grrm.astormofswords-第201章

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ts　would　soon　be　pouring　into　the　throne　room；　full　of　anticipation；　this　would　be　an　evening　of　song　and　splendor；　designed　not　only　to　unite　Highgarden　and　Casterly　Rock　but　to　trumpet　their　power　and　wealth　as　a　lesson　to　any　who　might　still　think　to　oppose　Joffrey's　rule。
　But　who　would　be　mad　enough　to　contest　Joffrey's　rule　now；　after　what　had　befallen　Stannis　Baratheon　and　Robb　Stark？　There　was　still　fighting　in　the　riverlands；　but　everywhere　the　coils　were　tightening。　Ser　Gregor　Clegane　had　crossed　the　Trident　and　seized　the　ruby　ford；　then　captured　Harrenhal　almost　effortlessly。　Seagard　had　yielded　to　Black　Walder　Frey；　Lord　Randyll　Tarly　held　Maidenpool；　Duskendale；　and　the　kingsroad。　In　the　west；　Ser　Daven　Lannister　had　linked　up　with　Ser　Forley　Prester　at　the　Golden　Tooth　for　a　march　on　Riverrun。　Ser　Ryman　Frey　was　leading　two　thousand　spears　down　from　the　Twins　to　join　them。　And　Paxter　Redwyne　claimed　his　fleet　would　soon　set　sail　from　the　Arbor；　to　begin　the　long　voyage　around　Dome　and　through　the　Stepstones。　Stannis's　Lyseni　pirates　would　be　outnumbered　ten　to　one。　The　struggle　that　the　maesters　were　calling　the　War　of　the　Five　Kings　was　all　but　at　an　end。　Mace　Tyrell　had　been　heard　plaining　that　Lord　Tywin　had　left　no　victories　for　him。
　〃My　lord？〃　Pod　was　at　his　side。　〃Will　you　be　changing？　I　laid　out　the　doublet。　On　your　bed。　For　the　feast。〃
　〃Feast？〃　said　Tyrion　sourly。　〃What　feast？〃
　〃The　wedding　feast。〃　Pod　missed　the　sarcasm；　of　course。　〃King　Joffrey　and　Lady　Margaery。　Queen　Margaery；　I　mean。〃
　Tyrion　resolved　to　get　very；　very　drunk　tonight。　〃Very　well；　young　Podrick；　let　us　go　make　me　festive。〃
　Shae　was　helping　Sansa　with　her　hair　when　they　entered　the　bedchamber。　Joy　and　grief；　he　thought　when　he　beheld　them　there　together。　Laughter　and　tears。　Sansa　wore　a　gown　of　silvery　satin　trimmed　in　vair；　with　dagged　sleeves　that　almost　touched　the　floor；　lined　in　soft　purple　felt。　Shae　had　arranged　her　hair　artfully　in　a　delicate　silver　net　winking　with　dark　purple　gemstones。　Tyrion　had　never　seen　her　look　more　lovely；　yet　she　wore　sorrow　on　those　long　satin　sleeves。　〃Lady　Sansa；〃　he　told　her；　〃you　shall　be　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　hall　tonight。〃
　〃My　lord　is　too　kind。〃
　〃My　lady；〃　said　Shae　wistfully。　〃Couldn't　I　e　serve　at　table？　I　so　want　to　see　the　pigeons　fly　out　of　the　pie。〃
　Sansa　looked　at　her　uncertainly。　〃The　queen　has　chosen　all　the　servers。〃
　〃And　the　hall　will　be　too　crowded。〃　Tyrion　had　to　bite　back　his　annoyance。　〃There　will　be　musicians　strolling　all　through　the　castle；　though；　and　tables　in　the　outer　ward　with　food　and　drink　for　all。〃　He　inspected　his　new　doublet；　crimson　velvet　with　padded　shoulders　and　puffed　sleeves　slashed　to　show　the　black　satin　underlining。　A　handsome　garment。　All　it　wants　is　a　handsome　man　to　wear　it。　〃e；　Pod；　help　me　into　this。〃
　He　had　another　cup　of　wine　as　he　dressed；　then　took　his　wife　by　the　arm　and　escorted　her　from　the　Kitchen　Keep　to　join　the　river　of　silk；　satin；　and　velvet　flowing　toward　the　throne　room。　Some　guests　had　gone　inside　to　find　their　places　on　the　benches。　Others　were　milling　in　front　of　the　doors；　enjoying　the　unseasonable　warmth　of　the　afternoon。　Tyrion　led　Sansa　around　the　yard；　to　perform　the　necessary　courtesies。
　She　is　good　at　this；　he　thought；　as　he　watched　her　tell　Lord　Gyles　that　his　cough　was　sounding　better；　pliment　Elinor　Tyrell　on　her　gown；　and　question　Jalabhar　Xho　about　wedding　customs　in　the　Summer　Isles。　His　cousin　Ser　Lancel　had　been　brought　down　by　Ser　Kevan；　the　first　time　he'd　left　his　sickbed　since　the　battle。　He　looks　ghastly。　Lancel's　hair　had　turned　white　and　brittle；　and　he　was　thin　as　a　stick。　Without　his　father　beside　him　holding　him　up；　he　would　surely　have　collapsed。　Yet　when　Sansa　praised　his　valor　and　said　how　good　it　was　to　see　him　getting　strong　again；　both　Lancel　and　Ser　Kevan　beamed。　She　would　have　made　Joffrey　a　good　queen　and　a　better　wife　if　he'd　had　the　sense　to　love　her。　He　wondered　if　his　nephew　was　capable　of　loving　anyone。
　〃You　do　look　quite　exquisite；　child；〃　Lady　Olenna　Tyrell　told　Sansa　when　she　tottered　up　to　them　in　a　cloth…of…gold　gown　that　must　have　weighed　more　than　she　did。　〃The　wind　has　been　at　your　hair；　though。〃　The　little　old　woman　reached　up　and　fussed　at　the　loose　strands；　tucking　them　back　into　place　and　straightening　Sansa's　hair　net。　〃I　was　very　sorry　to　hear　about　your　losses；〃　she　said　as　she　tugged　and　fiddled。　〃Your　brother　was　a　terrible　traitor；　I　know；　but　if　we　start　killing　men　at　weddings　they'll　be　even　more　frightened　of　marriage　than　they　are　presently。　There；　that's　better。〃　Lady　Olenna　smiled。　〃I　am　pleased　to　say　I　shall　be　leaving　for　Highgarden　the　day　after　next。　I　have　had　quite　enough　of　this　smelly　city；　thank　you。　Perhaps　you　would　like　to　acpany　me　for　a　little　visit；　whilst　the　men　are　off　having　their　war？　I　shall　miss　my　Margaery　so　dreadfully；　and　all　her　lovely　ladies。　Your　pany　would　be　such　sweet　solace。〃
　〃You　are　too　kind；　my　lady；〃　said　Sansa；　〃but　my　place　is　with　my　lord　husband。〃
　Lady　Olenna　gave　Tyrion　a　wrinkled；　toothless　smile。　〃Oh？　Forgive　a　silly　old　woman；　my　lord；　I　did　not　mean　to　steal　your　lovely　wife。　I　assumed　you　would　be　off　leading　a　Lannister　host　against　some　wicked　foe。〃
　〃A　host　of　dragons　and　stags。　The　master　of　coin　must　remain　at　court　to　see　that　all　the　armies　are　paid　for。〃
　〃To　be　sure。　Dragons　and　stags；　that's　very　clever。　And　dwarf's　pennies　as　well。　I　have　heard　of　these　dwarf's　pennies。　No　doubt　collecting　those　is　such　a　dreadful　chore。〃
　〃I　leave　the　collecting　to　others；　my　lady。〃
　〃Oh；　do　you？　I　would　have　thought　you　might　want　to　tend　to　it　yourself。　We　can't　have　the　crown　being　cheated　of　its　dwarf's　pennies；　now。　Can　we？〃
　〃Gods　forbid。〃　Tyrion　was　beginning　to　wonder　whether　Lord　Luthor　Tyrell　had　ridden　off　that　cliff　intentionally。　〃If　you　will　excuse　us；　Lady　Olenna；　it　is　time　we　were　in　our　places。〃
　〃Myself　as　well。　Seventy…seven　courses；　I　daresay。　Don't　you　find　that　a　bit　excessive；　my　lord？　I　shan't　eat　more　than　three　or　four　bites　myself；　but　you　and　I　are　very　little；　aren't　we？〃　She　patted　Sansa's　hair　again　and　said；　〃Well；　off　with　you；　child；　and　try　to　be　merrier。　Now　where　have　my　guardsmen　gone？　Left；　Right；　where　are　you？　e　help　me　to　the　dais。〃
　Although　evenfall　was　still　an　hour　away；　the　throne　room　was　already　a　blaze　of　light；　with　torches　burning　in　every　sconce。　The　guests　stood　along　the　tables　as　heralds　called　out　the　names　and　titles　of　the　lords　and　ladies　making　their　entrance。　Pages　in　the　royal　livery　escorted　them　down　the　broad　central　aisle。　The　gallery　above　was　packed　with　musicians；　drummers　and　pipers　and　fiddlers；　strings　and　horns　and　skins。
　Tyrion　clutched　Sansa's　arm　and　made　the　walk　with　a　heavy　waddling　stride。　He　could　feel　their　eyes　on　him；　picking　at　the　fresh　new　sear　that　had　left　him　even　uglier　than　he　had　been　before。　Let　them　look；　he　thought　as　he　hopped　up　onto　his　seat。　Let　them　stare　and　whisper　until　they've　had　their　fill；　I　will　not　hide　myself　for　their　sake。　The　Queen　of　Thorns　followed　them　in；　shuffling　along　with　tiny　little　steps。　Tyrion　wondered　which　of　them　looked　more　absurd；　him　with　Sansa　or　the　wizened　little　woman　between　her　seven…foot…tall　twin　guardsmen。
　Joffrey　and　Margaery　rode　into　the　throne　room　on　matched　white　chargers。　Pages　ran　before　them；　scattering　rose　petals　under　their　hooves。　The　king　and　queen　had　changed　for　the　feast　as　well。　Joffrey　wore　striped　black…and…crimson　breeches　and　a　cloth…of…gold　doublet　with　black　satin　sleeves　and　onyx　studs。　Margaery　had　exchanged　the　demure　gown　that　she　had　worn　in　the　sept　for　one　much　more　revealing；　a　confection　in　pale　green　samite　with　a　tight…laced　bodice　that　bared　her　shoulders　and　the　tops　of　her　small　breasts。　Unbound；　her　soft　brown　hair　tumbled　over　her　white　shoulders　and　down　her　back　almost　to　her　waist。　Around　her　brows　was　a　slim　golden　crown。　Her　smile　was　shy　and　sweet。　A　lovely　girl；　thought　Tyrion；　and　a　kinder　fate　than　my　nephew　deserves。
　The　Kingsguard。　escorted　them　onto　the　dais；　to　the　seats　of　honor　beneath　the　shadow　of　the　Iron　Throne；　draped　for　the　occasion　in　long　silk　streamers　of　Bara