The Iron Throne of Ice and Fire

The Reach, Bitterbridge.

Ever since the news of Renly's death came, Baron Caswell had closed the main gate of Bitterbridge and cut off all communication with the outside world.

Margaery Tyrell did not express dissatisfaction or anger towards Baron Caswell's presumptuous behavior. She just stayed quietly in her queen's camp.

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The clouds in the sky are low and thick, and the clouds are rolling. Sometimes the sun is blocked, and sometimes a weak optical fiber is exposed.

There was a hot and humid atmosphere in the air, as if everything was being squeezed by an invisible pressure, making people breathless.

Inside the tent, Margaery was wearing a dark dress that represented mourning. Her eyes like an elk were staring at the queen's crown in her hand, her eyes a little dull.

Although the queen's tiara was in her hand at the moment, it was just a beautiful decoration... Margaery suddenly felt discouraged.

Margaery's slender and tender fingers touched the golden rose on her crown. Her hands moved for a moment. After a while, she took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.

The queen's tiara that Renly gave her was treated like an ordinary ornament and she told her maid to put it away.

Margaery straightened her waist. With or without it, she was still a proud golden rose, and she was still the light of the Reach.

Golden roses never fade.

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Margaery's clear and sweet voice sounded: "Bring me something to eat."

Upon hearing her instructions, her maids were stunned for a moment, and then started to move.

Not long after, the maids brought plates of desserts and placed them on the long dining table.

Margaery had just taken a few bites when the voice of the guard captain came from the door: "Her Royal Highness, Count Randyll Tarly and Count Matus Rowan are requesting an audience."

Margery's brown eyes moved slightly. She put down the golden fork in her hand, picked up a napkin and wiped the corners of her mouth. She stood up and said, "Please come in, two adults."

Earl Randyll and Earl Matus strode over and saluted in unison: "Good day, Queen Margaery."

Margaery responded softly: "Good day, Earl Randyll, Earl Matus."

She looked at the two dusty people with her beautiful eyes, and then said: "Two adults, it's great to see you. The gods bless you."

Count Landau bowed slightly, while Count Matus hesitated and said, "Queen Margaery, please forgive me."

Margery sighed sadly and said, "Thank you."

After a pause, she asked again: "How is the situation outside?"

Count Landau glanced at Count Matus who was silent and replied: "Queen Margaery, I have sent people to control the food and fodder of the Bitter Bridge army, and I will stabilize the morale of the army as soon as possible."

He continued: "After King Renly passed away, many lords and knights of the River Bend, led by the Florent family, directly defected to Stannis Baratheon."

Earl Randyll's eyes became sharp, and he continued: "They are vassals of the Duke of Highgarden. Their actions were not approved by the lord. They are traitors. There are many tribesmen and confidants of those people in the Bitter Bridge camp. , my opinion is to execute them as soon as possible to stabilize the morale of the military."

Count Matus glanced at Margaery, who looked haggard, and said, "Queen Margaery, we heard on the way here that they planned to take their soldiers directly to Storm's End. This is not only betrayal, This will also destabilize the entire army.”

Margaery's fingers secretly bowed. She looked at the serious-faced Earl Landau for a while, and then lightly glanced at Earl Matus on the side, and said: "Earl Landau, with..."

After a pause, she raised her voice and said: "In the name of the Duke of Highgarden, I appoint you as the supreme commander of the Bitterbridge Army in the Reach. From now on, you have the right to deal with anyone who shakes the morale of the army until the Duke of Highgarden arrives. Camp Bitterbridge.”

Earl Landau made a serious military salute: "Queen Margaery, thank you for your trust."

Margaery nodded slightly, looked at Count Matus with slightly moved eyes, and said: "I don't know much about military affairs, but I think Earl Landau needs a reliable quartermaster. Count Matus, you are at work. "

Count Matus nodded solemnly.

After pausing for a moment, Margaery said in a gentle voice: "Earl Randyll and Count Matus, in the name of the Golden Rose, I would like to thank you two adults again for their fearlessness and loyalty."

Earl Randyll and Earl Matus first nodded in thanks, then they looked at each other, and then looked at Margaery together.

Seeing this, Margery said: "Two gentlemen, if you have any questions, you can tell me frankly. I respect you very much and I will listen."

Earl Matus leaned forward slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Queen Margaery, please forgive me for being presumptuous. Is it possible that you...are pregnant with King Renly's child?"

After his words fell, Margery's eyes trembled and she frowned slightly. After a moment of silence, she shook her head.

Her face was sad and weak: "Two adults, I know this matter is very important, so I am honest with you."

The corners of her eyes turned slightly red, and she continued: "We all know King Renly. He wants to wait until he sits on the Iron Throne before considering this matter."

A pair of wet eyes paused at the two trustworthy vassals respectively, and she said softly: "This is also the agreement between King Renly and the Duke of Highgarden. The Golden Rose keeps its promise."

She forced a smile and said, "If you want, you can call me Miss Margaery."

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In the camp, Randyll Tarly and Matus Rowan walked side by side.

Count Matus sighed as he walked: "What a pity..."

Count Landau walked silently, seemingly not hearing Count Matus's emotion.

Earl Matus continued to sigh: "It would be great if King Renly left an heir..."

Earl Landau frowned and said: "The gods will not give everything to one person."

Count Matus shrugged and said: "This is really not a funny joke. What happened to Miss Margaery... is really sad."

Speechless all the way, the two climbed up to the tower of the camp.

Lord Randyll stared at the camp for a while, and suddenly said: "Miss Margaery is not pitiful, she is very strong, and she is still the light of Highgarden."

Count Matus couldn't help being stunned. He smiled and shook his head and said, "Old man, thank you for your answer. I... am really honored."

Count Landau was indifferent to Count Matus's joke, and pondered for a moment, then said: "Those people from the Florent family must be executed as soon as possible."

After a pause, he continued: "The camp needs to be stabilized. We need to execute the execution in front of all the soldiers."

Count Matus nodded solemnly. He reached out and patted Count Landau's arm and said, "Old man, leave this matter to me. I don't want your wife to blame you."

Lord Randyll's wife is Melissa Florent, and her father is Lord Alister Florent who took the lead in joining Stannis after Renly's death.

Earl Landau shook his head slightly and rejected Earl Matus's kindness. He said coldly: "I am a pioneer, this is my duty."

He added in his heart: I am saving my wife's family.

Count Matus persuaded him and stopped. He changed the subject: "Count Landau, the accident that night happened so suddenly that we didn't even have time to find out carefully. Who do you think could be the murderer?"

Lord Randyll said coldly: "Stannis."

Count Matus looked a little shocked: "How did you know? Count Landau, did you find anything?"

Count Landau's sharp eyes moved to the person beside him and said: "Count Matus, it is obvious that he is the biggest beneficiary."

Count Matus nodded and had to admit that he also agreed with Count Landau's speculation.

He murmured: "Those who murder blood relatives will be outraged by both humans and gods..."

"Count Matus, I believe in swords more."

After saying that, Earl Landau turned and walked towards the steps of the tower.

…………

That day, dozens of heads were impaled on spears in the Bitter Bridge camp.

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Stormlands, Storm's End.

Dreary dark clouds shrouded the sky above Storm's End, and the sunlight feebly penetrated the thick clouds and sprinkled on the earth, making it look pale and weak.

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"After Lord Renly's death, His Majesty the King was troubled by nightmares. Even the maester's medicine didn't work... Only Lady Melisandre could lull him to sleep."

The fifth son of Davos Seaworth confided his worries to his father. His name was Davon Seaworth, one of King Stannis's squires.

Is this why the priestess and King Stannis share the same tent? Pray together? Or use other methods to soothe him to sleep? Not only was this question beyond the pale, but he didn't dare to ask it, even if he asked his own son.

In fact...after "witnessing" the shadow magic that night, he has been having trouble sleeping recently.

The Onion Knight retracted his thoughts. He should not question King Stannis.

After Seaworth sent Melisandre back that night, he asked to see King Stannis at dawn, but was told that the king was very busy.

Several days passed before he finally waited for King Stannis to summon him.

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In the camp, the stench of horse manure was very strong, mixed with the smoke of burning wood and the aroma of stewed meat.

On the way to the king's camp, Ser Davos met many southern lords, each of whom was of nobler birth than him. They wore gold-plated and silver-plated armor, and their helmets were decorated with silk feathers, feathers or family crests. A statue with eyes inlaid with gemstones.

Near the entrance of the camp, Seaworth bumped into Count Alister Florent who had just walked out of the king's camp.

Davos took the initiative to greet him and said, "Good day, Count Florentine."

On Allister Florent's breastplate was a brilliant red and gold fox, surrounded by a circle of lapis lazuli flowers.

Lord Alister was tall, dignified, and wealthy in appearance. He was the first to turn to King Stannis after Renly's death. He was also the first lord of the South to publicly renounce the Seven Gods and convert to the Lord of Light.

Davos thought to himself... Not long ago, this noble Earl of Brightwater was Renly's subordinate, sitting in his tent, helping him formulate battle plans and planning how to defeat Stannis... Although he was a Seri Queen Silk's uncle, but when Renly's power became stronger, family ties could not stop him from bowing to Renly.

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Earl Allister looked at Davos impolitely, tapped his chin, and walked away.

Davos shrugged and stood at the door. After hearing the response from inside, he entered the king's camp.

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The furnishings in King Stannis's tent are very simple. It is made of canvas like the tents of ordinary soldiers, and the golden dye has long faded to dark yellow.

Davos was thinking that without the flaming red heart flag flying high on the top of the tent, most people might not be able to tell which one was the king's tent.

King Stannis sat on a simple wooden chair, with Melisandre next to him. Davos avoided the priestess's eyes and bowed respectfully towards King Stannis.

Stannis turned to Melisandre and said, "Madam, I will send someone to fetch you when I need you."

Davos, who had a downcast face, couldn't help but frown. He noticed the change in King Stannis's treatment of the priestess.

Melisandre bowed, her voice low and hoarse: "I obey your Majesty's orders."

When Melisandre left, she paused beside Davos. He nodded stiffly, the priestess let out a low laugh, and a thin layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

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King Stannis first motioned for Davos to sit down, and then said: "Davos, I can see that you don't like that woman."

Davos was thinking about how to speak when his king said again: "Smuggler, I am not blind, and those capricious lords don't like her either. They are unwilling to wear the flaming red heart. They ask for the Crowned Stag Banner." And fight.”

Stannis's jaw moved, and a slight grinding sound was heard.

After a pause, Davos saw that King Stannis was no longer speaking. He said cautiously: "Your Majesty, they need some time. I think they will get used to this place soon."

King Stannis snorted disdainfully and said, "It would be best this way."

Davos couldn't help but said bluntly: "Last year they were Robert's people, not long ago they were Renly's men...and now they have become your loyal ministers."

He added: "Who will they fall to tomorrow?"

King Stannis stared straight at his Onion Knight for a moment and said, "You can always tell me the truth..."

He leaned back on the chair and continued: "Davos, you are right. Behind me, there is a large group of traitors... I have punished people who are nobler than them for smaller crimes. Now I have to happily forgive their sins...I still have to endure them chattering in my ears like a swarm of flies!"

Crunching, King Stannis's teeth chattered.

Davos advised: "King Stannis, you need these men now to fight for your Iron Throne."

Stannis's voice was like the cold wind of winter: "Davos, I have spared them, I have forgiven them, but I have not forgotten."

Davos's eyes immediately drifted to the door. This kind of words must not be heard by others, otherwise it will lead to terrible things.

Stannis ignored Davos's uneasiness and added: "My brother left most of the infantry at Bitterbridge. I sent my wife's brother Ser Ellen to take over, but there has been no reply so far."