冰与火之歌双语版（冰与火之歌双语阅读26）
冰与火之歌双语版（冰与火之歌双语阅读26）【刘博士译文】在这一章中，主人公Sansa只有12岁。她与我们大多数少男少女一样，希望这个世界总是充满美好和善良，希望找到自己的白马王子。很多年以后，当她历经千辛，终于成为Winterfell城堡的女主人的时候，她又会记得怎样的自己？Sansa的一生，是我们千千万万少男少女成长的写照。George R.R. Martin 的《冰与火之歌》系列原著与美剧《权力的游戏》最大的不同在于，美剧将王权与权力人物之间的争夺，以及赢得权力的英雄作为故事的主题；而在原著中，作者的众多主人公几乎没有多少是权力人物。他们多数是权力人物的后代（如Stark家族，Lannister家族或是Targaryen家族的后代，也是我们所说的富二代或是官二代），是不见经传的小人物。王侯将相不是这本书的主人公。其次，在原著中，王座与权力的游戏从来不是勇敢者/英雄或是成功者的游戏，而权力游戏的结局只有一个悲剧。在该系列第一本书
【读你所爱，呵护你的心灵；掌握英语，打开你的第三只眼】
【她只是希望一切都是善良和美好的，就像歌谣中唱的那样。】
【All she wanted was for things to be nice and pretty the way they were in the songs.】
【本节导读】
George R.R. Martin 的《冰与火之歌》系列原著与美剧《权力的游戏》最大的不同在于，美剧将王权与权力人物之间的争夺，以及赢得权力的英雄作为故事的主题；而在原著中，作者的众多主人公几乎没有多少是权力人物。他们多数是权力人物的后代（如Stark家族，Lannister家族或是Targaryen家族的后代，也是我们所说的富二代或是官二代），是不见经传的小人物。王侯将相不是这本书的主人公。
其次，在原著中，王座与权力的游戏从来不是勇敢者/英雄或是成功者的游戏，而权力游戏的结局只有一个悲剧。在该系列第一本书结尾的时候，国王Robert被他的爱妻毒害而死，他的四个护国公，东方的护国公Jon Arryn 在书中一开始就已经被人毒杀，北方护国公Eddard Stark 被砍了头，西方护国公Tywin Lannister 被他的儿子杀死。南方护国公的命运会在后面的书中介绍，他的命运也不是喜剧。
当第一本书结束时，这些富二代和官二代不仅没有享受到官运和财运，权力家族的背景反而成为他们一生中永远的诅咒。他们的命运甚至不如普通人。他们必须在追杀中，在流放中，在痛苦中重新找到自己的身份和位置。《冰与火之歌》的原著其实是一部年轻一代痛苦地寻找“我是谁”的作品。权力是人生的背景，他总是直接或是间接地影响着我们，然而，只有我们自己才能找到自己在历史中的位置，这个位置也许与权力和财富无关。
在这一章中，主人公Sansa只有12岁。她与我们大多数少男少女一样，希望这个世界总是充满美好和善良，希望找到自己的白马王子。很多年以后，当她历经千辛，终于成为Winterfell城堡的女主人的时候，她又会记得怎样的自己？Sansa的一生，是我们千千万万少男少女成长的写照。
【刘博士译文】
冰与火之歌系列——第一部：《权力的游戏》
Sansa
Eddard Stark天还未亮就离开了营地。吃早饭的时候，Mordane老师告诉了Sansa，“是国王派人来叫他走的。我猜想呀，他们又去打猎了。我听说呀，这片土地上还有野牛出没呢。”
“我从来没见过野牛，”Sansa一边说，一边给餐桌底下她的狼崽子Lady喂了一片培根。巨狼从她的手上吃着培根，动作优雅地像一个女王一般。
Mordane老师不赞同地皱了皱鼻子，“大户人家的淑女是不会在餐桌上给狗喂食的，”她说着，一边掰下了一片蜂巢，把蜂蜜滴到她的面包上。
“她可不是一只狗，她是只巨狼，”Sansa纠正她道。Lady用粗糙的舌头舔着她的手指。“反正父亲说了，只要我们愿意，我们就可以养着它们。”
修女老师并没有因此作罢，“Sansa，你是一个好女孩，但是我敢发誓，一说到狼的事上，你和你的妹妹Arya是一样的任性。”她一脸的不悦，“对了，Arya这一大早又去哪了？”
“她说她不饿，”Sansa说，但她太了解她的妹妹了，她也许早几个小时前就已经溜到了厨房，并哄骗了某个小厨子给她做了一顿早餐了。
“你一定要提醒她，今天要打扮得漂亮点。也许她可以穿那件灰色的天鹅绒衣服。王后和Myrcella公主邀请我们都去她们的房车里做客，我们可得打扮得最漂亮才行。”
Sansa已经打扮得很漂亮了。她把她那赤红色的长发梳得闪闪发亮，还挑选了一件最好的蓝色丝绸衣服。一个多星期以来，她一直都在期待着今天的到来。和女王同乘一辆车是一种莫大的荣幸，不仅如此，她所许配的Joffrey王子也有可能在那里呢。一想到这里，她的心里就感到一种莫名的悸动，虽说他们还要过许多年才会结婚的。Sansa并不真正地了解Joffrey，可她已经爱上了他。他是Sansa梦寐以求的白马王子，高大、英俊又强壮，还有一头像金子般的头发。虽然他们在一起的机会很少，但是她珍惜每一次他们见面的机会。今天唯一让她担心害怕的就是Arya。Arya总有办法把事情给搞砸了。你根本不知道她会做出什么举动来。“我会跟她说的，”Sansa回答道，只是她的心里也没有底，“不过她一定还会像以前一样打扮的。”Sansa只希望不会弄得场面太尴尬就好。“我可以走了吗？”
“你可以走了。”Mordane老师又给自己拿了些面包和蜂蜜。Sansa从长凳上起身离开。她的狼崽子Lady跟在她身后跑出了客栈的大厅。
Sansa在屋外停了下来，周围到处是叫喊声、咒骂声以及木头车轮的嘎吱声。人们正在将大大小小的帐篷拆除，将它们装上马车，准备新的一天的行程。这家客栈是一座有三层楼的巨大石头建筑，这是Sansa所见过的最大的客栈了。但即便如此，它也只能装下不到三分之一的国王的人马。随着Sansa父亲一家的加入，以及一路上不断有自由骑士加入进来，国王一行人马的人数已经增加到四百多人了。
Sansa在三江河（Trident）的河岸上找到了Arya，Arya她正一边抱着她的Nymeria让它安静下来，一边用刷子将她毛上的干泥巴给刷干净。巨狼可不喜欢做这种事。Arya身上穿的还是她昨天和前天穿的那身骑马穿的皮装束。
“你还是换一件漂亮点的衣服吧，”Sansa对她说。“这是Mordane老师让我告诉你的。今天，我们要去王后的房车和Myrcella公主一起同行呢。”
“我才不去，”Arya说着，一边使劲将Nymeria身上一团缠在一起的灰毛梳理顺畅。“Mycah和我准备骑马去河流上游，我们要去渡口寻找红宝石。”
“红宝石，”Sansa不解地问道，“什么红宝石？”
Arya看了她一眼，似乎在说，她怎么这么笨。“当然是Rhaegar的红宝石啦。Robert国王就是在这里把他杀死并赢得了王位的。”
Sansa打量着她那瘦不溜秋的小妹妹，简直不敢相信她所说的话。“你不能去找红宝石，公主还在等我们呢。王后可是邀请了我们两个人的。”
“我才不管呢，”Arya说。“那辆房车连窗户都没有，你什么都看不见。”
“你究竟有什么想看的？”Sansa说，她很不高兴。这次邀请本让她欣喜不已，可她的笨蛋妹妹又要把事情给搞砸了，就像她担心的那样，“这里只有田野、农场和房子而已。”
“才不是呢，”Arya固执地说，“要是你有时候和我们一起走的话，你就会看见的。”
“我讨厌骑马，”Sansa激动地说，“它只会把你弄得脏脏的，一身是灰，还浑身酸痛。”
Arya耸了耸肩。她先厉声对Nymeria说，“呆着别动，我不会弄疼你的。”然后，她又对Sansa说：“当我们穿过Neck沼泽的时候，我总共看见了三十六种我以前从没见过的花儿，Mycah还指给我看了一种蜥蜴狮子。”
Sansa打了一个冷战。他们在Neck沼泽中穿行已经有十二天了，她们的车队正在一片无边的黑色沼泽中间，沿着一条弯弯曲曲的堤道轰隆隆地行进着。Sansa无时无刻不讨厌这个地方。这里的空气又潮又冷，堤道又是那么狭窄，他们在晚上甚至找不到一个安营扎寨的地方，只能就地在国王大道上停下过夜。他们的四周被一片片半截埋在沼泽里的浓密树丛包围着，树枝上还飘着浅色菌类形成的帘幕。沼泽里还盛开着一些巨大的花朵，花朵就漂浮在一潭潭的死水池子中。如果你蠢到想从堤道上走进去采摘它们的话，你脚下的流沙陷阱就会把你吸下去；沼泽中的树上还有蛇在盘旋观望，沼泽里则有蜥蜴狮子潜伏在水中，它们漂浮在水面上的部分就像是一节节长有眼睛和牙齿的朽木一般。
当然，这一切都无法阻止Arya。有一天，当她回来的时候，她那张马脸上满是笑容，她的头发乱糟糟的，衣服上也沾满了泥，她的手中握着一束点缀着紫色和绿色花儿的花束送给父亲。Sansa真希望父亲会对Arya说，要规规矩矩，应该表现得像一个出身高贵的淑女一样。但是父亲从来没有这么说过，他只是抱着Arya，感谢Arya送给自己的花束。这当然只会使她更不听话的。
后来，人们发现这些紫色的花儿是一种叫做毒吻的植物，Arya的胳膊上起满了疹子。Sansa还以为这件事会给Arya一个教训的，可是Arya只是一笑而过。到了第二天，她把整个胳膊上都抹上了泥巴，就像是一个住在沼泽地里的无知女人一样。因为她的朋友Mycah告诉她，这种方法可以止痒了。Arya的胳膊上和肩膀上还有一些青一块紫一块的淤痕、伤疤，以及已经褪了色的黄绿色斑块，Sansa 是在妹妹脱衣服睡觉时看见的。至于她究竟是如何弄出这些伤疤的，只有七面之神才会知道。
Arya还在喋喋不休，她一边把Nymeria身上的毛结梳理顺畅，一边聊着她在南下旅途中的所见所闻，“上一周，我们发现了一个闹鬼的瞭望塔，在那前一天，我们还追赶过一群野马。你真应该看一看野马在闻到Nymeria味道时逃跑的样子。”狼崽子在她的手中扭动了一下，Arya批评它说，“别老动来动去，我要刷另外一边啦，你身上脏死了。”
“你不应该脱离大队人马的，”Sansa提醒她说，“爸爸说过的。”
Arya耸了耸肩。“我并没走多远。不管怎样说，Nymeria一直都在我旁边呢。而且，我也并不总是脱离队伍的。有时候，即便是骑马跟着马车一起走，和人们聊天也是挺有意思的。”
Sansa太了解Arya喜欢和什么样的人聊天了：各种随从、马夫、侍女、老人和光屁股的小孩子，还有那些说话粗鲁、身份不明的自由人骑士。Arya能够和所有的人交朋友。这个叫Mycah的孩子是最糟糕的一个，他是一个屠夫的孩子，只有13岁，野得不得了。他晚上就睡在拉肉的马车里，因此他身上都是切肉板的味道。Sansa只要一看见他就会觉得恶心，可是Arya似乎更喜欢与他做伴，而不是和自己的姐姐做伴。
Sansa现在已经失去耐心了。“你就得和我一起去，”她固执地对妹妹说，“你是不能拒绝女王的邀请的。Mordane老师也会在那等你的。”
Arya丝毫不理睬她。她手里拿着刷子使劲一拽。Nymeria叫了起来，一转身就逃开了，像是受到了冒犯。Arya叫道，“你给我回来！”
Sansa继续说着，“还会有柠檬蛋糕，还有茶。”她一副大人般的通情达理的样子。她的狼崽子Lady蹭着她的腿。Sansa挠了挠Lady的耳朵， Lady喜欢Sansa这样挠它，它在Sansa身边用后腿坐下，看着Arya追赶Nymeria的样子。“你干嘛非想去骑那臭烘烘的破马，弄得自己全身酸痛、满头是汗，却不愿意靠在羽毛枕头上，和王后一起享用蛋糕呢？”
“我不喜欢王后，”Arya随口说道。Sansa倒吸了一口气，她没想到连Arya都会说这样的话来，但她的妹妹却还在不停地说着，丝毫没有留意Sansa的反应。“她更不会同意让我带上Nymeria了。”Arya把刷子插在她的腰带上，然后小心地接近她的狼崽子。Nymeria警觉地看着她走近。
“王室的房车当然不是狼可以去的地方，”Sansa说 “而且，Myrcella公主害怕狼，你是知道的。”
“Myrcella只是一个小婴儿。”Arya猛地抓住了Nymeria的脖子，可是当她再次拔出刷子的时候，巨狼又扭动着挣脱跑开了。Arya气恼地扔下刷子，“你这个坏狼！”她叫道。
Sansa忍不住也笑了起来。家里的狗舍管家曾经告诉她，动物会越来越像它的主人的。Sansa简短地拥抱了一下她的狼崽子Lady。Lady舔了舔Sansa的脸颊。Sansa咯咯地笑了起来。Arya听到了笑声，猛地转过身来，气愤地看着Sansa。“我才不管你说什么呢，我就要去骑马。”她那张长长的马脸上一副固执的模样，这意味着她又要做出什么任性的事来了。
“我向众神保证，Arya，有时候你做起事来也就是小孩子气，”Sansa说。“那我就自己去。这样没准还会更好呢。我会和Lady把所有的柠檬蛋糕都给吃掉，没有你，我一样也能玩得好。”
Sansa转身离开，但是Arya在她的身后喊道：“他们也不会让你带上Lady去的。”Sansa还没来得及想好该怎么回答，Arya已经不见了踪影，她顺着河边追赶Nymeria去了。
Sansa觉得很委屈，她独自一人慢慢地走回客栈，她知道Mordane老师还在那里等着她。Lady悄无声息地跟在她身边。Sansa的眼泪都快要流出来了。她只是希望一切都是善良和美好的，就像歌谣中唱的那样。为什么Arya不能像Myrcella公主那样可爱、温柔和善良呢？她多希望能有那样的一个妹妹啊。
Sansa永远不能理解，两个年龄仅仅相差两年的姐妹为何会是如此不同。要是Arya和他们的同父异母的哥哥Jon一样也是一个私生子的话，一切就会简单多了。她甚至连长得都很像Jon，都有着Stark家族那特有的长脸和棕色的头发，她的长相和肤色一点都没有继承她们的母亲。Jon的母亲是一个平民人家，人们私下里都是这么传的。当Sansa小一些的时候，有一次，她甚至问妈妈，会不会是搞错了，也许妖怪把她真正的妹妹给偷走了呢。但母亲只是笑着说，没有这回事，Arya是她的亲生女儿，也是Sansa的亲生妹妹，是他们家族的血脉。Sansa想不出母亲有什么理由会在这件事上撒谎，所以她相信妈妈说的一定都是真的。
当她走近营地中心的时候，她的伤心很快被抛在了脑后。一群人正聚集在王后的房车周围。Sansa听到人们兴奋的交头接耳声，就像是一大群蜜蜂在嗡嗡作响。她看到房车的门被推开，接着王后站在了木台阶的台阶口，并朝着下面的某个人微笑着。她听见王后说，“诸位大人们，议会真是给了我们巨大的荣幸。”
“发生什么事了？”Sansa向一个她认识的随从问道。
那人告诉她：“议会从王城派了骑士来，护送我们走完剩下的路。是国王的近卫队。”
Sansa急切地想看一看，于是她让Lady在人群中开辟出一条路来。人们看见了巨狼，都急忙躲到一边。当Sansa走近的时候，她看见两名骑士正在向女王单腿跪下行礼，他们的盔甲是如此精美华丽，刺得她眼睛都睁不开了。
一名骑士身穿一件做工极为精美的有着白色珐琅鳞片的铠甲，铠甲夺目得就像是一片初雪的田野，上面那银色的雕工和卡口在阳光下一闪一闪的。当他摘下头盔的时候，Sansa看见，他其实是一个头发与他的铠甲一样雪白的年长骑士，不过，他看起来依旧强壮而优雅无比。他的肩上披着纯色的象征着国王近卫队的白色披风。
他的同伴则是一个不到二十的年轻人，他的铠甲是森林般墨绿色的钢甲制成。他是Sansa所见过的最英俊的男人，没有之一。他身材高大而魁梧，他那乌黑的头发垂在肩膀上，勾勒出他那张刮得干干净净的脸庞，他那双带着笑意的绿眼睛和他的铠甲完美搭配。他的一只胳膊下面夹着一顶带带有鹿角的头盔，金色的鹿角闪耀着华丽的光芒。
一开始，Sansa并没有注意到这第三个新来的人。他没有和其他人一起下跪行礼，而是站在一旁他们的战马边上。他面容消瘦严峻，一言不发地看着所发生的一切。他脸上满是麻子，却没有一根胡子，他的眼睛深嵌在那张消瘦的脸颊上。虽说他并不是很老，但他的头上只剩下了几缕头发，就长在他的耳朵上方，然而他却让这几缕头发长得长长的，如同女人的头发一般。他的铠甲是铁灰色的链子甲，链子甲就套在他厚厚的软皮革外套外面。他的皮革外套看起来普普通通，没有任何装饰，只是显现出它已经历经了多年的经常使用。在他的右肩上，可以看到一把绑在他背上的长剑那变了色的皮质剑柄，那是需要双手才能使用的长剑，剑太长了，他无法佩戴在腰间。
“国王打猎去了，不过我知道，他回来以后见到你们会非常高兴的，”王后对两名跪在她面前的骑士说道，但是Sansa的目光却被这第三个人牢牢吸引住。那人似乎感觉到了她目光的力量。他慢慢地转过头来。狼崽子Lady发出了一声吼叫。Sansa突然感到一种以前从未有过的恐惧笼罩着她。她不觉后退了一步，却撞在另一个人身上。
一双强有力的大手抓住了她的双肩，有那么一刻，Sansa还以为那是她父亲呢，但当她转过身来时，却看见了Sandor Clegane那张被火毁了容的脸正对着她，他的嘴扭曲着，露出一副可怕的嘲讽笑容来。“你在发抖，小姑娘，”他说话的声音极为刺耳。“我就这么让你害怕吗？”
他的确让Sansa害怕，Sansa第一次看到他那张被火毁容的脸时，就已经被吓坏了，只不过她现在觉得，Sandor和那个人相比，简直是小巫见大巫了。不过，Sansa还是从他手中挣脱了出来。猎狗Sandor大笑起来，这时，巨狼Lady挤到了他们的中间，并发出了警告的咆哮声。Sansa蹲下身来，用她的胳膊搂着她的狼崽子。好奇的人们开始围了上来，她能感觉到那些人的眼睛在盯着她，还不时地能听到那些人的低语和窃笑。
“是一只狼，”一个人说。另一个人说，“见鬼了，那是一只巨狼。”第一个人又说，“这只狼怎么会在营地里呢？”这时，猎狗Sandor用他那刺耳的声音回答道：“Stark家里的人用它们当孩子的奶妈。”Sansa这才注意到，那两个新来的骑士也正低头看着她和Lady，他们的手中都拿着剑。Sansa又开始害怕起来，也觉得羞愧不已。眼泪又流进了她的眼眶。
她听到王后说道：“Joffrey，去帮帮她。”
她的白马王子也在那里。
“放过她吧，”Joffrey说。他走到了Sansa身前。他穿着一件漂亮的由蓝色羊毛和黑色羊皮做成的外套，他的金色的卷发在阳光下像皇冠一样闪亮。他伸出手，拉着Sansa站了起来。“你怎么了，我可爱的女士？干嘛要害怕？没人会伤害你的。你们大家，都把剑给收起来。这只狼是她的小宠物，没什么大不了的。”Joffrey又看着Sandor Clegane，“还有你这只狗，给我走开，你吓着我的未婚妻了。”
那只忠诚的猎狗向以往一样，他鞠了一躬，便一声不吭地穿过人群溜走了。Sansa挣扎着让自己镇定下来。她觉得自己就像一个傻瓜。她可是Winterfell城的Stark家族的人，是一名高贵的女士，而且有一天她还会成为王后的。“我可爱的王子，吓着我的不是他，”她解释着，“是另外一个人。”
两名新来的骑士彼此交换了一下目光。“是Payne？”身穿绿色铠甲的年轻人不禁笑了起来。
身穿白色铠甲的年长骑士对Sansa温柔地说道，“有时候呀，Ilyn爵士也会吓着我的，我可爱的女士。他有着非常可怕的一面。”
“他也应该这样。”王后从房车上走了下来。围观者纷纷为她让出一条路来，“要是连坏人都不惧怕执行国王正义的刽子手的话，这个刽子手一定是选错了。”
Sansa终于找到了合适的回答。“那么您一定是选择了正确的人选，王后陛下，”她说道，周围的人爆发出一阵笑声。
“说得好，孩子，”那名身穿白色铠甲的年长骑士说。“真不愧是Eddard Stark的女儿。虽说我们见面的方式不同寻常，我还是很荣幸地认识你。我是国王近卫队的Barristan Selmy 爵士。”他鞠躬致意。
Sansa听说过这个名字，现在，她完全记起了Mordane老师多年来教给她的所有礼节。“国王近卫队的队长大人，”她说，“也是我们的国王Robert，以及之前Aerys Targaryen的参事。认识您也是我的荣幸，尊敬的骑士。即便远在北方，歌手们也在吟唱着勇士Barristan的英雄事迹。”
身穿绿色铠甲的骑士笑了起来。“你是想说，老头儿Barristan吧。别太恭维他了，孩子，他已经太高估自己了。”他笑着对Sansa说，“狼姑娘，要是你也能说出我的名字的话，我才会承认你真是我们首相的女儿。”
站在Sansa身边的Joffrey身体僵硬起来。“注意一点，你在和我的未婚妻说话。”
“我能说出来，”Sansa赶紧插话，以平息王子的愤怒。她笑着对绿甲骑士说。“大人，您的头盔上有着金色的鹿角。雄鹿是王室的标志。Robert国王有两个弟弟。由于您极为年轻，您只可能是Renly Baratheon，风暴角（Storm’s End）的领主以及国王的参事，所以我说这是您的大名。”
Barristan爵士扑哧笑了出来，“由于他极为年轻，他只可能是一个调皮捣蛋的混小子，所以我是这么叫他的。”
Renly领主带头笑了起来，大家也哄堂大笑。几分钟前的紧张气氛一扫而光，Sansa开始感到自在起来。这时，Ilyn Payne爵士把另外两个骑士挤到一边，不带一丝笑容地站在Sansa的面前。他一句话也不说。狼崽子Lady露出它的牙齿开始咆哮起来，那是一种低沉的充满威胁的咆哮声；但是这一次，Sansa将手轻轻放在Lady的头上，让它安静下来。 Sansa对Ilyn爵士说道，“如果我先前冒犯了你的话，我向你道歉，Ilyn 爵士。”
她等着爵士的回复，但爵士依旧没有作答。当这名刽子手看着她的时候，他那双苍白而无色的眼睛似乎看穿了她的衣服和身体，让她的灵魂赤裸裸地站在他面前。他依旧一言不发地转身离开。
Sansa不明白怎么回事。她看向她的王子。“我说错话了吗，殿下？他为什么不和我说话？”
“Ilyn爵士在过去的十四年里一直都不大喜欢说话，”Renly领主带着狡黠的微笑回答道。
Joffrey用满是憎恶的眼光看了他叔叔一眼，然后握住Sansa的手。“Aerys Targaryen让人用烧红的铁钳子把他的舌头给扯掉了。”
“不过呀，他舞起剑来可比说话要流畅多了，”女王说道，“而且，他对我们帝国的忠心也是毋庸置疑的。”然后女王和蔼地笑着说：“Sansa，我得陪尊敬的参事大人们聊天，直到国王和你父亲回来。我恐怕我们不得不推迟你和Myrcella的约会了。请代我向你可爱的妹妹道歉。Joffrey，你今天能好好地陪一下我们的客人吗。”
“这将是我的荣幸，妈妈，”Joffrey非常正式地说道。他挽着Sansa的胳膊，带着她离开房车。Sansa的精神高涨起来。能有一整天的时间和她的白马王子呆在一起！她崇拜地看着Joffrey。他是那样的英勇，Sansa 心里回想着他把自己从Ilyn爵士和猎狗手中救出来的样子，简直就像歌谣中唱的那样，就像是人称镜面盾牌的Serwyn骑士从巨人手中拯救出Daeryssa公主一样，或是像龙骑士Aemon王子怒斥Morgil爵士的恶毒谣言，捍卫Naerys王后的荣誉一样。
Joffrey的手轻轻碰了一下她的衣袖，这使她的心跳加快。“你喜欢做点什么呢？”王子问道。
我只想和你在一起，Sansa心里想着，但她嘴上却说，“只要你喜欢，做什么都行，我的王子。”
Joffrey沉思片刻。“我们可以去骑马。”
“好呀，我喜欢骑马，”Sansa说。
Joffrey回头瞥了一眼跟在他们身后的狼崽子Lady。“你的狼会很容易吓着马的，而我的狗也会吓着你的。让我们甩开他们，就我们自己出发去玩，你觉得呢？”
Sansa犹豫了一下 “只要你喜欢，”她吞吞吐吐地说，“我想我可以把Lady给拴起来。”不过，她没大听懂Joffrey的话。“我不知道你还有一只狗……”
Joffrey 大笑起来，“其实呀，他是我妈妈的一条狗。是妈妈让他来保护我的，所以他就来保护我了。”
“你说的是猎狗这个人呀，”Sansa说。她心里真想给自己一记耳光，她怎么反应这么慢。要是自己显得很蠢的话，她的王子才不会爱上她呢。“没有他的话，安全吗？”
Joffrey王子看起来很不高兴，她居然会这么问。“不要害怕，女士。我差不多已经是一个大人了，我才不会像你的哥哥们那样，只会用木头剑打架。我只要有这个东西就行。”他拔出他的剑来给Sansa看。那是一把制造精巧的，按照比例缩小成适于一个十二岁的男孩使用的长剑，那钢制的剑身闪着蓝色的光芒，看得出是名家打造的一把双刃剑，剑柄上包裹着皮革，剑柄的护手用黄金雕成一个狮子头形状。Sansa一看见它就崇拜地惊呼起来，Joffrey显得很得意的样子。“我管这把剑叫狮子牙，”他说。
于是，他们把Sansa的巨狼和Joffrey的保镖都抛在了身后，骑着马沿着三江河的北岸向东行进，他们的同伴就是王子的那把狮子牙剑。
这是一个阳光灿烂的日子，一个神奇的日子。空气温暖，空中弥漫着花香，这里的树林有一种来自北方的Sansa从未见过的柔和之美。Joffrey王子的坐骑是一匹血红色的战马，它奔驰如风，王子肆意地骑着它奔驰着，Sansa不得不快马加鞭才能让自己的马勉强跟上。这也是充满冒险的一天。他们沿着河岸探索着一个个洞穴，又跟着一只山猫的足迹找到它的巢穴。当他们饿了的时候，Joffrey沿着一束炊烟找到了一间茅舍，并让茅舍的主人为他们的王子和他的女士奉上了食物和酒。他们吃的是刚从河里打捞上来的鳟鱼，而Sansa喝的酒比她以前喝过的所有酒都要多。她向王子坦白说，“我父亲每次只允许我们喝一杯酒，而且只有在宴会上才能喝酒。”
“我的未婚妻想喝多少酒就喝多少酒，”Joffrey一边说着，一边为她重新斟满了酒杯。
吃完饭以后，他们一路走得慢了许多。他们一边骑着马，Joffrey一边为她唱歌，他的声音高亢、甜美而纯净。Sansa因为喝酒的缘故略感晕眩。“我们是不是该往回走了？”她问道。
“就回去，”Joffrey说，“当年的战场就在前面，就在河流拐弯的地方。你要知道，那里就是我父亲杀死Rhaegar Targaryen的地方。他的战锤正好砸在敌人的胸口，咔嚓一声，一下就击穿了敌人的铠甲。”Joffrey手里挥舞着一把假想的战锤，给Sansa演示着当时的情景。“后来，我叔叔Jaime又杀掉了老国王Aerys，这样，我父亲就当上了国王。那是什么声音？”
Sansa也听见了，声音是从树林里飘出来的，那是一种木头的敲打声。“我也不知道，”Sansa说道。不过这让她紧张起来，“Joffrey，我们回去吧。”
“我想看看是什么东西。”Joffrey调转马头，朝着声音的方向驶去。Sansa别无选择，只好跟在后面。声音越来越大，越来越清晰，那是木头敲击木头的哒哒声。当他们靠得更近的时候，他们还听到了沉重的呼吸声，还有人不时的嘟囔声。
“那儿有人，”Sansa紧张地说。她开始想起她的狼崽子Lady来，她真希望她的巨狼能和她在一起。
“有我在，你会很安全的。”Joffrey把他的狮子牙剑从剑鞘中拔了出来。长剑拔出来的声音让她颤抖。“走这边，”Joffrey一边说着，一边骑马穿过一排树林。
在树林的另一边，在一片可以俯瞰整个河流的空地上，他们看见了一个男孩和一个女孩正在玩着扮演骑士的游戏。他们的剑是两根木棍子，显然是用扫帚柄做成的。他们在草地上奔跑着，激烈地向对方发起进攻。男孩的年龄要大一些，比女孩高一个头，也比女孩更强壮，他现在正占据着进攻的主动。女孩是一个瘦瘦的小家伙，她穿着脏兮兮的皮外套，她一边躲闪，一边想办法用棍子挡住男孩的大多数进攻，但她无法挡住所有的进攻。当女孩又一次向男孩发起进攻的时候，男孩先用棍子挡住女孩的进攻，把女孩的棍子拨向一边，顺势将自己的木棍滑下去并狠狠地击打在女孩的手指上。女孩大叫一声，丢掉了武器。
Joffrey王子大笑起来。男孩吃了一惊，他瞪大眼睛环顾着四周，他的棍子也掉在了地上。女孩一边生气地瞪着他们，一边吮吸着指关节，想把木刺给拔出来。Sansa也吓坏了，“Arya？”她难以置信地叫了出来。
“走开，”Arya冲着他们喊着，她的眼里满是愤怒的眼泪。“你们来这干嘛？别来打扰我们。”
Joffrey看看Arya，又看看Sansa，“是你妹妹？”Sansa红着脸点了点头。Joffrey又仔细打量着那个男孩，他是一个举止粗鲁的孩子，他粗糙的脸上长着雀斑，还有一头浓密的红头发。“你又是谁，小孩？”Joffrey用命令的口吻问道，丝毫没有看出另一个孩子比他还大一岁呢。
“Mycah，”男孩低声说道。他认出了王子来，他把目光移开。“大人。”
“他是屠夫的孩子，”Sansa说道。
“他是我的朋友，”Arya厉声说道，“你们放过他。”
“一个想当骑士的屠夫家的孩子，是吗？”Joffrey从马上跳了下来，他的手里拿着剑，“把你的剑捡起来，屠夫的孩子，”Joffrey说道，他的眼睛里满是嘲笑的神情。“让我们看看你的剑法有多好。”
Mycah站在那里一动不动，他吓呆了。
Joffrey朝他走了过去。“快点，把剑捡起来。难道你只会欺负小女孩？”
“她让我这么做的，大人，”Mycah说。“是她让我这么做的。”
Sansa瞥了一眼Arya，看见她羞红了的脸，就知道那个男孩说的是实话，但Joffrey可没有心情听他解释。他的酒劲让他疯狂起来。“你想不想捡你的剑？”
Mycah摇了摇头，“那只是一根棍子，大人。那不是剑，那只是一根棍子。”
“而你只是一个屠夫的孩子，根本不是骑士。”Joffrey举起他的狮子牙剑，把剑尖抵在Mycah眼睛下方的脸颊上，屠夫的孩子站在那里浑身发抖。“你欺负的是我这位女士的妹妹，你知道吗？”他把剑刺进Mycah的皮肤，一滴鲜红的血点冒了出来，接着是一条红线顺着男孩的脸颊缓缓流了下来。
“住手！”Arya尖叫起来。她抓起自己扔掉的棍子。
Sansa害怕起来，“Arya，你别管这事。”
“我不会伤他……太多的，”Joffrey王子对Arya说道，他的眼睛一刻也未离开过屠夫的儿子。
Arya向他冲了过去。
Sansa赶紧从马背上下来，但她的动作太慢了。Arya用双手把棍子抡了起来。只听见一声响亮的咔嚓声，木棍击打在王子的后脑勺上并裂了开来。接下去，Sansa惊恐地看着所发生的一切。Joffrey摇摇晃晃地转过身来，大声咒骂着。Mycah以最快的速度朝着树林跑去。Arya再次朝着王子挥起了木棍，但是这一次，Joffrey用他的狮子牙挡住了这一击，并将Arya她手中那折断的棍子打飞了。王子的后脑勺全都是血，他的眼睛像着火了一般。Sansa尖声叫着，“不，不，住手，住手，你们两个都住手，你们这样要出事的。”只是谁都不听她的。Arya捡起一块石头，朝着Joffrey的脑袋扔了过去。石头却击中了Joffrey的马。那匹血红色的战马惊得用后腿站了起来，接着就跟在Mycah后面飞奔而去。“住手，别打了，住手！”Sansa不停地尖叫道。Joffrey一边用剑朝着Arya砍去，一边嘴里大声骂着，说着可怕的话，肮脏的话。Arya跑着往后退，她也害怕起来，可是Joffrey紧跟不放，逼着她退向树林，直到她背靠在了一棵树上。Sansa不知道如何是好。她无助地看着这一切，眼中的泪水几乎挡住了她的视线。
就在这个时候，一道灰色的模糊影子从她的身边一闪而过，突然间，Nymeria出现了，它跳向空中，它的嘴巴紧紧地咬住Joffrey握着剑的那只手臂。巨狼把Joffrey撞倒在地，他的剑也脱了手，他们在草地上翻滚起来，巨狼咆哮着，撕扯着；王子痛苦地尖叫着，“把它弄走，”他尖叫，“把它弄走！”
Arya的声音像一道抽响的鞭子一样嘶哑，“Nymeria！”
巨狼放开Joffrey，回到了Arya身边。王子躺在草地上，一边低声哭着，一边捂着他那只受伤的胳膊。他的上衣沾满了鲜血。Arya说：“她没有伤着你……太多。”Arya捡起掉在地上的狮子牙剑，然后走到Joffrey跟前，她用双手握着那把剑。
Joffrey抬起头看着她，吓得发出了一声哀鸣。“不要，”他说，“不要伤害我。我要告诉我妈妈。”
“你别碰他！”Sansa朝妹妹尖声叫道。
Arya一转身，然后用全身的力气把剑扔向空中。那把剑盘旋着飞到了河流的上方，它那蓝色的剑身在阳光下一闪。接着剑就落进了水中，随着溅起的水花而消失了。Joffrey痛苦地呻吟着。Arya朝着自己的马儿跑去，Nymeria奔跑着跟在她后面。
当她们走了以后，Sansa来到Joffrey王子身边。王子双眼紧闭，一副痛苦的神情，他的呼吸时缓时急。Sansa跪在他的身旁。“Joffrey，”她哭泣着。“哦，看看他们都做了些什么呀，看看他们都做了什么呀。我可怜的王子。别害怕。我会骑马到农舍那里去，叫人来帮你的。”她轻轻地伸出手来，将王子那柔软的金发拨到脑后。
王子的眼睛猛地睁开了，他看着她，那双眼睛里只有憎恶，只有最恶毒的蔑视。“那就快去，”他朝她吐了一口唾沫，“别碰我。”
【英语原文】
A Song of Ice and Fire—Book 1: Game of Thrones
Sansa
Eddard Stark had left before dawn Septa Mordane informed Sansa as they broke their fast. “The king sent for him. Another hunt I do believe. There are still wild aurochs in these lands I am told.”
“I’ve never seen an aurochs ” Sansa said feeding a piece of bacon to Lady under the table. The direwolf took it from her hand as delicate as a queen.
Septa Mordane sniffed in disapproval. “A noble lady does not feed dogs at her table ” she said breaking off another piece of comb and letting the honey drip down onto her bread.
“She’s not a dog she’s a direwolf ” Sansa pointed out as Lady licked her fingers with a rough tongue. “Anyway Father said we could keep them with us if we want.”
The septa was not appeased. “You’re a good girl Sansa but I do vow when it comes to that creature you’re as willful as your sister Arya.” She scowled. “And where is Arya this morning?”
“She wasn’t hungry ” Sansa said knowing full well that her sister had probably stolen down to the kitchen hours ago and wheedled a breakfast out of some cook’s boy.
“Do remind her to dress nicely today. The grey velvet perhaps. We are all invited to ride with the queen and Princess Myrcella in the royal wheelhouse and we must look our best.”
Sansa already looked her best. She had brushed out her long auburn hair until it shone and picked her nicest blue silks. She had been looking forward to today for more than a week. It was a great honor to ride with the queen and besides Prince Joffrey might be there. Her betrothed. Just thinking it made her feel a strange fluttering inside even though they were not to marry for years and years. Sansa did not really know Joffrey yet but she was already in love with him. He was all she ever dreamt her prince should be tall and handsome and strong with hair like gold. She treasured every chance to spend time with him few as they were. The only thing that scared her about today was Arya. Arya had a way of ruining everything. You never knew what she would do. “I’ll tell her ” Sansa said uncertainly “but she’ll dress the way she always does.” She hoped it wouldn’t be too embarrassing. “May I be excused?”
“You may.” Septa Mordane helped herself to more bread and honey and Sansa slid from the bench. Lady followed at her heels as she ran from the inn’s common room.
Outside she stood for a moment amidst the shouts and curses and the creak of wooden wheels as the men broke down the tents and pavilions and loaded the wagons for another day’s march. The inn was a sprawling three-story structure of pale stone the biggest that Sansa had ever seen but even so it had accommodations for less than a third of the king’s party which had swollen to more than four hundred with the addition of her father’s household and the freeriders who had joined them on the road.
She found Arya on the banks of the Trident trying to hold Nymeria still while she brushed dried mud from her fur. The direwolf was not enjoying the process. Arya was wearing the same riding leathers she had worn yesterday and the day before.
“You better put on something pretty ” Sansa told her. “Septa Mordane said so. We’re traveling in the queen’s wheelhouse with Princess Myrcella today.”
“I’m not ” Arya said trying to brush a tangle out of Nymeria’s matted grey fur. “Mycah and I are going to ride upstream and look for rubies at the ford.”
“Rubies ” Sansa said lost. “What rubies?”
Arya gave her a look like she was so stupid. “Rhaegar’s rubies. This is where King Robert killed him and won the crown.”
Sansa regarded her scrawny little sister in disbelief. “You can’t look for rubies the princess is expecting us. The queen invited us both.”
“I don’t care ” Arya said. “The wheelhouse doesn’t even have windows you can’t see a thing.”
“What could you want to see?” Sansa said annoyed. She had been thrilled by the invitation and her stupid sister was going to ruin everything just as she’d feared. “It’s all just fields and farms and holdfasts.”
“It is not ” Arya said stubbornly. “If you came with us sometimes you’d see.”
“I hate riding ” Sansa said fervently. “All it does is get you soiled and dusty and sore.”
Arya shrugged. “Hold still “ she snapped at Nymeria “I’m not hurting you.” Then to Sansa she said “When we were crossing the Neck I counted thirty-six flowers I never saw before and Mycah showed me a lizard-lion.”
Sansa shuddered. They had been twelve days crossing the Neck rumbling down a crooked causeway through an endless black bog and she had hated every moment of it. The air had been damp and clammy the causeway so narrow they could not even make proper camp at night they had to stop right on the kingsroad. Dense thickets of halfdrowned trees pressed close around them branches dripping with curtains of pale fungus. Huge flowers bloomed in the mud and floated on pools of stagnant water but if you were stupid enough to leave the causeway to pluck them there were quicksands waiting to suck you down and snakes watching from the trees and lizard-lions floating half-submerged in the water like black logs with eyes and teeth.
None of which stopped Arya of course. One day she came back grinning her horsy grin her hair all tangled and her clothes covered in mud clutching a raggedy bunch of purple and green flowers for Father. Sansa kept hoping he would tell Arya to behave herself and act like the highborn lady she was supposed to be but he never did he only hugged her and thanked her for the flowers. That just made her worse.
Then it turned out the purple flowers were called poison kisses and Arya got a rash on her arms. Sansa would have thought that might have taught her a lesson but Arya laughed about it and the next day she rubbed mud all over her arms like some ignorant bog woman just because her friend Mycah told her it would stop the itching. She had bruises on her arms and shoulders too dark purple welts and faded green-and-yellow splotches Sansa had seen them when her sister undressed for sleep. How she had gotten those only the seven gods knew.
Arya was still going on brushing out Nymeria’s tangles and chattering about things she’d seen on the trek south. “Last week we found this haunted watchtower and the day before we chased a herd of wild horses. You should have seen them run when they caught a scent of Nymeria.” The wolf wriggled in her grasp and Arya scolded her. “Stop that I have to do the other side you’re all muddy.”
“You’re not supposed to leave the column ” Sansa reminded her. “Father said so.”
Arya shrugged. “I didn’t go far. Anyway Nymeria was with me the whole time. I don’t always go off either. Sometimes it’s fun just to ride along with the wagons and talk to people.”
Sansa knew all about the sorts of people Arya liked to talk to: squires and grooms and serving girls old men and naked children rough-spoken freeriders of uncertain birth. Arya would make friends with anybody. This Mycah was the worst; a butcher’s boy thirteen and wild he slept in the meat wagon and smelled of the slaughtering block. Just the sight of him was enough to make Sansa feel sick but Arya seemed to prefer his company to hers.
Sansa was running out of patience now. “You have to come with me ” she told her sister firmly. “You can’t refuse the queen. Septa Mordane will expect you.”
Arya ignored her. She gave a hard yank with the brush. Nymeria growled and spun away affronted. “Come back here!”
“There’s going to be lemon cakes and tea ” Sansa went on all adult and reasonable. Lady brushed against her leg. Sansa scratched her ears the way she liked and Lady sat beside her on her haunches watching Arya chase Nymeria. “Why would you want to ride a smelly old horse and get all sore and sweaty when you could recline on feather pillows and eat cakes with the queen?”
“I don’t like the queen ” Arya said casually. Sansa sucked in her breath shocked that even Arya would say such a thing but her sister prattled on heedless. “She won’t even let me bring Nymeria.” She thrust the brush under her belt and stalked her wolf. Nymeria watched her approach warily.
“A royal wheelhouse is no place for a wolf ” Sansa said. “And Princess Myrcella is afraid of them you know that.”
“Myrcella is a little baby.” Arya grabbed Nymeria around her neck but the moment she pulled out the brush again the direwolf wriggled free and bounded off. Frustrated Arya threw down the brush. “Bad wolf!” she shouted.
Sansa couldn’t help but smile a little. The kennel master once told her that an animal takes after its master. She gave Lady a quick little hug. Lady licked her cheek. Sansa giggled. Arya heard and whirled around glaring. “I don’t care what you say I’m going out riding.” Her long horsey face got the stubborn look that meant she was going to do something willful.
“Gods be true Arya sometimes you act like such a child ” Sansa said. “I’ll go by myself then. It will be ever so much nicer that way. Lady and I will eat all the lemon cakes and just have the best time without you.”
She turned to walk off but Arya shouted after her “They won’t let you bring Lady either.” She was gone before Sansa could think of a reply chasing Nymeria along the river.
Alone and humiliated Sansa took the long way back to the inn where she knew Septa Mordane would be waiting. Lady padded quietly by her side. She was almost in tears. All she wanted was for things to be nice and pretty the way they were in the songs. Why couldn’t Arya be sweet and delicate and kind like Princess Myrcella? She would have liked a sister like that.
Sansa could never understand how two sisters born only two years apart could be so different. It would have been easier if Arya had been a bastard like their half brother Jon. She even looked like Jon with the long face and brown hair of the Starks and nothing of their lady mother in her face or her coloring. And Jon’s mother had been common or so people whispered. Once when she was littler Sansa had even asked Mother if perhaps there hadn’t been some mistake. Perhaps the grumkins had stolen her real sister. But Mother had only laughed and said no Arya was her daughter and Sansa’s trueborn sister blood of their blood. Sansa could not think why Mother would want to lie about it so she supposed it had to be true.
As she neared the center of camp her distress was quickly forgotten. A crowd had gathered around the queen’s wheelhouse. Sansa heard excited voices buzzing like a hive of bees. The doors had been thrown open she saw and the queen stood at the top of the wooden steps smiling down at someone. She heard her saying “The council does us great honor my good lords.”
“What’s happening?” she asked a squire she knew.
“The council sent riders from King’s Landing to escort us the rest of the way ” he told her. “An honor guard for the king.”
Anxious to see Sansa let Lady clear a path through the crowd. People moved aside hastily for the direwolf. When she got closer she saw two knights kneeling before the queen in armor so fine and gorgeous that it made her blink.
One knight wore an intricate suit of white enameled scales brilliant as a field of new-fallen snow with silver chasings and clasps that glittered in the sun. When he removed his helm Sansa saw that he was an old man with hair as pale as his armor yet he seemed strong and graceful for all that. From his shoulders hung the pure white cloak of the Kingsguard.
His companion was a man near twenty whose armor was steel plate of a deep forest-green. He was the handsomest man Sansa had ever set eyes upon; tall and powerfully made with jet-black hair that fell to his shoulders and framed a clean-shaven face and laughing green eyes to match his armor. Cradled under one arm was an antlered helm its magnificent rack shimmering in gold.
At first Sansa did not notice the third stranger. He did not kneel with the others. He stood to one side beside their horses a gaunt grim man who watched the proceedings in silence. His face was pockmarked and beardless with deepset eyes and hollow cheeks. Though he was not an old man only a few wisps of hair remained to him sprouting above his ears but those he had grown long as a woman’s. His armor was iron-grey chainmail over layers of boiled leather plain and unadorned and it spoke of age and hard use. Above his right shoulder the stained leather hilt of the blade strapped to his back was visible; a two-handed greatsword too long to be worn at his side.
“The king is gone hunting but I know he will be pleased to see you when he returns ” the queen was saying to the two knights who knelt before her but Sansa could not take her eyes off the third man. He seemed to feel the weight of her gaze. Slowly he turned his head. Lady growled. A terror as overwhelming as anything Sansa Stark had ever felt filled her suddenly. She stepped backward and bumped into someone.
Strong hands grasped her by the shoulders and for a moment Sansa thought it was her father but when she turned it was the burned face of Sandor Clegane looking down at her his mouth twisted in a terrible mockery of a smile. “You are shaking girl ” he said his voice rasping. “Do I frighten you so much?”
He did and had since she had first laid eyes on the ruin that fire had made of his face though it seemed to her now that he was not half so terrifying as the other. Still Sansa wrenched away from him and the Hound laughed and Lady moved between them rumbling a warning. Sansa dropped to her knees to wrap her arms around the wolf. They were all gathered around gaping she could feel their eyes on her and here and there she heard muttered comments and titters of laughter.
“A wolf ” a man said and someone else said “Seven hells that’s a direwolf ” and the first man said “What’s it doing in camp?” and the Hound’s rasping voice replied “The Starks use them for wet nurses ” and Sansa realized that the two stranger knights were looking down on her and Lady swords in their hands and then she was frightened again and ashamed. Tears filled her eyes.
She heard the queen say “Joffrey go to her.” And her prince was there.
“Leave her alone ” Joffrey said. He stood over her beautiful in blue wool and black leather his golden curls shining in the sun like a crown. He gave her his hand drew her to her feet. “What is it sweet lady? Why are you afraid? No one will hurt you. Put away your swords all of you. The wolf is her little pet that’s all.” He looked at Sandor Clegane. “And you dog away with you you’re scaring my betrothed.”
The Hound ever faithful bowed and slid away quietly through the press. Sansa struggled to steady herself. She felt like such a fool. She was a Stark of Winterfell a noble lady and someday she would be a queen. “It was not him my sweet prince ” she tried to explain. “It was the other one.”
The two stranger knights exchanged a look. “Payne?” chuckled the young man in the green armor.
The older man in white spoke to Sansa gently. “Ofttimes Ser Ilyn frightens me as well sweet lady. He has a fearsome aspect.”
“As well he should.” The queen had descended from the wheelhouse. The spectators parted to make way for her. “If the wicked do not fear the King’s Justice you have put the wrong man in the office.”
Sansa finally found her words. “Then surely you have chosen the right one Your Grace ” she said and a gale of laughter erupted all around her.
“Well spoken child ” said the old man in white. “As befits the daughter of Eddard Stark. I am honored to know you however irregular the manner of our meeting. I am Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard.” He bowed.
Sansa knew the name and now the courtesies that Septa Mordane had taught her over the years came back to her. “The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard ” she said “and councilor to Robert our king and to Aerys Targaryen before him. The honor is mine good knight. Even in the far north the singers praise the deeds of Barristan the Bold.”
The green knight laughed again. “Barristan the Old you mean. Don’t flatter him too sweetly child he thinks overmuch of himself already.” He smiled at her. “Now wolf girl if you can put a name to me as well then I must concede that you are truly our Hand’s daughter.”
Joffrey stiffened beside her. “Have a care how you address my betrothed.”
“I can answer ” Sansa said quickly to quell her prince’s anger. She smiled at the green knight. “Your helmet bears golden antlers my lord. The stag is the sigil of the royal House. King Robert has two brothers. By your extreme youth you can only be Renly Baratheon Lord of Storm’s End and councillor to the king and so I name you.”
Ser Barristan chuckled. “By his extreme youth he can only be a prancing jackanapes and so I name him.”
There was general laughter led by Lord Renly himself. The tension of a few moments ago was gone and Sansa was beginning to feel comfortable . . . until Ser Ilyn Payne shouldered two men aside and stood before her unsmiling. He did not say a word. Lady bared her teeth and began to growl a low rumble full of menace but this time Sansa silenced the wolf with a gentle hand to the head. “I am sorry if I offended you Ser Ilyn ” she said.
She waited for an answer but none came. As the headsman looked at her his pale colorless eyes seemed to strip the clothes away from her and then the skin leaving her soul naked before him. Still silent he turned and walked away.
Sansa did not understand. She looked at her prince. “Did I say something wrong Your Grace? Why will he not speak to me?”
“Ser Ilyn has not been feeling talkative these past fourteen years ” Lord Renly commented with a sly smile.
Joffrey gave his uncle a look of pure loathing then took Sansa’s hands in his own. “Aerys Targaryen had his tongue ripped out with hot pincers.”
“He speaks most eloquently with his sword however ” the queen said “and his devotion to our realm is unquestioned.” Then she smiled graciously and said “Sansa the good councillors and I must speak together until the king returns with your father. I fear we shall have to postpone your day with Myrcella. Please give your sweet sister my apologies. Joffrey perhaps you would be so kind as to entertain our guest today.”
“It would be my pleasure Mother ” Joffrey said very formally. He took her by the arm and led her away from the wheelhouse and Sansa’s spirits took flight. A whole day with her prince! She gazed at Joffrey worshipfully. He was so gallant she thought. The way he had rescued her from Ser Ilyn and the Hound why it was almost like the songs like the time Serwyn of the Mirror Shield saved the Princess Daeryssa from the giants or Prince Aemon the Dragonknight championing Queen Naerys’s honor against evil Ser Morgil’s slanders.
The touch of Joffrey’s hand on her sleeve made her heart beat faster. “What would you like to do?”
Be with you Sansa thought but she said “Whatever you’d like to do my prince.” Joffrey reflected a moment. “We could go riding.”
“Oh I love riding ” Sansa said.
Joffrey glanced back at Lady who was following at their heels. “Your wolf is liable to frighten the horses and my dog seems to frighten you. Let us leave them both behind and set off on our own what do you say?”
Sansa hesitated. “If you like ” she said uncertainly. “I suppose I could tie Lady up.” She did not quite understand though. “I didn’t know you had a dog . . .”
Joffrey laughed. “He’s my mother’s dog in truth. She has set him to guard me and so he does.”
“You mean the Hound ” she said. She wanted to hit herself for being so slow. Her prince would never love her if she seemed stupid. “Is it safe to leave him behind?”
Prince Joffrey looked annoyed that she would even ask. “Have no fear lady. I am almost a man grown and I don’t fight with wood like your brothers. All I need is this.” He drew his sword and showed it to her; a longsword adroitly shrunken to suit a boy of twelve gleaming blue steel castle-forged and double-edged with a leather grip and a lion’s-head pommel in gold. Sansa exclaimed over it admiringly and Joffrey looked pleased. “I call it Lion’s Tooth ” he said.
And so they left her direwolf and his bodyguard behind them while they ranged east along the north bank of the Trident with no company save Lion’s Tooth.
It was a glorious day a magical day. The air was warm and heavy with the scent of flowers and the woods here had a gentle beauty that Sansa had never seen in the north. Prince Joffrey’s mount was a blood bay courser swift as the wind and he rode it with reckless abandon so fast that Sansa was hard-pressed to keep up on her mare. It was a day for adventures. They explored the caves by the riverbank and tracked a shadowcat to its lair and when they grew hungry Joffrey found a holdfast by its smoke and told them to fetch food and wine for their prince and his lady. They dined on trout fresh from the river and Sansa drank more wine than she had ever drunk before. “My father only lets us have one cup and only at feasts ” she confessed to her prince.
“My betrothed can drink as much as she wants ” Joffrey said refilling her cup.
They went more slowly after they had eaten. Joffrey sang for her as they rode his voice high and sweet and pure. Sansa was a little dizzy from the wine. “Shouldn’t we be starting back?” she asked.
“Soon ” Joffrey said. “The battleground is right up ahead where the river bends. That was where my father killed Rhaegar Targaryen you know. He smashed in his chest crunch right through the armor.” Joffrey swung an imaginary warhammer to show her how it was done. “Then my uncle Jaime killed old Aerys and my father was king. What’s that sound?”
Sansa heard it too floating through the woods a kind of wooden clattering snack snack snack. “I don’t know ” she said. It made her nervous though. “Joffrey let’s go back.”
“I want to see what it is.” Joffrey turned his horse in the direction of the sounds and Sansa had no choice but to follow. The noises grew louder and more distinct the clack of wood on wood and as they grew closer they heard heavy breathing as well and now and then a grunt.
“Someone’s there ” Sansa said anxiously. She found herself thinking of Lady wishing the direwolf was with her.
“You’re safe with me.” Joffrey drew his Lion’s Tooth from its sheath. The sound of steel on leather made her tremble. “This way ” he said riding through a stand of trees.
Beyond in a clearing overlooking the river they came upon a boy and a girl playing at knights. Their swords were wooden sticks broom handles from the look of them and they were rushing across the grass swinging at each other lustily. The boy was years older a head taller and much stronger and he was pressing the attack. The girl a scrawny thing in soiled leathers was dodging and managing to get her stick in the way of most of the boy’s blows but not all. When she tried to lunge at him he caught her stick with his own swept it aside and slid his wood down hard on her fingers. She cried out and lost her weapon.
Prince Joffrey laughed. The boy looked around wide-eyed and startled and dropped his stick in the grass. The girl glared at them sucking on her knuckles to take the sting out and Sansa was horrified. ‘Arya?” she called out incredulously.
“Go away ” Arya shouted back at them angry tears in her eyes. “What are you doing here? Leave us alone.”
Joffrey glanced from Arya to Sansa and back again. “Your sister?” She nodded blushing. Joffrey examined the boy an ungainly lad with a coarse freckled face and thick red hair. “And who are you boy?” he asked in a commanding tone that took no notice of the fact that the other was a year his senior.
“Mycah ” the boy muttered. He recognized the prince and averted his eyes. “M’Iord.” “He’s the butcher’s boy ” Sansa said.
“He’s my friend ” Arya said sharply. “You leave him alone.”
“A butcher’s boy who wants to be a knight is it?” Joffrey swung down from his mount sword in hand. “Pick up your sword butcher’s boy ” he said his eyes bright with amusement. “Let us see how good you are.”
Mycah stood there frozen with fear.
Joffrey walked toward him. “Go on pick it up. Or do you only fight little girls?”
“She ast me to m’lord ” Mycah said. “She ast me to.”
Sansa had only to glance at Arya and see the flush on her sister’s face to know the boy was telling the truth but Joffrey was in no mood to listen. The wine had made him wild. “Are you going to pick up your sword?”
Mycah shook his head. “It’s only a stick m’lord. It’s not no sword it’s only a stick.”
“And you’re only a butcher’s boy and no knight.” Joffrey lifted Lion’s Tooth and laid its point on Mycah’s cheek below the eye as the butcher’s boy stood trembling. “That was my lady’s sister you were hitting do you know that?” A bright bud of blood blossomed where his sword pressed into Mycah’s flesh and a slow red line trickled down the boy’s cheek.
“Stop it!” Arya screamed. She grabbed up her fallen stick. Sansa was afraid. “Arya you stay out of this.”
“I won’t hurt him . . . much ” Prince Joffrey told Arya never taking his eyes off the butcher’s boy.
Arya went for him.
Sansa slid off her mare but she was too slow. Arya swung with both hands. There was a loud crack as the wood split against the back of the prince’s head and then everything happened at once before Sansa’s horrified eyes. Joffrey staggered and whirled around roaring curses. Mycah ran for the trees as fast as his legs would take him. Arya swung at the prince again but this time Joffrey caught the blow on Lion’s Tooth and sent her broken stick flying from her hands. The back of his head was all bloody and his eyes were on fire. Sansa was shrieking “No no stop it stop it both of you you’re spoiling it ” but no one was listening. Arya scooped up a rock and hurled it at Joffrey’s head. She hit his horse instead and the blood bay reared and went galloping off after Mycah. “Stop it don’t stop it!” Sansa screamed. Joffrey slashed at Arya with his sword screaming obscenities terrible words filthy words. Arya darted back frightened now but Joffrey followed hounding her toward the woods backing her up against a tree. Sansa didn’t know what to do. She watched helplessly almost blind from her tears.
Then a grey blur flashed past her and suddenly Nymeria was there leaping jaws closing around Joffrey’s sword arm. The steel fell from his fingers as the wolf knocked him off his feet and they rolled in the grass the wolf snarling and ripping at him the prince shrieking in pain. “Get it off ” he screamed. “Get it off!”
Arya’s voice cracked like a whip. “Nymeria!”
The direwolf let go of Joffrey and moved to Arya’s side. The prince lay in the grass whimpering cradling his mangled arm. His shirt was soaked in blood. Arya said “She didn’t hurt you . . . much.” She picked up Lion’s Tooth where it had fallen and stood over him holding the sword with both hands.
Joffrey made a scared whimpery sound as he looked up at her. “No ” he said “don’t hurt me. I’ll tell my mother.”
“You leave him alone!” Sansa screamed at her sister.
Arya whirled and heaved the sword into the air putting her whole body into the throw. The blue steel flashed in the sun as the sword spun out over the river. It hit the water and vanished with a splash. Joffrey moaned. Arya ran off to her horse Nymeria loping at her heels.
After they had gone Sansa went to Prince Joffrey. His eyes were closed in pain his breath ragged. Sansa knelt beside him. “Joffrey ” she sobbed. “Oh look what they did look what they did. My poor prince. Don’t be afraid. I’ll ride to the holdfast and bring help for you.” Tenderly she reached out and brushed back his soft blond hair.
His eyes snapped open and looked at her and there was nothing but loathing there nothing but the vilest contempt. “Then go ” he spit at her. “And don’t touch me.”
