"Why?" Slynt and Alliser cried out in shock.
"Your Grace, you must not interfere with the Night's Watch's elections!" Maester Aemon said anxiously. "Since the founding of the Night's Watch nearly ten thousand years ago, no king has ever appointed a Lord Commander at will."
"I understand," Dany gave the old man a reassuring smile, then looked around the hall at the gathered members of the Night's Watch, their faces either grave, confused, or discontented. She raised her voice and said, "My belief that Slynt and Alliser are unfit to be Lord Commander is not born of personal bias.
In fact, compared to the rudeness and suspicion I faced from old blacksmith Donal when we first met, these two have been far more respectful and courteous."
"But the factionalism they carry is too obvious. They arrived at Castle Black just this morning and, with a flimsy excuse, arrested Jon Snow. Maester Aemon and Acting Lord Commander Donal have already exposed this matter. Furthermore, Lord Slynt, as a newcomer, does not even hold an official position within the Night's Watch.
He had never even met Jon Snow before.
So why did he act so rashly?There's only one reason:Slynt is loyal to the Lannisters. The hatred between House Lannister and House Stark runs deep, and even though Lord Slynt has been exiled to the Wall, his determination to serve the Lannisters has not diminished.
Now, everyone knows the tangled past between the Targaryens and the Starks. I would never defend Jon Snow just because he has Stark blood.
My thinking is simple: the Night's Watch must belong only to the Wall. No political faction or previous allegiance should matter. Once you don the black, you must remain neutral."
Maester Aemon seemed thoughtful and gave a slight nod.
Bowen Marsh furrowed his brow. As Acting Lord Commander, he secretly still harbored ambitions to remove the word "acting" from his title.
First of all, his birth was lacking. Among the senior members of the Night's Watch who dined with the queen, nearly everyone bore the title of "Ser," except him — a commoner.
And due to his common birth and lack of formal military training, he had once been tricked by Mance Rayder, leading to a disastrous and unnecessary battle at the Bridge of Skulls — a pyrrhic victory that cost the already short-handed Night's Watch a hundred of its finest men.
Though he fought bravely and was fearless in the face of death — charging at the front despite being as round as a pomegranate — courage alone does not make a Lord Commander. Wisdom, experience, and temperament were equally vital.
Secondly, Bowen Marsh was deeply responsible, a true Night's Watch brother who viewed his vows as a lifelong commitment.
Upon recognizing his own shortcomings, he extinguished any lingering hope of becoming Lord Commander and resolved instead to devote his life to supporting a wise and capable leader.
Slynt was the "chosen one" he had decided upon — brave, skilled in battle, and with outstanding military capabilities (after all, he had risen to command the City Watch). His noble status — now a landed and titled lord — his court connections — a confidant of Cersei and Tywin — and his relative youth — not yet forty — made him seem ideal.
But no matter how many virtues Slynt possessed, his unwavering loyalty to the Lannisters could not be overlooked. Before the arrival of the Dragon Queen, being a "Lannister loyalist" might have been a bonus. But now…
"The Night's Watch must remain strictly neutral and must never participate in the power struggles of Westeros!" Bowen Marsh said firmly.
Around the hall, the brothers of the Night's Watch nodded in agreement. Neutrality was one of their most sacred vows — no one could refute it.
Ignoring the grim-faced Slynt and Alliser, Dany focused her gaze on the brooding Commander of the Shadow Tower and declared, "It is clear that Lords Slynt and Alliser cannot uphold this principle. They belong to the Lannisters, and the Iron Throne is currently occupied by a Lannister.
Once the existence of the White Walkers is proven, the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms will no longer ignore the Wall.
At that time, with powers from all sides converging here, imagine a commander who serves private interests — how could he earn the trust of all?If the Night's Watch were to fall under Lannister influence, what then would House Targaryen, a declared enemy of the Lannisters, be forced to do?Better to make things clear from the start — I will set the example."
Dany raised her right hand, her expression solemn, her voice loud and clear:"I swear by the name of my Targaryen ancestors, by my identity as Mother of Dragons: no matter how much I invest in the Night's Watch, they will belong solely to the Wall. I will never ask the Night's Watch to serve my personal interests."
"Good!" Bowen Marsh, blacksmith Donal, Ser Mallister, and other Night's Watch leaders cried out in unison. The hall erupted in applause, and even Jon Snow looked at Dany with admiration and a hint of awe.
"This woman..." Ser Barristan Selmy's gaze was complicated, his heart a tumult of emotions.
If the White Walkers were real, if they were truly as powerful as the legends claimed, and if they indeed sought to cross the Wall, then it would be inevitable — and necessary — for the Seven Kingdoms to set aside their quarrels and unite against the greater threat.
Yet after the recent wars — the War of the Usurper, the War of the Five Kings — the blood feuds between the great houses ran deep. Could they trust each other enough to stand united against a common enemy?
At this moment, the Dragon Queen's oath was undoubtedly a vital first step. Rallying the kingdom's strength under a neutral force — the Night's Watch — devoid of private ambitions, serving only Westeros itself.
Thinking this way, Ser Barristan realized Dany's decision to exclude Alliser and Slynt from the Lord Commander election was not only correct but also wise and decisive.
The Night's Watch must remain neutral — otherwise, the dream of a "Seven Kingdoms United Against the White Walkers" alliance would never become reality.
Unconsciously, the old knight with the red nose began clapping as well, his heart filled with deep emotion:Setting aside the debate between "the real world" and "the world of magic," the Dragon Queen's talent, magnanimity, wisdom, and vision far surpassed the so-called players of Westeros.She wasn't even on the same level — truly, she was a ruler worthy of the Seven Kingdoms!
"Your Grace, I… you misunderstand me..."After the cheers began to die down, Ser Alliser Thorne's thin, severe face turned a liver-colored shade of frustration as he stammered, "I admit I dislike Jon Snow and the Starks, but not because I wish to curry favor with the Lannisters.
I am not like Lord Slynt, a confidant of Cersei and Tywin.
In fact, it was Duke Tywin who forced me to don the black in the first place."
"Oh, then what are you doing it for?" Dany asked curiously.
Two crystal-clear tears welled up in Aliser's eyes. His tall, sturdy frame trembled slightly, as if struggling to withstand a massive blow. Choking back sobs, he said, "Your Grace, I... I come from the Thorn family of the Crownlands. My elder brother and nephew both fought and died with Prince Rhaegar at the Ruby Ford. I too—"
"This—" Dany was shocked and awkward at the same time. Damn it, this man was a loyal servant of House Targaryen!She had accidentally harmed an ally!
Maester Aemon softly reminded her, "The Thorn family were direct vassals of the royal house. They fought for the Targaryens until the very end.
After King's Landing fell, Duke Tywin forced Ser Aliser to choose between taking the black or losing his head. The good ser chose the Wall."
Dany felt even more embarrassed. Even after joining the Night's Watch, this man hadn't forgotten his old allegiance and had been wholeheartedly trying to sabotage the son of their enemy. Such loyalty...Honestly, she should have expected this. The Night's Watch was made up of men from all over the Seven Kingdoms; there were bound to be factions.
For example, when she first arrived, the one-armed blacksmith Donal, who had looked at her so guardedly, was from Storm's End — a true "Baratheon loyalist" who had grown up watching the three Baratheon brothers.
One of the major sources of recruits for the Watch was criminals — commoners who had broken the law, and nobles who had backed the wrong side in the game of thrones.
The Usurper's War had only been sixteen years ago; surely, a large number of knights loyal to House Targaryen had been sent here.
Sigh. After spending so long in Westeros, the only true loyalist she had met had been deeply hurt by her own hand. It was truly a shame.
Luckily, Dany had been a queen for several years now. Her chest might not have been large, but her heart was deep. She merely cast a cool glance at old Maester Aemon, then declared loudly, "Of course I know the Thorn family of the Crownlands, and I know of Ser Aliser's loyalty to the Targaryens.
Before I came to Westeros, Ser Barristan had already told me countless tales of the old families of the Seven Kingdoms — including the Thorn family, known for their unyielding loyalty and sacrifice."
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Did he really? Why can't I remember?Barristan felt bewildered but nodded firmly on the outside. He must be getting old — his memory was fading. He must have spoken of it before but forgotten.
Could a legendary White Knight, known for his honesty, integrity, and uprightness, tell a lie?Everyone believed him.
"But as I said earlier," Dany continued, "the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch must not act out of personal interest. He must uphold neutrality. No matter how much the Targaryens have done for the Watch, we would never allow personal gain to compromise its purity."
Speaking righteously, Dany's voice was firm, her expression solemn, her words powerful: "Targaryens always keep their word. What we begin, we finish. What we finish, we see through!"
"Your Grace..." Maester Aemon choked up.
"Your Grace..." Bowan Marsh's eyes turned red with emotion.
"Your Grace..." At last, Ser Aliser let his tears fall.
"Your Grace..."
Luckily, this queen was sharp enough to turn awkwardness into inspiration, moving the black-cloaked brothers to tears and setting a shining example of 'the Night's Watch must never take part in the politics of the Seven Kingdoms.'One could only wonder if, someday in the future, some oathbreaking Lord Commander would be stabbed to death by his own black-cloaked brothers for forgetting that principle.
Half an hour later, the lively, noisy feast came to an end. Dany, accompanied by Barristan, old Aemon, and Jon, left the main hall of the castle and headed toward the King's Tower.
"Your Grace, about this afternoon's trial..."Jon's grey eyes shimmered with a complicated mix of gratitude, admiration, and worry. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me. Whether an organization is strong depends on the fairness of its system of rewards and punishments. Those who have merit must be rewarded. Those who have no faults must not be punished.If justice is lost, hearts will scatter — and when honor disappears, so will strength.
Beyond the Wall is already a bitter, harsh land. Without cohesion and a sense of honor, what fighting strength could the Night's Watch possibly have?" Dany shook her head.
Jon paused, then hesitantly asked, "Your Grace, once winter passes and summer comes, after you reclaim the Iron Throne... what do you plan to do with the Starks of Winterfell?"
"Heh," Dany laughed meaningfully, "Right now, isn't Winterfell in the hands of Ramsay Snow?"
"The North will never forget the Starks!" Jon said firmly.
Creaaak—As they climbed the stone steps, Ghost, lying at the door, stretched out his neck and let out a soft call toward Dany.
She patted his muzzle and asked, "Where have you been all day? I didn't see you once."
"Winter is coming," Maester Aemon said, lifting his lantern to examine the scorched corpse of a beast lying before Ghost. "The wild animals in the woods are hiding away — not easy to find prey."
He studied the carcass carefully. "It has long horns... could it be a deer? But it's so tall and strong, it looks more like a wild horse. Strange... I don't recognize it."
"Ah! A unicorn!" the old man suddenly cried out, "I remember now — it's a unicorn.Seven Gods above, the White Dragon has killed a unicorn!"
(End of chapter)
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