The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Jon spread his hands, shrugged, and gave a slightly awkward but polite smile. "I am not yet married, my lord."

"Do you have a betrothed?"

"No, my lord. I live at the Wall, and the Night's Watch swear an oath not to marry or have children, nor to hold lands."

"Why?" Landon Caron looked utterly perplexed.

"It's an ancient tradition. After our training, before we officially become members of the Night's Watch, we all swear an oath not to marry, not to have children, not to hold lands. We dedicate ourselves to our duty, living and dying at the Wall. We give our lives and honor to the Wall, from the moment we swear our oath, until forever."

Landon Caron couldn't understand. "What ancient rule does this stem from?"

"To defend against the Others beyond the Wall, my lord."

"Does marriage and children prevent one from fighting Others?"

Jon paused.

He had never thought about it that way.

"It's tradition, my lord."

"Every ancient tradition has an origin. Why can't you marry and have children in order to resist the Others?"

"Perhaps to ensure the soldiers have no attachments when fighting."

"Unreasonable, difficult to understand."

In fact, Jon believed that traditional rules were simply rules, inherent and to be accepted, without needing a reason.

But in Landon Caron's eyes, this question seemed incredible.

Jon smiled slightly. "My lord, after Duke Gregor became king, he abolished the rule that the Night's Watch cannot marry, have children, or hold lands. The warriors of the Night's Watch regained all rights to marry, have children, hold lands, and inherit."

"King Clegane ordered the restoration?"

"Yes."

"He issued new laws, modifying the rules of the Night's Watch?"

"Yes."

Landon Caron was briefly stunned. The fact that His Majesty dared to modify ancient traditions did not align with Landon's perception and judgment of the king.

It wasn't that Landon Caron couldn't accept modifying ancient traditional rules, but rather that he believed modifying the ancient traditional rules of the Night's Watch was a very, very remarkable and great event, one that would surely be permanently recorded in history. However, he felt that the person capable of doing something so remarkable as modifying ancient rules should be a refined king with noble cultivation, great learning, and great wisdom. Gregor Clegane, no matter how one looked at it, seemed to be nothing more than a brave and invincible brute.

The Mountain's extremely burly appearance easily gave people the impression that he was brave and invincible, but lacking in wisdom and culture.

"I need time to understand our King," Landon Caron said.

"Yes, regarding His Majesty, I also find that I sometimes don't understand him," Jon said sincerely. He refrained from telling Landon that the King had made him the Prime Minister of Qarth and forced him to kneel and swear allegiance, all of which were actually a series of premeditated schemes and designs, summed up in one word: 'force'.

The situation forced Duke Landon to act!

"Lord Jon, I guarantee you with the honor of House Caron that there is now a wonderful woman who is very well-matched to you, and you must not miss her. I want to be your matchmaker."

Jon said, "Prime Minister, I am a member of the Night's Watch. Which family's daughter would be willing to go to the Wall with me for the rest of her life? Winter has begun, with ten years of freezing cold. Everyone inside and outside the Wall will have to live deep underground. The snow in many places on the ground is more than ten feet deep."

"Noble character attracts noble people, just as flowers attract bees, and flowing water attracts fish. Lord Jon, Princess Benita Hoare of the Hoare Dynasty is the most beautiful woman in Qarth. Many young kings, princes, governors, and incredibly wealthy dukes from the East have come to ask for her hand, but she has refused them all."

Princess Benita was not very old, fourteen years old, and had a reputation for beauty. More than ten royal families from island nations near Qarth and from more than ten countries in the East had come to propose marriage.

Princess Benita's beauty was very famous inside and outside Qarth. The people of Qarth were already fair-skinned, with tall men and beautiful women, and Princess Benita's beauty was unique. Her face, which could be broken with a touch, was like a jade sculpture by a master, exquisitely perfect and impeccable.

Jon had seen the princess and was amazed by her beauty at the first glance, but that was only a momentary admiration, which he then released and forgot, not taking it to heart.

"Prime Minister, I am not worthy of the princess," Jon said. He was speaking from the heart. The small tiara on the princess's head alone was something Jon couldn't afford even if he were a member of the Night's Watch for his entire life. What the princess wore, what she had on her head, what she had on her hands, and the ornaments on her brocade clothes were all wealth that Jon could not earn in his entire life as a member of the Night's Watch.

"Jon, if you are not worthy of the princess, then no one in this world is worthy of the princess. You happen to be the general escorting Queen Hoare and the princess to Westeros. If you are interested, I will immediately speak to Queen Hoare about this marriage. She will definitely agree. I guarantee you in the name of my family's honor and the gods."

"The princess cannot live at the Wall. It is not suitable for her," Jon said seriously. "It's like my dragon; dragons are not suitable for living in extremely cold places. It will quickly erode their lives. I am also preparing to ask His Majesty..."

"You are preparing to ask His Majesty to leave the Wall? Is that right? For the life of your dragon?"

"Yes!"

"Princess Benita may indeed not be able to adapt to living in an extremely cold place, but you happen to have to leave the Wall for the sake of the dragon. This is fate, the will of the gods. It's settled then, Lord Jon. I will propose marriage to Queen Hoare, and you just wait for my good news."

Jon felt embarrassed. Benita was indeed beautiful and captivating, but Jon was a true pauper.

Jon believed he couldn't afford to support Princess Benita.

Landon Caron, however, smiled, a radiant smile, as if a light emanated from his face.

*

The Mountain had a voluptuous cat curled up on his bare chest.

This cat was a woman named Jeyne Westerling.

This sexy and charming kitten opened her mouth and said, "Mountain, Daenerys is pregnant."

"Is that true?" The Mountain's huge palm cradled the kitten's face, his voice filled with surprise.

"Didn't she tell you?"

"...Oh...I've been too busy lately..."

"Too busy? Saying the words 'I'm pregnant' doesn't take long."

"But once I say it, I will restrict many of her actions."

"Well, I was being nosy."

"Not nosy, I want to thank you for telling me. Hmm, yesterday she and Arya went to the Scorpion Keep forest. If I had known she was pregnant, I probably wouldn't have let her go, and dragon riding is also not suitable for her."

"Her pregnancy is still early, you don't need to be nervous. Missandei is taking good care of her."

"I am the father of her child, I must take good care of her and the child."

"I agree, then go over tonight, to Daenerys's room."

The Mountain smiled slightly. "I have always belonged to you, Jeyne, and tonight is no different. You are my queen."

Jeyne purred like a kitten, "Hmm, I know you say the same thing to Daenerys and Princess Arianne Martell. Jeyne and Daenerys are not important; Arianne, only you are the most important person in my heart; Jeyne and Arianne are not important; Daenerys, only you are the most important person in my heart."

"You are the queen," the Mountain's huge hand caressed the kitten's body. After a while, the kitten made a comfortable murmur.

Knock knock knock!

A maid knocked on the door.

"What is it?"

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Landon and Commander-in-Chief Jon request an audience."

The Mountain looked out the window. The night sky outside was clear, and the night of Qarth was illuminated by the torches on the streets. It was a city that never sleeps, full of prosperity and wealth.

"Let them in."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

*

Landon and Jon stood in front of the bed, a little afraid to look directly at His Majesty the King.

His Majesty the King was bare-chested, Queen Jeyne was leaning on him, and a tiger skin blanket covered the Queen, revealing half of her smooth, snow-white shoulder.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to allow Commander-in-Chief Jon Targaryen to be the escorting general for Queen Hoare. Please approve it, Your Majesty," Duke Landon Caron said respectfully.

The Mountain looked at Jon. Their eyes met, and without words, their minds were connected. The Mountain nodded. "Since Commander Jon agrees, I grant it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Duke Landon pressed his right hand to his left chest as a sign of respect. "Your Majesty, I have another matter. The Wall is freezing cold, with water turning to ice. The soldiers need food, furs, and wine. I will equip a large ship of goods in the name of Commander-in-Chief Jon in the city of Qarth. The ship of goods will depart for Westeros with Queen Hoare's ship. This shipment is House Caron's tribute to the soldiers of the Night's Watch in the extremely cold region."

The Mountain looked at Jon. This kid's good character had received a very timely reward. "Jon, did you tell Duke Landon about the Wall?"

"Your Majesty, we just chatted briefly. Duke Landon is a very enthusiastic Prime Minister."

The Mountain looked at Landon. "Granted. If the purchased fur clothes are too expensive and you need money, go to the Minister of Finance to apply."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I have another matter."

"Speak!"

"Lord Jon Targaryen is not yet married, and Princess Benita Hoare has reached the age of marriage. The two are a talented man and a beautiful woman, a perfect match. I would like to be their matchmaker. If successful, I implore Your Majesty to bestow a marriage upon the two newlyweds in the Throne Room. This is the highest honor that Jon and Benita can receive."

Jeyne, who was leaning on the Mountain's chest, reached out and pulled the tiger skin blanket to cover her body, sitting up with great interest. "Jon, have you agreed to this marriage?"

"...I...I'm afraid I can't afford to support Princess Benita..."

Jeyne smiled slightly.

The Mountain said, "Jon, you were also once a prince of the Targaryen Dynasty. Your status and position are worthy of the former princess of the Hoare Dynasty. I think this marriage is good, so it's settled. Tomorrow morning, I will announce this marriage to the people in the Royal Hall and bestow the marriage upon you, Commander-in-Chief Jon. Congratulations on marrying a beautiful wife!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for making it happen." Duke Landon Caron was even more excited than Jon. He was so excited that he almost knelt down.

"Congratulations, Jon!" Jeyne laughed.

Jon felt his face burning and his body heating up. "Your Majesty, the Wall is not a warm place, and I have no fiefdom. I'm afraid Princess Benita won't be able to adapt to the simple and bitter life in the extremely cold region..."

However, the Mountain seemed to ignore Jon's concerns. "Princess Benita is unparalleled in beauty, Jon. After escorting her back to Westeros, treat her well. I will hold your wedding in the Throne Room of King's Landing."

Jon felt a little dazed. "Your Majesty, Princess Benita doesn't even know about this marriage yet."

"I will go to the Western Palace to see Queen Hoare and Princess Benita immediately," Duke Landon laughed. "Lord Jon, rest assured, I will take care of this marriage. I have watched Princess Benita grow up since she was a child, and she is also my adopted daughter."

"If Princess Benita is unwilling, I request that you do not force her in any way," Jon said solemnly. "She needs to understand the truth that I am a member of the Night's Watch."

Duke Landon smiled. "Lord Jon, Princess Benita is like my own daughter. I know what kind of gentlemen she likes, and I also know what kind of knights are suitable for her."

Duke Landon Caron bowed excitedly and left, and Jon was stopped by Jeyne.

"Jon, don't you like Benita?" Jeyne asked.

"...She is very beautiful..." Jon didn't really know what to say.

Benita's beauty had shocked Jon, but it was not affectionate love.

"You lack time together. I have spoken to Benita, and she is indeed a very good woman, kind at heart. She will agree to this marriage. And Lady Hoare will marry my uncle, Rylo Spicer, so we are also family," Jeyne laughed.

"We are already family," the Mountain said. "Sansa Stark married Raynald Westerling, and our sister Aelinor Westerling married Duke Edmure Tully. With these two marriages, the Clegane family, the Westerling family, the Stark family, the Tully family, the Targaryen family, and the Hoare family, we are all family."

The marriage between royal families and the marriage between nobles have one purpose: to support each other and firmly control the power, territory, and wealth of this world.

The kinship of any royal family is like the root system of a large tree, which must be deeply rooted in the various forces of the great nobles. The great nobles and the great nobles also marry each other because of the hereditary laws and traditions, thus building a solid aristocratic class.

The Mountain has not been in this world for very long, but he has already seen through this point. He learned quickly and surpassed his teachers.

Jon said, "Your Majesty, I have a matter to petition you about."

"Speak."

"If Rhaegal stays at the Wall in the winter, his life cannot be guaranteed. The extremely cold and snowy weather is not suitable for dragons to live in. At the Wall, if it weren't for the Queen's order, Rhaegal would have been on the verge of death. Now the weather at the Wall is very cold, and Rhaegal will immediately lose his appetite if he goes back."

This was indeed a major event. Dragons were the most combat-capable magical creatures.

The Mountain pondered, "Jon, if I were to transfer you from the Wall and have you join my eastern expedition, do you have a suitable replacement in mind?"

"Yes, I do have someone in mind, Your Majesty! He would be even more suitable than I am!"