Everyone present was stunned for a moment, then they all looked at someone next to them who had been silent just like Daenerys: Moqorro, a High Red Priest sent by the High Priest of the Red Temple in Volantis to guide the Dragon Queen and assist her on the path to fulfilling the prophecy.
This tall Red Priest, when in Meereen, spoke incessantly about the Long Night approaching, darkness descending upon the North of Westeros, and ancient, unspeakable alien gods coveting the lives of all living beings. In short, a lot of baseless, charlatan-like pronouncements that made one's ears callus. But strangely, after Daenerys landed on Dragonstone, he completely reversed his previous urgency and garrulousness. Not only did he stop urging the Queen to go to the far North to fulfill the Prophet's responsibility, but he also quietly sat on the side as background during every meeting. His dark skin, coupled with his low-key words and actions, made the members of the council, especially the newly joined Varys, almost ignore his existence.
But everyone had not forgotten: this big dark man had said not long ago that the strongest follower Daenerys could gain, whom he had been babbling about for a long time, would arrive uninvited from the far North soon after the Queen occupied Dragonstone, meet her, and provide guidance to the true legitimate ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.
Moqorro had already displayed too many extraordinary abilities after joining her ranks. Daenerys had long stopped seeing him as an ordinary charlatan. Could it be that Petyr, Varys, and this Night's Watch Commander who arrived today, just as he predicted, together form the three heads of the dragon from the prophecy?
With surprise and anticipation, Daenerys looked at the Red Priest. Moqorro, with a mysterious smile on his face, turned his head to meet the Queen's gaze and spoke first. "Your Majesty, since the person has arrived, why hesitate to let him in?"
---
The ship Aegor was on was not actually flying grey sails, but black sails identifying it as Night's Watch property. It was just that the dyes of this era were of generally poor quality, and after exposure to sun, rain, and several washes, the black sails had faded to grey. Eastwatch-by-the-Sea to Dragonstone is nearly a thousand miles. To ensure speed, after Aegor arrived at Eastwatch, he specifically selected a team of oarsmen with the best physical fitness. Thanks to good weather allowing slow nighttime sailing and favorable winds, they sailed at full speed, not even stopping at Gulltown, and entered Crownlands waters after passing the Vale on the fifth day.
About a dozen miles from Dragonstone, the Blackbird was intercepted by a large galley flying a red dragon flag. After the sailors from that ship boarded to inspect and inquire about their purpose, they led the Night's Watch ship to the military port of Dragonstone.
The island was still the same island where only birds shit, but the scenery around it had changed dramatically during the journey. From the point of interception to entering the port, Aegor saw at least three large warships patrolling. As they approached the island, the military port, which had previously harbored the Dragonstone fleet, was now dense with warships and masts, and the red dragon banners of House Targaryen were flying everywhere.
It was a normal sight, but among the red dragon flags, Aegor saw scattered, yet to him extremely sensitive, kraken flags representing Greyjoy.
What was going on? Yara and Theon Greyjoy were in Crown Town. Could it be that Euron had already connected with Daenerys?
Effortlessly recalling scattered memories of the original plot, the Night's Watch warship was led to shore. After being supervised and waiting for a while in the port's outpost cabin, the news that Dragonstone agreed to receive him came faster than expected. Led by several Queen's guards in red and black armor, somewhat similar to the Night's Watch, Aegor and Melisandre climbed the winding mountain path towards Dragonstone Keep at the very top of the hill. After a good warm-up, they entered this magnificent yet desolate castle for the second time.
The castle was a bit more lively than the last time he visited. Walking through the long, dark corridors, they were led into the surprisingly spacious and empty reception hall of Dragonstone Keep and soon entered the famous scene.
The hall doors were pushed open. Melisandre, who had lived here for several months, was naturally familiar with it, but it was Aegor's first time entering this room. Before he could finish surveying the furnishings in the hall, a clear and high-pitched voice suddenly rang out.
"Sitting before you is the Queen of Meereen, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, known as the Mother of Dragons, The Unburnt, The Breaker of Chains, Daenerys Targaryen I, Stormborn." A small, dark-skinned girl stood at the edge of the high platform and announced loudly. "Visitor, state your identity."
Despite the important task he bore, Aegor still felt a slight sense of peculiar displacement due to this strong feeling of déjà vu. Fortunately, after a brief moment of distraction, the Night's Watch Commander quickly composed himself. He had no intention of acting like a certain person, first exchanging silly glances with his companion behind him, and then introducing himself in a dry and awkward manner.
"I am the highest Commander of the sworn brothers of the Wall, Commander of the Night's Watch, Aegor West. I greet Your Majesty."
After his introduction, which was steady in tone, concise yet not exaggerated, and full of vigor, Aegor straightened his back and looked up at the silver-haired woman not far in front of him.
At this sight, a sense of dread, as if his very spine was trembling, shot up from behind his waist like an electric current, all the way to his back and forehead, making his scalp tingle.
Before transmigrating, which character's personal chapters did Aegor like to skip the most when reading the original novel?
Answer: Daenerys.
Before this young Queen rose to power, she and her brother were displaced and relied on each other, yet she was sold to the khal by Magister Illyrio just as she reached adulthood, had her virginity taken by a barbarian under the open sky, finally saw some hope in life only to face the loss of her husband, and was ultimately deceived by a witch, resulting in a miscarriage. Even her last hope, her child, was gone. Aegor did not have the trait of finding pleasure in being abused. This somewhat tragic and depressing story made him want to skim over it and never read it a second time.
And after she rose to power? The style suddenly went to the opposite extreme, a continuous surge of power, sweeping through everything, unstoppable. No matter what difficulties, what dangers, Daenerys always seemed to overcome them through luck, coincidence, or men who knelt at her feet. This typical protagonist template quality always made Aegor feel like he was not reading A Song of Ice and Fire but an ordinary online power fantasy novel, a treatment so out of place compared to any other point-of-view character in the book that he found it hard to empathize.
And the Mother of Dragons on screen was another story entirely. Quiet as a virgin, smiling like a fool, speaking like a peashooter, her looks fluctuating between one and ten points, often just one expression could instantly break immersion. While being amused by her various bizarre videos and images, Aegor, as a viewer, would often fantasize: which actress could portray the most beautiful woman with more flair?
But at this moment, he suddenly understood: the casting was irrelevant.
Because in the world before he transmigrated, there was simply no woman, nor could there ever be, who could portray even one ten-thousandth of Daenerys's beauty and charm.
(To be continued.)