ALL NOVEL Chapter 26: Chapter 26
It was easy to assume things would go as planned. Aegor had learned this the hard way, making the same mistake over and over since arriving in this world.
Whether it was his initial encounter with the White Walkers, where he underestimated their numbers and nearly lost his life or his attempt to interfere with a critical plot point only to fail and land himself in trouble, the root cause was the same: misplaced confidence in his assumptions. He had believed that Jaime and Cersei wouldn't dare meet in the First Keep while he was in the old inner courtyard. He had assumed Bran would stop climbing before reaching the danger zone. Both assumptions had been proven disastrously wrong, culminating in a tragedy that seemed unavoidable.
After spending most of the night racking his brain, Aegor was no closer to a solution. He had failed to devise a plan to escape the growing danger or to resolve the predicament he found himself in. Exhausted both mentally and physically, he eventually forced himself to close his eyes and, without realizing it, drifted into a restless sleep.
---
Sleep, as always, brought some clarity. When the first rays of morning light filtered through the small lattice window of his room, Aegor opened his eyes. For a full minute, he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind blank. Then, suddenly, a bold idea struck him.
If there was no way to stay out of the plot, why not dive into it?
---
The previous night, Aegor had spent hours agonizing over two conflicting goals: saving Bran from the assassination attempt or distancing himself from the event altogether if it happened. Neither effort had yielded a solution. And the reason was simple: Aegor had unknowingly imposed a severe limitation on himself, he was trying to avoid personal involvement at all costs.
Who had ordered the assassin armed with a Valyrian steel dagger to kill Bran? The original author had left this question deliberately vague, and even the screen adaptation provided no clear answer. Before Aegor's arrival in this world, fans had debated endlessly in online forums, pointing fingers at various suspects. Some believed it was Cersei, seeking to silence a potential witness. Others thought Joffrey acted out of spite after being humiliated by Tyrion. Some even argued it was Littlefinger, sowing chaos to serve his ambitions. Each theory had its own supporting evidence, leaving no definitive answer.
How could Aegor hope to prevent an assassination when he didn't even know who the assassin was, who sent them, or when they would strike?
Stopping the assassination quietly seemed nearly impossible. And as for distancing himself afterward? That was equally futile. Everyone knew he had been training in the old inner courtyard, and it was common knowledge that he had been the first to discover Bran's fall. Whether or not he was directly responsible, Aegor was undeniably connected to the incident.
With so many obstacles in his path, trying to tiptoe around the issue and hope it resolved itself was wishful thinking.
In that case, why not face it head-on?
---
Though Aegor preferred to avoid trouble, he wasn't one to back down once trouble found him. If he couldn't clear his name or stop the assassination alone, then he would abandon his self-imposed restrictions and force a resolution.
What if he took the simplest, most direct approach? What if he told the Stark family that Bran's life was in danger?
Initially, Aegor considered leaving an anonymous note, but the risk of being implicated remained. If the assassination occurred, suspicion would still fall on him. The safest course of action was to position himself as an innocent messenger, someone who brought the warning to the Starks.
He would deliver the news personally.
---
Choosing the right person to inform was critical. Aegor first thought of Jon Snow, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Jon, though well-meaning, was too young and lacked the authority to act decisively. That left only one Stark family member whom Aegor knew personally and had access to: Benjen Stark, his superior and the Chief Ranger of the Night's Watch.
As for who to accuse, Aegor settled on Joffrey. Among the potential suspects, the prince's name was the most plausible and least likely to backfire on him. Joffrey had been suspected by Tyrion in the original story, and his Baratheon name made him a natural lightning rod for the Stark family's wrath.
Eddard Stark would never act recklessly against the son of his oldest friend, King Robert. Even if he were furious, his response would be calculated. And if Eddard focused on Joffrey, Tyrion would be left out of the fray, allowing Aegor to leave the Wall without additional complications.
If some mysterious force was indeed steering the events of this world to follow their original course, Aegor was ready to challenge it. This time, he would intervene directly and see how far fate or whatever force governed this world would go to resist him.
---
Bran's fall had delayed the king's plans to return to King's Landing. Robert had intended to take Eddard south to serve as Hand of the King, but with Bran's life hanging by a thread, he chose to remain in Winterfell to support his friend.
Aegor waited patiently, biding his time for a full day before seeking out Benjen Stark.
When Aegor finally entered his superior's chamber, Benjen looked tired and preoccupied. The delay in reinforcements for the Wall and the accident involving his nephew had clearly taken their toll.
"Is something wrong?" Benjen asked, his voice weary.
"Sir, there's something I don't know if I should tell you..."
"If you've stepped through that door, you've already decided. Speak quickly."
"This matter involves someone important," Aegor said cautiously. "I'll need your assurance that my safety will be guaranteed."
Benjen frowned, eyeing Aegor with suspicion. After a moment, he nodded impatiently. "I'll ensure your safety. Now speak."
"It's about your nephew, Bran," Aegor began, carefully choosing his words. "On the day of his fall, I was practicing archery not far from the First Keep. Ser Jaime and I were competing. I didn't think much of it at the time, but this morning, I overheard something concerning."
"Go on."
"I overheard Prince Joffrey speaking with an armored knight I didn't recognize," Aegor continued, feigning unease. "The knight said Bran would never walk again and that it might be kinder to end his suffering."
Benjen's frown deepened. While the sentiment was harsh, it wasn't unheard of in this world, where the lives of the disabled were often filled with hardship. Still, voicing such an idea aloud was a grave insult to the Stark family.
"The prince agreed," Aegor added, his tone grave. "But it didn't end there. Joffrey then said he planned to show Bran 'mercy.' His exact words were, 'Learn from the people of Braavos and grant the Stark boy deliverance.'"
Benjen stiffened. "And?"
"The prince then displayed a dagger," Aegor said. "I didn't see it clearly, but I heard him describe it. He said it was Valyrian steel, with a dragonbone handle, and that it was 'worthy of a Stark.'"
Benjen's expression turned grim. "And after that?"
"They walked away, so I couldn't hear the rest," Aegor said, lowering his voice. "But I'm certain I heard the prince instruct the knight to hire a sellsword to do the deed."
After a long silence, Benjen stared hard at Aegor. "Do you understand the weight of what you're saying?"
"Yes, sir."
"To accuse the future king of treason without proof is to risk your life for nothing."
"I know, sir. That's why I came to you first. Even if it's just a precaution, posting an extra guard outside Bran's room would do no harm."
Benjen was silent, deep in thought. After a moment, he said, "Go back to your quarters. And remember, tell no one else about this. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," Aegor replied, bowing and leaving the room.
*****
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