The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The Mountain said, "Lady Jeyne, the vast majority of Daenerys's subordinates have already been incorporated. Asha Greyjoy's fleet from the Iron Islands, the Dawn fleet from the Stepstones, the Unsullied legions from Slaver's Bay, and the Dothraki cavalry, they have all submitted and are already serving our country."

"Your Majesty, I didn't see the Stepstones fleet at the docks. Apart from the Unsullied legions from Slaver's Bay, I didn't see a single one of the tens of thousands of Dothraki cavalry," said Lord Rosby, a high-ranking noble from the Crownlands.

"Lord Rosby, Daenerys hired a mercenary company called the Second Sons. Their leader is a exiled prince from Pentos named the Tattered Prince Isidore. Isidore knelt before me and swore allegiance. I have already sent him to reclaim the governance of Pentos. The Dawn fleet from the Stepstones, the Dothraki cavalry, and the Second Sons mercenaries are crossing the Narrow Sea to seize Pentos."

"Your Majesty, are you saying that you have sent the surrendered Dothraki and the Stepstones fleet to help an exiled prince reclaim Pentos?"

"Yes, Lord. Don't you like the idea of turning the Pentos city-state into our kingdom's territory? Pentos is the closest Free City to King's Landing, and its annual tax revenue is a considerable fortune," the Mountain said nonchalantly.

The quiet and solemn hall immediately buzzed with commotion.

Noble ladies whispered to each other, courtiers and generals exchanged glances, their expressions astonished.

"Your Majesty, our Westeros civil war has just ended. The country is poor and the army is exhausted. If Your Majesty interferes in the Pentos city-state, I fear it will provoke terrible retaliation from the other eight Free Cities," Lord Rykker, a noble from the Crownlands, said loudly.

"Lord Rykker, I'm afraid they won't retaliate," the Mountain said indifferently.

The whispering hall instantly fell silent, as if time and space had suddenly frozen for a moment. Then, with a boom, time and space moved simultaneously, and nobles, knights, generals, ladies, and gentlemen all discussed and expressed their opinions, and a clamor arose.

A majestic voice sounded faintly, yet it suppressed all the noise: "Hundreds of years ago, the Valyrian Empire on Essos was destroyed by a rare volcanic eruption. The Valyrian Peninsula was torn apart, and part of it drifted into the sea, becoming what is now known as the Smoking Sea. The empire's dragons also died in the volcanic eruption and the smoke that soared into the clouds, and the entire empire was destroyed. The empire's Targaryen lord foresaw this disaster and fled with his family. Eventually, the Targaryen family brought three dragons and hundreds of servants west, occupying the desolate Dragonstone and multiplying. Later, the Targaryen family relied on three dragons to attack the Seven Kingdoms, eventually unifying the continent and establishing the Targaryen dynasty..." The Mountain slowly scanned the room. "Now, the Targaryen dynasty has fallen, and the kingdom has returned to the hands of the Westerosi. We have dragons, we have red smoke beasts, we have Dothraki cavalry, we have the Stepstones fleet, we have the Unsullied legions, and we have the armies of Dorne, the Reach, the Crownlands, the Stormlands, the Westerlands, the Vale, and the Iron Islands. Why shouldn't we conquer the continent of Essos, which is several times larger than our land? The other side is very rich, my lords."

The entire room was silent, and only the sound of everyone's breathing could be heard.

"Daenerys Targaryen, a young girl, dared to lead a foreign army to conquer us and seize the Iron Throne. Why can't we turn around and conquer them?" the Mountain said calmly.

The nobles heard the Mountain talk about 'conquest' for the first time, and they were all shocked.

For thousands of years, the continent of Westeros has never had a history of conquering other countries, but has always been conquered by foreigners from across the Narrow Sea.

The Mountain's voice echoed through the hall: "Ten thousand years ago, the continents of Essos and Westeros were connected by a narrow strip of land. Foreigners from Essos brought iron weapons and entered Westeros through the connected land, attacking the First Men and the Children of the Forest who used sticks and obsidian as weapons. In order to prevent the continuous entry of foreigners, the prophets and magicians of the Children of the Forest launched water magic, severing the narrow land connecting the two continents, leaving behind the Stepstones as they are today."

"Six thousand years ago, the Andals' Arryn family rode giant eagles to attack us. They landed at Gulltown in the Vale, defeated our Griffin King Royce, and brought us the Faith of the Seven."

"A thousand years ago, the Rhoynar heroine Nymeria led two thousand warships across the Narrow Sea. They landed in Dorne, and eventually Nymeria married the head of the Martell family, unifying the entire Dorne and destroying the other seven countries in Dorne. This is the origin of the Dornish Lord Martell family."

"Three hundred years ago, Lord Targaryen, who fled from the Valyrian Empire, brought three dragons and hundreds of soldiers and conquered us all again."

The Mountain slowly finished speaking about the history of the continent being conquered by foreigners. He walked to the edge of the altar, as majestic as a god: "My lords, generals, knights, ladies, and gentlemen, today, our continent believes in the Seven Gods, and also in the Old Gods; the Seven Gods come from across the Narrow Sea, and the Old Gods come from the faith of our ancestors, the First Men; our nation includes the descendants of the First Men, the Andals, and the Rhoynar. I will cross the Narrow Sea to conquer the continent of Essos and establish a powerful, wealthy, and invincible empire. So, are there any true warriors who dare to go on the expedition with me?"

Clang clang clang clang clang!

Only the sound of swords being drawn could be heard, and in the flashing cold light, long swords were raised one after another, like a small forest of blades.

*

"Your Majesty, Pollyver Clegane swears to follow you to the death!"

"Your Majesty, Anguy Clegane swears to follow you to the death!"

"Your Majesty, Redhand Temett swears to follow you to the death!"

"Your Majesty, Jois Foote swears to follow you to the death!"

"Your Majesty, Hero swears to follow you to the death!"

"Your Majesty, House Royce of Runestone swears to follow you to the death!"

"Your Majesty, House Shett of Gulltown swears to follow you to the death!"

"Your Majesty, House Martell of Dorne swears to follow you to the death!"

……………………

In the hall, almost all the military officers drew their long swords and swore to follow the Mountain!

The Mountain's eyes swept towards the courtiers.

Littlefinger Petyr Baelish said, "Your Majesty, Petyr fully supports the Eastern Expedition!"

Grand Maester Qyburn: "Your Majesty, Qyburn fully supports the Eastern Expedition!"

Master of Whisperers Burney: "Your Majesty, Burney fully supports the Eastern Expedition!"

Master of Ships Wagoner Hull: "Your Majesty, the Royal Navy fully supports the Eastern Expedition!"

……………………

Among the key officials of the court, except for Jeyne Westerling who did not express her opinion, all the other ministers supported the Mountain's Eastern Expedition!

Standing at the back, Jon Targaryen looked solemn. The Mountain had just put on the crown and was about to use the power of the whole country to launch an Eastern Expedition? Bran Stark's prophecy that the Mountain would conquer two continents was not false. Bran saw the future.

Master of Laws Jeyne Westerling said, "Your Majesty, you have just ascended the throne, and the Eastern Expedition still needs to be considered carefully."

"No, Lady Jeyne, the Eastern Expedition of the Westeros Empire has already begun."

"Oh, when?"

"From the moment the Tattered Prince Isidore knelt before me and swore allegiance, from the moment Prince Arianne and I rode dragons to conquer Daenerys, that was already the beginning of the Eastern Expedition. We will soon receive news of the conquest of Pentos. Pentos is the first city we conquered on the continent of Essos." The Mountain looked at Jeyne, and his cold gaze softened. "Madam, we will eventually conquer distant Slaver's Bay and the even more distant eastern giant city of Qarth, and Daenerys, who surrendered to us, if she can submit, will be our best helper in conquering Slaver's Bay and the eastern Asshai. As long as Daenerys can be subdued, Slaver's Bay can be taken without bloodshed. Madam, your suggestion to behead Daenerys needs to be postponed."

Lady Jeyne said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Your Queen, do you support my Eastern Expedition?" The Mountain changed his words and called Jeyne "Your Queen" for the first time. This was a small detail change, but it was the release of a small signal that the Mountain had determined a brand new kingdom in his heart.

"I fully support your decision, Your Majesty," Jeyne said, neither humble nor arrogant, still elegant.

The Mountain looked at Gendry Baratheon: "Duke Gendry, you forged the crown for me, but didn't forge a crown for the Queen?"

"...Uh...time was too rushed...Your Majesty...to forge such a crown, the best jewelers would need at least ten days at the fastest, but at my request, they only spent three days...this is already a remarkable miracle...the Queen's crown...it's really too late..."

"Duke Gendry, you don't have to feel guilty about this. I will design my own crown," Jeyne said with a smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Gendry replied dryly, not good at words.

The Mountain looked at the High Septon: "High Septon, can the ceremony be over?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. In the name of the Seven Gods, guided by divine revelation, I officially announce that the coronation ceremony of Duke Gregor Clegane is officially over." When the High Septon announced in a singing voice, he looked apologetically at Jeyne Westerling. He felt sorry that the Queen was not crowned together.

This was a coronation with regrets!

Everything was too rushed! But this was divine revelation, and the High Septon did not dare to disobey.

Littlefinger Petyr Baelish stood out from the queue and said, "Your Majesty, according to convention, to celebrate the new king's accession to the Iron Throne, the royal family will celebrate with the courtiers and military officers for seven days; secondly, hold a national tournament."

"The royal family's seven-day celebration is canceled. The national treasury is empty, and celebrating for seven days is too wasteful of gold. Change the seven-day celebration to distributing bread to the poor people of the city for seven days."

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

"The traditional national tournament is canceled. The civil war has just been settled, and it is not appropriate for nobles from all over the country to come to King's Landing. This round trip will take them at least three months. The tournament will also be a waste of time and money for the royal family."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Lord Petyr Baelish, please arrange for me to host a drunken feast for the courtiers and military officers in Maegor's Holdfast in the Red Keep the day after tomorrow."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

*

The next day, the Throne Room.

Daenerys and her generals came to the bottom of the seven steps. Standing in a row in front of them were six members of the Kingsguard. On the high steps behind the Kingsguard sat the new King, the Mountain.

The first time Daenerys saw the Mountain sitting on the Iron Throne, her heart skipped a beat.

The Iron Throne was forged from thousands of iron swords, with a majestic and dignified aura, towering and ferocious. The Mountain sat on it, unusually tall and mighty. The Iron Throne set off the man, and the man set off the Iron Throne, further increasing its majestic aura, as if it were substantial, giving people an overwhelming pressure.

The Iron Throne was like a magical creature with life, or a rare and ferocious beast. If it was not the right person, it could not control the aura of the throne itself.

The Mountain was naturally gifted, with a giant body and a fierce temperament, perfectly matching the majestic intimidation of the Iron Throne.

On both sides of the hall stood courtiers, military officers, wealthy merchants, nobles, ladies, and gentlemen.

The hall was crowded with people, but there was not a single sound of noise. The Mountain sat on the throne, his aura like a mountain, and everyone was in awe.

Gendry Baratheon was ranked in the queue of great nobles. He was the Duke of Storm's End and the Lord of the Stormlands, but he did not hold any official position in the royal palace for the time being.

"Ser Barristan Selmy, are you willing to be my Kingsguard?" The Mountain surprisingly did not ask Daenerys Targaryen first.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"You are not willing?"

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"Alright, Barristan Selmy, you have served four generations of kings in your life: Aerys Targaryen, Robert Baratheon, Joffrey Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen. You are a true knight admired by the citizens and nobles of the Seven Kingdoms. You are upright, brave, fearless, and honest. I give you freedom."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Mountain waved his hand, signaling Barristan to leave.

Barristan looked at Daenerys, then turned around and strode towards the door of the throne room.

"Jorah Mormont."

Jorah looked at the Mountain: "Your Majesty, if you don't kill me, I won't leave here. Daenerys is my Queen."

"Daenerys is no longer the Queen, unless she kneels and submits to me. Then, the throne of Slaver's Bay will still be hers." The Mountain looked at Daenerys. "Daenerys, you once said that you would only submit to the King. Now I am the King. If you submit to me, you don't need to kneel."

"You are not an upright King," Daenerys said coldly. "You can kill me, but you cannot make me submit."

The Mountain stared at Daenerys and said calmly: "Ser Alyn, take Daenerys to the Maidenvault." He was not surprised by Daenerys's reaction at all.

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Alyn was the Master of Laws and also the King's executioner. He stood by the Mountain's side. As soon as the Mountain gave the order, Alyn strode down the steps and came to Daenerys's side: "Please, Daenerys."

Daenerys glanced at the Mountain on the Iron Throne, turned around, scanned the dark mass of the Mountain's courtiers and military officers, and finally took a deep look at her loyal generals, then turned back to face the Mountain: "Your Majesty, how will you dispose of my generals?"

The remaining dozen or so generals were all those who refused to abandon her.

"Ser Alyn, are you not going to act?" the Mountain said coldly.

"Daenerys, please, if I act, you will be very impolite."

Daenerys silently glanced at Alyn, and then walked towards the door of the hall.

“Ser Bronn, have men keep a close watch on the Maiden's Chamber. Without my orders, no one is to enter. Trespassers are to be killed without mercy.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”