The last time Tyrion Lannister had been in the presence of a Stark was when he presented the saddle plans to the crippled boy. Bran, was it? The boy that Jaime and Cersei pushed out of a window. He had not thought to ever see a Stark face again, unless his head was looking back from a pike. But here he was in the presence of King Robb Stark of Winterfell, the Young Wolf, and King in the North.
The thought of why could have made him chuckle, but he had a sense that it would not be the most appropriate time. The faces in the "court" were as devoid of humor as his father was. It wasn't a court so much as large tent on a muddy field, where Robb Stark had chosen to make his camp. However, this court could bear just as heavy a sentence as one in King's Landing.
"Do I hear you correctly, Imp?" The Young Wolf was saying. He looked decidedly un-wolfish to Tyrion. The beast at his right side, however… "You mean to say you would turn your cloak, bring dishonor upon your house, forsake your family, your sire, to join your enemies?"
"I should hope not." Tyrion replied simply. He had no trouble speaking in front of disapproving faces. "I had thought this talk would make us the opposite of enemies." Somewhere behind him and to his right, Bronn was chuckling to himself, Tyrion knew. They shared a humor.
"You're a turncloak, a craven, and a liar. My mother, the Lady Catelyn, held you accused of attempting to murder my own brother in his bed. Your house has shown no mercy to us. Tell us why we should have any trust in you." Robb's face was cold Northern fury, and his Direwolf growled lowly.
"I have several reasons, if you'll so kindly allow me to spout them before your headsman finds himself with a new pair of boots. They'd be rather too small, I'd wager." Tyrion knew the Starks had no headsman. Robb did the chopping himself. Still, green though he was, the boots would be wasted on him.
"Say what you would, Imp." Robb commanded with a harsh nod of his head.
Tyrion turned his false-pity face to the crowd. Memories of what happened at The Vale returned to him. Bronn had saved him there, and the presence of the sellsword at Tyrion's side gave him some form of courage.
"I am a craven, it's true." He began. "I've always been a coward. Too afraid of rejection, so I'd buy my own whores." A few of the braver Northmen chuckled. "I've been tried for my crimes in The Vale and been found innocent, as your own lady mother can attest. I was the one who brought the saddle plans so your brother could ride again, if you'll recall. My house has not been doing much in regards to honoring itself. Murder, treachery, kingslaying, oathbreaking," incest, treason…If only you knew. "These things are honorable now? I wasn't given a choice in dishonoring my house. I was born a dwarf. I've been dishonoring them since I could walk. I'd rather my stain produced some fruit of itself.
"As to my family, well… You've known my sweet sister and honorable brother for yourselves. My sire? Perhaps I liked yours more than I liked mine. You certainly did. Ask your brother Jon Snow at The Wall. He trusted me to carry the needs of the Night's Watch to King's Landing. Did you know shortly after the Battle of the Blackwater, as I lay dying in my bed, my father never once visited? Would your father have if I were his son? Yes? Who should I support? Where is the more noble cause: family or justice?" Tyrion's sarcastic voice sounded oddly muted by the tent fabric. Or the winning side. Or the chance to put a crossbow bolt through my lord father's bowels?
Robb Stark didn't need to think it over. "I believe you capable of spite enough to leave your family, but don't make it seem like you have honor."
Ned Stark had honor. His head is on a spike for his daughter to look at on Joffrey's whim. Tyrion was smart enough to hold his tongue. "I'll be useful, I swear it. I know all the Lannister secrets, and I won't run again. Where would I go? Back into my loving father's arms to die a traitor's death? If ransom is what you have in mind, I doubt you'll get a pricey offer."
Robb Stark waved his men forward to confer in whispers. Bronn had been easy to get into the ranks of the Starks. He'd served Catelyn once, and sellswords were notoriously disloyal. Tyrion would be another matter. They would watch him closely, he knew. He'd be almost a prisoner. He wouldn't mind, though. He would never dare to trade sides again. Not when vengeance was promised with the King winning all the battles. Shae…No, don't think of her now. You should've known better. Never trust someone who sells themselves. Tyrion smiled bitterly to himself and glanced to Bronn behind him. I suppose it's become a bad habit. The thought of Bronn betraying him left bile in the back of his mouth. His last friend, a cutthroat.
The sellsword noticed Tyrion watching after all this time. He gave a confused look to the King in the North and then shrugged, as if to say "I don't know. Don't ask me."
Bronn had been loyal, to come all this way with Tyrion, to uncertainty and possible death. Of course, Tyrion had been paying him well. But now that the Lannister gold was out of reach… Bronn hasn't thought of that yet. He wouldn't have stayed if he had.
His thoughts were interrupted by Robb Stark dismissing his men. "Alright, Dwarf, I'll believe you turned your cloak. I suspect you of spying, but you're too useful an ally to dismiss without solid reason. I do not believe you would forsake the Lannister name simply because your father neglected to show his concern. Tell me truthfully, what is it you want of this?"
Shae…Revenge…My sister dead, my father dead…My shit of a nephew in the ground… None of those would please Lord Stark, or, King Robb as he'd have to say now. "What do I want? I want only what is mine by right. I doubt very much you'll leave my father to his own when this war is over. I imagine at some point you'll need to take his castle. My brother is a kingsguard, my sister is Queen Regent, my father is a treacherous murderer. You need one friend in the south." This time Tyrion's eyes met Robb's. "Give me Casterly Rock."
*I know Cersei didn't push Bran out of the window. But Tyrion hates Cersei and he loves Jaime so I don't think he'd lay the blame completely on Jaime for this one. For those saying it's so out of character for Tyrion to abandon his house, read a Dance of Dragons or watch the last episode of season 4. You'll see how much he thinks of Lannisters then. This will get more suspenseful as it goes on. This first chapter was just to get Tyrion in with the Starks.