The Mountain of Ice and Fire

An Unprecedented Spectacle

The cathedral, hymns, blessings from monks and nuns, and golden leaf roses falling from the sky opened the prelude to Sansa and Reynard Westerling's wedding.

Scholars, generals, knights, lords, marquises, earls, dukes, and wealthy merchants from Dorne, the Crownlands, the Reach, the Stormlands, the Riverlands, the Westerlands, the Iron Islands, the North, the Claw, the Vale, Braavos, and the Night's Watch at the Wall were all gathered, making the wedding even grander than Joffrey Lannister and Margaery Tyrell's.

After the wedding ceremony came the banquet.

Hundreds of tables were lined up inside and outside the hall, and all kinds of delicacies were served in a continuous stream. Everywhere was crowded with men drinking and vying with each other, and the aroma of various meats filled the air.

Sansa's favorite lemon cakes were piled high on the bride's table. Reynard Westerling welcomed all comers, drinking a dozen cups of wine in a row, and a long line of people waiting to offer toasts stretched out before him. These were all generals from the Clegane army who had fought alongside Reynard.

The Mountain sat at the head of the table on the east side. He saw Lady Catelyn frown slightly, then whisper something to Eddard. Eddard simply smiled, and the couple's gazes both fell on Reynard. The young man's face was already flushed red, but he still raised his glass, clinked it with the generals who came to offer toasts, and drank it down in one gulp.

Sansa Stark said softly, "Reynard, eat something first, then drink."

"Okay, Sansa," Reynard agreed, then raised his glass again, clinked it with Anguy's, and tilted his head back, gulping it down.

Anguy also drank it all in one go!

The Mountain said, "Reynard, if you drink like this, how will you consummate the marriage tonight?"

Among the generals, there were very few refined scholars and many rogues. Seeing the king open this topic, obscene words poured out like a tide, making Sansa blush, adding to her charm.

The rough men became more and more explicit, unsuitable for young girls, and laughter echoed through the hall.

Amidst the revelry of hundreds and thousands of people, only one person had a calm expression: Bran Stark.

Bran Stark was at Eddard's table. He sat in his wheelchair, hardly touching the delicacies in front of him. He only occasionally drank a little soup and ate a bite of dessert. He didn't touch any bear meat, lion meat, rabbit meat, or wild boar meat.

Two maids stood beside Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully, responsible for pouring wine and serving dishes for the Duke and Duchess.

Eddard and Catelyn had gotten used to Bran's quiet silence over the past few days. Catelyn would occasionally put dishes that she had tasted and found to be very good on Bran's plate, but Bran would only politely taste a bite or even just look at it.

Eddard said, "It's a pity Arya isn't here."

"She is here, we just haven't seen her. You've spoiled her since she was little."

"His Majesty said that if Arya wants to see us, she will naturally show herself, but it's been so many days, and she hasn't come to see us," Eddard said, raising his glass and taking a large sip of wine.

This was the best golden wine from the Arbor. The Northerners were simple and practical, and Eddard was not one to be extravagant, so he rarely drank such good wine.

"Duke, do you miss Arya very much?" the maid said with a smile.

Eddard immediately became alert, "Do you know where she is?"

The maid nodded.

"Where is she?"

"She has been serving Lady Catelyn since the first day she arrived at Casterly Rock."

Catelyn Tully looked at the maid with a stunned expression and scrutinizing eyes.

They knew very little about Arya's situation, mostly from what the Mountain had told them, but the Mountain spoke mysteriously and didn't know many details.

"Duke, she also served you tea and wine on the day His Majesty brought you from the North on the dragon."

Eddard and Catelyn were both shocked. Bran, who was sitting a little further away at the table, couldn't be determined whether he had heard the maid's words from his expression.

"Are you Arya?" Eddard asked tentatively. He stared at the maid, but the maid didn't have the slightest bit of Arya's temperament. Not to mention her facial features and appearance, there wasn't even the slightest resemblance.

"Father, I am Arya," the maid smiled. She had long, black, shiny hair. With a shake, her hair turned the auburn color unique to the Tully family. She lowered her head, and when she raised it again, her face had turned into the little face that Catelyn had longed for day and night.

"Arya!?" Lady Catelyn almost cried out.

The scene just now was too magical, too unbelievable.

The maid in front of her lowered her head and shook her hair, and she turned into her little daughter Arya Stark. This kind of magical power opened Catelyn's eyes and was unbelievable.

Eddard Stark also looked stunned!

Bran Stark smiled, "Arya, you're too playful. Father and Mother have been missing you, and you have the heart to only show yourself now."

"I've been by my parents' side all along, but they just didn't recognize their own daughter."

"The maids that Earl Gavin sent to serve us have always been you?"

"Yes, Father."

"You? Are a true Faceless Man now?" Eddard couldn't believe it.

"Yes, Father, that's also why I haven't dared to see you."

Catelyn immediately became vigilant, her eyes red, "Arya, what do you mean by that?"

"A Faceless Man is like a member of the Night's Watch at the Wall."

"What do you mean? I don't understand!" Catelyn's tone was a little agitated.

Eddard understood, but today was Sansa's joyous day, so it wasn't appropriate to say anything discouraging, "My lady, Arya has mastered superb swordsmanship and disguise magic, this is a good thing to celebrate." Eddard raised his glass and clinked it against Catelyn's, "Come, let's have a drink for Arya's successful return."

Catelyn wanted to ask more questions, but Arya and Eddard both raised their glasses to drink, the glasses were large, blocking their faces.

Bran smiled slightly, he pushed the wheels of his wheelchair and came to Arya's side, raising his glass, "To Father and Mother, to Arya."

Arya, Eddard, and Bran's glasses clinked together, and just as Catelyn was about to speak, the three people raised their glasses again, blocking their faces, and the sound of gurgling drinking came. Catelyn could only see the rapid swallowing of the throats of the three people.

The VIP seats were arranged in a large circle, with an open space in the middle where several clowns and jesters were performing acrobatics, humorous actors were performing magic, and singers were playing harps. Each performer was independent, and each had their own performance program.

Whoosh!

With a loud bang, a stream of fire sprayed towards Duke Eddard's table. As Catelyn screamed, the fire retracted just as it was about to burn someone—a comedic actor was performing a fire stunt.

The crowd cheered!

A magician opened his bamboo basket, turned it over, and poured out a pile of colorful snakes. The snakes scattered, startling several ladies and a few servants who were delivering dishes, and some noblewomen screamed. But suddenly, the snakes all became silent. Some of the bolder ones kicked them with their feet, but they weren't snakes, just a few strands of straw.

The magician blew his whistle, and the straws suddenly came to life, all turning into snakes, swimming back to the bamboo basket. Amidst the cheers of the crowd, the magician turned the basket upside down, empty. There were no snakes or straws in the basket.

The magician put the basket upright, reached in and fiddled with it, and pulled out a rope. The rope stood upright in his palm like a snake, then gradually grew taller, like a python standing upright...

The noise of the crowd gradually quieted down, and many eyes were fixed on the rope that was constantly climbing upwards. Many nobles and ladies whispered to each other, never having seen such a magical performance.

With a crash, the rope hit the ceiling, as if it was about to break through the ceiling and drill out. Amidst the exclamations of the crowd, the magician sang a phrase, then grabbed the rope with both hands and climbed up like a monkey. Soon he climbed to the top of the rope, and everyone watched in stunned silence, not understanding how a rope without any support could stand upright in the air and then support the climb of a strong man.

Just as everyone was watching intently and marveling, with a bang, the magician who was climbing on the top of the rope disappeared, and the rope turned into a fuse, burning from top to bottom. Soon it burned into the bamboo basket, and with a puff of green smoke, the rope burned to ashes, leaving only an empty bamboo basket on the ground.

Clap clap clap!

Applause rang out like a storm, pushing the joyous atmosphere of the wedding to a higher level.

It wasn't just the nobles who were dazzled, but also the Dragon Knight King, Lady Jeyne, Lady Dorea, Lady Melisandre... These were all powerful people with magical abilities... Arya, as a Faceless Man elder, also watched the magician's performance with relish.

It took Catelyn Tully a long time to recover. She was immediately satisfied with the wedding arrangements to perfection, and felt that Sansa's marriage to Ser Reynard was a very fitting match.

Reynard Westerling had an amazing tolerance for alcohol. He drank countless glasses of wine, but he was still clear-headed. His head was next to Sansa's, pointing at the empty bamboo basket, talking to Sansa, with a bright smile on his face.

This feast started at noon and lasted until evening, and then from evening until late at night. People ate and drank their fill, then bragged and chatted, went out to move around, fell asleep when they were tired, and woke up to continue eating and drinking. Sansa Stark changed three dresses before welcoming her wedding night.

Her dress was stripped off, and she was chased and hugged by a group of rude rogues, and Reynard was no better off, being pressed to the ground by countless women, his outer and inner clothes torn into strips...

The Mountain and Jeyne sat upright, watching these people recklessly tease the newlyweds. Whenever Sansa was about to be pressed to the ground and ravaged, several tall and strong generals would protect her, pushing those who wanted to take advantage of her to the ground.

Catelyn Tully whispered with a smile, "Eddard, when I married you, the people who made trouble during the wedding night scratched my body. Look at Reynard, he specially arranged for people to protect Sansa."

"My lady, have you accepted Reynard?"

After Catelyn arrived at Casterly Rock and saw Reynard, she was not very satisfied with the young man, thinking that his temperament and appearance did not match Sansa.

"I have never opposed it."

Catelyn watched Reynard being pressed to the ground, unable to escape, and screams continued to come out.

The laughter of the people lit up the night, and the joyous atmosphere made people forget the time.

Making a ruckus during the wedding night, the more miserable the bride and groom are, the happier, more successful, and more auspicious it is.

However, when the Mountain and Jeyne got married, the Mountain beat all the troublemakers out. Those guys who were prepared to make a big fuss, regardless of gender, were chased away by the Mountain. Several ill-intentioned Westerlands generals came together to besiege the Mountain, and the leader had his leg broken directly by the Mountain and was thrown into the crowd. So, the others saw that the situation was not good and immediately retreated, scattering in all directions...

*

Three days later, the wedding ended, and nobles from all over the country began to say goodbye and leave.

Commander-in-Chief Vincent of Braavos and a group of naval generals were treated as distinguished guests from afar and were arranged to be received wholeheartedly in a special VIP tower. They came to Westeros and witnessed the miracles on the Mountain's three territories: aerial aqueducts, civilian schools, neat housing, sanitary rooms, silk villages, jade villages, tailor villages, papermaking villages, martial arts fields in each village, universally used Clegane paper money, Clegane Bank, Clegane Treasury...

In a short period of time, the generals from Braavos had their eyes opened. There were many things they had never seen before: the cleanliness and straight roads of the Clegane villages, the wealth of every household, noodle factories, weapon shops, and public restrooms. All gave them a deep impression...

The guests came in large numbers and left quickly. Five days later, the distinguished guests from all over the country had almost all left. On this day, the Mountain came to find Eddard.

"Duke, let's go to the Citadel, there is something very important that requires your witness."

"Your Majesty, what is so important? Are Reynard and Sansa going to march south to attack the Reach?"

"No, it's about Bran Stark."

"What's wrong with him?"

"Let's go first."

"Okay!"

Since His Majesty was unwilling to say, Eddard didn't ask any more questions.

Catelyn Tully hurried out from the inner room, "Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness, may I go see?"

"Okay, let's go together."

So, the group came to the Citadel.

Inside the Citadel, Earl Gavin, the Grand Maester, Lady Melisandre, Lady Dorea Sand, Duke Edmure Tully, Bran Stark, Arya Stark, Jon Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen, and a group of other important figures were all there.

In addition, most of the courtiers from King's Landing were there: Littlefinger Petyr Baelish, the Master of Whisperers, the Grand Master Qyburn, the Master of Ships... Apart from the Hand of the King Jon Connington, the rest of the important officials of the Small Council, and several members of the Kingsguard were all here.

As soon as Eddard came in, he felt that the atmosphere was unusual!