Game of Thrones: The Long Night – ASOIAF/GOT GOT

[Chapter Size: 2200 Words.]

---------------------------------------

The banquet soon began. This one, however, was different from the one held on the last birthday. The welcome banquet for the king was specially organized in the great hall, despite the large number of people present.

Cornelia finally had the opportunity to meet King Robert Baratheon, Queen Cersei Lannister, and Prince Joffrey Baratheon, whom Sansa fell in love with at first sight.

After meeting Joffrey, Cornelia's heart, which had been confused and slightly shaken by Sansa's emotions, instantly regained its clarity. She was absolutely certain that, even without knowing the details of the ongoing plot, she could never like Joffrey.

During her childhood, Cornelia had spent her days alongside Robb, Jon, and even the adorably sweet Bran. That upbringing had made her more discerning when it came to appearance and character.

Thus, she found herself frustrated at her inability to understand Sansa's thoughts!

However, Sansa was firmly determined to marry Joffrey. Shortly after the banquet began, she approached Catelyn and the queen, who were seated at the head of the table, engaged in conversation.

Cornelia desperately wanted to prevent Sansa and Joffrey's engagement, but she knew that decision was not hers to make. A king, a father, and a mother were involved. Even if she could convince her father, if the king insisted on moving forward with the plan, what could she do? Could she persuade everyone to defy royal orders?

It wouldn't take long to understand the risk: a single act of treason would be enough to hasten the downfall of the entire family. Perhaps the king, out of kindness, would not punish them directly, but what about the queen? Someone as cruel and calculating as her would certainly not ignore the disdain they showed for her son. Did Cornelia really think she would let them go so easily?

Besides, Sansa herself was eager to run into Joffrey's arms, completely blinded by the desire to marry him!

Thinking about this, Cornelia let out a deep sigh as a feeling of helplessness took over her heart. She picked up her goblet of wine and drank it all in one go. However, she suddenly realized that she hadn't seen Jon anywhere. Reflecting on it, she quickly figured out the reason: her mother had likely forbidden him from attending an occasion like this.

Watching Bran playing happily with Rickon, Cornelia thought that Bran would hardly leave to climb the city walls on his own at a time like this. So, she grabbed her staff and stood up to look for Jon. She felt uneasy and, at the same time, wanted to take the opportunity to step outside and relax for a bit.

She didn't want to stay there any longer. That feast seemed to constantly remind her of her own incompetence and impulsiveness.

When she finally found Jon, she saw his uncle Benjen patting his shoulder before leaving. As a member of the Night's Watch, Benjen was rarely allowed to leave the Wall, except for special missions.

This time, however, Ned Stark had sent a raven requesting Benjen's return to Winterfell to greet the king. Because of the distance and timing, Benjen had only managed to arrive now.

"So your uncle is a Ranger of the Night's Watch!" she remarked as she watched Benjen walk away. She was about to approach Jon when she heard an unfamiliar male voice nearby.

Turning around, she spotted a short man holding a bottle of wine as he stepped out through the Moon Door. She recognized him instantly: that could only be the "imp" Arya had been so intrigued by—Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf of House Lannister.

Tyrion was the son of Lord Tywin Lannister, the powerful Lord of Casterly Rock. Lord Tywin had three children: Jaime Lannister, the eldest; Cersei Lannister, his twin daughter, now queen; and the youngest, Tyrion Lannister, who suffered from dwarfism and was seen as a disgrace by his family.

It was ironic, Cornelia thought. Lord Tywin had placed all his hopes on Jaime, raising him with strict discipline to become a great heir. Yet Jaime had joined the Kingsguard, which meant he could never marry or have children. Without a legitimate heir, Casterly Rock—

Meanwhile, Tyrion, the youngest and most despised son, seemed to carry the weight of a curse or punishment—at least in his father's eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Jon asked, approaching cautiously. His gaze fell upon the short man, and he quickly deduced who he was.

"I came to attend your welcome banquet! I've also wanted to see the great Wall for some time now!" Tyrion said, stepping to the side and leaning against a wooden post as he took a sip of wine.

"You are Tyrion Lannister, the queen's brother?" Jon asked. Though his words carried the tone of a question, there was an underlying certainty in them.

"That is my greatest achievement!" Tyrion replied with a slight, ironic smile. "And you… you're Ned Stark's bastard son, aren't you?"

Tyrion's words made Jon frown. He started to move away, clearly unwilling to prolong the conversation.

"Did I offend you? My apologies! But you are, indeed, a bastard!" Tyrion shrugged, as if trying to soften the weight of his words.

Before Jon could respond, Cornelia intervened, her expression firm:

"If you realize you were rude, you should learn to speak better! Jon is my brother! Our father is Ned Stark! We are family!"

Despite her harsh words, Cornelia didn't feel true hatred for Tyrion Lannister. To be honest, she saw him as a fair person—something rare in a Lannister. Even so, Tyrion's remark had been painful, both for Jon and for herself. Cornelia's frustration was evident.

Tyrion, however, remained unfazed.

"But Lady Stark is not his mother, is she? So, he is a bastard!" Tyrion said, observing Cornelia with interest.

Cornelia was gripping her staff as she walked with firm, determined steps. Tyrion couldn't help but take notice of her. She was strikingly beautiful, the kind of presence that could leave anyone dazed at first sight. However, he also observed something else: her eyes were dull, devoid of light.

"A shame," Tyrion thought. "If those eyes were filled with energy, she would be even more remarkable." Even so, he quickly deduced who she was. She could only be Cornelia Stark, the blind-born daughter of Ned Stark. In many ways, she reminded him of himself—a reminder of the struggles he had faced. Yet, Tyrion had a feeling the girl would be luckier than he had been.

Cornelia, on the other hand, couldn't immediately refute Tyrion's words. She wanted to say that Jon's status as a bastard didn't matter, but she knew that wasn't true. Catelyn cared. Jon cared. And, to some extent, she herself cared.

That was when Tyrion spoke again, his voice taking on a more serious, almost somber tone:

"Bastard brother, listen to me! Never forget who you are, because the world surely won't. Use it as your armor, and it can never be used to hurt you!" His words carried a weight of hidden emotions. After finishing, he turned and started walking away.

"You don't understand what it means to be a bastard!" Jon said with a frown, clearly irritated by Tyrion's arrogant tone. To him, Tyrion was merely speaking like someone who had never truly felt the real burden of the pain he described.

"All dwarfs are bastards in their fathers' eyes," Tyrion replied with a sarcastic smile. However, his words carried a tone of bitterness, and Cornelia, watching Tyrion disappear into the darkness, felt an inexplicable sadness in his figure.

Tyrion turned and left without looking back, leaving Jon standing in the same place, stunned by the dwarf's words. It was only after a long moment that he began to understand the strange sympathy hidden within Tyrion's statement. After all, bastards and dwarfs might share something in common.

Jon reflected on this and couldn't decide which of them bore the greater burden of unhappiness.

"Jon, I'm sorry!" said Cornelia, taking a step forward. She looked at Jon, standing in the middle of the night, with an expression of pain and regret. She knew that years of cold treatment from Catelyn had deeply hurt her brother.

"You don't need to apologize. Lady Stark never treated me badly," Jon replied, recovering from his thoughts as he walked toward Cornelia. His voice was firm but also resigned. He knew that, although Catelyn had never openly mistreated him, the contempt she felt for him was evident. In a way, Jon understood her feelings. But that didn't make things any easier.

Cornelia hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Do you still want to go to the Wall? When I returned from there three years ago, I told you the Night's Watch is not what it used to be. But you still want to go?"

As she spoke, Cornelia turned her head to gaze at the distant night. In her mind, she thought of Uncle Benjen, who had just departed.

Three years earlier, when Cornelia had returned from the Wall, Jon had pressed her to tell him everything she knew about the Night's Watch and the men who served there. She had hidden nothing, telling him about the decline of the order, something that had been happening for a long time. Despite this, Jon seemed to have no intention of giving up on his dream.

"No matter what has happened to the Night's Watch, it is still the most important line of defense in the Seven Kingdoms," Jon replied with conviction. "And the deserter who was executed said he saw a White Walker. I... don't think he was lying."

Cornelia sighed at her brother's words. She knew how much this dream meant to him. And Jon, in turn, was aware of how much effort Cornelia had put into easing the conflict between him and Lady Catelyn over the years.

Three years ago, Cornelia had tried several times to convince him to abandon the idea of joining the Night's Watch, but Jon remained determined. This dream had been his anchor for so long. How could he give it up so easily?

Perhaps, Jon thought, joining the Night's Watch was the only way to free himself from the identity of a bastard. There, he could swear to leave the past behind, start anew, and finally find a greater purpose.

"Is that so? Forget it! I can't stop you anyway! This is your choice!" Cornelia said, holding her breath as she struggled against her own feelings. She turned her face away, avoiding Jon's gaze, but her tone was heavy with discontent.

However, the moment she turned her head, she couldn't stop a single tear from slipping down her face. Deep down, Cornelia knew she wasn't angry at Jon, but at herself.

Cornelia was not like other children. From the moment she was born, she had memories and awareness of her past life. She had already lived up to twenty years in her previous existence. Even though many of those memories had faded over time, she never truly felt like a child. Because of this, she rarely cried. In fact, she had never shed tears out of emotion since coming into this world; her tears only came from physiological needs.

But at that moment, something changed. She couldn't contain what she felt. Inexplicable tears began to well up, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of emptiness. She bitterly felt that her existence here seemed to lack purpose.

The frustration and helplessness that had built up over so many days filled every corner of her heart. Fear, panic, sadness, and a deep sense of despair invaded her thoughts like an unrelenting wave.

"I'm sorry, Lia," Jon said hesitantly, noticing Cornelia's dissatisfaction. However, the darkness of the night prevented him from seeing the glimmer of tears on her face as he walked away. He was a little embarrassed, but his determination had not changed. He was set on following Uncle Benjen to the Wall, even if it meant leaving everything behind.

Hearing Jon's words, Cornelia quickly suppressed her turbulent thoughts. She took a deep breath, calming the whirlwind of emotions in her chest. When she turned back to face him, her eyes were completely dry, with no trace of tears. She looked at him in silence for a long time before taking a step forward.

"Jon, if you must go to the Wall, remember to take care of yourself. We will always be waiting for you in Winterfell. This will always be your home," she said, her voice soft but filled with emotion.

At that moment, Cornelia realized that separation was inevitable. Everyone followed different paths. These few days might be the last they spent together. She had no choice but to accept reality, no matter how painful it was.

"I can do this, and so can you," Cornelia thought, trying to convince herself that she was strong enough to handle what lay ahead.

Jon smiled gently and raised his hand, giving Cornelia a reassuring pat on the shoulder. His gesture was comforting, but for her, it only deepened the sadness she felt at that moment. It was as if an invisible weight was settling in her heart.

However, Jon could never have imagined that after this separation, everything would change when they met again.

******

Support me and be 20 chapters ahead of webnovel:

patreon.com/DylanBriak