He had found Jadyn not half an hour after he had left Lord Stark. Jadyn had been spending his reward for bringing the prisoner on a new sword and shield. Tyler had asked him if he was ready to return home as he intended to make him acting captain while Jon and Tyler remained in the capital to assist Ned. Now, the next morning, he watched as the Gate of the Gods was pushed open by gold cloaks and Jadyn mounted his brown mare. Erik, Lyonel and seven other Winterfell guards were going with him.

"Don't die on the way home." Tyler told him sternly but with a joking smile.

"As you say ser." Jadyn said.

"Make sure no harm comes to Brandon or Rickon and if anyone breaks more of Ralf's furniture; give them a raise." He said.

Jadyn chuckled and spurred his horse forward followed by the rest of the men. "See you again soon ser."

Tyler watched them ride down the rode for some time. That was before he saw three men that he recognised riding towards the gate. The three sellswords who had been hired by Lyonel and left in Catelyn's service at Riverrun were splattered with blood and one of them looked ready to topple out of his horse. "Hold that gate!" He commanded and the gold cloaks stopped suddenly and looked confused until the three riders came inside the walls. It was at that moment that the wounded sellsword chose to fall from his horse and crash into the stones beneath him. A gold cloak rushed forward with Tyler and he called for someone to fetch a healer. The man had the look of death about him and the stink backed it up.

"Fuck the healer." He said, his words wheezing out of him painfully. "Bronn, make some good use of that dagger will you."

"The healer may be able to save you." The gold cloak complained, shocked at the man.

"You smell that? That's the smell of death. You miss with that dagger Bronn and I'll take you with me." He said as the lead sellsword knelt beside him and drew his dagger from his back.

The sellsword named Bronn shouldered the gold cloak aside with a chuckle. "Don't want to get any blood on your pretty cloak now do we?"

The dying man chuckled before Bronn drove the dagger through his chest effortlessly. The man died with a smile on his face and Bronn wiped his dagger clean on the corpses clothes. "Someone should get rid of this body before we're left with the stink of his shit." Bronn said, sheathing his dagger and clapping a hand on Tyler's shoulder. He began walking up the hill towards the city as the other sellsword paid a boy to stable and tend their horses. Tyler limped to catch up with Bronn and the sellsword looked at him and grinned.

"Did something happen on the road?" Tyler asked curiously.

"Group of kids playing at being bandits, younger than you even. We thought they was beggars, then one of them buried a knife in Dylon's ribs." Bronn said with a chuckle.

"And you killed them?" Tyler asked warily.

"It was either that or end up bleeding out in the grass. Not a good way to go getting killed by children, lucky they didn't have the skill to face someone who actually knew what he was doing." Bronn said.

Killing children doesn't even budge his conscience. This man could be useful. "Why did you leave Riverrun? I was lead to believe that Lady Catelyn had you in her service."

"Aye she did, then she sent me here to find you. She figured I'd be better use here where it's dangerous rather than there where I could've spent my well earned pay on whores and wine." Bronn said with a hint of annoyance.

"If I understand correctly you are saying you are in my service now." Tyler said

"Aye, and if I understand correctly you just got made a knight, so don't assume that I'm anything that resembles a squire. Understood?" Bronn said strongly.

"Absolutely, all I need you to do is follow what I say, take the coins I give you and buy me a drink after every battle." Tyler said with a wink.

"We may be in business for a very long time." He said chuckling.

They had put some distance between the gate and themselves but at that moment the deep boom of the war horn sounded and Tyler spun around in panic. "I may need that drink sooner than I thought. Come with me." He said as he power-limped back the way they came. Bronn and the other sellsword followed closely behind and politely kept to his pace. Tyler's leg was aching by the time they got back and he swiftly flew into the tower and rushed up the stairs. When he got to the top of the wall he saw a sea of red, banners raised high on enormous poles, red steel armour glittering in the bright sunlight and banners bearing the red and gold of House Lannister and a thousand lions streaming above the mess of soldiers that he saw. He counted the host to be roughly seventy or eighty thousand men. There was no mistaking Lord Tywin Lannister, Tyler could almost make out his scowl beneath his white hair, his brilliant red and gold armour was both glorious and terrifying to Tyler. The sight of all these men made his stomach turn. We need to kill all these men before the realm will be safe and at peace.

"Bronn." He called his voice nearly a shriek.

"Right here." He said stepping forward with his hand on his sword hilt.

"Go to Lord Stark in the Tower of the Hand, tell him the Warden of the West has arrived with an eighty thousand strong army and then return here." Tyler said. Bronn ran off down the stairs and Tyler looked at the other sellsword. "And you, what is your name?"

"Mykal." He said quietly.

"I need you to go to the Tower of the Hand also and stay close to the queen's cell in case Lord Tywin attacks us. If battle comes I want you to bring her to the wall by force if you have to and hold a knife to her throat. Ask one of the gold cloaks at the tower where her cell is, they will help if you use my name." Tyler said, watching the man sprint off and turning to see Lord Tywin with the other leaders of the army riding forward slowly on their own towards the gates. A simple show of strength, of course he means to parley, he knows his daughter is in danger. Tyler was not wearing clothes suitable to receive a high lord but he climbed down the tower to the ground all the same. He heard Lord Tywin call out from the other side.

"I am Tywin, son of Tytos of House Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West. I am here to seek audience with Lord Regent Eddard of House Stark to discuss the trial he is to hold for my daughter Cersei, the Queen." Tywin called formally.

Not the former queen father? Surely you are not so blind. "Open the gates." He said, that sudden fear crawling back into his stomach. For that you will die screaming.

The gates seemed to open slower this time, but when they did and Tywin stood there with a small group of men and they began to trot forward Tyler almost stumbled at the sight of his father. Tywin's cold eyes dug into him, his face was an emotionless mask but Tyler could almost here the hatred and the threats that swum around in his father's mind. Lord Tywin was about to speak with him when he heard Jory Cassel's voice cut in.

"Lord Stark commands that only Lord Tywin and Ser Kevan may enter the city. The rest of you ride back to your men." He said in a strong voice. Tywin nodded to them and they all rode off. Tyler knew his Uncle Kevan and his Uncle Kevan knew him. He was the only other at Casterly Rock that had know who Tyler was. Kevan had tried to be the loving father while Tywin had been the strong one. But Tyler had never felt all that close to Kevan, the man was drawn back from him, he had no respect for bastards; least of all his brother's bastard. To him Tyler was a stain on the family, a stain to be removed, Tyler wouldn't be surprised if it was Kevan who had told him to send Tyler to the Wall.

Tyler turned from his father's deathly gaze and saw a loving one behind him. He had not even seen Jon Snow arrive with Jory and Barristan Selmy but now he did and Jon frowned at him, the look said it all. You should not be here, your father will cloud your judgement. And he was right, but he was already here and if he scampered off he would be nothing but a craven.

Jory rode ahead of the two lions and Selmy rode behind. Jon and Tyler walked ahead of Jory each with a hand on their sword, they whispered that they would catch up later and tried to keep straight faces as the entire city came to look upon Lord Tywin and his brother. Some threw insults and japes, they yelled that his seed was poisoned, that all his children were monsters and Tyler tried to hold back a grin. The whole ride went in silence and Tyler found that his mind was so focused on his father that his limp was not even aching. When they reached the Red Keep, Sandor Clegane, the Hound, was waiting outside the doors with two other soldiers.

"Sandor." Tywin said grudgingly. "You swore to protect my grandson until his death; your oaths are clearly as meaningful to you as your face." He said harshly.

The Hound remained silent as he opened the doors and revealed the court inside. The court was full to bursting and Tyler had to yell for the subjects to clear an aisle. Tyler walked forward and saw Lord Eddard Stark seated on the Iron Throne is his lord's garb of dark brown and the grey of a Stark. Beside him on a simple chair sat Lord Varys and to his left stood Grand Maester Pycelle, his long white beard flowing to his waist as he stood hunched over leaning on a short walking stick. At the foot of the steps stood all the Kingsguard minus two, Jaime being still under guard and Ser Meryn Trant standing guard outside Cersei's cell. Ser Barristan joined them and stood in the middle with his hand wrapped around his sword hilt, to his left stood Ser Mandon Moore and Ser Arys Oakheart and to his right stood Ser Boros Blount and Ser Preston Greenfield. Littlefinger was looking upon Lord Varys scathingly from the crowd and Tyler made a mental note to look into the master of coin and his operations. They came just before the line of Kingsguard and a silence descended in the throne room. Tywin stared up at Eddard Stark and Kevan looked around at everyone in the hall. Tyler and Jon moved to the side of the hall and stood between the crowd and the Kingsguard.

"You have approached the city with an army, you have frightened the people. Say what you have to say and be gone. This city has no love for you." Eddard said harshly.

"Lord Stark, the people may not see it yet but the lies you are feeding them are born out of greed and a lust for power, there you sit upon the Iron Throne where my grandson and the late King Robert's son is meant to sit as my daughter rules in his name. I ask you one time, release my daughter and put my grandson on the throne where he belongs and we will save the kingdoms much bloodshed." Tywin said quietly and coldly.

"Your daughter is accused of attempted murder of a high lord's child, my child, for which we have a first hand witness. She is also accused of adultery and betraying the vows she took at marriage, incest, and paying to have our good King Robert and my friend murdered. A trial will determine the release of your daughter not I." Ned said, he shot a glance at Tyler.

He wants me up there. Tyler thought, confused suddenly. He went around the pillar beside him and approached Eddard from behind. He leaned forward and Ned leaned to whisper in his ear. "Go and tell Jon to escort Lord Tywin back to the walls when I say and make sure he tells him that if he attacks the city Cersei and Jaime will suffer the punishment."

Tyler walked down and relayed the message to Jon, once Tywin figured out it had nothing to do with him he continued. "Then I ask if you can find it in your heart to at least return my son to me. You need not hold them both." He said, a touch of desperation even creeping into his voice.

"You have not heard? Your son is on trial also." Tywin was about to yell but Kevan grabbed his arm swiftly, still looking around. "Ser Jaime Lannister is on trial for betraying his oath and murdering the Mad King, for incest, and for cuckolding our good King Robert, may he rest in peace." Eddard said solemnly.

A silence descended on the hall, it was as if simultaneously everyone in the hall had been cowed with fear before Tywin had even begun to speak. "You will pay for this Lord Stark, your wife, your son, your wife's family. All of the north will bleed because of you. A Lannister always pays his debts."

"My lord, seize him." Tyler heard Varys say softly as Tywin spun on his heel and walked out of the hall, Jon following close behind as Kevan struggled to keep up.

Eddard remained quiet and still as Lord Tywin left the throne room and he looked at Tyler. Tyler hid a smile but nodded at Ned who grinned back at him. A very wise choice. Tyler thought admirably.

Later that night Tyler was sitting with Jon, Jory, Bronn and Mykal. Bronn had found himself and Jory a couple of whores but the rest had not been interested. They drank profusely and Jon was telling Tyler all about the tournament of the Hand.

"Under my false name I was fighting in the sword tourney and I lasted longer than anyone expected, Sansa came and watched the whole time, she cheered her loudest for me and Arya was the same. There were six of us left before I went down; I crossed swords with Thoros of Myr. Not easy fighting a man with a burning sword, particularly seeing as I didn't have a shield. I held my own though and got a few hits in but he made me yield in the end." He said shaking his head and draining his mug.

"Well you did better than I expected. Thoros of Myr is one of the best they say." Tyler said comfortingly.

"You see lots of burning swords in battles; you grow more used to them the more you fight." Bronn said.

"Did you fight in the rebellion?" Jon asked suddenly.

"Not for any particular side but I remember it well enough, one of the kings men hired me and the group I was with for the Greyjoy rebellion though. Thoros of Myr was there also, and he was the first man through the breach." Bronn said, nostalgia setting in.

After a short silence Tyler said. "Oh by the way, did anything come from your interrogations of Cersei's handmaidens?"

"Aye! Thank the gods, she will attest to seeing Jaime and Cersei in the act." Jon said, shuddering at the thought.

"No doubt she was keeping silent from fear. Thank god we are in control. I mean look at Jory here, we couldn't ask for a better commander of the city watch." Tyler said indicating to where Jory sat with his head buried in his whores tits.

Jon laughed and Tyler struggled to stand on his leg. "I think I shall find my quarters, no doubt your father has tasks for me in the morning."

Jon stood and pulled him into a one armed hug. "Have a good sleep brother." He said smiling.

Brother. Tyler was touched, he had noticed the change in Jon. He was much different to how Tyler had known him in Winterfell. He seemed more confident and sure of himself, he was more outspoken and up front with everyone; and his bravery had reached completely new heights. I bet his father and him had a very long talk. It seemed to Tyler that all the problems between the Stark family could easily be solved with simple conversations but none of them seemed to want to talk about anything off any importance with each other.

Tyler stumbled half in pain and half in his drunken state as he reached his door, he tried to push himself up on the door handle but it slipped in his grasp and he fell straight to the floor with a thud. He began chuckling at his clumsiness on the floor when he heard his door open. "Oh gods, are you alright?" He heard that voice say, that sweet serene voice.

He felt himself being supported as he rose from the floor and looked to see Sansa carrying him up the stairs to his bed. "My lady, please don't trouble yourself I am fine." He said, suddenly feeling worlds more sober in her presence, or at least trying his best to. He pushed himself off her and got used to the balance and to the pain in his leg. He began limping to his bed and he heard Sansa following behind.

He kept his clothes on this time and he sat down on the end of his bed and rubbed his eyes. Sansa sat next to him, physically not too close but for Tyler she was far too close. He had to resist the urge to grab her and kiss her. She has no business with the likes of me.

"Is there something you wished to discuss my lady?" He asked politely, avoiding her eyes.

She remained silent for a while and just as Tyler was about to urge her on he heard a sob escaped her lips. He turned to look at her, the bottom half of her face was in her hands, her eyes were red and puffy and as she sobbed more and more her body began shaking. "My lady... Sansa, please don't cry, tell me what troubles you, I will do all I can to help I promise."

"It was... When the king died." She said, she seemed to afraid to speak and Tyler laid a hand on her shoulder and she calmed slightly at the touch. "Joffrey came to me alone, he said that my father was a traitor and that I was nothing more than a whore daughter of a traitorous... well he used a word that I would never utter. He said he was going to become king and he was going to kill my father." She said looking at Tyler. Cunt. He thought. "He said I was only good for one thing..." She began crying uncontrollably and her words became hard to understand but Tyler had the message of it well enough and his face darkened as did his mind and heart. He felt nothing but pure hatred.

He tried to hide it. "Sansa, what happened then is nothing but the past. Whoever your husband will be will understand that you are not at fault for this. You are a beautiful woman that any man in the Seven Kingdoms would be lucky to have, and you always will be. A little monster like Joffrey will never take the truth from you." Tyler grabbed her and held her tightly, she relaxed in his arms and pressed her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around Tyler's neck. He became increasingly aware of his hands rested firmly on her hips and after a long hug he drew away and kissed her forehead before standing. "I believe I left something vital with Jon, you must return to your quarters now Sansa, we will speak more of this I assure you."

She smiled at him and came closer, she went on her tip toes and kissed him gently on the cheek before departing. Tyler felt the white hot rage enter him again when she was gone. Joffrey. He left the room swiftly, as if the alcohol had already worn off him. He practically marched back to where the boys were all drinking still and they looked up at him curiously, his mood had broken theirs and they could tell something was wrong.

"You alright brother?" Jon asked him concernedly.

Tyler ignored him, looking Bronn straight in the eyes. "There's a quick job we need to do, very quick. Come with me, your whore can wait here we won't be long."

Bronn groaned and pushed the girl off his lap before he buckled on his sword and dagger. "Tyler what are you doing?" Jon asked suddenly.

Tyler looked at him but said nothing. He'd kill him. "Come along Bronn." He said before he spun around and marched to the stairs.

The descent down the stairs went quicker than it had ever seemed to go before and Tyler was almost walking normally in his anger as they entered the Red Keep. Although the night was dark, the keep was still alive, people were still wandering around and they gave Tyler stares as they saw his murderous gaze and his cut-throat ambling behind him. Tyler found the room with six gold cloaks posted outside and told them that Lord Stark had sent him to deliver a message to the Kingslayer. They stood aside quickly.

Tyler walked into the room where Joffrey was sitting on the bed twirling a coin through his fingers and Jaime was playing a board game with Tommen and Myrcella. He looked back at Bronn. "Use that chair to bar the door."

Bronn smiled at him mischievously and did as he told him. Jaime stood when he heard that and his fists clenched. "Make sure the Kingslayer doesn't do anything too stupid." Tyler commanded.

He looked to his left and saw Bronn draw his dagger and walk towards Jaime. Jaime scowled and threw himself forward with a punch and Bronn caught his hand and rested his dagger on Jaime's throat and pushed him against the wall.

"Stop! Please!" Tyler heard Myrcella say. She knows nothing. He said as he turned and looked at Joffrey who was now on his feet and backed up against the far wall.

Tyler approached slowly as he heard Tommen begin to cry. Joffrey backed into the corner of the room, his eyes frightened like a hunted deer. "Guards! He's a madman." He called out.

"The guards don't want to save a black-hearted, evil, little cunt like you. Nobody wants to save anybody like you." He said as he reached Joffrey, he grabbed his collar and lifted him off his feet spinning around and shoving him onto the bed. "I could put my sword through your heart and everyone in the kingdoms would get on with their lives and never give you another thought. But death is too kind for you."

As he finished he slammed his gloved fist into Joffrey's nose. The boy whimpered pathetically as his nose cracked and broke. "A thirteen year old girl barely flowered." He said as he punched him again, in the jaw this time. "You took the one thing she can never replace." He smashed his fist into Joffrey's teeth and two of them fell out. "I should cut off your little golden cock and serve to you in a piece of bread for your dinner you fucking little abomination." He said as he drove his fist into Joffrey's face over and over again, by the time he was done the boy's nose was a miss, half his teeth were gone, his cheeks and eyebrows were bleeding profusely and he was unconscious.

The door was rattling as the gold cloaks struggled to open the barred door and Jaime was wriggling in Bronn's grip. "Careful with your throat there Kingslayer." Bronn warned.

Tommen and Myrcella were both bawling their eyes out and Tyler gave them no mind, going to the door and releasing the chair, Bronn slammed the hilt of the dagger into Jaime's temple and he dropped unconscious on the spot. Tyler opened the door as Bronn sheathed his dagger and the two men left slowly.

"What the bloody hell happened?" One of the gold cloaks called out as Tyler walked away.

"He tripped." Tyler said as Bronn chuckled beside him