Tell me, did you ever wonder why the men of the Night's Watch take no wives and father no children?
No.
So they will not love. Love is the death of duty. lf the day should ever come when your lord father was forced to choose, between honour on the one hand and those he loves on the other, what would he do?
He...He would do whatever was right. No matter what.
Then Lord Stark is one man in 10,000. Most of us are not so strong. What is honour, compared to a woman's love? And what is duty, against the feel of a newborn son in your arms? Or a brother's smile?
Sam told you?
We're all human. Oh, we all do our duty when there's no cost to it. Honour comes easy then. Yet, sooner or later in every man's life, there comes a day when it is not easy. A day when he must choose.
And this is my day? ls that what you're saying?
Oh, it hurts, boy. Oh, yes. I know.
You do not know. No one knows. I may be a bastard, but he is my father and Robb is my brother!
The gods were cruel when they saw fit to test my vow. They waited until I was old. What could I do when the ravens brought the news from the South? The ruin of my house. The death of my family. I was helpless, blind, frail, but when I heard they had killed my brother's son, and his poor son, and the children. Even the little children!
Who are you?
My father was Maekar, first of his name. My brother Aegon reigned after him, when I had refused the throne, and his son was Aerys whom they called "The Mad King."
You're Aemon Targaryen!
I am a Maester of the Citadel, bound in service to Castle Black and the Night's Watch. I will not tell you to stay or go. You must make that choice yourself and live with it the rest of your days, as I have.
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