When Daenerys felt solid ground again, she breathed a sigh of relief and suppressed the urge to vomit at any moment. Suddenly, she noticed her breath turning into a white mist and felt the terrifying cold all around. Even though she was wearing winter clothes, she was still freezing.
"How do people live in this frozen hell?" Daenerys asked, completely shocked; she was truly stunned by the inhospitable environment. She finally understood the phrase: hard times forge strong men.
In the North, those who aren't strong will die of cold, hunger, or animal attacks. This was the North, the hardest place to live in the Seven Kingdoms, with only Dorne capable of rivaling it in terms of danger and environment.
Hearing Cadmus's silence, Daenerys was about to speak again but fell silent the next moment. Her eyes widened, her mouth hung open, and she even forgot to breathe. There was no other reason for this than the majestic, shocking, and incomparable Wall before them both.
The Wall stretches for three hundred miles and is approximately seven hundred feet high. It is made of solid ice, stone, and earth. It was a spectacular, beautiful, and majestic sight. It was hard to believe it had been built by human hands.
Cadmus was also shocked. Seeing or reading about the Wall was a completely different concept than seeing it in person. It was so gigantic, colossal, and abysmal that it bordered on despairing. Any man, woman, or elder would feel like an ant before such a monument.
"How do you feel?" Cadmus asked Daenerys with a smile on his lips. Daenerys's shocked expression was truly adorable.
"Hmm..." Daenerys seemed thoughtful before speaking with a touch of uncertainty. "I feel like an ant before a giant; however, it feels like I'm sensing a faint repulsion, as if the Wall doesn't like me."
"Well, it's a Wall meant to stop the Others from marching south; it's normal for it to repel anything with magical energy, especially you and me, who possess large amounts of it," Cadmus explained calmly.
Daenerys narrowed her eyes at the mention of the Others. After having that dream while hatching the dragons, she had naturally researched things in the library and discovered that the description of the Others was exactly like the creatures she had seen in her dream.
Looking at Cadmus, Daenerys realized her future husband knew things she didn't yet. Promising herself she would unearth every one of his secrets when they were alone, she looked at the wooden wall below the Wall of Ice and Snow.
Castle Black.
One of the three castles still active after thousands of years. Honestly, Daenerys was disappointed by the decrepit castle. Even the wooden wall looked worn, though still firm in this cold and desolate environment.
"Let's go." Holding Daenerys's hand, Cadmus walked toward Castle Black, his eyes fixed on the guards on the wooden wall.
When Cadmus and Daenerys were fifty paces from the gates, a man wearing black clothes shouted while four other men pointed their bows and arrows at them.
"Identify yourselves and state your business!!!"
"Cadmus Peverell, Court Wizard to King Rhaegar, and my wife, Daenerys of House Targaryen, Mother of Dragons," Cadmus spoke in a low tone, yet his voice still reached the guards' ears, paralyzing them instantly. It wasn't a spell, but the fear of having pointed a weapon at a princess.
Daenerys smiled; hearing Cadmus's introduction, being called his wife made her feel sweet and extremely happy.
Cadmus and Daenerys didn't wait long; three minutes later, the gates opened and an old, tall, broad-shouldered man appeared along with a dozen men. It was Jeor Mormont, 997th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.
Beside him was an old man wearing Maester's robes, "old" was an understatement; Cadmus knew the man was a hundred years old and was practically a library with legs.
Cadmus whispered the identities of both men into Daenerys's ear, causing the girl's eyes to widen in complete shock. Obviously, she wasn't shocked by the Lord Commander's identity, but by the Maester beside him!
She couldn't believe she had such an old relative still alive!
A hundred years old!
In a world where people rarely reached forty, even kings could die young, let alone commoners. So, reaching a hundred years of age was simply shocking.
Daenerys pulled Cadmus along and approached the group.
"Welcome to Castle Black, my Princess." Jeor stepped forward and greeted Daenerys with a tone of respect, inquiry, and curiosity. He had already received a raven stating that dragons had returned to life and that the one who had performed this miraculous feat was the princess, the King's sister, Daenerys Targaryen.
Looking at the tall, young, handsome man beside the princess, Jeor greeted the man the people called the Blue Flame Demon. "Lord Wizard."
"I hope I'm not intruding, Lord Commander," Cadmus greeted the man with an elegant smile.
"Not at all." Jeor might be from the North, but because of his position, he sent ravens south more than any other Northern lord, so he was more political than most Northmen.
While Cadmus and Jeor exchanged greetings, Daenerys ignored Jeor and approached the old man, taking the old Maester's hand. "Great-uncle."
Aemon's trembling hands grew steadier upon hearing the sweet, cheerful voice full of youth. Squeezing Daenerys's hand, he spoke with a tone full of emotion. "Hello, little princess. I am Aemon, Maester of Castle Black."
A faint but genuinely happy smile appeared on the old Maester's lips.
Daenerys felt sad at the old Maester's joy, which showed he hadn't seen family for a very long time. It made her sad, as she hadn't even known of Aemon's existence.
"Let's all go inside and get warm," Jeor said in a firm tone, and no one contested him.
-
Daenerys entered holding Aemon's hand, her eyes looking curiously around. She felt uncomfortable seeing young men, adults, and some old men looking at her with shocked, some lustful, and even fierce gazes.
"Don't worry, they cannot harm you," Aemon spoke in a fragile but strong tone. Although he was a hundred years old, he felt he could raise a sword to protect the princess beside him.
"I'm not afraid; I am a wizard, I can burn them all whenever I want," Daenerys spoke with a proud tone, which brought a smile to Aemon's lips. He was surprised by the fact that his great-niece had become a wizard, but he didn't comment on it.
"Besides, my husband isn't just a pretty decoration; he's even stronger than I am." Mentioning Cadmus, Daenerys became even more arrogant.
Aemon was even happier with her words. From his great-niece's tone, this was a happy marriage, something a woman rarely had.
"I am glad you are happy; it fills me with joy and relief," Aemon spoke in a fragile but happy tone.
Daenerys smiled, hearing the old dragon's genuinely cheerful tone. Squeezing his hand tighter, the princess asked excitedly, "Tell me some interesting stories."
Aemon couldn't have been happier; he looked like a child who had just received a treat. If there was one thing old people loved, it was telling stories about their youth.
Watching the interaction between the two, Cadmus couldn't help but smile gently. He was pleased to have brought Daenerys to the North. Daenerys's meeting with Aemon was always something he had wanted to see while watching the series in his past life.
When Aemon died, it had left a bitter taste in his mouth; he had been extremely reluctant to accept that this old dragon would never see another relative in his life.
So, seeing both talking happily left Cadmus satisfied and glad to see such a thing happen.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Maester Aemon this happy," Jeor commented with a kind look; seeing the old man smiling so cheerfully was quite comforting. Especially knowing how old the Maester of Castle Black was.
"Reuniting with a dear relative after a long time is a good thing," Cadmus said, looking at the old bear beside him. He knew the old man also missed his family, especially his son, who had been exiled to Essos.
Jeor showed a look of reminiscence, but soon returned to being the old and powerful bear he was, without a hint of sentimentality.
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Read my other books:
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos (500,000 words written).
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King's Court Wizard