-Chapter 119-
-3rd POV-
From the first light of dawn, the Red Keep was teeming with people and servants because the duel was about to begin shortly and everyone was eager to see it. The lords gradually made their way to the Dragon Coliseum to witness the duel that would decide the survival of the last Blackfyre.
Once the time for the duel had arrived, the queen was seen discussing with her uncle before she headed relieved to her royal box. Many wondered what they could have been talking about, but ultimately no one said anything until the arrival of the king, and what an arrival!
He arrived with Cersei Lannister, the Regent of Casterly Rock, on his arm, followed by the new Guardian of the Westerlands, Duke Tommen Lannister, the royal guard, and... Gregor Clegane, also known as the Mountain.
---
-POV MC-
I headed towards the royal box after nodding to Gregor Clegane, who immediately went to the center of the coliseum.
I could sense the incredulity and shock among the lords gathered in the royal box.
Everyone wondered why I was not participating, and the answer was quite simple: I wanted one of the two champions to die today, but I did not want to be directly held responsible.
I needed a scapegoat capable of attracting the hatred of the Dornish and good enough in combat to defeat Oberyn, the Red Viper.
Gregor Clegane was a piece of shit, and his death would not keep me from sleeping at night, so I asked Cersei to lend me her best attack dog. She promptly agreed in exchange for my public support for House Lannister, an opportunity for her to kill two birds with one stone as she was earning my favors while showing everyone that House Lannister was far from down following the death of its patriarch.
I let go of Cersei's arm once we reached the royal box, then I walked over to my throne, slightly elevated from the others.
I looked at the crowd gathered here to watch this duel that would go down in history, and then I shouted loudly so that everyone could hear:
"PEOPLE OF THE CAPITAL, AS YOU MIGHT HAVE GUESSED, I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS DUEL BECAUSE I BELIEVE A DUEL SHOULD BE AT LEAST FAIR AND ANYONE WITH A MINIMUM OF INTELLIGENCE KNOWS THAT I WOULD DEVOUR THE RED VIPER IN ONE BITE."
"HAHAHAHAHA"
"HAHAHAHAHA"
The assembled crowd burst into laughter at the jab I threw at my good uncle, then I continued:
"I ALSO DO NOT WANT MY BEAUTIFUL QUEEN TO HARBOUR RESENTMENT AGAINST ME, SO I AM WITHDRAWING FROM THIS DUEL AND I DECIDE TO CALL UPON A CHAMPION, LADY CERSEI LANNISTER, REGENT OF CASTERLY ROCK, WHO HAS GRACED ME BY LENDING ME THE SERVICES OF HER FINEST WARRIOR... SER GREGOR CLEGANE, THE MOUNTAIN."
Lords from across the kingdom all stood to applaud her while the frenzied crowd cheered and chanted 'THE MOUNTAIN, THE MOUNTAIN, THE MOUNTAIN'.
After a few moments, I raised my arms to silence the crowd of over 100,000 people and said, "DON'T REJOICE TOO SOON, I KNOW YOU ALL WANT TO SEE BLOOD SHED, BUT MAYBE PRINCE OBERYN WANTS TO SURRENDER?"
I looked at the Prince who was facing his opponent and I shouted:
"I ASK YOU THE QUESTION, PRINCE OBERYN OF HOUSE NYMEROS MARTELL, DO YOU YIELD TO YOUR OPPONENT SER GREGOR OF HOUSE CLEGANE?"
---
-POV Oberyn-
I closed my eyes and in a fraction of a second, I realized that I had already signed my death warrant in the eyes of the king as soon as I had spoken out against him at the Council.
Everything in his phrasing was designed to make me feel the humiliation at its peak.
Asking me to surrender to this beast was like asking me in front of the whole world:
'Do you accept to surrender to the man who raped your sister and killed her children?'
I turned my gaze to Ellaria, who was holding back her tears, understanding my choice before I even expressed it. I regretted making her feel this, but we both knew this might be our only chance ever to get revenge.
'I had decided to give up, but not to this dog; I will never surrender to him, I will kill him for Elia and her children,' I thought as I grabbed my lance and moved towards the center of the arena.
---
-POV MC-
"It seems the fight will finally take place," I said as I sat down in my seat, somewhat annoyed by Oberyn's persistence.
Arianne said, "Cancel the fight, you can still do it, no need..."
"I am the king, it is not for me to bow down. If your uncle won't do it, then pray the Seven have mercy on his soul," I said while motioning with my hand for them to begin the fight.