After Lancelot evolved Red Hare and Raven into the Ember Fire Dragon Steed and the Snow-Treading Ebony Courser, he decided to test his "Lion's Roar" skill.
Facing an empty stretch of forest, Lancelot opened his mouth wide and let out a furious roar.
The shockwave shook the leaves from the trees, and then Hrakkar charged out, looking at Lancelot curiously.
Lancelot then used "Lion's Roar" on Hrakkar.
Hrakkar couldn't resist roaring toward the sky in response. His roar's penetrating power was amplified several times over.
The force was so strong it knocked several crows out of the sky, which Hrakkar promptly swallowed whole.
"Lion's Roar... this skill fits the House Lannister words perfectly: Hear Me Roar! Imagine ten thousand Lannister soldiers using Lion's Roar simultaneously on the battlefield... the scene would be unimaginable."
A flash of anticipation crossed Lancelot's mind.
Upon returning to Castle Black, Lancelot saw Samwell Tarly helping Maester Aemon walk outside.
"Ser Lancelot, we heard a lion's roar just now. Was Hrakkar in danger?" Maester Aemon asked.
"My apologies, Maester. Hrakkar got a little excited," Lancelot explained.
"Sam, is working under Maester Aemon treating you well?"
"The Maester is very wise and kind to me!" Sam replied.
"We leave for beyond the Wall tomorrow! Come drink with us tonight!" Lancelot invited.
"I..." Samwell hesitated, looking at Maester Aemon.
"Go on, my boy!" Maester Aemon said.
"I will definitely come, Ser Lancelot!" Samwell said.
That night, Lancelot went to an abandoned knight's dining hall.
Hundreds of shields hung on the walls, bearing the sigils of various houses.
The Crowned Stag, the Roaring Golden Lion, the Running Direwolf, the Red Apple, the Golden Rose, the Moon-and-Falcon, the Burning Tree.
Podrick had cleaned the place up in advance.
Lancelot was borrowing this esteemed location to host a feast for the Night's Watch.
"I never thought we'd eat here again. It brings back memories!"
Lord Commander Mormont looked around the knight's hall.
In the past, the Night's Watch had hundreds of anointed knights who dined here, but over time, they had disappeared one by one.
"The place looks brand new today! Ser Lancelot!" Benjen Stark remarked.
"I think people will come here often in the future! Believe me, everyone!"
Lancelot looked at the hundreds of Night's Watchmen seated, including Ser Alliser Thorne.
He stood up. Though young, he had reached adult height and likely wouldn't grow much taller.
"Gentlemen, you are the sword in the darkness, the watcher on the walls, the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men."
"To the Night's Watch!"
Lancelot raised his goblet.
"To the Night's Watch!" Everyone raised their cups and drank.
Gulp, gulp. As the wine went down, the atmosphere instantly became cheerful.
Men from all corners of the world began sharing their stories. Some were indeed criminals and murderers who came to the Wall to escape death, but others were victims of unjust laws.
A brother in his forties named Jean was from King's Landing, born in Flea Bottom.
He had a sister who died after bearing seven children, leaving him to raise them alone.
Unable to support so many children on his meager wages, Jean stole bread from a bakery. He was caught and sent to the royal hall for judgment. King Robert, of course, didn't handle such matters.
It was during the early years of Jon Arryn's tenure as Hand. He sentenced Jean to three years in prison.
However, if Jean chose to join the Night's Watch, his sentence would be waived, and he would be given some money.
Jean chose the Wall. With the money, he bribed the Faith to take the children in as acolyte monks and nuns.
Lancelot sat beside this brother named Jean.
After listening to his story, Lancelot spoke.
"Brother! A great man once said: If a man commits a crime for money, he alone is guilty. But if a man commits a crime for bread, the entire city is guilty."
"The fault lies not with you, but with King's Landing!" Lancelot patted him on the shoulder.
"Boo hoo hoo!" Jean began to weep. Others, hearing the sad tale, also shed tears.
King's Landing was the center of power, different from anywhere else.
Steal bread elsewhere, and a shopkeeper might kindly give you a few loaves. But in King's Landing, people were not to be trifled with.
One could say that from the inside out, from top to bottom, there were few good people in King's Landing.
"Lord Benjen, is our route for tomorrow planned?" Lancelot approached Benjen Stark.
Benjen ate a gravy-soaked onion in one bite, making a crisp crunching sound, then replied.
"It is planned. We will go as far as Whitetree Village."
"Alright. Eat well tonight! Tomorrow we pick up the pace to scout beyond the Wall," Lancelot said.
---
The next day, Lancelot set off with his men and several rangers led by Benjen Stark.
This time, Lancelot didn't ride Hrakkar, leaving the lion at Castle Black. Instead, he rode the Snow-Treading Ebony Courser (Raven), while Melisandre rode the Ember Fire Dragon Steed (Red Hare).
Tyrion stayed behind due to the cold, with Podrick caring for him. Aguda joined the expedition.
Lancelot and Melisandre led the way, with the others following behind.
As they followed Lancelot's tracks, they discussed his mounts.
"That horse looks like it's on fire when it runs! Like a fire horse?"
Someone commented, looking at the Ember Fire Dragon Steed.
"But the other one, the one with the snow-white hooves, is even more unbelievable! It steps on the snow without leaving footprints."
Aside from its hooves generating cold air while running, the Snow-Treading Ebony Courser could indeed tread on snow without a trace. How it did so, Lancelot wasn't entirely sure, even though he was riding it.
After marching through the day, they stopped for the night.
The Haunted Forest was even more terrifying at night than during the day. Many pairs of glowing eyes watched the group from the darkness.
"So many crows!" Lancelot remarked, seeing a mass of black crows in the trees.
"Ser Lancelot, could your horse help start a fire?" Benjen Stark asked.
"No problem! Little Fire, go ahead!" Lancelot said. He had nicknamed the Ember Fire Dragon Steed "Little Fire" and the Snow-Treading Ebony Courser "Little Snow."
Little Fire let out a neigh, swept its tail, and scattered a spray of sparks. The sparks landed on dry leaves, instantly igniting a fire.
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