Game of Thrones: Viserys the Three-Headed Dragon.

Chapter 38: A Feast at Winterfell
"Jorah, where do you think Illyrio is? The wind is starting to blow from the southeast. Will he be in Braavos before we get to Myr?"

Jorah thought the fat spice lord should be in his courtyard at this moment, either eating honey roast duck and pepper orange with cold wine, or discussing business with other dignitaries, anyway, he couldn't be on his way to Braavos. But Jorah said to his newly sworn king: "It takes longer to go from Pentos to Braavos. Even if the wind is right, it will take seven or eight days at best."

It's always easy to see through Jorah's lies. When he doesn't give a direct answer, it usually means he has other ideas. He will say some common sense that everyone knows to make his lies more persuasive.

Viserys had no intention of exposing him.

The sun was so strong a few days ago that Jorah couldn't take off his mail and leather clothes until the wind started. Fortunately, there were finally dark clouds and sea breezes, otherwise Jorah would have talked to Viserys in clothes that were full of sweat and smelled after being dried.

Viserys had asked the guard Jorah and the maid Arnie to find a shady place to rest by themselves, but he insisted on sunbathing on the deck with Viserys, saying it was his duty.

Viserys had some idea of ​​Jorah's endurance.

Viserys had spent the past few days chatting with Jorah on the ship about all sorts of things, and he soon discovered that Jorah was much easier to deal with than Illyrio, and Viserys had gotten much more information out of him than he had gotten from Viserys.

There was a hint of disdain in Jorah's words towards Illyrio. His ability to conceal it was not good enough, so it could be an act, but Viserys didn't think it was fake.

Analyzing the tone of his conversation with Jorah, Viserys suspected that Jorah had no idea of ​​Illyrio's identity and only regarded him as a political speculator.

Even Viserys suspected that Jorah didn't realize that it was a joint effort of Varys and Illyrio to arrange for him to be with Viserys, rather than just a coincidence.

As a spy, Ser Jorah might know much less than Viserys imagined.

Even the information revealed to him by Viserys was that this trip was to borrow money from various free trade cities, rather than hiding on the second floor to secretly spread a smokescreen of false news.

But it's normal to think about it. Jorah, a spy temporarily recruited by Varys for King Robert, probably knows nothing except that his mission is to approach the beggar king and bring back news for King Robert who is far away on the other side of the Narrow Sea.

For a moment, Viserys felt sorry for him. Because even Viserys was playing with his fate.

"By the way, where were we talking about before, Eddard Stark," Viserys asked him with a bit of evilness, "You seem to hate this Lord Stark?"

"He took everything I loved, all for a few scumbag poachers and his precious honor." Ser Jorah expressed his indignation carefully. "I hate him."

During these days of chatting, Jorah vaguely grasped the character of the Beggar King. The "Beggar King" was not as stupid and conceited as the rumors said. Although what he was doing seemed to be foolish, his words and deeds did not reveal that he had any problems with his brain.

Comparing the Targaryen kings to Jorah, he felt that the "Beggar King" was like Baelor Targaryen I as described by the scholars. He made many extremely bad decisions, but would burn his talent - if that could be called talent - to realize his fanatical delusions.

From Jorah's tone, Viserys felt that this was true, and Jorah did resent Lord Stark.

Jorah didn't want to talk about Stark, but Viserys didn't want to change the subject. "Why do you think King Robert came north to find him?"

"The Usurper King trusts him, my lord." Jorah didn't want to mention it anymore, but replied, "They were once adopted sons by the deceased old Prime Minister Jon Arryn, and they also fought together to usurp the throne of the Targaryen Dynasty. The usurper probably wants to appoint Eddard Stark as the new Hand of the King."

"Do you think the Lannisters will resent the Starks for this?" Viserys asked. "Will there be a conflict?"

Jorah's new king always made these seemingly reasonable but impractical comments. King Robert was a bad man, so he would not let this happen. Not wanting to spoil the beggar king's fun, Ser Jorah replied, "Perhaps, my lord."

-

Jon didn't want to come - he thought it would be better to change into new clothes in the room and go to the banquet hall to get a good seat instead of joining the crowd at the city gate. Visitors would eventually walk in through the banquet hall door anyway, and he could satisfy his curiosity there. But the servants outside were shouting and yelling, and the young servants didn't want to wait for the banquet in the castle, so they all went outside the castle.

If Jon didn't go to the city gate at this time, if the steward needed to urgently call for help, he would definitely not be able to ask him for help. How embarrassing it would be for him to sit alone in the banquet hall.

So here Jon was, wrapped in his new cloak, among the young squires who had come to meet the king at the gate, standing under the fluttering Stark direwolf banner, where he could see far ahead.

The visiting team was like a shining river of gold, silver and steel, pouring into the castle gates. There were three hundred of them, composed of proud bannermen and knights, sworn knights and free riders. The cold north wind whipped the dozens of golden banners held high above their heads, embroidered with the crowned stag symbolizing the Baratheon family.

There are many contemporary legends of the Seven Kingdoms in the team. The one with bright blond hair is Sir Jaime Lannister, the "Lion of Lannister" - people secretly call him "The Kingslayer", and the one with burns on his face is Sandor Clegane, "Prince Joffrey's Hound". The tall blond boy next to him is Prince Joffrey, the crown prince. And the deformed dwarf behind them is undoubtedly "Little Devil" Tyrion Lannister.

However, Jon could not connect the fat man walking in the front of the team, accompanied by two white-cloaked Kingsguards, with the unparalleled warrior Robert Baratheon that his father often talked about, the Demon of the Trident, the most valiant and skilled warrior in the country, a man who stood out among the princes and nobles.

In comparison, Jon felt that Ser Jaime, who was tall and handsome, wearing golden armor and with flowing golden hair, had the demeanor of a king.

Jon could even see from a distance that his father looked strange. It was not until the fat man jumped off his horse, gave a loud shout, and hugged Lord Eddard that his father smiled in surprise and hugged him tightly.

"Ned! Ah, it's good to see you, especially with your face purple from the cold." The king's voice was unusually loud, so that Jon could hear it clearly. "You are really the same as before."

At least the king had a loud voice. Jon remembered how his father had often said that a loud voice could do more good in battle than a hundred swords.

After the hug, Lord Eddard bowed to the king and said, "Winterfell is at your service, my lord."

The others dismounted, and the city grooms came to tend the horses. Robert's queen, Cersei Lannister, and her young children entered the city. The carriage they rode in was a huge double-decker, made of polished oak and gilded metal, and was pulled by forty horses. It was so wide that it had to be parked outside the city gates.

Lord Eddard knelt in the snow and kissed the ring on the queen's hand, while King Robert embraced Lady Catelyn as if she were his long-lost sister.

Then Lord Eddard's children were brought forward and introduced to the King's children one by one.

As the eldest son, Robb was the first to step forward and salute. He was wearing a gray wool coat with white edges, which symbolized the Stark family colors, and his face showed a solemn expression similar to his father.

Bran and Rickon followed closely behind, also wearing new Stark-style clothes, trying very hard to show their noble demeanor. Then came Sansa and Arya, who showed each other politely.

The king's three sons also came forward to return the greeting.

Soon they were standing together, Robb standing next to Princess Myrcella, a little girl no more than eight, with golden curls cascading down her jeweled net. Jon noticed the shy smile she gave him as she looked at him. Robb was grinning like a fool.

Sansa stood beside the crown prince, Joffrey Baratheon. Sansa was radiant next to the prince. Joffrey looked haughty and had a pout on his lips. Jon didn't think he would like this prince.

Arya is with the chubby Prince Tommen. It is the first time Jon has seen Arya act so ladylike and reserved.

Bran and Rickon stood aside.

At this time, Jon saw his uncle Benjen Stark, who was standing at the end of the line in black, and Theon Greyjoy, who still had his signature cynical smile on his face but looked quite at a loss at the moment.

For a moment, Jon actually felt a little sympathy for Theon Greyjoy in this state.

But what right did Jon have to sympathize with him?

His eyes suddenly stung and Jon rubbed them roughly.

It's sandstorm.

The formal greeting ceremony was soon over, and the king's loud voice rang out again: "Ned, take me to your family's crypt. I want to show my respects."

Lord Eddard responded immediately. He asked for a lantern and looked deeply into the king's eyes. Everything was said without words.

The queen started to say something, but King Robert looked at her coldly. Her twin brother Jaime held her hand quietly, and she said nothing more.

After Lord Eddard and the king left, Lady Catelyn began to receive guests, inviting them into the city.

It took the entire team a full quarter of an hour to finally enter the city.

While waiting for the king and Lord Eddard in front of the hall, Lady Catelyn asked people to deliver salt and bread in front of the banquet hall according to traditional etiquette, and then took the family crest flags from the visiting family flag officers and asked them to hang them on the gray stone wall of the banquet hall. Soon, the gray stone wall of the banquet hall was covered with flags of various families.

Although Lady Catelyn had arranged many things to do while they waited, the king and Lord Eddard stayed in the crypt a little longer.

Jon could probably guess who the king was going to see.

Although his father rarely mentioned it, the children knew from various sources that King Robert was engaged to their Aunt Lyanna.

But Prince Rhaegar kidnapped her.

Their uncle Brandon Stark went to King's Landing to seek justice and was brutally hanged by the "Mad King" Aerys II Targaryen. Their grandfather Rickard Stark was forced to witness the entire process of his beloved son's tragic death and was then brutally burned to death.

After that, Robert Baratheon, Duke of Storm's End, Jon Arryn, Duke of the Eyrie, and Eddard Stark, the successor Duke of Winterfell, launched an uprising against the "Mad King", and half of the country's swords fought for them.

The rebels and the royalists, Robert and Rhaegar, two mortal enemies, met on the sandbank where three rivers meet, and the flames of war spread all around. Robert held his iron-spiked hammer and wore a great helmet with antlers; the Targaryen prince was dressed in black armor, and on his breastplate was a three-headed dragon inlaid with rubies, symbolizing the family emblem, which looked like a blazing fire under the scorching sun. The two fought endlessly, and the water of the Trident River turned blood red under the iron hooves of their horses, until finally Robert's hammer smashed the three-headed dragon on his opponent's armor and pierced through the body under the armor. Rhaegar fell into the river and died; soldiers from both sides scrambled in the water for the rubies that fell from his armor, causing splashes of water.

Countless stories and songs are sung about the scene at that time.

But Aunt Lyanna did not survive.

King Robert later married Cersei of House Lannister.

No wonder the queen looked angry.

When the king came back, he was panting and sweating, but his laughter was still as loud as a bell. "Ned, hurry up and announce the start of the banquet. I must have a good drink with you today."

Jon saw that his father, Lord Eddard, had a serious look on his face. He did not laugh with the king, but just gave a calm and solemn speech to announce the start of the banquet.

By the time it was Jon and the young servants' turn to enter, the banquet hall was already full.

Fortunately, few people were interested in the benches near the entrance to the banquet hall, so he sat down on an empty seat. This was his seat at the banquet today.

Jon poured himself a glass of Summer Red as the king and his father took their seats and drank.

Amid cheers of "Long live the King", he and his young attendants raised their glasses and sipped the fine wine.

The sweet fruity aroma of summer red wine filled his mouth, bringing a smile to the corners of his mouth.

On special occasions like this, his father the Duke always allowed each child to drink a glass of wine, but no more. On the contrary, when he was with his entourage and servants, no one cared how much he drank.

There were occasions - few, but still few - when Jon Snow could congratulate himself on being a bastard, and as he took the passed flagon and refilled his own empty glass he realised that this was one of those occasions.

(End of this chapter)