"Benjen?"
Ned Stark frowned slightly as he watched his younger brother quickly approach through the crypts.
"How did you return so quickly?"
However, after arriving before them, Benjen did not imdiately answer Ned's question. Instead, he first bowed respectfully to King Robert.
"Your Grace!"
Robert looked at the dust-covered Benjen Stark before him and nearly failed to recognize him at first glance.
"Gods, Benjen, you look exhausted."
Robert stepped forward and pulled him upright with a laugh.
"Even if you wanted to see , there was no need to rush yourself like this."
"I'll be staying in Winterfell for at least a week."
Benjen forced a bitter smile onto his weary face.
The mont Ned saw that expression, a bad premonition instantly rose within his heart.
"Did sothing happen at the Wall?"
Benjen slowly nodded and revealed news that imdiately caused both Ned and Robert's expressions to change.
"Our rangers recently discovered that the wildlings Beyond the Wall have been acting strangely."
"They seem to be uniting under a common force."
Then Benjen hesitated briefly before continuing in a solemn voice.
"And…"
He glanced at Robert and Ned before speaking with difficulty.
"The rangers also discovered giants among the wildlings."
"Giants?"
Ned and Robert were both stunned.
The two exchanged glances and saw the sa shock reflected in each other's eyes.
It was not that they doubted Benjen's words.
Rather, giants had disappeared from Westeros for countless years.
Most people only heard tales of giants in songs and old legends.
Very few living n had ever truly seen one.
"Yes, giants."
Benjen nodded heavily.
"Ten days ago, Ser Jaremy Rykker led five rangers beyond the Wall to investigate Will's disappearance."
"But they encountered a large wildling camp."
"Everyone died except Ser Jaremy himself."
"According to him, there were at least three giants among the wildlings."
After hearing Benjen's explanation, Robert scratched his beard and cursed loudly.
"Seven hells…"
He naturally rembered Jaremy Rykker, the knight who had remained loyal to the Mad King and ultimately taken the black after Robert's Rebellion.
Robert frowned and questioned him.
"Benjen, could Rykker be exaggerating the report?"
Benjen imdiately shook his head.
"No."
"Although Ser Jaremy is difficult to get along with, he is not the sort of man who lies."
Robert and Ned fell silent once more, slowly digesting the news.
Benjen quietly exhaled in relief.
He hoped King Robert would decide to support the Night's Watch as soon as possible.
Ever since Jeor Mormont learned from Ned's letter that the King would soon arrive at Winterfell, the Lord Commander had imdiately ordered Benjen to ride south without delay.
The defenses along the Wall were weaker than ever before.
If the wildlings truly united with giants and attacked Castle Black, Jeor Mormont feared the current garrison would be unable to withstand them.
That was precisely why Benjen had hurried back to Winterfell overnight.
He hoped to use this opportunity to gain support from the Iron Throne.
Ned was still deep in thought, but Robert had already made his decision.
"Ned, my Hand…"
"It seems it's already ti for you to begin handling the realm's troubles."
Before Ned could respond, Benjen looked at him in astonishnt.
"Hand?"
Robert imdiately burst into loud laughter.
"Just monts ago, I appointed Eddard Stark as Hand of the King."
"Benjen, from now on, anything concerning the Wall can be discussed directly with Ned."
Benjen was instantly both surprised and delighted.
His surprise ca from fear.
His father and elder brother had both gone south and died tragically.
Now Ned was also leaving Winterfell for King's Landing.
Benjen could not help worrying that misfortune might once again befall House Stark.
But at the sa ti, he was relieved.
If Ned handled the Wall's affairs personally, then the support Jeor Mormont needed would likely arrive much sooner.
Ned helplessly glanced at Robert.
If he had known this matter would arise imdiately, he would have resisted Robert's appointnt even more firmly earlier.
After remaining silent for a mont, Ned looked at Benjen and finally spoke.
"Go and rest first."
"There will be a feast tonight."
"As for the Wall, I will think carefully about how to handle it."
Benjen naturally trusted Ned completely.
He nodded respectfully toward Robert and Ned before turning and leaving the crypts with mixed emotions.
Only after Benjen's figure disappeared into the darkness did Ned quietly speak again.
"The Wall's defenses are far weaker than before."
"Reinforcents are absolutely necessary."
"But how we reinforce them must be discussed after returning to King's Landing with the Small Council."
Robert waved his hand carelessly.
"You're the Hand now."
"How to handle it is your problem."
Ned could only shake his head speechlessly.
"Let's return."
"The Queen and the others are still waiting."
Robert imdiately muttered with obvious annoyance,
"The Queen, the Queen…"
"What if an Other carried her off?"
After grumbling, Robert turned around one final ti and stared deeply at Lyanna's statue before slowly making his way back through the crypts with heavy footsteps.
As they walked, the two continued talking.
"Your Grace," Ned suddenly asked, "you still haven't told exactly how Jon Arryn died."
At the ntion of Jon Arryn, Robert's expression visibly darkened.
"I've never seen a man decline so quickly."
"Only two weeks ago he was still attending etings of the Small Council."
"I truly believed the old man would live to be a hundred."
"But the illness spread through him like wildfire."
"In barely half a month, he was gone."
Robert's voice carried genuine sorrow.
"I loved him dearly."
"We all did," Ned replied softly.
After pausing briefly, he continued,
"Catelyn has been very worried about her sister."
"How is Lysa handling everything?"
Robert's mouth twisted bitterly.
"To tell the truth…"
"Not well at all."
"I think Jon's death drove her half mad."
"She fled straight back to the Eyrie with the boy."
At the ntion of Robert Arryn, Robert Baratheon could not help sighing heavily.
"The child is sickly all the ti."
"He's weak beyond belief."
"I originally intended to foster him with Tywin Lannister."
"With Tywin's care, perhaps the boy might finally grow stronger."
"But Lysa took him and ran back to the Vale without even informing anyone."
"Won…"
Ned clearly disapproved of Robert's plan to send the child to Casterly Rock.
Thinking of Catelyn and Lysa's relationship, he calmly defended her.
"She just lost her husband."
"Perhaps she fears losing her son as well."
Then Ned suddenly proposed,
"What if I fostered the boy instead?"
Robert imdiately shook his head.
"My old friend, you truly are too good-hearted."
"But it's already too late."
"Tywin has already agreed to foster the child."
"If the arrangent changes now, Tywin would consider it an insult."
Ned's expression remained indifferent.
"I care more about my nephew's well-being than whether House Lannister feels offended."
Robert instantly roared with laughter again.
He wrapped one thick arm around Ned's shoulders and teased him loudly.
"That's because you don't have to climb into bed beside a Lannister every night."
Then Robert's expression gradually turned serious once more.
"And besides…"
"If you truly intend to reinforce the Wall, then the Lannisters cannot be avoided."
"You'll need Lannister gold, Ned."
Ned suddenly felt a headache forming.
Compared to dealing with the politics and debts of King's Landing, he would honestly rather ride Beyond the Wall himself and fight wildlings directly.
"The old gods preserve …"
Ned muttered helplessly while holding the oil lamp.
Robert laughed once again.
The two continued walking side by side through the crypts.
On both sides, the stone kings and lords of House Stark silently watched them pass, their hollow eyes seeming to follow every step.
Once they finally reached the crypt entrance, Robert removed his arm from Ned's shoulders.
Ned handed the oil lamp to the attendant guarding the crypt entrance before leading Robert back toward the inner keep.
Along the way, servants and guards hurried everywhere through Winterfell.
Everyone was busily preparing for the grand feast that would take place that evening.
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