grrm.astormofswords-第86节

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chamber；　shouting　ribald　suggestions　through　the　door。　The　bedding　had　seemed　wonderfully　wicked　and　exciting　when　Sansa　was　a　girl；　but　now　that　the　moment　was　upon　her　she　felt　only　dread。　She　did　not　think　she　could　bear　for　them　to　rip　off　her　clothes；　and　she　was　certain　she　would　burst　into　tears　at　the　first　randy　jape。
　When　the　musicians　began　to　play；　she　timidly　laid　her　hand　on　Tyrion's　and　said；　〃My　lord；　should　we　lead　the　dance？〃
　His　mouth　twisted。　〃I　think　we　have　already　given　them　sufficent　amusement　for　one　day；　don't　you？〃
　〃As　you　say；　my　lord。〃　She　pulled　her　hand　back。
　Joffrey　and　Margaery　led　in　their　place。　How　can　a　monster　dance　so　beautifully？　Sansa　wondered。　She　had　often　daydreamed　of　how　she　would　dance　at　her　wedding；　with　every　eye　upon　her　and　her　handsome　lord。　in　her　dreams　they　had　all　been　smiling。　Not　even　my　husband　is　smiling。
　Other　guests　soon　joined　the　king　and　his　betrothed　on　the　floor。　Elinor　danced　with　her　young　squire；　and　Megga　with　Prince　Tommen。　Lady　Merryweather；　the　Myrish　beauty　with　the　black　hair　and　the　big　dark　eyes；　spun　so　provocatively　that　every　man　in　the　hall　was　soon　watching　her。　Lord　and　Lady　Tyrell　moved　more　sedately。　Ser　Kevan　Lannister　begged　the　honor　of　Lady　Janna。　Fossoway；　Lord　Tyrell's　sister。　Merry　Crane　took　the　floor　with　the　exile　prince　Jalabhar　Xho；　gorgeous　in　his　feathered　finery。　Cersei　Lannister　partnered　first　Lord　Redwyne；　then　Lord　Rowan；　and　finally　her　own　father；　who　danced　with　smooth　unsmiling　grace。
　Sansa　sat　with　her　hands　in　her　lap；　watching　how　the　queen　moved　and　laughed　and　tossed　her　blonde　curls。　She　charms　them　all；　she　thought　dully。　How　I　hate　her。　She　looked　away；　to　where　Moon　Boy　danced　with　Dontos。
　〃Lady　Sansa。〃　Ser　Garlan　Tyrell　stood　beside　the　dais。　〃Would　you　honor　me？　If　your　lord　consents？〃
　The　Imp's　mismatched　eyes　narrowed。　〃My　lady　can　dance　with　whomever　she　pleases。〃
　Perhaps　she　ought　to　have　remained　beside　her　husband；　but　she　wanted　to　dance　so　badly　。　。　。　and　Ser　Garlan　was　brother　to　Margaery；　to　Willas；　to　her　Knight　of　Flowers。　〃I　see　why　they　name　you　Garlan　the　Gallant；　ser；〃　she　said；　as　she　took　his　hand。
　〃My　lady　is　gracious　to　say　so。　My　brother　Willas　gave　me　that　name；　as　it　happens。　To　protect　me。〃
　〃To　protect　you？〃　She　gave　him　a　puzzled　look。
　Ser　Garlan　laughed。　〃I　was　a　plump　little　boy；　I　fear；　and　we　do　have　an　uncle　called　Garth　the　Gross。　So　Willas　struck　first；　though　not　before　threatening　me　with　Garlan　the　Greensick；　Garlan　the　Galling；　and　Garlan　the　Gargoyle。〃
　It　was　so　sweet　and　silly　that　Sansa　had　to　laugh；　despite　everything。　Afterward　she　was　absurdly　grateful。　Somehow　the　laughter　made　her　hopeful　again；　if　only　for　a　little　while。　Smiling；　she　let　the　music　take　her；　losing　herself　in　the　steps；　in　the　sound　of　flute　and　pipes　and　harp；　in　the　rhythm　of　the　drum　。　。　。　and　from　time　to　time　in　Ser　Garlan's　arms；　when　the　dance　brought　them　together。　〃My　lady　wife　is　most　concerned　for　you；〃　he　said　quietly；　one　such　time。
　〃Lady　Leonette　is　too　sweet。　Tell　her　I　am　well。〃
　〃A　bride　at　her　wedding　should　be　more　than　well。〃　His　voice　was　not　unkind。　〃You　seemed　close　to　tears。〃
　〃Tears　of　joy；　ser。〃
　〃Your　eyes　give　the　lie　to　your　tongue。〃　Ser　Garlan　turned　her；　drew　her　close　to　his　side。　〃My　lady；　I　have　seen　how　you　look　at　my　brother。　Loras　is　valiant　and　handsome；　and　we　all　love　him　dearly　。　。　。　but　your　Imp　will　make　a　better　husband。　He　is　a　bigger　man　than　he　seems；　I　think。〃
　The　music　spun　them　apart　before　Sansa　could　think　of　a　reply。　It　was　Mace　Tyrell　opposite　her；　red…faced　and　sweaty；　and　then　Lord　Merryweather；　and　then　Prince　Tommen。　〃I　want　to　be　married　too；〃　said　the　plump　little　princeling；　who　was　all　of　nine。　〃I'm　taller　than　my　uncle！〃
　〃I　know　you　are；〃　said　Sansa；　before　the　partners　changed　again。　Ser　Kevan　told　her　she　was　beautiful；　Jalabhar　Xho　said　something　she　did　not　understand　in　the　Summer　Tongue；　and　Lord　Redwyne　wished　her　many　fat　children　and　long　years　of　joy。　And　then　the　dance　brought　her　face…to…face　with　Joffrey。
　Sansa　stiffened　as　his　hand　touched　hers；　but　the　king　tightened　his　grip　and　drew　her　closer。　〃You　shouldn't　look　so　sad。　My　uncle　is　an　ugly　little　thing；　but　you'll　still　have　me。〃
　〃You're　to　marry　Margaery！〃
　〃A　king　can　have　other　women。　Whores。　My　father　did。　One　of　the　Aegons　did　too。　The　third　one；　or　the　fourth。　He　had　lots　of　whores　and　lots　of　bastards。〃　As　they　whirled　to　the　music；　Joff　gave　her　a　moist　kiss。　〃My　uncle　will　bring　you　to　my　bed　whenever　I　mand　it。〃
　Sansa　shook　her　head。　〃He　won't。〃
　〃He　will；　or　I'll　have　his　head。　That　King　Aegon；　he　had　any　woman　he　wanted；　whether　they　were　married　or　no。〃
　Thankfully；　it　was　time　to　change　again。　Her　legs　had　turned　to　wood；　though；　and　Lord　Rowan；　Ser　Tallad；　and　Elinor's　squire　all　must　have　thought　her　a　very　clumsy　dancer。　And　then　she　was　back　with　Ser　Garlan　once　more；　and　soon；　blessedly；　the　dance　was　over。
　Her　relief　was　short…lived。　No　sooner　had　the　music　died　than　she　heard　Joffrey　say；　〃It's　time　to　bed　them！　Let's　get　the　clothes　off　her；　and　have　a　look　at　what　the　she…wolf's　got　to　give　my　uncle！〃　Other　men　took　up　the　cry；　loudly。
　Her　dwarf　husband　lifted　his　eyes　slowly　from　his　wine　cup。　〃I'll　have　no　bedding。〃
　Joffrey　seized　Sansa's　arm。　〃You　will　if　I　mand　it。〃
　The　Imp　slammed　his　dagger　down　in　the　table；　where　it　stood　quivering。　〃Then　you'll　service　your　own　bride　with　a　wooden　prick。　I'll　geld　you；　I　swear　it。〃
　A　shocked　silence　fell。　Sansa　pulled　away　from　Joffrey；　but　he　had　a　grip　on　her；　and　her　sleeve　ripped。　No　one　even　seemed　to　hear。　Queen　Cersei　turned　to　her　father。　〃Did　you　hear　him？〃
　Lord　Tywin　rose　from　his　seat。　〃I　believe　we　can　dispense　with　the　bedding。　Tyrion；　I　am　certain　you　did　not　mean　to　threaten　the　king's　royal　person。〃
　Sansa　saw　a　spasm　of　rage　pass　across　her　husband's　face。　〃I　misspoke；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　a　bad　jape；　sire。〃
　〃You　threatened　to　geld　me！〃　Joffrey　said　shrilly。
　〃I　did；　Your　Grace；〃　said　Tyrion；　〃but　only　because　I　envied　your　royal　manhood。　Mine　own　is　so　small　and　stunted。〃　His　face　twisted　into　a　leer。　〃And　if　you　take　my　tongue；　you　will　leave　me　no　way　at　all　to　pleasure　this　sweet　wife　you　gave　me。〃
　Laughter　burst　from　the　lips　of　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack。　Someone　else　sniggered。　But　Joff　did　not　laugh；　nor　Lord　Tywin。　〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said；　〃my　son　is　drunk；　you　can　see　that。〃
　〃I　am；〃　the　Imp　confessed；　〃but　not　so　drunk　that　I　cannot　attend　to　my　own　bedding。〃　He　hopped　down　from　the　dais　and　grabbed　Sansa　roughly。　〃e；　wife；　time　to　smash　your　portcullis。　I　want　to　play　e…into…the…castle。〃
　Red…faced；　Sansa　went　with　him　from　the　Small　Hall。　What　choice　do　I　have？　Tyrion　waddled　when　he　walked；　especially　when　he　walked　as　quickly　as　he　did　now。　The　gods　were　merciful；　and　neither　Joffrey　nor　any　of　the　others　moved　to　follow。
　For　their　wedding　night；　they　had　been　granted　the　use　of　an　airy　bedchamber　high　in　the　Tower　of　the　Hand。　Tyrion　kicked　the　door　shut　behind　them。　〃There　is　a　flagon　of　good　Arbor　gold　on　the　sideboard；　Sansa。　Will　you　be　so　kind　as　to　pour　me　a　cup？〃
　〃Is　that　wise；　my　lord？〃
　〃Nothing　was　ever　wiser。　I　am　not　truly　drunk；　you　see。　But　I　mean　to　be。〃
　Sansa　filled　a　goblet　for　each　of　them。　It　will　be　easier　if　I　am　drunk　as　well。　She　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　great　curtained　bed　and　drained　half　her　cup　in　three　long　swallows。　No　doubt　it　was　very　flne　wine；　but　she　was　too　nervous　to　taste　it。　It　made　her　head　swim。　〃Would　you　have　me　undress；　my　lord？〃
　〃Tyrion。〃　He　cocked　his　head。　〃My　name　is　Tyrion；　Sansa。〃
　〃Tyrion。　My　lord。　Should　I　take　off　my　gown；　or　do　you　want　to　undress　me？〃　She　took　another　swallow　of　wine。
　The　imp　turned　away　from　her。　〃The　first　time　I　wed；　there　was　us　and　a　drunken　septon；　and　some　pigs　to　bear　witness。　We　ate　one　of　our　witnesses　at　our　wedding　feast。　Tysha　fed　me　crackling　and　I　licked　the　grease　off　her　fingers；　and　we　were　laughing　when　we　fell　into　bed。〃
　〃You　were　wed　before？　I　。　。　。　I　had　forgotten。〃
　〃You　did　not　forget。　You　never　knew。〃
　〃Who　was　she；　my　lord？〃　Sansa　was　curious　despite　herself。
　〃Lady　Tysha。〃　His　mouth　twisted。　〃Of　House　Silverfist。　Their　arms　have　one　gold　coin　and　a　hundred　silver；　upon　a　bloody　sheet。　Ours　was　a　very　short　marriage　。　。　。　as　befits　a　very　short　man；　I　suppose。〃
　Sansa　stared　down　at　her　hands　and　said　nothing。
　〃How　old　are　you；　Sansa？〃　asked　Tyrion；　after　a　moment。
　〃Thirteen；〃　she　said；　〃when　the　moon　turns。〃
　〃Gods　have　mercy。〃　The　dwarf　took　another　swallow　of　wine。　〃Well；　talk　won't　make　you　older。　Shall　we　get　on　with　this；　my　lady？　if　it　please　you？〃
　〃It　will　please　me　to　please　my　lord　husband。〃
　That　seemed　to　anger　him。　〃You　hide　behind　courtesy　as　if　it　were　a　castle　wall。〃
　〃Courtesy　is　a　lady's　armor；〃　Sansa　said。　Her　septa　had　always　told　her　that。
　〃I　am　your　husband。　You　can　take　off　your　armor　now。〃
　〃And　my　clothing？〃
　〃That　too。〃　He　waved　his　wine　cup　at　her。　〃My　lord　father　has　manded　me　to　consummate　this　marriage。〃
　Her　hands　trembled　as　she　began　fumbling　at　her　clothes。　She　had　ten　thumbs　instead　of　fingers；　and　all　of　them