The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 377: The Song of the Mother (2 Updates, Seeking Subscriptions)

Maegor's Holdfast. The Great Sept.

Sansa had never seen the Great Sept so crowded, nor had she ever seen it so bright: above, in the very center of the hall, a massive beam of rainbow light diffused through the seven crystals, a breathtaking sight!

The crystals themselves did not emit light. In the center of the seven crystals was a burning brazier. The light from the brazier passed through the transparent crystals of different colors, forming mysterious and beautiful rays of light.

The sconces on the walls were filled with red candles, the flames flickering like a constellation of stars. On the altar of the Seven, the Mother and the Warrior were surrounded by candles, densely packed from the sconces to the floor. Each candle represented a heart praying for peace.

Not only were the altars of the Mother and the Warrior bathed in light, but the altars of the Smith, the Crone, the Maiden, and the Father were also filled with candles, and even the inhuman face of the Stranger had a few flames dancing beneath it... Was Stannis Baratheon the Stranger come to judge us? Sansa thought blankly. She had heard Joffrey say that Robb had declared Stannis Baratheon as king and sworn fealty to him. If Stannis smashed through the gates of King's Landing and stormed the Red Keep, would she be saved?

Unless Sansa had a chance to escape before then, whether it was Joffrey or Cersei, they would destroy her before they were destroyed!

Following the direction of the moving crowd, Sansa, accompanied by her handmaidens Shae and Jeyne Poole, paid respects at each of the seven altars, lighting a candle for each god.

The Faith of the Seven: the Father represented judgment, a long-bearded man holding scales. In Shae's eyes, the Father looked ordinary, without any dignity.

The Mother represented maternal love and nurturing. Jeyne Poole prayed to the Mother, seeking an end to the war, hoping the Mother would grant her safety and mercy.

The Warrior represented strength and skill in battle, the statue depicted a warrior wielding a longsword. There were so many candles in front of the Warrior that the septons had to add a whole row of candelabras on the ground to accommodate the people lighting candles of supplication.

In any case, people still hoped that the Warrior would grant courage and strength to the defenders of King's Landing, to defeat Stannis Baratheon and drive all the invading enemies into the Blackwater Rush.

The Maiden represented innocence and purity. Shae lit two candles in front of the Maiden. She said that one of the candles was lit for a man in her heart. She prayed that if the city fell, every woman in the city would not be subjected to the barbarity of the soldiers. She hoped that Stannis would not let his soldiers abuse the maidens and women, and children.

The bearded man holding a hammer was the Smith, representing the forging of weapons. There were also many candles in front of the Smith, as people hoped that the Smith would grant the defenders exquisite and invincible weapons.

An old woman carrying a lantern was the Crone, representing wisdom. Sansa prayed for a long time in front of the Crone, hoping that the Crone would grant her wisdom, to see clearly the enemies and friends in the chaotic and complex situation, to see through the conspiracies and schemes, and to discern the sinister or kind intentions of people.

The statue without clear facial features or gender characteristics was the dreaded Stranger, representing death and the unknown. People rarely sought help from the Stranger, and there were pitifully few candles lit in front of the Stranger's statue.

Sansa also lit a candle in front of the Stranger, secretly praying in her heart that Joffrey would fight bravely, and then be pierced through the throat by the Stranger's fingertips.

After completing their prayers, Sansa, Shae, and Jeyne found a place to sit on a bench.

The following ceremony was the singing of hymns!

The sounds of war rang out incessantly outside the city: the neighing of warhorses, the clash of steel, the roar of trebuchets, the shouts of generals, the wails of warriors, as if it were another world, another hymn.

Inside the Great Sept, the air was stifling and heavy due to the large number of people, the crystals and candlelight shimmered, and the mixture of incense and sweat created a strange odor that Sansa, Shae, and Jeyne found unbearable.

The septas stood on the altar, leading the noble ladies, courtiers, nobles, children, and youths who were restless and unable to sleep in singing hymns. Sansa noticed that fear was revealed in their eyes from time to time.

Sansa, Shae, and Jeyne also joined in the chorus. It was a song sung to the Mother:

Gentle Mother, font of mercy,

Save our sons from war and strife,

Stay the hand of foe and friend,

Guard them through the bitter life.

*

War raged outside the city, fierce and violent, and all kinds of fighting sounds darted through the streets and alleys of King's Landing like demons, shattering the tranquility of the night.

The whole city was sleepless.

Residents, refugees, nobles, guards, servants, maids, patrons, prostitutes, laborers, stablemen, cooks, orphans... hundreds of thousands of people in the whole city... everyone was unable to sleep...

In other parts of the city: the Great Sept of Baelor on Visenya's Hill, the orphanage in Flea Bottom, Chataya's brothel, the small sept on Flour Street, the inn on Silk Street, the Silent Sisters' convent on Silent Street, the Alchemists' Guild at the crossroads, Cobbler's Square, the Old Town—everyone was singing, their voices overflowing the city, crossing the river, and resounding through the night sky.

People's eyes held fear and fearlessness; despair and hope; courage and cowardice; anticipation and helplessness...

Gray-haired old servants and worried young women, maids and guards beside nobles, cooks and guests, knights and servants, squires, errand boys, and wet nurses—everyone sang the Song of the Mother together—

Gentle Mother, font of mercy,

Save our sons from war and strife,

Stay the hand of foe and friend,

Guard them through the bitter life.

…………

Sansa sang for Bran and Rickon, who were suffering in Winterfell.

She sang for Robb and her mother in Riverrun.

She sang for her father, whose life and safety were unknown.

She sang for her missing sister Arya.

She sang for her bastard brother Jon Snow, far away at the Wall.

As the images of these people flashed before her, Sansa saw her grandfather, Duke Hoster, and her uncle, Ser Edmure Tully, saw her best friend Jeyne Poole, her handmaiden Shae, the late King Robert, Septa Mordane, Jory Cassel, and Maester Luwin in the song.

The sound of fierce fighting outside the city boomed into the Great Sept, and the Mountain's roar rang out from time to time, incredibly real.

Sansa's eyes slowly turned red, and she saw the valiant knights and brave soldiers of both sides who had died in battle, saw the orphans and widows mourning them, and her eyes filled with tears as she sang for these people.

At the end of the song, Sansa saw the Mountain, Tyrion the Imp, and the Hound before her.

The Mountain was a great villain, but he appeared in the throne room when Sansa was humiliated, stopped Meryn Trant from beating her, and threatened Meryn Trant. After that, Meryn Trant and Mandon Moore, as well as the former Kingsguard knight Boros Blount, were all wary, afraid that the Mountain would find out about their bullying of her.

The Imp had also helped her several times when Joffrey humiliated her, and threatened Joffrey to be a good king.

The Hound was not a true knight, but he rescued her during the riot in King's Landing, saving her from the humiliation of the mob.

Sansa told the Mother to bless the Hound and calm the terrible anger in his chest.

In the end, Sansa sang for the Mountain, the Imp, and the Hound!

—Gentle Mother, hope of women,

Help our daughters through this pain,

Calm our fears and soothe our woes,

Guide us through this world of pain.

*

After the hymn, the septon went on stage and asked everyone in the audience to stand up, so everyone stood up.

The septon faced the Seven Gods, lit a huge red candle, and chanted prayers, calling on the Seven Gods to bless their true and noble King Joffrey.

The septon prayed that the Smith would empower Joffrey's sword and shield with divine power, prayed that the Warrior would grant Joffrey courage and fighting skills, prayed that the Father would protect him in times of crisis, prayed that the Mother would have mercy on him, prayed that the Maiden would keep him pure and kind... Finally, the septon prayed that Joffrey would lead his soldiers to defeat Stannis Baratheon and protect the safety and prosperity of the people of the whole city.

Sansa couldn't listen to this anymore. She squeezed out of the layers of people, away from the septon's disgusting flattery and false piety.

Shae and Jeyne Poole hurried after her.

In her heart, Sansa prayed to the Seven Gods: hoping that Joffrey would participate in the battle and not be a coward hiding behind others. She prayed to the Warrior, praying that Joffrey's sword would break and his shield would be pierced by a sharp arrow.

Suddenly, a night breeze brushed her face, and Sansa realized that she had walked out of the Great Sept and was standing in the shadow of the Maidenvault.

Behind Maegor's Holdfast was the Maidenvault, and behind the Maidenvault was the Great Sept.

She stood on the road between the Maidenvault and the Great Sept.

Which way to go?

Sansa felt lost.

Turn left, there was the Tower of the Hand and the godswood.

The Tower of the Hand was Jeyne Poole's nightmare. On the day Cersei ordered the gold cloaks and red cloaks to massacre the Tower of the Hand, Jeyne personally saw her father Vayon Poole fall in a pool of blood. That scene had been in her heart all the time. Every time she woke up in the middle of the night, Jeyne sobbed in the quilt—so she couldn't turn left.

Sansa turned right. On the right was the White Sword Tower, where the Kingsguard lived. On the right, there was a road leading directly to the drawbridge of Maegor's Holdfast.

Shae and Jeyne accompanied Sansa.

Along the way, except for a few patrolling guards, the entire castle was empty and silent, as if it were a dead castle.

The hymns of the Great Sept were very solemn and majestic, but they made the Red Keep even more lonely and desolate.

"I heard the sound of battle," Jeyne said, her voice filled with fear.

The whole city had songs, as if covering everything, but the sound of battle was always there. Sansa knew, Shae knew, and Jeyne Poole also knew. As long as you listen carefully, you can hear the low hum of horns, the swinging and impact of trebuchets, the splashing of water, the shattering of wood, the crackling of burning barrels of tar, the ballistae shooting out round stones or long arrows... Beneath all this was the dying screams of living people.

This was another song, a terrible song, the theme was battle, blood and death.

Jeyne pulled up her hood and covered her ears.

Sansa put her arm around Jeyne's shoulders and hurried to Maegor's Holdfast with Shae. Queen Regent Cersei assured everyone that they were safe in this castle within a castle.

The three of them arrived at the drawbridge and saw some elderly courtiers, noble ladies, and young women hurrying across the drawbridge, seeking refuge in Maegor's Holdfast.

"The real battle has begun," a noble lady whispered to Sansa, "It's terrible. The enemy's naval fleet had already been burned by the Mountain, but suddenly pirate ships came. Stannis has reached the Iron Gate."

"The Mud Gate has also started fighting. We have lost our navy. The Blackwater Rush is completely controlled by Stannis. More rebels have been transported from the other side by pirate ships and are fiercely attacking the Mud Gate," an old nobleman with white whiskers said in a low voice, his voice trembling.

"The Iron Gate was almost knocked open by the battering ram. The Mountain ordered the last few barrels of wildfire to be poured down, which burned the battering ram and drove back the rebels," a young woman whispered secretly. While speaking, she looked around, as if it was a secret that could not be heard.

"Without the battering ram at the Iron Gate, Stannis turned to the Mud Gate. I heard that the Mountain, the Hand, and the King have also gone to the Mud Gate."

Sansa wanted to get rid of these people's nagging, but she was the King's betrothed, and these guys had to come up to show etiquette when they saw her, and then started nagging.

Shae saw Sansa's displeasure, so she stepped forward and politely and firmly separated these guys, and Sansa was able to get away, crossed the drawbridge, and walked into Maegor's Holdfast.

The two guards guarding the door wore Lannister lion helmets and crimson cloaks, but Sansa knew at a glance that they were not real Lannister guards, but mercenaries dressed up to reassure the nobles.

There was also one sitting under the stairs—real Lannister guards would stand straight on guard, not sit on the steps with their halberds across their knees—

Sansa walked over with Jeyne, and the guard quickly stood up and opened the door for Sansa.

This was the minimum etiquette, and fortunately this fake mercenary had a little bit of common sense.

The real Lannister guards had all been transferred away, which showed how fierce the battle was and how critical the situation was—obviously the Mountain had transferred all the forces in the city, including the Queen Regent, to the battle.

Sansa had heard that Stannis was not easy to deal with, but she thought the Mountain was even more difficult to deal with. With the Mountain there—and the Mountain had taken her family's ancestral sword Ice—who could stop the Mountain from attacking?

Sansa couldn't imagine who could stop that fatal blow once the Mountain wielded Ice to fight. As long as Stannis was beheaded, the battle would be over.

Sansa was led by her handmaidens to the Queen Regent's Ballroom. Oswell Kettleblack, the Queen Regent's most trusted new captain of guards, stood at the door.

The captain respectfully opened the door for Sansa and her party. Many nobles, noble ladies, young women, children, and maidens had already gathered inside.

The long table was full of noble ladies with surprised and uncertain faces. There were dozens of them. Their men were fighting under the Mountain against Stannis' men, and most of them would not return. The atmosphere on each of these women's faces was heavy, and everyone's eyes were full of sadness.

As the King's betrothed, Sansa had a distinguished seat, just to the Queen Regent's right. As she was being led up to the high platform, she saw the man standing in the shadows against the back wall.

He wore black chainmail, a greatsword in his hands, the tip touching the ground, the hilt gripped tightly in his long, lean, and cold fingers, his hands clasped together.

Ser Ilyn Payne, the King's Justice!

The royal executioner!

Wherever he appeared, it was to kill!

Sansa's breath hitched, her heart leaping into her throat.

If the Mountain failed to hold the gates and Stannis won, she would surely be beheaded by Ilyn Payne first, for being the sister and daughter of traitors. Not long after Robb Stark declared for Stannis, she had been punished by Joffrey for it, with the threat that he would kill her first if need be.

Ilyn Payne sensed Sansa's gaze, and he looked towards her, his expression gloomy, making Sansa's heart leap.

Cersei sat on the high seat in the center, as if she hadn't seen her arrive, even though Sansa had politely curtsied to her.

"Osmund Kettleblack," Cersei said, her red lips barely moving.

"Your Grace, the Queen Regent."

"Go and bring King Joffrey to Maegor's Holdfast. Battle is a matter for generals and soldiers. If the Mountain and Tyrion can hold the gates, the King is of no use outside, and there is unforeseen danger. If the Mountain and Tyrion cannot hold the gates, the King should be by my side."

"As you command, Your Grace."