5th Month of 298 A.C. King's Landing

Tyrek Lannister

His father had died when he was a child, a babe, from a pox, where that pox had come from Tyrek did not know, considering his mother had always told him that his father did not like whores- something to do with his grandsire, Tytos Lannister and a whore- and as such she had always wondered where he had caught the disease. Tyrek had grown up wondering if perhaps his uncle Tywin had had something to do with it, after all, he knew from speaking to Tyrion as well as to Aunt Genna that his father and uncle Tywin did not get along that well. But then, he knew Lord Tywin was obsessed with his legacy, therefore the thought of him killing his brother did not make sense, and he had not really thought about it since then. He had found a family with the prince's retinue. Prince Joffrey was his cousin, and though Joffrey was younger than him, in some ways the prince seemed older, because he was more confident, was more assured of who he was and what he was. Tyrek had always been close to Joffrey in some shape or form, his cousin was like a brother to him. Bryce Storm the bastard of Mistwood, had come next to their little group, and had become a brother to Tyrek as well, then had come Horas and Hobber Redwyne, who were slower than the average people, but they were useful, and then there was Waymar who had come. Tyrek liked Waymar, though he was a funny lad, and someone to be trusted. Lucas Blackwood was someone Tyrek was not sure of, there was something about him that did not quite ring true. Then there was Jon Snow, and him, well Tyrek was interested by Ned Stark's bastard.

The Tourney of the Hand had been relatively interesting, a fine display, on a par with the prince's nameday tourney. Men had come from all around the seven kingdoms including one Ser Theodore Wells from the north-that was something interesting- and it had been a fine show of pageantry and display. Ser Loras Tyrell had won the jousting, and had been spared a death at the hands of the mountain thanks to Joffrey's dog. The Tyrell family had come out in fine form to King's Landing, just as Joffrey had said they would, and the Lady Margaery had come as well, looking beautiful as always. Tyrek did not know what it was about her, but there was something there that enchanted him. Of course she did not pay attention to him, she wanted only to spend time with the prince, and really, Tyrek could not blame her, but he could not help but feel a small bit of jealousy, he was a boy after all. The tourney was done though, and Ser Hugh of the Vale had gone, he had not competed in the tourney, but had disappeared from King's Landing, Waymar claimed he had been sent back to the Vale by Lord Stark, but that did not make sense, at least not to Tyrek, however, it seemed the prince had other ideas.

"Baelish has to be behind Ser Hugh disappearing off to wherever it is he has gone. There is no other explanation for it." the prince says.

Tyrek looks at his cousin and asks. "What makes you think that my prince?"

The Prince is silent a moment and then responds. "Well we know that Baelish was and is likely still close to Lysa Arryn, and furthermore, Ser Hugh served as Lord Arryn's squire. No doubt the woman wants her husband's squire back in the Vale, so he can't reveal something or the other to Stark."

"You do not think that there was something there that Lysa Arryn would want to hide?" Tyrek asks.

His cousin looks at him and then they both burst out laughing. "Lysa Arryn was more unfaithful to her husband than my father has ever been to my mother. She was not discreet either, at least for those who know how to look. It was obvious for those who wished to see, that she and Baelish were carrying on. No doubt she wanted any person who could say such a thing gone. A shame then that Ser Hugh did not compete in the tourney."

Tyrek thinks on this a moment and then says. "It seems Baelish panicked too soon then if that was the case. He should have waited for the tourney and then Ser Gregor would have taken care of him. He was in an odd mood during the tourney did you see?"

"I did." the prince responds, looking at Sandor Clegane then. "Why was that Sandor? What got your brother's blood up?"

The Hound is silent a moment as if thinking and then responds. "I do not know. It does not take much to get his blood up. All he needs is a sword in his hand and he stops thinking. Not that he does any thinking whatsoever anyway."

Tyrek laughs as does the prince. "Aye, but then that scene he made with Ser Loras, I think my grandsire's favourite dog is slipping. He could have worsened the situation instead of improving it."

"Do you think he would have actually killed the boy?" Tyrek asks.

"I have no doubt about that." the prince responds. "Gregor Clegane does not like losing, we can see that through all of his actions throughout his life. That he was defeated, well that might well have simply angered him more."

"That would certainly have angered the Tyrells." Tyrek muses. "Perhaps it would have been a good thing if that had happened no? Then Tywin would be in the hot water."

His cousin laughs. "Aye, perhaps, though it might not have done more than started another border war. The last one between the Westerlands and the Reach ended with my grandfather buying of Luthor Tyrell. Or killing him depending on who you speak to."

At this Horas Redwyne speaks, his words slow. "Do you think that is true?"

"What? That Luthor Tyrell was killed or bribed off?" the prince responds.

"Killed." Horas says.

"I would not put it past my grandfather. But that is beside the point, we must make sure that no such future incidents occur between the two houses. What have you learned of their plans?" the prince asks.

Horas seems to be considering his answer when Hobber responds. "I think that Lord Mace wants to make some sort of proposal to your father the king, my prince. It seems that is the talk of their family."

Tyrek looks at his cousin and then the prince says. "No doubt it will be to see Myrcella married off to Willas Tyrell."

"Aye, I think that might be what it is." Hobber says.

Tyrek looks at his cousin who nods. "What about Jon? Would the Tyrells take an interest in him?"

Horas speaks then. "I do not think so. To them he is just a bastard, they do not see the potential in him that you do, my prince. They are narrow minded with their thinking and it will cost them."

Tyrek looks at the prince and sees how he seems to be considering this. "The Florents will begin playing up soon enough then. What with my uncle Stannis having fled like a coward back to Dragonstone. Something is being cooked there, and it is not clear what it might be."

A thought that has been nagging Tyrek for some time comes to the forefront of his mind then. "Why do you think he fled? Stannis I mean. Just after Lord Arryn was declared dead as well, and when the court went north. That makes him look guilty does it not? I did not think the man was stupid."

His cousin laughs then. "Oh, Lord Stannis has always been a bit slow I think. He failed to realise why he had been given Dragonstone and command of the royal fleet until the Greyjoy rebellion happened. And he failed to understand why my uncle Renly was named Lord of Storm's End. He most certainly did not think through what he was doing when he fled to Dragonstone. It is almost as if he is guilty."

Tyrek looks at his cousin and asks. "Do you think he did it then? Killed Lord Arryn? If so why?"

His cousin looks at him intently, and then responds. "I think they were doing something, whatever it was, once Lord Arryn was dead, Stannis was scared enough to flee. And I think that in itself is enough to cast doubt over why he fled."

Tyrek ponders this, as Ser Waymar speaks. "I think they were doing something quite suspicious. After all we know that Ser Hugh went to see Stannis in his manor and paid him with a bag of gold. What else could that be used for unless it was to buy his silence. Whatever it was they were doing, Arryn didn't want Stannis talking about it."

"But was it a bribe, or was it payment for services rendered?" Tyrek asks. "After all, we know Stannis is a bitter man and that something changed within him following the death of his son."

"What services could that fool possibly render to the hand of the king? The second most powerful man in the realm, who had every service available to him if he just asked. No, there was a bribe made there." Waymar says.

The prince speaks then. "It might have been a case of both things. We know from Pycelle that they were looking into something, and then Arryn fell ill, though before that his maester died. So there is that, and then when the court was in Winterfell he fled. Why wait until the court and my father had left the capital, before fleeing, unless there was something he did not want found when we came back?"

Horas speaks then. "What could it be though? What could have made him do what he did?"

Tyrek looks at his cousin then, they both know what might have made the Lord of Dragonstone do as he did, but neither of them will admit that to their group. And so there is silence for a time, until Bryce speaks. "What do you think has happened in Darry since we left?"

"No doubt Ser Raymun has come back from his travels, with renewed confidence that his failed order will come back to life. You know what he is like, he is someone who will never admit defeat, even when it is slapping him in the face. Sooner or later he will come to realise that, but it will be too late for him." the prince responds.

"You think that was what he was doing then?" Tyrek asks his cousin intrigued.

"Aye, what else would prompt him to leave the same time as the royal party? A traitor will always move around suspiciously. And this time it seems that there is something quite suspicious about his movements. No, there is more to what he is doing, and I think it is to do with what we heard at Darry." the prince says.

"Do you think the girl heard anything?" Horas asks.

"What girl?" the prince asks.

"You mean Arya Stark? Jon's sister?" Tyrek asks.

"Aye, she was there, I swear I saw her wandering off toward the stones one day as well." Horas responds.

Tyrek looks at the prince then and sees that there is a look of disgust there. "Aye she might well have done knowing her."

There is a knock on the door then, and Ser Preston Greenfield says. "It is Lucas Blackwood and Jon Snow my prince."

"Let them in." the prince says.

The door opens and both boys walk, followed by Jon's direwolf Ghost, a towering beast that one, all white and red. They bow before the prince before sitting down in the seats provided for them. There is a moment's silence and then Jon speaks. "I think I might have learned something very interesting my prince."

"And what is that?" the prince asks.

"I think I know where Lord Stannis and Lord Arryn went to before Lord Arryn died." Jon responds. "It is called the Old Thistle."