely be happy. Robert had always missed Lyanna.

Lyanna was a Winter Rose; after she died, she experienced a Song of Ice and Fire and was reborn as a dragon—why not?

The Winter Rose in the study was blooming, emitting a faint fragrance. Eddard immediately had an idea.

"Archmaester Marwyn, I will tell you a secret. In fact, after a series of failures in hatching dragons, I had lost all interest in hatching dragon eggs. Until that night, I dreamed of Lyanna. Lyanna was wearing a wreath of Winter Roses on her head, and she told me that in the Godswood, using blood and the tears of the Heart Tree, her soul could be transformed into a Dragon Soul. She would manifest as a dragon to protect the North and Winterfell."

"Everything I did that day in the Godswood to hatch the dragon was taught to me by Lyanna in my dream. Otherwise, why would I name the Dragon 'Flying Wolf'? Lyanna is a wolf!"

Marwyn believed it to be true and was deeply moved. "If King Robert knew that Lady Lyanna was a Dragon Soul, he might even fall in love with this black dragon."

The black dragon, Flying Wolf, crawled onto Marwyn's arm, and Marwyn flipped it over to check. "It's impossible to tell the Dragon's sex. If it is a dragon reincarnated from Lady Lyanna, it should be a female dragon. However, I am now inclined to believe the theory of Barth; dragons have no sex. I believe this dragon is Lyanna reincarnated."

Eddard said helplessly, "But no one believes my dream. People will say that dreams are empty."

Marwyn said, "Rational people certainly don't believe these words, but as someone who studies mysticism and Magic, I have always been a magic-realist. I have always been inclined to believe in these things. It's just a pity that the bookworms of the Conclave at the Citadel won't believe it, and the high officials of the Small Council won't believe it either."

Eddard leaned forward. "Actually, Maester Luwin's worries are not without reason. Those people on the Small Council are either conspirators or sycophants. The only upright people are Stannis and Jon Arryn, and Stannis is an unapproachable fellow. If the people on the Small Council strongly promote the threat of the dragon, my good brother Robert, my brother-in-law and foster father Jon Arryn, might inevitably become suspicious."

When Marwyn thought, his forehead wrinkled into a ball. He said, "How about this: Lord Eddard, send a few dragon eggs to King Robert. His Majesty the King will naturally not doubt your loyalty."

Eddard asked in confusion, "There was only one dragon egg in the Crypts of Winterfell; where would I get extra dragon eggs to send to Robert?"

Marwyn smiled wickedly, "Lord Eddard, you are truly an honest gentleman. Where would there be so many real dragon eggs to send to the royal family? I went to the Winter Town market a few days ago and saw some peddlers selling dragon eggs. Those dragon eggs were just artworks made by peddlers applying a layer of dye; they were just stones."

"Everyone knows they are stones, bought home as ornaments, so the price is only about one Silver Stag. You can send someone to buy three and send them to King's Landing."

Eddard was a bit worried. "The fake dragon eggs are stones; Grand Maester Pycelle in King's Landing will see through them at a glance."

Archmaester Marwyn said disdainfully, "Some dragon eggs that have never hatched are themselves regarded as stones. It is possible for high Magic to summon a Magic Dragon from a stone. Some Red Cloaks and shadowbinders in Asshai specialize in this kind of Magic. A Red Cloak in Asshai even claimed that as long as powerful Magic is used, all the stone dragons on Dragonstone can be awakened. Many books in the Citadel record this point; no one can deny it, including Pycelle."

"Grand Maester Pycelle is just a senile old man sent by our Conclave to serve on the Small Council in King's Landing. I know him very well; his research in the field of mysticism is not worth mentioning. In the Free Cities, dragon eggs are regarded as a type of gemstone. Isn't the dragon egg we found in the Crypts of Winterfell a kind of Magic Stone? Believe me, King Robert will also be happy when he receives the dragon eggs you send."

Eddard understood Marwyn's meaning. Archmaester Marwyn was an authority in the field of mysticism and Magic at the Citadel; his staff, mask, and chain were all made of Valyrian Steel. If Marwyn said that the dragon egg from which the dragon hatched in Winterfell was the same as the dragon eggs sent to King's Landing for the royal family, the Citadel and Grand Maester Pycelle would have no way to deny it.

Once Eddard took the initiative to offer the dragon eggs to Robert, no matter how Littlefinger, Varys, and Cersei, those conspirators, fanned the flames, Robert would not doubt Eddard's loyalty.

Eddard reached out and touched Marwyn. "Archmaester Marwyn, you have helped me a great deal."

Marwyn puffed on his Bronze Pipe. "Lord Eddard, in Winterfell, I eat salmon and Black Truffle every day, smoke heavily with my Pipe, and can have intimate contact with my beloved dragon, Direwolf, Magic Dragon, Unicorn, and skinchanger. Researching Magic freely in Winterfell, my days are happier than the gods; this is all Lord Eddard's grace."

Eddard said, "Marwyn, you are obsessed with Magic. What role do you hope Magic will play in the world in the future?"

Marwyn said without hesitation, "I hope Magic can improve people's lives and serve the people. The magic bag of Garth Greenhand was filled with all kinds of seeds. He scattered seeds at will, and even in saline-alkali land, fertile manors could be formed, with grapes, apples, and pumpkins bearing heavy fruit."

"If Magic could be used for farming, the lands of the North and Beyond the Wall could all have bountiful harvests; if Magic could use holy light and medical holy water to treat patients, many patients could overcome their illnesses; if Magic could change the seasons, the long winter that plagues people would no longer be a problem; if Magic could manipulate storms and the ocean, humanity could find new sea routes to the wealthy East..."

Eddard was moved. "Archmaester Marwyn, believe me, with our joint efforts, the age of Magic will eventually come."

In the Great Hall of Winterfell, the Dragon, Flying Wolf, and the direwolf pups were lying on the belly of the mother wolf, Sunshine, drinking milk. Eddard and the children were watching from the side.

Robb said, "Father, I really worry that the Dragon will hurt Sunshine and the pups with a breath of fire."

Eddard said, "It won't. The Dragon has already taken the mother wolf as its own mother and the father wolf, Night-walker, as its father. These pups are the Dragon's brothers and sisters."

The sigil of House Stark is the Direwolf; the Dragon grew up drinking wolf milk and is destined to fight for the North and Winterfell.

Eddard still remembered the instructions the Green Seer, the Three-Eyed Crow, gave him in his dream. Magic requires a huge price; Valyria was destroyed because of dragons, and the Targaryens were led to depravity and madness because of dragons. Eddard hoped that the dragon could bring safety and peace to the North and Winterfell, rather than endless slaughter.

Afterwards, Bran, Jon, and Arya fed roasted mutton to the Dragon; the Dragon could eat several times its body weight in meat every day.

Bran touched the Dragon's head. "Father, can I ride a dragon and be a Dragonrider in the future?"

Eddard said, "Who knows? Let's wait until Flying Wolf grows up!"

The appearance of the Dragon saved Winterfell the trouble of starting fires; the Dragon could light fireplaces and Incense Candles, and Marwyn also liked to use the dragon to light his Bronze Pipe. The dragon's fresh droppings were scorching hot and fiery, like burning coal; when placed in a fireplace, they could be burned just like coal.

Maester Luwin walked in hurriedly. "Lord Eddard, a Raven has come from King's Landing."

The Raven sent by Robert from King's Landing had traveled across thousands of mountains and rivers and finally arrived at Winterfell. Eddard read the letter with mixed feelings; Robert wanted to appoint Eddard as Wolf King and summon him to serve in King's Landing.

Eddard was not surprised by Robert's summons; after all, Robert was a generous man. Eddard had conquered Beyond the Wall, making Robert the king with the largest territory in the history of Westeros, so Robert's rewards would certainly not be small. However, Eddard did not want to go to the South.

Cersei's children, Joffrey Baratheon, Myrcella Baratheon, and Tommen Baratheon, were all bastards born of the illicit affair between Cersei and Jaime. Eddard believed that Varys and Littlefinger in King's Landing knew all about this and might expose Cersei's little secret at any time for their own interests.

As long as Stannis, Jon Arryn, and Renly Baratheon were not blind, they would sooner or later see that Robert and Cersei's three children were bastards of the Lannister family.

If Robert found out that Joffrey Baratheon, Myrcella Baratheon, and Tommen Baratheon were bastards, he would surely be enraged and execute the children. To protect the succession to the Iron Throne and the lives of her children, Cersei would likely strike first and get rid of Robert.

King's Landing was now like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment. King's Landing was too far from the North; whether Eddard could return unscathed after going to King's Landing was a question.

This news must be told to Catelyn immediately.

Eddard came to the Godswood. Catelyn was praying in front of the Weirwood Heart Tree. Eddard walked over.

Ever since Catelyn witnessed Eddard hatching the dragon in front of the Weirwood Heart Tree, she had begun to accept the faith of the Old Gods. Now, Catelyn went to the Sept to pray every day and would also pray in front of the Heart Tree.

"Catelyn, a letter has come from King's Landing."

Catelyn frowned, "King's Landing? Is it news from my sister Lysa? Or has King Robert written?"

Eddard handed the letter to Catelyn, "To celebrate my annexation of Beyond the Wall and my great achievements in expanding the territory of the Seven Kingdoms, Robert has named me Wolf King and requests that I head south to serve as an advisor on the Small Council in King's Landing. Robert also wishes to invite nobles from all over to gather in King's Landing to hold a Wolf King Festival, including a tourney, theatrical performances, and banquets. Robert also specifically requested your presence and that of our two daughters to head south together."

Catelyn's eyes lit up, "This is a good thing. We in the North have fought bloody battles and conquered Beyond the Wall; I have always wondered why King Robert had not offered any rewards. It turns out King Robert had prepared such a grand surprise."

Eddard said gloomily: "Catelyn, do not think this is a good thing. Once in King's Landing, we will be far from the North. The North is the center of my power and the stronghold of House Stark."

Catelyn said: "King Robert in King's Landing is your good brother, what do you have to worry about? Sansa is also nearly of age for a betrothal. What do you think of Prince Joffrey? I have heard that Prince Joffrey is tall and handsome, possessing the beauty of his uncle Jaime. Sansa has always dreamed of marrying a prince. If you propose to King Robert, His Majesty will certainly not refuse."

It was just a pity that Joffrey was a bastard born of the illicit affair between Jaime and Cersei, and his character was base. Eddard did not want to marry his precious daughter Sansa to a pervert like Joffrey.

Eddard said: "Sansa cannot marry Joffrey. I will find Sansa a family of equal standing and a better fiancé."

Catelyn raised an eyebrow, "Why? Our House Tully has never reigned as kings in the Riverlands, and I have always hoped that one of my daughters or sons could marry into the royal family!"

Eddard said: "Our House Stark has been Kings of Winter and Kings in the North since ancient times, so our children all have royal blood; why seek a marriage with the royal family? I tell you, if Sansa were to marry Joffrey, she would certainly not be happy, because I have heard that Prince Joffrey is of base character."

Catelyn was unconvinced, "You have only seen that child a few times, how can you say Prince Joffrey is of base character? King's Landing and Winterfell are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers; aren't you just listening to hearsay? How about this: once we arrive in King's Landing, I can go and ask Littlefinger. Littlefinger grew up in Riverrun and was my father's ward. He is now Master of Coin and holds a high position, but he will always be my brother."

Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish, this was a man who loved to play with schemes and plots, a potential threat.

If Catelyn followed Eddard to King's Landing, she would inevitably be used by Littlefinger. There was also Jon Arryn's wife, Catelyn's sister Lysa; it was hard to guarantee that this pair of sisters from House Tully would not become puppets in Littlefinger's hands.

However, Littlefinger was, after all, Catelyn's childhood friend, and Littlefinger had always had a secret crush on Catelyn. According to Littlefinger's own account, the two even had a first-love relationship.

How should Eddard remind Catelyn that Littlefinger's character was poor?

Eddard pondered for a long while before speaking: "Catelyn, you should have less contact with Littlefinger in the future."

Catelyn was puzzled, "Lysa, Edmure, and I grew up with Littlefinger; we are childhood friends. By what right do you want me to have less contact with Littlefinger?"

The blood-red leaves on the bone-like branches of the Weirwood rustled, as if the Old Gods were whispering. Eddard had a sudden inspiration, "When I was campaigning Beyond the Wall, I met a brother who came from King's Landing. He once served in the Gold Cloaks in King's Landing, but later, because of a crime, he was exiled to The Wall and became a member of the Night's Watch."

"This officer claimed that when he was in King's Landing, he often frequented Littlefinger's brothel and was very familiar with him. This Littlefinger often boasted that he had taken Lysa's virginity back in the day."

Catelyn was shocked, "How could gossip in a brothel be true? I think it is highly likely that this Gold Cloak officer is lying; otherwise, why would he be exiled to The Wall? When I was a child, I did see Lysa and Littlefinger often playing kissing games, but that was just a child's game. How could Lysa have been reckless with Littlefinger?"

Eddard lowered his voice, "Why did Lysa agree to marry Jon Arryn back then? Yes, Jon Arryn was of noble birth and upright character, but he was twenty years older than your father, Lord Hoster, old enough to be Lysa's grandfather."

Catelyn blinked, "This was a political marriage to begin with. Jon Arryn is the Lord of the Eyrie; there were plenty of noble maidens willing to marry him."

Catelyn's thoughts could not help but return to the sept at Riverrun back then. At the time, Eddard had married Catelyn in place of his late brother Brandon, and her sister Lysa had married Jon Arryn. Lysa's mood had indeed been very low, and she had sobbed softly at the wedding; Jon Arryn had not been happy either.

Eddard continued: "We have all seen Lysa's child, Robert Arryn. That child is sickly, small and thin in stature, and often suffers from seizures. This does not look like Jon Arryn's child. Although Jon Arryn is old, he has broad shoulders and is full of vigor. I think Robert Arryn looks very much like Littlefinger; Littlefinger is very thin and small."

Catelyn said in horror: "Gods above, Eddard, you have no proof, how can you slander Littlefinger and Lysa?"

However, thinking about it carefully, Catelyn also felt that little Robert Arryn did look somewhat similar to Littlefinger, and doubt began to grow in Catelyn's heart.

Eddard placed his hand on Catelyn's shoulder, "Lord Hoster's health has not been very good. When you go to King's Landing with me, we can visit Riverrun to see Lord Hoster; he must know whether Littlefinger seduced Lysa back then."

Once Lord Hoster confirmed that Littlefinger had defiled Lysa back then, Catelyn would no longer trust Littlefinger, and Catelyn would also remain wary of Lysa.

Catelyn nodded, "Let us take Bran and Rickon to King's Landing! The children can make many noble friends at court. Our children can interact with King Robert's children; perhaps they will fall in love freely!" Catelyn was still dreaming the beautiful dream of marrying into the royal family, completely disregarding the risk of being wiped out in one fell swoop.

Eddard refused, "No. Except for Sansa and Arya, whom Robert specifically invited, the other children must remain in Winterfell. King's Landing is a nest of vipers; once a court coup occurs, our children will be hostages."

Catelyn was puzzled, "It is a time of peace and prosperity now; what coup could there be in King's Landing? Don't try to scare me."

Eddard said: "Be prepared for danger in times of peace. Is the safety of the children more important, or is making friends with the powerful more important?"

Catelyn had no choice but to accept Eddard's decision.

That evening, Eddard summoned Robb, Ser Rodrik Cassel, Mance Rayder, Maester Luwin, and Archmaester Marwyn.

Eddard looked around at everyone, "During my absence from Winterfell, Robb will be the Acting Castellan. Ser Rodrik, you are responsible for training the horses and soldiers; Maester Luwin, you are responsible for assisting Robb in handling the affairs of the North; Mance Rayder, you are responsible for assisting Robb in managing the affairs of the Wildlings. Archmaester Marwyn, you must help the children take care of the direwolves and the young dragons."

After the crowd dispersed, Maester Luwin and Robb remained behind.

"Lord Eddard, I believe that if you take the initiative to bring the young dragons to King's Landing and present them to King Robert, it could dispel the royal family's concerns about the dragons and their suspicion of the Starks."

Eddard smiled, "Rest assured, I will send three dragon eggs to King Robert; His Majesty will be satisfied."

After Maester Luwin left, Eddard exhorted Robb, "At no time should you let Theon leave your control. Do not appoint him as Acting Castellan of Wolf Castle; he must remain in Winterfell."

Robb was puzzled, "Father, Theon has been a hostage for so many years; do you not trust him? Even the Iron Bitch has been made Acting Castellan of Blacksmith City."

Eddard said: "The Iron Bitch is of common birth, but Theon's father is Balon, the Great King of the Iron Islands. If there is a war between the Iron Islands and the North in the future, he might betray the North for the sake of the ironborn. Do not test human nature with profit."

The next day, Eddard rode his direwolf at night, leading a thousand Winter Wolves, and left Winterfell amidst the cheers of the residents of Winter Town.

Catelyn, the guards Dawson, Syrio Forel, Domeric, and the Eagle King McCain rode beside Eddard. Maester Norman the White-Haired appeared in the ranks; he was skilled in medicine, and Eddard believed Maester Norman could be of use in the South.

Sansa and Arya, holding their direwolves, sat in the carriage.

Domeric was one of the few wards following Eddard to King's Landing, because Eddard did not feel at ease leaving the heir to the Dreadfort here; who knew what kind of trouble Roose Bolton would stir up. Moreover, Domeric had the potential to become a tourney champion.

The Wolf King's party headed south along the Kingsroad. Fellan joined the party at the Barrowlands and told Eddard that Lady Barbrey was at home waiting for the birth of her child. Fellan was skilled in archery, and Eddard believed he could be of use in the tourney and archery contests once they reached King's Landing.

Half a month later, Eddard's party arrived at Moat Cailin.

Eddard noticed that the fortress of Moat Cailin had been fully restored, with manors everywhere, and over five thousand Winter Wolves, forced laborers, and farmers were tilling the land there. Quent, the Acting Castellan in charge of Moat Cailin, warmly welcomed Eddard's arrival.

After the Wolf King's party rested here for a while, they continued south and began to enter the Neck region. This was the home of the Crannogmen, an endless expanse of marshes filled with frogs, lizards, and vipers everywhere; Eddard even saw a lizard-lion.

King's Landing, Small Council.

Varys's bald head looked like a newborn baby's bottom; he wore a robe of amber silk and exuded the scent of lavender.

"My lords, Lord Eddard has headed south from Winterfell and is on his way to King's Landing. However, a terrifying piece of news has come from Winterfell: a dragon has hatched in the Godswood of Winterfell!"

Pycelle, who had been drowsy, suddenly opened his eyes wide. Robert and Jon Arryn exchanged glances; Stannis began to grind his teeth; Renly Baratheon adjusted his crown of the stag brooch carved from blue jade.

Littlefinger revealed a sly smile, "Varys, you previously said that Lord Eddard had brought back White Walkers from Beyond the Wall; is your intelligence actually reliable?"

Pycelle said: "Dragons have been extinct for many years; there are no dragons left in the world."

Varys was sycophantic, "My lords, my eyes in Winter Town have sent word. One farmer said that Catelyn Stark gave birth to a young dragon before the Heart Tree, and Lord Eddard delivered it himself; a fisherman said that a Stark direwolf gave birth to a young dragon; a stable boy said that a giant named Xixi gave birth to a dragon egg, which then hatched into a dragon."

"Regardless of how disparate this intelligence is, one thing is certain: a young dragon has indeed hatched in Winterfell."

Littlefinger waved his quill, "Only members of House Targaryen can hatch dragons. Could it be that Lord Eddard is colluding with the remnants of the Targaryens? Are Daenerys and Viserys hiding in Winterfell?"

Robert said angrily: "Are you crazy? Back then, Eddard's father, Lord Rickard, and his brother Brandon were both killed by the Mad King. How could Eddard possibly harbor the children of his father's killers?"

Pycelle stroked his snow-white beard, "My lords, Eddard has organized the Winter Wolves, built Wolf Castles all over the North, constantly expanded his military, built a fleet, and now has hatched a dragon. What exactly is he trying to do?"

Varys rubbed his soft hands, "Is Grand Maester implying that Duke Eddard intends to rebel? That seems unlikely, doesn't it? Duke Eddard is deeply beloved by the people of the North and the Wildlings; people honor Eddard as the Wolf King, the Father of Life. Duke Eddard's prestige in the North is unmatched! Even our respected Your Majesty and the High Septon cannot compare!"

Jon Arryn said sternly: "Pycelle, Varys, are you implying that Eddard's merits are so great they threaten the throne? That he plots to rebel? Slandering a Duke of the North is a grave crime."

Stannis's jaw tightened, "Who knows what Eddard intends to do with dragons? Back then, the Conqueror relied on three dragons to conquer Westeros. Your Majesty, I suggest we immediately order Eddard to send the dragons to King's Landing."

Robert Baratheon scratched his ear, "They are dragons, not full-grown dragons, why are you all getting so worked up?"

In truth, the situation Robert Baratheon faced was extremely thorny; many nobles in the country, such as House Darry of Darry Castle, House Whent of Harrenhal, Clinton House of Griffin's Roost, House Grafton of Gulltown, House Tyrell of Highgarden, Redwyne House of the Arbor, and Martell House of Dorne, had all fought for the Targaryen during the Usurper's War.

To this day, many commoners and nobles in the country privately call Robert Baratheon the Usurper, while the Beggar King Viserys and Daenerys remain in exile overseas; some nobles long for the return of the True Dragon to all lands and secretly worship portraits of the Targaryen kings, so Robert Baratheon must unite the Seven Kingdoms.

However, Robert Baratheon's brothers Renly Baratheon and Stannis have always been at odds, Jon Arryn is advanced in years, and Hoster Tully is bedridden; Robert Baratheon does not want to sell the country to the Lannister, and he needs to rely on Eddard as a steadfast ally.

Grand Maester Pycelle said excitedly: "Your Majesty, if Eddard notifies King's Landing and hatches the dragons, it proves he has no ulterior motives; if he deliberately conceals it, it proves the man harbors evil intentions, and we should immediately use iron and fire to raze the North!"

At this moment, a Raven flew into the window of the Small Council.

Under normal circumstances, a Raven would go to the Maester's tower, but a clever Raven would come directly to the Small Council room.

Robert Baratheon took the letter from the Raven's claw, "A letter sent by Eddard."

Robert Baratheon's brow gradually smoothed, and he tossed the letter to Pycelle.

"Pycelle, you old The Fool, Eddard mentioned the hatched dragons in the letter and even wants to send me three Dragon Egg. You bunch of fools actually doubted Eddard's loyalty; he is the man who treasures honor the most!"

Thanks to 20220331173525797, Yue Ye Ting Chui Xue, Tian Tian Ku Pao Zhu Shen, TCGMX, Ying Fei Lian, Sha Ding Yu, Zhao Zhao Nan Mu, Qia Tong Xue Nian Shao Feng Hua Zheng Mao, zhuhuabjss, 20230311125215805, An Lang Gu Wang, Hu Shuo Ba Shuo, Man You You De You for the monthly tickets sent; thank you for the support!

(End of this chapter)