Clang~~clang~~clang~~
The bells of the Great Sept of Baelor echoed melodiously, as if descending from the heavens.
Fleabottom.
"Gods be good, why do these bells ring endlessly all day long?"
"Did that little bastard King die?"
"The King isn't dead. When the King dies, every bell in the city will ring."
"Not the King, then who died?"
"This is the Great Sept's assembly bell!"
"Merciful Gods, are they going to give us bread?"
"Bread?!"
"Don't listen to his nonsense, the bastard King won't care about us…"
"Shh, shut up. If the Red Cloaks hear you, they'll rip out your tongue!"
"We're going to starve to death sooner or later, and you still won't let me…"
"Stop talking, let's go quickly. I heard the Gold Cloaks are going to chop off the Prime Minister's head!"
"Don't believe him, hurry and get some bread!"
...
Clang~~clang~~clang~~
The bells seemed to grow louder and louder, clanging and incessantly calling to the crowd.
...
...
"They're taking Prime Minister Stark to the Great Sept of Baelor."
"Didn't they say he was already dead?"
"He's almost there, almost there. Come on, come on, I bet a silver stag they'll cut off his head."
"That rebel should have been beheaded long ago!"
"Fool! They won't cut off his head here, the Great Sept isn't a guillotine!"
"It couldn't be to knight him, could it? I heard that it was Stark who killed King Robert. He slit King Robert's throat in the Royal Forest, and when he was found later, he pretended nothing happened, lying that the King was killed by some old wild boar."
"Alas, that's not it at all. It was his own brother who killed My King, the one with the golden stag antlers, Renly."
"You stinking woman, shut your chattering mouth! Stop talking nonsense here. Lord Renly is an upright and good man."
"How come I heard that My King's other brother, Stannis, was the real killer?"
"Heh, I think that bitch was the killer."
"Shh, do you want to die?!"
...
At the Great Sept of Baelor, a group of knights and nobles gathered on the high platform of the white marble plaza.
Greene Kleber and Lancel Lannister stood on either side of Cersei Lannister.
Greene was wearing gilded armor and a blue cape embroidered with his family crest. He looked at the crowded, seemingly endless crowd below.
Greene leaned down and whispered into the Queen Regent's ear: "Queen Regent Cersei, the crowd below is too close to us. This is very dangerous."
The Queen Regent Cersei wore a black mourning dress, and a black diamond veil was in her hair.
A hint of pride appeared on Cersei's face: "This is Joffrey's will. Our King wants to judge Stark in full view of everyone. He wants everyone to feel his fairness. Count Greene, do you understand?"
Greene advised: "Your Majesty the Queen Regent, please allow me to deploy some of my Clan Soldiers to guard you."
The Queen Regent Cersei frowned slightly, her tone a little impatient: "Enough. Lions are never afraid of sheep."
Lancel glanced at Cersei and Greene, and said triumphantly: "Count Greene, I think you are overly worried, aren't you? I have arranged 100 Lannister Red Cloak soldiers and 200 Gold Cloaks to guard the surroundings. These people are enough to protect the safety of the Queen Regent and the King."
The Queen Regent Cersei tilted her head slightly, glanced at Lancel, and showed a faint smile.
Greene saw Cersei and Lancel "exchanging glances" and said coldly: "Ser Lancel, there are tens of thousands of people gathered below. May the Gods bless everything goes smoothly today."
Lancel's face flushed. He wanted to say something, but seeing Greene's cold expression, he didn't dare to speak.
The Queen Regent Cersei seemed to be comforting one person, or perhaps both of them.
"With you here, I feel very safe."
...
Greene turned his head to look at Sansa Stark, who stood with the other noblewomen. She wore a sky-blue silk dress, her long, curly auburn hair was down, and she had seven silver bracelets on her wrist.
Sansa's small face could not hide her good mood. Perhaps she was thinking that her father would soon be free.
Greene then glanced at Hand of the King Ilyn Payne, who was carrying the greatsword Ice, and then withdrew his gaze.
...
A long line of Gold Cloaks with spears separated the path, and Eddard Stark was escorted to the high platform by Lannister Red Cloaks.
The Archbishop slowly walked to Joffrey's front, stroking his chest and bowing his head. The Archbishop was old, with gray hair, and his short, stout body was bloated. He wore a pure white robe and a huge jeweled crown made of gold leaf and crystal on his head, shimmering with a rainbow of colors in the sunlight.
"Your Majesty, the trial may begin."
Joffrey was dressed in crimson silk and satin, embroidered with leaping stags and roaring Lions, and wore a golden crown, making him the most conspicuous among the crowd. The Hound, wearing a pure white cape, and the other Kingsguard surrounded Joffrey.
King Joffrey nodded slightly and said, "Begin."
...
The bells stopped, and a silence slowly enveloped the entire Great Sept.
The Archbishop looked at Duke Eddard, who was kneeling on the ground with his face down, and said solemnly: "Duke Eddard of the Stark, please confess your crimes under the gaze of the Gods."
Duke Eddard looked up. His face was covered in dirt and dust, and his hair was matted together, looking greasy.
He seemed to be looking for someone, but he was firmly held down by the Red Cloaks and could not turn his neck. He could only see the crowd below.
The Archbishop repeated: "Duke Eddard of the Stark, please confess your crimes under the gaze of the Gods."
Joffrey leaned back against the armrest of his chair. Seeing Duke Eddard's prolonged silence, he said angrily: "My Hound, make him speak quickly."
Upon hearing this, the new Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Sandor Clegane, swung his long white cape and strode over.
His voice was a little hoarse and grating: "Stark, your good girl is waiting for you to come home."
Duke Eddard quickly said: "Ser Sandor, please let me see Sansa."
"I am not a knight, and I do not like lies."
After speaking, Sandor ignored Duke Eddard and turned to leave.
The Archbishop patiently repeated again: "…confess your crimes."
A barely perceptible smile touched the corner of Duke Eddard's lips. He was very grateful to Sandor Clegane; he had confirmed that his eldest daughter was safe and sound.
For his family, for the daughter he loved, the Direwolf feared no sacrifice.
He slowly began to speak: "I am Eddard Stark, Duke of Winterfell…"
...
"What is he saying?!"
"Louder!"
"Can't hear!"
"We can't hear!"
The crowd below shouted loudly.
A Red Cloak fiercely poked Duke Eddard's abdomen with his sword scabbard: "Speak louder!"
Duke Eddard gritted his teeth tightly and did not cry out in pain.
He closed his eyes in agony. His most precious honor was about to be completely lost, and he would forever bear a stigma that did not belong to him.
He only hoped his daughter could return home safely… He would spend his life repenting for this one time he defiled his honor.
Duke Eddard's lips had been bitten through at some point, and blood flowed freely.
With a pained expression, he shouted loudly: "I am Eddard Stark, Duke of Winterfell and Hand of the King. Today I come here, before the Gods above and mortals below, to confess my act of rebellion."
He spoke louder and louder, his voice echoing in the plaza.
Buzz!
The crowd began to roar and curse, the air filled with various taunts and obscenities.
A tear fell from the corner of Duke Eddard's eye, and he raised his voice again: "I betrayed My King, my dear friend. I betrayed Robert's trust and entrustment…"
He shouted: "I swore to protect his children, yet I conspired to depose his son and enthrone another. Now, I ask the Archbishop, and the High Septons, to bear witness to the truth of what I say… Joffrey Baratheon is the Iron Throne's only legitimate heir. In the name of the Gods, he is the Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."
Curses immediately erupted.
A stone flew out of the crowd, striking Duke Eddard's forehead and leaving a deep gash, from which blood gushed down.
More stones followed immediately, but their targets were not just Duke Eddard, who was kneeling on the ground… A stone almost grazed the Archbishop's ear… The Gold Cloaks quickly raised their shields to block them.
After a while, the Gold Cloaks, monks, and septas finally managed to calm the agitated crowd.
The Archbishop adjusted his crown, bowed before Joffrey, and said: "Because we are sinful, we suffer. Eddard of the Stark has confessed his crimes here in this holy place, before the Gods above and mortals below."
The Archbishop raised his hands, his voice deep and resonant: "The Gods above are just, yet the Gods are also merciful. Your Majesty, how shall this rebel be dealt with?"
After a pause, King Joffrey stepped out from behind the Kingsguard's shields.
The boisterous crowd gradually quieted down, everyone's attention on the young King.
Joffrey sighed lightly and said: "My mother wishes me to send Duke Eddard to the Wall, and Miss Sansa has also pleaded for her father many times…"
As he spoke, he turned to look at Sansa behind him, and smiled.
Before Sansa could show gratitude, Joffrey had already turned to face the crowd below.
"But that is merely the weakness of their womanly hearts! As long as I am King, all rebels shall be severely punished!"
Joffrey shouted: "Ser Ilyn, cut off the Direwolf's head!"
The Queen Regent Cersei stood up in shock, her tone very stern: "Joffrey!"
Joffrey walked over, looking displeased.
The Queen Regent Cersei suppressed her anger, making her voice as gentle as possible: "Joffrey, if you kill the Direwolf, we won't be able to negotiate with the North. I hope…"
Joffrey rudely interrupted his mother: "Then just kill them all!"
Greene looked up at the sky, and Lancel followed suit.
"Joffrey, Stannis and Renly are our…"
Joffrey looked impatient, his tone stubborn: "Mother, I am King, and what I say goes. I will never pardon the Direwolf's crimes!"
"You…"
"Mother, stop talking! I've already shown mercy. If you hinder me again, I'll dismember and skin him. He won't die easily."
...
The nobles and knights made way, and Hand of the King Ser Ilyn walked out step by step.
Sansa fell to her knees, sobbing hysterically.
Ser Ilyn Payne made a gesture, and the Lannister Red Cloaks pressed Duke Eddard's head onto the stone platform.
Ser Ilyn drew the greatsword Ice from behind him, his deep-set, pale, colorless eyes seemingly admiring the Stark sword.
...
The Queen Regent Cersei finally chose to back down, and Joffrey turned around, showing a triumphant expression.
Plop! A lump of feces suddenly hit Joffrey's face.
Joffrey shrieked: "Who threw that?!"
Joffrey pushed his hair back, shaking off a handful of feces, his face contorted with rage: "My Hound, seize the person who threw that filth!"
The Hound Sandor immediately jumped off the platform with a few Red Cloaks. People nearby squirmed and pushed to make way, while those further away tried to squeeze closer to watch the commotion, making it impossible for him to pass through the dense human wall of flesh and blood.
"Kingslayer's bitch!"
"Bastard King!"
"Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!"
"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!"
Cries of abuse erupted, like a surging storm.
"Die, bastard King!"
"Bastard! Bastard!"
"Bastard! Bastard!"
"Die! Die!"
...
The public's emotions grew increasingly high, and the anger seemed to fill every corner of the air.
After a few roars, Joffrey showed a timid expression and hastily hid behind the Kingsguard's shields.
This atmosphere, filled with anger and hatred, was terrifying, as if just a spark could ignite everything.
Thud! A sharp arrow deeply pierced Ser Ilyn's eye, and blood gushed from his eye, flowing down his cheek.
Ser Ilyn fell down in pain, his body curling into a ball from the intense agony.
The people around were stunned by this sudden scene. After a few seconds of silence, various panicked screams erupted.
In an instant, people lost control, pushing and shoving each other, becoming extremely chaotic.
Thunderous roars of anger, fear, and hatred rolled in from all directions. The maddened people seemed to want to engulf everyone dressed in finery.
"Bastard!", "Beast!", "Bitch!", "Bastard!", "Incest!" The curses began to mix with some cheers.
"Long live Stannis!"
"Long live Renly!"
"Long live Winterfell!"
"Long live Eyrie!"
"Long live Riverrun!"
"Long live Highgarden!"
"Long live Sunspear!"
...
The Gold Cloaks struggled to maintain their defensive line, as stones, feces, and various other filth whizzed over their heads.
"We want bread, bastard!"
In an instant, thousands of voices shouted together: "Bread! Bread!"
"Bread! Bread! Bread!"
...
Greene calmly put on his helmet. His eyes moved, and with a sword, he deflected a flying stone.
"Queen Regent Cersei, please do not leave my side. I will lead you to safety."
After speaking, Greene pulled down his face mask.
The Queen Regent Cersei's face showed no panic. She immediately leaned over, gripping Greene's other arm tightly.