Would the fire ignite this small town?
Viserys already knew he was the Unburnt. Even if everyone else was burned to death, he would be unharmed. He planned that once Robert's side started to lose to Clegane, he would continue to set fires and hide within the raging flames. No one knew better than he what it meant to fall into the hands of the Mountain: Gregor Clegane's crimes were too numerous to count.
Princess Elia was torn apart alive after being violated by him, and the brains of her and Rhaegar's children were left in the royal nursery—this was the blood debt that Robert Baratheon had indulged after the fall of King's Landing. Viserys wished that the Mountain could crush the black-haired man beside him, just like he had crushed the Red Viper Prince's head.
He gasped, his arm throbbing painfully. His other hand was still able to hold his sword and stab the rabble who made it to him in the fierce fight. However, he dared not take off his cloak and reveal his hair color—the Mad King would indeed burn anyone who dared to hurt his little prince. But that was the problem. For the depraved and unscrupulous Mountain, Viserys didn't doubt that if he found out he was a Targaryen prince at this moment, he would kill everyone and slaughter the entire town, leaving no one alive who knew.
Gregor picked up his greatsword and cut down the Stormlands attendant at the very front. Flames crackled and roared in the background, sparks flew, and smoke filled the air. Blood and swords and shields intertwined in a frenzy. The cries of the townsfolk seemed to be far away, and everything was like hell.
"Can you still fight?" Viserys asked the injured Robert calmly—it wasn't out of concern, but because he was preparing to retreat into the fire!
The pain made Robert's blue pupils even brighter. He spat, gritting his teeth and clenching his warhammer. "Stop talking nonsense. Watch me smash his armor with a single blow!"
Just as the two sides began a frenzied melee in the fire, fighting to the death or to everyone's death, suddenly the sound of hooves rang out. Another team of cavalry arrived. They were like saviors from the sky, heavily armored and wielding gleaming, sharp spears, deterring the soldiers of the Clegane and Baratheon families who were mixed in battle. "The Crown Prince has arrived!! No one move!!"
My God! Viserys saw the men in gold robes maintaining order and organizing the townsfolk to fight the fire. Then, amidst the flames and smoke, he saw Barristan, the white-robed Kingsguard he knew. He was on horseback, clad in silver-white armor, sword drawn in defense.
Behind him rode another, a white horse with black armor, holding his helmet in his hand. The knight's silver hair gleamed in the firelight, and he was incredibly handsome, his expression serious.
"Brother!!" Viserys shouted joyfully, suddenly throwing off his cloak. He pushed aside the spear of a gold-robed guard who tried to stop him, and ran towards him!
Rhaegar immediately dismounted, tossed his helmet aside, and opened his arms, striding towards his most beloved brother.
Viserys threw himself into Rhaegar's embrace, even though his shoulder collided with the crown prince's black helmet, and his arm throbbed, making him grimace. The little prince still clung tightly to his brother's waist.
Rhaegar cupped his brother's face in his hands, first kissing his hair and forehead, then carefully examining him: his purple eyes were bright, but his beautiful face was smudged with soot and smoke, looking disheveled. And he—Rhaegar could tell—something was wrong with his brother's left arm, his movements awkward.
"What's wrong?" He cautiously tried to touch Viserys's arm, and his brother gasped, "Just now. I need a doctor. Maybe... maybe it's broken."
"Damn it—I didn't do anything to him!" Robert saw this scene, cursed, and felt that one troublesome thing after another was piling up, and he was extremely annoyed. Gregor's face had also become extremely ugly.
The joy vanished from the Crown Prince's violet eyes. He immediately ordered his men to find a place in the town to care for the wounded from both sides, and had the royal physician examine the young prince. The results came back quickly; fortunately, there were no fractures, only a dislocated shoulder. From beginning to end, the Crown Prince held Viserys's uninjured right hand, encouraging him not to be afraid: the process of treating the dislocation still brought tears to Viserys's eyes.
The Crown Prince couldn't help but press his cheek against his brother's cold, sweat-drenched forehead, gently holding him in his arms to comfort him, his fingers combing through his long hair.
Robert Baratheon hadn't looked after his own brother well. He shouldn't have let Viserys be his squire in the first place, he thought, feeling remorseful. Finally relaxing under his brother's protection after being so tense, Viserys fell into a deep sleep.
Rhaegar went outside and told Robert resolutely that Viserys had to stay with him until he recovered.
Faced with the Crown Prince, who had come all the way to Riverrun, Robert protested that he was being wronged. Viserys had been eating and drinking well all the way, and the injury was entirely an accident—he himself had also been injured in the melee!
"I will investigate whoever hurt Viserys," Rhaegar said calmly. "He is my only brother."
Because the Crown Prince had arrived with his troops, the fire was finally extinguished before nightfall. The area that had been ignited wasn't large, and the town was safe. In front of the ruins, still smoldering, attendants held torches to illuminate Rhaegar, clad in armor and holding a sword. With the honor of a knight, he announced to the assembled townspeople that they need not be afraid; their losses would be compensated. Each household whose home had burned down would receive a Gold Dragon, and each man and woman who had helped fight the fire would receive a Silver Stag. The cause of the tavern fire and the reason for the two sides' brawl would also be investigated.
The town mayor expressed his gratitude to the Crown Prince. The men and women who had saved their homes had witnessed firsthand the grace of the Targaryen heir: he helped the common folk and cared for them—how fortunate they were that he would govern the country in the future!
A little girl hid behind her mother's skirts, peeking at the handsome man surrounded by everyone. He had silver hair and black armor—what was the red figure flashing on his chest? A dragon? Could he also be called the Dragon Prince?
"Mommy, dragons are awesome!"
Early the next morning, all parties involved, plus the tavern owner and his family, gathered in front of the Crown Prince's tent. The tavern owner had never seen such a great figure and was terrified, his knees weak with fear.
A lord's trial was about to begin here. Crown Prince Rhaegar sat in the center, possessing the power to deliver judgment in the name of the king and as the Protector of the Seven Kingdoms. Hoster Tully, the Duke of House Tully, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, acted as the representative and guardian for the tavern's side. He was a tall lord, and the cool blue wool cloak matched his red hair, the colors of his house sigil.
Rhaegar listened to the accusations from both sides of the brawl. Viserys was injured, his arm dislocated. Intentionally harming a royal in a non-duel situation was a serious crime. If the Mad King had been in charge, the Clegane family would all be burned to a crisp, not one escaping.
Gregor already knew that the other party was Robert Baratheon of the Stormlands, the Crown Prince's cousin. And the page who had initially provoked the attack and injured someone was Viserys, the Crown Prince's younger brother.
He knelt down on one knee in anger, recounting what had happened. The Clegane family had not provoked the Baratheon family at all. It was the young prince who had struck first, suddenly attacking his attendants. They were merely acting in self-defense.
Gregor had a lot of his hair burned off, and a large blister had formed on his head. His family's guards were lying on stretchers, barely alive. Gregor gritted his teeth and swore that the fire had nothing to do with him; the young prince's injury was purely accidental, perhaps not even sustained during the fight. It might have happened when they first entered, and he was pushed.
He was desperately trying to find a scapegoat.
Robert then recounted that he and his attendants had been drinking at first, and the young prince had been standing outside the door eating eggs…
Rhaegar's face was cold as he glared at him.
Robert understood and became even angrier. "He despises everything about the tavern! From the wine to the food! He never eats near me! He didn't even pour me any wine. Is there such a servant?!"
"The issue now is not whether Viserys is doing his job," the Crown Prince said coldly. "Continue…"
When Clegane arrived, he was pushed and then ran in, sitting beside Robert. Nothing happened at this point. Both sides were drinking, and all was peaceful, until…
The tavern owner was terrified, his teeth chattering as he barely managed to describe what happened: soldiers from the Clegane family had grabbed his daughter and pinned her to the table…
"The realm does not permit rape," Rhaegar said, his violet eyes filled with pity as he looked at the poor girl, still trembling from the memory of the horrific event. "Those who commit rape should be executed or sent to the Night's Watch. And nobles – since the abolition of the right of the first night, are treated equally in this matter."
Viserys didn't think the matter would be so simple. Sure enough, Gregor roared, "There was no rape! She's a whore, and I paid for her! A Silver Stag! Enough to buy a whole load of fine food and drink! Lamb, duck, bread, ale! Furthermore, I didn't even get to finish before I was interrupted! This whore and her family took my Silver Stag and then tried to run away! I was completely cheated!!"
Viserys clenched his fists. This was the reality of the world of ice and fire. Noble lords could simply toss a coin at the victim and turn the illegal act of "rape" into the legal act of using a prostitute. How disgusting. The women of this world, the commoner women, were just grass to be trampled by the nobles…
The Crown Prince's expression was serious. "Viserys proves that the tavern owner said his daughter was already married, and he begged you not to do this."
"Your Grace! But they didn't give me back the silver coin. The Silver Stag is still in the tavern. She is nothing but a whore! Cunning, base, a swindler, and that man even took up arms to attack a noble! He should have his feet and hands cut off!!"
"It is legal for a husband to attack when he sees his wife being violated!" Viserys stood up and shouted.
"Your Grace!" Gregor ground his teeth, clenching his fists as he spat out each word through his teeth, "This tavern is actually a brothel, a family of whores running a business! You've been tricked. People come and go, and they can sleep with her just by spending a little money. I believe the other knights who've been here will come to the same conclusion. Hasn't she been with other men? A whore!! Her so-called husband is nothing but a doorkeeper for the brothel! When he gets a satisfying bone, he'll wag his tail and welcome the master upstairs!"
The tavern owner and his family were shaking like leaves. Viserys felt a growing sense of unease – he'd seen the looks in the eyes of the others present. Robert also seemed to believe it, as did the Duke of Tully, and, of course, everyone else, brother…
Rhaegar frowned, a mix of concern for the common folk and disgust for the depravity of the noble class swirling in his eyes. He still tried to defend the rights of the commoners. "Gregor threw the Silver Stag coins on the table. Did the tavern owner or his daughter pick up the coins, take them in hand, thus acknowledging the contract?"
Viserys stared at the tavern owner, silently begging him to find the courage to refuse!
But at that moment, a thin, small servant of Gregor spoke cautiously, "Your Grace… the contract is in effect. They took them; I saw it. During the melee, I kept my eye on the coins, wanting to pick one up. I saw the tavern owner, before he ran out the door – he was helping his daughter, and he quickly snatched the coin. The knight's silver should still be on him."
The tavern owner completely collapsed. "No… not… I just… my daughter isn't…"
Viserys' vision swam. He hadn't expected…
Rhaegar's eyes held even more pity. He judged that the tavern owner truly didn't want his daughter to be abused as a prostitute, but in the chaotic, hurried moment of escape, the owner had instinctively grabbed the coins – he wanted a little money to survive.
"Hang this family of swindlers who attacked a knight!" Gregor snarled, pressing his advantage.
"The accused is actually going after the victim?" The suffocating law… Viserys looked to his brother for help, who was deep in thought.
A moment later, Rhaegar's voice was as calm as an icy spring, "You were all drinking in the tavern, and did you pay at the time?"
"No!!" Viserys jumped up and shouted, "So the silver coins were for the drinks the owner took, and compensation for smashing up the place!!"
What a loophole! Everyone can take advantage of that!! Brother is amazing!! He saw the flaw!
Gregor clenched his fists at the words. Viserys confirmed that he actually wanted to kill Rhaegar and everyone present – this heinous criminal, who owed the Targaryen family a blood debt – thinking of those things, a ruthlessness surged in Viserys' heart, he didn't intend to let this person leave the Riverlands alive.
"I paid the money, this is a prostitute. I have been wronged! I request that the Lord of Casterly Rock, Tywin Lannister, be the protector of my Clegane family!" Gregor said indignantly, "Lord's trial, my lord should not be absent."
Rhaegar's eyes were cold and sharp. Viserys also realized at the same time, "It is the Lannisters who are governing this country, not King Aerys" and the meaning of this statement.
The brown-haired Duke Tully stood up at this moment and spoke. As the lord of the Riverlands, he "protected" his people. He said that it was all a misunderstanding, the tavern was just an ordinary tavern, not doing any flesh business, and Ser Gregor was mistaken, but in actuality, no real crime was committed. Therefore, he would write a letter to Duke Tywin, requesting that the two sides offset each other and not pursue the crime of civilians attacking nobles.
Rhaegar looked at him, his gaze sweeping over the terrified tavern owner, and calmly said, "Then the trial in this matter is adjourned. I will await the opinion of Lord Tywin. Next, regarding Viserys's injury—I propose to use trial by combat."
"As his brother, I will be Viserys's champion. Ser Gregor's side, please designate a champion. The two sides will fight in Riverrun. If Gregor Clegane wins, he will be declared innocent."
He held down Viserys, who was about to jump up upon hearing this, his tone brooking no argument.
Hearing that his brother was going to duel the Mountain, the young prince struggled to object but was held back. How could this be? He panicked, staring at his brother's serious expression. His purple pupils widened, his face turning pale with fear.