Chapter 21

Lyiana and Tyrion made their way down the corridors following a set of guards that had been on their way to retrieve Tyrion after the alarm bell had been rung. The guards led them to the King's chamber and Lyiana felt her heart begin to rise, and her palms begin to sweat.

"What is the meaning of this?" Tyrion questioned once again to the guards who soon came to a stop outside the chamber doors.

Wailing sobbs could be heard from behind the wood. They could hear muffled words from the room beyond and both Lyiana and Tyrion were able to catch snippets of "Starks and missing."

It was then the loud and booming voice of Tywin Lannister could be heard. "Find them, rip the city apart if you need to, but find the Stark girls immediately or it will be you on the floor next!"

It was at this word that the door flew open and Tywin Lannister's bolstering form was stood in the doorway. His eyes narrowed as he looked upon Lyiana and Tyrion. "Where have you b…" Tywin began to question but was soon cut off as Cerci's cries for help overpowered his voice.

"LYIANA! Lyiana you must save him!" Cerci screeched.

Lyiana looked past Tywin to see the Queen Regent on the floor her son in her arms and tears cascading down her face. Giving herself a shake to right her thoughts Lyiana quickly pushed past her future husband and into the room. Moving herself across the room she knelt herself down in front of the dead King and watched as Cerci ran a shaky hand through the boys hair that sat on her lap.

"I...I do not think I can bring the dead back to life…" Lyiana whispered as she looked at the body of the young man who she had been stood in front of not that long ago. The fact that she was even able to make it this far into the room told Lyiana that they must not have known it was her that put the King in this state. Although the look in Tywin's eyes could have meant they did consider her a suspect.

"Bring him back! Bring him back to me!" Cerci pleaded.

"I...I will do what I can." Lyiana whispered and placed her hands over the young man. Her brain was going faster than a hummingbird's wings. What if she did not actually try to heal him and they knew? What if she did actually bring him back to life? He would tell everyone what happened, she did not know what the best course of action was for this situation. But she knew in her heart she would rather die then revive the Selfish Boy King that was laid before her. So with that in mind she closed her eyes and pretended to heal Joffrey. After a few seconds she heard Cercei next to her screech even louder than before. Her cries of despair filling the room. It was with that, that Lyiana knew she was safe to withdraw her hands. She had showed to them that she could not revive the dead. Opening her eyes she looked to the Queen Regent. "I am sorry, but I cannot bring back the dead." Lyiana whispered.

"I order you!" Cercei screamed as she looked up from her son. "I order you to bring him back! I will have your head for treason!"

Lyiana went to speak when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking behind herself she found Tywin standing behind her. "Stand." He spoke simply. Lyiana did as she was told and took notice that Tywin did not offer her a hand like any other gentlemen would, which worried her. "Take Lady Lyiana to my chamber and ensure she does not leave." Tywin said to one of the guards who only nodded in response before motioning for Lyiana to follow him.

"Wait, I want to know what has happened, and where is my sister?" Lyiana began as she looked from Cercei to Tywin.

"You will go and wait in my chambers." Tywin replied curtly, not even bothering to look at Lyiana.

"No, you will tell me now. You presumed me and my sister missing, and someone has killed our King. You will tell me what has transpired here." Said Lyiana. She stood herself tall as she looked at her future husband.

"Guard." Was the only reply Tywin made as he looked to Lyiana and soon she found herself with an armoured hand on her shoulder. Narrowing her eyes at Tywin she shrugged her shoulders to remove the hand from her and she began for the door. As she walked from the room Lyiana gave a look to Tyrion and he gave her a slight nod to reassure her everything would be fine. Walking through the corridors Lyiana took notice that the alarm bells were still ringing and there were guards rushing about the castle in groups with swords drawn.

When they arrived at Tywin's chamber the guard let her into the room and then swiftly shut the door behind her. She could see his shadow under the door signalling to her that he was stood out front guarding the entrance from anyone entering or her leaving. Knowing she may be there awhile she began to look around the room. She needed a distraction, something to keep her mind off of what was happening. It was then she noticed a book laying on the table that sat in the entry to the balcony. Making her way over to it she picked it up and noticed that it was a book of poems. The cover was worn and the spine slightly frayed, an obvious sign the book had been opened many times. Sitting herself down at the table Lyiana pulled the candle that was lit on the table closer to herself so that she could have better lighting and leaned back, placing her feet up on the table top as she sunk in the chair. Flipping open the book she noticed that many of the pages were dog eared and some of the center bindings were starting to come loose causing the pages to wobble in her fingers. Making sure to be careful Lyiana slowly began to read through the many poems before her.

It was sometime later when the door to the room burst open and Tywin stepped into the room. His boots pounded loudly on the stone floor and the force of him closing the door sounded even more so. Lyiana looked up from the book to see Tywin's eyes staring hard at the book in her hands. As she knew she was treading on delicate ground at the moment Lyiana slowly brought her feet down from the table and carefully closed the poem book and laid it to rest on the table. Rising from the chair she stood tall but did not make any attempt to move toward the man.

"Our King appears to have been poisoned, and your Sister is missing from the walls of the Red Keep." Spoke Tywin as he stepped across the room to a side table that contained goblets and wine.

"You think my Sister poisoned our King." Lyiana spoke, it was not a question. She knew that this was to look suspicious on her sister. Had Lyiana actually been able to escape the keep then she was sure she herself would have been the prime suspect.

"It does seem rather suspicious." Tywin said as he poured out two goblets with the red wine before him.

Lyiana remained silent as she watched the older man grab the two golden cups and walk towards her. When he was stood in front of her, he handed her a goblet which she took with a slight nod of thanks. Tywin raised his cup ever so slightly and looked Lyiana in the eye. "To our Late King, may the gods show mercy on his soul."

"May he find peace." Lyiana spoke as she followed Tywin's own actions and raised her own cup. Both then took a sip and then Tywin eyed Lyiana once more. "Your Sister is not smart enough nor brave enough to both poison wine and escape the castle undetected, and I highly doubt she would have left you behind if given a choice."

"So you think she had no choice?" Asked Lyiana before taking another sip of wine.

"Tell me what were you and my half of a son talking about in his private chambers?" Tywin questioned, not giving an answer to Lyiana's own.

"Oh, we merely drank and discussed my future husband among other things" Spoke Lyiana with a slight smile to her lips. "Back to the question I asked however." While she said this Lyiana took a step closer to Tywin and took her free hand to rest on Tywin's clothed chest. "Who took my Sister?"

"We will find her, and whoever committed this crime against the crown." Said Tywin who took a step backward causing Lyiana's hand to drop from his chest. "And whomever it was will face the penalty of death."

"Well if you have no answers for me then I thank you for your company Lord Tywin during this time, but perhaps I should retire to my room. It was already growing quite late while I was conversing with Tyrion, and I fear the thought of my Sister missing is destressing me." Lyiana spoke as she took another sip of her wine before moving to place the goblet on the table. Once she had done that she moved to turn herself to make for the door, when she felt Tywin's hand grasp her forearm. "My Lord?" Lyiana questioned as she turned her head to look at Tywin.

Tywin's eyes looked her over from where he stood, and Lyiana felt herself begin to blush under his gaze. It was as if he was trying to look through her, to her soul, as if to possibly find some hint that she knew anything about the killing of the King. "Until we know what has happened in the Red Keep, and until your Sister is located you will no longer be staying in your private rooms. You are to remain by my side. A bed is being put together in the adjacent quarters connected to my own. You will sleep there from now on, if you leave the room you will be accompanied by a guard at all times."

"So you are keeping me a prisoner. Humiliating my virtue by having me sleeping in your rooms. Will you place chains around my wrists, keeping me like a dog! It's bad enough you have lost my Sister, but now you expect this of me in return!" Lyiana spat as she ripped her arm away from Tywin's grasp.

Straightening his back, Tywin placed his cup down and then folded his hands behind him. "You will do as your future Husband and Acting Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms commands, without question or remark. If you would rather I could have your doors bared and you will only know the songs of birds for company, or perhaps the dungeons with the murders and treasonists." He said this matter of factly and with little emotion to his face which made Lyiana fume all the more. The events of the night begging to build on her emotions.

"Will this be what it is like once we are married. Act as though I am some deformed monstrosity meant to be hidden away? Untrusted to be left alone, are you worried for someone will attack me, steal me away in the night like my sister, what will you do without your prized magical creature…" Lyiana squinted her eyes hard at the Lord and balled her hands into fists. "Or are you worried I'll throw myself down the stairs, make my way through the market and find a nice butchers knife to fall on because without my Sister what do I have left to protect here! But you know the truth even if I wanted to I cannot die!" Spoke Lyiana as she quickly shot her hand out to reach for Tywin's sword at his side. Before her hands could reach it however Tywin had grabbed her slender digits in his own and in response she made to swing with her open palm towards his face, but he stopped that too. Lyiana began to struggle against his grip as she attempted to free herself.

"At this moment your power has not been even proven worth my time or protection." Tywin tightened his grip on Lyiana and her eyes widened in response as she realized he either knew what had transpired or had some idea that she was involved. He only responded with a knowing look before quickly spinning her around so that her back thumped hard against his chest, effectively keeping her from being able to move. Her frame tiny against his own and as she struggled to get out of his grasp she did little more then slightly shift back and forth in his strong arms. "Will you stop." Tywin commanded.

"Let go of me!" Lyiana demanded as she continued to struggle.

"When you calm yourself." Tywin spoke lowly and with a slight growl to his voice. His lips very near Lyiana's ear. This however only caused Lyiana to attempt her struggle with more forocety. With all the strength she had she attempted to move against his grip on her. Her mind was racing with the events of that night, her Sister was presumed missing from the keep and Lyiana had to pray that she made it to Petyr. She prayed that she would one day see her sister again, that she would see Petyr again, or anyone that she held dear. But this was it now, she was alone, a wolf in the lion's den. The hiccups began to leave her lips as she struggled to breath, it felt as though her lungs were on fire and she could not catch a breath, as the tears cascaded down her cheeks. She was here alone in a room with Tywin Lannister who had to know what she did tonight, what would happen when he sliced her head off? Would she actually die? The thought ran through her and a shiver ran it's way down her spine. "Just breathe." Came the hushed voice of Tywin in Lyiana's ear.

She felt a hand lay itself flat against her abdomen and Lyiana froze solid wondering as to what the Lord was going to do to her, but then Tywin's chest began to move. Slow and smooth his front pushed onto her back. His hand pressing into her with each breath he let in and then releasing the pressure as he exhaled. Lyiana quickly found herself calming at the motion and the rhythm of it all and began to mimicked his movements, and soon she felt the haze that had been beginning to cloud her mind dissipate. Her breathing coming in calm and controlled. Lyiana felt Tywin's grasp on her relax and she slowly pulled herself away from the Lord before whipping her hands over her eyes. Silent tears falling down her cheeks that she quickly tried to hide.

Lyiana turned to look at Tywin and found his face passive. There was no emotion there, which almost calmed her. No emotion meant he was not angered by her outburst. "I...I am sorry My Lord...I..." Lyiana whispered.

"Show me." Spoke Tywin as he undid his sword belt. He wrapped the loose leather around the scabbard and then held everything out to Lyiana. When Lyiana did not move however Tywin took a small step forward. "Show me."

Hesitantly Lyiana reached out and slowly pulled the sword a slight ways out from its sheath. The shine of the blade reflecting some of the candle light from around them. Carefully as to not spook Lord Tywin Lyiana took her hand that had extended the blade and placed it flat on the wide part of the blade. Looking at Tywin Lyiana clenched her hand around the cool steel and winced as the edges of his sword cut into her palm and fingers. When a few drops of blood had finally made their way to the floor Lyiana pulled her hand back and flipped it palm side up, she watched as Tywin's eyes widened as her skin stitched itself back together.

Not caring too much about her appearance Lyiana wiped her hand on her dress to remove the blood from her palm and held the appendage out for Tywin to look at once again. Besides the slight pink hue to her skin from her wiping the blood off, her skin was smooth and unmarred. "Do you trust me?" Lyiana asked Tywin in a quiet voice.

Tywin removed the blade from the scabared completely and placed the leather on the table beside them. He then moved held the blade in such a manner that he was able to access a part of the blade untainted by Liana's blood, and ran the fine steel against his free palm. Pulling his hand back he took a quick glance at the cut skin, the blood began to pool out into the round of his palm before dripping through the cracks in his fingers to the floor.

Moving herself to stand only a few inches from Tywin Lyiana took his hand in her own. She held her left hand under his own, cradling his hand slightly and then proceeded to move her right hand to hover over the cut. A faint light came from between their palms that lit the area between them like the light of a candle. When it disappeared Lyiana pulled her top hand away slightly, but only to pull a small section of her dress up to wipe some of the blood from his hand. "There, like it never was." She whispered sadly as she looked to Tywin, who in turn just stared back at her.

Lyiana could see the wheels turning in the back of his mind as he processed what he had just seen, and then before she could realize what was happening Tywin's unblodied hand was upon her cheek wiping away her tears, and then his lips were upon hers. When he pulled away he looked down upon her. "I will protect you."