The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“James said you heard some things in Dorne,” said the Mountain.

“Yes, my lord. In Sunspear, Doran Martell said that across the Narrow Sea, the Mother of Dragons has a dwarf prime minister named Tyrion Lannister.”

“Doran Martell?”

“Yes, my lord. Prince Martell's information comes from across the Narrow Sea.”

“Hearsay? Martell family spies? Or rumors from trading captains?”

“Lord Gregor, Prince Martell has very reliable channels for this information. His wife was Mellario of Norvos, from the most powerful noble family in the Free City of Norvos. After Prince Doran divorced her due to his leg ailment, Lady Mellario returned to Norvos, but maintained close ties with Doran. The information about Lord Tyrion comes from Lady Mellario of Norvos. Prince Doran assured us in the name of the Seven Gods and the honor of his family that his source is accurate,” said Podrick uneasily.

Everyone knew that the Iron Throne had credited the Mountain with a great achievement: killing the Imp who had escaped from the Red Keep's black cells.

Not only King's Landing, but also the people of the Seven Kingdoms, knew that the Mountain had beheaded the escaped Imp.

Cersei ordered the Imp's head, covered in tar, to be moved from the walls of the Red Keep and displayed on the square walls of Maegor's Holdfast.

But in fact, the Imp was not killed by the Mountain! — Jaime, Bronn, and Podrick knew the inside story. The Mountain had once framed Jaime for letting the Imp go, and Cersei had strictly ordered the Mountain to hunt down the Imp, dead or alive. So the Mountain found a head on the Claw Isle, borrowed an eyeball from the Imp, and finally deceived Cersei.

The Imp's eyes were of different sizes, one black and one green, more impressive than his dwarfish stature!

The Imp had a terrible scar across his nose, which marred the overall ugliness of his face. Scars and ugly faces are easy to fake, but the Imp's unique eyes cannot be faked.

The Mountain took one of the Imp's green eyeballs without the Imp's full consent, in exchange for the Imp's life!

The Imp now wears a black eye patch, in addition to the terrible, conspicuous scar on his face. His dwarfish appearance, the scar on his face, and the black eye patch, if enlarged to a normal person, would make him the best image ambassador for a vicious pirate.

In Dorne, Doran Martell told Jaime Lannister, Bronn, Podrick, Princess Myrcella, Kingsguard Arys Oakheart, and the accompanying court scholar about the information from Mellario. Prince Doran guaranteed that the information he knew was accurate: the Imp's head that the Mountain handed over to Queen Cersei was fake, the Imp was not dead, he was across the Narrow Sea, and had become the prime minister of the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys.

Serving Daenerys Targaryen alongside the Imp were also the former Master of Whisperers, Varys, and the former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, the fearless Ser Barristan Selmy.

Prince Doran Martell hoped that Jaime Lannister, after learning the truth, would return to King's Landing and kill the Mountain, who had committed the crime of deception!

In the hearts of the people of King's Landing and the Seven Kingdoms, the Imp was not a good person with a good reputation, but a hateful half-man. Once the news of the Mountain's deception of the royal family spread, if the Imp incident were announced to the public by the royal family, it would tarnish the Mountain's soaring reputation and lose credibility in the hearts of many.

But if Jaime really did what Prince Doran expected, it might force the Mountain to raise his banners, choose a side, declare allegiance to the Mother of Dragons, or even rebel, threatening Tommen I to seize the Iron Throne.

Jaime did not tell anyone this news, including Hand of the King Kevan, he kept his mouth shut. After meeting the Mountain, he used this news to reach some political deals with the Mountain, including letting Waggener Gelt give up the position of Master of Ships.

Jaime was not rash or radical, he was afraid of falling out with the Mountain. With the Mountain's martial power, if the royal family really wanted to punish the Mountain for this crime, there might be a result that Jaime was most worried about: the net was broken, but the fish did not die!

The fate of Hand of the King Kevan was a ringing alarm!

Jaime suppressed the news—although he knew that the Imp was not dead, others did not know, Princess Myrcella, Kingsguard Arys Oakheart who protected the princess to Dorne... The court scholars, guards, Kingsguard, and knights who returned to King's Landing from Dorne kept silent about the 'Imp incident' that Prince Doran had said, and no one leaked a word after seeing Queen Cersei.

But in fact, it was only a matter of time. Captains and mercenaries trading between the two sides of the sea would eventually bring the news of the Imp to King's Landing, and it would be blown by the wind to Cersei's ears, Mace's ears, the King and Queen's ears, and the ears of other dignitaries...

A bad reputation does not have much impact on the Mountain's current military strength, but the Mountain does not intend to use this to overturn the Iron Throne's dining table.

Launching an unjustified war and making enemies of the Seven Kingdoms after overthrowing the Iron Throne is the fastest way to die!

Moreover, the Mother of Dragons will cross the sea to compete for the Iron Throne. Now, whoever sits on the Iron Throne is the person the Mother of Dragons cares most about and wants to conquer the most, and he will attract the Mother of Dragons' firepower.

The Mountain doesn't want to be targeted by the Mother of Dragons first!

Let the Mother of Dragons target anyone else!

According to the previous world trajectory, even the White Walkers and wights cannot change Daenerys' ambition to finally compete for the Iron Throne.

The Mountain is still flying the banner of allegiance to Tommen today, and he cannot do anything to overturn Tommen's throne because of the 'Imp incident', which is not worth the loss.

The nobles can accept the Mountain as Master of War, but they will not accept the Mountain's tyranny of overthrowing the Iron Throne 'because the Imp incident was exposed and he resisted the royal family'.

The Mountain is rebelling against King Tommen without a just cause!

Even if the Mountain's military strength is currently the strongest and can easily defeat the Iron Throne, the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms can accept the Mountain as Master of War, but they cannot accept the Mountain sitting on the Iron Throne.

The Mountain needs Jaime to quell the Imp incident within the royal family, block the news, and degrade the Martell family's claims to rumors in front of the Queen Mother and the King.

Jaime has scruples, and the Mountain also has scruples.

So the two met with ulterior motives and reached a political compromise with each other.

The Mountain has a new plan for strong troops, strong territories, and strong wealth, and he needs time to make himself stronger. Jaime did not dare to offend the Mountain too much, for fear of backfiring. At the same time, he was also grateful to the Mountain for finally letting the Imp go.

*

“Besides the matter of the Imp Tyrion, what else did you hear?” asked the Mountain.

“My lord, it seems... there's nothing else. I don't know if I should say something... Princess Myrcella seems to have fallen in love with Prince Trystane. She doesn't really want to leave Dorne, she wants to marry Prince Trystane,” Podrick said, thinking. His expression was restrained and shy.

Princess Myrcella likes Prince Trystane, which is the same as in the original world trajectory. It's just that Dorne's heir, Miss Arianne, is not Oberyn's mistress, Ellaria Sand. Arianne did not poison Princess Myrcella. When Myrcella left Sunspear, Ellaria was still in King's Landing, and Arianne had not yet successfully usurped the throne.

Apart from being confused about Cersei, Jaime is not a confused person in other matters.

“Podrick, Jaime has assured me that he will not mention the Imp across the Narrow Sea to Cersei. Even if Ser Arys reports to Cersei, he will convince Cersei to believe it is a rumor. Do you believe Jaime's guarantee?”

“...Uh...I will believe...” Podrick's tone was uncertain.

The Mountain killed Kevan, and Kevan is a Lannister, and Jaime is also a Lannister. Lannisters always pay their debts! Podrick was not completely sure whether Jaime would abide by his promise to the Mountain.

You can tell what Podrick is thinking by looking at the expression on his face. His statement does not match his tone.

“Okay, let's not talk about the Imp and Jaime. I want to talk about you now. You have returned to King's Landing from Dorne, and I want you to return to the guard and continue to be my squire.”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Jaime recommended you and Bronn at the Small Council meeting to be the captain and vice-captain of the Maegor's Holdfast Guard. If you were to choose, would you rather be the vice-captain or stay by my side?”

“I choose to stay by your side, my lord!” Podrick said very seriously immediately.

“Oh, why?”

“I can't be a captain, I don't have the confidence and ability to lead troops.” Podrick's face turned slightly red. He looked at the ground, and his lack of confidence made him look like an immature child. “I would rather be a small squire by your side, serving you and fighting for you.”

“Okay, we will set off tomorrow and take a boat from Blackwater Rush to Gulltown.”

“Gulltown?” Podrick's surprised voice.

“Yes. His Majesty the King and Hand of the King ordered me to lead troops to threaten the Vale, to put pressure on the Vale's great nobles. We will do sabotage until Littlefinger Petyr Baelish comes forward to make peace, and then we will withdraw our troops. Let the Vale nobles understand that Littlefinger's weight is unmatched by them.”

“Increase Lord Petyr's prestige among the Vale nobles?”

“Yes. The royal family hopes that Littlefinger can help them pacify the Vale. After we withdraw from the Vale, the King and Hand of the King want me to lead troops to pacify the Riverlands again and make peace with the King in the North, Robb. Make peace, not conquer.”

Podrick wrung his hands together, his expression a little uneasy. Why did Lord Mountain tell him, a small squire, these important things in detail? He would just follow the order and set off. However, from the lord's words and deeds, Podrick keenly felt that the lord valued him much more than in the past, and this importance made Podrick a little uncomfortable.

*

The next morning, Hand of the King Mace had just walked out of his bedroom and entered the dining room when a guard hurried to report.

“Lord Hand, the Mountain led his troops away from Blackwater Rush, and more than half of the Royal Navy fleet was taken away by him and his soldiers.”

Lord Mace's face, which had been smiling easily, suddenly stiffened, as if he had been slapped.

“Doesn't the Mountain have the Dragonstone fleet's warships to use? I didn't approve him to mobilize the Royal Navy fleet to go to Gulltown.”

“The warriors and captains of the Royal Navy fleet voluntarily followed the Mountain's Dragonstone fleet.”

Mace shook his head, his eyes very puzzled: “Does Ser Bonifer Hasty know?”

“Commander Hasty is at the Blackwater Rush Royal Navy port. He tried hard to persuade the Mountain to leave some warships and soldiers behind.”

Mace was stunned for a while: “How dare Bonifer Hasty not stop the Mountain from mobilizing the Royal Navy fleet? He is derelict in his duty!” Mace took a breath and found that Commander Hasty should bear this responsibility.

“Lord Hand, Commander Hasty did not dare to use force. The soldiers and captains of the navy fleet were all going to follow Lord Waggener, and Commander Hasty jumped onto the warship King Robert, blocked the Mountain's Dragonstone, and half-hard and half-humbly persuaded the Mountain to leave thirty warships and two thousand soldiers behind.”

“Lord Hasty is too weak, he is the acting Master of Ships and commander of the City Watch, he has failed my trust in him and disappointed His Majesty the King's expectations of him.” Lord Mace expressed angrily.

*

Maegor's Holdfast, Kingsguard Captain Jaime was on the walls of Maegor's Holdfast, and a guard was reporting to him.

“My lord, the Mountain's cavalry and the Dragonstone fleet were stationed at Mud Gate last night. Early this morning, the Mountain and his soldiers all set sail, and most of the Royal Navy's warships and soldiers followed Waggener and Lord Mountain.”

Jaime was expressionless.

This is in line with the Mountain's style of doing things, but he was also prepared for it.

If most of the Royal Navy's warriors were still from the Claw Isle, Jaime would not be relieved. The Royal Navy fleet and the Maegor's Holdfast Royal Guard must be completely loyal to the royal army, and not to anyone else.

With the support of the Tyrell family, supplies and food are guaranteed, and Hand of the King Kevan's loan to the Iron Bank allows the royal treasury to have enough money to re-establish a new loyal legion.

“Go tell Commander Bonifer Hasty that I suggest he let the Mountain and his people all leave, do not stop them, and do not conflict.”

“Yes, my lord!”

The Kingsguard Captain is a royal privilege figure who can order other nobles and generals. Without Cersei by his side, Jaime is very sober!

A short while later...

“Report!” A Hand of the King messenger came, “Lord Jaime, Lord Hand believes that Commander Bonifer Hasty let go of the Royal Navy fleet to follow the Mountain. He believes that Bonifer Hasty lacks the courage and is not suitable to be the acting Master of Ships. He hopes that you can go to the Royal Navy port to stabilize the morale of the army.”

Jaime frowned slightly. Bonifer Hasty's loyalty is beyond doubt. Faced with the heavily armed Mountain, let alone Commander Hasty, in fact, no one dared to use force: “Soldier, please tell Lord Mace that I will immediately go to the Royal Navy port on behalf of His Majesty the King to visit the soldiers.”

“Yes, my lord!” The Hand of the King's messenger saluted and left quickly.

On the walls of Maegor's Holdfast, the newly appointed captain of the guard, Bronn, chuckled: “Lord Jaime, Lord Mace is indeed an inflated fish!”

Bronn always speaks recklessly, but Jaime likes his nature. Bronn is not a loyal person, but he is very useful, and that's enough!

“Lord Bronn, it's best not to say that Lord Mace is an inflated fish in front of Ser Garlan Tyrell.”

“Okay, my lord!” Bronn shrugged indifferently.

Garlan Tyrell was in the Queen's chambers in Maegor's Holdfast, accompanied by a team of knights from the Reach—six swords in all—responsible for the safety of Queen Margaery and King Tommen.

Jaime crossed the bridge to Maegor's Holdfast, and Bronn drew his longsword, issuing the command: "All soldiers on the walls, in pairs, practice thrusting and parrying."

This was a newly formed guard, mainly composed of soldiers from the Crownlands and the Reach, with twenty swordsmen from Bronn's Stokeworth lands.

*

On the Blackwater, the Mountain led the Dragonstone fleet, a cavalry contingent, and over forty warships from the former Royal Navy fleet in a mighty procession towards the waters of Dragonstone.

Thank you to book friend [Bai Jia Hei] for the reward support, thank you, handshake!