Chapter 26: First day of the Tourney
Doran went to the Tourney in honor of Prince Daeron with his parents, in a bunk with orange silk curtains so thin they could see through them. The curtains made it look like the sun was setting, even though it was still early.
Beyond the city walls, by the river, a thousand tents had been pitched, and the common people flocked to watch the games. Such splendor fascinated Doran: the shining armors, the huge steeds in gold and silver trim, the shouts of the crowd, the banners flapping in the wind... One might forget that this Tourney is to honor a deceased, the joyous atmosphere makes it look like a festivity.
The funeral ceremony was held the day before, it was a serious occasion and the first funeral that Doran had attended in this world. They spent several hours in the Great Sept of Baelor listening to the High Septon's sermon. Doran found the whole thing too tedious, spending the ceremony lost in his thoughts.
Noting the absence of Houses Westerling, Tarbeck, and Frey in the Great Sept, he exchanged an amused look with Tywin. The three houses were sent home as part of the king's punishment, Doran heard rumors that the king is going to send septons and septas to educate the children of those three houses since he found their education lacking. The lords also suffered various sanctions as they were blamed for the words of their sons.
After the funeral the Tourney began.
"It's pretty awesome," he whispered as they settled into their seats, between House Lannister and House Arryn.
His parents struck up a conversation with the lords and ladies while Doran greeted his friends before turning his attention back to the show.
The seven knights of the King's Guard wore armor the color of milk and cloaks as white as freshly fallen snow. The other knights wore a wide variety of armor, some simple, some very elaborate.
Lord Yohn Royce wore the ancestral armor of his family.
"His armor is made of bronze and is thousands and thousands of years old, it has magical runes engraved on it that protect him from all evil." Elbert said excitedly.
Doran tried to sharpen his eyes to get a better look at the armor but it's too far away.
"Mama, can I meet Lord Royce after jousting?" His mother raises an eyebrow, and Doran clarifies, "I want to see his armor up close."
"Me too!" Elbert joins.
"You've already seen it, Elbert," Jon laughs. "I'll talk to Yohn, I'm sure he'll be happy to show off his armor to some young future knights." ends with a wink Lord Arryn.
Doran turns his eyes forward and notices more famous knights, Lord Ormund Baratheon in his shining armor and stag-shaped helmet.
The prince turns and looks at his father.
"Papa, shouldn't you go change?"
"No, my turn won't be until after noon. There's no point in me spending hours in my armor doing nothing, I'd rather spend that time with my family," smiles the prince.
"Someone should tell that to Lord Baratheon, who wont be jousting until the end of the day and yet he is in his shiny armor already." jokes Lord Arryn.
"And you, Lord Arryn? Will you participate in the jousts?
"Yes, Prince Doran, but like your father, my turn will not be until the afternoon."
Soon the first jousts begin. Doran watches excitedly as Ser Duncan unhorses Lord Celtigar in his first joust and one of the Tyrells in his second, Doran does not recognize that Tyrell; he knows he is not a member of the main branch since Lord Luther doesnt have children yet.
The morning passes between joust and joust and soon it's Prince Trystanne's turn.
Prince Trystanne is dressed in black armor with a purple robe on top of it with the Dayne symbol on it.
His first adversary is Lord Tully. Trystanne broke a spear against Lord Tully`s shield before unhorsing him with a precise hit to the breastplate on his second lap. In his second joust he faces Lord Redwayne who manages to break four spears against the prince before being knocked down. Trystanne wins the rest of his jousts easily, his best adversary being Lord Redwayne. Before leaving the field he rides close to where his family is sitting, he takes off his helmet and winks at them.
"Pretentious,"
"But well deserved Princess Obella." Lady Jeyne comments.
The rest of the afternoon more knights face each other and by the time the sun sets the knights who will go on to the next phase have been decided.
Lord Ormund Baratheon, Ser Duncan the Tall, Ser Orys the Galant, Lord Yohn Royce, Lord Jon Arryn, Prince Duncan Targaryen, Prince Trystanne Dayne, Ser Gerold Hightower, Ser Gwayne Gaunt, Ser Harlan Grandison, Lord Sam Tarly, Lord Tremond Gargalen, Ser Tommen Lannister and Lord Jack Mallister.
The next day the knights will face each other, it will be decided at random who will go against whom. The seven winners will go to the finals where they will face off against the other six knights, the two knights with the most wins will face each other in the final.
"Who will you bet on, Doran?" Tywin asks.
"Filial loyalty tells me I should bet on my father but I have a lot of faith in ser Duncan. And you?"
"Ser Duncan has many possibilities but Lord Royce's ability is undeniable."
"Ability or magic?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.
During the seven jousts in which Lord Royce participated in two of them his victories should have been impossible. When he confronted Lord Reyne the lion's horse stumbled just before Lord Reyne unhoursed Lord Royce, and when he confronted Ser Arlin a bird came out of nowhere and disoriented the wandering knight.
"Luck or magic, it doesn't matter. The important thing is that Lord Royce hasn't lost a Tourney in two years."
"Aye, last year he unhorsed uncle Jon in my nameday Tourney!" Elbert adds.
**
The next day the archery contest is held. Not nearly as many people attend, Doran's parents decide to spend the day `relaxing' and Doran goes to watch the archery contest accompanied by Lothar and three other Martell guards.
Upon reaching the stands he notices that neither the Arryns nor the Lannisters are there, in fact many of the Great Houses are absent. He sits and watches the archers prepare. They will have to shoot in the first round at targets 30 meters away, they will have three arrows; that is, three attempts. Those who go to the second round will have to shoot at targets located 50 meters away, in the third round the targets will be located 70 meters away, and so on until only one archer remains.
The prize is 2,500 golden dragons so there are quite a few archers.
"Excuse me, Prince Doran." A man approaches him, Doran recognizes him as Orys of the Kingsguard.
"Yes, ser Orys?"
"The king invites you to sit next to him."
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