Game of Thrones: Lord of Winter

A long black cloak with gold brocade, forged silver armor, and noble silver hair.

Although he had heard about him from the Night's Watch, Sam was still shocked when he saw him in person.

As if he was also surprised by the appearance of a woman here, Sam saw the silver-haired knight's puzzled eyes resting on Gilly and Val.

"Who is he?" Gilly asked curiously.

The silver-white armor and the colorful cloak firmly attracted her eyes.

Val was also looking there.

He didn't come here, but went straight up the spiral staircase and walked towards the direction of the Crow's Nest.

Cole pushed open the door of the Crow's Nest and walked to the maester's room, which was full of books and various bottles and jars.

Although the old maester couldn't see, he was still familiar with the various bottles on the table: "It seems like it was just yesterday, my child."

When the sound of leather hitting the floor reached Aemon's ears, he distinguished Cole's footsteps.

"Time is the cruelest test of the gods in heaven, Cole. Daeron is the oldest, but Aegon is younger than me, but the gods let me live to the end. Time has allowed me to see the death of my relatives, the decline of my family, and even the destruction. When the raven brought the news of Targaryen from the south, I was extremely sad. In my dream, I saw a pair of innocent eyes falling in a pool of blood. It was your cry that woke me up from the sad dream." The maester's words were very gentle.

"Watching you grow up, I seemed to see Egg again. He was the same. He was a little bit in his mother's arms, and then he grew taller than me. Life is really the greatest creation of the gods." He was full of emotion.

Cole listened to his memories quietly, just like when he was a child, but when he was young, he always had a lot of questions, and Grandpa Aemon would answer them one by one for him, and then he learned to listen.

"I have got the letter, Grandpa Aemon." He told the maester.

Aemon nodded, "The Citadel is a good place, but it's not suitable for you, child. I didn't consider it well enough." His tone was slightly apologetic.

Cole knew what the maester was thinking. Although Cole had never opened the letter of recommendation, he had guessed the content inside.

The Seven Kingdoms is not easy, especially for someone like him who has no identity, and the identity of Targaryen was a heavy burden at the beginning. If he lives a peaceful life, why not marry and have children to spend his life in an ordinary way? This is what Maester Aemon hopes.

Maybe Aegon is the bright savior born from the stars in the prophecy, but Cole is not.

When he travels enough in the Seven Kingdoms, he will naturally understand what kind of world this is, and the Citadel is the choice Aemon gave him.

After Cole knows his identity, he can stay in the Citadel and completely abandon this identity, or he can leave with this letter and take on the responsibilities given to him by Targaryen.

Obviously, Cole had no chance to choose, because the letter was not taken by him personally at the Citadel, but was sent by Prince Oberyn. When he received the letter from Oberyn, he had automatically accepted the responsibility on his shoulders.

Even if he was a man seeking freedom in the vast sea of ​​waves, he would be pushed into the eye of the storm in Westeros because of his identity as a Targaryen.

"Grandpa Aemon, Jon Snow's identity."

"After Jon chose to swear to wear black clothes, he had already given up his identity. He is a good boy." Aemon thought Cole was worried about the impact of Jon's identity on him.

Ravens only come from the south once in a long time, so the Night's Watch is not aware of what is happening around the Iron Throne.

But Cole's change was still felt by Aemon. Just as he warned Aegon, Cole had killed the innocent and romantic 'Little Egg' on the Wall, and he had become a real man.

Cole smiled bitterly, and Maester Aemon obviously misunderstood what he meant.

"When I was a child, you told me the story of Maegor and Aemond, and I still remember it vividly." Cruel Maegor I Targaryen and kinslayer Aemond Targaryen.

Maester Aemon smiled.

"Grandpa Maester, do you know how to cure greyscale?" Cole changed the subject and asked about another thing in his heart that he had no way to deal with.

"Greyscale." The maester murmured softly, frowning. In the Citadel, there are maesters who use lime and mustard with water to make ointments to prevent the spread of this disease, but the specific treatment method has never been announced by anyone or books. This seems to have always been a major incurable disease that plagues humans.

"Can you tell me who he is? My child." The maester's tone was full of worry.

"My fiancée, Shireen Baratheon."

"Gods have mercy, poor little guy." The maester's words were full of pain, and he shook his head "Forgive me for not being able to help you, little Cole."

Looking at his sad face, Cole suddenly regretted it.

"Maester Aemon." The door of the Crow's Nest was opened again, and a fat figure came in.

Cole turned his eyes back. With dark hair and a big round face, facing Cole's scrutiny, Samwell Tarly couldn't help shrinking his neck and lowering his head.

"I, I." His voice was weak and hesitant. When facing Cole, he felt similar to his father, Randyll Tarly.

"Sam." The maester called him softly, "This child is my assistant now, helping me feed the crows and sort out the letters from the Seven Kingdoms."

Cole gave him a kind smile, but Sam still didn't dare to look up at him.

"I'll go feed the ravens." Sam said in a low voice.

"I know you, Samwell Tarly. The son of Randyll Tarly." Cole said to him. "I think Lord Randyll would be proud if he knew his son killed a White Walker."

Sam was stunned for a moment when he heard this. He wanted to ask: Really?

"Jon told me that you like reading very much."

"Yes, sir. This is one of my few hobbies." Sam answered him.

"Don't be nervous. Am I scarier than a White Walker?" Cole saw his legs shaking.

"Please forgive my rudeness, sir." He looked like he was about to cry.

"I thought we would have a lot of topics to talk about. Have you read "The Four Kings"?" Cole tried to make his tone gentle.

"I've read a copy of it."

"That's great. I should pour you a glass of wine and ask you something about the Four Kings."

Sam glanced at Maester Aemon and thought: If there is anyone in the Seven Kingdoms who knows the deeds of the four kings, Daeron the Young Dragon, Baelor the Blessed, Aegon the Unworthy, and Daeron the Good, it must be old Maester Aemon.

"You should forgive the boy. Although he is smart, he is not very brave." Hearing that Sam did not respond for a long time, the maester said.

"Did you bring those two ladies back?" Cole continued to ask him.

"Yes, my lord." He answered nervously. Sam remembered the oath of the Night's Watch. This is not a place for women.

"What are you going to do? Staying in Castle Black is not a long-term solution." Cole did not mean to blame. "If you can't place them, I can help you."

Sam looked at him warily. It was a face that made him feel ashamed. "I have to ask Gilly about this."

"Gilly? A good name. I remember it seems to mean carnation. Is it the lady with black hair?"

Sam nodded. He struggled in his heart for a while, and suddenly said with a trembling voice, "My lord, I wonder if you can let Mance Rayder see his child."

"Is that Mance's child?" Cole's tone suddenly became serious. He knew that the queen of the King Beyond the Wall gave birth to his son, and even used this to lure Mance to cooperate with him, but the child was not in his hands at all.

"Yes, yes." Cole's tone changed, and his voice was so thin that it was as thin as cotton.

"Okay, I agree." He adjusted his expression, hoping to cover up his mood, but Maester Aemon still heard the joy in Cole's words.

Sam forced a smile, and he felt sweat running down his cheeks.

"Maester Aemon, I have things to deal with in the camp, so I'll take my leave."

"Go do your thing, child."

When Cole's footsteps disappeared in the distance, Aemon said to Sam, "He chose a difficult path."