CHAPTER 112
Winterfell, the Great Hall.
Garon led Jon inside, where Sansa, Bran, and Maester Luwin were already waiting.
"Sansa, Bran, Maester Luwin."
After greeting the three with a nod, Garon went straight to the point and explained the situation at Castle Cerwyn.
"Castle Cerwyn is finished. Everyone inside is dead, and even the castle itself has been devastated."
"The air was filled with the stench of corpses."
He briefly described the massacre carried out by Euron Greyjoy, and Sansa immediately covered her mouth in horror, nearly crying out.
"Those damned Ironborn!"
Maester Luwin cursed bitterly, lingering fear still visible in his eyes.
If Winterfell had fallen, he could hardly imagine the consequences.
"What about Euron?"
After forcing himself to calm down, Maester Luwin asked again.
"Did you manage to catch him?"
Garon shook his head and sighed.
"He escaped."
"Escaped?"
Jon immediately frowned.
"Where did he go?"
Garon's gaze swept over Jon and Bran before settling on Maester Luwin.
"My cavalry discovered signs that he was moving south along the Kingsroad toward Moat Cailin."
Maester Luwin was startled.
"Moat Cailin? Is he planning to join forces with Victarion Greyjoy?"
Garon nodded.
"That is my conclusion as well. By the time I confirmed his route, it was already too late to catch him."
"That is why I returned immediately."
"Maester, we need to respond as quickly as possible."
Maester Luwin's brows furrowed tightly.
He glanced at Bran, reclining in his chair, then at the visibly anxious Sansa.
His heart filled with concern.
"Bran is still a child and often bedridden. Sansa has been well taught by Lady Catelyn, but she has never been prepared for a crisis of this scale."
"Although I have done my best to guide her, she still needs time."
He sighed inwardly.
"At this moment, Winterfell can only rely on Garon."
The instant Garon finished speaking, Maester Luwin understood exactly what he was implying.
If Euron and Victarion united their forces, Winterfell would have to expand its own military strength.
The Glover forces alone would not be enough.
And if the North was to raise a larger host, House Stark would have to stand at the forefront.
House Glover lacked the authority to command all the northern banners by itself.
"So you intend for Winterfell to summon its vassals again?"
Maester Luwin looked at Garon and added,
"When Euron first attacked, I already sent ravens throughout the North requesting aid. Judging by the timing, more reinforcements should be arriving soon."
Garon nodded before asking another question.
"Maester, has there been any recent news of Robb?"
Sansa immediately spoke.
"We received word this morning that Robb defeated Ser Jaime Lannister in the Whispering Wood and captured him."
"He is now negotiating with King's Landing to exchange Jaime for Father."
"Indeed."
Maester Luwin continued with a smile.
"Lord Eddard and Robb should return before long. Once they do, the North will finally be secure again."
Jon visibly relaxed.
"Really?"
Bran smiled and nodded.
"That is correct."
"Judging by the timing, Robb may already have begun negotiations even before the raven reached Winterfell."
Jon breathed a sigh of relief.
"That is wonderful."
A flash of light crossed Garon's eyes.
"Then all we need to do is hold out against Euron and Victarion until Robb returns with his army."
"Once that happens, victory will belong to us."
He paused before continuing his analysis.
"Victarion commands roughly two thousand men."
"Adding Euron's remaining forces, they should have no more than three thousand warriors altogether."
"With only that number, they will never be able to conquer Winterfell if we defend properly."
"Wait."
Maester Luwin interrupted him.
"You mean for us to remain inside our castles and avoid engaging the Ironborn directly?"
Garon nodded.
"Exactly."
"The North enjoyed a plentiful harvest this year. If we hold our castles and wait for Robb's return, Euron and Victarion will eventually be forced to retreat."
However, Maester Luwin continued staring at him.
He could not fully understand Garon's intentions.
"Defending our castles certainly makes sense."
"But what about the villages beyond the walls?"
"You know how cruel Euron Greyjoy is."
"He will slaughter and torture countless innocent people."
Maester Luwin questioned him directly.
"Why not organize the northern armies and destroy them once and for all?"
Garon shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Maester, it is not that I do not wish to fight."
"It is that we currently cannot."
He glanced toward Bran and Sansa before explaining.
"Robb marched south and is no longer here to personally command the North."
"The Stark family therefore needs a respected commander capable of uniting all the banners."
"Originally, Ser Rodrik Cassel would have been the ideal candidate."
"His experience, reputation, and loyalty made him suitable."
"But now he is gone."
"As for everyone else..."
Garon slowly shook his head.
"I fear none of them possess enough authority to command the entire North."
As soon as he finished speaking, Maester Luwin fell silent.
He understood exactly what Garon meant.
Without unified leadership, every lord would fight independently.
And divided forces would simply be defeated one by one by the Ironborn.
Although Garon seemed to be discussing the weaknesses of others, he was actually asking House Stark to grant him greater authority.
The matter was too important for Maester Luwin to decide lightly.
Time passed slowly.
He continued weighing whether Winterfell should entrust overall command to Garon.
Then Bran's voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Garon."
Bran spoke softly, drawing everyone's attention.
"I remember that before Robb left, he entrusted you with organizing the northern defenses against the Ironborn."
"Now is the time for you to exercise that authority."
Maester Luwin immediately looked up.
"That is true."
"Robb did say something very similar."
His expression eased as he finally reached a decision.
However, Garon glanced at Bran and deliberately appeared hesitant.
"But Robb said those words before the lords who marched south."
"Most of them are no longer in the North."
"As for the remaining houses, I fear my own words alone will not be enough to convince everyone."
A smile appeared on Bran's face.
"In that case, House Stark can grant you legitimate authority."
He turned toward Maester Luwin.
"When enough northern reinforcements have arrived, we should hold a gathering."
"Then Sansa, acting in Winterfell's name, can formally appoint Garon as Commander of the North."
"That will give him the authority necessary to command every banner."
"What?"
Maester Luwin was stunned.
Even Jon and Sansa stared in disbelief.
Only Garon narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering how much of Bran's proposal was truly sincere.
Sansa pointed at herself.
"Me?"
"But Bran, you're the heir to Winterfell."
Maester Luwin also frowned.
"Bran, why would you suggest that?"
Bran lowered his gaze toward his useless legs and calmly explained.
"You all know how often I sleep."
"In my current condition, I cannot properly fulfill a lord's responsibilities."
He looked at Sansa.
"Sansa, you must act in my place."
He met her uncertain gaze and continued.
"Besides, you are Garon's betrothed."
"If you publicly support and appoint him, many obstacles will disappear."
Without waiting for Sansa to answer, he turned back toward Maester Luwin.
"What do you think?"
After considering the matter carefully, Maester Luwin finally nodded.
"Bran's condition leaves us few alternatives."
"Sansa, you will have to bear this responsibility."
Hearing both Bran and Maester Luwin agree, Sansa took a deep breath.
The weight of responsibility suddenly settled upon her shoulders.
Yet when she saw the supportive looks around her, she found her courage.
"I understand."
"For Winterfell."
"For the North."
"I am willing to do it."
As her words fell, Bran subtly glanced toward Garon, as though reminding him that everything he had said the previous day was true.
A trace of approval flashed through Garon's eyes.
Then he continued.
"Even so, we must proceed carefully."
"At present, House Bolton is the only major reinforcement that has arrived."
"And I suspect their intentions are far from pure."
Maester Luwin immediately became alert.
"What have you discovered?"
Ramsay Snow's face flashed through Garon's mind.
"He arrived far too quickly."
Everyone immediately understood.
The Dreadfort was located deep in the eastern North.
Even if Ramsay had received Winterfell's call for aid the moment it was sent, it still should have taken significantly longer to arrive.
Yet he appeared almost immediately after Garon returned.
No one present believed that was mere coincidence.
Maester Luwin frowned.
"So that is why you ordered Jon not to open the gates."
"You suspected that some of them might betray House Stark?"
Garon nodded, appearing entirely devoted to Stark interests.
"War always awakens dangerous ambitions."
"Since Robb entrusted me with helping safeguard the North, I naturally must prepare for every possibility."
His explanation immediately earned agreement from both Jon and Maester Luwin.
Even Sansa blinked as she looked at him, her eyes filled with admiration and trust.
At that moment, footsteps echoed from outside the Great Hall.
Ramsay Snow had arrived to meet the Stark family.
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