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Sansa

The walls of the throne roo Robert loved taken down and stacked in the corner in an untidy heap

Ser Mandon Moore went to take his place under the throne beside two of his fellows of the Kingsguard Sansa hovered by the door, for once unguarded The queen had given her freedoood, yet even so, she was escorted everywhere she went "Honor guards for hter-to-be," the queen called them, but they did not make Sansa feel honored

"Freedoo wherever she chose within the Red Keep so long as she proo beyond the walls, a proive She couldn’t have gone beyond the walls anyway The gates atched day and night by Janos Slynt’s gold cloaks, and Lannister house guards were always about as well Besides, even if she could leave the castle, where would she go? It was enough that she could walk in the yard, pick flowers in Myrcella’s garden, and visit the sept to pray for her father Soodswood as well, since the Starks kept the old gods

This was the first court session of Joffrey’s reign, so Sansa looked about nervously A line of Lannister house guards stood beneath the western s, a line of gold-cloaked City Watchmen beneath the east Of sallery a cluster of lords great and small milled restlessly There were no more than twenty, where a hundred had been accusto Robert

Sansa slipped in as as she worked her way toward the front She recognized black-skinned Jalabhar Xho, glooar, the Redwyne twins Horror and Slobberonly none of thenize her Or if they did, they shied away as if she had the grey plague Sickly Lord Gyles covered his face at her approach and feigned a fit of coughing, and when funny drunken Ser Dontos started to hail her, Ser Balon Shispered in his ear and he turned away

And so one? Sansa wondered Vainly, she searched for friendly faces Not one of thehost, dead before her time

Grand Maester Pycelle was seated alone at the council table, seeether atop his beard She saw Lord Varys hurry into the hall, his feet h the tall doors in the rear, s He chatted amiably with Ser Balon and Ser Dontos as he made his way to the front Butterflies fluttered nervously in Sansa’s stomach I shouldn’t be afraid, she told herself I have nothing to be afraid of, it will all come out well, Joff loves me and the queen does too, she said so

A herald’s voice rang out "All hail His Grace, Joffrey of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the First of his Na of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms All hail his lady ht of the West, and Protector of the Realm"

Ser Barristan Selmy, resplendent in white plate, led them in Ser Arys Oakheart escorted the queen, while Ser Boros Blount walked beside Joffrey, so six of the Kingsguard were now in the hall, all the White Swords save Jai now!--took the steps of the Iron Throne two at a time, while his mother was seated with the council Joff wore plush black velvets slashed with crih collar, and on his head a golden crown crusted with rubies and black diamonds

When Joffrey turned to look out over the hall, his eye caught Sansa’s He s’s duty to punish the disloyal and reward those who are true Grand Maester Pycelle, I command you to read my decrees"

Pycelle pushed hinificent robe of thick red velvet, with an er sleeve, heavy with gilded scrollwork, he drew a parch list of na and council to present the that, they would be adjudged traitors, their lands and titles forfeit to the throne

The names he read made Sansa hold her breath Lord Stannis Baratheon, his lady wife, his daughter Lord Renly Baratheon Both Lord Royces and their sons Ser Loras Tyrell Lord Mace Tyrell, his brothers, uncles, sons The red priest, Thoros of Myr Lord Beric Dondarrion Lady Lysa Arryn and her son, the little Lord Robert Lord Hoster Tully, his brother Ser Brynden, his son Ser Edmure Lord Jason Mallister Lord Bryce Caron of the Marches Lord Tytos Blackwood Lord Walder Frey and his heir Ser Stevron Lord Karyl Vance Lord Jonos Bracken Lady Sheila Whent Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, and all his sons So ht as Pycelle read on and on, it will take a whole flock of ravens to send out these commands

And at the end, near last, ca Lady Catelyn Stark Robb Stark Brandon Stark, Rickon Stark, Arya Stark Sansa stifled a gasp Arya They wanted Arya to present herself and swear an oathit alley, she must be safe at Winterfell by now

Grand Maester Pycelle rolled up the list, tucked it up his left sleeve, and pulled another parchht He cleared his throat and resumed "In the place of the traitor Eddard Stark, it is the wish of His Grace that Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, take up the office of Hand of the King, to speak with his voice, lead his arainst his ene has decreed The small council consents

"In the place of the traitor Stannis Baratheon, it is the wish of His Grace that his lady ent Cersei Lannister, who has ever been his staunchest support, be seated upon his small council, that shehas decreed The small council consents"

Sansa heard a softfrom the lords around her, but it was quickly stilled Pycelle continued

"It is also the wish of His Grace that his loyal servant, Janos Slynt, Co, be at once raised to the rank of lord and granted the ancient seat of Harrenhal with all its attendant lands and incorandsons shall hold these honors after him until the end of time It is moreover his command that Lord Slynt be seated iovernance of the real has decreed The slimpsed motion from the corner of her eye as Janos Slynt rier Proud lords whose houses went back thousands of years -faced commoner as he marched past Golden scales had been sewn onto the black velvet of his doublet and rang together softly with each step His cloak was checked black-and-gold satin Two ugly boys whowith the weight of a heavy il he had taken a bloody spear, gold on a night-black field The sight of it raised goose prickles up and down Sansa’s arms

As Lord Slynt took his place, Grand Maester Pycelle resumed "Lastly, in these times of treason and turmoil, with our beloved Robert so lately dead, it is the view of the council that the life and safety of King Joffrey is of paramount importance" He looked to the queen

Cersei stood "Ser Barristan Sel at the foot of the Iron Throne, as still as any statue, but noent to one knee and bowed his head "Your Grace, I am yours to command"

"Rise, Ser Barristan," Cersei Lannister said "You , the old knight took off his high white helh he did not seem to understand why

"You have served the realood ser, and every doms owes you thanks Yet now I fear your service is at an end It is the wish of king and council that you lay down your heavy burden"

"Myburden? I fear II do not"

The new-made lord, Janos Slynt, spoke up, his voice heavy and blunt "Her Grace is trying to tell you that you are relieved as Lord Couard"

The tall, white-haired knight see "Your Grace," he said at last "The Kingsguard is a Sworn Brotherhood Our vows are taken for life Only death may relieve the Lord Commander of his sacred trust"

"Whose death, Ser Barristan?" The queen’s voice was soft as silk, but her words carried the whole length of the hall "Yours, or your king’s?"

"You let ly from atop the Iron Throne "You’re too old to protect anybody"

Sansa watched as the knight peered up at his new king She had never seen him look his years before, yet now he did "Your Grace," he said "I was chosen for the White Swords in my twenty-third year It was all I had ever dreaave up all claiirl I was to wed married my cousin in my place, I had no need of land or sons, htower hithto give ht beside the White Bull and Prince Lewyn of Dornebeside Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning Before I served your father, I helped shield King Aerys, and his father Jaehaerys before his"

"And all of theer pointed out

"Your time is done," Cersei Lannister announced "Joffrey requiresThe council has determined that Ser Jaime Lannister will take your place as the Lord Commander of Sworn Brothers of the White Swords"

"The Kingslayer," Ser Barristan said, his voice hard with conteht who profaned his blade with the blood of the king he had sworn to defend"

"Have a care for your words, ser," the queen warned "You are speaking of our beloved brother, your king’s own blood"

Lord Varys spoke, gentler than the others "We are not unenerously agreed to grant you a handsoold and men sufficient to build you a stout keep, and servants to see to your every need"