"Lancelot, with your current efficiency, how long would it take you to forge a Valyrian steel sword?" Tywin asked.
"One a month!" Lancelot gave a conservative estimate; he could actually forge about seven in a month.
But saying that might turn him into a mere tool, so he had to lie.
Tywin, his gaze sharp as a torch, looked at Lancelot and nodded.
"I will secretly communicate with other great lords who lack Valyrian steel swords. I'll ensure that when the allied forces of the Seven Kingdoms are formed, House Lannister will lead them," Tywin declared.
In the days that followed, nobles from distant lands continued to arrive in King's Landing.
The Red Viper, Oberyn Martell, had just disembarked today.
Stepping onto the banks of the Blackwater Rush, he took a deep breath.
"What a foul stench. The living conditions in King's Landing don't compare to Dorne!" he remarked.
"Let's go, my Sand Snakes! See if there's any prey that suits your fancy in King's Landing. When the time comes, strike first; don't hesitate. Hahaha!" Oberyn laughed, looking at his daughters.
He was a prodigal in love, with bastard children in many places, but he always did his best to care for them.
The boys were sent out to be squires, while the girls stayed by his side, becoming the Sand Snakes.
Not long after coming ashore, Oberyn saw the person waiting to welcome him.
Dressed in a white cloak with gold-plated armor, it was none other than Jaime Lannister.
"Greetings, Kingslayer. It's been many years, hasn't it?"
The Red Viper asked with a smile. His daughters all looked at Jaime provocatively.
Jaime flashed his signature blade-like smile.
"Indeed, Oberyn. It has been a long time! Let's hope everyone can coexist peacefully this time!" Jaime replied.
Because of what happened to Princess Elia, House Martell and House Lannister held a deep grudge.
However, the enmity between Dorne, the Reach, and the Stormlands was an ancient feud lasting thousands of years. With proper manipulation, conflicts could be diverted.
Jaime led Oberyn to rest at a hotel (inn/manse) before planning to take him to see King Robert.
In the Small Council, there were two new additions today: Lancelot and Mace Tyrell.
"I think we can indeed expand the number of Small Council members, inviting some experienced and highly respected individuals to join!" Grand Maester Pycelle suggested.
The person he was referring to was naturally Tywin Lannister.
Privately, Grand Maester Pycelle had long been a staunch supporter of House Lannister—specifically, a die-hard fan of Tywin Lannister.
"Let's discuss that after the Great Council concludes. For now, Lancelot, Mace, I appoint you as advisors to the Small Council," King Robert announced.
"Thank you for your favor, Your Grace!" the two said in unison.
"Next, we discuss the procedures for the Great Council and the formation of the future allied army of the Seven Kingdoms."
This meeting lasted a long time—so long that Joffrey and Myrcella personally delivered food partway through.
As Prince and Princess, Robert intended to groom them as well.
Finally, they approved several procedures for the Great Council and the plan for the allied army.
The Great Council would be held on the first day of the next month and last for seven days. During this time, lords, knights, maesters, septons, and even noble ladies could take the stage to speak.
This openness was due to the consideration that some women were exceptional—for example, Mace Tyrell's mother, Olenna Redwyne, known as the Queen of Thorns. Her methods were tough, far superior to Mace Tyrell's.
The plan for the allied army was roughly divided into naval and land forces.
The naval plan involved landing on both the eastern and western sides beyond the Wall. The land plan involved dividing into three units to enter beyond the Wall through the Night's Watch tunnels.
The navy would assemble fleets from the Iron Islands, Oldtown, the Arbor, White Harbor, Gulltown, and King's Landing.
They might even recruit pirates as cannon fodder.
Emerging from the Small Council meeting, Lancelot felt exhausted. He had proposed a bizarre concept that was unanimously rejected, leading him to debate the entire council. In the end, he failed to persuade them.
Lancelot's proposed "Base Trade Strategy": If the White Walkers launched a full-scale invasion, humanity could march north beyond the Wall, toward the even more distant Lands of Always Winter. The further north they went, the safer it might be.
He argued that the continent beneath their feet was round, a sphere. Perhaps by crossing the Lands of Always Winter, they could reach a new continent without White Walkers or eternal winter—a world with distinct seasons: flowers in spring, moon in autumn, cool breeze in summer, and snow in winter.
Robert, Eddard, Renly, Littlefinger, Pycelle, Varys, Mace, and Barristan all rejected Lancelot's bold hypothesis in unison.
"That is impossible!"
"That is suicidal!"
"That is a foolish act!"
Lancelot returned to his room and fell asleep immediately; he was too tired.
Meanwhile, Mace Tyrell returned and told his mother, wife, and children about Lancelot's crazy speech at the Small Council.
"He must be mad. He must have dabbled in necromancy!" said Mace Tyrell's wife, Alerie Hightower.
Coming from House Hightower, she knew things ordinary people didn't—magic truly existed.
House Hightower was still researching magic in the High Tower to this day.
"Necromancy is exceptionally powerful and terrifying. You must not have contact with Lancelot again!" Alerie warned her children.
"Mother, but the Ser Lancelot I've met doesn't seem like a necromancer!" Ser Loras argued.
He had known Lancelot longer than the others, having fought him at Joffrey's name day tourney the previous year. He hadn't sensed anything abnormal about Lancelot.
"Perhaps he hadn't been to the ruins of Valyria back then. He must have been infected there," Lady Hightower insisted.
"Enough! Wife, stop talking about necromancy. I believe Ser Lancelot is not that kind of person," Mace Tyrell interjected.
His attitude toward Lancelot had changed because Tywin had spoken to him, and the two sides had reached a cooperative agreement.
"Ser Lancelot's medicine saved Willas's leg. We should express our gratitude! Margaery, in a few days, you and Garlan will pay a visit to Lancelot!" Mace Tyrell looked at his youngest daughter.
"Yes, Father," Margaery bowed her head.
That night, Margaery had a nightmare. She dreamt of a palace sunk deep beneath the sea. Inside the palace was a massive statue. Its features were blurred, but it bore a striking resemblance to one of the faces on the statue of the Seven she had taken from Lancelot.
Margaery wasn't the only one who had nightmares that night. Many musicians, maesters, and septons in King's Landing had the same dream.
They dreamt of a terrifying palace sunk in the deep sea and the mysterious statue within.
The next morning, several dead bodies appeared in King's Landing. They had all died the previous night, inexplicably, with no external wounds, but their faces were frozen in expressions of terror and despair.