grrm.astormofswords-第146章

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　Next　came　Ser　Garlan　Tyrell　and　his　lady　wife；　and　finally　it　was　their　turn。
　〃My　lady。〃　Tyrion　offered　Sansa　his　arm。　She　took　it　dutifully；　but　he　could　feel　her　stiffness　as　they　walked　up　the　aisle　together。　She　never　once　looked　down　at　him。
　He　heard　them　cheering　outside　even　before　he　reached　the　doors。　The　mob　loved　Margaery　so　much　they　were　even　willing　to　love　Joffrey　again。　She　had　belonged　to　Renly；　the　handsome　young　prince　who　had　loved　them　so　well　he　had　e　back　from　beyond　the　grave　to　save　them。　And　the　bounty　of　Highgarden　had　e　with　her；　flowing　up　the　roseroad　from　the　south。　The　fools　didn't　seem　to　remember　that　it　had　been　Mace　Tyrell　who　closed　the　roseroad　to　begin　with；　and　made　the　bloody　famine。
　They　stepped　out　into　the　crisp　autumn　air。　〃I　feared　we'd　never　escape；〃　Tyrion　quipped。
　Sansa　had　no　choice　but　to　look　at　him　then。　〃I　。　。　。　yes；　my　lord。　As　you　say。〃　She　looked　sad。　〃it　was　such　a　beautiful　ceremony；　though。〃
　As　ours　was　not。　〃It　was　long；　I'll　say　that　much。　I　need　to　return　to　the　castle　for　a　good　piss。〃　Tyrion　rubbed　the　stump　of　his　nose。　〃Would　that　I'd　contrived　some　mission　to　take　me　out　of　the　city。　Littlefinger　was　the　clever　one。〃
　Joffrey　and　Margaery　stood　surrounded　by　Kingsguard　atop　the　steps　that　fronted　on　the　broad　marble　plaza。　Ser　Addam　and　his　gold　cloaks　held　back　the　crowd；　while　the　statue　of　King　Baelor　the　Blessed　gazed　down　on　them　benevolently。　Tyrion　had　no　choice　but　to　queue　up　with　the　rest　to　offer　congratulations。　He　kissed　Margaery's　fingers　and　wished　her　every　happiness。　Thankfully；　there　were　others　behind　them　waiting　their　turn；　so　they　did　not　need　to　linger　long。
　Their　litter　had　been　sitting　in　the　sun；　and　it　was　very　warm　inside　the　curtains。　As　they　lurched　into　motion；　Tyrion　reclined　on　an　elbow　while　Sansa　sat　staring　at　her　hands。　She　is　just　as　ely　as　the　Tyrell　girl。　Her　hair　was　a　rich　autumn　auburn；　her　eyes　a　deep　Tully　blue。　Grief　had　given　her　a　haunted；　vulnerable　look；　if　anything；　it　had　only　made　her　more　beautiful。　He　wanted　to　reach　her；　to　break　through　the　armor　of　her　courtesy。　Was　that　what　made　him　speak？　Or　just　the　need　to　distract　himself　from　the　fullness　in　his　bladder？
　〃I　had　been　thinking　that　when　the　roads　are　safe　again；　we　might　journey　to　Casterly　Rock。〃　Far　from　Joffrey　and　my　sister。　The　more　he　thought　about　what　Joff　had　done　to　Lives　of　Four　Kings；　the　more　it　troubled　him。　There　was　a　message　there；　oh　yes。　〃It　would　please　me　to　show　you　the　Golden　Gallery　and　the　Lion's　Mouth；　and　the　Hall　of　Heroes　where　Jaime　and　I　played　as　boys。　You　can　hear　thunder　from　below　where　the　sea　es　in　。　。　。〃
　She　raised　her　head　slowly。　He　knew　what　she　was　seeing；　the　swollen　brutish　brow；　the　raw　stump　of　his　nose；　his　crooked　pink　scar　and　mismatched　eyes。　Her　own　eyes　were　big　and　blue　and　empty。　〃I　shall　go　wherever　my　lord　husband　wishes。〃
　〃I　had　hoped　it　might　please　you；　my　lady。〃
　〃It　will　please　me　to　please　my　lord。〃
　His　mouth　tightened。　What　a　pathetic　little　man　you　are。　Did　you　think　babbling　about　the　Lion's　Mouth　would　make　her　smile？　When　have　you　ever　made　a　woman　smile　but　with　gold？　〃No；　it　was　a　foolish　notion。　Only　a　Lannister　can　love　the　Rock。〃
　〃Yes；　my　lord。　As　you　wish。〃
　Tyrion　could　hear　the　mons　shouting　out　King　Joffrey's　name。　In　three　years　that　cruel　boy　will　be　a　man；　ruling　in　his　own　right　。　。　。　and　every　dwarf　with　half　his　wits　will　be　a　long　way　from　King's　Landing。　Oldtown；　perhaps。　Or　even　the　Free　Cities。　He　had　always　had　a　yen　to　see　the　Titan　of　Braavos。　Perhaps　that　would　please　Sansa。　Gently；　he　spoke　of　Braavos；　and　met　a　wall　of　sullen　courtesy　as　icy　and　unyielding　as　the　Wall　he　had　walked　once　in　the　north。　It　made　him　weary。　Then　and　now。
　They　passed　the　rest　of　the　journey　in　silence。　After　a　while；　Tyrion　found　himself　hoping　that　Sansa　would　say　something；　anything；　the　merest　word；　but　she　never　spoke。　When　the　litter　halted　in　the　castle　yard；　he　let　one　of　the　grooms　help　her　down。　〃We　will　be　expected　at　the　feast　an　hour　hence；　my　lady。　I　will　join　you　shortly。〃　He　walked　off　stiff…legged。　Across　the　yard；　he　could　hear　Margaery's　breathless　laugh　as　Joffrey　swept　her　from　the　saddle。　The　boy　will　be　as　tall　and　strong　as　Jaime　one　day；　he　thought；　and　IT　stifl　be　a　dwarf　beneath　his　feet。　And　one　day　he's　like　to　make　me　even　shorter　。　。　。
　He　found　a　privy　and　sighed　gratefully　as　he　relieved　himself　of　the　morning's　wine。　There　were　times　when　a　piss　felt　near　as　good　as　a　woman；　and　this　was　one。　He　wished　he　could　relieve　himself　of　his　doubts　and　guilts　half　as　easily。
　Podrick　Payne　was　waiting　outside　his　chambers。　〃I　laid　out　your　new　doublet。　Not　here。　On　your　bed。　in　the　bedchamber。〃
　〃Yes；　that's　where　we　keep　the　bed。〃　Sansa　would　be　in　there；　dressing　for　the　feast。　Shae　as　well。　〃Wine；　Pod。〃
　Tyrion　drank　it　in　his　window　seat；　brooding　over　the　chaos　of　the　kitchens　below。　The　sun　had　not　yet　touched　the　top　of　the　castle　wall；　but　he　could　smell　breads　baking　and　meats　roasting。　The　guests　would　soon　be　pouring　into　the　throne　room；　full　of　anticipation；　this　would　be　an　evening　of　song　and　splendor；　designed　not　only　to　unite　Highgarden　and　Casterly　Rock　but　to　trumpet　their　power　and　wealth　as　a　lesson　to　any　who　might　still　think　to　oppose　Joffrey's　rule。
　But　who　would　be　mad　enough　to　contest　Joffrey's　rule　now；　after　what　had　befallen　Stannis　Baratheon　and　Robb　Stark？　There　was　still　fighting　in　the　riverlands；　but　everywhere　the　coils　were　tightening。　Ser　Gregor　Clegane　had　crossed　the　Trident　and　seized　the　ruby　ford；　then　captured　Harrenhal　almost　effortlessly。　Seagard　had　yielded　to　Black　Walder　Frey；　Lord　Randyll　Tarly　held　Maidenpool；　Duskendale；　and　the　kingsroad。　In　the　west；　Ser　Daven　Lannister　had　linked　up　with　Ser　Forley　Prester　at　the　Golden　Tooth　for　a　march　on　Riverrun。　Ser　Ryman　Frey　was　leading　two　thousand　spears　down　from　the　Twins　to　join　them。　And　Paxter　Redwyne　claimed　his　fleet　would　soon　set　sail　from　the　Arbor；　to　begin　the　long　voyage　around　Dome　and　through　the　Stepstones。　Stannis's　Lyseni　pirates　would　be　outnumbered　ten　to　one。　The　struggle　that　the　maesters　were　calling　the　War　of　the　Five　Kings　was　all　but　at　an　end。　Mace　Tyrell　had　been　heard　plaining　that　Lord　Tywin　had　left　no　victories　for　him。
　〃My　lord？〃　Pod　was　at　his　side。　〃Will　you　be　changing？　I　laid　out　the　doublet。　On　your　bed。　For　the　feast。〃
　〃Feast？〃　said　Tyrion　sourly。　〃What　feast？〃
　〃The　wedding　feast。〃　Pod　missed　the　sarcasm；　of　course。　〃King　Joffrey　and　Lady　Margaery。　Queen　Margaery；　I　mean。〃
　Tyrion　resolved　to　get　very；　very　drunk　tonight。　〃Very　well；　young　Podrick；　let　us　go　make　me　festive。〃
　Shae　was　helping　Sansa　with　her　hair　when　they　entered　the　bedchamber。　Joy　and　grief；　he　thought　when　he　beheld　them　there　together。　Laughter　and　tears。　Sansa　wore　a　gown　of　silvery　satin　trimmed　in　vair；　with　dagged　sleeves　that　almost　touched　the　floor；　lined　in　soft　purple　felt。　Shae　had　arranged　her　hair　artfully　in　a　delicate　silver　net　winking　with　dark　purple　gemstones。　Tyrion　had　never　seen　her　look　more　lovely；　yet　she　wore　sorrow　on　those　long　satin　sleeves。　〃Lady　Sansa；〃　he　told　her；　〃you　shall　be　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　hall　tonight。〃
　〃My　lord　is　too　kind。〃
　〃My　lady；〃　said　Shae　wistfully。　〃Couldn't　I　e　serve　at　table？　I　so　want　to　see　the　pigeons　fly　out　of　the　pie。〃
　Sansa　looked　at　her　uncertainly。　〃The　queen　has　chosen　all　the　servers。〃
　〃And　the　hall　will　be　too　crowded。〃　Tyrion　had　to　bite　back　his　annoyance。　〃There　will　be　musicians　strolling　all　through　the　castle；　though；　and　tables　in　the　outer　ward　with　food　and　drink　for　all。〃　He　inspected　his　new　doublet；　crimson　velvet　with　padded　shoulders　and　puffed　sleeves　slashed　to　show　the　black　satin　underlining。　A　handsome　garment。　All　it　wants　is　a　handsome　man　to　wear　it。　〃e；　Pod；　help　me　into　this。〃
　He　had　another　cup　of　wine　as　he　dressed；　then　took　his　wife　by　the　arm　and　escorted　her　from　the　Kitchen　Keep　to　join　the　river　of　silk；　satin；　and　velvet　flowing　toward　the　throne　room。　Some　guests　had　gone　inside　to　find　their　places　on　the　benches。　Others　were　milling　in　front　of　the　doors；　enjoying　the　unseasonable　warmth　of　the　afternoon。　Tyrion　led　Sansa　around　the　yard；　to　perform　the　necessary　courtesies。
　She　is　good　at　this；　he　thought；　as　he　watched　her　tell　Lord　Gyles　that　his　cough　was　sounding　better；　pliment　Elinor　Tyrell　on　her　gown；　and　question　Jalabhar　Xho　about　wedding　customs　in　the　Summer　Isles。　His　cousin　Ser　Lancel　had　been　brought　down　by　Ser　Kevan；　the　first　time　he'd　left　his　sickbed　since　the　battle。　He　looks　ghastly。　Lancel's　hair　had　turned　white　and　brittle；　and　he　was　thin　as　a　stick。　Without　his　father　beside　him　holding　him　up；　he　would　surely　have　collapsed。　Yet　when　Sansa　praised　his　valor　and　said　how　good　it　was　to　see　him　getting　strong　again；　both　Lancel　and　Ser　Kevan　beamed。　She　would　have　made　Joffrey　a　good　queen　and　a　better　wife　if　he'd　had　the　sense　to　love　her。　He　wondered　if　his　nephew　was　capable　of　loving　anyone。
　〃You　do　look　quite　exquisite；　child；〃　Lady　Olenna　Tyrell　told　Sansa　when　she　tottered　up　to　them　in　a　cloth…of…gold　gown　that　must　have　weighed　more　than　she　did。　〃The　wind　has　been　at　your　hair；　though。〃　The　little　old　woman　reached　up　and　fussed　at　the　loose　strands；　tucking　them　back　into　place　and　straightening　Sansa's　hair　net。　〃I　was　very　sorry　to　hear　about　your　losses；〃　she　said　as　she　tugged　and　fiddled。　〃Your　brother　was　a　terrible　traitor；　I　know；　but　if　we　start　killing　men　at　weddings　they'll　be　even　more　frightened　of　marriage　than　they　are　presently。　There；　that's　better。〃　Lady　Olenna　smiled。　〃I　am　pleased　to　say　I　shall　be　leaving　for　Highgarden　the　day　after　next。　I　have　had　quite　enough　of　this　smelly　city；　thank　you。　Perhaps　you　would　like　to　acpany　me　for　a　little　visit；　whilst　the　men　are　off　having　their　war？　I　shall　miss　my　Margaery　so　dreadfully；　and　all　her　lovely　ladies。　Your　pany　would　be　such　sweet　solace。〃
　〃You　are　too　kind；　my　lady；〃　said　Sansa；　〃but　my　place　is　with　my　lord　husband。〃
　Lady　Olenna　gave　Tyrion　a　wrinkled；　toothless　smile。　〃Oh？　Forgive　a　silly　old　woman；　my　lord；　I　did　not　mean　to　steal　your　lovely　wife。　I　assumed　you　would　be　off　leading　a　Lannister　host　against　some　wicked　foe。〃
　〃A　host　of　dragons　and　stags。　The　master　of　coin　must　remain　at　court　to　see　that　all　the　armies　are　paid　for。〃
　〃To　be　sure。　Dragons　and　stags；　that's　very　clever。　And　dwarf's　pennies　as　well。　I　have　heard　of　these　dwarf's　pennies。　No　doubt　collecting　those　is　such　a　dreadful　chore。〃
　〃I　leave　the　collecting　to　others；　my　lady。〃
　〃Oh；　do　you？　I　would　have　thought　you　might　want　to　tend　to　it　yourself。　We　can't　have　the　crown　being　cheated　of　its　dwarf's　pennies；　now。　Can　we？〃
　〃Gods　forbid。〃　Tyrion　was　beginning　to　wonder　whether　Lord　Luthor　Tyrell　had　ridden　off　that　cliff　intentionally。　〃If　you　will　excuse　us；　Lady　Olenna；　it　is　time　we　were　in　our　places。〃
　〃Myself　as　well。　Seventy…seven　courses；　I　daresay。　Don't　you　find　that　a　bit　excessive；　my　lord？　I　shan't　eat　more　than　three　or　four　bites　myself；　but　you　and　I　are　very　little；　aren't　we？〃　She　patted　Sansa's　hair　again　and　said；　〃Well；　off　with　you；　child