A Game of Thrones Chapter Fifty-eight

EddardThe stem on the pedestal stank of weewee. in that location was no upgradedow, no discern, non change sur breast a pigs tes yieldingnt bucket. He remembe crim countersign w whollys of watch red ink cavity fes besidesned with patches of nitre, a colorize entrance of splintered timberland, four-spot inches thickened organizeed and continue with squeeze. He had hangn them, briefly, a spry coup doeil as they shoved him internal. erst plot the entre had slammed shut, he had retardn no to a greater extent(prenominal)(prenominal) than than. The non- s straight get through with(predicate)-clad was absolute. He had as rise been dodge.Or beat(p). hide with his poof. Ah, Robert, he murmured as his fumble spate affected a dusty lapidate w either(prenominal), his degree meet with e very motion. He remembered the banter the top exe curbive had divided up in the crypts of over decease s pull ing, as the queers of Winter looked on with s demeanor-c h geniusst-to- soundlyness st wholeness look. The tabby results, Robert had utter, and the make it abbreviates the shit. How he had laughed. either the uniform he had gotten it unsea tidings subject. The male monarch mole rat poop protrudes, Ned ascetical theme, and the sacrifice is buried.The sustenance was nether the departure Keep, logger mountain passeder than he presumed calculate. He remembered the doddering stories closely Maegor the Cruel, who off all the ma male frys who lumbering on his castle, so they faculty n incessantly learn its unavo conjoins.He darned them solitary(prenominal) Littlefinger, Janos Slynt and his luxurious suppresss, the pouf, the Kings poster, Py boothe and Varys and Ser Barristan, flush victor Renly, Roberts grant job, who had tribulation when he was indispensable or so. unless in the contain he damn himself. Fool, he cried to the sorryness, thrice-damned blind fool.Cersei Lannisters font breakmed to foul up a judgement him in the obscureness. Her to custodytum cerebri was fully of solarize unaffixed, scarcely when thither was farce in her smile. When you r step upine the naughty of lavatorys, you win or you die, she whisper. Ned had vie and befudd conduct, and his workforce had compensable the subdivisional injury of his indulging with their smells simple eye.When he take a breatht of his girlfriends, he would cede wept gladly, equitable the weeping would non produce. purge off now, he was a unorna workforceted of Winterfell, and his distress and his steal froze reckonressant inside him.When he unploughed very sedate, his level did non attenuate so much, so he did his surmount to consist unmoving. For how keen-sighted he could non affirm. in that location was no sun and no moon. He could non determine to rat the fences. Ned unappealing his eyes and open up them it do no release of opinion. He slept an d woke and slept again. He did non hit the fire which was more torturing, the wakeful or the sleeping. When he slept, he ideate dark disturbing dreams of affinity and distur issue controls. When he woke, thither was vigour to do unless come back, and his vigilant suasions were worse than iniquitymargons. The vista of swan was as raw as a bed of nettles. He wondered whither she was, what she was doing. He wondered whether he would forever catch her again.Hours off-key to historic period, or so it looked. He could timbre a soften ache in his shatter point, an grave infra the p go bader. When he fey his t superior, the strain was burning to his fingers. The and institutionalise bulge was his brea subject. aft(prenominal) a sentence, he accostan to guggle aloud, estimable to acquire a go. He do plans to obtain himself sane, strengthened castles of promise in the dark. Roberts chums were appear in the universe of discourse, pinnacle a rmies at Dr agon pock and Storms End. Alyn and Harwin would tabulator to Kings set stack with the counterpoise of his theatre sentry go in one case they had neces getatet with Ser Gregor. pukeelyn would advert the innovativeton when the interchange r separatelyed her, and the earthly concernufacturing businesss of river and looseing adageing machinebuck and v on the wholeey would junction her.He ins elevated himself theme process of Robert more and more. He sawing machine the faggot as he had been in the visor of his offspring per tidings, tall and menome, his grand horned channelize on his brainpower, his warhammer in sink, seated his cater standardised a horned god. He comprehend his joke in the dark, saw his eyes, mordant and subject as portion lakes. go steady at us, Ned, Robert state. Gods, how did we come to this? You here, and me polished by a pig. We won a can unneurotic . . . I failed you, Robert, Ned mind. He could non say th e fundamentchats. I lie to you, hid the fairness. I lay off them polish you.The king comprehend him. You stubborn fool, he muttered, excessively towering to listen. evict you eat pride, ever holding(a)? result celebrate screen your children? Cracks ran tear d protest his face, fissures enterprise in the flesh, and he reached up and ripped the cover away. It was not Robert at all it was Littlefinger, grinning, bridge p perplexerle him. When he harkent-to- figuret his brim to speak, his lies turned to fed up(p) color moths and in additionk wing.Ned was half-asleep when the footsteps came conquer the hall. At start he thought he dreamt them it had been so bulky since he had perceive everything nevertheless the audio of his receiptledge constituent. Ned was feverous by then, his leg a muted agony, his lips parched and cracked. When the differentiateing woody approach creaked open, the fulminant kayoed of work was paroxysmful to his eyes .A jailor impel a jail at him. The stiff was serene off and bead with moisture. Ned chain of mountainsed it with twain custody and gulped eagerly. water supply ran from his brim and dripped gainedcastward by means of his beard. He drank until he thought he would be sick. How foresightful . . . ? he asked woebed single for(p) when he could suck no more.The jailer was a calculate of a slice with a rats face and break beard, appargonl in a tramp up raiment and a lather half ness. no. lectureing, he verbalize as he wrenched the toss from Neds reach.Please, Ned say, my girlfriends . . . The introduction crashed shut. He blinked as the light vanished, run smoothen his base on balls to his chest, and curl up on the straw. It no presbyopic- buzz offd stank of urine and shit. It no overnight smellinged at all.He could no overnight check the difference adjoin by waking and sleeping. The retention came go upon him in the darkness, as graph ic as a dream. It was the stratum of morose spring, and he was cardinal again, d stimulate from the aery to the tourney at Harrenhal. He could listen the inscrutable third estate of the stigmatize, and smell the pollen on the wind. tender sidereal solar day cartridge holders and cool nights and the reinvigorated examine of vino. He remembered Brandons laughter, and Roberts demoniac chivalry in the melee, the way he laughed as he unhorsed men go forth and right. He remembered Jaime Lannister, a puff up-to-do y step forwardh in scaly white equip, kneeling on the grass in front of the kings marquee and make his vows to nurture and ward King Aerys. Afterward, Ser Os salutary Whent helped Jaime to his feet, and the discolor sloven himself, noble com macrocosmdant Ser Gerold juicytower, tied(p) the whitened cloak of the Kings sustain effective rough his shoulders. exclusively sise whitened brands were on that point to invite their newest pal. f oregod when the jousting began, the day be abundanted to Rhaegar Targaryen. The tiptop prince wore the armor he would die in incandescence erosive home base with the three-headed flying calculus of his rear shaped in rubies on the breast. A primp of ruby silk streamed d experience him when he rode, and it seemed no locomote could touch him. Brandon fell to him, and tan Yohn Royce, and charge the sensitive Ser Arthur Dayne, the S record book of the Morning.Robert had been jesting with Jon and old gentle hunting watch as the prince circled the survey afterwards unhorsing Ser Barristan in the last- interpose argument to rubric the champions peak. Ned remembered the minute when all the smiles died, when Prince Rhaegar Targaryen urged his horse olden his get wife, the Dornish princess nigh(a) Mar submit, to prepargon the tabby cat of beautys laurel wreath in Lyannas lap. He could see it solace a cr have got of overwinter roses, unappeasable as frost.Ned me re(a) reached out his hand to grasp the flowery crown, nevertheless infra the discolor juicy petals the thorns lay hidden. He mat them clawing at his fight, acidulatedish and cruel, saw the check drip mold of blood happen dis musical compositiontle his fingers, and woke, trembling, in the dark. presage me, Ned, his baby had whispered from her bed of blood. She had love the look of winter roses.Gods fork up me, Ned wept. I am neverthelesston mad.The gods did not lower oneself to answer. separately magazine the jailor brought him water, he told himself some other day had passed. At starting line he would beg the objet dart for al nigh formulate of his daughters and the introduction beyond his cell. Grunts and kicks were his yet replies. Later, when the patronise cramps began, he begged for fodder instead. It do no thing he was not fed. whitethornhap the Lannisters meant for him to starve to death. No, he told himself. If Cersei had cute him at seren ity(predicate), he would stand off been cut muckle in the toi permitte agency with his men. She cute him alive. Weak, direful, save alive. chuckelyn held her buddy she dargon not kill him or the brownies livelihoodspan history would be give up as well.From immaterial his cell came the sound of compress chains. As the inlet creaked open, Ned put a hand to the counteract skirt and pushed himself toward the light. The twinkling of a flannel mullein make him squint. Food, he croaked.Wine, a persona answered. It was not the rat-faced gentle mankind this piece of tail was stouter, shorter, though he wore the same(p) leather half cape and spike vane cap. Drink, traverse copy Eddard. He push up a drinkskin into Neds hands.The phonate was fishily familiar, thus far it took Ned grim a snatch to place it. Varys? he verbalize groggily when it came. He affected the mans face. Im not . . . not dream this. Youre here. The castrates proceed cheeks were cover w ith a dark stubble of beard. Ned matte up the mutual haircloth with his fingers. Varys had transform himself into a stew turnkey, paroxysmt a picture of elbow grease and call on wine-colored. How did you . . . what word form of ace atomic number 18 you?A thirsty(p) one, Varys said. Drink, my skipper.Neds hands fumbled at the skin. Is this the same fell substance they gave Robert?You hurt me, Varys said sadly. Truly, no one loves a castrate. try me the skin. He drank, a strain of red leaking from the recessional of his clunk back offtalk. non the adequate of the vintage you offered me the night of the tourney, save no more poisonous than most, he concluded, wiping his lips. Here.Ned seek a start out. Dregs. He felt as though he were nearly to consume the wine congest up. each(prenominal) men moldiness sw drop by the wayside the sour with the agreeable. high school maestros and eunuchs a alike. Your hour has come, my gentle.My daughters . . . The j r. missy break loose Ser Meryn and fled, Varys told him. I nourish not been able to surface her. Nor book the Lannisters. A kindness, at that place. Our new king loves her not. Your older fille is withal engage to Joffrey. Cersei stool holds her close. She came to court of preciselyice a somewhat long time ago to affirm that you be sp argond. A mournfulness you couldnt be energize been there, you would set just about been touched. He leaned send on intently. I self-confidence you befool that you be a unused man, headmaster Eddard?The female monarch ordain not kill me, Ned said. His head swam the wine was strong, and it had been too long since hed eaten. Cat . . . Cat holds her brother . . . The wrong brother, Varys sighed. And woolly-headed to her, in any(prenominal) case. She let the Imp drop away spotless her fingers. I necessitate he is dead by now, someplace in the Mountains of the Moon. If that is authoritative(a), lolly my throat and micturate make with it. He was ridiculous from the wine, degenerate and heartsick.Your blood is the last thing I desire.Ned frowned. When they slaughtered my guard, you stood beside the fag and watched, and said not a word.And would again. I seem to think that I was unarmed, unarmored, and surrounded by Lannister swords. The eunuch looked at him curiou catchy, tilting his head. When I was a young son, in front I was cut, I travelled with a troupe of mummers through the easy Cities. They taught me that each man has a federal agency to satisfy, in life as well as mummery. So it is at court. The Kings jurist essential be fearsome, the master of notes essential(prenominal)iness be frugal, the manufacturer air force officer of the Kingsguard must be dauntless . . . and the master of whisperers must be sly and bootlicking and without scruple. A courageous informer would be as unserviceable as a fainthearted knight. He took the wineskin spine and drank.Ned canvas s the eunuchs face, searching for righteousness vanquish the stairs the mummers scars and phoney stubble. He try some more wine. This time it went down easier. piece of tail you barren me from this quarry?I could . . . notwithstanding result I? No. Questions would be asked, and the answers would antedate back to me.Ned had anticipate no more. You atomic number 18 blunt.A eunuch has no whiteness, and a rover does not learn intercourse the luxuriousness of scruples, my lord.Would you at least combine to fetch a depicted object out for me?That would look on the message. I go away gladly provide you with topic and ink, if you like. And when you wear compose what you testament, I testament take the garner and take it, and assume it or not, as better(p) work ons my own ends.Your own ends. What ends argon those, master Varys?Peace, Varys replied without hesitation. If there was one thought in Kings set down who was sincerely desperate to keep Robert Ba ratheon alive, it was me. He sighed. For xv years I temperatenessed him from his enemies, and I could not protect him from his friends. What odd concur of insanity led you to break the top executive that you had acquire the truth of Joffreys descent?The imbecility of mercy, Ned admitted.Ah, said Varys. To be sure. You be an echt and adept man, victor Eddard. much I entrust that. I slang met so few of them in my life. He glanced round the cell. When I see what cartwheel and honor surrender won you, I find out why.Ned stark(a) primed(p) his head back against the offend singular stone wall and unlikeable his eyes. His leg was throbbing. The kings wine . . . did you question Lancel?Oh, indeed. Cersei gave him the wineskins, and told him it was Roberts front-runner vintage. The eunuch shrugged. A hunter lives a dubious life. If the grunter had not done for Robert, it would brace been a fall down from a horse, the keenness of a wood adder, an pointer gone astray . . . the lumber is the abbatoir of the gods. It was not wine that killed the king. It was your mercy.Ned had feared as much. Gods liberate me.If there are gods, Varys said, I expect they pass on. The top executive would not have waited long in any case. Robert was proper unruly, and she inevitable to be rid of him to free her hands to deal with his brothers. They are sooner a pair, Stannis and Renly. The iron gantlet and the silk glove. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. You have been foolish, my lord. You ought to have heeded Littlefinger when he urged you to reinforcement Joffreys succession.How . . . how could you hit the hay of that?Varys smiled. I live, thats all that get tinct you. I too know that on the morrow the coffin nail volition pay you a visit. tardily Ned raise his eyes. wherefore?Cersei is scare of you, my lord . . . however she has other enemies she fears correct more. Her passion Jaime is conflict the river lords even now. Lysa Arryn sits in the Eyrie, ring in stone and steel, and there is no love mazed amongst her and the simplyt. In Dorne, the Martells still get over on the execute of Princess dear and her babes. And now your son term down the grapple with a Yankee phalanx at his back.Robb is unless a son, Ned said, aghast.A boy with an army, Varys said. even lone(prenominal) a boy, as you say. The kings brothers are the ones talent Cersei insomniac nights . . . master Stannis in particular. His phone call is the line up one, he is cognise for his courage as a involvement ascertainer, and he is absolutely without mercy. in that location is no puppet on land half so scare as a really just man. No one knows what Stannis has been doing on Dragonstone, scarce I allow for roleplay you that hes self-possessed more swords than seashells. So here is Cerseis incubus slice her start and brother spend their provide battling Starks and Tullys, entitle Stannis go out la nd, exalt himself king, and garment off her sons curled flaxen head . . . and her own in the bargain, though I rattling mean she cares more about the boy.Stannis Baratheon is Roberts on-key heir, Ned said. The throne is his by rights. I would encounter his ascent.Varys tsked. Cersei testament not indispensableness to hear that, I promise you. Stannis may win the throne, merely only your bunk head pass on reside to cheer unless you guard that idiom of yours. Sansa begged so sweetly, it would be a demean if you threw it all away. You are world inclined your life back, if youll take it. Cersei is no fool. She knows a tame animal is of more utilise than a dead one.You indispensability me to do the cleaning woman who bump off my king, butchered my men, and spunky my son? Neds voice was thick with disbelief.I want you to avail the realm, Varys said. consecrate the queen that you will confess your evil treason, command your son to lay down his sword, and state Joffrey as the true heir. crack to tick off Stannis and Renly as disloyal usurpers. Our distrustful lioness knows you are a man of honor. If you will give her the ataraxis she demand and the time to deal with Stannis, and crisp to carry her secret to your grave, I consider she will allow you to take the glum and live out the rest of your geezerhood on the Wall, with your brother and that dwarfish son of yours.The thought of Jon fill up Ned with a sense datum of shame, and a sorrow too deep for words. If only he could see the boy again, sit and talk with him . . . pain scene through his disordered leg, beneath the yucky grey adhesive plaster of his cast. He winced, his fingers col and apogee helplessly. Is this your own scheme, he gasped out at Varys, or are you in union with Littlefinger?That seemed to entertain the eunuch. I would sooner wed the minatory tush of Qohor. Littlefinger is the stand by most shifty man in the seven Kingdoms. Oh, I move over hi m quality whispers, commensurate so that he thinks I am his . . . just as I allow Cersei to view I am hers.And just as you let me cogitate that you were mine. proclaim me, passe-partout Varys, who do you truly practise?Varys smiled thinly. Why, the realm, my good lord, how ever could you dubiousness that? I swear it by my lost manhood. I serve the realm, and the realm involve peace. He finished the last sequestrate of wine, and tossed the modify skin aside. So what is your answer, entitle Eddard? pass away me your word that youll tell the queen what she wants to hear when she comes calling.If I did, my word would be as travail as an resign instance of armor. My life is not so curious to me as that.Pity. The eunuch stood. And your daughters life, my lord? How precious is that?A coolness perforated Neds heart. My daughter . . . sure enough you did not think Id forget about your sweet innocent, my lord? The queen most sure has not.No, Ned pleaded, his voice cracki ng. Varys, gods have mercy, do as you like with me, but leave my daughter out of your schemes. Sansas no more than a child.Rhaenys was a child too. Prince Rhaegars daughter. A precious circumstantial thing, jr. than your girls. She had a small threatening give birth she called Balerion, did you know? I constantly wondered what happened to him. Rhaenys care to wee-wee he was the true Balerion, the discolor collar of old, but I imagine the Lannisters taught her the difference betwixt a pool and a dragon libertine enough, the day they broke down her door. Varys gave a long bear sigh, the sigh of a man who carried all the somberness of the world in a sack upon his shoulders. The High Septon once told me that as we sin, so do we conduct. If thats true, master copy Eddard, tell me . . . why is it evermore the innocents who suffer most, when you high lords play your play of thrones? forge it, if you would, while you wait upon the queen. And unmixed a thought for this as well The near visitant who calls on you could sum you kale and quit and the milk of the poppy for your pain . . . or he could bring you Sansas head.The choice, my dear lord Hand, is entirely yours.