Rebekah spent the morning with King Joffrey, practising the crossbow. She used the situation to ask him about the tourney she planed.
Joffrey laughed, a small evil laugh which sent shivers over her spine. „My Lady, you are a smart one. I suspected you wouldn't like Clegane as your husband."
Rebekah remembered how moody and cruel Joffrey was, and how he would take pleasure in her unfortunate situation.
-„You are the smart one, your Grace. You brought me to this idea." She said, hoping he would like the credit she gave him.
-„A King has to be smart." He smiled satisfied with himself, „You can do your little trick to get another husband, but you'll have to tell Ser Gregor yourself."
The boy charged the crossbow again, aimed and almost hit the target.
„I will. But his duty is to be with Lord Tywin in the Riverlands." Rebekah said lightly, trying to sound more confident than she was.
OoOoO
After the lesson, Rebekah hurried down the halls, suddenly having a bad presentiment. She couldn't even describe why she felt so uncomfortable. She walked through the inner yard towards the tower of the Hand before Podrick Payne's voice interrupted her.
„My lady. You have a visitor." Rebekah's fear felt like an animal curling up painfully in her belly. Was it Joffrey's behaviour that set her nervous? Or Mycah's letter she always kept in mind.
„Podrick." She turned around slowly, only to see the Mountain himself, casting a large shadow over her.
Everyone in the Seven Kingdoms feared this man, almost eight feet in length, huge and heavily muscled. Rebekah actually never remembered to have seen him without a helmet, so the large, gruesome face was unfamiliar to her. She couldn't take her eyes of his nerved arms and shoulders, making him three times larger than her.
„Rebekah." He simply said, but his raspy voice woke Rebekah's urge to run away. Although Clegane said it with no emotion, the woman felt like it was the most threatening sound she'd ever heard.
OoOoO
„Podrick?" Tyrion annoyedly said, not even looking up from his books, when the shy squire approached. He was trying to keep the realm from falling apart, not an easy task with wolves, stags, krakens and lions in war.
-„My Lord Hand. Lord Tyrion.."
-„Spit it out Podrick."
Bronn sat in the corner of the room, inspecting his nails and drinking wine, working as Tyrion's bodyguard. The mercenary rolled his eyes at the incapable squire.
-„It's the Lady Rebekah. She didn't send me... but I thought you should come anyways, my Lord... if it pleases you, my Lord." He stumbled.
-„What has she done now?" Tyrion sighed and gazed to Bronn who almost looked compassionate.
Podrick's stutter became worse and Tyrione realized the boy was terrorized.
-„Ser Gregor Clegane, my Lord. He wants to speak to her."
He pushed out the words, blushing and looking to his feat.
-„The Mountain should be in Harrenhal! What is he doing in King's Landing?" Tyrion stood up as quick as he could with his short legs „Are you sure it's Gregor Clegane?"
-„I don't think anyone could not recognize him." Bronn said bored, but stood up and and grabbed his sword, much to Tyrion's surprise.
For Tyrion, it was clear he cared for Rebekah since Bronn had no reason to help her without Tyrion's orders.
He pushed the thoughts away, as the girl really was in danger. Even the Mountain wouldn't just attack her in the Red Keep with eyes all around, but he knew Rebekah and her mouth all to well.
OoOoO
The sight was just too odd. The tallest man in Westeros standing in front of a delicate, small Lady. Bronn thought she looked like a doll the Mountain could take and break in two with an easy gesture. One hand rested on his swordgrip, the other behind on his back on his dagger. As a pragmatic man, Bronn didn't plan to fight Clegane, it would end in his death. Yet alone the sensation of the leather grip made him more confident. For a moment, Bronn scolded himself for even needing confidence and courage in front of the Mountain.
Tyrion and Bronn approached quickly, but Rebekah's voice could be heard already from far away.
OoOoO
„Ser, there's no contract regarding my hand, no promise or betrothal. You're certainly an honored and skilled warrior, but a Waldorf Lady needs the right husband." Rebekah explained boldly, laying her head in the neck only to see in his eyes. Faster, Higher, Stronger. Shadowcats don't know fear. She repeated over and over in her head, clinging to the words of her House and to her father's saying.
Clegane groaned, his brown eyes staring down at her.
-„Lord Mycah tells me you are my bride."
-„He changed his mind. Sadly, he's not here to sign any contract. He can't just give me away."
Rebekah didn't notice the few nobles and handmaiden stopping in the yard, listening to the girl arguing with the Mountain himself.
-„YOU DON'T GET TO SAY ANYTHING, YOU STUPID C.." Clegane rose his voice stepping forward, almost making the ground trembling.
-„Ser Clegane, I hope you weren't insulting Lady Waldorf."
The Mountain ignored Tyrion Lannister.
-„I don't want to offend you, Ser, but even King Joffrey thinks an archery tourney is the best way to give my hand away...
Maybe you'd win." Rebekah added boldly. Apparently, she had a thing for saying the worse thing possible in a dangerous situation.
Suddenly, Cleganes's hand snapped around her wrist, dragging her behind him like a child.
She was too shocked to say anything. The voices of Tyrion and other people didn't even reach her ears as she tried to keep pace with the beast.
OoOoO
Bronn wondered if Rebekah Waldorf had a death wish. First she argued with him like he was a disobedient child, then she provoked him like he was.. well like she provoked almost everybody who could kill her within seconds.
„Seven hells." Tyrion cursed, „We are at court, not on a battle field!" he yelled and hurried after his father's dog. The yard and the hallway suddenly filled with people drawn from the loud noises, and some redcloaks stood in his way.
„He's going to King Joffrey." Some Lady exclaimed, her hands covering her mouth. „What is he doing to her?" Another asked, both to scared to actually follow.
The black haired mercenary rolled his eyes and made his way through the curious audience.
The throne room was filled, but the Mountain immediately draw the attention to him.
Next to him, Lady Rebekah curtsied gracefully, seeming unharmed from afar.
The boy King Joffrey Baratheon sat on the Iron Throne, watching the Mountain that Rides and the golden Huntress with a smug smile on his face.
I'm sorry to leave you with this little cliffhanger ;) maybe I'll post another chapter today... Tell me how you liked the encounter with Clegane! Reviews are awesome!
Liebe Grüße & xoxo