Hear me Roar - English version

CHAPTER 11 - The queen is convening the Council

               I accompany Ned to meet Littlefinger and Varys. Even though it is difficult for me to hide my affection for Baelish since our first kiss, my father still suspects nothing.

               A servant of the King approaches us; it is the man who greeted us upon our arrival in the capital. The guards, on high alert, draw their weapons, but my father reassures them with a simple wave of his hand.

"Lord Stark," the man says. "King Joffrey and the Queen Regent require your presence in the Throne Room."

"King Joffrey?" my father repeats, taken aback.

"King Robert is dead. May the gods grant him rest."

               What I dreaded most has finally happened. From this moment on, our lives will change utterly. For the worse.

"The King is dead," I whisper to myself. "Long live the King."

               Throughout King's Landing, the bells begin to toll. They announce Robert's death, the mourning of an entire people.

♐︎

               When we join our two allies, we barely greet one another. The situation is too grave for any pleasantries. For my part, I must fight the urge to throw myself into Petyr's arms, which could put us both in a very dangerous position. I realize then that we may never be able to live out our love.

"All is accomplished," he announces. "The City Watch is yours."

"Does Lord Renly join us?" my father asks.

               Baelish and Varys exchange a heavy, meaningful look. Not everything went as planned.

"I fear Lord Renly has left the city," Varys finally confesses. "He rode out the Old Gate an hour before dawn, accompanied by Ser Loras Tyrell and some fifty retainers. He was last seen galloping south at great speed."

"Perhaps he is the only sane man among us," I remark.

               And so, armed with their courage and the parchment signed by King Robert, they set off for the Throne Room. Arrow and I follow a few paces behind, in case an intervention is needed. However, just as we prepare to pass through the great doors, Baelish turns abruptly toward me.

"You must stay here," he says, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"I cannot leave you alone, it's..."

               With a tender gesture, he cups my cheeks so that I cannot turn my gaze away from him.

"Something may go wrong... We do not know what Cersei is capable of."

"You promised me my sisters would be safe."

"Nothing will happen to them. You, on the other hand, risk being harmed."

               Touched by the fact that he wants to protect me so much, I resolve to obey him. I have decided to grant him my trust, and for now, I have no reason to withdraw it.

"Good luck," I call out to them as the doors of the Throne Room close behind them.

♐︎

               After several minutes of silence, a great crash reaches my ears. Alerted, the Gold Cloaks who remained with me to ensure my protection draw their weapons. However, they do not enter. On the contrary, they seem determined to keep me outside the hall. Within seconds, I find myself surrounded. Had they been Northmen, they would have circled around me to protect me. But here, it is clear they mean to kill me.