A Game of Thrones Chapter Jon
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Ghost backed away from him uncertainly.
The dwarf dusted himself off and laughed. “I believe I’ve frightened your wolf. My apologies.”
“He’s not scared,” Jon said. He knelt and called out. “Ghost, come here. Come on. That’s it.”
The wolf pup padded closer and nuzzled at Jon’s face, but he kept a wary eye on Tyrion Lannister, and when the dwarf reached out to pet him, he drew back and bared his fangs in a silent snarl. “Shy, isn’t he?” Lannister observed.
“Sit, Ghost,” Jon commanded. “That’s it. Keep still.” He looked up at the dwarf. “You can touch him now. He won’t move until I tell him to. I’ve been training him.”
“I see,” Lannister said. He ruffled the snow-white fur between Ghost’s ears and said, “Nice wolf.”
“If I wasn’t here, he’d tear out your throat,” Jon said. It wasn’t actually true yet, but it would be.
“In that case, you had best stay close,” the dwarf said. He cocked his oversized head to one side and looked Jon over with his mismatched eyes. “I am Tyrion Lannister.”
“I know,” Jon said. He rose. Standing, he was taller than the dwarf. It made him feel strange.
“You’re Ned Stark’s bastard, aren’t you?”
Jon felt a coldness pass right through him. He pressed his lips together and said nothing.
“Did I offend you?” Lannister said. “Sorry. Dwarfs don’t have to be tactful. Generations of capering fools in motley have won me the right to dress badly and say any damn thing that comes into my head.” He grinned. “You are the bastard, though.”
“Lord Eddard Stark is my father,” Jon admitted stiffly.
Lannister studied his face. “Yes,” he said. “I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers.”
“Half brothers,” Jon corrected. He was pleased by the dwarf s comment, but he tried not to let it show.
“Let me give you some counsel, bastard,” Lannister said. “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.”
Jon was in no mood for anyone’s counsel. “What do you know about being a bastard?”
“All dwarfs are bastards in their father’s eyes.”
“You are your mother’s trueborn son of Lannister.”
“Am I” the dwarf replied, sardonic. “Do tell my lord father. My mother died birthing me, and he’s never been sure.”
“I don’t even know who my mother was,” Jon said.
“Some woman, no doubt. Most of them are.” He favored Jon with a rueful grin. “Remember this, boy. All dwarfs may be bastards, yet not all bastards need be dwarfs.” And with that he turned and sauntered back into the feast, whistling a tune. When he opened the door, the light from within threw his shadow clear across the yard, and for just a moment Tyrion Lannister stood tall as a king.
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权利的游戏 琼恩
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白灵有些迟疑地向后退了几步。
侏儒拍拍身上的灰尘，笑道："我想我一定是吓着你的小狼了。真不好意思。"
"他才没被吓着。"琼恩边说边弯身唤道："白灵，过来，快过来，乖。"
小狼溜达过来，亲热地用鼻子摩擦琼恩的脸颊，却始终对提利昂·兰尼斯特保持警戒。当侏儒伸手想摸它时，它立刻抽身后退，露出利齿，发出无声的咆哮。"挺怕生的么？"兰尼斯特说。
"白灵，坐下。"琼恩命令，"就是这样，坐着别乱动。"他抬头望向侏儒，"你现在可以摸他了。除非我叫它动，否则他不会乱动的。我正在训练他。"
"原来如此。"兰尼斯特搔搔白灵两耳间白如细雪的绒毛，"乖狼狼。"
"若我不在这里，他早把你的喉咙撕开了。"琼恩说。其实这话当下还不能成真，不过看小狼的长势却也为时不远。
"如果这样，那你还是别走开的好。"侏儒答道。他歪了歪那颗过大的脑袋，用那双大小不一的眼睛仔细打量琼恩，"我是提利昂·兰尼斯特。"
"我知道。"琼恩边说边起身。他站着比那侏儒高多了，不禁觉得很怪异。
"你是奈德·史塔克的私生子吧？"
琼恩只觉得一股寒意刺进全身，他抿紧嘴唇，没有答话。
"我冒犯到你了吗？"兰尼斯特忙道，"抱歉，侏儒向来不太懂得察言观色。反正历来杂耍卖艺的侏儒前辈们个个衣着随便，口无遮拦，我也就有样学样啦。"他嘿嘿笑着，"不过你确实是个私生子。"
"艾德·史塔克大人是我父亲没错。"琼恩终于还是承认了。
"嗯，"兰尼斯特端详着他的脸，"看得出来。跟你那些兄弟相比，你还比较有北方人的味道。"
"同父异母的兄弟。"琼恩纠正，心里暗暗为侏儒的说法感到高兴。
"那么私生子小弟，让我给你一点建议罢。"兰尼斯特道，"永远不要忘记自己是什么人，因为这个世界不会忘记。你要化阻力为助力，如此一来才没有弱点。用它来武装自己，就没有人可以用它来伤害你。"
琼恩可没心情听人说教："你又知道身为私生子是什么样了？"
"全天下的侏儒，在他们父亲眼里都跟私生子没两样。"
"你可是你母亲的亲生儿子，地地道道的兰尼斯特。"
"是么？"侏儒苦笑，"这话你去跟我父亲大人说吧。我妈生我的时候难产而死，所以我老爸始终不确定我是不是他亲生的。"
"我连我母亲是谁都不知道。"琼恩道。
"反正是个女人。"他朝琼恩露出一抹哀伤的笑容，"小子，请记住，虽然全天下的侏儒都可能被视为私生子，私生子却不见得要被人视为侏儒。"说完，他转过身，驼着背返回宴会大厅，嘴里还哼起一首爱情小调。当他打开门的刹那，室内的灯光将他的背影清楚地洒在庭院中。就在那一瞬间，提利昂·兰尼斯特的身影宛如帝王般昂首挺立。
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