The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“The Mountain, you’ve been planning to divorce Jeyne Westerling for a long time?” Tyrion’s eyes were playful and mocking.

“Never thought about it!”

Tyrion's face hardened, as if he had been slapped hard with ridicule.

“I don’t understand what you mean! The Mountain!”

“I will not divorce Jeyne Westerling!”

“But you’re going to marry Daenerys!”

“Yes.”

Tyrion stared at the Mountain for a long while: “Frankly, Mountain, I find you very strange now.”

“The Targaryen family has a tradition of marrying to ensure the purity of the bloodline. Brothers and sisters, aunts and nephews, it’s all acceptable.”

“Um-hmm!” Tyrion made a sound from his nostrils. His nose had been cut off, exposing two black holes on his face, which affected his pronunciation of 'um-hmm'. A terrible sword scar ran diagonally across his face, making it ugly and grotesque.

“Daenerys isn’t the only Targaryen in this world. As far as I know, there are at least three other Targaryens.”

Tyrion’s neck stretched out, his eyes like those of a wary wild dog searching for food, gleaming greedily. He was shocked. The things the Mountain was telling him were beyond his comprehension, all unbelievable secrets.

“Maester Aemon Targaryen of the Night’s Watch at the Wall is a true member of Daenerys’s royal family.”

“Oh!” Tyrion had been to the Wall and had met Old Aemon, who called him a giant. Later, Tyrion liked this flattering title. Still later, a prostitute Tyrion liked, Shae, always called him the Lannister giant during lovemaking, which brought him to the peak of pleasure every time.

“Old Aemon is one hundred and two years old this year. He’s Daenerys’s ancestor. He’s blind and weak, so of course he can’t marry Daenerys. But there’s a young man, also a good friend of yours, named Jon Snow.”

Tyrion’s one eye widened: “Mountain, you want to marry the North to Daenerys? The North is already an independent kingdom, and Jon is just a bastard. Could Jon be… Absolutely impossible!”

The Mountain looked at Tyrion: “What you think is impossible is actually true. Tyrion, tell me, how did you become friends with Jon? When I was fighting the Others in the North, Jon mentioned you more than once. He said you were a true friend worth making! Jon thought I could talk to you when Daenerys came to attack Westeros.”

Tyrion’s suspicious and wary expression slowly relaxed. The Mountain’s words sounded good to him: “Jon! A young man troubled and pained by his bastard status. When I went to the Wall in 298 AC, I simply told him that dwarves and bastards are equally miserable, both objects of humiliation and contempt. But if we change our perspective, the identities of dwarf and bastard can become our strongest armor, not the opposite.”

“I told Jon that I was proud to be a dwarf. Dwarves have many advantages. For example, when escaping, I can crawl into small dog holes that others can’t. In battle, arrows can’t aim at dwarves, and enemies can’t see a half-man in the crowd. Then, Jon bought me a drink, and we became friends. He’s an upright and kind young man, and very brave.”

Arianne Martell noticed that Tyrion was actually very talkative. Once he started talking about his 'heroic deeds,' he couldn’t stop, as if he was… drunk!

The Mountain said: “Tyrion, Jon Snow’s real name is Jon Targaryen. He is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, the heir under a legitimate marriage. If the Targaryen royal family wants to take back the Iron Throne, the heir is Jon Targaryen. Another legitimate prince with more right to inherit is Aegon Targaryen VI, his half-brother, but he was killed by Arya Stark, so the next in line can only be Jon Targaryen.”

Tyrion stared blankly at the Mountain, his mouth open: “…………”

“Before Rhaegar and Lyanna fell in love, he had already divorced Elia Martell. After Rhaegar took Lyanna away in the Riverlands, he went to the Tower of Joy in Dorne. He sent someone to Oldtown to invite the High Septon of the Citadel to preside over his wedding with Lyanna.”

“...Proof... is there any proof... or is it just a lie you made up...”

“The evidence is in the library of the Citadel in Oldtown. I can ride a dragon at any time to retrieve Rhaegar and Elia’s divorce papers, and of course, Rhaegar and Lyanna’s marriage certificate. The High Septon of Oldtown is still alive; he is a witness.”

“...If what you say is true... then... why do you know everything...”

“You can think of me as a son of God, or anything else with divine powers, like a skinchanger or a greenseer. Lady Melisandre believes I am Azor Ahai reborn. She is absolutely convinced of it.”

Tyrion opened his mouth again: “…………”

After a while, Tyrion said: “The Iron Throne, you want to support Jon Targaryen?”

“Jon is the heir in line.”

“But the dynasty is no longer the Targaryen family. The heir to the Iron Throne is a descendant of the Baratheon family.”

The Mountain and Arianne looked at Tyrion strangely: Has this kid forgotten Daenerys’s kindness to him so quickly?! Ingratitude seems to describe someone like Tyrion!

Tyrion shrugged: “Mountain, I’ve been forced to betray Daenerys. I’m a despicable traitor. You gave me that title a few years ago in King’s Landing. Mountain, at that time you spread rumors throughout the city to maliciously slander the honor of the Lannister family. You called Cersei an incestuous woman, Jaime a kingslayer, my father Tywin a butcher, and me a traitor.”

“I didn’t do such a despicable thing.” The Mountain flatly denied it.

“Don’t disgust me, Mountain, I know you did it. Your people spread those four titles throughout the city and mingled among the citizens. When my father rode his horse through the streets of King’s Landing, the citizens on both sides shouted so fiercely.”

The Mountain turned to look at Arianne Martell, then back at Tyrion: “Okay, I admit, I did it. But I was forced by the circumstances at the time.”

“You are a despicable and scheming person. Based on my judgment and understanding of you now, you won’t really let the Targaryen family control the Iron Throne, because Daenerys has three dragons. Once the Targaryen family is in power, they will gradually become stronger. You can train dragon rider legions, and so can they. Mountain, why don’t you become king? Stannis, Renly, Balon, Stark, Martell, they all proclaimed themselves kings in times of chaos.”

“I can’t become king, Tyrion. My reputation… isn’t good… I’m more suitable to be the person who influences the king’s decisions…”

“Be the Hand? In charge of all military and political affairs, and trade?”

Arianne Martell said: “Tyrion, the Mountain is thinking too much. With dragons and armies, we can sit on the Iron Throne openly. Only by mastering the highest power can we promote paper money to the continent of Essos through trade and seize the wealth of the world.”

The Mountain said sternly: “Arianne, Daenerys of the Targaryen family has strength, and her influence on the continent of Essos is unprecedented. I just want to do business all over the world, develop agriculture, and promote technology. I don’t want to be a political administrator.”

Tyrion stared at the Mountain with his one eye for a long time. He didn’t believe a word of what the Mountain had just said. He slowly approached the Mountain and whispered a few words in his ear.

The Mountain stared at Tyrion and responded with a few words without moving his lips. Tyrion’s expression froze, then he understood, but a look of contempt appeared on his face.

He looked down on the Mountain’s dark methods. He silently despised the Mountain from the moral high ground, then bowed his head respectfully and said: “You are so despicable! Lord Mountain, but your idea is barely feasible. Okay, I admit, it’s a wonderful idea, but just too despicable.”

“Despicable is our passport!”

“What plan? What method? What’s so despicable?” Arianne asked, her voice loud and clear, expressing her dissatisfaction.

What secret, vile plan did the Mountain have that he could only tell Tyrion and not her?

The Mountain reached out and put his arm around Arianne: “Princess, I only figured out all the key points last night. When we go to sleep tonight, I’ll tell you the whole plan.”

“Hmm!” Arianne snorted softly. A charming smile bloomed on her previously displeased face, causing wicked thoughts to arise in Tyrion’s heart… He remembered Shae’s body, scent, voice… and that sweet “Lannister giant”...

“Is Shae dead?” Tyrion suddenly said something completely unrelated to the current situation.

The Mountain was startled, then smiled: “It seems not, but she might be dead. Only Cersei really knows Shae’s situation.”

*

A few days later.

Riverlands, a ford in the Trident River.

The army camp stretched for dozens of miles, majestic and spectacular.

Various flags representing different families fluttered in the wind.

The Baratheon stag and Lannister lion banner, the Red Kraken and Stark direwolf banner, the scorpion banner, the wheel banner, the seagull banner, the flame banner, the sickle banner, the shell banner, the rune banner, the fire tower banner, the raven and red heart banner, the white spider banner, the iron armor banner, the stone axe banner, the bull banner, the flying fish banner, the onion banner...

Scouts patrolled the entrance to the Mountains of the Moon and the opposite bank of the Trident River...

This was an army of over 30,000 men, all infantry except for the generals. The cavalry's warhorses had been used as fire horses to attack the wights in the Battle of Winterfell in the North. The Vale army and the Clegane army had both lost their cavalry's warhorses.

Although they were all on foot, their speed was not slow at all.

Of the Vale's 30,000 elite troops, only over 20,000 were returning; of the Clegane army's 15,000 men, barely 10,000 were returning.

In the central tent, Melisandre and Lady Donella Arryn were the leaders, seated high up. To their right stood Petyr Baelish, the Master of Coin, and Davos Seaworth, the Master of Ships in charge of logistics and maritime transport.

On either side of the tent were two rows of generals. On the right were the nobles from the Vale, and on the left were the generals of the Clegane army.

The noble generals on the right were led by Lord Corbray and the knights of House Royce; the generals on the left were led by Elrin, the captain of the Mountain's guard, and Ser Jekko, a general from the Westerlands. Varamyr, a skinchanger from the Free Folk who had recently sworn allegiance to the Mountain, stood behind Melisandre, becoming Melisandre and Lady Donella's bodyguard. At Varamyr's feet lay two direwolves, and on his left stood a shadowcat with eyes that shone like blue gemstones.

For Varamyr, who could simultaneously control a snow bear, three direwolves, a shadowcat, and a snow eagle north of the Wall, finding two fierce wolves and a huge shadowcat in the forests of the south to serve as his attendants was an effortless task.

With Varamyr protecting them with two direwolves and a bloodthirsty shadowcat, Lady Melisandre and Lady Donella Arryn's deterrent power was unprecedented.

Melisandre's captivating gaze swept over the generals. She was still beautiful, sexy, and enchanting, her voice clear and melodious: "My lords, generals, knights, and centurions, we have arrived at the ford of the Trident. If the army goes east, we can return to the Vale; if we go west, we can return to the Westerlands; if we go south, we will fight the foreigners of Daenerys in King's Landing... Vale generals, those who wish to return to the Vale to rest and recuperate, please step forward."

The Vale generals were all lined up on the right side of the tent. The generals' eyes were bright, and no one stepped forward.

Originally, the Vale nobles had intended to return to the Vale to rest and recuperate, and to watch the battle between the Mountain and Daenerys in King's Landing - they had originally sworn allegiance to the Mountain, but Daenerys, who had crossed the sea, had more than 2,000 warships, an army of more than 200,000, including 100,000 cavalry and 8,000 Unsullied. But these were not the main reasons. The main reason was that Daenerys had three dragons.

The three dragons strengthened the Vale army's reason to go home and rest a little before fighting again - but suddenly, news spread in the army that the Mountain's dragon had not died and had destroyed Daenerys's navy. The Vale nobles immediately changed their minds. They decided to follow Melisandre south and fight the foreign invaders to the death. As for Daenerys's three dragons, they were no longer afraid.

Melisandre's gaze went over the resolute faces of the Vale generals one by one: "Has no one returned to the Vale to rest and recuperate? If there are any generals who want to return to rest, replenish their troops and supplies, and then set off to support King's Landing, I will agree."

The Vale generals stood up straight, and still no one stepped forward.

Petyr Baelish smiled: "Lady Melisandre, although the Vale soldiers are tired, Lord Mountain's military orders are like mountains. We swear to advance and retreat with our Westerlands brothers, and to share life and death."

Lady Melisandre looked at Petyr Baelish: "Lord Baelish, you also have the title of Warden of the Vale?"

"Yes, madam. I am the Warden of the Vale appointed by Lady Lysa Tully and Duke Robert. Lord Mountain is the Warden of the East appointed by King Tommen."

Melisandre nodded slightly: "Lord Baelish, Lord Mountain is not here. You should be responsible for all the military and political affairs of the Vale soldiers."

"Yes, madam."

"Then please stand at the front of the Vale soldiers."

"As you command, madam."

Lady Melisandre looked at the Vale generals: "Generals, from now on, please report all military and political affairs of the Vale to the Warden of the Vale, Lord Baelish, and the Warden of the Vale will then relay them to me. After Lord Mountain returns, I will transfer the power to Lord Mountain."

"Yes, my lady!" the generals of the Vale roared in agreement. They were willing to heed Lady Melisandre's commands, and as for Littlefinger, strip away the title of Duke of Harrenhal, and at his core, he was still just the insignificant Lord of the Fingers, reeking of sheep dung.

Suddenly, from outside the tent, a sentry's startled shout rang out: "Brothers, look! What is that?"

The sentry pointed towards the sky.

In the high, azure sky, four small black dots appeared, one of which was particularly dark and heavy. In the blink of an eye, the four black dots rapidly grew larger, and in the time it took for a heartbeat, their ferocious visages were revealed!

Four dragons were flying in the sky, one large and three small.

Thank you [Chau534] for the reward, thank you, handshake!