chapter 173 part 1
Dong~~ Dong~~ Dong~~
The bells of the Great Sept of Baelor reverberated, as if descending from the heavens.
"Flea Bottom."
"By the Gods, why won't this bell ever stop ringing?"
"Did that little fat King die?"
"The King isn't dead. When the King dies, every bell in the city rings."
"Not the King? Then who died?"
"It's the Sept's assembly bell!"
"Oh, benevolent Gods, are they going to give us bread?"
"Bread?!"
"Don't listen to his nonsense. That bastard King won't care about us—"
"Shush, shut your mouth! If the Red Cloaks hear you, they'll pull out your tongue!"
"I'll starve to death sooner or later, and you won't even let me—"
"Enough chatter! Let's go! I heard the Goldcloaks are going to chop off the Hand of the King's head!"
"Don't believe him, hurry and get some bread!"
"..."
Dong~~ Dong~~ Dong~~
The bell sounds seemed to grow louder, ringing out as if to summon and call out to the crowd.
"..."
"..."
"They're taking Eddard Stark, the Hand of the King, to the Great Sept of Baelor."
"Didn't they say he was already dead?"
"Soon! Very soon! Come on, come on, I'll bet a silver stag they'll chop off his head."
"That traitor should have had his head chopped off long ago!"
"Idiot! They won't chop off his head here! The Great Sept isn't an execution block!"
"Surely he won't be knighted, will he? I heard that Eddard Stark was the one who killed King Robert! He slit King Robert's throat in the forest, and when he was discovered, he pretended as if nothing had happened, lying that the King was killed by some wild boar."
"Hmph, that's not how it was! It was His Grace's own brother who killed him, that Renly Baratheon with the golden stag antlers on his helmet."
"Stinking woman, shut your stinking mouth! Stop spouting nonsense here! Lord Renly Baratheon is an upright and good man!"
"I heard it was the King's other brother, Stannis Baratheon, who was the real culprit."
"Heh, I think that bitch is the murderer."
"Shhh, do you want to die?!"
"..."
At the Great Sept of Baelor, a group of Knights and nobles gathered on the high platform of the white marble plaza.
Glynn Cleber and Lancel Lannister stood by Cersei Lannister's sides.
Glynn wore gilded plate armor and a blue cloak embroidered with his House's sigil. He glanced at the sprawling crowd below, which was truly endless.
Glynn leaned down and whispered into Queen Regent Cersei's ear, "Queen Regent Cersei, the crowd below is too close to us. It's very dangerous."
Queen Regent Cersei wore a black mourning gown, and her hairline was adorned with a black diamond headpiece.
A hint of pride appeared on Cersei's face: "This is Joffrey's idea. Our King wants to judge Eddard Stark in full public view. He wants everyone to feel his justice. Lord Glynn, do you understand?"
Glynn advised, "Your Grace, please allow me to deploy some of my Clansmen to guard your side."
Queen Regent Cersei frowned slightly, her tone a little impatient: "Enough. Lions never fear sheep."
Lancel glanced at Cersei and Glynn, then said proudly, "Lord Glynn, I think you're worrying too much, aren't you? I've arranged for 100 Lannister Red Cloaks and 200 Goldcloak guards around. These men are enough to protect the Queen Regent and the King."
Queen Regent Cersei tilted her head slightly and shot a look at Lancel, revealing a faint smile.
Glynn saw Cersei and Lancel "exchanging meaningful glances" and said coldly, "Ser Lancel, over ten thousand people are gathered below. May the Gods protect everything today."
Lancel's face flushed. He wanted to say something, but seeing Glynn's icy expression, he didn't dare speak.
Queen Regent Cersei seemed to be reassuring someone, or perhaps both of them.
"With you two here, I feel very much at ease."
"..."
Glynn turned his head to look at Sansa Stark, who was standing with the other noblewomen. She was wearing a sky-blue silk gown, her long, curled auburn hair was down, and she wore seven silver bracelets on her wrist.
Sansa's small face couldn't hide her good mood; she was probably thinking her father would soon be free.
Glynn glanced at the Hand of the King's Executioner, Ser Ilyn Payne, who had the ancestral greatsword Ice on his back, then averted his gaze.
"..."
A long line of Goldcloaks with Longspears cleared the path, and Eddard Stark was escorted to the high platform by Lannister Red Cloaks.
The High Septon slowly walked up to Joffrey and bowed. The High Septon was advanced in years, his hair gray, and his corpulent figure was unrestrained. He wore a pure white robe and a massive jeweled crown made of gold and crystal on his head, shimmering with a rainbow of colors in the sunlight.
"Your Grace, the judgment can begin."
Joffrey was clad in a grand red silk robe with gold embroidery, emblazoned with leaping stags and roaring lions, and a golden crown on his head, making him the most conspicuous among the crowd. The Hound and other Kingsguard, now wearing white cloaks, surrounded Joffrey.
King Joffrey nodded slightly and said, "Begin."
"..."
The bells stopped, and a silence slowly enveloped the entire plaza.
The High Septon looked at Lord Eddard, who was kneeling on the ground, his face downcast. He said solemnly, "Lord Eddard of House Stark, please confess your crimes under the gaze of the Gods."
Lord Eddard raised his head. His face was covered in dirt and dust, his hair matted and oily.
He seemed to want to glare at someone, but the Red Cloaks held him firmly in place, preventing him from turning his head. He could only see the crowd below.
The High Septon repeated, "Lord Eddard of House Stark, please confess your crimes under the gaze of the Gods."
Joffrey leaned casually on the armrest of his chair. Seeing Lord Eddard's prolonged silence, he said angrily, "My Hound, make him speak quickly."
At these words, Ser Sandor crabbe, the newly appointed Captain of the Kingsguard, flicked his long white cloak and strode forward.
His voice was hoarse and grating: "Stark, your good daughter is waiting for you to come home."
Lord Eddard quickly said, "Ser Sandor, please let me see Sansa."
"I am not a Knight. I don't like lies."
Having said that, Sandor ignored Lord Eddard and turned to leave.
The High Septon patiently repeated again, "...confess your crimes."
Lord Eddard's lips curled almost imperceptibly. He was grateful to Ser Sandor crabbe; he had now confirmed that his eldest daughter was safe and unharmed.
For his family, for the daughter he loved, the Wolf was not afraid to sacrifice.
He slowly opened his mouth and said, "I am the Lord of Winterfell, Eddard Stark..."
"..."
"What's he saying?!"
"Speak louder!"
"Can't hear!"
"We can't hear!"
The crowd below shouted loudly.
A Red Cloak savagely hit Lord Eddard's abdomen with his sword scabbard: "Speak louder!"
Lord Eddard clenched his teeth tightly, not crying out in pain.