grrm.astormofswords-第168章

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idenhead；　neither　of　which　she　especially　wants；　but　what　does　that　matter？　The　great　western　alliance　will　be　preserved　。　。　。　for　a　time；　at　least。〃
　Margaery　and　Tommen。　Sansa　did　not　know　what　to　say。　She　had　liked　Margaery　Tyrell；　and　her　small　sharp　grandmother　as　well。　She　thought　wistfully　of　Highgarden　with　its　courtyards　and　musicians；　and　the　pleasure　barges　on　the　Mander；　a　far　cry　from　this　bleak　shore。　At　least　I　am　safe　here。　Joffrey　is　dead；　he　cannot　hurt　me　anymore；　and　I　am　only　a　bastard　girl　now　Alayne　Stone　has　no　husband　and　no　claim。　And　her　aunt　would　soon　be　here　as　well。　The　long　nightmare　of　King's　Landing　was　behind　her；　and　her　mockery　of　a　marriage　as　well。　She　could　make　herself　a　new　home　here；　just　as　Petyr　said。
　It　was　eight　long　days　until　Lysa　Arryn　arrived。　On　five　of　them　it　rained；　while　Sansa　sat　bored　and　restless　by　the　fire；　beside　the　old　blind　dog。　He　was　too　sick　and　toothless　to　walk　guard　with　Bryen　anymore；　and　mostly　all　he　did　was　sleep；　but　when　she　patted　him　he　whined　and　licked　her　hand；　and　after　that　they　were　fast　friends。　When　the　rains　let　up；　Petyr　walked　with　her　around　his　holdings；　which　took　less　than　half　a　day。　He　owned　a　lot　of　rocks；　just　as　he　had　said。　There　was　one　place　where　the　tide　came　jetting　up　out　of　a　blowhole　to　shoot　thirty　feet　into　the　air；　and　another　where　someone　had　chiseled　the　seven…pointed　star　of　the　new　gods　upon　a　boulder。　Petyr　said　that　marked　one　of　the　places　the　Andals　had　landed；　when　they　came　across　the　sea　to　wrest　the　Vale　from　the　First　Men。
　Farther　inland　a　dozen　families　lived　in　huts　of　piled　stone　beside　a　peat　bog。　〃Mine　own　smallfolk；〃　Petyr　said；　though　only　the　oldest　seemed　to　know　him。　There　was　a　hermit's　cave　on　his　land　as　well；　but　no　hermit。　〃He's　dead　now；　but　when　I　was　a　boy　my　father　took　me　to　see　him。　The　man　had　not　washed　in　forty　years；　so　you　can　imagine　how　he　smelled；　but　supposedly　he　had　the　gift　of　prophecy。　He　groped　me　a　bit　and　said　I　would　be　a　great　man；　and　for　that　my　father　gave　him　a　skin　of　wine。〃　Petyr　snorted。　〃I　would　have　told　him　the　same　thing　for　half　a　cup。〃
　Finally；　on　a　grey　windy　afternoon；　Bryen　came　running　back　to　the　tower　with　his　dogs　barking　at　his　heels；　to　announce　that　riders　were　approaching　from　the　southwest。　〃Lysa；〃　Lord　Petyr　said。　〃e；　Alayne；　let　us　greet　her。〃
　They　put　on　their　cloaks　and　waited　outside。　The　riders　numbered　no　more　than　a　score；　a　very　modest　escort；　for　the　Lady　of　the　Eyrie。　Three　maids　rode　with　her；　and　a　dozen　household　knights　in　mail　and　plate。　She　brought　a　septon　as　well；　and　a　handsome　singer　with　a　wisp　of　a　mustache　and　long　sandy　curls。
　Could　that　be　my　aunt？　Lady　Lysa　was　two　years　younger　than　Mother；　but　this　woman　looked　ten　years　older。　Thick　auburn　tresses　fell　down　past　her　waist；　but　beneath　the　costly　velvet　gown　and　jeweled　bodice　her　body　sagged　and　bulged。　Her　face　was　pink　and　painted；　her　breasts　heavy；　her　limbs　thick。　She　was　taller　than　Littlefinger；　and　heavier；　nor　did　she　show　any　grace　in　the　clumsy　way　she　climbed　down　off　her　horse。
　Petyr　knelt　to　kiss　her　fingers。　〃The　king's　small　council　manded　me　to　woo　and　win　you；　my　lady。　Do　you　think　you　might　have　me　for　your　lord　and　husband？〃
　Lady　Lysa　pooched　her　lips　and　pulled　him　up　to　plant　a　kiss　upon　his　cheek。　〃Oh；　mayhaps　I　could　be　persuaded。〃　She　giggled。　〃Have　you　brought　gifts　to　melt　my　heart？〃
　〃The　king's　peace。〃
　〃Oh；　poo　to　the　peace；　what　else　have　you　brought　me？〃
　〃My　daughter。〃　Littlefinger　beckoned　Sansa　forward　with　a　hand。　〃My　lady；　allow　me　to　present　you　Alayne　Stone。〃
　Lysa　Arryn　did　not　seem　greatly　pleased　to　see　her。　Sansa　did　a　deep　curtsy；　her　head　bowed。　〃A　bastard？〃　she　heard　her　aunt　say。　〃Petyr；　have　you　been　wicked？　Who　was　her　mother？〃
　〃The　wench　is　dead。　I'd　hoped　to　take　Alayne　to　the　Eyrie。〃
　〃What　am　I　to　do　with　her　there？〃
　〃I　have　a　few　notions；〃　said　Lord　Petyr。　〃But　just　now　I　am　more　interested　in　what　I　might　do　with　you；　my　lady。〃
　All　the　sternness　melted　off　her　aunt's　round　pink　face；　and　for　a　moment　Sansa　thought　Lysa　Arryn　was　about　to　cry。　〃Sweet　Petyr；　I've　missed　you　so；　you　don't　know；　you　can't　know。　Yohn　Royce　has　been　stirring　up　all　sorts　of　trouble；　demanding　that　I　call　my　banners　and　go　to　war。　And　the　others　all　swarm　around　me；　Hunter　and　Corbray　and　that　dreadful　Nestor　Royce；　all　wanting　to　wed　me　and　take　my　son　to　ward；　but　none　of　them　truly　love　me。　Only　you；　Petyr。　I've　dreamed　of　you　so　long。〃
　〃And　I　of　you；　my　lady。〃　He　slid　an　arm　around　behind　her　and　kissed　her　on　the　neck。　〃How　soon　can　we　be　wed？〃
　〃Now；〃　said　Lady　Lysa；　sighing。　〃I've　brought　my　own　septon；　and　a　singer；　and　mead　for　the　wedding　feast。〃
　〃Here？〃　That　did　not　please　him。　〃I'd　sooner　wed　you　at　the　Eyrie；　with　your　whole　court　in　attendance。〃
　〃Poo　to　my　court。　I　have　waited　so　long；　I　could　not　bear　to　wait　another　moment。〃　She　put　her　arms　around　him。　〃I　want　to　share　your　bed　tonight；　my　sweet。　I　want　us　to　make　another　child；　a　brother　for　Robert　or　a　sweet　little　daughter。〃
　〃I　dream　of　that　as　well；　sweetling。　Yet　there　is　much　to　be　gained　from　a　great　public　wedding；　with　all　the　Vale…〃
　〃No。〃　She　stamped　a　foot。　〃I　want　you　now；　this　very　night。　And　I　must　warn　you；　after　all　these　years　of　silence　and　whisperings；　I　mean　to　scream　when　you　love　me。　I　am　going　to　scream　so　loud　they'll　hear　me　in　the　Eyrie！〃
　〃Perhaps　I　could　bed　you　now；　and　wed　you　later？〃
　The　Lady　Lysa　giggled　like　a　girl。　〃Oh；　Petyr　Baelish；　you　are　so　wicked。　No；　I　say　no；　I　am　the　Lady　of　the　Eyrie；　and　I　mand　you　to　wed　me　this　very　moment！〃
　Petyr　gave　a　shrug。　〃As　my　lady　mands；　then。　I　am　helpless　before　you；　as　ever。〃
　They　said　their　vows　within　the　hour；　standing　beneath　a　sky…blue　canopy　as　the　sun　sank　in　the　west。　Afterward　trestle　tables　were　set　up　beneath　the　small　flint　tower；　and　they　feasted　on　quail；　venison；　and　roast　boar；　washing　it　down　with　a　fine　light　mead。　Torches　were　lit　as　dusk　crept　in。　Lysa's　singer　played　〃The　Vow　Unspoken〃　and　〃Seasons　of　My　Love〃　and　〃Two　Hearts　That　Beat　as　One。〃　Several　younger　knights　even　asked　Sansa　to　dance。　Her　aunt　danced　as　well；　her　skirts　whirling　when　Petyr　spun　her　in　his　arms。　Mead　and　marriage　had　taken　years　off　Lady　Lysa。　She　laughed　at　everything　so　long　as　she　held　her　husband's　hand；　and　her　eyes　seemed　to　glow　whenever　she　looked　at　him。
　When　it　was　time　for　the　bedding；　her　knights　carried　her　up　to　the　tower；　stripping　her　as　they　went　and　shouting　bawdy　jests。　Tyrion　spared　me　that；　Sansa　remembered。　It　would　not　have　been　so　bad　being　undressed　for　a　man　she　loved；　by　friends　who　loved　them　both。　By　Joffrey；　though　。　。　。　She　shuddered。
　Her　aunt　had　brought　only　three　ladies　with　her；　so　they　pressed　Sansa　to　help　them　undress　Lord　Petyr　and　march　him　up　to　his　marriage　bed。　He　submitted　with　good　grace　and　a　wicked　tongue；　giving　as　good　as　he　got。　By　the　time　they　had　gotten　him　into　the　tower　and　out　of　his　clothes；　the　other　women　were　flushed；　with　laces　unlaced；　kirtles　crooked；　and　skirts　in　disarray。　But　Littlefinger　only　smiled　at　Sansa　as　they　marched　him　up　to　the　bedchamber　where　his　lady　wife　was　waiting。
　Lady　Lysa　and　Lord　Petyr　had　the　third…story　bedchamber　to　themselves；　but　the　tower　was　small　。　。　。　and　true　to　her　word；　her　aunt　screamed。　It　had　begun　to　rain　outside；　driving　the　feasters　into　the　hall　one　floor　below；　so　they　heard　most　every　word。　〃Petyr；〃　her　aunt　moaned。　〃Oh；　Petyr；　Petyr；　sweet　Petyr；　oh　oh　oh。　There；　Petyr；　there。　That's　where　you　belong。〃　Lady　Lysa's　singer　launched　into　a　bawdy　version　of　〃Milady's　Supper；〃　but　even　his　singing　and　playing　could　not　drown　out　Lysa's　cries。　〃Make　me　a　baby；　Petyr；〃　she　screamed；　〃make　me　another　sweet　little　baby。　Oh；　Petyr；　my　precious；　my　precious；　PEEEEEETYR！〃　Her　last　shriek　was　so　loud　that　it　set　the　dogs　to　barking；　and　two　of　her　aunt's　ladies　could　scarce　contain　their　mirth。
　Sansa　went　down　the　steps　and　out　into　the　night。　A　light　rain　was　falling　on　the　remains　of　the　feast；　but　the　air　smelled　fresh　and　clean。　The　memory　of　her　own　wedding　night　with　Tyrion　was　much　with　her。　In　the　dark；　I　am　the　Knight　of　Flowers；　he　had　said。　I　could　be　good　to　you。　But　that　was　only　another　Lannister　lie。　A　dog　can　smell　a　lie；　you　know；　the　Hound　had　told　her　once。　She　could　almost　hear　the　rough　rasp　of　his　voice。　Look　around　you；　and　take　a　good　whiff。　They're　all　liars　here；　and　every　one　better　than　you。　She　wondered　what　had　bee　of　Sandor　Clegane。　Did　he　know　that　they'd　killed　Joffrey？　Would　he　care？　He　had　been　the　prince's　sworn　shield　for　years。
　She　stayed　outside　for　a　long　time。　When　at　last　she　sought　her　own　bed；　wet　and　chilled；　only　the　dim　glow　of　a　peat　fire　lit　the　darkened　hall。　There　was　no　sound　from　above。　The　young　singer　sat　in　a　corner；　playing　a　slow　song　to　himself。　One　of　her　aunt's　maids　was　kissing　a　knight　in　Lord　Petyr's　chair；　their　hands　busy　beneath　each　other's　clothing。　Several　men　had　drunk　themselves　to　sleep；　and　one　was　in　the　privy；　being　noisily　sick。　Sansa　found　Bryen's　old　blind　dog　in　her　little　alcove　beneath　the　steps；　and　lay　down　next　to　him。　He　woke　and　licked　her　face。　〃You　sad　old　hound；〃　she　said；　ruffling　his　fur。
　〃Alayne。〃　Her　aunt's　singer　stood　over　her。　〃Sweet　Alayne。　I　am　Marillion。　I　saw　you　e　in　from　the　rain。　The　night　is　chill　and　wet。　Let　me　warm　you。〃
　The　old　dog　raised　his　head　and　growled；　but　the　singer　gave　him　a　cuff　and　sent　him　slinking　off；　whimpering。
　〃Marillion？〃　she　said；　uncertain。　〃You　are　。　。　。　kind　to　think　of　me；　but　。　。　。　pray　forgive　me。　I　am　very　tired。〃
　〃And　very　beautiful。　All　night　I　have　been　making　songs　for　you　in　my　head。　A　lay　for　your　eyes；　a　ballad　for　your　lips；　a　duet　to　your　breasts。　I　will　not　sing　them；　though。　They　were　poor　things；　unworthy　of　such　beauty。〃　He　sat　on　her　bed　and　put　his　hand　on　her　leg。　〃Let　me　sing　to　you　with　my　body　instead。〃
　She　caught　a　whiff　of　his　breath。　〃You're　drunk。〃
　〃I　never　get　drunk。　Mead　only　makes　me　merry。　I　am　on　fire。〃　His　hand　slipped　up　to　her　thigh。　〃And　you　as　well。〃
　〃Unhand　me。　You　forget　yourself。〃
　〃Mercy。　I　have　been　singing　love　songs　for　hours。　My　blood　is　stirred。　And　yours；　I　know　。　。　。　there's　no　wench　half　so　lusty　as　one　bastard　born。　Are　you　wet　for　me？〃
　〃I'm　a　maiden；〃　she　protested。
　〃Truly？　Oh；　Alayne；　Alayne；　my　fair　maid；　give　me　the　gift　of　your　innocence。　You　will　thank　the　gods　you　did。　I'll　have　you　singing　louder　than　the　Lady　Lysa。〃
　Sansa　jerked　away　from　him；　frightened。　〃If　you　don't　leave　me；　my　au…my　father　will　hang　you。　Lord　Petyr。〃
　〃Littlefinger？〃　He　chuckled。　〃Lady　Lysa　loves　me　well；　and　I　am　Lord　Robert's　favorite。　If　your　father　offends　me；　I　will　destroy　him　with　a　verse。〃　He　put　a　hand　on　her　breast；　and　squeezed。　〃Let's　get　you　out　of　these　wet　clothes。　You　wouldn't　want　them　ripped；　I　know。　e；　sweet　lady；　heed　your　heart…〃
　Sansa　heard　the　soft　sound　of　steel　on　leather。　〃Singer；〃　a　rough　voice　said；　〃best　go；　if　you　want　to　sing　again。〃　The　light　was　dim；　but　she　saw　a　faint　glimmer　of　a　blade。
　The　singer　saw　it　too。　〃Find　your　own　wench…〃　The　knife　flashed；　and　he　cried　out。　〃You　cut　me！〃
　〃I'll　do　worse；　i