[He takes a little breath, to keep the tension, and then goes on.]
Ser Velaryon was a great knight, renown in the lists and on the field--but the Knight of Tears proved better--much better. His horse was twice as fast as Ser Velaryon's, so he could break his lance upon the knight's plate and avoid his lance entirely. He was not even struck once--it was as if the Gods moved his horse's feet and his lance to exactly the right places--once he struck Ser Velaryon, and then twice, and then, finally, the third time--and this third blow struck hard, just under Ser Velaryon shoulder, and lifted him clean from his horse and into the mud of the field.
The crowd's cheers were now only for the Knight of Tears. They threw flowers in his path as he rode to Queen Naerys, and gave her a crown of blood-red roses to wear in her silver hair. She put it on over her true crown, and the smallfolk cheered for her, too.
And then the Knight of Tears removed his helm, and everyone saw that it was the Dragonknight, Prince Aemon--and the feast that night was in his honor, and in Queen Naerys' honor, and they danced together in the great hall, with red roses beneath their feet.
no subject
Ser Velaryon was a great knight, renown in the lists and on the field--but the Knight of Tears proved better--much better. His horse was twice as fast as Ser Velaryon's, so he could break his lance upon the knight's plate and avoid his lance entirely. He was not even struck once--it was as if the Gods moved his horse's feet and his lance to exactly the right places--once he struck Ser Velaryon, and then twice, and then, finally, the third time--and this third blow struck hard, just under Ser Velaryon shoulder, and lifted him clean from his horse and into the mud of the field.
The crowd's cheers were now only for the Knight of Tears. They threw flowers in his path as he rode to Queen Naerys, and gave her a crown of blood-red roses to wear in her silver hair. She put it on over her true crown, and the smallfolk cheered for her, too.
And then the Knight of Tears removed his helm, and everyone saw that it was the Dragonknight, Prince Aemon--and the feast that night was in his honor, and in Queen Naerys' honor, and they danced together in the great hall, with red roses beneath their feet.