Chapter 41 Chapter Forty Ed

He dreamed again of the three knights in snow-white cloaks, the long-collapsed tower, and Lyanna lying on a bed of blood. In his dream he walked side by side with his former comrades in arms: the proud Martin Cassel, Jory's father, the loyal Theo Wolburn, Ethan Glover who was Brandon's squire, and the soft-spoken Sir Mark Rythwell, who spoke the language and was kind, and Howland Reed, the marshman, and Lord Dustin on his red steed.Their faces had once been as familiar to Ned as his own, but the years had leeched away, sucking away even the parts he had once sworn he would never forget.In the dream they were nothing but phantoms, like gray phantoms, riding on misty horses.

There were seven of them, and the other party had three.It was the same in the dream, and it was the same in the past.But these three are by no means mediocre.They waited in front of the round tower, with the crimson mountains of Dorne behind them, their snow-white cloaks fluttering in the wind.And these three people are not phantoms, their faces are deeply branded, and they are still clear to this day. "Sword of Dawn" Sir Arthur Dayne had a sad smile on his mouth, and the great sword "Dawn" slanted out of his right shoulder.Sir Oswell Hoan was on one knee, sharpening his sword with a whetstone.On his white enamel helmet, there is a black bat with spread wings that symbolizes the family crest.Standing between them was Ser Gerold Hightower, Captain of the Kingsguard, known as the White Bull.

"I did not see you on the Trident," Ned told them. "We are not there," Ser Gerald answered. "Woe to the usurper if we are here," said Sir Oswell. "When King's Landing fell, Ser Jaime slew your king with his golden sword, and you were not there." "We are far away," Ser Gerold said. "Otherwise Aerys would be sitting on the Iron Throne, and our hypocritical brethren would be in the seven hells." "I broke the siege of Storm's End," Ned told them. "Lord Tyrell and Lord Redwyne bowed their heads, and all their knights bowed their knees. I thought you would be among them."

"We do not kneel easily," said Sir Arthur Dayne. "Ser William Darry, taking your queen and Prince Viserys, is fleeing to Dragonstone. I suppose you may be on board." "Sir William is very brave," said Sir Oswell. "But he is no Kingsguard," Ser Gerald pointed out. "The Kingsguard will never run from danger." "As it was then, so it is now," said Sir Arthur, putting on his helm. "We swore it," explained old Ser Gerald. Ned's ghosts stepped forward beside him, shadow swords in hand.Seven against three. "It all starts here," said Sir Arthur Dayne, the Sword of Dawn.He pulled out the dawn and raised his hands high. The sword body was as pale as milky white glass, and it seemed to contain life under the light.

"No," Ned said mournfully, "it will end here." He heard Lyanna scream as the steel and phantom rushed together. "Ed!" she yelled.A storm of rose petals blew across a long blood-stained sky blue as the eye of death. "Lord Ed." Lyanna called again. "I promise," he said softly, "Ryan, I promise..." "Master Ed." Someone also said this sentence from the dark. Eddard Stark opened his eyes with a groan.Moonlight streams in through the tall windows of the Prime Minister's Tower. "Lord Ed?" A shadow stood beside the bed.

"How...how long?" The sheets were in a mess, his legs were splinted and plastered, and there was a dull throbbing pain. "Six days and seven nights." It was Vayon Poole's voice.The Steward held the cup to Ned's lips. "Master, drink it." "this is……?" "Just boiling water. Grand Maester Pycelle says you'll wake up thirsty." So Ned drank.His lips were chapped, and the boiling water was as sweet as honey. "His Majesty orders," Vayon Poole told him when the cup was empty. "Master, he wants to speak to you."

"Tomorrow," Ned said, "when I'm stronger." He couldn't face Robert just now.The dream just now had sucked out what was left of his strength, leaving him as weak as a kitten. "Sir," said Poole, "your Majesty wants us to take you to him as soon as you open your eyes." The steward lit a candle by the bedside. Ned cursed softly.Robert had always been impatient. "Tell him I'm too weak to get over. If he insists on talking to me, I'd love to receive him in bed. I hope you don't wake him from his sweet dreams. By the way..." He was about to say "Jory," remembered. "Get my captain of the guard."

A few minutes after the steward left, Erin entered his bedroom. "grown ups." "Poole says I slept six days," said Ned. "I want to know what's going on." "The Kingslayer has escaped." Erin told him. "The legend is that he fled back to Casterly Rock to join his father. The story of Mrs. Caitlin's arrest of the little devil has been spread in the streets and alleys, so I sent more guards. I hope you do not mind." "You've done a good job," Ned applauded. "Where are my daughters?" "My lord, they are with you every day. Sansa prays for you quietly, but Arya..." He hesitated. "She hasn't said a word since they brought you back. My lord, she has a fierce temper. I never saw a little girl so angry."

"Anyway," said Ned, "I hope my daughters are safe. I'm afraid this is only the beginning of trouble." "Master Ed, they will be fine." Erin said, "I guarantee my life." "Jory and the others..." "I gave them to the sisters of the Sisters of Silence to send back to Winterfell. Jory should be buried beside his grandfather." He could only be buried with his grandfather, because Jory's father was buried far south.Martin Cassel died in southern Xinjiang like the others. After the war, Ned tore down the tower and used its blood-colored stone bricks to build eight cairns on the ridge.It is said that Rhaegar named it the Tower of Elysium, but to Ned it was full of painful memories.They fought seven against three, but only Eddard Stark himself and the little marshman Howland Reed survived.Over the years, this dream has recurred, which is really not a good sign.

"You've done well, Alyn," Ned said, as Vayon Poole returned.The steward bowed deeply, "Sir, His Majesty the King is outside, and the Queen is with him." Ned sat up, his teeth clenched in pain from his broken leg.He didn't expect Cersei to come, and that didn't bode well either. "Invite them in, and then you go down. Our conversation must not be passed around." Poole left quietly. Robert also put a little thought into his grooming.He wore a black velvet tunic with the crowned stag of House Baratheon embroidered in gold thread on the breast, and a black and gold checked cloak over it.He had a bottle of wine in his hand, and his face was flushed from drinking.Cersei Lannister followed him, wearing a jeweled diadem on her head.

"Your Majesty," Ned said, "forgive me for not being able to get up." "It doesn't matter." The king said harshly, "Would you like a drink or two? The Qingting Island's good stuff." "Just a little cup," said Ned. "I've had the milk of the poppy, and I'm still dizzy." "You are lucky to keep your head," the queen said. "Smelly woman, please be quiet." The king reprimanded.He offered Ned a drink. "Does your foot still hurt?" "One more thing," Ned said.Although he was dizzy, he didn't want to admit his weakness in front of the queen. "Pycelle promises to heal without scars," Robert frowned. "I suppose you know what Catelyn has done?" "I know." Ned took a sip of his wine. "My wife is not wrong, Your Majesty. It's all mine." "I'm not happy, Ned," muttered Robert. "Why did you attack my family?" Cersei demanded, "What do you think you are?" "I am the Prime Minister." Ned replied politely but coldly, "I follow your husband's orders to maintain peace and justice in the name of the king." "You were Prime Minister," Cersei insisted, "and now—" "Quiet!" growled the king. "You asked him questions, and he answered you." Cersei drew back coldly, scowling.Robert turned to Ned again. "Ned, you said to maintain peace in the name of the king. Is this how you maintain peace? Seven people died in total..." "Eight," the queen corrected him, "Tragg died this morning, from Lord Stark's sword." "First they kidnapped openly on the king's road, and then they drank and murdered in the city," the king said. "Ned, I will not allow such a thing." "Catelyn has good reason to go after the imp—" "I said I wouldn't allow this to happen! Whatever her reasons. I want you to order her to release the dwarf immediately and make peace with James." "Jaime slaughtered three of my men in front of my face just because he wanted to 'teach me', and you're telling me to pretend that didn't happen?" "My brother did not start this quarrel," Cersei told the king, "when Lord Stark was drunk and fresh from a brothel. His men attacked Jaime and his guards, just as he Like the lady who attacked Tyrion on the Kingsroad." "Robert, you know the truth." Ned said. "You can ask Lord Baelish. He was there." "I spoke to Littlefinger," Robert said. "He said you hadn't started the fight when he hurried to the City Watch, but he admitted you had come back from a brothel." "A whorehouse? Are you blind, Robert? I went there to see your daughter! Her mother named her Barra, and she looks like when we were boys in the Glen That daughter of yours, your first daughter." He looked at the queen as he spoke, but she seemed to be wearing a mask, pale and calm, showing no emotion. Robert blushed. "Barra," he murmured, "are you trying to cheer me up? Damn the little girl for having no common sense." "She's not even fifteen years old, and she has to sell her body, and you expect her to have common sense?" Ned said in disbelief.His leg hurt so badly that he couldn't contain his anger. "Robert, that silly boy is madly in love with you, you know that?" The king glanced at Cersei. "It's not good for the queen to hear these things." "I'm afraid Her Majesty will not like to hear anything I say," Ned replied. "I hear the Kingslayer has fled the city. Allow me to bring him back and bring him to justice." The king swirled the wine in his glass, pondered for a while, and finally took a big gulp. "No," he said, "it's going on forever. James kills three of you, and you kill him five, and it's even." "Is this what you call justice?" Ned raged. "If it is, then I'm glad I didn't continue to be your Prime Minister." The queen looked at her husband. "If anyone ever dared to speak to a Targaryen in that tone before—" "Do you think I am Aerys?" Robert interrupted her. "I think you are the king of a country. In terms of law and in-laws, Jaime and Tyrion are your brothers. Now the Starks drove out one and captured the other, and every word this man said I'm humiliating you, but you just stand by obediently, asking him if his leg hurts, and asking him if he wants to drink." Robert's face was dark and scowling. "Smelly woman, how many times do you have to say it before you shut up?" Cersei's expression was beyond contempt. "The gods really played a big joke on us," she said. "You should wear skirts like a woman, and I should dress like a man." The king was so angry that his face was purple, and he stretched out his hand and punched her hard, knocking her staggeringly against the table, and fell heavily to the ground.Cersei Lannister didn't say a word, she stretched out her slender fingers to caress her face, the smooth snow-white skin of her cheeks had already started to turn red, and by tomorrow, half of her face would be swollen. "I'll take this as a badge of honor," she declared. "Then put it on quietly for me, or I will make you more honorable," Robert promised.He called to come, and Ser Meryn Tran, tall and dour in white armor, entered the room. "The queen is tired. Take her back to her room." The knight helped Cersei up and led her out without a word. Robert took the bottle again and filled himself. "Ned, you have seen how she treated me." The king sat down and stroked his glass. "This is my dear wife, and the mother of my children." His anger faded, and now Ned saw only sadness and fear in his eyes. "I shouldn't have hit her. This is really not... really not the behavior of a king." He stared down at his hand, as if he didn't quite understand what it was. "My strength has always been great... No one can beat me, no one. But if you can't touch him, how will you fight this fight?" The king shook his head in confusion. "Rhaegar... Rhaegar he won, and he suffered a thousand blows. I killed him, Ned, and my warhammer slashed through his black armor and pierced his black heart, and he died on the spot. Foot. It will be celebrated in posterity. Yet he won. Now he has Lyanna, and I have her." The king gulped it down. "Your Majesty," Ned Stark said, "I have something to talk to you..." Robert pressed his fingers to his temples. "I've already talked about nausea. To-morrow I'm going hunting in the King's Forest, so wait till I get back." "If the gods favor me, I won't be here when you come back. You ordered me to return to Winterfell, remember?" Robert stood up, holding on to the bedposts for stability. "Ned, the gods seldom show favor with men. Take it, it's yours." He took the heavy silver medallion in the shape of a hand from the inside pocket of his cloak, and threw it on the bed. "Whether you like it or not, you're my fucking Prime Minister. I won't let you go." Ned picked up the silver brooch.It seemed he had no choice.His foot was throbbing and he felt as helpless as a child. "The Targaryen girl—" The king groaned, "Seven Hells, why are you still mentioning her? That matter is over, I don't want to talk about it anymore." "If you don't want to listen to my advice, what do you want me, the Prime Minister, to do?" "What?" laughed Robert. "Someone has got to run this shitty country. Put that badge on, Ned. I swear to you, if you throw it back at me again, I'll put the shit back in James myself. Tom Lannister."