(Aerion's POV)
"I understand that this may all seem strange to you." Cregan Stark said as we walked alongside together and towards the weirwood tree in Winterfell, "But you must understand, Lord Aerion, that it had to be done."
It was a few days after I embarked towards the North. After arriving here in Winterfell, I had to wait a while for Lord Stark to arrive from the Wall. Apparently, there was some issue that needed his attention. I did not mind waiting, which allowed me to have time until Willam arrived. Traveling on Dragonback is much faster than ordinary travel.
"Hm...." I said as I stopped and looked at him, "I require answers, Lord Stark. Waymar was my kin, he required a proper burial in Runestone, where he deserved."
Cregan Stark was young, a bit younger than me, but was quite tall. Not as tall as I am, but tall enough that his massive Valyrian Steel Greatsword was nicely strapped to his shoulder and did not seem to cumbersome.
"It is quite complicated." He said, "I have been investigating that issue myself. From what I understand, several thieves and a murderer tried to hide out in the Wolfswood. Ser Waymar and his men chased them out of there and eventually, they reached the Long Lake. There, there was a bit of a struggle and some unknown parties intervened. The culprits that were Ser Waymar's targets eventually escaped all the way northwest, near the Shadowtower on the Wall."
"All of this happened in such a short amount of time?" I asked
He nodded, "It was quite chaotic." He said, "I was informed that maybe House Karstark and House Bolton were the parties involved in the Long Lake, but I cannot be too sure."
"Waymar was murdered, was he not? His men too?" I asked, "They are members of House Royce, this cannot stand. I must bring those to justice."
"It happened near the Shadowtower, My Lord." He said as he looked at the tree, "From there, it is more than possible they went Beyond The Wall."
"Hm." I said as I looked at the tree, "Then, will the Night's Watch take it from there?"
"I doubt it." He said, "They cannot divert their focus to such a matter."
"Very well." I said, "Point me to the Shadowtower, I'll handle it from there."
"It is not as easy as it sounds." He said, "To go further North."
I looked at him with a frown, "How so?" I asked him
"My Father once told me a story of how King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne visited the Wall." He said as he looked at me, "That Dragon you have outside our walls...he refused to cross it....The Good Queen's dragon as well..."
"I see...." I said as I looked up into the sky, "So I must do it without Vermithor then...."
"Do you truly mean to do this?" He asked me, "My Lord, there is a chance that they have been killed by Direwolves, Wildlings, or far worse...."
"What could be worse than that?" I asked him
"What killed Waymar." He said seriously, "Death."
I looked at him, "You have to elaborate."
"According to the reports, one of Waymar's men fell in the struggle in Shadowtower." He said, "And while Waymar tried to apprehend the others....that's when it happened.....The Dead rose and took Waymar's life."
I frowned, "What?" I asked, "What do you mean?"
"Exactly as I said it, My Lord." Cregan said, "I've never seen it myself, but that is the truth. That is why we burned Waymar's body alongside the other corpse."
"What...." I said as felt nothing but confusion
What is he talking about? The dead rose? What the hell does that mean?
Wait.
This could be what Viserys was talking about. What he saw in his dream. Death. Death awaits along the Cold Future.
Is any of this true? I just don't know. I don't know what to believe at this point. I have been the subject of strange mystical events as of late. The dead rising and killing one of my kin doesn't sound too impossible.
"It's true..." I heard a faint whisper
I turned around and saw that there was nobody around us. This was different than the lady in black, the voice. It sounded more....male....
I then heard a raven's call alongside wings fluttering. I looked up to see the black-feathered bird on top of one of the branches of the Tree.
It was looking straight at me.
"What the...." I said
"Ravens are quite common in the North." Cregan said, "Some people are quite superstitious of them like they are with the Dead. They say Ravens can peer into the hearts of men and can tell them of their future. I don't believe that, however. I never once experienced it."
"Hm...." I said as I looked at the Raven
*************************************************
"The North is not as friendly to my bones as I imagined..." Willam said as he approached me, "Lord Stark, thank you for having us."
We were in the main hall in Winterfell, Willam had finally arrived and Lord Cregan and I waited for him on the table as servants came and placed food on our plates.
"Ser Willam." He said, "Please, sit. Enjoy the food while we are here."
Willam sat next to me as he smiled, "Do not mind if I do." He said, "The ride up here was rough, the snow can suddenly hit you out of nowhere."
"Such is the North, Ser." Lord Cregan said
I looked at the plate as I held my cup of wine, "Hm...." I said, "Willam."
"Yes?" He said as he looked at me, "What is it?"
"We ride to the Shadowtower on the Morrow." I told him
"My Lord? Together? On horses?" He asked
I nodded, "Yes." I said, "Vermithor will follow, I suppose, but he'll stay on this side of the Wall."
"What...." He started, "We're going beyond it?"
"I'll spare a couple of brothers from the Night's Watch." Cregan said, "And a Ranger who can guide you there. I reckon your culprits have traversed towards Skirling Pass. You can check there."
"I see.....so Waymar's killers still live, huh?" Willam said, "Very well then. We shall do that."
"It's not that." I told him, "Waymar wasn't killed by none of them, rather....they caused his death."
"I don't understand." He said
"I want to see it for myself." I said seriously, "What Lord Cregan speaks of....."
"I.....I see...." Willam said
"You should rest, My Lord." Cregan told me, "On the Morrow, you shall embark on your journey. I had already sent a raven to Castle Black, the brothers of the Night's Watch should be waiting for you on the Shadowtower when you arrive."
Willam leaned into me, "I don't know what's going on, Lord Aerion..." He said, "Please explain it to me."
I looked at him, "I will explain it to you the best I can on the ride North." I said, "I find it hard to believe myself."
"I...." he started, "Fine."
"But what bothers me is why are you making things out to be more complicated, Lord Stark." I said, "Why is House Karstark and House Bolton involved?"
"Think of it as a conspiracy, My Lord." Cregan said, "I imagine one of those culprits is involved in something more major than just stealing valuables and killing a man in cold blood in The Vale. I will get to the bottom of it."
"I see." I said, "Very well. If you can find out, please let me know."
"Of course." He said, "Oh, I completely forgot, My Lord. Where are my manners?"
I frowned, "Hm?"
"I had just received word, a bit late, hehe." He said with a smile, "Congratulations on you and the Princess's second child. I hear she's nearly due."
"Oh." I said with a chuckle, "Y-Yea, she is."
"It's quite exciting."