"It is not difficult to let you leave Dragonstone. Though I have not been by the Queen's side for long, I am quite trusted and relied upon," Moqorro said, leaning against the stone parapet on the edge of the tower, unmoving as a mountain. "But the difficulty lies in how to resolve this misunderstanding and make the prophecy come true. The Lord of Light showing me Daenerys Targaryen and the Night's Watch Commander simultaneously in the fire cannot be without reason. If the two become strangers or even enemies because of this foolish misunderstanding, it will have an extremely unfavorable impact on this crucial battle between my Lord and the arch-enemy."
Melisandre did not immediately respond.
That was right, what Moqorro had just said was another theory widely accepted among High Priests. This stems from how followers of the Red God receive R'hllor's oracles from the fire. The information the Lord of Light conveys to followers through fire is mainly divided into three categories. The first category is the most common, showing things that have happened in the past or are happening now in the flames, helping followers understand the truth of matters or prepare for impending danger. The second type is a strong premonition or reminder, usually vague and abstract, requiring the viewer to interpret it themselves. The most typical example, Melisandre saw Dragonstone in the flames, so she came to Westeros, and then saw an ice wall, so she went to the Gift.
The third type is the most special, clear and distinct images showing things that have not yet happened, the source of all prophecies.
Unlike what is usually claimed to ordinary followers, that "the fire shows the future," High Priests actually know clearly that a considerable portion of future events shown in the flames will not happen if the viewer does nothing. This means the future they see in the flames is likely not the true future, but the future the Lord of Light hopes or needs to happen. R'hllor, by transmitting information through fire, issues tasks to followers, reminding and urging them to use their wisdom and subjective initiative to make it a reality.
Melisandre saw a scene in the flames of a dragon breathing fire and burning wights, which at least meant R'hllor hoped the dragon could play a role in this final battle. But there was another further possibility, that He was reminding her, without the dragon's participation, the Night's Watch and the North cannot win this battle.
…
Having figured out this point, she nodded and spoke, realizing that the matter was indeed far more complicated than simply escaping Dragonstone. "Think carefully, is there any way to salvage the situation?"
"There really is." Moqorro turned his head to look at Melisandre. "Your Commander gave the Queen a gift today. What exactly was it?"
"Were you not there? A small booklet. I asked him what was inside when we were on the ship, and he showed me a glance. The content was very strange, a lot of exaggerated empty talk and boasts, seemingly related to politics, which is completely outside my knowledge. Why?"
"The Queen was in a very bad mood after the audience ended. After returning to the conference room, the two advisors continued to argue about the army's next move, while she sat aside with a grim face, flipping through that small gift. At first, I thought she would tear it up or throw it into the fireplace the next second, but the reality was quite different. After just one look, her towering anger, which was visible to the naked eye, almost dissipated by more than half. For the rest of the time until dinner, the Queen was concentrating on reading this small booklet, completely ignoring the fiercely arguing advisors," Moqorro recalled. "Finally, when the Queen looked up again, she asked me, why would her most powerful follower not acknowledge her legitimacy."
"Very interesting. I really cannot see that hastily written booklet having such magic. How did you answer?"
"Although I could not guess what the Queen read in it, I could see the sense of finding a treasure that she was deliberately suppressing. So my answer was, 'Isn't your most powerful follower right in your hands?'"
"A clever answer." Priests use vague language and phrasing when interpreting prophecies to outsiders, precisely so they can salvage the situation when things go wrong. "So, that booklet is her 'most powerful follower.' You did not deceive the Queen or misjudge."
"I temporarily muddled through, but Daenerys is not stupid, and the matter still needs to be resolved eventually. The Queen then asked her two advisors about the origin of this book and where the complete version was. Varys, after reading it, denounced it as 'empty and impractical fantasy,' while Petyr Baelish offered no opinion. Of course, both agreed that they had never read or heard of this book. So, the Queen will definitely ask about it tomorrow. I came tonight to give you a heads-up. Where did the content in that booklet come from?"
"The Commander wrote it on the ship while traveling from Eastwatch-by-the-Sea to Dragonstone. Varys and Petyr Baelish are both considered knowledgeable and learned among mortals. If they have not heard of it, and I have not seen it…"
"Could it be that he wrote it? How could he write a book in just a few days? What is more interesting is, a Night's Watch Commander, where would he get the knowledge to teach a genuine Queen how to be a monarch?" Moqorro's curiosity was also greatly piqued, but this matter was ultimately not very relevant to the current problem. "I have an idea. Go back and tell your Commander that when the Queen asks about this booklet, he should answer like this, the original version of this book is in the Night's Watch library, but due to its age, decay, and weathering, it cannot withstand long-distance transport and can only be read on site."
"Why answer like that?"
"To create time for them to be alone. I can see that the Commander is not someone who is clumsy with words. Given the opportunity, he can handle everything himself…"
Melisandre scoffed through her nose. "The Dragon Queen is indeed astonishingly beautiful, but Aegor West is by no means someone consumed by lust. You underestimate him far too much."
"You are a woman, you cannot experience the magical attraction radiating from Daenerys," Moqorro grinned, his dark skin in the night making his smile look like a sudden flash of white jade in the darkness. "This attraction disregards willpower and normal orientation, acting directly on the body and deep subconscious. For unknown reasons, different men are affected by this attraction to varying degrees, but one thing is certain, any physically normal man will be affected."
"You are also a man, will you also be affected by this attraction?"
"Yes, fortunately, I am of the constitution that is least affected. Although I can feel it, I am an old man, willing but unable," Moqorro shrugged. "And from what I observed today during the day, the Commander seems to be one of those most affected. With enough contact and time together, he will inevitably fall hopelessly in love with the Queen. This is not a matter of underestimating him, it is like no one can commit suicide by holding their breath. Humans cannot fight against instinct."
Just as a two-dimensional being cannot understand three dimensions, Melisandre, being a woman, could not understand through imagination what this attraction was like. But just as Moqorro trusted her, she also did not doubt him. "If it can be achieved, it is indeed a plan. Dragonstone is a thousand miles from the Gift, and the land in between is full of the Queen's enemies. If she is to go to the Night's Watch territory to find the complete version of that book, she will inevitably have to travel by dragon. As soon as the dragon reaches the Wall, the prophecy will be more than halfway fulfilled."
"So, the basic direction is set? Let us go over the details and see if there are any omissions."
Melisandre nodded in agreement, then effortlessly found a major loophole. "Wait, since it is already determined that the Night's Watch cannot accept the Queen's terms, then when the Queen asks Aegor for his answer tomorrow morning, should he refuse her again?"
"Oh, damn… I forgot about that." Moqorro patted his round, large belly, pondered for a moment, and decisively shook his head. "That is impossible. Daenerys is kind by nature, and her temper is not bad, but forcing her to suffer the humiliation of being refused to her face and losing face for no reason is both meaningless and detrimental to their future meetings. It seems it is best for the two of us to negotiate and settle everything tonight on behalf of our respective Prophets, and save their next meeting for the Wall."
(To be continued.)