Chapter 374

“Getting you off Dragonstone isn’t difficult. I may not have been by the queen’s side for long, but she trusts and relies on me,” Moqorro said, standing like a statue by the stone crenellations of the tower. “The real challenge is resolving this misunderstanding and ensuring the prophecy comes to pass. The Lord of Light would not have shown me both Daenerys Targaryen and the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch in the flames without reason. If this foolish misunderstanding drives them apart—or worse, turns them into enemies—it will have dire consequences for the critical battle between my lord and his great adversary.”

Melisandre didn’t respond immediately.

What Moqorro had just said was yet another widely accepted theory among high-ranking priests—a theory rooted in how R’hllor communicated his will through fire. The visions granted by the flames were typically divided into three categories. The first and most common showed past or present events, aiding followers in understanding the truth or preparing for imminent dangers. The second category consisted of strong premonitions or warnings—vague and abstract, requiring interpretation. A classic example was Melisandre seeing Dragonstone in the flames, which brought her to Westeros, followed by the vision of an ice wall, leading her to the Gift.

The third category was the rarest: clear and detailed images of events that had not yet occurred—the source of all prophecy.

Despite what was often claimed to ordinary followers, high-ranking priests knew that the future shown in the flames was not absolute. If no action was taken, much of what was seen might never come to pass. This meant the visions were not a “true future” but rather the future R’hllor desired or required. The Lord of Light used the flames to assign tasks, prompting his followers to use their wisdom and will to turn those visions into reality.

Melisandre had seen a vision of dragons breathing fire upon wights, which at the very least indicated that R’hllor intended for dragons to play a role in the final battle. But there was another possibility: the vision was a warning that without the dragons, the Night’s Watch and the North would lose.

Realizing this, she nodded and spoke, her tone more serious. “Do you have any ideas on how we’re to salvage this?”

“I might,” Moqorro said, glancing at Melisandre. “The Lord Commander brought the queen a gift today. What exactly was it?”

“You were there—a booklet. I asked him about it on the ship, and he showed me. The contents were odd—a lot of grandiose rhetoric, seemingly about politics. That’s beyond my expertise, though… Why?”

“After the meeting, the queen was in a foul mood. When she returned to the council chamber, her advisors resumed arguing over the next moves for the army, but she sat silently, flipping through the booklet. At first, I thought she’d tear it apart or toss it into the fire, but the opposite happened. After just a glance, her visible fury subsided by half. She spent the entire evening absorbed in that booklet, ignoring the heated debate around her.” Moqorro’s expression darkened slightly. “Eventually, she looked up and asked me, ‘Why won’t my most powerful follower acknowledge my legitimacy?’”

“Interesting. I didn’t think that hastily written booklet had such power. What did you say?”

“I couldn’t guess what the queen saw in it, but her suppressed excitement was clear. So I told her, ‘Your most powerful follower is already in your hands.’”

“Smart answer.” High priests often used ambiguous statements when interpreting prophecy for others to avoid potential missteps. “So, the booklet is her ‘most powerful follower.’ You didn’t lie or misjudge.”

“For now, it worked. But Daenerys isn’t a fool, and this misunderstanding must be resolved. Afterward, she questioned her advisors about the booklet—its origins and whether there was a complete version. Varys dismissed it as ‘hollow and unrealistic fantasies,’ while Littlefinger offered no comment. Both, however, agreed they’d neither read nor heard of it before. Tomorrow, she’ll certainly ask about it again. That’s why I came to you first—what’s the real story behind that booklet?”

“The Lord Commander wrote it on the ship during the journey from Eastwatch to Dragonstone. If even Varys and Littlefinger—both well-read men—haven’t encountered its like, then no, it doesn’t exist elsewhere.”

“Wrote it himself? In just a few days? And where does a Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch get the knowledge to advise a queen on ruling?” Moqorro’s curiosity was piqued, though he quickly waved it off. “No matter. Here’s what we’ll do: tell your Lord Commander that if the queen asks about the booklet, he should say the original version is in the Night’s Watch library. However, due to its age and fragility, it cannot be transported and must be read on-site.”

“Why that answer?”

“To create an opportunity for them to spend time alone. I can see that your Lord Commander isn’t clumsy with his words. If given the chance, he’ll sort things out himself.”

Melisandre snorted lightly, her disdain evident. “The Mother of Dragons is beautiful, but Aegor West is no lust-driven fool. You’re underestimating him.”

“You’re a woman; you can’t feel the strange allure Daenerys exudes.” Moqorro grinned, his teeth stark white against his dark skin in the dim light. “Her charm bypasses willpower and orientation, affecting the body and subconscious directly. For reasons unknown, different men are affected to varying degrees. But one thing is certain—any man with a functioning body will feel it.”

“And you, as a man, are also affected?”

“Yes, though I’m among those least susceptible. I can sense it, but I’m far too old to act on it.” Moqorro shrugged. “But from what I observed today, the Lord Commander seems to be one of the most strongly affected. With enough interaction and time, he’ll inevitably fall for the queen. It’s not a matter of underestimating him—it’s like trying to hold your breath to death. Human nature cannot fight instinct.”

Much like a two-dimensional being could never comprehend three dimensions, Melisandre, as a woman, couldn’t truly grasp the nature of Daenerys’s allure. But she trusted Moqorro as he trusted her. “If it works, it’s a viable solution. Dragonstone is a thousand miles from the Gift, surrounded by the queen’s enemies. If she were to retrieve the complete booklet herself, she’d have to ride her dragon north. Once the dragon reaches the Wall… the prophecy would be halfway fulfilled!”

“Then it’s settled. Let’s iron out the details and ensure there are no loose ends.”

Melisandre nodded but quickly identified a major flaw. “Wait. If the Night’s Watch won’t accept the queen’s terms, what happens when she demands an answer tomorrow? Are we going to make him refuse her again?”

“Damn… I hadn’t thought of that.” Moqorro sighed, rubbing his round belly in thought before shaking his head firmly. “That’s not an option. Daenerys is kind-hearted and patient, but forcing her to endure a second public rejection would be pointless and humiliating. It would do nothing but strain their relationship further. No, we must resolve this tonight. We’ll represent our chosen ones and negotiate on their behalf, leaving their next meeting to take place at the Wall.”

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