During the final days at Winterfell, Lancelot built deep friendships with the Stark children.
Even Theon Greyjoy had to admit that Lancelot was the most outstanding peer they had ever met.
One morning, Jojen Reed secretly called Lancelot out.
"Jojen, why all the sneaking around?" Lancelot asked curiously.
Jojen pointed to his own eyes, indicating his Greensight.
"Today, King Robert, Lord Eddard, and the others have gone hunting. Queen Cersei and Ser Jaime have remained in the castle."
"Bran's day of destiny is today. Today's events will determine whether he can become a Greenseer. Perhaps he will be the Last Greenseer!" Jojen said with a tinge of sadness.
He seemed to be mourning the eventual departure of the previous Greenseer.
Hearing this, Lancelot's heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, that moment has arrived!
Cersei and Jaime meeting in the Broken Tower, Bran catching them in the act, and then Jaime pushing Bran down "for love."
No, I must stop them! Lancelot told himself.
But how?
Lancelot couldn't just barge in and catch the twins in the act!
Suddenly, something bumped into Lancelot, nearly knocking him over.
He turned around to see Hrakkar.
Seeing the white lion, Lancelot had a flash of inspiration.
Lancelot decided to push Brandon Stark down ahead of time, then have Hrakkar act as a cushion to catch him.
Lancelot immediately sprang into action. He climbed the Broken Tower level by level until he reached a spot near a gargoyle, a place Bran was sure to pass.
Lancelot lay in wait.
Sure enough, in less time than it takes an incense stick to burn, Brandon Stark arrived, agilely climbing the ruined tower.
It was hard to imagine a seven-year-old climbing so well. Has his ancient ape bloodline awakened? Lancelot wondered.
Just as Bran was climbing past, a hand suddenly reached out from behind the gargoyle and pushed him. Before he could even scream, he was caught by Hrakkar below.
Bran landed in Hrakkar's thick, fluffy mane, safe and sound.
After landing, he lay there stunned for a long time before realizing what had happened—he had fallen from such a height.
"I'm not dead! I'm fine! I'm actually alive! Hahaha! I'm so lucky!"
Bran burst into laughter.
Then he saw Lancelot and Jojen Reed standing nearby.
"Eh? When did you two get here? I didn't see you before!" Bran asked.
"We didn't see you coming either, Bran. We just suddenly saw you fall from the sky. Good thing Lancelot's Hrakkar caught you," Jojen Reed said smoothly.
"Hrakkar!"
Bran turned to look at the massive white lion with two bull-like horns lying on the ground.
Beside it, his own little wolf, Summer, looked like a plush toy in comparison.
"Bran, that was too dangerous just now. Let's go play somewhere else so Lady Catelyn doesn't find out!" Lancelot suggested.
"Okay, let's go to the Godswood!"
The three of them went to the Godswood. Hrakkar marked the Weirwood tree with his claws, seemingly declaring this territory his own.
On the Weirwood, countless black crows perched on the many branching limbs.
They formed a dense black mass, like a dark canopy, shading the ground beneath the Heart Tree as if it were night.
"There seem to be too many crows today. I don't know why. I didn't bring enough corn; I don't know if it's enough for them all."
Bran took handfuls of golden corn from his pocket and threw them into the air. The crows scrambled for the food.
"Caw! Caw!" They flapped their black wings, forming a black net in the sky.
Lancelot suddenly sensed something wrong. One particular crow gave him a strange feeling.
Following his instinct, Lancelot looked and saw a Three-Eyed Raven.
Meeting its gaze, Lancelot felt as if his head were about to explode.
His consciousness seemed to be transported to a world of ice and snow. Lancelot felt it was colder than the North—definitely the lands beyond the Wall.
Then he saw a Weirwood tree towering into the clouds, far larger than the Heart Tree of Winterfell.
At the base of the tree was a hollow large enough for a person to enter.
Inside, the tunnel wound and twisted, long and folded upon itself with many forks.
Finally, Lancelot saw an old man, half a foot in the grave, wrapped in tree roots as if parasitized by them, or perhaps he had become the Weirwood itself.
"Lancelot!"
The old man opened his eyes. They were purple, filled with the weariness of a century.
Hearing his name called, Lancelot's body shook, and his consciousness snapped back to himself.
Looking up again, the crows were all gone.
Bran and Jojen Reed seemed frozen in place. Lancelot called out to them.
"Bran! Jojen!"
The two snapped out of it.
"Eh? Where are the crows? I brought corn to feed them! Where did my corn go?" Bran checked his pockets but found not a single kernel.
"You just fed them. They were full, so they left," Lancelot explained.
"Really? I don't seem to remember!" Bran patted his face.
The group then left the Godswood together. After they left, one last crow remained on the Heart Tree, watching them with its third eye.
---
When Lancelot and the others arrived at the Great Hall of Winterfell, they saw Jon Snow running out, his face red.
Lancelot grabbed him.
"Jon, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing!" Jon Snow seemed unwilling to talk, trying to break free from Lancelot's grip, but failing.
"Let me go. I need to be alone, to think!" Jon insisted.
"Perhaps what you need is someone to talk to! How about me?" Lancelot volunteered.
"Fine! Lancelot, come with me!"
Jon led Lancelot to a secluded corner of Winterfell where few people passed. It was a good spot for a talk.
"Now can you tell me what happened?" Lancelot asked, leaning against the castle wall.
"Just now, I saw Ygritte. She told Sansa and the others that she's going to sleep with me tonight. I was scared, so I ran away." Jon looked around to make sure no one was listening before confessing.
"Ah, she hasn't slept with you yet? It's been so many days!" Lancelot said, surprised.
Normally, wildlings acted quickly, but Ygritte was being unusually slow this time.
"Tell me, what should I do, Lancelot! If she finds out I'm a virgin, will she laugh at me? I heard wildlings are very open!" Jon asked anxiously.
"Wildlings are open and primitive. If you want to conquer Ygritte, here's what you should do..." Lancelot began to give him advice.