Ruling is hard. This was maybe my answer to Tolkien, whom, as much as I admire him, I do quibble with. Lord of the Rings had a very medieval philosophy: that if the king was a good man, the land would prosper. We look at real history and it's not that simple... Real-life kings had real-life problems to deal with... My people who are trying to rule don't have an easy time of it. Just having good intentions doesn't make you a wise king.

I stayed sober for this?

I will teach them what it means to put a lion in a cage, Cersei thought.

I have touched more men that I can count. Some with my lips, more with my axe.

And any man who must say 'I am king' is no true king at all.

I have done a lot of work in Hollywood myself. I worked in television for roughly 10 years, from the mid-'80s to mid-'90s. And I was on staff at a couple of shows. I did some feature films, including originals and adaptations.

The morning had dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted at the end of summer.