grrm.astormofswords-第218部分

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rs　had　not　had　Lothor　Brune　to　defend　them。　But　Lady　Lysa　would　hear　no　plaints　against　him。　Since　ing　to　the　Eyrie；　the　singer　had　bee　her　favorite。　He　sang　Lord　Robert　to　sleep　every　night；　and　tweaked　the　noses　of　Lady　Lysa's　suitors　with　verses　that　made　mock　of　their　foibles。　Her　aunt　had　showered　him　with　gold　and　gifts；　costly　clothes；　a　gold　arm　ring；　a　belt　studded　with　moonstones；　a　fine　horse。　She　had　even　given　him　her　late　husband's　favorite　falcon。　It　all　served　to　make　Marillion　unfailingly　courteous　in　Lady　Lysa's　presence；　and　unfailingly　arrogant　outside　it。
　〃Thank　you；〃　Sansa　told　him　stiffly。　〃I　know　the　way。〃
　He　would　not　leave。　〃My　lady　said　to　bring　you。〃
　Bring　me？　She　did　not　like　the　sound　of　that。　〃Are　you　a　guardsman　now？〃　Littlefinger　had　dismissed　the　Eyrie's　captain　of　guards　and　put　Ser　Lothor　Brune　in　his　place。
　〃Do　you　require　guarding？〃　Marillion　said　lightly。　〃I　am　posing　a　new　song；　you　should　know。　A　song　so　sweet　and　sad　it　will　melt　even　your　frozen　heart。　'The　Roadside　Rose'　I　mean　to　call　it。　About　a　baseborn　girl　so　beautiful　she　bewitched　every　man　who　laid　eyes　upon　her。〃
　I　am　a　Stark　of　Winterfell；　she　longed　to　tell　him。　Instead　she　nodded；　and　let　him　escort　her　down　the　tower　steps　and　along　a　bridge。　The　High　Hall　had　been　closed　as　long　as　she'd　been　at　the　Eyrie。　Sansa　wondered　why　her　aunt　had　opened　it。　Normally　she　preferred　the　fort　of　her　solar；　or　the　cozy　warmth　of　Lord　Arryn's　audience　chamber　with　its　view　of　the　waterfall。
　Two　guards　in　sky…blue　cloaks　flanked　the　carved　wooden　doors　of　the　High　Hall；　spears　in　hand。　〃No　one　is　to　enter　so　long　as　Alayne　is　with　Lady　Lysa；〃　Marillion　told　them。
　〃Aye。〃　The　men　let　them　pass；　then　crossed　their　spears。　Marillion　swung　the　doors　shut　and　barred　them　with　a　third　spear；　longer　and　thicker　than　those　the　guards　had　borne。
　Sansa　felt　a　prickle　of　unease。　〃Why　did　you　do　that？〃
　〃My　lady　awaits　you。〃
　She　looked　about　uncertainly。　Lady　Lysa　sat　on　the　dais　in　a　highbacked　chair　of　carved　weirwood；　alone。　To　her　right　was　a　second　chair；　taller　than　her　own；　with　a　stack　of　blue　cushions　piled　on　the　seat；　but　Lord　Robert　was　not　in　it。　Sansa　hoped　he'd　recovered。　Marillion　was　not　like　to　tell　her；　though。
　Sansa　walked　down　the　blue　silk　carpet　between　rows　of　fluted　pillars　slim　as　lances。　The　floors　and　walls　of　the　High　Hall　were　made　of　milk…white　marble　veined　with　blue。　Shafts　of　pale　daylight　slanted　down　through　narrow　arched　windows　along　the　eastern　wall。　Between　the　windows　were　torches；　mounted　in　high　iron　sconces；　but　none　of　them　was　lit。　Her　footsteps　fell　softly　on　the　carpet。　Outside　the　wind　blew　cold　and　lonely。
　Amidst　so　much　white　marble　even　the　sunlight　looked　chilly；　somehow　。　。　。　though　not　half　so　chilly　as　her　aunt。　Lady　Lysa　had　dressed　in　a　gown　of　cream…colored　velvet　and　a　necklace　of　sapphires　and　moonstones。　Her　auburn　hair　had　been　done　up　in　a　thick　braid；　and　fell　across　one　shoulder。　She　sat　in　the　high　seat　watching　her　niece　approach；　her　face　red　and　puffy　beneath　the　paint　and　powder。　On　the　wall　behind　her　hung　a　huge　banner；　the　moon…and…falcon　of　House　Arryn　in　cream　and　blue。
　Sansa　stopped　before　the　dais；　and　curtsied。　〃My　lady。　You　sent　for　me。〃　She　could　still　hear　the　sound　of　the　wind；　and　the　soft　chords　Marillion　was　playing　at　the　foot　of　the　hall。
　〃I　saw　what　you　did；〃　the　Lady　Lysa　said。
　Sansa　smoothed　down　the　folds　of　her　skirt。　〃I　trust　Lord　Robert　is　better？　I　never　meant　to　rip　his　doll。　He　was　smashing　my　snow　castle；　I　only　。　。　。〃
　〃Will　you　play　the　coy　deceiver　with　me？〃　her　aunt　said。　〃I　was　not　speaking　of　Robert's　doll。　I　saw　you　kissing　him。〃
　The　High　Hall　seemed　to　grow　a　little　colder。　The　walls　and　floor　and　columns　might　have　turned　to　ice。　〃He　kissed　me。〃
　Lysa's　nostrils　flared。　〃And　why　would　he　do　that？　He　has　a　wife　who　loves　him。　A　woman　grown；　not　a　little　girl。　He　has　no　need　for　the　likes　of　you。　Confess；　child。　You　threw　yourself　at　him。　That　was　the　way　of　it。〃
　Sansa　took　a　step　backward。　〃That's　not　true。〃
　〃Where　are　you　going？　Are　you　afraid？　Such　wanton　behavior　must　be　punished；　but　I　will　not　be　hard　on　you。　We　keep　a　whipping　boy　for　Robert；　as　is　the　custom　in　the　Free　Cities。　His　health　is　too　delicate　for　him　to　bear　the　rod　himself。　I　shall　find　some　mon　girl　to　take　your　whipping；　but　first　you　must　own　up　to　what　you've　done。　I　cannot　abide　a　liar；　Alayne。〃
　〃I　was　building　a　snow　castle；〃　Sansa　said。　〃Lord　Petyr　was　helping　me；　and　then　he　kissed　me。　That's　what　you　saw。〃
　〃Have　you　no　honor？〃　her　aunt　said　sharply。　〃Or　do　you　take　me　for　a　fool？　You　do；　don't　you？　You　take　me　for　a　fool。　Yes　'　I　see　that　now。　I　am　not　a　fool。　You　think　you　can　have　any　man　you　want　because　you're　young　and　beautiful。　Don't　think　I　haven't　seen　the　looks　you　give　Marillion。　I　know　everything　that　happens　in　the　Eyrie；　little　lady。　And　I　have　known　your　like　before；　too。　But　you　are　mistaken　if　you　think　big　eyes　and　strumpet's　smiles　will　win　you　Petyr。　He　is　mine。〃　She　rose　to　her　feet。　〃They　all　tried　to　take　him　from　me。　My　lord　father；　my　husband；　your　mother　。　。　。　Catelyn　most　of　all。　She　liked　to　kiss　my　Petyr　too；　oh　yes　she　did。〃
　Sansa　retreated　another　step。　〃My　mother？〃
　〃Yes；　your　mother；　your　precious　mother；　my　own　sweet　sister　Catelyn。　Don't　you　think　to　play　the　innocent　with　me；　you　vile　little　liar。　All　those　years　in　Riverrun；　she　played　with　Petyr　as　if　he　were　her　little　toy。　She　teased　him　with　smiles　and　soft　words　and　wanton　looks；　and　made　his　nights　a　torment。〃
　〃No。〃　My　mother　is　dead；　she　wanted　to　shriek。　She　was　your　own　sister；　and　she's　dead。　〃She　didn't。　She　wouldn't。〃
　〃How　would　you　know？　Were　you　there？〃　Lysa　descended　from　the　high　seat；　her　skirts　swirling。　〃Did　you　e　with　Lord　Bracken　and　Lord　Blackwood；　the　time　they　visited　to　lay　their　feud　before　my　father？　Lord　Bracken's　singer　played　for　us；　and　Catelyn　danced　six　dances　with　Petyr　that　night；　six；　I　counted。　When　the　lords　began　to　argue　my　father　took　them　up　to　his　audience　chamber；　so　there　was　no　one　to　stop　us　drinking。　Edmure　got　drunk；　young　as　he　was　。　。　。　and　Petyr　tried　to　kiss　your　mother；　only　she　pushed　him　away。　She　laughed　at　him。　He　looked　so　wounded　I　thought　my　heart　would　burst；　and　afterward　he　drank　until　he　passed　out　at　the　table。　Uncle　Brynden　carried　him　up　to　bed　before　my　father　could　find　him　like　that。　But　you　remember　none　of　it；　do　you？〃　She　looked　down　angrily。　〃Do　you？〃
　Is　she　drunk；　or　mad？　〃I　was　not　born；　my　lady。〃
　〃You　were　not　born。　But　I　was；　so　do　not　presume　to　tell　what　is　true。　I　know　what　is　true。　You　kissed　him！〃
　〃He　kissed　me；〃　Sansa　insisted　again。　〃I　never　wanted　。　。　。〃
　〃Be　quiet；　I　haven't　given　you　leave　to　speak。　You　enticed　him；　just　as　your　mother　did　that　night　in　Riverrun；　with　her　smiles　and　her　dancing。　You　think　I　could　forget？　That　was　the　night　I　stole　up　to　his　bed　to　give　him　fort。　I　bled；　but　it　was　the　sweetest　hurt。　He　told　me　he　loved　me　then；　but　he　called　me　Cat；　just　before　he　fell　back　to　sleep。　Even　so；　I　stayed　with　him　until　the　sky　began　to　lighten。　Your　mother　did　not　deserve　him。　She　would　not　even　give　him　her　favor　to　wear　when　he　fought　Brandon　Stark。　I　would　have　given　him　my　favor。　I　gave　him　everything。　He　is　mine　now。　Not　Catelyn's　and　not　yours。〃
　All　of　Sansa's　resolve　had　withered　in　the　face　of　her　aunt's　onslaught。　Lysa　Arryn　was　frightening　her　as　much　as　Queen　Cersei　ever　had。　〃He's　yours；　my　lady；〃　she　said；　trying　to　sound　meek　and　contrite。　〃May　I　have　your　leave　to　go？〃
　〃You　may　not。〃　Her　aunt's　breath　smelled　of　wine。　〃If　you　were　anyone　else；　I　would　banish　you。　Send　you　down　to　Lord　Nestor　at　the　Gates　of　the　Moon；　or　back　to　the　Fingers。　How　would　you　like　to　spend　your　life　on　that　bleak　shore；　surrounded　by　slatterns　and　sheep　pellets？　That　was　what　my　father　meant　for　Petyr。　Everyone　thought　it　was　because　of　that　stupid　duel　with　Brandon　Stark；　but　that　wasn't　so。　Father　said　I　ought　to　thank　the　gods　that　so　great　a　lord　as　Jon　Arryn　was　willing　to　take　me　soiled；　but　I　knew　it　was　only　for　the　swords。　I　had　to　marry　Jon；　or　my　father　would　have　turned　me　out　as　he　did　his　brother；　but　it　was　Petyr　I　was　meant　for。　I　am　telling　you　all　this　so　you　will　understand　how　much　we　love　each　other；　how　long　we　have　suffered　and　dreamed　of　one　another。　We　made　a　baby　together；　a　precious　little　baby。〃　Lysa　put　her　hands　flat　against　her　belly；　as　if　the　child　was　still　there。　〃When　they　stole　him　from　me；　I　made　a　promise　to　myself　that　I　would　never　let　it　happen　again。　Jon　wished　to　send　my　sweet　Robert　to　Dragonstone；　and　that　sot　of　a　king　would　have　given　him　to　Cersei　Lannister；　but　I　never　let　them　。　。　。　no　more　than　I'll　let　you　steal　my　Petyr　Littlefinger。　Do　you　hear　me；　Alayne　or　Sansa　or　whatever　you　call　yourself？　Do　you　hear　what　I　am　telling　you？〃
　〃Yes。　I　swear；　I　won't　ever　kiss　him　again；　or　。　。　。　or　entice　him。〃　Sansa　thought　that　was　what　her　aunt　wanted　to　hear。
　〃So　you　admit　it　now？　It　was　you；　just　as　I　thought。　You　are　as　wanton　as　your　mother。〃　Lysa　grabbed　her　by　the　wrist。　〃e　with　me　now。　There　is　something　I　want　to　show　you。〃
　〃You're　hurting　me。〃　Sansa　squirmed。　〃Please；　Aunt　Lysa；　I　haven't　done　anything。　I　swear　it。〃
　Her　aunt　ignored　her　protests。　〃Marillion！〃　she　shouted。　〃I　need　you；　Marillion！　I　need　you！〃
　The　singer　had　remained　discreetly　in　the　rear　of　the　hall；　but　at　Lady　Arryn's　shout　he　came　at　once。　〃My　lady？〃
　〃Play　us　a　song。　Play　'The　False　and　the　Fair。〃'
　Marillions　fingers　brushed　the　strings。　〃The　lord　he　came　a…riding　upon　a　rainy　day；　hey…nonny；　hey…nonny；　hey…nonny…hey　。　。　。〃
　Lady　Lysa　pulled　at　Sansa's　arm。　It　was　either　walk　or　be　dragged；　so　she　chose　to　walk；　halfway　down　the　hall　and　between　a　pair　of　pillars；　to　a　white　weirwood　door　set　in　the　marble　wall。　The　door　was　firmly　closed；　with　three　heavy　bronze　bars　to　hold　it　in　place；　but　Sansa　could　hear　the　wind　outside　worrying　at　its　edges。　When　she　saw　the　crescent　moon　carved　in　the　wood；　she　planted　her　feet。　〃The　Moon　Door。〃　She　tried　to　yank　free。　〃Why　are　you　showing　me　the　Moon　Door？〃
　〃You　squeak　like　a　mouse　now；　but　you　were　bold　enough　in　the　gar