State of Grace / Ned Stark

19. Do Better Joffrey

'That is ser Gregor Clegane they call him the mountain.' Petyr told her 'the hounds older brother'

'And his opponent?'

'Sir hugh of the veil,' Petyr told her as both opponents came forward bowing before the king 'he was Jon Arryn's squire'

'Yes yes enough of the bloody pomp,' Robert said 'have at it,' he said leaning lazily back in his chair. Both riders took their places at the opposite end of the jousting arena the horn blew and both men took off their jousting spears pointed at each other's faces. They missed, they turned around to begin again this time however Gregor did not miss. His lance speared Ser Hugh in the throat and he came colliding to the ground. Blood spewed from his neck as part of the lance was lodged in his throat he spewed for breath before he breathed his last. Ser gregor stood victorious as ser hugh was carried away.

'Not what you were expecting?' Petyr asked sansa shook her head. 'has anyone ever told you the story of the mountain and the hound?' He glanced back at sandor. 'a lovely little tale of brotherly love.' Sansa glance back at Sandor as well 'the hound,' Petyr went on. 'was just a pup six years old maybe Gregor a few years older but he was already getting a bit of a reputation some people said that the boy was just born with a talent for violence. One evening Gregor found his little brother playing with a toy by the fire Gregor's toy. A wooden knight. Gregor never said a word he just grabbed his brother by the scruff of his neck and shoved his face into the burning coals held him there while the boy screamed, and his face melted...' he smirked over at a scared sansa. 'There aren't very many people that know that story'

'I won't tell anyone I promise.' sansa assure shim slightly terrified

'No please don't.' Petyr said 'if the hound so much as heard you mention it I'm afraid all the knights and kings landing would not be able to save you.'

"Grace, come sit by me!" Robert barked. 

"No seats up there. What a shame." Grace corrected as Ned pulled from her side, her eyes followed him. 

"You can sit right here." Robert pat his lap. 

"That is an awful offer, I think I will pass." Grace corrected and Robert laughed out. No matter how many time Grace rejected him he always thought she would come around eventually. She wouldnt. 

"Get her a chair-"

"Not needed I see Renly-" Grace corrected. "Your much handsomer younger brother." Grace added. 

"Hound get her a seat up here." Sandor moved to the side pulling up a chair. "Right here next to me!"

"Thanks, Sandor." Grace agreed dragging it to the side of the shaded platform on the opposite side of Joffrey. Far, far away from Robert. Sandor chuckled moving back to his post. 

 'Where is arya?' Ned questioned looking around.

'At her dancing lessons.' Sansa answered . 'The knight of the flowers...' sansa said happily as ser loras Tyrell approached he held out a rose for Sansa and she took it gratefully 'thank you ser loras." They bowed before the king ser Loras on a white steed while Gregor was on a black horse. Gregor's horse started to whine and complain he rode off ill tempered as Gregor try to stable him.

'Don't let Ser Gregor hurt him.' Sansa begged 'I can't watch' Ned tried to comfort his daughter.

'100 gold dragons on the mountain.' petyr called back to Renly.

'I'll take that.' Renly said pleasantly

'Now what will I do with 100 gold dragons Dornish wine or a girl from the pleasure houses?' Petyr questioned.

'You can even buy yourself a friend.' Renly suggested.

'He is going to die!' Sansa told Ned 

'He's going to try to win.' Ned told her the horn blew and they were off. Charging at one another Loras' lance got ser Gregor, he collapse to the ground into the fence breaking it.

"Good job petals." Grace clapped out clearly bored. "Where is Jaime? When he competing, do you know Joffrey?"

"I dont make the schedules." Joffrey corrected. "Where were you?"

"I was busy... trying and failing to find the schedule maker." Grace decided. 

"Thats a lame lie and you know it." Joffrey corrected. 

"Yeah." Grace agreed running her fingers through his hair. 

'Such a shame little finger it would've been so nice for you to have a friend.' Renly told him.

'And tell me Renly when will you be having your friend?' Petyr taunted gesturing to loras, Petyr turned back to sansa, and Ned. 'Loras knew his horse was in heat.' Petyr told sansa.

'He would never do that there is no honor in that in honor in tricks.' Sansa assured him.

'No honor but quite a bit of gold' '

"I'm bored." Joffrey decided. 

"Me too, tourneys are a bore." Grace agreed. "Lets eat cake and drink wine until we end up naked in the streams next time there is a celebration." Joffrey stared back at her silently. 

"I'm half kidding." Grace offered. 

"Which half?" 

"I would leave my panties on, I'm not a hooligan." Grace mused and Joffrey smiled back at her picturing her naked. 

 Gregor was not happy about it he threw down his helmet screaming out as Loras approached the victor.

'Sword!' Gregor screamed out as everyone cheered. Gregor was given a sword and he chopped his own horses head clean off with one swing Sansa jumped as the horses head severed and fell to the ground, a scream stuck on her lips as Gregor kept going. Gregor came at Loras knocking him down again and again. Loras's shield was not strong enough to fend off against Gregor but Sandor jumped forward. Grace leaned back in her chair startled. 

"Sandor don't-" Grace began when she saw him take a step forward and then he was charging ahead. 

''Leave him be!' Sandor declared dueling off against his brother. Gregor charged at Sandor, a wicked look in his eyes. Everyone watched in horror as Sandor faced off against his older brother. Grace fisted her dress nervously as she watched unable to tear her eyes away.

'That is enough! In the name of the king!" Robert shouted and sandor dropped to a knee, gregor's blade just barely missed his head. Grace's eyes went wide as she stared. Joffrey didnt seem phased. 

''Let him be.' Robert muttered as Gregor stormed off.

"You saved my life ser.' Loras said walking up, still frazzled from his near death. 'thank you.' Loras told sandor.

"I'm no ser.' Sandor grumbled but Loras lifted Sandor's hand and declared him the victor of the tourney. 

"Cheer for Sandor." Grace instructed of Joffrey. "Gregor could have killed Loras."

"So? I dont care about Loras." Joffrey corrected and Grace pinched his ear. "OW!" Joffrey demanded pushing her hand away. 

"Do better Joffrey." Grace instructed and Joffrey clapped three times looking to Grace for approval.