“I looked for you on the Trident,” Ned said to them.
“We were not there,” Ser Gerold answered. “Woe to the Usurper if we
had been,” said Ser Oswell.
“When King's Landing fell, Ser Jaime slew your king with a golden
sword, and I wondered where you were.”
“Far away,” Ser Gerold said, “or Aerys would yet sit the Iron Throne,
and our false brother would burn in seven hells.”
“I came down on Storm's End to lift the siege,” Ned told them, and the
Lords Tyrell and Redwyne dipped their banners, and all their knights
bent the knee to pledge us fealty. I was certain you would be among
them.”
“Our knees do not bend easily,” said Ser Arthur Dayne.
“Ser Willem Darry is fled to Dragonstone, with your queen and Prince
Viserys. I thought you might have sailed with him.”
“Ser Willem is a good man and true,” said Ser Oswell.
“But not of the Kingsguard,” Ser Gerold pointed out. “The Kingsguard
does not flee.”
“Then or now,” said Ser Arthur. He donned his helm.
“We swore a vow,” explained old Ser Gerold.
Ned’s wraiths moved up beside him, with shadow swords in hand. They
were seven against three.
“And now it begins,” said Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. He unsheathed Dawn and held it with both hands. The blade was
pale as milkglass, alive with light.
“No,” Ned said with sadness in his voice. “Now it ends.”
A Game of Thrones - Eddard X