Mondon looked at Jon with dazed eyes. He said dully, "Twenty thousand gold dragons, we'll split it evenly."
Jon was tempted, but after thinking it over, he said, "No need to split the gold dragons. We're friends, I'll help you."
After speaking, Jon patted Mondon's thick arm and smiled openly.
Mondon first shook his head, then chuckled, "Jon, thank you, but the money still needs to be split. I have a request…"
…
…
On the riverbanks outside King's Landing, over a hundred tents had already been set up near the tourney grounds, where thousands of spectators would gather.
Duke Eddard learned last night that King Robert had finally returned to King's Landing. Since today was the tourney, he stayed overnight at the tourney grounds outside the city.
In the early morning, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Barristan Selmy accompanied Duke Eddard Stark towards the King's tent.
As they walked, Ser Barristan said, "King Robert intends to participate in the melee."
Duke Eddard's face was serious: "Ser Barristan, I heard that before I met you."
Ser Barristan looked troubled: "Duke Eddard, I only hope our King has changed his mind by the time he wakes."
"That's difficult."
…
…
The King's tent was near the waterfront. Woven with gold thread, it was the largest and most luxurious structure in the entire tourney camp. Robert's warhammer and a large iron shield were placed outside the entrance, the shield emblazoned with the crowned stag of House Baratheon.
When Duke Eddard and Ser Barristan entered, they saw Robert shouting at two young squires who were clumsily trying to help him into his armor.
"My King, this armor is too small… it won't fit."
The young man speaking was almost in tears. After he finished, under King Robert's scolding, he had no choice but to try again, but his hand slipped… With a thud, the gorget meant for Robert's thick neck fell to the ground.
"Seven Hells!"
King Robert roared, "Damn fools, must I do everything myself? You two idiots, pick that up! Don't just stand there with your mouths open. Lancel, pick it up for me, now!"
Lancel almost jumped in fright, hurriedly picking up the gorget from the ground.
King Robert turned his head to Duke Eddard and said, "Ned, look at these two fools, they can't even help someone put on armor. What kind of squires are these? They're dressed-up pigheads."
Duke Eddard glanced at them and calmly said, "Robert, it's not their fault. You're too fat, that's why it doesn't fit."
"Too fat? Too fat, you say?"
King Robert took a big gulp of wine, threw the empty drinking horn onto the animal skin bed, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and then burst into laughter: "Damn Ned, why do you always find the problem so quickly?"
King Robert turned to his two squires, who immediately gave nervous smiles.
He boomed, "You, yes, you two! Did you hear what the Hand of the King said? The King is too fat, so the armor doesn't fit. Go find Ser Allan and tell him I need pliers to stretch the breastplate. Go on! What are you waiting for?"
As his words fell, the two squires scrambled out of the tent, tripping over each other along the way.
King Robert put on a stern expression… until the squires left, then he sat back in his chair, laughing uncontrollably.
The usually unsmiling Ser Barristan couldn't help but smile along, and even Duke Eddard showed a slight smile.
"Ah, I really want to see the expression on Ser Allan's face when he sees them."
Robert laughed, then added, "If he has any sense, he'll tell them to find someone else. We'll just let these two fools run around all day!"
Duke Eddard pondered for a moment and said, "Robert, are these two boys from Lannister?"
Duke Eddard couldn't help but notice the two squires… they were both handsome young men, with fair skin and well-proportioned bodies. The one with golden curly hair was about Sansa's age, and the other, about Robb's age, had yellowish-brown hair and emerald green eyes like Queen Cersei.
King Robert wiped away the tears from his laughter. He nodded and said, "Cersei's two cousins, Tywin's brother's sons, those dead brothers… let me think… or maybe the living one… I don't remember. Ned, my Queen comes from a very large family."
Duke Eddard thought to himself: And an ambitious family too.
He had no objection to the two young squires themselves, but seeing Lannister people around Robert day and night, Duke Eddard couldn't help but worry about his friend's safety.
…
…
Duke Eddard couldn't feign polite greetings; he went straight to the point: "Robert, I heard you're going to participate in the melee?"
King Robert said impatiently, "Ned, you won't stop me!"
Duke Eddard said sternly, "Robert, you have no business in the melee."
King Robert frowned: "You're truly annoying. I think you've been in the North too long, your blood has frozen. Let me tell you! I'm still full of fire!"
After speaking, he slapped his chest with his large hand to add emphasis.
Duke Eddard could not back down, reminding him, "Don't forget you are the King."
King Robert roared, "Just because I sit on that damned Iron Throne, I can't have the same fun as everyone else? Can't I drink a little wine, find a girl for some pleasure, and enjoy the thrill of riding? Seven Hells, Ned, I'm suffocating. I just want to hit people."
Ser Barristan spoke: "My King, it is not appropriate for the King to join the melee, because then the competition would be unfair… who would dare to lay a hand on you?"
King Robert might truly not have considered this. He paused and said, "Ugh, anyone! Damn it, as long as they have the ability, the one standing last…"
Duke Eddard calmly interjected, "Would certainly be you."
Duke Eddard felt that Ser Barristan's words hit the mark. Emphasizing the danger of the tourney would only provoke Robert further, whereas this approach appealed to his pride.
He added, "Robert, Ser Barristan is right. No one in the Seven Kingdoms would dare risk harming the King."
King Robert's face turned red. He suddenly stood up and said, "Damn it, you mean those cowards will intentionally miss me?"
Duke Eddard shrugged: "Of course."
Ser Barristan nodded silently, also agreeing.
Robert was too angry to speak. He walked from one side of the tent to the other, turned, and walked back. His face was dark with rage, then he snatched a breastplate from the ground and furiously threw it at Barristan… Barristan dodged it.
Robert said coldly, "Get out before I kill you."
Barristan first bowed, then left the tent.
Duke Eddard was about to follow, but King Robert said, "Ned, you don't have to go."
King Robert picked up the wine jug from the table, poured a cup of wine, and handed it to Duke Eddard.
"Drink."
"I don't drink…"
"Drink it! It's the stupid King's command."
Duke Eddard reluctantly took the cup and took a sip. He frowned; the wine… was so strong it stung his eyes.
King Robert sat down in his chair and said grumpily, "Damn Ned Stark, and Jon Arryn, I love you two so much, and how do you treat me? You or Jon should have been King."
Duke Eddard put down his wine cup, paused, and said, "Robert, you are the rightful heir, the most qualified to sit on the Iron Throne."
King Robert's voice was filled with anger: "I told you to drink, not to talk back. Damn it, since you made me King, at least listen carefully when I speak! Ned, look at me, look at what I've become since I became King… Gods above, I'm so fat I can't even fit into my own armor, how did it come to this?!"
"Robert…"
King Robert interrupted: "The King is speaking now, shut your mouth! Ned, I swear to you, I've never been happier in my life than when I was fighting on the battlefield, and I've never been more lifeless than now, having gained the throne."
After a moment of silence, he added, "Ned, I will not participate in the melee…"
Robert Rose from his chair, walked over, and patted Duke Eddard: "Ah… perhaps you're right, I have become a good King after all."
King Robert waited for a moment, and when Duke Eddard didn't speak, he said angrily, "Damn Ned, you should agree with me at a time like this."
"…You're right."
"Seven Hells!"
King Robert pulled Duke Eddard along as he started walking: "Who do you think will be today's champion? You've met Mace's son, haven't you? Everyone calls him the Knight of Flowers, anyone would be proud to have a son like that. At the last tourney, he made the Kingslayer's golden ass take quite a tumble, you should have seen Cersei's face then, I laughed until my stomach hurt…"
…
…
The tourney grounds were filled with gleaming armor and tall, caparisoned warhorses, the air buzzing with voices, and the distinct banners of various houses fluttering in the wind… There was the silver harpy of Seaguard, the nightingale and field of Bryce Caron, the cluster of grapes of Redwyne Family, and also the spotted boar, red bull, burning tree, white ram, triple spiral, swamp marigold, purple unicorn, dancing maiden, black snake, twin towers, and long-horned owl.
The seven Kingsguard became the center of attention as they passed the stands, all clad in silver armor, their white cloaks like fresh snow.
Jaime Lannister, riding abreast with Ser Barristan at the very front, was the absolute focus.
Jaime also wore a white cloak, but his armor gleamed golden, and with his flowing golden hair, he was very striking.
Behind the Kingsguard were those from the Vale, like Yohn Royce. Earl Yohn of Runestone was known as Bronze Yohn; it was rumored that his bronze armor was thousands of years old, inscribed with magical runes that protected the wearer from harm, hence his epithet. His two sons, Ser Andar Royce and Ser Robar Royce, followed behind, their armor silver-plated and engraved with the same runic patterns as their ancestral bronze armor.
Then came the Redwyne twin brothers, Ser Horas Redwyne and Ser Hobber Redwyne, carrying shields emblazoned with a claret cluster of grapes on a blue field.
…
Lord Green entered with a host of sons and grandsons sent by Walder Frey, the Marquis of The Twins. It was rumored that even the old Marquis's bastard son, Martyn Rivers, was among them.
The old Marquis Walder was ninety years old, and his numerous marriages had given him nearly 30 legitimate children, as well as countless bastards. It was rumored that his eighth wife was already pregnant.
Lord Green pulled on the reins, adjusted his horse's direction, and with one hand holding his helmet, shifted his gaze to the stands… So many beauties.
"Earl Green!"
Lord Green heard a clear shout. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Hand of the King's two daughters.
Arya Stark waved at him. She was uncharacteristically wearing a green gown like Sansa's; Lord Green guessed Maester Mordane must have forced her to change into it.
Lord Green's gaze shifted… Taryana Mooton, the Earl of maidenpool's niece… Hmm… that rumor-monger!
Lord Green's gaze naturally swept past. If not for this Miss Mouton, he wouldn't have remembered that maidenpool was an inseparable part of the Fingers Peninsula… Hmm, Lord Green was a simple lord.
He also saw many familiar faces, nodding in greeting… Suddenly… Buzz!
The noble ladies and young women in the stands all craned their necks, looking in unison towards the direction behind Lord Green.
The Knight of Flowers entered!
Ser Loras Tyrell wore splendid silver armor, dazzlingly bright in the sunlight, adorned with sapphire-encrusted flower patterns, and his shoulder cloak was sewn with hundreds of fresh flowers.
Loras's hair was a mass of lazy brown curls, his eyes like melted gold, and his snow-white mount below was covered with a red blanket and white Roses. The women in the stands were almost all captivated by his handsomeness.
Earl Green calmly averted his gaze. Jaime was in front, and Loras was behind… Placing a 90-point between two 100-points… He would have to check later which bastard arranged the entry order?! Lord Green took a deep breath. He wasn't angry at all.
He looked at the motley crew of Freys beside him, and his mood improved slightly.
…
"Oh, he's so beautiful."
When Sansa Stark saw the Knight of Flowers, she felt as if her heart was about to burst.
After Loras, Ser Gregor Clegane, known as the Mountain, thundered past the viewing stands like a landslide.
Maester Mordane said disdainfully, "Compared to others, Jory looks like a beggar."
Hearing this, Sansa, who had just managed to recover from the Knight of Flowers's beauty, followed Maester Mordane's gaze.
Her father's captain of guards, Jory, wore grey-blue armor with no crest or ornamentation, and a thin grey cloak on his shoulders that looked like a dirty rag.
Sansa pursed her lips and smiled; she had to agree with Maester Mordane's assessment.
Maester Mordane pointed out Earl Jason Mallister in the crowd to Sansa and the others, describing him in a blue-purple cloak with silver trim and an eagle-winged helmet. She said that at the Trident River, he alone cut down three of Rhaegar's great lords.
Sansa's good friend, Jayne Poole (daughter of Wayn Poole, the Winterfell steward), saw Earl Beric Dondarrion, carrying a shield painted with lightning and with red-gold hair, and excitedly declared, clutching Sansa's wrist, that she would marry him at that very moment.
They seemed to see heroes described in a thousand songs leap before their eyes, each more dashing than the last.
They also saw many people even Maester Mordane didn't recognize: hired knights from the Fingers Peninsula, Highgarden, and Dorne; free riders and new squires not mentioned in songs; young nobles from great houses but of lesser rank; or heirs to local lords.
Most of these young men had not yet achieved great renown, but Sansa believed that one day they would make their names famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms.