After Bran recovered, House Stark invited a few guests to the Tower of the Hand to celebrate.
Mufasa was among them; he was Bran's best friend in King's Landing.
Mufasa woke up early that day and put on a new outfit: silk woven in Myr, boots from Lys, a hat from Pentos, and the Rose Sword hanging from his waist.
The Rose Sword had a red scabbard and a red blade, both adorned with rose patterns—a flower similar to the common rose and the Chinese rose.
Mufasa led his attendant Podrick to the Tower of the Hand, where he saw Robert arrive with the Queen, and Joffrey and Myrcella were also present.
Several major Dukes were also among Eddard Stark's invitees; the House Tyrell came, and Lord Renly also arrived.
Eddard Stark's steward, Pu'er, and the captain of the guard, Jory, were greeting guests outside the door.
"Ser Mufasa!" Steward Pu'er bowed.
"Steward Pu'er, where is Bran? I'd like to go see him." Mufasa said.
Podrick, standing nearby, handed over the accompanying gift. Jory accepted it.
"Young Master Bran is in the backyard. Some other young lords and ladies are there as well. You can go see him yourself," Pu'er said.
Mufasa nodded, gave Podrick an instruction, and then headed to the backyard.
Mufasa had been here several times and knew where Bran's room was.
However, as he walked into the courtyard, he heard the familiar laughter of a woman.
"Sansa, I didn't realize your little brother was so cute!"
"I really wish I had a cute little brother! Unfortunately, I only have three older brothers!"
Sansa was also very happy to have made another good friend; in her eyes, Margaery was simply the perfect woman.
"Margaery, if you'd like, you could adopt Bran as a god-brother, and our two families could deepen our friendship," Sansa Stark said.
"Bran, what do you say?"
Bran's little face flushed crimson; it was his first time meeting such a beautiful girl as Margaery.
"I am willing to take you as my sister!" Bran said.
Margaery happily kissed Bran on the cheek.
Then she immediately started bossing around her new little brother.
"Bran, tell me, will Mufasa be attending the banquet this time?"
"He will come. Mufasa is the best friend I've made outside of King's Landing!" Brandon Stark said.
"If he bullied me, shouldn't you help your sister get revenge on him?" Margaery asked.
"I... I..." Bran hesitated, lowering his head.
Although Margaery was beautiful, he was Brandon Stark, the son of Eddard Stark, and he would never be tempted by beauty.
"Don't trouble the little guy, Margaery!" Mufasa walked in at the right moment, having listened outside for a while.
"Mufasa, you villain, you're asking for a beating!" Margaery swung her pink fists, aiming for Mufasa's eyes.
She was both ashamed and angry that Mufasa had caught her scheme red-handed.
Mufasa immediately performed a 'Reverse Heavenly Constellation,' lifting Margaery horizontally and tossing her into the air, making her scream in alarm. After catching her, Mufasa held her upside down, grabbing both her ankles, forcing her hands onto the ground in a very strange posture.
Bran and Sansa were completely dumbfounded.
Mufasa actually showed no chivalry and was rough with Margaery, even though he hadn't hit her.
"Let me go!" Margaery demanded.
Mufasa ignored her, put her over his shoulder, and began spanking her backside, making Margaery's face flush crimson until she finally begged for mercy.
"Please, stop hitting me! Ah!"
"Forgive me, I won't dare provoke you again..."
Only then did Mufasa set her down.
"I'll come to your place to get that statue back. Don't lose it!" Mufasa said.
"Yes! I definitely won't lose it..." Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Mufasa then looked at Bran, who was utterly shocked by Mufasa's recent actions.
"Bran, let me look at your leg!"
Mufasa felt his leg bones—they were completely healed!
"You still shouldn't walk too much. Rest for a few more months! But it won't affect your life in the future," Mufasa said.
"Mufasa, I heard you and Arya are learning Water Dancer together. Can I join?" Bran asked.
"Of course! Syrio is a master, and he would love a well-behaved apprentice like you!" Mufasa patted Bran's head.
At the dinner party, Margaery was very quiet, eating with her head bowed, seemingly terrified by Mufasa's beating. However, she kept secretly observing Mufasa.
Robert, Eddard, Mace, and a few others were discussing something.
"Have the nobles from all regions arrived yet?" Robert asked.
"House Umber will be departing from Last Hearth, so they will arrive a bit late. Also, the Nights Watch will send a few representatives," Eddard Stark said.
This was the intelligence he had received from Grand Maester Pycelle this morning.
"Prince Doran of Dorne has also sent word that his brother, Prince Oberyn, will personally come to King's Landing. Now we are only waiting for House Arryn and Dragonstone! Lord Stannis has kept the news locked down, and we still don't know what he is doing on the island," Eddard continued.
"Count Hightower and Count Redwyne will also arrive shortly! This Grand Council we are convening might have the largest attendance in history!" Mace Tyrell said.
The Grand Council is actually similar to the election speeches of ancient Greece; any noble lord can go up and speak, and famous Knights, Maesters, and Septons can also give a short address.
Ultimately, they listen to the opinion of whoever receives the most support.
Mufasa could imagine the scene; it would be similar to a marketplace.
"My Queen! We need sufficient financial resources to support this war. Why didn't Tywin Lannister attend this banquet, and why didn't your two younger brothers come either?" Robert looked at Cersei beside him.
Cersei was inherently uninterested in what they were discussing.
But Tywin had spoken to her before she came: he didn't want to lend Robert any more money. That man was a deadbeat who only borrowed and never repaid.
"Your Majesty! My father has important matters to discuss with his business partners from Qarth! That is why he is absent from today's banquet! I apologize to Lord Eddard Stark on his behalf."
Cersei gave Eddard Stark a polite, formal smile.
"My Queen, the treasury is empty. We need a large amount of money to buy weapons, grain, and horses. Can House Lannister provide some assistance?" Robert asked.
He had to lower his pride this time! Since Baelish wasn't here, he had to ask for the loan himself. Who else could he ask? Eddard Stark? Ask him for money?
"Your Majesty! My father said Mufasa is his heir. You can speak directly with Mufasa, or you can bring Mufasa into your Small Council to discuss it with the other ministers," Cersei said with a smile.
Her meaning was quite clear: she wanted Mufasa to hold a position on the Small Council.
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