"I've already died once," Benjen said slowly, his voice betraying no emotion. "There's nothing left to worry about. Besides, with your help, the North and all of Westeros will surely be safe."
Benjen paused, his gaze turning to Robb, who stood beside the torch. At last, a trace of warmth and tenderness for his family surfaced in those eyes, which glowed an eerie, icy blue.
After that moment of reflection, he looked back at Viserys and said firmly, "Your Grace, I haven't been staying in Winterfell's Crypt simply to hide away and keep from troubling everyone. Nor have I been waiting to turn completely into a monster one day so you can put me down."
Benjen's cold body slowly rose, the grinding of his bones growing clearer. "I'm here because, when I came in to pay my respects to my father, my brother, and my sister, I suddenly felt as though something in the lowest level of the Crypt was drawing me toward it."
"And lately, that pull has been growing stronger, while my transformation has been progressing further." As Benjen spoke, he moved two steps to the side, approaching the collapsed section of the Crypt.
He extended his dark, bluish hand and pointed at the rubble. "I can feel it. Whatever it is, it's in there. Unfortunately, the collapse is too severe. I've tried a few ways of digging through, but they've barely made any difference."
"What's more, I'm worried that whatever is down there might be dangerous. Letting it out could put all of Winterfell and House Stark at risk."
As he spoke, he looked intently at Viserys and continued, "But now that you're here, Your Grace, Winterfell's safety can at least be assured while we proceed. So I want to clear the collapse blocking the lower level