The king's roar frightened the servants in the room. They trembled and lowered their heads, worried they would be implicated.
The two Kingsguard outside the door hurriedly opened it and stepped in.
Jaime looked at the raging king and quickly walked toward Cersei, concerned for her safety.
Another Kingsguard took position behind the king.
"Seven hells, is this woman really mad? Eddard Stark is the Hand I personally appointed to the North, not some criminal you can arrest at will!"
The king's chubby face was flushed red. Joffrey had bullied someone and got bitten by a wolf—an embarrassment for the royal family. Robert didn't want to escalate it. After all, it involved his heir. Joffrey was truly out of line.
But Cersei, that madwoman, had actually demanded he arrest the Prime Minister he had just appointed. Wasn't she only making the situation worse?
If he did as she asked tonight, the story would spread all over Westeros by morning—perhaps even across the Narrow Sea.
At that point, the entire royal family would become a laughingstock!
"What? What are you doing to me?!"
Cersei was startled by the furious king, but soon her own rage surged, and she shrieked even louder, "Robert! It was your son who got bitten by the Stark wolf, and yet you're yelling at me instead of seeking justice for your son? You're pathetic!"
Jaime quickly grabbed Cersei, who looked ready to lunge at the king, afraid she might provoke him further and get herself struck.
"I've said it before—this matter is settled! Cersei, if you still regard me as king, then shut your stinking mouth!"
Robert kicked over a chair beside him. His eyes blazed with royal fury, like an enraged lion. "Listen to me! Don't push me any further. I've already had to tolerate your ridiculous accusations about your so-called baby son."
He jabbed a finger toward her. "One day, if you dare shout or throw a tantrum in front of me again, I swear I'll lock you away in your chambers and let you scream all you want—alone!"
Still fuming, the king turned to Jaime. "Kingslayer, take your sister back to her room and don't let her set one foot outside without my permission!"
Cersei's face twisted in fury. She opened her mouth to curse, but Jaime covered it with his hand before she could speak. Then, half-dragging and half-carrying her, he hauled her back to her chambers.
Once the queen was gone, the room fell into silence.
The king's chest rose and fell heavily. His anger still simmered. He and Cersei had been at odds from the beginning, quarreling nearly every day since their marriage. If it weren't for the Lannister family's power, Robert would have taken another queen long ago.
He glanced at Ilyn Payne, who was cowering in a corner.
"Get out, you useless b*****d!" Robert bellowed. "You can't even handle a simple task!"
Sweat gleamed on Ilyn Payne's bald forehead. Without another word, he turned and fled in panic.
Looking at the Kingsguard behind him, Robert waved his hand impatiently. "You too. Out!"
"Pour me a drink! Now!" the king snarled. "You Lannister with eyes in your a**!"
He grabbed a goblet off the table and barked at his sommelier, Lancel Lannister, "Seven hells, there's a damn Lannister in every corner! I ought to kick your a**! Bring me wine—now!"
Terrified, Lancel trembled as he poured wine, tears welling in his eyes.
Despite Eddard Stark's refusal to obey the king's earlier command, Robert said nothing about it the next day, acting as if it had never happened.
Eddard was relieved that the king hadn't brought it up again.
The royal procession resumed its journey to King's Landing.
Across the Narrow Sea, in the Dothraki Sea on the continent of Essos—
Daenerys and Khal Drogo had been married for months. They had now reached the base of the Dothraki's sacred Mother of Mountains, where they were blessed by the Dothraki prophets—the Dosh Khaleen.
The Dosh Khaleen were widows of former Khals. After a Khal's death, his wives and concubines were taken to the temple beneath the sacred mountain, where they became Dothraki priestesses.
"Upon the world's stallion, he shall ride, destined to conquer the whole world—"
That was the prophecy spoken by the Dosh Khaleen of the child growing in Daenerys' womb.
Khal Drogo was overjoyed when he heard it. He held a grand feast to honor the unborn son in Daenerys' belly.
However, Viserys—frustrated by his failure to secure an army—got drunk and violent. Sword in hand, he threatened the pregnant Daenerys and demanded Drogo give him the troops he needed to reclaim the Iron Throne.
Instead, Drogo casually knocked the sword from Viserys' hand and poured molten gold over his head.
Viserys screamed as he died, his skull encased in the "golden crown" he had demanded.
Daenerys watched the brother she both feared and hated die before her eyes, and felt no sorrow.
Now, she was Khal Drogo's wife, soon to bear his child. She no longer cared about the land her brother obsessed over—Westeros.
She even began to dream of living peacefully at her husband's side.
Meanwhile, in the South—
In the Reach of Westeros, the seasoned general Lord Randyll Tarly served as a vassal to Lord Tyrell of Highgarden.
More than a decade ago, during Robert's Rebellion, Randyll had led the Reach's army and defeated Robert's forces. That battle made his name renowned across the realm.
Yet despite defeating him, Robert held no grudge. Instead, he admired Randyll's strategic brilliance.
But though he was one of Westeros' most respected warlords, Lord Tarly had his own personal troubles.
His eldest son, Samwell Tarly, was a 200-pound boy—obese and timid—who bore no resemblance to the warrior son Randyll had hoped for.
Despite all his efforts to mold Sam into a fierce and noble heir, he failed.
With the birth of his second son, Dickon, Lord Tarly shifted all his hopes onto the younger boy, who displayed courage and strength, earning his father's deep affection.
So, one day, Lord Randyll summoned Sam to his study. Sitting behind his desk, he fixed his fat and cowardly son with a cold, majestic gaze.
"You're nearly a man grown," he said sternly, "but you are not worthy of my lands or titles. Tomorrow, you will take the black and join the Night's Watch. You will renounce all rights of inheritance."
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