Yagami Light in Game of Thrones

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***

After embracing his friend, the king's first order of business was to head to the crypt. The queen made no secret of her displeasure. Light understood her. In the crypt lay Lyanna Stark, the king's long-time lover. If Rhaegar Targaryen hadn't kidnapped Lyanna, she would have been Robert's wife, but then he wouldn't be king. Woman or power? That question seemed ludicrous to Light. Power, of course! But the king, it seems, would choose a woman. More than once or twice in Light's presence, the king sighed about his lost love. Sighing and drinking.

The queen, accompanied by her brother and younger children, proceeded to the Great Hall. Tyrion was not with them: the dwarf had chosen to stay in Wintertown, in a tavern that also served as a brothel. Prince Joffrey went to Lord Eddard's eldest daughter, Sansa, and kissed her hand gallantly. Sansa blushed. The prince had already left, but she sighed and looked after him with a dreamy gaze.

Fool, Light thought. She's going to have a lot of grief with him, but it's for the best. The sooner Sansa is disillusioned with Joffrey, the sooner the prince can be married to Margaery. Margaery may be in trouble, too, but that's not Light's concern: the main thing is to get the Tyrells on his side.

With Maester Luwin's permission, Light visited the local library. He spent three hours there, after which his confidence that humans were the only intelligent race in Westeros was shaken. Yes, there were only vague legends about the Children of the Forest and the giants, very much like the fiction of ignorant people. Yes, many educated people laugh at them. But there are too many of these legends, and they are too much alike. Whereas the library of Cliff had only a few pages on these fabulous (fabulous?) creatures, the library of Winterfell was much richer in this respect. On the other hand, there were more books on alchemy and warfare in Cliff, so perhaps the Starks and Lannisters just have different reading tastes. But it's not even the books that matter, it's the atmosphere of the North itself. The feeling of something vast, alien, ancient. The land of the First Men was very different from the lands inhabited by the Andals. There was a sense of magic here.

Light slammed the book shut irritably. The environment affects the mind, after all. He was beginning to think like a local. Soon he'll believe in gramkins and snarks.

Still, the magic was worth a closer look. Firstly, a visit to the local bogoroshka.

The gloomy beauty of Winterfell's moor had impressed Light. He'd never seen anything like it in the Cliff or King's Landing. There were no trees in the Lannister stronghold (except for one ugly, twisted hardwood that had somehow survived inside the cave), and the Red Keep had only a pitiful semblance: a tiny grove without a single hardwood. That was probably why Light hadn't paid much attention to this strange local religion, a form of paganism.

The red eyes on the sad wooden face gave Light an uneasy feeling. It was as if someone was watching him. The Northerners believed that the Old Gods lived in the trees. Gods with red eyes. Gods of death?

It's a crazy hunch, but it doesn't risk anything to test it. Even if some local entity is watching him through the trees, it doesn't know anything about the Gods of Death, so it won't understand anything. And if it does know and understand, it makes sense to make contact with it. What if there is a connection between this world and the world of the death gods? Quickly glancing around to make sure no one was around, Light spoke softly but clearly:

- Ryuuk, it's me. You killed me, but I'm alive.

The crows in the tree screeched, but there was no other response. Light shrugged his shoulders and left the mantis, unaware that his words would leave an old warlock wondering for the rest of his life.

***

In the training courtyard, Light caught sight of Prince Joffrey and Robb Stark. The heir to Winterfell, a strong, broad-shouldered fellow, was flushed with anger, and beside him the old weapons master was nervously rubbing his sideburns. Sandor Clegane bared his teeth in a semblance of a smile. Joffrey grinned mockingly.

- It seems the North is full of cowards. Weaklings who won't fight with real steel aren't worth my attention.

Robb clenched his fists and stepped forward, but the Master of Arms held him back. Joffrey laughed.

- 'That's right, old man. Hold your little lord tight. Or else the poor thing might get hurt.

Robb shouted:

- I'm ready to fight you with real steel! Ser Rodrik, let me!

The Master of Arms shook his head. Joffrey, grinning victoriously, strode away.

Robb will make a bad lord. He's quick to anger, has no control over his emotions, and easily lost his temper. They often make rash decisions, and their subjects pay the price.

Leaving the angry Stark behind, Light headed for the far end of the courtyard, where a black-haired boy was practising archery. Light silently picked up a loose bow, put an arrow on it, took aim, and fired. With a quiet clinking sound, the tip sank into the centre of the target. The boy turned his head, smiled, and held out his hand to Light.

- Theon Greyjoy.

- Lancel Lannister.

- How about a contest? It's been a long time since I've had a worthy opponent.

- Come on.

Light lost the challenge. Theon was an excellent archer. Eddard Stark's hostage was three or four years older than Lancel, handsome, and smiled as if the world were a joke only he could understand. A mask, Light decided. Hides grudges and ambition. Someone like that could be used.

Light offered Theon a drink. Greyjoy gladly accepted. On the way to Winterhold, he told Light how recently, on their way back from executing a deserter, Lord Eddard's sons had found a dead direwolf. She had a stag's horn lodged in her throat, but she had live cubs. Theon offered to get rid of the dangerous beasts, but Jon, Lord Eddard's bastard, convinced his father to let his children raise the cubs.

- You've seen them, I suppose. Five grey, one albino.

I saw them, but I didn't pay attention. Light, ignorant of the local fauna, mistook the animals for some special breed of dog.

***

Theon stepped into the tavern and demanded a beer for himself and Light, and two of the girls.

- They're all taken,' the landlady replied. - The dwarf had taken three of them at once.

- Roz, too?

- Ros too.

Theon grimaced and ordered a stronger beer. After the second one, Light decided it was time.

- It's a bit boring up North,' Light said in passing. - And it's cold, and it snows even in summer. It's like the capital.

Theon nodded grimly.

- I don't envy you,' Light sighed. - You're here against your will. A kraken in the forest is like a lion underwater.

- What can I do? - Theon grumbled. - I have no choice.

Light pretended to think.

- If you were a girl, you could marry one of the Stark sons. That's how my father married. My mother, Lady Dorna Swift, was a hostage at the Cliff until Ser Kiwan took a liking to her.

- I could be related to the Starks! - Theon jumped up, his eyes burning with feverish hope.

- Don't dream of it,' Light replied sternly. - Sansa will marry Joffrey, you've seen the way she looks at him. And Arya to some vassal's son. The Greyjoys and the Starks are enemies, don't forget that. You will be beheaded if Lord Eddard deems it necessary.

Theon sighed heavily. Light made a sympathetic face.

- Perhaps I can help you. I am the king's squire, and I can ask him to transfer you to the capital. But you will owe me a favour in return.

- What favour?

- We'll talk about that later. First, tell me, do you agree?

- Yes,' Theon clenched his mug. - Anything to get out of here!

- It's a deal.

***

The King was in high spirits at the feast that evening. The drink and the food had made Robert Baratheon feel good and cheerful.

- Your Grace,' Light faded his eyes in embarrassment. - I have a favour to ask of you.

- Go on, say it.

- It concerns Theon Greyjoy, your hostage.

- He's not my hostage.

- He should be. You defeated the Greyjoys, Your Grace. I remember you telling me and the others about that feat.

The King is thinking.

- So what do you suggest?

- Let Theon move to the capital. There, under your care, he will foster his father's loyalty as much as he will here under Lord Eddard's.

- It's a good idea,' the king approved. - But why should you care?

- Theon is a mate of mine, and when I told him about the brothels there, he wanted to move.

The king laughed.

- All right, have it your way. Hey, Ned! I've been thinking, and I reckon your hostage would be better off in the capital than here. You don't mind, do you, old chap?

- As your Lordship wills,' Lord Eddard said, bowing his head.

***

In the morning, the King rode into the Wolfswood to hunt. Lord Eddard rode with him, as did Light and Theon. The queen and her brother stayed at the castle. From the look Cersei and Jaime exchanged when the king's heavy figure disappeared behind the gate, Light guessed what they were thinking. Winterfell has plenty of hiding places. In half an hour, Cersei and Jaime would probably be secluded in some abandoned tower.

Once in the woods, Light quickly shot a pair of partridges. Theon, not wanting to lag behind, shot three. The son of Balon Greyjoy was smiling and already considered Light his best friend. Soon he was following the king into the thick of the forest. Light and Lord Eddard were left alone.

- You've made fast friends with Theon,' Lord Eddard said.

- We are both archers, my lord. We had a competition, and then we went out for a drink.

- And you asked the king to move Theon to the capital.

- What's wrong with that, My Lord?

Lord Eddard thought for a moment.

- I can't say it's a bad thing. Perhaps the boy does need a change of scenery. But we are all used to Theon, and my eldest son in particular. Robb will lose a friend.

- Theon's glad, though.

- I've noticed,' Lord Eddard smiled. - Lancel, I apologise for the uncomfortable question, but I must ask it. I heard of an incident on a hunting trip when the king had too much to drink and a raven nearly killed him. It was you who gave Robert the wine, wasn't it?

Light lowered his head penitently.

- It was my fault, Lord Eddard. I should have thought of the consequences. But his majesty demanded a drink, and what was I to do? Only obey.

- I don't blame you, Lancel. I can see you're an honest lad with a good heart. Robert was lucky to have a squire.

- You're very kind, my lord. Forgive my impertinence, I know it is not for me to judge, but I think you would make a fine squire.

Lord Eddard gloomed.

- It is my duty to Robert,' he sighed. - I hope I prove worthy of his trust.

As he looked at Eddard Stark, Light wondered who he reminded him of and realised: his own father, Yagami Soichiro. Loyal and faithful, honest and upright, willing to fight evil to the end. Such men are rare in the world, whether on Earth or here. Too often their nobility leads them to ruin. Yagami Soichiro never dared to write Mello's name in his notebook and was killed. Lord Eddard will meet a similar fate if Light doesn't save him.

Jon Arryn is dead, Stannis has fled, but Eddard Stark can continue their cause. Light will tip him off and put all the strings in his hands. Upon learning of the princes' illegitimate origins, Lord Eddard, as befits a man of honour, will support the rightful heir, the grim and unpopular Stannis. Joffrey and Sansa's engagement will be broken off, and when Light organises Joffrey's engagement to Margaery, only the North and the Stormlands will be against the West and the Commonwealth. And the Riverlands, but the Lannisters will crush them first. The Vale is unlikely to come forward; the fearful Lady Lysa won't risk her precious son's well-being. Nor Dorne: Prince Doran Martell is notoriously cautious. And the Iron Islands... Light had befriended Theon for a reason, after all. With a grin, Light spurred his horse and rode to catch up with the king.

***

Winterfell buzzed like a disturbed beehive. Before he reached the castle, Light heard Bran. Bran, a boy of seven, Lord Eddard's second son, had fallen from the tower. The boy climbed like a squirrel, but today he was unlucky. His body was found beneath the moss-covered walls of the First Keep. Bran was alive, but unconscious.

After inspecting where Bran had fallen, Light entered the tower. It looked abandoned, no one had lived or even visited for a long time. Light reached the room with the window - Bran had been found just under it. Looking carefully at the floor, Light found what he was looking for: a long blond hair. The queen's hair.

Did Bran realise what he had seen? Even if he didn't, the adults would understand when he woke up and told them. And when he wakes up? We don't know. Light could poison Robert at any moment, but Lyssa's tears don't work instantly. If Light slows, the Lannisters are dead, and if he hurries, there will be no war. A war that will destroy the old world so that Light can build a new one on its rubble. Bran is an unnecessary, unnecessary factor in his plans.

I'm sorry, Bran. You're a good boy and you're innocent, but for the sake of the kingdom, you must be killed.