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The seven vows were made； the seven blessings invoked； and the seven promises exchanged。 When the wedding song had been sung and the challenge had gone unanswered； it was time for the exchange of cloaks。 Tyrion shifted his weight from one stunted leg to the other； trying to see between his father and his uncle Kevan。 If the gods are just； loff will make a hash of this。 He made certain not to look at Sansa； lest his bitterness show in his eyes。 You might have knelt； damn you。 Would it have been so bloody hard to bend those stiff Stark knees of yours and let me keep a little dignity？
Mace Tyrell removed his daughter's maiden cloak tenderly； while Joffrey accepted the folded bride's cloak from his brother Tornmen and shook it out with a flourish。 The boy king was as tall at thirteen as his bride was at sixteen； he would not require a fool's back to climb upon。 He draped Margaery in the crimson…and…gold and leaned close to fasten it at her throat。 And that easily she passed from her father's protection to her husband's。 But who will protect her from loff？ Tyrion glanced at the Knight of Flowers； standing with the other Kingsguard。 You had best keep your sword well honed； Ser Loras。
〃With this kiss I pledge my love！ 〃 Joffrey declared in ringing tones。 When Margaery echoed the words he pulled her close and kissed her long and deep。 Rainbow lights danced once more about the High Septon's crown as he solemnly declared Joffrey of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister and Margaery of House Tyrell to be one flesh； one heart； one soul。
Good； that's done with。 Now let's get back to the bloody castle so I can have a piss。
Ser Loras and Ser Meryn led the procession from the sept in their white scale armor and snowy cloaks。 Then came Prince Tommen； scattering rose petals from a basket before the king and queen。 After the royal couple followed Queen Cersei and Lord Tyrell； then the bride's mother arm…in…arm with Lord Tywin。 The Queen of Thorns tottered after them with one hand on Ser Kevan Lannister's arm and the other on her cane； her twin guardsmen close behind her in case she fell。 Next came Ser Garlan Tyrell and his lady wife； and finally it was their turn。
〃My lady。〃 Tyrion offered Sansa his arm。 She took it dutifully； but he could feel her stiffness as they walked up the aisle together。 She never once looked down at him。
He heard them cheering outside even before he reached the doors。 The mob loved Margaery so much they were even willing to love Joffrey again。 She had belonged to Renly； the handsome young prince who had loved them so well he had e back from beyond the grave to save them。 And the bounty of Highgarden had e with her； flowing up the roseroad from the south。 The fools didn't seem to remember that it had been Mace Tyrell who closed the roseroad to begin with； and made the bloody famine。
They stepped out into the crisp autumn air。 〃I feared we'd never escape；〃 Tyrion quipped。
Sansa had no choice but to look at him then。 〃I 。 。 。 yes； my lord。 As you say。〃 She looked sad。 〃it was such a beautiful ceremony； though。〃
As ours was not。 〃It was long； I'll say that much。 I need to return to the castle for a good piss。〃 Tyrion rubbed the stump of his nose。 〃Would that I'd contrived some mission to take me out of the city。 Littlefinger was the clever one。〃
Joffrey and Margaery stood surrounded by Kingsguard atop the steps that fronted on the broad marble plaza。 Ser Addam and his gold cloaks held back the crowd； while the statue of King Baelor the Blessed gazed down on them benevolently。 Tyrion had no choice but to queue up with the rest to offer congratulations。 He kissed Margaery's fingers and wished her every happiness。 Thankfully； there were others behind them waiting their turn； so they did not need to linger long。
Their litter had been sitting in the sun； and it was very warm inside the curtains。 As they lurched into motion； Tyrion reclined on an elbow while Sansa sat staring at her hands。 She is just as ely as the Tyrell girl。 Her hair was a rich autumn auburn； her eyes a deep Tully blue。 Grief had given her a haunted； vulnerable look； if anything； it had only made her more beautiful。 He wanted to reach her； to break through the armor of her courtesy。 Was that what made him speak？ Or just the need to distract himself from the fullness in his bladder？
〃I had been thinking that when the roads are safe again； we might journey to Casterly Rock。〃 Far from Joffrey and my sister。 The more he thought about what Joff had done to Lives of Four Kings； the more it troubled him。 There was a message there； oh yes。 〃It would please me to show you the Golden Gallery and the Lion's Mouth； and the Hall of Heroes where Jaime and I played as boys。 You can hear thunder from below where the sea es in 。 。 。〃
She raised her head slowly。 He knew what she was seeing； the swollen brutish brow； the raw stump of his nose； his crooked pink scar and mismatched eyes。 Her own eyes were big and blue and empty。 〃I shall go wherever my lord husband wishes。〃
〃I had hoped it might please you； my lady。〃
〃It will please me to please my lord。〃
His mouth tightened。 What a pathetic little man you are。 Did you think babbling about the Lion's Mouth would make her smile？ When have you ever made a woman smile but with gold？ 〃No； it was a foolish notion。 Only a Lannister can love the Rock。〃
〃Yes； my lord。 As you wish。〃
Tyrion could hear the mons shouting out King Joffrey's name。 In three years that cruel boy will be a man； ruling in his own right 。 。 。 and every dwarf with half his wits will be a long way from King's Landing。 Oldtown； perhaps。 Or even the Free Cities。 He had always had a yen to see the Titan of Braavos。 Perhaps that would please Sansa。 Gently； he spoke of Braavos； and met a wall of sullen courtesy as icy and unyielding as the Wall he had walked once in the north。 It made him weary。 Then and now。
They passed the rest of the journey in silence。 After a while； Tyrion found himself hoping that Sansa would say something； anything； the merest word； but she never spoke。 When the litter halted in the castle yard； he let one of the grooms help her down。 〃We will be expected at the feast an hour hence； my lady。 I will join you shortly。〃 He walked off stiff…legged。 Across the yard； he could hear Margaery's breathless laugh as Joffrey swept her from the saddle。 The boy will be as tall and strong as Jaime one day； he thought； and IT stifl be a dwarf beneath his feet。 And one day he's like to make me even shorter 。 。 。
He found a privy and sighed gratefully as he relieved himself of the morning's wine。 There were times when a piss felt near as good as a woman； and this was one。 He wished he could relieve himself of his doubts and guilts half as easily。
Podrick Payne was waiting outside his chambers。 〃I laid out your new doublet。 Not here。 On your bed。 in the bedchamber。〃
〃Yes； that's where we keep the bed。〃 Sansa would be in there； dressing for the feast。 Shae as well。 〃Wine； Pod。〃
Tyrion drank it in his window seat； brooding over the chaos of the kitchens below。 The sun had not yet touched the top of the castle wall； but he could smell breads baking and meats roasting。 The guests would soon be pouring into the throne room； full of anticipation； this would be an evening of song and splendor； designed not only to unite Highgarden and Casterly Rock but to trumpet their power and wealth as a lesson to any who might still think to oppose Joffrey's rule。
But who would be mad enough to contest Joffrey's rule now； after what had befallen Stannis Baratheon and Robb Stark？ There was still fighting in the riverlands； but everywhere the coils were tightening。 Ser Gregor Clegane had crossed the Trident and seized the ruby ford； then captured Harrenhal almost effortlessly。 Seagard had yielded to Black Walder Frey； Lord Randyll Tarly held Maidenpool； Duskendale； and the kingsroad。 In the west； Ser Daven Lannister had linked up with Ser Forley Prester at the Golden Tooth for a march on Riverrun。 Ser Ryman Frey was leading two thousand spears down from the Twins to join them。 And Paxter Redwyne claimed his fleet would soon set sail from the Arbor； to begin the long voyage around Dome and through the Stepstones。 Stannis's Lyseni pirates would be outnumbered ten to one。 The struggle that the maesters were calling the War of the Five Kings was all but at an end。 Mace Tyrell had been heard plaining that Lord Tywin had left no victories for him。
〃My lord？〃 Pod was at his side。 〃Will you be changing？ I laid out the doublet。 On your bed。 For the feast。〃
〃Feast？〃 said Tyrion sourly。 〃What feast？〃
〃The wedding feast。〃 Pod missed the sarcasm； of course。 〃King Joffrey and Lady Margaery。 Queen Margaery； I mean。〃
Tyrion resolved to get very； very drunk tonight。 〃Very well； young Podrick； let us go make me festive。〃
Shae was helping Sansa with her hair when they entered the bedchamber。 Joy and grief； he thought when he beheld them there together。 Laughter and tears。 Sansa wore a gown of silvery satin trimmed in vair； with dagged sleeves that almost touched the floor； lined in soft purple felt。 Shae had arranged her hair artfully in a delicate silver net winking with dark purple gemstones。 Tyrion had never seen her look more lovel