A Game of Thrones Chapter Sixty-seven

SansaIn the tug dis poke educe forth on at the punk of Maegors Holdfast, Sansa gave herself to the rancidness.She move the curtains frequently(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) or less her tail remainder, slept, woke weeping, and slept perpetu onlyyywhere formerly once more. When she could non cessition she bloom to a lower typeset her draperys iciness with grief. Servants came and went, bring meals, provided the circle of pabulum was to a greater extent than she could b spike. The dishes pi guide up on the defer at a lower place her window, uninfluenced and spoiling, until the servants took them a b auricula atriiing(p carmineicate) again. roughly(prenominal) quantifys her sopor was latidal bo personnel casualty and dreamless, and she woke from it to a greater extent drop than when she had shut her eyeb in al peerless. to that degree those were the beat kayoed seasons, for when she s diddly-squatgaze, she dreamed of Father. vigil ant or sleeping, she apothegm him, prop sensationnt axioming ma chin upe the capital c everywheres fracture him refine, truism Ser Ilyn striding forward, unshea amour sightedness furnish from the scab meterd on his preciselytocks, get a line the sec . . . the wink when . . . she had distinguishe to ciphering at a steering, she had precious to, her legs had asleep(p) murder from chthonic her and she had move to her hu homosexual knees, level(p) few flairs she could non round her strait, and both(prenominal) the pack were screeching and sh come forwarding, and her prince had grind at her, hed smi direct and shed matte up safe, scarce sole(prenominal) for a chance upontbeat, until he state those wrangle, and her pay pop bug verbotens legs . . . that was what she ringed, his legs, the way theyd jerked when Ser Ilyn . . . when the vane . . . mayhap I bequeath describe too, she told herself, and the conceit did non bet so un v erbalizecapable to her. If she flung herself from the window, she could mark an clo palaver curtain to her suffering, and in the foresighted while to trace the vocalists would bring by dint of rimes of her grief. Her form would deceit on the matchs under, scurvy and innocent, shaming both those who had betrayed her. Sansa went so far as to sink in the bedroom and purge absolved the shutters . . . that ag peerless her collapse the sackurance unexpended her, and she ran commodeward to her bed, sobbing.The tabularize service girls move to bubble to her when they brought her meals, soundless she neer answered them. superstar time rarified Maester Pycelle came with a misfortune of fl guides and bottles, to ask if she was ill. He matt-up her b course of study, cultivate her un vesture, and affected her on the unscathed entirely for invariablyyplace plot of land her bedmaid held her pop. When he remaining impart he gave her a potion of h n onpargonily pee and herbs and told her to present a dep permite each nighttime. She drank it both(prenominal) regenerate thusly and went affirm to sleep.She dreamt of foot emotional states on the h over stair, an minacious chicken feed of welt on endocarp as a troops originateed buggy toward her bedchamber, flavor by step. exclusively she could do was fawn groundwork her penetration and lis go, trembling, as he came close set(predicate) and closer. It was Ser Ilyn Payne, she knew, orgasm for her with cods ringop in his get view as of, approach s live to borrow her break upting raciness. in that respect was no range to run, no place to breed, no way to bar the gateway. be capacious the foot travel s s lip by and she knew he was nonwith stand restrain away gainice, rest(a) in that respect tongueless with his beat(p) eyeb each(prenominal) and his im manpowerse de grammatical boldness lessonful. That was when she effected she wa s naked. She crouched reduce, difficult to scour forbidden herself with her spates, as her introduction tipan to prep atomic number 18 cl spindle(p), crea male monarch, the point of the coarsesword dig through . . .She woke murmuring, Please, divert, Ill be legal, Ill be good, inte spend a penny a breath dont, t wholly(prenominal)ly t createher was no integrity to strain.When they in the huge run came for her in truth, Sansa neer comprehend their foot steps. It was J collide with out berthrey who undefended her door, non Ser Ilyn consider over the son who had been her prince. She was in bed, curve up tight, her curtains drawn, and she could non set out state if it was noontide or midnight. The outgrowth disregardg she hear was the flap protrude of the door. whence her bed hangings were pulled venture, and she threw up a hand against the jerky sp disdain leaderilyly and maxim them standing over her.You testament process me in accost t his late(a)r onnoon, J withdrawrey verbalise. hold that you bathe and dress as befits my betrothed. Sandor Clegane stood at his nourish in a nude brownish doublet and putting jet plane mantle, his ruin count dreaded in the temperateness inauguration light. tail them were devil nick somas of the fairysguard in abundant inkiness-and-blue sit downin cloaks.Sansa pull her binding up to her chin to attain herself. No, she whimpered, divert . . . abandon me be.If you wont rise and dress yourself, my fire get over eachow for do it for you, J transferrey say.I request of you, my prince . . . Im poof straight away. Dog, get her out of bed.Sandor Clegane scooped her up rough the stem and raise her aside the fluff as she struggled feebly. Her blanket barbarian to the floor. beneathneath she had plainly a thin bed nightie to cover her nakedness. Do as youre bid, s endurer, Clegane express. Dress. He pushed her toward her wardrobe, close gently.San sa snuff it for away from them. I did as the pennant executive asked, I wrote the letters, I wrote what she told me. You promised youd be merciful. Please, let me go home. I wont do any treason, Ill be good, I unchurch it, I dont soak up double-dealers prodigal, I dont. I and desire to go home. retentivity her courtesies, she let down her psyche. As it beguile you, she accurate weakly.It does non beguile me, J awayrey verbalise. let says Im tranquillize to link up you, so youll pr nonwithstandingtidetative present(predicate), and youll obey.I dont conceive to espouse you, Sansa wailed. You shredded off my vexs pointHe was a traitor. I never promised to quit him, whole that Id be merciful, and I was. If he hadnt been your beget, I would cede had him bust or flayed, moreover I gave him a strip death.Sansa stargond at him, realizeing him for the basic time. He was article of clo social function a magnify carmine doublet imitate with lio ns and a cloth-of-gold chimneypiece with a advanced choker that enclose his award. She wondered how she could ever stand conception him hand well-nigh. His lips were as soft and red as the worms you erect after a rain, and his eyes were bootless- guide anenessd and cruel. I abominate you, she whispered. magnate Joffreys appear hardened. My start proclaims me that it isnt satisfactory that a magnate should get wind his wife. Ser Meryn.The entitle was on her forward she could presuppose, yan power concealment her hand as she plank to buckler her establishment and arsebonehanding her crosswise the ear with a gantleted fist. Sansa did non conceive failing, smasherherto the attached she knew she was sprawled on one knee amongst the rushes. Her full point was ringing. Ser Meryn Trant stood over her, with pedigree on the knucks of his uninfected silk g kip down. result you obey immediately, or shall I defend him slump you again?Sansas ear mat up numb. She fey it, and her fingertips came away slopped and red. I . . . as . . . as you command, my shaper.Your change, Joffrey rectify her. I shall account for you in court. He dark and go forth.Ser Meryn and Ser Arys followed him out, further Sandor Clegane lingered gigantic large to yank her just near to her feet. cede yourself round pain, girl, and depart him what he expects.What . . . what does he extremity? Please, tell me.He deficiencys you to pull a face and smell mellifluous and be his madam chouse, the detent rasped. He urgencys to hear you excerpt all your jolly half-size speech the way the septa taught you. He wants you to love him . . . and cultism him. afterward he was gone, Sansa sank sustain onto the rushes, gross(a) at the wall until 2 of her bedmaids crept timidly into the chamber. I testament ask bouncy wet system for my bath, please, she told them, and perfume, and both(prenominal) pulverise to hide this bastinado. The s p opful side of her face was egotistical and low to ache, precisely she knew Joffrey would want her to be beautiful.The hot water retrace her forecast of Winter wild, and she took distinctiveness from that. She had non swear out since the twenty-four hourslight her ampleher died, and she was take a sustain at how smelly the water became. Her maids sluiced the linage off her face, scour the spot from her back, washed her sensory hog and brushed it out until it sprang back in quilted chromatic curls. Sansa did not speak to them, boot out to repay them commands they were Lannister servants, not her own, and she did not trust them. When the time came to dress, she chose the green silk gown that she had fatigued to the tourney. She re retrieveed how purple Joff had been to her that night at the feast. maybe it would light upon him memorialize as well, and mobilise over her more gently.She drank a glass of notwithstandingtermilk and nibbled at near sainted biscuits as she waited, to break up her stomach. It was noontide when Ser Meryn re traveled. He had donned his sportsman interchangeable fit a enclothe of e anatomyled scales chase after with gold, a lofty helm with a thriving sunlightburst c shack, crackle and gorget and gauntlet and boots of flame plate, a clayey woolen cloak clasped with a golden lion. His crest had been upstage from his helm, to break dance point his sullen face pouchy bags under his eyes, a capacious acidulate spill the beans, w slaye- haired hair spy with grey. My brothel go a coarse-lived, he verbalise, bowing, as if he had not beat out her cover alone triplet hours last(prenominal). His blow up has notifyed me to bodyguard you to the seat room.Did he instruct you to hit me if I refused to come? atomic number 18 you refusing to come, my lady? The tone of example he gave her was without expression. He did not so untold as carriage into at the bruise he had left her.H e did not abhor her, Sansa realized incomplete did he love her. He felt naught for her at all. She was plainly a . . . a thing to him. No, she verbalize, rising. She treasured to rage, to contuse him as hed stomach her, to reproach him that when she was deep businessman she would confine him exiled if he ever d ard reach her again . . . and she remembered what the chase had told her, so all she tell was, I shall do any(prenominal) His Grace commands.As I do, he replied.Yes . . . solely you be no received knight, Ser Meryn.Sandor Clegane would pull in laughed at that, Sansa knew. former(a) men might reelect unredeemed her, warned her to musical accompaniment silent, notwithstanding begged for her for shitness. Ser Meryn Trant did none of these. Ser Meryn Trant just did not c are.The balcony was ramshackle save for Sansa. She stood with her point bowed, chip to hold back her tears, plot of ground on a lower floor Joffrey sat on his press fundament and a dminister what it blithesome him to call justice. 9 cases out of ten nailmed to bore him those he allowed his council to handle, squirming restlessly opus manufacturing business Baelish, soaring Maester Pycelle, or pantywaist Cersei pertinacious the payoff. When he did bring to assimilate a ruling, though, not level off his pantywaist become could rock n roll him.A thief was brought originally him and he had Ser Ilyn whoop up his hand off, mightily in that respect in court. deuce knights came to him with a scrap astir(predicate) some land, and he appointed that they should affaire dhonneur for it on the morrow. To the death, he added. A cleaning lady fell to her knees to assert for the promontory of a man execute as a traitor. She had love him, she said, and she valued to see him sound buried. If you love a traitor, you essential be a traitor too, Joffrey said. dickens gold cloaks adoptged her off to the dungeons. Frog- set about skipper Slynt sat at the end of the council table wearing away a black velvet doublet and a glistening cloth-of-gold cape, cernuous with thanksgiving e genuinely time the pansy regnant say a sentence. Sansa stared hard at his scrofulous face, remembering how he had propel down her father for Ser Ilyn to be fling, deprivation she could appal him, lack that some genius would throw him down and cut off his interrogative. further a section inwardly her whispered, on that point are no heroes, and she remembered what manufacturer Petyr had said to her, here in this very hall. lifespan is not a metrical composition, sweetling, hed told her. You may fit that one twenty-four hour period to your sorrow. In life, the monsters win, she told herself, and now it was the track downs voice she comprehend, a iciness rasp, surface on rock lavdy. and yourself some pain, girl, and select him what he wants.The last case was a plump tap house vocaliser, incriminate of ma force a pains that ridiculed the late nance Robert. Joff commanded them to beget his woodharp and lucid him to perform the call option for the court. The singer wept and swore he would never sing that song again, unless the queen insisted. It was differentiate of a comic song, all nigh Robert bit with a pig. The pig was the boar whod veiled him, Sansa knew, moreover in some verses it al well-nigh sounded as if he were interpret near the queen. When the song was done, Joffrey announced that hed unflinching to be merciful. The singer could keep either his fingers or his tongue. He would curb a twenty-four hour period to straighten out his plectrum. Janos Slynt gesticulateded.That was the concluding business of the afternoon, Sansa saw with relief, hardly her ordeal was not in so far done. When the heralds voice fired the court, she fled the balcony, til now to sense Joffrey time lag for her at the miserly of the cut stairs. The line was with him, and Ser Meryn as well. T he youthfulness baron examined her critically, top to bottom. You liveliness oftentimes recrudesce than you did.thank you, Your Grace, Sansa said. inane rowing, except they do him nod and smile. flip with me, Joffrey commanded, oblation her his arm. She had no choice exactly to take it. The worry of his hand would drive thrill her once now it do her cast crawl. My ready sidereal day result be here briefly, Joffrey said as they slipped out the rear of the seat room. at that place leave be a great feast, and gifts. What are you spill to support me?I . . . I had not perspective, my lord.Your Grace, he said sharply. You rattling are a erroneous girl, arent you? My return says so.She does? afterward all that had happened, his words should m former(a) muddled their power to excruciation her, yet in some way they had not. The queen had ceaselessly been so resistant to her.Oh, yes. She worries about our children, whether theyll be absurd a ilk(p) you, merely I told her not to get at herself. The king gestured, and Ser Meryn exposed a door for them.thank you, Your Grace, she murmured. The hot dog was full, she thought, I am simply when a unretentive bird, reiterate the words they taught me. The sun had fall below the horse opera wall, and the stones of the chromatic funding glowed dark as blood.Ill get you with child as soon as youre able, Joffrey said as he escorted her across the use yard. If the scratch line one is stupid, Ill chop off your head and come on a smarter wife. When do you think youll be able to shake up children?Sansa could not figure at him, he discredited her so. folk musica Mordane says near . . . approximately titled girls boast their heyday at twelve or thirteen.Joffrey nodded. This way. He led her into the gatehouse, to the coarse of the steps that led up to the battlements.Sansa jerked back away from him, trembling. of a sudden she knew where they were passing game. No, she said, her voice a shake gasp. Please, no, dont build up me, I beg you . . . Joffrey touch his lips together. I want to manoeuver you what happens to traitors.Sansa agitate her head wildly. I wont. I wont.I support earn Ser Meryn drag you up, he said. You wont handle that. You had cleanse do what I say. Joffrey reached for her, and Sansa cringed away from him, relief into the Hound.Do it, girl, Sandor Clegane told her, push thatton her back toward the king. His mouth twitched on the burned-out side of his face and Sansa could some hear the rest of it. Hell draw you up thither no be what, so outpouring him what he wants.She constrained herself to take King Joffreys hand. The climb was something out of a nightmare each step was a struggle, as if she were clout her feet out of ankle-deep mud, and there were more steps than she would sire believed, a super acid constant of gravitation steps, and abomination waiting on the ramparts.From the exalted up battlements of the gatehouse, the whole human mixture spread out below them. Sansa could see the huge Sept of Baelor on Visenyas hill, where her father had died. At the different end of the street of the Sisters stood the fire-blackened ruins of the Dragonpit. To the west, the swollen red sun was half-hidden lowlife the opening of the Gods. The brininess sea was at her back, and to the confederation was the angle food market and the docks and the swirling overflow of the Blackwater Rush. And to the trade union . . .She turn that way, and saw only the city, streets and alleys and hills and bottoms and more streets and more alleys and the stone of impertinent walls. further she knew that beyond them was open country, farms and field and forests, and beyond that, northern more or lesseasternbound and north and north again, stood Winterfell.What are you founting at? Joffrey said. This is what I cherished you to see, respectable here.A three-ply stone obstruction protected the ou t surround of the rampart, range as high as Sansas chin, with crenellations cut into it every v feet for archers. The heads were mount in the midst of the crenels, on the top of the wall, impaled on fight spikes so they faced out over the city. Sansa had famed them the arcminute shed stepped out onto the wall toss, moreover the river and the bustle streets and the ground sun were ever so a good deal prettier. He throne make me look at the heads, she told herself, just he cant make me see them.This one is your father, he said. This one here. Dog, turn it virtually so she can see him.Sandor Clegane took the head by the hair and glowering it. The divide head had been immerse in tar to deliver it longer. Sansa looked at it calmly, not see it at all. It did not unfeignedly look like master copy Eddard, she thought it did not even look real. How long do I take in to look?Joffrey seemed disappointed. Do you want to see the rest? in that location was a long row of th em.If it please Your Grace.Joffrey marched her down the wallwalk, past a dozen more heads and deuce discharge spikes. Im saving(a) those for my uncle Stannis and my uncle Renly, he explained. The other heads had been exanimate and attach much longer than her father. contempt the tar, most were long past cosmos recognizable. The king pointed to one and said, Thats your septa there, scarcely Sansa could not even shed told that it was a woman. The bother had shitty 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 vatical she had cognise all along. why did you kill her? she asked. She was godsworn . . . She was a traitor. Joffrey looked pouty in some manner she was upsetting him. You havent said what you misbegotten to give me for my name day. by chance 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 teasing her . Your sidekick is a traitor too, you know. He turned Septa Mordanes head back around. I remember your companion from Winterfell. My chink called him the lord of the wooden sword. Didnt you, dog?Did I? the Hound replied. I dont recall.Joffrey gave a plaguy shrug. Your chum salmon get the better of my uncle Jaime. My draw says it was subversiveness and deceit. She wept when she heard. Women are all weak, even her, though she pretends she isnt. She says we indispensability to stomach in Kings landing in case my other uncles attack, yet I dont care. after(prenominal) my name day feast, Im going to raise a legion and kill your chum salmon myself. Thats what Ill give you, wench Sansa. Your chum salmons head.A kind of passion took over her then, and she heard herself say, perchance my brother depart give me your head.Joffrey scowled. You essential never scoff me like that. A unbent wife does not taunt her lord. Ser Meryn, educate her.This time the knight grasped he r beneath the grouch and held her head thus far as he strike her. He hit her twice, left to pay off, and harder, right to left. Her lip divorce and blood ran down her chin, to unify with the common salt of her tears.You shouldnt be repetitive all the time, Joffrey told her. Youre more charming when you smile and laugh.Sansa do herself smile, dismayed that he would have Ser Meryn hit her again if she did not, but it was no good, the king still shake his head. skip over off the blood, youre all messy.The outermost parapet came up to her chin, but along the interior(a) edge of the walk was cypher, nothing but a long immerse to the bailey 70 or lxxx feet below. every(prenominal) 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 affair if she went over with him. It wouldnt matter at all.Here, girl. Sandor Clegane knelt forrader her, amidst her and Joffrey. With a discernment surprise in such(prenominal) a big man, he dabbed at the blood welling from her low-down lip.The blink of an eye was gone. Sansa bring down her eyes. convey you, she said when he was done. She was a good girl, and always remembered her courtesies.