The battle between Lancelot and Oberyn Martell began. Since this was King's Landing, Lancelot's home ground, many people cheered him on.
This included not only members of House Lannister but also the children from the North Sea Kindergarten, whom Gendry had brought to broaden their horizons.
Besides them, members of House Tyrell also temporarily sided with Lancelot.
Compared to Lancelot, they disliked Oberyn even more.
Lancelot held the Rose Sword in one hand and a Valyrian steel shield in the other.
Oberyn wielded the Valyrian steel spear he had previously traded with Lancelot.
No one could have predicted their relationship would deteriorate so drastically.
Lancelot and Oberyn were locked in a fierce battle.
Both displayed swordsmanship and spear skills of the highest caliber.
Both weapons managed to break their opponent's skin.
Seeing the blood on Lancelot's face from Oberyn's spear, his paramour smiled.
"Mother, why are you smiling? Father hasn't won yet!" one of the Sand Snakes asked.
"Lancelot is as good as dead. Oberyn's spear is coated with potent cobra venom. The harder Lancelot fights, the faster he dies."
In the heat of battle, Lancelot indeed felt a wave of weakness. However, having injected himself with anti-venom serum beforehand, Lancelot didn't collapse. He gritted his teeth and fought on.
Oberyn, the Red Viper, noticed Lancelot's condition and said:
"Lancelot, surrender, and I can give you a quick death!"
"You viper, you really have a poisonous tongue! But your venom isn't that strong, is it?" Lancelot laughed.
Lancelot felt his strength returning. The snake venom was being neutralized.
Taking advantage of Oberyn's relaxed guard, Lancelot closed in, preventing Oberyn from utilizing the full range of his spear.
With a swish, Lancelot slashed open a cut on the Red Viper's neck. Bright red blood flowed down his shoulder.
"Damn it!"
Oberyn clutched his neck and retreated several steps, creating distance between him and Lancelot.
"Oberyn, surrender, and I can leave your corpse intact," Lancelot offered.
They clashed again, sword against spear.
Finally, Lancelot deflected Oberyn's spear with his shield and thrust his sword near Oberyn's heart.
Oberyn fell. And did not rise again.
Lancelot raised his sword to signal his victory to the crowd. The High Septon then walked over and declared Lancelot innocent.
The Red Viper's body was taken away by the Gold Cloaks. The Dornishmen demanded their prince's body, but Lancelot told them to wait.
---
At night, Lancelot and Qyburn arrived at the morgue.
Before their eyes, Oberyn's corpse sat up. He coughed first, then touched the wound on his chest.
"Am I dead? Is this the Seven Hells?" Oberyn asked. Then he saw Lancelot.
"Lancelot, so you died too! My venom tasted good, didn't it! Hahaha!" The Red Viper laughed loudly.
Then he tore open the wound on his neck. Blood seeped out again from under the white gauze.
"Truly a medical miracle! Ser Lancelot," Qyburn remarked.
"I didn't know the human body had a 'dead man's switch' just below the heart." (Note: This likely refers to a specific anatomical point Lancelot exploited to fake a kill, translated literally as "undying knot/calamity" but implying a spot to avoid fatal damage).
"The mysteries of the human body are endless, Maester," Lancelot replied.
"How can this be? I'm not dead, and you're alive?" Oberyn realized something was wrong. He got off the bed, intending to grab Lancelot by the neck and demand the truth.
But Qyburn stopped him.
"Prince Oberyn, your body is still very weak. We will bring your family to see you shortly. Please rest here."
Qyburn then began to change Oberyn's dressing.
Half an hour later, Lancelot brought the Dornish Sand Snakes over.
"Father!" They couldn't believe their eyes. Oberyn was alive again? Was this magic, or necromancy?
"Father, have you really come back to life? Do you still have your own emotions and consciousness?" Obara asked.
"Though it's miraculous, I doubt Lancelot would dare make me into a puppet," Oberyn said.
"News of your death might reach Dorne. Explain that yourself! But I hope you know your weight now. Don't challenge me again, Oberyn! I let you off this time, but I have no intention of doing so next time."
Having delivered his threat and seeing them suitably intimidated, Lancelot walked out satisfied.
"Terrifying lion, Lancelot! Look at that head of golden hair; he's a living Golden Lion King!" Oberyn remarked.
From the moment Lancelot publicly "killed" the Red Viper, the people of King's Landing began calling him "The Golden Lion King, Lancelot."
Lancelot learned from Joffrey that King Robert had received the Onion Knight and read Stannis's letter. However, he had Eddard Stark read it aloud in front of everyone.
So, everyone who attended the council that day knew that Stannis was off searching for some lost treasure.
Mace Tyrell was the first to publicly criticize Stannis, saying he was neglecting his duties for frivolous pursuits, and that the man who held Storm's End was gone forever.
However, those who knew Stannis felt something was amiss. Was Stannis really that kind of person?
"The handwriting is correct, Ned, but it doesn't sound like him. If you don't believe me, ask Renly," Robert said while relieving himself outside with Eddard Stark.
"Lord Renly doesn't seem to have a harmonious relationship with Lord Stannis?" Eddard asked.
"Everyone knows that. We three brothers don't get along, especially after I became King." Robert sighed.
"The Targaryens say 'The dragon has three heads': Aegon, Rhaenys, Visenya."
"But the stag has three heads too: Robert, Stannis, Renly!" Robert said.
"I wonder how many heads the wolf has? Ned? Five or six?"
Eddard Stark, unhappy that Robert mentioned Jon Snow again, returned to the Tower of the Hand in a sour mood.
That night, while the Stark family was eating, Eddard Stark asked where Jon was.
"Hasn't he been hanging around Lancelot since we arrived in King's Landing?" Catelyn Tully showed no concern for Jon Snow's whereabouts.
"I know where they are. They're at the North Sea Kindergarten outside the city. Today is the day Lancelot knights Ygritte."
At the North Sea Kindergarten, under the witness of many children, Lancelot knighted Ygritte.
"Ygritte, since you don't believe in the Seven, why do you want the title of knight?" Lancelot asked.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do! Lancelot, stop yapping and knight me already!" She was getting impatient.
"Kneel! Ygritte!" Lancelot said solemnly.
Ygritte knelt before Lancelot. Lancelot drew his sword and placed it on her left shoulder.
"In the name of the Mother, I charge you to protect all women."
"In the name of the Father, I charge you to uphold justice."
"In the name of the Maiden, I charge you to protect all innocent children."
"Now, rise! Ygritte, Knight of Westeros," Lancelot concluded.