iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 626 Winterfell 5
Lady Caitlin smiled slightly and raised her glass: "For His Majesty's health."

The whispers around them instantly fell silent, and then everyone raised their glasses and shouted in unison, "Long live the King!"

His Majesty Green drank the wine with satisfaction. Although Robb had trampled on the sacred right of a guest, the Northern nobles’ adoration for the Starks remained as burning as the embers in the fireplace.

in this way.

He can then worry less and concentrate on the great cause of fighting zombies.

As for directly ruling the North… the rational King Green had not considered it; the war-torn Riverlands were already the biggest money-devouring beast.

Moreover, the North is too far away, but the governance of the Riverlands is directly related to the Targaryen-Clyber dynasty's rule.

The new kingdom, formed by "digesting" the old kingdom, the Riverlands, and the Stormlands, is the cornerstone of the new dynasty.

Green couldn't help but rub his temples; there was still the Western Territory waiting for the king's favor...

"hey-hey."

A silvery laugh suddenly reached Green's ears, and Arya, who was moving through the banquet hall, appeared beside him.

She tilted her rosy cheeks up and looked him up and down with her big, star-filled eyes: "You're finally drunk? Adi said the king's alcohol tolerance is even greater than that of a dragon, hehehe."

Adi, a blacksmith's apprentice in Winterfell, was huddled on a bench by the hall door, surrounded by grooms, blacksmiths, and bastards.

They were all lowly, marginalized people in Winterfell, but they were Arya's most beloved companions, and most of them, including her mother, seemed to have long been accustomed to the little wolf girl's unconventional ways.

……

Green chuckled and patted Arya's fluffy head: "Great idea. I'll have a contest sometime."

……

As Arya slipped back to the gate like a gust of wind, the musicians suddenly changed their tune, and a long horn blast heralded the start of the banquet's traditional performance—dancing.

The first dance was naturally initiated by the King and the Lady of Winterfell.

However, what started as an elegant dance floor quickly turned into a chaotic free-for-all, very characteristic of the North.

His Majesty Green, now back in his seat, gazed down with great interest. Although the scenery was less spectacular than in the south, it possessed a more primal, intense heat.

Crash———

Even Leo Tyrell, who faithfully served wine to the king, couldn't help but glance frequently at the lively dance floor.

The benevolent King Green waved his hand with a smile: "Go, let Ser Brienne take your place."

"As ordered!"

As soon as the handsome Tyrell stepped onto the dance floor, he was immediately surrounded by the Winterfell girls with gleaming eyes.

As they groped him, Green, who was paying close attention, saw them secretly touching Leo's entire body. Unable to push them away due to etiquette, he felt both pain and pleasure.

Green pursed his lips, suppressing a hint of schadenfreude.

But according to the tradition of the Seven Kingdoms, Leo is sure to have a wonderful night.

As his gaze slowly shifted, Grimm spotted Arya, who was secretly drinking wine with Rickon. The two siblings looked rather furtive, like little wolves stealing food.

The atmosphere at the banquet grew increasingly lively, with boisterous laughter and curses swirling into a boiling vortex.

"Your Majesty Green."

Just as His Majesty Grimm was quietly observing, a figure in a crimson dress suddenly stopped in front of the throne—Sansa Stark and several young girls approached arm in arm.

Sansa's face, framed by her hairnet, shone with an expectant glow, inviting him to dance. He had no choice but to step onto the chaotic dance floor once more.

Despite the noise in the hall, Shanshan remained completely unaffected, dancing her exquisite court dance steps.

Her "loyal" friends held hands, separating them from the others. Green's dancing skills were not superb, but she had accumulated ample experience in the court, although her steps were occasionally hesitant...

Clearly, the somewhat clumsy king was trying his best to keep up with the dance steps, which surprised Sansa. She felt his favoritism, which extended not only to Arya and Rickon, but also to her.

At last.

She twirled, her red dress, matching her hair, blooming like a flower. She stopped dancing and, in Green's arms, freely stretched out her beautiful curves, creating a strange sense of separation from the surrounding wildness.

call---

The leather boots rolled over the wine-stained stone slabs, leaving a sticky feeling. Green took Sansa's small hand and slowly walked out of the dance floor.

At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh to himself, being a good king is too difficult...

Upon returning to his seat, His Majesty Green quietly issued an order that if there were any further invitations to dance, the Royal Guards should perform on behalf of the King.

Sansa nestled beside Catelyn, her flushed cheeks resting on her mother's soft shoulder, a happy smile playing on her lips. Lady Catelyn patted her daughter's hand gently and said, "Sansa, it seems you understand."

Sansa nodded silently, then her blue eyes swept over the surroundings before she spoke: "Yes, His Majesty loves us, loves all of Father's children."

Lady Catelyn glanced at the king, who was chatting and laughing with an old knight, and quipped to her daughter, "He dances as stiffly as the Duke of Winterfell."

Sansa couldn't help but cover her mouth, her shoulders trembling slightly as she tried to suppress her laughter. Her father was always the one who rarely got invited to dance, and his awkwardness back then seemed to overlap with Green's at that moment.

Lady Caitlin shrugged helplessly. Back in Riverrun, as a young girl, she and her sister eagerly awaited their father's banquets, fantasizing about the wonderful scene of dancing with handsome knights.

In order to show their best side, she and Lysa secretly practiced hard for a long time.

They never dreamed...

Her knight was an unrotating ice creature, while her sister's knight could no longer jump after a few years.

……

After the banquet, Green soaked comfortably in the hot spring water bath.

Winterfell was built above a hot spring, with hot water piped through the walls to warm each room.

Footsteps sounded, and Ser Brienne placed her black nightgown within Green's reach, saying, "Your Majesty, the ladies-in-waiting sent by the Lady of Winterfell have all left."

"Could you please get me a wine bag?"

Leaning against the edge of the bathtub, Green propped his cheek with one hand and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you during this time. Thank you."

He took the wine bag Brienne handed him, took a swig of Summer Red, and said, "Besides you, don't let any other women near my bedroom or bathroom at night."

"I'll arrange it."

After a pause, Ser Brienne added, "Your Majesty, it is my duty."

He tossed the wine bag over, shrugged, and water droplets fell from his hair: "The North is too far away; this icy plain shall remember the legend of the wise king."

……

The next morning, the square, covered in snow, echoed with the neighing of horses and the sound of hooves.

Green and a group of Northern nobles formed a party to hunt in the Wolfwood, northwest of Winterfell, and he also brought Arya and Rickon with him.

Sansa was originally invited as well, but after much consideration, she worried that she might embarrass herself, so she politely and tactfully declined the invitation.

……

Watching the hunting party disappear into the snow and mist, Sansa couldn't help but feel regretful: "Mother, I should practice my riding skills more."

Sansa is a skilled rider, but riding on normal ground and riding on snow are two different things, the latter requiring much more practice.

Little Lady Sansa chose to give up because the process was inevitably messy.

Lady Catelyn smiled. “No, knowing how to weigh things is not weakness. When hunting in the Wolf Forest, sometimes you have to kneel on the saddle to control the reins. Your skirt will be soaked with snow, your braids will be covered with ice, and sharp branches will be your constant companions… The lone wolf howls, crows circle, and you can choose not to struggle in the ‘mud.’ This is precisely proof of your intelligence, Sansa. I am proud of you.”

Sansa paused, her cheeks flushed, and bit her lip, saying, "Mother, I'm afraid... afraid they'll laugh at my riding skills."

Actually, she didn't want to be mocked by Arya because of this, and she didn't want to lose face in front of the king...

"Knowing how to weigh things is not a sign of weakness; it is a gift of divine mercy."

Lady Caitlin walked slowly over, gently kissed her daughter's forehead, and then said, "Remember, outside the castle is where men wield their swords, but inside the castle is the 'battlefield' that belongs to women."

"Thank you, Mom. I will remember your teachings."

Sansa hesitated for a moment, then asked, "But... many times, I don't know what to do, or how to do it..."

Lady Caitlin looked her daughter up and down with kind eyes: "To understand those things, you must first figure out... what you really want, my dear Sansa, have you thought it through?"

……

As dusk settled over the city walls, the hunting party returned, its footsteps echoing through the snow.

The hunting party brought back a large amount of prey, and everyone was talking about Green's unerring marksmanship.

Legend has it that all the eagles circling above them were shot down by the king, who was blessed by the warrior (one of the seven gods).

then.

From that day on, Winterfell was a place where the daytime hunting and the evening feasts were repeated every day.

(End of this chapter)