<h4>Chapter 107 - 107 - Robb and the Free Folk (II)</h4>


    "The world really is full of surprises." Robb Stark, watching the giant.


    ---------


    Robb couldn''t help but take a deep breath at the sight of the gigantic Wall. He had heard the stories, but seeing it in person was somethingpletely different. Just imagining that his ancestor had built such a masterpiece was enough to fill the heir to Winterfell with pride.


    "Incredible! I want to see the view from the top!"


    The grandiose feeling Robb was experiencing disappeared the moment he looked down and saw Arya riding beside him.


    "When we get back to Winterfell, you''re going to spend a whole month locked up in a tower. And I personally will make sure that Septa teaches you to sew and indoctrinates you for days!"


    Robb gave Arya a stern look. If he didn''t discipline his sister now, she might gain even more courage to run away from home in the future.


    Arya''s smile had never faded so quickly. She looked at her brother with a pleading look. To be forced to learn to sew and listen to the Seven preach? She would rather throw herself from the tower and end her suffering once and for all. That wouldn''t be a lesson, but a real mental torture session!


    Seeing her desperate expression, Robb nodded, satisfied. He just wanted to make sure that Arya understood that running away from home was not an option, especially for a girl.


    "Arya, never run away from home again. This world isn''t kind to girls."


    He stroked his sister''s hair and spoke in a gentle tone. How many times had he seen his father cut off the heads of rapists? Dozens of times. Just imagining something like that happening to Arya made his mood darken.


    Arya nodded, but it was clear from the look on her face that she wasn''t convinced by her brother''s words. She was not a helplessdy and she knew how to protect herself with the Needle, the gift Aenar had given her. She had trained in hiding and was confident that, at the slightest opportunity, she could kill a man.


    Spending her days in a castle, surrounded by jewels, expensive dresses and sugary cakes was perhaps everymoner girl''s dream, but not hers. Arya wanted to explore. She wanted to know every corner of the world and live the life she chose, not be ady destined for marriage and children.


    If Robb knew what was going through his sister''s mind, he''d probably increase the punishment to ten years, and he''d still think it was too little.


    Not that he was cruel, but as the eldest brother, he wanted the best for Arya. He wanted her to have a worthy destiny, a good husband, beautiful children and, in the end, a happy life. That was his sincere wish for all his siblings.


    Putting these thoughts aside, Robb focused on the gates of Castle ck, which were already open to wee them. Waiting for them was an old man - too old for him to guess. But when he noticed the Maester''s ne around his neck, Robb could assume that it was the Maester of Castle ck.


    Looking into the old man''s lc eyes, Robb noticed a striking resemnce to those of Aenar.


    "Wee, heir of Winterfell. I am Aemon of House Targaryen, Maester of Castle ck. I will escort you to the meeting ce, where everyone is already awaiting your arrival."


    Aemon greeted Robb with a kind smile and then cast a curious nce at the girl riding with him.


    Robb was speechless when he discovered Aemon''s identity. He opened his mouth, but couldn''t answer immediately.


    "Incredible! You''re like Aenar! Who was your father?" Arya jumped off her horse, excited, and looked at Aemon curiously.


    Aemon couldn''t help butugh when he saw the girl''s energy.


    "Little nature spirit," he greeted Arya with a smile before answering: "My father was Maekar, First of the Name. And when I refused the throne, it was passed on to my brother, Aegon, Fifth of His Name."


    Arya suddenly stopped and stared, her eyes widening so much that they seemed about to pop out of their sockets. It wasn''t just her who was shocked, Robb also disyed an incredulous expression.


    Refuse the throne? How many men would do that? His own father, Ned Stark, had refused the throne, as had Jon Arryn, but how many others would be indifferent to the greatest power in an entire continent?


    "You may call me Maester Aemon," he continued in a gentle tone, noticing the surprise on the young men''s faces. "When I took my oaths, I stopped being a prince and gave up all my titles and possessions."


    Aemon gestured for them to follow him and began walking towards Castle ck Hall, his steps slow but steady.


    Robb and Arya looked at each other, still processing what they had just heard. After a brief silence, Robb spotted Ser Rodrik Cassel and, pulling himself together, spoke firmly:


    "Ser Rodrik, organize the supplies and weapons inside Castle ck. I will go to the meeting."


    "Yes, milord." Rodrik nodded respectfully.


    With that, Robb took Arya''s hand and entered the fortress. But as soon as he passed through the gates, he stopped abruptly, shocked by what he saw.


    In front of him, a giant wielded a huge axe, chopping wood with frightening ease. A log the size of a grown man looked like a simple toy in his colossal hands.


    "This is Wun Wun, one of thest giants of his kind," Aemon introduced the creature with a smile, recalling his own reaction to seeing him for the first time.


    Arya watched the giant with fascination and wondered if he could put her on his shoulders...


    If Robb knew about his sister''s dangerous thoughts, he would have a heart attack and, without hesitation, lock her in a tower for the rest of her life!


    Putting the giant''s presence aside, Robb turned his attention to understanding what had happened before his arrival.


    The war against the White Walkers and the Wights had already begun. And, to his surprise, the King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder, had knelt before Aenar, epting him as his sovereign.


    Robb had countless questions, and Aemon, ever patient, answered them all, without hesitating to share everything he knew so far.


    On hearing that they had captured Wights to present to the Northern Lords, Robb felt more confident that he could get them to bend the knee to Aenar without too much bloodshed. Although he knew that some bloodshed was inevitable. The Northern Lords were stubborn as stone and, no matter how terrifying dragon fire was, they wouldn''t bend easily.


    Arya listened to everything with her eyes shining with excitement. She wanted to be invisible so she could spy on the Wights up close. Just imagining herself killing one, as her ancestors had done in the past, made her chest inte with pride and excitement.


    Once again, if Robb knew of his sister''s thoughts, he would have a tall tower built on an isted ind and lock her in, just so that the six-year-old girl would learn, once and for all, never to have such dangerous ideas again.


    Arriving at Castle ck''s hall, Robb saw that there were many people in the ce and sitting in the most important seat was Aenar, with a rxed posture in contrast to the severe atmosphere in the air.


    As he entered, Robb felt everyone''s gaze fall on him. As heir to Winterfell, he didn''t fear the stares, as he had already spoken in front of the Lords of the North countless times.


    "Robb." Aenar greeted his cousin with an amused look. "You''re right on time. Lord Mance will kneel for you and take your oath in the name of Lord Stark."


    "Aren''t you going to pour me a ss of wine, Your Grace?" Robb asked with an incredulous tone, causing everyone around to burst into loudughter. The tense atmosphere melted away as if it had never existed.


    Robb looked discreetly at Aenar with admiration. He hoped to have this kind of skill when he was Lord of Winterfell. Observing those present, Robb arrived at Aenar''s side with Arya and spoke aloud:


    "I am Robb of House Stark, heir to Winterfell and representative of the Lord of the North, Eddard of House Stark."


    "Wee to Castle ck, Lord Stark." Jeor stood up and greeted his liege''s sessor.


    "The Great Bear, Jeor Mormont." Robb greeted Jeor with a smile. He couldn''t imagine that such an honorable man would have a son like Jorah, a ver.


    "Lord Stark." Mance stood up and respectfully greeted his future lord.


    "Lord Mance." Robb, who already knew who Mance was through Aemon, greeted the King Beyond the Wall with equal respect.


    Aenar smiled as he saw them greet each other and spoke aloud:


    "Since Lord Stark has arrived, we will begin the ceremony."


    -------------


    <strong>Note:</strong> We will begin the reconquest after the Northern Lords have bowed, which will happen in the next few Chapters.


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