Bloodraven

I got dressed and headed out, much to the surprise of Ser Balon.

"Stay here. There's something I have to see."

I stormed off, going straight outside and to the newly rebuilt switchback stairs leading up to the Wall. I climbed the stairs swifter than anyone had before... observing the sight beyond. There was nothing. Nothing I could see in the distant darkness, at least.

I took a deep breath.

"Why'd you rush all the way here, Your Grace?"

I glanced at a brother of the Night's Watch, composing myself.

"I just wanted to see how quickly I could climb these stairs..."

"Oh." The guard didn't seem to question it much. "Going for a late-night run, eh?"

"Suppose you could say that."

"It must be nice to wake up and do as you wish daily." The guard smiled slightly. "Though, if I were you, I would not be freezing in this cold."

"And where would you be, my friend?"

"Shall I be honest, Your Grace?"

"I prefer honesty."

"I'd be living any man's dream, surrounded by all those pretty ladies and drinking till I choke on me own expensive wine." The guard admitted, his eyes seemingly elsewhere.

"A self-indulgent dream, indeed. It's nothing to be ashamed of... we all happen to dream of better things for ourselves."

I smiled reassuringly.

"If a ol' guard like me can dream of that, I wonder what sort of dreams the likes of kings have?"

"Depending on the dream, I'd either severely disappoint you... or make any other dream seem insignificant."

"I see." The guard smiled. "Truth is, you don't need to be here - and yet you are. Many of our brothers didn't choose this life, but when we see you, the King, alongside us... it's comforting, in a way. It makes us believe that what we're doing truly matters."

"It does." I nodded. "Life is offtimes harsh for everyone, but especially men like you. You have little to look forward to, hardly any glory to win, and you live in undesirable conditions. It requires a truly strong man to embrace these hardships and dedicate your life to the greater good."

"Aye... it isn't easy."

"Believe it or not, I know what it means to be unknown to the world - to feel that everything I do in my life holds no meaning whatsoever. That's why I find every good man here inspiring, even more than all the great men who shake the world with their legendary deeds." I smiled, patting his shoulder. "Men like you are the reason the world keeps moving forward... and men like you will be the heroes who ensure a brighter future for everyone else."

The guard stood in silence, although I could tell by his lively eyes that I had moved him.

"There is no greater duty than this in the entire known world, sworn brother. You can have pride in that."

"... You have a way with words, Your Grace." The man smiled, chucking. "It don't seem so bad now."

"It is a worthy cause..."

I glanced at the distant forest, almost wanting to see the Night King. I couldn't beat him, I was almost certain of that, but I'd definitely pay him back for playing with my mind. An arrow with all my strength, all my power... surely even he'd feel some pain as it crashed against his skull.

Alas, there was nothing.

In a way, that was more dreadful than seeing him face to face...

What was he up to?

"If I may ask, what are you looking for in the darkness?" The guard questioned. "It is a rather eerie place, I'll admit. The longer you look into it, the more things you start to see... but then you look away and realise that you were just imagining it."

"Our greatest foe," I remarked.

"... Us?"

I looked back at the guard with caution. For a moment, he sounded... different. Electricity cracked in my left hand. I'd only need an instant to fry him.

"If that foe has even you on edge, I'm afraid that facing him is a duty for you alone to bear." The guard chuckled.

Did I imagine it?

I blinked.

"His mind does not seem tampered with." Raiden Shogun stated.

I chuckled.

"Yes... my nemesis is not someone any ordinary man could face."

I clenched my fist and turned away.

"I wish you an uneventful shift and a good morning sleep when it's over."

"Aye, you shouldn't miss out on your sleep either. Let us be awake for you, Your Grace. You've done plenty enough for us as is."

"It's only the beginning."

We exchanged farewells, and I made my way back to my chamber.

Am I starting to go mad?

...

Though I found sleeping difficult thereafter, I managed to force myself to drift off into the Plane of Euthymia.

"Thank you for helping me earlier... both times." I looked at Raiden with appreciation.

"You look half defeated already."

She replied, crossing her arms.

"... Do I?" I managed a smile. "Nothing is worse than fighting an enemy you do not see. First, it was the reveal of greater Others; now this... what other abilities does he possess? How do they function? What I thought I knew is slowly becoming more insignificant."

"Remember who you are, Edric. If this Night King knew what you were capable of, he would be just as afraid. You are his greatest thorn... as he is yours."

"... Perhaps." I looked away in thought. "My mind and heart both tell me that I cannot linger here any longer. The Wall... seems more trivial than before. It's the first line of defence - destined to fall. If I place all my hopes in it, then what will I have left once it does?"

"If the Wall could collapse so easily, why wouldn't they have done it yet?" Raiden question.

"They can't... yet. It's only a matter of time." I sighed. "Apparently, there is a horn that could tear it down. Or, at the very least, break its magic barrier. If he finds a way to grab hold of it, which I am almost certain he will, then..."

"It's no more than just one singular big wall to cross."

I sighed.

"You think he has control over men south of the wall?"

"I'm all but certain. There's been wildlings going all over the place, from east to west. There's plenty of ships that sail from Eastwatch across the Narrow Sea. If he possessed one wildling on a ship sailing to Braavos or another Free City, they're out of my reach. Even worse - if he can swap from one body to the next or control a group of men all at once, then he can sail wherever he wants."

"What if... you acquired this horn first?"

"Problem is, one possibility is that it's in the hands of Euron Greyjoy, who's in god-knows-where." I shook my head.

"This Euron, are his intentions known to you?"

"... Yes, in part." I laughed, shaking my head. "I might have been on the wrong side of the world all along. Though, I'm not even certain he has the right horn - or if that specific horn does anything at all. I'm gambling with half-baked speculations whichever way I go."

"This war will not be won without risks and sacrifices, Edric. You must not make a decision rashly, either. Think of what would strengthen your position and increase your chances of victory the most."

"I need to reevaluate my position."

I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind.

...

Unknowingly, I drifted off into a dream state.

My dreams made hardly any sense, as per usual. They began with Luka Doncic in a Lakers jersey… which would be nearly as absurd as seeing the Night King wear Baratheon colours. The next was a knight who had very clearly lost his mind. He charged into battle with a warcry of 'I'm feeling quite hungry' - before he cut down men like wheat to a scythe. His skill was undeniable, and he was clearly doing something right with the warcry. It seemed to strengthen his attacks, if anything.

In the next, I was chilling in an absurdly hot bath. Chilling wasn't quite the word, though. I felt like I was slowly burning alive. Something kept me there… was it pride? It wasn't exactly comfortable, but I slowly got used to it - for better or for worse.

I was alone, washing myself until the door slowly opened.

"Who invited you?" I spoke out.

It wasn't exactly the words I had in mind as I looked at who had joined me. My words would've carried greater surprise because, well, it was bloody Daenerys. This... seemed to be more of a vision.

"Myself, of course. I don't need your permission for anything here."

"... Remind me to say the same when you seek your privacy in the Seven Kingdoms." I chuckled, shaking my head.

"You seem to have rejected my servants. Were they too inadequate for His Grace?"

"It has nothing to do with your servants. I have two working arms for a reason, princess."

"Mhm… you do like to put them to work."

"They'll get rusty otherwise." I shrugged. "This level of heat, though, it's a bit much, isn't it? I can't help but have a slight suspicion that you intended to boil me alive…"

"It was more of a test…"

"Well, did I pass?"

"Quite so..."

Something felt rather... strange. I diverted my eyes, catching a three-eyed raven in the very corner of the room. In the blink of an eye, Daenerys vanished, and I stood in a sea of flames. My gaze hadn't moved from the raven. What was he up to?

"Well, Bloodraven," I observed the rubble around us. "Can I get some clothes first?"

"So you know my old name."

"I know a great deal more about you, actually. I've been wondering when you would reach out to me."

"Then we both know of each other," The three-eyed raven remarked. "I can see the concern behind that veil of confidence, Edric Storm. You've acquainted yourself with our great foe."

"Our?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You are not someone of this world; your powers are foreign, bending and twisting the past, present, and future at every turn. The Night King is of a similar origin - evolving to balance your storm with ice. The two of you should not exist, and yet you do..."

"If we are balanced, why is he stronger?"

"You have yet to master your gifts... and you are without the Red Sword of Heroes."

"Lightbringer?" I raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me that prophecy holds weight?"

"All of your roads to victory are built upon sacrifice."

"Hahahaha." I suddenly laughed. "Why, of course, there couldn't be any other way, could it? Sacrifice this, sacrifice that - why don't I sacrifice you?"

"It seems that you already intended to do so." The three-eyed raven stared into my eyes. "The Night King's evolution will lead to my demise, one way or another... a demise only you can stop. The question is, are you brave enough to do so? Time is short..."

"You're joking, right?" I raised an eyebrow.

"If he gains hold of me, he will see what I have seen."

"... Just... kill yourself?" I chuckled, shrugging my shoulders. "How do you expect me to save you when I could barely save myself against one of his subjects? It's almost as if you want me to die..."

"You are mightier than you realise."

"Nothing you say will get me to throw my life away-"

"So your bravery only extends to besting lesser men. What would you call a man who tramples on the weak and hides from his equal?"

"Someone who picks his battles wisely."

I answered simply.

"Hm." The raven made a sound of amusement, looking as if it was measuring me up in a different light.

"Besides, you were a bloody archer; you're the last person to be tossing craven allegations my way."

I added, shaking my head.

"The greatest sacrifice would be yourself, ridding this world of two calamities in one clash." The three-eyed raven stated. "Alas... you have a strong sense of self-importance. You would never truly put others before yourself."

"So that's what you wanted me to do, eh?" I stroked my chin. "If the Night King and I went out in one big bang - the Others would go back to normal, wouldn't they? The magic of the world would lower to a more... standard level."

"Quite so..." The raven nodded. "You seem to understand, though your mind remains unchanged."

"Do you think I've come so far... to just fuck off and sacrifice myself for the world?" I laughed, shaking my head. "Almost my entire life, I've had this fucking Night King in the back of my head like an ominous veil. The pressure, knowing that only I could best him, was something that should've broken me... but it didn't. I've trained in sword, bow, horse, warhammer, magic, I've learned how to move the masses with my voice, I willed myself to the throne..."

"I've smiled, laughed, had moments of peace, happiness, love - but I could never truly be at ease. Each moment of leisure felt like a wasted moment, a moment that would pay dearly in the future. A mistake, even, mistakes that would each come with a sense of guilt."

The raven stood on the rubble in silence.

"So you see, I ... have made plenty enough sacrifices, Bloodraven, with many more to come. What for, I ask you? To give away the little I have left, everything... and close the tunnel - seal the distant light of hope that someday, all of this will lead to something fulfilling?"

The more I spoke, the more I felt my blood boil.

"No... I'd sooner drown this entire world!" I clenched my left fist, and the skies reacted to my fury as a storm emerged. "I will crush the Night King into a million pieces, and I'll see the spring. I'll carve my own future and see my dreams realised... no matter what it takes..."

"I see..." The three-eyed raven continued to stare, as if it were seeing through my soul. "You will bring greater terror than the Night King ever could."

"So be it."

The thought didn't concern me as much as it should... or perhaps would have.

"But... your desire isn't solely destruction. You have reason behind your deeds, and that makes you a lesser of two evils."

"Does it sound like I have your aid?" I smiled slightly.

"To an extent."

"Tell me this: does the Horn of Winter exist... and if so, can it break the Wall's magical barrier against the Others?"

"Yes."

The three-eyed raven answered simply.

"And it's in the hands of... Euron Greyjoy?"

"... Yes." The raven blinked. "You've mistrusted everything I've said so far, however. I could be lying even now."

"You could be." I nodded. "But, surely, as a fellow bastard archer, you ought to feel some sympathy for poor ol' me? We're more alike than you'd think."

"Mayhaps that is true. You see the grander picture, beyond the trivial matters men narrow their eyes to - which is the rarest gift amongst Kings, but you see it mostly for yourself."

"Is that so great a sin if it leads to a better future for my Realm?"

"With time, the truth will unveil itself..."

And so, I woke from my dreams.

He was definitely trying a little hard to be cryptic, for someone who should know so much...

But... I got my answer. I knew what I had to do. I didn't particularly like dropping what I've been doing, but, life hardly ever goes as planned. The difference between failure and success is how you adapt to the changes it throws at you.

I would arrange my immediate departure from the Wall.