Chapter 17: Tourney.

Chapter 17: Tourney.

Kings Landing.

The King and all those who participated in the tourney have come to feast, before the start of the tourney.

*cling, King Robert rang his goblet with his spoon, gaining all of the people attention from the participants. "I would like to, honor my friend, my brother but in blood and My Hand, for his works in helping, Kings Landing, eradicating the flea bottom of beggars, while he introduce new opportunities to my Kingdom!" shouting the last part, King Robert raise his goblet.

"hear, hear!" all the people follow suit, raising their own cups and goblets.

The men who will joust today didn't take their cup and just eat enough food and water.

***

At Noon when the sun was high, trying it's best to dismantle the clouds, the tourney stadium was full of people of all ages. They were talking among themselves with the castle servant walks around with a tray of wines, which people pay for 1 bronze coin. They also serve breads to the guests.

Eddard have greatly influenced by his brother a little taking advantage of the gathering same like the Yule festival at the North. With the servants serve cold drink during a hot day, the people buy them occasionally.

"Greetings. This tourney was dedicated to our king's Hand, Lord Stark, thanks to the generosity of our King! The First of His Name, King Robert Baratheon, King and Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, The Andals, The Rhoynal and The First Men. With this we will start the first round, the Joust!" The Herald introduce and all the people cheers and clapping their hands.

All the crowd cheers, clapping their hands with the royalties sat on their chairs clapping as well as drinking and eating grapes.

Robert sat on his high chair with his Hand beside him chatting waiting for the first contenders to enter.

The herald wait for the salutation march then clear his throat as he announce the names for the first joust.

"For the First Match, on the right corner we have a wanderer, aspire to be a Knight, Regalia from the Western Lands" the herald announces as a a broad chest man came out on a warhorse with his squire.

Donning a red garb with a beetle on his back, Regalia approach with his trustee warhorse. Taking his joust stick, he checks everything then position himself.

"Facing from the left corner we have our beloved Knight from the Gardens, Set Tyr of Flowers!" The herald announces which a graceful knight march in with a beautiful white horse waving his hand as he hold a rose in his hand throwing it to the masses.

Women scream reaching for it as they seem to adore the Flower Knight. Blowing kisses to them, he hold his jouster stick and salute the King and his Wife and his Hand then march to his side.

"Begin!"

Galloping, the two opposing side rush toward each other on their respective horses.

Regalia, position his shield to neck level as he steadily hold his jouster and ram it against Tyr but miss while Tyr is able to ram him luckily, Regalia tilt his shield to his left which successfully negate the force.

The crowd exclaim but still claps looking forward who will win as they pass their stags around in the name of bets. From the High Stand, King Robert and the Hand, Eddard also watch in anticipation for the horsemanship and shieldmanship from the two sides display.

"Hahahah, that a good maneuver on his shield. If he didn't do so, he will be unhorse! Ahahahah" Robert exclaim as he beat his thigh not forgetting to down another cup of wine.

The jousters position themselves as they charge each other again. Regalia, due to his experience accumulated through his journey, he was able to unhorse the flower knights.

Sitting on his horse he loosen a bit and when the distance between them get close, he suddenly lean out as his joust stick speared the lower ribs of Tyr getting him unhorse.

"Whoooh!" All the audience exclaim clapping with the brilliant maneuver, Regalia did.

They return back to their respective tents as the herald called another name.

"For the second round, we have the infamous butcher, The Mountain whooo Rides! , Gregor Clegane!"

Woohoo* the audience shouted cheering as tall man ride his warhorse to his side with a squire carrying his jous stick.

As for his enemy a knight known as Ser Hugh from the Vale.

They clashes and clashes when Gregor found a flaw in his opponent armor and pierce it causing Ser Hugh to fall off his horse with blood gurgling out of his mouth with a wounded neck pierce by a stake from the joust stick.

The crowd were terrified as such scene. This also show how dangerous the game was causing some to back out but those who love such scene were more enthusiastic to see what next.

Gregor declare the winner for this round. He then face Loras Tyrell which we all knows how it turn out to be.

Seeing the perfect moment to be acknowledge, Jory step forward and exchange blade with the Mountain.

When Loras Tyrell getting a blade at his body, Jory step forward drawing his sword parrying the Mountain attacks which Gregor grew more enrage about it as he swung his blade again this time diagonal but Jory using his small and agile figure than Gregor close in and send his sword butt to Gregor face then spin around bring all his momentum to his sword as he slash at Gregor sword disarming him.

Seeing his have no weapon in hand, the mountain growl and went for a spear run but Jory using his sword flat blade as a pivot he move it upward and while stepping to side with Gregor armpit lock under the sword guard while the blade rested on his neck spine.

Which also ended this farce.

One arm raise in the air while the other support his weight, Clegane stay still in a crouching form while his head droop down facing the ground.

All the audience were gasp in amazement with the sword dance Jory show.

King Robert who ready to intervene also stop in shock as he fascinated by how Jory control his sword without harming The Mountain.

"What a fascinating control over your blade lad!" He exclaim then turn to look at Eddard, "Seems like you have a good man under your belt, my brother"

"Aye, Jory have been following me since then"

"Ahahaha, for protecting and stopping the mountain, that a great feat. Jaime, knight this man. He deserve it, for risking his life facing someone his twice his size and protect the integrity of Tyrells" Robert shout which cause Jory's raise his brow.

'Seem like I need to be better during the duel to show I deserve being a Knight' He thought as Jaime knighted him.

Standing up he return to Eddard side. Eddard also have a small smirk on his lips hiding his pleasure.

He didn't care about the knight title but he needs it in order to make and tell the people that the North also have qualified Knight and this could also attract some wandering men to the North.

Now that his realm need help to face what is coming. Unknowingly to Eddard, he started to use the cunning of a wolf who makes preparation before the hunts.