Chapter 570: Howland Reed

Flakes of snow drifted down, accumulating atop the collapsed roof of Greywater Watch. The ground was covered with a thick layer of snow.

Crunch...

Viserys's footsteps echoed as he pushed open the dilapidated main gate and stepped into the abandoned castle.

There was no sudden ambush by wights this time. It appeared that without the Night King's power, even the wights could not traverse the treacherous swamps of the Neck.

Yet, only moments after entering, Viserys paused, glancing around.

"Hmm?"

In a conspicuous spot within the castle, a hint of life was evident. Green vines, sprouting fresh leaves, wrapped around something that seemed to sway ever so slightly. On closer inspection, it looked as if a body hung from a beam.

"That's impossible."

Viserys frowned. He'd been wandering the Neck for quite some time and hadn't seen any signs of life.

Yet, here was a vivid display of vitality, reminiscent of early spring. As he approached and brushed aside the vines, they revealed a body that seemed to have been hanging for a long time.

"Is this..."

He pondered, recalling a tale. When the humans had hoped to use the Neck as a barrier against the White Walkers, the Crannogmen, the marshland dwellers, had played a significant role. Unfortunately, they had failed. Most of the Crannogmen died in the Neck, including their leader, the mysterious Howland Reed of House Reed. It was said he had hanged himself in his castle, and no one knew why.

But that story was over a year old. If this was Howland Reed, why was his body still hanging? It should have fallen long ago due to the decay of flesh or the snap of the rope.

Was he defying gravity?

Viserys, now deeply intrigued, neared the body and was about to touch it to glean insights from its past. But just before his fingers made contact...

"Hmm?"

He abruptly pulled back.

Boom...

The beam from which the body hung gave way. The body crashed to the ground, landing with a thud, followed by a pained groan.

"Damn it!"

The body, now showing signs of life, rubbed its backside. The frost on its face began to melt, revealing a face that regained its color. The man sat up, looked at Viserys, and seemed to recognize the Targaryen features.

"You're the Crannogmen's leader, Howland Reed?" Viserys asked coolly.

Howland, recognizing the silver-haired youth with the dragon outside, hesitated before nodding. "I am."

But before Howland could say more, Viserys swiftly grabbed his shoulder. The world around them changed instantly.

Woosh...

Time seemed to rewind. The ruined castle was now whole, its dim candlelight flickering. A letter bearing a request for aid lay on a table, signed by Eddard Stark, the Duke of Winterfell. Inside the castle were a slender, brunette girl and a thin boy with deep green eyes. The once hanged man was also present, kneeling and praying before a shield bearing the emblem of a smiling heart tree.

"I've seen it."

The boy with deep green eyes suddenly spoke. The man in front of the shield, presumably Howland, turned his attention to the boy.

"What did you see, Jojen?"

After hearing the boy's revelations, Howland Reed was silent for a long moment. Finally, he dismissed the siblings with a wave of his hand.