The next day Lord Stark joined the tourney to watch. He sat beside Sansa and Rhaena sat on her other side, watching as the Mountain lined up again to joust as he had passed through the lists with his victories to participate in the following rounds. "Where's Arya?" Lord Stark questioned as he lifted his head and searched around unable to see his youngest daughter anywhere. Sansa replied rather curtly that she was at her dancing lessons which made Rhaena laugh softly, surprised that Arya would give up the chance to watch more jousting in favour of learning how to dance. Perhaps she would take a look in on Arya to see what had fascinated her so much. Sansa seemed rather pale today, possibly due to what she had witnessed yesterday and held onto Rhaena's hand so tightly Rhaena suspected that she might not possess any working fingers by the time this tournament was over and done with. She stared at the Mountain with distaste but upon noticing the opponent who was to ride against Ser Clegane her demeanour immediately changed, smiling sweetly and speaking with a wistful tone as she identified Ser Loras, the Knight of the Flowers. As if hearing her call for him, Ser Loras rode over and presented Sansa with a single red rose stem, as was sometimes the custom of a knight to present a token to the lady he deemed the fairest of all ladies present. Sansa looked as she were fit to burst as she thanked the knight, blushing sweetly and smiling.
Although happy for Sansa, Rhaena wondered if she should mention that Ser Loras took very little interest in women and in actual fact preferred the company of men, noticing as it happened the quick look he gave to Renly, the king's younger brother, who was in fact his lover. It was the worst kept secret at court, though no one openly discussed it. Feeling her tiredness overcome her Rhaena yawned, placing a hand over her mouth to hide and stifle the sound before leaning forwards to rest her chin against her hand and close her eyes for a moment, though of course Septa Mordane immediately noticed Rhaena's condition and made a note of it to her. "You are tired, child." Septa Mordane announced rather bluntly as she lay a warm hand upon Rhaena's shoulder.
"I was up all night." Rhaena answered her truthfully albeit a little sleepily. "So I am to blame."
"Whatever for? Could you not sleep?" The woman asked with genuine concern as she began to fuss with Rhaena's appearance, smoothing her hair and tittering her tongue at the dark circles which had gathered under her eyes. An unsightly look for a young lady.
"Not at all Septa Mordane. I stood vigil with Ser Barristan over Ser Hugh's body last night as there was no one else to do so for him. I left at dawn to return to my chambers so that I might take a short rest and change before the tourney resumed." She told the older woman as she tried to stifle another yawn and failed miserably.
"It was a good thing you did, Lady Rhaena." Lord Stark informed her gently and with an understanding look. "Ser Barristan has only the kindest words about you. If you wish to return to your chambers, then you may do so. You should rest."
"I am grateful to him for his praise and for your concerns, but I am alright. I should like to see how the tournament ends." Determined to stay Rhaena had no intentions of returning to her rooms even at the Septa's insistence but promised that the moment all the excitement was over she would go back and have a proper rest. Since she had watched the beginning yesterday Rhaena did not want to leave now for she hated to leave things unfinished. In any case, this was where the real excitement was to be had for all the amateurs had been ousted from the competition and now only the best riders and jousters remained. Unfortunately, however, it appeared that the memory of Ser Hugh's death was still fresh in a number of people's mind, and none more so than Sansa as she suddenly grasped hold of her father's arm.
"Don't let Ser Gregor hurt him." Sansa suddenly begged, looking wistfully to Ser Loras who was to face the Mountain. Her father attempted to sooth her, but Sansa grew increasingly distressed at the thought of Ser Loras being butchered in the same way Ser Hugh had been. "I can't watch!" She whispered as Ser Loras put on his helm which seemed a little too elaborate and not at all practical for seeing out of, in Rhaena's mind. Behind her Lord Baelish opened a bet of a hundred gold dragons on the Mountain to win which Renly eagerly accepted, the two exchanging light comraderies underlined with snide insults. Sometimes the underhanded methods of the court irked Rhaena excessively. Twisting slightly in her seat Rhaena caught Renly's eye and gave him a smirk and a nod, silently wishing him well in his venture against Baelish. In return he grinned openly at her and winked before both turned their attention to the knights as Sansa continued to fuss. "He's going to die." Sansa whispered fearfully as she watched Ser Loras prepare for the joust astride a white mare.
"Ser Loras rides well." Lord Stark assured her gently whilst patting her hand, but Sansa continued to cling to him with tense apprehension.
"He rides very well, Sansa. Do not fear for him." Seeking to ease her friend's concern, Rhaena placed her hand upon Sansa's shoulder who turned her cheek to it briefly before then returning to her father who held her securely. When the horn sounded Sansa gave a little jump and almost instinctively pressed her eyes shut as both knights flew forwards on their horses. Ser Loras's lance was straight and steady, getting closer to the Mountain with each pace. You would not think that the smaller rider would topple a man named the Mountain for it sounded quite unlikely, yet Rhaena witnessed the feat for herself as all at once the two clashed and Ser Loras's lance slammed into the Mountain's small shield and the impact threw him over, his horse stumbling before crashing into the fence and crushing it as the horse fell. There was a collective gasp and several shouts as Rhaena's heart gave a great thud, more concerned for the horse than the man. She glanced behind her to see Renly stand up, laughing as Ser Loras trotted away in victory.
"Such a shame Littlefinger!" He cried out to Baelish who looked rather dissatisfied with his inaccurate betting. "It would have been so nice for you to have a friend." The insult was clear this time however Baelish merely returned to his snide smile and instead faced Lord Renly and spread his hand tauntingly, returning the joke upon him.
"So tell me Lord Renly," Baelish answered smoothly, well practiced in taking insults and returning them to the one who had issued them. "When will you be having your friend?" Renly's face dropped as he glanced to Loras and back again, unable to think of a clever reply without giving himself and his lover away. Littlefinger sat down, a smug look on his face, satisfied that he had put Lord Renly in his place which did not brighten Rhaena's mood as she watched the poor beast struggle to rise back to its feet whilst the Mountain staggered to rise also due to his sheer size and enormous weight. Leaning in closer, Baelish began to whisper to Sansa.
"Loras knew his mare was in heat. Quite a crafty little trick." He revealed which caused Rhaena's brows to shoot upwards, not having expected such a ploy to be utilised in such a manner though Sansa refused blankly to believe that a knight such as Ser Loras would ever use an underhanded method to claim victory.
"Ser Loras wouldn't do that, there is no honour in tricks." Sansa defended rather stoutly, to her credit though Rhaena doubted Ser Loras was as honourable as she believed.
"No honour, but quite a bit of gold." More had been done for less, it was not uncommon for such practices to be used for gold was a great motivator. Watching as the Mountain bellowed for his sword, his squire ran to him with the massive blade held in its scabbard before it was then presented to Ser Clegane who pulled it free. At first Rhaena was confused as to what the Mountain intended, but then as he began to lift the sword above his head whilst facing the horse, Rhaena released a horrified outcry and only just had time to cover Sansa's eyes as the Mountain slashed through the horse's neck in one clean sweep, though the agonised shrieks of the horse ripped through the air as it did not die instantly. Sansa was utterly confused as to what was happening, questioning both her father and Rhaena who she could hear was wailing for some reason whilst keeping her eyes covered. The dying scream was heart wrenching to hear as Rhaena watched the stallion struggle to stand up, falling to its knees then try to rise again even with its neck mostly severed in half. It then collapsed all at once and Rhaena wished heavily that it would suffer no more. Having heard the commotion and the outcries of the spectators, Ser Loras had spun his horse around in time to see the Mountain coming towards him but reacted too slowly to escape the swing his sword at his shield. The knight fell from his horse and to the ground in one hit, rolling clumsily as he tried to scramble away but was restricted by his armour.
The Mountain swung his sword from over his head and Ser Loras hastily put his shield in the way to save himself from the blow as many began to scream and cry as the favoured knight was battered against by the Mountain who had lost all sense and reason. "Leave him be!" Much to Rhaena's surprise, the Hound suddenly shouted as he strode up to his brother from where he had been standing guard over the royal family, sword in hand though his brother paid him no heed. Perhaps he had become too crazed to even notice his brother until their blades locked together as the Hound saved Ser Loras's life from being butchered the same way Ser Hugh had been. Ser Gregor growled before rushing his brother, swinging the sword over his head. Both of them moved with measured but powerful movements, each clash of the blades ringing out loudly as the brothers continued to fight with one another as if spilling the other's blood was all that mattered. Suddenly the king arose from his chair and lifted his voice in a mighty cry which jolted through Rhaena, who had become utterly transfixed by the battle.
"Stop this madness in the name of your king!" The Hound immediately dropped to one knee in order to face his king just as the Mountain sliced his sword at his neck, missing him by mere inches. Rhaena almost felt like retching to imagine seeing the Hound's head roll. Ser Gregor snarled like a beast, completely mad with anger at his loss as he glowered with contempt at the king before finally throwing sword into the sand and storming away. "Let him go!" Robert ordered rather wisely so that the Kingsgaurd allowed him to pass without conflict, otherwise there may have truly been blood spilled.
Relieved that the Mountain had left, Rhaena's hand dropped limply to her side from where it had been covering Sansa's face, only just then noticing that the Septa was holding her by the shoulders, standing beside her and was now urging her to sit down. She obeyed, blinking slowly as Ser Loras carefully approached the Hound with a look of fascinated wonder. "I owe you my life, Ser." He told him solemnly, however the Hound did not so much as spare him a look as he muttered gruffly.
"I'm no ser." In answer Ser Loras grabbed the Hound's hand and lifted it up into the air, causing everyone to cheer and celebrate him. In her mind, Rhaena thought that the Hound could not have looked more uncomfortable and most likely wanted nothing more than to slink away somewhere quiet and peaceful. Sansa leaped up, smiling prettily and clapped also in gladness that Ser Loras was unharmed, though Rhaena remained seated, turning instead to look at Lord Stark who caught her gaze. They shared a look of concern between them before his hand reached out to give hers a squeeze, deciding that perhaps it was best to take both the girls back to their rooms to recover and rest after such unexpectedly gruesome events. Now he recalled why he disliked tournaments such as these.