NOTE: Everything you recognize belongs to George R. R. Martin, a simply wonderful author who is much better at writing than I am. I own nothing. I simply love his books.


TYRION II

"She intends to send Tommen away." Lancel was saying, as he sat uneasily on the most uncomfortable chair that the Tower of the Hand had to offer. Tyrion wondered if it was some form of repentance.

"She has only just sent Myrcella away, and you tell me that she is willing to part with Tommen, also?"

"Yes, my lord. Lord Gyles will be leaving the city tomorrow morning, and Tommen will go with him. They intend to darken his hair to disguise him as a page."

"Which of the Kingsguard...?"

"Ser Boros Blount, my lord."

Tyrion leaned back on his sofa, breathing deeply as he considered his cousin's words. The fetid air of King's Landing was peppered with new smells, primarily smoke. The fires from yesterday's riot had been put out, but the stench was clearly going to linger for a few days more. He almost envied his niece Myrcella, on her way to Dorne with the royal fleet. At least she would be getting some fresh air.

"Ser Boros? I envy my nephew his brave protector." Had this been his uncle Gerion, a short session of laughter would have followed this remark, but Lancel simply looked more nervous. Tyrion sighed internally. "Lancel, if you are going to march up here to mine own solar, try to make sure you have something useful to say. My sister is a suspicious woman, don't you know." It was not the case that the information wasn't useful; in fact, Tyrion's overactive mind was already deciding on the best course of action to take. He said this because he much preferred the nervous Lancel to the cocky, swaggering creature he had been before the blackmailing had begun. Regularly criticising his information and subtly reminding him of his dangerous situation would work wonders on keeping him like this.

"O-of course, my lord Tyrion. I apologise."

"I don't need your apologies," Tyrion waved him off, feeling a little frustrated. "Get out of my sight."

After Lancel had scurried off, he summoned Pod, who he instructed to summon Bronn, who he instructed to summon Ser Jacelyn Bywater. He had to see a lot of people, but eventually Ser Jacelyn stood before him.

"Good evening, my lord," the Commander of the City Watch greeted him respectfully, with a bow. The beauty of the day had slowly slid away, and a blanket of grey clouds now covered the sky. A storm is coming, in more ways than one.

"Evening, Ser Jacelyn. I have an urgent need to speak with you."

"And I you, my lord Tyrion. The scouts bring grave tidings."

"You best tell me first, then."

"As you say, my lord." He hesitated briefly before speaking. "Renly has crossed Blackwater Rush and joined the Gold Road. His foot is eight days from the city, at most."

Tyrion nodded. It was bad, but it was no surprise. Rumours of Renly had been flying this way and that, varying wildly, but most agreed on one very specific detail - that he was close to the city. "If the Gold Road is closed, the city is lost. Our food supply is dwindling, and the only thing coming down the Kingsroad is more hungry peasants. The only way we will survive this is if my father defeats Renly in the field."

Ser Jacelyn nodded grimly. "Does the queen intend to surrender the city?"

Tyrion scoffed at the thought. "Cersei and Joffrey won't surrender until there are nooses around their necks."

"Then, Lord Tywin-"

"My sister seems to think he is riding to our rescue. I do not know what to think."

"Then, we must pray."

"I had no idea you were a godly man, Ser Jacelyn. I want no prayer from you. Only action."

"Oh, aye?"

"Take fifty men to scout the Roseroad."

"Sir... I already gave you reports from the scouts, and-"

"That is what you will APPEAR to do. In truth, you will be watching the Rosby road. Lord Gyles will be leaving the city in a few days time. With him will be my nephew, Prince Tommen, the heir to the Seven Kingdoms. I need you to take him. Do this right and I'll make you a lord."

"A lord, eh? I think I would appreciate that."

"I thought you might, too. Try to do this peacefully if you can. If killing is necessary, I don't want it done in front of Tommen. The boy has a tender heart still."

"Of course, my lord."

"Keep in mind that he may be disguised. Darkened hair, clothes that don't befit his station... but you will know him by his chubby, angelic little face, I'm sure."

"As you say, my lord."

"I'll be calling you that soon enough... if you do this well."

After this, Tyrion found, the time seemed to move by quickly. Word of the enemy's approach ate away at his sense of security and the hours in which they had to prepare the defence seemed to flutter away like feathers in a high wind.

Three hours after seeing Ser Jacelyn, Tyrion awoke from a troubled doze with a sudden realisation that gave him an electric feeling of hope. Renly has no ships. We hold the Redwyne twins. He cannot cut us off from the sea. He must storm the walls. He slept soundly for the first time in a while.

The day after, at a meeting of the Smallest Council, Varys informed them of the sophisticated siege equipment that had been built in Highgarden for the very purpose of storming the walls. Tyrion's mood worsened.

Three days after his meeting with Ser Jacelyn, Tyrion visited the halls of the Pyromancers to take stock of the wildfire. They had a decent amount, but not nearly as much as he would have liked.

The day after that, he dispatched his clansmen to raid Renly's baggage train and hinder his scouts. Tyrion was almost sad to see Shagga go, but he knew it was for the best. The tribes of the Vale were not suited to city life.

Six days after his meeting with Ser Jacelyn, Ser Jacelyn returned to the city. He came to Tyrion quickly - as any man would if he was coming to collect his lordship.

"Prince Tommen is safe, and in my power."

Tyrion was reaching a state of paranoia that was beyond anything he had ever known, and the wording of this alarmed him. Tommen is in his power. Not mine. I offer him a lordship for my nephew's protection... but what would Renly offer him for the Lannister claimant to the Iron Throne?

Of course, he granted the lordship as he had promised. Upsetting Jacelyn Bywater was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment.

On the seventh day, there was a council meeting.

One more meeting before the war, Tyrion thought as he entered the chambers. Joy.

"I am afraid there has been no word from the Eyrie," Varys informed them both, as a start. "Our plan to win Lady Arryn's allegiance seems to have failed."

Maybe the ravens were lost, but more likely Lysa Arryn felt insulted by our offer and threw Littlefinger out of the moon door. "We cannot expect aid from the Vale," Tyrion said. "We must look to our own defences."

"I agree, dear brother," Cersei replied brusquely. "Close the gates. Lock everything down. Prepare for the siege."

The meeting did not last much longer. They discussed the finer points of the defence. When they concluded, Tyrion felt little except for a dull fury with his sister. It was not a new feeling.

At his request, Varys had smuggled Shae into the Red Keep, disguised as a servant. After the meeting, although he had a lot left to do, Tyrion took refuge into the warmth of her arms. After she had pleasured him, they lay on his bed in the Tower of the Hand. He was quiet, aloof. She stroked his hair and called him her giant. Giant of Lannister.

She had to leave far too soon.

After that, he had a far less desirable visitor, and his news was of the very worst kind. Ser Meryn Trant was not someone you wanted to see on the best of days. And this was not the best of days. He rose from his bed and allowed the man of the Kingsguard to escort him across the Red Keep. Maegor's Holdfast had a stuffy quality to it these days. Cersei insisted on extra security, which apparently required many of the fresh air sources to be sealed off. Tyrion was taken to his sister's chambers. There, he began to shout.

"You fool! You blind, stupid fool!" Tyrion shouted. "How did you allow this to happen? Seven hells, HOW?!"

"You have no right to speak to me that way," Cersei snapped back. "If anyone is at fault here, it's you! You... You vile little man!"

He struck her across the face. She staggered back, gasping from the pain and shock... but she did not lose a moment. "Guards! Ser Meryn-"

The door opened with a crash, and Cersei's protectors entered the room. Ser Meryn Trant, with his red beard and his white cloak, and Ser Osmund Kettleblack, huge and muscular, looking every inch the sellsword.

"Arrest my brother-" Cersei began to say, but words were lost to her when she saw Ser Osmund sliding his dagger across Ser Meryn's throat. As blood flowed in rivers over the man's white armour, Ser Osmund simply looked at Tyrion.

"I knew purchasing your services was a good investment, Ser Osmund. Speak to Bronn about a little bonus on top of our agreed price." Tyrion was still angry, but the look on Cersei's face gave him a sick sort of pleasure. "But first... confine my sister to a tower cell."

After, he sat on his sister's bed, a bottle of her wine in his hand. Cersei had been dragged kicking and screaming from the room by her own sellswords. Every moment of pain she receives will be deserved. We had two of Robb Stark's sisters. Even after she lost one, she allowed the other freedom of the castle. The brat was not properly guarded.

Tyrion began to drink. The gold cloaks were out looking for her, but he did not hold much hope. Ser Meryn, whose body had also been dragged from the chamber moments before, had believed that Renly's agents had taken her. As a gift, to secure the northern alliance. All Tyrion knew was that somehow, Sansa Stark was gone. There isn't nearly enough wine in the world, he thought. But there was enough to give him sleep.

Eight days after his first meeting with Ser Jacelyn, Renly Baratheon's forces arrived at King's Landing.


AUTHOR'S NOTE: Whew. This was fun to write, eventually. Sorry it took so long! I have also been working on edits to the prologue suggested by my very in-depth reviewer Tarethnamath. Thanks again, for that! I hope this chapter was to your liking, leave a review to let me know! Things are getting good, I personally think.
Once again, thank you to everyone who reviewed, favourited and followed. You guys are just awesome. :)