iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 257 Lioness and Little Lioness

It is widely rumored that when Stannis Baratheon, holding the flaming red heart banner, conquers King's Landing, he will burn all the pagans who believe in the Seven Gods alive and sacrifice their souls to the god he believes in - the Light. King, R'hllor.

Therefore, when the news of the arrival of Stannis's fleet reached the city, the entire King's Landing was filled with the people of King's Landing singing in fear and piety, praying for the blessings of the gods in heaven.

They prayed for divine punishment from the gods in heaven, so that Stannis, who had betrayed the mortals on earth, would be wiped out.

The sound of singing mixed with the neighing of horses, the clang of steel, and the sound of the hinges of the huge bronze city gate, and King's Landing played a strange and terrifying music.

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Outside the throne room of the Red Keep, the Kingsguard and Ser Meryn Trant helped King Joffrey mount a bay-red horse.

In the early morning sun, the gold-plated mail and crimson enamel plate armor that Joffrey was wearing reflected the golden and red light, making them bright and bright.

He said impatiently on the horse: "Where is my dog? Why hasn't he come back yet!"

The war has begun, and Joffrey is worried that if he goes too late... the ugly dwarf will snatch Stannis's head early.

Ser Meryn lowered his eyes, his silver plate gleaming in the morning light.

He said: "Your Majesty the King, the Queen Mother Regent has an order and she will not allow you to get close to the battlefield."

After hearing his advice, Joffrey immediately said angrily: "Malyn Trant, I am the king, I can go wherever I want! If you dare to mention my mother again, I will pull out your tongue. "

The Kingsguard retreated silently, and Joffrey raised his chin, snorting haughtily.

Not long after, he saw Sandor Clegane holding a girl in his arms: "My dog, come here quickly, hurry up! Hurry!"

The hound strode over. He threw the girl roughly at Joffrey's feet and said, "This is the delicate flower you want, king."

The brown-haired girl under the horse was trembling. Joffrey couldn't wait to pull out his sword. Its blade was made of fine steel, glowing with blue light, and edged on both sides. The hilt was wrapped in leather, and the end was a gold Lion head, its name is "lion tooth".

He stretched out his sword in front of the brown-haired girl: "Kiss it quickly and bless my sword."

With a cry of surprise, the girl suddenly burst into tears. She cried out: "King, I beg your forgiveness, please let me go..."

Joffrey was furious: "Kiss it, kiss my sword!"

"Jiaohua, listen to the king, otherwise he will poke into your mouth." The hunting dog's harsh voice sounded.

"Quickly, bless my sword." Joffrey's lion's teeth almost touched the brown-haired girl's lips.

The brown-haired girl dazedly touched the metal in front of her with her lips. Joffrey returned the sword and sheathed it. He said in disgust: "My dog, you have found an idiot."

The hunting dog shrugged and said, "This delicate flower runs the slowest."

Joffrey was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. He was in a good mood and said, "Don't let her leave. When I come back, I want her to kiss my lion's teeth again and let her taste my uncle's blood."

The girl was taken away by the golden robe, and the hunting dog said: "King, you should find a woman who loves you and kiss her."

Joffrey affirmed arrogantly: "I am the king, how could she not love me."

"You will have your hands full." The hunting dog jumped on his horse.

"Today is the fateful day. I will personally deal with my traitorous uncle. Let's go!" Joffrey kicked his spurs and galloped off.

Sandor Clegane, Ser Meryn Trant, and Ser Osmund Kettleblack followed closely behind them, followed by more than two dozen red robes from the Lannister family.

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When Joffrey arrived near the Mud Gate, shouts of death, the clash of weapons, and the neighing of horses could be heard from the other side of the wall.

Stopping the horse, Joffrey's face looked a little pale, and the hand holding the reins was trembling slightly.

At this time, the voice of the hunting dog came over: "King, over there are the mercenaries I found."

Hearing his voice, Joffrey secretly swallowed his saliva and looked in the direction pointed by the hound.

After a pause, Joffrian raised his chin and said contemptuously: "Dog, do you plan to take these beggars to fight? Will they have the courage to draw their swords when facing Stannis?"

The hunting dog said: "I warned them that if their weapons are not stained with blood, even if they are dead, I will kill them again."

Joffrey laughed for a while, and then he suddenly said: "Where is my dwarf uncle? Why didn't I see him? Is he hiding?"

The hunting dog's eyes moved slightly and said, "He is hiding on the city wall and commanding us."

Joffrey pulled the reins, turned the horse's head, and said: "I'm going to pull him out. He is my prime minister. I can't let my traitorous uncle see my joke."

Before leaving, he asked: "My dog, I'm going to look after my cowardly dwarf uncle. You can bring Stannis's head to me later."

"Your satisfaction is guaranteed, King."

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Outside the gate of Meg Tower, the Queen Regent's new guard captain, Osfry Kettleblack, said: "Are you Geoffrey of Crab Claw Peninsula?"

Osfori is tall, with black hair and a hooked nose. He has a habitual frown and a serious face.

The Kate Black family is a royal nobility. The family crest is a black pitcher within a shield-shaped frame on a red background. Osfry is the second of the three Kate Black brothers. His elder brother is Ser Osmund, the current Kingsguard, and his younger brother is Osney, who serves with Queen Cersei's guard together with Osfry.

The three Kate Black brothers were originally used by Tyrion to spy on his Queen Mother sister, but after Ser Osmund was appointed to the Kingsguard by Queen Cersei, the three brothers directly defected to her.

Rumor has it that the three Kate Black brothers are very popular in Magta. They always smile and have witty words at their fingertips. They are in harmony with knights, squires, waiters and grooms, and they are most favored by the maids.

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The leader of the King's Landing Survey Corps, Jeffrey, greeted him and said, "I am Jeffrey, and the Queen Regent has ordered me to come to see you."

Jeffrey's appearance is very characteristic of the ancestors. Under his slightly curly dark hair are a pair of light-colored eyes. He is half a head shorter than Osfry.

Osfori looked at it carefully and said, "Follow me."

......... The ballroom of Meg Tower is less than one-tenth the size of the castle hall, but it is extremely elegantly decorated. There is a large polished silver mirror behind each torch holder, so the light is doubled; the walls are engraved with exquisite wood carvings, and the fragrant rushes cover the floor; the south wall is lined with a row of arched windows, but they are covered by thick The velvet curtains blocked out a ray of light and isolated the sounds of prayers and battles.

All the noble women in King's Landing gather here. They are wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters.

Outside, their men were fighting Stannis's army.

The lively melodies of flutes and violins floated from the balcony, but the atmosphere was solemn and everyone was sad.

At this time, the Lord Chamberlain sang: "We all stand in silence to pay tribute to Her Majesty Cersei of House Lannister, Guardian of the Realm, Queen Regent!"

Everyone in the hall stood up and saluted. After Queen Cersei took Princess Myrcella to her seat on the high platform, she said: "Welcome everyone, please take a seat."

Queen Cersei glanced at the "hens" below and said to the chamberlain: "Are they all here?"

The chamberlain glanced down and said, "Your Majesty, there is one missing young lady from the Bookwell family."

The Bookwell family is a noble of the royal family. They are fiefdomed in Antler Castle. The family crest is a pair of golden antlers on a blue background with white spots on the fur pattern. The clan motto is - Pride and Determination.

Queen Cersei frowned slightly: "What's wrong?"

The chamberlain looked at Princess Myrcella who was sitting quietly aside, lowered her voice slightly and said, "Miss Buckwell was taken away by King Joffrey, Your Majesty the Queen Mother."

"What a lucky girl. What a pity." Queen Cersei ignored the chamberlain and raised her hand to signal for the food to be served.

Queen Cersei raised her glass and took a sip of Summer Red. Her green eyes moved slightly and she said, "Myrcella, what are you looking at?"

Hearing Cersei's voice, the nine-year-old Princess Myrcella immediately retracted her slightly stretched neck and said: "Mother, there are twelve red robes and twelve gold robes here, and they have the same number."

"Nice observation."

Queen Cersei swung the wine glass in her hand and said, "Would you like some, Myrcella?"

Princess Myrcella stared at the golden wine glass in her mother's hand for a while, and she shook her head gently.

Queen Cersei reached out and caressed her daughter's face and said, "Myrcella, are you afraid of death?"

Princess Myrcella shook her head again and said, "Mother, as long as you are here, I am not afraid."

Queen Cersei tapped her chin, took a sip of her wine, and moved her gaze to the guard standing by the hall, saying, "My daughter, you have never seen what a sacked city looks like."

She leaned lightly on the armrest and continued: "If Stannis breaks through the gates of King's Landing, our guards will eagerly take off their gold or red robes, steal whatever they can, and leave. .Those...servants, washerwomen, grooms...are all the same. Their first consideration is their own lives, not ours."

Princess Myrcella blinked and said: "Mother, it would be great if Sir James and Earl Green were here. They are real knights, and real knights will protect women and children."

Ti, Li, Ang... Cersei gritted her teeth in her heart. She gently rubbed her daughter's hair and said, "Women also have ways to protect themselves from being insulted, little Myrcella."

Queen Cersei's eyes moved slightly, the tall wooden door was pushed open, and her guard captain led twelve blue robes into the hall.

The others stayed in one part of the hall. Osfori led Jeffrey to the bottom of the high seat. After receiving permission, Jeffrey walked up the stairs alone.

Jeffrey knelt down on one knee and said, "Salute to you, Your Majesty."

Queen Cersei just glanced at the person kneeling on the ground out of the corner of her eye and said, "Green told me that you are a trustworthy soldier of the Kleb family?"

Jeffrey seemed a little nervous, and he said frankly: "Yes, Your Majesty. My grandfather's grandfather's grandfather...many grandfathers...have always been Clayber's clan soldiers, and their loyalty remains unchanged."

Queen Cersei nodded slightly and said, "Keep an eye on everyone here and step back."

After Jeffrey left, Queen Cersei called the chamberlain over and asked, "Where is my son?"

"Your Majesty the Queen Mother, the King and the Prime Minister are on the city wall together to appease the defenders and boost morale."

The musicians were playing, the jugglers were doing tricks, and everyone was laughing loudly, but it seemed insincere, as if it could turn into sobs at any time.

The long table was filled with delicacies, but today, all the food was spiced with a spice called fear.

Suddenly, a noble lady began to cry uncontrollably. Queen Cersei ordered her maid to feed her a glass of sleeping wine and arranged for her to go to the bedroom to sleep.

"Tears." Queen Cersei snorted.

Queen Cersei raised her glass and took a big sip. Her cheeks were flushed, and there was a bright and fanatical look in her blue eyes looking down at the hall.

Her mother seemed to become more and more beautiful as she drank, and Princess Myrcella's eyes were almost fixed on her mother.

Queen Cersei's eyes moved slightly, she raised her lips and said, "My Myrcella, why do you keep looking at me?"

Princess Myrcella's cheeks were slightly red, and her eyes were shining brightly: "Mother, you are so charming."

Queen Cersei smiled, put down the wine glass, and said: "Myrcella, when I was young...my mother often said that tears are a woman's weapon, just like a man's sword. And your mother wants to tell you that a woman's beauty can Take control of men's swords and make them yours."

Princess Myrcella asked doubtfully: "A man's sword?"

Queen Cersei nodded, pointed to the women in the hall, and said: "Myrcella, the truth is cruel, but you are the daughter of a lioness, so I will tell the truth. If Magta falls, here is All women will be raped, not only the soldiers who have gone through crazy battles, but also the guards who are guarding us now."

"Mother..." Myrcella reached out and grabbed one of her mother's hands, her little hands were trembling.

Queen Cersei frowned. She was dissatisfied with her daughter's weakness. She added: "Myrcella, at least their noble status will provide them with protection, because every woman here is worth a large ransom... But on the street The women in the palace are treated roughly, as are the maids at the Red Keep."

After a pause, Cersei asked her daughter: "Myrcella, are you afraid of death?"

The corners of Myrcella's eyes turned red, but she resisted the urge to shed tears. She shook her head slightly and said, "Mother, if this is really the case, I would rather die."

Queen Cersei showed a look of satisfaction. She stretched out her hand and gently pushed Myrcella's golden curls away from her white neck. She said: "If King's Landing is attacked by Stannis, the pyromancer I arranged will instantly Ruin this place...with any luck, Stannis will be reduced to ashes with us."

"Mother……"

Myrcella's clear eyes were firm: "As long as you are here, I will not be afraid of death."

Queen Cersei lowered her head and kissed Myrcella's forehead: "Your mother will not give up easily, my little lioness."

(End of this chapter)