The Mountain of Ice and Fire

As the Night King prayed to the Cold God in Hearthglen, Davos Seaworth and Melisandre rode into Winterfell on Red Smoke.

Davos and Melisandre arrived shortly after the Mountain returned to Winterfell, riding a dragon.

It was late at night, and everyone except the patrolling Clegane soldiers and Winterfell sentries were asleep.

The Mountain was staying in a tall, comfortable guest room within the Stark family's main castle.

It took him an hour to fly from Hearthglen to Winterfell on the dragon. The cold air of the North at night was like knives and swords, making both the dragon and him feel the power of the cold invading. Shortly after returning, Sheep Thief was devouring large quantities of goats in the winter town. A hundred-man squad of the Burning Men were specially responsible for providing Sheep Thief with refined and delicious food. Without substantial financial resources, it would be impossible to feed an adult dragon like Sheep Thief. The Mountain had eaten dinner and entered his comfortable, warm guest room, but he was not yet asleep.

"Father, Lord Davos Seaworth requests an audience," said his adopted son, Korm Wane, from outside the door. The Mountain had not yet formally held an adoption ceremony for Korm Wane.

"Let him in," the Mountain's highly recognizable voice rumbled.

Davos Seaworth entered, his face pale and gaunt as if he were recovering from a serious illness. His clothes were dirty and torn, as if he had been fleeing for months.

"What happened?" the Mountain asked in a deep voice. "Did Shireen's army return safely?" The Mountain did not ask about Her Majesty Queen Shireen Baratheon. There were too many kings in one kingdom now; he was concerned about the legions that could fight.

Davos Seaworth had not yet answered, but there was a timely knock at the door, just one knock, followed by the voice of his adopted son, Korm Wane: "Father, Lady Melisandre requests an audience."

The Mountain glanced at Davos, then turned to the door. "Please, let her in." He used the word "let" for Davos, but "please" for Melisandre.

The door opened, and Lady Melisandre stood in the doorway. Unlike Davos, who looked dejected and like a refugee, she was still in her red robes, her skin radiant, her beautiful eyes captivating, her figure unchanged, her beauty undiminished, clean and tidy as a noblewoman.

Melisandre walked in, forming a stark contrast to Davos's dispirited and tattered appearance.

Davos said hoarsely, "Lord Mountain, military report—Her Majesty Shireen, Dowager Queen Selyse, the Shireen Legion, and my family guards have all been annihilated." His gaze was full of hostility, staring directly at Melisandre.

"What the hell happened? I held the rear in Hearthglen, burning the wights, to protect your safe retreat," the Mountain's voice became coarse. He slowly stood up, his imposing presence pressing down, his eyes sweeping back and forth between Davos and Melisandre's faces. Although Shireen's army was not large, they were all veterans who had been through many battles. In war, veterans are too precious.

"Fire, fire scar," Melisandre's voice was clear and pleasant, like a bird singing. "Reporting, Lord Mountain, only Lord Davos and I escaped. The rest were burned to death by the fire. Those who jumped into the Last River, even if they could swim, died from the freezing cold."

The cold of the North at night was like a knife, and the cold damage suffered by those who fell into the water was even sharper than a knife.

As Melisandre spoke, she walked to the brazier as if she were in her own home. Her white, beautiful hand swept over the brazier, and the charcoal inside blazed up with a whoosh.

Davos Seaworth's gaze was fixed on Melisandre, his eyes like swords, unblinking, full of hatred.

"Lord Mountain, three large ships caught fire simultaneously. The fire was fierce and unstoppable. This is clearly arson," Davos stared at Melisandre, but spoke to the Mountain. His voice was full of anger.

"Davos, why don't you directly tell Commander-in-Chief Mountain that Melisandre set the fire?"

"If not you, then who else could it be?" Davos's voice became hoarse.

"Did you see me set the fire with your own eyes?" Melisandre said lightly.

"Two days ago, what did you say to Her Majesty Dowager Queen Selyse at the docks? When the Queen Mother boarded the ship, she seemed seriously injured and in great pain. What did you talk about with Queen Selyse? You are determined to sacrifice Her Majesty Shireen to the Red God, because Her Majesty Shireen has royal blood, which can allow you to see future prophecies and increase your magical power. I have long been aware of your venomous heart. Besides you, who else could cause three large ships to catch fire simultaneously, and the fire was so fierce that even on the water, the ships were quickly destroyed."

"I don't need to burn the entire Shireen army to sacrifice Her Majesty Shireen. Lord Davos Seaworth," Melisandre snorted. She stretched out her hands over the flames, her eyes slightly narrowed. "Selyse Florent is even more eager to sacrifice Shireen. If Shireen is burned, she will declare herself queen."

The Mountain's face turned ugly. He needed the truth and didn't want to listen to their mutual accusations.

Davos sneered, "Evil sorcerers cultivate evil followers. Selyse's evil is also thanks to you. This fire burned to death…"

The Mountain reached out and waved at Davos, interrupting him and signaling him to shut up first. Davos Seaworth closed his mouth, but his eyes were still fixed on Melisandre's face. The Mountain could see that this prime minister wanted to draw his sword and slash at Melisandre's beautiful face.

"Melisandre, did you set the fire?" the Mountain asked directly, cutting straight to the point.

"Not me, Mountain." Melisandre turned to look at the Mountain, her pupils turning the color of flames, flickering with eerie firelight.

"Then who was it?" the Mountain's voice was full of threat and warning.

"Selyse Florent."

"Could Selyse cause three large ships to catch fire simultaneously?"

"She could!"

"Does she possess fire magic?"

"She doesn't, but she has the ability to order the Queen's Men to douse the large ships with wildfire. She is the Queen Mother and the leader of the Queen's Men. She is also the leader of the faithful. Who among the Queen's Men would disobey Selyse's orders?"

The Mountain was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Melisandre, why would Selyse burn three ships?"

"Sacrificing oneself to the Red God is the highest honor for the Red God's followers."

"Sacrificing everyone during a safe retreat back to Winterfell? You're lying." The Mountain's voice rose slightly. He hated hearing such hollow words.

Lady Melisandre stood up, walked to the corner, and poured herself a glass of red wine. She gently swirled the glass. "Selyse understood that the Red God is the only true god, but Stannis Baratheon is not the only true king."

"How could she suddenly understand?"

"Lord Mountain, you personally killed Stannis, and the only true king cannot be killed by you. From the moment the Battle of Blackwater Bay ended, I already knew that I was following the wrong person. Stannis was a false king. Before you killed Stannis, I didn't know Stannis was a false king either."

"If Stannis is a false king, then the Red God is a false god," Davos Seaworth couldn't help but say sharply.

"This is why Selyse Florent burned the three ships. Stannis is not the true king who will resist the Others, and she cannot accept this reality. She began to doubt the truth of the Red God, but the revelations the Red God gave us were never wrong, only we ourselves misinterpreted them." Melisandre looked calmly at Davos. The entire Shireen army was burned, and even Shireen Baratheon could not escape. Many people were innocent, but she seemed to have no guilt or sadness. This woman's heart was made of black iron!

"The night is dark and full of terrors, but the Lord of Light is the only true god," Melisandre said as if singing.

Clang!

Davos couldn't bear it any longer and drew his sword, but his hand was shaking.

Melisandre turned and sat down in front of the brazier. "Davos, you had plenty of chances to kill me when we rode Red Smoke together." This was a lie. She had a shadow assassin to protect her. If Seaworth dared to attack, he would have died long ago. She was not short of royal blood. Mance Rayder was her secret blood bank.

"I want Lord Mountain to bring you to justice. You deserve to be hanged."

"Davos, I didn't set the fire, and of course, neither did you. You are innocent, and so am I."

"Their deaths are all because of your Red God faith." Davos pointed his sword at Melisandre. "Lord Mountain, if you don't kill Melisandre, then please allow me to leave."

"Everyone is needed to resist the Others," the Mountain said coldly. "Davos, if you dare to disobey orders and leave without permission, Cape Wrath will cease to exist."

Cape Wrath was Davos's territory, where his wife, fifth youngest son, family relatives, and vassals lived.

If he disobeyed orders and left, the Mountain would slaughter Cape Wrath.

Damn it, all the people of Cape Wrath are innocent!

Davos glared angrily at the Mountain, and the Mountain was also looking at him. He could see that the Mountain was telling the truth.

A person like the Mountain, if he said he would slaughter someone, don't doubt him.

Clang!

Davos sheathed his sword and turned to leave, his back and steps full of anger.

Bang!

He slammed the door shut.

But the Mountain's voice chased after him: "Davos, Lady Melisandre didn't set the fire. I believe her. Although only the two of you survived, I also believe you didn't set it."

Davos froze!

He walked even faster!

*

"I need the truth. Melisandre," the Mountain said in a deep voice.

"Selyse hoped I could come forward to persuade you to pledge allegiance to Her Majesty Shireen, help them regain the Iron Throne, and then kill you to avenge Stannis Baratheon. I told Selyse that you are Azor Ahai reborn, the son of god, the only true king to resist the Others. She could not accept the truth that the Lord of Light is the only true god, but Stannis, who believes in the Lord of Light, is a false king. She has always been extreme, my lord." Melisandre handed the wine glass to the Mountain, but the Mountain ignored it.

"You couldn't see a prophecy?"

"The Red God didn't give me any revelations before Selyse set the fire. I cannot demand that the Red God give me the timely revelations I want. When the Red God gives me prophecies and hints is all in the hands of the Red God. God does not change according to the will of his servants."

"Davos won't believe you have nothing to do with this fire!"

"Selyse lived by faith and died by faith."

"Shireen Baratheon and many people were innocent," the Mountain said in a deep voice. He stared at Melisandre. "Your lack of reverence for life makes me feel that you are not a person."

"Mountain, I am not from the continent of Westeros. I came here from twenty thousand miles away to fight the Others with all my strength, not to compete for power and gold dragons. The Red God lives in the sky, and I am the embodiment and tool of the Red God's will. After the fight against the Others is over, if you want me to leave, I will leave immediately. If you want to execute me, I will also accept the noose." Melisandre looked at the Mountain and handed the glass of wine to the Mountain again.

The Mountain still ignored it.

"Mountain, your navy needs Lord Davos Seaworth. I suggest you send him to White Harbor and Gulltown to organize the fleets of the North and the Vale, responsible for transporting dragon glass weapons and ore from Dragonstone, as well as sea transport of supplies from the south. I'm a little surprised. It seems that the current Dowager Queen Cersei has changed her hostile strategy towards the North. I don't know why. Duchess Jeyne should arrive in King's Landing soon. We need Jeyne's raven message."

Melisandre handed the wine glass to the Mountain again.

The Mountain stared at Melisandre. After a long while, he took the wine glass.

"Melisandre, I need you to look into the flames, see where Daenerys Targaryen of the continent of Essos has reached. I don't want the Night King to attack Winterfell at the same time that Daenerys attacks King's Landing."

"Okay! If the Red God answers my request, we will be able to see Daenerys's situation." Melisandre gently put down the wine glass, and the Mountain drank the red wine in his glass in one gulp.

The two came to the brazier. Melisandre took out colorful powders from her pocket and sprinkled them into the brazier. Her lips moved slightly without making a sound. The flames began to surge and spin like waves. Soon, an anomaly appeared.

To the surprise of both of them, they saw the Iron Islands.

"That's Pyke Island," the Mountain's voice was strange.

They wanted to see Daenerys Targaryen, her legions and dragons, her navy and Dothraki cavalry, but in the flames, only the Iron Islands were shown.

"What is this revelation?" Melisandre wondered, looking at the Mountain. "Is the first place Daenerys will attack not King's Landing, but the Iron Islands?"

The Mountain was silent.

This was too strange. Melisandre requested a revelation about Daenerys, and the Red God responded, but what appeared in the flames was the Iron Islands.

Why?

What does this mean?!

Melisandre always misinterprets, but the Red God's revelations are accurate without error. The Mountain did not doubt this.

"Daenerys is going to attack the Iron Islands, but her legions are on the continent of Essos."

"She has dragons," the Mountain said in a deep voice.

Having Sheep Thief, he knew how easy it was to get from one place to another. It would only take him a day to get from the North to Dorne, while it would take the soldiers two months.

"Daenerys will use her dragons to attack the Iron Islands first?" Melisandre couldn't believe it.

"The Iron Islands have iron ore, ironborn, and a fleet, and Daenerys's naval commanders are Asha Greyjoy and Theon Greyjoy. The Greyjoy family has always been the lords of the Iron Islands, and the current governor of the Iron Islands, Count Gylbert, was formerly a vassal of the Greyjoy family."

"She will help the Greyjoy family take back the Iron Islands to establish her prestige?"

"It's highly likely that the Iron Islands' main fleet has already set sail for King's Landing's Blackwater harbor. The remaining fleet on the Iron Islands is weak. As soon as Asha and Daenerys arrive, the Ironborn of the Iron Islands will surely rise up in response. We cannot lose control of the Iron Islands."

"Daenerys will use dragons," Melisandre realized.

"We also have a dragon," Mountain said with a grave expression.

But in truth, Mountain didn't want to fight Daenerys's dragons, because the Night King was at the Hearthstone, ready to attack Winterfell at any moment. Dragons were the greatest threat and restraint against the Night King. The Night King's army of wights posed the greatest danger to mankind, but against dragonfire, they were vulnerable. No matter how many there were, they were just human-shaped candles.

"Daenerys's three young dragons are no match for Sheepstealer. Sheepstealer is two hundred and fifty-one years old, while Daenerys's dragons are only four years old," Melisandre said.

"Dragon battles inevitably lead to injuries. Daenerys has the advantage in numbers, and she is a true dragon rider, while I am a pseudo-dragon rider. The safest approach right now is to negotiate peace. Otherwise, we could easily be caught between two fronts."

"Negotiate peace? Mountain, send me to see Daenerys. I will do my best to persuade her to fight the White Walkers together."

"You are not the best choice."

"Who is?"

"Jon Snow."

"Jon?"

"Yes, there is no one more suitable than him."

Melisandre couldn't understand why Jon was the best choice for negotiation.

"If peace cannot be negotiated?"

"Then we fight! Drive Daenerys's army into the sea and kill her three dragons."

"Kill her dragons?" Melisandre's heart suddenly leaped, and an ominous thought shot up, "Mountain, the Night King can resurrect any dead person, animal, or magical creature. He can also resurrect dragons."

Thank you to [Radiation Wasteland Old Popsicle] for the reward, thank you, happy new year!