For Viserys, plowing five acres while merely guiding a plow was nothing.
Even if he had been harnessed to the plow himself and forced to pull it across the fields, it would hardly have mattered.
But Rhaenys and the others were another story.
After a full day of physical labor, combined with the demands of growing bodies, they all retired to bed early.
Not long after Viserys returned to the Dragon Palace, Melisandre came to see him.
She had sensed what had happened in Volantis.
As she approached, Viserys could feel the anger radiating from her.
In the past, Melisandre had seemed almost devoid of emotion.
Her face rarely showed any expression, giving the impression that she was detached from everything in the world.
Another peculiar thing about her was that everyone who came near her claimed she radiated warmth.
Viserys had once suspected she might be some sort of fire sorceress, though he doubted she could possibly be stronger than Benerro.
Yet compared to the heat she usually gave off, the coldness in her eyes this time was far more striking.
"Why have you chosen to become an enemy of the Lord of Light, Your Majesty?" she demanded. "You are the savior personally chosen by Him."
For the first time, Melisandre was genuinely agitated.
To her, it felt as absurd as a heavenly father murdering his heavenly son.
The Others had not even arrived yet, and their own side was already fighting itself.
She had not yet performed her latest fire divination, so she did not know the prophecy now pointed toward Daenerys.
But regardless of whether it was Daenerys or Viserys, she believed neither should be attacking the followers of the Lord of Light.
It was also the first time Viserys had seen such strong emotion on her face. Her usually expressionless features seemed far more alive.
So he asked calmly,
"Melisandre, which do you think is more important? The Lord of Light, or saving the world?"
"Only the Lord of Light can save the world."
The answer came without hesitation.
Viserys paused briefly before replying.
"What if I told you that the one who killed me on Maiden's Mountain was your Lord of Light?"
"Impossible. That must have been a false god."
It was clear that reason alone would not reach someone whose faith ran so deep.
So Viserys asked another question.
"If I forced you to choose right now between the Lord of Light and the world itself, which would you choose?"
"The Lord of Light would never—"
"If you won't answer, then leave Gohor."
His voice was utterly merciless.
Melisandre froze.
For a moment, she could not answer.
She had wandered for years before finally finding the savior she had devoted her life to seeking.
How could she bear to leave?
In her heart, finding the savior and helping him fulfill his destiny was the entire purpose of her existence.
Without Viserys, all her skills and knowledge would become meaningless.
Seeing her hesitation, Viserys continued.
"For years you've urged me to burn the statues of the Seven. You claimed it would grant me the so-called Lightbringer.
I don't understand what's wrong with common people praying to the Seven for the safety of their families.
Remember this well. People respect a faith because of the actions of its followers.
They do not respect people simply because of their faith.
And I will never burn religious icons."
Viserys spoke with the uncompromising authority of a stern schoolmaster.
He laid out the principle. He explained the reasoning. He established the boundary.
And he refused to retreat.
"But you are the savior chosen by the Lord of Light..."
Her voice had already weakened.
"Choose...
Is R'hllor more important, or are the people of this world more important?
And let me make one thing clear. I don't need some cursed sword to kill the Night King.
I will never forge a Lightbringer by sacrificing the woman I love the way Azor Ahai supposedly did.
If you ever try to persuade my wife to sacrifice herself for that sword, I'll kill you first and break her legs afterward."
Viserys left her no room to argue.
If she chose R'hllor, then she was beyond saving. He would kill her immediately.
If she chose the world, he would spare her.
At last, Melisandre made her choice.
"The world... the world is more important."
The moment the words left her lips, the ruby hanging from her throat cracked.
Melisandre herself coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the floor.
Supporting herself with trembling hands, she gasped for breath.
Viserys hurried forward to inspect her condition.
To his shock, streaks of silver-white had appeared in her fiery red hair.
Her hands, once slender and youthful, now resembled those of an elderly woman.
When she finally managed to stand again, her once-beautiful face had transformed.
Fine wrinkles lined the corners of her eyes and mouth.
The smooth radiance of youth was gone.
She looked like a woman in her sixties.
In that condition, anyone might have mistaken her for an elderly aunt of the Old Crab.
Before, the ruby at her throat had looked like nothing more than an elegant ornament.
Now, with her sudden aging and the visible crack running through the gem, it reminded Viserys of a slave's collar.
Perhaps, in a sense, the Red Woman had always been one of R'hllor's slaves.
And now that she had defied her master's will, she had been punished.
Viserys also noticed that the warmth radiating from her body had diminished considerably.
"Melisandre, this is your Lord of Light.
Do you see? He believes himself more important than the world.
A shepherd often believes he is more important than his flock.
Can you finally see his true nature?"
A kinder person might have comforted her.
But Viserys knew that doing so now would only allow her to cling to her illusions.
"Your Majesty, I..."
"If I remember correctly, you were sold to a Red Temple when you were very young.
Then you became one of their so-called holy maidens.
Mel. Am I wrong?"
"Mel?"
Melisandre stared at him in confusion. She had never spoken that name to anyone.
"Then try a little harder. Break free of this slave's life... Become a free woman."
"Even if it's only for a single day. Even if it's only for a single hour... Let your heart beat for yourself."
His voice carried an almost irresistible conviction.
Let my heart beat for myself.
The Red Woman repeated the words silently.
Then she fell into a long silence.
Sensing the shift in her thoughts, Viserys straightened and declared solemnly:
"Actually, I may be the reincarnation of a god."
The next morning, the entire Dragon Palace was buzzing with rumors.
Everyone was trying to figure out what exactly Viserys and Melisandre had done together behind closed doors.
Because somehow, the beautiful and captivating Red Woman had entered the room one evening—
And emerged looking decades older.
___________
Upto 20 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/BloodAncestor