chapter 165 part 2
He had lost this game of thrones. His men had paid the price for his foolishness with their blood and their lives.
"In the game of thrones, you win or you die."
He could still faintly hear Cersei's mocking voice. Lord Eddard's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as if an irresistible weight was pressing down on them.
*My children...* Lord Eddard's dry lips trembled slightly, and he once again fell into a stupor.
...
...
Maegor's Holdfast, the small hall.
Seeing that Glynn had no intention of making things difficult for him, and remembering their past friendship, Lancel's anxious heart gradually calmed. Before Cersei, Lancel recovered his brave image.
Queen Cersei stood by the window. Behind her were Glynn and Lancel, with two Kingsguard standing guard in the distance.
Glynn glanced at Lancel, who was lost in his game of playing the knight, then lowered his gaze and stood motionless.
...
After a long while, Queen Cersei's voice broke the silence.
"You've heard, I suppose. Janos Slynt is dead..."
As she spoke, Queen Cersei turned around, her green eyes fixed on Glynn.
Glynn's eyes flickered. He said respectfully, "Queen Cersei, Lord Slynt failed to live up to your trust."
A hint of satisfaction appeared on Queen Cersei's face.
"Lord Glynn, why do you say that?"
"You had already planned everything. If not for his recklessness, he would be awaiting your reward right now and helping you win the loyalty of the Gold Cloaks."
Queen Cersei was slightly taken aback, but she quickly recovered her normal expression.
Queen Cersei walked up to Glynn and said, "Glynn, so will you satisfy me?"
Glynn placed a hand over his chest, his voice carrying a slight tremor. "Your Grace, I am loyal only to you."
Seeing the queen's favor toward Glynn, Lancel was intensely jealous. Hearing their exchange, he thought Glynn a great fool. The queen was clearly asking if he could satisfy her, yet he could only profess his loyalty.
Before Lancel could finish feeling smug, what he heard next left him stunned.
...
After hearing Glynn's reply, Queen Cersei lifted her chin slightly, the corners of her lips curling up.
"Lord Glynn, as of today, you are the Commander of the City Watch—the Gold Cloaks."
Glynn dropped to one knee, suppressing his excitement. "Your Grace, House crabbe will forever remember your kindness."
Lancel stared at the scene in disbelief, his open mouth temporarily forgotten.
Queen Cersei turned, walked to the table in the small hall, and sat down. She pulled out a blank sheet of parchment.
"Rise."
Cersei picked up a quill, dipped it in ink, and began to write. "Lord Glynn," she said as she wrote, "are your men sufficient?"
After rising, Glynn gave a slight nod in Cersei's direction. "Your Grace, in ten days at most, you will command eight thousand swords."
*Scratch, scratch, scratch.* The quill danced, and Queen Cersei said no more.
...
When the order appointing Glynn as Commander of the Gold Cloaks was finished, Queen Cersei signed at the bottom: *Protector of the Realm, Queen Regent, Cersei of House Lannister*.
...
...
The next day, in the council chambers of Maegor's Holdfast.
The long table in the hall was piled with papers and candles. Queen Cersei sat at the head, with Sansa standing by her side. Grand Maester Pycelle and the Master of Whisperers, Varys, were seated on either side.
Cersei's tone was laced with pity. "Sansa, this is what we found on a Stark guard. The recipient of the letter was my late husband's brother, Stannis Baratheon. In the letter, your father invites him to come and take the throne."
The letter on the table was torn and stained with dried blood. Sansa recognized the direwolf sigil... A sudden terror made her feel dizzy and faint.
Pycelle opened his drowsy eyes a little wider. "We heard with our own ears Lord Eddard swear to King Robert that he would protect the young princes and treat them as his own sons. Who would have thought that as soon as King Robert died, he would immediately summon the high lords, attempting to usurp the throne that should belong to Joffrey."
Varys showed a fearful expression. "To think that Lord Eddard would rebel for power. It is truly unbelievable."
Sansa was both confused and terrified. "Your Grace, I beg you, send for my father. He will explain it to you. He was King Robert's friend, he would never write such a letter."
"Robert thought so, too, once. If he were still alive, this would have broken his heart. Thankfully, the gods were merciful and did not let him see it before he died."
Queen Cersei sighed lightly, then continued, "Sansa, my dear, sweet child. I know this is a heavy burden for you, but you must also know how difficult this makes things for us. We all understand this has nothing to do with you, but you are, after all, a traitor's daughter. Tell me, how can I dare let you marry my son?"
A traitor's daughter... Yesterday, Sansa had heard that phrase from Glynn. Would she be judged as well? Could she still marry Joffrey?
Sansa sobbed, "But, Your Grace, I love Joffrey."
Things shouldn't have turned out this way... Hadn't the queen already agreed to her marriage to Joffrey? She had even dreamed of their wedding... Because of what her father had done, would she be forcibly torn away from Joffrey?
"My child, cry no more."
Queen Cersei looked at Pycelle and Varys with a troubled expression and said, "Pycelle, Varys, what are your thoughts on Sansa's situation?"
Varys put on a look of pity and said softly, "Such a poor child... Your Grace, this is such a pure affection. To refuse her would be too cruel... But then again, her father did commit such a great crime... Alas, what else can we do?"
Pycelle spoke slowly, "Your Grace, since Sansa Stark is the seed of a traitor, I fear the nature of treason has already taken root and sprouted in her heart. She is a lovely girl now, but what will she be in ten years?"
He shook his head slightly, sized up Sansa, and finally said, "No one can say."
"No!"
Sansa said in terror, "I'm not, I won't... I will never betray Joffrey. I love him, I swear I truly love him."
Varys said with a sigh, "Alas, how heartbreaking... But in the end, it is difficult to feel at ease. After all, an oath is not as reliable as blood."
Sansa cast a pleading gaze toward the Queen Regent.
Queen Cersei was clearly racking her brain over her, but Sansa saw the love in the queen's clear, green eyes, which ignited a spark of hope.
"Your Grace, I certainly do not have a traitor's blood. I have always been obedient, you can just ask Septa Mordane. I promise, I only want to be Joffrey's loyal and good wife."
Queen Cersei watched the earnest-faced Sansa for a moment, then said gently, "My child, I believe that everything you say is the truth."
Sansa began to laugh through her tears. "Your Grace, thank you! I will never betray Joffrey. I swear I truly love him."
Queen Cersei smiled and nodded. She turned her head and looked at the others. "Pycelle, Varys, my two lords of the council. This child Sansa is nearly breaking my heart... In my opinion, this was the action of Lord Stark alone. If Sansa's family in Winterfell is willing to swear fealty to Joffrey's Iron Throne, then we need not worry about her."
(end of chapter)