Game of Thrones: I Created the Magic Web

Chapter 272
Please bear with me, I will try my best to make it up before the end of the month.Thanks.

Jon Snow tightened the straps of his saddle, and the mare neighed softly. "Good girl, don't be afraid," he reassured it softly.The wind whispered in the stables like a cold, dead air blowing in the face, but Jon ignored it.He saddled his bedding, stiff and clumsy through his scarred fingers. "Ghost," he called softly, "come here." Immediately the wolf appeared, eyes like two embers.

"Jon, please, don't do this."

He got on his horse, held the reins tightly, turned his horse and turned his head, facing the night.Samwell Tarly stood at the stable door, and a full moon shone over his shoulder, casting a shadow like a giant, huge and dark. "Sam, get out of the way."

"Jon, you can't just walk away like this," Sam said, "I won't let you go."

"I don't want to hurt you," Jon told him. "Go away, Sam, or I'll step on it."

"You won't. Listen to me, please..."

Jon kicked his feet, and the mare galloped toward the door.In an instant, Sam stood where he was, his face as round and white as the full moon behind him, and his mouth opened into a big circle in surprise.At the last moment when the people and horses were about to collide, he jumped away, and as Jon expected, he staggered and fell to the ground.The mare leaped over him, into the night.

Jon raised the hood of his heavy cloak and patted the mare's head.He rode away from the tranquility of Castle Black, Ghost at his heels.He knew there were men on the Wall behind him, but they were facing far north, not south.No one but Sam Tarly, struggling to get up from the dirt in the stable, would see him go.Seeing Sam fall like that, Jon secretly hoped he was all right.He was so fat and clumsy that he might have broken a wrist or sprained an ankle. "I warned him," Jon said loudly, "and it wasn't his business." He moved his burned hand as he rode, opening and closing his scarred fingers.The pain is still there, but it feels so good to have the bandages off.

He galloped along the bow-knotted Kingsroad, the nearby hills silvered by moonlight.He needs to get as far away from the Wall as possible before anyone discovers his plans.Tomorrow he would be forced off the road and across fields, bushes and streams to escape pursuers, but speed was more important than cover right now.After all, his destination is obvious.

The Old Bear was used to rising at dawn, so at least Jon would have time before dawn to put as much distance from the Wall as possible... assuming Sam Tarly hadn't betrayed him.Although the fat boy was dedicated and timid, he treated Jon like a brother.Sam would tell the truth if asked, but Jon didn't think he had the courage to go to the King's Tower guards in the middle of the night and wake Mormont up.

When they found out that Jon didn't go to the kitchen to help Old Bear with breakfast tomorrow, everyone would go to the dormitory to search, and then they saw Long Claw lying alone on the bed.Keeping that sword was hard work, but Jon wasn't going to be ashamed to take it away.Not even Jorah Mormont, before his exile.Lord Lord Mormont must find someone better suited to bear that sword.Thinking of the old man made Jon feel bad.He knew that by abandoning the camp and fleeing like this, he was tantamount to sprinkling salt on the commander-in-chief's pain of losing his son.It was ungrateful, considering how much he trusted himself, but he had no choice.Either way, Jon is going to betray someone.

Even now, he still doesn't know whether his actions are honorable or not.The style of the southerners is relatively simple. They have monks for consultation, and they will convey the will of the gods and help sort out right from wrong.However, the Stark family believed in the nameless ancient god, and even if Xinshu heard it, he would not be able to speak.

When the last lights of Castle Black faded behind him, Jon slowed to let the mare walk.There is still a long road ahead, but he has only this horse to rely on.On the way south, there were village farmhouses along the way, with which he could trade for new horses if necessary, but not if the mare was injured or slumped.

He has to find new clothes as soon as possible, and I'm afraid he can only steal them.Now he is black from head to toe: high black leather riding boots, coarse black trousers and a black coat, a sleeveless black leather vest, and a heavy black wool cape.Longsword and dagger were in black scabbards, and black ring mail and helm in saddlebags.Each of these would be enough to kill him if he were caught.North of the Neck, any stranger dressed in black who entered the Cottage and Manor was looked upon with cold suspicion and watched.And once Master Aemon's raven sent a message, he would never find a place to stay, even in Winterfell.Bran might let him in, but Maester Luwin knew exactly what to do, and he would do his job, shut the gates and drive Jon out.Therefore, he had no intention of touching Winterfell from the very beginning.

Even so, in his mind, he could clearly see the image of the castle, as if he had just left it yesterday: the towering marble walls; the fragrant and smoky castle hall, full of running dogs; his father's study; Own bedroom in the tower.Some part of him just wanted to see Bran laugh again, eat another Gage's beef and bacon pie, and hear Old Nan tell her stories about the Children of the Forest and Florian the Fool.

But that's not why he left the Wall: he left only because he was his father's son, Robb's brother.He didn't become a Mormont just because someone gave him a sword, even one as good as Longclaw.Nor was he Aemon Targaryen.The old man made three choices, and three times he chose honor, but it was him.Even now, Jon wasn't sure whether the old maester made the choice because of cowardice, or because of a strong heart and devotion to his duty.But in any case, he understands the confusion of the old man, and he understands the pain of choice too well.

Tyrion Lannister once said: Most people would rather deny the truth than face the truth, but Jon has thought through all kinds of hardships.He knew exactly who he was: he was Jon Snow, not only an illegitimate son, but also a deserter who broke his oath, had neither mother nor friend, and would be condemned by God.All his life—however long his life may be—will be forced to wander, a silent solitary in the shadows, afraid to speak his real name.No matter where he goes in the Seven Kingdoms, he must live in lies, otherwise others will attack him.But none of that mattered as long as he fought alongside his brother and avenged his father.

He remembered the last time he had seen Robb.Robb was standing in the square, snow melting in his auburn hair.Now Jon may have to disguise himself before he can sneak up on him.He tried to imagine the look on Robb's face when he revealed himself.His brother would shake his head, smile, and he'd say... he'd say...

(End of this chapter)