Chapter 77 Chapter 76: Jon

Jon, sword in hand, walked slowly around Satin, forcing him to turn. "Hold up your shield," he said. "It's too heavy," the Oldtown boy complained. "Because of its weight, it can withstand the attack," Jon said, "lift it up quickly." He stepped forward and slashed.Satin lifted the shield just in time, just in time to hold the long sword with the edge, and then counterattacked Jon's ribs, "Very good," Jon praised after feeling the strength on his shield, "this is very good. But you need to press your body Go up, use your body weight as the backing of the steel sword, not just your arms, to cause more damage. Come on, try again, attack me, remember to keep your shield up, otherwise don’t blame me for knocking your head like a clock..."

Instead, Satin took a step back and raised his visor. "Jon," he said anxiously. He turned around to find her standing behind her, surrounded by five or six queens.No wonder the yard is so quiet.He had seen Melisandre praying by the night fire, seen her walk around the castle, but never up close.She's beautiful, he thought...she's disturbing, and not just because of the red eyes, "Ma'am." "The king wants to speak to you, Jon Snow." Jon plunged his practice blunt sword into the dirt. "May I change my clothes first? It's not fit to see a king."

"Okay, we'll talk on top of the Wall," said Melisandre.We, Jon heard clearly, not just him.As rumored, this is his real queen, not the one who stayed in East China Sea. He hung up his mail and plate in the armory, went back to his room, took off his sweat-stained clothes, and put on a freshly laundered black suit.He knew that it was cold and windy in the iron cage, and it was even colder and stronger on the ice wall, so he added a heavy cloak with a hood.Finally, he picked up his saber longclaw and hung it behind his back. Melisandre was waiting for him at the foot of the Wall, having sent all the Queen's party away. "What can Your Majesty do for me?" Jon asked as he entered the cage.

"He wants everything from you, Jon Snow, and he is your king." He closed the door, rang the summons bell, and the winch began to turn, raising the cage.The weather is fine, the Great Wall is crying, and the water droplets are flowing on the surface of the ice wall, dragging a long track, and shining in the sun.In the narrow space of the iron cage, he clearly and strongly felt the pressure of the red-robed woman.She smells all red.The smell reminded him of Mikken's furnace, the smell of hot steel quenched.Born from the kiss of fire, he couldn't help but think of Ygritte again.Jon was beside Melisandre, her long red robe flapping at his feet in the cold wind. "Aren't you cold, ma'am?" he asked her.

She smiled back. "Never," the blood ruby ​​in her throat seemed to pulsate with the beating of her heart, "the fire of God burns in me, Jon Snow, feel it." She put her hand on his cheek, letting him feel her body temperature. "Fire is life," she told him, "and coldness is death." Stannis Baratheon stood brooding alone on the edge of the Wall, facing his victorious plain and the great green forest beyond.In his black tunic, breeches, and boots, he was almost identical to his brother of the Night's Watch, save for the cloak that stood out.It was a heavy golden cloak trimmed with black fur, fastened with a flaming heart brooch. "I brought the illegitimate child of Winterfell, Your Majesty," Melisandre said.

Stannis turned to look at him.Under the bushy eyebrows, he has a pair of eyes as deep as a blue pool. His sunken cheekbones and sharp square chin are covered with a short and neat blue-black beard, but it is difficult to conceal the gaunt face.He gritted his teeth, fisted his right hand, and tensed his neck and shoulders, making Jon remember Donal Noye's comment: If Robert is real steel, then Stannis is pure iron, black and Hard and strong, but also easily damaged, like iron, it will break before it can be bent.He knelt restlessly, wondering what the stubborn iron king needed from him. "Arise. I have heard much about you, Lord Snow."

"I am not your lord, Your Grace." Jon stood up. "I know what you have heard. I am a chameleon and a coward; I killed my brother Qhorin Halfhand to save my life; I told Mance Ray Ride with me, and marry a savage wife." "Yes. All that, and more. They say you're a warg, a skinchanger, who walks at night in a wolf's skin." King Stannis smiled stiffly. "How much truth is there?" "I once had a direwolf named Ghost, but we were separated when we climbed the Wall near Greyguard, and we have never been together again. Joining the wildlings was an order from Qhorin Halfhand, who knew they would want me Kill him to prove your loyalty, so I was told in advance that no matter what I did, I was not allowed to disobey, and I did everything; Against kingdoms and brothers."

"I trust you," said the king. He was secretly surprised, "Why?" Stannis snorted. "I know Janos Slynt, and I know Eddard Stark. Your father was not my friend, but only a fool would doubt his honor and his loyalty. You have inherited his looks." Stannis Baratheon was tall, towering over Jon, but he was so gaunt that he looked ten years older than he was. "I know more than you think, Jon Snow. I know that you found the dragonglass dagger that Randyll Tarly's son used to kill the White Walkers." "Ghost found it. The dagger was wrapped in the ranger's cloak, buried under the Fist of the First Men, and there were other weapons in it... Spear points, arrowheads, all made of dragonglass."

"I know you have held the gates," said King Stannis. "Without that, my army would have been too late to march." "It was Donal Noye who held the gates. He and the King of Giants died together, in the tunnels below." Stannis grimaced. "Noye made the first sword I ever wielded, as did Robert's famous warhammer. If the gods were kind, he'd be a better Lord Commander than any of those scheming fools." They are all strong." "Cat Pyke and Ser Denys Mallister are not fools, Your Grace," said Jon. "They are capable and warm. Othell has his own way too. Lord Mormont trusts them all three."

"Your Lord Mormont is too credulous, or he wouldn't have died. Well, it's your problem. I haven't forgotten that you brought us the magic horn and captured Mance Rayder's Wife and children." "Dana is dead," Jon mourned still, "Val was her sister. She and the child needed no prisoners, Your Grace, when you routed the wildlings and the eagle burned, Mance stayed to protect the queen The skinchangers have gone mad, too." Jon looked at Melisandre. "Some say it was your handwriting." She smiled, her long copper-colored hair brushing across her face. "The Lord of Light has flaming claws, Jon Snow."

Jon nodded and turned back to the king, "Your Majesty, you mentioned Val, she begged to see Mance Rayder, and wanted to show him her son. This is a... kind of kindness." "This man is your deserter, and all your brothers insist on his immediate death. Why should I show mercy." Jon was speechless. "Not for him, but for Val. And for her sister, the mother of the child." "You like this Val?" "Barely know each other." "They say she's pretty." "Very handsome," Jon admitted. "Be careful, beauty is a fickle thing, and my brother learned his lesson from Cersei Lannister. Doubtless she murdered him, and murdered your father and Jon Arryn." Stannis Frown. "You rode with wildlings. Do you think they have any honor?" "Yes," said Jon, "but they have their own definition of honor, Your Grace." "Like Mance Rayder?" "Yes. I think he has." "Where's the Lord of Bones?" Jon hesitated for a while, "We call him 'Rattleshirt'. This man is sinister and bloodthirsty. If he has honor, he must be covered by bone armor and never seen again." "What about Tormund, who has many nicknames? He escaped. Answer me honestly." "I think a person like Tormund the Giant Buster is a good friend as a friend, but a terrible enemy, Your Majesty." Stannis nodded slightly. "Your father valued honour, and though he was not my friend, I knew him for what he was; your brother's rebellion to take half of my kingdom was unquestionable in his bravery. What about you?" Does he want me to admit that I love him? Jon said stiffly, "I am the Night's Watch man sworn to serve." "Oaths. Oaths are like the wind. Why do you think I gave up Dragonstone and came to the Wall, Lord Snow?" "I am not your lord, Your Majesty. You must have come because of our distress letter, but I cannot tell why you arrived so late." Surprisingly, when he heard this, Stannis smiled, "You are bold and straightforward, worthy of being a descendant of the Stark family. Yes, I should have arrived long ago, but if my Prime Minister reminded me, maybe Not at all. Lord Seaworth was born lowly, but he reminded me of my duty, when all I could think about was power. Davos said, I put the cart before the horse, yes, by winning To take the throne to save the country is putting the cart before the horse, when I should save the country and win the throne." Stannis pointed north. "There, there is the enemy with whom I am destined to fight." "Its name is unspeakable," Melisandre added softly. "He is the god of night and terror, Jon Snow, and the figures that walk in the snow are his puppets." "They told me you killed one of them and saved Lord Mormont's life," said Stannis. "This, perhaps this is your war too, Lord Snow, if you will help me." "My sword is sworn to the service of the Night's Watch, Your Grace," Jon Snow answered cautiously. The king was not satisfied with this answer, he gritted his teeth, "I need not only your sword." Jon didn't know why, "My lord?" "I need support from the North." north. "I... my brother Robb is King in the North..." "Your brother is legally Lord of Winterfell. If he had stayed at home and done his duty instead of wearing the crown of rebellion and going off to conquer the Three Rivers, he would probably be alive by now. Well, you're no more Robb than I am Robert." .” The harsh words swept away any sympathy Jon still had for Stannis. "I love my brother," he said. "I love my brother too. But they are them and we are us. Now I am the true king and sole heir of Westeros, and I shall rule all the world; and you are Eddard Stark's Bastard." Stannis studied him with those dark blue eyes. "Tywin Lannister appointed Roose Bolton Warden of the North as a reward for betraying your brother. The ironborn have been killing each other since the death of Balon Greyjoy, yet they still hold the Grove Bay, Deepwood Motte, Torrhen's Square and most of the Stony Coast. Your father's land is bleeding and I have neither the strength nor the time to stop it. A new Duke of Winterfell is needed now, a loyal Winterfell Duke." He is thinking about me.Jon was dizzy. "Winterfell is gone. It was burned by Theon Greyjoy." "Granite does not burn," said Stannis. "Castles can be rebuilt slowly. Besides, it is not walls that make a lord, but hearts. You northerners don't know me, and you have no reason to love me, yet in the coming In battle, I need their strength. I need Eddard Stark's son to unite them." He will make me Lord of Winterfell.The gust of wind made Jon dizzy so badly that he was even worried about being blown off the Great Wall. "Your Grace," he said, "you forgot. I am Jon Snow, not a Stark." "It was you who forgot," King Stannis replied. Melisandre put a warm hand on Jon's arm, "The king can make an illegitimate child legitimate with one tap of his sword, Lord Snow." Lord Snow.It was a nickname given to Sir Alliser Thorne, in mockery of his parentage.Many brethren also liked this title, some out of friendship, others out of hurt.But suddenly it felt different in Jon's ears.It actually... came true. "Yes," he hesitated. "In the past, there were kings who made their illegitimate sons legal heirs, but...but I am a man of the night watchman. I knelt in front of the heart tree and swore that I would not grant land and have no children." "Jon," said Melisandre so close that he could feel her warm breath, "R'hllor is the only God, and swearing to a tree is as useless as swearing to shoes. Open your heart Embrace the power of the Lord of Light. Burn the weirwood and accept Winterfell, a gift from God to you." When he was a child, when Jon didn't understand the meaning of illegitimate children, he often dreamed that one day, Winterfell would become his castle.As a grown man, he was ashamed of these dreams.Winterfell should go to Robb and his children, and if he has no children, it will be Bran or Rickon, and after them Sansa and Arya.The childhood dream, now that I think about it, it seems to be a rebellion, as if I betrayed my brothers and sisters in my heart, expecting them to die.I didn't expect to be a duke, he thought, standing before the blue-eyed king and the red woman.I love Robb, love them all... don't want any harm done to them.But they still got hurt and it was just me in the end.All he had to say was that word, and he would be Jon Stark and never Jon Snow again.He only needs to swear allegiance to this king, and Winterfell is his.He just needs to... ...breaking the oath again. And this time it was no longer a pretense.In order to gain his father's castle, he needs to turn his back on his father's gods. King Stannis gazed north again, his golden cloak fluttering from his shoulders. "I may be wrong about you, Jon Snow, we all know what the world thinks of illegitimate children. You don't have the reputation of a father, nor the military exploits of your brother, but I believe you are a weapon given to me by Allah. I found you , just as you found those batches of dragon crystals under the Fist of the First Men. Anyway, I intend to use you, and Azor Ahai did not fight alone. In the previous battle, our army killed thousands The wildlings captured another thousand, and the rest fled, but I know they will come back. Melisandre saw this scene in the holy fire. At this moment, that Thunderfist Tormund may Troops are being assembled, another attack is planned. And the more we bleed each other, the weaker we will be when the real enemy strikes." Jon also realized this, "Exactly, Your Majesty." He didn't know how the king would solve it. "I talked to Mance Rayder when your brothers fought over each other." He gritted his teeth. "That fellow was stubborn and proud, and I had no choice but to send him to the fire. But we took other captives, other chiefs, including the 'King of Bones,' some chieftains of the Horde, and the New Mag of the Thenns Take. What I am going to do will not please your brethren, nor will your father's lords, I intend to allow the wildlings to cross the Wall...On condition that you swear allegiance to me, keep the peace in the kingdom, and keep the law, And worship the Lord of Light as the only God. Even if it is a giant, as long as it is willing to bend those big knees, I will accept it. When your new commander-in-chief is elected, I will let them settle in the land grant. When the cold wind blows Together, we should live and die together, unite against the common enemy." He looked at Jon. "Do you agree?" "My father had planned to resettle the land grant," Jon admitted, "and he discussed it with my Uncle Benjen." But he hadn't thought of having the wildlings settle...on the other hand, he didn't know wildlings, did he? Jon Eun refused to delude himself that the free folk would be unruly subjects and dangerous neighbors, but the choice was easy when Ygritte's red hair was compared to the wight's blue eyes. "I agree." "Very well," said King Stannis, "the best way to form an alliance is through marriage. I intend to marry my Lord of Winterfell to the wildling princess." Perhaps Jon had been riding with the wildlings for so long that he couldn't help laughing. "Your Majesty," he said, "Whether Val is free or captured, if you think you can promise her to me with a word, I'm afraid you don't understand the customs of savages. Whoever wants to marry her If so, I would probably have to climb up the tower window and take her away with a sword..." "Whoever it is?" Stannis looked at him speculatively. "So you don't want to marry her? I warn you, if you want your father's name and castle, it's one of the prices you have to pay. This marriage will secure the loyalty of my new subjects. Will you reject me, Jon Snow?" "No," Jon said quickly.The king was referring to Winterfell, and Winterfell was not something that could be easily rejected. "What I mean is... this really happened too suddenly, Your Majesty, can you give me some time to think about it?" "Yes, but hurry up. I've never been patient—your black brethren will soon find out." Stannis laid a thin hand on Jon's shoulder. "Don't tell anyone what we discussed today. When you come back, just bend your knees, put your sword at my feet, swear your allegiance to me, and when you stand up, you'll be Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell."