A Game of Thrones Chapter Sixteen

EddardTheyve be her, my lord.Ned blush quickly. Our work force or Lannisters?It was Jory, his steward Vayon Poole replied. Shes non been h limbed. convey the gods, Ned give tongue to. His men had been searching for Arya for 4 old age now, only if the queens men had been out pursuit as well. W present is she? grade Jory to deal her here at once.I am sorry, my lord, Poole told him. The guards on the geat were Lannister men, and they informed the queen when Jory brought her in. Shes existence countn directly forrader the male monarch . . . Damn that wo macrocosm Ned say, striding to the inlet. Find Sansa and film her to the reference chamber. Her representative may be needed. He descended the tower steps in a red rage. He had lead searches himself for the first ternary days, and had scarcely slept an cow chip since Arya had disappeared. This morning he had been so witnesstbroken and weary he could scarcely stand, and now his fury was on him, pic female monarch him with strength.Men c all(prenominal)ed out to him as he crossed the fastness yard, barely Ned neglected them in his haste. He would begin run, only when he was still the Kings glove, and a Hand must keep his dignity. He was informed of the look that followed him, of the muttered voices wondering what he would do.The castle was a modest expressing a half days ride south of the Trident. The august variancey had made themselves the uninvited guests of its lord, Ser Raymun Darry, sequence the hunt for Arya and the scarcechers boy was conducted on some(prenominal)(prenominal) sides of the river. They were not wel ascend visitors. Ser Raymun lived under the major powers peace, tho his family had fought beneath Rhaegars dragon banners at the Trident, and his three older brothers had died there, a truth neither Robert nor Ser Raymun had forgotten. With great powers men, Darry men, Lannister men, and Stark men all crammed into a castle parky too polished for them, t ensions burned hot and heavy.The king had appropriated Ser Raymuns audience chamber, and that was where Ned found them. The inhabit was crowded when he burst in. Too crowded, he design left al i, he and Robert faculty keep up been able to settle the matter amicably.Robert was slumped in Darrys high seat at the far end of the room, his face closed and sullen. Cersei Lannister and her tidings stood beside him. The queen had her hand on J clear upreys shoulder. fatheaded silken bandages still c e genuinelywhereed the boys arm.Arya stood in the center of the room, solo but for Jory Cassel, all eye upon her. Arya, Ned called loudly. He went to her, his boots ringing on the stone floor. When she saw 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, goose egg but a stunted shortsighted missy. It was hard to down how she had caused so much tr ouble. Are you hurt?no(prenominal) Her face was dirty, and her tears left bump tracks d receive her cheeks. Hungry some. I ate some berries, but there was nothing else.Well feed you soon enough, Ned promised. He rose to face the king. What is the stringenting of this? His eyeball brush the room, searching for friendly faces. But for his own men, they were few enough. Ser Raymun Darry guarded his look well. original Renly wore a half smile that might fee-tail allthing, and old Ser Barristan was grave the pass off were Lannister men, and hostile. Their only just 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 communicate to Robert, but it was Cersei Lannister who answered. How hold you speak to your king in that trendAt that, the king stirred. Quiet, woman, he snapped. He straightened in h is seat. I am sorry, Ned. I neer meant to frighten the girl. It seemed best to bring her here and get the business with with quickly.And what business is that? Ned effect ice in his voice.The queen stepped forward. You know full well, Stark. This girl of yours attacked my watchword. Her and her butchers boy. That animal of hers tried to tear his arm off.Thats not true, Arya said loudly. She just bit him a little. He was hurting Mycah.Joff told us what happened, the queen said. You and the butcher boy come 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 contemplate at Arya as he spoke. prevaricator Arya yelled.Shut up the prince yelled cover.sufficiency the king roared, rising from his seat, his voice thickened with irritation. Silence pelt. He glowered at Arya by means of his thick beard. Now, child, you get out tell me what happened. Tell it all, and tell it true. It is a great plague to lie to a king. Then he looked over at his son. When she is done, you leave brace your turn. Until therefore, hold your tongue.As Arya began her story, Ned heard the gateway open behind him. He glanced defend and saw Vayon Poole enter with Sansa. They stood quietly at the fundament 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, view my brother from the hall before he chokes.Lord Renly stifled his laughter. My brother is too kind. I can find the door myself. He bowed to Joffrey. Perchance posterior youll tell me how a nine-year-old girl the coat of a wet rat managed to unarm you with a broom handle and spill your sword in the river. As the door swung shut behind him, Ned heard him say, Lions Tooth, and laugh loudly once more.Prince Joffrey was pale as he began his very different version of events. When his son was done talking, the king rose heavy from his seat, looking standardised a man who asked to be anywhere but here. What in all the seven 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 nighttime Arya had vanished. He knew the truth. Tell us what happened.His first daughter stepped forward hesitantly. She was dressed in blue velvets trimmed with white, a silver chain around her neck. Her thick chromatic hair had been brushed until it shone. She blinked at her sister, then at the young 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 raise her back to her feet. Are you hurt? he asked, but she was staring at Arya, and she did not seem to hear.The girl is as waste 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 wee-wee me do, whip her by the streets? Damn it, children fight. Its over. No lasting legal injury was done.The queen was furious. Joff will carry those scars for the embossment 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 alike with my son.Gladly, Your Grace, Ned said with bulky relief.Robert started to walk away, but the queen was not done. And what of the direwolf? she called aft(prenominal) him. What of the beast that barbarousd your son?The king stop ped, turned back, frowned. Id forgotten about the darned wolf.Ned could see Arya tense in Jorys arms. Jory spoke up quickly. We found no suggestion of the direwolf, Your Grace.Robert did not look unhappy. No? So be it.The queen raised her voice. A hundred golden dragons to the man who brings me its fightA costly pelt, Robert grumbled. I want no part of this, woman. You can diddly-shit well buy your furs with Lannister gold.The queen regarded him coolly. I had not thought you so niggardly. The king Id thought to wed would attain set(p) a wolfskin across my bed before the sun went down.Roberts face darkened with anger. That would be a fine mockery, 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 words, 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 style for more arg ument. 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. suck up 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 bite 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 in 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, closer than any brother. Please, Robert. For the love you bear me. For the love you pall my sister. Please.The king looked at them for a recol lective moment, then turned his eyes on his wife. Damn you, Cersei, he said with loathing.Ned stood, softly disengaging himself from Sansas grasp. All the weariness of the past four days had returned to him. Do it yourself then, Robert, he said in a voice cold and sharp as nerve. At least(prenominal) have the courage to do it yourself.Robert looked at Ned with flat, dead eyes and left without a word, his footsteps heavy as lead. Silence change the hall.Where is the direwolf? Cersei Lannister asked when her husband was gone. Beside her, Prince Joffrey was smiling.The beast is chained 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 oblige 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 h im, 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 where they chained her. Ned sat beside her for a while. Lady, he said, tasting the name. He had never paid much attention to the label 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 cockle her thick grey fur.Shortly, Jory brought him Ice.When it was over, he said, cull 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 short sleep at last when Sandor Clegane and his riders came pounding through the castle gate, back from their hunt.Th ere was something slung over the back of his destrier, a heavy approach pattern wrapped in a cover cloak. No sign of your daughter, Hand, the Hound rasped down, but the day was not wholly wasted. We got her little pet. He reached back and shoved the burden off, and it fell with a thump in anterior 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 alter blood. He had been cut almost in half from shoulder to waist by some terrible blow smitten 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.