After the melee, the archery competition was all that remained of the tourney's major events. This time, the list of contenders was not as long or diverse as that of the joust or the melee, but it still had an impressive turnout.
King Robert Baratheon chose not to participate in this event. He inwardly felt archery was for those who were too craven to meet their foes face-to-face. Then again, it had been quite a while since he had last used a bow. Although there was a chance he could still shoot as straight as he did in his youth, he had no desire to risk humiliating himself in public by displaying his lack of practice. Ned would probably accuse me of "just not wishing to lose."… And he would not be entirely incorrect.
The winner of the archery turned out to be Lothor Brune, a Legionnaire Robert had knighted at the tourney.
For the early part of his life, Ser Lothor had been a freerider of the Crownlands. He was a distant cousin of the Brunes of Brownhollow, but no one of that house regarded him as kin. For that reason, he had chosen to join the Legion without Banners, who treated him far more pleasantly than his own relations ever did.
Lothor Brune had shown considerable skill and dedication during Greyjoy's Rebellion. At the siege of Pyke, he had been pivotal in singlehandedly fighting off a wave of Ironborn reinforcements at both the top wall and the Great Hall. That in turn enabled the King's forces to advance through the castle more easily. For those heroic deeds, the king had knighted him.
Although he did not partake in the archery, Robert had attended it all the same. He still found it quite exciting, and he cheered as loudly as anyone else in the stands.
After Ser Lothor Brune was declared victor, the tourney more or less reached its unofficial end.
Several days had elapsed since then. The tourney grounds had been almost entirely disassembled. The majority of the traders, merchants, and vendors had left with fewer of their goods and a greater amount of gold than when they had arrived. Many lords and knights had returned to their homes with their men.
Some had decided to linger. The King, his forces, the Lords Paramount, their retainers, and the Legionnaires were among those who remained. They too would be leaving soon enough. But first, they were to attend a private gathering at Clegane's Keep.
The gathering had been sanctioned by Robert, but it had been called at the request of Lord Gregor Clegane.
Robert could still vividly recall his duel with the Mountain, and how he had laughed at its conclusion, even though it had not ended in his favor. Normally, Robert Baratheon did not accept defeat so well or in such good humor. But he made an exception when Lord Gregor Clegane bested him in the melee.
As a matter of fact, King Robert had come to greatly respect the Mountain, and not just as a warrior. Ever since he took the throne, it had been his duty to stabilize the realm, secure his rule, and unify the Seven Kingdoms. Lord Jon Arryn, Grand Maester Marwyn, Lord Varys, and the rest of the small council had done plenty to aid him in those endeavors, but none of them had done as much as his Master of Order.
It all began on that one fateful day, when Lord Gregor had told Robert of Lyanna's "last words." The stag was not one to shed needless tears (one of the few things he and his brother Stannis had in common), but he had nearly been driven to them when he was told that Lyanna's dying wish was for him to be the best king he could possibly be.
At the time, Robert had doubted his own ability to govern Westeros properly. Lord Gregor had given him the assurance that he could. From that day onward, Robert had put his all into being a good king.
He liked to believe he had done an excellent job so far. At the end of his rebellion, the North, the Vale, the Riverlands, the Stormlands, and the Westerlands had terrible relations with the Reach, Dorne, and the Crownlands. Now, they were fighting alongside each other as brothers and sisters-in-arms. A couple months back, the Iron Islands had been welcomed into the fold, making the entire realm completely whole for the first time in recent history. As much as Robert would have loved to claim credit for this accomplishment, he could not. Much of it belonged to his subjects; Gregor Clegane most of all.
So when Lord Gregor asked to have a private gathering without even providing a reason for it, Robert Baratheon had granted his request without hesitation. Lord Gregor then presented the king with a list of people he expected to appear at the gathering. Fortunately, all of them had not yet departed. As such, Robert assured him that every person on that list would be summoned to the Main Hall of Clegane's Keep as soon as humanly possible.
The king took some time to look over the list by himself. There were a total of thirty individuals on it.
Lord Gregor had placed himself, his wife Lady Dacey, and his immediate family at the top of the list. That was composed of Lord Tarrence, Lady Daliah, Ser Sandor, his wife Obara, and Lady Ellyn.
After that, Robert noticed that his Hand, his best friend, his brother, and his father-by-law were the next people on the list. So were Mace Tyrell, Victarion Greyjoy, and Hoster Tully. All but one of the Lords Paramount had been asked to go to the gathering. Since Prince Doran Martell was currently in Sunspear, Oberyn Martell would be there in his brother's place.
Next were a few more Legionnaires, such as Smalljon Umber, Allard Seaworth, Gerion Lannister, Willas Tyrell, and Lothor Brune.
With the death of Ser Osmund Kettleblack at Moat Cailin, Lord Gregor Clegane's inner circle no longer had a representative from the Crownlands. Sometime during the tourney of Lannisport, the Mountain had picked Ser Lothor to serve as Ser Osmund's replacement. Furthermore, the Reach's vacancy caused by the death of Ser Garth Hightower had been filled by his nephew, Willas Tyrell. Lord Willas was only a lad of thirteen, and he was merely serving as Gregor's squire for the time being, but he already had the respect of the Reach and the means to speak for them.
The next eight people on the list were Davos Seaworth, Barristan Selmy, Jorah Mormont, his wife Nymeria, Ellaria Sand, Kevan Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, and Jaime Lannister. Unlike the twenty listed before them, the reason for their inclusions did not seem as obvious. The Onion Knight, the Lord Commander of my Kingsguard, the bear lord and his Dornish bride, the Red Viper's baseborn lover, Tywin's overlooked brother, the Imp, and the Kingslayer. Quite an ensemble. But what could they possibly have in common with the others? Or, in some cases, each other?
The last two people on the list had been marked as "optional attendees." They were the King and his Queen. Apparently, the two of them were not being commanded to attend. Instead, they had been invited to come. At least Lord Gregor does not try to abuse his authority.
All the same, after some meditation on the issue, Robert decided he and Cersei would go to the gathering. Whatever his Master of Order had to show them, he figured it would be worth their attention. Lord Gregor would not waste the king's time with petty matters.
It was not difficult to talk Cersei into accompanying him to the gathering. In fact, she seemed just as eager and curious to learn the purpose of the gathering as he was.
Then again, Cersei had never denied herself the privileges of being Queen. Ever since their wedding, she had insisted (or "begged," as he called it) on joining Robert at the Small Council meetings. Initially, he had been reluctant to bring a woman to that table. Overtime, though, he was able to look past Cersei's tits and focus more on her brain. She had a special talent for politics. She was definitely more familiar and better-versed in them than he was, at any rate. Now she there was always a seat for her on the Small Council. All of the members, especially King Robert, appreciated and valued her input.
The private gathering was set to take place in the Main Hall of Clegane's Keep right after dinnertime. Robert and Cersei reached the keep in the late evening, just after the Sun disappeared over the horizon. Ser Jaime and Ser Barristan had accompanied them there.
As they approached the large holdfast, Cersei mentioned she was impressed by how much the Cleganes had improved it, but she still felt Casterly Rock would have been a more appropriate place for the gathering. She would know; she grew up there. Robert had to admit Casterly Rock would make a more ideal meeting site than most other places. All the same, the ascent took longer than he would have liked, and Lord Tywin would not have been pleased to host anyone in his ancestral home without his consent. Robert ultimately reassured Cersei that the keep would be adequate.
The King, the Queen, and the two Kingsguard knights soon arrived in the keep's Main Hall. Robert discovered they were the last ones to show. Everyone else was already assembled in the room.
Once the four of them were inside the Main Hall, Lord Gregor dismissed the guards, the servants, and anyone else whose name was not among the thirty he had sent for. After that, he had the doors locked and braced, and he had the walls examined to ensure that there were no openings anywhere. He would not allow even the slightest possibility of eavesdroppers. Now I'm very interested to know what he has to tell. It must be extraordinary. Or dangerous. Or extraordinarily dangerous. Or dangerously extraordinary.
It turned out to be all the above.
The trestle tables had been arranged in such a way that they formed a circle around the Main Hall. A bench had been placed on a platform directly below the dais. Robert, Cersei, and Lord Tywin took up spots on that bench. Everyone else took up a spot on one of the trestle tables. They sat so they were facing inward.
Gregor Clegane stood in the very center of the circle. Although he was dressed informally in a doublet and a pair of trousers, he was armed. Strapped to his back was a massive greatsword. At least, it would look massive in the hand of a regular-sized man. Next to the Mountain, it looked no longer than the typical bastard sword.
Also, this greatsword was not the one Lord Gregor had fought with in Greyjoy's Rebellion or the one he had used at the tourney. Robert had seen that blade up close a number of times during the melee, and he could tell at a glance that this sword was different. It seemed far sharper and deadlier, yet much lighter at the same time.
Looks quite a bit like Ice. I wonder if Ned thinks so, too.
Gregor Clegane waited for everyone to give him their undivided attention. Then he commenced the meeting. He opened with the following introduction: "Twice over the course of the last sixteen months, I provided you vital information about the Ironborn Rebellion. That information was critical in minimizing the length of the ensuing war and the damage it inflicted on the realm. Of course, since I was able to produce this information before the war actually began, many of you were left wondering on how it came into my possession. Alas, the only explanation I gave for my knowledge was that I had a 'source.' I am grateful you did not pressure me into yielding further elaboration at the time. Nevertheless, I have decided it is time you were all told the truth of my source."
That last sentence succeeded in capturing Robert's interest. From the looks of the others' faces, it had captured theirs, as well. During the Rebellion, Robert had given little thought to this source of Lord Gregor's. Back then, all that mattered to him was that it was reliable and accurate. However, throughout the tourney, his mind had occasionally drifted back to the "source" and its origin. It enabled us to win the war swiftly and decisively. Yes, I would very much like to learn the nature of it.
Gregor folded his hands together behind his back and began pacing around the circular space within the trestle tables. As he walked, he made eye contact with whoever was directly in front of him. After a minute of this, he asked rhetorically "Have you ever pondered on our purpose for being here?"
"Well, you summoned us," Ser Lothor commented bluntly. That produced a number of scoffs.
"I don't mean here specifically," Gregor stated, "I mean 'here' as in 'anywhere.' Do you know our reason for living? Moreover, what would you say is the reason for us to even exist?"
"I am not certain we understand the questions," Kevan Lannister remarked. There were some murmurs of agreement.
"Let me clarify," Gregor expounded, "Imagine life as a tale out of a book. Suppose the Gods are the storytellers and the people of the world are merely characters in their saga of the ages."
"That would be a fitting description," Tyrion Lannister debated, "After all, regardless of who among men has the most power in this world, the gods are the ones who really pull the strings."
"Precisely," Gregor Clegane affirmed, "Now, as features of the story, we – meaning the characters – would be expected to go about their daily lives while the gods played the part of the authors to determine our fates. Each character would have a unique part to play, no matter how insignificant it may seem. However, suppose one particular character somehow became aware that he was living in a story. Now suppose that overtime, he became capable of predicting what the authors would write next."
"How could a fictitious individual possibly gain such an awareness?" Tywin Lannister disputed.
"This is merely speculation, Lord Tywin," Lord Gregor reminded him, "Look past the relationship between the authors and the characters, and you'll see I am making an analogy of the relationship between gods and men."
"By that logic, if a real man learned the will of the gods, he could foresee the intended future," Oberyn Martell contended.
"Correct," the Mountain muttered. He gazed around the room and announced "That is my source."
That is quite a fabulous declaration. Some of the others began whispering to each other. A few stared at Gregor Clegane as though he had gone mad or as though he was speaking in tongues. Most everyone else seemed rather intrigued by that revelation.
"What do you entail, Lord Gregor?" Robert enquired, "Are you saying you can communicate with the gods?"
"Not necessarily communicate with them, Your Grace," Gregor disclosed, "But I have the means to learn what plans they have for the future."
He paused for a moment, but before anyone could ask a question, the Mountain added in "Alas, these means are not entirely within my control."
"Well, what are these means?" Allard Seaworth queried.
"Yes, tell us, Lord Gregor," Willas Tyrell bade the huge man, "How can you gain such insights from the gods?"
"They come to me in the form of visions," Gregor Clegane claimed, "They always come in my sleep. At first, I dismissed them as mere dreams. But when I observed the exact same sequence every night for a week, I was quick to reevaluate my judgment. In addition to that, each sequence is far too vivid and detailed to be a dream. Before too long, I began to connect the visions with events that were occurring in real life. That was when I started to believe that the gods were showing me glimpses of the future on an irregular basis."
"Remarkable," Tarrence Clegane mumbled softly. Just what I was thinking.
"Could you possibly be a greenseer?" Eddard Stark hypothesized.
"I can see why you might think so, Lord Eddard," the lord of Moat Cailin admitted, "However, whatever a greenseer sees, he cannot prevent. That restriction does not apply to me."
That statement only captivated the Mountain's audience even more so than before.
"How so, Greg?" Sandor Clegane asked his brother.
"Here I go back to the scenario of the authors and their characters," Gregor Clegane pronounced, "Let us assume for a moment that the self-aware character discovered that a certain imminent part of the story would produce dismal repercussions for himself or those he cared about. What do you imagine he would do?"
"There is nothing he could do," Hoster Tully debated, "If the authors decide to incorporate that unfortunate part, then it is their choice and theirs alone. Once it is written, the story cannot be undone."
"The original story, perhaps," Lord Gregor disputed, "But the original story only truly exists in the authors' minds. They may have intended for things to occur differently than they actually did. Those alternate ideas would live on elsewhere. Apart from that, the authors have no direct control over this rogue character they created."
"In that case… the character would be free to change the story as he saw fit," Ellyn Clegane theorized.
"That is my point," the Mountain revealed, "For more than fifteen years, I have seen certain events of the future countless times. If I wished to, I could have been a spectator and nothing more. Instead, I chose to take advantage of this knowledge of what was forthcoming. Now, the Westeros of my visions is no longer the definite Westeros of the future; it merely one possible future Westeros."
"Do you mean to tell us that you have deliberately altered history?" Stannis Baratheon uttered incredulously.
"That is indeed what I have done," Gregor shamelessly confirmed.
He's done what many have hopelessly attempted, yet he speaks as though any person could have done the same. Whether it's modesty or confidence, I could not say. Both, perhaps.
Although Robert was astonished and impressed by the Mountain's audacity and conviction, not everyone else seemed to share his fascination. Some were startled, some were shocked, and some were beyond flabbergasted.
"Gregor, do you realize the risks of what you have done?" Daliah Clegane murmured nervously, "Tampering with fate is dangerous enough. Tampering with the will of the gods… that is perhaps the most dangerous act a person could ever dare commit."
"I agree with your lady mother," Jorah Mormont conceded, "Neither the Old Gods nor the New nor any other gods look kindly upon mortal interference. Your actions could put the entire country at the risk of incurring the gods' wrath."
"I understand your concerns," Gregor Clegane proclaimed, "I assure you that I did not act hastily. I spent many hours considering all the possible consequences of my intervention. Even so, I ultimately decided that while the risks were great, they were worth the overall benefits. Aside from that, if the gods did not mean for me to become an unpredictable factor, why did they allow me to have these visions in the first place?"
No one there could dispute that point. Robert had to admit it was a very practical and sensible argument. The only reason he'd even have those visions is if he was meant to rewrite our country's history.
Lord Gregor grinned in mild satisfaction when no one offered a counterargument. He folded his arms and muttered "I doubt any one of you would have done differently. Especially if you saw the things I saw."
"What did you see?" Mace Tyrell inquired.
"And what all have you altered?" Queen Cersei demanded.
Gregor answered both their questions at once: "I have seen many things; all of them equal parts undesirable and horrific. I try to alter them in any way I can, but like the visions, I do not have absolute control over how much change I can instill. It mostly depends on where I am and the position I am in."
"Could you give us an example?" Nymeria Mormont requested.
The Mountain nodded and kept walking along the small circular area as he illuminated: "Near the end of King Robert's Rebellion, when the Westerlords made for King's Landing, I had a vision every night for the duration of the march. This vision was of the Sack of King's Landing. The taking of the city was meant to be far more violent than it really was. Thousands would have been put to the sword, and I do not mean just soldiers. Unarmed men, women, and children alike would have been slaughtered indiscriminately. Moreover, Princess Elia would have been among them."
That statement made the Dornishmen gape in astonishment. Prince Oberyn sat up and murmured quietly "She was not?"
Lord Gregor solemnly nodded and explicated "She was destined to die alongside her children. So I took steps to ensure that the duty of supervising the Westerlander units who seized the city. I knew King's Landing would never fall without a few civilian casualties, but I was determined to minimize the number."
"Yes, and you accomplished that superbly," Jon Arryn stated in approval.
"Thank you, my Lord Hand," Gregor said appreciatively. Then he returned his attention to everyone else present and continued with "After the city was secure, I rushed to the Red Keep with the intention of rescuing Princess Elia and her children. I was unable to save Rhaenys and Aegon, but I managed to prevent Ser Amory Lorch from butchering their mother."
"For that, Dorne will always be grateful," Obara Clegane declared. Her half-sister, her father, and father's paramour all mumbled in agreement.
"That solves your mystery, Tywin," Kevan Lannister slyly said to his older brother.
Mystery? What in the gods' name…? Gerion Lannister seemed to share the king's curiosity. He turned to the Lord of Casterly Rock and asked "What does he mean by that?"
"Never mind that," the lion lord told his youngest sibling dismissively. He then focused his glare on Lord Gregor and uttered "You expect us to believe it was the gods who told you that Amory Lorch would go after Elia and her children?"
"Yes, I expect you to believe that," Gregor Clegane confirmed plainly, "I also expect you to believe that from that very same vision, I know the true reason why your elder son earned his moniker."
Now even Lord Tywin was perplexed. He leaned back in his seat and said sharply "What?"
"Ser Jaime did not slay Aerys just to do us all a favor," the Lord of Moat Cailin revealed, "Granted, it was a favor. Even so, he had another motivation for shoving his sword through the Mad King's back. A far more noble and admirable reason."
"Gregor, that's enough!" Jaime Lannister sternly interjected.
The Kingslayer had not spoken since the meeting began. That sudden outburst took many of the others by surprise. Lord Gregor appeared indifferent to it.
"Is it?" the Mountain snapped, "They should know."
"Know what?" Victarion Greyjoy uttered inquisitively.
Neither Gregor Clegane nor Jaime Lannister answered straightaway. The Mountain took a minute to gaze at the people around him. Then he looked back to the Kingslayer and pronounced "Either you tell them or I will. Why protect the name of an insane, undeserving monarch who burned people alive for pleasure? What could you possibly gain by continuing to withhold the truth?"
That argument seemed to sway Ser Jaime's mind. A few seconds later, he sighed and remarked "Very well."
When all eyes were on him, he rose to his feet and proclaimed "When Father's forces took King's Landing, Aerys issued the order for the city to be burned to the ground. Up until then, I had stood by his side without a word of protest. But when he yelled "Burn them all," I reached my breaking point. So I left with Lord Rossart under the pretense of guarding him to the Alchemist's Guild safely. Once we were alone, I ran him through. Then I returned to the throne room and did the same to the Mad King. Even as he died, his last words were 'Burn them all… burn them all… burn them all…'"
A wave of silence came over the room. Everyone except Lord Gregor was dumbfounded. Robert could not even find words. He always knew that Aerys was a sadistic lunatic, but he never would have thought that even the Mad King could have been capable of such atrocities. And I let Ser Jaime be scorned by the very people he broke his oath to protect. I should have had him reveled as a hero.
"Why did you not tell anyone this?" Tywin Lannister muttered crossly.
"Who'd believe the word of an oathbreaker?" Ser Jaime retorted heatedly.
"His bloody brother, perhaps?" Tyrion countered irately.
"Or his sister?" Cersei spat. One of the very few moments when the two of them agree on something. How ironic they are arguing against their other sibling; the one who is usually on better terms with both of them.
"As family, people would have expected you to believe me," Jaime Lannister argued, "Your word would not have been any more credible than mine."
"I have a hard enough time believing it myself," Lothor Brune murmured.
"Everything Ser Jaime just said is true," Gregor Clegane announced, "I can attest to it."
That seemed to ease the potent feeling of disbelief that was present all around the room.
Just then, Ser Barristan Selmy got to his feet, and he declared "While I take my oath as a Kingsguard as seriously as any other man who's worn a white cloak, I cannot deny that I may very well have done the same as Ser Jaime, had I been the one left with King Aerys in his place."
He then turned to Ser Jaime and offered him his hand. The blonde knight was hesitant at first, but he ultimately took the elder knight's hand and shook it firmly.
That was quite unexpected. For the last six years, Ser Barristan the Bold had looked at his young colleague with nothing but contempt. Now, he actually seemed to look at him with a mixture of remorse and respect.
"I would have done it, too," Sandor Clegane professed, "No oath is worth the lives of half a million people."
"Quite so," Gregor coincided, "In fact, when I arrived in the Red Keep during the Sack, I considered making a detour to the throne room and killing Aerys for Jaime. But I had no way of knowing if Ser Amory would reach Princess Elia before or after that happened. So I took a moment to reflect on my options. In the end, I gave priority to rescuing the princess. Alas, that one instant of hesitation may have cost her children their lives."
"Do not blame yourself, my lord," Eddard Stark bade the Mountain, "For all you know, Princess Rhaenys and Prince Aegon might have been killed by someone other than Ser Amory."
Robert noticed Ned sneered at Lord Tywin when he said that. Both the king and his best friend where aware that the Lord of Casterly Rock had sent Ser Amory after the royal Targaryen family in the first place. Odd how Lord Gregor did not mention that Ser Amory was acting under his liege lord's orders. Then again, perhaps that is a good thing. I have no desire to incite a struggle between Lord Tywin and Prince Oberyn.
"What really matters is that my sister survived," Oberyn declared, "If she was killed, diplomatic relations between the Westerlands and Dorne would have been beyond disastrous."
"I believe that," Dacey Clegane muttered drily.
For starters, the Hound would not be sharing a bed with Prince Oberyn's eldest daughter.
There was a brief period of silence, and then Robert looked to his Master of Order and supposed "So, Lord Gregor; I assume these visions of yours are where you acquired your intelligence on the Ironborn's rebellion?"
"You assume rightly, Your Grace," Gregor Clegane confirmed, "In my vision, I saw the Westerlander Fleet burn at Lannisport. That is why I sent out ravens to alert the country of an invasion from the sea. Of course, it would have been suspicious if only the Westerlords received this warning. As such, I ensured that the residents of all the maritime holdfasts in Westeros took steps to fortify their defenses. By doing so, I ensured that the entire coast would be safe if the Ironborn chose to bypass Lannisport. Fortunately for us, almost all of the Westerlander vessels were saved."
"We are indebted to you for that, my lord," Tyrion Lannister proclaimed, "But we received your raven six months before the Iron Fleet attacked. You said your vision of King's Landing first came no less than a fortnight before the Sack. How do you account for the vast difference in time?"
"I cannot," the Mountain confessed, "I have no influence over when the visions come, or how often they recur. Luckily, they always seem to happen at a very opportune time."
"Your vision of Seagard and Fair Isle was definitely convenient," Robert debated, "It enabled us to win both battles, and it proved Lord Victarion's loyalty to the throne."
"I will not forget that anytime soon," the Iron Captain commented in an uncharacteristically warm tone. Ever since he had been named Lord Paramount of the Iron Islands, he had been conspicuously friendlier to the people of the mainland. People he used to call "greenlanders" in disdain.
"According to my vision, you would have won the war regardless, Your Grace," Gregor informed the king, "My actions in response to the vision just made victory more easily attainable."
"Nevertheless, I am thankful for all you did," Robert Baratheon claimed in a sincere tone, "But there is still one aspect I do not fully comprehend. Why did you wait until this moment to tell us all this?"
"I'd like to know that myself," Mace Tyrell conceded.
"As would I," Davos Seaworth muttered.
Practically every other person in the Main Hall shared a wish for some form of explanation. Luckily, Lord Gregor was able to provide one.
"Because at the time, I would have sounder madder than your predecessor, Your Grace," the Mountain professed, "Up until Greyjoy's Rebellion, the majority of my visions had only been about small, isolated incidents. The Sack of King's Landing was an exception, of course. Other than that, they were all relatively minor. There were also some where I ended up making little difference or none at all. For instance, I saw Prince Rhaegar making off with Lady Lyanna, the skirmish at the Tower of Joy, the death of Queen Rhaella at Dragonstone, the flight of Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys across the Narrow Sea… I was either partly or wholly unable to change the outcome of all of those events."
"But you did plenty in the war with the Ironborn," Ellaria Sand perceived.
"Nonetheless, if I told you of my visions before the war, it would have sounded fantastical," Gregor pointed out, "Back then, I had no evidence to support my claims of these visions. I knew I would need some irrefutable proof before I could present you my explanation. Now, since I correctly predicted the attempted burning of the Westerlander Fleet and the assaults on Seagard and Fair Isle, I like to think that my word is sufficient evidence."
"It is more than enough evidence for me," Robert decreed.
"It may be enough for me, as well," Stannis Baratheon remarked.
That took Robert by surprise. Normally, Stannis was far more difficult to convince than his royal brother.
The Lord of Dragonstone leaned forward and said to Gregor inquisitively "My lord, when you warned me on the likelihood that my daughter would contract greyscale, was that one of your visions at work?"
"It was," Lord Gregor validated, "So long as you burn every doll that is gifted to her anonymously, she should be safe from the disease."
"And is that why you cautioned me against jousting with Prince Oberyn?" Willas Tyrell presumed.
"Hmm?" said the Red Viper, a little baffled.
"Yes," Gregor answered the heir to Highgarden, "Your horse would have fallen on your leg in the tilt. It would have been an accident, and you would have remained on good terms with the prince, but you would have been stuck with a cane for the remainder of your life."
"Then I owe you a great debt, my lord," Mace Tyrell proclaimed with a wide smile.
Oberyn Martell raised an eyebrow in amusement. Then he leaned back in his seat a bit, and he uttered inquiringly "Tell us, Gregor; have you any other visions involving the forecast of the world that you would care to share with us?"
At that, the expression across Lord Gregor's countenance seemed to darken. Then he pronounced in a rather unsettling voice "Yes. As it happens, that is my main motivation for this private gathering."
Hoster Tully cocked his head and stated "I thought your main motivation was to explain your 'source,'"
"No, that is only my secondary reason," the Lord of Moat Cailin enlightened them, "The primary reason is far more noteworthy and imperative, and it is infinitely more disturbing."
That is not a very promising transition.
"What could be more disturbing than learning that one has inexplicably received the ability to see all the possible ordeals of the world in the future?" Eddard Stark contended.
"Learning that the world might not even have a future," Gregor Clegane ominously replied.
The atmosphere in the Main Hall quickly changed from fairly inquisitive to overwhelmingly anxious. Even the King and Lord Tywin were notably bothered by the implications of that statement.
"What are you saying, my love?" Lady Dacey asked her husband.
Lord Gregor looked to his wife and held eye contact with her for about thirty seconds. Then he reluctantly looked away and resumed his stride along the circular space between the trestle tables.
He began this next account with "Most of my visions, I only see a couple weeks or months ahead of time. However, there is one vision I have had at least once a week for the last seven years. That is far longer than I've ever had any other vision. All the same, the event it focuses on will not transpire for another decade."
Here he paused for a few seconds, and then he went on: "As you know, the country's last winter ended nearly two years ago. However, as you may have noticed, it is not officially summer yet. The Conclave has yet to dispatch the white ravens. We're having an abnormally long spring, don't you think?"
"Now that you mention it… yes," Smalljon Umber admitted. From what Robert could recall of what Ned told him of the North, the Umbers of Last Hearth lived closer to the Wall than any other family on the mainland. If they can tell it's still spring, it must be warm indeed.
"The seasons will change soon enough," Gregor Clegane revealed, "The next summer will be the longest in recorded history. It will last ten full years."
Allard Seaworth whistled in amazement. There were a few more mutters of surprise.
"You heard me correctly," Gregor asserted, "Due to its length, some will believe it to be the Great Summer of legend. For many people, those ten years will be the greatest of their lives. However… they could also be the last."
A very tense, very unpleasant silence encompassed the room. Mace Tyrell asked worriedly "Why? What will come after this decade-long summer?"
Gregor gazed around the room and proclaimed "It is said that a long summer is followed by an even longer winter. When was the last time a winter of ten years or more struck this country?"
"Not for eight millennia," Eddard Stark grimly responded, "When the Long Night came."
"Just so, Lord Eddard," Gregor affirmed. He stopped pacing, and he asked rhetorically "Do you see where I am headed with this?"
I'm afraid I do see. So did everyone else, given the horrified expressions that had come across their faces.
"Gregor… did you have a vision that the Long Night would return?" Lady Daliah murmured softly.
The Mountain gave a light nod of his head. "Normally, I view these visions as gifts or blessings. But this one is a curse. I have been forced to endure it hundreds of times. It always ends the same way: Westeros is buried under yards of snow, and the land becomes overrun by the Others."
No one spoke for the next five minutes. Most of them needed that much time to comprehend what they had heard. Even after that interval, some of them could not fully grasp it. Robert personally did not know what to make of it. His Master of Order – a man of unquestionable integrity and moral standing – had just told him that in less than fifteen years, the world would end. Had anyone else told him that, he would have written it off as inane ramblings. But after what he had just learned from Lord Gregor, he saw no reason to doubt him.
Robert was the first to come to terms with Lord Gregor's haunting revelation. He did not lose his composure or panic. There must be a way out of that nightmare. The king remained totally calm and queried "So… how do we avoid this?"
"That cannot be done, Your Grace," Gregor dismally expounded, "Most of the events in my other visions were avoidable in some degree. Be that as it may, no amount of intervention on my part or anyone else's can prevent the Long Night from happening."
"So, what?" Victarion said sardonically, "Are we supposed to just lie down and freeze to death?"
"I did not say that," Gregor Clegane serenely refuted, "The Long Night will come; make no mistake of that. But there is much that can be done to prepare the country for its arrival. Still, I am only one man. There is only so much I can do, even if I command thousands of proficient warriors. That is why I brought you all together."
"To alert us?" Davos Seaworth assumed.
"To plead for your help," Gregor Clegane clarified, "Together, the thirty people in this room possess more influence than everyone else in the Seven Kingdoms combined. The other houses and the smallfolk need to know what is coming, and we need to guarantee their full cooperation in the measures we take to prepare for it. The only way we can ensure that is if we deliver the news together."
"He's right," Ellyn Clegane observed, "If just one of the Lords Paramount – or even the King – announced that the Long Night was quickly approaching, he would be laughed at and ridiculed. But if all the Lords Paramount, the King, and the commander of the Legion without Banners made that announcement, people would be far more willing to listen and believe."
Robert could understand that logic. Strength in numbers is not limited to brute force.
"It will be no easy task to persuade the residents of the Seven Kingdoms to come together fully," Stannis Baratheon observed.
"Indeed," Hoster Tully concurred, "We will be asking former enemies to become allies."
"Their only other option is to die alone," Gregor firmly contended, "Whatever our past grievances, they are trivial compared to the hardship that awaits us."
"But even if the whole of Westeros is united, how can we ensure the survival of its occupants?" Ellaria Sand enquired.
In response, the Mountain smirked and stated "I'm glad you asked that. I've had plenty of time to review my vision of the Long Night. I have analyzed it from every angle, and you'll be pleased to know that it is very much possible for us to overcome it. I have a plan."
He always does. The King smiled, folded his arms again, and said to the tallest man there "Very well, Lord Gregor. Proceed to tell us of your plan. We are all listening."
In that, he spoke for every person there. Although it was considerably later than it had been when the meeting began, Gregor Clegane still had everyone's undivided attention. However, he notified them that this meeting would likely go on for several more hours. While no one offered a word of complaint, they were hoping they would be able to leave before dawn. Gregor assured them he would do his best to have the meeting wrapped up by midnight, but he made no promises.
It's going to be a long night. But at least we'll be using it to prevent a different type of long night.
The first item of business was relatively small in scale. Lord Gregor proposed that Jaime Lannister be released from the Kingsguard. No one could have anticipated that, least of all the Kingslayer.
Even after he stained his sword with Aerys Targaryen's blood, Ser Jaime had shown no eagerness in hanging up his white cloak. The king had offered him a pardon from his duties, but the blonde knight had adamantly refused. Much to Lord Tywin's despair, Robert Baratheon had accepted his choice.
Gregor would not give up so easily. He seemed determined to persuade Jaime to resign from the Kingsguard and reassume his birthright as the heir to Casterly Rock.
Having seen the Kingslayer in combat, the Mountain contended that Ser Jaime had to be among the top ten greatest swordsmen in the country. Maybe even top five. As such, it made no sense to waste in his skills in the mundane role of a bodyguard. Lord Gregor also pointed out that with the realm at peace, the king was as safe as he would ever be. There was also the matter of how unpopular Jaime had become in Kingls Landing since he rid them of the Mad King. With all that in mind, there was absolutely no reason why Jaime could not be honorably discharged from the Kingsguard.
Tyrion Lannister and his intended Ellyn Clegane did not protest this suggestion. As a matter of fact, they seemed to be in favor of it. Lord Tyrion seemed to enjoy the pleasures of being a second son; he liked to think he had been spared the burdens of the heir. He and Lady Ellyn actually cared little for the positions of Lord and Lady of Casterly Rock, and the Imp argued that Jaime would be far better suited to the role of Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. Ser Jaime would certainly have an easier time of gaining the respect and allegiance of the Rock's vassals. Even so, it's debatable as to whether he or Tyrion would be the better ruler. From what I hear, the Imp's the one with all the wits.
Despite his younger brother and future sister-by-law's words of assurance and encouragement, Ser Jaime Lannister had no intention of stepping down from the Kingsguard. Then Cersei and Lord Tywin joined in the attempts to dissuade him. She claimed she had no more need for her brother to protect her; he claimed he had every need for his firstborn son to be close-by. Quite a rarity; Lord Tywin, Cersei, and Tyrion all agreeing on one thing. But even then, Jaime declined.
Over a half-hour passed before Ser Jaime finally gave in. It was Ser Barristan Selmy who persuaded him to see reason. He argued that although Jaime had tainted his cloak with the slaying of King Aerys, he had cleansed himself of that taint with his years of loyal service to Robert. At the same time, he had redeemed himself for acting out of the best interests of the populace of King's Landing.
It was then that Jaime finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to resign from the Kingsguard. Right then and there, he stood up and removed his white cloak. He was not so imprudent as to carelessly deposit it onto the ground. Instead, he folded it up neatly and set it on the trestle table before him.
Replacing him will not be easy. But I need to find another knight to fill the new vacancy. Maybe Ser Malcolm Branfield. His sister's husband is of the North. Then again, his family was loyal to Aerys. Oh, well; I'll worry on that later.
Lord Tywin was pleased by his son's decision. He actually thanked Lord Gregor and Ser Barristan for convincing Jaime to shed his white cloak. That in itself was an astonishing sight. Lord Tywin never thanked anyone for anything.
The next topic of discussion pertained heavily to the Wall. In recent history, the Night's Watch's numbers had dwindled to an all-time low, and over half of the current black brothers had been criminals before.
In Lord Gregor's mind, this degradation was unacceptable. He pointed out that the Wall was the Seven Kingdom's primary line of defense from the Others. If it fell, the rest of the country would, too. That said, Gregor Clegane argued that steps be taken to reinforce the Wall in every way possible.
To begin with, it would need more men. By that, he was not referring to the occupants of the country's dungeons. He debated that the Wall would require good men. Learned men. Honorable men. Men trained extensively in the art of war. Most of all, it needed men who would join willingly, not men who merely chose it as an alternative to chastisement.
In order to encourage people to enlist, Gregor suggested that incentives be offered. Ideally, whenever a man voluntarily took the black, his family would be given enough food and coin to last them for a year. If they had relied on the volunteer heavily for everyday life, that would be enough time for them to learn to care for themselves.
King Robert and the Lords Paramount all greatly approved of this tactic. I'll draw up that decree as soon as we get back to King's Landing. He claimed as much to the others in the Main Hall.
Of course, no matter how many men joined the Night's Watch, their numbers would amount to little and less if they did not have the appropriate means to defend the Wall. Fortunately, Gregor Clegane was able to give them assurances that such means were well within their reach.
There was a well-known expression: in time of war, one must fight fire with fire. Lord Gregor claimed it would apply here, but instead, they would be fighting ice with fire. According to his visions, there were only three known materials that could successfully obliterate the Others and the White Walkers.
The chief of these materials was fire. The only approach that could permanently dispel the wights was by burning them. Lord Gregor felt he could not emphasize that strongly enough.
The other two materials were substances that been designed from fire. They were obsidian and Valyrian steel. Obsidian was said to be solidified fire, and Valyrian steel was described as fire-made-metal.
Obsidian was also known as dragonglass, which could be found in abundance on Dragonstone. Lord Gregor bade Lord Stannis to authorize the mining of obsidian on the Targaryen island stronghold and the transportation of it to the Wall. Robert was relieved that his brother was quick to accept the Mountain's proposal. Weapons made of dragonglass could prove invaluable against all manner of foes, not just the White Walkers.
Valyrian steel was a little harder to acquire. More than a little, actually. Be that as it may, it was still attainable. Gregor and Sandor Clegane had come into the possession of scores of Valyrian steel daggers when they seized the Silence from Euron Greyjoy. They had also found House Lannister's ancestral blade amongst the vast horde of treasure. The sword had been returned to its rightful owner.
It had been Ellyn Clegane who gave the sword to her intended Tyrion Lannister just before the melee began. The Imp had gone to his father immediately after the melee and given the weapon to him.
Robert had been present at that occasion. He would never forget the expression on Lord Tywin's face when he is dwarf son presented him with Brightroar. He doubted anyone had ever seen the lion lord look so happy. He had actually dared to smile. Lady Ellyn had arrived on the scene a moment later, and Tywin had given her a very appreciative kiss on the cheek. He commended both her and his son for their actions. He was even more pleased when they informed him that they had agreed to the betrothal he had suggested for them.
Although Brightroar was back at Casterly Rock, all the other Valyrian steel blades found on board the Silence were still being held by the Cleganes. Lord Gregor revealed that they had sought out the services of one Tobho Mott to have several of the daggers reforged into four new blades. The first had been the spearhead on Obara Martell's javelin, which she had named Swift Thrust.
I'll bet my thrust is swifter. Heh heh.
The other three blades were a longsword for Lady Dacey, a bastard sword for Ser Sandor, and a greatsword for Lord Gregor. The three of them had brought these blades to the gathering; they took the opportunity to show them to the other attendees.
Ser Sandor had named his bastard sword Hound's Fang, and Lady Dacey had named her longsword Bearswrath. His had the head of a large dog on its pommel; hers was fit with one of a fierce bear. Both of them were as deadly as their owners.
The biggest attraction of all was Lord Gregor's greatsword. He had named it Summit. He drew it from the scabbard on his back so that everyone could get a closer look at it. It was larger than even Ice, but its owner could balance it in one hand effortlessly. The pommel of its hilt bore the likeness of a mountain's peak. The hilt was so sharp that it could be used to stab an adversary just as well as the blade could.
Gregor revealed that they still had a few dozen Valyrian steel daggers left over. One of them, Lady Ellyn had taken for herself. Her brothers did not intend to hold on to the rest for too much longer. Gregor recommended that they make a gift of the daggers to any high lords who desired one. While the Night's Watch would have weapons of obsidian, the Valyrian steel would be reserved for the citizens of the Seven Kingdoms. If only they made warhammers of Valyrian steel. Then again, I suppose a dagger would do just fine. With that arrangement, everyone would have a probable chance to fend off the Others.
While they were on the subject of how fire and weapons based on it were the White Walkers' greatest weakness, Lord Hoster Tully proposed that Lord Gregor consider manufacturing more of his black powder. Of the eleven hundred pouches the Mountain had supplied to the Royal Army, slightly less than two hundred remained unused by the end of Greyjoy's Rebellion. All of them were back in his possession, and he still intended to lock them away, but he was open to considering the manufacture of more, as long as they were only used against the White Walkers.
After this, they moved on to the next issue of precedence. This time, Gregor mentioned that there may not have been enough people in the Seven Kingdoms to stand against the Night King's massive undead army. He declared that they would need to build up their own forces. Initially, Robert had assumed Lord Gregor was suggesting that they seek out one of the free companies of Essos, such as the Golden Company or the Second Sons. I always wanted to see one of those sellsword armies in person.
While Gregor admitted that that was not a foolish idea, he claimed he was looking a little closer to home for reinforcements. Neither the king nor anyone else understood his meaning at first. Then he made this point: "Are the people of Westeros limited to the citizens of the Seven Kingdoms?"
Eddard Stark and Jorah Mormont were the first to realize what he was implying, and they were quick to apprise the others. They stated that Lord Gregor was advising them to make an alliance with the wildlings who lived north of the Wall. The Mountain did not deny that accusation; he fully admitted its truth.
That part of the conversation took well over an hour to resolve. Nearly every person there was against that concept. For as long as the history books could tell, the wildlings and the people of the Seven Kingdoms had never been at peace. They had invaded each other's territory at every opportunity. Although the wildlings rarely made it past the Neck, the Northmen were not the only ones who detested them. The other residents of the Seven Kingdoms despised them greatly. Even the Ironborn held little love for them.
Lord Gregor claimed he understood why they were reluctant to even consider the possibility of an alliance with the wildlings. Even so, he argued that it was safer than remaining adversaries with them. For every person who died north of the Wall, the Others would have one more body to make a wight out of. Aside from that, the Mountain informed everyone that the wildlings would one day attempt to come south of the Wall anyway. That had been part of his vision. In the autumn before the Long Night, Mance Rayder would amass an army of one hundred thousand of his people and send them charging towards Castle Black all at once. Gregor was hoping desperately to avoid that.
I cannot blame him. We'll already have plenty of undead enemies to worry about. We don't need any live ones making things worse.
Lord Gregor claimed that he had seen how the wildlings lived. Normally, the tribes did not coexist with each other peacefully. Then again, for the longest time, neither did the Seven Kingdoms. Since Mance Rayder would somehow manage to establish a peace – be it a tentative peace – between his own people, there was no reason to think the Seven Kingdoms and the Free Folk could not reach some type of compromise with each other.
The Mountain pointed out that the main reason the wildlings disliked the Seven Kingdoms was because they looked down on "kneelers." That was why they called themselves the Free Folk; no one ruled over them. In spite of that, Gregor debated that the wildlings could be persuaded to keep peace without bending the knee.
Gregor was willing to take full responsibility of any wildlings that were brought south of the Wall. He would ensure that they did not harass the people of the Seven Kingdoms or vice versa. Perhaps in time, they would even come to coexist with each other. Although Gregor could not ascertain that they would answer a call to arms, he was absolutely confident that when the time came, they would be more than willing to join the fight against the Others.
Lord Gregor was quite persuasive. By the end of the hour, he had convinced most of the twenty-nine other people in the Main Hall that the idea of a coalition with the wildlings was worth pursuing. The King and Lord Eddard gave the Mountain authorization to open negotiations with the wildlings. But they would not allow them to settle south of the Wall until he could guarantee their cooperation.
Gregor Clegane assured them that within the next couple years, he would be dealing with Mance Rayder directly. He'll have to find him first, and that is no easy task. If the man is caught south of the Wall, he is likely to be beheaded for a deserter.
Robert was relieved when they were able to agree on the matter of the wildlings. He doubted anything else discussed at this gathering would be more difficult or controversial.
Then Lord Gregor made his next proposal. This one involved making peace with someone even more unexpected and unpredictable than the Free Folk: the Targaryens.
Unsurprisingly, that suggestion was very unpopular with practically every person in the room. Particularly the king. He had never forgotten what Rhaegar had done to his beloved Lyanna, what Aerys had done to Rickard and Brandon Stark. It had been six years, and he still hated the Targaryens as much as ever. He would never allow them to set foot on the country ever again.
That was what he told himself, at any rate. He had believed thatt at the beginning of his reign. But now his conviction was beginning to lessen.
He had mourned Lyanna Stark when he learned of her death. He could have drowned his sorrows in wine. But that was not what she would have wanted. She wanted him to move on, and he had. Robert had found happiness in his marriage to Cersei Lannister. She was a caring wife; she had given him a strong son. She was everything he could have hoped for and more. At times, he went full months without even thinking of Lyanna Stark.
There was also the matter of the throne itself. Robert had never asked for it. He had never wanted it. He would have been content to have remained the Lord of Storm's End and the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. Actually, he would have been content with even less than that. If he could, he would have given Stannis the lordship of Storm's End and travelled across the Narrow Sea to join one of the free companies.
At times, he still entertained the idea of doing that when his son was old enough to succeed him. But he knew it would have been grossly irresponsible of him. Aside from that, he was already doing a fine job of ruling the Seven Kingdoms. It was unenviable work, but someone had to do it. The smallfolk and the highborn alike had faith in him. As long as they believed in him, he could not and would not stand down. Not unless someone better qualified and more deserving of the crown was to come along.
That bade the question; would Robert allow the dragons to return to Westeros and reclaim the Seven Kingdoms? He would never allow them to take back the throne, but under the right circumstances… he may welcome them back.
Robert was not the same man who had looked upon the mutilated bodies of Princess Rhaenys and Prince Aegon and called them "dragonspawn." That man had indiscriminately hated all Targaryens. But the man who now sat the Iron Throne was a different Robert. This one would never sanction the murder of innocent children, even if their parents were anything but.
Robert had developed that ideal that even before Lord Gregor suggested bringing the Targaryens back to Westeros. The Mountain was able to provide a number of legitimate reasons as to why this course of action was worth considering.
Firstly, he debated that if it was known that Robert and the Targaryens were cooperating, the Targaryen sympathizers would sympathize with him, as well. That would severely reduce the possibility of another insurrection. Furthermore, it was the Targaryens who had brought the Seven Kingdoms together in the first place. Despite the fact Aegon the Conqueror had done so by force, Gregor contended that there were some Targaryens that were capable of innovative thought. According to his visions, Viserys was likely as mad as his father, but Daenerys could be reasoned with.
Lord Tywin pointed out that even if they somehow managed to make peace with the Tagaryens, certain Targaryen loyalists could still attempt to put Viserys or Daenerys on the throne. In response to that, Lord Gregor bade the lion lord to tell him who would ever follow a ruler who was put in power against his or her will. Such a ruler would be a figurehead leader and nothing more. Those types never lasted long, and neither did the people who manipulated him into doing their bidding. He's got a great point there.
In the end, Robert agreed to consider bringing Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys back to Westeros. Years back, he had sent out hired knives to put an end to them. When he returned to King's Landing, he would give those pursuers new orders. Rather than having them kill the Targaryens, they would be instructed to either capture them alive or approach them peaceably. Lord Gregor found that acceptable.
Lord Gregor also mentioned that when the Long Night happened, the Targaryens would likely have one other advantage than no one else in the Known World possessed. However, he did not specify as to what that advantage was. Robert and a few of the others in the room would have liked to have known, but the Mountain claimed the Targaryens did not even have this advantage currently, and there was a slight chance that they might not even have it when they were supposed to. For those reasons (among others), he did not wish to feed the king or anyone else with false hope before he could confirm that his interference had not impacted the Targaryens' advantage. Whatever this "advantage" is, it must be absolutely incredible. I mean, if it can actually help us gain the upper hand in the fight against the Others…
Shortly before midnight, the gathering finally ended. Gregor thanked everyone for their time, and he asked that they remember everything that was discussed. Their actions from this day onward would determine how prepared Westeros would be when the next winter occurred. Let the Others come. I'll show the Night's King there is only room for one king in Westeros.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Lord Gregor asked his brother and the king to linger for a moment. Everyone else left the Main Hall. Ser Barristan and Queen Cersei stood outside the door and waited for Robert. Now that he had been released from his vows, Ser Jaime was not required to remain behind. Instead, he left the keep with his father, uncle, and brother.
When Robert was alone with the two Clegane brothers, he asked the elder of them "What do you need, my lord?"
"I just wish to give you a word of caution, Your Grace," the Mountain disclosed, "There is something you must know about these visions of mine. Something very unsettling. I thought it best not to share it with anyone other you two."
"The King, I can understand," Sandor Clegane remarked, "But why do you want me to know? It can't be because I'm your sibling. If it was, you would have had Ellyn stay behind, too."
"Because this concerns you directly," Gregor revealed. After a pause, he looked between Robert and his brother, and he went on with "From my visions, I have managed to impose many positive changes throughout Westeros. But in spite of how many changes I have made, I believe there are certain things that cannot be fully prevented. Some things are predestined to happen."
That caught Robert's interest, as well as Sandor's. The latter asked "How do you mean?"
Gregor apprehensively revealed "I had this one certain vision when I was in my eleventh year. In it, your face was burned. Horribly burned to the point where half of it was damaged beyond recognition."
The Hound stared at his brother in shock. Slowly, very slowly, he reached his hand up to the right side of his head. He placed his fingers against his burned cheek and let it rest there for a moment.
"I was able to prevent the initial incident that was supposed to give you that scar," Gregor pronounced, "But, much to our misfortune, it appears you were meant to acquire it in any case. And if that is the case… there is no telling what else fate will deny us the chance to change."
Different setting; same results. That's an alarming notion. "Have there been any incidents of a similar nature?"
"Not so far," Gregor reassured him, "But we need to be on full alert. Fate could strike back at any moment. It already took its toll on my brother. There is no telling who else it could turn against."
Robert nodded his head and "I appreciate your telling me this, my lord."
"It is no bother, Your Grace," the Mountain proclaimed, "I simply did not wish to give you too much hope in my ability to affect change from my visions. I can change many things, but not everything."
"I suppose that is for the best," Robert Baratheon murmured, "No man should have that much power."
"Which is why I chose to share it," Gregor Clegane revealed, "It is only just that you knew the full scope of my capabilities."
"Then you have performed superbly as Master of Order," the stag king debated with a smile.
Gregor Clegane smiled, as well. Sandor Clegane did not.
The Hound was standing still and openmouthed with his fingers pressed against his blackened cheek. He appeared to be in some form of trance.
"Ser Sandor?" the king said in concern. At that, the Mountain turned his attention to his brother.
He placed his hand on his shoulder and queried "What's wrong?"
The younger Clegane son gradually removed his hand from his face and looked up at his brother. He murmured softly "In that other life, how did I get burned? Was it an accident?"
Gregor did not answer right away. Then he gazed at the wall and muttered "No, it wasn't. But it was not the Crow's Eye who did it."
"I gathered as much," Sandor remarked, "If you were eleven, I was only six. I assume someone else did this?"
"Correct," Gregor affirmed.
"Well, who was it?" Sandor inquired, "Who burned me then?"
I'd like to know that myself.
King Robert and the Hound looked to the Mountain for a reply. He hesitated at first. Then he stared blankly at the wall. Finally, he let out a deep sigh, turned to face his king and brother, and disclosed "I did."
To say Robert and Ser Sandor were stunned would have been an understatement. They were flat-out speechless.
"What?" Sandor Clegane murmured quietly.
Gregor had to look down to make eye contact with anyone. But now, he was looking down at his feet. He gloomily pronounced "There is one thing all my visions had in common. In all of them, I was a much different person. Seven Hells, I was a monster. I had no principles, no ethics, and no morals whatsoever. I would have been responsible for the deaths of countless innocents, including Father, Mother, and Ellyn."
"Why would the gods possibly show you that?" Robert asked, baffled.
"I do not know," Gregor claimed, "Perhaps it was a warning. They may have been telling me that if I became the man in those visions, I would cause suffering on an immense scale. But I promise you; I would sooner die than become that man."
Robert reflected on that for a minute, and then he declared "I believe you, Lord Gregor."
Gregor Clegane grinned and dipped his head. "Thank you for continuing to have such confidence in me, Your Grace."
"After all you have done, I would be a fool not to," Robert Baratheon debated.
The Mountain was obviously pleased to hear that.
The Hound remained silent. He did not seem to share the King's conviction.
At that, Gregor looked his brother in the eye and remarked "Sandor, on the day I was supposed to burn your face, I did not. I defied the will of the gods so that I could be the brother you deserve. I told you I would be there for you. I meant it then and I mean it now. But I need to know now; will you be there for me?"
Sandor Clegane scowled momentarily, and then he scoffed and said "Do you even need to ask? Of course I will. Even if you were a total cunt in another life, you're the greatest brother one could ever hope for in this life, Gregor."
Certainly better than the ones I have. Then again… the fault may rest with me, not with Stannis or Renly.
The Mountain smiled and clapped the Hound on the back amiably. In response, Sandor grinned too and patted Gregor on the arm lightly.
Seeing the way the two Clegane brothers interacted with each other impressed Robert. He lamented on how poor his relationships with his own brothers were. Perhaps I could mend things with Stannis and make some more time for Renly.
"The gods may have intended for you to be mortal enemies," Robert contended, "But you are not, despite their greatest attempts. So for that, I say fuck them."
"Aye; fuck them, Your Grace," Gregor Clegane coincided.
"Fuck them very much," Sandor added in.
The three men got a good long laugh at that. It's always nice when men are not afraid to swear in front of their king.