The Prince of Thorns

🛡A dog with no leash🛡

299 AC

Alester couldn't help but stare daggers at the back of the would-be king's head as the celebrations of Joffrey's name day continued. The only light in the darkness was seated to the Tyrells left. Her name Myrcella and her beauty legendary. The young Alester had hoped to be married by now but with her father's untimely death and then her mad brother's reign things seemed to be moving in slow motion much to the man's dismay. 

JOFFREY: "Well struck...  Well struck, Dog!"

The Hound removes his helmet. Joffrey turns to Sansa.

JOFFREY: "Did you like that?"

SANSA: "It was well struck, Your Grace."

JOFFREY: "I already said it was well struck."

SANSA: "Yes, Your Grace."

Two men drag the man away, leaving behind a trail of blood. A boy walks over to clean up the blood.

JOFFREY: "Who's next?"

ANNOUNCER: "Lothor Brune, freerider in the service of lord Baelish."

The announcer gestures to a man, who then walks over.

ANNOUNCER: "Ser Dontos the Red of House Hollard."

The announcer gestures in the opposite direction, but no one comes forward.

ANNOUNCER: "Ser Dontos the Red of House Hollard!"

Alester cringes at the sight of a man who looks nothing like a knight. He constantly drops his helmet as he moves to stand before the king.

SER DONTOS: "Here I am. Here I am. Sorry, Your Grace. My deepest apologies."

JOFFREY: "Are you drunk?"

SER DONTOS: "No. Uh, no, Your Grace. I had - I had two cups of wine."

JOFFREY: "Two cups? That's not much at all. Please, have another cup."

SER DONTOS: "Are you sure, Your Grace?"

JOFFREY: "Yes, to celebrate my name day. Have two, have as much as you like."

SER DONTOS: "I would be honored, Your Grace."

Ser Dontos bows to Joffrey. Joffrey looks over to Ser Meryn.

JOFFREY: "Ser Meryn, help Ser Dontos celebrate my name day. See that he drinks his fill."

Ser Meryn and two other kingsguard grab Ser Dontos. They bring him into a more open area nearby. Ser Dontos is forced on his knees. One kingsguard keeps Ser Dontos down. Ser Meryn and the other kingsguard get a funnel and a barrel of wine. Ser Meryn forces the funnel into Ser Dontos's mouth. The kingsguard with the barrel begins pouring the wine down the funnel. Ser Dontos begins gurgling and struggles a little bit.

SANSA: "You can't!"

JOFFREY: "What did you say? Did you say I can't?"

MYRCELLA: "Sansa only means it would be bad luck to kill a man on your name day is all brother."

JOFFREY: "What kind of stupid peasant's superstition..."

ALESTER: "The ladies are right. What a man sows on his name day, he reaps all year."

JOFFREY: "Take him away. I'll have him killed tomorrow, the fool."

The barrel and funnel are removed, and Ser Dontos is released. He pukes out a mixture of blood and wine onto the ground.

SANSA: "He is. A fool - you're so clever to see it. He'll make a much better fool than a knight. He doesn't deserve the mercy of a quick death."

JOFFREY: "Did you hear My Lady, Ser Dontos? From this day, you'll be my new fool."

Alester knew what Sansa was doing for it is better to live as a fool then be sentenced to an unjust death. He was however surprised that she could manipulate the king into believing it be a punishment.

SER DONTOS: "Thank you, Your Grace.  And you, My Lady, thank you."

Ser Dontos is taken away by kingsguard.

TYRION: "Beloved nephew."

Tyrion, Bronn, and a number of hill tribesman appear from the right. People murmur and look their way.

TYRION: "We looked for you on the battlefield.  You were nowhere to be found."

Tyrion begins to pour himself a glass of wine.

JOFFREY: "I've been here, ruling the kingdoms."

Ruling. Alester laughed on the inside at Joffrey and the word ruling being used together in the same sentence that didn't include the worlds terrible, awful and corrupted.

TYRION: "What a fine job you've done. (Turns to Myrcella). Look at you. (Kisses her). More beautiful than ever. (Turns to Tommen). And you! You, you're going to be bigger than the Hound, but much better looking. (Tyrion smiles. He and Myrcella laugh). Alester we could have used you on the battlefield friend."

ALESTER: "We'll have plenty of other opportunities I'm afraid."

TYRION: "True."

JOFFREY: "We heard you were dead."

MYRCELLA: "I'm glad you're not dead."

Tyrion takes a sip of his wine.

TYRION: "Me, too, dear. Death is so boring, especially now with so much excitement in the world. (Looks at Sansa). My Lady, I'm sorry for your loss."

Tyrion bows to Sansa. Joffrey looks over at her, and back to Tyrion.

JOFFREY: "Her loss? Her father was a confessed traitor!"

TYRION: "But still her father. Surely having so recently lost your own beloved father you can sympathize."

SANSA: "My father was a traitor. My mother and brother are traitors, too. I am loyal to my beloved Joffrey."

TYRION: "Of course you are."

Tyrion smirks sympathetically. Sansa looks away.

TYRION: "Well, (Gulps down his wine), enjoy your name day, Your Grace. Wish I could stay and celebrate, but there is work to be done."

Tyrion begins walking away from the tent.

JOFFREY: "What work? (Bronn and the tribesmen follow Tyrion. Joffrey stands up). Why are you here?"

Cersei and her guards enter the throne room. Extensive work is being done, overseen by Joffrey.

--------------------------------

CERSEI: What is all this?

JOFFREY: Returning this room to its proper appearance. Say what you will about the Targaryens, they were conquerors. That is a seat for a conqueror. It needs a room to match it, not vines and flowers.

CERSEI: "We can't find Arya Stark."

JOFFREY: "You know the starks well don't you Alester."

ALESTER: "Yes your Grace."

JOFFREY: "Do you believe she's still alive."

Alester: "A child as young as Arya. I highly doubt it your Grace."

Of course, this was a lie. Unlike Robert Ned actually prepared his children for rough times.

JOFFREY: "Your right. With luck, she's dead in a ditch somewhere."

CERSEI: "Perhaps. But if not, we need her. They'll never give Jaime back to us for Sansa alone."

JOFFREY: "I think they might. They're weak. They put too much value on their women. (Walks towards the throne)."

CERSEI: "We need to set our armies to the task of finding her. Send out as many men as we can. I'm sure if you asked grandfather -"

JOFFREY: "The King does not ask; He commands. And my grandfather's stupidity in the field of battle is the reason Robb Stark has Uncle Jaime in the first place."

CERSEI: "His life is in danger."

JOFFREY: "We're at war. All our lives are in danger. I heard a disgusting lie about Uncle Jaime. And you."

CERSEI: "Our enemies will say anything to weaken your claim to the throne."

JOFFREY: "It's not a claim. The throne is mine."

CERSEI: "Of course it is. No one believes this foul gossip -"

JOFFREY: "Someone believes it. Father had other children. Besides me and Tommen and Myrcella?"

CERSEI: "What are you asking?"

JOFFREY: "I'm asking if he fucked other women when he grew tired of you. How many bastards does he have running -"

Cersei instinctively slaps Joffrey. It grows quiet as many workers look over at Joffrey and Cersei. Joffrey looks up shocked, and then around to the workers in the room. Cersei appears nervous.

JOFFREY: "What you just did is punishable by death. You will never do it again. Never. (Joffrey begins to walk away). That will be all, Mother."