King's Landing Port: The Red Priest's Arrival of Holy Fire
Early autumn in King's Landing was always accompanied by a salty sea breeze. The cobblestone paths of the port glistened from last night's rain. In the distance, on Blackwater Bay, a three-masted ship with red sails slowly approached – the sails embroidered with the lord of light's flame totem, burning like a fiery red in the morning light. This was Melisandre's 'Holy Fire' from Braavos.
The dock was already crowded with people. Daenerys stood on a high platform with Tyrion, Grey Worm, and representatives of King's Landing's common folk. Behind them, the Unsullied guard formed neat squares, their bronze armor reflecting a cold light that contrasted sharply with the warm hues of the red-sailed ship. Drogon and Rhaegal circled above the port, their dragon roars occasionally echoing, yet lacking their usual intimidation. Instead, they carried a subtle resonance – they seemed to sense the power of the holy fire on the ship, their dragon scales shimmering with a faint orange glow in the sunlight.
"Your Majesty, that is Melisandre's ship." Tyrion leaned on his cane, his gaze fixed on the figure standing at the bow of the ship. "Red robes, a holy fire staff, and ten Red Priests beside her – consistent with the message Torren sent back."
Daenerys nodded slightly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking her dragonblood jade belt. Although she had heard legends of Melisandre, she had never seen the Red Priests in person. In her heart, there was both anticipation for the power of the holy fire and caution regarding the "lord of light faith" – after all, Stannis had been destroyed by relying on holy fire, and she did not want the alliance to repeat that mistake.
The 'Holy Fire' gradually approached the dock, and Melisandre at the bow finally became clearly visible: she wore a deep red priestly robe, its hem embroidered with golden flame runes. Her silver-white hair was tied back with a ruby-studded hairband, and in her hand, she held a six-foot-long holy fire staff. The flame at the top of the staff burned with extraordinary vigor even in the windless environment, orange-red tongues of fire licking at the air, warming the surrounding sea breeze.
As soon as the ship docked, Melisandre and the Red Priests disembarked the gangplank. Her steps were light yet firm; with each step, faint fire patterns appeared on the cobblestones, vanishing in an instant, but enough to draw gasps of astonishment from the onlookers. "Queen Daenerys," Melisandre walked to the foot of the platform and bowed slightly, her holy fire staff tapping the ground gently. The flame at its tip instantly receded into a soft halo. "The lord of light guided me here. May the holy fire help the alliance fight against the cold god."
Daenerys stepped down from the platform and extended her hand. "Lady Melisandre, welcome to King's Landing. The alliance needs the power of holy fire, and even more, your wisdom." Their hands met gently. Daenerys could clearly feel the warmth in Melisandre's palm; it wasn't ordinary body heat, but the energy contained within the holy fire, like a warm current spreading from her fingertips throughout her body, dispelling the chill that had accumulated from the threat of the cold god in recent days.
Tyrion stepped forward at the opportune moment, smiling to break the solemn atmosphere: "Lady Melisandre, I have long admired your reputation. Maester Sam of The Citadel has already informed us that holy fire can counter the cold god, but I wonder, how exactly will your 'R'hllor Warriors' plan be implemented?"
Melisandre looked at Tyrion, a flicker of understanding in her eyes: "The Imp's pragmatism is indeed well-known. The training of R'hllor Warriors requires three things – qualified soldiers, pure holy fire, and compatibility with dragonglass. Let us go to the training ground first; I will let you witness the power of holy fire with your own eyes."
King's Landing Outskirts Training Ground: The Deterrence of Holy Fire and the Establishment of Trust
The abandoned training ground outside King's Landing, once where Cersei trained the Golden Company, had now been cleared. A temporary holy fire altar was erected in the center, surrounded by dozens of Wights remnants frozen by ice mist (specially sent from the Wall by the Night's Watch to demonstrate the effect of holy fire). Melisandre stood before the holy fire altar, with ten Red Priests forming a circle around it, beginning to chant prayers to the lord of light. The flames in the holy fire altar gradually rose, emitting a pure golden light – this was 'purifying fire,' more potent than ordinary holy fire.
"Everyone, please observe." Melisandre raised her holy fire staff and pointed to the nearest Wight remnant. The Wight's skin was bluish-black, its nails long and sharp; it was a 'Wights vanguard' deeply infected by the cold god's chill. An Unsullied, following Melisandre's instructions, stabbed the Wight with an ordinary dragonglass spear. Although the spear pierced the Wight's chest, it only temporarily halted it, and it soon struggled to rise again.
"Now, empower it with holy fire." Melisandre's holy fire staff lightly touched the dragonglass spear, and golden holy fire instantly covered the spear tip. The Unsullied stabbed the Wight again. As soon as the spear touched the Wight's body, a sizzling, corrosive sound erupted. The Wight's body melted at a visible rate, eventually turning into a puddle of ice water, leaving no bones behind – this was a 'complete purification' effect that ordinary dragonglass could not achieve.
The lord representatives and soldiers around the training ground gasped in astonishment. Jason Lannister of the Westerlands stood among the crowd, a flicker of wariness in his eyes, yet he had to admit the power of the holy fire. An old woman among the King's Landing common folk representatives even knelt down excitedly, praying towards the holy fire altar – her grandson had been frostbitten by ice mist last month and had been in a coma ever since. Seeing the holy fire purify Wights now, she felt a surge of hope.
"Holy fire can not only purify Wights, but also enhance the power of dragonglass weapons." Melisandre walked to a pile of dragonglass weapons and sprinkled r'hllor powder on them. The weapons instantly glowed golden. "These weapons, even without the blessing of a Red Priest/Priestess, can maintain the holy fire effect for three days, more than enough to deal with ordinary Wights. If used by R'hllor Warriors, combined with prayers, they can even temporarily resist the cold god's ice mist."
Tyrion stepped forward and picked up a dragonglass dagger enhanced with holy fire; the blade's temperature had noticeably risen, yet it wasn't hot to the touch: "Can The Citadel mass-produce this r'hllor powder? The alliance has seventeen thousand allied troops and will need a large quantity of powder to equip them all."
"Yes." Melisandre pulled a scroll of parchment from her robes, on which was drawn the method for making r'hllor powder. "r'hllor powder is made from 'holy fire ash + weirwood fiber + dragonblood.' I have brought enough 'seeds' of holy fire ash to build holy fire kilns outside King's Landing for mass production; The Citadel has ample reserves of weirwood fiber; and only a small amount of dragonblood needs to be taken from Drogon and Rhaegal. Their dragonblood contains the power of the Targaryen, which will make the holy fire effect even stronger."
Daenerys immediately ordered: "Grey Worm, arrange for five hundred Unsullied to assist in building the holy fire kilns; Tyrion, contact Maester Sam at The Citadel and have him send weirwood fiber as soon as possible; Jorah, be responsible for coordinating the collection of dragonblood, ensuring that Drogon and Rhaegal are not harmed."
Just then, the old woman suddenly rushed forward and knelt before Melisandre, crying and pleading: "Priest/Priestess, please save my grandson! He was frostbitten by ice mist and has been in a coma for half a month. The maesters said he was beyond saving. Can your holy fire cure him?"
Melisandre helped the old woman up, her eyes full of compassion: "Take me to see him. Whether the holy fire can cure him depends on whether the chill in his body has penetrated to the bone, but I will do my best." She turned to Daenerys and said, "Your Majesty, trust is the foundation of the alliance. If this child can be cured, it will not only make the common folk believe in the power of holy fire, but also make the soldiers more willing to accept holy fire training."
Daenerys nodded in agreement, personally accompanying Melisandre to the common folk district. The crowd at the training ground gradually dispersed, but Jason Lannister quietly left a squire behind to monitor the progress of the holy fire kiln construction – although he temporarily acknowledged the effectiveness of holy fire, he did not want Daenerys's alliance to monopolize this power, secretly vowing to uncover the method for making r'hllor powder.
King's Landing Common Folk District: The Healing of Holy Fire and the Unification of Public Sentiment
In a dilapidated house in the King's Landing common folk district, the damp air was filled with the bitter smell of herbs. Tom, the old woman's grandson, lay on a straw bed, his face as pale as paper, the frostbite marks on his arms bluish-black. Even covered with three wool blankets, his body still trembled slightly – the chill had penetrated deep into his vital organs, and the maesters had long given up on treatment.
Melisandre walked to the bedside, her holy fire staff gently suspended above Tom, and golden holy fire slowly enveloped the child's body. She closed her eyes and began to chant the lord of light's healing prayer. The holy fire's light gradually permeated Tom's skin, and the bluish-black frostbite marks receded at a visible rate. Half an hour later, Tom's eyelashes fluttered gently, and he slowly opened his eyes, his voice weak but clear: "Grandma, I'm hungry..."
The old woman was in tears, prostrating herself on the ground and kowtowing to Melisandre: "Thank you! Thank you for saving my grandson! May the lord of light bless you!" The commoners outside the dilapidated house heard the commotion and rushed in. Seeing Tom awake, they all cheered for Melisandre, "Long live the Red Priests! Long live Queen Daenerys!"
The news spread like wildfire through King's Landing's commoner district. More and more commoners infected by the cold came, requesting Melisandre's treatment. Melisandre did not refuse. She had the Red Priests set up temporary R'hllor treatment centers in the commoner district, using holy fire to purify those with mild to moderate infections, and a combined therapy of "holy fire + anti-cold medicine" for those with severe infections. Daenerys watched the commoners lining up for treatment, gradually letting go of her doubts about the holy fire—Melisandre brought not only a weapon against the cold god but also a force to unite the people.
"Your Majesty," Melisandre said, approaching Daenerys and lowering her voice, "The cold in Tom's body is more concentrated than I imagined. the cold god's ice mist has begun to penetrate the underground of King's Landing. If R'hllor Warriors are not trained quickly, I fear more commoners will be infected. I suggest that the selection of R'hllor Warriors begin tomorrow, prioritizing soldiers with combat experience from the allied forces."
Daenerys nodded: "I agree. You will set the selection criteria, and we will fully support any areas where the alliance's cooperation is needed. Additionally, Jon sent word from the Wall; he hopes the R'hllor Warriors can be dispatched to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea as soon as possible to assist the allied forces in building defensive fortifications."
"I will speed up the process." Determination flashed in Melisandre's eyes. "The training period for R'hllor Warriors is ten days. After ten days, I will personally lead the first batch of warriors to the Wall. Before that, I need to communicate with Commander Jon via raven to determine the R'hllor Warriors' combat positions within the allied forces."
That evening, Melisandre wrote a secret letter, detailing the R'hllor Warriors' combat capabilities, methods of operation, and coordination requirements, and sent it to the Wall via the fastest raven. Daenerys announced in the council: "The training of R'hllor Warriors is crucial for the alliance's fight against the cold god. All territories must cooperate with the selection and not shirk responsibility. During the training period, the Unsullied will be responsible for the security of the holy fire kiln to ensure that the production of r'hllor powder is not disturbed." This statement was both a demand to the lords and a warning to Jason Lannister, who was secretly observing.
[Selection of R'hllor Warriors: Setting Standards and the Enthusiasm of Soldiers]
The next morning, the training ground outside King's Landing had been transformed into a selection point for R'hllor Warriors. Melisandre and the Red Priests established strict selection criteria:
Physical Fitness: Must be able to endure one hour in a simulated ice mist environment (created with dry ice and cold-generating devices) and complete basic thrusting movements with dragonglass spears;
Strong Will: Must pass the "Cold Mist Illusion Test"—the Red Priests uses mild holy fire to induce illusions of the cold god's threat in soldiers; only those who can maintain their sanity and not give up fighting can pass;
Teamwork Ability: Three people per group must complete the "Holy Fire Dragonglass Cooperation Training," requiring them to destroy designated Wights targets with holy fire-enhanced dragonglass weapons within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, emphasizing team cooperation over individual combat power.
After the selection news spread, allied soldiers eagerly signed up. Unsullied, Northern Soldiers, Dothraki Riders, and even some former Golden Company soldiers all signed up. Some were attracted by the power of the holy fire, some wanted to avenge relatives harmed by Wights, and others hoped to prove their worth in the war against the cold god.
Grey Claw (an Unsullied who had traveled to the western continent with Arya) also signed up for the selection. In the simulated ice mist environment, he not only endured for an hour based on his years of combat experience but also saved two Northern Soldiers who had retreated due to fear; in the illusion test, he saw his comrades devoured by Wights but always held his dragonglass spears tightly, eventually breaking through the illusion; in the cooperation training, he and two Northern Soldiers worked together seamlessly, completing the task in only half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, becoming the first soldier to pass the selection.
"Grey Claw, you are very talented." Melisandre personally pinned the holy fire emblem on him (a flame totem drawn with r'hllor powder). "You not only have powerful combat abilities but also the awareness to protect your companions, which is the most needed quality for a R'hllor Warrior. I appoint you as the captain of a R'hllor Warrior squad, responsible for assisting in the training of subsequent soldiers."
Grey Claw knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse but firm: "I wish to serve the lord of light, I wish to fight the cold god for the alliance."
The selection lasted for three full days, ultimately selecting one thousand qualified soldiers, perfectly matching the number Melisandre had planned. These soldiers came from different factions but formed a new cohesion under the call of the holy fire—they were no longer Unsullied, Northern Soldiers, or Dothraki, but "R'hllor Warriors," the vanguard force against the cold god.
On the day training officially began, Daenerys personally came to the training ground to send off the R'hllor Warriors. She watched the soldiers holding holy fire-enhanced dragonglass weapons, practicing prayers and assassination moves under the guidance of the Red Priests, her eyes full of hope: "You are the blade of the alliance, the light against the cold god. I believe that in ten days, you will carry the power of the holy fire and bring victory to the allied forces at the Wall."
Melisandre stood beside Daenerys, her holy fire staff pointing to the sky, and golden holy fire formed a light shield above the training ground: "The lord of light is with us. In ten days, we will go north and let the cold god witness the power of the holy fire!"
The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the sky, intertwining with Drogon's distant roar, like an inspiring war song echoing over King's Landing. Jason Lannister's attendant, sent to observe, watched this scene from afar, a hint of unease rising in his heart—he realized that the rise of the R'hllor Warriors might make Daenerys's alliance more stable, and the West's desire to contend for power after the war would likely become more difficult.
[The Hope of Holy Fire and the Shadow of the cold god]
As night fell, the holy fire kiln in King's Landing was still burning holy fire ash, its red flames illuminating half the night sky. Melisandre sat by the holy fire altar, discussing training details with the Red Priests, her parchment filled with diagrams of holy fire tactics—there was the "Holy Fire Formation" for Wights, the "Light and Fire Pincer Attack" to be coordinated with dragonflame, and the "Holy Fire Barrier" to guard the Wall. Each tactic was carefully designed to perfectly integrate with the allied forces' existing combat capabilities.
When Daenerys and Tyrion arrived, they saw just such a scene of concentration. "Lady Melisandre," Tyrion said with a smile, raising the wine flask in his hand, "Maester Sam from The Citadel sent word that the weirwood fiber will arrive tomorrow, and the dragonblood collection is going smoothly, so the mass production of r'hllor powder is not a problem."
Melisandre took the wine flask but did not drink, simply placing it aside: "Thank you. Tomorrow I will have the Priest/Priestess begin making r'hllor powder to ensure that by the end of training, every R'hllor Warrior is equipped with sufficient gear. Additionally, Commander Jon's reply has arrived; he has reserved a camp at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea for the R'hllor Warriors and will send Night's Watch members to help us familiarize ourselves with the terrain of the Wall."
Daenerys looked at the flickering flames of the holy fire altar, a clear plan gradually forming in her mind: "In ten days, you will lead the R'hllor Warriors north, and I will have Rhaegal accompany you; dragonflame combined with holy fire can exert maximum power. Tyrion will remain in King's Landing to continue coordinating the transport of provisions and dragonglass. I will go to The Vale to check on Drogon's condition, ensuring he can play his part in the final battle."
The eyes of the three simultaneously looked towards the northern sky, where the clouds were exceptionally thick, as if hiding the cold god's gaze. Melisandre whispered: "The lord of light's prophecy says, 'The final battle of ice and fire will unfold at the altar of the North Pole.' Everything we are doing now is for that day."
The flames of the holy fire altar gradually rose, and the golden light dispelled the surrounding darkness. The commoner district of King's Landing had regained its former vitality; the healed Tom was walking with his grandmother in the square, the R'hllor Warriors on the training ground were still practicing extra, and the artisans in the holy fire kiln were still busy—this city, once ruled by Cersei, was now filled with hope against the darkness under the illumination of the holy fire.
Meanwhile, in the distant Arctic icefield, the cold god seemed to sense the threat of the holy fire; the spread of the ice mist suddenly accelerated, and the Wights army began to gather towards the Wall. A contest of ice and fire was about to begin on the land of Westeros, and Melisandre's return undoubtedly added the most crucial bright color to the alliance—this holy fire will eventually, alongside dragonflame and dragonglass, cut through the cold god's darkness on the Arctic icefield.