chapter 133 part 2
Margaery's lips were full, and when she smiled, the corners of her mouth turned up to reveal a row of neat, white teeth. Her smile was like the spring sunshine.
Glynn lowered his eyelids. For some reason, an image of Daenerys's anxious, violet eyes suddenly flashed through his mind.
The image was gone in an instant.
Glynn looked at Margaery, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It is House Clegane's honor."
...
...
The Kingsroad.
Eddard Stark looked at King Robert, whose brow was already beaded with sweat. "Robert, you're too fat."
King Robert, panting, roared, "Ned, you dare call me fat?"
He roared with laughter, then added, "You've got sharp eyes, I'll give you that. Can't even argue!"
The two of them had been talking and laughing the whole way, as if they were back in their days at the Eyrie once more.
Lord Eddard joked, "Your Grace, my first task after I enter the Red Keep might have to be reducing your food portions."
King Robert bellowed with laughter, clapping Lord Eddard with a heavy hand. "I like your jokes! This is good. Don't walk around with a sour face all day."
A faint smile touched the corner of Lord Eddard's lips. "Robert, I'll do my best, but Starks aren't known for their jests."
King Robert replied with disgust, "Damn it, Ned, you're a truly boring fellow!"
After a moment, King Robert added, "I can't wait to see the looks on my councilors' faces when they meet you. It's going to be spectacular just thinking about it."
Lord Eddard asked quizzically, "Why do you say that?"
"They're all idiots! They're great at lying and even better at playing dumb. Several times, I've had to stop myself from grabbing my warhammer and smashing their skulls in. They've nearly driven me mad!"
After finishing his rant, King Robert grabbed Lord Eddard's shoulder. "You'll soon understand why I say that..."
He let go of Lord Eddard and laughed loudly again. "Ned, you've got plenty of headaches to look forward to!"
Lord Eddard gave what looked like a helpless shrug, hiding the pain in his shoulder. Robert's grip was as strong as ever!
After they finished laughing, they rode on for a while in silence. Suddenly, Robert asked, "Do you still remember Ser Jorah Mormont?"
Lord Eddard's brow tightened. "I'll never forget that man as long as I live," he said in a low voice.
"House Mormont of Bear Island has a long and proud history, and they value honor. Yet Jorah Mormont, to increase his income, planned to sell poachers he'd caught to slavers from Tyrosh."
"The Mormonts are bannermen to House Stark. His actions stained the honor of the entire North. By the time Lord Eddard traveled the long journey west to Bear Island, Jorah Mormont had already fled Westeros by ship, escaping the justice of his liege lord.
Five years have passed since that incident.
...
"The man is now anxiously waiting for a pardon so he can cross the sea and return home. Ser Jorah is in Essos, and Varys, the Master of Whisperers, is using this to his advantage. He's had Jorah find a way to get close to and spy on the Targaryens."
Lord Eddard said coldly, "So the slaver has now become a spy for the realm? I would rather he were a corpse. That way, he might have salvaged a shred of the honor House Mormont has lost."
"You stubborn fool!"
King Robert cursed before explaining, "My Master of Whisperers thinks a spy is much more useful than a corpse, Ned."
Lord Eddard glanced at the King, his face grim, and said nothing. In his view, no matter the reason, Ser Jorah had stained his honor and was not worthy of a pardon.
Seeing Lord Eddard's expression, King Robert angrily untied the leather wineskin from his waist. He pulled out the stopper and began to gulp down the wine with loud swallows.
Tossing the wineskin aside, King Robert wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and let out a satisfied grunt.
Lord Eddard saw the king suppressing his anger and opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it.
Lord Eddard remembered his wife's counsel. He didn't want to argue with Robert, but there were some things on which he could not yield.
Lord Eddard was deeply conflicted.
King Robert roared, "Look at that face of yours! It's impossible to like! You and old Jon Arryn are both stubborn bastards!"
After a moment of silence, he continued, "I'd swear to the gods I loved that old man, but now I think Jon was dumber than Moon Boy!
"After I lost Lyanna, I never planned to marry at all. But Jon said that since I was on that damn iron chair, I had to have an heir.
"He told me Cersei Lannister would be a good match because if the Targaryen remnants tried to take back the Iron Throne, marrying her would ensure Lord Tywin's support.
"Hah! Cersei is beautiful, that's true enough, but she's as cold as ice... Look at the way she guards her honor, you'd think she was hiding all the gold of Casterly Rock between her legs."
Robert shook his head. "Ned, let me tell you a secret. More than once, I've dreamed of giving up the crown, taking my horse and my warhammer, and sailing to the Free Cities. I'd spend my days fighting, having adventures, and being with women and song. That's the life I was meant to live! Hah! A sellsword king! The bards would love me to death."
Lord Eddard comforted him, "Robert, in the end, you became a good king."
Robert roared with laughter. "I like that joke!"
After laughing, he patted Lord Eddard. "Ned, I know you can't lie, not for love nor honor. In any case, I'm still young, and now I have you to help me. Things will change. I'll respect your opinion on how to handle the Targaryen spawn, but don't you stop Ser Jorah's spying. I at least need to know if the dragons are coming across the sea. If they do... I look forward to that day."
Lord Eddard nodded.
King Robert's mention of the deceased Jon Arryn made him think of Jon's young son. He couldn't help but speak up. "Robert, the new Warden of the East..."
King Robert roared, "Damn it, Ned! I know the boy is your nephew, but I'll say this one last time: I will not let that little Arryn boy become Warden of the East! Am I mad? Should I hand over command of a quarter of the kingdom's armies to a weak, sickly little boy?!"
Lord Eddard thought for a moment. "Robert, if you feel Robert Arryn is too young to serve as Warden of the East, you could temporarily grant the title to one of your brothers."
Because of his own deep bond with Robert, Lord Eddard also had great faith in Stannis and Renly Baratheon.
King Robert frowned for a moment. "Ned, to tell you the truth, I've already appointed a new Warden of the East."
Lord Eddard's face showed his surprise. He hazarded a guess: "Jaime Lannister?"
Lord Eddard knew King Robert's temperament. The fact that Robert was only admitting it now made him think it had to be the Lannister Kingslayer.
Lord Eddard spoke up. "Robert, Lord Tywin is the hereditary Warden of the West. Ser Jaime will have to return to succeed him sooner or later. The power of the Wardens of the East and West should not fall into the hands of the same family. That's half the armies of the realm."
"It's not wartime," Robert said dismissively. "We can worry about that when a war starts. Besides, Lord Tywin is alive and well in Casterly Rock. I don't think Jaime will be inheriting the family business too quickly. Don't argue with me about this, Ned!"
King Robert dug his heels into his horse's flanks, spurring it forward and galloping away.
Lord Eddard watched Robert ride off, sighing helplessly. He kicked his own horse and followed.
(end of chapter)