iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 169 The Lost Knight’s Heart

Barristan Selmy's brows knitted together, and his eyes were confused.

"Burden? Queen Mother?"

Varys walked out with light steps. He smiled slightly and said: "Old Sir, Her Majesty the Queen Mother means... that you have been relieved of your duties as Captain of the Kingsguard."

Barristan's expression became dull, and the gray-haired man seemed to be frozen in place.

He spoke with difficulty: "Your Majesty, the Kingsguard has sworn an oath for life. Only death can relieve the sacred mission."

Cersei Lannister's eyes moved slightly and looked at the pale Barristan.

"Old Sir, who died? Is it you or your king?"

Joffrey's voice came from the Iron Throne, his tone sounding like an accusation.

"My father is dead. You are too old and no one can protect you!"

Barristan seemed to grow older instantly, and he looked at the towering King Joffrey.

"Your Majesty, since I first mastered the sword, becoming the Kingsguard has been the only thing I have wanted. When I was 23 years old, I gave up the inheritance of Harvest Hall. I have no need for fiefdom or heirs. Throughout my life, I can only serve my country.

I swore an oath, witnessed by Ser Gerold Hightower, Captain of the Kingsguard to Aerys II, and I swore to protect the king to the best of my ability, even until death.

Before I served your father, I guarded King Aerys, and his father Jaehaerys, and I served three kings..."

Varys interjected: "Gee, it's so sad that they're all dead."

Queen Cersei showed an impatient look: "Old Sir, your duties end here."

Barristan moved his lips, but no sound came out.

Queen Cersei raised her chin and continued: "The council has decided that Ser Jaime Lannister will succeed you as Captain of the Kingsguard."

As she said that, she glanced at Barristan with her beautiful eyes, and said with a mocking tone: ""My son needs young and strong people around him. "

"killer?"

Barristan first said James' nickname contemptuously, and then said sternly: "Is he the hypocritical knight who soiled his sword with the blood of the king he swore to protect? Now he wants to soil the captain of the Kingsguard again. Are you on duty?"

There was a hint of anger in Queen Cersei's voice: "Old sergeant, please pay attention to your wording. Ser Jaime is my beloved brother and Joffrey's uncle."

Barristan reached out and unbuttoned his shoulders, and the snow-white cloak that represented the sacred mission fell to the ground.

"The white robes of the Kingsguard are no longer pure, so naturally I no longer have any attachment to them."

Pycelle glanced at the angry Queen Cersei and stood up.

"Baristan Selmy, you are no longer the Kingsguard. You are now superfluous, this... hypocritical knight."

When Pycelle finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter, including his five brothers of the Kingsguard.

The laughter was so harsh that the heroic old man stood there with red face and was too angry to speak.

With a bang, Barristan drew the sword from his waist.

Suddenly, there were screams of shock. Ser Boros and Ser Meryn of the Kingsguard quickly stepped forward to confront Ser Barristan, but they were frozen in place by the old knight's sharp eyes.

"Sir Boros, Sir Marin, there is no need to be afraid. Your king is safe, but this is not because of your effective protection. Even now..."

Barristan's sharp eyes swept across the Kingsguards, and he continued: "I can still chop all five of you down like cheese. If you plan to serve the Kingslayer, then you are not worthy of wearing this white robe. .”

Choking, Barristan threw his sword at the bottom of the Iron Throne.

He raised his eyes and looked at Joffrey, who was above him, and said: "Kid, take it. You can melt this sword and let another one sit on the Iron Throne... In that case, it may be helpful to you. It must be stronger than the sword in the hands of these five people."

He turned around and took steps. The noble men and women stood aside to let him pass. His footsteps made a loud sound on the floor, and the echo echoed in the throne room.

Just as the golden robes closed the oak bronze door of the throne room again, Joffrey's angry voice came from the Iron Throne.

"How dare he call me a kid? I'm going to arrest him!"

…………

…………

Towers of the walls of the Red Fort.

Greenclab crossed his arms on his chest and leaned against the wall. Opposite him was Jaime Lannister, who looked a little melancholy.

Green quipped: "Sir James, you look like... a lost child?"

James glanced sideways at Green, but remained silent.

Green pointed in the direction of the throne room and said: "I heard that you are about to be appointed Captain of the Kingsguard. Congratulations."

James: "..."

Another moment of silence.

Green sighed: "I said... Sir, if I remember correctly, it was you who came to find me."

After a pause, James' green eyes looked at Green and said, "How did you know that I would be appointed captain of the Kingsguard?"

Green shrugged and said: "Everyone knows that there are no secrets in the Red Castle. People who shouldn't know already know it, but people who should know don't know..."

At this time, following the sound of hurried footsteps, a figure in a golden robe appeared in sight.

"Lord Green, Ser Barristan has requested to leave the Red Keep."

During the petition in the Throne Room, the doors of the Red Keep will be closed until the petition is over, prohibiting entry and exit.

Green and James looked at each other. Just as he was about to speak, another man in gold robe also trotted over in a hurry.

"Lord Green, the Queen Regent has ordered the arrest of Barristan Selmy."

Green waved his hand and said: "Let the respected old Sir leave. And... tell Sir Barristan to be careful of our pursuit."

"As you command, Lord Green."

…………

After the golden robe left, James said, "Earl Green, aren't you afraid that Queen Cersei will blame you?"

Green spread his hands and said, "Sir, I'm helping...well, Queen Cersei will say that you let him go."

James's eyes moved and he said: "It seems that you are really planning to hunt down Sir Barristan, and you are not just pretending."

Green tapped his chin and said: "He has been given a chance. Don't forget, he is the fearless Barristan."

James sighed softly, reached out and patted Green's arm, and said: "Earl Green, thank you for your help."

"Be happy, Mr. Warden of the East and Captain of the Kingsguard."

James shook his head slightly and looked into the distance with a somewhat complicated look.

"Although Ser Barristan doesn't like me, I respect him very much. We were... once brothers of the Kingsguard, but now... this is not the result I want to see, and this is not what I want."

Green's eyes flashed... Cersei's recent actions left Jaime confused.

"Ser Jaime, are you planning to leave King's Landing? Or leave Queen Cersei for a while?" Jaime turned to Green, with a surprised look on his face.

"No wonder Tyrion told me that you two are the two smartest heads in King's Landing."

"Sir, we both know each other well, it's not hard to guess."

Green shrugged and added: "I hope the excuse you are looking for is not to find a lost self or something."

James: "..."

Green guessed correctly again, leaving James speechless.

Jaime's intention to leave Cersei's side is indeed to regain his lost knight's heart.

Last time in the throne room, Running Wolf released Jaime as a prisoner. Running Wolf's men could be said to have put down their weapons, but Cersei ordered them to be executed.

James watched helplessly as the heroic warriors who gave up resistance fell into a pool of blood one by one. Did he become an accomplice to deceive these people?

Jaime admits that he hates Robert Baratheon, but he wants to stop Cersei from executing Robert's bastards because they are just innocent children.Why does Cersei insist on doing this?Of course James knows the real reason.

Last night, Cersei suddenly told him that he would be appointed captain of the Kingsguard, and Ser Barristan would be expelled from the Red Keep.

Why would Cersei be so eager to expel Ser Barristan, a man who kept his oath of loyalty?Of course James knows the real reason.

He is the Oathbreaker, he is the Kingslayer, what qualifications does he have to take over as Captain of the Kingsguard?
The Kingsguard, who shoulder the sacred mission and represent the highest knightly honor... gradually became black because of him.

He suddenly felt that he was a ridiculous existence. In order to love Cersei... what level of hell would he go to?
The wonderful dream that James had weaved for himself was shattered piece by piece.

…………

Whether he leaves or escapes, he needs to change to a strange place and he needs to think carefully.

James held Green's shoulders tightly. He stared at Green and said solemnly: "Earl Green, I entrust Cersei's safety to you. This is my request."

…………

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Throne Hall.

The voice of the royal master of ceremonies was loud and clear: "The king listens to the petitions of his subjects."

"Report if you have something to report, but be silent if nothing happens!"

The hall gradually became quiet, making Sansa Stark in the crowd even more nervous.

Gods, please grant me courage... Sansa told herself that she must do it now, she must save her father.

Now... Sansa exhaled and walked out slowly.

Sansa stopped under the Iron Throne, and the Master of Ceremonies sang: "Lady Sansa of House Stark."

"Your Majesty the King." Sansa raised her skirt to Joffrey.

Sansa quietly raised her eyes and saw Joffrey looking at her with a smile. His smile gave her the greatest courage.

"Report if you have something to report, but be silent if nothing happens!"

Sansa knelt down. She looked at the towering Joffrey and said: "Your Majesty, I want to petition for my father, the former Lord Eddard Stark, and ask you to forgive his crimes with mercy. .”

The voice of Maester Pycelle came first: "Miss, your father has committed a heinous crime."

Wallis sighed: "Oh, what a poor child... Sir, she is just a child and has no idea what she is asking for."

Sansa was trembling with fear. She didn't know what to do. She could only cast her pleading eyes on the Iron Throne, where her lover sat.

Joffrey did not disappoint Sansa, and Joffrey's voice came out from the Iron Throne in time.

"Let her speak, I want to hear what she has to say."

Sansa nodded with emotion and gratitude: "As you command, my lord."

Pycelle shook his head, and his tone seemed to be pronouncing a verdict: "The crime of rebellion is like a poisonous weed. It must be uprooted and killed, otherwise rebels will spread everywhere."

Varys said with a gentle face: "Miss Sansa, can you deny the crimes your father committed?"

In the past few days, Sansa has thought of a way to save her father, or an "excuse" to avoid the crime.

She spoke carefully: "Your Majesty the King, Your Majesty the Queen Mother, gentlemen, I do not deny it."

hum!
Whispers in the hall suddenly began to fall one after another.

"Nothing is wrong! Be quiet! Be quiet!"

After the silence was restored, Joffrey's voice sounded: "Miss, please continue."

"Your Majesty, I know very well that my father must accept sanctions. All I ask is to be generous and let him live.

My father must have regretted what he had done. He was a close friend of King Robert during his lifetime and he truly loved King Robert.

I believe everyone here understands that before King Robert spoke, he had never had the idea of ​​becoming Prime Minister.He must have been bewitched by Lord Renly or Lord Stannis, otherwise he wouldn't..."

King Joffrey leaned forward, looked at Sansa below, and said, "He said I was not the king. Why did he say that?"

Sansa had secretly prepared the answer to such a question.

She almost blurted out when she heard Joffrey's question.

"My father was deceived by the man he trusted. He loved King Robert so much that he trusted King Robert's brother."

Wallis held his hands together and said softly: "This is due to the child's confidence in his father... How simple and innocent... But don't people often say that wisdom often comes from the mouths of children?"

Pycelle shook his head stubbornly: "Lord Varys, no matter what the reason, rebellion is rebellion."

Joffrey frowned and thought for a while, then said, "Mother, what do you mean?"

"If Lord Stark is willing to confess his crime..."

Queen Cersei looked at Sansa for a while, and she sighed: "We can be sure that he has repented. I hope he will not let down Sansa's good intentions."

Joffrey stood up from the Iron Throne and casually glanced at the people below.

Sansa looked at Joffrey, she didn't dare to say anything anymore, she kept pleading in her heart: Please... please... you are the king in my heart... the kind, noble and kind-hearted king... …please!

Perhaps Joffrey heard Sansa's inner begging, so Joffrey tapped his chin towards Sansa.

Joffrey's voice was gentle: "Miss, do you have anything else to say?"

Joffrey's gentleness gave Sansa full courage and allowed her to see hope of saving her father.

"Please...please, for the sake of your love for me, please grant my wish, my prince."

Joffrey looked down at Sansa, paused, and nodded slightly, as if he was telling Sansa that everything would be okay.

"Miss Sansa, your heartfelt words touched me. I can fulfill your love for your father, but your father must first bow his head and confess his sins, and admit that I am his king, otherwise I will not be merciful."

(End of this chapter)