In a world where being normal was valued more than any gold a king or their kingdom could know, there were those that were not of that stock. They were viewed as the freaks, the undesirables of the world and yet people would gladly pay a pretty coin to watch these freaks. There were those that could swing from bars attracted to wires that could cut a man's neck if they broke. Women that couldn't control their facial hair and even those born shorter than the shortest person of average height.

Tyrion was along the latter folk; his head was of normal human size while his arms and legs were shortened. He was smart and strong, but they didn't care about that. They just wanted to stare and laugh at the little man. He hated that this was the only job he could manage to find, though on a side note the owner of the circus trusted him enough to run the business's books as it seemed the man realized that while Tyrion balanced them they were always in the black.

There was another among the members of the circus who seemed like she didn't belong with the freaks, and yet everyone treated her like she was nothing. Sasha the little bird of the wire as she was advertised. Her parents worked with the animals while she got to soar above the heads of the most dangerous animal in existence, humans. Tyrion always made sure he got to watch her fly and it was the one time in his day he felt truly normal, in awe of true beauty and talent. However, he kept these feelings of admiration to himself, for surely a young lady as beautiful as the Little Bird would scream in horror knowing she was being watched by the little freak.


The circus was silent as slumber hung over the workers and creatures, all except for one. He enjoyed the silence, that peace that claimed the world for the briefest of moments. He was left alone to his thoughts, he could walk among the cages and tents without being stared at or judged in some pity or hate emotion shining back from the eyes that looked upon him. Tyrion stopped near the entrance of the circus's grounds, gazing out over the area were many of the guests would park their model Ts or little horse drawn buggies. The ground torn up by the many wheels that would not be able to repair itself until the circus pulled up its stakes and moved on to another town. He found it slightly amusing how similar to his soul that ground was. Torn apart by the visitors that came just because of the circus.

Turning away, the book keeper known to the visitors as 'The Imp' headed back toward the tent that serviced all as the mess hall. There he sat down and began to look over the little book in his hands as a mug of coffee steamed nearby, a clue its freshness. Suddenly a voice all too familiar to Tyrion's ears broke the silence. A clearly of a throat that head aloft the head of a little bird whose plumes were beautiful to all that took the time to look at her for who she truly was, Tyrion's gaze rose as his wishes that it be someone else raced through his thoughts. Wishes that would go unfulfilled for there before him stood the young woman, Sansa Stark, eldest daughter to the animal tamers Eddward and Cathryn, he politely smiled at her just before he spoke.

"And what brings you to this hour of the day? Should you not be resting that head upon a soft pillow?" He knew that the Starks were among those of the circus crew that had enough money for their own private carriages, three in fact. One for the parents, one for their mob of boys and one for the girls to given them privacy during those womanly times, and yet always parked in a semi-circle position with a camp fire and washing line in front.

"I have a new routine I want to get an early start on." She smiled back at him, he was sure it was nothing more than the manners her parents had disciplined into her, just as they had all their children. Surely, she would never be kind to him by her own free will, not when she could smile at some of the other males that were closer to her age among the crew, or those that visited the circus every afternoon to evening.

"A new song and flight for the little bird, I'm sure the visitors will flock to the tapestry you weave, Miss Stark." How it pained him to know that so many males among the audience would eye her as nothing but a quick fix to an itch all males had. Yes, Tyrion was no fool even he had those primal urges, but unlike others he knew how to control himself. However, not many women would give him the time of day let alone think about such things with him. He gave his head a shake as if some gnat or fly had been buzzing around his head.

Sansa nodded before moving over to grab herself a small mug for the tea she always seemed to partake of even when it wasn't considered proper tea time. "A few changes and a new melody to be played while I perform nothing extravagant really, maybe even a new costume design. And don't worry Tyrion it won't hurt the circus's budget." She returned to the table he was sitting at, occupying the bench across from his own. Sipping her beverage, her eyes focused upon him as they peered over the brim of her cup. "What is it you write in that leather bound tome of yours? I know that's not the bank book for the Ring Master, I've seen that one many times."

Tyrion pulled the book a little closer to him in a protective manner. No one among the circus folk had ever been allowed to peek inside his inner most thoughts. Should he trust her with his dreams? Place the one thing that could clip his wings in her hands? He looked down at the leather cover, his thumb brushing over it as if it were the cheek of a lover. "Simply my thoughts, Miss Stark. Nothing more, nothing less and certainly nothing that would be of any interest to someone as high standing as you."

"Oh Tyrion," Her laughter was like a small bell upon one of her costumes, tore him in two for he didn't know if she made fun of his words or found them actually amusing. He was willing to bet that like so many others he had come across in his life, she laughed at him. "I am no more higher standing than you are. I like you am a circus folk as our customers' wives whisper among themselves. I've seen them warning their children to avoid us, for who knows what voodoo and demons we serve. Even when they come to watch us perform, they still hate us."

Tyrion was shocked to hear such things from the little bird's vocal cords. Surely, no one would dare talk bad about Miss Sansa Stark. Tyrion felt a pit of rage start to bubble up inside him. Who had dared insult this vision of beauty? Who had dared consider her as worthless as he was? No in his eyes, she was not mere circus folk. She would surely one day catch the eye of a real man, a man that would offer her the world away from all of this. A man that would take her and give her everything she deserved to be showered with. "You are truly a lady, Miss Stark. After all, you are not a freak as I am. You are not shortened by the fates cruel joke. You have talent and many things I do not." He paused as he wanted to compliment her beauty, but surely, that would be pushing it too far. "You are able to soar while I will forever be stuck upon the ground… well unless someone decided to take up dwarf tossing." He smirked trying to make light of his situation.

Sansa shocked Tyrion so much that his breath froze within his lungs as she took a hold of his hand. Even though he was older than she, his hand was but like a babe's sheltered by hers. He marveled at how soft the skin upon her palm was, even with the years she had been working the trapeze's ropes or the aerial ropes made from beautiful silk scarves. Finally, he found his breath as his gaze slowly wandered from Sansa's hand up until their eyes met. Moreover, there he found kindness shining there among the pools of her soul. "Dear Tyrion. You have many gifts that so few can see. After all without you the Ring Master would be hiding from the bank collectors. Alas I shall let you keep your secrets, for without secrets we would be nothing." She smiled before standing up, taking her cup with her, thus leaving the little man alone with his thoughts. Thoughts now muddled and confused by the kindness she has just shown him.