chapter 158 part 1
Chapter 158: Black Tidings (End)
The Red Keep was dark and silent.
Outside the King's bedchamber, Lord Eddard saw three members of the Kingsguard led by Ser Barristan Selmy. Their expressions sent a strange chill through his heart.
The Lord Steward pulled the door open and announced in a loud voice, "The Hand of the King, Lord Eddard Stark."
"Bring him in."
Robert's voice was hoarse. Lord Eddard's heart sank; something was terribly wrong... He strode quickly inside.
The fires in the two symmetrical hearths at either end of the bedchamber burned blazing hot, filling the room with a somber, red glow.
The heat in the room was suffocating. Robert lay on the canopy bed, with Maester Pycelle in attendance by his side. Lord Renly paced anxiously before the closed window.
Cersei Lannister sat by the bedside, her hair disheveled as if she had just awoken from a dream, but her eyes held no trace of sleep.
Robert's legs, still in their boots, stuck out from under the blanket, caked with mud and dry grass. Lord Eddard's gaze fell upon a green tunic tossed on the floor, marked with the slashes of a blade and brownish-red stains.
The room reeked of smoke, dust, blood, and the stench of death.
King Robert looked toward Lord Eddard and said softly, "Ned..."
His face was as pale as milk; the wound was extremely severe.
"Who..."
Lord Eddard stepped forward. He wanted to ask who had done this... but his throat felt as if it were clamped in a vise, choking his voice... He reached out a hand to steady himself against the bedpost.
Renly walked over, his clothes covered in bloodstains. "It was a boar."
King Robert's voice was raspy. "A damned demon! Ned, I was drunk. I missed the shot. I deserve to go to hell for it."
Lord Eddard turned his head and questioned him sharply, "Renly, what were you all doing? Where was Ser Barristan Selmy and the Kingsguard?"
Renly explained with a bitter expression, "Ned, my brother ordered us to stand aside, so he could face the boar alone."
Lord Eddard reached out and lifted the wool blanket covering Robert.
That boar must have been a terrifying beast. It had ripped Robert's chest and belly apart with its two long tusks. The bandages Maester Pycelle had used for dressing the wound were already soaked with fresh blood, and the smell they gave off was nauseating.
Lord Eddard powerlessly let the blanket fall... How could this have happened? If death was unavoidable, Robert's final curtain should have fallen on a battlefield.
King Robert raged, "It stinks... this is the stink of death, don't think I can't smell it. I'm done for this time, aren't I? But I... I didn't let that boar get off easy either, Ned..."
As he spoke, King Robert revealed a grin as startling as his wound, his teeth stained red.
"I smashed that boar's eyes with my dagger. Ask them if it's true... ask them!"
Lord Renly murmured, "Yes, as my brother commanded, we brought the boar back. Its wounds can prove it."
Robert said softly, "Make it your supper..."
After a pause, he continued, "I need to talk with Ned. Leave us alone. All of you, get out."
Queen Cersei, like a wife unwilling to leave her husband, said in a voice tinged with grief, "My love..."
The authority of the Crowned Stag was as it ever was. He snapped, "I said, get out. Which word don't you understand, woman?"
Queen Cersei's expression changed. She rose unwillingly, shot a meaningful glance at Lord Eddard, then lifted her skirts and walked toward the door. The others followed her out.
Only Eddard and Robert remained in the room. Grief blurred Eddard's vision. He cursed under his breath, "Robert, you damned fool!"
King Robert's voice boomed, "Hah, screw you, you damned Ned! I beat that boar! I didn't lose!"
***
***
With hurried steps, Glyn ascended the battlements of the Red Keep. He soon spotted Queen Cersei standing alone beneath a crenelated tower.
After approaching, Glyn placed a hand on his chest and said, "Your Grace, the Queen."
The moonlight bathed the silently standing Queen Cersei, draping her in a layer of ethereal gauze, like a beautiful statue.
Glyn took a few steps to stand at Queen Cersei's side. Following her gaze, he looked in the direction of the King's bedchamber.
After a long while, Queen Cersei spoke, her voice cold and clear. "Lord Glyn, Robert is dying..."
"So it's irreversible?" Glyn's eyes twitched slightly. He nodded. "On my way here, I happened upon Lord Renly and the others and overheard some news."
Queen Cersei turned her face and looked at Glyn beside her. "Lord Glyn, do you think my son... Joffrey... will be able to inherit the Iron Throne smoothly?"
Glyn replied casually, "Of course..."
As he spoke, Glyn turned toward Queen Cersei and added, "Queen Cersei, you seem to have some worries?"
Queen Cersei said mockingly, "Maester Pycelle told me the King won't last the night. That man also knows his own condition clearly, yet he drove the Queen out and kept the Wolf Lord behind alone."
Glyn frowned and said, "Queen Cersei, please rest assured, Prince Joffrey is the indisputable heir to the Iron Throne..."
Glyn's gaze sharpened as he continued, "If anything should happen against your will... Queen Cersei, my soldiers are already awaiting your command outside the city."
Queen Cersei raised her arm, her soft hand caressing Glyn's cheek. Her voice was uncharacteristically gentle. "Lord Glyn, I trust in your loyalty."
After speaking, Queen Cersei stepped forward, leaning her entire body against Glyn.
Glyn's body trembled noticeably. Queen Cersei's voice remained gentle. "Glyn, you may hold your Queen tightly. This is the Queen's reward for loyalty."
After a pause, Glyn's hands moved stiffly, placing one on Queen Cersei's shoulder and the other on the small of her back.
Glyn's voice was a bit hoarse. "Thank you for your reward, Your Grace."
The night was very quiet. Queen Cersei slowly began to speak, "Lord Glyn, Janos Slynt has taken the initiative to pledge himself to your Queen."
Glyn's eyes trembled. He said in a low voice, "Your Grace, this is good news. The 6,000 Goldcloaks under Lord Slynt's command can be considered a guarantee for Prince Joffrey's smooth succession to the Iron Throne."
Queen Cersei pulled away from Glyn's embrace and looked up at him.
"Lord Glyn, I cannot trust Lord Slynt as I trust you. The Mother Lion will not entrust her safety, and that of her son, to him."