EDDARD

艾德

?? The visitors poured through the castle gates in a river of gold and silver and polished steel, three hundred strong, a pride of bannermen and knights, of sworn swords and freeriders. Over their heads a dozen golden banners whipped back and forth in the northern wind, emblazoned with the crowned stag of Baratheon.

來訪的隊伍如同一條由金、銀和鋼鐵交融而成的璀璨河流，浩浩蕩蕩涌進城堡大門。他們為數一共三百，由引以為傲的封臣與騎士、誓言騎士①和自由騎手所組成。冰冷的北風拍打著他們頭頂高舉的十數面金色旗幟，上面繡了象征拜拉席恩家族的寶冠雄鹿。

?? Ned knew many of the riders. There came Ser Jaime Lannister with hair as bright as beaten gold, and there Sandor Clegane with his terrible burned face. The tall boy beside him could only be the crown prince, and that stunted little man behind them was surely the Imp, Tyrion Lannister.

隊伍中有不少奈德熟悉的面孔。一頭亮眼金發的是詹姆·蘭尼斯特爵士，臉帶燒傷的是桑鐸·克里岡。他身旁的高大男孩一定是王儲，而他們身后的那個畸形矮子則毫無疑問是“小惡魔”提利昂·蘭尼斯特了。

?? Yet the huge man at the head of the column, flanked by two knights in the snow-white cloaks of the Kingsguard, seemed almost a stranger to Ned?.?.?.?until he vaulted off the back of his warhorse with a familiar roar, and crushed him in a bone-crunching hug. “Ned! Ah, but it is good to see that frozen face of yours.” The king looked him over top to bottom, and laughed. “You have not changed at all.”

然而那個走在隊伍前列，由兩名雪白披風御林鐵衛隨侍左右的人，在奈德眼里竟像個陌生人……一直到對方翻身跳下戰馬，發出熟悉的洪鐘吶喊，然后一把抱住他，差點把他全身骨頭拆散，他方才認出來者是誰?！澳蔚?！啊，見到你真好，尤其是看到你那張凍得發紫的臉?！眹踝凶屑毤毜厣舷麓蛄克环?，然后朗聲笑道，“你真是一點都沒變?！?/p>

?? Would that Ned had been able to say the same. Fifteen years past, when they had ridden forth to win a throne, the Lord of Storm’s End had been clean-shaven, clear-eyed, and muscled like a maiden’s fantasy. Six and a half feet tall, he towered over lesser men, and when he donned his armor and the great antlered helmet of his House, he became a veritable giant. He’d had a giant’s strength too, his weapon of choice a spiked iron warhammer that Ned could scarcely lift. In those days, the smell of leather and blood had clung to him like perfume.

要是奈德也能對他說同樣的話就好了。十五年前，當他們并肩為王位而奮戰時，這位風息堡公爵是個面容修整干凈，眼神清澈，讓懷春少女夢寐以求的精壯男子。他身高六尺五寸，如巍然巨塔，在眾人之中似鶴立雞群。當他身披戰甲，頭戴雙叉鹿角巨盔，則成了個名副其實的巨人。他的力氣也不輸巨人，慣用的那柄鐵刺戰錘連奈德都只能勉強舉起。在那些歲月里，皮革和血的氣味就如貴婦身上的香水，和他如影隨形。

?? Now it was perfume that clung to him like perfume, and he had a girth to match his height. Ned had last seen the king nine years before during Balon Greyjoy’s rebellion, when the stag and the direwolf had joined to end the pretensions of the self-proclaimed King of the Iron Islands. Since the night they had stood side by side in Greyjoy’s fallen stronghold, where Robert had accepted the rebel lord’s surrender and Ned had taken his son Theon as hostage and ward, the king had gained at least eight stone. A beard as coarse and black as iron wire covered his jaw to hide his double chin and the sag of the royal jowls, but nothing could hide his stomach or the dark circles under his eyes.

如今香水卻當真和他如影隨形了。他的腰圍也變得和身高同樣驚人。奈德上次見到國王，始自九年前的巴隆·葛雷喬伊之亂。那時雄鹿與冰原狼的旗幟齊飛，七國軍隊合力征討那自立為鐵群島之王的領主。勝利之夜，兩人并肩站在葛雷喬伊家族陷落的堡壘大廳里，勞勃接受叛軍首領的降書，奈德則將其幼子席恩收為養子，之后勞勃起碼胖了八石。如今雖有一團粗黑如鐵絲的胡子遮住他肥胖的雙下巴，卻沒有東西可以掩蓋他突出的小腹和凹陷的黑眼圈。

?? Yet Robert was Ned’s king now, and not just a friend, so he said only, “Your Grace. Winterfell is yours.”

但勞勃終究是奈德的國君，而不僅僅是朋友，所以他只說：“陛下，臨冬城聽候您差遣?！?/p>

?? By then the others were dismounting as well, and grooms were coming forward for their mounts. Robert’s queen, Cersei Lannister, entered on foot with her younger children. The wheelhouse in which they had ridden, a huge double-decked carriage of oiled oak and gilded metal pulled by forty heavy draft horses, was too wide to pass through the castle gate. Ned knelt in the snow to kiss the queen’s ring, while Robert embraced Catelyn like a long-lost sister. Then the children had been brought forward, introduced, and approved of by both sides.

此時其他人紛紛下馬，城里的馬夫過來照料馬匹。勞勃的王后，瑟曦·蘭尼斯特帶著她年幼的孩子們走進城里。他們乘坐的輪宮乃是一輛巨大的雙層馬車，以油亮的橡木和鑲滾金邊的金屬搭建而成，由四十匹駿馬共同拖拉，因為太寬，只得停在城門外。奈德在雪地里跪下，親吻王后手上的戒指，勞勃則像是擁抱自己失散已久的妹妹般地擁抱了凱特琳。接著孩子們被帶上前來，彼此正式介紹過后，得到雙方家長的贊許。

?? No sooner had those formalities of greeting been completed than the king had said to his host, “Take me down to your crypt, Eddard. I would pay my respects.”

正式的見面禮儀剛結束，國王便說：“艾德，帶我到你們家墓窖去，我要聊表敬意?！?/p>

?? Ned loved him for that, for remembering her still after all these years. He called for a lantern. No other words were needed. The queen had begun to protest. They had been riding since dawn, everyone was tired and cold, surely they should refresh themselves first. The dead would wait. She had said no more than that; Robert had looked at her, and her twin brother Jaime had taken her quietly by the arm, and she had said no more.

奈德就愛他這點，都過了這么多年，他依舊對她念念不忘。他叫人拿來提燈。一切都盡在不言之中。王后開口反對，她說大家打清早起就在趕路，這時人人又冷又倦，應該先稍事休息，要看死人也用不著這么急。她話說到這里，只見勞勃冷冷地盯著她，她的孿生弟弟詹姆靜靜地握住她的手，她也就沒再說下去。

?? They went down to the crypt together, Ned and this king he scarcely recognized. The winding stone steps were narrow. Ned went first with the lantern. “I was starting to think we would never reach Winterfell,” Robert complained as they descended. “In the south, the way they talk about my Seven Kingdoms, a man forgets that your part is as big as the other six combined.”

于是奈德和他幾乎快不認得的國王一同往地下墓窖走去。通往墓窖的螺旋樓梯非常狹窄，所以奈德打著燈走在前面?！拔以径伎煲詾槲覀冇肋h也到不了臨冬城了，”勞勃邊下樓邊抱怨，“南方住久了，成天聽人說我的七大王國如何如何，很容易就忘記你的領地和其他六國加起來一樣大。”

?? “I trust you enjoyed the journey, Your Grace?”

“陛下，相信您這趟旅途一定很愉快吧？”

?? Robert snorted. “Bogs and forests and fields, and scarcely a decent inn north of the Neck. I’ve never seen such a vast emptiness. Where are all your people?”

勞勃哼了一聲，“一路上到處都是沼澤、樹林和田野，過了頸澤后連間像樣的旅店都找不著。我這輩子還沒見過這么廣袤無邊的冷野荒蕪，你的子民都躲哪兒去了？”

?? “Likely they were too shy to come out,” Ned jested. He could feel the chill coming up the stairs, a cold breath from deep within the earth. “Kings are a rare sight in the north.”

“多半是害羞不敢出來吧。”奈德打趣道，他感覺得到一股寒意自地窖席卷而上，有如幽深地底的冰冷氣息?！霸诒狈?，國王可不是天天都見得著的。”

?? Robert snorted. “More likely they were hiding under the snow. Snow, Ned!” The king put one hand on the wall to steady himself as they descended.

勞勃又哼了一聲，“我看是躲在厚厚的積雪底下去了吧！奈德，都什么時候了你們這兒還冰天雪地！”國王邊下樓邊伸手扶著墻壁，穩住身子。

?? “Late summer snows are common enough,” Ned said. “I hope they did not trouble you. They are usually mild.”

“晚夏降雪在北方是稀松平常的事情，”奈德說，“希望沒給您帶來什么困擾，夏末的雪通常都不大?！?/p>

?? “The Others take your mild snows,” Robert swore. “What will this place be like in winter? I shudder to think.”

“這叫做不大？異鬼才相信！”勞勃罵道，“那等到冬天你們這要冷成什么樣子？我光想想就渾身發抖?！?/p>

?? “The winters are hard,” Ned admitted. “But the Starks will endure. We always have.”

“北方的冬天很冷很苦，”奈德承認，“但史塔克家族會熬過去的，這么多年來我們不是一直都熬過來了嗎？”

?? “You need to come south,” Robert told him. “You need a taste of summer before it flees. In Highgarden there are fields of golden roses that stretch away as far as the eye can see. The fruits are so ripe they explode in your mouth, melons, peaches, fireplums, you’ve never tasted such sweetness. You’ll see, I brought you some. Even at Storm’s End, with that good wind off the bay, the days are so hot you can barely move. And you ought to see the towns, Ned! Flowers everywhere, the markets bursting with food, the summerwines so cheap and so good that you can get drunk just breathing the air. Everyone is fat and drunk and rich.” He laughed and slapped his own ample stomach a thump. “And the girls, Ned!” he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. “I swear, women lose all modesty in the heat. They swim naked in the river, right beneath the castle. Even in the streets, it’s too damn hot for wool or fur, so they go around in these short gowns, silk if they have the silver and cotton if not, but it’s all the same when they start sweating and the cloth sticks to their skin, they might as well be naked.” The king laughed happily.

“你真該來南方看看，”勞勃對他說：“趁夏天還沒結束好好見識一下。高庭的原野放眼望去盡是金黃玫瑰。水果甜熟到會在你口中爆開，有甜瓜、蜜桃還有火梅，我保證你絕對沒嘗過這么甜美的東西。你待會兒就知道了，我這次給你捎了點過來。就算在風息堡，當熱風吹起，天氣熱得你幾乎無法動彈。奈德，你真該看看南方市鎮的模樣！遍地繁花，市集里的食物車載斗量；夏季的葡萄酒不但好喝，而且便宜得不像話，光聞聞市場里的酒味都會醉。人人都豐衣足食，喝得醉醺醺，吃得肥嘟嘟。”他咧嘴笑道，又用手拍了拍自己的啤酒肚?！澳蔚?，還有南方的女孩子?。　彼难劾餆òl著光芒，高聲叫道，“我敢跟你保證，只要天一熱，女人的矜持就全不見了。她們會直接光著身子，在城堡附近的河里裸泳。就算上了街，也是熱得穿不住毛衣皮衣，所以有錢的就穿絲織短袖，窮一點就穿棉質的。不過只要一流汗，衣服貼著皮膚，根本就和脫光光沒兩樣?！眹蹰_心地笑著。

?? Robert Baratheon had always been a man of huge appetites, a man who knew how to take his pleasures. That was not a charge anyone could lay at the door of Eddard Stark. Yet Ned could not help but notice that those pleasures were taking a toll on the king. Robert was breathing heavily by the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, his face red in the lantern light as they stepped out into the darkness of the crypt.

勞勃·拜拉席恩向來是個物欲旺盛，很懂享受的人。這一點他沒有變，但是奈德沒法不注意國王為聲色娛樂所付出的代價。當他們抵達樓梯底端，進入墓窖的深沉黑暗時，勞勃已經氣喘吁吁，呼吸困難，在燈光照映下面紅耳赤了。

?? “Your Grace,” Ned said respectfully. He swept the lantern in a wide semicircle. Shadows moved and lurched. Flickering light touched the stones underfoot and brushed against a long procession of granite pillars that marched ahead, two by two, into the dark. Between the pillars, the dead sat on their stone thrones against the walls, backs against the sepulchres that contained their mortal remains. “She is down at the end, with Father and Brandon.”

“陛下請進，”奈德恭謹地說，然后將燈籠繞了個半圓。黑影鬼祟潛動，搖曳的火光照上腳底的石板，左右顯現出兩兩成對的花崗巖柱，一直延展到遠處的黑暗。歷代逝者端坐石柱間的石制寶座上，背向墻壁，身后靠著存放遺體的石棺?！八谧詈竺?，就在父親和布蘭登旁邊。”

?? He led the way between the pillars and Robert followed wordlessly, shivering in the subterranean chill. It was always cold down here. Their footsteps rang off the stones and echoed in the vault overhead as they walked among the dead of House Stark. The Lords of Winterfell watched them pass. Their likenesses were carved into the stones that sealed the tombs. In long rows they sat, blind eyes staring out into eternal darkness, while great stone direwolves curled round their feet. The shifting shadows made the stone figures seem to stir as the living passed by.

他領路在前，穿梭于石柱間的過道，勞勃被地底的陰寒凍得直打哆嗦，默然無語地跟隨其后。墓窖里總是冷的，他們走在史塔克家族歷代的死者之間，足音回響在偌大的陵墓里。歷代臨冬城領主注視著他們，緊閉石棺上的雕像刻有他們生前的容貌，巨大的咆哮冰原狼石雕則蜷縮腳下。他們并列而坐，用再也看不見的眼睛注視著永寂的黑暗。生者的走動仿佛驚動了他們，墻壁上輪換著竄動的黑影。

?? By ancient custom an iron longsword had been laid across the lap of each who had been Lord of Winterfell, to keep the vengeful spirits in their crypts. The oldest had long ago rusted away to nothing, leaving only a few red stains where the metal had rested on stone. Ned wondered if that meant those ghosts were free to roam the castle now. He hoped not. The first Lords of Winterfell had been men hard as the land they ruled. In the centuries before the Dragonlords came over the sea, they had sworn allegiance to no man, styling themselves the Kings in the North.

根據傳統，凡是曾為臨冬城之主的石像膝上都要放置一把鐵制長劍，以確保這些含恨的復仇怨靈被封印在陵墓里，不致到陽間肆虐。其中最古老的早已銹蝕殆盡，原本放置寶劍的地方如今只剩紅褐鐵銹。奈德不禁捫心自問，這是否意味著那些幽魂如今可以恣意興擾城堡？早先的臨冬城主堅毅剛強一如他們腳底下的土地，在龍王尚未渡海來犯的日子里，他們不向任何人低頭，自封為北境之王。

?? Ned stopped at last and lifted the oil lantern. The crypt continued on into darkness ahead of them, but beyond this point the tombs were empty and unsealed; black holes waiting for their dead, waiting for him and his children. Ned did not like to think on that. “Here,” he told his king.

奈德停下腳步，舉起油燈，陵墓仍然持續向前延伸，沒入黑暗，然而之后的都是空位，沒有封上，有如等待死者的黑洞，等待著他和他的子女。奈德想到這里就不舒服：“在這兒。”他對國王說。

?? Robert nodded silently, knelt, and bowed his head.

勞勃靜靜地點頭，跪了下來，低頭行禮。

?? There were three tombs, side by side. Lord Rickard Stark, Ned’s father, had a long, stern face. The stonemason had known him well. He sat with quiet dignity, stone fingers holding tight to the sword across his lap, but in life all swords had failed him. In two smaller sepulchres on either side were his children.

眼前共有三個并肩排列的石棺，奈德的父親瑞卡德·史塔克有張嚴峻的長臉，當年的雕刻師父把他的神韻掌握得很好，他莊嚴地坐定，石指緊緊握住膝上橫躺的寶劍，然而當年傾國的劍都救不了他。在他兩旁較小的石棺里，則是他的子女。

?? Brandon had been twenty when he died, strangled by order of the Mad King Aerys Targaryen only a few short days before he was to wed Catelyn Tully of Riverrun. His father had been forced to watch him die. He was the true heir, the eldest, born to rule.

布蘭登死時不過二十，他就在和奔流城的凱特琳·徒利成婚前不久，被“瘋王”伊里斯·坦格利安二世殘忍地絞死。他父親被迫全程目睹愛子慘死的經過。其實布蘭登才是臨冬城真正的繼承人，他既是長子，又是天生的領袖。

?? Lyanna had only been sixteen, a child-woman of surpassing loveliness. Ned had loved her with all his heart. Robert had loved her even more. She was to have been his bride.

萊安娜香消玉殞那時年方十六，還是個童心未泯的女孩。奈德全心全意地疼愛著這個妹妹，勞勃對她的愛猶有過之。她原本是要當他新娘的。

?? “She was more beautiful than that,” the king said after a silence. His eyes lingered on Lyanna’s face, as if he could will her back to life. Finally he rose, made awkward by his weight. “Ah, damn it, Ned, did you have to bury her in a place like this?” His voice was hoarse with remembered grief. “She deserved more than darkness?.?.?.?”

　　“她比這漂亮多了?！币魂嚦聊?，國王開口。他的眼光仍眷戀在萊安娜臉上不忍離去，仿佛這樣可以將她喚回人世。最后他終于站起身，步履卻因肥胖而顯得有些不穩。“媽的，奈德，真有必要把她葬在這種地方么？”他的聲音因為憶起的悲痛而嘶啞起來，“她不該與陰暗為伍……”

?? “She was a Stark of Winterfell,” Ned said quietly. “This is her place.”

“她是臨冬城史塔克家族的人，”奈德平靜地說，“她屬于這里?！?/p>

?? “She should be on a hill somewhere, under a fruit tree, with the sun and clouds above her and the rain to wash her clean.”

“她應該安葬在風景優美的山丘上，墳上種棵果樹，頭頂有陽光白云與她為伴，有風霜雨露為她沐浴。”

?? “I was with her when she died,” Ned reminded the king. “She wanted to come home, to rest beside Brandon and Father.” He could hear her still at times. Promise me, she had cried, in a room that smelled of blood and roses. Promise me, Ned. The fever had taken her strength and her voice had been faint as a whisper, but when he gave her his word, the fear had gone out of his sister’s eyes. Ned remembered the way she had smiled then, how tightly her fingers had clutched his as she gave up her hold on life, the rose petals spilling from her palm, dead and black. After that he remembered nothing. They had found him still holding her body, silent with grief. The little crannogman, Howland Reed, had taken her hand from his. Ned could recall none of it. “I bring her flowers when I can,” he said. “Lyanna was?.?.?.?fond of flowers.”

“她臨終前我就在她身邊，”奈德提醒國王，“她只想回家，長眠在布蘭登和父親身邊?！彼两襁€偶爾能聽得見她死前的囈語。答應我，她在那個彌漫血腥和玫瑰馨香的房間里朝他喊，奈德，答應我。遲遲不退的高燒吸走了她全部的力量，當時的她氣若游絲。但當他保證將信守諾言時，妹妹眼里的恐懼頓時一掃而空。奈德記得她最后的微笑，還有她如何緊抓他的手，隨后離開人世，玫瑰花瓣自她掌心傾流而出，沉暗而無生氣。在那之后發生了什么，他全都不記得。當人們找到他時，他仍然緊緊抱著她了無生氣的軀體，哀慟得難以言語。據說最后是那個矮小的澤地人霍蘭·黎德將她的手自他手中抽開，奈德自己一片茫然。“我一有機會就會帶花來看她，”他說，“萊安娜她……一直很喜歡花?！?/p>

?? The king touched her cheek, his fingers brushing across the rough stone as gently as if it were living flesh. “I vowed to kill Rhaegar for what he did to her.”

國王摸了摸她的臉頰，手指溫柔地滑過粗礪的巖石表面，好似在愛撫活生生的戀人。“我發誓殺雷加為她報仇?！?/p>

?? “You did,” Ned reminded him.

“你已經殺了他?！蹦蔚绿嵝阉?。

?? “Only once,” Robert said bitterly.

“只殺了一次?！眲诓獫M腹酸楚地說。

?? They had come together at the ford of the Trident while the battle crashed around them, Robert with his warhammer and his great antlered helm, the Targaryen prince armored all in black. On his breastplate was the three-headed dragon of his House, wrought all in rubies that flashed like fire in the sunlight. The waters of the Trident ran red around the hooves of their destriers as they circled and clashed, again and again, until at last a crushing blow from Robert’s hammer stove in the dragon and the chest beneath it. When Ned had finally come on the scene, Rhaegar lay dead in the stream, while men of both armies scrabbled in the swirling waters for rubies knocked free of his armor.

兩個死敵當年在三河交匯處的沙洲淺灘上碰面，熾烈的戰火在四周蔓延。勞勃手持他的鐵刺戰錘，頭戴鹿角巨盔；坦格利安王子則全身黑甲，胸鎧上用紅寶石鑲成象征家族紋章的三頭巨龍，在烈日照耀下有若熊熊烈火。兩人鏖戰不休，三叉戟河的河水在戰馬鐵蹄下染成血紅，直到最后勞勃的戰錘擊碎了對手鎧甲上的三頭龍，穿過鎧甲下的軀體。奈德趕到現場時，雷加已經倒臥河中，氣絕身亡；雙方士兵在水里爭搶從他鎧甲上掉落的紅寶石，激起翻飛水花。

?? “In my dreams, I kill him every night,” Robert admitted. “A thousand deaths will still be less than he deserves.”

“每晚在夢中，我都要殺他一次。”勞勃道，“就算再殺他個一千遍，他還是死有余辜?！?/p>

?? There was nothing Ned could say to that. After a quiet, he said, “We should return, Your Grace. Your wife will be waiting.”

奈德不知道該說什么才好。又一陣沉默后，他說：“陛下，我們該回去了，王后正等著呢。”

?? “The Others take my wife,” Robert muttered sourly, but he started back the way they had come, his footsteps falling heavily. “And if I hear ‘Your Grace’ once more, I’ll have your head on a spike. We are more to each other than that.”

“王后王后，就算異鬼抓走她又如何？”勞勃尖酸地喃喃道，但他還是腳步蹣跚，沉重地朝來時的方向走去?！斑€有，你要敢再叫我一聲陛下，我一定把你梟首示眾。咱們之間可不只是君臣關系而已?！?/p>

?? “I had not forgotten,” Ned replied quietly. When the king did not answer, he said, “Tell me about Jon.”

“我不敢忘。”奈德靜靜地回答。眼看國王沒有答話，他便問，“跟我說說瓊恩的事?！?/p>

?? Robert shook his head. “I have never seen a man sicken so quickly. We gave a tourney on my son’s name day. If you had seen Jon then, you would have sworn he would live forever. A fortnight later he was dead. The sickness was like a fire in his gut. It burned right through him.” He paused beside a pillar, before the tomb of a long-dead Stark. “I loved that old man.”

勞勃搖搖頭：“我這輩子沒看過一個人病情惡化得那么迅速。為了慶祝我兒子的命名日，我們舉辦了一場比武競技，當天見了他，你一定會認為他健康得能長命百歲。但兩個星期之后他就死了，得的病像把烈火，活活把他給燃盡?！眲诓谝桓呁Ｏ聛恚谜驹谝粋€死去已久的史塔克族人面前?！拔液镁磹勰莻€老人啊。”

?? “We both did.” Ned paused a moment. “Catelyn fears for her sister. How does Lysa bear her grief?”

“我們都一樣?！蹦蔚峦Ａ艘粫?，“凱特琳很為她妹妹擔心，萊莎還好嗎？”

?? Robert’s mouth gave a bitter twist. “Not well, in truth,” he admitted. “I think losing Jon has driven the woman mad, Ned. She has taken the boy back to the Eyrie. Against my wishes. I had hoped to foster him with Tywin Lannister at Casterly Rock. Jon had no brothers, no other sons. Was I supposed to leave him to be raised by women?”

勞勃的嘴角苦澀地扭了扭，“坦白說，一點也不好。”他頓了頓，“奈德，我認為瓊恩的死把那個女人給逼瘋了。她已經帶著兒子逃回了鷹巢城。我是不希望她這么做的，我本來打算把他過繼給凱巖城的泰溫·蘭尼斯特。瓊恩既沒有兄弟，又只有這么一個兒子，我怎么能讓個女人家獨自撫養他長大呢？”

?? Ned would sooner entrust a child to a pit viper than to Lord Tywin, but he left his doubts unspoken. Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word. “The wife has lost the husband,” he said carefully. “Perhaps the mother feared to lose the son. The boy is very young.”

奈德寧可把孩子交給毒蛇撫養，也不愿意交給泰溫公爵，但他沒說出口。有些舊傷永難愈合，只需簡短幾字，就會再汩汩流血?！八齽偸フ煞?，”他小心翼翼地說，“或許做母親的害怕再失去兒子吧，況且那孩子年紀還小。”

?? “Six, and sickly, and Lord of the Eyrie, gods have mercy,” the king swore. “Lord Tywin had never taken a ward before. Lysa ought to have been honored. The Lannisters are a great and noble House. She refused to even hear of it. Then she left in the dead of night, without so much as a by-your-leave. Cersei was furious.” He sighed deeply. “The boy is my namesake, did you know that? Robert Arryn. I am sworn to protect him. How can I do that if his mother steals him away?”

“六歲，成天病懨懨，這種人是新任鷹巢城公爵，諸神饒了我罷?！眹踔淞R，“泰溫公爵以前從沒收過養子，萊莎應該覺得光榮才對。蘭尼斯特家族歷史悠久，勢力又大，可她竟然連考慮都不肯考慮，也沒得到我準許，就趁著月黑風高不聲不響離開了。瑟曦差點沒氣炸?！彼钌畹貒@了口氣，“你知道嗎？那孩子的名是照著我取的，叫勞勃·艾林。我發誓要保護他，怎么能讓他母親就這樣把他偷偷帶走呢？”

?? “I will take him as ward, if you wish,” Ned said. “Lysa should consent to that. She and Catelyn were close as girls, and she would be welcome here as well.”

“不如讓我來收養他，你意下如何？”奈德說，“萊莎應該會同意。她年輕時和凱特琳很親，她來這兒也會比較有家的感覺?！?/p>

?? “A generous offer, my friend,” the king said, “but too late. Lord Tywin has already given his consent. Fostering the boy elsewhere would be a grievous affront to him.”

“我的老友啊，你是個好人。”國王回答，“只可惜為時已晚。泰溫公爵既然同意收養，如果又把那孩子轉到別的地方，對他是種侮辱?！?/p>

?? “I have more concern for my nephew’s welfare than I do for Lannister pride,” Ned declared.

“我關心的是我外甥的幸福，而不在乎蘭尼斯特家族高興不高興?！蹦蔚卤硎?。

?? “That is because you do not sleep with a Lannister.” Robert laughed, the sound rattling among the tombs and bouncing from the vaulted ceiling. His smile was a flash of white teeth in the thicket of the huge black beard. “Ah, Ned,” he said, “you are still too serious.” He put a massive arm around Ned’s shoulders. “I had planned to wait a few days to speak to you, but I see now there’s no need for it. Come, walk with me.”

“那是因為你晚上不用陪蘭尼斯特家的女人睡覺，”勞勃放聲大笑，笑聲在墓窖里回蕩，在拱形屋頂上反射，那笑容是濃密黑虬髯里的一條白線?！昂?，奈德，”他說，“你還是老樣子，太嚴肅了。”他伸出巨大的手臂環住奈德的肩膀，“我本想過幾天再跟你談這件事，但你既然提起，就現在說罷。來，我們走?！?/p>

?? They started back down between the pillars. Blind stone eyes seemed to follow them as they passed. The king kept his arm around Ned’s shoulder. “You must have wondered why I finally came north to Winterfell, after so long.”

他們朝墓窖的出口走去，穿梭于石柱之間，兩旁的史塔克死者空洞的眼神仿佛正跟隨他們的腳步。國王依舊摟著奈德：“你一定想不透，隔了這么多年，為什么現在我才到臨冬城來?！?/p>

?? Ned had his suspicions, but he did not give them voice. “For the joy of my company, surely,” he said lightly. “And there is the Wall. You need to see it, Your Grace, to walk along its battlements and talk to those who man it. The Night’s Watch is a shadow of what it once was. Benjen says...”

奈德確有幾個可能的猜測，但他沒說出來?！拔铱矗雭砗臀易靼椋俊彼首鬏p松地說，“不然就是絕境長城的緣故。陛下，您一定要去看看，在城墻上親自走一遭，再和守軍談談。守夜人部隊如今已沒有過去的盛況，班揚說……”

?? “No doubt I will hear what your brother says soon enough,” Robert said. “The Wall has stood for what, eight thousand years? It can keep a few days more. I have more pressing concerns. These are difficult times. I need good men about me. Men like Jon Arryn. He served as Lord of the Eyrie, as Warden of the East, as the Hand of the King. He will not be easy to replace.”

“相信我很快就有機會當面和你弟弟聊聊，”勞勃道，“至于絕境長城，已經在那兒多久了？八千多年了罷，再撐個幾天應該沒問題。我有更要緊的事要跟你說，如今時局緊張，我需要信得過的得力助手，就像瓊恩·艾林那樣的人。他既是鷹巢城公爵，又是東境守護和御前首相，要找到合適的替代人選可不容易。”

?? “His son?.?.?.?” Ned began.

“他兒子……”奈德開口。

?? “His son will succeed to the Eyrie and all its incomes,” Robert said brusquely. “No more.”

“他的兒子會繼承鷹巢城公爵爵位，以及麾下領地所有稅賦?！眲诓驍嗨熬瓦@樣了?！?/p>

?? That took Ned by surprise. He stopped, startled, and turned to look at his king. The words came unbidden. “The Arryns have always been Wardens of the East. The title goes with the domain.”

奈德大吃一驚，錯愕地停下腳步，轉身面對國王，脫口便道：“艾林家族世代擔任東境守護，這是個世襲的職位啊?！?/p>

?? “Perhaps when he comes of age, the honor can be restored to him,” Robert said. “I have this year to think of, and next. A six-year-old boy is no war leader, Ned.”

“等他長大成人，我再考慮要不要交還給他。”勞勃說，“然而我首先要打算的是今年和往后的幾年。奈德，六歲的小男孩沒法統率軍隊?！?/p>

?? “In peace, the title is only an honor. Let the boy keep it. For his father’s sake if not his own. Surely you owe Jon that much for his service.”

“這頭銜在承平時期不過是個榮譽職，就讓那孩子保留這個稱號吧。就算不為了他，為了他那一生為國鞠躬盡瘁的父親，這也是應該的?！?/p>

?? The king was not pleased. He took his arm from around Ned’s shoulders. “Jon’s service was the duty he owed his liege lord. I am not ungrateful, Ned. You of all men ought to know that. But the son is not the father. A mere boy cannot hold the east.” Then his tone softened. “Enough of this. There is a more important office to discuss, and I would not argue with you.” Robert grasped Ned by the elbow. “I have need of you, Ned.”

國王聽了不大高興，把手從奈德肩膀上抽了回來：“瓊恩鞠躬盡瘁是他職責所在，他本來就該對他的君王效忠。奈德，我不是忘恩負義的人，這點你應該最清楚。但那孩子可不是他父親，一個稚齡幼兒絕對治理不了東方。”他的語氣緩和下來，“不說這些了，我有更要緊的事跟你商量，而且這次我不準你跟我爭辯?！眲诓o握住奈德的手肘，“奈德，我有事需要你幫忙?！?/p>

?? “I am yours to command, Your Grace. Always.” They were words he had to say, and so he said them, apprehensive about what might come next.

“陛下，我永遠任您差遣。”他雖然很擔心國王的下一步，卻不得不這么說。

?? Robert scarcely seemed to hear him. “Those years we spent in the Eyrie?.?.?.?gods, those were good years. I want you at my side again, Ned. I want you down in King’s Landing, not up here at the end of the world where you are no damned use to anybody.” Robert looked off into the darkness, for a moment as melancholy as a Stark. “I swear to you, sitting a throne is a thousand times harder than winning one. Laws are a tedious business and counting coppers is worse. And the people?.?.?.?there is no end of them. I sit on that damnable iron chair and listen to them complain until my mind is numb and my ass is raw. They all want something, money or land or justice. The lies they tell?.?.?.?and my lords and ladies are no better. I am surrounded by flatterers and fools. It can drive a man to madness, Ned. Half of them don’t dare tell me the truth, and the other half can’t find it. There are nights I wish we had lost at the Trident. Ah, no, not truly, but?.?.?.?

勞勃好像根本就沒聽他說話，只自顧自地續道：“想想我們一起在鷹巢城度過的那幾年……媽的，好一段快樂時光！奈德，我希望你能再次陪在我身邊，我希望你能南下到君臨與我共商國事，不要一個人躲在世界的盡頭，毫無用武之地?！眲诓蜻h處的昏暗，突然像個史塔克族人般憂郁地說：“我向你發誓，坐在鐵王座上管理國政，比奪取王位要難上千倍。法律仲裁是件累煞人的事，清算國庫更麻煩。還有那些沒完沒了的平民百姓，我成天坐在那該死的鐵椅子上聽他們怨東怨西，聽得我腦筋麻木，屁股酸痛。每個人一開口就是要錢，不然就是要土地或法律仲裁。全是些滿口胡言的家伙，偏偏我的大臣貴婦們也好不到哪里去。我身邊都是些白癡和馬屁精，奈德，這真會把人逼瘋的。他們要么稀里糊涂，要么故意說謊。有時候我睡覺，還真希望咱們當年在三叉戟河吃了敗仗。啊，我不是說真吃了敗仗，只是……”

?? “I understand,” Ned said softly.

“我了解?！蹦蔚螺p輕地說。

?? Robert looked at him. “I think you do. If so, you are the only one, my old friend.” He smiled. “Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you the Hand of the King.”

勞勃看著他：“老朋友，我想也只有你能夠了解。”他面帶微笑，“艾德·史塔克大人，我將任命你為國王之手，即御前首相。”

?? Ned dropped to one knee. The offer did not surprise him; what other reason could Robert have had for coming so far? The Hand of the King was the second-most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms. He spoke with the king’s voice, commanded the king’s armies, drafted the king’s laws. At times he even sat upon the Iron Throne to dispense king’s justice, when the king was absent, or sick, or otherwise indisposed. Robert was offering him a responsibility as large as the realm itself.

奈德單膝跪下。他并不意外，除了這個原因，勞勃還會為了什么千里迢迢北上呢？御前首相是七大王國中一人之下，萬人之上的顯赫要職，他將代表國王發號施令、運用權威、統御三軍、執掌司法。遇到國王缺席、生病或其他突發事件，他甚至會坐上鐵王座，直接統治國家。勞勃等于是將王國交到他手中。

?? It was the last thing in the world he wanted.

而這，卻是他最最不想要的。

?? “Your Grace,” he said. “I am not worthy of the honor.”

“陛下，”他說，“恐怕我的能力不足以勝任此等要職?！?/p>

?? Robert groaned with good-humored impatience. “If I wanted to honor you, I’d let you retire. I am planning to make you run the kingdom and fight the wars while I eat and drink and wench myself into an early grave.” He slapped his gut and grinned. “You know the saying, about the king and his Hand?”

勞勃高興地發出一聲佯裝不耐的咕噥，“我要真為你著想，早讓你退休啦。我是打算讓你來治理國家，帶兵打仗，而我自己呢？痛痛快快地吃喝玩樂，嫖個過癮?！彼呐亩瞧ぃ俸傩Φ溃骸澳阒滥蔷湫稳輫鹾褪紫嗟闹V語吧？”

?? Ned knew the saying. “What the king dreams,” he said, “the Hand builds.”

奈德當然知道?！皣踝鰤?，”他說，“首相筑夢。”

?? “I bedded a fishmaid once who told me the lowborn have a choicer way to put it. The king eats, they say, and the Hand takes the shit.” He threw back his head and roared his laughter. The echoes rang through the darkness, and all around them the dead of Winterfell seemed to watch with cold and disapproving eyes.

“有個跟我上床的漁家女孩告訴我，他們中下階層的百姓有個更妙的比喻：國王吃席，首相拉屎。”此話一出，他仰頭狂笑，回音響徹黑暗，四面八方的臨冬城死者卻似乎很不以為然地冷眼旁觀。

?? Finally the laughter dwindled and stopped. Ned was still on one knee, his eyes upraised. “Damn it, Ned,” the king complained. “You might at least humor me with a smile.”

當笑聲終止，奈德仍然單膝跪地，眼睛上揚。“媽的，奈德，”國王抱怨，“你好歹也跟我一起笑一笑？”

?? “They say it grows so cold up here in winter that a man’s laughter freezes in his throat and chokes him to death,” Ned said evenly. “Perhaps that is why the Starks have so little humor.”

“有人說這里的冬天太冷，人若是笑了，聲音會凍結在喉嚨里，直到把人活活噎死。”奈德平靜地說，“或許這就是為什么我們史塔克家人甚少有幽默感?！?/p>

?? “Come south with me, and I’ll teach you how to laugh again,” the king promised. “You helped me win this damnable throne, now help me hold it. We were meant to rule together. If Lyanna had lived, we should have been brothers, bound by blood as well as affection. Well, it is not too late. I have a son. You have a daughter. My Joff and your Sansa shall join our houses, as Lyanna and I might once have done.”

“跟我一起到南方去，我一定讓你再露笑顏?！眹跸蛩ＷC，“你既然幫我得到了這張該死的鐵椅子，就該幫我保住它吧。我們注定是要并肩治理國家的。倘若萊安娜還活著，我們現在就該是連姻手足，名副其實的兄弟了。呵呵，好在現在也不遲，我有個兒子，你有個女兒，我家小喬和你的珊莎會把兩家結合在一起，就好像當年的萊安娜和我。”

?? This offer did surprise him. “Sansa is only eleven.”

這個提議卻真嚇了奈德一跳：“可珊莎才十一歲?！?/p>

?? Robert waved an impatient hand. “Old enough for betrothal. The marriage can wait a few years.” The king smiled. “Now stand up and say yes, curse you.”

勞勃不耐煩地揮揮手：“已經大到可以訂婚啦，結婚等過幾年再說?！眹跷⑿Γ澳氵@渾球，還不快站起來說好?！?/p>

?? “Nothing would give me greater pleasure, Your Grace,” Ned answered. He hesitated. “These honors are all so unexpected. May I have some time to consider? I need to tell my wife?.?.?.?”

“陛下，這是至高無上的榮耀與喜樂。”奈德回答，接著他露出遲疑，“可也太讓我措手不及，能否給我點時間考慮？我要告訴我妻子……”

?? “Yes, yes, of course, tell Catelyn, sleep on it if you must.” The king reached down, clasped Ned by the hand, and pulled him roughly to his feet. “Just don’t keep me waiting too long. I am not the most patient of men.”

“好，好，當然沒問題，去跟凱特琳說罷，好好想清楚?！眹跎斐鍪郑牧伺哪蔚碌氖?，然后把他拉起來。“別教我等太久就是，你也知道我沒什么耐性。”

?? For a moment Eddard Stark was filled with a terrible sense of foreboding. This was his place, here in the north. He looked at the stone figures all around them, breathed deep in the chill silence of the crypt. He could feel the eyes of the dead. They were all listening, he knew. And winter was coming.

一時之間，艾德·史塔克心中充滿了一種山雨欲來的恐懼，畢竟寒冷的北國才是真正屬于他的故鄉。他看看四周石像，吸了口墓窖的冰冷空氣。他隱約可以感覺得出身旁歷代先祖的目光，他知道他們正側耳傾聽，他知道凜冬將至。

?? ※※※※※※

　?、偈难则T士：庇依在其他貴族門下的騎士，發下誓言為其效勞，故稱誓言騎士。多半為有騎士稱號，但無封地的小貴族。