The sun was already gone when she reached the room. A new nurse entered her room, bathed her, combed her hair, readied her bed, showed her the food and remained there, sitting in an armchair while waiting for Hound to be back.
Clarie had spent that long time sitting on the bed, clinging to her own legs, not looking at her. She loved the presence of her as much as the dog's, Tyrion's, or Joffrey's. She wanted to lie down and shed tears until she got tired and fell asleep but she would not do it by being watched by someone who will never come.
She heard Dog's armchair crawl outside the rooms and the maid rose, looking impatient and left without saying a word. Only she avoided the dog and walked down the hall just like the night before. Clarie locked the door and Sandor heard her cry all night and decided if he should go and tell her to shut up, slapping and do not add, muzzle it. Reluctantly he just punched the door.
"Shut up, little bird." He growled irritably and menacingly and rethought about slapping her and gagging her.
The next day had been so bad. She spent less time in the gardens, sitting on that bench. She did not eat, only bit a hard bread which Joffrey had commanded her and stayed the rest of the day in the room, and the night again after locking the door she wept.
"Shut up little bird or I'll put this door down and I'll shut you up, one way or the other!" His voice showed his anger, his hatred, and how deadly he would be if she continued with those sobs and whimpered. He paused, but the next night had been the same, and again, Dog slammed the door. "I can fill your mouth with my cock, and you will have no more space for your lament!" He was pounding the door harder and more deadly than the other days, and a loud sob echoed through the crack of the door, followed by a forced silence. He only listened to the attempts to keep quiet and this pleased him already.
The morning, the bread Joffrey had sent her for a maid, was a solitary bread unaccompanied by signs of mold as hard as stone. He would be able to faint Hound with this one if he had the courage to do so. She had no more strength to cry, and her eyes gave it away. His head ached slightly. It was all she ate there, the bread Joffrey had sent her. She refused to sit at the table next to Lannisters.
She heard a knock on her door and closed her eyes. He did not want to see anyone but it was something she was afraid of refusing anyone. He murmured for her to come in, and soon she could see Tyrion, the dwarf. He smiled slightly and nodded.
"Lady Clarie, pardon my meddling." He said calmly, but it was clear to Tyrion that his presence was bothering her. "I'll be brief. Your presence at the auditions with the people is requested. Not too long but do not worry." He seemed to want to say something else but he gave up just bowing slightly. "If you need anything Milady, I'm at your service." He said, turning and walking with his short legs rather awkwardly. Clarie closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Milord "She called, and the dwarf stopped on her back and turned slightly to look at Clarie who remained with her eyes closed and face turned to the window. She knew he was there, then once again inflated her lungs, giving up and opening her eyes, still looking out the window. "If it's not uncomfortable, I wonder if you could get me something more edible." She said in a low voice. "It's as hard as stone, these buns." She whispered again and Tyrion nodded.
"Anything else I can do for you, Lady Clarie?" Tyrion asked in a velvety voice, and she looked at him not lingering in her eyes, turning her eyes to the floor.
"I wonder if I could visit the library, Milord." She asked, and Tyrion smiled once more.
"Clearly. I'll take you to the library myself after the hearing." He repeated his bow and left. Clarie glanced up at the door and she could see Sandor standing there, looking at her. She stared at his face for a few seconds but then looked away. She could not look at his disfigured face.
She inflated her lungs and waited until one of the maids, unlike the other two, entered the room leaving fresh bread, cheese, a glass of wine and a cookie wrapped in silver paper. She fed herself very slowly, knowing that the Dog was watching her through the door, which she did not have the courage to close. She did not know when she stood up and the Dog led her to the throne room and left her there between Varys and Trant.
Tyrion sat in a chair that was farther away visibly bored. She felt terrible between the master of whispers and the King's Knight, Meryn Trant. She shifted uncomfortably but she could not look anywhere but at the door.
"Go, Milady," Varys suggested, giving light polite jerks to his back. She shivered slightly as she began to walk toward the half-man.
"Lady Baratheon, what do you think you're doing? " Joffrey snorted at being polite, but Clarie could not stop. She was afraid. "I'm talking to you, you whore! Go back to your place, or would you rather teach him to respect his king, bastard? " She stopped and looked at Tyrion.
"I called her, you beast. " Tyrion growled and looked at him as Sir Bronn started to walk toward Clarie, leading her to Lord Tyrion. "Do I still have to spank you to behave like a normal person, my king?" Tyrion looked up at Joffrey and gritted his teeth and Joffrey looked as though he would confront him but the doors were opened, and an old woman came in sweetly and went to the king ready to make his requests and Joffrey still staring at Tyrion but the dwarf did not look at him anymore.
"Meryn Trant is an extremely unpleasant man, my lady," Tyrion whispered hoarsely. "You must be careful of everything and everyone, especially the Kings Landing men." He did not smile, and he was looking forward to a visibly irritated Joffrey, who was no longer watching the dwarf. "They are few people to trust."
"Would that be you?" She wanted to be ironic, but her irony died in her throat before she reached the end of the sentence.
"Me?" Sir Bronn said, laughing. "Tyrion pays me what is necessary not to change sides." He laughed hoarsely for a few more seconds. "And you, Milady. It would not be in Hound, would it?" Sir Bronn was looking at Joffrey from a distance, and Clarie looked up at the tall man. He wore his usual armor with his Dog Helm.
"He is right." Tyrion did not laugh at Sir Bronn's joke, and he still stared ahead at Joffrey, which caused a slight shiver in his spine. "I will not tell you to trust me. It would be absurd, in fact, to ask you to do it without knowing me. "He continued seriously. "I can only say that I am one of the only ones who does not enjoy Joffrey's outrage. He looked at her, and gave a short smile, and looked back at the King, raising his head and contesting the decision to deny food to that family.
She stood there beside Sir Bronn and Lord Tyrion for so long that she would be lost, looking at Joffrey and how much he amused himself by saying no to the needy. She sighed to see that Joffrey had finished that exhausting task.
"Follow me, Lady Clarie. I will take the library to you and I will be able to show you the best books in our library." He gestured with his hand to accompany her. "I'll just tell Joffrey about the small council meeting. Do not worry, I will not let him touch you." Sir Bronn pushed her past Tyrion, still showing clear signs of fear, but what could she do? Sir Bronn was stronger than she was, and what would she do? Would run. He just walked reluctantly, afraid. "We'll have a meeting of the little council, My King, and-" Tyrion paused as they went upstairs to see Joffrey whispering something to Sir Meryn Trant and the man pointed at Lady Clarie. He took a few more steps. "What do you say to Lady Clarie, my king?"
"It does not concern you, monster," Joffrey said and laughed at Trant, and then Tyrion tiptoed his fingertips on Joffrey's face. Trant held the handle of his sword, lifting it a little, and Sir Bronn had done the same. The Dog stood indifferent beside Joffrey, who was still staring sideways, biting his lips angrily. He looked at him, and his eyes were pure hate. "I told Trant that when I feel like it, I'll have the Baratheon here so I fill her with bastards." Joffrey looked at Sandor and laughed. "They said they'd be introduced as Hunt Dog bastards." He turned his face back to Tyrion, and he could not see Sandor's odious scowl as if he could become a regicide right there. "It would be the funniest thing to do, to see her carrying my children, having to claim to be from a mangy dog. I'd say, I'll fuck her after her red moon comes and goes again, in her most fertile period to make sure she gives her a litter!" He looked at Clegane, who still twisted his burned face. "What do you think, Dog? Children are something you will never have, with this disgusting face. It would be a great gift, would not it?" But his face was marked once more by Tyrion's small fingers.
"Council meeting afternoon, about the tournament among others, do not be late. " Joffrey continued to look to the side, and Tyrion's small fingers could be counted on the King's white skin. The dwarf moved again, accompanied by Sir Bronn who was still pushing a reluctant Clarie and Hound. He heard Joffrey's shriek, but Tyrion ignored him, making his way down the hall. "Clegane, be a good Dog, and if any of the king's men come to Clarie's quarters at night to take her to Joffrey's chambers, or something of the sort, which entails rape, I want them to be killed," Tyrion said as they walked downstairs, but audible to everyone there.
"How do you want me to kill the king's men? Do not make me laugh." Dog raged, ironically, as they walked. Clarie kept quiet, and looked at the scars of the man, with fear, disgust and turned her face right away.
"Are you afraid of the Royal Guard, Sir Dog?" Sir Bronn joked and there was a loud noise, and Tyrion and Clarie turned, seeing Hunting Dog hold Bronn's neck against the wall, and the green-eyed man was not intimidated by Sandor's great hands in return. Of giving him a neck that could clearly kill him only with a squeeze, and smiled, holding his dagger against the man's burned face.
"Clegane, it is not Sir but is sworn to the house Lannister, and Joffrey is a Baratheon." Tyrion was away from Clarie, and close to them, and whispered low, almost inaudible.
"And she too is a Baratheon. "Dog growled, looking at the dwarf with hatred.
"And I, Tyrion Lannister, order you to protect Clarie Baratheon as best as you can," Tyrion spoke so low that Sandor barely heard him, and Clarie could not even imagine what they were saying from that distance. "I do not want you to disobey your king directly, Sandor, but I command that whatever you can do, do it!" "Hunting dog twisted his burned face to the dwarf and he let go of Sir Bronn with violence, and stomping past Clarie still toward the library, murmuring arrogant words.
Clarie could not tell how much they had walked in silence toward the library only recorded in her memory the path they had taken there. She was happy when Tyrion opened the door and introduced her to the various books in the room.
"I'd be happy to hear that Joffrey even comes near here." Tyrion only laughed, looking at her. "There are many good books there, about the Kings who came before Robert, among them the crazy king and the other Targaryen." Tyrion indicated with his short finger. "I really appreciate Jermond Dants 'Real Coin,' but I do not tell you if you have no interest in the kingdom's economy. He looked around, pointing to another pile of books. – "The Witch of Xandru" is scary, but worth reading. There are 'Lords, Sirs, Knights, and Kings. – The true heroes of history. '". He heard Clegane laugh dejectedly but Tyrion paid no attention, seeing Clarie smile and then went on. "I'll find the story of Westeros, the fiction, and even stories to sleep here Milady." He bowed. " Feel free to read around." He walked over to some books and picked up a thick book, which his short arms held with great difficulty. Sir Bronn ducked and picked up the book from Tyrion who thanked him and turned to Clarie, bowing a second time, and saying good-bye.
"Maybe Hound can learn something too." Sir Bronn laughed before leaving, leaving Clarie to enjoy the books.
