The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Clang!

A golden and jade-like sound, never before heard by anyone, reverberated through the heavens and earth, its echoes long and far-reaching, stunning everyone.

The sound seemed to penetrate everyone's soul, involuntarily inspiring awe and fear in their astonishment.

Everyone looked up and saw a huge black cloud flying in the dark cyan sky.

As the black cloud approached, they realized it was not a cloud at all, but the giant silhouette of a gold-red flying beast.

"Dragon!" Many people exclaimed subconsciously.

News of the dragon's arrival in Winterfell had already spread throughout the North.

The soldiers of Last Hearth had naturally heard of it as well.

Although they had not seen it with their own eyes, the sound and the massive flying beast naturally reminded them of the dragon from the South—the Mountain's dragon!

Closer and closer, the entire Last Hearth was under an invisible pressure.

The air solidified, and everyone froze in place.

Thousands of soldiers—Northmen, Night's Watch, Shireen's men, Free Folk warriors—not a single one made a sound.

Many people's breathing stopped, and a sense of suffocation permeated the city.

The dragon's single wingspan was a hundred meters, and when both wings were spread, its enormous body was unbelievable.

Coupled with its ferocious dragon head, long neck, even longer tail, and a trunk as heavy and majestic as a mountain, the entire Last Hearth seemed to be completely covered by its wingspan.

The overwhelming pressure made people involuntarily feel a strong urge to kneel.

"Eddard Stark, I am the Mountain," the Mountain's voice boomed like a mountain collapsing, incomparably powerful.

The soldiers throughout the city were shaken!

The Mountain's voice was like thunder, carrying the dragon's might, like a giant god descending from the sky, like the Lord of Light appearing, an awe-inspiring power of unrivaled dominance burst forth, unparalleled in the world.

"Lord Mountain, I am Eddard Stark," Eddard shouted loudly.

In his heart, he had long regarded the Mountain as a divine son, and he had long decided to follow the Mountain.

To follow, not to be a follower, following implies allegiance, while to follow implies an alliance, simply taking the Mountain as his guide.

Eddard originally intended to respectfully address the Mountain as Lord Gregor Clegane, but Eddard was a well-mannered nobleman, but the Mountain called himself the Mountain, a rough martial man, unaccustomed to noble etiquette, so he did not adhere to the formalities of the nobility.

Since the Mountain did not mind his unsightly nickname at all, going along with his wishes would make it easier to get along.

In the square, the giant leader Mag, whose height exceeded two stories, looked up at the dragon and the Mountain on its back, his small eyes shining brightly.

The dragon and the Mountain's unparalleled power instantly won Mag's heart.

Giants have large noses and a keen sense of smell, but their eyes are so small that they are almost invisible.

Giants' eyesight is weaker than that of humans.

The most valiant and cruel of the Free Folk, Harma the Dogshead, took off the dog-head leather cap on his head, revealing a thick, dark face like a city wall, his eyes filled with shock…She, who never submitted to anyone, for the first time felt that she had seen a truly great warrior…The Mountain's aerial bravery and majesty…Compared to him, the Wildling King Mance Rayder's aura instantly became like rough stones and rubble…

Rattleshirt, Varamyr Sixskins, Ygritte, Samwell Tarly, Meera Reed, Queen Shireen, Ser Davos Seaworth, Tormund Giantsbane…Many fierce and valiant individuals were all subdued by the dragon in the sky and the Mountain's roar.

Varamyr Sixskins was determined to stay in the South and refused to return north of the Wall.

He had killed many Night's Watchmen and had repeatedly crossed the Wall to rob and kill Southerners.

He knew very well that after the battle with the Others, it would be difficult for him to find a foothold in the South.

Before seeing the Mountain, he had heard of the Mountain's various evil deeds and yearned for them.

He was determined to acknowledge him as his master and follow him.

Now that he had seen him, he no longer hesitated.

He looked up at the Mountain in the sky and strengthened his resolve to join the Mountain and follow him to the death.

Serving the Mountain would also provide him with a place to settle down.

When Varamyr was ten years old, he vowed to become a Southerner and live in the green lands.

Queen Selyse Florent was shocked and resentful.

The Mountain had killed her husband, forced her and Shireen to flee at night, and finally came to the Wall to live a very hard life…The Mountain was the enemy she hated most…In addition to the old hatred for her husband, the Mountain had also snatched away her Melisandre, whom she revered as a god.

This was a new hatred.

The dragon circled and swooped, and the wind from its wings blew everyone's hair into a mess, and their cloaks fluttered and crackled.

Of all the people, only Bran Stark's face remained indifferent.

The Three-Eyed Raven on his shoulder flickered its eyes, indicating that his heart was not at peace.

He had more unknowns about the Mountain and the dragon.

If God is the sun, then the Mountain is the shadow that the sun cannot reach.

The sun hangs in the sky, and all things bathe in the sunlight, but there are still many places that the sun cannot illuminate.

The Mountain's appearance and all that he had done showed that he was a human anomaly, a miracle that transcended divine revelation.

Bran Stark knew many secrets, but he could not see the Mountain's mysteries.

The Mountain had been kind to the North and to the Stark family.

This kindness was as great as the sky, and his father Eddard Stark had been completely subdued by the Mountain, but the Mountain had strongly supported Petyr Baelish to marry Lysa Tully and secretly helped Littlefinger become the Warden of the Vale.

And Littlefinger was the enemy who betrayed his father Eddard.

The lives of hundreds of people in the North were related to Littlefinger.

*

In the sky, the dragon was too big, and the square outside the main castle of Last Hearth was decorated with fire altars.

Thousands of people gathered, and the remaining space was very cramped for the dragon.

The dragon finally landed on the south gate wall.

The moment it landed, the soldiers on the wall clearly felt the slight tremor of the wall, as if a small mountain had fallen and caused a slight tremor on the ground.

The Mountain flipped over and jumped off the dragon's back.

The dragon let out a soft cry, and the soldiers on the south gate wall were all suffocated, their eyes wide, unable to believe the behemoth so close at hand.

"Open the city gate," the Mountain said to the centurion who came up to salute tremblingly.

"Lady Melisandre is outside the city."

The centurion looked outside the city.

The outside of the city was silent, the snow was white, where was Lady Melisandre's shadow?!

Suddenly, the sound of hooves broke the silence of the early morning.

The sound came from a great distance.

On the white snow, they could only hear the sound of hooves but could not see the shadow of the horse.

In the time it took for a heartbeat, a red shadow like a burning flame appeared in the distance.

The flame was like a light and shadow, as fast as a meteor, rushing towards them at an astonishing speed.

"Open the city gate and welcome Lady Melisandre back!" the centurion ordered loudly.

The sound echoed in the cold air of the early morning.

Before the words disappeared, Melisandre rode a flame-like beast to the city gate.

In the center of the beast's head, there was a sharp horn.

The Mountain's magical creature unicorn—named Red Smoke.

Ka-ka-ka-ka-ka!

The city gate opened, and Lady Melisandre rode into the city.

The Mountain had already come down from the city wall and was waiting for her behind the city gate.

When the Red Smoke beast saw its master, it came forward to rub against him, and the long, sharp horn moved the Mountain's arm, and its mouth made a slight hiss.

The Mountain patted the Red Smoke beast's head lightly and whispered to it, and the guy calmed down.

The soldiers at the city gate all looked surprised.

They had never seen such a tall and strong horse-shaped beast, nor had they ever seen a horse-shaped beast with a sharp horn on its head.

This unicorn was taller than all the strongest and bravest warhorses they had ever seen, its whole body was blood-red like a flame, and when its ruby-like eyes looked at people, every soldier felt the murderous aura approaching their hearts.

When the Red Smoke beast looked at strangers, it was like the Mountain's unsheathed Ice Sword on his back!

Dense footsteps sounded, and Eddard Stark led the allied generals to arrive.

They came to welcome the Mountain, but they were surprised to see Lady Melisandre and an unusually tall and strong horse-shaped beast.

Dowager Queen Selyse was surprised and delighted, and trotted forward to welcome Melisandre; while Queen Shireen's eyes clearly showed fear; the Onion Knight's eyes were very complicated, and his eyes were unkind and wary when he looked at Melisandre.

*

Half an hour later, in the hall of Last Hearth, Eddard invited the Mountain to sit in his right-hand seat of honor, and Melisandre sat in his left-hand seat of honor.

The three of them sat together on the high platform.

This made the knights of Shireen's army indignant.

The Queen Shireen's status was only sitting next to the Mountain, and Dowager Queen Selyse Florent's supreme royal status was only arranged to sit next to Melisandre.

However, facing the Mountain, the knights of Shireen's army dared to be angry but did not dare to speak.

After the battle with the Others at the Wall, the number of Shireen's army was less than eight hundred, which was a dynasty that could collapse at any time.

If it weren't for Eddard's nostalgia, integrity, and selflessness, this dynasty would have been annexed by the Northern Army long ago.

Eddard gave Shireen's army dignity, status, and supplies, and the strangely high morale of Shireen's army's dreamlike confidence came from their belief in the Red God, the Lord of Light, R'hllor.

The long night is dark and treacherous, and only the Lord of Light is the one true god.

Whenever morale was low, Dowager Queen Selyse Florent would loudly proclaim the Red God's faith.

The generals who followed her and joined the 'Post Party Organization' were all self-deceptively immersed in the glory of the one true god of the Lord of Light, expecting the Lord of Light to send a miracle to help them regain the Iron Throne and reproduce the great glory of the rightful king in succession.

Eddard Stark said: "Queen Shireen, Dowager Queen, lords and ladies, Lord Mountain led an army of 100,000 from the South to garrison Winterfell, providing countless supplies and food to support us in fighting the Others.

King Robb Stark of the North is Lord Mountain's deputy, and the entire allied army of the North fighting the Others is under Lord Mountain's command."

Eddard glanced around the room and said in a deep voice: "Lord Mountain is the commander-in-chief of the allied forces of the Southern Army, the Northern Army, Shireen's Army, the Night's Watch, and the Free Folk Army.

Does any lord have any objections?"

"Varamyr of the Free Folk of Thenn supports Lord Mountain as the commander-in-chief of the allied forces.

Lord Mountain, you ride the dragon in the sky, your voice is like thunder, your body is like a giant.

When you open your mouth, you conquer the heart of a villain.

I am not afraid to die a hundred times to follow you to fight against the Others," the thin Varamyr was the first to stand out from the queue, put his right fist on his left chest, bowed to the Mountain, and said flatteringly.

He stood up abruptly to report his family name, which hid his selfishness.

He hoped to pass the Mountain's eyes first and deepen his impression, so as to lay the foundation for subsequent defection and following.

*

The Mountain looked at Varamyr.

He knew this guy.

Before the time travel, he was deeply impressed by Varamyr.

He was the most powerful warg among the Free Folk, with extraordinary talent, able to simultaneously control a snow bear, three direwolves, a shadowcat, and a snow eagle.

He was also a man with a hard life.

He was short and could not grow tall like a disabled person since he was a child.

Before he showed his talent as a warg, he was the least liked little dwarf by his family.

Before the Others appeared, Varamyr's name made the Night's Watchmen of the Wall hate him to the bone, but everyone feared him.

The Mountain likes people with unique skills, and he also likes people who are conquered by his mighty aura at the first meeting and express their willingness to follow him.

I don't care if you are a monster or a god, sincere or insincere, obedience is brotherhood.

If you are still a cunning, treacherous, cruel and cold-blooded person, that's even better.

In the Mountain's army, there is no shortage of evil people, ruthless people, criminals, poisonous people, and there is no shortage of cunning, treacherous, and servile people, but there is a shortage of wargs.

As long as Varamyr does not violate military orders and takes obedience as his duty, he is a good warrior.

Other good generals and wise rulers want to be close to virtuous officials and keep away from villains, and choose people with good character to be vassals or followers, but the Mountain is not.

Bad people, villains, fierce gods, evil spirits, cold-blooded and cruel people…As long as they have unique skills, good combat power, and dare to show their favor and follow him, then he will guarantee to train you to be obedient.

*

"Varamyr, I know you," the Mountain's voice boomed in the hall.

"You are the most powerful warg among the Free Folk, with extraordinary talent, able to simultaneously control snow bears, direwolves, shadowcats, and snow eagles.

I have heard of your great name."

This made many people feel strange.

The Mountain was in the South and had never even set foot in the North, how could he know Varamyr?

The Mountain continued: "Varamyr, you have killed many Night's Watch brothers, and you have also crossed the Wall to plunder and kill in the South, committing heinous crimes…"

Varamyr's face was still calm and composed at first, but as the Mountain's tone became stern and his eyes were like knives, his face began to change.

The Mountain's power made him fearful, timid, and cowardly.

This was something he had never experienced before.

Varamyr's face gradually stiffened, and his lips turned pale.

He had many reasons to refute, and his eloquence was also very good, but in front of the Mountain, he found that any refutation seemed pale and powerless.

Becoming cowardly and timid, he looked to Rattleshirt for help.

Rattleshirt was resourceful, courageous, and a close friend of his.

He should stand up and say a few words for him to reverse the situation, but Rattleshirt was expressionless and did not meet Varamyr's eyes.

"Varamyr, now is a critical period.

The Others are our common enemy.

I will not kill you.

You said you are willing to follow me to fight against the Others and are not afraid to die a hundred times, I don't know if it's true?!"

"Absolutely true, Lord!"

"Then good, I want you to do one thing."

"Please give the order, Lord, Varamyr will obey without fail."

"Go outside the city and be bait, I want to kill that ice spider."