The Iron Throne of Ice and Fire

The surprise attack by Stannis's army killed thousands of wildlings beyond the wall and captured nearly two thousand. The others fled, and they did not pursue them with all their strength.

Stannis's army escorted the loot and prisoners towards the Great Wall, and he sat alone in the tent of the King Beyond the Wall, staring at the flickering flames in the brazier.

There was a movement at the tent door, and Eddard Stark's tall figure wearing a thick cloak with a fur collar appeared.

Looking at the person coming, Stannis's deep blue eyes moved slightly, pointed to the folding wooden chair opposite him, and said: "Sit down."

After standing quietly for a while, Duke Edd tapped his chin, walked over and sat down.

After another moment of silence, Stannis picked up the wooden cup and drank the cold water inside.

His jaw twitched a few times, breaking the silence in the tent: "I saw the body of Donal Noy (a blacksmith who worked for the Baratheon family before becoming a Night's Watcher) before I came here. He was killed by a small group who tried to climb. The savages who crossed the Great Wall were killed.”

After a pause, he continued: "The first sword I used in my life was made by Noe, as was Robert's favorite warhammer. He is excellent and capable."

Duke Ed nodded: "Yes, he is a good blacksmith and a good warrior."

Stannis looked at Eddard with his blue eyes, and then said: "I love my brother. Now I am Robert's sole heir. The entire kingdom is his inheritance, and I should rule the whole world."

A trace of sadness flashed across Duke Ed's eyes. He paused and sighed involuntarily: "Stannis, given the current situation... my suggestion is to negotiate with the South."

Stannis stared at him for a while, and said in a calm tone: "Who do you want me to kneel to? A Targaryen girl, or Grimm Klebs?"

Duke Eddard looked serious, and he solemnly promised Stannis: "If you are willing to negotiate peace with the south, the north will advance and retreat with you."

Stannis looked at Eddard's cold-looking gray eyes motionlessly, paused, took a sip of cold water, and leaned back in his chair.

Then, his thin lips opened slightly: "Even if you and I advance and retreat together, Green Claypool will never agree to eliminate the Baratheon family's status as the Reaver. There is no doubt about this, Ned."

He added: "You cherish your honor. Although you and I are not close friends, I know who you are. But you don't know me. I, Stannis Baratheon, am Robert's heir. This is Greene. No amount of Kleb's tricks can change the fact."

His eyes narrowed slightly: "The Targaryen woman and I... to be precise... only one person can survive, the Green Regent and I. He and I are destined to be mortal enemies."

"Neither he nor I was wrong. We both had reasonable legal principles to do so. He was right to kill me, and I was right to kill him. This is just an unavoidable war." Stannis raised the corners of his lips in a rare way, "Nay De, I can’t admit defeat.”

Duke Eddard stared at the haggard face opposite him for a while, which was much older than his actual age, and his eyebrows furrowed deeper: "Stannis, you can choose to stay on the Wall. Green will believe your oath."

Hearing this, Stannis's jaw wriggled silently again, and his eyes became slightly sharp: "Melisandre told me that 'his' name is unspeakable to mortals. She said 'he' is the god of night and fear, the god of snow. All the figures and figures walking around are his puppets.”

He stared at Duke Ed: "If the carriage is put in front of the horse, it is putting the cart before the horse. So, I led my army here, because only I can save the entire kingdom."

His body leaned slightly: "When I defeat the power of darkness, no one can stop me from winning the Iron Throne. You should assist me in my great cause. Ned, when the cold wind blows, the north should live and die together, and unite Rise up against a common enemy.”

The two looked at each other for a while. Duke Eddard did not hesitate anymore and said bluntly: "It is the responsibility of the Stark family to protect the North. I will lead the Northerners to fight the White Walkers, but we will not join any side."

Blue eyes and gray eyes collided again. After a while, Stannis leaned back in his chair and said coldly: "Very good. I hope you can keep your promise, Lord Stark."

Without waiting for Duke Ed's response, he added: "I plan to allow the wild people beyond the wall to pass through the Great Wall and let them settle in the 'grant land'."

Hearing this, Duke Eddard frowned, while Stannis raised his hand and continued: "The conditions remain unchanged. They must swear allegiance to me, maintain the peace of the kingdom, abide by the laws of the kingdom, and believe in the Lord of Light. ”

Duke Eddard paused, and his voice was low: "The land grant belongs to the Night's Watch. Moreover, the wild people outside the wall call us kneeling people. They call themselves free people. They will not accept the laws of the kingdom. constraints.”

A cold light flashed in Stannis's eyes: "How to rule the wildlings beyond the wall, and whether I can restrain them, Stark, these are all my rights and responsibilities."

Lord Eddard did not back down: "If the wildlings who pass through the Wall become marauding bandits, then it will be my duty to destroy them, Stannis."

Stannis' teeth creaked. He stared at Lord Eddard coldly for a while, gritted his teeth and said, "Before you came, I talked to Mance Rayder (King Beyond the Wall). That guy Stubborn and arrogant, I can’t find any reason to convince myself to forgive him.”

He picked up the cup and paused, took a sip, and continued: "The most effective way to form an alliance is marriage. I plan to marry my daughter (Shireen Baratheon) to the 'Barbarian Prince'. In this way, I will Can legitimately rule over those savages who don’t want to kneel.”

"Wild Prince?"

Stannis nodded slightly: "Mance Rayder's woman gave birth to the 'Wild Prince' in the tent guarded by my soldiers."

[According to the tradition of free people, children will not be named until they are two years old]

Duke Eddard was startled. He remembered the pregnant captive he had seen a few hours ago: "Queen Dalla?"

Stannis frowned. He didn't like this name and emphasized: "Mance Rayder's woman."

"What about her?"

"Dead."

"Dead?" Duke Eddard looked unbelievable and angry.

Stannis' voice was angry: "She died after giving birth to the child. No one hurt her, Stark."

Duke Eddard's clenched fist loosened slightly and changed the subject: "You have to talk to Commander Jeor. On my side, you need to promise me that they will not harass the lives of the people in the North."

Stannis's face showed obvious impatience: "If we want to resist the invasion of the White Walkers, everyone must obey my arrangements."

Everyone?

Stannis stood up from his chair: "The conversation is over, we should set off."

………

On the way back to the Wall, Old Bear couldn't help but raise his voice: "Neutral? Lord Ned, did you promise neutrality to His Majesty Stannis?"

Duke Eddard, who was riding beside him, nodded with a heavy face.

The horse moved slowly forward in the snow. Old Bear glanced at Eddard's serious face for a while, and his voice could not hide his worry: "Will your decision cause dissatisfaction to Regent Green?"

Duke Eddard nodded again: "Yes, this will affect the trust between Stark and Crabbe, but the North has no choice."

Old Bear pulled the reins, and the horse under him moved closer: "You should know that this choice is not the most favorable."

Duke Eddard's chest rose and fell, and he turned his head and said: "Jeo, fighting against the White Walkers requires the unity of everyone's strength. The consumption between the living and the living will only grow the power of darkness."

Old Bear was stunned He was startled, then murmured: "Now the Wall is going to be lively..."

Looking at the worried face of the old bear, Duke Eddard stretched out his big hand and patted his arm, saying: "If I survive this war between the living and the dead, I will take the initiative to put on black clothes to atone for my choice."

Hearing this, the old bear was stunned at first, and then laughed: "This is the only good news I got today. Welcome to join us in advance, Lord Ned."

The flying snowflakes blended with the bone-chilling cold. The team escorting the prisoners was like a long-bodied beast carrying a heavy load, moving its body with difficulty in the snow.

In the sky, the biting cold wind whistled like a sharp blade, and a vigorous snow eagle flapped its wings and soared, its sharp eyes overlooking everything below.

…………

Afternoon, Black Castle.

Please...you...collect_6Ⅰ9ⅠBookⅠBar (Six\\\\\\Nine\\\\\\Book\\\\\\Bar!)

On the top of the dilapidated tower, Tyrion stood on tiptoe, lying on the parapet, stretching his neck to observe the crowd below.

His eyes were fixed on a male prisoner who was tied up and guarded by the most guards. He raised his eyebrows and said, "Is that man the King Beyond the Wall?"

Sir Bronn approached, he leaned casually on the parapet, looked down, and said, "It should be right, his "treatment" is the best among all the prisoners, Master Tyrion."

Tyrion retracted his head, pretended to touch his chest sadly, and said, "It's a pity that I didn't have the honor to witness His Majesty Stannis's heroic figure capturing the King Beyond the Wall alive."

Sir Bronn shrugged: "You don't have to be too sad. I think many people don't know his whereabouts. I still find it unbelievable until now."

Tyrion raised one eyebrow: "You must feel the same as you did at that time... Lord Stark and Old Bear are in similar situations. Ha, this is a huge surprise. "

Sir Bronn pinched his chin, thought for a moment, and said, "I am also surprised by another thing. Why did King Stannis hide this from you, the 'Prime Minister'? Otherwise, maybe I would have the honor to appreciate your heroic figure challenging the Giants Beyond the Wall."

[Many people on the Great Wall jokingly call the Lannister dwarf the King's Hand of Stannis]

"Giant Beyond the Wall?"

Tyrion's smile faded, and he nodded seriously: "A Lannister giant challenges a Giant Beyond the Wall... Gods, all the beauties in the Seven Kingdoms will go crazy for me."

The two laughed for a while, and their eyes moved down again.

Ser Bronn, observing carefully and secretly, suddenly said: "Lord Tyrion, do you really think King Stannis will subdue these wildlings outside the Wall?"

Tyrion retracted his gaze and said: "There are large tracts of uninhabited land here, and the wildlings outside the Wall are the easiest population for His Majesty Stannis to obtain. He has no reason to refuse this piece of cake."

He shrugged slightly: "Moreover, our Regent King Green has proved the value of wildlings with practical actions, as long as they are properly controlled."

Ser Bronn scratched his cheek with his index finger: "As far as I know, the wildlings outside the Wall do not recognize the ruling power from blood. They are the strong king."

Tyrion grinned: "His Majesty Stannis just proved this to them. He easily defeated the King outside the Wall."

Ser Bronn's eyes moved slightly, and he said obscenely: "Are you going to help Stannis subdue them, Tyrion 'Prime Minister'?"

Tyrion looked at the Blackwater Knight suspiciously and said: "Why do you suddenly care about this?"

Sir Bronn grinned, his expression even more vulgar: "I'm thinking... I'll quietly reveal the information about your betrayal to His Highness Greene. He might reward me with an extra piece of land for my merits."

Tyrion smiled and said: "I will take you to rebel with me, dear Sir."

Sir Bronn's expression was exaggerated: "You can't betray me. I am extremely loyal to you, my dear lord."

Tyrion chuckled, then approached him to stop laughing: "Your worries are not unreasonable. This is indeed not good news for you and me. Although the Green Regent is kind and generous enough, it is only for those who have merit."

He raised his hand and patted Bronn's... thigh, and said in a sincere tone: "Thank you for the reminder, hateful mercenary."

Sir Bronn grinned: "I am happy to offer you and my loyalty, wise giant."

Tyrion lowered his head in thought and murmured: "Compared to destruction, robbing is..."

"Lord Tyrion, that female wildling's vagina is so big!"

Sir Bronn's sudden voice interrupted Tyrion's thoughts, and the mercenary's leering voice continued to be heard in his ears: "Look, I'll find a way to send her to your bed tonight."

Tyrion's black and green eyes trembled slightly. His attention seemed to be attracted all of a sudden. As he climbed the wall, he asked eagerly: "Where, where?"

When Tyrion looked in the direction pointed by Ser Bronn, a hoarse and seductive laughter came from behind them: "Little Lion, it seems you are very interested in them."

When a familiar voice came, Tyrion paused, turned around, coughed slightly awkwardly, and said, "Good day, charming Lady Melisandre."

He turned his head and glanced behind him, and said seriously: "I'm introducing my guard to the different customs outside the Great Wall. Well, yes, it's his first time seeing a beauty outside the Great Wall."

Melisandre smiled slightly, her long copper-colored hair brushing across her face: "Yes, they are very charming. Not only can they give birth to children for men, but they can also draw swords and fight like men."

Tyrion's face stiffened slightly. He glanced at his little arms and legs and sighed: "Thank you for the reminder, kind lady. I can only regretfully give up the opportunity to get to know the beauty beyond the wall."

Melisandre laughed. She nodded her chin gently towards Ser Bronn, who was nodding in greeting, and said calmly, "His Majesty Stannis wants to summon you, lovely little lion."