Game of Thrones: Holy Flame King

Night falls, but Melisandre's room is never truly dark.

Dozens of grease candles are distributed in every corner, exuding raging fire, resisting the invasion of the night.

Melisandre was still wearing the scarlet robe, and was sitting in front of the fireplace with her eyes closed, reciting prayers to the fire in a low voice.

Golden and scarlet flames interweave, jump, flicker, gather and disperse in front of her, forming all kinds of wonderful and alluring illusions, but also faintly revealing a trace of horror.

The red-robed witch was trembling all over, black blood flowed from her eyes, scorching hot, and green smoke was rising on the ground.

She suddenly thrust her hands into the fire, and let out a groan mixed with pain and pleasure.

The flame of joy climbed up her milk-like white and smooth skin, like a lover's warm touch, conveying desire and fascination.

"Meryl..." A woman's cry rang in my ears.

"Number Seven!" Then came a man's voice.

Melisandre, lost in visions, begins to cry.

The tears turned into flames and dissipated in the air before dripping.

Boom——

A knock on the door awakens Melisandre.

She opened her eyes suddenly, and the confusion and pain in her eyes quickly receded, replaced by pious indifference.

When he opened the door, he saw Samwell standing outside.

"Lord Caesar." Melisandre bowed slightly.

"Aren't you asleep yet? Ms. Melisandre."

"I rarely sleep." Melisandre invited Samwell into the house.

"Why? Insomnia?"

"Sleep is the temptation of death, and dreams are the ravings of the gods. They want to drag us into eternal darkness." Melisandre said in a low voice, "So, I would rather sit in front of the fire and pray all night, bathed in the light In the burning holy fire of the King."

What a crazy woman.

Samwell suddenly wondered if it was a wise decision for him to come to her.

"Lord Caesar, I see worry in your eyes." Melisandre stared at the man with fiery eyes, "Tell me, maybe I can help you."

"I'm going to Highgarden..." Samwell was deliberating on his words.

"But you are worried that the Tyrell family may be against you." Melisandre then finished the man's words.

"It's almost like that." Samwell nodded and admitted.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Margaery, he was just worried that Mrs. Olenna and the inflatable fish might not obey Margaery's wishes.

If the inflatable fish went crazy, it might actually tie him up and give it to the Lannister family as a present.

But Gao Ting had to go.

It's not feasible for Botou to develop in Yingzui Islet, the potential of this place is limited, and the white dragon can't be raised in a short time-although the white dragon that drank the keel soup shows signs of accelerated growth, it is still not within a year or two. Capable of dominating the battlefield.

If Duke Tywin re-stabilized the situation in the Seven Kingdoms and freed up his hands to deal with Yingzui Island, then Samwell would have no choice but to flee in desperation.

Therefore, he must seek the support of the High Court.

Of course, Samwell wasn't unprepared.

He planned to go to Horn Hill first, and take Lord Randall Tarly with him. It's better to call Florent of Bright Water City again, with father and grandfather as guarantees, even if the inflatable fish doesn't want to marry his daughter, he doesn't dare to do anything to Samwell.

But even after making preparations, Samwell was still a little worried, so he found the red-robed woman here.

"I don't suggest you go to Highgarden." Melisandre poured cold water on the man.

Samwell's face remained unchanged, he came here just to hear other opinions: "Why?"

"Because I saw the withering of roses from the firelight." Melisandre faced the fireplace, letting the firelight wash her cheeks red, "The black blood poured into Highgarden and devoured everything. The white castle was in the black The tide swept and fell apart. The shadows gathered into skeletons, gray and white intertwined in the sky, forming a cold wind that destroyed everything, extinguished all flames, and brought death and destruction."

The tone of the red-robed witch's chant was breathtakingly magical, but Samwell was unmoved.

He knew that the woman's interpretation of the prophecy in the original book was often wrong.

What's more, the prophecy may not necessarily come true.

He personally tested this point when he reached the city.

In the fire of the sanctuary, Samwell saw Joffrey ordering the massacre of the city, and then the whole sky and city turned into ghosts.

But in fact, when he personally killed the rebellious king, the massacre did not happen.

This made him realize that the Lord of Light may not be able to foresee everything.

For example, the scene where he kills the king does not appear in the flames, nor does the scene where he hatches the dragon.

If you insist that these two things are irrelevant, so the gods bother to give prophecy, it will be a bit sophistry.

There are also prophecies about his identity. Samwell is very clear that he is not the reincarnation of Azor Ahai, nor was he born in the land of smoke and salt. As for the burning red sword and the awakening of the dragon in the stone, he refers to the prophecy Hard to lean upward.

The real reincarnation of Azor Ahai should be one of Jon Snow or Daenerys Targaryen.

"Did everything you saw in the firelight happen?" Samwell asked.

"It's not simply watching," Melisandre replied. "Prophecy is an art. Like any other art, it needs to be mastered, trained and studied. The Lord of Light communicates his will to his chosen ones through holy fire, and with smoke and ashes Talk to mortals in a language that only the gods can master, and the rolling flames.

I have spent untold years practicing this art, and paid a terrible price. No one in the world, including my companions, can decipher the secrets looming in the sacred fire as skillfully as I do. "

But you still often make mistakes. Samwell thought to himself.

And don't look at the red-robed woman who said a lot just now, but actually didn't answer Samwell's question directly at all.

You wouldn't have been a news-spokesperson in your previous life, would you?

"A scholar in the Ghis Empire on the other side of the narrow sea once believed that prophecy is like a treacherous and sinister beauty." Samwell walked closer to the fire, "She will bring you endless enjoyment and joy, but when you think that you are in the world At the peak, she will sweep away all your belongings. Perhaps this is the nature of prophecy. Every time you think you are in control, it will suddenly push you to the abyss."

"So the Ghis Empire has perished." Melisandre said lightly, "They don't believe in prophecy, they don't believe in magic, and then they were wiped out by the Valyrians who controlled the dragon. Every inch of the Ghis Empire's land They were strewn with salt, brimstone, and dry bones. This is what happens to the unbelievers, my lord Caesar."

"You misunderstood me." Samwell explained, "I believe in magic, and I also have dragons. But I have always been cautious about prophecies."

There are many prophecies in the original book, and Samwell knows that even if some of them are known in advance, they still cannot avoid the doomed ending.

For example, the prediction of Cersei's fate by Toad Wu Ji almost became the obsession that entangled the queen all her life. She tried her best to avoid the occurrence of the prediction, and did many crazy things for this, but it was in vain in the end.

Her struggles seemed to be part of the prophecy.

"Besides, you just said that you saw the withering of roses." Samwell thought thoughtfully, "Isn't this a harbinger of my bad luck?"

"It's not. But High Court has become an ominous place. Since you have consulted me, I will suggest you stay away from there."

"Thank you for your suggestion." Samwell said, "But I have a reason to go."

He doesn't trust me. Melisandre understood.

She could feel the man's suspicion filling the room like a black mist.

But she was not discouraged.

Doubt is the nature of kings.

Although she originally planned to make the prophesied prince fall in love with her and even become her puppet, but if the other party really fell into the sweet trap she wove, Melisandre would be disappointed instead.

This is good now, and Melisandre is willing to continue dancing this inseparable dance with the prophesied prince.

"If you must go, please allow me to send the Lord of Light's blessing." Melisandre came to the corner of the room, opened a box full of hollow patterns, and took out a ruby ​​from it.

The gem shone blood-red and was almost identical to the one in Melisandre's throat, but much smaller.

Samwell took the ruby, felt the hot temperature through the skin, and already guessed what it was:

"What's this?"

Melisandre held Samwell's hand and the ruby, her red lips parted slightly:

"Lord Caesar, please read after me—

Lakqumos. "

"Lakqumos."

A strange echo gushed out of the room, slowly burrowing into his ears like countless worms.

The ruby ​​held together by the two suddenly burst into dazzling fire, and the light and shadow around Samwell twisted and twisted, rippling like water waves.

In the blink of an eye, his stomach suddenly protruded, his shoulders and chest became much broader, his handsome face became round and old, and his smooth black hair became brown with a little white silk mixed in.

Melisandre pointed to the mirror in the room and said, "My lord, this is the blessing of the Lord of Light."

Samwell looked at himself in the mirror, and suddenly his eyes widened——

Because that is the appearance of Mace Tyrell, Duke of Highgarden!

"Is this witchcraft?" Samwell couldn't help touching his completely transformed face.

"Charm, hallucination, transfiguration...you can call it whatever you want, R'hllor is the master of flames, and his servants can weave light like mortals weave silk threads."

"Are the faceless people in the House of Black and White using the same method to change their faces?"

"It's a similar method."

"Then how do I cancel the disguise?"

"After half an hour, it will disappear automatically. When you want to disguise, just hold the ruby ​​and recite the spell I just taught you. But please remember that the power in this ruby ​​can only support three times Camouflage, and just now, we have already used it up once."

"Except for the Duke of Metz, can I pretend to be someone else?"

"No." Melisandre shook her head, "This ruby ​​is soaked in Mace Tyrell's blood, from which only moaning and praying can recall the shadow of this man on your body."

Samwell glanced at the red-robed witch, secretly wondering when did this guy get the blood of "Master Inflatable Fish", was it in Tianji City?

"I like this gift very much." The Duke of Mace in the mirror showed a satisfied smile, "This is much more useful than those illusory prophecies."

"It is an honor to serve you."