The Mountain of Ice and Fire

"As you command, my lord." Varamyr showed no fear. "As long as the Dragon's master allows me to follow, I will leave the city immediately and lure the ice spider out."

The generals in the hall felt a strange stirring in their hearts.

Varamyr, a free man from the North, was meeting the Mountain for the first time, yet he was willing to be used by the Mountain? Unafraid to die in battle?

The Mountain stared at Varamyr. Was this best of the free folk truly willing to follow him wholeheartedly? To pledge allegiance to him? To fight for him, unafraid of death?

"Varamyr, if you dare to go out of the city to lure the ice spider to show itself, I will let you join my Kingsguard and be my personal guard."

"Lord Mountain, I will leave the city immediately," Varamyr said, overjoyed.

His dream of becoming a Southerner was realized at this moment - joining the Mountain's Kingsguard and becoming a member of the Mountain's personal guard, he could truly stay in the South. When he was ten years old, led by his master, Varamyr came to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea of the Wall and made the first smuggling transaction with the Night's Watch. Since then, he had a dream of living south of the Wall.

The Mountain's words made his decades of longing come true!

Varamyr bowed to the Mountain and Lord Eddard, which he was quite unaccustomed to. The Northern free folk would not have so many courtesies even when facing their own king, but the Southerners were different. Varamyr was prepared, and he was willing to act in the same tedious manner as the Southerners.

Varamyr strode out. There was a terrible ice spider outside the city, but he was truly fearless. The snow bear, three direwolves, snow eagle, and shadow lynx he controlled were all inherently sensitive to Others and wights, and could warn him when these things approached or got close to them.

Animals had a natural perception of approaching danger. Varamyr had been one with animals for decades, and his own perception had become exceptionally acute.

"Varamyr, take me out of the city, and the ice spider will definitely appear," Bran Stark said faintly. "The ice spider's target is me. As long as I really leave the city, it will definitely appear." Bran Stark looked at Eddard. "Father, the army of the Others is two days away from this city. Now that Lord Mountain has come with the dragon, we have the strongest protection. I suggest we evacuate the entire city."

Varamyr stopped and looked at the Mountain.

"It doesn't matter, kill the ice spider first, then evacuate the entire city," the Mountain said.

"Lord Mountain, the army of the Others is already very close to us. If we kill the ice spider first, I'm afraid there won't be enough time," said Davos Seaworth, the Onion Knight, stepping forward.

"Lord Davos Seaworth, I have my own arrangements, you don't need to worry," the Mountain said in a deep voice. "I came here to kill the army of the Others first."

"My lord, alone?"

"No, and my dragon."

My dragon?

But Sheepstealer was not the Mountain's dragon. However, this did not prevent the Mountain from considering himself the master of Sheepstealer. Everyone had also seen the Mountain riding the dragon, and the dragon acted according to his orders. No one knew that in the dragon's heart, there was only one true master: Rhaena Targaryen. Sheepstealer and the Mountain were just comrades-in-arms, with no master-servant relationship. If the Mountain lost Rhaena's dragonrider robes and ancestral axe, Sheepstealer would only have goodwill left for him.

Because of the Mountain's words 'my dragon,' all the generals were greatly encouraged.

The Mountain would stay behind with the dragon to slaughter the army of the dead. Everyone knew that wights were like wildfire, and would burn violently to ashes with just a spark, let alone the indestructible dragonflame.

The heavy haze that shrouded everyone's hearts dissipated for the most part because of the Mountain's words.

Eddard Stark said, "Bran, don't go out of the city yourself. Since the Night King's ice spider is targeting you alone, you should stay in the city and have someone pretend to be you to go out of the city."

"The ice spider has already killed three fake Brans. It is a magical creature with spirituality and will not be fooled again. Varamyr, you guard me, and we will go out of the city together."

Varamyr did not move. His eyes looked at the Mountain. Obviously, this guy already considered himself the Mountain's soldier, and would not obey anyone else except the Mountain. This was also one of the ways that Varamyr, who was determined to stay in the South, showed his loyalty to the Mountain.

The Mountain said, "Varamyr, before you protect Bran out of the city, we still have one thing to do." The Mountain looked at Eddard Stark. "Lord Eddard, Jon Snow cannot be cremated. Please give Lady Melisandre a chance to resurrect him."

"The night is dark and full of terrors, and the Lord of Light is the only true god," Queen Selyse Florent stood up and sang loudly.

Her singing was supported by the believers. Among the Night's Watch, there was also a voice of agreement. That was the voice of the 'Brotherhood Without Banners' who had joined the Night's Watch. The brothers of the Brotherhood Without Banners had only fifty people left out of several hundred, and all of them were devout believers in the Red God. They formed their own army in the Night's Watch, and the leaders were still Lord Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr.

When the Mountain came riding the dragon, Beric and Thoros were among the brothers of the Night's Watch. They were old acquaintances of the Mountain, and they also knew the secret of the Mountain killing Tywin Lannister. They did not come forward to reminisce with the Mountain. Standing with them was another old acquaintance of the Mountain: Lancel Lannister, who was loyal to the High Sparrow.

Eddard looked at Melisandre: "Madam, are you confident in resurrecting Jon?"

"I am not confident, my lord." Melisandre came to the Stone Hearth because the Mountain wanted her to come. She had foreseen Jon's death in the flames, and the Mountain believed that she could resurrect Jon.

Eddard looked at the Mountain. He did not believe that people could be resurrected after death. Lord Beric Dondarrion was said to have been resurrected several times by Thoros of Myr, but Eddard had not seen it with his own eyes. He preferred to believe that perhaps it was a trick of Thoros of Myr. Some comedians, clowns, and magicians from across the Narrow Sea would have some deceptive tricks, and monks and wizards would also use those tricks in order to gain people's trust and establish their religious prestige.

The Mountain looked at Eddard, with his own insistence in his eyes.

Melisandre said, "Lord Eddard, whether or not Jon can be resurrected is the decision of the Lord of Light. I am just making a request to the Lord of Light R'hllor. I don't know whether I can get a response from the Lord of Light, I don't know when the Lord of Light will respond, next, we can only wait."

"Let her try," Ygritte said, stepping out of the line and speaking loudly.

Samwell and the other brothers of the Night's Watch looked at Eddard Stark with expectant eyes. They were skeptical, but still hoped to try.

Davos Seaworth had seen Melisandre's abilities with his own eyes. He had cooperated with Melisandre twice, and had personally seen Melisandre give birth to shadow assassins, killing Renly Baratheon and Cortnay Penrose, helping Stannis obtain the lordship of the Stormlands and control of Storm's End.

"Lord Eddard, let Lady Melisandre try, this is different from sacrificing living people, this is saving people," said Davos Seaworth.

"Okay!"

Jon Snow was taken down from the pyre and placed on a chopping board. Under everyone's eyes, Melisandre lit the brazier and chanted words, the syllables of the incantation were strange, it was High Valyrian that everyone had not heard before, and she began to request the Lord of Light.

Half an hour passed, and Jon Snow remained motionless.

Melisandre stood up: "Let's go out, let's send the other warriors on their way first. I have already made a request to the Lord of Light, I cannot know whether the Lord of Light will respond to my request, I don't know when the Lord of Light will respond, next, we can only wait."

"I'll stay here with Jon," Ygritte said.

"I also request to stay here with him," Samwell said, his eyes darting and his tone lacking confidence. He was a loyal and smart person, but also timid.

The Mountain said, "Ygritte, Samwell, you stay here with Jon, he will wake up, believe me." The Mountain said with certainty. The three-eyed raven on Bran Stark's shoulder looked at the Mountain with sparkling eyes. Why was the Mountain so certain? How could he assert that Jon could be resurrected? Even Lady Melisandre herself could not be sure.

The crowd then came to the courtyard outside the hall. Eddard and the Mountain threw torches into the oil under the altar, and the fire burned fiercely.

In the room, Ygritte and Samwell, who were guarding Jon, heard a strange 'oh' sound, as if it was a sound of extreme pain. This sound was made by Jon, and even the listeners felt the pain.

Ygritte and Samwell were overjoyed. They got up together and leaned over in front of Jon. Jon opened his eyes and saw his old friend Samwell's surprised and happy eyes, and then Ygritte's lips covered his, and her fresh red lips were imprinted on Jon's lips.

"Ugh!" Jon made a weak and painful sound.

His whole body was in an infant state, completely natural and primitive, and the wound on his chest was shocking, the stitched scar was ugly, like a terrifying black centipede.

Samwell said anxiously: "Ygritte, don't suffocate Jon, he needs to rest first."

Ygritte didn't care at all. After a long, long kiss, she suddenly got up, turned around and walked out quickly, her face filled with radiance, and her red hair danced like flames. Jon's painful expression made Samwell feel distressed. Jon said, "Sam, help me up." His voice was weak and powerless.

Samwell hurriedly helped Jon Snow up.

"My clothes?!"

"I'll go get them right away." Samwell frantically brought Jon his clothes, and tears welled up in his eyes.

Jon's resurrection filled Samwell's chest with ecstasy.

In the courtyard, Ygritte's voice resounded in the air: "Jon is awake!" She almost shouted, her voice full of excitement, and her joy could not be suppressed. Ygritte's eyes instantly filled with tears.

Amidst the crackling sound of flames, everyone's faces were surprised and happy. Bran Stark's eyes also twitched slightly. The Mountain came and insisted on resurrecting Jon. He asserted that Jon would definitely be resurrected, and his prediction came true!

The three-eyed raven also stared at the Mountain, tilting its head, revealing a scrutinizing look.

The Brotherhood Without Banners and the Afterparty members all cheered.

Queen Selyse Florent sang loudly: "The night is dark and full of terrors, and the Lord of Light is the only true God. Join us, everyone, all the soldiers, join us, let the Lord of Light lead us to defeat the Others, let the Lord of Light lead us to retake the Iron Throne. Long live the Lord of Light-"

"Long live the Lord of Light!" The Afterparty members and the brothers of the Brotherhood Without Banners shouted together.

Believers are always easily excited!

Eddard Stark walked up to the Mountain. He gripped the Mountain's giant hand tightly, his eyes excited, but he didn't say a word. The Mountain nodded: "Lord Eddard, Jon has a special mission."

"The North will follow you from now on," Eddard said in a deep voice. "You have saved Jon's life again."

"Lord Eddard, resurrecting Jon is one of the reasons I came here. When the Others attack and the human race is in danger, it is my honor to fight side by side with you and the Northern warriors," the Mountain responded politely. This sentence gave Eddard and the Northerners affirmation, and it was an appropriate sentence. Eddard discovered that the Mountain was not the reckless and crude person that people rumored. He was a completely different person.

The crowd came to the hall, and Jon Snow, wearing his tight black leather, was sitting in a chair, his eyes deep and his lips blue-purple, as if he had been frozen. His face was also very bad, but his chest was rising and falling, and he was breathing, which was the most important thing.

"I saw Ghost, he's still alive." This was the first thing Jon said. His direwolf Ghost disappeared in the battle in which the Others attacked the Black Castle. Jon had searched for it in his dreams, and he could only sense that Ghost was somewhere in the haunted forest. After the Wall was occupied and controlled by the Others, it was difficult for Ghost to return through the Wall tunnel.

"What else did you see?" Eddard squatted down and held Jon's hand.

They were not father and son, but their affection was greater than that of father and son!

"Darkness, endless darkness, ethereal, no one, nothing else. Only darkness..." Jon's tone began to become rapid. He was too weak, and he had difficulty breathing as soon as he spoke or had emotions.

"He needs to rest," the Mountain said.

"It was Lord Mountain who saved you. He came from Winterfell, together with Lady Melisandre. He firmly believed that you would be resurrected," Eddard said softly.

Jon Snow looked at the Mountain. It was the first time he had seen the Mountain in person.

"Lord Mountain," he said, "Why me?" He didn't say the words of thanks that people expected. In fact, he felt the exhaustion and weakness of resurrection. He just wanted to sleep forever and didn't want to be resurrected. He already knew his life experience, knew who his mother was, and his wish had been fulfilled. According to tradition and law, he was a legitimate prince of the Targaryen family with the right to inherit the Iron Throne, but he had no intention of coveting the Iron Throne at all. He only felt that living was too tiring, and in the Battle of Winterfell, the Mountain came to Winterfell with the army and the dragon, and he was not one more, and he was not one less.

The Mountain stared at Jon Snow, he did not answer Jon's question: "Jon, you need to rest."

*

At noon, Meera Reed pushed Bran Stark out of the south gate. Varamyr, with his snow bear, three direwolves, a shadow lynx, a snow eagle in the sky, and a small guard, protected Bran Stark and went on the Kingsroad. This time, it was the real Bran!