Difference between revisions of "A Clash of Kings-Chapter 2"

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[[Category: A Song of Ice And Fire chapters|A Clash of Kings: Chapter 02]]
 
[[Category: A Song of Ice And Fire chapters|A Clash of Kings: Chapter 02]]
 
[[Category: A Song of Ice And Fire chapters--POV Sansa Stark]]
 
[[Category: A Song of Ice And Fire chapters--POV Sansa Stark]]
[[Category:Chapters which take place in King's Landing]]
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[[Category:Chapters which take place at the Red Keep]]
  
 
[[es:Choque de Reyes-Capítulo 2]]
 
[[es:Choque de Reyes-Capítulo 2]]
 
[[fr:A Clash of Kings, Chapitre 03, Sansa]]
 
[[fr:A Clash of Kings, Chapitre 03, Sansa]]
 
[[zh:列王的纷争-章节 2]]
 
[[zh:列王的纷争-章节 2]]

Revision as of 22:48, 22 May 2013

Sansa I
A Clash of Kings chapter
AClashOfKings.jpg
POV Sansa
Place King's Landing
Page 28 UK HC (Other versions)
Chapter chronology (All)
Arya I  ← Sansa I →  Tyrion I

Sansa II

Sansa Stark attends the Tourney for King Joffrey's 13th Name Day. After several poor contests, Joffrey becomes enraged when the drunken knight Ser Dontos Hollard arrives half naked and too drunk to compete. Sansa manages to convince Joffrey to make Dontos his new fool instead of executing him. Afterward, while Prince Tommen is riding against a quintain, Tyrion Lannister arrives to assume his position as acting Hand of the King.

Synopsis

On Joffrey’s name day Sansa can see the long tail of the red comet from her tower window. When Ser Arys Oakheart arrives to escort her to the tourney grounds, she asks him what it means. He states that it means glory to King Joffrey. The gods have raised it as a banner in his honor. The small folk have named it King Joffrey’s comet. Sansa is not so sure and replies that she has heard the servants call it the “Dragon’s Tail.” To this, Ser Arys replies that Joffrey sits in the dragon’s chair and the House Lannister color is crimson. Sansa wonders, with foreboding, if it is true and thinks that as a Baratheon it should be a golden comet.

Ser Arys complements her on her gown of pale purple silk; the long sleeves of her gown hide the bruises, a gift from a raging Joffrey when he learned that Robb Stark had been proclaimed King of the North. Ser Boros Blount was the one that beat her. Ser Arys is the only Kingsguard who objected when Joff commanded him to hit her, and even when he did, he never hit her hard. Sansa also has noticed that Joffrey never commands the Hound to hit her. Ser Arys is always courteous to her, and her preferred member of the Kingsguard. As they walk, Sansa asks who will win today, and Ser Arys states he will, but it will be a poor victory since there will be only 40 contestants, and there is small honor in unhorsing green boys. Sansa muses that this will be very different from the Tourney of the Hand. She also asks about the queen and learns that she will not be in attendance—Cersei is furious that Tywin Lannister will not bring his army to the city as commanded.

The crowd is pitiful in the small outer bailey behind the walls of the Red Keep, where the tourney will be held. Most of the spectators are Gold Cloaks or wear the crimson of House Lannister. Only a few are nobility: Grey-faced Lord Gyles Rosby, Lady Tanda Stokeworth with her daughters Falyse and Lollys, exiled princeJalabhar Xho, and Lady Ermesande Hayford, who is only a baby.

The Hound announces Sansa’s arrival: the princess gives a shy nod, Tommen excitedly tells her he will ride in the tourney (Joffrey quickly interjects that Tommen will be riding against a straw quintain), and Joffrey, clad in a breastplate, studies her before saying he is pleased she wore his stones. He then orders her to sit. Sansa is relieved that Joffrey has chosen to play the gallant today. Joffrey now informs her that Viserys Targaryen, the Beggar King, is dead, having been crowned with molten gold by the Dothraki. When he tells her that he intends to challenge Robb Stark to single combat, Sansa states she would like to see that. She asks if Joffrey will be in the lists, and he responds that his mother has told him it is not fitting since the tourney is in his honor, but otherwise he would be champion, and asks the Hound to concur. Clegane responds, “Against this lot? why not.” When Sansa asks the Hound if he will joust, he replies that it is not worth the bother since this is a tournament of gnats. Joffrey says he should make the Hound fight to the death, and the Hound replies Joffrey would lose one knight (the Hound is not a knight). When the trumpets sound, Joffrey takes Sansa’s hand, which repulses her, but she is still.

In the first joust, Ser Meryn Trant of the Kingsguard drives Ser Hobber Redwyne (the Redwyne twins are hostages like Sansa) from his saddle on the second pass. Ser Horas Redwyne goes to help his brother from the field. Joffrey is disappointed by the poor show. Next, Ser Balon Swann faces the new-made squire Morros Slynt, who is having difficulty with his lance. The sight of Janos Slynt’s heir takes Sansa back to the day her father was beheaded; it was Janos Slynt who threw her father down and held him while Ser Ilyn Payne swung the sword. Her prayer for Morros to embarrass himself is answered when the former commoner is violently unhorsed. Joffrey hoots in derision, telling Tommen they picked the wrong foe for him, since Morros jousts worse than the straw knight. Then it is Ser Horas Redwyne’s turn. He fares better than his twin, unhorsing an old knight bedecked with silver griffins who makes a poor contest. Joffrey, disgusted, declares this show a feeble one. He is getting bored and his mood is darkening, which worries Sansa.

Next, the joust between Ser Dontos Hollard and the freerider Lothor Brune is announced. Lothor Brune takes his place but there is no sign of Ser Dontos. Ser Dontos arrives shortly thereafter, drunk and half naked, struggling to catch and mount his horse. The audience all laugh at the drunken knight’s antics except for King Joffrey. Eventually. Dontos gives up trying to mount, sits down in the dirt, forfeits the match, and asks for more wine. Joffrey stands and shouts, “A cask from the cellars! I’ll see him drowned in it.” Without thinking, Sansa protests and is immediately shocked that she spoke, considering Joffrey's mood. He turns on her, furious at being gainsaid, and Sansa struggles to make up a story that it is a curse to kill a man on one’s name day. Joffrey does not believe her, but the Hound comes to her rescue by telling Joffrey, “What a man sows on his name day, he reaps throughout the year.” Joffrey reluctantly agrees to have the fool killed on the morrow. Sansa seizes the opportunity to suggest to Joffrey that Dontos is better suited to be a fool than a knight and should be made to wear motley instead of being executed. He does not deserve the mercy of a quick death. Joffrey likes this idea and agrees. Ser Dontos thanks both Joffrey and Sansa.

Once Ser Dontos has been led away, the master of revels inquires whether he should summon a new opponent for Lothor Brune or proceed with the next tilt. Instead, Joffrey calls off the tourney in disgust, saying he would have them all put to death if it weren't his name day. Tommen vehemently protests that he was supposed to ride against the quintain. An argument among the royal siblings ensues. When Myrcella finally points out that mother agreed, Joffrey mocks her for being childish, and Myrcella responds that they are children. The Hound, laughing, tells Joffrey that she has a point. Joffrey sullenly agrees. Tommen’s opponent is a child-sized quintain wearing a helmet with antlers.

Tommen hits the quintain solidly, but it spins around to strike Tommen on the back of the head, unhorsing him. This incites a gale of laughter from the crowd, most of all from King Joffrey. Princess Myrcella rushes out to help her brother to his feet. Sansa, with queer courage, suggests that Joffrey should accompany her to help and tell Tommen he rode well. Joffrey angrily refuses, stating that Tommen got unhorsed. However, Tommen shows courage when he prepares to try again. Sansa finds herself wishing that Tommen was the eldest child; she wouldn’t mind marrying him.

Just then, the portcullis rises and the gates of the Red Keep open. A column of dusty horsemen enter under the golden lion banner of House Lannister. Some of the horsemen wear the armor of Lannister men-at-arms but the majority are freeriders, sellswords, and monstrous savages. In their midst rides Tyrion Lannister, the ugliest man Sansa has ever set eyes upon. Tommen and Myrcella rush to greet their uncle and Sansa is stunned to see that Tommen and Tyrion are the same height.

After greeting his niece and nephew, the dwarf waddles over to Joffrey, shadowed by a black-haired sellsword and a one-eyed savage. When Tyrion greets him, Joffrey expresses surprise at Tyrion’s arrival and the Hound comments that they had heard Tyrion was dead. Myrcella expresses happiness at the fact that he is alive. Tyrion thanks her and then gives his condolences to Joffrey and Sansa for the loss of their fathers. Sansa is speechless, wondering if Tyrion is mocking her. Joffrey is momentarily confused until Tyrion reminds him that his own father, King Robert, has also recently died. Joffrey responds “Oh, him. Yes, it was very sad, a boar killed him.” Tyrion asks him if that is what ‘they’ say. Sansa, armoring herself in courtesy, apologizes to Tyrion for his abduction by her mother. Tyrion thanks Sansa for the sentiment, telling her that many people are sorry, and some will be even sorrier.

Then, Tyrion asks Joffrey where he might find Queen Cersei. Joffrey answers that she is with the Small Council; Jaime keeps losing battles and was captured, Riverrun was lost, and Robb is calling himself king. Tyrion comments that all sorts of people are calling themselves kings these days. Joffrey, wondering about the comment, tells Tyrion he is happy he is alive, and asks about his gift for his name day. Tyrion responds that he has brought his wits, and Joffrey replies he would prefer Robb’s head. Before Joffrey departs with Myrcella and Tommen, the Hound tells Tyrion to guard his tongue. Sansa is now alone with Tyrion and his monsters.

Not being able to think of anything else to say, she comments on his injured arm. Tyrion tells her how one of her northmen hit him with a morning star and asks if it is mourning for her father that makes Sansa so sad. Sansa reflexively insists that her father, mother, and brother are traitors and that she is loyal to her beloved Joffrey. Tyrion is unconvinced and responds by comparing her to a deer surrounded by wolves. Sansa, without thinking, whispers “Lions.” The dwarf gently takes her hand and assures her that he is only a little lion and means her no harm, before departing.

Sansa notes that Tyrion speaks to her more gently than Joffrey, but remembers that Queen Cersei once spoke gently as well. She reminds herself that Tyrion is still a Lannister and that she must never trust a Lannister again.

References and Notes