~House of The Fallen Moon~

He was walking past the stables with Tyrion when they both heard commotion coming from inside. Following the noise they were about to open the door to one of the stalls when it quickly swung open making both of them jump back to avoid being hit. A moment later a girl no more than nineteen years old with long crimson hair past her waist came out with a young boy in tow behind her. Letting go of his shirt collar she grabbed his shoulders and made him look up at her.

"Next time I catch you in here I swear I'll tell father! You know you're not supposed to be around the horses!" She had let go of his shoulder and was now signing in front of him as she spoke. Looking like a scolded pup the boy simply gave a nod of defeat and hugged the girls waist tightly. Tilting his chin up at her again she gave him a stern look and took out a knife that was on her side.

"And no more pulling my hair either!" She signed and said before gathering her hair in a fist and cutting it off just below her shoulders. Wrapping a piece of string around the end of what she'd just cut off she put it in the boys hand and locked her eyes with his.

"Now take that to mother and don't you dare leave her side again!" She signed with a stern look on her face, but the boy seemed distracted by something behind her and pointed back at the stall. Standing up straight the girl flinched as if she knew what he was pointing at even before she slowly turned around to see Tyrion and Bronn staring at her.

"My lord! I apologize; I did not see you there! I am so very sorry for that scene; that was highly unorthodox!" She said bowing, which seemed to catch them off guard and cause the sellsword to suppress a laugh. After tossing him a glare she turned back to the boy and signed for him to head home.

"Your brother?" Tyrion asked watching after the boy as he left the stables.

"Yes, my lord; his name is Breckin." She said looking after him as well with a fond smile on her lips.

"And your name would be?" He asked gesturing to the girl with his hand.

"I'm so sorry, my lord, I should have told you my name right away. Rowen, my lord." She said giving a low bow again as she told the little man her name.

"So, why were you scolding him?" Tyrion asked seeming thoroughly interested in the girl and her brother.

"He's not supposed to be anywhere near the stables, my lord. Not since a horse kicked him making him deaf." She explained. Her expression remained placid as she spoke which caused Bronn's own interest in the girl to peak; most girls would be in tears just thinking of something like that. For a few minutes none of them spoke, but to Tyrion's surprise it was Rowen who broke the silence.

"Please allow me to apologize again for the scene I caused earlier. I must look a mess right now." She said quickly tying her freshly cut hair up in a leather strip. Tyrion simply shook his head with a laugh as he walked over and took the girls hand gently in his own.

"That won't do; I shall take you to my hairdresser to have it cut properly." He said as he started to lead her toward the door.

"I assure you, my lord, there's no need. It's not as bad as it seems." She said sheepishly as she stroked her hair with her free hand.

"Enough of these formalities; such things should be saved for formal occasions. You shall call me Tyrion and I'll hear no argument on the matter." Tyrion said as they made their way toward the castle with Bronn following a few feet behind.

"So, how long have you worked the stables?" Tyrion asked after a few minutes of them walking in silence.

"Since I was little; it used to be my fathers job, but he can no longer tend the horses. He taught me everything I know." Rowan said letting a warmhearted smile cross her face.

"And your mother; what does she do? Do you have any more siblings aside from Breckin?"

"My mother works in the kitchens making food only for the queen. She's spent so many years around the queen that she's become very eloquent; she's the one who taught me to read and write and made sure I knew how to speak like a lady. As for my siblings, I have three true ones, though we have taken in a few orphans over the years." She said looking over at the little lord.

"Really? How many children have your parents taken in?" Tyrion asked looking up at her. She was surprised to find his eyes showed genuine interest and she smiled at the thought of someone so important even wanting to speak to her.

"We have a total of seven children in my house. There are two boys older than myself; a boy they took in when I was only a baby named Efrin and my older brother Keegan. After me there is my sister Imogen, my brother Breckin, then there are the twins Brin and Bria. Soon I will have another sibling; if it's a girl mother wants to name her Hettie, if it's a boy she'll name him Killian." Tyrion could tell by the way she spoke that she was very fond of all of them and smiled wishing he had had siblings that cared for him.

"And yourself? I know the queen and Ser Jamie are your siblings, but do you have any others?" She asked deciding it was time she learned about him.

"Sadly, no. My mother died giving birth to me and my family has shunned me ever since. It's hard being a dwarf and being blamed for your mothers death, but at some point you simply stop caring what others think of you." He said keeping his eyes to the ground. Feeling a sudden twinge in the back of her mind Rowen cast a glance over her shoulder having nearly forgotten that Bronn was walking only a few feet behind them.

"What of your friend? I'm sure he has an interesting story." She said looking back at Tyrion as they walked down a hall of the castle. Casting his own glance back at the sellsword he quickly looked forward again.

"All I really know about him is that his father abused him as a child, but his mother hit harder, he's an excellent fighter, and that we are friends. Other than that I'm afraid I know nothing about him; a bit odd really. Here he is, a man I consider my friend, yet I know nearly nothing about him." He said as though it were the first time he'd realized this. Without stopping Rowen turned around and smiled at Bronn.

"So what is your story?" She asked as she skillfully walked backward with her eyes locked on him. He seemed amused by this and tossed her a smirk before answering.

"Not a story for little girls." He said teasingly. Stopping in her tracks her jaw dropped in mock insult and she waited for him to close the small space between them.

"I'll have you know my 18th name day is next week!" She said punching him lightly in the shoulder as he stopped in front of her.

"My apologies then, m' lady." He said with a bow to exaggerate his tease. He seemed to enjoy the fact that she was playing along with his little joust and she smiled as she began walking backward down the hall again.

"Rowen." She corrected before turning around to talk to Tyrion again, but she could feel Bronn's eyes on her back and knew he was still smirking.