Note to reader: I hope you all like this chapter. This chapter is the beginning of the set up for the rest of the story. This took me longer to write than expected but I tried to give you, the reader, a good visual and understanding why what happens at the end took place. Not a lot of SanSan in this chapter but this chapter, as said, provides the base of the story. Please leave comments so I know what you like/dislike!
Chapter 2
The next day, Sandor was at his post in the great hall at the King's left standing at guard for anyone who may want to exact justice to the little King. No one would ever try it though; not with the Hound standing guard with his snarling, scarred face poised in hate and contempt. He knew they were all afraid of him, even the "honorable" knight Ser Meryn wouldn't challenge him to a one-on-one duel knowing it would be suicide. Maybe if the knights or the commoners had enough of them to attack the dog then it would be sufficient enough. Sandor snorted to himself then as he looked at the faces nearest to him thinking maybe not.
There was a whole slew of people in attendance today with the promise of an entertaining show for the judgement of the accused Phineas Harris. The man stood accused of killing one of the knights of the King's Guard a sennight ago during a dispute between the man and the knight in a tavern located deep in the city. When news first broke out about the incident, the gossip was that the knight had made an unsavory pass on the man's young daughter at an earlier time in the night and the father went to the tavern to confront the disgraced knight. The news came as a shock amongst the members of the Keep as well as his "brothers", as they called themselves, because Phineas Harris wasn't the type of man who one would think could overpower anyone let alone a well-trained knight of the King's Guard. Phineas was of low breed, working as a blacksmith on the other side of King's Landing. From what Sandor had heard about the man, he is well respected amongst the commoners for sorting out disputes between the people and had a long lineage of blacksmiths in his family line which is always considered to be a respectable occupation. The man wasn't of stout stature or any exceptionally awe defying build to intimate nor impress anyone who passed amongst him when Sandor first saw the man two days after being locked in the black cells. The man looked as though a strong wind could blow him over if he wasn't attentive to his stance. Sandor quirked his mouth a bit – one could call it a grin if they knew him any better – as that thought passed his mind: no matter a man's station in life, if you try destroying what is his he'll come after you with vengeful demise.
It was this thought that drove his eyes to the far-right corner of the room where he knew she stood amongst the crowd. The occasion this day was so "special" that Joffrey thought to invite his young betrothed. Since her father's death and especially in the most recent months, Sansa didn't get the luxury of being invited to dine in the dining hall or attending gathers in the great hall unless Joffrey had some malicious intent just for her. Sandor already knew the outcome of this event before the deed was even done. Joffrey wouldn't have invited the Little Bird to witness if any good would have come out of today's judgement. As like any other time before when she's in his presence and she doesn't think he's looking, he caught her eyes on him. As soon as his eyes landed on her face however, she averted her eyes to the scene before her acting as though she hadn't been sneaking a peek.
Sandor never could completely understand the Little Bird's reasons for looking upon his face when his attention was elsewhere. It's true to say that he'd caught many a maid or woman of the court staring at his scars when they thought he didn't notice; he always noticed. He usually ignored the stares as he didn't want to see the look of disgust and horror on their faces, but the Little Bird was different. There was a time when she had a look of fear when looking at him directly but here lately, she's had a look unlike all the others. He knew the look and he thought he hates it more than the look of the other ladies in court. She looked at him with pity now. He clenched his jaws together and flared his nostrils just thinking of anyone pitying him. He knew why though; it's his own fault. If he hadn't told her the story of his scars, then maybe she wouldn't have a reason to pity his face and his lot in life. He never should have told her about Gregor and the toy knight. It was a moment of weakness in a drunken stupor when he told her. The Little Bird tended to bring out all his weaknesses and he hated her more for it.
He was staring daggers at her during all his grumbling and inner turmoil, and even though her eyes were elsewhere she knew he was looking at her based on the blush rising from her neck and onto her cheeks. Good, better you scared of my eyes on you than you continuing to give me your looks. That won't do for either of us if you get caught by anyone except me.
Sandor continued to stare at her for several minutes before he finally tore his eyes away from her when the doors of the great hall flew open to receive Phineas Harris himself. The man looked worse for wear. Though he'd only been in the black cells for a sennight, his clothes were all tattered and he'd visible lost fat and muscle mass around his face and arms since the last Sandor had seen him. The clothes he wore hung looser on his build since the last he saw him. It's likely the man had been refused food and drink and received many beatings since his visit at the cells. Sandor almost wanted to feel sorry for the poor bastard but then he retracted that thought when he knew what would become of him.
They had already heard the "witnesses" from that night describing in great, elaborate detail how the man had come up behind the knight who was minding his own business with a cup of ale in his hands and began wailing on the knight. Witness after witness attested that the man had deviously snuck up behind the knight, giving him no way of escape before he plunged his dagger in the unassuming knight's back. Sandor had to restrain from rolling his eyes during these testaments as he'd already heard amongst the servants as he'd walked through the halls and heard amongst the men in the training yard that the knight was so sotted and arrogant that he baited the man to attack him while laughing in his face about the man's "writhing daughter" and her "virgin cunt". Phineas wanted the truth from the knight to take him to trial in front of the entire court but after hearing the aloof, distressing comments from the knight, he went into a rage and grabbed the dagger out of the scaffold of the man beside him and stabbed him in the chest. Sandor could attest to this to some degree as he'd seen the bloody corpse of the knight who'd not one stab wound in the back, but one precisely positioned puncture to his heart. Sandor also knew the tavern where the brawl took place and it wasn't known for having many customers even in the most entertaining of nights, yet the self-proclaimed witnesses from that night seemed to be endless.
None of it mattered though and Sandor knew it. Everyone knew it. You cannot kill a member of the King's Guard and expect to live. They'd already heard the witnesses of that night and now was time for the verdict. Meryn Trant dropped the man down to his knees in front of the boy king. Joffrey sat there staring at the man for a few minutes before rising.
Phineas Harris, you've been brought among this court accused of maliciously murdering Ser Boros Blunt, member of the elite King's Guard. Many witnesses from that night have attested to your ruthless, savage assault on the honorable knight. What say you to these crimes?"
Phineas kept his head down throughout the entire occasion and when he raised his head again there was a look of defiance in his eyes as he addressed his king, "The accusation put upon thy Grace's feet is true: I did kill Ser Boros Blunt." The crowd in the hall gave an audibly, exaggerated gasp at his confession. Many of the men shouted expletives and the women flew hands at their mouths in exasperated shock. Sandor couldn't resist rolling his eyes at the show Joffrey's loyalist were giving him.
Joffrey raised his hand for silence of the court after a minute and the hall grew quiet again. He turned his attention back to the man and stated, "And? Do you have no defense you can speak of for this treacherous act?"
The man then seemed to pause and scan the room of faces. He stopped at one face, that of a young girl not older than four and ten. The girl's eyes were blood shot and puffy from crying. The man's eyes reflected a look of love only seen between a father who loved his daughter. The man turned then back to his King with the same defiance in his eyes and stated, "No, your grace. I have no defense for the accusations placed upon me. I'm brought to you as a guilty man."
Half the hall then went into an uproar with some screaming "Death, Death!" and the other half of the hall seemed to be in disappointed shock at the man's unwillingness to defend himself and tell his story. Sandor puzzled the man's choice as well but when he looked back at the puffy-eyed girl he seemed to understand. The man knew if he were to defend himself, he would have to subject his daughter to the humiliation of having to testify on what Blount did to her. Then the whole court would either believe her not to be a maid with no hope of finding a suitable husband or they would call her a treacherous lying snake which wouldn't be much better.
Joffrey himself looked perplexed and a little disappointed the show seemed to be over but in one last ditch attempt to get the man to proclaim his innocence, he silenced the court again and turned to the man.
"I'm glad to hear that you see the fault in your actions, but I must state there has been some rumors as to the motive of your attack of Ser Blount." Joffrey paused then for dramatic effect and to make sure all present where silent for his statement, "There have been rumors that Ser Blount viciously attacked your young daughter of innocent age and brutally raped and beat her whilst she was walking home from the market. Some have said they could hear her screams of terror and anguish behind the closed doors of the abandoned home proclaimed to be the location of the attack. Though there have been no witnesses to attest to this event today, what say you to this?"
Joffrey had a callous grin on his face for exposing the true reason the man attacked Blount in hopes, Sandor presumed, to expunge the accused knight and turn his malice on Harris' daughter. Sandor couldn't pinpoint the reason why as he'd never cared about the dealings of the accused before in court but for some reason, he got a sick feeling in his stomach for the man and his daughter. Everyone at court knew Blount was a sick bastard who tormented whores and women alike with no reprimands for his actions due to his position in the King's Guard. It shouldn't be any surprise to anyone that he would have snatched a young girl off the street, beat and raped her then discarded her in a run-down building. What did surprise Sandor at least is why he didn't slit her throat in the process. If there was one thing Sandor could give credit to for his morale, is he detests any man who would rape. It's a cowardly act only done sadistically to cause pain and destruction to their victims. Just like his brother, the worst of men.
The man took his time to answer before addressing the king, "Your Grace, these rumors are unfounded. My daughter is of a tender age of two and ten who has been untouched. Though I killed the man out of rage, I would not accuse a member of the King's Guard for such a boorish attack on a young maid."
There were some positive murmurs amongst the members of the court nodding their heads in agreement to the man's pleas. Sandor thought them all ignorant fools.
Typical to his nature though, Joffrey wasn't satisfied yet. "Well, if the claims you state are true then you wouldn't have any objection to have the maester examine the girl to determine if she in fact a maiden? Just so we can dispel of the rumors of our late, honorable knight." The King gave the man a queer smile at that.
The man's face drained of all color and his eyes bulged at the boy king before setting his face with a mask of hatred and contempt. Cersei who had been seated to the right of the throne turned to speak to her son to seemingly dissuade him from subjecting the girl to the examination and embarrassment, but Joffrey quickly dismissed her with a wave of his hand. Sandor had always hated the little demon but now he had another check on the box for hating him even more. Joffrey knew the man wouldn't defend his daughter so to protect her innocence, yet he was set on not only destroying this man but his victimized daughter as well. Sandor looked to the girl now who had no color in her face and was clutching the arm of a middle-aged woman next to her who looked as distraught as the girl. One can only presume it was the girl's mother.
Phineas then spoke loud for all to hear and with malice in his voice, "I've already confessed my guilt amongst this court and his Grace. I see no just cause to subject such a young girl to an examination that would be an insult to her purity only to have the accusations of Ser Blount expunged. Your Grace wants to know the reason for slaying the knight? Then I'll tell you the reason. I hate the King's Guard! I hate all knights and their false code of honor! I see no honor in the men to your left and right! I see rabid dogs preying on the weak and taking from the poor! You want to know my reason for killing the man?" Phineas at this point was red-faced and the entire court was shouting expletives. Joffrey looked ready to skin the man alive. The man rose now from his knees and pointed his finger directly at the king. "I killed Ser Blount because of you, your Grace! I despise you and your false sense of ruler more than the others! Son Born of Incest and the Devil in Disguise they say! Well, I look upon the Devil now and see it in your eyes!"
At that, the entire court seemed to rush the man to attack him for his blasphemous comments. Sandor put his hand on his sword and moved closer to the boy king who was red in the face and ready to kill. The King's Guard put up a feeble attempt to save the man the blows to his face and body. All seemed to forget the King's suggestion of the examination of the girl for as Sandor looked in their direction they were scurrying out of the hall, and no one gave them a second glance. Sandor then understood again the man's outburst; he was reverting the attentions back to himself and away from his daughter. Sandor had to admire the man for his selflessness. Sandor used that time to scan the faces and found the Little Bird. She was well in the back of the court away from any possibility to be crushed or pushed over by the rush of the bodies. She had a serene look on her face and Sandor saw the hints of a grin on her lips. As if knowing she was being watched, she locked eyes with Sandor who discreetly shook his head at her. She seemed to understand his meaning immediately and veiled her face with a look of terror or worry more appropriate for the woman betrothed to the King. That's right, I've taught you well Little Bird.
"Off with his head!" Joffrey roared.
At that the entire congregation made their way to the platform to bear witness to the accused's execution. Sandor remained at the King's side as they made their way out to the platform but never lost sight of the top of a head full of red hair. When they finally reached the platform for the execution, Phineas hadn't arrived yet as the mob of the court were attacking him as he made his death walk. The King's Guard made little effort to dissuade the congregation from their assault, but it was gaining even more notice with the commoners. By the time Phineas was deposited on the platform, there were close to one hundred men and women looking upon the spectacle. Looking at the faces in the crowd, Sandor began to have an uneasy feeling and instinctively put his palm on this sword handle.
Sandor scanned those closest to him and found the Little Bird about three yards to his left with a group of ladies of the court. The Little Bird seemed to also express an uneasiness with the worry on her face as she glanced at the crowd before them. Sandor had a thought then that this must be hard being here for the Little Bird as the last she witnessed an execution it was that of her father. Looking at the distress on her face, Sandor surmised that may have been Joffrey's intent all along.
Joffrey wasn't paying any mind to the distressed Little Bird now, however. Instead, he was glaring at the accused still red in the face when he addressed the onlookers. "Phineas Harris has been tried and charged with the murder of Ser Boros Blount. Phineas attacked the honorable knight in the dead of night in a fit of rage and hatred for him and his King. Phineas has disgraced this court and his King for murdering a protector of the realm. The punishment for his crimes will be death!"
The members of the court gave a triumphant shout of approval while the onlookers beyond remained silent. Some commoners seemed to look to each other in puzzlement and worry. It occurred to Sandor then that maybe Phineas and his daughter was more well-known and respected amongst the commoners than he knew. Joffrey had made the comment before that many witnesses heard the screams from the girl during the attack so as he looked amongst the faces in the crowd it would explain the surprise of this verdict. Perhaps the commoners expected a different outcome all together. Sandor thought them ignorant fools as well.
"Phineas, you will now be put to death." Joffrey proclaimed a little to eagerly. "Do you have any last words?"
Phineas, who stood stone-faced on the platform raised his eyes to the King then scanned the crowd before him. He seemed to not find what he was looking for in the crowd and it appeared the man let out a sigh of relief. Phineas then raised his eyes to no one in particular and shouted loudly so that even the one's standing in the back could hear, "Fuck the King's Guard! Fuck the city! Fuck the King!" Before anyone on the platform could react to his outcry, he repeated, "Fuck the King's Guard! Fuck the city! Fuck the King!" Phineas continued to repeat his statements over and over with even more vigorousness even as the boy king lunged to attack him. Sandor caught his collar just in time to stop him.
About that time as the man was giving his chant, another voice was heard amongst the crowd shouting in unison with Phineas, "Fuck the King's Guard! Fuck the city! Fuck the King!" Meryn Trant stepped out in the crowd to reprimand the assailant, but he only took a few steps before someone else from the other end of the group chanted, "Fuck the King's Guard! Fuck the city! Fuck the King!" All of a sudden, more and more commoners in the crowd began chanting in unison with Phineas.
Some members of the court seemed to slowly retreat themselves back to the Keep. The chanting became so loud that even though Joffrey was just to Sandor's right, he could barely hear his command, "Take his head! Take his head!"
This seemed to encourage the crowd to become even louder, and some began pushing forward closer to the platform. Phineas continued to loudly chant even as his head was placed on the base and the executioner raised his axe above his head.
As the weapon came down on the man's neck and his head was lying on the platform a few feet away from his severed body, all hell broke loose in King's Landing.