(Third-person perspective)
As Aermir's last day in Winterfell approached, the ancient North was bustling with activity, its inhabitants going about their daily routines. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow on the Citadel's majestic the Wall and towering spires. It was a picturesque, peaceful morning.
Aermir, Robb, Jon, Bran, and Rickon decided to take advantage of the precious day to go hunting. They wanted to seize the opportunity to mingle with each other in the breathtaking wilderness surrounding Winterfell. As they prepared for their journey, the air was fresh and filled with the earthy scent of leaves and dew-kissed grass.
After the previous night's revelry, Theon sought to atone for his drunken behavior, apologizing to Robb and attempting to mend the rift in their friendship. However, Robb was no longer blind to Theon's true nature; though he maintained a facade of friendliness, a new distance had grown between them. Theon again tried to win Robb back, attempting to regain his favor, but the Stark heir was cautious and not easily swayed by pretense.
When Theon expressed his desire to join the hunting party, Aermir didn't hold back his words. He refused decisively, his tone resolute. "If Theon wants to go, then I won't," he declared, his decision unwavering. Faced with Aermir's unyielding stance, a decision clearly needed to be made. The air grew tense, and for a moment, silence fell.
They all made a unanimous decision: Theon was left behind to watch Aermir and the Stark set off on their hunt with their pack of wolves. At first, the horses were afraid of the Sith, but then Aermir secretly cast a " Dominate Animal " spell on them. He stroked the horses and whispered to them that the Sith were friends and would not harm them.
Bran stared at the wondrous sight Aermir conjured before him, his eyes sparkling like crystals. His curiosity was piqued, and he couldn't help but excitedly ask, "How did you do that? Can we do it too? Can you teach me?"
Seeing Bran's eager expression, Aermir smiled and said, "Wow, wow, wow, slow down, take a deep breath. I'm not your teacher anymore, remember? Yes, you can learn as long as you put in the effort. I believe Emre the Druid will teach you when he has time."
Bran pressed on, genuinely curious. "Did you learn these things from the Druid?"
Although the House Stark children might not possess Magic Heart or spellcasting abilities, Aermir believed that under his guidance, combined with their innate Warg abilities, they could learn to share emotions and soothe wild animals without needing to connect with them. He planned to bring up this idea again during his next visit to Winterfell as the Emre the Druid.
Meanwhile, Rickon, who had been quietly observing Bran and Aermir's interaction, couldn't help but chuckle. He felt a special sense of pride, because among his siblings, only he knew Aermir's true identity as Druid. Rickon was delighted to discover that he possessed a secret his brothers didn't know, which made him feel truly important. Bran personally spoke with the Druid, asking if Emre the Druid had learned it from him, which amused him. Bran noticed Rickon's laughter, frowned, and asked with slight annoyance, "What are you laughing at?"
Rickon, always quick-witted, decided to divert attention from his secret knowledge. He replied nonchalantly, "Nothing. I was just thinking about something funny that Shaggydog did."
Before Bran could ask any more questions, he dashed off to play with his wolf companion Shaggydog. Bran was left alone, wondering if something was wrong with his brother. After an exciting day of hunting, under the vast, starry skies of the North, in the chill of the night, they gathered around a crackling campfire. They enjoyed a hearty dinner and drank to their hearts' content. Bran, always curious and eager to prove his growing maturity, tried to sneak a sip of ale.
However, his action was quickly caught by his alert Robb. Robb grinned and tugged at Bran's ear, scolding him.
"You're not old enough to drink, little brother. If you dare do that again, I'll rip your ear off."
Bran's eyes were filled with tears as he answered with difficulty.
"I'm not a child anymore. I've seen thirteen Name Day. Aermir was already fighting and defeating bandits when he was my age. I am also a great warrior of the North."
Although Bran tried to maintain a brave facade, he couldn't hide the fact that he was rubbing his bright red ears and his eyes were still glistening with tears. Jon, Robb, and Aermir exchanged a knowing, amused glance, then burst into hearty laughter at Bran's earnest but futile attempt to prove his maturity.
After a hearty laugh, Aermir, with a grin, nudged Robb with his elbow, silently gesturing for young Bran to taste the ale. Aermir was fairly certain the boy wouldn't like it. Robb sighed helplessly, handing Bran the glass, but with a condition. "You can only have one sip."
Jon and Aermir focused all their attention on Bran. The boy hesitantly took the cup. He quickly brought it to his lips, then pulled back just as fast, spitting the wine back out. Bran opened his mouth wide and exhaled, as if trying to expel the taste. It looked like he was almost trying to breathe fire. Bran stared with wide, confused eyes, then finally exclaimed, "Why are you drinking this stuff?!"
Upon hearing this, the three couldn't help but burst into laughter again. Robb wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes and rambled on, "This only proves you're still a child, not a man. If you can't appreciate the bitterness and sweetness of alcohol, it means you haven't reached that level yet."