[At King's Landing, Cersei seeks out the one called High Sparrow and comes across an elderly man along the way, serving food to the poor...]
A young man said I'd find the High Sparrow back here. Where is he?
EMElderly man
High Sparrow? Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Like Lord Duckling or King Turtle. Still, it's meant to. We're often stuck with the names our enemies give to us. The notion that we're all equal in the eyes of the Seven doesn't sit well with some, so they belittle me. [to the poor] Seven blessings to you, my dear. [to Cersei] It's only a name. Quite an easy burden to bear. Far easier than hers.
[Noticing High Sparrow's bare feet] Why no shoes?
High SparrowBecause I gave them away to someone who needed them more. We all do that. It stops us from forgetting what we really are.
Is that why you came to King's Landing? To remind everyone?
High Sparrow
Everyone? Hard enough job reminding myself. Well, I tell them no one's special and they think I'm special for telling them so.
High Sparrow
It would be comforting to believe that, wouldn't it? Have the gods sent you here to tempt me? I hope not. I had assumed, you'd only come here to arrest me for that incident with the High Septon.
An unacceptable way to treat the chosen representative of the gods in this world, wouldn't you say?
High Sparrow
Hypocrisy is a boil. Lancing a boil is never pleasant. Although they could have been more careful with the blade.
The High Septon came to speak to me today. He doesn't want me to arrest you. He wants me to execute you.
High Sparrow
I wouldn't presume to know your thoughts on the matter.
My thoughts on the matter are in line with your own. The High Septon's behavior was corrosive, as was his attitude. Having a man like that reside in the sept eats away at the faith from the inside. So now he resides in the Red Keep dungeons instead. The faith and the crown are the two pillars that hold up this world. One collapses, so does the other. We must do everything necessary to protect one another.
High Sparrow
Do you know this man?
OOlyvar
Yes. Very well. He is Ser Loras Tyrell out of Highgarden.
High Sparrow
How did you come to meet him?
OOlyvar
I squired for him. He took a liking to me. He summoned me to his chamber the first day we met.
High Sparrow
And what occurred in his chamber?
OOlyvar
We engaged in intimate relations.
High Sparrow
You lay with him?
OOlyvar
That night and many others.
LTLoras Tyrell
[hoarsely] Liar! He's a liar!
High Sparrow
Is there anyone else who can support your claim?
OOlyvar
Yes. Yes, Queen Margaery. She walked in on us once, not long ago. She didn't seem surprised.
This testimony is an insult to a Great House. Why should the Faith or anyone else take the word of a squire over the heir to Highgarden?
OOlyvar
He has a birthmark, your Grace. Quite high on his thigh. Wine-colored and roughly the shape of Dorne.
[Loras lunges at Olyvar but two Sparrows rush in to restrain him.]
[They pull him away as two more Sparrows walk over toward Margaery.]
What are you doing? Let us pass.
High Sparrow
The Faith is satisfied there is enough evidence to bring a formal trial for Ser Loras. And Queen Margaery.
High Sparrow
Bearing false witness before the Gods is as grave a sin as any, my lady. Take her.
[The Sparrows take hold of Margarey.]
No! Tommen! Tommen! [Tommen silently raises his hand to the Kingsguard, unwilling to attack the Sparrows.] You can't do this! I am the queen! Tommen! Tommen! I am the queen! How dare you...take your hands off me!
You there. Where would I find the High Septon or High Sparrow or whatever bloody fool name he's got?
[Olenna approaches a crouched man revealed to be the High Sparrow, washing the floor of the Sept of Baelor]
High Sparrow
It's not as good a name as "Queen of Thorns", I'll admit.
You should have the decency to stand when you speak to a lady.
High Sparrow
You should have the decency to kneel before the Gods.
Don't spar with me, little fellow. [the High Sparrow rises to his feet with a groan]
High Sparrow
For me, it's the knees. You?
High Sparrow
Ah.
A man of the people. Is that your game? It's an old game. Dull and unconvincing. A man of the people who does Cersei's dirty work for her.
High Sparrow
The people always do the dirty work.
Spare me the homilies. I can smell a fraud from a mile away.
High Sparrow
Useful talent.
I'm here for my grandson and granddaughter.
High Sparrow
Your grandson and granddaughter swore sacred vows and lied. The Father judges us all. Sons of high lords, sons of fishermen. If you break his laws, you will be punished.
Don't you walk away from me.
High Sparrow
You don't give commands here, Lady Olenna.
What is it you want? Gold? I'll make you the richest septon who ever lived. What, then?
High Sparrow
I imagine this is strange for you. Everyone you meet has a hidden motive and you pride yourself on sniffing it out. But I'm telling you a simple truth. I serve the Gods. The Gods demand justice.
How do they communicate their demands? By raven or horse?
High Sparrow
By the holy text, "The Seven-Pointed Star". If you don't have one in your library, I'll give you my own.
I've read "The Seven-Pointed Star".
High Sparrow
Then you'll remember the passages concerning buggery and perjury. Your grandchildren will be punished in the same manner as anyone who breaks the sacred laws.
Half the men, women, and children in this foul city break the sacred laws. You live among murderers, thieves, and rapists, and yet you punish Loras for shagging some perfumed ponce, and Margaery for defending her brother?
High Sparrow
Yes. The Gods' laws must be applied to all equally.
If it's equality you want, so be it. When House Tyrell stops sending our crops to the capital, everyone here will starve. And I'll make sure the hungry know who's to blame.
High Sparrow
Have you ever sowed the field, Lady Olenna? Have you ever reaped the grain? Has anyone in House Tyrell? A lifetime of wealth and power has left you blind in one eye. You are the few, we are the many. And when the many stop fearing the few...
High Sparrow
The people who built this place didn't inflict their vanity on those who came after them, the way Baelor did with that great gelded monstrosity up there. Their faith was clean. Strip away the gold and the ornaments, knock down the statues and the pillars and this is what remains. Something simple, solid and true. The Tyrells' finery will be stripped away, their lies knocked down, their true hearts laid bare for all to see. And so it will be for all of us, high and low alike. What will we find when we strip away your finery? A young man came to us, not long ago, broken in body and spirit. He had so much to strip away, so much weighing him down. But, piece by piece, he unburdened himself. Let go of pride, vanity, sin. Now, his soul is so light, he will float through the Seven Heavens like a bird and he has much to say about you.
[Lancel Lannister enters. Cersei starts to exit, but the door opens and she is blocked by a tall Septa]
Move. Let me go, immediately. You will order her to let me go! I am the Queen! I am the Queen, have you lost your mind? Let me go! Look at me! Look at my face. It's the last thing you'll see before you die.
I have sinned. I see that now. How could I have been so blind for so long? I want to be clean again. I want absolution. The Crone came to me with her lamp raised high and by its holy light...
High Sparrow
Do you wish to make a confession?
Once I've confessed, will I be free?
High Sparrow
Your Grace will be dealt with according to her sins.
The Mother have mercy then. I lay with a man outside the bonds of marriage. I confess.
High Sparrow
Name him.
High Sparrow
Your cousin? And the King's squire?
High Sparrow
You had a husband.
A husband off whoring every chance he...
High Sparrow
His sins do not pardon your own.
High Sparrow
Other men?
High Sparrow
No others.
High Sparrow
Speaking falsehoods before the Gods is a great crime. You understand this?
High Sparrow
There are those that say your children were not fathered by King Robert. That they are bastards born of incest and adultery.
A lie. A lie from the lips of Stannis Baratheon. He wants the throne but his brother's children stand in his way, so he claims they are not his brother's. How filth! There is not one shred of truth to it. I deny it.
High Sparrow
Good. But these are terrible charges, and the Realm must know the truth of them. If your Grace has given honest testimony, your trial will prove your innocence.
High Sparrow
To a single sin. Others you have denied. Your trial will separate the truths from the falsehoods.
I bowed to the wisdom of your High Holiness. But if I might beg for just one drop of the Mother's Mercy. I haven't seen my son...I don't know how long it's been. I need to see him please.
High Sparrow
You have taken the first step on the path back to righteousness. In light of this, I will permit you to return to the Red Keep.
[Tearfully] Thank you. Thank you.
High Sparrow
The Mother is merciful. It is her you should thank.
I will, I will. I swear it day or night.
High Sparrow
Good.
High Sparrow
After your atonement.
High Sparrow
On the contrary. I fear a great deal. The Father, the Mother, the Warrior. Do you know why we use these stones? To remind us not to fear death. We close our eyes on this world and open them in the next.
You must long for the next life.
High Sparrow
[chuckles] In truth, I fear that too.
You imprisoned and humiliated my sister!
High Sparrow
Your sister sought the gods' mercy and atoned for her sin.
What about my sins? I broke a sacred oath and stabbed my king in the back. I killed my own cousin. When the gods judged my brother guilty, I helped him escape that justice. What atonement do I deserve.
[He puts his hand on his sword]
High Sparrow
You would spill blood in this holy place?
The gods won't mind. They've spilled more blood than the rest of us combined.
High Sparrow
Go on then. I deserve it. We all do. We are weak, vain creatures. We live only by the mother's mercy.
[Numerous Sparrows enter the room and surround them]
They should be closer if you mean for them to save you.
High Sparrow
I don't. They'd never reach me before you struck.
I've fought against worse odds.
High Sparrow
No doubt many of us would fall. But who are we? Hm? We have no names, no family, everyone one of us is poor, powerless, and yet together we can overthrow an empire.
High Sparrow
Lord Tyrell. Ser Jaime.
Sorry to interrupt. We're here for Queen Margaery and Ser Loras Tyrell. Give them to us, and we'll be on our way.
High Sparrow
I don't have the authority to give them to you. And you don't have the authority to take them.
I speak for King Tommen of House Baratheon, first of his name.
High Sparrow
The Gods don't recognize his authority in this matter.
You've already insulted one Great House. It won't happen twice. Every last Sparrow will die before Margaery Tyrell walks down that street.
High Sparrow
To die in the service of the Gods would please each and every one of us. We yearn for it. But, there is no call for it today. There will be no Walk of Atonement. Queen Margaery has already atoned for her sins, by bringing another into the true light of the Seven.
[the Sparrows open the doors of the Sept, and King Tommen walks out followed by his Kingsguard, whose armor are now embossed with the Seven-pointed Star.]
High Sparrow
Together we announce a new age of harmony. A Holy alliance, between the Crown and the Faith.
TBTommen Baratheon
The Crown and the Faith are the twin pillars on which the world rests. Together, we will restore the Seven Kingdoms to glory.
[the crowds cheer]
MTMace Tyrell
What's happening?
He's beaten us! That's what happening.
Game of Thrones · 356 quotes
