When Jon, Benjen, and their party arrived at Castle Black, the crowd was both incredulous and skeptical of what they had learned. They gathered in the public area and recounted their harrowing experience beyond the Wall to a group of curious and incredulous faces.
Benjen's voice flickered with fear as he described his harrowing encounter with the Others and the deformed ice spiders, a sentiment corroborated by Jon's account of the ensuing battle. Despite their earnest words, an air of disbelief hung heavy in the atmosphere.
Everyone in the room, except Eddard, stared at them with furrowed brows. Some believed their comrade, but to most, the narrative seemed far-fetched and unbelievable. They exchanged questioning glances, muttering to themselves as they tried to understand what they were hearing.
When Jon and Benjen finished their narration, the room fell silent, broken only by the crackling of the fireplace. A profound stillness enveloped the room. Everyone was deep in thought, trying to understand what they would do if it were true. What could they possibly do against the undead army?
Eddard was in turmoil, and for another reason: what Bran had seen was real. They were truly being chased by darkness and death. Old Nan's stories surfaced in his mind. At this moment, these stories sounded more like historical records than mere tales.
He recalled the story of the Green Men. If the others were real, then the other stories might also be true. He looked at the boy sitting beside him. He felt a pang of nostalgia. When had his youngest son become a Warg?
His gaze shifted to the large gray wolf lying at Bran's feet, like an obedient dog. His son was a Warg. He might also be Green Men. Eddard needed to talk to Aermir about this.
After appeasing the Free Folk, Aermir arrived at Castle Black. As he landed in the center of the courtyard, some looked at him with awe, while others looked at him with hatred. Lyman may have accepted his fate, but they hated Aermir to the core.
Eddard, Robb, Bran, and Jeor came out of the Citadel to greet him. Jeor bowed to him and said gratefully, " Druid, I owe you a life."
The wooden mask transformed into a smile, Aermir said.
"I've come to fulfill the will of the Old Gods. They believe Jon, Benjen, and the others have more to do for the good of the kingdom. Now, let's talk about what's important."
Just as they were about to enter the Citadel, Bran walked up to Aermir and said...
"Teacher, thank you for saving my older brother." A tear rolled down his cheek, and he continued in a deeply emotional voice, "I... I really thought we were going to lose him. I want to serve you, to learn more from you. I want to join the Temple of the Old Gods."
Aermir was somewhat surprised; he had taught them about how to become a wizard, but he didn't want to turn his childhood friends into his subordinates because he didn't want to lose that bond. Whenever someone learned his true identity, the expressions and behaviors around him would change. The warm and friendly expressions on their faces would be replaced by reverence or unconditional, fanatical love.
They no longer saw Aermir, but only the Emre the Druid. He didn't want Jon, Robb, or Bran to see him the way Bran did now. His eyes were filled with reverence, as if in worship.
His mind went blank. Aermir couldn't refuse his service in front of so many people, but if he accepted Bran into the temple, he would have to tell Bran his true identity, otherwise the time he spent in the temple would make him feel rejected and abandoned. Refusing his promise would be a great insult to his honor.
He needed more time to consider his next move. He tried to appear imposing. "Because of your father, I have been teaching you. You too can pledge allegiance to the Old Gods and serve the temple. All the children of the Old Gods are welcome there. I cannot decide who to accept or reject, but working for me is not something you can simply do as you please. First, you need to undergo priestly training, if you have the ability. We will see if you can become Druid."
Aermir glanced at everyone's expressions and realized they had all accepted his answer. This power made him too lonely, as he had to carefully deal with hidden enemies, but in this situation, it was also a kind of luck. Because of his ability, as long as he said some nonsense about the Old Gods, everyone would accept whatever he said. This gimmick bought him six months or a year, but it wasn't a long-term solution to the problem.
After Bran's problem was resolved, Jon and Benjen approached him and thanked Aermir. Seeing these respected figures bowing to Aermir or showing him great respect, the people in the Citadel began to reciprocate.
After many other Night's Watch thanked him, they finally arrived at the meeting room. The meeting room at Castle Black was lit with many torches and oil lamps. In the center of the ceiling was a large circular frame covered with torches. There were also torches along the walls.
Torches cast long shadows on the weathered wooden table. A worn black banner, representing the Night's Watch, hung on the stone wall. The Night's Watch leaders gathered in the meeting room of Castle Black; the atmosphere was tense, filled with suspicion and disbelief.
Commander-in -Jeor Mormont presided over the meeting with a solemn expression; he looked disheveled and more stern than usual, as he continued to ponder how real "the others" truly were, and if so, how powerful.
" Alliser, Cotter, Jaremy," Mormont began, addressing the senior officers of Overwatch. "I understand your concerns, but we cannot underestimate the threat beyond the Wall. Jon and Benjen's reports are, to say the least, disturbing."
Alliser Thorne, always skeptical, scoffed dismissively. "Forgive my bluntness, Commander, but stories of the Others and giant ice spiders belong to the realm of children's tales, not the halls of Castle Black. I believe we should focus our efforts on the real enemy—the Wildlings who attempt to breach our defenses and leave us bloodied."