The Iron Throne of Ice and Fire

The cold wind howled by, and the night was like a huge piece of black satin, slowly spreading out on the horizon.

"...It is like this tonight, and it will be like this every night." The oath of the night watchman echoed in the cold night sky for a long time.

After the oath was over, everyone slowly stood up with solemn expressions. The new Night's Watchman - Tyrion Lannister also tried to stand up, but... the numbness in his legs from kneeling for a long time made him He got up slightly embarrassed.

Then, he couldn't help but stamp his feet, trying to relieve the discomfort, but he couldn't help but gasped because of the needle-like pain in his legs.

At this time, the old and powerful voice of the 997th Commander-in-Chief of the Night Watch floated clearly into everyone's ears through the layers of cold wind: "Welcome, honorary Night Watchmen, my good children!"

The people who have officially become members of the Night Watch responded with a voice that was not high-pitched and uneven on the left and right: "Roar."

"Hahaha..." Looking at these new night watchmen who were not very interested, Mr. Xiong didn't pay attention. Instead, he laughed heartily.

Then, he waved his hand and said loudly: "In order to welcome you to join the glorious Night Watch Army, I have already prepared enough wine! Boys, follow me, the banquet will begin soon!"

At first, everyone was stunned. After a brief silence, they immediately shouted excitedly: "Oh!"

Seeing their sudden surge in morale, Mr. Xiong burst into laughter, then strode off the high platform and led everyone to the banquet hall.

They filed away chatting and laughing. Tyrion, who was originally mixed in with the crowd, gradually fell behind due to his short steps.

Tyrion grinned and refused the help of a new Night's Watch brother who was a horse thief, and limped to the back alone.

Walking out of the heart forest, he saw Sir Bronn waiting for him.

The knight of Blackwater had a gloating smile on his face: "Congratulations, noble Lord of the Night Watch."

Tyrion smoothed his messy hair casually with his fingers and said with a smile: "Please call me the glorious Night's Watch."

Bronn raised his eyebrows and his smile turned obscene: "An ancient oath, if you don't marry a wife, you won't have children."

Tyrion raised his eyebrows: "The Seven Gods cannot hear the dwarf's voice in their hometown."

"Oh, obviously, no one can take care of his old man."

The two of them took steps forward as they talked. Tyrion moved slightly closer to Bronn and lowered his voice and asked with concern: "I thought I wouldn't see you until tomorrow. They didn't make things difficult for you, did they?"

Sir Bronn puffed up his chest and grinned: "The night watchman is still very polite. Don't forget, I am a member of Regent Green."

Tyrion shrugged, "I'm so jealous of you, ser."

After walking a few steps, he asked again: "What did they ask you, and how did you answer them?"

After hearing this, Sir Bronn restrained his joking expression and told Tyrion the conversation between them in detail, and even carefully added in the various expression changes of those present.

Finally, he spread his hands and said: "We often dig for 'treasures' together (Chapter 419). Apart from me and Little Squid, there are other night watchmen, and I am just one of them."

Tyrion nodded thoughtfully and said, "But you are the only 'outsider'."

Sir Bronn chuckled: "Everyone else is a glorious night watchman, and so is the missing little squid."

Pausing, Tyrion held his chin, carefully reviewed what Bronn had said in his mind, and said, "Okay, this matter is over now."

He reached out and patted Bronn's thigh: "I have to admit that you do things neatly. I'll help you, sergeant."

Turning his right arm half a circle, Bronn gracefully saluted his chest: "The Blackwater Knight is at your command, my Lord Tyrion."

Patting Bronn again, Tyrion smiled slightly: "Remember to collect the bounty from that highness, I am just a down-and-out Lannister now."

Sir Bronn grinned: "I am not serving you for the sake of the golden dragon, but for the honor of the knight."

"you………"

Tyrion couldn't help but take a step back, pretending to be horrified and said: "...Honor? Are you planning to betray? Don't forget, I am a legendary assassin and mercenary known to all seven countries."

Ser Bronn said painfully: "How can you doubt the honor of the Blackwater Knight, my lord?"

Tyrion looked up to the sky and sighed, and then... put his little hand into his clothes and took out a small money bag and threw it over.

Reaching out to catch the money bag and weighing it habitually, Sir Bronn had a most obscene smile on his face: "I will always be loyal to you, Lord Tyrion."

Tyrion shrugged and took steps forward.

"Let's go, we're going to have a nice drink tonight. It's rare for Mr. Xiong to be so generous."

"It's a pity there's only wine."

"Hey, be careful if Lord Stannis hears..."

"Tonight he will also..."

The earth was tightly shrouded in coldness and silence, and figures of one tall and one short walked together, and laughter could be heard from time to time. Their footprints, one large and one small, were deeply and shallowly imprinted on the snow.

…………

As the two of them approached the banquet hall of Castle Black, the bustling noise became increasingly clear.

"Gods be merciful, may all good women stay away from the Night's Watch banquet, where the males will simply devour them."

After Tyrion sighed with emotion, he smiled and said: "Well, there are also beautiful men."

"After you came to the Great Wall, you looked more like a kind-hearted person, my lord."

Approaching the door, Sir Bronn couldn't help but raise his voice: "I'm a little worried that these drunkards will force you to dance for them."

Tyrion grinned: "Everyone likes to see dwarfs dancing, mercenaries."

Hearing this, Bronn couldn't help but raise his hand to touch his forehead: "No wonder you are so generous. Alas, I can hit up to ten people per person."

Tyrion patted his waist with his little hand, blinked, and said, "Actually, there is a money bag hidden here."

"You know, generous master, I can actually beat dozens of them... Forget it, I'll beat as many as you come."

"Gaga, I am honored to appreciate your heroic appearance tonight..."

When Sir Bronn, who was smiling with a flattering smile, was about to open the door for the noble lord, a cold voice suddenly came from the other side: "Tyrion, King Stannis invites you to come over."

Tyrion looked in the direction of the sound and saw several guards wearing the flaming red heart emblem.

He knew them. These people were the king's guards who came from the Stormlands, and...according to the news he got at noon today, they were all declared as traitors to the kingdom by the Green Regent and deprived of all their ancestral property.

"I'll enjoy your performance next time."

Tyrion took out a money bag from his arms and threw it directly to Bronn. He turned to Stannis's guard and said, "Please lead the way."

…………

In the banquet hall of Castle Black, blazing torches illuminated every corner red.

Long wooden tables were placed in various directions, filled with ale barrels, roasted and oily game, and rough black bread.

The benches next to the wooden table were filled with all kinds of night watchmen. Cups of ale were poured into their mouths. The noisy shouts, laughter and conversations were intertwined, making the whole hall like a boiling hot house. pot.

On the high platform of the banquet hall, Mr. Xiong, the commander-in-chief of the night watchman, was sitting at the main seat, drinking one cup after another. His eyes glanced at the lively young men below from time to time. Every time he saw something interesting, he would let out a burst of joy. laughter.

On the right side of Mr. Xiong is Duke Eddard Stark, who was invited to attend the Night's Watch banquet. Except for slightly curling up the corners of his lips when he was drinking with the people next to him, he remained almost motionless the rest of the time.

On the other side of the hall, the door was slowly opened, and the Earl of the Dreadfort and Roose Bolton walked in. He walked straight through the crowd, stopped not far from the high platform, and nodded slightly to Duke Ed.

Duke Eddard tapped his chin, patted Mr. Xiong's thick shoulder, and left his seat.

The two of them left the hall through the small door on one side, walked into a slightly dim corridor, and came to a small room.

When the door closed, four Stark gray robes followed and stayed outside to guard the door.

Fireworks had already been lit in the small fireplace, and the room was enveloped in a warm halo.

Duke Eddard took off his thick black cloak with a fur collar, flicked his arm slightly, and threw it aside casually.

Duke Eddard was the first to break the silence. His voice was low and hoarse: "Is there any progress?"

After saying that, he pulled up an old wooden chair and sat in front of the fireplace. His stern face could not hide the trace of fatigue.

Roose Bolton glanced at Eddard with his light eyes and said: "Lord Stannis has never wavered in his demands. He insists... You must recognize him as your king and the submission of the North."

He walked to stand in front of the fireplace and said: "Lord Ned, please forgive me, our negotiations with Lord Stannis are actually meaningless. He will only drag the North into the quagmire of war."

After a pause, his small voice echoed in the small room: "It can be said that he has become a homeless wanderer who has lost the legal inheritance of the Iron Throne."

He looked at Ed: "For the sake of the North and not to arouse the hostility of the Regent, we should make a choice as soon as possible."

A period of solemn silence enveloped the room like a dark cloud. After a long time, Duke Eddard sighed slightly: "Roose, I cannot betray Robert. He is my brother and sister, and Stannis is Robert's brother and heir. "

Lord Roose's voice was like the cold wind outside the house: "My lord, Renly is also Robert's brother, and the regent has declared Stannis as the parricide who killed his brother. He is not qualified to inherit Robert's glory. "

Duke Ed closed his eyes in pain: "I will go to him directly about this matter. I must confirm it with my own ears."

Earl Roose was silent for a moment, nodded slightly, and said: "I believe Lord Stannis will not hide the truth from you. If he has no guilt in his heart, he will tell the truth frankly."

He added: "I think the North has no objection to Stannis continuing to be stationed at the Wall to sufficiently show your mercy to the world."

Duke Eddard opened his eyes, stared at the dancing fire for a while, and said: "I have concerns, not only because of Stannis, but what worries me most is the White Walkers. Winter is coming, and the Seven Kingdoms cannot continue to be here." Excessive force was expended in other wars.”