Chapter 47 Chapter 46: Ed

"Master Ed, pain is a gift from the gods in the sky," Grand Maester Pycelle told him, "It means that the bones are gradually joining together, and the wound is about to heal. You should be grateful." "When my feet don't hurt anymore, it won't be too late to be grateful." Pycelle put the corked medicine jar on the bedside table. "It's milk of the poppy. Drink it when you're in too much pain." "I've slept too much." "Sleep is the best doctor." "I thought the good doctor was you." Pycelle smiled wearily. "My lord, I am glad to see that you are still so humorous." He leaned over and whispered, "A raven came this morning, bringing a letter from the queen and her lord father. I think it is best to let you know."

"Black wings, black news," Ned said darkly. "What did the letter say?" "Lord Tywin is extremely indignant at the fact that you sent someone to arrest Gregor Clegane." The Grand Maester whispered to him, "This just confirms my worries. You should remember that I also reminded you at the court .” "Let him be angry," Ned said.Whenever his foot hurt, he thought of Jaime Lannister smiling, and Jory dying in his arms. "What he likes to write to the queen is his business. The Earl of Beric plays the banner of the king and executes the laws of the king. If Lord Tywin dares to intervene, then he has to be responsible to Robert. If this There is nothing in the world that attracts Your Majesty more than hunting, and nothing more than leading an army to attack those who disobey orders."

Pycelle drew back, the chains around his neck rattling. "As you said. I'll come back tomorrow." The old man packed up his things and left quickly.Ned thought and knew that he would probably make a beeline for the royal chambers and inform the queen of his reaction.A sort of "I thought it best to let you know"... as if Cersei hadn't specifically told him to speak out about her father's threats.He hoped his answer would make her gnash her teeth.Ned actually wasn't as confident in Robert as he appeared to be, but it wasn't necessary for Cersei to know. After Pycelle left, Ned ordered a glass of wine and honey.Drinking this stuff will also interfere with sanity, but it's not that serious.He has to keep his mind clear.He asked himself a thousand times: What if Jon.Ayrin was not killed after learning the truth, what action will he take next?Then again, he might have taken action and died because of it.

Strange to say, sometimes children's ignorant eyes can see facts that adults turn a blind eye to.One day, when Sansa grows up, he must tell her how her words cleared all the doubts for him.Without knowing anything, she uttered the angry words "he's nothing like that drunken king", and the pure truth suddenly surged in his chest, as cold as death.This was the sword that had killed Jon Arryn, Ned thought then, and it would have killed Robert as well, perhaps slower, but definitely sooner or later.A broken leg heals eventually, but certain betrayals slowly corrupt the soul. Less than an hour after the Master left, Littlefinger came to visit, wearing a plum-colored tunic with a mockingbird embroidered with black thread on the chest, and a black and white striped cloak. "My lord, I cannot stay long," he said as he entered the door. "The Countess Tanda is waiting for me to lunch, and I am sure she will roast a fat cow for me. Oh, if the cow is as fat as her daughter, I will eat it." Eighty percent of them will swell to death. How are your feet?"

"It hurts and itches and it's driving me crazy." Littlefinger raised an eyebrow. "From now on, don't let the horse overwhelm you if you have nothing to do. I advise you to get well soon. The situation in the country is becoming more and more unstable. Varys has heard a lot of bad news from the west. Wandering warriors and free riders are heading towards Kai Rock City swarmed away, they didn't go to chat with Lord Tywin." "Any news from the king?" Ned asked. "How long will Robert be hunting?" "If it's according to his wishes, I think he will stay in the forest and come back when you and the queen are old and dead." Petyr smiled slightly. "Since this is impossible, he will probably come back when he kills the prey. They found the white stag... oh, it should be said that they found the remains of the white stag. Some wolves arrived first, leaving only a deer hoof to His Majesty the king." and an antler. Robert was very angry, and then he heard that there was a monster bear in the depths of the forest, and there was nothing to stop him. Prince Joffrey, House Royce, Balon Sven and the other twenty or so came back this morning. The others accompanied the king to continue hunting."

"Where's the Hound?" Ned asked, frowning.Ser Jaime had fled the city now to join his father, and of all the Lannisters it was Sandor Clegane who worried him most. "Oh, he came back with Joffrey, and they went straight to the queen." Littlefinger smiled. "When he knows that Lord Beric is leading an army to kill his brother, I'd rather spend a hundred silver stags to change the queen." Like cockroaches in the grass." "Even a blind man can see that the Hound hates his brother." "Yes, but Gregor is the only one who can hate, and it's not up to you to kill. When Dondarrion flattens the peak of the Devil's Mountain, the Clegane family's territory and taxes will naturally pass to Sandor, but don't expect him to follow you. Thank you, absolutely not. Sorry, I really have to go, Countess Tanda and her fat cow are still waiting for me."

Before he reached the door, Petyr caught a glimpse of the heavy tome written by Master Merion on the table, so he stopped and casually opened the cover. ""The Genealogy and History of the Major Nobles of the Seven Kingdoms (with many descriptions of the Duchesses and their children)," he read, "this is the most boring thing I have ever seen. My lord, dare you Use this to help you fall asleep?" For a moment Ned hesitated to tell him the truth, but Littlefinger's jokes bored him.This guy always thinks he is clever, and that narrow smile never leaves his lips. "Jon Arryn read this book when he was sick," Ned said cautiously, intending to test the other's reaction.

As expected, he was playing tricks as usual. "In that case," he said, "that death would be a relief." With that, Lord Petyr Baelish bowed and departed. Eddard Stark allowed himself to curse.Except for his own men, no one in the city can be trusted.Although Littlefinger helped hide Caitlin and assisted Ned in making unannounced visits, when James and his men appeared, his eagerness to protect himself was still vivid.Varys is worse.He insists all day long that he is loyal, but in fact he knows too much and does too little.Grandmaster Pycelle looked more and more like Cersei's running dog, and Ser Barristan was old and old-fashioned, and he would probably tell Ned to mind his own business.

Time was running out, and when the king returned from his hunting trip, Ned was obliged, out of honor, to tell him the truth.Vayon Poole had arranged for Sansa and Arya to leave in three days' time aboard the Whisper of the Winds in Braavos, and Ned could no longer use their safety as an excuse for his delay. But last night he had dreamed of Rhaegar's child.Lord Tywin wrapped the body in the red cloak of his squire and placed it under the Iron Throne.It was quite clever to do so, because the bloodstains were less obvious because of the red cloth.The little princess died barefoot and in her pajamas, and the boy... the boy....

Ned must not allow something like this to happen again.The kingdom can no longer have a second mad king, let alone another bloody storm full of hatred.He had to find a way to protect those children. Robert is a very kind man.Ser Barristan was not the only one he had pardoned.Master Pycelle, Varys the "Octospider", Balon Greyjoy...all of them have been enemies of Robert, but once they swear allegiance, they can all be hugged in friendship and keep their honor .Robert respected him as a brave opponent when he acted bravely and acted with integrity. But this time the situation was different: secretly poisoning, stabbing in the back, such things he could never forgive, just as he could never forgive Rhaegar.I will teach them to die cleanly and like dragons, Ned remembered Robert's words.

Even so, he still couldn't keep silent.He was responsible to Robert, and more importantly to the whole country, to the dead Jon Arryn... to Bran.The child must have overheard part of the truth, otherwise why would they kill him to silence him? That evening, he sent for Tomard, a stout, flaxen-bearded guard whom his children dubbed "Fat Tom."As Jory was dead and Alyn was away, Fat Tom was his captain of the guard.Ned felt a little uneasy at the thought that Tomard was a solid man, amiable, loyal, hard-working, capable in some ways, but he was approaching fifty, and even in his youth he hadn't had much energy. abundant.Perhaps Ned should not have sent off half his guard so easily, they were his best fighters. "I need your help," Ned told Tomard as he entered.Fat Tom was always a little uneasy when he was summoned by his master, and this time was no exception. "Help me to the godswood." "Master Ed, is this okay? Your feet look like this..." "Maybe it's bad, but I have to." Tomard called for Vali, and Ned, with a hand on one shoulder, limped down the steep stairs of the tower and limped across the inner city. "Double the guard shift," he told Fat Tom. "No one is allowed to enter or leave the Prime Minister's Tower without my permission." Tom blinked. "Master, without Erin and the others right now, our manpower is very tight—" "It won't be long. Temporarily extend the duty time." "Yes, sir," answered Tom, "may I ask—" "Better not," Ned replied immediately. The godswood was empty, as it always was in the castles of the southern gods.By the time they put him down on the grass by the heart tree, his feet were already in pain. "Thank you." He took out a piece of paper sealed with the family crest seal from his sleeve. "Please send it immediately." Tomard licked his lips uneasily when he saw the name Ned had written on the paper. "master……" "You do as you please, Tom," said Ned. He wondered how long he had waited in the silence of the godswood.It is peaceful and quiet here.The thick walls blocked the noise of people and horses in the castle. He heard insects and birds, and heard leaves rustling in the wind.The heart tree here was a brown oak, and though it had no face carved, Ned could still feel the presence of the nameless gods he worshiped.The feet also seemed to be less painful. She came slowly at sunset, and the clouds on the high walls of the tower were already covered with red clouds.She came alone as promised, dressed in a rare and simple way, wearing only leather boots and a green hunting jacket.When she lifted the hood of her brown cloak, he saw where the king had struck her.The plum color that was originally in full bloom has faded to yellow, and the swelling has disappeared, but what happened to her is still clear at a glance. "Why here?" Cersei Lannister asked, standing in front of him. "So that the gods of heaven can bear witness." She sat down on the grass beside him, her every move was very graceful.Her curly blond hair danced in the wind, and her green eyes were like the leaves of midsummer.Ned Stark had long lost sight of her beauty, and now it was awakening again. "I know why Jon Arryn died," he told her. "Really?" The queen examined his face carefully like a civet. "Lord Stark, is that why you called me? Guess riddles with me? Or do you want to hold me hostage like Mrs. Madam held my brother?" "If you really think so, you won't come." Ned touched her cheek lightly. "Has he hit you before?" "Once or twice," she said, moving away. "But I haven't slapped him in the face, otherwise, even if he is in danger, James will fight him desperately." Cersei looked at him provocatively, "My brother is a hundred times better than your friend." "Your brother?" said Ned, "or your lover?" "Both." Facing the truth, she had no change on her face. "We've been together since childhood. Why not? The Targaryen family has been intermarrying for three hundred years to keep the blood pure. Jaime and I are not just siblings, we are the same life divided in two halves, we Sharing the same womb. According to our old master, he just came into the world holding my feet. When we were united, I... felt complete." A faint smile flickered across her lips. "My son Bran...?" Cersei faced it calmly and did not avoid it. "He saw us together. You love your children very much, don't you?" Robert had asked him exactly the same question the morning of the team joust.He gave her the same answer. "I love them with all my heart." "I love my kids that much too." Ned thought: what would he do if any other child threatened the life of Robb or Sansa or Arya or Bran or Rickon?Or even, what would Catelyn do if Jon threatened the lives of her own children?He didn't know, and he prayed he never would. "All three of them are James' children," he said, not asking. "Thank the gods in heaven." The tenacity of the race, Jon Arryn yelled before he died, and it was true.Every illegitimate child's hair is black as night.Merrion recorded the last union between a stag and a lion more than ninety years ago, when Tia Lannister married Gwen Baratheon, the third eldest in the family.Their only child was an unnamed boy who died prematurely, described in Malleon's book as "large, well-fed, and black-haired." Thirty years earlier, a Lannister The male married a Baratheon girl.She bore him three daughters and a son, all with black hair.No matter how far Ned traced back through the crisp yellow pages, gold meets carbon black and there is always only surrender. "You have been married for more than ten years," Ned said, "how come you have no children?" She raised her head arrogantly. "Your Robert got me pregnant once," she said contemptuously. "My brother got a woman to clean the baby for me. He didn't know anything about it. If I had to say it, I couldn't stand him touching a hair on me. We haven't had sex in years. If he Stay away from his whores, stumbling to my room after drinking, and I have other ways to satisfy him. Anyway, no matter what we do, the king is usually so drunk that he forgets all about it the next day." How could they be so blind?The facts were in front of them from beginning to end, written clearly on the faces of the children, but they turned a blind eye.Ned felt sick to his stomach. "I remember Robert being king the day he first came to the throne," he said quietly. "Thousands of women would love him with all their hearts. What did he do to make you hate him so much?" Her eyes were green in the twilight, like the lioness of her house. "On our wedding night, we shared the same bed for the first time, and he called your sister's name. He lay on top of me, got inside me, smelled of alcohol, and whispered 'Lyanna'." Ned Stark felt like weeping for a moment, thinking of the blue rose. "I really don't know whether to pity you or him." The Queen seemed to find this quite amusing. "Lord Stark, save yourself the trouble to pity yourself. I don't need it." "You know exactly what I must do." "What has to be done?" She reached out to his good foot, just above the knee. "A real person does what he wants, not what he has to." Her fingers brushed his thigh lightly, with the tenderest hint. "There are still many years before Xiao Qiao becomes an adult, and the country needs a strong prime minister. No one wants to restart the war, especially me." She brushed his face and hair with her hand, "If friends can turn against each other, why can't we Enemy for friend? My Lady is thousands of miles away, and my brother is not in the city. Be kind to me, Ned, and I swear you will never regret it." "Is that what you proposed to Jon Arryn at the beginning?" She slapped him across the face. "I'll take it as a badge of honor," Ned said coldly. "To your honor," she spat, "less sanctimonious! What do you take me for? You have a bastard yourself, I've seen it with my own eyes. I wonder who his mother is? Set fire to the Dornish peasant girl you raped? Or a whore? Or that sad sister, Miss Ashara? I heard that when you gave her back the 'Dawn' of the Sword of Dawn After that, she threw herself into the sea from the city wall. What is the reason? Is it because of the brother you killed, or the child you stole? Tell me, most honorable Lord Ed, you and Robert , or me, or James, what difference does it make?" "If nothing else," said Ned, "at least I will not kill the child. Listen, my lady, for I will only speak once. When the king returns from hunting, I will tell him the whole story. Before that you must Gotta go, take the kids with you, all three. Don't go back to Casterly Rock, if I were you, I'd take a boat to the Free Cities, or go further, to the Summer Isles or Port Ibben, run Run as far as you can.” "You want me to exile myself," she said. "It's a bitter drink." "It's better than the cup your father gave Rhaegar's child," Ned said, "and it's better than what you deserved. Your father and your brother had better go together. Lord Tywin's property is enough to let you go." You live comfortably, and you can hire men to keep you safe. You'll need them. I assure you, no matter how far you run, Robert's wrath will follow you to the ends of the earth." The queen stood up. "What about my anger, Lord Stark?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his face. "The throne is close at hand. You only need to reach out and take the world. Jaime told me that the day King's Landing fell, you found him sitting on the Iron Throne and asked him to hand over the throne. That was your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, You just have to climb the ladder and sit on the throne. Sad, sad mistake." "I have made more mistakes in my life than you can imagine," said Ned, "but this is not one of them." "Oh, my lord, of course it is," Cersei insisted. "In the Game of Thrones, you are either a winner or a dead end. There is no middle ground." She pulled her hood back over her swollen face and hurried away, leaving him sitting alone in the shadow of the oaks, in the stillness of the godswood.In the dark blue sky overhead, the stars gradually came out.