The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“Report!” A guardsman messenger elongated his voice as he ran into the throne room.

Cersei sat upon the Iron Throne, wearing the Queen Mother's crown, with young Prince Tommen Baratheon seated beside her.

Mother and son sat together on the Iron Throne.

All eyes were drawn to the gold-cloaked messenger rushing in.

The messenger knelt on one knee, panting, removing his helmet as his chest heaved.

Everyone in the hall watched him.

“…Your Grace… Duke Gregor is back…”

“Did he capture Tyrion?” Cersei almost stood up. She leaned forward, her voice urgent, unaware of her loss of composure.

“His captain of the guard, Ser Alyn, carries a long spear, with the head of Tyrion Lannister impaled upon its tip.”

A stir ran through the throne room!

Tyrion had served as Hand twice, accomplishing some achievements, and some courtiers felt pity for his execution. Most, however, rejoiced that the demon had been brought to justice, unable to escape the authority of Her Grace and Duke Gregor.

Cersei, hearing that Tyrion had been slaughtered by the Mountain, was overjoyed. She wanted to stand up immediately and greet the Mountain outside the gate, but she restrained herself, instead slowly leaning back and raising her chin, speaking with solemn dignity, “Where is the Duke?”

She was the Queen Mother and had to maintain her dignity. Running out to greet the Mountain for Tyrion's head would be unseemly!

“Your Grace, I saw the Duke's party returning from the Rosby Road from the walls of the Iron Gate. After confirming that Ser Alyn held aloft Tyrion's head on his spear, I immediately came down from the walls to report to Your Grace. By now, Duke Gregor must have entered the Iron Gate.”

“Go at once and greet the Duke for me, and bring him to the Iron Throne. I want to see Tyrion's head with my own eyes.”

“As you command, Your Grace.”

Mace Tyrell rose from the Small Council table: “Your Grace, Tyrion Lannister's execution is a great relief!”

Margaery Tyrell also smiled with satisfaction. She was surrounded by a dozen handmaidens. Behind the handmaidens were four knights of the Reach serving as guards.

Many Reach lords and generals echoed his sentiment.

The nobles of the Crownlands also joined in.

In the poisoning, the nobles, ladies, and maids of the Crownlands suffered the most deaths. They all felt the same way, sharing the same grief.

Oberyn had already been executed, his head covered in tar and impaled on a spear atop the walls of the Red Keep's bronze gate. Next to his head were the heads of bribed food tasters from the Reach, innocent food tasters from the Reach, and royal stewards from the Reach who were not involved in the incident, as well as several Dornish protesters. Now, only one more head was missing from the spears on the walls: Tyrion Lannister!

The throne room buzzed with discussion, interrupting the normal business of the court.

Kevan Lannister remained silent, his face expressionless.

Grand Maester Qyburn rose to speak, stating directly that Her Grace had received the light of the Seven's favor, which allowed Gregor to so easily capture the Imp and kill him.

Few found it strange that the Mountain, with his abilities, would simply cut off the Imp's head upon finding him, without any challenge.

Shouldn't the murderer be captured and questioned in detail about the poisoning in such a major case as the king's assassination?

However, given the Mountain's brutal and bloodthirsty nature, it was entirely possible that he would chase down the Imp and behead him.

It was normal for a great villain like the Mountain to do anything!

This was also the reason for the transmigrated Mountain's use of the 'great villain' persona. As long as everyone thought he was a great villain, then doing things that were illogical and unreasonable would also be logical!

Before long, the Mountain and his party arrived with the sound of horses' hooves, accompanied by a guardsman messenger and several guards captains, at the gate of the Iron Throne. The Mountain dismounted his Red Smoke Beast, and with several attendants, Captain Alyn, holding a long spear, strode into the throne room.

The entire hall turned to look at the Mountain. Ser Alyn held aloft the long spear, with a blood-dried head impaled upon its tip. Judging by the scars on the face, the hideous face crisscrossed with bloody marks, the bloodstained golden hair, the wide forehead, the enormous head, and the two unseeing eyes—one large and one small, one black and one green—it was undoubtedly Tyrion Lannister himself.

Cersei could no longer contain her excitement and stood up: “Duke Gregor, thank you for your hard work.”

Queen Margaery Tyrell bowed to the Mountain, curtsying: “Duke, thank you for your tireless pursuit of the murderer. Please accept my respect.”

The nobles of the Crownlands shouted 'Gregor Clegane's name, their emotions stirred.

Some victims rushed out of the ranks, pointing at Tyrion's head and shouting loudly. Some spat on the bloodstained, hideous head, exclaiming with contempt!

The Mountain responded kindly to the grateful nobles of the Crownlands, expressing humility.

The party came before the Iron Throne, and the Mountain bowed to Her Grace. His several attendants knelt on one knee to pay their respects.

Alyn held the spear aloft, with Tyrion's bloodied head with its staring eyes impaled upon it, causing Prince Tommen to cry out in fright.

Cersei quickly embraced Tommen, turning his head away from the bloody scene.

Tommen hugged his mother's leg tightly. He felt affection for Tyrion Lannister, and the two had established a friendly relationship. In Tommen's heart, there were two people he was closest to: first, his sister Myrcella Baratheon, and second, Tyrion Lannister.

The Mountain was the one who killed Tyrion. Although it was at his mother's command and represented the justice of the law, Tommen still couldn't bring himself to like the Mountain, and his heart was filled with wariness and subjective hostility toward the Mountain and his three attendants.

Everyone 'admired' the Imp's head, and no one doubted its authenticity. The one black and one green, one large and one small eyes were unique to Tyrion Lannister.

After receiving Her Grace's verbal praise, the Mountain and his attendants left the throne room with Commander of the Guard Bronn. They had one last thing to do: cover Tyrion's head in tar and impale it on the spear atop the walls on either side of the Red Keep's bronze gate.

Covered in tar, the carrion crows would not come to peck at the flesh on the head, and the head could be preserved for a long time, allowing those entering and leaving the Red Keep to view and admire it for a long time.

*

In the afternoon, in the Queen Mother's Ballroom in Maegor's Holdfast.

The Mountain led Alyn, Comm Warner, and Landon Garner into the ballroom, where long tables had been set up, covered with golden embroidered cloths, all expensive silks from across the Narrow Sea.

Her Grace was already seated in the main seat, with young Prince Tommen beside her. His big eyes showed hostility toward the Mountain, faint but evident.

Tommen liked Tyrion very much, and Tyrion liked him too. The two had established a friendship that transcended age. In Tommen's heart, there were two closest people: first, his sister Myrcella Baratheon, and second, Tyrion Lannister.

The Mountain was the one who killed Tyrion. Although it was at his mother's command and represented the justice of the law, Tommen still couldn't bring himself to like the Mountain, and his heart was filled with wariness and subjective hostility toward the Mountain and his three attendants.

The Mountain sat on Her Grace's left, facing Prince Tommen.

Then, at Her Grace's instruction, the Queen Mother's steward, Osbert Kettleblack, sat beside the Mountain.

The Mountain knew that this guy was Littlefinger's man, and two of his three sons had affairs with Her Grace. The eldest son, Osmund, became a Kingsguard, known as Little Mountain; the second son, Osfryd, was thrown off the city wall by the Mountain during the Battle of the Blackwater and died; and the third son, Osney, resigned from his position as captain of Her Grace's guard and became a guards officer.

The people Her Grace had specially invited to accompany them were—Lord Kevan Lannister and Grand Maester Qyburn—who sat in turn on Prince Tommen's left, opposite the Mountain and Osbert.

Six handmaidens stood beside Her Grace and the others, responsible for pouring wine, slicing meat, serving dishes, and doing everything that needed to be done.

Cersei raised her glass: “Ladies and gentlemen, please allow us to toast Duke Gregor together. This matter, although full of pain and sorrow for me, has been comforted by Duke Gregor's unparalleled bravery and the protection of the Seven Gods, so that Oberyn Martell, Tyrion Lannister, and their accomplices have all been brought to justice.”

Cersei raised her glass and gently touched the edge of the Mountain's glass, making a tinkling sound.

Everyone raised their glasses together to toast the Mountain!

The Mountain didn't decline and accepted everyone's toast, drinking the wine in his glass in one gulp.

After a few rounds of drinks, Kevan Lannister said faintly: “Your Grace, Duke Gregor, with Tyrion's execution, the position of Hand is now vacant, and we must first select a Hand.”

“Both the position of Hand and the King should be formally recommended through the Great Sept of Baelor immediately.” The Mountain said, “I propose that Tommen Baratheon be the new King. He is the only legitimate heir to the Iron Throne. During Tommen's minority, I nominate Her Grace as Regent and Protector of the Realm, exercising the King's power on behalf of King Tommen.”

The Mountain looked at the Grand Maester and Kevan Lannister: “Do the two of you have any objections?”

Qyburn ate the delicacies unhurriedly. He put down his chopsticks and took the white towel handed over by the maid to wipe his mouth: “Duke Gregor, I agree with your suggestion.”

Kevan Lannister said faintly without expression: “I also agree with Duke Gregor's proposal. Tommen is the King, and we need to ask the High Septon of the Great Sept of Baelor to crown King Tommen.”

“The position of High Septon of the Great Sept of Baelor is temporarily vacant, and the bishops are preparing a conference to elect a High Septon.” Steward Osbert said.

“That doesn't matter. When we need the High Septon to hold the throne ceremony for King Tommen, if they haven't elected a High Septon, Her Grace can order them to elect a High Septon within one day.” The Mountain said.

Cersei gently shook the red wine in her glass and said faintly: “That's easy!”

The Mountain knew that according to the trajectory of world development, Cersei would join hands with the High Sparrow, acquiescing to the High Sparrow's seizure of the High Septon's position in the Great Sept of Baelor by force, and then she would secretly ally with the High Sparrow, doing a series of stupid things that would lead to her own death.

The Mountain said: “Our kingdom has a new king, a regent and protector of the realm for the new king, and we also need a Hand. I propose that Lord Kevan Lannister be the Hand of the King, Your Grace, what do you think?”

Cersei looked at the unperturbed Kevan Lannister: “Uncle, are you ready to be the Hand of the Kingdom?”

“As you wish, Your Grace.”

Grand Maester Qyburn smiled: “Congratulations to Lord Kevan on becoming the new Hand of the Kingdom. Regarding the Hand of the King badge, it is recommended not to use the same design as the Imp.”

“I will have my own Hand of the King badge design, a necklace hanging around the neck, each ring of the necklace is a golden Hand of the King, and the Hands of the King are connected one by one through curved fingers, which is my Hand of the King necklace.”

Kevan had coveted the position of Hand for a long time, and he had even thought of the unique necklace design for the Hand of the King.

“Your Grace, Lord Kevan, we have to count the votes.” Grand Maester Qyburn said, “I received news that Lord Mace Tyrell also wants to be the Hand, and he is actively campaigning. He has already come to me, hoping that I can cast a vote for him and support him as the Hand of the King.”

“Commander of the Guard Bronn, I hope he won't vote for Lord Mace.” The Mountain said.

“Don't worry, Duke, I will talk to Commander Bronn myself.” Cersei said.

“Your Grace doesn't need to worry about this matter. I will talk to Bronn, and he will definitely vote for us.”

“Your Grace, King Tommen, Prime Minister Kevan, I hope that the position of Master of Whisperers can be filled by someone I recommend.”

Once Kevan became Prime Minister, his position as Master of Whisperers would be vacant. The Mountain single-handedly solved the poisoning case that shocked the Seven Kingdoms, and successfully hunted down the fugitive Tyrion Lannister and beheaded him upon his return. He had done a great service.

Cersei glanced at Kevan and said, “I agree that Duke Gregor can recommend a suitable candidate to be Master of Whisperers.”

Kevan said without showing any emotion: “Duke, who will you recommend to be Master of Whisperers?”

“A genius.” The Mountain said, “But I'm a little worried that Her Grace and Prime Minister may be a little unhappy.”

“Who?” Kevan asked.

“A Westerlander, my former attendant, Bernie the Lip.” The Mountain said, “I know he has talent in this area, and I hope he can become a great figure like Varys, so that he can faithfully serve Her Grace and King Tommen. I am a loyal subject of Her Grace and King Tommen, and so will Bernie be.”

Thanks to [ArthurusRex] for the reward support, thank you, handshake!