She had been told to remain out sight; hidden from the rest of the people in attendance. She didn't see why it mattered, no one ever noticed her anyway. Well…he did…
She shook her head. Now was the worst time to think about that. Obeying orders, she kept herself from being visible in the throne room and awaited her signal. An electric buzz sizzled against her skin. Why was she so anxious? Her job was simple, yet she wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. The large wooden doors to the throne room suddenly opened, and she cowered even further away from the crowd.
The footsteps of the two guards-Jaime Lannister and that Northern bastard girl- echoed eerily along with the imp's. Eyes bore into Tyrion's skin, though he made a conscious attempt to not return the hateful gazes. She was glad Tyrion couldn't see her; in fact, she was glad that no one could see her. She was used to the stares, but she knew that the stares she would receive this day would be different from the looks that normally occurred. She leaned her back against the wall for support and patiently waited for her moment to come.
…
Tyrion stepped onto the wooden dais just in front of the iron throne, despondency masking his typically cynical features. Dimeria observed the poor dwarf with pity. They all knew how this trial would end; the real question in everyone's mind was how much embarrassment Tyrion would have to endure before he finally got his sentence. The crowd of people who had gathered to watch the trial-because they apparently had nothing better to do-put a scowl upon Dimeria's face. Why did they hate Tyrion so much? Why were they so entertained by someone else's misery? Dimeria simply couldn't fathom it, but perhaps she was biased towards the situation; Tyrion was one of her best friends after all.
"I, Tommen of the House Baratheon, First of my name, King of the Andals and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, do hereby recuse myself from this trial." The boy-king addressed the crowd with his rehearsed line, and Dimeria began imagining how the trial would play out if Tommen actually sat as a judge. Tommen was a soft child; it was hard to believe that he had a mean bone in his body. If Tommen were actually a judge, Tyrion would have a better chance at surviving.
"Tywin of the House Lannister, Hand of the King, Protector of the Realm, will sit as judge in my stead. And with him Prince Oberyn of the House Martell and Lord Mace of the House Tyrell." Dimeria mentally cringed at the sound of Oberyn's name.
"And if found guilty…" A shift occurred as Tommen paused in the middle of the ominous sentence. If found guilty… The mysterious foreshadowing of the future caused each and every person to stop a moment and wonder...what if…? Everyone expected a certain outcome to this trial, but truthfully, no one would truly know until the actual defining sentence. The reminder that no one knew what the future would bring had a certain effect on everyone, a chilling shiver that reminded everyone of just how mortal they were; Dimeria was positive that Tyrion had been aware of this reminder for the last couple of weeks.
"...may the gods punished the accused." Tommen left the throne then, taking an empty seat next to Margaery Tyrell.
The menacing form of Tywin Lannister placed himself upon the Iron Throne, his blue orbs piercing the air in front of him. Most people would have winced, or perhaps even run screaming from the room had they been in Tyrion's place, but the headstrong imp matched the intensity of the glowering gaze.
"Tyrion of the House Lannister, you stand accused by the accused by the Queen Regent of regicide." Tywin stated. "Did you kill King Joffrey?"
"No." Tyrion answered without hesitation.
"Did your wife, the Lady Sansa?" The next question was posed.
"Not that I know of." The next answer was given.
"How would you say he died, then?"
"Choked on his pigeon pie."
"So you would blame the bakers?"
"Or the pigeons." The crowd murmured with disapproval of the sarcastic answer. Dimeria stifled a sigh. "Just leave me out of it."
If Tywin Lannister could have fabricated his dissatisfaction into material form, Dimeria was sure he would have, but he was forced to settle for a deep sigh. "The crown may call its first witness."
Dimeria held back the urge to vomit as Meryn Trant made his way to the stand. She had never had prolonged exposure to the vile man (thank the Gods), but she didn't need to in order to know he was an awful piece of human existence.
"Once we'd got King Joffrey safely away from the mob, the Imp rounded on him. He slapped the king across the face and called him a vicious idiot and a fool." Meryn Trant recounted. His telling of the apparent misdeeds Tyrion had committed bored Dimeria. It didn't take a genius realize that Joffrey probably deserved whatever Tyrion did to him.
Ignoring the allegations against Tyrion, Dimeria took to observing the throne room. The benches were filled with commoners with excitement written on their faces, while the Lords and Ladies sitting separate seemed stale with boredom. Dimeria could say for herself that she wasn't enjoying having to observe this trial, but perhaps it would have been different if someone she hated at been on the stand. It just so happened, however, that one of her closest companions was the one looking death in the face; surprisingly, Tyrion seemed undaunted by the situation. At most he looked irritated.
"Silence." Tywin Lannister's voice rang out through the throne room, calling Dimeria back to attention.
"You were pointing a loaded crossbow at Sansa Stark while you tore at her clothes and beat her." Tyrion nearly growled at Meryn Trant, apparently Tyrion was beginning to get fed up with the guard's accusations
"Silence!" Tywin shouted again. Dimeria could feel the echo of his voice reverberating throughout her chest. "You will not speak unless called upon. You're dismissed, Ser Meryn."
The guard-who looked more like a rabid groundhog rather than a human being in Dimeria's opinion-stepped away and resumed his position of guarding. Slow, echoing shuffles filled the empty space in the throne room. Everyone knew it was time for Maester Pycelle's testimony. After what seemed like hours, Pycelle finally made it to the front of the room and was asked to list the poisons he had in his store.
"Basilisk venom, widow's blood, wolfsbane, essence of nightshade, sweetsleep…" Dimeria nearly felt herself falling asleep. "...tears of Lys, demon's dance, blind eye…"
"I think you have made your point, Grand Maester." Oberyn Martell interrupted. "You have a lot of poison in your store."
"Had, Prince Oberyn. My stores were plundered."
"By whom?" The Dornish Prince asked with a quirk of his eyebrow.
Pycelle turned his head-somewhat resembling a turtle- with surprise at the question that seemed to have an obvious answer in his opinion. "By the accused, of course. Tyrion Lannister. After he had me wrongfully imprisoned."
Pycelle in prison? Dimeria would have loved to see that.
"Grand Maester, you examined King Joffrey's corpse." Tywin interjected. "Was it without question poison that killed him?"
"Without question." Pycelle nodded in confirmation. He then brought up a necklace with several charms, one of them shattered and dangling in pieces. "This was found on the body of Dontos Hollard, the king's fool. He was last seen by Lady Dimeria as he was spiriting away Sansa Stark, the wife of the accused, away from the feast."
Dimeria flinched at the sound of her name. She hadn't expected to be involved whatsoever and she didn't want people to think of her when they thought of this trial. Guilt suddenly washed through her. Was she embarrassed of being affiliated with Tyrion? Being friends with Tyrion typically implied that she was against the crown and…well, she was, but it also meant that perhaps she should be on trial as well. Dimeria definitely didn't want that.
The guilt still crushed her chest. Was she betraying Tyrion? She didn't want to betray him; they were friends, but she also didn't want to be thrown in jail. What was more important?
Not being executed…She thought to herself.
Besides, if she were on trial like Tyrion was, he would definitely not have any chance of being rescued by Dimeria. Not that she had a plan right now, but the odds were better if she were free. That was it, then. It was better for both her, and Tyrion if she remained a free woman. The only problem was her conscience.
"Sansa Stark wore this necklace the day of the wedding. Residue of a most rare and terrible poison was found inside." Maester Pycelle continued.
"Was this one of the poisons stolen from your store?" Tywin asked.
"It was. The Strangler. A poison few in the Seven Kingdoms possess. And used to strike down the most noble child the gods ever put on this good earth."
Dimeria would have gagged had Oberyn's voice not interrupted her disgust. "And what about Lady Dimeria?" He asked.
Pycelle looked taken aback. "What about her?"
"What was the extent of her involvement in this situation?"
Dimeria clenched her fists at her sides. What was Oberyn getting at? Fighting to keep her fear and anger under control, Dimeria bit her lip fiercely.
"Well," Pycelle considered his words. "Lady Dimeria was the one who saw Dontos Hollard taking Sansa Stark away. She pursued them."
"And then?" Oberyn urged him on. Dimeria could feel her cheeks heating up.
"Lady Dimeria went missing for several days. She was attacked from behind and suffered a nasty wound to her head, along with being poisoned by some sort of paralytic. There was not enough trace of the poison left for me to identify it."
Dimeria forced herself to take calming breaths. So far, so good…Pycelle hadn't revealed any incriminating evidence...had he?
"And the person who attacked Lady Dimeria...no one knows who it is?" Oberyn questioned.
"No." Pycelle answered.
Oberyn rubbed a hand across his chin and turned to his gaze to Dimeria; she could just about feel his penetrating hazel orbs, but she refused to look up from the ground. "So what you're saying is; there's another unknown suspect in the murder of the late King Joffrey. Someone other than Tyrion Lannister or Sansa Stark that wanted the King dead...perhaps the mastermind behind the plan."
Pycelle's raspy breathing quickened, whether from surprise or frustration, Dimeria did not know, for she herself was trying to process what Oberyn had just said.
"There is no doubt that Tyrion Lannister was the one who plotted this murder. Whether he had another accomplice or not, I cannot say, but the most important thing is to get to the root of the matter." Pycelle said.
"You are dismissed, Maester Pycelle." Lord Tywin said, though less forcefully than he had been speaking before.
The elderly maester shuffled away from the dais, but the sound did not irritate Dimeria like it normally did. Did Oberyn just help Tyrion? She couldn't wrap her head around it. Why would he help him? The Martells hated the Lannisters, or at least, that was what she had heard. Taking a deep breath, Dimeria finally noticed how much her heart had sped up during that small amount of time; it pounded and pounded within her chest like a stampede of horses.
After a matter of seconds, Dimeria finally risked raising her eyes. Emerald green orbs stared back at her. Dimeria immediately felt her muscles relax; she had nearly forgotten Jaime was even in the room, but she was utterly thankful that he was. His presence always had a calming effect on her. She didn't know exactly what it was, but she always felt safe around him. Jaime was her security blanket; the warm fire on a cold night, a refreshing breeze after a hot day. All it took was one glance, and Dimeria knew he would do everything possible to keep her safe.
Feeling her confidence renewed, Dimeria straightened her shoulders and sent Jaime a small smile. He returned the look and focused once more on the trial. It was Cersei's turn to speak against Tyrion, and Dimeria could nearly feel the temperature of the room drop.
"'I will hurt you for this.'" Cersei quoted Tyrion's words. "'A day will come when you think you are safe and happy and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth and you will know the debt is paid.'"
Dimeria sighed; she had a feeling that Cersei had rehearsed this speech hundreds of times in her room.
"You own brother said this to you?" Mace Tyrell asked Cersei, an astounded look upon his rotund face.
"Shortly before the Battle of Blackwater Bay." Cersei explained. "I confronted him about his plans to put Joffrey on the front lines. As it turned out, when the attack came, Joffrey insisted on remaining at the battlements. He believed his presence would inspire the troops."
Dimeria rolled her eyes. The only thing Joffrey inspired was hatred.
"Tyrion said, 'and you will know the debt is paid.'" Cersei reiterated.
"What debt?"
Cersei clenched her slender hands together. "I discovered he'd been keeping whores in the Tower of the Hand." A collective gasp of disgust went through the crowd that not even Dimeria could blame them for.
"I asked him to confine his salacious acts to the brothel where such behavior belongs. He wasn't pleased."
"Thank you, Your Grace, for the courage of your testimony." Mace Tyrell commended her. With one last glare at her younger brother, Cersei left the dais.
The next person up: Lord Varys. Dimeria felt slightly comforted that Varys was the one speaking now; surely he wouldn't throw Tyrion to the pack of hungry dogs.
She was wrong.
"Do you remember the precise nature of this threat?" Mace Tyrell asked Varys.
Varys did not hesitate to answer, much to Dimeria's chagrin. "I'm afraid I do, my Lord. He said, 'Perhaps you should speak to me more softly, then. Monsters are dangerous and just now, kings are dying like flies.'"
"And he said this to you at a meeting of the small council?"
"Yes." Varys nodded. "After we received word of Robb Stark's death. He didn't seem gladdened by the news." Dimeria felt a pang stab through her heart, though she stifled the emotion deep down into the recesses of her mind.
"Perhaps his marriage to Sansa Stark had made him more sympathetic to the northern cause." Varys concluded.
"You're excused, Lord Varys." Tywin instructed.
Tyrion's voice suddenly popped up. "Father, may I ask the witness one question?"
The muscles within Tywin's jaw clenched and unclenched furiously. "One." He said through his teeth that were no doubt being ground to sand with tension.
Tyrion nodded his thanks as Varys turned back around to face him. "You once said that without me, this city would have faced certain defeat. You said the histories would never mention me, but you would not forget." Tyrion paused and searched the eunuch's face. "Have you forgotten, Lord Varys?"
A defeated look came upon Varys' face. "Sadly, my lord, I never forget a thing." With that last admission, Varys nodded at the other Lords sitting on the throne and left.
"We will adjourn for now." Tywin announced. "Toll the bells in an hour's time!"
…
Jaime thought he was going to explode. Everything was going against Tyrion, even Lord Varys. The only person that remotely helped his poor brother was Oberyn Martell! Jaime's mind was made up. He wouldn't let his brother die, not while he was still alive. Anger fueled his legs and before he knew it, Jaime was in front of his father pleading for Tyrion's life.
"You'd condemn your own son to death?" He accused Tywin.
"I've condemned no one. The trial is not over." Tywin answered, paying more attention to his food than to his son.
"This isn't a trial." Jaime scoffed. "It's a farce. Cersei has manipulated everything and you know it."
"I know nothing of the sort."
"You've always hated Tyrion."
"He killed his king." Tywin reasoned.
"As did I." Jaime retorted. Silence fell between father and son, neither of them willing to budge.
"Do you know the last order the Mad King gave me?" Jaime asked, breaking the silence. "To bring him your head. I saved your life so you could murder my brother?"
"It won't be murder. It'll be justice." Tywin said with a slight shrug.
"Justice?"
"I am performing my sworn duty as Hand of the King. If Tyrion is found guilty, he will be punished accordingly."
"He'll be executed." Jaime said.
"No, he'll be punished accordingly." Tywin corrected.
Jaime pursed his lips in frustration. "You once said family is what lives on. All that lives on. You told me about a dynasty that would last a thousand years. What happens to your dynasty when Tyrion dies?" Jaime posed a serious question. "I'm in the Kingsguard, forbidden by oath to carry on the family line."
"I'm well aware of your oath." Tywin grumbled, irritated at having been reminded of his son's inability to carry on the family name.
"What happens to your name?" Jaime continued. "Who carries the lion banner into future battles? Your nephews? Lancel Lannister?" He could see the revulsion on his father's face. "Others whose names I don't even remember?"
"What happens to my dynasty if I spare the life of my grandson's killer?"
Jaime took a deep breath. "It survives through me." Tywin finally looked at his son with full attention. "I'll leave the Kingsguard. I'll take my place as your son and heir if you let Tyrion live."
"Done." Tywin agreed.
Jaime nearly toppled backwards. "What?"
"When the testimony is concluded and a guilty verdict rendered, Tyrion will be given the chance to speak. He'll plead for mercy. I'll allow him to join the Night's Watch." Tywin recited in perfect order. "In three days' time, he'll depart for Castle Black and live out his days at the Wall."
Jaime was stunned into silence.
"You'll remove your white cloak immediately." Tywin began giving orders to Jaime now. "You will leave King's Landing to assume your rightful place at Casterly Rock. You will marry a suitable woman, and father children named Lannister. And you'll never turn your back on your family again."
No words came forth from Jaime. Had his father just agreed to spare Tyrion? Did he just resign from the Kingsguard? Could he actually get married now…?
"You're wondering if you can marry Dimeria." Tywin stated. Jaime felt heat rise to his cheeks. "I know how you feel about that girl; a blind man could spot it from a mile away."
"And?" Jaime asked, dreading what his father may say of Dimeria.
"She is a bastard."
"What does it matter as long as you have heirs?" Jaime questioned.
His question earned him a hard stare from Tywin, but Jaime would not back down from this subject...not when it came to Dimeria.
"We'll discuss it later." Tywin said. "You have my word."
Jaime forced a smile away from his face. "And you have mine."
…
"Not going well, is it?" Tyrion asked Dimeria rhetorically.
Dimeria offered a minuscule smile, though couldn't think of any words of comfort; Dimeria had never been good at comforting, not to mention that Tyrion probably didn't want to be soothed anyway.
"It'll be over soon." She said with a sigh.
"What will? The trial or my life?"
Dimeria glared at Tyrion, but couldn't find within herself to actually scold him for the comment; he had every right to be depressed. Moments later, Dimeria looked up to see Jaime marching up to them, a determined look upon his face.
"You're going to be found guilty." Jaime said under his breath.
Tyrion and Dimeria both stared at Jaime with disbelief. "Oh, you think so?" Tyrion asked sarcastically.
Jaime ignored him. "When you are, you need to enter a formal plea for mercy and ask to be sent to the Wall. Father's agreed to it." He said. "He'll spare your life and allow you to join the Night's Watch."
"Ned Stark was promised the same thing and we both know how that turned out." Tyrion said bitterly.
"Father is not Joffrey. He'll keep his word." Jaimes aid with certainty.
"How do you know?" Tyrion asked.
Jaime glanced at Dimeria before speaking. "Do you trust me?" Tyrion nodded almost imperceptibly. "Keep your mouth shut. No more outbursts." Jaime ordered. "This will all be over soon."
He walked away from Tyrion then, Dimeria immediately falling into step with him.
"What was that all about?" She asked when they were slightly more secluded.
Jaime turned to Dimeria with a look of contained excitement. "I made a deal with my father; he's going to spare Tyrion's life."
"What deal did you make?" Dimeria asked suspiciously.
Jaime opened his mouth to answer, but his father's voice interrupted him. "The crown may call its next witness!"
A sigh escaped Dimeria's mouth at the intrusion. "You didn't do anything stupid, did you? Like…"
Jaime stopped Dimeria before she could speculate any further. "Everything is fine, little warrior." He comforted. "It'll all be okay."
Dimeria relaxed at his words and released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. With one last smile, Dimeria returned to her position to resume guarding, her heart skipping happily. Jaime saved Tyrion! At what cost though? Jaime told her everything would be fine, but he could have just been saying that to keep her calm.
She pushed it from her mind. Whatever situation (mess) Jaime had gotten himself into, they would deal with it later. Tyrion's survival was all that mattered and even if he would continue living at the Wall, it would be better than being executed.
…
"The crown may call its next witness!"
She thought she was about to fall asleep until she heard Tywin Lannister's voice call for her presence. In less than a second blood was coursing through her veins and pounding in her head. Her eyes were no longer heavy and her brain was no longer conjuring up different daydreams; she was completely focused on the task at hand.
The stares from the crowd penetrated her, though she forced herself not regard them. Instead, she only looked forward. The imp had not turned to see who the next witness was; his forlorn form was hunched over on his bench, shrinking him down to an even smaller size.
His brother stared at her with shock. Good. She wanted everyone to know how dangerous she truly was; they had always underestimated her and now they would regret.
The bastard warrior stared at her with curiosity; she obviously had no clue who it was that the crown had called. It didn't surprise the witness; no one had ever paid attention to her before, but she knew they would now.
It felt like hours before she finally made it up to the dais before the throne, and Gods did she wish she could have seen the dwarf's face when she finally came into his line of vision! She forced herself to keep looking forward though, but she could feel the stunned emotions nearly pulsing from his small and deformed body.
She stepped up on the dais and looked Tywin Lannister in the eye; her moment had finally come.
"State your name." He ordered.
"Shae."
…
Dimeria didn't recognize the girl, but Tyrion and Jaime certainly did. Their faces of utter disbelief and distress gave Dimeria her first impression of the unfamiliar girl, but other than that she had nothing to go on.
"Do you swear by all the gods that your testimony will be true and honest?" Tywin asked her.
"I swear it." Shae answered.
Dimeria furrowed her brows at the foreign accent. Where was she from?
"Do you know this man?" Tywin continued questioning her.
"Yes. Tyrion Lannister."
"How do you know him?"
"I was handmaiden to his wife, Lady Sansa." Shae said with a slight tremor in her voice. She seemed rather nervous to be speaking in front of so many people.
Handmaiden to Sansa...how had Dimeria never noticed her before? Dimeria looked over to Tyrion; her heart nearly broke with what she saw. His eyes were empty of any and all emotion except utter despair. If a broken heart had a face, it would have been Tyrion's at the moment. But what Dimeria didn't understand was why.
"This man stands accused of murdering King Joffrey. What do you know of this?" Tywin asked Shae.
"I know that he's guilty. He and Sansa planned it together."
Dimeria's heart skipped a beat. Who the hell was this girl and why was she accusing Tyrion and Sansa?! The crowd voiced her own surprise quite loudly, bringing are loud demand for silence from Tywin.
"Continue." He said once the crowd had calmed down.
"Sansa wanted revenge for her father, mother, and brother. She blamed their deaths on the king." Shae explained like she was reciting a textbook. "Tyrion was happy to help. He hated Joffrey. He hated the queen."
Dimeria didn't understand; everyone hated Joffrey and probably Cersei. Why did Tyrion have to be singled out like this?
"He hated you, my lord." Shae said after a pause. "He stole poison from the Grand Maester's chamber to put in Joffrey's wine."
Oberyn suddenly spoke up. "How could you possibly know all of this? Why would he reveal such plans to his wife's maid?"
For once, Dimeria actually found herself thankful for Oberyn's presence. She saw Shae take a deep breath before answering his question:
"I wasn't just her maid." She paused once more. "I was his whore."
The crowd erupted with more comments of surprise again. Dimeria was only somewhat aware of Tyrion's promiscuity. Looking over to Tyrion for a second time, she observed the mortified expression and lines of regret upon his face.
"I beg your pardon?" Mace Tyrell stuttered, his face almost as red as his hair. "You said you were his…"
"His whore." Shae answered without embarrassment.
"How did you come to be in his service?" Tywin asked her, ignoring all of the immaturity going on through the crowd.
"He stole me. I was with another man, a king in you lordship's army. But when Tyrion arrived at the camp, he sent one of his cutthroats into our tent. He broke the knight's arm and brought me to Lord Tyrion." Shae said, not tripping over any of her words.
"'You belong to me now,' he said. 'I want you to fuck me like it's my last night in the world.'" Laughter burst from the crowd after Shae's quoting of Tyrion.
"Silence. Silence!" Tywin called out.
"And did you?" Oberyn asked once the crowd had quieted.
"Did I what?" Shae asked.
"Fuck him like it was his last night in this world?"
For the first time, Shae seemed nearly embarrassed. Dimeria frowned at his question and could only imagine what was going through Oberyn's mind when he looked at a whore like Shae. Dimeria's eyes turned once more to Tyrion.
"I did everything he wanted." Shae answered his question. "Whatever he told me to do to him; whatever he felt like doing to me. I kissed him where he wanted. I licked him where he wanted. I let him put himself where he wanted. I was his property."
Every word Shae uttered seemed to send Tyrion deeper and deeper into whatever black hole of misery he was currently orbiting through. Dimeria's heart ached for him; she had never seen poor Tyrion so hopeless.
Shae wasn't even finished: "I would wait in his chambers for hours so he could use me when he was bored. He ordered me to call him 'my lion,' so I did. I took his face in my hands and said, 'I am yours and you are mine.'"
A wave of murmurs coursed through the crowd.
"Shae." Tyrion muttered desperately. "Please don't."
And that's when Dimeria saw it: Tyrion loved Shae. She could see the heartbreak in Tyrion's eyes, could hear the anguish in his voice; this girl-this whore- held Tyrion's heart.
And she was ripping it into shreds. "I am a whore." Shae stated. "Remember?" She turned her back on Tyrion and faced the judges once more. "That was before he married Sansa. After that, all he wanted was her. But she wouldn't let him into her bed, so he promised to kill King Joffrey for her."
Out of nowhere, Cersei interjected her own question. "And you're sure they were the only two behind the plot?"
The judges heads turn to the Queen. "Queen Cersei, I believe it is only the judges that ask the questions." Oberyn reprimanded her.
"She can still answer the question, can she not?" Cersei said with a shrug.
All heads turned back to Shae. "Well?" Tywin prodded.
Shae pursed her lips. "There was one more."
A collective gasp from the crowd and nearly all those present stole almost all of the oxygen from the room. Tyrion raised his eyes to Shae, not understanding where she was going, but too disheartened to be surprised that some other tragedy was going to happen. But nothing could have prepared anyone for what was about to happen.
"Who was it?" Tywin asked.
The world stopped as everyone waited for Shae to answer.
"Lady Dimeria. She wanted to kill Joffrey...to get the Lannisters off the throne because she's...she's a Targaryen."
