The Mountain of Ice and Fire

The maester cracked the wax seal and unrolled the parchment.

The room was silent.

Queen Mother Catelyn Tully and Queen Roslin held their breath. Duke Eddard's expression was like frozen earth.

The maester began to read the King's will, a long string of titles and thanks to the soldiers, before finally getting to the real content. The content stated three points: First, with the King's supreme power, Jon Snow was to return to the Stark family name, becoming the legitimate and noble bastard, Jon Stark. In this way, Jon would have the legal right of inheritance.

Second: Robb believed that Jon Stark was more calm, reserved, and powerful than himself, and that Jon's contribution to uniting the Free Folk was unmatched. With him as king, the Free Folk warriors could become the closest allies of the Stark family. The conclusion was: Jon Stark was more suitable to be the King of the North than Robb Stark himself.

Third, Robb officially appointed Jon Stark as the Lord of the North in his capacity as king. The will was announced, and the appointment officially took effect.

The person who dared not believe the will the most was Catelyn Tully, who had never had any affection for Jon Snow. She had also told herself to be good to Jon Snow, that the adults were at fault, and the child was innocent, that Jon Snow could not choose his birth. But emotions often prevailed over reason. From childhood to adulthood, no matter how much Catelyn Tully reflected on herself and restrained herself, she could never regard Jon as a member of the family.

However, Robb Stark never considered Jon Snow a despicable bastard; he always treated Jon Snow as his own brother. He trusted Jon and had a very accurate understanding of Jon's character and strengths.

Robb Stark was not old, and he was open-minded and selfless in his treatment of his brothers!

After hearing the will, Catelyn Tully looked at Jon Snow at first glance. Her heart was churning, her eyes were complex, and her vigilance and hostility could not be concealed.

Roslin Frey was disheartened. Robb did not make Eddard Stark the regent to take charge of the North. Soon, Robb's child would be born, and if it was a boy, he should have been the King of the North.

But Robb did not even consider passing the throne to his son, although it was not yet known whether the child was a boy or a girl.

Even if it was a girl, according to the Dornish system, the girl would also have the right to inherit the throne. The North was already independent, and the King of the North could also be a girl.

Roslin Frey felt sad, and tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. She could not understand Robb's decision. Did Robb not love her? Or did he not love his own child?

The Northern nobles looked at each other in dismay. None of the Northern nobles had expected Robb to pass the throne of the North to Jon Snow. In their eyes, Jon Snow had always been a disreputable bastard. Only when Jon Snow became a member of the Night's Watch did his bastard status become less important in the eyes of the public.

The First Ranger of the Night's Watch, the Lord Steward, and several knights were all surprised. Jon was a member of the Night's Watch. According to the laws of the Night's Watch, once sworn, one could never leave the Night's Watch for life. But after this great war, the Night's Watch's thousand-year enemy, the Free Folk, had become comrades in arms and brothers drinking from the same bowl, and the Others had been completely wiped out. The meaning of the existence of the Wall was basically gone...

The shield that guards the realm, the light at dawn—everything had become a legend of the past... The Others had vanished into thin air, and all the races of the Free Folk had become allies with the North... including the terrifying cannibals and the most brutal and bloody Thenns... They swore that they were no longer enemies with the Southerners, but comrades...

But there were still many people who were excited about Jon Snow getting the throne—Fat Samwell Tarly, Hodor the stonemason, Pip the mummer, and Dareon the singer... If the Night's Watch continued to exist, Jon Snow would be their strongest supporter. In extremely cold weather, if support was needed, just send a raven to Winterfell... Jon was their good brother...

This group of Night's Watch brothers had all joined the ranks and grown up with Jon Snow, and now they were all tough guys... Although Fatty Samwell had not participated in the Battle of Winterfell, he had always had the most prestigious name: Other Slayer!

Among the Night's Watch, only one person's eyes were looking at the ceiling, as if carefully listening to something—he was Maester Aemon Targaryen, who was already one hundred and three years old.

In the hall, there was of course another person who was deeply related to the Targaryen family by blood: Bran Stark. He had become the Green Prophet, and the person who taught him his skills was named Brynden Rivers—the noble and legitimate bastard of the Targaryen family.

The Mountain was paying attention to Bran Stark's reaction. Both he and Eddard Stark understood that Jon Snow's real name was Jon Targaryen. After Aegon Targaryen was killed by Arya Stark at Storm's End, Jon became the heir to the Targaryen family.

Judging from the Targaryen family's bloodline, Bran's teacher Brynden Rivers and Aemon Targaryen's grandfather Daeron II were half-brothers. From this perspective, even if Bran Stark was Brynden Rivers' disciple, he was one generation higher than Aemon Targaryen.

If the Three-Eyed Raven was the incarnation of Brynden Rivers, and if the Three-Eyed Raven controlled Bran Stark with magic and seized Bran's talent and body, then Bran might truly represent not the Stark family's bloodline, but the Targaryen family's bloodline.

In this way, there were three Targaryens in this hall. At least two and a half real Targaryens.

Aemon Targaryen, Jon Targaryen, and Brynden Rivers, the Three-Eyed Raven, were either a complete Targaryen, or had to be counted as half.

The Mountain looked at Eddard Stark. Eddard Stark's expression was stern. He must not have expected Robb to pass the throne to his brother Jon. Jon was not a Stark; he was a Targaryen. And the Targaryens and the Starks had a bloody feud.

Eddard Stark was a true knight. He raised his sister's son and kept the secret all along. The Mountain was not sure whether Eddard had told Jon the secret of his birth.

The Mountain watched coldly. If Eddard did not stop it, or Jon did not decline, the North would become the territory of the Targaryen family. This must be unacceptable to Eddard Stark.

Obviously, Robb Stark did not know Jon's true identity!

Under the gaze of many complex and unspeakable gazes, Jon Snow stood up: "I'm sorry, my lords, I am a member of the Night's Watch, and I cannot accept this throne." Jon Snow, who had never competed for power and profit, adhered to his consistent 'knight' spirit.

Eddard Stark had already told Jon the secret of his birth. This was a secret shared by the two fathers and sons. Jon knew that he was a Targaryen, and his father Stark would never hand over the Stark family's territory to the Targaryen family. This was something Jon himself could not accept.

Although Eddard was his uncle, in his heart, he was his father. He would simply think for his father and would not accept this throne.

The expression of Catelyn Tully, who was wary and hostile, had a moment of astonishment, and then a burst of ecstasy filled her heart. In order to conceal this joy—which was very undignified in full view of everyone—she turned sideways and reached out to hold Roslin Frey's hand. Through the action, Catelyn Tully suppressed the surge of joy in her heart.

And Roslin Frey's little hand was cold.

The Mountain felt that it was time for him to express his position. He must not let the North fall into the hands of the Targaryens, which was a potential and huge threat to the Mountain's power.

The Mountain said in a deep voice: "Jon Snow, the maester has read King Robb's will, and the will is legally binding once it is announced. His Majesty Robb died in battle to eliminate the Others, and his glory is immortal. You must not let down his last wish."

"Lord Mountain, I cannot accept this appointment. It is not in accordance with the law, and I am simply not qualified for the noble position of King of the North. In this hall, the one who can make the Northern nobles follow him to the death, the one who can make the Northern nobles and people convinced, the one who is most supreme in the hearts of the people of the entire North, besides my father Duke Eddard Stark, there is no second person. Compared with my father Eddard, my character, prestige, and ability are too far apart, and besides, I am a member of the Night's Watch."

Clap clap clap clap!

One person took the lead in applauding!

The applause was monotonous and abrupt!

The person applauding was Aemon Targaryen.

Aemon, who had the opportunity to become king, took the initiative to withdraw and give up his right to inherit the throne in order to avoid a bloody massacre of the royal brothers for the throne. He went to the Citadel in Oldtown to become a maester. Like the Night's Watch, once a maester took the oath, he would never marry, have power, or be noble for the rest of his life.

Petyr Baelish, Littlefinger, who had not spoken and had a faint smile on his face, was the second to applaud. He had seen through many secrets, and understanding people's hearts was his strength. As soon as Lord Mountain spoke, he knew Lord Mountain's intention, forcing Jon Snow to speak to death—giving up the right to inherit the throne.

So when Maester Aemon, who was equally noble, upright, broad-minded, and knowledgeable, took the lead in applauding Jon's words, Littlefinger immediately followed suit.

The Northern nobles were overjoyed. The stone slab pressing on their chests was suddenly released. Realizing what was happening, they all applauded vigorously—between Duke Eddard Stark and Jon Snow, of course they would only recognize Eddard Stark and would never obey Jon Snow.

The applause in the room grew louder and louder.

Catelyn Tully felt relieved, but she was still very worried, worried that Eddard Stark would uphold the royal law, respect Robb Stark's royal decision, and overcome all objections to support Jon Snow in taking the throne.

As long as Duke Eddard Stark supported Jon Snow as the King of the North, the Northern nobles and people would have no choice but to swear allegiance. They could disrespect Jon, but they all respected Eddard Stark.

Catelyn Tully's nervous eyes were always watching Eddard Stark. She was afraid that Eddard Stark would speak, she was afraid that Eddard Stark would say words of obeying Robb's will and supporting Jon. Those words would completely shatter her heart.

She knew Eddard's rigid and principled character too well. Complying with Robb's will was in line with the royal law and was respect for royal power and Robb.

But the Mountain was secretly staring at Bran Stark. This guy's words carried weight. He was a Stark and Robb's brother. According to the law, Jon Snow was a member of the Night's Watch and a bastard. If Robb passed the throne to his brother, the heir in line should be him.

The Mountain was deeply wary of Bran. He needed a suitable opportunity...

The Mountain decided to speak again. Before he left the North, he had to finalize this matter. Otherwise, after he left, Bran would be unreliable, and if anything changed, it would not be good.

The Mountain spoke, and his words suppressed the applause. His voice rumbled in the room, and Catelyn Tully's eyes suddenly turned to the Mountain. The Mountain's words had made the Queen Mother feel very uncomfortable and worried...

But the Mountain was the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces, and he had absolute and great kindness to the Stark family and the entire North, as vast as the mountains and seas...

The Mountain said: "My lords, Commander-in-Chief Jon's will to not be the King of the North is firm and unchangeable, and we should all respect Jon's decision. Frankly speaking, between Jon and Eddard, Lord Eddard is indeed the true heart of the people—he is the most suitable and well-deserved King of the North, there is no doubt about that."

The Mountain's gaze swept across the audience, majestic as a mountain, brooking no argument! His words immediately won the hearts of the Northern nobles, Queen Mother Catelyn, and Queen Roslin.

"Duke Eddard, after the great war in the North, everything is waiting to be rebuilt, and many things need to be done immediately. Commander-in-Chief Jon's experience, ability, and prestige cannot be compared with yours, and I will also be leaving the North soon. My dragon can no longer withstand this cold weather, and I must return to his dragon nest with him as soon as possible. These are his last days in this world. But before I leave, I hope to witness you wearing the crown with the dragon."

The dragon's incurable condition was a pain in the hearts of the iron-blooded soldiers. It was also a regret and pain in Eddard's heart. This was another debt owed by the North to the Mountain.

"Lord Mountain, I hope to travel with you," Varamyr Sixskins stood up and said.

"Varamyr, my dragon can only barely fly back to the Mountains of the Moon. Taking you will only increase his burden."

"I can follow you on the ground."

"You can't keep up with us."

"Although I will be later, I can quickly find the location of the dragon's nest."

Besides the Green Prophet, no one is a match for Varamyr's shapeshifting ability.

Littlefinger smiled: "Guard Varamyr, let Lord Eddard put on the crown first. This is the last wish of Lord Mountain before leaving the North. Lord Eddard, we are all about to leave the North, and we all hope to see you wear the crown first. Only with the stability of the North, the tens of thousands of Southerners who died in battle in the North will not have died in vain. Only with the determination of the King of the North will the great war be finally complete, and we can leave with peace of mind."

"Ned!" Catelyn Tully stood up. "The will of the people is with you, please ascend the throne." The Queen Mother took the lead in kneeling on one knee, followed by the Queen, guards, servants, and all the nobles of the North...