The Game of Thrones

The Pack Must Survive

With red bloodshot eyes dressed in another Southern gown of lilac, Sansa and I walked onto the balcony overlooking the Great Hall the following day to find a man sitting on the floor with a lute his lap. Ignoring those around us we watched as the minstrel pluck at the strings of his lute as he sang, "the boar's great tusks, they boded ill, for good King Robert's health, and the beast was every bit as fat, as Robert was himself, but our brave king cried, "Do your worst! I'll have your ugly head! You're nowhere near as murd'rous as the lion in my bed", King Robert lost his battle and, he failed his final test, the lion ripped his balls off, and the boar did all the rest." The Hall remained silent as the minstrel finished plucking at his lute while Joffrey halfheartedly clapped in reply until a few members of the court joined before he said, "very amusing. Isn't it a funny song." Adjusting himself in his new throne, our King stared at him for a moment before saying, "thank you for your rendition. I imagine it was even better received at that tavern," as the minstrel quickly got to his feet, clutching his lute while he said, "I'm so sorry, your Grace. I'll never sing it again, l swear." Joffrey asked, "tell me, which do you favor, your fingers or your tongue?" the minstrel confusingly asked, "your Grace?" Sansa and I glanced at him while Joffrey asked, "fingers or your tongue? If you got to keep one, which would it be." We returned our attention to the minstrel while Joffrey idly said, "or l could just cut your throat." The minstrel stuttered out, "every man needs hands, your Grace," bring a smile to Joffrey's face. "Good. Tongue it is," as the minstrel blinked while he said, "your Grace, please." A Lannister guard walked over to him while he said, "l won't sing, your Grace" only to be grabbed by the man before forcing him to his knees.

Joffrey offered a brief glance to Payne before saying, "Ilyn, who better than you to carry out the sentence." He walked over to a fire pit with a dagger in hand as the man pleaded with Joffrey to not do this. Ignoring him, I took hold of Sansa's hand as Joffrey stood and removed his crown while saying, "I'm done for the day. I'll leave the rest of the matters to you, Mother" before stepping down from the Iron Throne and walking across the room toward us while Ser Meryn Trant and the Hound followed him. We moved to curtsy to him only to hear him say, "both of you look quite nice." I nodded as Sansa softly said, "thank you, my Lord," to which he sharply said, "your Grace. I'm King now." Both of us nodded that we understood while I said, "of course, we thank you for your kind words, your Grace" as the minstrel screamed, "stop! No," as Joffrey smiled before saying, "walk with me. I want to show you two something" as he walked past us until we heard, "do as you're bid, children" as I offered the Hound a hard glare before stepping forward as I gently tugged Sansa after me

Joffrey led us outside and onto Traitor's walk while the Hound, Ser Meryn Trant, and two other members of the Kingsguard followed us. Breathing slowly yet deeply, I adjust the length of my strides to match that of Joffrey's and Sansa as I turned my head to the left to find spears lining the outer walkway as he said, "as soon as you've had your blood Lady Sansa, I'll put a son in you. Mother says that shouldn't belong, and until then, perhaps I will practice with you, Lady Ilyanna, now that my uncle is not here to stop me" only to turn to the left and stop. Sansa and I did the same as I glanced up to find our Father's head shoved onto a pike beside Septa's and other members of our former household while Sansa said, "no! Please, no" the moment she saw them. Remaining as still as a statue, I heard the clank of armor against mail as someone behind us took hold of Sansa while Joffrey stepped onto the makeshift bridge while saying, "this one's your Father. This one here" as he pointed at our Father's severed head. Breathing slowly, I stared at it for a moment before our King yelled, "look at it and see what happens to traitors." Sansa's gown brushed against mine while she said, "you promised to be merciful." Joffrey quickly said, "I was." I glanced away from our Father's severed head to look at him while he said, "l gave him a clean death," as I quickly said, "if you were merciful, you should have issued the blow yourself instead of ordering another to do it for you." He walked up to me. We stared at each other for a moment before he said, "Ser Meryn, I order you to remind Lady Ilyanna that I am King, and she is at my command." With the brush of armor against mail, I found myself being turned to face the Kingsguard only to feel his gloved hand connect with my face.

Blinking past the pain, I turned my head, feeling the blood in my mouth as I stared at Joffrey until he said, "look at him." Doing as he bid, I lifted my eyes to stare at Father while hearing, "please let us go home. We won't do any treason, we swear," from my sister quickly followed by Joffrey saying, "Mother says I'm still to marry you. So, you and your sister will stay here, and obey," as he took a deep breath before yelling, "look at him" as Sansa joined me in staring at our Father while the boy king asked, "well?" Breathing slowly, I asked, "how long do you wish us to look," as he replied with "as long as it pleases me." We simply stared at his head until Joffrey asked, "do you two want to see the rest?" Sansa softly said, "if it pleases you, your Grace." Smiling, he pointed at the head to the left of Father's while saying, "that's your Septa there" as our eyes followed his finger to find Septa's severed head still bearing her traditional headscarf. Keeping my eyes on her head, I didn't blink when I felt Sansa take hold of my hand while Joffrey smugly said, "I'll tell you what, I'm going to give both of you a present. After l raise my armies and kill your traitor brother, I'm going to give you his head as well." Squeezing her hand, I slowly glanced away from Septa to stare at the boy king while Sansa sharply said, "or maybe he will give us yours," promoting him to take a step toward us as she joined me in staring at him. With a deep breath, he glared at us for a moment before saying, "my mother tells me a King should never strike a lady. Ser Meryn," only to feel the sleeve of her gown brush against mine as Meryn turned her to face him before striking her across the face twice as she slowly turned around to face Joffrey as she held on tight to my hand as Joffrey turned his back on us. With a slight tug, I found myself taking a step toward the spoiled King only to be pulled back as a familiar voice say, "here, girl."

We glanced up to find the Hound standing behind us as he gently brushed the blood from our lips away with a handkerchief before allowing Sansa to take it from him while Joffrey asked, "will you two obey now? Or do both of you need another lesson?" Refusing to answer, I watched him walked past us as he said, "I'll look for the two of you in court," while Ser Meryn followed him. Breathing deeply, I glanced away from his retreating form only to hear, "save yourselves some pain, girls. Give him what he wants." We slowly glanced up at the Hound. Before he could walk away, Sansa held out the handkerchief he gave her only to which he said, "you'll be needing that again" before walking away. As his footsteps faded away, I turned my head to look at Sansa as she stared at the ground below us. "Do not even think it." She slowly glanced at me as I squeezed her hand and said, "have faith that Robb will do everything in his power to come for us, and when he does, I hope he burns this place to the ground." She nodded in agreement as I released her hand before wrapping my arms around her arm while I said, "the North Remembers." Looking up, I stared at our Father's severed head before saying, "the North Always Remembers for Winter Comes for all men."