A Game of Thrones Chapter Sixteen

EddardTheyve implant her, my lord.Ned flush quickly. Our men or Lannisters?It was Jory, his steward Vayon Poole replied. Shes non been harmed.Thank the gods, Ned said. His men had been inquisitive for Arya for quaternity days now, besides the queens men had been push by dint of executeing as well. Where is she? give notice (of) Jory to bring her here at once.I am sorry, my lord, Poole told him. The guards on the gate were Lannister men, and they informed the queen when Jory brought her in. Shes being taken directly originallyhand the king . . . diddlysquat that wo adult male Ned said, striding to the door. Find Sansa and bring her to the audience chamber. Her express may be needed. He descended the tower steps in a red rage. He had led searches himself for the first three days, and had only slept an bit since Arya had disappeared. This morning he had been so heartsick and weary he could scarcely stand, exclusively now his fury was on him, filling him with strength. Men c on the wholeed bring out to him as he crossed the castle yard, but Ned ignored them in his haste. He would have run, but he was still the Kings evanesce, and a Hand must keep his dignity. He was aware of the eyeball that followed him, of the muttered personas wondering what he would do.The castle was a modest proceeding a half days propel south of the Trident. The royal component party had made themselves the uninvited guests of its lord, Ser Raymun Darry, while the hunt for Arya and the sad sacks boy was conducted on both sides of the river. They were not welcome visitors. Ser Raymun lived under the kings peace, but his family had fought beneath Rhaegars dragon banners at the Trident, and his three older brothers had died there, a fairness neither Robert nor Ser Raymun had forgotten. With kings men, Darry men, Lannister men, and Stark men all crammed into a castle remote too small for them, tensions burned hot and thick.The king had appropriated Ser Raymuns audienc e chamber, and that was where Ned found them. The board was crowded when he burst in. Too crowded, he musical theme left alone, he and Robert might have been able to settle the division amicably.Robert was slumped in Darrys high seat at the far end of the room, his instance closed and sullen. Cersei Lannister and her son stood beside him. The queen had her hand on Joffreys shoulder. Thick silken bandages still covered the boys arm.Arya stood in the center of the room, alone but for Jory Cassel, every(prenominal) eye upon her. Arya, Ned called loudly. He went to her, his boots ringing on the stone floor. When she apothegm him, she cried out and began to sob.Ned went to one knee and took her in his arms. She was shaking. Im sorry, she sobbed, Im sorry, Im sorry.I know, he said. She felt so tiny in his arms, nothing but a scrawny critical miss. It was hard to tick how she had caused so much trouble. Are you hurt? none Her face was dirty, and her tears left pink tracks down he r cheeks. Hungry some. I ate some berries, but there was nothing else.Well feed you presently enough, Ned promised. He rose to face the king. What is the hatching of this? His eyes swept the room, seek for friendly faces. but for his own men, they were few enough. Ser Raymun Darry guarded his look well. shaper Renly wore a half smile that might mean anything, and old Ser Barristan was laborious the rest were Lannister men, and hostile. Their only good fortune was that both Jaime Lannister and Sandor Clegane were missing, leading searches north of the Trident. why was I not told that my daughter had been found? Ned demanded, his voice ringing. why was she not brought to me at once?He spoke to Robert, but it was Cersei Lannister who answered. How boldness you speak to your king in that mannerAt that, the king stirred. Quiet, woman, he snapped. He straightened in his seat. I am sorry, Ned. I never meant to fright the girl. It seemed best to bring her here and get the bloodlin e through with quickly.And what business is that? Ned put ice in his voice.The queen stepped forward. You know full well, Stark. This girl of yours attacked my son. Her and her butchers boy. That animal of hers tried to tear his arm off.Thats not true, Arya said loudly. She tho bit him a bitty. He was hurting Mycah.Joff told us what happened, the queen said. You and the butcher boy beat him with clubs while you set your wolf on him.Thats not how it was, Arya said, close to tears again. Ned put a hand on her shoulder.Yes it is Prince Joffrey insisted. They all attacked me, and she threw Lions Tooth in the river Ned noticed that he did not so much as glance at Arya as he spoke.Liar Arya yelled.Shut up the prince yelled brook.Enough the king roared, rising from his seat, his voice heavy with irritation. gloss over fell. He glowered at Arya through his thick beard. Now, child, you will mark me what happened. Tell it all, and tell it true. It is a great crime to lie to a king. the n(prenominal) he looked over at his son. When she is done, you will have your turn. Until then, hold your tongue.As Arya began her story, Ned heard the door open behind him. He glanced back and saw Vayon Poole enter with Sansa. They stood quietly at the back of the hall as Arya spoke. When she got to the part where she threw Joffreys sword into the middle of the Trident, Renly Baratheon began to laugh. The king bristled. Ser Barristan, escort my brother from the hall before he chokes.Lord Renly stifled his laughter. My brother is too kind. I flush toi permit find the door myself. He bowed to Joffrey. Perchance later youll tell me how a nine-year-old girl the size of a wet rat managed to demilitarise you with a broom handle and throw your sword in the river. As the door swung shut behind him, Ned heard him say, Lions Tooth, and guffaw once more.Prince Joffrey was sick(p) as he began his very different version of events. When his son was done talking, the king rose heavily from his seat, looking give care a man who wanted to be anywhere but here. What in all the 7 hells am I supposed to make of this? He says one thing, she says another.They were not the only ones present, Ned said. Sansa, come here. Ned had heard her version of the story the night Arya had vanished. He knew the truth. Tell us what happened.His firstborn daughter stepped forward hesitantly. She was dressed in blue velvets trimmed with white, a silver chain around her neck. Her thick auburn hair had been brushed until it shone. She blinked at her sister, then at the infantile prince. I dont know, she said tearfully, looking as though she wanted to bolt. I dont remember. Everything happened so fast, I didnt see . . . You rotten Arya shrieked. She flew at her sister like an arrow, knocking Sansa down to the ground, pummeling her. Liar, liar, liar, liar.Arya, stop it Ned shouted. Jory pulled her off her sister, kicking. Sansa was pale and shaking as Ned lifted her back to her feet. Are you hurt ? he asked, but she was sodding(a) at Arya, and she did not seem to hear.The girl is as wild as that filthy animal of hers, Cersei Lannister said. Robert, I want her punished.Seven hells, Robert swore. Cersei, look at her. Shes a child. What would you have me do, whip her through the streets? Damn it, children fight. Its over. No perpetual harm was done.The queen was furious. Joff will carry those scars for the rest of his life.Robert Baratheon looked at his eldest son. So he will. Perhaps they will teach him a lesson. Ned, see that your daughter is disciplined. I will do the same with my son.Gladly, Your Grace, Ned said with gigantic relief.Robert started to walk a focal point, but the queen was not done. And what of the direwolf? she called after him. What of the beast that savaged your son?The king stopped, turned back, frowned. Id forgotten about the damned wolf.Ned could see Arya filter out in Jorys arms. Jory spoke up quickly. We found no trace of the direwolf, Your Grace.R obert did not look unhappy. No? So be it.The queen raised her voice. A hundred golden dragons to the man who brings me its skinA costly pelt, Robert grumbled. I want no part of this, woman. You can damn well buy your furs with Lannister gold.The queen regarded him coolly. I had not plan you so niggardly. The king Id thought to wed would have laid a wolfskin across my bed before the sun went down.Roberts face darkened with anger. That would be a fine trick, without a wolf.We have a wolf, Cersei Lannister said. Her voice was very quiet, but her green eyes shone with triumph.It took them all a moment to comprehend her linguistic process, but when they did, the king shrugged irritably. As you will. Have Ser Ilyn see to it.Robert, you cannot mean this, Ned protested.The king was in no conception for more argument. Enough, Ned, I will hear no more. A direwolf is a savage beast. Sooner or later it would have turned on your girl the same way the other did on my son. Get her a dog, shell be happier for it.That was when Sansa finally seemed to comprehend. Her eyes were frightened as they went to her father. He doesnt mean Lady, does he? She saw the truth on his face. No, she said. No, not Lady, Lady didnt pungency anybody, shes good . . . Lady wasnt there, Arya shouted angrily. You leave her aloneStop them, Sansa pleaded, dont let them do it, please, please, it wasnt Lady, it was Nymeria, Arya did it, you cant, it wasnt Lady, dont let them hurt Lady, Ill make her be good, I promise, I promise . . . She started to cry.All Ned could do was take her in his arms and hold her while she wept. He looked across the room at Robert. His old friend, adjacent than any brother. Please, Robert. For the love you bear me. For the love you bore my sister. Please.The king looked at them for a long moment, then turned his eyes on his wife. Damn you, Cersei, he said with loathing.Ned stood, gently disengaging himself from Sansas grasp. All the weariness of the past four days had ret urned to him. Do it yourself then, Robert, he said in a voice cold and sharp as steel. At least have the braveness to do it yourself.Robert looked at Ned with flat, dead eyes and left without a word, his footsteps heavy as lead. Silence filled the hall.Where is the direwolf? Cersei Lannister asked when her husband was gone. Beside her, Prince Joffrey was smiling.The beast is arrange up outside the gatehouse, Your Grace, Ser Barristan Selmy answered reluctantly.Send for Ilyn Payne.No, Ned said. Jory, take the girls back to their rooms and bring me Ice. The words tasted of bile in his throat, but he forced them out. If it must be done, I will do it.Cersei Lannister regarded him suspiciously. You, Stark? Is this some trick? Why would you do such a thing?They were all staring at him, but it was Sansas look that cut. She is of the north. She deserves better than a butcher.He left the room with his eyes burning and his daughters wails echoing in his ears, and found the direwolf pup wher e they chained her. Ned sat beside her for a while. Lady, he said, tasting the name. He had never nonrecreational much attention to the names the children had picked, but looking at her now, he knew that Sansa had chosen well. She was the smallest of the litter, the prettiest, the most gentle and trusting. She looked at him with bright golden eyes, and he ruffled her thick grey fur.Shortly, Jory brought him Ice.When it was over, he said, Choose four men and have them take the body north. Bury her at Winterfell.All that way? Jory said, astonished.All that way, Ned affirmed. The Lannister woman shall never have this skin.He was walking back to the tower to give himself up to sleep at last when Sandor Clegane and his riders came quid through the castle gate, back from their hunt.There was something slung over the back of his destrier, a heavy shape wrapped in a bloody cloak. No sign of your daughter, Hand, the Hound rasped down, but the day was not wholly wasted. We got her little pe t. He reached back and shoved the burden off, and it fell with a thump in front of Ned.Bending, Ned pulled back the cloak, dreading the words he would have to find for Arya, but it was not Nymeria after all. It was the butchers boy, Mycah, his body covered in dried blood. He had been cut almost in half from shoulder to waist by some terrible blow struck from above.You rode him down, Ned said.The Hounds eyes seemed to glitter through the steel of that hideous dogs-head helm. He ran. He looked at Neds face and laughed. But not very fast.