The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Aryaene Martell looked at Daenerys Targaryen, her hands gently caressing her bulging belly, a gesture she had recently enjoyed displaying in front of Daenerys, filled with a sense of superiority. As her pregnancy became more pronounced, Aryaene's masculine side was fading, and her feminine affectations, maternal nagging, loquaciousness, ostentation, and distorted sense of superiority were increasing: "Daenerys, haven't you noticed that a miracle has already happened?"

"You're pregnant with twins?" Daenerys said expressionlessly. Her queenly aura was naturally imposing.

"The city's unrest, the Sons of the Harpy's killings," Aryaene smiled, "Since we helped you ascend the throne of Astapor, there hasn't been a single bloody incident involving the Sons of the Harpy in the city."

This statement was indeed true.

"It's only been a month, Princess Aryaene."

"Exactly, a month has passed, and not a single Son of the Harpy killing has occurred."

"In this month, I, along with the Mountain, Jorah Mormont, Grey Worm, Missandei, Renn, Lady Emily, and Maester Claude, personally registered the name, family, and occupation of every person in the city, and had each one sign a pledge. Even if the Sons of the Harpy wanted to cause trouble, they had to restrain themselves."

"Heh, had to restrain themselves? That's not necessarily true. If the Mountain and I leave Astapor, do you think this city would still be so safe?"

Daenerys was speechless!

"Daenerys, you once ruled Astapor, but you were never able to eliminate the Sons of the Harpy's rebellion and bloody killings, correct? To deal with the Sons of the Harpy's riots, you had to marry Hizdahr zo Loraq of Meereen, using Hizdahr's influence to stop the Sons of the Harpy's killings in Astapor. You didn't dare to touch Hizdahr, even knowing he poisoned you with honey locusts, you only dared to kill the cook. But when the Mountain and we arrived, the Mountain simply killed Hizdahr with a sword, and it was just as easy to control Astapor."

"You're right, so, the Mountain is amazing, right? I have always believed that the Mountain is a remarkable hero, he is the son of God, the Bringer of Light, Princess Aryaene, he is not only brave and invincible but also possesses wisdom and strategy, which is why I fell in love with him. I think you feel the same way," The implication was that the Mountain was the one who was amazing, and Princess Aryaene had no accomplishments to show off.

Aryaene smiled slightly, her overwhelming confidence almost overflowing: "Daenerys, I accompanied the Mountain here, and in this month, the Mountain has shared your bed every night, Your Majesty, but your belly still seems to show no signs of movement."

"Aryaene, what exactly do you want to say?" Daenerys frowned, revealing a hint of disdain.

Aryaene was becoming increasingly crude, and her princely demeanor and magnanimity were shrinking.

"Hehe, I just heard a prophecy that said you seem to be unable to conceive."

"I still have three dragons..."

"No, you only have one dragon left," Aryaene chuckled, "The white dragon, Viserys, has long belonged to me, the bronze dragon, Rhaegal, has gone to the North and recognized Jon Targaryen as its dragonrider, alas, the Wall is freezing cold, definitely not suitable for his existence, such a pitiful child... And you, my Queen, you only have one black dragon, Drogon, not three."

"Yes, one black dragon, Drogon, which means I can at least give birth to one child," Daenerys stood up and said coldly.

"I certainly hope so," Aryaene gently patted her belly, "Look, the little one inside is kicking me again, very strong, presumably like his father, he will definitely be a remarkable hero when he grows up. Tall and strong, becoming a dragonrider, invincible."

"Maybe it's a girl, too!"

"A girl is also good, the girls of House Martell have never lost to men, women can still be princes and rule Dorne. No, the Mountain has already said that from the Sea of Dorne, all the way to the Stepstones, and then to the Sea of Tyrosh, and the city-states of Lys and Myr, all these places combined will be the domain of Dorne. A vast sea spanning the Narrow Sea and the three Free Cities will all belong to the territory of House Martell of Dorne."

"Congratulations!" Daenerys said even more coldly, walking towards the door.

"Daenerys, I will go back to Dorne with the Mountain to raise my child, I hope you won't try to stop us then."

Daenerys stopped: "Aryaene, the Mountain and I are currently promoting the Klegan currency, at this time, the Mountain cannot leave Astapor."

"Yes, yes, yes, I know. I mean, in a month, the Mountain and I will go back to Dorne to raise my child, you won't have any objections then, right."

"In a month, the Mountain's legion, along with the maesters and officials from the Klegan Bank, will have just arrived in Slaver's Bay, they are not familiar with the situation in Astapor, establishing the Klegan Bank is a very important matter, it is the most significant political affair to unify the currency of the entire continent, the Mountain cannot leave at the most critical moment, please give me two more months, Princess Aryaene."

"How can that be, one month is enough. After the Mountain and I return to Dorne, there's still you here, there are legions from Westeros, there are officials from the Klegan Bank from the Westerlands, you and they still have the ability to promote paper money, right. Unifying currency, unifying writing, unifying weights and measures, these are the Mountain's three unifications, I've known that for a long time."

Daenerys stared at Aryaene carefully and earnestly, once a woman is pregnant, the child in her belly grows bigger and more mature, does the woman become more and more stupid?!

"Princess Aryaene, do you think you can take the Mountain away from Astapor then?"

"I'm not taking him away, I want to go back to Dorne with him to raise my child, I have his child in my belly. This child is his own flesh and blood, his seed. If he doesn't care, who will care!"

"Besides the father, the child also has a mother, Princess Aryaene."

"Yes, I know, that's why I want to go back to Dorne with the Mountain."

Daenerys suddenly realized that she was so stupid, so stupid as to have a serious conversation with Aryaene. She closed her mouth and strode away.

Aryaene Martell's voice chased after her: "Daenerys, one month, we've agreed, you can't go back on your word then."

"Then I will help you persuade the Mountain to leave Astapor and go back to Dorne with you," Daenerys's words returned coldly.

"Okay, okay, thank you, my great and beautiful Queen, you will definitely get pregnant, I know that, I never doubt it."

Daenerys hurried out, gave the order, three Unsullied centuries assembled, warhorses were led out of the stables, the centurion's commands rang out powerfully, the soldiers stomped in formation, a horn sounded, Daenerys led three centuries straight out of the camp.

Their destination: the port.

*

At the port, merchant ships were greatly reduced.

This was due to the abolition of the slave trade.

Many large ships in the city were empty, and the sailors and oarsmen of the merchant ships were dismissed.

But there were still large merchant fleets from the great cities of the East, merchant fleets from Westeros, merchant fleets from the nine Free Cities, merchant fleets from the continent of Sothoryos...

The fifteen ships led by Hyman and Elaine came from the continent of Westeros. Although the civil war in Westeros was constant, it did not have a particularly large impact on Captain Hyman and Elaine, who traveled the seas all year round.

They brought black beer from the Riverlands, wine from the Arbor, exquisite exotic haute couture gowns, ornaments made of gold, silver, and jade by various craftsmen, as well as various bear skins, shadowcat skins, sable furs, wolf skins, and wildfire from Westeros. These things were the favorites of the filthy rich masters, sages, and benefactors in the cities of Slaver's Bay, and could make a lot of money. When the ships returned, they would transport various spices, rouge, bronze mirrors, silks, porcelain, pet cats, etc. back to Westeros, these spices, silks, and porcelain were the favorites of the nobles of Westeros, and could sell for a high price.

One trip back and forth took more than half a year, plus repairs, Hyman and Elaine basically only made one trip a year.

*

Hyman sat on the flagship merchant ship, holding a wine glass in his hand, with an Astaporian-style woman sitting in his arms, surrounded by two knights. He looked out of the ship and saw a very burly giant riding a horse with Unsullied soldiers, the Unsullied soldiers advancing in a square formation, about two centuries.

"The Mountain?" Hyman's eyes immediately widened.

He had heard of the Mountain's name for a long time, and today was the first time he had seen him.

"My lord, the Mountain is from Westeros," the two knights reminded him.

The knights were hired knights. There were also soldiers on the fleet, a century. The hired knights came from Westeros, while the soldiers came from many places, a mixed bunch.

"Don't you know the Mountain's notoriety?"

"He is already the King of Westeros, my lord," one knight said, tall and thin, with a scar on his face that stretched from the corner of his left eyebrow to his right jawline.

"I know, quickly notify Elaine, I think we have to disembark to greet him."

"Maybe he's not coming for our fleet?" another knight said with a cold face.

"Then we have to be prepared to greet him," Hyman shouted.

The woman in his arms was pushed away, a maid brought a cloak and sword belt, Hyman dressed neatly, and quickly disembarked with the knights and soldiers, and the sound of horses' hooves rang out, the Mountain led the Unsullied soldiers to the dock and was heading towards the Westeros fleet.

"Damn, the Mountain is coming for us," Hyman said in a low voice, his face pale. He only cared about trade and was unwilling to have too close a relationship with people like the Mountain. In business, he didn't want to curry favor with the powerful. This would bring him some trouble. He had suffered some losses, but the other party was a nobleman, and he could only choose to back down and endure it.

The Mountain was fast on horseback and arrived first, the soldiers were pulled a distance behind him, and only a few riders followed him, including two generals, one was Renn, and the other was Grey Worm.

"People of Westeros, come out," the Mountain's voice rang out, suppressing the sound of the waves.

Hyman and Elaine hurriedly rolled out of the cabin, almost trotting down the ship's ladder, heading straight for the Mountain. The two men led four knights and some mercenary soldiers to the front of the Mountain's horse, kneeling on one knee: "Your Majesty, I am Hyman."

"Your Majesty, I am Elaine."

The knights and soldiers knelt on one knee, lowered their heads, and placed their right fists on their left chests over their hearts.

The Mountain raised his right hand slightly, making a gesture to get up.

Hyman and Elaine got up tremblingly, and the knights and soldiers dared to get up.

"Are you Hyman?" the Mountain asked, "What country are you from?"

"I am from Gulltown, my lord."

"Gulltown, the lord is Count Grafton."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Then you, Elaine?"

"I am from the Three Sisters."

"The Three Sisters? Which one?" the Mountain became interested.

For hundreds of years, the Three Sisters had been a gathering place for pirates and smugglers, nominally under the rule of the Vale, but secretly highly independent. Later, during Robert's time, when Stannis Baratheon served as Master of Ships, he carried out the most severe crackdown on pirates in the waters of the Three Sisters, and the people on the islands were forced to turn to trade and smuggling. But smuggling and trade were not as profitable as their later new business - 'salvage'. The lords of the Three Sisters led their people to build many lighthouses along the coast of the islands to warn ships of the location of shoals and reefs, but in dense fog or storms, they would secretly light false signals, attracting passing ships to approach, resulting in ships hitting reefs and sinking, and the islanders took the opportunity to salvage the goods on the ships to obtain huge profits. Some of the goods on the sunken ships were even more valuable than gold, especially good spices.

After the Mountain became king, he specially sent Ser Davos Seaworth to lead a fleet to resolutely prohibit this 'salvage' behavior, with significant results.

Unexpectedly, at the port of Astapor, the Mountain encountered a captain from the Three Sisters. I wonder if Captain Elaine's previous business was also mainly salvage.

Faced with the Mountain's sudden interest, Elaine probably knew what he was thinking: "Your Majesty, I am from Sweet Sister."

"Sweet Sister is under the jurisdiction of House Borrell."

"Yes, Lord Borrell is my lord."

"Oh, are you having a smooth trip to Astapor to trade?"

"Very smooth, Your Majesty. We encountered Your Majesty's fleet in the Sea of Volantis. Lord Stark of the North also sent small boats to give us some water and food."

"Duke Stark is an upright and kind person, it is your blessing to meet him while traveling at sea. Duke Stark always takes good care of and loves the people of his country. I am the same as him. Tell me, what help do you need me to provide in Astapor? Or if anyone has caused you trouble, just tell me his name."