grrm.astormofswords-第85节

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。〃　I'm　to　marry　Willas；　I'm　to　be　the　lady　of　Highgarden；　please　。　。　。
　〃I　understand　your　reluctance。　Cry　if　you　must。　In　your　place；　I　would　likely　rip　my　hair　out。　He's　a　loathsome　little　imp；　no　doubt　of　it；　but　marry　him　you　shall。〃
　〃You　can't　make　me。〃
　〃Of　course　we　can。　You　may　e　along　quietly　and　say　your　vows　as　befits　a　lady；　or　you　may　struggle　and　scream　and　make　a　spectacle　for　the　stableboys　to　titter　over；　but　you　will　end　up　wedded　and　bedded　all　the　same。〃　The　queen　opened　the　door。　Ser　Meryn　Trant　and　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack　were　waiting　without；　in　the　white　scale　armor　of　the　Kingsguard。　〃Escort　Lady　Sansa　to　the　sept；〃　she　told　them。　〃Carry　her　if　you　must；　but　try　not　to　tear　the　gown；　it　was　very　costly…〃
　Sansa　tried　to　run；　but　Cersei's　handmaid　caught　her　before　she'd　gone　a　yard。　Ser　Meryn　Trant　gave　her　a　look　that　made　her　cringe；　but　Kettleblack　touched　her　almost　gently　and　said；　〃Do　as　you're　told；　sweetling；　it　won't　be　so　bad。　Wolves　are　supposed　to　be　brave；　aren't　they？〃
　Brave。　Sansa　took　a　deep　breath。　I　am　a　Stark；　yes；　I　can　be　brave。　They　were　all　looking　at　her；　the　way　they　had　looked　at　her　that　day　in　the　yard　when　Ser　Boros　Blount　had　torn　her　clothes　off。　It　had　been　the　Imp　who　saved　her　from　a　beating　that　day；　the　same　man　who　was　waiting　for　her　now。　He　is　not　so　bad　as　the　rest　of　them；　she　told　herself。　〃I'll　go。〃
　Cersei　smiled。　〃I　knew　you　would。〃
　Afterward；　she　could　not　remember　leaving　the　room　or　descending　the　steps　or　crossing　the　yard。　It　seemed　to　take　all　her　attention　just　to　put　one　foot　down　in　front　of　the　other。　Ser　Meryn　and　Ser　Osmund　walked　beside　her；　in　cloaks　as　pale　as　her　own；　lacking　only　the　pearls　and　the　direwolf　that　had　been　her　father's。　Joffrey　himself　was　waiting　for　her　on　the　steps　of　the　castle　sept。　The　king　was　resplendent　in　crimson　and　gold；　his　crown　on　his　head。　〃I'm　your　father　today；〃　he　announced。
　〃You're　not；〃　she　flared。　〃You'll　never　be。〃
　His　face　darkened。　〃I　am。　I'm　your　father；　and　I　can　marry　you　to　whoever　I　like。　To　anyone。　You'll　marry　the　pig　boy　if　I　say　so；　and　bed　down　with　him　in　the　sty。〃　His　green　eyes　glittered　with　amusement。　〃Or　maybe　I　should　give　you　to　Ilyn　Payne；　would　you　like　him　better？〃
　Her　heart　lurched。　〃Please；　Your　Grace；〃　she　begged。　〃If　you　ever　loved　me　even　a　little　bit；　don't　make　me　marry　your　uncle？〃　Tyrion　Lannister　stepped　through　the　doors　of　the　sept。　〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said　to　Joffrey。　〃Grant　me　a　moment　alone　with　Lady　Sansa；　if　you　would　be　so　kind？〃
　The　king　was　about　to　refuse；　but　his　mother　gave　him　a　sharp　look。　They　drew　off　a　few　feet。
　Tyrion　wore　a　doublet　of　black　velvet　covered　with　golden　scrollwork；　thigh…high　boots　that　added　three　inches　to　his　height；　a　chain　of　rubies　and　lions'　heads。　But　the　gash　across　his　face　was　raw　and　red；　and　his　nose　was　a　hideous　scab。　〃You　are　very　beautiful；　Sansa；〃　he　told　her。
　〃It　is　good　of　you　to　say　so；　my　lord。〃　She　did　not　know　what　else　to　say。　Should　I　tell　him　he　is　handsome？　He'll　think　me　a　fool　or　a　liar。　She　lowered　her　gaze　and　held　her　tongue。
　〃My　lady；　this　is　no　way　to　bring　you　to　your　wedding。　I　am　sorry　for　that。　And　for　making　this　so　sudden；　and　so　secret。　My　lord　father　felt　it　necessary；　for　reasons　of　state。　Else　I　would　have　e　to　you　sooner；　as　I　wished。〃　He　waddled　closer。　〃You　did　not　ask　for　this　marriage；　I　know。　No　more　than　I　did。　if　I　had　refused　you；　however；　they　would　have　wed　you　to　my　cousin　Lancel。　Perhaps　you　would　prefer　that。　He　is　nearer　your　age；　and　fairer　to　look　upon。　If　that　is　your　wish；　say　so；　and　I　will　end　this　farce。〃
　I　don't　want　any　Lannister；　she　wanted　to　say。　I　want　Willas；　I　want　Highgarden　and　the　puppies　and　the　barge；　and　sons　named　Eddard　and　Bran　and　Rickon。　But　then　she　remembered　what　Dontos　had　told　her　in　the　godswood。　Tyrell　or　Lannister；　it　makes　no　matter；　it's　not　me　they　want；　only　my　claim。　〃You　are　kind；　my　lord；〃　she　said；　defeated。　〃I　am　a　ward　of　the　throne　and　my　duty　is　to　marry　as　the　king　mands。〃
　He　studied　her　with　his　mismatched　eyes。　〃I　know　I　am　not　the　sort　of　husband　young　girls　dream　of；　Sansa；〃　he　said　softly；　〃but　neither　am　I　Joffrey。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃You　were　kind　to　me。　I　remember。〃
　Tyrion　offered　her　a　thick；　blunt…fingered　hand。　〃e；　then。　Let　us　do　our　duty。〃
　So　she　put　her　hand　in　his；　and　he　led　her　to　the　marriage　altar；　where　the　septon　waited　between　the　Mother　and　the　Father　to　join　their　lives　together。　She　saw　Dontos　in　his　fool's　motley；　looking　at　her　with　big　round　eyes。　Ser　Balon　Swann　and　Ser　Boros　Blount　were　there　in　Kingsguard　white；　but　not　Ser　Loras。　None　of　the　Tyrells　are　here；　she　realized　suddenly。　But　there　were　other　witnesses　aplenty；　the　eunuch　Varys；　Ser　Addarn　Marbrand；　Lord　Philip　Foote；　Ser　Bronn；　Jalabhar　Xho；　a　dozen　others。　Lord　Gyles　was　coughing；　Lady　Ermesande　was　at　the　breast；　and　Lady　Tanda's　pregnant　daughter　was　sobbing　for　no　apparent　reason。　Let　her　sob；　Sansa　thought。　Perhaps　I　shall　do　the　same　before　this　day　is　done。
　The　ceremony　passed　as　in　a　dream。　Sansa　did　all　that　was　required　of　her。　There　were　prayers　and　vows　and　singing；　and　tall　candles　burning；　a　hundred　dancing　lights　that　the　tears　in　her　eyes　transformed　into　a　thousand。　Thankfully　no　one　seemed　to　notice　that　she　was　crying　as　she　stood　there；　wrapped　in　her　father's　colors；　or　if　they　did；　they　pretended　not　to。　In　what　seemed　no　time　at　all；　they　came　to　the　changing　of　the　cloaks。
　As　father　of　the　realm；　Joffrey　took　the　place　of　Lord　Eddard　Stark。　Sansa　stood　stiff　as　a　lance　as　his　hands　came　over　her　shoulders　to　fumble　with　the　clasp　of　her　cloak。　One　of　them　brushed　her　breast　and　lingered　to　give　it　a　little　squeeze。　Then　the　clasp　opened；　and　Joff　swept　her　maiden's　cloak　away　with　a　kingly　flourish　and　a　grin。
　His　uncle's　part　went　less　well。　The　bride's　cloak　he　held　was　huge　and　heavy；　crimson　velvet　richly　worked　with　lions　and　bordered　with　gold　satin　and　rubies。　No　one　had　thought　to　bring　a　stool；　however；　and　Tyrion　stood　a　foot　and　a　half　shorter　than　his　bride。　As　he　moved　behind　her；　Sansa　felt　a　sharp　tug　on　her　skirt。　He　wants　me　to　kneel；　she　realized；　blushing。　She　was　mortified。　It　was　not　supposed　to　be　this　way。　She　had　dreamed　of　her　wedding　a　thousand　times；　and　always　she　had　pictured　how　her　betrothed　would　stand　behind　her　tall　and　strong；　sweep　the　cloak　of　his　protection　over　her　shoulders；　and　tenderly　kiss　her　cheek　as　he　leaned　forward　to　fasten　the　clasp。
　She　felt　another　tug　at　her　skirt；　more　insistent。　I　won't。　Why　should　I　spare　his　feelings；　when　no　one　cares　about　mine？
　The　dwarf　tugged　at　her　a　third　time。　Stubbornly　she　pressed　her　lips　together　and　pretended　not　to　notice。　Someone　behind　them　tittered。　The　queen；　she　thought；　but　it　didn't　matter。　They　were　all　laughing　by　then；　Joffrey　the　loudest。　〃Dontos；　down　on　your　hands　and　knees；〃　the　king　manded。　〃My　uncle　needs　a　boost　to　climb　his　bride。〃
　And　so　it　was　that　her　lord　husband　cloaked　her　in　the　colors　of　House　Lannister　whilst　standing　on　the　back　of　a　fool。
　When　Sansa　turned；　the　little　man　was　gazing　up　at　her；　his　mouth　tight；　his　face　as　red　as　her　cloak。　Suddenly　she　was　ashamed　of　her　stubbornness。　She　smoothed　her　skirts　and　knelt　in　front　of　him；　so　their　heads　were　on　the　same　level。　〃With　this　kiss　I　pledge　my　love；　and　take　you　for　my　lord　and　husband。〃
　〃With　this　kiss　I　pledge　my　love；〃　the　dwarf　replied　hoarsely；　〃and　take　you　for　my　lady　and　wife。〃　He　leaned　forward；　and　their　lips　touched　briefly。
　He　is　so　ugly；　Sansa　thought　when　his　face　was　close　to　hers。　He　is　even　uglier　than　the　Hound。
　The　septon　raised　his　crystal　high；　so　the　rainbow　light　fell　down　upon　them。　〃Here　in　the　sight　of　gods　and　men；〃　he　said；　〃I　do　solemnly　proclaim　Tyrion　of　House　Lannister　and　Sansa　of　House　Stark　to　be　man　and　wife；　one　flesh；　one　heart；　one　soul；　now　and　forever；　and　cursed　be　the　one　who　es　between　them。〃
　She　had　to　bite　her　lip　to　keep　from　sobbing。
　The　wedding　feast　was　held　in　the　Small　Hall。　There　were　perhaps　fifty　guests；　Lannister　retainers　and　allies　for　the　most　part；　joining　those　who　had　been　at　the　wedding。　And　here　Sansa　found　the　Tyrells。　Margaery　gave　her　such　a　sad　look；　and　when　the　Queen　of　Thoms　tottered　in　between　Left　and　Right；　she　never　looked　at　her　at　all。　Elinor；　Alla；　and　Megga　seemed　determined　not　to　know　her。　My　friends；　Sansa　thought　bitterly。
　Her　husband　drank　heavily　and　ate　but　little。　He　listened　whenever　someone　rose　to　make　a　toast　and　sometimes　nodded　a　curt　acknowledgment；　but　otherwise　his　face　might　have　been　made　of　stone。　The　feast　seemed　to　go　on　forever；　though　Sansa　tasted　none　of　the　food。　She　wanted　it　to　be　done；　and　yet　she　dreaded　its　end。　For　after　the　feast　would　e　the　bedding。　The　men　would　carry　her　up　to　her　wedding　bed；　undressing　her　on　the　way　and　making　rude　jokes　about　the　fate　that　awaited　her　between　the　sheets；　while　the　women　did　Tyrion　the　same　honors。　Only　after　they　had　been　bundled　naked　into　bed　would　they　be　left　alone；　and　even　then　the　guests　would　stand　outside　the　bridal　chamber；　shouting　ribald　suggestions　through　the　door。　The　bedding　had　seemed　wonderfully　wicked　and