Chapter 5
Arya
The little girl snapped the pigeon's neck and its muscles relaxed in her dirty hands. Arya had not taken a proper bath for two days and she knew her smell must be horrible by now. Lucky for her everyone in these streets smelled like dog's shit, as she roamed the streets of what must be one of the poorer areas in the city. She did not want to stay close to the Red Keep, as she was too afraid someone would recognize her and take her to her father. That would ruin everything.
Until a few days ago she didn't mind going back to Winterfell. Her father had told her he would arrange a ship for her and Sansa all the way to the North, from where they would be escorted to Winterfell. But for some reason the ship had not arrived and Lord Eddard had made an arrangement for them to be escorted with a man of the Night's Watch. The man, a bold and stinky guy called Yoren, had come to the city to look for new recruits to take the black. On his way back to the Wall, he would pass Winterfell and therefore it seemed a very logical thing that Yoren would take the girls with him together with the other recruits and bring them home. At least that was what her lord father had been thinking, but not Arya. She wanted to bring her dancing master Syrio Forel with her back to Winterfell and her father told her this was no longer possible. Yoren had insisted that he would not accept the Braavosi swordsman in his company. That meant that he would also not take Arya in his company, though that required for Arya to be lost for a few days, just enough to have Yoren leave the city. Then she would head back and her father would be mad at her again, but he would probably have grown tired of the quarrelling and agree for her to stay at his side and continue her dancing lessons. At least that was what she hoped. She did not really know what her lord father would do, but that did not matter now. Her current mission was to survive and remain unnoticed for the City Watch and everyone else who would be looking out for her. She wondered whether Syrio would go looking for her as well. She hoped not, as he would surely be able to find her and trick her somehow.
Her father must have had a horrible time with them, as Sansa had already been against going back since he first told them. She wanted to stay close to Joffrey and the Queen, even though they were prisoners now. Arya shivered of the idea that her sister was fond of Joffrey, the boy who had been responsible for the death of her own direwolf Lady and the disappearance of Arya's direwolf Nymeria. Arya had decided for herself she would never fall in love, as this could mean that you could get totally over your head and fall in love with a boy like this horrible prince. Good luck Sansa, with keeping Joffrey warm in that dungeon, she chuckled though she knew Sansa was probably with the Night's Watch recruits already, heading for Winterfell and the Wall.
Still, she did not want to go home yet, in case they were somehow delayed. And besides that, she was quite enjoying the life on the streets. Unfortunately there were not any nice children around to befriend, but she could spend her days chasing cats and killing pigeons. The first one she had killed using Needle, which she had kept close at her side all the time. Later on she killed them with her bare hands, just like the last one. Killing the birds was a very good training for her and Syrio would be proud of her, she knew. The pigeons were also her supper to fill her empty stomach; except for some dry bred she had managed to beg for successfully. She knew everything would be over soon and she felt fine and quite proud she had managed to keep herself alive this easily.
Suddenly Arya noticed something was going on in the streets. People seemed to be heading somewhere, as if there was some big event going on. She had all day for another adventure and she would go unnoticed for sure in a large crowd, so she decided to follow the people wherever they were going. It led her to her to a large square, where she recognized the Great Sept of Baelor. This was the center of religious worship in the Faith of the Seven. Though her family did worship the Old Gods of the Forest instead, Old Nan had told her once about how King Baelor the Blessed ordered the building of the large sept. The devotion to his faith ultimately resulted in starving himself to death. Such a stupid way to die, Arya thought.
Many people had gathered at the large square already, while more people kept coming. Something important was about to happen, yet Arya had no idea what was going on. She noticed the big statue in the middle of the square, which was Baelor the Blessed himself. Thanking herself for her cleverness, she made her way through the crowd until she reached the statue. She bumped into a few elbows and hips, but before they could say anything to her she had already vanished into the crowd. When she reached the statue, she managed to grab the ledge of the statue's base and pull herself up. At the feet of King Baelor's statue her seat was not that uncomfortable and she had a good view on the stairs of the Great Sept.
She immediately noticed that she knew a few people that were on the stage in front of the stairs of the Great Sept, though she couldn't recall all of their names. They were her father's councilors, one very old man and another little man with a moustache and a goatee on his chin. She also noticed the bald one, damn why couldn't she remember any of their names? At least she knew Lord Renly, the king's youngest brother and Ser Barristan Selmy, the old knight. Arya wondered why these important men had gathered here and why all those people had come as well. There had to be some sort of show, she realized. Maybe it was another tournament? But this square was very crowded and did not have the space for such an event. It didn't make sense to her and she just decided to wait, when her thoughts were interrupted by the gasping and yelling of the crowd. She watched King Robert with her lord father ascending the stage. This is getting more and more interesting, she thought. However, she also hoped that her father wouldn't see here and send her away. No, he has probably more important matters to deal with, she thought, and with so many people standing around her he would probably be too distracted to see her as well. She chuckled as she thought of Sansa, who had obediently listened to their father to be send back to Winterfell and was probably with that Night's Watch man now.
For a moment Arya wondered whether Syrio would be around as well. It would be very cool, if he would find her here. Swift as a deer she had made it all the way to this place. He would definitely be very proud of her. Then she heard the crowd gasp once more and she looked toward the stage, where three gold cloaks dragged Queen Cersei in front of the crowd. They surely weren't there to comfort her, though she was heavily struggling with her walking. Arya had never seen the Queen like this, dressed in duds and looking wearily. The days in the dark dungeon had taken away her royal gracefulness and though she could not see it from afar, Arya knew the radiance in her eyes was probably gone as well. She had always feared the Queen, yet now she felt almost pity for the woman whose hands were tied on her back and who faced the angry mob in front of her. But then she remembered the rocks she and Jory had thrown at Nymeria to avoid the dire wolf getting executed, which had been ordered by the same woman who stood disgracefully at the stage in front of the Great Sept at this very moment. "Fuck the Queen", she whispered to herself so softly that no one would hear her for sure.
Arya was curious about what would happen next. She did not even know why they had seized Cersei and her children, as her father had only told her that things were getting more dangerous and King's Landing wasn't safe for her and Sansa anymore. From her self-proclaimed seat at the base of Baelor's statue, she watched the proceeding that was about to begin. The old man she did not know the name of stepped forward to make an announcement.
"All hail King Robert of the House Baratheon, First of His Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. Today, we will ask the gods for justice. In front of you stand the accused, Cersei of House Lannister, who still happens to be the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and wife of our beloved King Robert. The King has asked me to announce his Hand, who will take the floor and speak on behalf of the King. Lord Eddard Stark."
The old man bowed before her lord father and scuffed back to the other councilors. Lord Eddard overlooked the crowd for a moment before he started his speech. Arya feared for a moment that he had seen her, but her fear vanished as soon as he started what was probably the most solemnly speech of his life.
"Thank you, Grand Maester. It is my duty and my honor to announce that I will read the accusation in front of all the gods and men to hear. Next to me stands the accused, Cersei of House Lannister, who is charged for treachery and sodomy. Listen well, for the words I am about to say are the King's will."
Little Arya did not know what her father meant with "sodomy", but it didn't sound good. She wondered why the King, who was seated behind her lord father next to his councilors, did not just speak for himself. He's probably too lazy for it, she thought.
"I hereby denounce the boy Joffrey, the boy Tommen and the girl Myrcella from the line of succession. Though they are known as the children of Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister, in reality they are the products of the incestuous relationship between twins Cersei and Jaime Lannister, also known as "The Kingslayer". Since I do not leave any legal offspring, the only rightful heir to my throne is Lord Stannis Baratheon of Dragonstone. When I die, Stannis will be the first in line and my younger brother Renly will be the second in line. This is the will of King Robert of the House Baratheon, signed by royal decree."
Her father paused as his last words were overthrown by the noise of the crowd. Arya heard many angry shouts and yells and she saw a few people throwing rock toward Cersei. She dodged to avoid getting hit and the gold cloaks tried to cover her. However, she was hit but not by a rock as the juice of a rotten tomato was seeping of her cheek. The mob restrained itself as soon as her father continued his speech.
"This betrayal of our King cannot go unpunished. King Robert has summoned the Kingslayer to the capital to answer for his treason. Furthermore, Jaime Lannister has been stripped of all ranks and titles, including his knighthood and he has been dismissed from the Kingsguard. He will receive his punishment in the near future, but today justice will first be delivered for Cersei's actions."
Lord Eddard paused again and gazed to his left where Cersei was listening to her ordeal. She appeared totally unmoved, except for the bruise that had formed itself on her left cheek where the tomato had hit her. Arya felt that this might be even more exciting than her lessons with Syrio.
"Cersei Lannister did not only betray the King with their marriage, but she also plotted to assassinate him…"
Arya felt the tension rise and she clinched to the statue. Most gold cloaks were now standing between the stage and the crowd and some drew their pikes. Most men retreated to avoid getting stabbed. Others shouted for the Queen's head. Could this really be the end for Cersei? Arya's gaze did not leave the stage, where the gold cloaks had become the only barrier between Cersei and a very gruesome death.
"…His Grace had gone hunting, when Cersei instructed his squire to fetch him too much of his own wine. This way he would be an easy target for some wild animal. It would definitely have looked like a tragic accident. However, King Robert found out and now she stands before all gods and men to hear of her crimes. The worst, or maybe best, is that she does not even deny her crimes, do you?"
The crowd had fallen silent, most people were taken aback of what they just heard, including Arya. Damn, Cersei is even worse than I imagined, she thought. Everyone was looking at Cersei, for what she was about to answer. Yet she said nothing. Even her father had probably not expected this, as she noticed a shocked look on his face as well. Cersei Lannister was not the kind of woman who often fell silent, but today she wouldn't fetch another lie.
"Since she does not deny her crimes, this is considered a confession. Given that, it is up to the King to decide what is to be done with her. Your Grace, what is to be done with our prisoner?"
King Robert rose from his occasional throne and for a moment not a word was said.
"The woman has committed crimes beyond redemption. She has betrayed me, tried to fool me and almost got me killed. She is far too dangerous to be around here any longer…"
Arya gasped. Were they going to exile her or…?
"…and therefore I, King Robert of the House Baratheon, First of My Name, sentence you to die. It would be more than justice to have your head on a spike on top of the Red Keep, yet I do not want you to look down on me ever again. Ser Ilyn, take her to the gallows and be done with it."
It wasn't until then that Arya noticed the large wooden gallows that had been installed at the very left side of the stage. The gold cloaks pushed her fiercely toward the gallows.
"Do you have some final words, woman?" Lord Eddard asked her while Ilyn Payne put the noose around her neck and tightened it just enough so she could still draw breath.
"My poor Robert", she began, "do you really think this is the end of it? To be honest, I don't give a shit about my life or honor or whatever the fuck you think I tried to preserve. I take joy in the thought that as soon as I draw out my final breath, all of your miserable lives are doomed. My father and Jaime will destroy you, Robert, mark my words. They will put your heads on spikes, besides that of your dear friend Lord Eddard. The Lannisters are coming for you and I take bliss to know that my children will be safe. I am sure Joffrey will be a strong king, just like his mother. That will be my victory, dear husband."
"STOP HER!" Robert roared. "Damn you, Ser Ilyn, hurry up the damn thing and make her shut her filthy mouth."
Ilyn Payne did not answer, he never did. He had lost his tongue long ago and that is all Arya knew about him. Cersei wasn't a coward; she had to give her that. Even in her final moments, her face still carried a mixed look of pride and satisfaction. Even though she was clearly losing at this very moment, she still carried the fierce determination of a winner.
Cersei Lannister didn't pray, cry or shy away in the face of death. Her feet lost their ground and her neck snapped with the same abruptness that had befallen the pigeon Arya had killed this morning. Her body went limp and then there was no more. Though some people were cheering, everyone on stage including her father didn't look happy or saddened, but more relieved. Justice had been carried out and everyone had fulfilled their duties. Cersei Lannister was dead.
As people started to leave Baelor's square, Arya made her way down from the statue. She wanted to make her way to the crowd just like she had come, when she bumped into a large man with a horrible smell. She looked up and cursed herself for doing so. Yoren grabbed her arm fiercely and started dragging her away.
"What are you doing?! Let me go!" she screamed.
"Aye, I will when we've reached Winterfell. And with you getting lost all the time, that might take a little longer than I'm planning to."
"I don't wanna go! Let me be, I will go straight to my father. Please!"
"I don't care. He will send you back with me. Come on, your sister is waiting for you. Little girls like you shouldn't be roaming the streets without any protection."
"I don't…" Her words faded into sobs as she realized that she would never see Syrio again.