The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Chapter 338: A Hero or a Fiend (Subscription Requested)

The Mountain led his army into the main castle of Earl Mooton, and in the hall, he saw a nun standing in front of three children.

His eyes looked out from the narrow slits of his mask, making him look like a terrifying steel giant. His voice also sounded more muffled because of the mask.

The pressure he exuded was natural, and behind the Mountain were fierce generals and bandit soldiers, all with their own iron-blooded aura.

In the hall, there were maesters, knights, guards, and servants.

Everyone was trembling with fear!

Fortunately, the Mooton family had a good foundation in the past, and the old castle was built very tall, otherwise, the Mountain's flat-topped giant helmet would have hit the ceiling.

Seventeen years ago, when the Usurper's War broke out, the Mooton family did not stand with their liege lord, the Tully family, but instead sided with the royalists, swearing allegiance to the Targaryen family instead of their own liege lord, the Tully family.

Betraying one's liege lord was originally a capital crime!

By the end of the war, the Tully family of the Riverlands, the Stark family of the North, the Baratheon family of the Stormlands, and the Arryn family of the Vale had won. The Targaryen family was defeated, and the royal family was massacred. This also affected the Mooton family, who had been loyal to the royal family. The Mooton family was punished by their liege lord, the Tully family. The family's wealth was plundered, their status was weakened, and their territory was reduced.

Compared to the past, the current Mooton family can be said to be quite weak.

In the past, the Mooton family relied on port trade, and the mercenaries they hired numbered more than a thousand. Adding the family knights and local soldiers, their forces were always around three thousand, but now, all their forces combined are no more than a thousand.

"Who is Elanore Mooton?" The Mountain said indifferently. Elanore was one of the targets of his military operation.

"My lord, Elanore Mooton has gone to war with Earl Mooton." The nun's face clearly showed defensive hostility. Although she looked directly at the Mountain, she appeared strong on the outside but weak on the inside, bluffing.

"No, I am Elanore Mooton." The girl behind the nun stepped forward. She had already seen that the Mountain was staring at her. The nun's little trick was useless. The Mountain must have known of her existence before entering the main castle. The hundreds of surrendered soldiers and townspeople could not possibly have a unified story, nor would they know what the nun was telling the Mountain. This could easily be exposed, and Elanore did not dare to imagine the consequences if the Mountain felt that he had been maliciously deceived.

For the safety of the nun and all the soldiers and people under her command, Elanore Mooton decided to stand up and face the Mountain.

Three knights stepped forward together, blocking Elanore.

"Knights, don't force me to kill you," the Mountain said indifferently.

The three knights looked at each other, and finally, silently stepped aside. The gang of bandits around the Mountain laughed.

"Miss Elanore Mooton?" The Mountain said.

"I am, my lord," Elanore said, looking directly into the Mountain's eyes, without blinking.

The Mountain noticed a red salmon embroidered on her chest, set against a white background with fine gold trim. The red salmon was the Mooton family's coat of arms.

"How old are you this year?" The Mountain looked at Elanore. The noble girl was tall, but her face still had a hint of childishness, similar in age and figure to Sansa Stark.

"Thirteen years old, my lord," the girl said gracefully. Noble girls received good education and etiquette training from an early age, and their temperament was superior to the Mountain's group of roughnecks.

"Have you had your moon blood yet?"

"My lord!" The nun stepped forward to block Elanore. "Please maintain the honor of a knight."

The Mountain held the hilt of his greatsword in his backhand, and with a clang, the greatsword was drawn: "Nun, and Mooton people, this is my last warning, I don't want to kill people."

The greatsword was drawn, and the cold air was逼人. The blade was three palms wide, something the Mooton people in the hall had never seen before. The widest blade of a knight's two-handed sword was one and a half palms.

The Mountain swung his greatsword at the nun, and amidst the exclamations of the crowd, with a snap, the blade slapped horizontally on the nun's body. The nun flew out, collapsing a chair in the corner.

"I don't want to kill people, Miss Elanore, can you see that?" The Mountain skillfully twirled the greatsword in his hand, and the heavy and huge sword was as light as a small knife in his hand.

Elanore swallowed, her face turning red, and small beads of sweat oozing from her forehead and the tip of her nose. Her mouth was dry, and her heart was beating fast: "My lord, I understand."

"Good, then what should you do?"

"Sister Evelyn, all knights, all guards, servants, no matter what happens, do not interfere in my conversation with the lord. Knight Ron, please pass my order to everyone in the town. I, as the heir of the Mooton family, order them to welcome Lord Gregor and his soldiers. The Mooton family has chosen to surrender, and we are all prisoners of Lord Mountain."

Although the girl was extremely nervous, her voice was strong. In fact, her courage surpassed that of many knights and warriors.

Many soldiers, including knights, trembled and stuttered when they saw the Mountain's body and greatsword, their eyes filled with fear.

"Very good, Miss Elanore. You are very good!" The Mountain sheathed his greatsword.

The Mooton people in the hall all visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

When the Mountain's greatsword was drawn, everyone's heart was in their throat.

The nun had been helped up by the servants, and she no longer dared to step forward. She didn't know how she had flown out just now. That feeling of sudden weightlessness was like a terrifying hand, instantly seizing her heart. When she was helped up, she was still in shock, distraught, and her whole body couldn't help but tremble slightly, uncontrollably.

"Miss Elanore, have you had your moon blood?" The Mountain asked again, aggressively, not allowing the topic to be changed.

"I haven't, my lord," Elanore said.

Maybe this was a lie!

But that didn't matter.

"Very good! Miss Elanore, you are the second most courageous noble woman I have ever seen."

Elanore did not respond to the Mountain's words. Although she wanted to know who the Mountain was talking about as the most courageous noble woman, she didn't want to give the Mountain a chance to continue talking. She wanted to end her conversation with the Mountain as soon as possible, because the questions the Mountain asked were a humiliation to her, asking about her moon blood in front of so many people, and she was an earl's daughter.

She was a noble!

The Mountain lifted the visor of his helmet and took off his helmet, revealing a rough, rock-like face and a pair of indifferent eyes.

"Knight Rafford Clegane!"

"Yes, my lord."

"Come forward, remove your helmet, and stand in front of Miss Elanore."

"Yes, my lord!"

Sweetmouth Rafford Clegane stepped forward, took off his helmet, shook his hair, and smiled kindly and amiably: "Noble Miss Elanore, they all call me Sweetmouth."

"Greetings, Knight," Elanore said, the armor of defense beginning to put on the first layer. She was polite but very cold, and even though she stood not far away, the sense of distance was thousands of miles away.

"Knight Dontos Clegane," the Mountain said again.

"Yes, my lord!"

"Step forward, remove your helmet, and let Miss Elanore take a good look at you."

"As you command, my lord."

Dontos stood in front of Elanore, his features chiseled, his face firm, and his eyes cold, full of cruelty. He stared at Elanore without speaking, not greeting her, a completely different style from Sweetmouth.

"Captain Alyn," the Mountain said.

So, Alyn also stood in front of Elanore.

"Captain Anguy."

Anguy took off his helmet and stood in front of Elanore. Although he was a divine archer, he was intimidated by Elanore's noble temperament. An uncontrollable inferiority complex arose in front of Elanore, and the shame of a small civilian made him a little uneasy. His 'cowardice' made his brothers burst into laughter.

Anguy indulged himself with prostitutes, but in front of an educated and composed noble girl, the nobility and elegance of the noble woman would always make him feel ashamed and uneasy.

Anguy was the son of an ordinary commoner with no land in the Dornish Marches.

Finally, in front of Elanore stood—Sweetmouth Rafford (landless knight), Executioner Dontos (landless knight), Captain Alyn, Vice Captain Harwyn, Centurion Anguy, Big Chiswyck (landless knight), Tobbert, Law Enforcer Rolger, Fangs, and more than ten generals under the Mountain's command.

"Miss Elanore Mooton, please choose one of these warriors to be your husband," the Mountain said.

Elanore's whole body shook.

This was more humiliating than asking her about her moon blood.

Several knights of the Mooton family were angry but dared not speak. The Mountain had already drawn his greatsword and slapped the nun away, warning everyone that it was the last time. The Mountain said he didn't want to kill people, but don't force him. But in fact, the Mountain was forcing them.

"My lord," Elanore's eyes instantly filled with tears, "My marriage requires my father, Lord Mooton, to make the decision."

She was the heir to Maidenpool of the Mooton family. Whoever married her would marry Maidenpool. As long as they had children, they would be the next generation of heirs, and Maidenpool would be controlled by the Mountain. Elanore was well aware of this. It was said that the Mountain was a stupid killing machine, Tywin's brainless dog. She didn't know who was instructing him behind the scenes, directly wanting to seize control of Maidenpool.

"Maester, may I ask your name?" The Mountain asked the Mooton family's maester.

"Steinbeck, my lord."

"Maester Steinbeck, I now want to adopt Elanore as my adopted daughter. Please take us to the sept."

Steinbeck looked at Elanore, then at the Mountain: "Yes, my lord."

This was already the best way to ensure that the Mooton family would not be exterminated. Not far behind Elanore were two young brothers. If she did not agree to the Mountain, the Mountain could wipe out the Mooton family's bloodline with a flick of his finger.

The maester's eyes conveyed what he wanted to say to Elanore. Elanore had been reading books and playing the piano since she was a child. She was intelligent and received her father's favor. She often met captains and merchants from all over the world at the docks, and she was quite knowledgeable and courageous. She understood the maester's eyes.

Half an hour later, in the Seven-Pointed Star Sept of Maidenpool, the Mountain adopted an adopted daughter: Elanore Mooton. Julie Clegane thus became Elanore's sister in name and in fact.

In the Sept of the Seven, the Mountain sat in the main seat of the fathers and received Elanore Mooton's kneeling ceremony as a daughter.

"Elanore, you have to choose a husband from my generals. Get engaged today, and when your moon blood comes, Father will host a grand wedding for you."

"Yes, Father," Elanore held back her tears, but her eyes were red.

Julie whispered in Elanore's ear: "Sister, Anguy, the bow cavalry centurion, the divine archer, is only a few years older than us, the archery champion in the Seven Kingdoms Tournament, his archery is unmatched. If you choose him, I will beg Father to grant him knighthood."

Julie squeezed Elanore's hand. Elanore's hand was cold and trembling slightly.

"Father, I want... to marry... Lord..."

"Elanore, the warriors under my command will all become viscounts, barons, and earls. In the Seven Kingdoms civil war, generals are the fastest way to be promoted. Don't hesitate, choose, my good daughter," the Mountain said patiently.

"...Anguy... General..." Elanore said the name, and humiliation seemed to descend from the sky, striking her like a giant hammer. Tears could no longer be held back and poured out. She was supposed to marry a handsome and valiant young earl, not a bow cavalry centurion who was not even a knight.

Anguy stood frozen on the spot, unable to believe it!

The Mountain knew very well that according to the original world trajectory, the person Elanore Mooton was engaged to was named Dickon Tarly, the second son of Randyll Tarly, a famous general of the Seven Kingdoms.

Earl Randyll Tarly was the Earl of Horn Hill, a vassal of Highgarden (Tyrell family). He was known for his outstanding command of battles and was regarded as one of the best generals in Westeros, holding the Tarly family's ancestral Valyrian steel greatsword, Heartsbane.

Dickon Tarly had an older brother, Samwell Tarly, who was a good friend of Arya's bastard brother, Jon Snow.

Earl Randyll Tarly sent his weak eldest son, Samwell Tarly, to the Wall, and Dickon Tarly became the heir to Horn Hill, the future patriarch of the Tarly family, a hereditary earl, and a perfect match for Elanore.

The Mountain captured Maidenpool, releasing another butterfly. He facilitated the marriage of Elanore and Anguy. This was a small local change. The Mountain felt that this small butterfly would not have any bad effects on the entire world. If there was an impact, it would only be to make the Mountain stronger.

So, in the sept of Maidenpool, under the witness of monks, nuns, maesters, and family elders (adopted father Mountain), Anguy and Elanore knelt under the statues of the Seven Gods, smeared with the holy oils of the Seven Gods, and the two determined their marital relationship, held a simple engagement ceremony, and waited for Elanore to have her moon blood, and the two would enter the bridal chamber and consummate the marriage.

Anguy, a small commoner, was dizzy and could no longer distinguish east, west, north, and south. He held Elanore's hand, and every step felt like he was stepping on cotton.

After the engagement ceremony, the Mountain drew his greatsword and made Anguy kneel. Then the maester sang the knight's oath, and Anguy's heart was still on Elanore. He stammered and finished singing, and was granted the honor of knighthood and the Clegane surname in the name of Earl Clegane by the Mountain.

When the Clegane sound rang out, the greatsword touched Anguy's shoulder, Anguy finally recovered his composure from the great joy. He was very sure that his life, his life, was already the Mountain's. All the bad impressions of the Mountain's words and deeds in the past had magically vanished.

He felt very excited and grateful!

When Anguy stood up from the ground and embraced Sweetmouth, Dengsen, and Big Chiswick tightly, his heart almost leaped out of his chest with joy: he was no longer a commoner, he had become a knight; he was no longer without a surname, his surname was Clegane.

Anguy Clegane's knighthood made him barely worthy of Miss Ilanore Mooton, no longer the vast disparity of a commoner boy marrying an earl's daughter. This made Anguy less awkward when facing Ilanore, and the unease and inferiority in his heart were greatly reduced.

"Ser Anguy, do you have anything to say to Miss Ilanore?" The Mountain said softly. He saw unwavering loyalty in Anguy's eyes. This was exactly what he needed, and the result of his efforts.

Anguy took Ilanore's hand, his awkwardness disappearing because he was a knight now. Many earls, barons, and viscounts could not become knights in their entire lives because they were not brave enough. Knightly honor cannot be inherited.

"Miss Ilanore, I will follow our father and make great achievements in battle, earning the rank of viscount, baron, earl through military功绩, I will work hard to be worthy of you, please believe me." The young man, not yet twenty years old, straightened his chest. This action made him still seem a little immature, but his tone, expression, eyes, and body language, every part of him was vowing to Miss Ilanore.

On the layers of armor protecting Miss Ilanore's maidenly heart, there was a soft 'crack', and a small crack appeared.

Every maiden in love longs to marry a hero who will go all out to win status, power, and honor for her.

The Mountain saw Ilanore's small hand gently and inadvertently clasp Anguy's hand in return. This was a very small detail, insignificant, but it was a clear signal that Maidenpool now belonged to his command.

In chaotic times, one must establish prestige with military achievements, use strategies to gain momentum, and seize power with strength!

The Mountain's gaze went out from the door of the sept, and he saw King's Landing!

Since I'm here, I might as well settle down!

Since I have transmigrated into the Mountain, then I shall live as a hero and die as a spirit!