Chapter 127: No Refusal
Cersei Lannister looked at Glyn, her pupils constricting: "No need to guess, the two daughters of House Stark are among the retinues."
After speaking, the furious Cersei broke several rose branches in succession, but she was still not appeased.
She said angrily, "I want a wolf, preferably a grey one!"
Glyn stood silently to the side.
Cersei finished breaking the roses, and then she wanted to kill a wolf... wait, wait.
Glyn reached out and took Cersei's hand, directly wiping away the sap left by the broken branches with his cloak.
Cersei lowered her eyes to look at the hand Glyn was holding, and a corner of her lip curled up: "Lord Glyn, you have some courage."
"My Queen, I am your steward."
Glyn gently released Cersei's hand, then said, "Your Grace, no one in the Seven Kingdoms can stop King Robert from doing what he wants to do right now."
He added, "Except for you, but the cost is too high; this is not an option."
Cersei's chin lifted slightly, her emerald eyes narrowed, and she said coldly, "It's merely a matter of life and death, your Queen will never compromise!"
Clutching his sword hilt, Glyn spoke: "Queen Cersei, you shouldn't put yourself in danger. Please leave dangerous matters to me... and Ser Jaime."
After hearing Glyn's persuasion, Cersei's lips curved slightly: "Glyn, your words always please me. Sometimes I don't know how to reward you..."
As she spoke, Cersei extended her fair hand and patted Glyn. Her long fingers touched the cold, icy armor, and her brows subtly furrowed.
Cersei glanced at the tightly-seamed Clegane armor with slight displeasure.
Glyn replied solemnly: "To be able to serve Your Grace is the greatest reward for me."
Cersei chuckled: "Truly a lovely boy."
Glyn: "..." He blinked his eyes in confusion.
It was the first time Glyn had seen Cersei display such a natural smile. Her hair, illuminated by the sun, shone like golden threads, beautiful like a summer maiden.
Sam's eyesight seems pretty good?
...
Cersei's sweet smile quickly faded. She gazed at the flower bush, and soon a mocking sneer appeared on her face.
...
...
King's Road west of the Trident.
Eddard Stark looked at Robert Baratheon, whose waist had become as astonishing as his height, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his stern face.
Is this really Robert?
"Ned! Ah, it's good to see you, especially that ugly face of yours."
Eddard heard a familiar, bell-like voice, and then was embraced, almost having all his bones dislocated.
Eddard finally confirmed the fat man's identity; this person was indeed Robert.
Fifteen years ago, when they fought side-by-side, Robert was slender and neat, with clear eyes, six feet five inches tall, like a towering giant. Among the crowd, he stood out like a crane among chickens, a strong man that maidens in spring dreamed of.
Nine years ago, during Balon Greyjoy's Rebellion, the banners of the stag and the ice wolf flew together. The armies of the Seven Kingdoms jointly campaigned against the Lord who crowned himself King of the Iron Islands. On the night of victory, the two stood side-by-side in the great hall of the fallen House Greyjoy's castle. Robert accepted the surrender letter from the rebel leader, while Eddard took the rebel's infant son Theon as his ward.
Now, although a thick, iron-wire-like black beard covered his plump double chin, nothing could hide Robert's big belly.
Robert scrutinized him from head to toe, his voice hearty: "You haven't changed a bit."
A faint smile appeared on Lord Eddard's always stern face. He knelt on one knee and said solemnly, "Your Grace, Winterfell awaits your command."
He remembered his wife's warning. Robert was not only his friend but also the King of the Seven Kingdoms.
"Damn it, Ned!"
Robert cursed loudly: "Don't give me that!"
King Robert's rough hand pulled Lord Eddard, who was kneeling respectfully on the ground, back to his feet.
Robert said angrily again, "And another thing, we are brothers! If you dare call me 'Your Grace' again, I'll hang you at the gates of a whorehouse! And before that, I'll strip off your pants, ha ha!"
Eddard smiled. He felt that although Robert's appearance had changed somewhat, his personality hadn't changed at all. He remembered their days in the Eyrie, still so intimate.
Eddard and Robert had grown up together as wards of Jon Arryn in the Eyrie since Eddard was six years old. He regarded Robert as his brother.
His heart was full, but Stark was stubborn: "I cannot forget."
"Seven Hells!"
After Robert saw Eddard's two daughters, he said, "Your children are much cuter than you!"
The guards scattered around, and the two men came to the riverbank.
Robert pointed into the distance and said, "Right there, I smashed Rhaegar to death with one swing of my hammer!"
Eddard remembered Lyanna's last faint smile, and how she tightly clutched his hand before leaving the world. Rose petals poured from her palm, dark and lifeless.
This was a pain deeply etched in Eddard's heart.
Eddard slowly said, "You have killed him, and avenged Lyanna."
Robert said angrily, "But I only killed him once! Now I can only keep killing him in my dreams, every night!"
Robert's voice grew hoarse with the remembered pain: "Damn it, Lyanna was only sixteen..."
Lyanna Stark was supposed to be Robert's bride, but she passed away at sixteen. At that time, she was still an innocent girl.
Some old wounds are hard to heal. Just a few short words can make them gush open again.
The two men stood silently by the riverbank, looking at the flowing water, the atmosphere heavy.
The cold Iron Throne could not compensate for their pain of losing Lyanna.
After a while, Eddard looked at Robert: "Tell me about Jon Arryn."
Robert shook his head: "I have never seen anyone's condition worsen so rapidly in my life. It was as if a fierce fire consumed Jon Arryn's life in a short time."
Eddard was not in a hurry to voice his suspicions about Lannister. Some things needed to be investigated personally.
After a pause, Robert extended his huge arm and wrapped it around Eddard's shoulder: "I had planned to talk to you about this in a few days, but since you brought it up, let's talk now."
Eddard looked at Robert, who had suddenly become serious, and nodded slightly.
"Jon Arryn's death was too sudden!"
Robert sighed again. He continued, "The Red Keep is in chaos now. I need a trustworthy helper, someone like Jon Arryn. He was the Lord of the Eyrie, Warden of the East, and Hand of the King. It's not easy to find a suitable replacement."
Robert said angrily again, "One after another, damn it, they all covet the position of Hand of the King, not even looking at whether they have the ability! If I dare to entrust the kingdom to them, the gods will never forgive me!"
Eddard, however, asked, "Jon Arryn's child..."
Robert interrupted Eddard's words: "His son will inherit the Lordship of the Eyrie, and all the taxes of the Vale."
Eddard was stunned for a moment, then said, "House Arryn of the Vale has always been the Warden of the East. This is a hereditary position!"
Robert was a bit impatient: "Ned, a six-year-old boy cannot lead an army. My first consideration is this year and the next few years. When that child grows up, then I will consider whether or not to return it to him!"
Eddard didn't want to back down: "Warden of the East is merely an honorary title in peacetime. Let that child inherit this title. Even for old Jon Arryn, who toiled his life for the kingdom, this is what he deserves."
Robert withdrew his hand from Eddard's shoulder, his tone not very happy: "Jon Arryn was the Hand of the King, that was his duty! He should serve his King loyally!"
His anger subsided, and he continued, "Ned, I am not an ungrateful person. You should know this best. I love him as much as you do. But that child is not his father. A naive infant definitely cannot rule the East, the gods forgive me!"
King Robert clasped Lord Eddard's forearm and said, "Ned, let's not talk about these things anymore! I need your help, and I won't allow you to refuse."
Ah, ah, ah, wait until I'm done!
(end of chapter)