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Chapter 571: The Magic of the Crannogmen

After his eldest daughter, Meera Reed, and younger son, Jojen Reed, had departed, Howland Reed knelt before the shield adorned with the face of a laughing tree, praying silently for a long while in the flickering candlelight.

He then stood up, re-read the call for aid from the Duke of Winterfell, and began to write a few lines after a moment of contemplation.

The castle within the swamplands was eerily quiet. Alone at the table, Howland seemed to be writing a letter. Once done, he carefully folded the paper, sealed it in an envelope, and left it on the desk.

Then, he fetched a rope and a stool, placing the rope around a beam and standing on the stool, positioning the noose around his neck.

By dawn the following day, a piercing scream broke the silence of Greywater Watch.

Meera, having come in search of her father, discovered him already hanging from the beam. Numerous Crannogmen, including Jojen, rushed to the scene. While many were visibly distraught, Jojen appeared calm, as if he had anticipated this outcome. He shed not a tear, while Meera wept uncontrollably.

Following their father's tragic end, Meera and Jojen found the envelope on his desk. After reading its contents, the young siblings rallied their kin to abandon the Neck, migrate southward, and warned that mankind couldn't fend off the impending invasion of the White Walkers.

While some Crannogmen heeded the siblings' call, many chose to stay, vowing to aid the allied forces against the undead.

All of these events flashed quickly before Viserys's eyes, with Howland Reed himself standing nervously beside him, gazing at his own portrayal.

Even a year ago, just before his hanging, Howland had felt uneasy, sensing an anomaly in his history, much like Bran Stark had once felt near the Weirwood trees.

Both of them possessed innate psychic abilities, making them extremely sensitive to their surroundings.

"Who are you?" Howland asked, clearly taken aback after the temporal journey. His gaze upon Viserys was filled with shock and confusion.

"Why did you hang yourself?" Viserys inquired after a contemplative pause.

"It concerns the magic of the Crannogmen, Your Grace," Howland began, trying to regain his composure. "We were praying to the Heart Tree."

He shared tales of the Crannogmen's ancient customs and myths, particularly their rumored dark magics and their close bond with the Children of the Forest. Both believed in the power of the Weirwood trees, which were central to their magic and strength.

"When Jojen was younger, he contracted the deadly Greyscale fever. A Greenseer saved him, granting him the gift of greensight," Howland explained. This vision foresaw the swamplands frozen and the White Walkers crossing the Neck amidst green flames.

Thus, Howland had left the letter, urging his kin to flee, but many didn't heed his warning post his hanging.

"I prayed to the Heart Tree, hoping to protect our people. In exchange, I hoped to become a part of the Weirwood," Howland revealed, "It's a common pact. Many of the Children of the Forest transform into Weirwood trees at their end."

However, it was evident that his prayers went unanswered, and he didn't become a tree.

"Do you pray to the Heart Tree?" Viserys asked, intrigued.

"Yes. I was once humiliated by knights at the tourney of Harrenhal. Lyanna Stark came to my aid. Using improvised armor and this shield, I defeated those knights, restoring my honor," Howland reminisced, looking at the Weirwood shield with a touch of nostalgia.

Viserys, realizing the truth behind the mystery of the Knight of the Laughing Tree, inquired, "I thought Lyanna stood up for you?"

"No, I reclaimed my honor on my own. The Stark siblings, having witnessed my newfound strength, chose to remain silent. But now, I can no longer sense the Heart Tree," Howland concluded.

After a moment of silence, Howland spoke again, "You're not one of the Old Gods, nor a Greenseer."

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