Just as Mance Rayder and the others decided to return beyond the Wall together, someone emerged from the nearby woods, riding a large white lion.
"One, two, three, four, five, went up the mountain to catch a tiger. Didn't catch a tiger, caught a little squirrel."
Mufasa, riding Hrakkar backward, blocked their path.
"Mufasa Lannister, it's you! How did you know we'd take this path? And why are you here?" Ygritte asked.
Mufasa smiled at Ygritte.
"Ygritte, you've been gone a long time. Sansa and the others couldn't find you, so they came to me. I figured you might have gone to help Mance Rayder and his people escape."
"So you were specifically waiting for us outside Winterfell. But how did you know which route we'd take?" Mance Rayder asked.
"It's simple! Since you're wildlings, you definitely wouldn't take the main roads, so I naturally chose to wait for you on the smaller paths," Mufasa said, waving his hand.
"It seems we can't safely return beyond the Wall without dealing with you, Mance, give the order! We'll kill him together, he's only one man, and there are seven of us!" Rattleshirt said.
Aggo, standing nearby, spoke to Rattleshirt.
"Don't forget, he was the one who killed our other companions before, or more specifically, his large lion. We are no match for the lion."
"Wise man! Aggo, it seems that even though you are young, you have more wisdom than Rattleshirt," Mufasa praised him.
"Mufasa, for Jon Snow's sake, let us go!" Ygritte said.
"Jon Snow is my brother, but you don't seem to be his wife yet, Ygritte. Don't try to fool me, I'm not that easily tricked," Mufasa said.
"What will it take for you to let us go?" Mance Rayder asked.
"All seven of you can't leave. At least two of you must stay behind. Who chooses to stay is up to you to decide!" Mufasa said.
The wildlings discussed it, and in the end, Ygritte and Aggo chose to stay. They had made their decision to sacrifice their lives for the freedom and lives of their companions.
"Have you decided?" Mufasa asked.
"Aggo and I will stay," Ygritte said.
"You two, eh? Not bad, not bad! It seems we really are quite fated!" Mufasa said.
Then he whistled, and the horses Ygritte and Aggo were riding ran towards Mufasa on their own. The horses they were riding were Mufasa's Red Hare and Ouzhui.
"The others may leave! Mance Rayder, until we meet again!" Mufasa said.
After one last look at Mufasa, Mance Rayder rode past him. The other wildlings followed closely behind him.
Seeing their figures disappear into the distance, Mufasa picked up a rope and tied up Ygritte and Aggo.
"Don't worry, tying you up is only temporary! After all, Mance Rayder has escaped, so you won't be punished much," Mufasa said.
Mufasa brought the two back to Winterfell. Some of the other prisoners in the cells had died, and some had been recaptured.
After interrogation, Eddard Stark learned that Ygritte had released Mance Rayder and his people.
"Ygritte, what else do you have to say?" Eddard Stark asked.
"I stand by my actions. Do what you will, kill or torture, it's up to you."
She was also a hothead, stretching out her neck as if waiting for Eddard Stark to chop off her head.
Eddard Stark frowned, then looked at Jon Snow.
Finally, for Jon Snow's sake, Eddard Stark spared her this time.
"Lord Eddard, how about you let me handle Aggo? I think he's quite good, and I'd like him to be my attendant," Mufasa asked.
Eddard Stark glanced at Aggo and felt that this wildling was not like the others, snarling and exuding savagery.
Because Aggo didn't give the impression of a wildling; he seemed more like a solitary, stubborn youth.
"Alright! Ser Mufasa! Aggo is yours from now on! I hope you manage him well," Eddard Stark said.
Mufasa nodded, indicating that he would manage Aggo well.
King Robert had also heard about the wildlings' escape, but this was Winterfell, where the Stark family held sway. Since Eddard Stark wasn't pursuing the matter, he didn't inquire further.
They were due to return to King's Landing in ten days, and King Robert was now spending every day hunting. He would also make time to enjoy himself at the brothels.
The boars in the North were also considerably larger than those in the Kingswood. Their tusks were sharper too. Several of Robert's men were gored and sent flying by boars during hunts, sustaining serious injuries.
Then Robert personally wielded his warhammer and eliminated the boars one by one.
No one would have expected his weapon to be used in this way.
After killing another boar, Robert sat panting on a large rock, huffing and puffing.
"Lancel, bring me wine! Your King is thirsty."
A young man in red robes, embroidered with the roaring lion of House Lannister, quickly brought a flask of wine to King Robert.
After drinking the wine, Robert casually tossed the flask, and Lancel quickly went to pick it up. He looked at Eddard Stark, who was standing nearby.
"Ned, your North is still the best. Let's forget about wildlings, forget about Others, and enjoy a few more days, then return to that piss-smelling King's Landing."
Eddard Stark still wanted to remind the King that the matter of the Others could not be taken lightly.
But King Robert seemed to have read his mind.
"I will send Mufasa and Tyrion with your brother Benjen Stark to the Wall to investigate the situation, and then we'll decide based on that."
"You should know, I, Robert, am not truly a fool. Although my side is full of liars and madmen, none of them think I'm a fool. I just don't want to bother with things."
Hearing his words, Eddard Stark knew that the old Robert was still there; he hadn't lost his true nature by wearing a crown.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I will follow your command and arrangements," Eddard Stark said.
"Ned, don't worry about what's beyond the Wall. In ancient times, even with fewer people, they could defeat the Long Night and the Others. How many knights, how many warriors do we have in the Seven Kingdoms now? United, we can surely defeat formidable enemies."
"We will stand united under the leadership of King Robert I of House Baratheon, to resist the Long Night and reach the dawn," Eddard Stark said.
"Hahaha, you rascal, you've learned to flatter too! Those words are truly pleasant to hear, just as pleasant as what the other lords on my small council say, hahaha!" King Robert laughed.
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