The Hidden Hand Beyond the Wall

Black soil, white wood—this was everything in the cave.

This place lay far beyond the Wall.

Beneath an unnamed frozen hill were countless connected caves, stretching deep underground. No one had ever mapped all of those dark passages.

"The dead are growing more numerous."

A sweet, soaring voice seemed to sing mournfully.

She looked like a little girl, with large eyes blending gold and emerald green. Branches and flowers were woven through her tangled, multicolored hair.

She wore a cloak made of leaves, and her dark brown skin was speckled like a doe's.

An elf.

She was one of the Children of the Forest.

But in their own tongue, they called themselves "Those Who Sing of the Earth."

The Three-Eyed Crow in the weirwood throne whispered hoarsely, "The servants of The Great Other have awakened, but we still have hope. The dead they control cannot yet cross the magic at the cave entrance."

Even a single Other could turn tens of thousands of corpses into wights under its command.

The Child of the Forest looked worriedly at the old man, so ancient he was nearly rotten. He had fused with the weirwood, most of his flesh transformed into pale bark and wood.

Other than one bright red eye and pale white hair hanging to his waist, the old man had become nothing more than a speaking human face upon the weirwood.

This was the "last Greenseer."

Greenseers had originally been an inheritance of the Children of the Forest, but now they were nearing extinction and had no choice but to rely on wise humans.

Brynden Rivers.

This old man had once given them hope, but now it seemed their people's end remained unavoidable.

"Greenseer, perhaps we will all return to the earth with you."

She knew.

The old man had long surpassed the limits of mortal life, lingering in this world for all these years only through sheer will. Yet he had finally reached his limit.

Perhaps in a few months, perhaps in a year or two, the old man would reach his final destination.

"Bloodraven" Brynden had not given up.

"No. I have already found you a new Greenseer. He will do far better than I did. He will help the world stop The Great Other's scheme."

She knew this successor.

Brandon Stark had been granted the gift of a Greenseer. From the moment he was born, he had received the old man's attention and protection.

Unfortunately.

"Hasn't that child already gone farther south, to the plains that were once flourishing forests?"

Bloodraven felt both hatred and regret over this.

This should not have happened. I watched him for so many years—how could it end like this?

He was unwilling to accept it.

He was Brynden Rivers, the famed "Lord Bloodraven," of noble Dragon Bloodline. His past deeds had long since become legends.

People said he had a thousand and one eyes, that he was an evil sorcerer.

So what?

The slander and fear of ignorant people only proved that his existence could not be ignored.

Even after he was exiled to the Wall and lost everything he once possessed, he became Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

He gradually grew old.

Blessed by the Gods, when he was in his seventies, he encountered the Children of the Forest beyond the Wall.

Fate had favored him.

He became the Greenseer of the Haunted Forest, the Three-Eyed Crow, and lived on until now.

Though he could no longer walk upon the earth, he could fly. He had ten thousand, a hundred thousand, a million pairs of eyes. He could see the entire world.

He did not want to die yet.

Bran was the best chance.

He could begin again through him, use the strength of the Seven Kingdoms to resist the Others, and reclaim the dragon throne.

"The path of fate was disrupted by someone who should not have appeared. As long as we correct it, that child will understand the mission he bears."

She looked at the old man with clear yet ancient eyes. "How do we correct it?"

He said, "That person possesses power that does not belong in this world. Flames, steel, eyes... perhaps he is the calamity we must face."

Brynden recalled what he had seen.

"You are the only one among our people who understands the Common Tongue. I need you to go personally. Take several strong members of our people and bring that person back."

After hesitating for a moment, Brynden decided to reveal one of his trump cards.

"Take my raven. It will find the human Skinchangers in the forest. Those people can help you."

She saw the expectation in the old man's eyes.

For many years, they had done nothing but hide from traces of humans. Yet now they were going to attack humans on their own initiative?

Someone who should not have appeared. She imagined what he might look like.

She was a little afraid, but she knew she should obey the Greenseer's instructions. A Greenseer could see everything.

"I understand, Greenseer."

May this journey go smoothly. She turned and walked step by step out of the cave.

Another whisper came from behind her. "Take this sword as well. Those humans will probably be able to use it."

She turned back and saw a slender, pitch-black longsword.

She had traveled the human world for two hundred years.

She knew its name: "Dark Sister."

A black raven flew out of the cave.

The Children of the Forest followed close behind with their companions.

Many dead bodies lay buried in the heavy snow outside the cave. The scent of life quickly awakened them, and the dead opened their eyes.

Great masses of wights rose from the ice and snow, surging toward the Children of the Forest.

Was The Great Other's servant watching? she wondered.

Her own companion was a fox, while the other six members of her people rode fierce beasts.

The Shadowcat's claws could tear apart a dead man in just a few swipes. The boar charged wildly with its powerful body, plowing open a path.

The raven in the sky circled lazily, completely unaffected.

They quickly broke through the encirclement.

She let out a breath of relief. They were only mindless dead.

Wights under an Other's full control were far cleverer. Combined with their numerical advantage, they would at least be much more troublesome.

The raven flew southwest.

Her people looked at her, their eyes filled with both eager excitement and concern for the unknown danger.

She sang to them in their own tongue: "May the earth bless us, may the forest bless us. The last Greenseer has found an heir. Correct the path of fate, and our people shall flourish as before."

Trusting the Greenseer, the Children of the Forest left their final home.

"Ahem, let me say this. Since that lord has given the order, everyone must obey. No one is allowed to act on their own!"

A tall human rode atop a mammoth and shouted loudly.

The Free Folk erupted into clamor, each fighting to voice their opinions. None of them would yield to another.

The Children of the Forest watched this scene in confusion.

She was not particularly surprised. Compared with her kin back home, her many years of travel had taught her about the many strange ways of humans.

The humans beyond the Wall were not as united as those within it, but they would not suddenly break into a major conflict either. She knew time would quiet these humans down.

The raven's helpers had all gathered, and the group was about to head for the Wall.

She felt much more confident now.

More than five hundred strong humans, over thirty Skinchangers.

Boars, Snow Bears, Shadowcats, mammoths, Direwolves, Grey Wolves, foxes, hawks, ravens, wild dogs...

No matter how terrifying the person who should not have appeared was, there was no way he could resist them now.

She smiled happily.