"May I call you Leaf?"
The man who should not have existed stepped over the wreckage and stopped before her with a smile.
The scalding white mist had dispersed. Dew dripped from the branches and leaves overhead, trailing across her face, warm and pleasant.
At a glance, the icebound forest, washed clean, looked like a Rainwood after a midsummer storm.
But lower down, slush, puddles, blood-soaked chunks of flesh, scattered swords, axes, and spears, black soil, and broken, toppled trees painted a scene of death and destruction.
Two humans from the south were finishing off the northerners who were not quite dead. Her own people stood terrified and bewildered.
She looked up at the sky again. The crows had vanished.
"The Three-Eyed Crow isn't much of a Greenseer. I doubt he saw any of this coming. Then again, who could have imagined ice and water could explode?"
She bowed to Joffrey.
"Leaf surrenders to you on behalf of the Children of the Forest. Please don't hurt them. This was all my fault."
Joffrey admired her eyes, where gold and green mingled. "They say green or red eyes mean you have the gift to become a Greenseer. Haven't you tried?"
Leaf tilted her head. "I'm not qualified yet, I suppose?"
"Bloodraven has a wicked heart. You know his story, don't you? He's practically the embodiment of human evil. How can you let him rule your vulnerable people?"
Leaf lowered her head and said nothing.
"We can be friends. Leaf, do you know who I am?"
The man who should not exist.
Tyrion dropped to one knee and proclaimed, "Before you stands the heir to the Iron Throne, the Prince of Dragonstone, the Lord of the Illuminati, messenger of the Gods' gospel, Azor Ahai reborn, the Hero King destined to defeat the