The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Jaime's eyelids twitched slightly.

He pressed his right hand to his left chest, bowed to the Mountain, and then turned and left.

*

Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella were brought before the Mountain by the cavalry captain, Damian Yolk.

Jaime, having left the Mountain's flagship, did not go far; he remained on the dock, waiting for Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella to disembark.

Jaime no longer worried about the safety of Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella. He trusted the Mountain, knowing he truly meant them no harm, which, in turn, left Jaime with a strange, faint sense of loss. This sense of loss stemmed from the inferiority brought about by the Mountain's contempt.

The Mountain was now so powerful that he didn't even bother to make things difficult for them?! Not bothering to make things difficult was a form of extreme contempt.

But perhaps the Mountain had no such arrogance; perhaps Jaime was just overthinking it. However, regardless of whether the Mountain's heart was sincere or cunning, he now possessed the strength to 'not bother' with the Lannisters.

Jaime's self-deprecating thoughts actually stemmed from his lack of confidence. This lack of confidence was brought about by the Mountain, and this thought tormented the Lannister pride in Jaime's bones like a virus.

This pride, branded by the great nobility, was already畸形!

Jaime looked at the dark mass of warships, all belonging to the Mountain, an unmatched power, grand and magnificent, impossible to defeat.

Standing on the docks of the naval port, watching the warships lined up and departing the harbor on command, Jaime clearly felt his own insignificance and helplessness.

Despite this, Jaime remained a sharp, unsheathed sword hidden in its scabbard.

*

On the flagship, the Mountain sat, not wanting to give Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella a sense of overwhelming pressure. He knew very well that in such an environment, his standing figure would be even more intimidating.

Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella were all very nervous, so nervous that they forgot they were nervous.

The Mountain gestured, and three Dothraki soldiers brought stools for Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella.

The four of them sat across from each other at the table.

The Deputy Commander of the Navy, Theon Greyjoy, with a friendly smile, poured juice for the Mountain, Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella.

Standing beside them were the stern Commander of the Navy, Asha, and the terrifying High Priest of the Navy, Aeron.

Aeron's waist-length hair and beard that reached his lower abdomen left a deep impression on the three of Connie, but what chilled them even more was Aeron's eyes. The gaze that shot out from those eyes was like nails, making the three of them feel a faint stinging on their faces. Even the toughest Ironborn often dared not meet Aeron's gaze, including some warriors who feared death not at all.

The Mountain picked up the juice, lightly touched each of Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella's cups, and raised his cup to signal the three of them to drink together. When Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella drank half a cup of juice, the Mountain saw that their nervousness had noticeably eased.

Making gestures or speaking could effectively alleviate inner tension.

"How is it?" the Mountain asked, his voice friendly, with a smile on his face.

"It's very good," Connie said.

As soon as she spoke, the atmosphere subtly eased. Connie was Cersei's personal handmaiden, lived in the royal palace for a long time, and had seen a lot of the world, including many great figures like kings and prime ministers. Tommen and Myrcella had both lived in the royal palace since they were young, living in luxury, and had the basic quality of not being intimidated in large gatherings.

The Mountain used drinking juice to adjust the tense atmosphere, and sure enough, it made the 'worldly' Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella naturally calm down a lot.

The Mountain looked at Tommen and Myrcella: "The juice is good, it's made by pressing grapes and apples together, and it also has the best honey and the finest edible spices. Can you accept this taste?"

Tommen and Myrcella nodded cautiously, indicating that it was very delicious.

"Tommen, your arms look very strong. Have you been practicing martial arts with your father?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Tommen said awkwardly.

The Mountain of the past had also called Tommen Your Majesty and had served as a guard to protect Tommen, but at that time, Tommen was still a Baratheon, not a Lannister.

"What did Ser Jaime teach you? Swordsmanship? Horsemanship? Archery? Hand-to-hand combat?"

"Swordsmanship, close combat."

"Let me see your arm."

Tommen raised his arm, pulled down his sleeve, and revealed his strong little arm.

"Not bad, do you like short sword fighting?" The Mountain noticed that Tommen had a short sword at his waist.

"No, Your Majesty, I... don't like... practicing martial arts, nor do I like any form of fighting."

"Oh! Then you can't become a glorious knight," the Mountain laughed.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I have no desire to become a knight, but I will practice swordsmanship and close combat diligently, which can protect Mother Connie and Myrcella."

The casual conversation made Tommen become more calm, but he himself did not notice this change.

The Mountain looked at Myrcella: "Myrcella, your golden hair makes you look even more beautiful."

"...Thank you... Your Majesty... for the compliment..." Myrcella's face turned slightly red, and she looked down at her toes.

"Asha, can I ask you to do me a small favor?" The Mountain said with a smile to Asha standing beside him.

"Please command, Your Majesty."

"Take Tommen and Myrcella down, let them wash the dirt and grime off their faces, and change into clean clothes. If there are no suitable ones, send someone to buy them, high-end clothes that match their Lannister status."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Asha took Tommen and Myrcella down, leaving only Connie in front of the Mountain.

"Connie, are you and Jaime married?"

"We haven't formally held a wedding, Your Majesty."

"Oh, so the two of you are just together like this."

"Yes, we took care of each other during the escape, Jaime is a very good person, and then we... got together."

"Connie, do you hope that your unborn child will continue to wander with you, or do you hope that the child can return to Westeros, or even become the lord of a castle?"

"...Your Majesty... we... Jaime he..."

"Jaime has hatred for me, I killed Lord Tywin. But that was war, we all had no choice, just like facing those damned Others, except for fighting, no one can survive."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I can understand," Connie said in a low voice.

The Mountain paused for a moment, then changed the subject: "Connie, if Cersei were still in this world, do you think Cersei would want Jaime to take Tommen and Myrcella to wander around homeless?"

"Absolutely not, Your Majesty. Cersei would definitely not agree to Jaime constantly fleeing to the east. There is no Lannister homeland in the eastern world, nor is there a Lannister root."

"You're right, Connie, then would Cersei want Jaime to return to Casterly Rock to inherit the lordship?"

"Oh!" Connie was incredulous and excited, "Your Majesty, gods bless, that must be the most beautiful hope in the world, Your Majesty." Connie's eyes were slightly red, and her voice trembled.

"But Jaime will not accept my kindness, he is extremely arrogant in his heart. But I will not let Jaime accept my kindness either, I am equally arrogant. I have an idea, Tommen and Myrcella are both Lannisters, according to the laws and ancient ways of Westeros, I can designate the heir to Casterly Rock. Connie, I am considering appointing Tommen Lannister as the heir to Casterly Rock. Tommen is a kind-hearted boy, he doesn't love practicing martial arts in his heart, he is more suitable for studying literature, and the maesters of Oldtown may be his best teachers."

"Your judgment of Tommen is accurate, Your Majesty, Tommen's personality is more suitable for studying literature! I am very grateful to you... for your willingness to appoint Tommen as the heir to Casterly Rock."

The Mountain smiled slightly: "Connie, I guess Tommen and Myrcella actually didn't want to continue wandering with Jaime for a long time, right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I want to return Casterly Rock to the Lannisters because Jaime has made great contributions in the decisive battle against the Others. Great contributions should be rewarded. I returned Casterly Rock to the Lannisters, but not to Jaime Lannister, because Jaime cannot let go of his hatred for me. Tyrion Lannister has never been blinded by hatred, and after he swore allegiance to me, I appointed him as the governor in Braavos."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Connie, do you hope that your child can have a castle in the Westerlands after birth and become a nobleman?"

"I am very eager, Your Majesty." Connie got up, knelt down on both knees to the Mountain, and kowtowed on the deck.

"Good, Connie, I want you to swear allegiance to me! Never betray, are you willing?"

"I can't wait, Your Majesty."

*

Jaime stood on the dock, not knowing how long it had been, about half an hour, or two hours, or even longer, he finally saw Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella appear on the gangway of the flagship.

Jaime felt something was wrong—he saw that Connie's hair was adorned with golden ornaments, which she didn't have before; Tommen had changed into high-end clothes with silk reflections; and Myrcella, had put on a brightly colored dress, and her golden hair had also been re-combed, draped over her shoulders, and the whole person had completely changed, as beautiful as an angel.

Jaime couldn't believe his eyes.

He didn't know what the Mountain said and did with Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella, he only saw that the changes in the three people were huge.

Several Unsullied soldiers escorted Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella to Jaime.

Connie's eyes were tearful, her expression was excited, her appearance and temperament were completely new, and her face seemed to have light: "Jaime, we don't need to go east anymore."

Jaime frowned slightly: "The Mountain promised not to make things difficult for us? So you want to continue to stay in Qarth?"

Tommen said: "Father, we will return to Westeros, to the Westerlands."

"What did you say?"

Myrcella smiled sweetly: "Father, Tommen has been granted the title of Earl by His Majesty the King, and he is also the Lord of Casterly Rock."

"............"

Connie said excitedly: "Jaime, Tommen is also the head of the Lannister family, we—you, me, and Myrcella, including Governor Tyrion Lannister, and the branches of the Lannister family in the Westerlands, Tommen has become the head of the family."

"............"

Jaime was speechless.

Tommen said: "Father, we have knelt down and submitted to His Majesty the King, and swore allegiance to His Majesty the King in the name of the honor of the Lannister family and the gods, never to betray."

Jaime Lannister's heart constricted! He saw Tommen turn into two figures.

Tommen showed a bright smile on his face: "Father, these six Unsullied soldiers are specially arranged by His Majesty the King to protect us. We will live in His Majesty's palace for a few days, and then take a boat back to Westeros under His Majesty's arrangement."

"...No..." Jaime said subconsciously.

"Father, if Mother Cersei were still here, she would not agree to you taking us to the farther east, where there is no home for us, no vassals, no territory, and no roots of the Lannister family. Mother must only want me and Myrcella to return to the Westerlands, to our home, to Casterly Rock. Mother would never want me and Myrcella, and you to wander around, living a life of begging. We are nobles, not mercenaries who live by licking blood from the knife's edge, Father! The home of the Lannister family is in Casterly Rock."

"............"

Jaime was speechless, and a thousand whistles were blowing in his ears.

Connie stepped forward and took Jaime's right hand, and wrapped her other hand around Jaime's waist: "Jaime, we should go home, thank the gods, thank His Majesty the King for his magnanimity and grace."

Jaime's heart was filled with mixed feelings, he forced himself to calm down and regain his composure. He looked at Connie, looked at Tommen and Myrcella, all three of them were glowing with radiance on their faces. Connie and the children had indeed suffered a lot with him, they had been suppressed for too long, because they were afraid of touching his temper, Connie and the children had been cautious and submissive all the way, trying to follow his wishes as much as possible.

However, now that Tommen is a noble Earl, and also the head of the Lannister family, according to the Lannister family rules, although he is Tommen's father, he must listen to Tommen's advice and respect his decision. If he still considers himself a Westerosi, then the laws of Westeros also stipulate that in the event of a disagreement, the head of the family or a nobleman with a higher title has absolute authority.

Jaime is a knight, and the lowest title is knight. Knight is a title of honor, which must be bestowed by another knight or a nobleman with a higher title, and the knight title cannot be inherited. Jaime's knight status is much lower than Tommen's Earl status.

Unlike the radiance and joy of Connie, Tommen, and Myrcella, Jaime was full of bitterness. He said in a low voice: "Okay, we... go home."

"Yes, Father, we go home," Tommen Lannister said, the little Earl straightened his chest, "Ser Jaime, you should probably go to the flagship to express your gratitude to His Majesty the King."

"In the name of the gods," Jaime's voice was quite unnatural, "I am full of gratitude to our King, but let's go to the plank house to pack things up first."

Myrcella smiled sweetly: "Father, we don't need the rags in the plank house anymore. His Majesty the King has lent us a large sum of gold coins, and we now have to go to the best formal dress shop in Qarth to buy a batch of high-end and beautiful clothes, and hire two Qartheen maids, otherwise, we will be looked down upon by the nobles of Qarth when we enter the palace."