Game of Thrones: Viserys the Three-Headed Dragon

The castle cannot see the desolation of people's livelihood outside.

But you can always hear the news coming.

Because Tyrell retreated, the homeless people outside Storm's End set up tents on the ruins again, but it rained for 20 days in a month. The residents could not carry out the reconstruction work, and could only survive on the stored food every day. Their fields were burned when they retreated to Storm's End. They had nothing to do all day, their eyes were dull, and they mourned on the deserted land.

Some people sold their catch with buckets and carts, and some people flocked to nearby undamaged towns and villages to seek a living.

Every day, these towns and villages reported robbery and theft crimes, as well as floods and disaster victims brought by the autumn storm.

It is said that people began to cast cold, angry, and even hateful eyes on the affairs officers, tax collectors, and regional governors sent by Storm's End.

They would not have blamed the lords at first, but the "survivors" rescued by King Viserys from the Blackwater River and sent back to live a good life became a bandit brotherhood after returning to the Stormlands. They hid in the mountains and villages and told people about their sufferings - they finally survived the Blackwater River, were rescued by the King of Dragonstone, were cured of their injuries, and borrowed money from the lord of Dragonstone to take a boat back home. They had fought for the lord and almost died in the Blackwater River. Now they just want to go home and live a good life.

But King Stannis's search team tried every means to capture them, either sending them back to the army, or hanging or burning them as deserters.

They said they had no choice, they just wanted to survive.

These members of the Brotherhood wandered around in the villages and towns far away from the castle in the Stormlands, and lived by helping villagers from all over the country to build fences, collect food, plow fields, and work in exchange for food. The villagers sympathized with them. Every time Stannis's search team heard the news and went there, these members of the Brotherhood would flee in advance and disappear.

Some people returned home, reunited with their families for a short time, took the money saved by their families, and fled to Tyrosh with their parents, wives, and children, or even to the farther continent of Essos to make a living. They waited for Stannis to fall in a foreign country and waited for King Targaryen to conquer the Stormlands.

There was also the propaganda of Dragonstone Island that gradually penetrated into the ears of people everywhere through various ports. The king of Dragonstone Island advised Stannis to manage the Stormlands well and be a good king.

People would not blame the lords for the disasters brought by the autumn storm and their own misfortunes, but they could not resist these things appearing at the same time, and people unconsciously linked these things in their minds.

Especially since King Stannis was still aggressively using his call to recruit troops from within the country.

If it was summer when Stannis was at Storm's End, and if the Stormlands had not been hit by the recent rainy season in autumn, then the propaganda on Dragonstone and the Brotherhood would not have led to the current situation.

Privately, people began to say that King Stannis was the "Cruel Maegor" of the Stormlands. They missed Robert and Renly, and even expected the Targaryens of Dragonstone to change the status quo.

But no matter how much the people spread, it would not affect Storm's End. This castle is impregnable and one of the strongest castles in the Seven Kingdoms.

There are enough supplies here to allow the garrison in the castle to defend for two years. The tower here is so huge that the barns, barracks, armory, halls and lords' rooms inside are more than enough.

The castle is isolated from the outside world.

It doesn't matter what the people say, because they never love Stannis anyway. As long as the vassal's supplies can be delivered to the castle, as long as the castle's sea route can still operate smoothly.

You can ignore everything else.

Stannis was immersed in the map, and the disturbance outside could not affect him. He was choosing a battlefield.

The reply from Dragonstone was almost a signal to start a war. He had heard the news that the Dornishmen were going to Dragonstone. Salladhor Saan's Lys merchant ship was doing business in Stoneyon Castle and brought him the news.

This was the last message that the Lys pirate brought back to Stannis. He lost confidence in Stannis's delayed hire money, and it was unknown when Stannis would receive the maritime tax rights he promised.

The pirate king went to Stoneyon Castle in person to see the mountain that was rumored to be set on fire by a dragon, and then refused to obey Stannis's orders. It was said that he planned to return to the war-torn Stone Steps Archipelago to go back to be his pirate king.

The other side had a dragon, and being trapped in the castle was waiting to die. Stannis racked his brains to think of a countermeasure.

"Your Majesty." Melisandre stood at the door, and Stannis sent someone to summon her.

"Read the letter." Stannis handed the letter to her, "Lady Melisandre, he knows your magic, he knows! Can R'hllor still help me?" Stannis looked at her gloomily, "Are you sure that your magic can hurt the dragon?"

"You are the chosen one chosen by the Lord of Light! The Lord of Light can always help you, but your majesty, now you are surrounded by believers who believe in wood gods, and you are surrounded by darkness and chaos. The Lord of Light cherishes chastity and punishes corruption. Your majesty, great gifts require great sacrifices."

"Great sacrifice?"

"Please let me offer you the temple of the false god and the prisoners in the prison to R'hllor. Please build the temple of the Lord of Light in your land, so that the Lord of Light can call you the hand of the Holy Fire. Assistance." Melisandre circled around the stove in the king's room, "Your Majesty, I advise you to follow Earl Allister to the north because I saw in the holy fire that we are here in darkness. ! The holy fire guides me, and I can see the light by going north! The holy fire also guides me. If I can't go north, then I will help you to resist the darkness. Please build the sacred temple of the King of Light, and I can summon it for you. Hands of Holy Fire, they will work with me to resist the evil darkness."

With the arrival of support supplies from Brightwater, Earl Alister was released from prison, but of course, did not resume his position as Prime Minister. There is no doubt that he is a die-hard defeatist. Allister promised Stannis that he would go to Dragonstone to negotiate and bring peace.

Stannis and Melisandre originally wanted to take the opportunity to sneak into it, and let Melisandre sneak into the Dragonstone Castle and use the darkness to kill Sir Cortanai Penros, the acting lord of Storm's End who had magic protection. Shadow assassinates the Targaryen king.

Although dishonorable, it was the only way Stannis could think of to defeat his opponent. He had gone far enough away from honor with Melisandre's help. Although he had been resisting in his heart, when he really had no choice, he could only choose R'hllor.

But with Dragonstone's reply, there was no doubt that his plan had failed. The Targaryen King may even have known what he had done.

Stannis began to grind his teeth: "What do you mean?"

"There is only one God, the King of Light, and now you are here, surrounded by the followers of these false gods. These seven-faced gods are false gods and mislead all living beings. The King of Light originally guided you to the wind. Castle, it is for you to bless this land shrouded in darkness. The night is dark, and everything is dangerous. But we have not fulfilled His expectations. Now the number of followers of the Lord of Light around you is decreasing day by day, and the number of followers of false gods is increasing. More and more. Your Majesty, the merciless storm is covering this land, and the warm flame God has given you is quietly extinguishing."

Stannis frowned: "You told me before that the darkness is in the north, but now you say the darkness is here, the storm?"

"The wind turned, the dark clouds rose, and in the storm, blood and darkness rolled and twisted. R'hllor showed me in the holy fire that the sea below us was covered with blood and darkness, an ancient and terrifying dark storm. That in the old days The dark storm that was thought to be dead is resurrecting in the war between the two true gods, and his dead body is pulsing again. Your Majesty, the ancient dark storm is gathering in your land."

Stannis tightened his jaw: "Why do R'hllor have so many enemies? Build a temple? Madam, I don't have time. Look at that letter. Viserys plans to replace me with my daughter Shireen. He can do it at any time." He can act. And he has dragons and Dornishmen. We can only wait for death in the castle. Those fools in the castle think that I can hurt the dragon by making a giant crossbow. How stupid is it?" Stannis only asked, "Ms. , I ask you, can your magic hurt the dragon with your great sacrifice? Can the King of Light help me win on the battlefield?"

"Your Majesty, can you give me a few sacrifices so that I can pray to the King of Light for enlightenment?"

Stannis gritted his teeth: "The prisoners on death row deserve what they deserve."

Melisandre twirled her skirt, nodded slightly, her red eyes shining: "Yes, Your Majesty."

After a long absence, in the open space outside the castle, the rear party members set up a pyre.

This was originally a rainy day, just like yesterday and the day before.

But as the people from the rear party gathered, the red-robed woman Melisandre prayed on the fire lit with oil on the high wall of the castle. By noon, the autumn rain that had lasted for several days stopped and only a few dark clouds remained.

The red woman walked around the fire three times, praying once in Asshai, once in High Valyrian, and finally in Common. The listener can only understand the last time, what she said is: "O R'hllor! We are in darkness, please come here!"

Hundreds of the most determined pro-partisans gathered on the city wall, and the thick smoke from the burning dyed the hazy sky gray.

With Melisandre leading the way, their noise spiraled up like the sparks from the pyre. “Lead us out of the darkness, O Allah, and fill our hearts with fire, so that we may flatter you and shine with your light.”

Melisandre raised her arms. "R'hllor," she spoke loud and clear, "you are the light in our eyes, you are the fire in our hearts, you are the heat in our bellies. Your light is the sun that warms us in the day, your light is the night. The stars that protect us.”

"Lord of Light, protect us. The night is dark and dangerous everywhere." The determined rear party members responded enthusiastically, their faces full of enthusiasm.

King Stannis stood next to Lady Melisandre, clenching his teeth, the spikes on his red gold crown reflecting light as his head moved.

The royalists under Stannis were deeply uneasy, but they could only watch as all this happened.

After the autumn rain stopped, the rear party members began to set up firewood piles outside the city.

Melisandre will hold a ceremony to pray to the Red God for revelation, and the Red God must sacrifice.

Four huge pine wood tips were inserted into the mud pit, the wooden stakes were hammered into the pit, and several other rear party members skillfully dug out a vent under the pit.

Lady Melisandre's captain inspected the stakes, pushing on one to make sure it was securely seated.

The staunch rear party members were feverishly carrying out the preparations for the sacrificial ceremony, and even the once wavering rear party members began to gradually gather outside the city for execution.

Four condemned prisoners were driven out naked, their wrists tied behind their backs with leather ropes. The youngest one staggered from the castle crying, the other two walked over like dead people, staring at the ground blankly, and one was a sergeant who was raped and killed after Tyrell retreated. He was sentenced to death for taking refuge in a woman in a castle - he spat at the partisans with defiance. "Fuck you all, and fuck your Red God-"

One of the rear party members struck the sergeant with a spear handle and knocked him to his knees. He spat out a mouthful of blood and broken teeth. When they wrapped him in chains, he was still cursing: "You are the one who deserves to be fucked, woman." Priest, damn, I’ve long wanted to taste you—”

Without saying a word, a knight from the rear party pulled out his sword and cut the sergeant's throat. Blood spurted out, but he was not dead yet, but his throat made a loud sound.

He wanted to die, but it was impossible.

"Mercy!" the weeping man begged, "let me wear black clothes, please, please!" He was originally a servant of a merchant, but during the chaos of the war, he killed his master, took away the property, and wanted to take a boat to Euth. Thos was at ease, but accidentally caught up with Stannis's army to regain the port.

Four criminals were chained to a wooden stake. They were tied there as sacrifices to the Lord of Light. Split wood and broken branches were piled at their feet, and the pile was doused with oil.

Seeing Stannis, the two deserters tied to the stakes began to plead with the king for mercy. The king listened in silence, his jaw set, and then said to the executor: "You may begin."

Melisandre raised her arms and began to chant: "Lord of Light, hear us!"

"Lord of Light, protect us!" the people behind the party chanted, "The night is dark and dangerous everywhere!"

"Lord of Light, protect us!" the rear party members prayed, "destroy the barbaric darkness!"

The captain of Melisandre's guard grabbed the torch with both hands and stepped forward. He danced the torch in a circle over his head, the wind making the flames burn brighter.

"R'hllor," Melisandre began to sing, "we offer you four sinful men. With joyful hearts, we offer them to your holy fire, and the darkness in their souls will be burned away. .Let their abject flesh be scorched and blackened, and their spirits rise free and pure into the light. Accept their blood, O Lord of Light, and melt the cold chains that bind your servants, and grant. I declare. Accept this sacrifice and show me the way to victory, and your chosen ones will conquer those who disbelieve in God.”

"Lord of Light, accept this sacrifice!" Hundreds of voices echoed.

The fire bearer lights the pyre with the torch. A few wisps of smoke began to rise, the criminals began to cough, and the blood in the throat of the sergeant whose throat was cut had not yet drained away. The flames burst into flames, dancing up and down from the broken logs to the pillars. After a while, all four wooden piles were submerged in the fire.

"Mercy!" screams rang out, and as the flames rolled around their bodies, the pleas turned into long, sharp screams, trembling wails, and the screams were high-pitched and filled with pain.

The rear party was singing a hymn in praise of the red god R'hllor, and the anguished screams of the sacrifices echoed the hymn.

The air was filled with the thick smell of smoke and burnt meat. One of the bodies was still twitching, trying to break free from the red-hot iron chains that tied him to the stake.

The heat of the fire hit Lady Melisandre's cheeks, and she smelled the smell of cooked human flesh, but she was used to it.

Under the hazy sky, the fire altar was like a roaring giant beast, drowning out the weak screams of the sacrifices, spitting out long tongues of fire, licking the humidity in the air.

The smoke became thicker and thicker, and the crowd chanting hymns began to cough and retreat.

The giant orange flames stirred up a gust of wind pressure, blowing the nearby flaming red heart flag. The firewood exploded with a hiss, and the glowing flames rose from the smoke screen. The flames rose high, like waving huge wings.

The priest of the Red God began to watch intently. In the blazing flames, the fireworks squirmed in front of her, like a dancer, spinning, singing, and dancing.

In front of her, the flickering illusions swayed in the flames. One illusion just took shape, then began to melt and fade into another; the color was sometimes golden, sometimes scarlet; the shape was sometimes weird, sometimes terrifying.

Through the veil of flames, she saw something with huge wings that cast a huge shadow on the ground.

She saw a face formed in the fire, Stannis.

He held up the flaming sword, led thousands of troops, and faced the darkness in the wind and snow. His flaming sword shone with red light, and the dazzling light hurt her eyes. The illusion began to shatter, then dissipate.

This was a new sight she had never seen before, and the red priestess tried her best to control her body from trembling.

Yes, it's him, no doubt about it.

Stannis, he is R'hllor's chosen one, the prophesied prince!

The ruby ​​on her throat was hot, and she could feel the force that had been suppressed by something since the rainy season began filling her body again.

flame.

The flames filled her body. Extreme pain and extreme ecstasy filled her and burned her. The blazing flames made her feel that her body had been deformed.

Stannis asked her: "What does R'hllor say, can he win?"

"I am absolutely sure, Your Majesty, that victory will belong to you. I saw you holding the Lightbringer in the flames, the flaming sword of light, cutting off all darkness!"

Stannis touched the sword in his hand. It had no flames or heat, but only glowed, just like an ordinary sword.

But he saw the fanatical expressions of the queen's party members in this sacrificial activity and the gathering of more and more onlookers, who were either fanatical, or afraid, or confused.

But in any case, the same thing about them was that when he gave an order, they would still execute it, or at least not stop it.

People's hearts can still be used.

To continue waiting in Storm's End Castle is to wait for death, since Melisandre can gather these fanatics for him, and the fanatics can enlist more loyal ministers.

Now, even if Dragonstone and Dorne reach an agreement, the Dornish can't attack so quickly, and King Targaryen is preparing for the wedding, so he will never use troops against the Stormlands so quickly.

So, since Targaryen has been slow to attack the Stormlands, let him attack Targaryen!

Stannis has no ships. Yes. But Lannister gave him an example.

Attacking Stoneyon and the Point would attract the dragon. And he didn't even need to reach Stoneyon, he just had to march there by land with great fanfare.

The plains of Cape Marseilles were the battlefield Stannis had chosen!

Fighting the dragon on the plains? Yes.

Is he crazy? No.

Melisandre's shadow killers are his greatest reliance, and he must lure the dragon out of the castle of Dragonstone at all costs!

[From the day I saw the 'Proud Wind' hit the reef and sink, I no longer believed in God. I swore to heaven that I would never worship any cruel god who made me witness the death of my parents. People asked me: If you don't believe in God, why do you find a new god? I asked myself this question too. I don't know much about the gods, and I don't want to care, but I know that this red priestess has power. Stannis Baratheon turned around and strode towards the castle. [R'hllor, Lord of Light, if I am truly your chosen one as the Red Woman says, then prove your power to me!]