"Can I call you Leaf?"
The one who shouldn't exist walked over the messy ground to her and asked with a smile.
The scorching white mist had dissipated, and dew drops dripped from the branches and leaf tips overhead, sliding across her face, warm and comfortable.
At a glance, the cleansed Ice and Snow Forest had become a clean rainforest after a summer rain.
But as her gaze moved downwards, ice slush, puddles, bleeding chunks of flesh, scattered swords, axes, and spears, black soil, and broken, fallen trees together painted a picture of death and destruction.
Two humans from the South were ending all the Northerners who hadn't completely died yet, and her own people were filled with terror and helplessness.
She looked up at the sky again, the crows had already disappeared.
"The Three-Eyed Crow isn't a competent Greenseer, I'm afraid he didn't see what's happening now. Well, who would have thought ice and water could explode?"
She bowed to Joffrey.
"Leaf represents the Children of the Forest and surrenders to you. Please don't harm them, this is all my fault alone."
Joffrey admired her golden-green eyes. "They say your green or red eyes indicate you have the Greenseer talent. Haven't you tried to become a Greenseer?"
Leaf tilted her head. "I'm not qualified yet, am I?"
"Bloodraven is wicked. You know his story, right? He's practically the epitome of human evil. How could you let him dominate your fragile tribe?"
Leaf lowered her head and said nothing.
"We can be friends. Leaf, do you know who I am?"
The one who shouldn't exist.
Tyrion knelt on one knee and proclaimed, "Before you is the heir to the Iron Throne, the Prince of Dragonstone, the Lord of the Illuminati, the messenger who spreads the gospel of the Gods, the reincarnation of Azor Ahai, the Hero King destined to defeat the darkness and bring an endless summer, Joffrey of House Baratheon, may he reign forever!"
Oh my...
Leaf blinked blankly, hesitating with the祝词, "May he reign forever."
Joffrey took a step closer. "The Gods haven't abandoned you. I can become the protector of the Children of the Forest. Under me, all living beings can work together to face the coming Long Night and the Evil God's disaster."
"Your companions can go back and convey my intentions to the tribe. With the protection of the Throne, the South can become your home again."
"Of course, you can also all come back to the South with me."
Leaf was bewildered the whole time. Did I convince him? Did I say something? Are humans this kind now?
She could only translate his words back to her five tribesmen.
Joffrey listened patiently as they conversed and argued in a melody whose meaning he didn't understand.
His decision wasn't a whim. The Children of the Forest had excellent magical talent, gentle natures, and long lifespans. The pressure on their tribe to continue was immense. Was there any reason to completely exterminate them?
As for his new titles, since he was going to show off, he might as well go big.
Gospel messenger, reincarnation of Azor Ahai, Hero King destined to bring eternal summer—the epic aura that made countless people willing to die immediately surged forth.
And that burning sword, "Lightbringer," was practically Dragonflame itself.
"Your Highness," Jon excitedly presented a black sword. "A Valyrian Steel Sword! The Wildlings actually have such a treasure!"
Joffrey grasped the hilt. "Uncle, you should be able to guess its name."
Dark as smoke, the blade slender, Bloodraven.
Tyrion knew the answer. "One of the two ancestral swords of the Targaryens, Queen Visenya's Dark Sister, lost by Lord Bloodraven."
"Uncle, do you want it?"
Tyrion chuckled. "It's slender, not short. My good nephew has forgotten my height, hasn't he?"
Joffrey handed it to Jon. "Keep it for now. Perhaps grandfather will like this gift, centuries after the loss of the Lannister ancestral sword 'Brightroar'."
The melody from the Children of the Forest gradually stopped, and Leaf walked over with two tribesmen.
"Your Highness, we are willing to serve you."
The other three Children of the Forest hid behind the trees, nervously watching the activity here.
"Very good, I believe life in the South will satisfy you." Joffrey took the opportunity to stroke Leaf's hair. "Help me tell those three friends to be careful on their way back. The crows might become their enemies."
Will they? Leaf didn't know if she could still trust that old man, the last Greenseer.
Is he watching this now?
Facing the Weirwoods everywhere in the forest, the sacred trees that the tribe relied on for survival and their final resting place, she felt a slight sense of unfamiliarity and unease for the first time.
Just as the moon rose.
The victorious team returned to Nightfort from the Black Gate.
Benjen expressionlessly lit a bonfire, chewing on dry hardtack, occasionally taking a large gulp of strong wine.
The Children of the Forest, whom he had thought only existed in stories, had become their captives. Benjen wanted to appear happy, but he just couldn't.
He was the only Night's Watchman left in the team, and he couldn't blame anyone.
His own brother stabbed his brother in the back. Who could he blame?
It was actually Tyrion, the one he got along with the least, who sat down to comfort him. "Look on the bright side, we also killed several hundred Wildlings and Skinchangers. Your ranger patrols will be much safer from now on."
"This can be considered saving dozens of lives," Benjen said, pulling at the corner of his mouth. Piecing the information together simply revealed that these Wildlings and Children of the Forest were clearly targeting the Crown Prince, while the Night's Watch had become new souls claimed by the fighting.
Children of the Forest.
He looked at the three small figures beside the Crown Prince.
These guys were clearly the culprits behind the attack, yet they were completely unharmed.
Benjen truly wanted to rush over and get revenge immediately. But he ultimately didn't move a step, merely listening to the conversation between the Crown Prince and the Children of the Forest.
"Leaf, how many of your tribe are left now?"
Leaf took small sips of the mushroom soup. "There are over sixty Singers like us, and thousands more of our people live within the earth, the trees, and the animals."
Joffrey verified the data from the books. Over sixty, almost equivalent to extinction.
"What do you think about sibling love?"
"Ah, anything is fine. We don't have such strict restrictions as humans."
Very good. This meant that the descendants of the Children of the Forest from inbreeding likely didn't have genetic defects, so there was still some possibility of salvation.
Joffrey cut off a piece of roasted venison.
"When we return to the South, you can stay in the Godswood of the Red Keep for now. It's not very big, but it should be enough for temporary use."
"By then..."
As he spoke, his thoughts drifted back to the South.
The exploration of the Wall was complete, and even the Children of the Forest were now with him. It was time to turn his attention back to King's Landing.
The King had already reached Moat Cailin, and the Neck was ahead.
And Varys. Although he seemed to have made no moves after receiving news from Pentos, how could he be trusted?
It was time to go back.
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Read 777+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------