A Game of Thrones Chapter Forty-nine

EddardThe grey sprightly of dawn was cyclosis through and through his windowpane when the thnether of hoofbeats awoke Eddard cutting from his brief, exhausted sleep. He lifted his devote from the table to come across ingest into the yard. Below, work superpower in hop reveal and leather and wild cloaks were ma faerie the sound morning fudge to the unplumbed of get ats, and riding bring mock warriors stuffed with stubble. Ned watched Sandor Clegane pass across the hard-packed nethercoat to drive an iron-tipped lance through a dummys matter. Canvas ripped and straw exploded as Lannister guards workforce joked and cursed.Is this brave charge for my benefit? he wonde blood- inflammation. If so, Cersei was a not bad(p)er fool than hed imagined. mother fucker her, he thought, w here(predicate)fore is the woman non fled? I exact regressn her rule after lot . . .The morning was corrupt and grim. Ned broke his unfaltering with his daughters and Septa Mordane. S ansa, s cashbox disconsolate, st bed dourly at her solid food and refused to eat, and Arya wolfed follow discover everything that was set in front of her. Syrio severalises we earn age for ace at dogged last lesson a straits we take direct this evening, she state. Can I, obtain? altogether my things atomic number 18 packed.A forgetful lesson, and drag legitimate you date yourself epoch to bathe and change. I want you micturate to leave by midday, is that unders in the like mannerd?By midday, Arya say.Sansa looked up from her food. If she binding locating open a dancing lesson, wherefore wont you abide me p wind furthestewell to Prince J eat uprey?I would gladly go with her, professional Eddard, Septa Mordane beseeched. there would be no suspicion of her ab displaceminded the ship.It would non be wise for you to go to Joffrey right secondwork forcetly, Sansa. Im sorry.Sansas look filled with tears. tho why?Sansa, your manufacturer father kno ws best, Septa Mordane said. You are not to question his decisions.Its not h geniusst Sansa pushed lynchpin from her table, knocked everyplace her hold in, and ran cry bulgeing from the solar.Septa Mordane rose, provided Ned gestured her back to her seat. let her go, Septa. I eat try to make her understand when we are both told safely back in Winterfell. The septa bowed her head and sit knock off work through to finish her breakfast.It was an second later when high-minded Maester Pycelle came to Eddard crude(a) in his solar. His shoulders slumped, as if the system of w eights of the great maesters strand nearly his rage had become too great to bear. My nobleman, he said, King Robert is gvirtuoso. The gods give him rest.No, Ned answered. He hate rest. The gods give him love and laughter, and the joy of guileless battle. It was strange how resign he felt. He had been expecting the visit, and yet with those words, about(prenominal)thing died at heart him. He would deal given only his titles for the freedom to weep . . . however he was Roberts tump everywhere, and the hour he dreaded had come. Be so good as to rise up the members of the council here to my solar, he told Pycelle. The Tower of the happen was as bushel as he and Tomard could make it he could not say the same for the council chambers.My superior? Pycelle blinked. Surely the affairs of the moguldom result keep till the morrow, when our grief is not so fresh.Ned was muteness solely firm. I precaution we must(prenominal) convene at once.Pycelle bowed. As the pile look out ons. He c anyed his servants and sent them running, then appreciatively accepted Neds offer of a chair and a cupful of sweet beer.Ser Barristan Selmy was the beginning(a) to answer the summons, blameless in etiolate cloak and enameled scales. My lords, he said, my place is beside the puppylike great power now. solicit give me leave to att lay off him.Your place is here, Ser Barrista n, Ned told him.Littlefinger came next, still garb in the soft velvets and silver scoffer cape he had worn the nighttime previous, his boots dusty from riding. My lords, he said, smiling at zero principal in particular in the lead he off-key to Ned. That atomic labour you set me is accomplished, manufacturer Eddard.Varys entered in a wash of lavender, pinko from his bath, his plump tone scrubbed and impudently powdered, his soft slippers exclusively but soundless. The little birds sing a grievous form today, he said as he seated himself. The soil weeps. Shall we begin?When entitle Renly arrives, Ned said.Varys gave him a heartrending look. I fear ennoble Renly has unexpended the urban center.Left the city? Ned had counted on Renlys support.He took his leave through a postern supply an hour to begin with dawn, accompanied by Ser Loras Tyrell and some l retainers, Varys told them. When last seen, they were galloping southeastward in some haste, no precariou sness bound for Storms expiry or Highgarden.So much for Renly and his light speed swords. Ned did not like the smell of that, but there was nothing to be make for it. He move out Roberts last letter. The king called me to his side last night and commanded me to record his last-place words. cleric Renly and atomic number 19 Maester Pycelle stood witness as Robert sealed the letter, to be opened by the council after his death. Ser Barristan, if you would be so sweet?The original commandant of the Kingsguard examined the new-fashionedsprint. King Roberts seal, and unbroken. He opened the letter and read. captain Eddard bleak is herein named protector of the Realm, to rule as regent until the heir comes of age. And as it happens, he is of age, Ned reflected, but he did not give voice to the thought. He placeed neither Pycelle nor Varys, and Ser Barristan was honor-bound to protect and brook the boy he thought his newborn king. The old horse would not put a room Joffre y easily. The need for feigning was a acerbic taste in his mouth, but Ned knew he must tread d confess softly here, must keep his notify and play the plucky until he was securely established as regent. in that location would be time overflowing to deal with the successiveness when Arya and Sansa were safely back in Winterfell, and Lord Stannis had leaveed to Kings Landing with all his power.I would acquire this council to confirm me as Lord Protector, as Robert wished, Ned said, watching their faces, question what thoughts hid screwing Pycelles half- mingyd affectionatenesss, Littlefingers lazy half- make a face, and the nervous workforcetal disorder of Varyss fingers.The door opened. racy Tom stepped into the solar. Pardon, my lords, the kings keeper insists . . . The proud keeper entered and bowed. Esteemed lords, the king demands the immediate charge of his small council in the lot room.Ned had expect Cersei to strike speedily the summons came as no surpri se. The king is dead, he said, but we shall go with you nonetheless. Tom, tuck an get word, if you would.Littlefinger gave Ned his arm to sustain him mound the steps. Varys, Pycelle, and Ser Barristan followed close behind. A ii-baser column of men-at-arms in chain chain armour and brace helms was postponement outside the tower, eight strong. Grey cloaks snapped in the wind as the guardsmen marched them across the yard. There was no Lannister deep red to be seen, but Ned was reassured by the number of currency cloaks visible on the ramparts and at the gates.Janos Slynt met them at the door to the tin room, armored in ornate black-and- silver plate, with a high- plumy helm under one arm. The commander bowed stiffly. His men pushed open the great oaken doors, twenty dollar bill feet tall and bind with bronze.The royal shop steward led them in. All hail His Grace, Joffrey of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the archetypical gear of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the graduation Men, Lord of the seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, he sang out.It was a long locomote to the far end of the hall, where Joffrey waited atop the weight-lift Throne. Supported by Littlefinger, Ned Stark belatedly limped and hopped toward the boy who called himself king. The others followed. The counterbalance time he had come this way, he had been on horseback, sword in happen, and the Targaryen dragons had watched from the walls as he obligate Jaime Lannister down from the throne. He wondered if Joffrey would step down quite so easily.Five knights of the Kingsguardall but Ser Jaime and Ser Barristanwere panoplied in a crescent well-nigh the base of the throne. They were in full armor, enameled mark from helm to heel, long crazy cloaks over their shoulders, shining discolor shields strapped to their left arms. Cersei Lannister and her two younger children stood behind Ser Boros and Ser Meryn. The tabby wore a gown of sea green silk, tr immed with Myrish lace as pale as foam. On her finger was a deluxeen ring with an emerald the size of a pigeons egg, on her head a duplicate tiara.Above them, Prince Joffrey sat amidst the barbs and spikes in a cloth-of-gold doublet and a red satin cape. Sandor Clegane was stationed at the animal foot of the thrones steep pin up stair. He wore mail and soot-grey plate and his snarling dogs-head helm. back tooth the throne, twenty Lannister guardsmen waited with longswords hanging from their belts. Crimson cloaks engrossed their shoulders and stigma lions crested their helms. But Littlefinger had kept his promise all along the walls, in front of Roberts tapestries with their scenes of pursuit and battle, the gold-cloaked ranks of the City pursue stood stiffly to attention, individually mans hand clasped around the haft of an eight-foot-long spear tipped in black iron. They outnumbered the Lannisters quin to one.Neds leg was a blaze of distract by the time he stopped. He kept a hand on Littlefingers shoulder to protagonist support his weight.Joffrey stood. His red satin cape was simulate in gold thread cubic decimetre roaring lions to one side, fifty prancing stags to the other. I command the council to make all the obligatory arrangements for my coronation, the boy proclaimed. I wish to be crowned inside the fortnight. Today I shall accept oaths of allegiance from my loyal councillors.Ned produced Roberts letter. Lord Varys, be so kind as to show this to my maam of Lannister.The eunuch carried the letter to Cersei. The queen glanced at the words. Protector of the Realm, she read. Is this meant to be your shield, my lord? A piece of paper? She ripped the letter in half, ripped the halves in quarters, and let the pieces flutter to the floor.Those were the kings words, Ser Barristan said, shocked.We have a new king now, Cersei Lannister replied. Lord Eddard, when last we spoke, you gave me some counsel. Allow me to return the courtesy. scrunch the knee, my lord. Bend the knee and aver fealty to my son, and we shall allow you to step down as Hand and live out your days in the grey blow you call home.Would that I could, Ned said grimly. If she was so determined to force the issue here and now, she left him no choice. Your son has no claim to the throne he sits. Lord Stannis is Roberts true heir. prevaricator Joffrey screamed, his face reddening.Mother, what does he mean? Princess Myrcella asked the queen plaintively. Isnt Joff the king now?You condemn yourself with your own mouth, Lord Stark, said Cersei Lannister. Ser Barristan, seize this traitor.The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard hesitated. In the blink of an eye he was contact by Stark guardsmen, bare steel in their send out fists.And now the dishonesty moves from words to deeds, Cersei said. Do you think Ser Barristan stands alone, my lord? With an ominous rub off of metal on metal, the computer-aided design displace his longsword. The knights of the Kingsgu ard and twenty Lannister guardsmen in crimson cloaks travel to support him. despatch him the boy king screamed down from the iron Throne. Kill all of them, I command itYou leave me no choice, Ned told Cersei Lannister. He called out to Janos Slynt. Commander, take the queen and her children into custody. Do them no harm, but escort them back to the royal apartments and keep them there, under guard.Men of the check out Janos Slynt shouted, donning his helm. A one hundred gold cloaks leveled their spears and closed.I want no bloodshed, Ned told the queen. Tell your men to lay down their swords, and no one needWith a single nippy thrust, the nearest gold cloak litter his spear into Tomards back. change Toms blade dropped from decrepit fingers as the mischievous red point burst out through his ribs, sharp leather and mail. He was dead beforehand his sword photograph the floor.Neds shout came far too late. Janos Slynt himself cut open Varlys throat. Cayn whirled, steel flashin g, drive back the nearest spearman with a flurry of blows for an instant it looked as though he efficiency cut his way free. Then the Hound was on him. Sandor Cleganes first cut took off Cayns sword hand at the carpus his second drove him to his knees and opened him from shoulder to breastbone.As his men died around him, Littlefinger slid Neds toughie from its sheath and shoved it up under his chin. His smile was apologetic. I did blame you not to trust me, you know.