chapter 156 part 1
Chapter 156: Dark Tidings 8
Eddard Stark looked at the exquisite face so close to his own, his expression turning cold. "Cersei, beauty cannot buy you mercy."
"Mercy?"
Cersei Lannister's gentle expression vanished in an instant, her voice filled with fury. "What do you take me for? What right do you have to offer me mercy?"
With that, she stood up and sneered, "Don't you have a bastard of your own? And didn't you bring that bastard into the Red Keep?"
Her gaze became contemptuous. "I'm very curious who that bastard's mother is. Was it some farmer's daughter you raped after burning her family's home to the ground? Or some whore? Or perhaps that grieving Lady Ashara? I heard... after you returned that sword of the morning, Dawn, to her, Lady Ashara threw herself from the city walls into the sea. What was the reason for that? Was it because of the brother you killed, or the child you stole away?"
Queen Cersei looked Lord Eddard straight in the eye and demanded angrily, "Noble wolf, tell me, what is the difference between you and Robert, or me, or Jaime?"
Lord Eddard slowly rose to his feet. He looked at the hate-filled Queen Cersei and said calmly, "Cersei, please listen well. I will only say this once. When Robert returns from his hunt, I intend to tell him everything. Before Robert comes back, I will not stop you from leaving. You can take your three children with you."
After a pause, he added, "I guarantee you, no matter how far you run, Robert's fury will follow. If I were you, I would not go to Casterly Rock. I would take a ship to the Free Cities, or even farther. Run as far as you can."
As Lord Eddard's words fell, Cersei's body visibly stiffened.
Cersei asked in disbelief, "Stark, you want me to exile myself? To let me and my children become wanderers?"
Lord Eddard shook his head slightly. "Cersei, you should know very well what became of Rhaegar's children."
After a moment of silence, Queen Cersei lowered her gaze slightly, her long eyelashes concealing the flashing light in her eyes.
Queen Cersei's eyes were slightly red-rimmed. "Stark, do you know? I am the Light of the West, the proud Lannister lioness... I married that man, yet he treats me no differently than he does those lowborn whores..."
As she spoke, Cersei looked up, the light in her beautiful eyes seemingly covered by a layer of watery mist. "Eddard, all that I've suffered... my hatred, my anger, what am I to do with it all?"
Lord Eddard was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Jaime can also leave with you. I believe no matter where you go, he will protect you all. If... if I am still here... I will do my best to stop Robert from pursuing you."
He had originally only wanted to save the three children, but now he had added Cersei and Jaime... perhaps even Robert would not forgive him for this.
The wolf had shown its greatest goodwill, but the lioness felt no gratitude. A mocking smile appeared on her face.
"Stark, you truly are a good man."
*I'm only acting out of honor...* Lord Eddard gazed at Queen Cersei but did not speak aloud.
Queen Cersei continued, "Jaime told me what happened back then. On the day King's Landing fell, all you had to do was ascend the steps to sit on the Iron Throne. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, yet you let it pass you by, just as you are doing today. How tragic..."
Lord Eddard said coldly, "I have made more mistakes in my life than you can imagine, but that was not one of them."
The wolf remained stubborn, which greatly annoyed the lioness.
...
Queen Cersei pretended to wipe away a tear and turned around.
With her back to Lord Eddard, Cersei's face was expressionless, but her voice carried a hint of grief. "Eddard, can you give me some time? The children are not like me; they love that man very much... The children have been preparing for days, and tomorrow is the day of departure... At least wait until this hunt is over."
Lord Eddard hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed. "Let it be as you wish. I'm sorry, this is all I can do."
After a pause, Queen Cersei turned around, her green eyes sizing up Lord Eddard's stern face.
"Stark, please keep your promise..."
As she spoke, her beautiful eyes glanced towards the godswood. "As the gods are my witness."
Lord Eddard nodded lightly. Queen Cersei lifted her skirts and began to walk away.
After a few steps, Queen Cersei stopped and turned her head to look at Lord Eddard.
Cersei's voice was clear and cold. "Stark, when you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."
Without waiting for Lord Eddard's reaction, Queen Cersei walked away quickly.
...
...
Night, King's Landing, the Iron Gate.
The Iron Gate was one of the seven gates of King's Landing, located in the northeast of the city. The Iron Gate was right next to Blackwater Bay, and the Rosby Road entered King's Landing through this gate.
Janos Slynt, Commander of the Gold Cloaks, was tall and broad, with a double chin and a body like a great wine cask. He wore a black satin doublet and a gold-threaded half-cape fastened with a gilded spearhead.
He rubbed his bald forehead and lamented, "Feels like it's been a long time since I've been here. Before I was promoted to Commander of the City Watch, I served as Captain of the Iron Gate for a very long time."
Glyn Clegane shot a look at Per Pily beside him.
Pell had arrived in King's Landing this morning. His face showed signs of fatigue, but he was in good spirits.
Pell glanced at Glyn, nodded slightly, and strode away.
It was rumored that Janos Slynt's father was a butcher, and when he smiled, he looked every bit the part.
"Lord Clegane, rest assured. No one in King's Landing dares to refuse the kindness of Queen Lannister. At least, I certainly wouldn't dare, hehe."
Glyn glanced at the somewhat greasy smile on Janos's face, his hand resting on the hilt of his longsword at his waist.
"Lord Slynt, not everyone is qualified to serve Her Highness the Queen. I don't want to hear any more words that could be so easily misinterpreted..."
As he spoke, his long fingers tapped the hilt. "I hope you were joking."
Janos's expression stiffened for a moment before he forced a laugh. "Of course I was joking!"
Hearing Janos's explanation, Glyn's gaze softened somewhat.
Janos leaned closer, and Glyn could smell the strong scent of wine.
"Lord Clegane, although we're doing this under the pretext of replacing old equipment..."
Janos lowered his voice and continued, "It's actually all new stuff. How could I dare give old things to Queen Lannister?"
Janos saw the arrogant Queen's Steward finally show a hint of a smile, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief... At the same time, he cursed inwardly: *Hmph, just one of the Queen's lapdogs.*
Janos smiled cheerfully... If it weren't for the opportunity to pledge his allegiance to the Lannisters, he wouldn't bother trying to please a mere steward.
Why was Janos in such a hurry to pledge allegiance to Queen Cersei?