"even steel." "flesh." "If I could tell you how many crazy old men" "I've seen making grand claims about jars full of pig shit." "Our order does not deal in pig shit." "King Stannis is my God." "He raised me up and gave you a future I could never have imagined." "And you think a Fire God commanded all that?" "It was Stannis." "but he's only a man." "Don't tell him that." "Does it give you joy to scare people?" "it gives me joy to kill people." "Killing's the sweetest thing there is." "You shipped off my only daughter and now you want to send my eldest son to the battlefield to die." "He needs to be out there." "The men will fight more fiercely seeing their king fighting beside them instead of hiding behind his mother's skirts." "Stannis two days from the capital and the wolf at my doorstep." "Scouts assure us Robb Stark won't risk marching on Casterly Rock until he's at full force." "He'll risk anything at any time." "We'll ride at nightfall." "The Stark forces are distracted." "Now is the time to strike." "you do understand" "Stannis Baratheon sails this way?" "They say Stannis never smiles." "I'll give him a red smile." "we'll reach King's Landing in a day." "Will it hold?" "Your Grace." "Stannis knows King's Landing." "He knows where the walls are strongest and he knows which gates are weakest." "Mud gate." "That's where he'll land." "what do we have?" "That's it." "The tide's against us." "but we have the wind." "She'll blow us straight to the gate." "You're coming home." "King's Landing hasn't been home for 20 years." "I spent most of my life dodging the Royal Fleet." "And now I'm sailing right at them." "This is the Royal Fleet." "you're the high captain." "Of course there are several Royal Fleets at the moment." "Not after tonight." "Stannis will sit on the Iron Throne and you will be his Hand." " Gods be good." " God." "there is only one and he watches over us." " But not over them?" " Over all of us." "The people of King's Landing did not choose the false King" "Joffrey Baratheon." "They will be glad to see his head on a spike." "first we have to put it there." "Our ships outnumber theirs 10 to one." "Our army outnumber theirs five to one." "Those walls have never been breached. they don't see a liberator." "They see a stranger come to set their city on fire." "I have faith in the Lord of Light." "I have faith in our cause." "And I have faith in my captain." "my lion?" "Stannis will burn every Lannister he can find." "Of course I'm afraid." "I won't let them hurt you." "I'm a Lannister." "I don't have a choice in all this." "But it's not your war." "It is now." "You can't fuck your way out of everything." "I have so far." "Do you remember what you said when you met me in your tent?" "That I should make love to you like it was your last day on this earth." "it is not only the sworn duty of a Maester but also to offer guidance and counsel in times of war." "Your words are always wise and measured. a Maester's duties become more urgent in times of war and turmoil." "I remember back in the days of king..." "You brought me something?" "Yes." "Essence of Nightshade is as dangerous as it is efficacious." "A single drop in a cup of wine suffices to soothe ragged nerves." "Three drops will bring on a deep and dreamless sleep." "however..." "I know what 10 drops will bring." "if I may ask..." "You may not." "You must have a lot of work to do." "I'm sure many brave men will need your wisdom soon." "Yes." "A siege is very..." "Grand Maester." "There are so many." "Your Grace." "♪" "♪" "♪" "♪ with no one there to hear. ♪ now the rains weep o'er his hall ♪" "♪ and not a soul to hear. ♪" " To the boys!" " Lannisters!" "Where'd you learn the Lannister song?" "Drunk Lannisters." "You've got a pretty voice." "Thank you very much." "And I like your nose." "How many times you break it?" "now let's see." "First time I was five." "Me mom smacked me with an iron poker." "Ooh." "it wasn't me she was aiming at." "She was trying for me little brother." "Now he was a real pest." "Second time I was nine." "Got in a scrap with a few older boys." "They won." "Third time... you don't want to know about the third time." "Poor nose." "Don't feel sorry for him." "He'll be halfway up your ass before the night's through." "friends." "This round's on me." "I don't think he likes me." "You think you're a hard man?" "I know it." "It's warm in here." "We've got beautiful women and good brown ale." "Plenty for everyone." "And all you want is to put one of us in the cold ground with no women to keep us company." "there's women in the ground." "I put some there myself." "So have you." "You like fucking and drinking and singing." "But killing... killing's the thing you love." "You're just like me." "Only smaller." "And quicker." "Eh?" "Your Lord Imp is gonna miss you." "Aye." "I expect he will someday." "Here we are." "One more drink before the war?" "Shall we?" "I've always hated the bells." "They ring for horror... a city under siege." " A wedding." " Exactly." "is that it?" "Is that it?" Nice touch." "As if you don't know the name of every boy in town." "I'm not entirely sure what you're suggesting." "I'm entirely sure you're entirely sure what I'm suggesting." "Do you trust him?" "I do." "Good." "The map you asked for." "There must be 20 miles of tunnels beneath the city." "Closer to 50." "The Targaryens built this city to withstand a siege and to provide escape if necessary." "I'm not escaping." "I'm the captain of the ship." "I go with her." "That is good to hear." "Though I'm sure many captains say the same while their ship is afloat." "My Lord." "I'm not." "I hope you are wrong." "My little birds tell me that Stannis Baratheon has taken up with a Red Priestess from Asshai." "What of it?" "My Lord?" "shape-shifting-- what do you think?" "I think you believe in what you see and in what those you trust have seen." "You probably don't entirely trust me." "don't take it personally." "I don't entirely trust myself." "And yet I have seen things and heard things... things I wish I had not." "I don't believe I've ever told you how I was cut." "I don't believe you have." "One day I will." "The dark arts have provided Lord Stannis with his armies and paved his path to our door." "I can think of nothing worse." "I believe you are the only man who can stop him." "They're welcoming the new king." "I've never known bells to mean surrender." "They want to play music with us?" "Let's play." "Drums." "Drums!" "wait till the shit..." "The ships are in the bay." "They must be far enough in so they won't be..." "I know what "in" means." "Do you know how to use that?" "I chopped wood once." "I watched my brother chopping wood." "I saw you kill a man with a shield." "You'll be unstoppable with an axe." "my friend." "are we friends now?" "Of course we are." "Just because I pay you for your services doesn't diminish our friendship." "really." "enhances." "Fancy word for a sellsword." "Been spending time with fancy folks." "Sheila." "yes." "Surely my sister has asked you to join the other highborn ladies in Maegor's holdfast. but King Joffrey sent for me to see him off." "Sansa." "my nephew." "come here." "My Lord." "Will you?" "Just as I pray for the King's." "My Lady." "my lion." "Your king rides forth to battle." "You should see him off with a kiss." "My new blade." "Hearteater I've named it." "Kiss it." "You'll kiss it again when I return and taste my Uncle's blood." "Will you slay him yourself?" "If Stannis is fool enough to come near me." "So you'll be outside the gates fighting in the Vanguard?" "A king doesn't discuss battle plans with stupid girls." "I'm stupid." "Of course you'll be in the Vanguard." "They say my brother Robb always goes where the fighting is thickest." "And he is only a pretender." "Your brother's turn will come." "too." "Some of those boys will never come back." "Joffrey will." "The worst ones always live." "Shh." "My Lady." "Where's our fleet?" "On the way." "Why isn't it here now?" "They're coming." "tell the Hand that his King has asked him a question." "The King has asked you a question." "tell the Hound to tell the king that the Hand is extremely busy." "The Hand of the King would like me to tell you to tell the King... he'll do it without a second thought." "That would make me the Quarterman." "It just doesn't have the same ring to it." "Cut me in half and I won't be able to give the signal." "no plan. puts your pinched little head atop a gate somewhere. too. but I don't want to see it removed just yet." "Where are their ships?" "It is wise to attack at night." "We took them by surprise." "Lord Varys knows what you had for breakfast three days ago." "There are no surprises here. maybe their sailors have mutinied." "Maybe." "I don't know why she wants me here." "She's always saying how stupid I am." "She hates me." "Maybe she hates you less than she hates everyone else." "I doubt it." "Maybe she's jealous of you." "Why would she be jealous?" "Sansa." "I was wondering where our little dove had flown." "child." "Is your red flower still blooming?" "Yes." "isn't it?" "The men will bleed out there and you will bleed in here." "Pour Lady Sansa some wine." "Your Grace." "So?" "I didn't offer you water." "What's he doing here?" "Ser Ilyn?" "He's here to defend us. you may be glad to have him." "But we have guards to defend us." "Guards we have paid." "they'll be the first ones out of the doors." "The lads caught a groom and two maids trying to sneak away with a stolen horse and some gold cups." "The battle's first traitors." "Have Ser Ilyn see to them." "Put their heads on spikes outside the stables as a warning." "The only way to keep the small folk loyal is to make certain they fear you more than they do the enemy." "Remember that if you ever hope to become a queen." "You said he was here to protect us." "He is." "Traitors are a danger to us all." "More wine." "There they are." "Archers to their marks." "to your marks!" "Archers!" "Nock your arrows!" "Nock arrows!" "Hold fast." "Hold fast!" "What are you doing?" "We need to attack them." "Hold fast." "Boulders ready!" "Hold fast!" "There's only one ship." "Where are the rest of them?" "Where are the rest of them?" "!" "There's only one ship." "stand to!" "Man the below!" " Nock!" " Nock and set!" "Draw!" "Hold." "Hold!" "There's no one on board." "More rocks coming up!" "Hold." "Wildfire." "Steer clear!" "Steer clear!" "Matthos!" "Get down!" " Prepare to land." " Your Grace..." "The dwarf has played his little trick." " The wildfire..." " He can only play it once." "We're too far from the gates." "their archers... hundreds will die." "Thousands." "Come with me and take this city!" "little dove." "My queen." "What are you doing?" "Praying." "aren't you?" "Praying." "What are you praying for?" "For the Gods to have mercy on us all." "Oh." "On all of us?" "Your Grace." "Even me?" "Your Grace." "Even Joffrey?" "you little fool." "Praying to the Gods to have mercy on us all." "The Gods have no mercy." "That's why they're Gods." "My father told me that when he caught me praying." "you see. the finality of it. the Gods would return my mother to me." "I was four." "Your father doesn't believe in the Gods?" "he just doesn't like them very much." "One for her." "Here." "Sit." "Drink." "girl." "I should have been born a man." "000 swords than be shut up inside with this flock of frightened hens." "They are your guests under your protection." "You asked them here. as it will be of you if you ever become Joffrey's queen. these hens will return to their cocks lifted their spirits." "And if the city should fall?" "wouldn't you? long enough for me to go to the walls and yield to Lord Stannis in person." "I might have hoped for a private audience." "But this is Stannis Baratheon." "I'd have a better chance of seducing his horse." "little dove?" "Tears aren't a woman's only weapon." "The best one's between your legs." "Learn how to use it." "Drink." "Do you have any notion of what happens when a city is sacked?" "would you?" "these fine women should be in for a bit of a rape." "Half of them will have bastards in their bellies come the morning." "You'll be glad of your red flower then. anything with tits looks good." "A precious thing like you will look... very good." "A slice of cake just waiting to be eaten." "More pressure!" "men!" "Pull!" "Pull!" "That's it!" "Steady!" "He's a serious man - Stannis Baratheon." "They're coming." "They're coming ashore." "Rain fire on them." "Archers!" "There are too many." "form a welcome party for any Baratheon troop that manages to touch solid ground." "run to the King's gate." "Bring any men guarding it here now." "My Lord." "Let's go." "Stannis is sending us fresh meat." "too." "I'll strangle you with your own guts." "pull!" "Go!" "Nock!" "Draw!" " Draw!" " Draw!" "Kill the Lannisters!" "Loose!" "Loose!" "Form the line!" "Stannis!" " Draw!" " Draw!" " Loose!" " Loose!" "They cannot breach the wall!" "Yah!" "go now!" "to the gates!" "To the mud gate! I'll rape his fucking corpse." "we looked so much alike." "Even our father couldn't tell us apart." "I could never understand why they treated us differently. and I was taught to smile and sing and please." "He was heir to Casterly Rock and I was sold to some stranger like a horse to be ridden whenever he desired." "You were Robert's queen." "And you will be Joffrey's." "Enjoy." "I don't think I know this one." "Pretty." "That's the worst curtsy I've ever seen." "it's not difficult." "I mastered it when I was four." "Straighten your back and bend." "Better." "You learn fast." "How long have you been in Lady Sansa's service?" "Your Grace." "When did you leave Lorath?" "I had a Lorathi handmaiden once." "But she was a nobleman's daughter." "You're not." "When did you come to Westeros?" "Your Grace." "From Lorathi commoner to the Red Keep all without learning how to curtsy." "I imagine that's a very interesting story." "What's your name?" "Your Grace." "Shae." "I..." "Your Grace!" "What news?" "The Imp has set the river afire." "maybe more." "but..." "But... but his troops have landed outside the city walls." "Where is Joffrey?" "On the battlements with Lord Tyrion." "Bring him back inside at once." "Your Grace..." " What?" "The King's presence is good for morale." "Bring him back to his chambers now." " Not here?" " With the women and children?" "Do you want him to be mocked as a coward for the rest of his life?" "but I..." " Now!" "I lied." "Do you want to hear the truth?" "You want to know why he's really here?" "He's here for us. but he will not take us alive." "Ah!" "Help me!" "We'd better run!" "Fall back!" "Get the ladders up!" "you bastards!" "Faster!" "kill the scum!" "Someone bring me a drink." "Fuck the water." "Bring me wine." "Can I get you some iced milk too?" "dwarf." "You're on the wrong side of the wall." "I lost half my men." "The Blackwater's on fire." "I command you to go back out there and fight." "Clegane." "You must beat them back or they're going to take this city... your king's city." "Fuck the Kingsguard." "Fuck the city." "Fuck the King." "Loose!" "Put your backs into it!" "get up!" "Loose!" "Clear!" "Forward!" "Loose!" "Forward ladders!" "They're coming up the wall!" "Archers on the north wall!" "Heave!" "Heave! the queen has sent me to bring you back to the Red Keep." "why should they?" "What would you have me do?" "Lead." "Get down there and lead your people against the invaders who want to kill them." "What did my mother say exactly?" "Did she have urgent business with me?" "Your Grace." "All men to the battlements! stay with my Uncle and represent the king on the field of battle." "hold your line or I'll kill you myself." "Stand fast!" "No!" "you fool." "We need more arrows!" "Where is the king?" " Why isn't he with us?" " Who are we fighting for?" "Who leads us?" "I'll lead the attack." "I'll lead the attack!" " Yes?" " What are you talking about?" "my helmet." "you will bear the King's banner." "form up." "Men... men!" " Come on." "They say I'm half a man." "But what does that make the lot of you?" "The only way out is through the gates." "And they're at the gates." "There's another way out." "I'm going to show you." "We'll come out behind them and fuck them in their asses." "Heave!" "Heave!" "Don't fight for your king and don't fight for his kingdoms." "Don't fight for honor." "Don't fight for glory." "because you won't get any." "This is your city Stannis means to sack." "That's your gate he's ramming." "your women he will rape." "Heave!" "Heave!" "Heave!" "Heave!" "Those are brave men knocking at our door." "Let's go kill them." "Your Grace." "Stannis's troops are at the gates. they lost all heart." "Where is my son?" "I want to escort him back to the battle." "Why do I care what you want?" " Bring me..." " Now listen to me... ah!" "Don't be afraid." "The queen has raised the drawbridge." "This is the safest place we can be." "Joffrey's not hurt." "He's fighting bravely." "His knights have rallied behind him." "They will save the city." "Shall we sing a hymn?" "♪ we pray. ♪" " ♪ Gentle mother... ♪" " You must go." "Run to your chamber and bar your door." "Stannis won't hurt you." "This one will." "Come with me." "I need to say goodbye to someone." "The queen said they'd rape everyone." "No one is raping me." "Go." "Run." "we pray. ♪" "The lady is starting to panic." "What are you doing here?" "Not here for long." " I'm going." " Where?" "Someplace that isn't burning." "might be." "Could be." "What about the king?" "He can die just fine on his own." "I can take you with me." "Take you to Winterfell." "I'll keep you safe." "Do you want to go home?" "I'll be safe here." "Stannis won't hurt me." "Look at me." "Stannis is a killer." "The Lannisters are killers." "Your father was a killer." "Your brother is a killer." "Your sons will be killers someday." "The world is built by killers." "So you'd better get used to looking at them." "You won't hurt me." "I won't hurt you." "Heave!" "Heave!" "you bastards!" "Get up those ladders!" "Ah!" "Attack!" "Roll it over!" "Halfman!" "Halfman!" "Halfman!" "Halfman!" "Halfman!" "Halfman!" "Halfman!" "Halfman!" "fuck me." "Shh." "my sweet." "They're still fighting." "No one's going to hurt you." "I'll tell you a story." "You know the one about the mother lion and her little cub?" " They lived in the woods." " The Kingswood." "my love." "In the Kingswood there lived a mother and her cub." "She loved him very much." "But there were other things that lived in the woods." " Evil things." " Like what?" "Like stags." "Stags aren't evil." "They only eat grass." "And wolves." "My Lord." "He could hear them howling in the night." "The little cub was frightened." "my son." "You mustn't be afraid." "For one day all the beasts will bow to you." "You will be king." "All the stags will bow." "All the wolves will bow. all the birds in the sky and the beasts in the sea... little lion... to rest a crown upon your head." "Will I be strong and fierce like my father?" "said his mother." "You will be strong and fierce just like your father." "I will keep you safe... my love." "I promise you." "Back to the boats!" "Stand and fight!" "damn you!" "No!" "Father." "The battle is over." "We have won." "♪" "♪ "that I must bow so low?" "♪" "♪" "♪ that's all the truth I know. ♪" "♪" "♪" "♪" "♪ as long and sharp as yours." ♪" "♪" "♪" "♪" "♪ with no one there to hear. ♪" "♪" "♪ and not a soul to hear. ♪"