iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 421 Life and Axe

When the first ray of morning light quietly fell, the majestic Cathedral of Baelor was like a giant awakening from his sleep, wrapped in a layer of gentle light.

Jaime Lannister asked the red robes to wait outside. He flicked his snow-white cloak and walked up the broad white steps in front of the Great Sept with a serious expression.

Lancel Lannister's house of prayer is a stucco-covered timber frame with seven walls, no windows, a carved wooden door, and a tiled roof.

Two brown-robed monks with seven-pointed stars tattooed on their foreheads were quietly guarding the door. Seeing James striding towards them, they immediately stood side by side in front of the door to block his way.

Their tone was firm and decisive: "No entry or exit allowed, White Knight."

Ser Jaime stopped and looked at the two people who stopped him. From their attire, he could easily tell that they were the monks who had recently become famous in King's Landing and called themselves "Sparrows".

"I'm looking for Ser Lancel."

The slightly taller Sparrow responded, "Brother Lancel is praying morning prayers."

Ser Jaime frowned. "Go tell him his cousin is here for a visit."

"I'll tell him, but you have to wait until he finishes because you can't disturb your cousin's prayers." Sparrow didn't intend to move.

Another sparrow immediately spoke up, "Lancel is praying to the Father in Heaven for guidance. He is praying for the late Archbishop and all the dead souls."

After hearing this, Ser Jaime couldn't help but sneer: "Lansel prayed that they would be alive tomorrow? It seems that the Father is free. Do you know who I am?"

"noble."

"The regicide."

The tall sparrow said, "But we are not kings, we are sparrows. You cannot enter without Brother Lancel's permission."

After saying that, the two sparrows drew out the short axes at their waists without hesitation and raised them up.

"Great courage." Although Ser Jaime's sword was left at the door of the Great Sept, it did not prevent him from teaching a lesson to the two lunatics who dared to challenge the Kingsguard.

At this moment, the wooden door behind Sparrow suddenly creaked open, and Lancel appeared. He said softly, "Friends, let my cousin in. I'm waiting for him."

Hearing Lancel's order, the two sparrows guarding the gate immediately stepped aside and made way.

Lancel also had a seven-pointed star tattooed on his forehead, was barefoot, and wore a rough coat, looking like a beggar. His hair was shaved clean, but his beard was gray.

Lancel glanced indifferently at his cousin on earth, then turned and walked inside, and Jaime followed him in.

After the door closed, James' slightly angry voice rang out: "Why didn't you appear in Uncle Kevan's funeral procession? You are his favorite son."

"I will pray for him." Lancel knelt before the altar of the Father, paused, and then said, "Will you pray with me, Jaime?"

"If we pray together, will God return both of our fathers to us?" James's blue eyes were burning with anger.

Lancel looked at the statue of the Father devoutly and said, "The Seven Gods will bring me different visions, and their souls will rest in heaven."

Jaime calmed down, trying to suppress his anger, and said, "Lansel, you should go with the funeral procession and bury your father in Casterly Rock yourself."

"Jaime, you did not attend Lord Tywin's funeral." Before Jaime could answer, Lancel continued, "Because you are the White Knight."

Lancel slowly stood up, turned his body towards Jaime, and continued, "And I am a septon, a servant of the Seven. I have no family on earth."

Under the flickering candlelight, the dark wood carvings are glowing with mysterious light.

After a pause, Ser Jaime said in a deep voice: "Don't make excuses for me. I know how bad I am. Septon Lancel, I heard that you can witness the scene like 'Blessed Baelor'. What do you want to see, especially when you are fasting?"

Lancel's voice remained emotionless. "Faith provides me with what I need. I dreamed that you would come. You knew what I had done, my sins. In the dream, so you killed me."

Ser Jaime clenched his fists tightly. "If you continue to fast, you will starve to death sooner or later without anyone else's help. Don't you know that this is how Baelor, the blessed one, fell into the arms of the Stranger?"

"The Seven Stars teaches that mortal life is like a candle in the wind, which can be extinguished by the slightest breeze. In this world, death is not far away, and the seven levels of hell await those who do not repent. Pray with me, Jaime."

"Fuck the prayers!"

James' broad chest rose and fell violently, as if the anger within him was about to break free of its restraints.

After a long while, he managed to calm his voice and slowly said, "I will take the Kingsguard to the Riverlands for training in a while (Chapter 407). You will come with me. If you don't want to return to Casterly Rock, then go to the territory that Lord Tywin has bestowed upon you (Castle Darry, Chapter 266) and fulfill the marriage arranged for you by Uncle Kevan and marry Lady Arielle Frey (Chapter 376). Being a monk is not a reason for you to break your engagement."

Lancel shook his head slightly and said, "In fact, I am already a monk of the Seven Gods. I really cannot fulfill the responsibilities of the marriage contract."

Jaime grabbed Lancel by the collar and said angrily: "If you close your eyes and beat her hard, there will be less chaos and disputes in the entire riverland. Listen, Darry City needs a real lion, and your future Frey wife needs it too!"

Lancel stared at James's burning eyes for a while, and finally there was a hint of emotion in his eyes.

He lowered his eyes to avoid his cousin's pressing gaze and murmured, "I am just a sinner. I can never atone for my sins in this life."

Jaime increased the strength of his hands and shouted: "Atonement? When it comes to sin, who are you? I killed my own king!"

"Warriors use swords, cowards use wine, we are all kingslayers, Jaime." Lan Setse closed his eyes in pain, his face revealing a deep despair.

"Robert is just a usurper. Some even believe that stags are the natural prey of lions..." Jaime suddenly paused as he discovered that Lancel was wearing a steel wool shirt for asceticism under his robe. The lion of the Lannister family roared: "Why are you so atonement?! Didn't you just kill the king and sleep with the queen?!"

Lancel lowered his head, hot tears rolling down his extremely thin cheeks: "I didn't... I didn't sow my seed... on her..."

Amid Lancel's sobs, James added wearily, "...physically?"

Hearing this, Lancel choked up and said, "It wasn't spilled inside... After the king died, he rewarded me. Later, you became a prisoner, and King's Landing could be plunged into war at any time, so I comforted her..."

Reward…………

comfort………

Jaime closed his eyes. In his heart, he was reluctant to talk to Lancel about Cersei's bed, but for some reason, he still asked, "Did you force her?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Lancel shook his head desperately. He sniffed and continued, "I fell in love with her. At first I just wanted to protect her for you, and later I wanted to be you."

He suddenly knelt down before Jaime and continued, "You must not bear a grudge against Cersei. The flesh is weak, Jaime. My sins with her did not cause any harm after all. No... no illegitimate children were born."

"Yes, illegitimate children don't grow out of the belly." Jaime suddenly smiled strangely, and the figures of Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella appeared in his mind, but they grew out of Cersei's belly.

"Although I was seriously injured in the Battle of King's Landing, I heard the call of mercy from the Seven Gods. I began to confess to the previous High Septon... He asked me to bury Cersei's secret forever. He also prayed for me. He is a good man."

Hearing this, Jaime suddenly opened his eyes. He guessed why the previous High Septon was suddenly suffocated to death with a pillow. It was Cersei... She had hidden eyes and ears in the Great Sept.

Jaime looked around the cathedral. The Virgin Mary's face was full of mercy, the Father was just and serious, the warrior held a sword in one hand, and the stranger hid in the shadows, his inhuman face hidden under his hood. Before... he thought he was a warrior and Cersei was a girl, but he didn't expect that she was a stranger, always hiding her true face.

"Lancel, you are so stupid. The good people you mentioned are implicated by you."

Lancel nodded. "James, you are right."

Then he shook his head again: "But that foolish me is dead. I begged the Heavenly Father to show me a clear path, and he responded to my call. I gave up my identity on earth. I am a monk of the Seven Gods, and I am atonement."

Jaime lowered his eyes for a while and looked at his cousin who was kneeling in front of him. He said tiredly: "Lancel, you are the lion of the Lannister family. You have castles, lands and people who need your protection. If the gods are merciful, you can continue your bloodline in the future."

Lancel asked his cousin softly, "But why did you give up these earlier than I did?"

Jaime wanted to answer that it was for honor and glory... However, that was not the whole truth. Honor and glory were wonderful, but together they were no match for Cersei.

But that was in the past, James suddenly burst into laughter and tears came out of his eyes.

Lancel said worriedly, "If you feel bad, pray with me, Jaime?"

Jaime turned around, and Lancel could only see the snow-white cloak. "Please pray for me if you like. I can't remember the words."

After the door opened, James' voice came over: "Lansel, one last reminder, don't play with the 'axe'."

Looking at where Jaime Lannister disappeared, Lancel murmured: "Jaime, Sparrow needs to defend the Seven with his life and axe."

The door was not closed. A sparrow who was guarding outside the door came in and said with concern: "Lord Lancel, the White Knight is gone..."

"Yes, he is gone. He will leave King's Landing soon." Lancel moved his body on his knees and turned to the Heavenly Father devoutly. After a pause, he continued, "I will continue to pray. Please tell the High Septon that Ser Jaime will be away for a long time."

…………

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Crabbe's Camp near Kneeling Inn in the Riverlands.

"According to the intelligence we have collected, after returning to Riverrun, Duke Brynden drove out everyone who was not involved in the defense of the city and looted everything outside the city. The food and grass he currently has in stock is estimated to last at least two years."

"Davon Lannister is busy building battering rams and siege towers... At the same time, they are fishing on a large scale every day. I suspect there is a problem with their food supply."

"Ser Davon is said to have announced that reinforcements from the Freys will arrive soon to help take Riverrun."

Inside the spacious duke's tent, a detailed map of the Riverlands was spread on a long table. Green stood in the main seat and looked down at the map. Dozens of people stood around him. They were wearing shining armor and family emblems belonging to the Crab Claw Peninsula, the Valley, and the Riverlands.

Hearing this, Green looked up from the map and asked, "Is there still no movement in Haijiang City?"

Sir Geoffrey of the Survey Corps (Chapter 94) nodded slightly and replied, "Yes, not only has the Seafront Castle closed the castle gates, but it is said that even the fleet has been docked at the pier. For the time being, there is no sign that they are supporting Riverrun."

Green's finger slowly moved on the map, and finally stopped at the location of Haijiang City. He clicked it, then looked at the people standing around the map and called out, "Martial Baker."

"Lord Green." Martier came to the front and straightened his chest.

Green gave Martyr an order: "Sir, you must go to Seaside City immediately. Tell Lord Jason Mallister in my name that if he does not surrender to Crabbe within a month, I will make the Mallister family disappear completely."

He added: "Sir Ange, let Martyr take the two 'fruits' and set off."

Then, the war meeting of the Crabbe Legion continued. When it was about to end, Sir Brienne suddenly walked through the crowd and came to Green's side. She whispered in his ear: "Lord Green, there are a dozen cavalrymen coming to see you. They are holding the Lion's Roaring Banner and claim to be messengers from Sir Davon Lannister."

(End of this chapter)