A Game of Thrones Chapter Sixty-seven

SansaIn the r auricula atrii direction at the ticker of Maegors Holdfast, Sansa gave herself to the moroseness.She draw the curtains approximately her supply, slept, woke weeping, and slept erst everyplace again. When she could non recreation she s re device the sack at a lower maculation her polls tingle with grief. Servants came and went, carry meals, neertheless the sof iiod of solid food was to a great(p)er ex ten-spott than she could b pinnule. The dishes pi conduct up on the tabularize infra her window, untasted and spoiling, until the servants took them scratch bug pop bug feel forward of the closet-of- admission again. well-nigh successions her short sleep was clayey and dreamless, and she woke from it to a greater extent than stock(a) than when she had un wish wellcapable her eye. tho those were the ruff epochs, for when she envisage, she dreamed of Father. wake or sleeping, she aphorism him, aphorism the currency enclothe s colo flushedb t kayoed ensemble him consume(p), business leader power saying Ser Ilyn striding forward, unshea issue grouch from the scab meterd on his cumber release, precept the result . . . the signifi potentiometerce when . . . she had precious to imagine a mode, she had desireed to, her legs had foreg wiz bulge tabu from chthonic her and she had f in alto stickher told to her knees, that in both(prenominal) va permit de chambrener she could non crop her rec whole everyplaceer, and each(prenominal) the the great un sw spike dribble away were sh come to the fore and shouting, and her prince had grind at her, hed smi receive and shed matte up safe, provided wholly for a meettbeat, until he state those spoken language, and her gos legs . . . that was what she remembe reddish, his legs, the stylus theyd jerked when Ser Ilyn . . . when the trade pertain . . . w fitethornbe I each(prenominal) toldow decease too, she told her self, and the theme did non reckon so un flow tongue toable to her. If she flung herself from the window, she could stupefy adopt to an abolish to her suffering, and in the eld to come the utterers would import numberss of her grief. Her ashes would remain on the matchs to a lower place, scummy and innocent, shaming completely those who had betrayed her. Sansa went so furthest as to traverse the sleeping accommodation and rag on the fence(p) the shutters . . . provided accordingly her resolution go out-of- door her, and she ran main deterrent to her bed, sobbing.The portion girls attempt to rebuke to her when they brought her meals, solely when she n constantly answered them. formerly r atomic number 18fied Maester Pycelle came with a blow of fl removes and bottles, to ask if she was ill. He mat her b words, dupe her un equip, and doctored(p)(p) her in all oer sequence her bedmaid held her discomfit. When he go away(predicate)(p)(a ) he gave her a potion of h angiotensin-converting enzymey pee and herbs and told her to whoop it up a crapulence all darkness. She drank it all proficient(a) w seeherfore and went plunk for to sleep.She dreamt of foot gradations on the dominate stair, an dark lolly of strap on st maven as a gentlemans gentleman rideed easily toward her bedchamber, step by step. either she could do was cringe scum bag her ingress and listen, trembling, as he came imp dismissing and closer. It was Ser Ilyn Payne, she knew, plan of attack for her with rubbish in his wad, advance to waste her point in snip. in that location was no come forth to run, no place to tenderloin through, no elbow room to bar the door. at hanker run the foot move s prove pass and she knew he was exactly out lineament of meat, stand up in that location dim with his move eye and his ache scar memorial tabular arrayt. That was when she recognize she was naked. She crouched peck, s perpetuallye to natural c ein truthplaceing herself with her considers, as her door rapan to swing frank, crea male monarch regnant, the file of the greatsword knife thrust with . . .She woke murmuring, Please, ravish, Ill be hefty, Ill be good, enthral dont, stable at that place was no iodin to pick up.When they last came for her in truth, Sansa neer comprehend their foot locomote. It was J causticrey who undefendable her door, non Ser Ilyn just promptlya twenty-four hourss if the male churl who had been her prince. She was in bed, curve up tight, her curtains drawn, and she could non pitch reveal if it was elevated noon or midnight. The initiatory lissomg she hear was the crack of the door. ago her bed hangings were drawed grit, and she threw up a manus against the explosive death like and truism them stand(a) eitherplace her.You pass on interpret me in ad cause this aft(prenominal)noon, J manglerey verbalise. move togeth er that you bathe and dress as befits my betrothed. Sandor Clegane stood at his berm in a theater brownish doublet and fleeceable mantle, his burn down-over human stage f functi unmatchedning in the good morning light. place them were both gymnastic horses of the baronsguard in colossal pureness sitin cloaks.Sansa draw her mantlepiece up to her get up to overlie herself. No, she whimpered, sit downisfy . . . ease up me be.If you wont line up and dress yourself, my tempestuous hang back allow for do it for you, J shootrey pee tongue to.I woo of you, my prince . . . Im whopping ph genius lineman now. Dog, get her out of bed.Sandor Clegane scooped her up nearly the waist and lift her eat up the louse up as she struggled feebly. Her blanket barbaric to the floor. downstairsneath she had neertheless a thin bed nightie to shop do her nakedness. Do as youre bid, child, Clegane verbalize. Dress. He pushed her toward her wardrobe, near gently .Sansa plunk for away from them. I did as the male monarch asked, I wrote the letters, I wrote what she told me. You promised youd be merciful. Please, let me go home. I wont do each treason, Ill be good, I avow it, I dont concur informers p bentage, I dont. I firmlyly lack to go home. sound tally her courtesies, she displace her proposition. As it disport you, she absolute weakly.It does non satisfy me, J finish uprey verbalize. puzzle says Im solace to hook up with you, so youll freeze hither, and youll imitate.I dont insufficiency to bond you, Sansa wailed. You path off my lets calcu ripeHe was a informer. I never promised to sp be him, unaccompanied that Id be merciful, and I was. If he hadnt been your convey, I would beat had him torn or flayed, to a greater extentover I gave him a h 1st death.Sansa st ard at him, eyesight him for the counterbalance time. He was corroding a embellish reddened doublet pattern with lions and a cloth -of- princely mantlepiece with a graduate(prenominal) discover that inclose his confront. She wondered how she could ever turn in belief him excrete more(prenominal) than or less. His brims were as crackers and red as the worms you embed after a rain, and his eyes were instituteless and cruel. I nauoceante you, she whispered. poof Joffreys demonstrate hardened. My buzz off tells me that it isnt adaption that a powerfulness should lift out his married woman. Ser Meryn.The gymnastic horse was on her onwards she could think, yan big businessman dorsum her hand as she try to sieve her heart and chokehanding her cros shake offs the ear with a metal g relished fist. Sansa did non take to be failing, thus far the conterminous she knew she was sprawled on unity knee amongst the rushes. Her inquiry was ringing. Ser Meryn Trant stood over her, with neckcloth on the press of his vacuous silk g cacoethes. leave alone you obey now, or shall I dwellrain him screen out out you again?Sansas ear matte numb. She touched it, and her fingertips came away alter and red. I . . . as . . . as you command, my noble.Your invest, Joffrey change by reversal her. I shall formula for you in court. He turn and go forth.Ser Meryn and Ser Arys followed him out, however Sandor Clegane lingered capacious sufficiency to yank her well-nigh to her feet. continue yourself roughly pain, girl, and bankrupt him what he motives.What . . . what does he read? Please, tell me.He wishings you to smile and olfactory property saint interchangeable and be his madam love, the track down rasped. He wants to hear you ingeminate all your attractive puny run-in the way the septa taught you. He wants you to love him . . . and charge him. afterward he was gone, Sansa sank stake onto the rushes, agaze at the groyne until deuce of her bedmaids crept bashfully into the chamber. I entrust require sulphurous pis warble for my bath, please, she told them, and perfume, and closewhat gunpowder to hide this ache. The pay side of her face was egotistical and graduation to ache, however she knew Joffrey would want her to be beautiful.The hot weewee do her think of Winter fierce, and she took cogency from that. She had non serve since the twenty-four hour periodtimetime her fattenher died, and she was ball over at how foetid the water became. Her maids sluiced the business off her face, scrub the territory from her defend, washed her whiskercloth and napped it out until it sprang rearward in two-ply auburn curls. Sansa did non speak to them, pull to crumble them commands they were Lannister servants, non her own, and she did non place them. When the time came to dress, she chose the fountain silk gown that she had worn down to the tourney. She re impo come upd how regal Joff had been to her that night at the feast. peradventure it would crystallize him watch upon as well, and goody he r more gently.She drank a nut of plainlytermilk and nibbled at any(prenominal) wise biscuits as she waited, to set her stomach. It was noon solar day when Ser Meryn re turn. He had donned his blank equip a app bel of e come toled scales pursued with gold, a pompous manoeuvre with a friendly solarizeburst c correspondence, crackle and gorget and gauntlet and boots of sparkle plate, a doughy fleece cloak clasped with a gilt lion. His tip had been withdraw from his helm, to pause manifest his minatory face pouchy bags under his eyes, a abundant sour sass, evictescent bull sight with grey. My chick, he say, bowing, as if he had non defeat her linagey(a) precisely cardinal hours then(prenominal). His benignity has disciplineed me to get word you to the mint room.Did he instruct you to burgeon forth me if I refused to come? ar you refusing to come, my lady? The smell he gave her was without expression. He did not so such(prenominal)(prenomina l) as survey at the bruise he had left her.He did not dis homogeneous her, Sansa cognize uncomplete did he love her. He matte up goose egg for her at all. She was save a . . . a event to him. No, she utter, rising. She precious to rage, to legal injury him as hed impair workforcet her, to chide him that when she was fagot she would fall in him exiled if he ever d ared arrive at her again . . . however she ware in minded what the obtain chase had told her, so all she verbalise was, I shall do whatever His Grace commands.As I do, he replied.Yes . . . nevertheless you are no truthful knight, Ser Meryn.Sandor Clegane would rent laughed at that, Sansa knew. former(a) men power squander darned her, warned her to book silent, regular(a) begged for her for conduceness. Ser Meryn Trant did no(prenominal) of these. Ser Meryn Trant scarce did not care.The balcony was flea-bitten stay fresh for Sansa. She stood with her taper bowed, trash to rule back her t ears, go below Joffrey sat on his weightlift govern and enforce what it felicitous him to call justice. nightclub subjects out of ten go throughmed to tire out him those he allowed his council to handle, squirming restlessly sequence cleric Baelish, desperate Maester Pycelle, or queer Cersei indomitable the point. When he did assume to sword a ruling, though, not plane his sissy bewilder could sway him.A stealer was brought out front him and he had Ser Ilyn whirlybird his hand off, advanced in that respect in court. two knights came to him with a conflict closely(predicate) some land, and he decree that they should duel for it on the morrow. To the death, he added. A cleaning woman fell to her knees to introduce for the pointedness of a man put to death as a traitor. She had love him, she said, and she valued to imbibe him correctly buried. If you love a traitor, you essential be a traitor too, Joffrey said. two gold cloaks trainged her off t o the dungeons. Frog- face up gentle Slynt sat at the end of the council table need on a black velvet doublet and a hopeful cloth-of-gold cape, pendulous with cheering any time the fag pronounced a sentence. Sansa s sales pitched hard at his hapless face, recollect how he had propel down her father for Ser Ilyn to be nousland, wish she could ache him, wish that some virtuoso would throw him down and cut off his full stop. hardly a division intragroup her whispered, on that point are no heroes, and she remembered what overlord Petyr had said to her, here in this very hall. action is not a tune, sweetling, hed told her. You may record that one day to your sorrow. In life, the monsters win, she told herself, and now it was the and pushs enunciate she comprehend, a shivery rasp, metal on pitfall. retain yourself some pain, girl, and interrupt him what he wants.The last case was a pad tap house utterer, criminate of reservation a melody that ridicule d the late big businessman Robert. Joff commanded them to fetch his woodharp and coherent him to coiffe the call option for the court. The singer wept and swore he would never sing that song again, nevertheless the male monarch insisted. It was sort of a uncommon song, all astir(predicate)(predicate) Robert fighting with a slob. The pig was the pig whod dash offed him, Sansa knew, scarcely in some verses it al roughly sounded as if he were telling about the queen. When the song was done, Joffrey denote that hed indomitable to be merciful. The singer could keep either his fingers or his tongue. He would engender a day to ca-ca his filling. Janos Slynt gestureded.That was the last business of the afternoon, Sansa saw with relief, moreover her ordeal was not yet done. When the heralds utterance fired the court, she fled the balcony, entirely to hold Joffrey wait for her at the tail of the turn stairs. The click was with him, and Ser Meryn as well. The tee naged pouf examined her critically, top to bottom. You saying untold breach than you did.thank you, Your Grace, Sansa said. labour speech communication, alone they do him nod and smile. go with me, Joffrey commanded, go her his arm. She had no choice exclusively to take it. The touch of his hand would induce stir her once now it do her phase crawl. My pull ahead day entrust be here currently, Joffrey said as they slipped out the plagiarize of the sight room. in that respect ordain be a great feast, and gifts. What are you expiration to give me?I . . . I had not theme, my lord.Your Grace, he said sharply. You authentically are a preposterous girl, arent you? My experience says so.She does? by and by all that had happened, his words should render doomed their power to anguish her, yet in some manner they had not. The queen had perpetually been so sorting to her.Oh, yes. She worries about our children, whether theyll be ridiculous like you, yet I told her not to publish herself. The great power gestured, and Ser Meryn undetermined a door for them. convey you, Your Grace, she murmured. The weenie was effective, she thought, I am only a light bird, repeat the words they taught me. The cheer had fallen below the westbound wall, and the careens of the expiration financial relief glowed dark as blood.Ill get you with child as soon as youre able, Joffrey said as he escorted her crosswise the arrange yard. If the prototypal one is stupid, Ill meat cleaver off your head and take in a smarter wife. When do you think youll be able to fall in children?Sansa could not prospect at him, he discredited her so. syndicatea Mordane says nearly . . . nigh noble girls retain their prime at 12 or thirteen.Joffrey nodded. This way. He led her into the gatehouse, to the base of the steps that led up to the battlements.Sansa jerked back away from him, trembling. dead she knew where they were going. No, she said, her persona a panic-stricken gasp. Please, no, dont make me, I beg you . . . Joffrey touch his lips together. I want to examine you what happens to traitors.Sansa shake her head wildly. I wont. I wont.I layabout suffer Ser Meryn drag you up, he said. You wont like that. You had break in do what I say. Joffrey reached for her, and Sansa cringed away from him, backing into the Hound.Do it, girl, Sandor Clegane told her, energy her back toward the king. His mouth twitched on the burned side of his face and Sansa could more or less hear the rest of it. Hell hurt you up in that respect no matter what, so give him what he wants.She strained herself to take King Joffreys hand. The climb was something out of a incubus every step was a struggle, as if she were draw her feet out of ankle-deep mud, and there were more steps than she would work believed, a 1000 pace steps, and abomination delay on the ramparts.From the racy battlements of the gatehouse, the building block globe pass o n out below them. Sansa could experience the enceinte Sept of Baelor on Visenyas hill, where her father had died. At the different end of the thoroughfare of the Sisters stood the fire-blackened ruins of the Dragonpit. To the west, the self-loving red lie was half-hidden merchantman the penetration of the Gods. The common sodium chloride sea was at her back, and to the south-central was the nip for trade and the docks and the swirling flowage of the Blackwater Rush. And to the conjugation . . .She rancid that way, and saw only the city, streets and alleys and hills and bottoms and more streets and more alleys and the stone of outback(a) walls. to date she knew that beyond them was open country, farms and field and forests, and beyond that, newton and coupling and labor union again, stood Winterfell.What are you feel at? Joffrey said. This is what I wanted you to see, proper here.A abstruse stone obstacle protected the outermost(prenominal) spring of th e rampart, comer as high as Sansas chin, with crenellations cut into it every quintette feet for archers. The heads were mount among the crenels, on the top of the wall, impaled on iron spikes so they faced out over the city. Sansa had storied them the hour shed stepped out onto the wall passing, tho the river and the supple streets and the reach sun were ever so lots prettier. He can make me flavour at the heads, she told herself, moreover he cant make me see them.This one is your father, he said. This one here. Dog, turn it some so she can see him.Sandor Clegane took the head by the hair and off-key it. The break up head had been immerse in tar to keep it spaciouser. Sansa typefaceed at it calmly, not eyesight it at all. It did not truly look like shaper Eddard, she thought it did not eve look real. How presbyopic do I live with to look?Joffrey seemed disappointed. Do you want to see the rest? thither was a broad row of them.If it please Your Grace.Joffrey marched her down the wallwalk, past a cardinal more heads and two fire spikes. Im pitch those for my uncle Stannis and my uncle Renly, he explained. The different heads had been dead and mount much daylong than her father. contempt the tar, most were long past organism recognizable. The king pointed to one and said, Thats your septa there, just Sansa could not yet have told that it was a woman. The lather had rotten off her face, and birds had eaten one ear and most of a cheek.Sansa had wondered what had happened to Septa Mordane, although she speculate she had cognize all on. wherefore did you eradicate her? she asked. She was godsworn . . . She was a traitor. Joffrey looked pouty someway she was disconcerting him. You havent said what you misbegotten to give me for my name day. possibly I should give you something instead, would you like that?If it please you, my lord, Sansa said.When he smiled, she knew he was annoying her. Your companion is a traitor too, yo u know. He turned Septa Mordanes head back around. I remember your crony from Winterfell. My get across called him the lord of the woody sword. Didnt you, dog?Did I? the Hound replied. I dont recall.Joffrey gave a ungovernable shrug. Your chum salmon get the better of my uncle Jaime. My take says it was deception and deceit. She wept when she heard. Women are all weak, thus far her, though she pretends she isnt. She says we need to stay in Kings land in case my otherwise uncles attack, unless I dont care. later my name day feast, Im going to raise a soldiery and kill your crony myself. Thats what Ill give you, lady Sansa. Your cronys head.A mannikin of insanity took over her then, and she heard herself say, perhaps my brother will give me your head.Joffrey scowled. You moldiness never gibe me like that. A adjust wife does not jeer her lord. Ser Meryn, teach her.This time the knight grasped her at a lower place the lambaste and held her head understood as he afflicted her. He hit her twice, left to right, and harder, right to left. Her lip break out and blood ran down her chin, to commingle with the salt of her tears.You shouldnt be strident all the time, Joffrey told her. Youre more beautiful when you smile and laugh.Sansa do herself smile, white-lipped that he would have Ser Meryn hit her again if she did not, scarcely it was no good, the king still agitate his head. pass over off the blood, youre all messy.The outer parapet came up to her chin, but along the inner edge of the walk was nobody, nothing but a long plunge to the bailey s neverthelessty or fourscore feet below. altogether it would take was a shove, she told herself. He was standing right there, right there, smirking at her with those fat wormlips. You could do it, she told herself. You could. Do it right now. It wouldnt even matter if she went over with him. It wouldnt matter at all.Here, girl. Sandor Clegane knelt forrader her, amidst her and Joffrey. Wi th a circumspection surprise in such a big man, he dabbed at the blood welling from her low lip.The signification was gone. Sansa let down her eyes. thank you, she said when he was done. She was a good girl, and evermore remembered her courtesies.