Winterfell

Early the next morning, Benjen woke Gary from his sleep.

The two immediately set out from Castle Black, heading south toward Winterfell.

Castle Black was no short distance from Winterfell-a full several hundred li. Fortunately, the Kingsroad offered relatively smooth going, greatly increasing their speed.

Moreover, Benjen traveled light, sharing a horse with Gary. He cut the journey to Winterfell, which normally took a month, in half.

A third of the way through their journey, Benjen began to feel hungry and tired as well. It was already midnight, so he found some high ground near the Kingsroad, intending to rest for a while.

Gary gathered some branches, piled them into a campfire, and lit it for warmth. Benjen tethered the horse and took out provisions for them to eat.

Benjen tossed Gary a small piece of dried meat, then said, "We'll rest a while before setting off again."

Gary had long since grown hungry. Chewing the tough dried meat, he nodded. "Understood."

The two were still rather unfamiliar with each other and had exchanged few words along the way. Benjen passed Gary the waterskin from his waist and asked, "What's your name?"

"Gu..." Gary paused, smiled awkwardly, and said, "Well... my name is Luke."

Benjen asked, "Luke... and your surname?"

"I don't have a surname. Just Luke." Gary opened the waterskin and took a few drinks.

Something seemed to occur to Benjen. He hesitated a moment before saying, "Luke, you grew up in a wildling tribe beyond the Wall. The wildlings there have no surnames, only given names. But things are different here. Everyone living within the Wall has both a surname and a given name. Your given name represents you. Your surname represents your family."

"Stark is your family. But you cannot bear the name Stark, because you're only my elder brother's bastard son. So your surname can only be Snow. Do you understand?"

Having spent so many years studying under the Three-Eyed Crow, Gary knew the customs of Westeros very well.

Each of the Seven Kingdoms had its own designated surname for bastards, and those surnames were used universally. For instance, bastards in the North all bore the surname Snow, regardless of which family they came from.

"Luke Snow." Gary scratched his head with a foolish grin. "I understand, Uncle Benjen."

Benjen's expression grew complicated. "Your identity hasn't been confirmed yet. Call me Ser Benjen for now."

Tsk, what a stiff man. Getting him to like me is so hard.

Gary kept grumbling inwardly, but outwardly he could only play the obedient fool. "All right, Ser Benjen."

The two rested for over three hours, then got up and resumed their journey before daybreak.

Fourteen days later.

They finally traveled from snow-covered Castle Black to the lush green Wolfswood. Winterfell was only a short distance away now; they could reach it in less than half a day.

Gary gazed into the distance from horseback. Winterfell seemed almost within reach.

Benjen looked slightly weary, his expression grave. He said nothing, and only when he saw Winterfell's outline did a hint of tenderness enter his eyes.

Gary could not help feeling anticipation. I should be able to meet Jon Snow as a child, shouldn't I? He looked up and urged, "Ser Benjen, let's keep going."

"Mm." Benjen nodded and squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs. The warhorse beneath him began moving slowly.

The journey had brought the two considerably closer. During their rest stops, Benjen would always ask roundabout questions about the details of Gary's life beyond the Wall over the years.

Although he had never been beyond the Wall and could not tell whether Gary's words were true, judging by his ready answers, they were probably all true.

This child really did come from beyond the Wall... That made the letter somewhat more credible.

The North, Winterfell.

The seat of power in the North and the ancestral castle of House Stark. It covered more than ten times the area of Castle Black and was a true noble castle.

The entire castle was protected by a moat and a ring of walls, with four gates facing east, south, west, and north. Inside, its layout was complex and its buildings numerous, offering more than the eye could take in.

Coming from the north, Gary and Benjen naturally entered through the northern gate. The guards there all knew Benjen. Without asking many questions, they lowered the drawbridge and opened the gate.

As soon as they entered, Gary spotted a remarkable sight on his right. It was a greenhouse garden built from glass and iron frames, filled with flowers blooming in every color.

He was stunned. This world had no modern factories. How much must all that glass and such a beautiful greenhouse garden have cost?

Benjen dismounted just then. Seeing Gary staring blankly, he followed his gaze toward the Glass Garden. "Beautiful, isn't it? Hot springs beneath the garden provide warmth, so fruit and vegetables can be grown all year round."

Gary came to his senses and hurriedly jumped down from the horse as well.

Benjen handed the reins to a servant waiting nearby. The servants would take the horse to the stables and settle it in.

The two followed winding walkways, passed the heavily guarded Guardroom, and arrived before the Main Castle.

Beside the Main Castle lay a spacious training yard, where the guards drilled each day. Of course, the children of House Stark also practiced swordsmanship and martial skills there, along with riding and archery.

Sure enough, upon seeing Uncle Benjen after so long, two young Stark boys dropped their wooden sword and bow and came running over.

"Uncle Benjen, what brings you back?" A boy with black curls ran the fastest. He stopped in front of Benjen and asked excitedly.

The other boy, whose curls were auburn, was a little more composed. He smiled. "Uncle Benjen, it's been a long time."

They were about the same height as Gary. After greeting Benjen, both looked at Gary curiously.

Just then, a somewhat older boy also ran over, following the red-haired boy. Was he a servant? The youth cautiously lowered his head and bowed. "Ser Benjen."

Benjen gave a casual nod in acknowledgment to them all. Looking at the red-haired boy, he asked quietly, "Robb, where is your father?"

He's Robb Stark? Eddard Stark's eldest son, the rightful heir to the North, Robb Stark, known as the Young Wolf? The future King in the North?

Glorious enough, but sadly, he died young.

Gary glanced at Robb, unable to help feeling some regret.

Robb did not notice Gary's strange reaction. He was answering Benjen's question. "Uncle Benjen, have you come back on urgent business with my father? He's in his study."

Benjen stroked the black-haired boy's head and pointed at Gary with his other hand. "Look after him for me, and stay near the training yard. Your father and I have something extremely urgent to discuss. Be good, and don't come and disturb us."

Robb and the black-haired boy both nodded. "All right." "Don't worry, Uncle Benjen."

Benjen gave Gary a few more instructions, telling him not to wander off. Only then did he turn, enter the Main Castle, and head upstairs.

At the Main Castle's entrance, Robb studied Gary's clothes and asked, "You're wearing animal skins. Are you a wildling from beyond the Wall?"

"What's your name?" the black-haired boy asked at the same time.

Gary smiled faintly. "You're both very rude. Shouldn't you introduce yourselves before asking someone else's name?"

The black-haired boy curiously touched the hide Gary wore and muttered, "It looks like deerskin... oh, hello. My name is Jon Snow."

About Robb's age, and living with him in Winterfell. Sure enough, you're the protagonist, Jon Snow.

Gary had already guessed his identity. "Hello, Jon."

Robb introduced himself beside them as well. "My name is Robb Stark. I hope you enjoy your stay in Winterfell, guest from beyond the Wall."

Gary looked at the youth behind Robb. "And him?"

"He's my father's ward, Theon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands." Robb stepped aside, and Theon nodded in greeting to Gary.

Gary raised an eyebrow. These three are all important characters. Should I try to get them to like me?

"My name is Luke Snow. Hello."

Theon and Jon Snow ordinarily disliked each other, and Theon took this opportunity to mock him. "You're a bastard too? Just like Jon."

Unlike Jon Snow, whose face flushed red, Gary paid no heed to Theon's mockery.

He smiled. "Perhaps I am, perhaps I'm not. Who knows?"

Robb noticed something amiss. "That's not right. You're a wildling. Wildlings live outside the North, so why would you use a northern surname?"

Only then did Gary explain. "You've misunderstood. I'm not a wildling. I just... lived beyond the Wall for a few years."

"Oh, I see. Then what's your relationship with Uncle Benjen?" Robb circled Gary curiously. "In all these years, this is the first time I've seen Uncle Benjen bring someone back to Winterfell."

Gary did not conceal it and spoke plainly. "I might be a relative of your House Stark. Ser Benjen brought me back to confirm that."

"A relative? Are you a Karstark?" Robb stood there thinking, like a little adult.

Perhaps Gary's "surname" had given Snow a favorable impression of him, for Snow took the initiative to help him out. "Robb, aren't you going to see Bran today?"

Bran Stark was the second son of Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully, not yet a year old. They also had two daughters: five-year-old Sansa Stark and three-year-old Arya Stark.

A faint ripple stirred in Gary's heart. These children were all major characters throughout Game of Thrones. Bran in particular was the Three-Eyed Crow's successor, the next Greenseer.

Although Robb was relatively composed by nature, he was still only a seven-year-old child. With Snow's interruption, he instantly lost interest in Gary.

"Right, and Sansa and Arya too. I wonder what they're doing today. Come on, let's go upstairs and see."

Snow wanted to draw Robb away to spare Gary any embarrassment. "You go. I'll stay here and look after him. Uncle Benjen should be coming down soon."

Robb did not mind either way. "Come with me, both of you. Uncle Benjen will definitely stay the night. You'll see him at dinner later."