The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Night. The Red Keep. Maidenvault.

Missandei brought Daenerys a goblet, the wine within as red as blood.

“Your Grace, the Mountain's wildfire bombs today and his designs for dragonfire cannons fill me with dread and fear.”

Daenerys took the goblet and sipped a small amount. The slightly sweet and sour taste that she usually found pleasant had turned bitter. The unpleasant sensation flowed down her throat, the astringency of the wine lingering on her tongue, making her want to vomit. But she continued to drink with grace and composure, as if the wine still smelled fragrant.

Daenerys felt extremely dejected, as if she hadn't heard Missandei's words. She carried her goblet to the window and gazed out. On the summit of Rhaenys's Hill opposite, there was a huge ruined structure: the Dragonpit. Her three dragons, Aegon, Rhaego, and Viserys, and the Mountain's dragon, Sheepstealer, lived there, attended to by the Mountain's catering team of hundreds.

Missandei walked quietly to Daenerys's side. The courtiers and generals of the past were no longer here, scattered in all directions. She had become the hope of all the former courtiers and generals, who, before being driven out or killed by the Mountain, had entrusted Missandei to take good care of Daenerys.

“…Your Grace, perhaps assassination is the only way we can defeat the Mountain. The dragonfire cannon is immensely powerful; the human body cannot withstand it. If the Mountain adds caltrops, iron balls, and iron nails to the wildfire bombs, even armor will be penetrated. If he uses giant iron balls made of steel to attack the walls, the walls' defenses might also be ineffective.”

“The dragonfire cannon hasn't actually been built yet!” Daenerys said hoarsely. The wine that was once so delicious now tasted like bitter medicine. Daenerys herself knew that this forced argument was nothing more than self-deception.

Missandei's current role was a combination of Hand, spymaster, captain of the guard, bloodrider, and sworn sword.

“Your Grace, during the reign of Aegon IV, they created an iron dragon that could breathe fire. If the volatile nature of wildfire hadn't made it difficult to handle, the iron dragon would have been successfully built. Now, the Mountain has improved upon the iron dragon and designed such a terrifying weapon as the dragonfire cannon… Uh… the Mountain also mentioned that he is researching gunpowder. Gunpowder is similar to wildfire, but it is more stable and doesn't have wildfire's evil nature; it can be extinguished with just water.”

In addition to being a combination of courtiers and generals, Missandei was also Daenerys's most trusted and intimate handmaiden and sister. She had to tell the Queen everything she thought and saw.

Daenerys gazed at the night sky outside, silent as a mountain.

“Your Grace, I believe we have two ways to deal with the Mountain,” Missandei said, her words flickering, her tone uncertain.

Without turning her head, Daenerys knew what Missandei was thinking but hesitated to say.

“Speak!”

“Yes. Your Grace. Our first hope is that Bran Stark can persuade the Iron Bank in Braavos to support us and then hire the Faceless Men to assassinate the Mountain.”

“Hmm.”

“The second method… may not be appropriate.”

Daenerys glanced back at Missandei, then turned back to look at the blue night sky outside.

Without speaking, Missandei knew what Her Grace meant. There was no one else here; she could tell the Queen everything she knew without reservation. She was Her Grace's only companion, only courtier, only eyes and advisor.

“Your Grace, the Mountain is infatuated with your beauty.”

Daenerys tilted her head slightly, looking into Missandei's eyes. Missandei lowered her eyes. “Your Grace, if the Mountain is as brutal and savage as Varys says, he will definitely enter the Maidenvault at night. We have no way to resist him.”

“Do you doubt Varys's loyalty?”

“No, Your Grace.”

“Then what is it? Do you doubt Varys's judgment of the Mountain's character?”

“Neither.”

“Then what is it?”

“Perhaps what Varys said is based on his previous knowledge of the Mountain.”

“Oh?!”

“When the Others awaken in the Land of Always Winter and gather wights to march south, the gods need to find a hero who can resist the Others. And the Mountain's strength and greatsword may be the most invincible in Westeros. He may truly have been chosen by the gods, as the rumors say.”

“The gods would choose a brutal, terrifying, murderous, and bloodthirsty villain, the worst in the Seven Kingdoms, to be their divine emissary?!”

“Your Grace, to deal with evil magical creatures like the Others and wights, perhaps only a strong and evil person can do it! The Mountain's strength and greatsword are unmatched by any other knight. The gods' choice may have been made after careful consideration.” Missandei said cautiously.

Daenerys's heart skipped a beat. She turned to look at Missandei very seriously, which gave Missandei the confidence and courage to continue.

“Your Grace, the Mountain killed the Night King; he saved everyone on the continent of Westeros. If we want to rely on military force to counterattack and reclaim the Iron Throne, I think that is already impossible. He has the support of the people and the nobles. If Your Grace insists on taking back the throne that belongs to the Targaryen family, then I think there are only two ways: the first is assassination, and the second is to get close to the Mountain and gain his trust by using his infatuation with you.”

“You want me to be like Arianne Martell?” Daenerys's tone was unkind.

“That's different. Arianne Martell is dependent on the Mountain, while Her Grace is conquering. As long as Her Grace gains the Mountain's trust, she can conspire to obtain the secrets of gunpowder, wildfire, and the dragonfire cannon.”

In the Dothraki Sea, intimacy between men and women can be made public, and the concept is open to the extreme; while in Slaver's Bay, intimacy between men and women who are pleasing to each other's eyes is also a blessed and happy thing, and there is no dogma of morality and chastity. In Westeros, the most popular among the nobles is precisely the pursuit of lovers. Male and female nobles are well-mannered, elegant, and noble on the surface; in secret, nobles who do not have lovers are embarrassed to speak up in social situations. And this prevailing trend of pursuing lovers is not only for noble men but also for noble women.

Developing lovers is a popular fashion that both noble men and women love the most!

Nobles secretly enjoy the mutual affection outside the family. This is an open secret, and it is said to be a secret because pursuing lovers who betray family and love is not encouraged morally and openly. However, there are also great nobles who openly enjoy the pleasure of lovers. Prince Oberyn Martell, Arianne Martell's uncle, his private life is openly debauched, and he has become even more famous because of this.

Missandei actually thought that Daenerys could capture the Mountain's heart with her beauty, because the Mountain's eyes had already betrayed him. He was infatuated with Daenerys's beauty, and Missandei saw this very clearly. She believed that as long as Her Grace captured the Mountain, she could then conspire to obtain the Mountain's gunpowder, the wisdom of the wise men, and the secrets of manufacturing dragonfire cannons.

Missandei judged that if the Slaver's Bay Legion attacked Westeros again in the future, only dragonfire cannons could defeat dragonfire cannons. If the Mountain led his army to attack Slaver's Bay first, the city's defenses would also need dragonfire cannons.

Missandei's 'advice' made Daenerys's stomach hurt again. That hateful crab crawled out again and pinched her stomach with its big claws. This time, the pain was greater than before. Daenerys groaned, and her perfect features twisted slightly.

“You want me to please the Mountain? Missandei.” Daenerys said with a mouth full of bitterness. The Arbor Gold that the Mountain gave her tasted even more sour and bitter in her mouth.

“It's not that you please the Mountain, Your Grace, it's that the Mountain desires to please you. Just look at his eyes, and you'll know that Your Grace's beauty has made him infatuated beyond redemption. Arianne Martell is a vassal, while we are conquering. The ancient female hero Nymeria of the Rhoyne married into the Martell family in order to conquer Dorne.”

“Nymeria's marriage was a marriage alliance, and the Mountain already has his own wife!”

“Nymeria's marriage alliance was for conquest, for the survival of the Rhoynar, and our purpose is the same. I've heard that many kings' and queens' marriages have nothing to do with love. In the Red Keep, I heard about the incestuous marriage of Cersei and Robert, which was entirely for political unification. Your Grace, marriage is just a political tool, and getting close to the Mountain is also a political tool.”

Daenerys stared at Missandei. “Missandei, do you know what you're saying?”

“I know very well, Your Grace. Your beauty is your sharpest sword. Ser Jorah Mormont, General Daario, Grey Worm, Prince Quentyn Martell… they were all conquered by your sharpest sword, willingly pledged allegiance to you, and were willing to give their lives for you.”

Daenerys's eyes gradually became sharp, her slender neck raised, her expression majestic. The Queen's aura returned to her, and the low and dim emotions were like darkness under the sun. Wherever the sun shone, the darkness receded like the tide.

From ancient times to the present, the beauty of a naturally beautiful woman has always been the sharpest sword!

“Missandei, we are going to the Westerlands this time to attend the wedding of Sansa Stark and Raynald Westerling. I want you to carefully prepare the dresses. If there is not enough gold, go to Lord Petyr Baelish to withdraw it. This time, three of us will be going, so we need to prepare three sets of dresses.”

“Three people?”

“Yes, me, you, and Jorah Mormont.”

“Your Grace, Ser Jorah is a stablehand in the City Watch; he cannot go to the Westerlands with us.”

“He will go with us.” Daenerys said affirmatively. “He will go in the name of my guard.”

“Guard, is Your Grace going to restore Ser Jorah Mormont's position as captain of the guard?”

“Yes, I am the Queen of Slaver's Bay, and if the Mountain doesn't kill me, I must have my own captain of the guard.”

A mouthful of wine slid into Daenerys's throat, and the sweet and sour taste and the fruity aroma lingering on her tongue all returned.

*

Maegor's Holdfast, the King's Great Hall.

The Mountain, who had just finished dealing with a day's worth of government affairs in the throne room, bent down and picked up his fat son. Captain Balon Swann of the Kingsguard entered. “Your Grace, Daenerys's handmaiden Missandei seeks an audience.”

The Mountain nodded, signaling for Missandei to enter.

Missandei entered the King's Great Hall. It was obvious that she had been carefully groomed: her eyebrows had been painted, her lips had been freshly lipsticked, and she had sprinkled perfume on her body. Her features were not considered beautiful, with a flat, round face and dark skin, but she had a pair of very beautiful golden eyes and a graceful figure.

The Mountain held his child, standing in the hall, staring at Missandei like a giant.

Missandei knew that Jeyne Westerling and Melisandre, along with Lady Dorna Qorgyle, had gone to the Street of Silk and would not be back for the time being.

“Your Grace, I wonder if you are free tonight?”

The Mountain did not speak. He stared at Missandei, his majesty like a giant god, causing people to feel fear involuntarily.

“My Queen hopes to invite Your Grace to the Maidenvault. She bought some fresh seafood today and also cooked some pastries from Qarth. In addition, we will be going to the Westerlands in a few days, and the Queen hopes to learn about the travel plans from Your Grace.”

“There's no need for pastries and seafood. If Daenerys needs to know about the travel arrangements, tell her to come to the throne room tomorrow, or she can come to Maegor's Holdfast after I finish dealing with government affairs tomorrow.”

Missandei was stunned. As an observer, she knew from the Mountain's eyes when he looked at Daenerys that the Mountain wanted to please Daenerys wholeheartedly, but why would he refuse such a good opportunity?!

Although Missandei was a female slave from Astapor, she was actually extremely intelligent and had an extraordinary talent for languages, able to easily learn the languages of other countries and ethnic groups. It was precisely because of this that her good master, Kraznys mo Nakloz, chose to train her to be a scribe in charge of ledgers and sending and receiving letters, and to accompany Kraznys mo Nakloz at all times, receiving nobles from all over the world who came to buy Unsullied with him.

Missandei was surprised in her heart, but she did not show it on the surface. The years she spent with her good master had cultivated her firm will and the ability to not reveal her emotions.

Before she set out, she thought that the Mountain was a man who would 'come when summoned'. Since following Daenerys, Missandei had learned that no matter how powerful a warrior was, he would be moved by Daenerys's unparalleled beauty. Most of the famous generals who saw Daenerys for the first time would lose their composure at first sight.

The Mountain did not accept Daenerys's invitation to go to the Maidenvault; he wanted Daenerys to take the initiative to ask him about the travel plans.

“Yes, Your Grace.” Missandei said respectfully with her head lowered. She did not dare to raise her head, and she retreated seven steps before turning around and walking quickly towards the door. In her heart, there was a sense of frustration that was exuding a sour and bitter taste.

Letting the Queen get close to the Mountain was a well-thought-out strategy of hers.

“Stop!” Behind her, the Mountain's voice suddenly came.

Missandei's body stopped immediately, and she turned around, lowering her head slightly. The strict training that her good master Kraznys mo Nakloz gave her had given her a rigorous and perfect respectful attitude.

“Take this and use it to buy some etiquette attire for you and Daenerys on the Street of Silk. At the wedding in the Westerlands, I hope you and Daenerys will not be looked down upon.”

Missandei raised her head. The Mountain had a small bag of gold coins in his hand. The bag was bulging.

“Your Grace, the master of coin, Petyr Baelish, has paid enough gold coins.”

“That is the expenditure of the treasury; these are my personal gold coins.” The Mountain's words were full of majesty and could not be disobeyed.

“Yes, Your Grace.” Missandei came back and took the gold coins, paid her respects, retreated seven steps again, and then turned and left.

"Why did you take seven steps back?" The Mountain's voice echoed behind Missandei once more.

Missandei stopped immediately, as if she and the Mountain had a tacit understanding that spanned over a decade. The moment the Mountain spoke, she halted in sync.

"Your Majesty, the Seven Gods are worshiped in Westeros."

"So, in the past, when you were serving the Good Masters and Daenerys in other places, you didn't turn around only after taking seven steps back?"

"No, Your Majesty."

"Your hometown is on the Isle of Naath. You were captured by pirates and sold into slavery in Astapor, correct?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

"You have a younger brother in the Unsullied legion who has sworn allegiance to me?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, his name is Missanthro." Missandei was secretly astonished. The Mountain seemed to know a great deal about her. He was a king who appeared outwardly crude and brave but was inwardly meticulous and cautious. Missandei's mood turned somewhat heavy; dealing with such a king with the Beautiful Sword might not be so easy.

"You also had an older brother named Missander, who was killed by the Sons of the Harpy in Astapor?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You are intelligent, sensible, and strong. Your voice is also loud and clear. I've heard you giving commands on the sea. In consideration of your respectful habit of taking seven steps back before turning around, I will make Missanthro your and Daenerys' personal guard. In seven days, the three of you will accompany me to the Westerlands for the wedding. Acquire some more high-end clothing. If you don't have enough gold, seek it from Lord Petyr."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Mountain's voice was as imposing as a mountain: "Missandei, Daenerys has always been cold towards me, full of wariness and hostility. Tonight, she suddenly invited me to discuss travel plans and personally cooked seafood and pastries. Does she have a request to make of me? Tell the truth. I can tell if you're lying."

"Yes, Your Majesty. The Queen hopes that Your Majesty will pardon Ser Jorah Mormont's crimes. He is a great warrior, and he shouldn't be a stable hand. He is a nobleman."

"Jorah refused to leave King's Landing. He chose to be a stable hand. I didn't kill him."

"Yes!"

"Daenerys wants Jorah Mormont to stop mucking out stables?"

"She hopes that Ser Jorah Mormont can once again become her Captain of the Guard. She is a queen, and it would be very discourteous to go to the Westerlands without a noble guard. It would be disrespectful to both Lady Sansa and Ser Raynald."

The Mountain looked at Missandei, his gaze softening. "Missandei, go back and tell your queen that I will sample her seafood and pastries tonight."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

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