The Dark Tower

Chapter 19 - Dinner and Destinies

That evening, we were introduced to the Stark children, legitimate and otherwise, and my favourite. Jon Snow. The pouty lips. The hair. And underneath all those clothes, the body.

As we were eating, a messenger brought word to Ned Stark that King Robert would be arriving the following day.

‘I will invite Tyrion to the feast, but if he does not show, he will be in the brothel.’

‘Ned!’ Catelyn chastised, but Ned just laughed.

‘It’s true!’

It was Ned and Catelyn’s eldest daughter, Sansa, who sat beside me after the meal had formally ended. Her auburn hair framed a pretty, if slightly vacant face.

‘My lady, you are from this place called Camelot?’

‘I am now.’

‘Tell me of it.’

‘It is a magical place, with a good and fair king, brave knights, magic and dragons.’

‘And beautiful women?’

‘Not enough beautiful women.’

‘I would like to come back with you. To Camelot.’

‘But you can’t!’ I said in a panic.

‘Why not? Lady Beth, I have never left Winterfell. I want to be like you, brave and fearless enough to travel across worlds, to have adventures.’

‘Oh Sansa, you will have many adventures here in your country. And soon, I promise you. You are a beautiful girl.’

‘But I feel trapped, as though my life is already planned for me.’

‘But I thought the plan was what you wanted?’

‘To marry Prince Joffrey? Yes. One day. But not yet. I want to experience life before I settle down.’

‘Sansa, you’re thirteen!’

‘And I’ll be married and having babies by the time I’m sixteen and my life will have ended.’

‘Sansa, be very careful what you wish for. At this moment, I want nothing more than to be getting married and settling down.’

‘And having babies?’

‘Ah. Um. Oh. Erm.’ My mind was in a sudden whirl and I turned to look at Gwaine. He was speaking to Robb Stark about Camelot battlecraft, passionate, enthusiastic, using the cutlery and items on the table to demonstrate what he was saying and I felt an overwhelming sense of love for him. ‘You know what Sansa, if Gwaine and I are to be blessed with children, then I think that would be the biggest adventure of my life.’

The king and his entourage arrived in a flurry of activity. Gwaine and I took our places behind the Starks to welcome them. I was right about Jaime Lannister. He was golden and magnificent as . . . not a lion but something definitely sleek and feline. As he was introduced to us, his eyes rested upon my face and then flicked down to my breasts. He threw me a half smile as he rose from kissing my hand. I could immediately sense that Gwaine didn’t like him. I wasn’t sure whether it was an instinctive mistrust . . . or a bit of jealousy. But it was his brother I needed to see and he was not with the main party.

He arrived late to the feast that evening although a space had been left for him next to me. He’d already been drinking, but took his place and immediately called for more beer.

‘You are not a Stark,’ he said to me. ‘Nor from the north. You are far too pretty.’

‘No, I am visiting from Camelot, High Lord Baldol of the Grey Mountains.’ I lowered my voice to say his name, but he still looked around in fear.

‘My lady, we shall talk later.’

We met in an anti-room, Tyrion/Baldol, Gwaine and I. Tyrion ordered some ale and then requested that we be left alone.

‘High Lord Baldol of the Grey Mountains, I bring greetings from Gimli son of Glóin,’ said Gwaine, and handed him Gimli’s letter of introduction. He took it but did not read it.

‘It has been many moons since I last heard that name,’ he replied. ‘And what brings you to Winterfell?’

‘We need your assistance with this.’ I said, and held out the bracelet towards him.

He pulled a candle over towards it and examined it closely. ‘Oh. Yes, this is dwarvish. A bracelet of Nybling. Well, what would you like to know about it?’

‘How to get rid of the damned thing!’

‘Ah. Its magic is still strong in Middle Earth and its environs, then?’

‘Yes,’ said Gwaine firmly. ‘Gimli said that you as a runemaster would know how it could be removed. Do you?’

There was a long, ominous silence. ‘Tell me how you came into possession of it,’ he said at last.

I told him. About my disagreement with the naiad, her placing it on me, the reaction it had caused, and how it summoned the fairies. Then Gwaine told him of his sister’s experience, struggling to control his emotions as he spoke.

Tyrion listened carefully, his head bowed as we both told our stories.

‘So, how can I remove it?’ I finished.

‘Before I tell you that, I must explain how these bracelets came to be made. There are, or were, seven of them, and they were made to complement the seven rings of power. The seven bracelets of love. When worn together, the wearer would gain power but also the love of the people. Except that the rings of power, because they were made by Sauron, corrupted the bracelets of love, forcing people into love rather than earning it. They became valuable and much prized as they could distract whole armies. It was only true love that they could not conquer, as I think you have found, and some are more susceptible to its power than others. But they are not to be taken lightly and the naiad probably did not understand its power, wanting you to be inconvenienced by men becoming smitten with you.’

He shifted in his seat and took a swig of ale. ‘There is also the influence of the one ring of power which has been lost for many years.’

Gwaine and I glanced at each other but then nodded our agreement to tell Tyrion.

‘The ring has been found,’ Gwaine said.

‘Has it? Interesting. But not yet in Sauron’s hands otherwise even we would know.’

‘No, there is a quest to destroy it.'

‘That is excellent news. I hope it is successful. Although destroying the one ring may increase the power of the bracelet. Which brings me to how to remove it. I’m afraid I do not know.’