iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 269 Leeches and Golden Roses

Melisandre's figure appeared at the door, wearing a red silk robe and holding a covered silver plate in her hand.

Her steps were light and she said as she walked: "Compared with the upcoming war, your so-called battle is just a slapstick fight between children. The ancient gods that mortals cannot know are gathering power... terrible, evil and powerful power, It’s hard to compete.”

She placed the silver plate on the map table and continued: "The cold wind has begun to blow, and soon there will be a long night that will never end."

She looked at the Onion Knight, her eyes seemed to be burning with flames: "Unless the upright people have the courage to uphold the faith of the flaming red heart."

Earl Davos raised an eyebrow and said: "So... our next battlefield is to spread your god, Lady Melisandre?"

Hearing Davos's mocking words, Melisandre just smiled slightly, and her eyes moved to King Stannis.

Stannis stared at the silver plate on the map table and said, "She is telling the truth. She demonstrated it to me through the holy fire. I saw it with my own eyes."

Count Davos's eyes trembled, and he knew that his "god" would not be able to panic like this.

After a pause, he couldn't help but confirm: "King Stannis, did you see it?"

Stannis nodded slightly and repeated, "I saw it with my own eyes."

He looked at Count Davos who looked in disbelief: "After the Battle of King's Landing, I fell into despair. Ms. Melisandre asked me to stare at the fireplace. The airflow in the chimney was very strong, and bits of ashes were flying up. I stared at I looked at them and felt like a fool, but she made me look deeper, deeper... The dust was white, rising in the air, but in the blink of an eye, they seemed to be falling again."

He seemed to see the scene that day again: "That was snow... Then, the sparks in the air formed a ring and turned into a circle of torches. I looked down at a high hill in the forest through the fire."

His eyes were even deeper: "There were large groups of black figures moving in the snow behind the torch. Despite the heat of the flame, I still felt a strong chill that made me tremble. Then the scene disappeared and the fire became a fire again. heap."

Finally, he added: "What I saw is true, I swear in the name of the king and the kingdom."

The certainty in Stannis's words made Davos feel terrified in his heart. He murmured: "The hills in the forest...the figure in the snow...this...this..."

Melisandre said: "This means the real war has begun."

Spreading her hands, she chanted in a low, hoarse voice: "The sands of the hourglass are flowing faster, and humanity is running out of time. We must act boldly, or all hope will be lost. Westeros must unite, in the only In the name of the legitimate king, that is, the prophesied prince, the Lord of Dragonstone, the chosen one of the Lord of Light."

Stannis's brows knitted into knots: "The Lord of Light's choice is strange."

He added: "Why me, and not my elder or younger brother? Renly and his peach... In my dream, juice dripped from the corners of his mouth, and blood gushes from his throat. What if he had no control over his own? My brother is loyal and responsible, and we have defeated Lord Tywin long ago. It will be a victory that even Robert will be proud of."

"Robert..." His jaw twitched, and he continued: "He also appeared in my dream. He laughed, had drinking competitions, and boasted and showed off... These are the things he is best at... Yes, and Fighting, I never outmatched him in any way.”

He raised his confusion again: "The Lord of Light should let Robert be his chosen one, why choose me?"

Melisandre folded her hands on her chest, bowed slightly, and replied: "Because of your integrity, His Majesty the King."

"Upright……"

Stannis touched the lid of the silver plate with a finger and said: "Leech for an upright man?"

Melisandre nodded slightly and said: "The king needs to save Westeros...but I must remind you again that this is not the right way."

Stannis looked angry: "You said it would work."

Melisandre shook her head slightly: "Maybe, maybe not."

Stannis became even more angry: "Can it be done?"

Melisandre's voice remained calm: "Both are possible, Your Majesty."

Stannis' teeth chattered. "Say something meaningful, woman."

Melisandre's pale fingers gently brushed the cover on the silver plate and said: "The Holy Fire speaks clearly, and I speak clearly. There is truth in the flames, but the Lord of Light's will... is not always easy to understand. "

She looked at Stannis, the big ruby ​​in her throat seeming to sip the flickering light from the brazier: "Give me the boy, that's a surer, better way."

She took a light step toward Stannis. "Give me the boy, and I will awaken the dragon from the stone for you, your Majesty."

Stannis's voice was cold: "I told you, no."

Melisandre spread her hands, her voice full of temptation: "He is just an illegitimate child, and what we want to save are all men, women, and children in Westeros, plus the entire world... children who may be born in all countries. "

Stannis was unmoved: "The boy is innocent."

"He is a disgrace to you."

Melisandre reminded: "That boy has polluted your marriage bed, otherwise you would have had many sons, Your Majesty."

Stannis said coldly: "It was Robert who shamed me, not the child's fault. My daughter likes him very much... Besides, he is my blood relative."

"Yes, he has your brother's blood."

Melisandre continued to persuade: "That is the blood of the king. Only the blood of the king can awaken the dragon sleeping in the stone."

Stannis's teeth creaked again: "I won't listen to this again. The dragons have been extinct for a long time. The Targaryens tried to wake them up several times, but they either became clowns or took their own lives. In On this deserted island abandoned by the gods, all we need is Patchface (the jester of Dragonstone)."

He waved his hand and said: "Just use leeches. Let's do it quickly."

Melisandre lowered her head stiffly: "I obey your Majesty's instructions."

She reached into her left sleeve with her right hand and sprinkled a handful of powder into the brazier... The next moment, the charcoal made a harsh sound, and pale flames rolled on it.

Melisandre picked up the silver plate, brought it to Stannis, and opened the lid... underneath were three large leeches swollen with blood.

Count Davos's eyes trembled slightly, this was Edric's blood, the blood of the king.

Stannis reached out a hand and squeezed a large leech. It twisted in his hand and tried to stick to his fingers.

Melisandre reminded: "Say names, one leech for each name."

"Joffrey Baratheon." Stannis threw the leech into the fire, where it curled and burned like autumn leaves among the charcoal.

Stannis grabbed a second leech: "Balon Greyjoy."

After saying that, he threw the leech into the brazier. Its skin and flesh were torn open, blood gushes out from it, hissing, and a puff of smoke rises.

The last leech was held in Stannis's hand. He looked at it carefully for a while and said, "Robb Stark."

Stannis then threw it into the flames.

…………

......... The sky is blue and cloudless, like a huge sapphire.

On a terrace of Highgarden Castle, a breeze blew, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of roses and earth.

Birds were flying in the air, making crisp chirping sounds, and Duke Mace Tyrell was reading Green's letter with a smile, stroking the triangular beard under his chin from time to time.

The letter Green sent from the Eagle's Nest last night... The Duke of Metz had already read it once, and today he read it for the second time.

Putting down the letter, the Duke of Metz flashed a trace of regret and paused. He ordered the waiter to bring a map of the Seven Kingdoms and spread it on the table.

Standing in front of the map, Duke Metz fixed his gaze on the location of Riverrun. After a while, a look of regret flashed across his face again.

He murmured in a low voice: "It's not appropriate to fight there."

Duke Mace's eyes moved, and his sturdy fingers pointed at the location of Storm's End. He still wanted to prove his art of war to his vassals and the Seven Kingdoms here.

By the way... make up for the regrets of more than ten years ago.

And... Duke Mace touched his beard... If he is lucky, his second son may become the Duke of Storm's End.

Two dukes...plus a queen...who dared to question the nobility of the Tyrell family at that time? !

Looking forward to the wonderful future, Duke Mace quickly frowned. He was thinking...how to let Garland of the Tyrell family take the position of Duke of Storm's End.

Hmm... The king's side... Lannister will definitely object... Hmm... Well... Duke Mace couldn't think of a good idea at the moment, so he decisively decided... to talk to Lady Olenna about his good idea.

…………

"Father."

"Oh, our Queen Margaery, your beauty makes this place sparkle."

Margaery Tyrell was wearing a blue armless dress, and she gave her father a gentle bow.

"Come quickly, my Margaery."

The Duke of Metz was all smiles: "Have you met Lady Olenna?"

The Duke of Metz and Margaery entered the High Court yesterday evening. He was eager to listen to advice, but his mother, Lady Olenna, expressed disapproval of her son's sudden "visit", and then... The Duke of High Court He happily went to rest first.

Margery's voice was clear and sweet: "Grandma is having breakfast. We can wait for her here, father."

The Duke of Metz stroked his beard for a moment and confirmed: "Well, Madam Olenna didn't say not to allow me to find her, right?"

Margaery pursed her lips and smiled, shaking her head slightly.

The Duke of Metz smiled heartily and said, "That's good, we have to make arrangements as soon as possible."

After a pause, he added: "There is only one queen in Meghtari..."

He looked at his daughter who was about to become the Queen of the Seven Kings: "The eternal light of Highgarden."

The corners of Margaery's eyes turned red because she was moved. She took her father's strong arm and leaned against him gently.

Feeling his daughter's attachment to him, Duke Mace said with high spirits: "My Margaery, don't worry. If Lannister doesn't cooperate well, I will capture Riverrun and cut off the West from the Red Keep."

Margaery's brown eyes moved slightly. She glanced at the letter on the table and said, "Father, do you plan to agree to Earl Green's proposal to attack Riverrun together?"

Duke Metz's smile froze slightly, he shook his head and said: "It's not the time yet, at least it's not a good time now."

He pointed to the Riverlands on the map: "We have helped Duke Tywin defend King's Landing. This is the battlefield of the Lannister family, so there is no need for Tyrell's army to enter the Riverlands unless they actively request our help. support."

After a pause, Duke Inflatable Fish shook his head and sighed: "Duke Tywin is old. The western border of the Lannister family was almost swept by a little wolf. If it weren't for our army, I don't think Tywin Lannister would even kill his grandson." Even the Iron Throne cannot be saved.”

Since the news of Stannis's defeat, Margaery has noticed something slightly off about her father's condition... a feeling of being overjoyed.

If it were normal, Margaery would say at this time... It's a pity that there is no Duke Mace Tyrell in the West... Her father likes to hear this kind of praise, and she has known it for a long time... Her father really wants to overpower Lord Tywin, Became the First Duke of the Seven Kingdoms.

Margery deliberately controlled her words of praise. This subtle change in her father made her feel worried, but she has not yet found the specific reason.

Moreover, she was also hesitating in her heart...whether she should tell her grandmother about this unclear worry.

Margaery's beautiful eyes trembled slightly. If her grandmother could detect it herself... that would be the best.

…………

Little Rose used her curiosity to naturally change the topic: "Father, Earl Green would make this proposal, or...why would he target Riverrun?"

Her big eyes were full of doubts: "I think the valley is not peaceful. Does he still have any strength left?"

After hearing Margaery's words, the Duke of Metz couldn't help but pause. This... he really hadn't thought about it carefully.

Duke Metz's cheeks bulged, he frowned and pondered, paused, and said: "Green's purpose may not be to send troops with us..."

He looked away from the map: "Did he guess the Tyrell family's next move? Is it possible?"

Margery blinked and asked, "Father, why do you have such a guess?"

The Duke of Mace stroked his beard with a little pride and said: "If Cersei Lannister leaves the Red Keep, no matter how many military exploits Green has made, his family will still be excluded from the center of the Seven Kingdoms. Like..."

Just like his Tyrell family, they have been unable to enter the center of the kingdom because of the war sixteen years ago.

The Duke of Metz felt that there was no need to express the pain he had experienced.

After a pause, he continued: "As a family head, how can a knight's loyalty be higher than the family's interests?"

Finally, he said with conviction: "Green should be for you, my Margaery."

Margaery still had some doubts on her little face, but deep down in her heart... Yes, in the past, when her father encountered important matters, he would not express a clear attitude, and almost always her grandmother would "help" from behind. "he.

Normally, even with this kind of "analysis", my father would not easily confirm his opinion, except for his art of war.

Recently, my father has become more and more confident. I have to admit... Golden Rose has always been looking forward to such a Duke of Highgarden, but... this makes her a little inexplicably uneasy.

…………

The Duke of Metz looked at the sky and said, "Margery, it's almost time, let's go there."

(End of this chapter)