Entry Five
Date: 298 After Landing, Summer
My dearest Peggy,
I've only been in King's Landing for a few weeks, and things have been interesting.
When we arrived Lord Stark was hurried off to meet the Small Council, from what I gather it is a kind of a proto-parliament who run the nations day-to-day affairs and offer guidance to the King on larger maters, while the rest of us were shown to our rooms. Eddard, as the Hand, has a large apartment near the top of a tower dedicated to the position, while the King lives inside the main castle. Before he left Eddard gave orders for Arya to not go exploring, but when I asked about her training he agreed we could find an open space to practice while the rest of the household settled in.
A few floors under the Hand's solar is a wide open space, I presume for the purpose of entertaining or hosting small gatherings, but by the looks of it had gone unused for some time. The only decortations were those craved into the wood and stone, of dragons and fire and conquest. It was all very beautiful. With a large windowless opening facing the nearby sea, it was a cool space that Arya and I agreed would be perfect for training. Even Nymeria, her wolf, agrees with the space. But as we finished our exercises (she really is becoming quite strong for her size) and moved into swordplay, I realized what I was teaching her wasn't correct for someone of her size. Her brother Jon had given her a sword, and she has only showed it to me, but it is a very thin blade that wouldn't be useful in the kind of fighting I'm teaching. She needs a different style, and frankly I could use more practice with a real swordsman.
When I brought this up to Lord Stark later that evening, he agreed. We then decided that I would still be in charge of Arya's physical training and conditioning, but my primary job is to be bodyguard to the Stark Children. Something about the days meeting with the Council had obviously worried him. Jory Cassel was still in charge of the household guards, but I was in charge of the girls protection. A few days later, I overheard the Hand speaking to Arya about how dangerous the city is, how there are enemies everywhere, and that wolf survive by sticking together. A few days later we met Syrio Forel, the former First Sword of Braavos (a city across the sea), and that he is Arya's "dancing master." Apparently a form of sword fighting. His personality reminds me a bit of Corporal "Dum Dum" Dugan, real cocky and sure of himself. I liked him immediately. During the day I watched the girls, studied Forel's water-based sword fighting, and at night I practiced what I learned.
Over the next few weeks I saw less and less of Lord Stark. His attention was focused on the upcoming Tournament King Robert had ordered, and managing the city as more people flooded in and crime started to rise. Even some of his household guard had to be diverted to police duty. I see the good that such a show will do, I remember reading in school about how the Roman's kept their peoples mind of their woes with bread and circuses, but I wonder who really benefits. It didn't take much looking to learn that most of the inns and…entertainment establishments are owned by Lord Baelish.
One afternoon, much to my surprise, the Lord Hand asked me to accompany him and his company of guardsmen through the streets of King's Landing. I was glad to get out of the castle for a time, but felt it odd that he would ask. I had almost come to the conclusion that he had forgotten about me, having seen so little of him since our arrival. The streets were crowded, so much so that they couldn't part even for the Hand of the King. We eventually stopped at the top of the Street of Steel, so named because of the large number of armorers. I noticed a few people watching us more intently than the rest of the people, but none made a move against us. Stark spoke with an armorer and his apprentice for a time, and then he called me inside.
To my surprise, Stark explains that he would like for me to enter the upcoming tournament. He explained it as, "If they are going to call it the Tourney of the Hand, then the Hand should be represented." In order to blend in I had taken to wearing traditional clothing and armor, my brightly colored uniform was a little less than inconspicuous. But I do carry my shield everywhere, and after just one glance at it the armorer and his apprentice started exclaiming all the options they could come up with. Before they could run out of breath, I found a nearby sheet of paper and ink and started to sketch up my own thoughts. When I was done, they smiled wide and said they were up to the challenge.
On the way back to the castle, Eddard took me aside and apologized for springing his request on me and how he would have liked to have asked me about it earlier. He explained how the previous Hand had died suddenly, and he was trying to figure out why. I didn't like the surprise, but if I'm honest I'm used to being used for the purposes of others. And if this helps solve a mystery, so much the better. Sadly, that meant I had only a week to learn to joust and shoot a bow.
Learning to ride a horse, while not in the Army manual, was simple enough. I did as much on the trip from Castle Black to Winterfell. Learning to hold a lance at the same time, much more difficult. Archery on the other hand came naturally, and by the end of the third day I was considered an expert archer capable of hitting what I wanted to from up to a hundred pace while standing or from horseback. I didn't have high hopes for the joust, but I figured I should be able to make Lord Stark proud with a strong showing in Archery and the Melee.
The day of the Tourney was more than a little eventful, and I suppose for the first time since I arrived in these lands I felt like I was having fun. Even Arya showed up for the event, after hearing I would be in it. It was nice to see the two girls getting along for a change. The Tournament is a three-day affair, but most of the action takes place on the third day. Each event is spaced so that one man shouldn't be able to enter all three events, and the officials were more than a little surprised to see me do as much (or maybe they were taken aback by my brightly painted red, white and blue armor). I had to rush to finish my first round of the joust before I reached the melee, but I succeeded in defeating Ser Hugh of the Vale. While the rest of the riders took their turns, I ran over to the melee, which was just what it sounds like. Forty competitors in a large ring, and they have to make their opponents yield or flee the arena. Within half an hour I had cleared the arena of everyone but myself and Thoros of Myr and his flaming sword.
Something gave Thoros strength beyond his own, but eventually I was able to best him using only the skill and technique I learned from watching Forel. None of the super-soldier serum enhanced strength.
And just in time as it was my turn to joust once more. I barely managed to tip Renly Baratheon's (the King's youngest brother) lance away, knocking him off the horse and earning a second victory (as well as laugh from the King). Eventually I reached the semi-finals, together with Loras Tyrell, Gregor Clegane and Sandor Clegane. Loras managed to squeak out a victory against the Hound, advancing him to the finals, but that left me to face Gregor. The man they call "The Mountain." At nearly 7' tall, and more than 400lbs, he has to be the largest man I have ever seen.
He also doesn't like losing.
When I unhorsed him, Gregor didn't take it well. He immediately called for his sword (a very large one that anyone else would have had to use both hands to wield) and charged me. I was lucky my shield was designed to absorb impacts. His rage and strength were great, almost as superhuman as my own, but for all his power he lacks my speed. If didn't take long for him to tire, and as he did I deftly avoided his slower, ragged blows. A few minutes later he dropped to one knee, out of breath, and a single blow to his head with my shield knocked him unconscious.
The arena was full of silence for a long time, not believing what I had just accomplished. Then all at once a thunderous cheer erupted from all in attendance. The King seemed to be cheering more loudly than the rest, his roar of laugher rising above the rest. Clegane's brother, Sandor, smirked once. I got a nod of respect from Lord Stark and a few others. And Arya smiled wider than I had ever seen. I wish you had been there, Peggy. I felt like a hero again.
It wasn't until later that I learned what the Mountain had done to the wife of the former Prince Rhaegar, and the children, and I wished I had done much worse. I felt like that skinny little boy from Brooklyn all over again. Later that evening, I was approached by Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Barristan Selmy who offered to make me a Knight. I had heard the same from several others who witnessed my triumphs of the day, and told them all no. But when approached by the a Knight with honor to match Lord Stark, I needed to think about it. I will go and speak with the Hand, see what he thinks I should do.
Oh, by the way, I only got second place in Archery.