Chapter 118: Pride, Power and Weakness
Bjorn looked down at the axe lodged in the Mountain's head.
Blood poured from the wound in a bright red stream, running down the brute's face and into the dust below like water from a broken cask.
For a moment, the whole tourney field seemed frozen.
Then the silence broke.
A great many voices rose at once.
Some shouted in alarm. Some in outrage. Some in fear. Some just Amused at what's about to happen.
Lord Tywin Lannister rose from his seat, his face hard as carved stone.
His anger was cold, and but he is in control and he has done this for years and he will do it Now. No one challenges the Lannister name.
Gregor Clegane had never been a good man. Tywin knew that well enough. The Mountain had been a monster in his service, a beast set loose when cruelty was needed.
But he had been Tywin's beast, and his name attached to his own.
Bjorn had gone too far. Although he wouldn't be able to find any justification before but King words and Boy recklessness has made a way for him.
Everyone could see that.
The king's command had been clear.
To Stop.
Bjorn had not.
Tywin's voice cut through the uproar like a blade. "We should Detain him, Your Grace."
The words carried. "He has slain a sworn Lord and Knight serving House Lannister in the presence of His Grace,even after His Grace commanded him to stop. Ser Gregor Clegane was already decapitated and killing him in your presence isn't just disrespectful to House Lannister but Royal Authority itself. He should be detained at this moment."
A murmur ran through the stands.
Many lords nodded at once, or at least looked as though they might.
It was an ugly thing to witness, no matter what Clegane had been. A lord's man had been struck down before the king, and now his killer stood over him with blood on his face.
Robb's face had gone tight listening to this.
Robert himself was no longer smiling.
The king sat in heavy deliberation, his eyes moving from Bjorn to Tywin, from Tywin to Artos, and then back again.
It was the sort of choice that could break a peace in an instant.
If Bjorn was detained, Artos Stark would take it as an insult to his house, to his blood, and to the North itself.
If Bjorn was not detained, Tywin Lannister would take it as weakness.
And the Westerlands would not forget it.
Every Lord present there understood it. The King is in a pinch.
That was what made the silence so terrible.
Then a man rose from the stands.
Artos Stark.
He moved slowly, unhurriedly, down toward the field.
No one spoke to stop him.
No one truly could.
He walked with the calm of a man who already knew what was coming and to him the rest of the realm would simply have to bear with this. He doesn't give a single damn right now.
He came to a halt beside Bjorn and the Mountain's fallen body, then looked first at Bjorn and not at the lords around him.
Not at Tywin.
Not at the king.
Not even at the crowd.
Only at his son.
Then, before anyone could say a word, Artos turned and called out sharply, "Raka! Bring Grand Maester Marwyn here at once!"
Artos yelled at Raka , to bring the newly arrived Replacement of Grand Maester Pycelle. A talented healer though a odd man. He didn't look like a Typical Maester but a Sellsword. He is a weird man with even weird hobbies and Infamous with the name Marwyn The Mage. But Artos is happy as the man is competent and is able to do his work. That's Artos desire the most, he doesn't really care about a man hobby as long as they don't harm his interest
The command stunned more than one man.
A few lords exchanged puzzled looks. Some had expected threats, or pleas, or at least a speech about justice.
Tywin's eyes narrowed.
"What is the meaning of this Lord Artos?" he demanded.
Artos finally looked at him.
King is silent he truly didn't knew what to do.
But Artos instead of answering he asked Lord Tywin a question"Detain him for what?" Artos asked coolly. "For protecting a ward of his house?"
Tywin's jaw hardened. "Your son defied the king's order. He killed a lord and knight of House Lannister after His Grace commanded the fighting to be ceased. The man was already decapitated. There was no need for that final blow."
Artos gave a low scoff.
"Aye, I am sure You are a man looking for justice and Honor" Artos said it plainly but every one knew it is a sarcastic taunt ." But it seems Old Gods have other plans " Artos said confusing everyone " My son did not defy the king's order, His axe was already in motion and " he said. "The Mountain is still alive. He did not kill the Man."
That answer rippled through the crowd like a thrown stone.
Tywin's face shifted, only slightly, but enough for the sharp-eyed to catch it.
Doubt, first.
"He is dead, we are seeing the man dead in front of us. I don't think there is need be delusional about it." Tywin said flatly.
Artos looked down at Clegane's body, then back to him.
"I have been responsible for more deaths than most men in this realm will ever be able to count," he said. "Directly or indirectly, it makes little difference. I think I know the difference between a dead man and a dying one."
His voice was calm but every one could the sense the storm and coldness in it.
Then he added, more colder of it was even possible, "And gods will not give that dog an easy death for what he has done to a ward of House Stark of Sea Dragon Point."
That silenced more than one man in the stands.
Robert shifted in his seat, his face now far less amused than it had been a few moments earlier. "Artos ," he said warning Artos , try to take control of the situation and maintain Royal Authority.
Artos did not look away from Tywin.
As if on cue, Raka appeared with the Grand Maester in tow.
Marwyn knelt beside the Mountain at once and began to examine him.
The crowd watched in silence.
Then, after a tense moment, the Grand Maester gave a grim nod.
"He lives, Barely but he lives." he said.
The reaction was immediate.
Some gasped.
Some swore.
Some simply stared.
Tywin's expression tightened, but Artos only gave a cold, satisfied smile.
But then he spoke some words nobody expected giving a chilling vibe to the realm.
"Then heal him," he said. "As quickly as you can."
His eyes flicked back to Tywin.
"He will need to be well for the fate that awaits him for attacking My Ward." Artos said coldly.
Tywin's stare could have frozen water.
"You speak as though this is already decided. His Grace will make that decision, Lord Artos not you. I suggest you back down."
Artos's answer was immediate.
"It is witnessed by all that your Monster attacked My ward, that my son defended him, He will have to answer for this "
Tywin's voice was clipped. "Your son nearly killed a sworn knight of the crown in full view of the realm."
Artos gave a thin smile. "Aye,I would have to teach him a lesson on that." And then his expression got ugly " To finish things. "
Robert finally spoke then, his voice rough and heavy . He is already frustrated and angry at the bullshit that is happening.
"That is enough for both of you."
Both men turned.
The king looked angry and frustrated.
The whole field waited.
Robert rubbed one hand across his face.
"This was meant to be a tourney," he said. "Not a war council."
Tywin bowed his head just enough to show he had heard, but not enough to seem satisfied.
Artos said nothing.
Robert looked between them, then at Bjorn, who still stood above Clegane with the axe in his hand and blood on his face.
Tywin's eyes flashed. "Your Grace—"
Robert raised a hand.
"Enough."
That alone quieted the Lords and Ladies there again.
Then Robert looked at them.
"What would you have me do?"
Artos answered at once, giving no chance to Lord Tywin.
"I think we should Postpone this matter. The tourney must continue. My ward has won the final, and he deserves the honor and glory that came with this. This is a grave matter, it should be solved in courts not a Tourney where we come to enjoy ourselves. I am saying this as Your Hand, Your Grace"
There was a faint murmur at that, some of amusement, some of shock. A shock that Artos has shown restraint.
Artos continued, voice calm and level.
"To assure you I will Keep Bjorn in the Tower of the Hand until your grace makes your decision. Let the field breathe. Let the lords calm themselves. Let the women stop fainting and the fools stop shouting. Then decide what justice is owed and to whom."
Robert looked at him for a long moment.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"Aye," he said at last. "That will do for now."
Tywin's mouth tightened, but he did not argue immediately, it wasn't the worst scenario for him but it wasn't the best also. But it is same for Artos , so he accepted after all he would also get time to plan things
That, more than anything, showed the weight of the moment.
Robert turned to the guards.
"No one touches the boy until I say so. And You both will control yourself and behave like esteemed Lords you are. " Robert said in anger and authority.
The order rippled out across the field.
Bjorn did not move.
He stood there in the dust, breathing hard, his face wet with blood . He looked less like a condemned man than a judgment that had already been passed.
Artos looked at him, and for the briefest moment something private and fierce crossed his face.
Pride. But it was gone replaced with something serious in a second.
Now that the dust and blood of the lists, another kind of scene was unfolding. Although the seriousness wasn't gone but a strong presence still.
Loras Tyrell stood before Sansa Stark .The great crown of tourney flowers had been placed in his hands, and now, after the chaos below, his expression softened into something quieter, something almost shy.
Sansa looked up at him with surprise.
He smiled, then stepped forward and lowered the crown gently into her hands.
"For my lady," he said softly.
Artos still cold from the incident and for the first time that day, the fierce expression on his face softened.
He looked from Bjorn's bloodstained axe to the gentle crown on Sansa's brow.
The realm could be brutal in one breath and tender in the next. He thought.
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