(Third-person perspective)
After a two-month march, they finally arrived at Winterfell. The journey was arduous, with the army slowly advancing accompanied by nearly a million golden dragons. However, despite the hardships, this was the inevitable route after the war. The North army played a crucial role in the conflict, and Lord Stark thus gained a large sum of spoils.
Entering the Citadel, Aermir's heart was filled with mixed emotions. Many faces beamed with smiles, but the air was thick with the occasional groans of anguish—a stark reminder of the cruel reality of war. Some warriors had returned to their families, while others would never see the sun again. However, thanks to the Emre the Druid, " the losses were miraculously minimized. Even now, prayers of gratitude to the Old Gods and the Druid echoed Winterfell.
Amidst the joy and solemnity, there were also murmurs of curiosity and fear. The people of Winterfell had never seen a creature like the Sith, and her appearance filled them with both awe and terror. Some gasped and screamed in terror, while others marveled at the majestic being before them.
Aermir couldn't help but long for his bed in Winterfell. It might not be the most comfortable bed, but after a year of traveling and sleeping on leaves and dirt, it felt like being on a cloud. Strangely, he found himself rarely uncomfortable in nature, except for the occasional time when he slept on hard bedding. The cold didn't bother him, and the insects seemed to avoid him completely.
His men followed closely behind on horseback. Aermir knew he needed more than just four companions, but these men were all exceptional talents. Anguy and the Arrowmaker were the best archers after Aermir himself. The twins, especially Harrick, after receiving Aermir's magical enhancements, were worth more than fifty men on the battlefield. But he also recognized the importance of building a human network. He couldn't rely solely on animals for intelligence.
He left Jilim in Casterly Rock to monitor the Old Lion's plot, but the cunning Lannister lord remained silent. Perhaps he was still grieving over his good son's recent success in obtaining gold to repay the Iron Bank. Those Lannister were less noble lions and more cunning hyenas, attempting to consolidate their power by manipulating the royal debt.
During the war, Aermir deepened his understanding of his relationship with animals. Whether casting numerous spells or performing rituals, he gained the ability to delve into the memories of animals. This newly discovered ability contained enormous potential for intelligence gathering. He no longer needed to establish a direct mental connection with the animals he controlled; instead, he could read their memories, and in turn, his familiars could access his memories.
This discovery led to unexpected developments among his familiars. While exploring their memories, he discovered that Wannian was particularly interested in becoming a ninja, inspired by his fondness for stealth and intelligence gathering. Wannian created a Magic Heart and developed his own magical abilities. Jilim, on the other hand, had a particular fondness for earth magic, and her earth magic, similar to Im's, allowed her to move through mud and rocks.
Wannian's newly discovered ability is unique: he can become invisible in the shadows, but cannot enter the shadows themselves. He still exists, but is completely hidden from sight and sound. Aermir decides to entrust Poe, Erebus, Wannian, and Jilim with an important role—intelligence gathering. They will read the memories of the controlled animals, monitor important figures, and report crucial information. However, Aermir's ability is limited to monitoring four Citadel. As for the other Citadel, he can only rely on the controlled animals to gather information, and these animals cannot understand human conversation. Therefore, Poe and Erebus must travel between the Citadel, reading the thoughts of the other animals.
Before arriving at Winterfell, he had summoned Artio and Berus to the Wolfswood and sent them to the weirwood near his cabin. When he reached the inner city, he found Robb on the Wall, Robb gave a playful greeting.
"Oh, have my eyes deceived me? Is this the great knight, Warg, and hero of the North, Aermir Drasil?"
"Grass..."
Aermir was about to respond with something flowery, but he quickly held back when he noticed Lady Stark nearby. Instead, he replied with a smile, "The honor belongs to me, Robb Stark of House Stark of Winterfell."
"It's almost over. Where's my father?"
"He's in the middle of the line, he'll be there soon."
As war drew near, Lord Stark remained steadfast in his determination to keep Robb safe within the Wall of Winterfell. He declared Robb the acting Lord of Winterfell, a position of great responsibility. Now, as Aermir and his companions finally arrived, Robb rushed down from the Wall, eager to reunite with his friends.
Aermir dismounted gracefully from Sith's horse, her appearance causing a stir among the people of Winterfell. On his last visit, he had deliberately left Sith outside the Citadel, not wanting to deal with the inevitable commotion caused by her arrival. However, this time it was unavoidable; the enormous Shadowcat stunned many.
Robb's curiosity and excitement surged, and he tried to approach, but Lady Stark stopped him. Her concern for her son's safety was palpable, and she was unwilling to take the risk in the face of this terrifying beast.
"You can't go near that beast! How dare you bring it into the inner city?" she scolded Aermir.
Aermir sighed heavily, bowed politely to Lady Stark, kissed her hand gently, and then spoke in a low voice only she could hear. "Madam, when I was a commoner knight, I could accommodate you. Now, I am a nobleman, a hero of the North. Please be mindful of the way you speak to me."
Lady Stark was so surprised she almost gaped open. She found herself speechless, unsure how to respond to Aermir's arrogant remark. The weight of his words was unexpected, and she quickly realized that the young hero before her was no longer the man she had known with her son.
Indeed, Aermir had changed. When he stood there in his plate armor, he exuded an undeniable aura of authority and power, a power significantly enhanced from his time as a commoner knight. The change was palpable. He had become the embodiment of heroism, commanding respect and attention wherever he went. His very presence seemed to carry the weight of the entire North, and those around him couldn't help but feel his newly discovered majesty. Lady Stark stood there silently, and Aermir continued, speaking in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
"I apologize. Madam, this is Sith, and she won't harm anyone as long as she's left alone. As many have heard, I am Warg, and she is intimately connected to me."
While everyone was listening with great interest, Sith did not ignore the magical aura permeating the air. She spoke with Aermir, sharing her insights.
"Master, this boy smells different too. Unlike that Dacey girl. The Citadel smells very special too. It smells a lot like Pyke."
Aermir had long anticipated that she could sense magic. - Yes, that's because she's also a Warg. However, I still don't know what Dacey's talent is.
His theory was that Dacey, like him, was a Skinchanger, but he needed more information to confirm it. Lady Stark's words brought him back to reality. She laughed and said, "No wonder you must have Wildlings blood in you."
Aermir burst into laughter, catching everyone off guard. "Hahaha! So, being Warg means you have Wildlings blood. Madam, I'll definitely remind you of that later!"