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CHAPTER 258
296 AC
POV THIRD PERSON
After concluding his conversation with Jon, Ned retired to the solitude of his chambers. He threw himself onto his bed. The day's deliberations had weighed heavily on him, and as he sank into a contemplative silence, his eyes got caught by the flickering shadows across the room cast by the candlelight.
The knock on his door shattered the stillness, and when he opened it, Aermir stood on the threshold. He welcomed Aermir into the room. After they sat down, Aermir said,
"My Lord, can you share with me why you warned him like that?" Aermir inquired, his voice calm yet carrying an undertone of curiosity.
Ned's response, tinged with a touch of anger, cut through the air. "Aermir, you might be powerful, but remember, I do not work for you. I will always do what I believe is right. I know you plan to weaken the Vale, perhaps turn it into another Iron Islands. I owe Jon a debt. I may not be able to aid him in battle, but I must shield him from ruin. And are you spying on me?"
Aermir's response, delivered with a soft smile, held a measured assurance. "I do not spy on you; I spy on Jon. He is an enemy lord, and it is only prudent to keep tabs on his plans. I don't seek to ruin the Vale. I need them to provide men. Putting them to work is crucial for my defense against the Night King. I aim to weaken them only to dissuade dreams of another war once the Night King is defeated."
The room held a charged atmosphere as the two men grappled with their differing perspectives. Aermir shook his head, dispelling any lingering tension in the room, and seamlessly continued his explanation. "When I recommended we divide the Iron Islands, I didn't know the Night King was real. And even if I had known, I would still have pursued that course. Those cravens would be of no use against the dead. Most likely, they would break their oath again and wait it out in their islands."
Ned, now more contemplative than angered, questioned Aermir's certitude. "Why are you acting as though victory against the Night King is assured?"
Aermir responded with a smile that bore the weight of conviction. "Because if we lose, all of us will be dead. Why should I care what happens to other kingdoms if the North is destroyed? I have to operate under the assumption that we have a future. That's why I need to demonstrate that even with limited numbers, we still have the strongest army."
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Ned's expression underwent a subtle shift. The looming threat of the Night King cast its shadow over the intricacies of politics and personal loyalties, elevating the survival of their home and loved ones to the forefront.
"You may be right about the greater threat we face," Ned conceded, his gaze meeting Aermir's. "But we can't lose sight of the fact that our actions have consequences. Turning Vale into a battleground might serve your purpose, but it will leave countless innocent lives in turmoil."
Aermir's eyes bore a resolute determination, "I understand the sacrifices, My lord. Sacrifices are inevitable in times of war. The survival of the North and my loved ones precedence over the stability of one region."
Ned sighed, wrestling with the moral complexities that lay before him. "I won't pretend to fully understand your methods, Aermir, but I implore you to consider the lives you may disrupt. We are still human, and we must grapple with the consequences of our choices."
Aermir nodded solemnly. "I don't take these decisions lightly. But sometimes, the path to victory is fraught with difficult choices. Let us focus on finding a resolution that minimizes the collateral damage."
A small, appreciative smile touched Aermir's lips as he continued, "When I say I respect you, I truly mean it. You are the most honest and honorable man I have ever seen. But, because of that, you are not fit to be the Warden of the North. You are not able to put the safety and needs of your people over others. This makes you a better man than me, a better man than every other lord out there. I bet if you held your enemy by their throat, you would offer them a way out by being honorable. But this world is not a place for honor. I will always choose the people I love over the thousands I don't know."
The weight of Aermir's words hung in the air, a stark acknowledgment of the harsh realities they faced in their pursuit of survival. Ned, his voice heavy with reproach, questioned Aermir's assertion, "How do you know they are going to attack us after we defeated the Night King? How can you be so sure?"
He had explained this before but Ned still couldn't comprehend the lords he respected would do something so dishonorable in his opinion. Aermir, adopting a matter-of-fact tone, responded, "Because that is what I would do if I were a zealous Seven believer. Think about it: the North has always boasted the most powerful army in Westeros since time immemorial. Right after the dragons, our men were the deciding factor in most wars; after the dance, everyone feared us and alienated us. They took the Gift from us so they could keep us weak, and they never allowed us to be self-sufficient. Our armies were the reason the faith couldn't extend beyond the Neck. Now, on top of that formidable force, we have a powerful magic user. After the battle we will be fighting, I am 100% sure they will try to assassinate me or try an invasion. Their longstanding dream has been to eradicate the reign of the Old Gods in the North. Following that battle, we would likely be vulnerable, while they would still have their elite forces. It would be the opportune moment for them to strike with a bogus claim."
The tension in the room thickened as the implications of Aermir's words settled. He was getting tired of going in circles with Ned. Aermir got up and was getting ready to leave the room; he turned back and said,
"I will try to limit the destruction, but by helping Arryn, you are not limiting it. You are causing me to deal more damage to them. If you warn him one more time about my plans, I would have no other choice but to attack them with everything I have, and I don't want that. This will make the Vale useless against the Night King. My lord, please don't get in my way."
...
Jon and Aermir's long discussions had lasted four days, and everyone was starting to get weary seeing this. Aermir suggested, "My lords, while we are entrenched in these deliberations, I would like to propose a temporary respite from the confines of this room. Instead of allowing tension to linger, why not engage in an activity that would elevate our weariness?"
His eyes swept across the faces of the Vale lords, gauging their reactions. "I suggest a hunting party—an opportunity for us to set aside the weighty matters at hand, if only for a short while. Picture this: the crisp air of the Vale, the thrill of the hunt, and the shared experience of pursuing a common goal. It could give us some fresh perspectives."