Legend has it that when Stannis Baratheon, waving his Flaming Heart Banner, breaches King's Landing, he will burn alive all the heretics who worship the Seven, offering their souls as a sacrifice to his god— R'hllor, the Lord of Light.
Therefore, when news of Stannis's fleet's arrival reached the city, the entire King's Landing was filled with King's Landing people's fearful yet devout chants, praying for the protection of the Gods in heaven.
They prayed for divine punishment from the Gods, that Stannis, who had betrayed mortals, would be reduced to ashes.
The sounds of singing, the neighing of horses, the clanging of steel, and the rattling of the hinges of the massive bronze city gates mingled together, creating a strange and terrifying symphony in King's Landing.
Throne Room of the Red Keep, Kingsguard Maryn Trant, a member of the Kingsguard, helped King Joffrey mount his chestnut steed.
In the morning sunlight, Joffrey's gilded chainmail and crimson porcelain plate armor shone with gold and red light, gleaming and dazzling.
He said impatiently from his horse, "Where's my dog? Why hasn't he come back yet!"
The war had begun, Joffrey worried that if he arrived too late... that ugly Dwarf would snatch Stannis's head before he could.
Ser Meryn's eyes were lowered, and his silver plate armor gleamed in the morning light.
He began, "Your Majesty, the Regent Mother has ordered that you are not permitted to approach the battlefield."
Upon hearing his advice, Joffrey roared, "Maryn Trant, I am the king! I can go wherever I want! If you dare mention my mother again, I'll rip out your tongue!"
The Kingsguard silently retreated, Joffrey raised his chin, letting out a haughty snort.
Not long after, he saw Sandor Clegane with one arm around a the Maiden: "My dog, come here, quick! Quick!"
The Hound strode over, roughly tossed the Maiden at Joffrey's feet, and said, "This is the delicate flower you requested, Your Majesty."
The brown-haired the Maiden on the ground trembled with fear. Joffrey eagerly drew his sword, its blade forged from fine steel, gleaming with a blue light, double-edged, its hilt wrapped in leather, and its end adorned with a Golden Lion. Its name was " Lion's Tooth."
He held the sword out to the brown-haired the Maiden: "Kiss it, bless my sword."
With a gasp, the Maiden burst into tears, pleading, "Your Majesty, I beg your forgiveness, please spare me..."
Joffrey roared, "Kiss it! Kiss my sword!"
"Jiaohua, be a good girl and listen to the king, or it will shove it into your mouth." The Hound's shrill voice rang out.
"Hurry, bless my sword." Joffrey's Lion's Tooth were almost touching the brown-haired the Maiden's lips.
The brown-haired the Maiden touched the metal in front of her with her lips, stunned Joffrey then sheathed his sword and said with disgust, "My dog, you brought in an idiot."
The Hound shrugged and said, "This delicate flower is the slowest."
Joffrey was taken aback at first, then chuckled, pleased with himself, and bestowed the gift. "Don't let her leave. When I return, I want her to kiss my Lion's Tooth again, to let her taste my uncle's blood."
The Maiden was led away by the Gold Cloaks, the Hound said, "King, you should find a woman who loves you to kiss it."
Joffrey proudly asserted, "I am the king, how could she not love me?"
"You'll be very busy." The Hound leaped onto his warhorse.
"Today is a day of destiny. I will personally deal with my traitorous uncle. Let's go!" Joffrey kicked his spurs and spurred his horse away.
Sandor Clegane, Ser Maryn Tran, and Osmund Kettleblack Kettleblack followed closely behind, followed by the twenty-odd Red Cloaks of House Lannister.
When Joffrey reached the vicinity of Mud Gate, shouts of battle, the clashing of weapons, and the neighing of warhorses echoed from the other side of the city walls.
Joffrey stopped his horse, his face pale, his hand gripping the reins trembling slightly.
Just then, the Hound's voice came over. "Your Majesty, those are the mercenaries I've hired."
Upon hearing his voice, Joffrey swallowed hard and looked in the direction the Hound was pointing.
Joffrey paused, then raised his chin and said contemptuously, "Dog, you plan to take these beggars to war? Do you think they'll have the courage to draw their swords against Stannis?"
The Hound said, "I warned them that if their weapons weren't stained with blood, even if they were dead, I would still fuck them."
Joffrey chuckled for a while, then suddenly said, "Where's my Dwarf uncle? Why can't I see him? Is he hiding?"
The Hound's eyes flickered slightly. "He's hiding on the city wall, directing us," he said.
Joffrey yanked on the reins, turned his horse around, and said, "I'll go pull him out. He's my Hand of the King; I can't let my traitorous uncle make a fool of himself."
Before leaving, he instructed, "My dog, I'm going to see my cowardly Dwarf uncle. Bring me Stannis's head later."
"Your Majesty will be satisfied."
Outside the gates of Maegor's Hold, Osfryd Kettleblack, the new captain of the Regent's Guard, spoke up, "You're Geoffrey of Crackclaw Point?"
Osfryd Kettleblack was very tall, with black hair and a hooked nose. He had a habitually furrowed brow and a serious expression.
House Kettleblack is a noble family of Crownlands, their coat of arms consisting of a black jug within a shield border on a red background. Osfryd Kettleblack is the second of the three Kettleblack brothers; his elder brother is Ser Osmund Kettleblack, currently serving in the Kingsguard, and his younger brother is Osney Kettleblack, who serves alongside Osfryd Kettleblack in Queen Regent Cersei's guard.
The three Kettleblack brothers were originally used by Tyrion to spy on his sister, the Queen Mother, but after Osmund Kettleblack was appointed to the Kingsguard by Kingsguard Queen Regent Cersei, the three brothers directly defected to her.
Rumor has it that the Kettleblack and Black brothers were very popular in Maegor's Hold. They always had a smile on their faces, were quick-witted, and got along well with knights, squires, waiters, and grooms. They were especially favored by the maids.
Geoffrey, the commander of the Survey Corps in King's Landing, greeted him, saying, "I am Geoffrey, sent by the Queen Regent."
Geoffrey's appearance had the features of the First Men, with light-colored eyes beneath slightly curly dark hair, and he was half a head shorter Osfryd Kettleblack.
Osfryd Kettleblack looked him over cautiously and said, "Come with me."
Maegor's Hold's ballroom was less than a tenth the size of the castle hall, yet its furnishings were extremely elegant. Behind each torch holder was a large, polished silver mirror, thus doubling the brightness; the walls were adorned with exquisite wood carvings, and the floor was covered with fragrant rushes; a row of arched windows lined the south wall, but were concealed by heavy velvet curtains, allowing no light to penetrate and isolating the sounds of prayer and battle.
The noblewomen of King's Landing all gathered here; they were wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters.
Outside, their men are fighting Stannis's army.
Light, cheerful melodies from flutes and violins drifted from the upper floors, yet the atmosphere was heavy, and everyone was filled with sorrow.
At this moment, the Master of Household announced, "All stand at attention and pay homage to Her Cersei, the Protector of the Realm, the Regent Queen Mother, of House Lannister!"
Everyone in the hall rose to their feet and bowed. After Queen Regent Cersei and Princess Myrcella took their seats on the platform, she said, "Welcome, everyone. Please be seated."
Queen Regent Cersei glanced at the assembled "hens" below and addressed the Master of Household, "Are they all here?"
The Master of Household glanced down and said, " Your Queen Regent, one of the young ladies from the House Buckwell is missing."
House Buckwell is a noble family in the Crownlands, with their fiefdom at the Antlers. Their family coat of arms consists of a pair of golden antlers on a blue background with white fur markings, and their motto is "Pride and Determination."
Queen Regent Cersei: "What's wrong?"
The Master of Household glanced at Princess Myrcella, who sat quietly to the side, and lowered his voice slightly, saying, "Miss Bookwell has been taken away by King Joffrey, Your Queen Regent."
"What a lucky girl, what a pity." Queen Regent Cersei ignored the Master of Household and gestured for the dishes to be served.
Queen Regent Cersei her cup and took a small sip of Summer Wine. Her emerald eyes flickered slightly as she asked, " Myrcella, what are you looking at?"
Upon hearing Cersei's voice, nine-year-old Princess Myrcella immediately pulled her slightly outstretched neck back and said, "Mother, there are twelve Red Cloaks and twelve Gold Cloaks here, and their numbers are the same."
"Good observation skills."
Queen Regent Cersei swirled the wine in her glass and said, "Would you like some, Myrcella?"
Princess Myrcella, then gently shook her head.
Queen Regent Cersei reached out and stroked her daughter's face, saying, " Myrcella, are you afraid of death?"
Princess Myrcella shook her head again and said, "Mother, with you here, I am not afraid."
Queen Regent Cersei nodded slightly, took a sip of wine, and shifted her gaze to the guards standing at the edge of the hall. She said, "My daughter, you haven't seen what a sacked city looks like."
She leaned gently against the armrest and continued, "If Stannis breaches the gates of King's Landing, our guards will frantically strip off their gold or red robes, steal whatever they can, and flee. Those... servants, washerwomen, grooms... they'll all be the same; their first thought will be their own lives, not ours."
Princess Myrcella blinked and said, "Mother, if only Ser Jaime and Lord Gryn were here. They are true knights, and true knights protect women and children."
Tyrion... Cersei gritted her teeth inwardly. She gently ruffled her daughter's hair and said, "Women also have ways to protect themselves from humiliation, little Myrcella."
Queen Regent Cersei's gaze flickered slightly, and the tall wooden door was pushed open, with her captain of the guard leading twelve Blue Cloaks into the hall.
The others remained in one part of the hall, while Osfryd Kettleblack led Geoffrey to the foot of the high seat. After receiving permission, Geoffrey walked up the steps alone.
Geoffrey knelt on one knee and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Queen Regent Cersei glanced at the kneeling man out of the corner of her eye and said, " Gryn told me you are a trustworthy member of the House Crabb?"
Geoffrey seemed a little nervous, and he admitted, "Yes, Your Majesty. My great-great-great-grandfather... many grandfathers... were all soldiers of the Crabb, loyal to the end."
Queen Regent Cersei nodded slightly and said, "Keep an eye on everyone here. Now, leave."
After Geoffrey left, Queen Regent Cersei summoned the Master of Household and asked, "Where is my son?"
" Your Queen Regent, the King and the Hand of the King are on the city wall, reassuring the soldiers and boosting their morale."
The musicians were playing, the jugglers were performing magic tricks, and the crowd was laughing loudly, but their laughter seemed insincere, as if they could turn into sobs at any moment.
The long table was laden with delicious dishes, but today, all the food was seasoned with a condiment called fear.
Suddenly, a noblewoman began to weep uncontrollably. Queen Regent Cersei ordered her maid to give her a cup of sleeping wine and then led her to her bedroom to sleep.
"Tears," Queen Regent Cersei murmured.
Queen Regent Cersei raised her goblet and took a large gulp. Her cheeks flushed, and her bright, fervent eyes shone as she looked down into the hall.
Her mother seemed to become more and more beautiful with each drink, Princess Myrcella's gaze was almost fixed on her mother.
Queen Regent Cersei's eyes flickered slightly. She curled the corners of her lips and said, "My Myrcella, why do you keep looking at me?"
Princess Myrcella's cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes sparkled. "Mother, you are so charming."
Queen Regent Cersei smiled, set down her wine glass, and said, " Myrcella, when I was young... my mother often said that tears are a woman's weapon, just like a man's sword. But your mother wants to tell you that a woman's beauty can control a man's sword, making it work for her."
Princess Myrcella asked doubtfully, "A man's sword?"
Queen Regent Cersei nodded, then gestured to the women in the hall and said, " Myrcella, the truth is cruel, but you are the Lioness's daughter, so I will speak the truth. If Maegor's Hold falls, all the women here will be raped, not only by soldiers who have fought fiercely, but also by the guards who are protecting us right now."
"Mother..." Myrcella reached out and grabbed her mother's hand; her little hand was trembling.
Queen Regent Cersei frowned, displeased with her daughter's fragility. She continued, " Myrcella, at least their noble status will provide them with protection, for every woman here is worth a large ransom... But the women on the streets will be treated roughly, as will the maids of the Red Keep."
After a pause, Cersei asked her daughter, " Myrcella, are you afraid of dying?"
Myrcella's eyes reddened, but she forced herself not to cry. She shook her head slightly and said, "Mother, if that's really the case, I'd rather die."
Queen Regent Cersei revealed a hint of satisfaction. She reached out and gently brushed Myrcella's golden curls away from her pale neck, saying, "If King's Landing falls to Stannis, the Pyromancer I've arranged will instantly destroy this place... If we're lucky, Stannis will turn to ashes along with us."
"Mother..."
Myrcella's clear eyes held a resolute look. "With you here, I will not fear death."
Queen Regent Cersei lowered her head and kissed Myrcella's forehead. "Your mother won't give up easily, my little Lioness."