The third day marked the final day of the joust.
By the time the sun began to dip, Arthur had secured another nine victories. His final opponent was none other than the Red Viper himself, who had returned as a challenger.
Arthur sent the viper crest on Oberyn's helm flying with a precise strike, retaining his champion's seat and completing a perfect record of twenty wins.
He was the only one of the five champions to remain undefeated as a mystery knight throughout the entire tourney.
As the dust settled, the master of ceremonies on the main dais announced:
"Now, we invite our five champions to choose whether to crown Princess Arianne Martell as the Queen of Love and Beauty, or to bestow this honor upon another fair lady."
The crowd held its breath. Three of the five champions had taken their seats as challengers; they were under no obligation to the princess and could choose whomever they pleased.
The three challengers-turned-champions were:
Arthur, still under the guise of the "Knight of Hearts."
Obara Sand, who had mercilessly unhorsed Prince Quentyn to take his seat.
Ser Gerold Dayne, the "Darkstar."
The remaining two champions were Ser Uller of Hellholt and Ser Ryon Allyrion. Ser Ryon had reclaimed his honor in the final round by defeating his own bastard son, Daemon Sand, who had previously been unmasked.
The five champions rode to the northern end of the lists, beneath the high dais where Prince Doran and Princess Arianne sat.
Ser Ryon spoke first. "I accepted Princess Arianne's favor and swore to defend her honor. I am fortunate to have fulfilled my vow."
"It is my pleasure to crown you the Queen of Love and Beauty, my princess."
Arianne nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Ser Ryon. Your valor in the lists will be a tale told in Sunspear for years to come."
Ser Uller said little. He cast a scornful glance at Ser Ryon—who had beaten his own son to win—before riding forward. Without a word, he extended the laurel wreath on his lance tip to Princess Arianne, making his loyalty clear.
Next was Ser Gerold Dayne. He wore no helm, and his handsome, cruel features were on full display.
With elegant mockery, he placed a hand over his heart. "My lords, Princess Arianne, pray forgive me. I choose the lovely Lady Ynys Yronwood as today's Queen of Love and Beauty."
"I carry her favor, and it was her favor that gave me courage. I have fought for her from the beginning."
Arianne nodded graciously, though her eyes were sharp. "You are gallant, Ser Gerold. Lady Ynys is worthy of such a champion."
Darkstar bowed again to the princess and the stone-faced Prince Doran, a smirk playing on his lips. He rode to the Yronwood box nearby and presented the laurel to Lord Anders' eldest daughter.
After Gerold came Obara Sand. She exchanged a glance with Arianne on the dais before announcing bluntly:
"I choose to present my laurel to Lady Ynys Yronwood."
The crowd erupted in murmurs. Prince Doran frowned, sitting up straighter in his chair.
Oberyn, who had been chatting idly with his paramour, stood up abruptly. "Obara? What are you saying?"
Obara ignored him. She rode straight to the Yronwood box and handed the wreath to a very surprised Lady Ynys.
"Thank you, Lady Obara." Having received two laurels, Lady Ynys was now the center of attention. Her face flushed with excitement as she looked expectantly at the final champion, the "Knight of Hearts."
If the Knight of Hearts chose her—or indeed, anyone other than Princess Arianne—Lady Ynys, with two votes, would be crowned the Queen of Love and Beauty.
Beside his daughter, Lord Anders Yronwood looked grim. He smelled a plot.
If his daughter won the crown, it would be a slap in the face to the Martells. This tourney was held to celebrate Princess Arianne's twentieth nameday. For a vassal's daughter to upstage the princess was a dangerous insult.
He glanced over at the Fowler box and saw the "Old Hawk" looking smug, which only deepened his scowl.
As the commotion over Obara's choice settled, all eyes turned to the Knight of Hearts.
Arthur didn't rush. Through his visor, he observed the faces of the "masterminds" on the high dais.
Princess Arianne sat back in the seat of honor next to her father, looking the picture of innocence. Tyene Sand wore a smile of pure, angelic sweetness.
Lady Nym had been called over by a recovering Red Viper and was whispering something to him.
Truth be told, Arthur hadn't expected Arianne and the Sand Snakes to take it this far.
Their original plan—to have five mystery knights sweep the seats and refuse to unmask—hadn't fully succeeded. But they had managed to secure four of the five seats with their allies or pawns.
Daemon Sand had lost only because he faced his own father.
Realizing the original plan was out, they had pivoted to a new strategy: driving a wedge between Prince Doran and House Yronwood.
For Arianne, Lord Anders was Quentyn's foster father and greatest supporter; he was a rival she couldn't win over. For the Sand Snakes, the Bloodroyal was an old enemy of their father. Humiliating him while seemingly favoring his daughter was a way to vent their spleen and sow discord between Yronwood and Sunspear simultaneously.
Succession crises are always the same, Arthur mused.
He saw Lady Nym finish speaking with Oberyn and flash him a subtle thumbs-up. The signal.
At Prince Oberyn's nod, the herald announced: "We ask the undefeated Knight of Hearts to choose his Queen of Love and Beauty."
"Truth be told, this is a difficult decision," Arthur said, riding forward and beginning his rehearsed speech.
"Lady Ynys is kind, beautiful, generous, merciful, noble, and elegant. She possesses all the virtues of a Queen of Love and Beauty, and she is worthy of the crown."
Arthur spoke slowly. Hidden by his helm, no one could see the grimace on his face as he recited the flowery lines.
But the faces on the dais were clear as day. Prince Doran's brow was furrowed tight. Prince Oberyn's eyes were wide, looking ready to leap from his seat. Lord Anders' face was dark as a thunderhead. Lord Franklyn Fowler looked ready to burst with laughter, while Edric Dayne watched with pure hero-worship.
"But—"
Arthur's tone shifted.
"But from the moment I entered these lists, I swore to defend the honor of Princess Arianne."
"I confess, this is my first joust. I have not yet even been knighted."
"It was Princess Arianne's constant encouragement—and her gracious promise of a kiss for luck—that gave me the resolve to enter this tourney as a mystery knight."
"And it is because of her blessing that I was able to defeat so many worthy knights and remain undefeated through twenty courses."
Finishing his speech, Arthur raised the laurel wreath high on his lance tip, extending it toward the royal box. "Princess Arianne... the Knight of Hearts has fulfilled his vow."
Arianne accepted the wreath, her eyes shining. Then, bowing to the shouts of the crowd, she spoke: "My champion, pray lift your visor and remove your helm."
"Let the people see the face of the hero who has swept the field, and let us know the true identity of our undefeated champion."
"As you wish."
Arthur pulled off his helm, shaking out his hair, and turned to the herald. "I am Arthur Snow, of Starfall."
The herald, confirming the identity just as he had when Arthur first entered, bellowed to the crowd:
"ARTHUR SNOW OF STARFALL!"
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