The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“The Mountain saved Sansa Stark,” Robb said, his tone calm.

“Saved?” Roslin’s tone was filled with doubt. “If he was saving her, he should have sent Sansa back to the North. That would be saving her. But the Mountain actually married Sansa to Reynard Westerling. Did they have a wedding ceremony?”

Robb didn’t know if Sansa had actually had a wedding ceremony!

“Of course, the Mountain would have a selfish side. He wants to get the support of the North when he needs it through the marriage with Sansa.”

“Did he inform us beforehand? Sansa’s marriage is a major event. She at least needs a formal wedding, at least needs a family member to be with her. Sansa is His Majesty’s own sister!”

Sansa Stark—the sister of the King in the North, the eldest daughter of Duke Eddard Stark, her status is certainly different from ordinary people!

“I can’t know more about Sansa’s situation for the time being,” Robb thought. “I think I should summon the vassals, send out the militia, and first help Uncle Edmure take back the Riverlands.”

“Is the Mountain trustworthy?” Roslin’s suspicion was evident in her tone. “Will he ambush us?”

The Mountain defeated the five layers of Northern defenses in the Battle of the Green Fork and scared away Roose Bolton. He does not have a good reputation in the hearts of the Northerners.

“Trustworthy!” Robb had not a trace of hesitation in his heart.——Robb thought of the Mountain saving his father, saving his sister, and helping the Northerners foresee the secret of the ‘Red Wedding’ designed by Walder Frey, Duke Tywin, and Roose Bolton in advance, allowing Robb and Eddard to prepare in advance and win the battle of the Red Wedding. In this sense, the Mountain actually saved the entire North.

This was an indelible kindness, a kindness greater than the sky. The entire North owed the Mountain. The Stark family’s disaster was resolved by the Mountain.

Now that the Mountain has raised troops to attack King’s Landing, he wants the North to repay the favor. He needs the North’s support and support. This support is very simple, just a gesture from the Northerners, a declaration of war threat to King’s Landing, and a bluff of sending troops.

Robb himself had never met the Mountain, and had never had a good impression of him, but he was deeply grateful for the Mountain’s life-saving grace, and decided to do what the Mountain said, both helping his uncle Edmure and repaying a little of the Mountain’s deep kindness.

The Northerners have clear grudges! Eddard and Robb are even more exemplary!

The Mountain once rescued Eddard Stark from the Red Keep’s dungeon. Afterwards, Catelyn Tully, after calming down, believed that the Mountain’s purpose was definitely not to help others for fun, nor was it related to public justice, because the Mountain was not a person who helped others for fun, he was the chief villain of the Seven Kingdoms.

But Robb and Eddard both believed that the Mountain’s life-saving grace could not be erased. No matter what personal purpose the Mountain had, the Stark family had to firmly remember this kindness.

As for Sansa’s wedding, Robb knew that his father had promised the Mountain a marriage alliance, whether it was him, Sansa, or Arya, who was now of unknown whereabouts, as long as the Mountain proposed it, Eddard would have to do his best to do it. In this sense, it was not excessive or evil for the Mountain to marry Sansa to Reynard Westerling.

The Westerlings of the Crag are an ancient and noble family, as ancient as the Stark family. The Mountain married Sansa to the Westerlings, and he married the eldest daughter of the Westerling family as his wife. This marriage alliance has connected the Starks of the North and the Cleganes of the Westerlands.

The two sides have become very close relatives!

It was better for the Mountain to marry Sansa to the Westerling family than for Duke Tywin to force Sansa to marry the Imp Tyrion Lannister. It was just how the Mountain rescued Sansa from the Red Keep, which was another secret that the Stark family had not been able to know.

Sansa was in the Westerlands. The Mountain once wrote a letter to tell Eddard Stark. Only Eddard, Catelyn, and Robb knew this secret. These were all secrets related to life and death and could not be known to anyone else. Sansa was the family member of the Duke of the North and the King in the North, the hostage that the Lannisters most wanted to get. Whoever controlled Sansa could threaten the Stark family in the North and order them to pay some heavy price.

It was normal for Roslin not to trust the Mountain. Almost no noble in the Seven Kingdoms would trust the Mountain. The Mountain’s reputation was well-known, but unfortunately it was a bad reputation.

Judging from the reaction of the pure Roslin, the Mountain’s evil reputation was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people!

*

Robb did not tell Lady Roslin many secrets about the Mountain. Only Robb, Eddard, and Catelyn knew about the Mountain’s kindness to the Northerners. As for the Mountain saving Arya and instructing her to go to the House of Black and White on the Isle of Gods in Braavos to train and become a top assassin, only the Mountain and Arya knew about these things.

All men must die, all men must serve!

A few years later, when Arya reappeared on the continent of Westeros, this top assassin trained by the House of Black and White was almost unmatched.

*

Roslin Frey had two elder brothers—Frey guards, and dozens of Frey family knights in the North, and more than a thousand Frey family soldiers. Roslin and her Frey brothers were very close. Once she knew the secret, there was a possibility that she would say it unintentionally or intentionally.

Many secrets are not leaked maliciously. And the foolproof way is not to know at all.

The Northerners Eddard, Robb, and Catelyn kept their mouths shut!

Although the Mountain’s letters were all passed through Maester Luwin, Maester Luwin恪守the rules of a maester and was loyal to the Stark family. He never opened the Mountain’s letters in advance to peek at secrets.

As long as the Starks didn’t say anything, Maester Luwin also kept his mouth shut. He would not tell anyone about the correspondence between the Mountain and the Stark family. As long as the King and Duke did not take the initiative to discuss matters related to the Mountain with him, Maester Luwin would never ask.

*

A few days later, King’s Landing, the Red Keep, the Throne Room.

Prime Minister Kevan presided over the meeting of the important ministers of the Royal Council.

The door of the meeting of important ministers was gently pushed open a crack, and an old man in a white robe slowly came in. He was Grand Maester Qyburn. Qyburn walked slowly, sat down gently, with an apologetic smile on his face: "I'm sorry, Prime Minister, everyone, I'm late."

“Not late, Grand Maester,” Kevan said lightly, his face as hard as iron.

“There are still two big shots who haven’t come!” Duke Mace, the Minister of Laws, raised his voice, his voice full of dissatisfaction. The title of big shot was also full of sarcasm.

Ser Loras Tyrell, the captain of the Kingsguard, tapped the table lightly with his finger, making a sound: “Master of Whisperers Bronn Clegane and Lord Admiral Wagstaff have been late for meetings recently. We don’t have to wait for them, do we?”

“Wait a little longer!” Kevan remained unmoved. He was very patient.

Commander Bronn of the City Watch said: “Everyone, the Master of Whisperers and the Lord Admiral may not come at all today.”

“Why?” Mace asked, his voice even more dissatisfied.

Everyone’s eyes all looked at Commander Bronn of the City Watch.

Grand Maester Qyburn even looked surprised.

“I patrolled the city walls early this morning and saw Lord Bronn and Lord Wagstaff leave through the Mud Gate together, heading to the port of the Royal Navy fleet. A centurion patrolling the coastal avenue told me afterwards that he met Lord Bronn and Lord Wagstaff at the pier. The centurion politely greeted Lord Bronn and Lord Wagstaff, and Lord Bronn told him that he was going out to sea to see the scenery today and would not return until tomorrow.”

Prime Minister Kevan had no expression on his face after hearing this.

“Prime Minister, the temporary meeting of the important ministers of the Royal Council that you convened was indeed a bit sudden,” Duke Mace said lazily, with a playful tone.

“This is a temporary emergency,” Kevan said lightly. “Since Bronn and Wagstaff have gone to sea, let’s have a meeting.”

Kevan took out a secret letter and placed it on the table: “Everyone, this is the North’s declaration of war.”

“The North has declared war!” Duke Mace widened his eyes in disbelief.

“Yes, the North has declared war,” Kevan’s tone was light, and heaviness and coldness were hidden in his eyes.

Grand Maester Qyburn reached out and picked up the letter to browse it, with a somewhat unbelievable tone: “King Robb has already declared independence, but he wants to take back the Iron Throne for Shireen Baratheon. This feels weird.”

“Interest, Shireen Baratheon, who fled to the North, must have promised the Stark family great benefits,” Loras Tyrell said.

“Could there be greater benefits than independence?” Maester Qyburn disagreed. “The Stark of the North has already established himself as king, but he still wants to attack the Iron Throne. His motive is either to avenge personal grudges, or to strike first, because if he doesn’t come to fight us, we will fight him after we recover and complete the unification.”

When Eddard Stark was the Prime Minister in King’s Landing, except for himself and his two daughters, everyone else was killed by the Lannisters. This was a blood feud between the two families. Later, the war between the North and the Westerlands also stemmed from this change. Of course, the real trigger for the war was Littlefinger instructing Lysa Tully to frame the Westerlands for murdering her husband, Prime Minister Jon Arryn, and Littlefinger personally framed the Imp for intending to murder Bran Stark.

“Most likely the Starks themselves covet the Iron Throne!” Ser Loras suggested a new guess. “Eddard Stark may not want to be king, but Robb Stark is a young hero who once led troops to sweep the Westerlands and was invincible. Who can say for sure that he has some ambition.”

“Isn’t it rumored that there are Others in the North?” Maester Qyburn said slowly. “After Shireen Baratheon was driven out of Dragonstone by the Mountain, she sailed to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea on the Wall. Now the remnants of Dragonstone live in the military fortress of the Wall. It is said that they are fighting the Others with the Night’s Watch. Eddard Stark also led some Northern troops to the Wall to support the Night’s Watch. When Ser Jaime Lannister came back, the North still hoped to get the support of the Iron Throne and hoped to put down the hatred and fight the Others together. The Starks wanted money, food, and troops. Ser Jaime himself had also seen the Others. It is impossible for the Northerners to fight the Others and send troops to attack King’s Landing. They don’t have such strength.”

“Randyll Tarly just withdrew his troops from the Riverlands, and the North issued a declaration of war. The Northerners have a good grasp of the timing,” Duke Mace looked at Prime Minister Kevan, who was silent.

“Whether the North’s sending troops south is true or false, we must take it seriously,” Grand Maester Qyburn looked thoughtful. “We may need Master of War the Mountain to return to the Royal Council table. After the Mountain comes back, we can send him to fight the Northerners.” Qyburn looked at Kevan, “Prime Minister, instead of fighting the Mountain, it is better to send him to eliminate the enemies of the kingdom, Dorne in the south, Stark in the north, the Mountain is the best knife to use. If this knife is dulled when attacking the enemy, we will not lose anything. When we don’t need a dull knife, just put it back in its sheath.”

“Good idea!” Commander Bronn said.

“What if the Mountain refuses to sit down and negotiate?” Prime Minister Kevan said lightly.

“No one will refuse reconciliation. He just doesn’t want to negotiate with the Prime Minister, but the Mountain listens to Queen Mother Cersei. As long as Queen Mother Cersei comes back, the Mountain will have to sit down and negotiate with us instead of fighting.” Qyburn said affirmatively.

Ser Loras, the captain of the Kingsguard, tapped the table again with his finger: “Prime Minister, I heard rumors that the rebellious Euron Crow’s Eye has arrived in King’s Landing and has received the Prime Minister’s protection. I don’t know if it is true?”

Kevan stared at the Knight of Flowers: “Euron Crow’s Eye came to surrender to King Tommen and submit to the royal family. The rebellious Iron Islands no longer exists. This is conducive to the kingdom’s unification plan. Euron Crow’s Eye’s soldiers are experienced in naval warfare and can be used by our royal family.”

“Euron Crow’s Eye invaded the Westerlands and fought the Mountain. He was defeated by the Mountain. I think we should hand over Euron Crow’s Eye to the Mountain to quell the Mountain’s anger, and then order him to attack the North, so that we can avoid fighting the Mountain ourselves.” Qyburn said cautiously, “Everyone, no one in the City Watch is willing to fight the Mountain. Although Randyll Tarly is invincible in using troops, it is difficult to easily defeat the Mountain. It is the most cost-effective way for us to hand over Euron Crow’s Eye in exchange for the Mountain to cease the war.”

Commander Bronn agreed with the Grand Maester’s idea!

Ser Loras, the Knight of Flowers, also nodded in agreement!

Duke Mace, the Minister of Laws, also nodded in approval!

The four important ministers of the Royal Council all looked at Prime Minister Kevan.

Prime Minister Kevan silently swept over the four of them and said slowly: “The Mountain’s target is not Euron Crow’s Eye, but me. He wants to come to King’s Landing to kill me, everyone.”

Qyburn said earnestly: “Prime Minister, the reason why the Mountain raised troops to attack King’s Landing is to accuse the Prime Minister of colluding with the Iron Islands rebel Euron Crow’s Eye to conspire to attack the Westerlands. The people of King’s Landing have heard that the Prime Minister wants to use Euron Crow’s Eye’s knife to kill the Mountain and eliminate his Clegane army. If the Prime Minister hands over the rebel Euron Crow’s Eye and raises troops to attack the remnants of Euron Crow’s Eye on Dragonpit Hill, and beheads all of them, he will naturally clear his stain and prove the Prime Minister’s innocence. The Mountain has no reason to attack the Prime Minister. Does he dare to continue to attack King’s Landing? Of course not, the Mountain does not want to rebel. His banner says that he will always be loyal to Tommen Baratheon I. If he goes back on his word and rebels, his soldiers will rise up against him.”

“If he dares to rebel, the nobles of the Crownlands, the Westermen, the Reach army, and the Stormlands army will all rise up to fight him,” Duke Mace said decisively.

“I am the dignified Prime Minister, the Mountain cannot raise troops to threaten me based on speculation.”

"My lord, it is a fact that Euron is attacking the West, and Lord 奥德 of Lannisport died because of the war provoked by Euron," Qyburn said slowly. "Handing over Euron, killing the Ironborn and pirates who have come to join him, and resolving this civil war crisis, seems to be the best way at the moment."

"Lord Hand, regardless of whether the North will send troops south, we need the Mountain and his legion," Mace said. "I support Maester Qyburn's opinion, kill Euron Greyjoy, and kill all the Ironborn and pirates on Dragonstone Hill."

"Yes, the Ironborn are untrustworthy, leave none alive, kill them all," Loras said with fervor. "To attack Dragonstone Hill, I am willing to be the vanguard."

The Ironborn's Iron Fleet has wantonly plundered the Reach, this is the deep-seated hatred in the hearts of the Tyrell family.

"Killing Euron and his legion will inevitably lead to another rebellion by the Iron Islands, they will not submit."

"Then send the Mountain to take down the Iron Islands!" Maester Qyburn said.

"Yes, let's do it! If the Mountain still insists on attacking the city, the soldiers of the Reach will definitely stand on the side of the Lord Hand and fight the Mountain to the death," Duke Mace said.

Qyburn, Mace, Bronn, and Loras, the four key members of the small council, all looked at the Hand of the King, Kevan, waiting for him to state his position!