grrm.astormofswords-第71章

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　Her　relief　was　short…lived。　No　sooner　had　the　music　died　than　she　heard　Joffrey　say；　〃It's　time　to　bed　them！　Let's　get　the　clothes　off　her；　and　have　a　look　at　what　the　she…wolf's　got　to　give　my　uncle！〃　Other　men　took　up　the　cry；　loudly。
　Her　dwarf　husband　lifted　his　eyes　slowly　from　his　wine　cup。　〃I'll　have　no　bedding。〃
　Joffrey　seized　Sansa's　arm。　〃You　will　if　I　mand　it。〃
　The　Imp　slammed　his　dagger　down　in　the　table；　where　it　stood　quivering。　〃Then　you'll　service　your　own　bride　with　a　wooden　prick。　I'll　geld　you；　I　swear　it。〃
　A　shocked　silence　fell。　Sansa　pulled　away　from　Joffrey；　but　he　had　a　grip　on　her；　and　her　sleeve　ripped。　No　one　even　seemed　to　hear。　Queen　Cersei　turned　to　her　father。　〃Did　you　hear　him？〃
　Lord　Tywin　rose　from　his　seat。　〃I　believe　we　can　dispense　with　the　bedding。　Tyrion；　I　am　certain　you　did　not　mean　to　threaten　the　king's　royal　person。〃
　Sansa　saw　a　spasm　of　rage　pass　across　her　husband's　face。　〃I　misspoke；〃　he　said。　〃It　was　a　bad　jape；　sire。〃
　〃You　threatened　to　geld　me！〃　Joffrey　said　shrilly。
　〃I　did；　Your　Grace；〃　said　Tyrion；　〃but　only　because　I　envied　your　royal　manhood。　Mine　own　is　so　small　and　stunted。〃　His　face　twisted　into　a　leer。　〃And　if　you　take　my　tongue；　you　will　leave　me　no　way　at　all　to　pleasure　this　sweet　wife　you　gave　me。〃
　Laughter　burst　from　the　lips　of　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack。　Someone　else　sniggered。　But　Joff　did　not　laugh；　nor　Lord　Tywin。　〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said；　〃my　son　is　drunk；　you　can　see　that。〃
　〃I　am；〃　the　Imp　confessed；　〃but　not　so　drunk　that　I　cannot　attend　to　my　own　bedding。〃　He　hopped　down　from　the　dais　and　grabbed　Sansa　roughly。　〃e；　wife；　time　to　smash　your　portcullis。　I　want　to　play　e…into…the…castle。〃
　Red…faced；　Sansa　went　with　him　from　the　Small　Hall。　What　choice　do　I　have？　Tyrion　waddled　when　he　walked；　especially　when　he　walked　as　quickly　as　he　did　now。　The　gods　were　merciful；　and　neither　Joffrey　nor　any　of　the　others　moved　to　follow。
　For　their　wedding　night；　they　had　been　granted　the　use　of　an　airy　bedchamber　high　in　the　Tower　of　the　Hand。　Tyrion　kicked　the　door　shut　behind　them。　〃There　is　a　flagon　of　good　Arbor　gold　on　the　sideboard；　Sansa。　Will　you　be　so　kind　as　to　pour　me　a　cup？〃
　〃Is　that　wise；　my　lord？〃
　〃Nothing　was　ever　wiser。　I　am　not　truly　drunk；　you　see。　But　I　mean　to　be。〃
　Sansa　filled　a　goblet　for　each　of　them。　It　will　be　easier　if　I　am　drunk　as　well。　She　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　great　curtained　bed　and　drained　half　her　cup　in　three　long　swallows。　No　doubt　it　was　very　flne　wine；　but　she　was　too　nervous　to　taste　it。　It　made　her　head　swim。　〃Would　you　have　me　undress；　my　lord？〃
　〃Tyrion。〃　He　cocked　his　head。　〃My　name　is　Tyrion；　Sansa。〃
　〃Tyrion。　My　lord。　Should　I　take　off　my　gown；　or　do　you　want　to　undress　me？〃　She　took　another　swallow　of　wine。
　The　imp　turned　away　from　her。　〃The　first　time　I　wed；　there　was　us　and　a　drunken　septon；　and　some　pigs　to　bear　witness。　We　ate　one　of　our　witnesses　at　our　wedding　feast。　Tysha　fed　me　crackling　and　I　licked　the　grease　off　her　fingers；　and　we　were　laughing　when　we　fell　into　bed。〃
　〃You　were　wed　before？　I　。　。　。　I　had　forgotten。〃
　〃You　did　not　forget。　You　never　knew。〃
　〃Who　was　she；　my　lord？〃　Sansa　was　curious　despite　herself。
　〃Lady　Tysha。〃　His　mouth　twisted。　〃Of　House　Silverfist。　Their　arms　have　one　gold　coin　and　a　hundred　silver；　upon　a　bloody　sheet。　Ours　was　a　very　short　marriage　。　。　。　as　befits　a　very　short　man；　I　suppose。〃
　Sansa　stared　down　at　her　hands　and　said　nothing。
　〃How　old　are　you；　Sansa？〃　asked　Tyrion；　after　a　moment。
　〃Thirteen；〃　she　said；　〃when　the　moon　turns。〃
　〃Gods　have　mercy。〃　The　dwarf　took　another　swallow　of　wine。　〃Well；　talk　won't　make　you　older。　Shall　we　get　on　with　this；　my　lady？　if　it　please　you？〃
　〃It　will　please　me　to　please　my　lord　husband。〃
　That　seemed　to　anger　him。　〃You　hide　behind　courtesy　as　if　it　were　a　castle　wall。〃
　〃Courtesy　is　a　lady's　armor；〃　Sansa　said。　Her　septa　had　always　told　her　that。
　〃I　am　your　husband。　You　can　take　off　your　armor　now。〃
　〃And　my　clothing？〃
　〃That　too。〃　He　waved　his　wine　cup　at　her。　〃My　lord　father　has　manded　me　to　consummate　this　marriage。〃
　Her　hands　trembled　as　she　began　fumbling　at　her　clothes。　She　had　ten　thumbs　instead　of　fingers；　and　all　of　them　were　broken。　Yet　somehow　she　managed　the　laces　and　buttons；　and　her　cloak　and　gown　and　girdle　and　undersilk　slid　to　the　floor；　until　finally　she　was　stepping　out　of　her　smallclothes。　Gooseprickles　covered　her　arms　and　legs。　She　kept　her　eyes　on　the　floor；　too　shy　to　look　at　him；　but　when　she　was　done　she　glanced　up　and　found　him　staring。　There　was　hunger　in　his　green　eye；　it　seemed　to　her；　and　fury　in　the　black。　Sansa　did　not　know　which　scared　her　more。
　〃You're　a　child；〃　he　said。
　She　covered　her　breasts　with　her　hands。　〃I've　flowered。〃
　〃A　child；〃　he　repeated；　〃but　I　want　you。　Does　that　frighten　you；　Sansa？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Me　as　well。　I　know　I　am　ugly　…
　〃No；　my…if　。　。　。〃
　He　pushed　himself　to　his　feet。　〃Don't　lie；　Sansa。　I　am　malformed；　scarred；　and　small；　but　。　。　。　〃　she　could　see　him　groping　〃　。　。　。　abed；　when　the　candles　are　blown　out；　I　am　made　no　worse　than　other　men。　In　the　dark；　I　am　the　Knight　of　Flowers。〃　He　took　a　draught　of　wine。　〃I　am　generous。　Loyal　to　those　who　are　loyal　to　me。　I've　proven　I'm　no　craven。　And　I　am　cleverer　than　most；　surely　wits　count　for　something。　I　can　even　be　kind。　Kindness　is　not　a　habit　with　us　Lannisters；　I　fear；　but　I　know　I　have　some　somewhere。　I　could　be　。　。　。　I　could　be　good　to　you。〃
　He　is　as　frightened　as　I　am；　Sansa　realized。　Perhaps　that　should　have　made　her　feel　more　kindly　toward　him；　but　it　did　not。　All　she　felt　was　pity；　and　pity　was　death　to　desire。　He　was　looking　at　her；　waiting　for　her　to　say　something；　but　all　her　words　had　withered。　She　could　only　stand　there　trembling。
　When　he　finally　realized　that　she　had　no　answer　for　him；　Tyrion　Lannister　drained　the　last　of　his　wine。　〃I　understand；〃　he　said　bitterly。　〃Get　in　the　bed；　Sansa。　We　need　to　do　our　duty。〃
　She　climbed　onto　the　featherbed；　conscious　of　his　stare。　A　scented　beeswax　candle　burned　on　the　bedside　table　and　rose　petals　had　been　strewn　between　the　sheets。　She　had　started　to　pull　up　a　blanket　to　cover　herself　when　she　heard　him　say；　〃No。〃
　The　cold　made　her　shiver；　but　she　obeyed。　Her　eyes　closed；　and　she　waited。　After　a　moment　she　heard　the　sound　of　her　husband　pulling　off　his　boots；　and　the　rustle　of　clothing　as　he　undressed　himself。　When　he　hopped　up　on　the　bed　and　put　his　hand　on　her　breast；　Sansa　could　not　help　but　shudder。　She　lay　with　her　eyes　closed；　every　muscle　tense；　dreading　what　might　e　next。　Would　he　touch　her　again？　Kiss　her？　Should　she　open　her　legs　for　him　now？　She　did　not　know　what　was　expected　of　her。
　〃Sansa。〃　The　hand　was　gone。　〃Open　your　eyes。〃
　She　had　promised　to　obey；　she　opened　her　eyes。　He　was　sitting　by　her　feet；　naked。　Where　his　legs　joined；　his　man's　staff　poked　up　stiff　and　hard　from　a　thicket　of　coarse　yellow　hair；　but　it　was　the　only　thing　about　him　that　was　straight。
　〃My　lady；〃　Tyrion　said；　〃you　are　lovely；　make　no　mistake；　but　。　。　。　I　cannot　do　this。　My　father　be　damned。　We　will　wait。　The　turn　of　a　moon；　a　year；　a　season；　however　long　it　takes。　Until　you　have　e　to　know　me　better；　and　perhaps　to　trust　me　a　little。〃　His　smile　might　have　been　meant　to　be　reassuring；　but　without　a　nose　it　only　made　him　look　more　grotesque　and　sinister。
　Look　at　him；　Sansa　told　herself；　look　at　your　husband；　at　all　of　him；　Septa　Mordane　said　all　men　are　beautiful；　find　his　beauty；　try。　She　stared　at　the　stunted　legs；　the　swollen　brutish　brow；　the　green　eye　and　the　black　one；　the　raw　stump　of　his　nose　and　crooked　pink　scar；　the　coarse　tangle　of　black　and　gold　hair　that　passed　for　his　beard。　Even　his　manhood　was　ugly；　thick　and　veined；　with　a　bulbous　purple　head。　This　is　not　right；　this　is　not　fair；　how　have　I　sinned　that　the　gods　would　do　this　to　me；　how？
　〃On　my　honor　as　a　Lannister；〃　the　Imp　said；　〃I　will　not　touch　you　until　you　want　me　to。〃
　It　took　all　the　courage　that　was　in　her　to　look　in　those　mismatched　eyes　and　say；　〃And　if　I　never　want　you　to；　my　lord？〃
　His　mouth　jerked　as　if　she　had　slapped　him。　〃Never？〃
　Her　neck　was　so　tight　she　could　scarcely　nod。
　〃Why；〃　he　said；　〃that　is　why　the　gods　made　whores　for　imps　like　me。〃　He　closed　his　short　blunt　fingers　into　a　fist；　and　climbed　down　off　the　bed。
　
　CHAPTER　29
　ARYA
　
　Stoney　Sept　was　the　biggest　town　Arya　had　seen　since　King's　Landing；　and　Harwin　said　her　father　had　won　a　famous　battle　here。
　〃The　Mad　King's　men　had　been　hunting　Robert；　trying　to　catch　him　before　he　could　rejoin　your　father；〃　he　told　her　as　they　rode　toward　the　gate。　〃He　was　wounded；　being　tended　by　some　friends；　when　Lord　Connington　the　Hand　took　the　town　with　a　mighty　force　and　started　searching　house　by　house。　Before　they　could　find　him；　though；　Lord　Eddard　and　your　grandfather　came　down　on　the　town　and　stormed　the　walls。　Lord　Connington　fought　back　fierce。　They　battled　in　the　streets　and　alleys；　even　on　the　rooftops；　and　all　the　septons　rang　their　bells　so　the　smallfolk　would　know　to　lock　their　doors。　Robert　came　out　of　hiding　to　join　the　fight　when　the　bells　began　to　ring。　He　slew　six　men　that　day；　they　say。　One　was　Myles　Mooton；　a　famous　knight　who'd　been　Prince　Rhaegar's　squire。　He　would　have　slain　the　Hand　too；　but　the　battle　never　brought　them　together。　Connington　wounded　your　grandfather　Tully　sore；　though；　and　killed　Ser　Denys　Arryn；　the　darling　of　the　Vale。　But　when　he　saw　the　day　was　lost；　he　flew　off　as　fast　as　the　griffins　on　his　shield。　The　Battle　of　the　Bells；　they　called　it　after。　Robert　always　said　your　father　won　it；　not　him。〃
　More　recent　battles　had　been　fought　here　as　well；　Arya　thought　from　the　look　of　the　place。　The　town　gates　were　made　of　raw　new　wood；　outside　the　walls　a　pile　of　charred　planks　remained　to　tell　what　had　happened　to　the　old　ones。
　Stoney　Sept　was　closed　up　tight；　but　when　the　captain　of　the　gate　saw　who　they　were；　he　opened　a　sally　port　for　them。　〃How　you　fixed　for　food？〃　Tom　asked　as　they　entered。
　〃Not　so　bad　as　we　were。　The　Huntsman　brought　in　a　flock　o'　sheep；　and　there's　been　some　trading　across　the　Blackwater。　The　harvest　wasn't　burned　south　o'　the　river。　Course；　there's　plenty　want　to　take　what　we　got。　Wolves　one　day；　Mummers　the　next。　Them　that's　not　looking　for　food　are　looking　for　plunder；　or　women　to　rape；　and　them　that's　not　out　for　gold　or　wenches　are　looking　for　the　bloody　Kingslayer。　Talk　is；　he　slipped　right　through　Lord　Edmure's　fingers。〃
　〃Lord　Edmure？〃　Lem　frowned。　〃Is　Lord　Hoster　dead；　then？〃
　〃Dead　or　dying。　Think　Lannister　might　be　making　for　the　Blackwater？　It's　the　quickest　way　to　King's　Landing；　the　Huntsman　swears。〃　The　captain　did　not　wait　for　an　answer。　〃He　took　his　dogs　out　for　a　sniff　round。　If　Ser　Jaime's　hereabouts；　they'll　find　him。　I've　seen　them　dogs　rip　bears　apart。　Think　they'll　like　the　taste　of　lion　blood？〃
　〃A　chewed…up　corpse's　no　good　to　no　one；〃　said　Lem。　〃The　Huntsman　bloody　well　knows　that；　too。〃
　〃When　the　westermen　came　through　they　raped　the　Huntsman's　wife　and　sister；　put　his　crops　to　the　torch；　ate　half　his　sheep；　and　killed　the　other　half　for　spite。　Killed　six　dogs　too；　and　threw　the　carcasses　down　his　well。　A　chewed…up　corpse　would　be　plenty　good　enough　for