The Mountain of Ice and Fire

“Lord Eddard, you truly are a handful!” Varys said with a wry smile.

“Do you have any suggestions?” Eddard was filled with distrust for the Spider. This was the man who had stood by the Queen's side, watching him and his men be slaughtered, his face expressionless and unmoved.

Eddard clearly remembered the day the eunuch had entered his solar in the Tower of the Hand. The man had told him that they were allies, just the two of them. They would work together to protect the King. Now, the result of that protection was: the King was dead, and the Hand would be buried with him. Eddard found it hard to believe that Varys didn't know about the coup in the throne room that day. This man knew too much and did too little, and his mouth was full of lies.

Now, of course, he was not to be trusted, but Eddard had no choice.

Nothing could be more hopeless than humiliation and death. Cersei wanted him dead, and he would have been already; if Varys wanted him dead, he could have done it just now. He was very weak and wanted to eat. Any delicacy could take his life. Just because Varys had drunk the wine didn't mean Eddard could drink it too. Just because Varys was fine didn't mean Eddard would be fine too.

Varys squatted down, level with Eddard. He held a torch in his hand, the light illuminating both their faces. Eddard could only vaguely make out Varys's fat facial features. Eddard had never seen such masterful makeup and disguise skills as the eunuch possessed.

“Lord Eddard, I suggest you choose the first option, confess, and then don the black. Ser Alliser Thorne, the recruiter for the Night's Watch, is still here. At least that's a way out. You can also guard the Wall with your brother and your bastard son. The Wall is the shield of the North.”

“I want to try the second option! My life isn't so important that I need to acknowledge an incestuous bastard as the King.”

“Then what about your daughter? Sansa.”

“What do you want to do with her?”

“We? No, no, no, not we. I'm not with Queen Cersei, Lord Eddard, we are allies.”

“I remember our alliance very clearly. You said it was just the two of us, and I've always kept that in mind, my Lord.”

“Is that so? Then please hear me out. Confess, don the black, and you can go home and visit anytime. Lady Catelyn can come to the Black Castle and sleep with you anytime. Sansa can safely return to your side. She is still the King's betrothed, and you are still the King's father-in-law.”

Eddard looked at Varys's fat face, which he could barely recognize. Was Varys sincerely trying to help him, or was he deliberately trying to persuade him to confess and don the black, and then actually deliberately leading Eddard to choose the second option?

This guy is a schemer, Eddard thought. This guy must have said the same thing to everyone: we are allies, just the two of us. Varys said this to Littlefinger, to Queen Cersei, and to anyone he thought was useful. He could say it with great sincerity. Eddard was convinced his judgment was correct.

“I want to try the second option,” Eddard said.

He understood very well that as long as he escaped, Queen Cersei would be even more afraid to do anything to Sansa, because she knew it would further enrage Eddard. Only a living Sansa could threaten Eddard, not a dead one.

Eddard felt that he had suddenly become a little unfamiliar. He had figured out this key point. So, could Varys not have thought of this? No, he must have thought of it, but he didn't say it. He wasn't willing to stand on Eddard's side and sincerely analyze it for Eddard.

Since Varys was definitely not to be trusted, then his first suggestion was definitely not to be adopted.

“The second option is more terrible than a dead end. Lord Eddard, think about it, no one will come to save you for no reason. He will definitely ask for a reward that you are unwilling to give.”

“Tell me about the reward.”

“Sansa must marry someone designated by a certain person after she is rescued?”

“A beggar?”

“The son of a great noble who is worthy of Sansa, an Earl's heir.”

“That's no problem.”

“If Sansa fails to marry, as long as Arya is found in the future, Arya must marry the son of a certain great noble.”

“Arya, I'm afraid it will be difficult to get her to agree, but as long as that son has some talent, I think I will agree.”

“If Arya is never found in the future, he has a daughter who will marry Robb Stark in the future.”

“I agree.” Eddard's mind raced. A certain great noble, who could save him from the secret passage of the Red Keep, had a daughter and a son. Who could that mysterious guy be?

No matter who it was, since he was willing to marry, it was worth being an ally, and he was not afraid of Tywin of the Westerlands and controlled the Varys in front of him. This point particularly moved Eddard.

Varys's eyes flickered: “My Lord, you will regret it in the future.”

“I have regretted too many things, one more won't make a difference,” Eddard said coldly. Back then, his own marriage was not his choice, Jon Arryn and Lysa Tully's marriage was not their choice, and King Robert and Cersei's marriage was also a political need, not related to love. His children, born in a Duke's family, must bear their responsibilities, especially Robb Stark.

“But that great man's daughter is not his biological daughter, but his adopted daughter.”

“Adopted daughter?” Eddard thought to himself, but his face showed no change in expression. He couldn't let Varys see any psychological changes. This guy was too terrible and had to be prevented from peeping into his heart. “An adopted daughter is indeed too weak for Robb, but this is the third option, and it is obviously the other party's helpless move.”

There was no doubt that the other party was very eager to marry the North. Only Tywin of the Westerlands and Cersei, who controlled the palace, would be so afraid. Eddard did not expect that there was someone in the palace like him who was not afraid of violence and dared to declare war on Tywin of the Westerlands and Cersei in the palace.

Saving Eddard was proof of everything behind the scenes.

Varys really didn't seem to want Eddard to establish an alliance with the person behind the scenes. Why?

Eddard closed his eyes and thought carefully. He remembered Varys's words: I can… but I dare not… If there is a little carelessness, the Queen will launch an investigation, and then all the clues will point to me, and then my head will be stuck on a spear… I can save you, but I dare not.

Indeed, who could be more proficient and clear about the secret passages in the basement of the palace than the Spider? Once Eddard disappeared from the black prison in the basement, without investigation, everyone's first thought would definitely be Varys. No one but him could have such great ability.

Then, Varys's head would be stuck on a spear by Cersei!

Eddard slowly opened his eyes, his eyes with a strange light: “Lord Varys, when will you rescue me?”

Varys looked at Eddard's bright eyes: “My Lord, have you made a decision?”

“Yes, absolutely no change!” Eddard said.

“Marriage is only the first condition of that terrible person!” Varys's tone was slightly hurried.

“What other conditions are there?” Eddard's tone became more and more firm.

Eddard was not stupid, just too upright.

“If a war breaks out in the future and that terrible person is forced to flee, he hopes that you can grant him thousands of miles of land in the First Men's barrowlands in the North. He also hopes that you can grant him the title of Marquis.”

The North has the largest territory among the Seven Kingdoms, which is the sum of the land area of the other six kingdoms, but it is sparsely populated. The First Men's barrowlands are hills and plains, and there has never been a lord. It is the vast land under Eddard's command.

“What is the current title of that terrible villain?” Eddard said lightly. This was a deliberate question. When talking about marriage, Eddard already knew that the other party was an Earl.

“Earl!”

“It is reasonable for an Earl to be promoted to Marquis,” Eddard said. Then, as Eddard expected, he saw Varys's face twitch very slightly.

Eddard had a stronger curiosity about this terrible person. Obviously, Varys had something that this terrible person had in his hands, and he had to obey. But unless Eddard himself willingly agreed, that terrible person would not dare to risk taking him away.

If the other party was chased and bankrupted by Tywin of the Westerlands for saving him, and forced into exile, the North would naturally be his best choice.

White Harbor in the North, the fifth largest port city in the kingdom, the main trading port in the North, the city lord is Mandely, a vassal under the Tyrell family in the southern Reach. Because of some bloody conflicts, the Mandely family was forced into exile. The Stark family in the North took in this family and granted the mouth of the White Knife River to the Mandely family. The Mandely family did not live up to the Stark family. It not only blocked the pirates entering the interior of the North along the White Knife River for the Stark family, but also developed a simple military fortress into a prosperous port with internal and external divisions.

Today's White Harbor is a gathering place for wandering knights from across the Narrow Sea, as well as the home of silversmiths. A silver coin minting factory once flourished here.

The Starks took in the Mandely family, who were expelled by the Tyrell family in the Reach, in exchange for the development and taxation of a prosperous port, and also gained a loyal vassal: the Mandely family.

If a noble who saved Eddard Stark's life was chased or forced into exile, it would be a matter of course for Eddard Stark to come forward to take in this family. Eddard couldn't think of any reason to refuse. This request was also reasonable.

The North has one more: more land; one less: fewer people!

Varys hesitated and finally said: “Lord Eddard, when you know who you will eventually fall into the hands of, I hope you don't regret it.”

“When will you rescue me? I hope it's now,” Eddard said. He was too lazy to play word games with Varys and directly got to the bottom of it. Varys and Littlefinger both liked to speak in circles and play word riddles, and Eddard hated these people's pretentious hypocrisy the most.

“Okay, I will do it as soon as possible,” Varys said.

*

The gold cloaks and the captain guarding the Iron Gate saw a group of people and horses coming from a distance. The team was very long, the flags were flying, and the soldiers and the captain felt surprised. They had not received any news that any army would be stationed in King's Landing.

The team came closer, and the first large flag was the golden lion flag.

The golden lion flag - the banner of House Lannister of the Westerlands. Then, the gold cloaks saw the second flag, the black three-dog flag, which was one flag height lower than the golden lion flag.

The three-dog flag - the banner of House Clegane.

A giant at the front of the team was riding a horse. Looking at his physique and huge flat-topped helmet, it was Gregor Clegane, the Mountain that Rides, known throughout the Seven Kingdoms as the Mountain.

Behind him were two empty-saddled warhorses, each carrying his plate armor and shield, and a two-handed greatsword that was the longest and heaviest in the Seven Kingdoms.

Several distinguished generals followed the Mountain, with Lord Beric Dondarrion of Blackhaven on his left; and the more famous red priest Thoros on his right; the three rode side by side at the front, followed by Areo Hotah, the captain of the guard of former Hand Eddard Stark, and the adopted daughter Julienne Clegane, whose beautiful curves were outlined by leather armor; the archery champion Anguy, who stood out in the tournament; Ser Gendry, who was afraid of death but had good swordsmanship; the neurotic Polliver; Sweetmouth Rafford; the executioner Dunsen; and the note-taker Marq.

After these generals were more than five hundred Clegane cavalrymen with murderous intent, each with bright armor and two horses. They were fully armed with longswords, javelins, bows, and short crossbows.

Behind the five hundred cavalrymen was a reserve team of one hundred and fifty strong and brave cavalrymen.

Behind the cavalry reserve team, only the flags could be vaguely seen, were more than a thousand Clegane infantrymen led by Chiswyck, who had undergone militarized hard training.

The team slowly entered the city, and the gold cloaks dared not ask questions. The squad captain stood on the city wall and watched this fierce team without saying a word. Gregor Clegane, who was walking at the front, didn't even look up at them. Who would dare to stop him? Who would dare to ask?

A garrison camp of the garrison army was stationed at the Iron Gate, but so what? No officer dared to step forward. The Mountain looked like he was not in a good mood, with a stern face. His warhorse was carrying his giant sword, and the size of the giant sword was daunting.

This cavalry team passed through Cobblers' Square, attracting the attention of everyone on the square.

The army of a foreign vassal needs to be approved by the royal family and informed to the garrison general guarding the city, and then the general will pass down the order to inform the centurion and squad leader guarding the city gate to let them pass. This is the rule, a rule that everyone knows, but the Mountain led the Clegane cavalry into the city, and the gold cloaks and centurions watched with their own eyes, and no one dared to come forward to ask.

There was a military camp of the garrison army stationed at the Iron Gate, but so what? No officer dared to step forward. The Mountain looked like he was not in a good mood, with a stern face. His warhorse was carrying his giant sword, and the size of the giant sword was daunting.

The team passed through Cobblers' Square, passed the gate of the Alchemist's Guild, and walked onto the main street leading to the Red Keep. The sound of horses' hooves rang on the main street, crisp and dense. Although there were only less than a thousand cavalrymen, the entire street was immediately filled with a murderous aura.

The team went straight to the Red Keep.

The Red Keep, the residence of the royal family, the highest center of power in the Seven Kingdoms, any foreign noble's troops are strictly prohibited from entering. The highest armed power of the Red Keep is the Kingsguard, the second is the gold cloaks, and the third is the red cloaks.

The Mountain led the Clegane cavalry, wearing the famous red cloaks of the Westerlands, and came straight to the Red Keep.

Such a powerful cavalry team entering the Red Keep, if it was not approved by Queen Cersei, or personally approved by the King, would definitely not be allowed to enter.

The Mountain led the Clegane cavalry straight to the Red Keep, which had long alarmed the royal courtiers and Dowager Queen Cersei, Prince Joffrey, the Kingsguard, and Commander of the City Watch Janos Slynt.

*

ps; I have returned to the city, prepare tomorrow, and add more updates the day after tomorrow.

Thank you: [Likes early rising birds] for the reward, thank you, handshake.