Chapter 23

In the distance loomed an impossibly tall Wall, carved entirely out of ice. A few rays of sunlight managed to penetrate the thick clouds hovering high above them. The sunlight made the gigantic structure glisten, making it seem as if it were made of diamonds and not ice.

King Harren had accompanied them to the Wall, driven by the sole reason of wanting to see his younger brother again. Benjrick Stark had been chosen through an ancient ritual to serve as the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, an honorable position still—something that would change when the Targaryens invaded, if that will still happen with him here.

To Kaelarys, it was less a ritual and more a game—a game with higher stakes than any other. During his time with his aunt, he had witnessed various rituals, all demanding blood and sacrifices. At first, he suspected that the Starks might have an alternative, another kind of magical ritual. After all, they were able to master magic that no Valyrian ever could, something he intended to change in the future.

The ritual involved a sack full of stones, all normal except for one, which was painted black. Whoever drew this stone was doomed to a life on the Wall. For the one who drew it would live and die there.

Doomed, yes, because no matter how honorable this position was and no matter how important, it resembled a death sentence. Some fulfilled their duties with pride, while others did so out of loyalty to their house and loyalty only.

Because while there always has to be a Stark at Winterfell, they tried to have a Stark on the Wall as well. For they, in a time when magic was still very much present, knew of the terrible things lurking beyond the Wall.

The journey from Winterfell to the Wall was long and fraught with misfortunes. The snow grew deeper, and it became increasingly difficult to ride the horses. They had not taken a carriage for this reason, although Myranda frequently cursed. But only a little, for he often warmed her with his magic, something the soldiers and King Harren noticed more than once.

Fortunately, they were in the North and not with the Andals in the South, who saw magic as a mark of the devil.

Finally, Castle Black came into view, and it was much better maintained than he had imagined. It consisted of several stone towers and timber keeps. Beneath the keeps and towers, a series of subterranean passages connected all the buildings, which would be especially useful during winter when the snow was too thick to travel.

But calling it a castle was more out of formality than what it actually represented, because there was no wall to defend it from the south, except for some small walls around the main keep, only high enough for the average man to not look over while standing straight.

"It's fascinating, isn't it?" a tired voice spoke up from their side. It was King Harren, who rubbed his hands together and blew hot air between them to warm himself from the cold.

"It is," Kaelarys answered, looking back at the Wall, but not for the reason that King Harren implied. He could practically feel the magic radiating from it.

He had seen many similar things in Valyria, but nothing quite like this. It was as if the Wall was emanating magic, just as the sun emits sunlight. He could hardly wait to go inside and see the wonders of this structure for himself.

When they arrived, they were met with many warriors, not soldiers, standing on the side and giving way to the King. Even in this wretched weather, there was no other way to describe it, they were outside and knelt before him.

"Stand up, please," King Harren commanded, and they did as told.

As they made their way through the gathered men, Kaelarys noticed the stark contrast between these warriors and the soldiers he was accustomed to. These men were hardened by the cold and their duty, they were trained to kill to survive and not to kill to conquer.

At the entrance of the main keep, they were greeted by Benjrick Stark, the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Benjrick was a tall, imposing figure with a weathered face. The years spent at the Wall had etched deep lines into his skin, and his eyes held a cold, steely resolve. Any kindness he might have once had seemed to have been worn away by the harshness of his life here.

"Brother," King Harren greeted him warmly, though his tone was tinged with sadness.

"Your Grace," Benjrick replied formally, giving a curt nod.

"It's been too long," Harren said, clapping a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Indeed, it has," Benjrick agreed, though there was a lot of bitterness in his voice. "But duty calls, and the Wall must be manned."

Kaelarys observed the exchange from the sidelines, noting the awkward tension between the two brothers. Their bond had been strained by years of separation and the relentless demands of their respective roles.

"It is an honor to finally see the Wall for myself," Kaelarys said, watching as Benjrick's eyes met his. While Kaelarys's eyes always sparkled with a bit of mischief, Benjrick's held an intense gaze that probably wouldn't falter even before Ancalagon, something Kaelarys would surely test in the future.

"And you are?" Benjrick questioned, looking between his brother and him.

"Kaelarys of House Baelaeron of Valyria, a pleasure," he grinned.

When Benjrick heard his name, Kaelarys saw recognition in his eyes before he returned to his stony self. "I see," he drawled.

"Welcome to the end of the world. You have to excuse me; there isn't much luxury we can offer here, but we will do our utmost to ensure you are satisfied with your stay," he said before returning his gaze to his brother's. "Now, if you excuse me, I have duties to attend to. While I do this, Medger," he called out, and a middle-aged man came next to Benjrick, "will accompany you and attend to your every need."

"Your Highnesses," Medger said while bowing, unsure how to properly address Kaelarys.

"That will suffice. Please, don't let us keep you," Kaelarys answered, and Benjrick didn't need to be told twice. He turned, his long cloak billowing dramatically in the cold northern wind as ten Night's Watch members followed him while the rest returned to their duties.

Once Benjrick was out of sight, King Harren turned to Kaelarys with an apologetic look. "I must apologize for my brother. He can be rather... stern."

Kaelarys waved off the apology. "There's no need to apologize, King Harren. I understand the burdens he carries. The Wall demands much from those who serve it."

Harren nodded, still looking somewhat uncomfortable. "Benjrick has always taken his duties very seriously. It's been a long time since I've seen him so... hardened."

" I can imagine. If I had to live here all my life, I probably would be worse" he joked" Not to mention the lack of women, tragic, really." he mused

Medger, who had been quietly waiting, stepped forward. "If it pleases you, I can show you to your quarters and give you a tour of the castle."

"Lead the way, Medger," Harren said, gesturing for him to proceed.

As they followed Medger through the cold, stone corridors of Castle Black, Kaelarys took in the austere surroundings. The walls were bare, the furnishings sparse. It was a place built for function, not comfort.

They were shown to their quarters, simple rooms with basic necessities. A fire had been lit in each hearth to ward off the chill.

"I hope these accommodations are to your liking," Medger said, looking somewhat anxious.

"They will do just fine," Kaelarys replied kindly. "Thank you, Medger."

Medger visibly relaxed at the response. "If there's anything else you need, please don't hesitate to ask."

As Medger disappeared through the door, Kaelarys turned to Myranda. "And? What do you think?" he asked as he wandered over to Myranda, who was already snuggled under her blankets.

"I should have stayed at home," she answered with a pout. He laughed heartily at that and kissed her forehead. "But the view makes it worth it," she continued. "I just hope that we won't be here for long and fly back instead of riding again."

"We will see," Kaelarys replied. "I don't know just yet how long we will be here or if we will accompany Harren back. It wouldn't do any good to just let him ride back home alone."

Myranda sighed, snuggling deeper into the blankets. "I understand, but the journey here was so grueling. I can't imagine doing it all over again."

"I don't want to be a spoilsport, but you insisted on coming with me," he taunted with a grin.

"Who could have known that it gets even colder up here?" she cursed, not at him, but at the cold.

"It's not even winter," he said, watching with Schadenfreude as her expression changed from anger to terror.

"WHAT?"

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If there are any errors, grammar-wise, etc..., I don't reread my chapters, so my bad, I guess.