grrm.astormofswords-第199章

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it　was　only　for　the　swords。　I　had　to　marry　Jon；　or　my　father　would　have　turned　me　out　as　he　did　his　brother；　but　it　was　Petyr　I　was　meant　for。　I　am　telling　you　all　this　so　you　will　understand　how　much　we　love　each　other；　how　long　we　have　suffered　and　dreamed　of　one　another。　We　made　a　baby　together；　a　precious　little　baby。〃　Lysa　put　her　hands　flat　against　her　belly；　as　if　the　child　was　still　there。　〃When　they　stole　him　from　me；　I　made　a　promise　to　myself　that　I　would　never　let　it　happen　again。　Jon　wished　to　send　my　sweet　Robert　to　Dragonstone；　and　that　sot　of　a　king　would　have　given　him　to　Cersei　Lannister；　but　I　never　let　them　。　。　。　no　more　than　I'll　let　you　steal　my　Petyr　Littlefinger。　Do　you　hear　me；　Alayne　or　Sansa　or　whatever　you　call　yourself？　Do　you　hear　what　I　am　telling　you？〃
　〃Yes。　I　swear；　I　won't　ever　kiss　him　again；　or　。　。　。　or　entice　him。〃　Sansa　thought　that　was　what　her　aunt　wanted　to　hear。
　〃So　you　admit　it　now？　It　was　you；　just　as　I　thought。　You　are　as　wanton　as　your　mother。〃　Lysa　grabbed　her　by　the　wrist。　〃e　with　me　now。　There　is　something　I　want　to　show　you。〃
　〃You're　hurting　me。〃　Sansa　squirmed。　〃Please；　Aunt　Lysa；　I　haven't　done　anything。　I　swear　it。〃
　Her　aunt　ignored　her　protests。　〃Marillion！〃　she　shouted。　〃I　need　you；　Marillion！　I　need　you！〃
　The　singer　had　remained　discreetly　in　the　rear　of　the　hall；　but　at　Lady　Arryn's　shout　he　came　at　once。　〃My　lady？〃
　〃Play　us　a　song。　Play　'The　False　and　the　Fair。〃'
　Marillions　fingers　brushed　the　strings。　〃The　lord　he　came　a…riding　upon　a　rainy　day；　hey…nonny；　hey…nonny；　hey…nonny…hey　。　。　。〃
　Lady　Lysa　pulled　at　Sansa's　arm。　It　was　either　walk　or　be　dragged；　so　she　chose　to　walk；　halfway　down　the　hall　and　between　a　pair　of　pillars；　to　a　white　weirwood　door　set　in　the　marble　wall。　The　door　was　firmly　closed；　with　three　heavy　bronze　bars　to　hold　it　in　place；　but　Sansa　could　hear　the　wind　outside　worrying　at　its　edges。　When　she　saw　the　crescent　moon　carved　in　the　wood；　she　planted　her　feet。　〃The　Moon　Door。〃　She　tried　to　yank　free。　〃Why　are　you　showing　me　the　Moon　Door？〃
　〃You　squeak　like　a　mouse　now；　but　you　were　bold　enough　in　the　garden；　weren't　you？　You　were　bold　enough　in　the　snow。〃
　〃The　lady　sat　a…sewing　upon　a　rainy　day；〃　Marillion　sang。　〃Heynonny；　hey…nonny；　hey…nonny…hey。〃
　〃Open　the　door；〃　Lysa　manded。　〃Open　it；　I　say。　You　will　do　it；　or　I'll　send　for　my　guards。〃　She　shoved　Sansa　forward。　〃Your　mother　was　brave；　at　least。　Lift　off　the　bars。〃
　If　I　do　as　she　says；　she　will　let　me　go。　Sansa　grabbed　one　of　the　bronze　bars；　yanked　it　loose；　and　tossed　it　down。　The　second　bar　clattered　to　the　marble；　then　the　third。　She　had　barely　touched　the　latch　when　the　heavy　wooden　door　flew　inward　and　slammed　back　against　the　wall　with　a　bang。　Snow　had　piled　up　around　the　frame；　and　it　all　came　blowing　in　at　them；　borne　on　a　blast　of　cold　air　that　left　Sansa　shivering。　She　tried　to　step　backward；　but　her　aunt　was　behind　her。　Lysa　seized　her　by　the　wrist　and　put　her　other　hand　between　her　shoulder　blades；　propelling　her　forcefully　toward　the　open　door。
　Beyond　was　white　sky；　falling　snow；　and　nothing　else。
　〃Look　down；〃　said　Lady　Lysa。　〃Look　down。〃
　She　tried　to　wrench　free；　but　her　aunt's　fingers　were　digging　into　her　arm　like　claws。　Lysa　gave　her　another　shove；　and　Sansa　shrieked。　Her　left　foot　broke　through　a　crust　of　snow　and　knocked　it　loose。　There　was　nothing　in　front　of　her　but　empty　air；　and　a　waycastle　six　hundred　feet　below　clinging　to　the　side　of　the　mountain。　〃Don't！〃　Sansa　screamed。　〃You're　scaring　me！　〃　Behind　her；　Marillion　was　still　playing　his　woodharp　and　singing；　〃Hey…nonny；　hey…nonny；　hey…nonny…hey。〃
　〃Do　you　still　want　my　leave　to　go？　Do　you？〃
　〃No。〃　Sansa　planted　her　feet　and　tried　to　squirm　backward；　but　her　aunt　did　not　budge。　〃Not　this　way。　Please　。　。　。〃　She　put　a　hand　up；　her　fingers　scrabbling　at　the　doorframe；　but　she　could　not　get　a　grip；　and　her　feet　were　sliding　on　the　wet　marble　floor。　Lady　Lysa　pressed　her　forward　inexorably。　Her　aunt　outweighed　her　by　three　stone。　〃The　lady　lay　a…kissing；　upon　a　mound　of　hay；〃　Marillion　was　singing。　Sansa　twisted　sideways；　hysterical　with　fear；　and　one　foot　slipped　out　over　the　void。　She　screamed。　〃Hey…nonny；　hey…nonny；　hey…nonny…hey。〃　The　wind　flapped　her　skirts　up　and　bit　at　her　bare　legs　with　cold　teeth。　She　could　feel　snowflakes　melting　on　her　cheeks。　Sansa　flailed；　found　Lysa's　thick　auburn　braid；　and　clutched　it　tight。　〃My　hair！〃　her　aunt　shrieked。　〃Let　go　of　my　hair！〃　She　was　shaking；　sobbing。　They　teetered　on　the　edge。　Far　off；　she　heard　the　guards　pounding　on　the　door　with　their　spears；　demanding　to　be　let　in。　Marillion　broke　off　his　song。
　〃Lysa！　What's　the　meaning　of　this？〃　The　shout　cut　through　the　sobs　and　heavy　breathing。　Footsteps　echoed　down　the　High　Hall。　〃Get　back　from　there！　Lysa；　what　are　you　doing？〃　The　guards　were　still　beating　at　the　door；　Littlefinger　had　e　in　the　back　way；　through　the　lords'　entrance　behind　the　dais。
　As　Lysa　turned；　her　grip　loosened　enough　for　Sansa　to　rip　free。　She　stumbled　to　her　knees；　where　Petyr　Baelish　saw　her。　He　stopped　suddenly。　〃Alayne。　What　is　the　trouble　here？〃
　〃Her。〃　Lady　Lysa　grabbed　a　handful　of　Sansa's　hair。　〃She's　the　trouble。　She　kissed　you。〃
　〃Tell　her；　〃　Sansa　begged。　〃Tell　her　we　were　just　building　a　castle　。　。　。
　〃Be　quiet！〃　her　aunt　screamed。　〃I　never　gave　you　leave　to　speak。　No　one　cares　about　your　castle。〃
　〃She's　a　child；　Lysa。　Cat's　daughter。　What　did　you　think　you　were　doing？〃
　〃I　was　going　to　marry　her　to　Robert！　She　has　no　gratitude。　No　。　。　。　no　decency。　You　are　not　hers　to　kiss。　Not　hers！　I　was　teaching　her　a　lesson；　that　was　all。〃
　〃I　see。〃　He　stroked　his　chin。　〃I　think　she　understands　now。　Isn't　that　so；　Alayne？〃
　〃Yes；〃　sobbed　Sansa。　〃I　understand。〃
　〃I　don't　want　her　here。〃　Her　aunt's　eyes　were　shiny　with　tears。　〃Why　did　you　bring　her　to　the　Vale；　Petyr？　This　isn't　her　place。　She　doesn't　belong　here。〃
　〃We'll　send　her　away；　then。　Back　to　King's　Landing；　if　you　like。〃　He　took　a　step　toward　them。　〃Let　her　up；　now。　Let　her　away　from　the　door。〃
　〃NO！〃　Lysa　gave　Sansa's　head　another　wrench。　Snow　eddied　around　them；　making　their　skirts　snap　noisily。　〃You　can't　want　her。　You　can't。　She's　a　stupid　empty…headed　little　girl。　She　doesn't　love　you　the　way　I　have。　I've　always　loved　you。　I've　proved　it；　haven't　I？〃　Tears　ran　down　her　aunt's　puffy　red　face。　〃I　gave　you　my　maiden's　gift。　I　would　have　given　you　a　son　too；　but　they　murdered　him　with　moon　tea；　with　tansy　and　mint　and　wormwood；　a　spoon　of　honey　and　a　drop　of　permyroyal。　It　wasn't　me；　I　never　knew；　I　only　drank　what　Father　gave　me　。　。　。〃
　〃That's　past　and　done；　Lysa。　Lord　Hoster's　dead；　and　his　old　maester　as　well。〃　Littlefinger　moved　closer。　〃Have　you　been　at　the　wine　again？　You　ought　not　to　talk　so　much。　We　don't　want　Alayne　to　know　more　than　she　should；　do　we？　Or　Marillion？〃
　Lady　Lysa　ignored　that。　〃Cat　never　gave　you　anything。　It　was　me　who　got　you　your　first　post；　who　made　Jon　bring　you　to　court　so　we　could　be　close　to　one　another。　You　promised　me　you　would　never　forget　that。〃
　〃Nor　have　I。　We're　together；　just　as　you　always　wanted；　just　as　we　always　planned。　just　let　go　of　Sansa's　hair　。　。　。〃
　〃I　won't！　I　saw　you　kissing　in　the　snow。　She's　just　like　her　mother。　Catelyn　kissed　you　in　the　godswood；　but　she　never　meant　it；　she　never　wanted　you。　Why　did　you　love　her　best？　It　was　me；　it　was　always　meeee！〃
　〃I　know；　love。〃　He　took　another　step。　〃And　I　am　here。　All　you　need　to　do　is　take　my　hand；　e　on。〃　He　held　it　out　to　her。　〃There's　no　cause　for　all　these　tears。〃
　〃Tears；　tears；　tears；〃　she　sobbed　hysterically。　〃No　need　for　tears　。　。　。　but　that's　not　what　you　said　in　King's　Landing。　You　told　me　to　put　the　tears　in　Jon's　wine；　and　I　did。　For　Robert；　and　for　us！　And　I　wrote　Catelyn　and　told　her　the　Lannisters　had　killed　my　lord　husband；　just　as　you　said。　That　was　so　clever　。　。　。　you　were　always　clever；　I　told　Father　that；　I　said　Petyr's　so　clever；　he'll　rise　high；　he　will；　he　will；　and　he's　sweet　and　gentle　and　I　have　his　little　baby　in　my　belly　。　。　。　Why　did　you　kiss　her？　Why？　We're　together　now；　we're　together　after　so　long；　so　very　long；　why　would　you　want　to　kiss　herrrrrr？〃
　〃Lysa；〃　Petyr　sighed；　〃after　all　the　storms　we've　suffered；　you　should　trust　me　better。　I　swear；　I　shall　never　leave　your　side　again；　for　as　long　as　we　both　shall　live。〃
　〃Truly？〃　she　asked；　weeping。　〃Oh；　truly？〃
　〃Truly。　Now　unhand　the　girl　and　e　give　me　a　kiss。〃
　Lysa　threw　herself　into　Littlefinger's　arms；　sobbing。　As　they　hugged；　Sansa　crawled　from　the　Moon　Door　on　hands　and　knees　and　wrapped　her　arms　around　the　nearest　pillar。　She　could　feel　her　heart　pounding。　There　was　snow　in　her　hair　and　her　right　shoe　was　missing。　It　must　have　fallen。　She　shuddered；　and　hugged　the　pillar　tighter。
　Littlefinger　let　Lysa　sob　against　his　chest　for　a　moment；　then　put　his　hands　on　her　arms　and　kissed　her　lightly。　〃My　sweet　silly　jealous　wife；〃　he　said；　chuckling。　〃I've　only　loved　one　woman；　I　promise　you。〃
　Lysa　Arryn　smiled　tremulously。　〃Only　one？　Oh；　Petyr；　do　you　swear　it？　Only　one？〃
　〃Only　Cat。〃　He　gave　her　a　short；　sharp　shove。
　Lysa　stumbled　backward；　her　feet　slipping　on　the　wet　marble。　And　then　she　was　gone。　She　never　screamed。　For　the　longest　time　there　was　no　sound　but　the　wind。
　Marillion　gasped；　〃You　。　。　。　you　。　。　。〃
　The　guards　were　shouting　outside　the　door；　pounding　with　the　butts　of　their　heavy　spears。　Lord　Petyr　pulled　Sansa　to　her　feet。　〃You're　not　hurt？〃　When　she　shook　her　head；　he　said；　〃Run　let　my　guards　in；　then。　Quick　now；　there's　no　time　to　lose。　This　singer's　killed　my　lady　wife。〃
　
　Epilogue
　
　The　road　up　to　Oldstones　went　twice　around　the　hill　before　reaching　the　summit。　Overgrown　and　stony；　it　would　have　been　slow　going　even　in　the　best　of　times；　and　last　night's　snow　had　left　it　muddy　as　well。　Snow　in　autumn　in　the　riverlands；　it's　unnatural；　Merrett　thought　gloomily。　It　had　not　been　much　of　a　snow；　true；　just　enough　to　blanket　the　ground　for　a　night。　Most　of　it　had　started　melting　away　as　soon　as　the　sun　came　up。　Still；　Merrett　took　it　for　a　bad　omen。　Between　rains；　floods；　fire；　and　war；　they　had　lost　two　harvests　and　a　good　part　of　a　third。　An　early　winter　would　mean　famine　all　across　the　riverlands。　A　great　many　people　would　go　hungry；　and　some　of　them　would　starve。　Merrett　only　hoped　he　wouldn't　be　one　of　them。　I　may；　though。　With　my　luck；　I　just　may。　I　never　did　have　any　luck。
　Beneath　the　castle　ruins；　the　lower　slopes　of　the　hill　were　so　thickly　forested　that　half　a　hundred　outlaws　could　well　have　been　lurking　there。　They　could　be　watching　me　even　now。　Merrett　glanced　about；　and　saw　nothing　but　gorse；　bracken；　thistle；　sedge；　and　blackberry　bushes　between　the　pines　and　grey…green　sentinels。　Elsewhere　skeletal　elm　and　ash　and　scrub　oaks　choked　the　ground　like　weeds。　He　saw　no　outlaws；　but　that　meant　little。　Outlaws　were　better　at　hiding　than　honest　men。
　Merrett　hated　the　woods；　if　truth　be　told；　and　he　hated　outlaws　even　more。　〃Outlaws　stole　my　life；〃　he　had　been　known　to　plain　when　in　his　cups。　He　was　too　often　in　his　cups；　his　father　said；　often　and　loudly。　Too　true；　he　thought　ruefully。　You　needed　some　sort　of　distinction　in　the　Twins；　else　they　were　liable　to　forget　you　were　alive；　but　a　reputation　a