The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“Bran, what about your Three-Eyed Raven?” Jon said softly, with a scrutinizing look.

“Dead!”

“Oh? How is that possible?” Jon was a wolf spirit; his direwolf Ghost had separated from him during the battle with the White Walkers, perhaps dead, perhaps in the haunted forest.

“Burned to death by the Dragonflame of the Mountain.”

“Oh? Why would that happen!” Sansa said in surprise.

“Bran once trampled guest right on Dragonstone, plotting to kill the Mountain and his party. His plan failed. The Mountain, with the help of the dragon, escaped back to King's Landing, while my Night's Watch brothers all died in the sinkhole on Dragonstone. Many of Daenerys' soldiers also perished in the wildfire explosion on Dragonstone.”

Sansa looked at Bran in disbelief, shaking her head, refusing to believe what Jon said.

“That wasn’t me, Sansa,” Bran said calmly.

“Then who was it?” Jon pressed.

“That was Bloodraven Brynden Rivers. He was a Targaryen, also a greenseer, a Green Prophet.”

“Oh, the Bran on Dragonstone was Brynden Rivers. Then who is the Bran in Casterly Rock?”

“The Bran in Casterly Rock is Bran Stark.”

“Is that so? Sansa, do you believe Bran?” Jon said softly.

“Bloodraven Brynden Rivers passed all his skills on to me. His time is up. The Three-Eyed Raven he created has also been killed by the Mountain, and his soul no longer exists.”

“Did Brynden Rivers, who lived for over a hundred years, suddenly have a change of heart and let you and the Mountain go, or did something else cause him to choose to disappear?”

“Daenerys Targaryen's oath of allegiance to the Mountain completely destroyed his hope!”

“He went to Braavos to seek employment; it doesn't seem like he placed his hopes on Daenerys.”

“No, Jon, you’re wrong. Bloodraven placed his hopes on two people: Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Targaryen. Only these two have the blood of the Targaryen family flowing through them.”

“But he didn’t inform Daenerys of his plans. The Dragonstone assassination plot, his failure, completely enraged the Mountain, leading to the Mountain’s revenge and Daenerys being captured by the Mountain in the great sea battle at King's Landing. The only seed of the Targaryen family's revival was personally destroyed by Bloodraven himself.”

Bran’s gaze slowly fell on Jon’s face: “Jon, you are a rare talent in the Targaryen family. You have your own ideas and vision, but God has chosen the Mountain.”

These words stirred Jon's heart.

“God chose the Mountain, so Bloodraven’s hope was shattered, and he had to accept defeat and choose to disappear?”

“He chose to rest. The Targaryen dynasty is gone forever, like water in a river.”

Jon stared at Bran for a long time and said, “So, you have now replaced Bloodraven and become a prophet?”

“Bloodraven is Brynden Rivers, I am Bran Stark. I am a prophet, but I have not replaced Bloodraven. I learned skills from him, but I am not him.”

“Will the Mountain believe what you say?” Jon asked pensively.

“I don’t know.”

“You are a prophet, how can you not know?”

Bran smiled slightly: “Jon, even gods have things they don’t know, let alone prophets.”

“Bran, if the Mountain doesn’t believe you, what will you do?”

“Do nothing. After Sansa’s wedding, I will return to Winterfell. That is my home.”

Sansa walked up, knelt down, and took Bran’s hands: “Bran, you have been through too much and suffered.” Sansa also had doubts about Bran in her heart, but less so. After watching Jon and Bran’s conversation, she chose to believe Bran Stark. The Bran before her, his eyebrows, eyes, demeanor, every part of him, was the younger brother in her memory.

Blood is thicker than water!

Sansa had never liked Jon since she was a child—as Sansa, who received a traditional noble lady’s education, looked down on a lowborn bastard in her heart. This was something she took after her mother, Catelyn Tully. Of course, Jon is no longer a bastard, but the legitimate son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and his aunt Lyanna Stark. Strictly speaking, he is a prince with the legitimate right to inherit the Iron Throne.

However, the throne on the Iron Throne has changed hands. The Mountain rose from the Seven Kingdoms civil war and was ultimately chosen by God to sit on the Iron Throne.

*

In the Mountain’s Shell Hall, the nobles who came to pay respects to His Majesty the King and the King of the North finally came to an end. The Mountain waved his hand to dismiss everyone, leaving only Queen Jennea, Duke Edmure, Lady Melisandre, and Count Gavin Westerling. All others were dismissed.

The Mountain had important matters to discuss with Eddard Stark.

“Lord Eddard, Sansa Stark, as the Great Lady of the North, certainly deserves more than to be married to a mere knight.”

Eddard was stunned!

He didn’t care about Raynald Westerling’s low title. Raynald was still young, and Casterly Rock would be inherited by him in the future. Although Raynald wasn’t a duke, inheriting the title of earl was not bad.

In Eddard’s heart, what mattered most was that Sansa liked him. As for his son-in-law’s title, the higher the better, of course, but even a common knight would be fine.

Edmure laughed: “Your Majesty, if you think Raynald’s title is too low, just grant him a marquisate.”

The Mountain glanced at the joking Edmure, and Edmure’s heart skipped a beat. His smile froze awkwardly on his face.

“Duke Edmure, kingdom titles are awarded based on merit. Military generals rely on military achievements, and courtiers rely on political achievements. Although Raynald is my own brother, the titles of earl, marquis, and duke cannot be casually bestowed. If I were to do so, it would not be fair to other civil and military officials. The most important thing for a country is to reward merit and punish demerit, to be fair and just, in order to gain the support of the people.”

Eddard Stark nodded frequently in agreement.

He was precisely this kind of person and deeply agreed with the Mountain’s words.

Edmure’s face turned red and then white. He laughed and said, “His Majesty is right, Edmure remembers.”

Count Gavin Westerling’s expression was also slightly uneasy. The Mountain didn’t mention Raynald’s title, and he didn’t feel anything. Once it was brought up, it was indeed a marriage beneath Sansa.

The Mountain said, “Lord Eddard, I have received a secret report that Lord Willas Tyrell of the Reach, the Seven Kingdoms’ granary, is secretly recruiting troops, training armies, colluding with the Summer Isles in the southern seas, and contacting the free trade city-states of Tyrosh, Lys, Myr, and Volantis across the Narrow Sea, preparing to secretly attack King's Landing in the winter. He has heavily trained a group of assassins who will enter the Red Keep through underground passages, seize Maegor's Holdfast, capture the Queen, princes, courtiers, and military generals, thereby overthrowing my rule, seizing the Iron Throne, and avenging his father, brothers, and sister.”

Eddard was speechless!

Edmure was furious: “Your Majesty, the Riverlands are willing to send troops to take Highgarden and bring Willas Tyrell to be judged and beheaded by Your Majesty.”

The Mountain said, “Lord Edmure, the Riverlands have destroyed countless villages and farmlands in years of civil war. Do not participate in the war in the Reach. Focus on recuperating in the Riverlands, find ways to expand trade, and help the people of the Riverlands recover to their pre-war lives as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, I was just agitated. With tens of thousands of elite soldiers under Your Majesty's command, taking Highgarden is as easy as turning your hand. There is no need for the Riverlands to send troops. However, as long as Your Majesty needs it, at your command, every soldier in the Riverlands belongs to Your Majesty.”

The Mountain ignored Edmure’s flattery and looked at Eddard Stark: “Lord Eddard, I have a small idea and hope to get Lord Eddard’s support.”

“Your Majesty, please speak!” Eddard said respectfully. In his heart, he felt a slight unease.

The Mountain has dragons, Red Smoke Beasts, and tens of thousands of elite soldiers. Dorne, which has always been independent in military, trade, and taxation, has now submitted. How dare the Reach, sandwiched between Dorne and the Stormlands, rebel?

Eddard knew that Duke Willas Tyrell was a cripple and not martial. He was afraid that the information about his conspiracy to rebel was inaccurate!

However, Eddard buried his doubts in his heart and listened to what His Majesty the King had to say first.

If the Mountain wanted the North to send troops to quell the rebellion, he would not hesitate, but it was likely that this war was a bit strange. Perhaps a villain had said something slanderous in His Majesty the King's ear, and His Majesty the King had listened. It was also possible that the information His Majesty the King received was true. After all, the King killed Willas's father, brothers, and sister. This was a family feud. Although Willas Tyrell himself was not martial, he might still want revenge.

According to His Majesty the King, Willas was going to attack the Red Keep in King's Landing, attacking Maegor's Holdfast from underground, first capturing the Queen and princes, and then coercing His Majesty the King to submit.

“Lord Eddard, I will order Ser Raynald Westerling and Sansa Stark to lead troops after their marriage, starting from Casterly Rock in the Westerlands, entering the Reach along the Ocean Road, fighting all the way, and finally taking Highgarden, capturing Willas Tyrell, and escorting him to King's Landing.”

Eddard’s heart skipped another beat, but he quickly understood that His Majesty the King was giving Raynald Westerling a great opportunity to make a contribution, and he could also take this opportunity to reward Raynald Westerling's title.

“Your Majesty, Sansa does not know how to lead troops to fight.”

“Sansa has the potential to lead troops. If she can get the help of Lord Eddard or Jon Targaryen, I believe Raynald and Sansa can take the Reach. At that time, the Tyrell family of the Reach will cease to exist, and the Reach will need a new lord.”

Edmure was overjoyed: “Your Majesty, in this way, Raynald can become the Duke of the Reach, and Sansa will be the Duchess of the Reach!”

The Mountain did not respond to Edmure’s words. He looked at Eddard, watching his expression.

“Your Majesty, the Tyrell family has ruled the Reach for a long time.”

“Not as long as the Starks have ruled the North. The Tyrell family’s rise stemmed from betrayal. A gardener betrayed his lord and then received the award of Highgarden.”

What His Majesty the King said about the Tyrell family’s rise was true. Eddard knew the Tyrell family’s history.

“Your Majesty, as far as I know, Willas Tyrell is not martial. He is a cripple, and what he likes in his life is raising hawks and fighting dogs, and what he studies is livestock planting.”

“Lord Eddard, the evidence of Willas Tyrell’s rebellion is conclusive, and the news is accurate. He must be completely eradicated.”

Eddard was silent for a while. Finally, he suppressed the small doubts in his heart and chose to believe His Majesty the King’s military intelligence: “Your Majesty, if Raynald Westerling and Sansa lead troops to attack the Reach, the North will send troops to support.”

The North will send troops to support. That was enough.

As for whether Eddard would be his daughter’s military advisor or vanguard general, that was Eddard’s own business. In short, the Mountain’s goal was achieved. Eradicating the Tyrell family and controlling the Seven Kingdoms’ granary was the Mountain’s top priority in controlling Westeros. If the Mountain personally drove the dragon to take Highgarden, it would only take a day, but the impact would not be good.

The Mountain hoped to gain the support of the people of the Reach. Even if he didn’t get it, on the surface, he had to maintain restraint. Destroying the law-abiding Willas Tyrell, so that the Tyrell family of the Reach would be completely eradicated, would undoubtedly bring disrepute if the King personally took action, which would be even more detrimental to Raynald Westerling's ascension.

Raynald was loyal to the Mountain, obeyed everything, and did not disobey.

“Lord Eddard, as long as you give Sansa the opportunity to lead troops, you will find that in some situations that require strategy, she may not be inferior to Robb Stark.”

“Your Majesty, you think too highly of Sansa. She is not Arya Stark. — Arya?!” Eddard remembered. Arya and the Mountain returned from across the Narrow Sea together on a dragon, but Eddard and Catelyn had been in Casterly Rock for so long, and the nobles and generals of the entire city had come here to meet Eddard, but why didn’t he see Arya Stark?

“Your Majesty, Queen Majesty, where is Arya? Is she not in Casterly Rock?” Eddard looked at Count Gavin Westerling as he spoke, hoping to get some useful information. He knew Arya’s fiery personality and couldn’t sit still for a moment. He still remembered Catelyn asking the nuns to teach Arya embroidery. Arya sat on the stool and swayed back and forth, as if the stool was burning.

“I would rather hold a blacksmith’s hammer to forge iron than take that embroidery needle.” This was Arya’s complaint to her father.

“I’m sorry, Lord Eddard, Miss Arya came to Casterly Rock with His Majesty the King, but I don’t know where she is every day or what she does.” Gavin Westerling said first.

Eddard Stark did not yet know that Arya had grown into the Fated Elder of the House of Black and White. The Faceless Men of the House of Black and White were famous throughout Westeros, and every great noble felt a chill in their heart when they talked about the Faceless Men.

“Lord Eddard, there is no need to worry about Arya Stark. I believe that when you and Lady Catelyn entered Casterly Rock, she must have been watching you somewhere. She will appear when she is supposed to appear.”

“Oh? I hope she appears before me now. I want to see her. I don’t know if she is thinner or stronger?”