Egg

Snowflakes dropped onto Egg's hooded head silently. It was soft and quiet, but deadly, as the more experienced… brothers of the Night's Watch told him. They said, once the last ray of sunlight left, the gentle snow would embrace everyone left behind and snuff the life out of them.

It had been three years since Egg arrived at the Wall, and it was the first time he was chosen for such a mission. New to his position, he had originally held much enthusiasm for the task, but the eerie atmosphere and the feeling that someone was watching him made him tired and wary.

It was following him, in the deep sighs of the trees, in the cries of the crows, in the blue moon of the night. They were calling him, warning him, whispering when he dreamed. Turn back, Aegon, turn back. Back to where it's still safe.

If he voiced his concerns, people would think he was a coward or worse mad. Probably both. That was what people said after his uncle Rhaegel died. Too stupid to escape the proper way and jumped off the Wall instead.

...Which dirty mouth was the one that first spouted those words? Even the men joining the Night's Watch at the time as Egg, following the House Targaryen's defeat, those who were originally their faithful bannermen… one by one, they slowly turned bitter in the journey.

No, but those with Egg now were different. They were friends he made in the Watch. Those were people that trained with him and grew up with him, his… brothers. People who were his equal, men of the Watch. It was men that clearly held a different intention that grated on his nerves. They were not merely teasing in their waves of laughter.

It was when Aelor first proposed the plan to escape to Uncle Aerys, who rejected it harshly, and what respect people had held for the former king vaporised after that. Why did we have a coward for a king? If only Baelor and his two sons did not perish in the spring. What good were his books if none contained the knowledge to save them?

Aegon had to be pulled back from refuting every time. Those men also chose the Black instead of the Block when facing the choice. Many of them did not even witness the terror that was Calla Blackfyre and her sword, as Egg did.

They— the remaining Targaryens— had agreed to stop chasing the futile dream of regaining their throne, except for Aelor. Aelor, who swore to never forgive the Blackfyres— and the rest of the Night's Watch after Uncle Rhaegel's death. Aelor, who had been torn away from the twin sister he loved dearly. Aelor, who was the youngest of them all and was pliable to prodding.

And there were a lot of people around to prod him on. Every month, the Wall was full of new recruits ready to take the Black, and an overwhelming majority of them came from the Reach. Egg had checked the record with his brother Aemon, and the number of Black Brothers had tripled during the last three years. The Wall was filled to the brim with Reachmen now.

Enough of them had approached Egg that he could recognise why they were here. House Tyrell, and half of the Reach, had not given up on House Targaryen yet. They planned to smuggle one of them out of the Wall and to the Reach, so they could raise their arms and start another war.

If Egg had not seen his father burn, he might feel tempted too. Even Aemon was tempted when they offered him to continue his studies at the Citadel. He had tried to apply for it, but the Lord Commander had rejected it, claiming that the current maester was hale and healthy… leaving other reasons unsaid. The chief reason, Egg suspected, was Daeron's failed attempt to desert was still fresh in everyone's mind.

...Egg did not want to recall his eldest brother's head, rolling on the ground; or his last words, screaming his need to escape from the horrors that would devour them from the far north.

"It's better this way," Aemon had reflected towards Egg later, "If I did leave this place, the cold, and everyone behind… I might forget the vows I have taken, the lessons we have learned."

Yes, Egg told himself, the moment they were forced to take the vows, they must leave their past behind, no matter how vivid the memories were in his dream. Because the future they had been looking forward to has been painted with black.

Whatever future Egg would have, it laid in this wasteland of black and white. It was because of his ability to see the truth and look forward that he was chosen for this Ranging. Those men that encouraged Aelor to stay away from his family, those that slandered Uncle Rhaegel behind his back yet flattered him in his face… none of them were here with them. Egg did not believe that it could be a coincidence.

Perhaps the Lord Commander would talk to him soon. There had to be a reason why he specifically ordered Egg to stay close to him.

...It was true that Egg had experienced more tragedies than he thought he could bear the last few years. Since they arrived at the Wall, what remained of his family dropped like flies. Uncle Rhaegel, Uncle Aerys, Grand-uncle Maron, and Daeron. He had no idea how his sisters were doing as Septas. They, he prayed, should at least be free from the cold and sickness that troubled the Night's Watch.

But it was not all bad. Egg had made some friends here, people would laugh with him and eat with him, who could make him temporarily forget who he was. Egg wanted to believe that he had grown stronger because of those losses. Because he had experienced many deaths, he could appreciate simple happiness like that better...

When he looked forward, it was a field of whiteness, the heavy snow covering the ground. Only a few trees, coal-black, stoically stood in the distance, yet the snow was gradually burying them as well. A lone crow flew past them, crying loudly. Further north was a mountain, where they would hopefully find some ancient structures to rest the night, according to the maps.

The field was beautiful. It was impressive, but not in the way the Wall was. The Wall was a miracle of men, but this was a miracle of nature. The quiet snowflakes that covered the land each had their own sparkles, blinking towards everyone who laid eyes on them before melting into the blanket of snow on the ground. Egg had never seen snow like that even after years in the north.

All of those were shiny. Lovely. Then why could he not feel happy about it?

It was not only Egg who glanced at the falling snow with fascination. Many of the younger members of the Watch were pointing at them, sighing, laughing. Egg's closest friend, Garth Blackwood, caught a piece in his hand and showed Egg before it melted. It sparkled from green to blue to purple, before losing its shine. "A rain of gems, kind of a waste to men like us. Ladies… such as my sisters would have loved it."

"Mine too. Though Daella more than Rhae." Garth was fond of talking about his sisters, so Egg would often talk about his own too.

"They would have enjoyed the sight of a handsome lad like you too, if you would smile more just like I do," Clapping his shoulders, Garth laughed.

But the glances of the older brothers of the Watch were more wary than impressed. "This isn't normal," the Lord Commander cursed, "Thirty years, and never have I seen something like that. Hell, it could be harmful to all our lives. Would explain why all the trees were gone. Boys, keep your hands to yourself! Stop playing with the snow!"

Garth grimaced and put down his hands, forcing out an innocent grin.

"The reports are all true. There's something strange going on in the forest," the Lord Commander continued to mumble, seemingly more to himself than anyone else, "Wilding villages disappearing overnight, and now this…"

It was strange when Egg thought about it. The Haunted forest was crowded with weirwood trees and full of creatures to hunt the few times he was here, back in the earlier days of his watch. Yet this time, the forest seemed to be less of a forest the deeper they went.

But to think of the snow itself being poisonous… even if that was true, what could be the cause?

"Hmph. This is getting weird. I should have brought your half-maester brother too, so he could try to explain this," his eyes narrowed, "Boy. Aegon. You know why I wanted you to come?"

"I have a few guesses," Egg answered, his eyes meeting the Lord Commander's own fearlessly. He had been bracing himself for this talk, though he did not expect it to come in the middle of the journey.

"Then I haven't misread you. I brought people I can trust with me, and let me tell you," the old man scrunched up his nose with distaste and grumbled, "I don't like what those Reachmen were playing at, not one bit. You seem to be the one—"

His words were interrupted by a deafening sound from beyond the mountains. The ground quaked, throwing them off balance.

"What in the Seven…" When Egg saw what was climbing the mountain on the other side, he lost all words.

It was the middle of the day, but night had returned. The sun was nowhere to be seen… because it was covered by that thing in the sky. It spanned over the mountain, seemingly piercing the clouds. It was walking, slowly, certainly. Approaching them. It was a gigantic monster made with branches of trees, ice, and what vaguely resembled flesh of different creatures, twisting into limbs, body, head, and two horns. It was something that would bring mythical levels of despair and destruction…

Egg was shaking with primal fear, his mind blank. This was not just fear of death. The fear he felt surpassed such mundane concepts… but the fear of the world coming to an end.

"Ah. I told you to run for a reason, you know," a sigh, sounding oddly familiar.

A crow was staring at him, its red eyes full of intensity. "Are you listening? Now that you've seen it, you should know to run. Back to the Wall and tell the whole Seven Kingdoms what is coming."

"But… that's!" Egg shouted, unable to control the confusion that was driving him insane, "What is that?! Who are you… no…" An epiphany hit Egg's mind, and he growled, "Did you fake your death and left us all to die?!"

"That doesn't matter now, but the answer is no. I am dead. Deader than that thing anyway. You're a smart boy, so clench your teeth and run. It is not going to be an easy journey."

"Egg… what…" Beside him, Garth shuddered and grabbed his arm, showing him this was not an illusion. "What IS that? What is it… doing… oh no…"

The giant monster stopped in front of the trees. A limb extended towards them, pulling them out of the snow effortlessly… and absorbed them, fitting the branches and thunks into part of its body.

This was absurd… this was not a creature in the tales, not Giants, not Others, not the Children of the Forest… this was an alien to Westeros, only born to destroy.

The crow hissed. "Now you know why it's huge and slow. I can stop it for a while, so get on with it."

How? This question found its answer before it came out from Egg's mouth. The trees that were being absorbed suddenly gained life and moved downwards, like worms crawling on its skin, before stopping at the monster's foot and digging its roots deep into the ground.

"I'll lose control over the trees very soon, and that thing has another trick up its sleeves. Aegon, you survived and was sent here for a reason. Even if the future has changed, you're still meant to survive and lead. If I still manage to keep my consciousness intact after the danger has passed, I shall gladly answer any questions you have. Now—"

"Damn you, Bloodraven!" Egg cried as he turned around and ran, wishing the rest of the Night's Watch would follow him. "I'll survive this, so you better prepare some satisfying answers!"

He would survive. He would survive, Egg told himself over and over, even when his heart was threatening to jump out of his chest, even when all four of his limbs were shaking in fear.

Even if he had lost his previous life, he would not let what he had now be destroyed too, he swore to himself. For the dead and living. For all of this world.

He would be the survivor.