The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“Mountain, Braavos is to the east.” Daenerys Targaryen, riding on Drogon's back, reminded the Mountain.

From the way she addressed him, Daenerys already showed a sense of closeness to the Mountain. Calling him 'Your Grace' was respectful, but also created distance.

Arya Stark only addressed the Mountain as 'Your Grace' in formal public occasions or when being sarcastic; otherwise, she called him by his name directly.

“I know, Daenerys,” the Mountain replied.

The Mountain also stopped calling Daenerys 'Your Grace,' as it felt too distant.

Although their physical intimacy was interrupted by Melisandre's sudden prophecy, emotionally, the distance between them had lessened. Of course, the previous distance wasn't from the Mountain, not his distance towards Daenerys, but Daenerys' distance towards him. However, after Jeyne Westerling made it clear she wanted to kill Daenerys, Daenerys made her decision.

Daenerys had the experience with Drogo, from initially being weak, helpless, and crying silently every night, to changing her attitude and accepting professional instruction from the Lysene handmaidens on matters of men and women. Daenerys turned passivity into initiative, using her beauty and professional skills, completely different from other women on the grasslands, to eventually become strong and resilient enough to completely conquer Drogo, making him obsessed with her and obedient to her every word. In return, she gained Drogo's respect, absolute authority as a Khaleesi, and the pleasures a woman should enjoy. This experience of transforming from extreme pain to complete control shaped her later competitive, tenacious, and fearless qualities.

This time, facing the Mountain, Daenerys made the same choice, like a repeat of her experience with Drogo.

But when she and the Mountain flew out of the Mountains of the Moon together, Daenerys realized the direction was wrong, exactly opposite to their destination. They were supposed to go to Braavos, which was to the east, but the Mountain was flying west. Daenerys naturally had to follow the Mountain's direction, but she was naturally puzzled.

Was the Mountain not going east to rescue Arya Stark?

This was beyond Daenerys' understanding.

When they were in the tent, they had clearly agreed to go east to Braavos.

The night sky over the Mountains of the Moon was cold.

The highest peaks of the mountains were covered in perennial snow that never melted.

The dragon's flight brought the biting cold head-on.

However, Sheepstealer was like a mobile furnace. The black dragon Drogon also radiated heat, effectively resisting the cold in the night sky.

“Mountain, we are flying west. Do you have any secret plans you need to tell me?” Daenerys stared at the Mountain.

“I want you to take a look at the Westerlands first,” the Mountain replied.

“Go to the Westerlands, to see what?”

“To see the future.”

“The future of what?”

“What the future of Essos will be like, what the future of Slaver's Bay will be like. Don't you want to know?”

Daenerys Targaryen's eyes showed a strange light. Was the Mountain thinking the same as her, also turning passivity into initiative? But the Mountain's words were strange and peculiar, completely piquing Daenerys' curiosity. The Mountain's words made Daenerys interested in finding out.

“Mountain, how can we see the future of Slaver's Bay by going to the Westerlands?”

“You'll know when you get there.”

“Oh?!”

“Before going to Braavos, I need you to have faith in me.”

“The fact that I came to you proves I have faith in you.”

“But it's not enough.” The Mountain looked at the stunningly beautiful Daenerys and smiled slightly. He had already received Jeyne Westerling's secret letter. The speed of ravens was much faster than Daenerys trekking through the Mountains of the Moon to find someone. Why did Daenerys suddenly take the initiative to come to the Mountain? Because Jeyne had taken action. She granted the Mountain his wish, and in return, she received the right to feed the Mountain's promised three baby dragons.

“Oh? Maybe going to the Westerlands will shatter the beautiful image I have of you!”

“Absolutely not,” the Mountain said proudly.

The Mountain's strong affirmation stirred Daenerys' heart.

The Mountain was indeed an arrogant fellow, too assertive. Daenerys was assertive, but the Mountain was even more so.

Absolutely not!

Resounding! Dictatorial!

“What magical places are there in the Westerlands that I have never seen before?”

“Many.”

The Mountain's words made Daenerys smile slightly.

His casual nonsense made Daenerys feel that the Mountain was a somewhat interesting guy.

However, what exactly was there in the Westerlands that was worth taking a special look at?

Wasn't Sansa Stark going to the Westerlands when she got married?

Why make a separate trip?

The straight-line distance from the Mountains of the Moon to the mountains of the Westerlands was over a thousand miles. The dragon opened the way, breaking the wind, and the black dragon Drogon followed closely behind Sheepstealer. This could help Drogon save a lot of energy and increase Drogon's speed.

The Mountain flew with all his might. He still needed to go to Braavos in the east to bring back Arya Stark.

As dawn approached, two dragons, one large and one small, appeared in the skies of the Westerlands.

“Let's go to Clegane's New Village first.”

“Okay, I'm also very curious to see what kind of wicked place the birthplace of the Seven Kingdoms' most notorious villain is.”

“We won't enter the village, nor will we go down. We'll just take a quiet look from the sky.”

“Like a thief spying on your own home?” Daenerys couldn't help but laugh. The Mountain's words made her feel too interesting, and her happy laughter was crisp and melodious.

“Exactly!”

*

The Mountain lowered the altitude of the dragon. Dragons had amazing eyesight, and the person controlling the dragon was in sync with the dragon's senses, so their eyesight was also extraordinary.

Daenerys, on the back of the black dragon Drogon, saw the houses below like complete square little boxes, with roads running horizontally and vertically.

She lowered the altitude again. She saw that each little box house had a yard in front and a livestock pen in the back. Every certain distance, there was a slightly larger separate building.

This was a well-organized village that Daenerys had never seen before.

“Every household has its own independent house, a yard in front for growing vegetables, and a livestock pen in the back for raising cattle and sheep. In the yard, every household has a well, which can solve the drinking water needs of the people. And every twenty households, there is a separate public toilet. Most of the people's illnesses are caused by uncleanliness and poor hygiene. A closed public toilet can solve the bad habit of people relieving themselves everywhere. A drainage ditch is designed under the toilet, which directly drains into a special septic tank.”

“You have thousands of people?”

Clegane's Village looked like a small, neat, and unified city without walls.

“Four years ago, I only had eleven households.”

Daenerys' beautiful eyes lit up: “Where did you snatch so many people from?”

“Refugees from the war, new homes for some soldiers, vagrants from Lannisport, homeless unfortunates, and hundreds of orphans and widows from the Iron Islands. In just a few years, the Iron Islands have experienced the repeated struggles of King Balon, the Crow's Eye Dynasty, Governor Gorold Goodbrother, and Queen Asha. Some Ironborn people couldn't bear the burden and knew that I was sheltering refugees from all over the world, so hundreds of islanders came here to settle down and became people of the Clegane family.”

“Clegane's New Village takes in any people?”

“Yes, the old, weak, sick, and disabled, we want them all, we accept everyone. When there are too many people and there is not enough space to live, we build houses. The stones and trees in the Silver Hill Mountains don't cost money. Once there are more villagers, there are stonemasons, blacksmiths, carpenters, etc. In Clegane's New Village, to stay, you have to help each other and be united against outsiders.”

Daenerys nodded.

“Actually, the needs of the people are very simple: land, houses, freedom, unity, and mutual care. I am the Seven Kingdoms' most notorious villain, but in Clegane's New Village, not a single person thinks I am an evil person. They think I am the kindest person.” The Mountain smiled.

“Is that so?” Daenerys raised her voice, “It seems we have been seen.”

“Then let's go.” The Mountain gently patted Sheepstealer's head, “Ascend, fly.”

The dragon ascended straight up and flew into the clouds.

Clegane's New Village, with people shouting, the villagers came out one after another, all looking up at the sky…

*

The sky seemed to brighten completely in an instant. In the distance, Daenerys saw a giant snake-like structure winding and reciprocating in the low sky. Its length was unknown. It seemed like a giant snake flying out of the continuous mountains, and part of the giant snake was still hidden in the depths of the mountains.

“What is that?”

“Aerial aqueduct.”

“Aerial aqueduct?”

“Yes, the water comes from the streams in the mountains. Not opening the aqueduct on the ground, but in the air can ensure the cleanliness of the water quality. In Tarbeck Hall and Castamere, I designed aerial aqueducts to send water into every household.”

Daenerys had never seen such an aqueduct designed in the air. Her eyes sparkled, feeling amazed.

“The people from the mountain tribes of the Mountains of the Moon live in Castamere and Tarbeck Hall. Most of the city of Castamere is underground. People from the mountain tribes of the Mountains of the Moon are used to relieving themselves anywhere and are also used to washing and drinking in the same pool, which will cause many diseases to occur. I have built many closed toilets and built aqueducts in the air. The water finally flows into the water tower. The base of the water tower has many switches. Opening it will allow water to flow out. People use buckets to collect water to take home, or use bamboo pipes to draw water to the water tank at home. Drinking water and toilets are the basic facilities to ensure that people are healthy and get sick less.”

Daenerys looked at the Mountain: “Mountain, I feel like you are a wise man.”

“I am a wise man,” the Mountain was not modest.

Daenerys smiled slightly.

“Your aerial aqueduct design can be promoted in Slaver's Bay.”

“And toilets, schools.”

“Schools?”

“Yes, I have built schools in Clegane's New Village, Castamere, and Tarbeck Hall, and forcibly ordered every child of every person to go to school, learn to write, calculate, and check their progress through exams. Every child must be literate, read books, and calculate after learning. When the new generation of people grows up, they will all be cultured people. In the Westerlands, more than 90% of the people are illiterate.”

“Almost everyone in Slaver's Bay is illiterate. Missandei is literate, and she is very remarkable in the hearts of the people.”

“Daenerys, you are the Queen of Slaver's Bay. You have to build schools in Slaver's Bay and hire scholars to teach your people to read and calculate. This is the prerequisite for making a country prosperous. The science of the Citadel, literacy and calculation are the foundation.”

Daenerys looked at the Mountain. The sun shone on the Mountain and Sheepstealer. Sheepstealer's golden-red dragon scales shone, setting off the Mountain like a great hero with glory.

In a trance, Daenerys remembered Varys, Tyrion, Barristan, and Jorah Mormont's evaluations of the Mountain. Obviously, none of her courtiers and warriors understood the real Mountain.

If there really were great heroes in this world, it would be the Mountain.

In fact, from the moment the Mountain killed the Night King and saved the lives of the entire continent, she should have reflected and rationally and objectively re-evaluated the Mountain.

It was already dawn, and the people below saw the two dragons in the sky, and they cheered.

“Mountain, your people have seen you.”

“Also your people, Daenerys,” the Mountain said.

This was not a love word, but it surpassed all the love words Daenerys had ever heard.

“I am honored,” Daenerys smiled. Her smile came from the heart, extremely beautiful, breathtaking, and made the Mountain's heart sway.

“Let's go, to Braavos in the east,” the Mountain said.

“Okay!” Daenerys' heart was surging. She had seen countless people, wise men, wizards, great masters, and unparalleled generals, but there had never been anyone who combined absolute courage and wisdom like the Mountain, and was also a newly rising dragon rider. The three dragons hatched by the Mountain's Sheepstealer foreshadowed the coming of a new era of dragons.

In the former era of dragons - the Valyrian Empire - the head of the Targaryen family was an ordinary count in the dragon empire. Dragons were never magical creatures unique to the Targaryen family. It was only when the dragon empire was destroyed that the only dragon people who escaped and came to Dragonstone in Westeros were the Targaryen family.

The Mountain's three little dragons: Lady, Knight, and Tyraxes, their mother was Sheepstealer, and their father came from the Targaryen's three dragons: Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion.

In the dark, the dragons had already intermarried in advance. The Mountain's physique was several times stronger than Drogo. Thinking of this, Daenerys' beautiful face turned a faint blush.

If the Mountain wanted to conquer Essos, the most important thing was to conquer Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons with the greatest influence in Essos; for the stunningly beautiful Daenerys, it was not just about conquering her body, but more about conquering her heart.

Aqueducts, houses, toilets, schools, and the people's peaceful and prosperous lives, these things looked ordinary, but their power surpassed the Valyrian steel sword Ice on the Mountain's back.

In the cheers of the people, the two dragons rose up and flew into the clouds…