Game of Thrones: Knight’s Honor

The tournament successfully concluded on the second day of the banquet, though it was no longer the main focus of attention. All discussions revolved around a single person: the Chosen One, Lynd.

The miraculous events of the banquet spread rapidly among the attendees. Had it been only a handful of people sharing the tale, skepticism might have lingered. But with hundreds of witnesses—including the most powerful figures in the Seven Kingdoms, even the king himself—no one dared to doubt its validity. After all, it was unthinkable that the king and the Wardens of the Seven Kingdoms would fabricate such a story.

The Septon of The Sept of the Seven in Lannisport also declared Lynd's performance at the banquet a miracle, an act of the Seven Gods. He reaffirmed that Lynd was indeed chosen by the divine. Inspired by the Septon's words, followers of the Seven Gods flocked to Lynd's camp outside the city, eager to witness the miracle-maker in person.

However, they were left disappointed. Lynd had already departed Lannisport early that morning, leading his cavalry patrols back to Tumbleton. Despite his absence, the buzz surrounding him only grew louder, with rumors adding fuel to the fire.

One particular rumor gained significant attention. It claimed that Lynd had actually died during his initial foray into the forest to avenge his father and hunt the bear. According to the tale, he was only alive now because he had been blessed by the Seven Gods, who granted him divine powers in preparation for the looming threat of the cold, dark evil. The rumor asserted that Lynd had been chosen to fight the White Walkers and save the world on behalf of the Seven Gods.

The prophecy of Azor Ahai and the forging of Lightbringer had long been a well-known legend in both Westeros and Essos. It was one of the most widespread prophecies of salvation, held dear by many across the world. Over the ages, countless individuals in the Seven Kingdoms had devoted themselves to this prophecy, some even losing their lives in the process. Yet belief in the reincarnation of Azor Ahai persisted.

The Faith of the Seven, however, had never embraced a similar legend—until now. With the arrival of Lynd and his miraculous display, a new narrative began to take shape, one that threatened to eclipse the legend of Azor Ahai. The Chosen of the Seven, as Lynd was now called, had sparked a growing belief that he would save the world from its impending doom.

Amidst the fervor surrounding Lynd, the tournament continued without disruption. The results of the archery competition and team events were announced, with the victors unsurprisingly being the warriors aligned with the great lords. When the jousting lances competition commenced, attention momentarily shifted back to the spectacle.

The final duel between Jorah Mormont of the North and Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, became an instant classic. The two knights clashed nine times, breaking nine lances, yet remained evenly matched. Ultimately, King Robert intervened, declaring the match a draw to prevent either from suffering severe injury—or worse, a fatal accident. The laurel wreath of victory was then awarded to Jorah Mormont, a decision some believed was influenced by Robert's personal dislike of Jaime. However, Jaime himself accepted the outcome without protest, acknowledging Jorah's worthiness.

Following his victory, Jorah Mormont surprised the crowd by presenting the crown of the tournament's Queen of Love and Beauty to Lynesse Hightower of House Hightower, who had been observing the competition. But the true shock came later that evening when Jorah approached Lord Leyton Hightower, Lord of Oldtown, and formally asked for Lynesse's hand in marriage.

The nobles of Oldtown were taken aback. Jorah, with his rough demeanor, dark complexion, and bald head, seemed an unlikely match for Lady Lynesse, famed for her unparalleled beauty. Moreover, as a lord from the remote Bear Island, Jorah was deemed an unsuitable candidate to marry into the illustrious House Hightower. After all, Lord Leyton's other son-in-law was none other than Mace Tyrell, the influential Lord of Highgarden.

However, what was even more astonishing was that, in response to Jorah Mormont's marriage proposal, Lord Leyton agreed without hesitation. That very night, he invited Eddard Stark, the Lord of the North, and Mace Tyrell, the Lord of the Reach, to bear witness, and conducted a wedding for the pair at the Sept of the Seven in Lannisport.

The next morning, Jorah Mormont departed with his new bride aboard a ship heading north to Bear Island.

Lord Leyton's actions left everyone stunned. Anyone who had laid eyes on Lynesse Hightower could not deny her captivating beauty. Men from every corner of the Seven Kingdoms would have vied for her hand, with a line of suitors stretching from Oldtown to The Wall. It seemed inconceivable that a woman of such unmatched allure, who would never lack for proposals, would be wed to the unremarkable Lord of Bear Island. Suspicion arose that something more was at play.

Rumors about Lynesse spread rapidly through Lannisport, and three in particular gained significant traction. The first suggested that Lynesse was already pregnant, the father rumored to be a wandering bard. To avoid scandal, Lord Leyton supposedly hastened to marry her off to Jorah Mormont when he proposed.

The second tale came from a court servant, claiming Lynesse had been seen entering King Robert's chambers. According to this version, Lord Leyton feared his daughter might become one of Robert's indulgences and married her off before matters escalated.

The third and most widely accepted rumor involved Tywin Lannister. It was said that at the tournament, Lord Tywin sought an alliance with House Hightower by proposing a marriage between his son, Tyrion, and Lynesse. Unwilling to wed his daughter to "the Imp" but equally unwilling to offend Tywin, Lord Leyton chose to marry her to Jorah Mormont instead, thus eliminating Tywin's leverage.

None of the parties involved offered any comment, nor did they attempt to suppress the rumors. It was as if they had chosen to turn a deaf ear to the whispers.

Back in Tumbleton, news of Jorah Mormont and Lynesse Hightower trickled in steadily. Dacey, Jorah's cousin, remarked upon hearing the news that her cousin was truly fortunate. Having met Lynesse Hightower herself, Dacey admitted that even she, as a woman, was drawn to Lynesse's beauty. Such was the magnitude of Lynesse's charm.

Despite her admiration, Dacey couldn't help but be troubled by the rumors. She considered one of them likely to be true, as even she, a close relative, couldn't see how Jorah could be a match for Lynesse.

During a meal, she casually asked Lynd which of the rumors he believed. Lynd confidently dismissed them all, asserting that Lord Leyton married Lynesse to Jorah Mormont because he recognized Jorah's potential and capabilities, as well as his genuine love for his daughter. Yet Lynd ominously added that this marriage might not be a blessing for Jorah—it could bring him great hardship.

Dacey, unconvinced, believed Lynd was merely trying to save face for her cousin. She paid no mind to his dismissal of the rumors but found herself intrigued by his cryptic remark about Jorah's impending difficulties. However, Lynd refused to elaborate further.

What had transpired in Lannisport soon became nothing more than idle gossip during casual conversations. For them, the pressing matter was preparing for the move to Lynd's territory.

"When are you planning to move?"

In the evening, Nymeria and Lynd stood leisurely in the training ground. Nymeria asked the question while watching Brienne and Asha spar with training weapons not far away.

"Not anytime soon," Lynd answered. He then shouted toward the sparring pair, "Watch your feet! Pay attention to your footing! Dodge with lateral body movements, don't just block head-on!"

Although Asha was five years older than Brienne, her swordsmanship was far inferior. Apart from slightly better physical fitness, she couldn't compare to Brienne in any other aspect.

More importantly, since Brienne had become Lynd's attendant, she frequently sparred with veterans like Raul, Lothor, Scarface, and Balin—warriors seasoned in real combat.

Along the way, she encountered all sorts of underhanded tricks and honed her skills under harsh conditions. On the other hand, Asha's training among the Ironborn pirates made her moves entirely ineffective in this sparring session. She was constantly on the receiving end of Brienne's strikes.

Eventually, Asha grew tired of being beaten. She threw aside the practice sword and charged at Brienne. Wrapping her arms around her, she tackled her to the ground. Using her slight advantage in physical strength, Asha pinned Brienne beneath her.

Brienne was utterly unprepared for such a maneuver. She fought like a knight, strictly adhering to the rules of swordsmanship. In her understanding, combat revolved around weapons. Wrestling mid-fight was unthinkable to her. Caught off guard, she didn't react in time and ended up firmly pinned. She struggled, trying to free herself.

However, melee combat was second nature to the Ironborn, and Asha didn't give Brienne a chance to regain control. Keeping her pinned, Asha playfully teased her by planting kisses on her face, leaving Brienne flustered and embarrassed, her confusion only deepening.

"Alright, Asha wins this round!" Lynd called out loudly, stopping the wrestling match. "Brienne will be on manure duty, and Asha gets to rest!" he declared.

The two combatants stood up, brushing off dirt and grass. Brienne rubbed at the spot on her bracelet where Asha's lips had pressed, her cheeks reddening. Without a word, she turned and headed toward the stables. Behind her, Asha followed, grinning, as she picked up the discarded practice sword.

Not far away, Balin, whose hand was still recovering, was sparring with Dagon Harlaw. Dagon's approach to combat was markedly different from Asha's. While Asha's moves were rooted in traditional Ironborn techniques, Dagon's fighting style was steeped in knightly swordsmanship. In many ways, Dagon carried himself more like a knight than Balin.

This contrast was precisely why Lynd had asked Balin to teach Dagon how to fight like a true warrior, particularly on a ship. Among Lynd's men, only Balin had extensive experience with naval battles, making him uniquely qualified for the task.

Meanwhile, Baelor Blacktyde trained under Russell's guidance. As an Orphan of the Greenblood, Russell had grown up with a deep, inherited understanding of ships and sailing—knowledge passed down through generations. While some of it was outdated, it still laid a solid foundation for his training.

The ships Lynd had recently acquired—large vessels and armed merchant ships—had been entrusted to Lys Falwell to form a fleet alongside the Glory ship for trade purposes. Meanwhile, the remaining Ironborn longships were sent to Oldtown for repairs and storage. Lynd planned to retrieve them once his dock-building efforts were complete.

In the near future, Asha, Baelor, and Dagon would inevitably spend significant time at sea. Who would ultimately rise to the position of fleet commander, however, depended on their individual performance.

"Have you already decided where to build your Lord's castle?" Nymeria asked with concern.

Lynd shook his head. "I haven't decided yet. I need to see the site for myself," he replied.

In the ten-odd days since his return, apart from handling various matters, Lynd had spent most of his time reviewing information and intelligence about the Dornish Marches, particularly regarding Red Watch and Summerhall.

If it had been before, Lynd would have undoubtedly chosen the cape between Wyl and Stonehelm as the castle's location without hesitation. However, King Robert's gift of Summerhall had given him an alternative to consider, leaving him torn between the two options.

From all the intelligence he had gathered, both Red Watch and Summerhall had distinct advantages and disadvantages. The primary strength of Red Watch was its strategic position for maritime trade and its capacity to influence both Dorne and the Stormlands politically. However, its main drawback was its distance from Tumbleton. The Red Mountains acted as a barrier; if trouble arose in Tumbleton, responding in time would be impossible—unless he had a dragon capable of flying over the mountains.

Summerhall presented a different situation. Its proximity to Tumbleton, separated only by a Grassy Vale, was a clear advantage.

Strategically located at the end of the Boneway in the Dornish Marches, it offered trade opportunities with Dorne and control over the central end of the Red Mountains, a crucial area. Yet its disadvantages were equally significant. It was far from the sea and separated by a mountain range from the fertile Red Watch Valley, which Lynd planned to develop as a vital food-producing region. This geographic separation complicated management.

Moreover, Summerhall carried a dark reputation. The Tragedy at Summerhall had turned the area into a desolate wasteland haunted by restless spirits. Many who had ventured there claimed to witness ghostly reenactments of the fire and even feel the agony of being burned alive. Even the boldest adventurers avoided spending the night in Summerhall, let alone contemplating building a castle on its haunted grounds.

"Do you have any time recently?" Lynd asked Nymeria, breaking the silence.

Nymeria thought for a moment. "With everything that needed doing now done, and the construction of Tumbleton complete, the next steps—the stone bridge and the Blackwater Rush fortress—can be left to the craftsmen. The mines are running smoothly, and with Wenda the White Fawn keeping the bandits under control, there's nothing to worry about. Bert has the caravan operations in hand as well," she said thoughtfully before nodding. "I should have plenty of time."

Lynd reached for Nymeria's hand. "In that case, accompany me as I walk through my territory. Help me choose the perfect location for the castle."

Nymeria smiled warmly and nodded. "As you wish, my lord."