(Third-person perspective)
"My King, please bestow this honor upon other families. I have already enjoyed your generosity and established my family. I will do more for the North to be worthy of possessing the land. Thanks to the Old Gods, I have become one of the Guardians of the North," Aermir pleaded earnestly, his words filled with humility and a sense of responsibility.
"Brave and humble, Ned, you are a lucky wolf." King Robert replied with a hearty laugh, acknowledging Aermir's humility. Eddard Stark returned the smile modestly, his unease dissipating as he found common ground with the king.
Robert Baratheon, known for his humor and love of alcohol, picked up his wine glass and took a deep sip, the rich red liquid swirling within. He continued speaking, his eyes fixed on the crowd.
"I have already said I would reward you. So, besides land, what else should I give you?" The king frowned, pondering as he searched for a suitable reward.
During this pause in thought, the kingdom's newly appointed nobleman Aermir Drasil, seized the opportunity to make his request. He believed that the king's generosity was not limited to land; he harbored a special desire—he hoped it would further enhance his knowledge.
"Your Majesty, may I ask for a favor?" Aermir's voice was measured and respectful to the king.
"If it's reasonable, please let me know, and I'll agree," King Robert replied, his curiosity piqued by Aermir's request.
Aermir's eyes were resolute as he continued to outline his request. "I'd like to hire the master the Smith from Qohor; I've heard you have one under your wing. Could he work for me exclusively for two years?"
After a few seconds of consideration and a brief moment of contemplation, King Robert granted the request.
"Is that all?" he asked, seeking confirmation from Aermir.
Aermir nodded firmly. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Very well, I agree." The king's decision was final. He turned to his guard and asked for the Smith's name. " Tobho Mott will work exclusively for you, and the royal family will pay him two years' wages. After that, it's up to you and him."
Despite this exchange, the atmosphere in the hall remained one of friendship and mutual respect, and the king fulfilled the request of his loyal vassal.
The final day of the tournament had arrived, and the archery competition was the focus of attention, filled with anticipation. Unlike the previous days, the participants in this competition were diverse, including commoners who had the opportunity to showcase their skills. However, among knights, archery was a lowly skill, often regarded as a coward's weapon. Most of them looked down on this weapon, calling it a soldier's weapon. Nevertheless, the archers lined up, ready to prove their strength.
The competition began, with the target set at a reasonable 40 meters. Success at this distance would allow the archers to move on to the next more challenging targets, strategically placed at 60, 80, and 100 meters, each demanding even greater precision and skill.
As the distance increased to 60 meters, the contestants' range narrowed significantly. Among them, five maintained accuracy, showcasing their exceptional archery skills. Two of these archers were of noble birth, while the other three were ordinary soldiers: the Dick the Fletcher and Anguy, representing the commoners, and the nobles Balon Sven and Jalabhar Xho. Jalabhar Xho, in particular, as an exiled prince of the Summer Isles, was especially striking. His appearance was striking, clad in a feathered cloak of emerald green and scarlet, attracting many eyes. His bow, crafted from the rare Golden Heart Tree, was considered second only to the legendary Dragonbone Bow.
The goal of advancing to the 80-meter mark thrilled both competitors and spectators. However, it also marked the end of the journey for Balon Swann and Dick the Fletcher, who, despite displaying exceptional skill, ultimately failed to advance further. The final contenders were Aermir Drasil, Anguy, and Jalabhar Xho, all eager to claim their coveted championship title.
Jalabhar Xho was the first to shoot at the 100-meter target, but his arrow missed the bullseye. Immediately after, Anguy stepped forward and released his arrow with pinpoint accuracy, hitting the bullseye. A cheer erupted from the crowd, praising the incredible skill. Aermir also demonstrated his superior technique, hitting the bullseye, further fueling the audience's excitement. Both shooters hit their targets accurately, setting the stage for a fierce duel.
As the competition entered the 120-meter range, Aermir decided to inject some excitement into the event. He turned to Anguy and offered a friendly bet, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"You are an excellent archer, Anguy," Aermir praised.
"Thank you, sir; I am deeply honored by your words," Anguy replied humbly.
"Should we make this game more interesting?" Aermir suggested, a smirk playing on his lips.
Anguy asked curiously, "What are your thoughts, sir?"
"If I win, you will serve me," Aermir proposed, his eyes gleaming with a competitive light.
Anguy, her own eyes sparkling, asked, "What if I accidentally became the winner?"
Aermir's faith remained unwavering. He said, "My friend, we don't need to consider this possibility. But if it does happen, I will give you all my gold."
The crowd buzzed with excitement at their heated debate. Such bets added even more suspense to the competition.
The bet was set, and Aermir was ready to take on the challenge. He picked up three arrows, skillfully nocking one onto the bowstring while holding the others between his fingers. His movements were so swift that it was almost as if he had only fired one arrow.
Arrows shot out one after another, the sounds of their impact echoing through the air—bang, bang, snap! Two of Aermir's arrows hit the bullseye, while the third arrow pierced through one of the others before even striking the bullseye. A moment of silence followed, then cheers and applause erupted from the crowd. Anguy, Jalabhar Xho, and the arrow maker stared in astonishment, their jaws nearly dropping to the floor.
Undeterred by Aermir's impressive performance, Anguy stepped forward to prepare to fire. However, his speed and accuracy were no match for Aermir's. He managed to hit the target twice, both times landing on the outer edge, while the last bullet grazed the target's edge and narrowly missed.
With this victorious performance, Aermir won the archery championship, having triumphed in jousting, close combat, and archery. His skill and achievements solidified his position in the North, establishing him as a formidable figure.
Although the path to establishing a fortress is long and uncertain, Aermir knows time is on his side. With patience and strategic planning, he can cultivate the necessary prestige in the North and attract talent to serve him. With the support of his Druid identity, propaganda will be a powerful tool for building a covert network of allies and supporters.
With the grand tournament concluded, the lords began their journeys back to their respective territories. The Iron Islands issue was resolved, and Harlaw was chosen as the new Lord of the Iron Islands and the Seas. Furthermore, Theon Greyjoy, Balon's heir, was placed hostage in Lord Stark's custody. Despite these measures, Aermir remained vigilant, wary of Balon Greyjoy's other troublesome brothers— Victarion, Aeron, and Euron —who, having evaded capture, might return and pose a future threat.