Black soil, white wood, that was all there was in the cave.
This place was far beyond The Wall.
Beneath the nameless frozen hills were countless connected caves, extending deep underground. No one had ever explored all these dark passages.
"The dead are increasing."
A sweet, high-pitched voice sang mournfully.
She looked like a little girl, with large eyes that were a mix of gold and emerald green, and colorful, messy hair interspersed with twigs and flowers.
She wore a cloak made of leaves, and her dark brown skin had spots like a doe.
An elf.
She was a Child of the Forest.
But in their own language, they were "Those Who Sing of the Earth".
The Three-Eyed Crow in the Weirwood throne let out a hoarse whisper, "The Great Other's minions have awakened, but we still have hope. The dead they control cannot cross the magic at the cave entrance."
An Other could turn thousands, even tens of thousands, of dead into Wights under its command.
The Child of the Forest looked worriedly at the old man, who was so ancient he was almost decaying. The old man had merged with the Weirwood, most of his flesh turning into pale bark and wood.
Except for one bright red eye and pale long hair that reached his waist, the old man was a talking human face on the Weirwood.
This was the "Last Greenseer".
Originally, the Greenseers were the heritage of the Children of the Forest, but now they were on the verge of extinction, and had to rely on the wise among humans.
Brynden Rivers.
This old man had once ignited hope in them, but now it seemed the Doomsday of their people was still unavoidable.
"Greenseer, perhaps we will all return to the earth with you."
She knew.
The old man had long exceeded the lifespan of mortals, and had lingered in the world these past years through sheer determination, but he had finally reached his limit.
Perhaps in a few months, perhaps in a year or two, the old man would reach his final destination.
"Bloodraven" Brynden had not given up.
"No, I have found a new Greenseer for you. He will do much better than me, and he will help the world stop The Great Other's plot."
She knew this successor.
Brandon Stark, who had been granted the Greenseer's talent, and had received the old man's attention and care since birth.
What a pity.
"Didn't that child go further south, to the plains that were once lush forests?"
Bloodraven was both hateful and regretful about this.
Things shouldn't be this way. I watched him for so many years, how can it end like this?
He was unwilling.
He was Brynden Rivers, the famous "Lord Bloodraven", of noble Dragon Bloodline. His past deeds had now become legendary tales.
People said he had a thousand and one eyes, and was an evil Wizard.
So what?
The slander and fear of the ignorant precisely proved that his existence could not be underestimated.
Even after being exiled to The Wall, losing everything he once had, he became the Lord Commander of The Night's Watch.
He gradually grew old.
The Gods be praised, he met the Children of the Forest beyond The Wall when he was over seventy.
Fate favored him.
He became the Greenseer in the Haunted Forest, the Three-Eyed Crow, and had lived until now.
Although he could no longer walk on the earth, he could fly. He had ten thousand, a hundred thousand, a million eyes, and he could see the entire world.
He still didn't want to die.
Bran was the best chance.
He could start anew through him, use the power of the Seven Kingdoms to resist the Others, and reclaim the Dragon throne.
"The trajectory of destiny has been disrupted by someone who shouldn't have appeared. As long as we correct it, that child will understand the mission he carries."
She looked at the old man with clear yet ancient eyes, "How do we correct it?"
He said, "That person possesses power that doesn't belong to the human world – Fire, steel, eyes. Perhaps he is the calamity we must face."
Brynden recalled the scenes he had seen.
"You are the only one in the tribe who understands the common tongue. I need you to go personally, take a few strong tribesmen, and bring that person back."
Hesitating for a moment, Brynden decided to reveal some of his trump cards.
"Take my crow. It will find the human skinchangers in the forest. These people can help you."
She saw the anticipation in the old man's eyes.
For many years, they had only hidden from the sight of humans. Now they were to actively attack humans?
The one who shouldn't appear. She imagined what he looked like.
She was a little scared, but she knew: she should follow the instructions of the Greenseer. The Greenseer could see everything.
"I understand, Greenseer."
Hopefully, this journey would be smooth. She turned and walked out of the cave step by step.
Another whisper came from behind her, "Take this sword. Those humans will probably find it useful."
She turned back and saw a slender, pitch-black longsword.
She had traveled the human world for two hundred years.
She knew its name, "Dark Sister."
The black crow flew out of the cave.
The Children of the Forest followed closely with their companions.
Many dead people were buried in the heavy snow outside the cave. The breath of life quickly awakened them, and the dead opened their eyes.
Large groups of wights rose from the ice and snow, surging towards the Children of the Forest.
Is the servant of the Great Other watching? she thought.
Her own companion was a fox. The other six members of her tribe rode brave beasts.
The sharp claws of the shadowcat could tear a dead person apart in just a few swipes. The wild boar, relying on its powerful body, charged through, plowing a path.
The crow in the sky circled slowly, completely unaffected.
They quickly broke through the encirclement.
She breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed they were just mindless dead.
Wights under the full control of the Others were much smarter. Coupled with a numerical advantage, they would at least be much more troublesome.
The crow flew southwest.
Her tribesmen looked at her, their eyes filled with both eager excitement and worry about unknown dangers.
She sang to her tribesmen in the Old Tongue: "The earth blesses us, the forest blesses us. The last Greenseer has an heir, correcting the trajectory of destiny. The tribe will surely flourish as before."
Out of trust in the Greenseer, the Children of the Forest left their last home.
...
"Ahem, let me say something. Since that lord has given the order, everyone must obey and not act on their own!"
A tall human riding a mammoth shouted loudly.
The Free Folk erupted into a clamor, everyone vying to express their opinions, no one yielding to anyone else.
The Children of the Forest looked at this scene blankly.
She wasn't too surprised. Compared to her tribesmen in their home, years of traveling had made her understand many strange reactions of humans.
The humans outside the Wall were not as united as those inside the Wall, but they wouldn't suddenly have particularly large conflicts either. She knew that time would make these humans quiet down.
The helpers the crow found were all here. The group was about to head to the Wall.
She now had much more confidence.
Over five hundred strong humans, over thirty skinchangers.
Wild boars, snow bears, shadowcats, mammoths, direwolves, grey wolves, foxes, goshawks, crows, wild dogs...
No matter how terrifying the one who shouldn't appear was, he wouldn't be able to resist now, right?
She smiled with pleasure.
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