The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 774: Little Devil Littlefinger - A Match Made in Hell

Dragon, one large and three small.

Upon the great dragon's back rode two men: one a tiny dwarf almost invisible against the dragon's massive form, the other a giant of a man, powerfully built.

On the back of one of the three smaller white dragons rode a lithe and armored woman, a red-and-gold Martell banner billowing behind her: Arianne Martell. The blood of dragons flowed in her veins, granting her a natural affinity for the beasts, proving her connection to the dragons was stronger than that of her brother, Quentyn.

Though Arianne and Quentyn shared the same bloodline, their inherent talents differed. Daenerys possessed a dragon affinity surpassing anyone in her family for the past one hundred and seventy years.

At the Trident River crossing, tens of thousands of soldiers in the sprawling encampment looked up at the sky, awestruck.

The great dragon and its three young circled overhead, their supreme commander, the Mountain, a figure of awe with his greatsword strapped to his back.

Melisandre and Lady Donella stood outside the command tent, surrounded by Vale and Westerlands generals, all gazing skyward, speechless with excitement.

Lord Mountain had arrived, riding a dragon. He had not only brought back the dragon thief, but also three more young dragons.

The few hundred warhorses present knelt, already accustomed to the Mountain's dragon's aura, their panic largely subsided, replaced by submission.

Besides the Mountain, the soldiers saw Arianne Martell riding alone on the back of a white dragon, a sight that filled them with astonishment!

Many of the generals recognized the Little Devil, Tyrion Lannister!

The Imp's notoriety was widespread throughout the Seven Kingdoms, his unique stature a recognizable trait. Most noble-born generals knew him. Soldiers whispered amongst themselves, correctly guessing the little man's true identity.

Most Vale soldiers had never seen the Imp, but all had heard tales of his infamous reputation. From a young age, stories of the Imp had spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Rumors spoke of a crocodile's tail and scales, the claws of a shadowcat, and small, raven-red eyes… In short, the Imp was portrayed as a monster…

Melisandre and Lady Donella were equally stunned. Melisandre had foreseen the Mountain taming a dragon in her flames, but never imagined he could subdue Daenerys' dragons so quickly, or that Arianne Martell would become a dragonrider of the white dragon.

A dragon only allows a rider on its back if they are its dragonrider, or if their dragonrider master is also present.

Littlefinger, Petyr Baelish, was absent his signature sly smile, rarely showing such blatant shock. This time, his detached observer persona vanished, replaced by the wide-eyed, gaping stare of an ordinary soldier.

Littlefinger found it hard to believe that the Mountain's dragon hadn't died, but had transformed into three more dragons in such a short time.

It was simply unbelievable!

Arianne Martell, astride the white dragon, was a vision of beauty and draconic might, equally astonishing to him.

Suddenly, the Mountain possessed at least two dragons, and their army boasted two dragonriders: the Mountain and Arianne Martell!

How had the Mountain accomplished this in such a short time?!

After slaying the Night King at Winterfell in the North, the Mountain had created another unbelievable miracle!

Littlefinger knew the Imp all too well.

Tyrion Lannister held a high position in Daenerys' army, serving as her Hand. How had he come to be at the Mountain's side, riding the same dragon?!

Even the astute, resourceful, and devious Littlefinger was stunned by the sudden appearance of four dragons and three riders!

The brief silence of shock gave way to a deafening roar of cheers from tens of thousands of soldiers!

The Mountain's three elite guard captains were the first to break ranks, running onto the Kingsroad, shouting the Mountain's name to the sky: Alyn, Torwynd the Tarth and Jothos Slynt. The remaining three hundred of the five hundred strong guard charged out alongside them, flooding the Kingsroad, drawing their swords and cheering to the heavens…

The Mountain's foster son, Landon, along with Qotho Qoan, and the eight chieftains of the Claw Isle tribes, led their respective clansmen in a mountain-shaking cry – Doroloolololololo!

Almost simultaneously, the soldiers of the forty-odd tribes of the Mountains of the Moon joined in the celebratory cry – Doroloolololololo!

The more than twenty thousand Vale soldiers and ten thousand Westerlands soldiers erupted in cheers!

The cheering was deafening!

Countless spears, swords, axes, daggers, bows, and shields were raised, forming a forest of weapons…

The cheers and shouts reverberated throughout the Trident River valley, drowning out the rushing waters of the Red Fork, Green Fork, and Blue Fork…

The soldiers were ecstatic, their emotions running wild, unable to contain themselves…

The cheers rose like a tidal wave, echoing endlessly…

Many helmets were tossed into the air, forming a swirling black cloud in the sky…

The Imp wore a mischievous expression.

"Mountain, our soldiers will be invincible," he remarked.

The Imp was affected by the fervent and excited army. Even Daenerys' army had never displayed such fervor. Daenerys claimed two hundred thousand soldiers, but the loyalty of the mercenary companies and the armies of the Nine Free Cities was tied to their pay.

The Mountain had his own loyal following, having taken in many foster sons and daughters. These people were his family. He also elevated many common-born warriors to knighthood. For example, Anguy, the Seven Kingdoms' best archer, came from the Dornish Marches, a commoner who became a knight after following the Mountain, and was granted a barony by the King, later marrying Elanora Mooton, the heir to Maidenpool.

Beside Melisandre, Littlefinger leaned in close and said, "My lady, we should put the Mountain on the Iron Throne."

Melisandre turned to look at Littlefinger.

Littlefinger's expression was serious, without a hint of his usual smile. It was rare to see him without that faint, knowing smile, as if mocking the world and despising everyone. "Dorne, the Westerlands, the Vale, the Riverlands, and the North will all support us. Who would dare defy the Mountain as king?"

"Lord Mountain wishes for Jon Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne."

"That is not his true intention."

"Oh?"

"Lord Mountain wants to sit on the Iron Throne, but doesn't want to bear the infamy of rebellion. He already has enough notoriety. When Robert took the Iron Throne, Tywin Lannister did the dirty work for him. If Robert had done it himself, he could not have taken the throne with clean hands and a clear conscience. A future king cannot do the dirty work himself, especially when it concerns the succession to the Iron Throne."

Melisandre's beautiful eyes flickered with small flames. "Lord Baelish, are you suggesting that we secretly kill Jon Targaryen, just as Tywin had Lord Mountain kill Rhaegar's heirs after the Sack of King's Landing in 283 AC?"

"Exactly! Jon and Daenerys, both Targaryens, must die! But if the negotiations succeed, someone must do the dirty work for Lord Mountain."

"Then we must turn the Targaryens into enemies."

"My lady, did you see the Imp? He was Daenerys' Hand. Why would he appear with Lord Mountain? I believe he is here to negotiate."

Melisandre looked to the sky. The Mountain drew Ice and saluted the tens of thousands of soldiers, who responded with another earth-shattering roar, raising their weapons.

"Lord, Eddard Stark of the North has suggested that Robert's bastard, Gendry Rivers, should be king, as he is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, possessing Robert's blood. The rightful heir to the Iron Throne should be from House Baratheon."

"Heh, there is also a Baratheon bastard in the Vale: Mya Stone. She is Robert's first bastard daughter, twenty-two years old. As Protector of the Vale, I can declare her my adopted daughter. Once Mya Stone has a legitimate identity, she will be the first in line for the throne."

"Mya Stone is still alive? The Mountain burned the Eyrie and slaughtered everyone inside."

"Mya Stone has not been at the Eyrie since her lover, Ser Mychel Redfort, was killed at Ironoaks. She is a septa in a sept on the Vale plains."

*

Amidst the thunderous cheers, the great dragon landed slowly on the Kingsroad, followed by the three smaller dragons. A large space was left clear where the dragons landed.

The people cheered for the dragons and welcomed the Mountain, but their awe of the dragons prevented them from getting too close.

The Mountain lifted the Imp down, gently placing the little man on the ground as if he were a baby. The dragon's breath was a wave of heat, causing the Imp to stumble.

The watching soldiers laughed.

The Imp bowed gracefully, acknowledging the joy he brought to the soldiers. He enjoyed being mocked. His skin was as thick as the soldiers' shields; insults and ridicule could no longer harm him.

Arianne Martell dismounted the white dragon gracefully. Her descent differed from the Mountain's, who simply jumped—because Sheepstealer never lowered itself—while the little white dragon, Vermax, obediently lowered itself, allowing its dragonrider to step down with ease.

The Westerlands generals and knights stepped forward to pay their respects to the Mountain!

The guard captains, the Mountain's foster sons, the Claw Isle tribe chieftains, the Mountains of the Moon native tribe chieftains, the Westerlands direct line generals, the army logistics and law enforcement generals all surged forward, showing no fear of the Mountain's villainy.

No matter how one looked at it, the Mountain was a leader fervently supported by his generals! This gave the Imp a strong feeling that the Mountain wasn't relying on fear to gain his subordinates' loyalty. So what was it that earned him his men’s love? Fairness and selflessness were certainly not traits associated with the Mountain. Noble character was definitely not the answer!

Strength?

Dragons?

Intrigue?

Leading from the front?

Clear rewards and punishments?

Invincibility?

The Imp couldn't figure it out!

Littlefinger's gaze locked onto the Imp through the gaps in the crowd. He knew the Imp was a man of scheming and calculation. To help the Mountain rightfully take the Iron Throne, this Imp was a useful pawn! If he could be persuaded to defect from Daenerys and become the Mountain's agent, planted by Daenerys’ side, then things would be much easier.

However, the Imp was not an easy man to deal with! He was cunning, and Littlefinger knew it well!

Half an hour later, inside the army's command tent.

The Mountain sat high on a chair, with Melisandre, Donella, Arianne Martell, and Varamyr Sixskins standing to his left and right. On either side of the tent, the right side was filled with Vale generals, led by Petyr Baelish, while the left side was filled with Westerlands generals, led by the newly arrived Tyrion Lannister. The Mountain had announced that the Imp had sworn fealty to him, and had temporarily appointed Littlefinger as his army's deputy commander.

Over a hundred generals stood on either side of the tent, all full of energy and spirited.

A wealth of talent and imposing authority!

The arrival of the Mountain and the four dragons had rejuvenated the entire army's morale!

The Mountain briefly described the current military situation and asked the generals for their opinions on the next step.

Littlefinger immediately stood up. "Lord Mountain, if Daenerys refuses to submit, then she must be killed." Littlefinger's intention was clear: kill the Targaryens first, and no one would contest the Iron Throne.

Littlefinger's statement was met with unanimous agreement from the generals.

The Mountain looked at the Imp, who stood up and said, "Generals, Lord Mountain's goal is not to sit on the Iron Throne of Westeros. He will build his own dragonrider legion and conquer Essos."

The generals, who had been clamoring to kill Daenerys, fell silent, their expressions astonished, needing time to understand the Imp's words. Littlefinger was also shaken. Lord Mountain's goal was not the Westeros throne, but to rule both Westeros and Essos?!

A dragonrider legion?!

Littlefinger felt the limitations of his own vision, realizing for the first time that his ambition was too small.

Amidst the generals' silence, the Mountain spoke. "Generals, if we can build a dragonrider legion, conquering the continent across the sea is entirely possible. Four hundred years ago, the Valyrian Freehold conquered Essos with dragons. Three hundred years ago, Aegon Targaryen started with three dragons and a few hundred soldiers, conquered our Westeros and established a three-hundred-year dynasty. If foreigners can conquer us, why can't we conquer them?"

"Lord Mountain, do the four dragons outside belong to us?" Littlefinger asked.

"Lord Baelish, we already have two dragons: Sheepstealer and Vermax. Of the other two, one belongs to Daenerys, and the other has yet to find its dragonrider."

The generals stirred!

"

“Besides Sheepstealer and Viserys, in a few years, we will have more dragons, maybe five, maybe a few less. Sheepstealer is a female dragon, Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserys are male dragons. In fifteen days, Sheepstealer will be pregnant. After she lays her eggs, they will hatch in just one day. In a year, the dragons will be grown and ready for battle. In two years, they will be able to carry people and choose their own dragon riders.”

Boom!

The hall erupted in a cacophony of discussion! The generals rubbed their hands together, excited.

Littlefinger raised his voice, suppressing the generals' discussion: “Ser Gregor, since we can build an invincible dragon rider legion, there is no need to negotiate with Daenerys at all. We can just destroy her and her army directly.”

“Daenerys commands immense prestige among the people of Essos. If we conquer the Dothraki Sea and Slaver's Bay in the future, every person in those lands will become our most terrifying enemy. The people of Slaver's Bay regard Daenerys as their mother. Are we just going to kill them all?” Tyrion stared at Littlefinger with his one eye. “Petyr, if we have to kill the people of every place we conquer, what are we conquering for? We need the support and love of the people to build a true empire.”

Ser Gregor remained unmoved, but in his heart, he was delighted. He loved to see Tyrion and Littlefinger working together!