Daeron Finds the Heart Tree

At nightfall, the wind howled bitterly.

The Wall blazed as bright as day, its outer grounds littered with charred corpses and scattered limbs.

Flames rose like those of an inferno.

Black Castle, the great hall.

"The Night King has fled. We don't know where he went."

Aemond's face was dark, and a chill that warned everyone to keep their distance radiated from him.

"Driving the White Walkers away is already cause for celebration."

Roderick Dustin spoke in a gruff voice, pacing back and forth across the hall.

Cregan and the lords of the North sat in a circle, all nodding in agreement.

The sight of the White Walker invasion was still fresh in their minds.

The vast army of wights, and the fearless, pale White Walkers.

Without the dragons suppressing them from the sky, it was hard to imagine the Wall could have stopped the White Walkers' advance.

At that, Aemond gave a heavy snort.

At the head of the hall, Rhaegar lowered his head.

"The wound is proving difficult to treat. You need to be careful when moving."

Maester Trullo bent over, his round belly folding as he carefully tended the king's right shoulder.

The ice spear had pierced his shoulder blade, cracking the bone and tearing the muscle.

For reasons unknown, the wound would not heal. His entire right arm had turned pale and bloodless.

"Putting the wound aside, what's causing the rest of this?"

Rhaenyra crouched beside him, gripping his trembling right arm tightly.

Rhaegar's eyelids drooped. An unnatural flush spread across his face, and half his body shook uncontrollably.

Rhaenyra bit her lower lip and pressed her cheek to Rhaegar's forehead. His skin was scorching hot.

"I'm fine. It's nothing serious."

Rhaegar's breath was hot as he controlled its rhythm.

He could no longer feel the