33.
The young men sitting around Jon are telling the usual stories about fighting and fucking. Jon seems comfortable in their midst, but he’s not paying attention to them; he’s stealing a glance at his siblings, at their table of honor.
Jon downs his wine, and signals a serving boy for a refill, and watches his father and the King and the high table.
Robert and Ned toast with tankards full of ale. Ned takes a healthy drink; Robert drinks the whole tankard.
A few seats down, Catelyn notices Queen Cersei staring at her drunk husband with plain disgust. A good hostess, Catelyn tries to distract Cersei.
CATELYN Your children are quite beautiful, my Queen. They have the gift of the Lannister eyes.
Cersei, a little startled to be addressed, stares at Catelyn with her vaguely reptilian green eyes.
CERSEI I heard a rumor we might share a grandchild someday.
CATELYN
(pleased) I heard the same rumor...
CERSEI Of course, these decisions ultimately fall to our husbands. As all important decisions must.
She glances past Catelyn to Robert, as he gnaws on a rib and leers at the BUXOM SERVING GIRL refilling his tankard. Only her eyes reveal her anger, and they only do so briefly. Jaime, sitting on the other side of Cersei, leans forward, his forearms on the table, flashing his white teeth at Catelyn. Many women have waited their whole lives for that smile, but it only serves to make her nervous.
JAIME You’d enjoy the capital, my lady. The north must be hard for someone who wasn’t born here. CATELYN I’m sure it seems very grim, after King’s Landing.
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