The Mountain against the Viper.

I decided to write this chapter from Bronn's perspective since he plays a major role during the events surrounding the duel. Also, I felt guilty to not have written a longer chapter for him at the beginning of the fic, so I decided to give him more space.


BRONN II

Bronn gave his last instructions to his men. Some of them were Lannister guards, but others were gold cloaks he knew from his time as Commander of the City Watch. These gold cloaks were chosen among the most loyal men he had in this time. He chose them very carefully. The task they were about to perform required boldness, courage and obedience. They were a collection of people with more or less honor who would get the job done. Bronn couldn't allow himself to fail. His future was at stake. He gave enough reasons to his men to execute the plan without mistake.

Soon they were gone after receiving their final instructions. Bronn walked out from his personal room and paid a visit to the filthy old stoat. He entered in his chamber without knocking, and not for the first time. And like the first time, he had company. Like the first time, the old crawling man tried to cower away, but there was no way to leave the room. The girl went as far away as she could from Bronn.

"What… What are you doing here?" Pycelle asked.

"Stay calm, old man. Only here to make sure you did as I told you. You remember? What I told you yesterday? Or do you begin to forget about everything? Perhaps your brain begins to limp too."

"I… I did exactly as you told me. You won't have to complain"

"You'd better be sure. There is much at stake for me, and so for you. If this fails, I won't have a single hesitation to make another cut on you, and this time it won't be the beard. And you won't end in a place so friendly as the black cells."

Bronn emphasized his words by putting a knife on his throat while grinning. "I am your loyal servant," the Grand Maester whimpered.

Bronn noticed a strange smell. He looked at the sheets under the old man and saw a puddle of urine he just made. Bronn pushed him away in disgust and went to the young girl in the corner, tossing a silver stag in her direction. He then turned to the Grand Maester again.

"Don't forget to pay her. And pay her well." He then grinned towards the girl. "I'll come to see you tonight. That will be much more pleasant for you than with this old slug."

Bronn left without another word and went to the battlements. He followed them until he reached the place where it was. All his men were already in position. Good. He hoped the men to who he gave other tasks were doing their work right now. In the end of the day, he would be a sellsword no more. He overlooked the yard. For now, there was no one in the square space under him, but he knew people would come very soon. Normally, men sentenced to death would be executed in this area early in the morning. Today, with some hope, only one man would die, and his death would mean lands and a castle for Bronn. He didn't spit on this work to do, but that wouldn't be easy. He was very careful. A single stumble and they could fail. The error wasn't something he could allow this time.

Finally he came. He only wore breeches and boots, nothing else. His chest was displayed to the world, his enormous muscles contracting and inflating at every movement he made. Bronn really never saw a man bigger than this, but he also never saw a man crazier than this beast. He was alone, an eight-foot tall man only accompanied by his short squire. He was drinking from a huge flask the boy held for him. Bronn knew what it contained. The mad dog drank large quantities of milk of the poppy all the time because of extreme headaches he suffered constantly. However, this milk of the poppy was different. The old man made sure of that. At least he should have.

He drank deeply, then tossed it back to his squire, and went to the middle of the yard and looked around. He seemed lost. He expected poor men to slaughter for fun, and instead he found nothing. The mad dog looked all around many times, as if he was trying to understand something. Bronn doubted he could understand anything. The huge man turned to his squire.

"Where are they? Where are they? Are you going to tell me where they are, or do I have to get the answer out of your guts?"

The squire seemed lost as well. "I don't understand, ser. They are always here each morning…"

"And today they are not." Gregor Clegane drew his six-foot greatsword with a single hand and cut his squire in two. The two parts fell on the ground, each one with one arm, one leg and half a head, blood spurting from everywhere. The enormous man took the flask and emptied the rest of it. When it was empty, he threw it violently against the wall of stone, breaking it.

"WHERE ARE THEY?" The mad monster growled loudly. He was more mad than ever and unable to control himself. "WHERE ARE THEY? GIVE ME SOMEONE TO KILL BEFORE I KILL EVERYONE."

It was at this moment that Bronn gave his signal and whistled. All his men, red cloaks and gold cloaks, went out of their hideouts. Some pointed spears, other pointed swords in the Moutain's direction, but most carried loaded crossbows, especially those on the battlements. Bronn had them place other loaded crossbows at their feet just in case. It would take a lot to kill the Mountain.

Before the huge man could react to this, Tyrion and Oberyn Martell entered the courtyard with an escort of red cloaks and Dornish soldiers. The paramour of the prince was with them as well. Oberyn Martell was lightly armored, but he was still more armored than Gregor Clegane who wore nothing more than breeches. But he still had his sword. Tyrion stopped at good distance from the Mountain, a very cautious decision, with guards all around him and the prince of Dorne at his side. The mad dog looked at him, turning his back on Bronn who stood on the battlements with most of his men. The huge creature was surrounded.

"Ser Gregor," started the Halfman. "I'm glad my sister ordered you to come. I have a question to ask you. Remember I am your liege lord and you owe me the truth. Did you kill the princess Elia Martell during the Sacking of King's Landing twenty years ago? I'm sure you must remember. After all, my father ordered you to kill her children."

"What are you talking about?" The mad dog seemed lost. The extra dose of milk of the poppy was effective.

"I'm going to ask you one last time. Did you kill Elia Martell twenty years ago here in this very city?" the Imp repeated.

The giant growled. "Yes, I killed her. Does it matter?"

Bronn saw the prince of Dorne with a deadly glare on his face, but it was Tyrion who spoke next. "Ser Gregor Clegane, you murdered a highborn lady without receiving an order from your liege lord. I, Tyrion, son Tywin, of House Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, Lord of the Westerlands and Warden of the West, hereby declare you guilty of murder. I strip you of all your titles, lands and castles, and sentence you to die." Tyrion turned to the Red Viper. "He's yours."

The dwarf retreated just like everyone else, except Oberyn Martell and his woman. They kissed passionately and Bronn saw them exchanging a few words in low voices, though he couldn't understand them. The Red Viper seized a spear that a squire handed him and approached the dog, the tip of his spear pointed towards the sky. Gregor Clegane didn't really seem to care about what just happened. He was still holding his sword in his hand, ready to kill.

"Have they told you who I am?" asked the Red Viper.

"Some dead man," roared the other, taking a step before and slashing his sword in Oberyn's direction. He missed, the Dornishman ducking.

"I am the brother of Elia Martell. Do you know why I have come all the way to this stinking shit-pile of a city? For you."

Oberyn Martell attacked. Clegane stopped the first stroke, but he couldn't stop the second one. A scratch appeared on his chest. The giant screamed. Both fighters backed away. The Mountain passed a hand on the cut he received, then roared and charged the prince who simply ducked away, making another cut on the thighs in the process. Breeches were no protection and the big man screamed in pain again.

The prince used the respite it gave him. "I'm going to hear you confess before you die. You raped my sister. You murdered her. You killed her children. Say it now and we can make this quick."

"Did you come to talk or to fight?" the Mountain shouted. He made a ponderous charge.

The sword and the spear danced, hitting each other. Clegane's attack were quick and heavy, despite his size and the two injuries he already received, but the Red Viper was quicker and managed to avert each strike or to block it. Furthermore, the spear was longer than the six-foot greatsword. It was difficult for the Mountain to reach the Dornishman. Oberyn Martell managed to get behind the Mountain and to hit him with the blunt point of his spear on the head. The Mountain tried to hack the prince in two while turning on his heels, but he missed again.

The dance continued for a long time. Clegane received new cuts, but it didn't seem to slow him down. He looked angrier each time in fact. Bronn began to wonder if Pycelle added enough milk of the poppy. Twice the Mountain managed to touch the prince and hit him, but each time the viper escaped by jumping in the air and with acrobatics. He was always on his feet again. His spear was broken in two once, but again Clegane couldn't use his advantage and the prince escaped with jumps and wheels. The Mountain was unable to really reach the prince and he received a second spear instantly from his squire.

Each time, the Mountain charged with more ferocity, yelling and roaring like a beast, and each time he missed. However, each time, Bronn could see the Mountain attacked with even less thinking than the time before. He turned crazier each time the spear hit him and made another slight wound. Bronn could see he was beginning to pant. The Red Viper was exhausting him by forcing him to move around like a demon. Oberyn Martell didn't seem to be frightened by the huge monster.

Bronn would have thought the Red Viper was a bloody fool to not fear the Mountain. Clegane was freakish big and freakish strong, and quicker than you'd expect for a man of that size. And yet the Red Viper seemed able to handle and dominate him, dancing around him, tiring him. He may get so tired that he would drop his sword. Bronn would do the same than the Dornishman if he had been in his place, but a single misstep and he was dead. For the moment however, the Dornish prince had the advantage. Bronn even had the impression the Mountain moved slowly than before after some time. The fight was also one of words.

"Say it. You raped her! You murdered her! You killed her children!" Oberyn kept saying these words again and again, each time louder and with more rage. The Mountain too was shouting, but not the same words at all.

"Be quiet! Shut your bloody mouth! Enough! Shut up!"

After a few minutes of fight, Clegane's body was covered with little cuts everywhere, but he fought with more rage all the same, charging the prince, trying to hack him, roaring all the time. Bronn was glad to not be the one fighting him. The prince enjoyed it, but Bronn saw that both rage and joy filled him as the fight went on. He wondered which one of the two combatants was the craziest.

Other people started to arrive on the battlements and watched. They were fascinated by the fight taking place, and Bronn had to admit he was too. Who would win? The Red Viper or the Mountain? He heard people starting to gamble about the outcome. Gregor Clegane was bleeding from everywhere on his body, but kept fighting. Then, as the Red Viper managed to get behind the giant again, he cut deeply through his right knee, forcing him to kneel. Oberyn Martell went to a good distance of Clegane, then charged while screaming: "YOU KILLED HER CHILDREN!" The spear sank deeply into the tummy. The Mountain was on the ground in a cross position, his great sword abandoned a few inches from his right hand, the spear planted into his belly.

"What's going on here?" Bronn turned to his left to see Kevan Lannister coming with two guards in his direction while looking at the courtyard. "What's the meaning of all this?" He seemed to ask this question to Bronn.

Bronn shrugged. "You should ask your nephew. He's the one who organized this. I only follow his orders."

The Imp's uncle was staring in utter surprise at the scene right before him. Bronn turned back his attention to it. The Red Viper was now circling around the Mountain, looking intently at the huge body on the ground.

"Wait. Are you dying? No, no, no. You can't die yet. You haven't confessed." With a quick move, the prince removed the spear from the body. "Say it. Say her name. Elia Martell. You raped her. You killed her children. Elia Martell. Who gave you the order? STAND ASIDE!" Tyrion had given the order to the men in the courtyard to finish the Mountain, but the prince didn't look to be done with it. Gold and red cloaks stopped in their movement. Bronn didn't like it. "WHO GAVE YOU THE ORDER? SAY HER NAME! YOU RAPED HER! YOU MURDERED HER! YOU KILLED HER CHILDREN! SAY IT. SAY HER NAME. SAY IT!"

Oberyn Martell tumbled. The Mountain wasn't dead yet. With a single move of the arm, he made the viper fall, then grabbed him and lifted him in the air with a single arm as if he was nothing more than a doll. A stroke at the face sent teeth and blood all over the ground as the Mountain brought his opponent under him. Bronn knew it was time to act. He seized his own crossbow and shot at the Mountain. The bolt penetrated his back and the giant seemed about to fall over the floor, but he didn't.

"Elia Martell," Gregor Clegane growled loudly. "I killed her children. Then I raped her. Then I smashed her head in like this." Blood, brain and flesh flew all around the Mountain. A woman screamed. Men, both red cloaks and gold cloaks, were running towards the Mountain with drawn swords. They pierced him, hacked him, cut him into pieces. Tyrion had given the order to separate the two men, but too late. Some soldiers didn't react quickly enough, and the few who acted immediately were there too late anyway. When they removed the huge body of Gregor Clegane, Bronn wanted to give back his breakfast, and it didn't often happen to him. The head was half destroyed. Only the Mountain could do something so horrible.

Everyone in the courtyard and on the battlements was silent, staring in shock at the gruesome scene before them. Bronn saw many horrible things during his life, but that could be the worst he ever saw up to now. The Mountain really was a mad dog. And here he was, next to the bloody mess he made only with his hands. Tyrion had approached the body of the Red Viper and stared with a grim expression at the remnants of this man. Bronn saw Kevan Lannister enter the yard and look at the two bodies, visibly disgusted by the sight of it, but probably still the one who stayed alert the most. He made a sign to a Lannister guard with his arm. Bronn didn't understand what he told him. He repeated the movement a second time, showing some impatience, and the red cloak went to Ser Gregor's body and cut his head from the rest of it. Bronn guessed the Mountain was dead for good this time. He doubted the mad dog could survive without a head, even if he didn't use much of it. The Hand of the King went to speak to Tyrion, then left. The Imp was still staring in shock at the smashed head of Oberyn Martell.

Bronn finally came down in the courtyard and walked to Tyron. "Didn't go as planned."

"No, not at all," answered the dwarf. "We're going to have some problems with Dorne."

"Aye." Bronn was quite disgusted by the sight before him. It was even worse to look at the shattered head with blood and brain parts coming out of it when you were close of it. The viper's paramour was crying hysterically behind.

"Make sure every man of the Mountain is dead by the end of the day. None of them must survive or escape. And make sure no one else dies. There's already too many victims." The Imp left him with that and a grim face. "Bring the Silent Sisters. They must take care of Oberyn's body. Do what you want with Clegane's," he shouted at the other guards.

Bronn spent the rest of the day making sure all the Mountain's men were dead. The men Bronn charged of eliminating them mostly succeeded. Many of the Mountain's men were murdered in their bed, not yet awaken at this hour. Others were found in brothels, brought out of these places and had the throat slit. Some were in inns too, and easily dealt with as well. Three managed to escape and Bronn chased them in Flea Bottom until the end of the day. He found two of them with the help of the gold cloaks and a few Lannister men. The third couldn't be found. When Bronn came back to the Red Keep in the evening, he was exhausted. He wanted nothing more than to fall into his bed and sleep. He wasn't even strong enough to visit the brothel for the girl he talked to in the morning. But first, he had to make his report to his lord.

The dwarf was in his solar, writing letters. There were many ledgers all around him as usual. He raised his head when Bronn entered. "So, the job is done?" he asked, obviously in bad mood.

"Aye, mostly. All his men are dead, except one we couldn't find. I gave his description and his last known movements to the City Watch. He'll probably end up as another assassin in Flea Bottom the gold cloaks will never be able to find."

"Was there any casualty?"

"Apart from the prince this morning, two gold cloaks died in the operation. No loss among your own men. Considering we killed nearly all Clegane's men, our overall losses are quite acceptable."

"Yes, if we exclude Prince Oberyn. That wasn't an acceptable loss."

Bronn sat in a chair, tired of the day. "Look, there was nothing I could do. It's not my fault if the Red Viper wanted so much the Mountain to confess his crimes. He should have been satisfied with the answers you gave him, but instead he tried to get whole confessions from a mad dog."

"I know, I know, my friend," Tyrion reassured him. "No need to tell me. You foolowed my orders and did your best. We couldn't save Prince Oberyn from himself. Even if you had given the order to all your men on the battlements to shoot with their crossbows on the Mountain, that might not have been enough, and most probably a bolt would have hit Oberyn. There was nothing we could do. You did your part well. I'm rid of Gregor Clegane and the vermin that followed him. We shouldn't concern ourselves with the lone man who escaped. He won't be able to cause much trouble."

"I fulfilled my part of the bargain. I think I should get my payment."

Tyrion sighed heavily. "Have you ever known me for not paying my debts?" The dwarf took a piece of parchment somewhere on his desk and handed it to Bronn. It was a document with the seal of the Lord of Casterly Rock. Bronn unrolled it.

I, Tyrion of the House Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, Lord of the Westerlands and Warden of the West, hereby strip Ser Gregor Clegane of his lands, titles and castles for his many crimes against the Realm. I attaint him and all his kin of any right on their previous possessions.

I hereby grant all the lands, castles and holdings Gregor Clegane once had to Ser Bronn of the Blackwater. All these possessions are to be held by Ser Bronn, his sons and grandsons from this day until the end of time, under the authority of House Lannister of Casterly Rock.

"You should be happy, my friend," Tyrion said. "You're a landed knight now."

"I think you owe me a lordship as well," Bronn pointed out.

"We already agreed you would have Clegane's lands instead of the lordship. Perhaps you don't want to remember, but I do remember. These lands will be much more useful for you than some fancy title, especially when you already have one."

Bronn couldn't deny any of it. I tried. "What about my wife? You promised me one as well."

"I didn't forget. I'll find you one as soon as I'll get back to the Westerlands. She will be a highborn lady, don't worry."

"And beautiful, too," Bronn insisted.

"She will be beautiful. You can also pick a woman on your new lands if you want. She would be less demanding than a highborn lady. Just try to take one who actually wants to marry you, or at least who's not bothered by that."

"I'll think about that." Bronn adjusted his position in his seat. That was over. He had lands now, and soon he would have a wife. His life as a sellsword was over. "When do I leave?"

"As soon as you can. No one knows about Clegane's death yet outside the city. I suggest you ride quickly for his keep and take it. I'll give you one hundred of my men. Put to the sword any of his men who might pose a problem, and try to make sure no people disappear as it happened under the Mountain."

"Alright. I'll ride on the morrow." He would need a good night of sleep first however. He was exhausted. "And you, what problems will you have to deal with once I'll be gone?"

Tyrion sighed. "First, I'll have to deal with Dorne. I doubt Doran Martell will be happy to learn his brother is dead. Kevan isn't either. I just had a pretty unpleasant discussion with him."

"I guess he wants you out of the city."

"Worse. He wants me to act as judge for Ser Meryn's trial since one of the three previous judges died. That means I won't leave for Casterly Rock immediately." He wasn't happy, it was obvious. Bronn knew Tyrion wanted to get out of this stinking place as soon as possible. The Stark girl, his wife, wanted too. And Bronn wanted too.

"What about the prince's woman? Remind me her name. She's a Sand."

"Ellaria Sand," the dwarf answered gloomily. "She's utterly destroyed. I would be too if I saw the person I love being butchered in such a horrible way. I tried to see her to offer my condolences, perhaps give her some form of consolation, but she refused to see me. Sansa tried as well without success."

"The Dornish will come after you, I fear. I start to regret working for you for so long."

"You have nothing to regret. You are a landed knight now, so you won't be close to me as often as before. And Doran Martell wouldn't be interested in you if he looked for revenge." The Imp's voice turned a little less bitter. "At least, I took my precautions. When I went to visit Prince Oberyn yesterday to arrange everything, I had him write a letter to his brother where he explained he was going to kill the Mountain in individual combat. That was a protection I demanded for allowing him to kill the Mountain himself. The Red Viper explains everything in the letter. With some hope, the letter, the Mountain's head and the return of Prince Oberyn's bones to Dorne will be enough to placate his brother. Prince Doran is a cautious man. I think Myrcella will be safe."

Bronn could hear some doubts in his friend's voice. "Don't you think you should ask at the same time to return your niece to the capital?" the former sellsword suggested.

Tyrion seemed to think about it for a moment. "No," he finally declared. "It's better to make sure we maintain good relations with Dorne, and we need to keep Myrcella's betrothal intact if we want it to last. Anyway she has Ser Arys Oakheart with her, and he's a good kingsguard, like Balon Swann. She will be safe. The Martells don't kill innocent children. Prince Oberyn was wild, but I think he told me the truth about this."

Concerns were obvious in the dwarf's voice all the same. He was afraid for his niece. Bronn remembered Princess Myrcella. A good and kind little girl, alike Bronn's dead sister. He hoped nothing would happen to her. "How does your wife feel about this? Leaving later than you planned?"

A sigh welcomed Bronn's question. "She's beginning to wonder if we will ever leave this place. And I share her doubts. If it goes on, we will spend our lives in King's Landing. She badly wants to leave, and me too."

Bronn nodded. He wouldn't blame the girl after seeing her being beaten by Ser Meryn. "At least, she'll have the chance to see Trant beheaded."

"I don't think Sansa enjoys beheadings very much."

He got a point. Bronn was surprised how things changed. A few months ago, he would have been discussing with his friend about Shae and how to protect her. And another few months before that, they would have discussed about how good were the girls they tried. However, not long before the Battle of Blackwater, the little man stopped talking about his time with Shae. That was when Bronn realized he had fallen in love with the foreign girl. Even worse, Shae had fallen in love with him too. If only they hadn't. They would have avoided many problems. Tyrion might still be bedding Shae while wed to Sansa Stark. He would have two women and two kingdoms of his own. Instead, he had one kingdom, only one woman he refused to bed, and another kingdom he would only get the day he finally decided to fuck his wife. Bronn didn't understand why he still refused to bed her. After all, it was quite obvious the girl liked him. He had no longer any reason to hesitate. Bronn would have thanked the gods to have never fallen in love if he believed in them.

"Well," Bronn finally said after a moment. "You'll give your wife my regards. I'll go somewhere else for the night. Care to accompany me? One last ride before we go separate ways?"

The Imp looked at him with an exasperated gaze. "I'm a married man. I don't partake anymore if you're going where I think you go."

Bronn sighed. "You really became the most boring man in the world after you married this girl."

"You too you'll be married soon. Perhaps your behavior will change then."

Bronn scoffed and grinned. "Never in the world. I'll go and celebrate alone. There's a girl waiting for me."

Bronn left. He was tired, but that would be his last night in the capital, so best enjoy it. He just became a knight with lands and a keep. The Imp's decree was with him. Who would he be if he didn't celebrate this? He left the Red Keep, walking down Aegon's Hill and went to Littlefinger's brothel on Visenya's Hill. The young girl he saw with the old man this morning was happy to oblige. Bronn knew he was surely a welcome change in comparison to the torture she had to suffer with Pycelle. Or at least, she acted as if he was a welcome change. Bronn hadn't seen her before. She was probably new here. The poor. It seems every new girl here has to go through a night with Pycelle first. She lacked experience, but she wasn't bad. Sometimes Bronn welcomed it when he found himself with a girl who just arrived. She gave a different experience than those who had experience.

When they were done, Bronn paid her twice the price he paid normally. He just got lands, so he felt he could be generous. Bronn then left her. As he walked through the corridors of the brothel, among customers and women, Bronn felt wistful in some way. That would be the last time he would see this place before a very long time.

"Ser Bronn." He turned in the direction the voice came from. A smile formed on his face.

"Oh, if that's not the little Daisy." The little brown haired and eyed girl was walking towards him, all smiling. She wore clothes, which was unusual here at this hour. "You seem a little bit too much dressed."

"You want to remove them? It wouldn't bother me." She was chuckling as she spoke. She was quite innocent for a whore, even more when Bronn considered the way she was beaten on Joffrey's order. At least she was still alive. The redhead wasn't so lucky.

Bronn had to nod negatively. "I'm sorry, girl. I already received my service for tonight. I'm going back to the Red Keep."

"Are you sure you couldn't have any use of a second course?" She was quite pretty, and sounded so naïve and seductive at the same time. Bronn had to grin.

"I'm afraid I'm not in the mood for a second course. After all, if you fuck too much, you'll lose any taste for it. We must dose it, and I received my dose for this night. I'm really sorry beauty."

She looked sad like a child. Bronn even had the impression it affected him. She was good at it. Or was she really playing? He had some doubts on her. He knew at least that her fear when he brought her to testify had been real. To return to the place where you were nearly beaten to death was terrifying, no matter who you were.

"You'll return tomorrow?" She was playing the hopeful one now.

"Sorry, girl. I won't. I was just granted some keep with lands and I leave tomorrow to seize it. I won't come back before long."

She was agape before him. "You're leaving?"

"Aye." She really seemed sad before his answer. He put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't be sad. There are a lot of other clients here, you won't miss any."

She looked at him with big sad eyes. He wasn't sure if she was faking or not. "I… I just thought I owed you some thanks. After all, you promised me nothing would happen to me after the trial, and nothing happened just like you said."

Bronn remembered how frightened she had been this day when he came to bring her at the trial. It had been dangerous for her, but they needed her testimony. And she proved to be quite useful. Bronn didn't only have to pay her very much, but also to promise her his protection. He lied when he told her he would protect her against Joffrey and Cersei, but finally Varys ensured her safety after the trial. Bronn found the eunuch had quite a strange soft spot for whores considering his physical condition. Bronn wasn't without pity for these women. Bronn sold his sword, they sold their bodies, but they were all bought like Bronn in some way. In some way it was more him who owed this girl something. He couldn't be sure, but if she really wanted to thank him… And even if she didn't, well… Bronn peered her from head to feet.

"I have an idea. Come with me at the Red Keep."

She looked at him in utter confusion. "The Red Keep?"

"Aye. You'll spend the night with me. For now I don't feel like having fun, but it might come when I'm back into my bed. You'll have the opportunity to thank me then."

"I'm not sure." She was obviously afraid. "Girls like me aren't allowed in this place. The last time…"

Bronn took her chin gently. "Hey, look at me. It's no longer dangerous there. The boy is dead, Tywin Lannister is dead, and the Queen Regent is gone. There's no one left who has girls like you whipped. And you'll be with me. I'll protect you if anything happens."

He could see uncertainty in her eyes. That wasn't faked for sure. "I don't know if I can. I'm not supposed to leave while I work this night."

"Oh, you'll be working. I'll pay the one in charge for that. And I'll pay you handsomely as well. Didn't you want to thank me? Here's your chance."

She seemed uncertain for some time, but finally she smiled and positively nodded her head. "Alright. I follow you."

"Aye. Follow me."

She looked excited as they left the brothel, but turned a little bit afraid again when they came close to the Red Keep. Finally, she regained her excitement once they were inside his room. They had no problem to reach it. No one stopped them or even looked at them. Daisy was dressed like most handmaidens in the castle, and there were so many who came and left that everyone possibly thought her to be one of them. She started to disrobe as soon as he closed the door.

"Hey, hey, no." He stopped her. "I said only if I was in the mood. For now I'm not. I need to relax." He dropped himself heavily in a chair and poured some wine. He looked at the girl. She had put back her clothes on her little body. "Want some?"

"What?"

"Some wine?"

Her face showed confusion again. "I'm not sure…"

"I'm offering it to you. Are you going to refuse? It's free." Bronn filled a second cup and pointed it to the girl. "Take it. You'll see. It's good."

She approached slowly and drank slowly as well. Bronn drank as well. "That's good. Very good."

Bronn smiled. "Aye. Arbor gold. The Imp likes it a lot. He got me used to it. I'll miss this good stuff once I'll be in my lands."

"Where are you going?"

"The Westerlands. The Imp gave me some lands with a keep there."

She approached at sat in another chair. "Is it true he had a whore in his service? Shae. That was her name, wasn't it? Is it true he loved her and she loved him too?"

Bronn nodded. "Aye. Sadly for both of them. Sometimes I wonder how it happened. Well, I wouldn't say it was so surprising he fell in love with her, after all she was quite enticing. Dark hair, dark eyes, quite tall, tanned skin, an exotic accent. And quite experienced too. That she fell in love with him is strange however. There aren't many women who fall in love with a dwarf." Though when he thought about it, Bronn didn't expect to have some sort of friendship with Tyrion Lannister when he met him in the Vale, and strangely they had become some kind of friends.

"Ros used to tell me he was very good. That I would be surprised with him. She said he was good with his tongue and his fingers, and with his cock as well, that he was very experienced. Do you think you could suggest me to him?"

Bronn grinned to the floor. She arrived too late. "I'm afraid his wife wouldn't like it. He's done with brothels and girls like you. I'm afraid Lady Sansa Lannister is the only one who will see what's under his breeches from now on." If he ever decides to fuck her one day.

Daisy looked sad about it. "Are you sure he couldn't make an exception? He gave a golden necklace to Ros for the time he spent with her." That didn't make much good to her. "She said he always treated his women very kindly." In the case of his wife, he's so kind that he refuses to touch her. "Is there really nothing you could do?"

Bronn sighed. He had to get this idea out of her head and quickly. "I could suggest you to him, but he will refuse, and probably tell me to go and fuck myself." Bronn emptied his cup. "Forget about the Imp. He's no longer available. Now, time to sleep. I need to rest. And you keep your clothes for now. I'll tell you when I want them to leave you."

Bronn, on the other side, didn't hold back and took out his chain mail, his boots and everything on his chest. He only kept his breeches. Daisy came to sit behind him once he was bare chest on it. "You look exhausted. Do you want me to rub your shoulders?"

"Aye, do it. But first bring me another cup of wine." The girl went to the table and poured a cup she gave him, then went behind him again to rub his shoulders and his back. "Nothing better than a woman to get aches and tiredness out of your body."

Her hands felt good on his skin. His body relaxed. Daisy continued to rub his back from his hips to his armpits, then his shoulders, then his back again. Comfort flooded his body, feelings of well-being invading him. He puffed heavily in relief. She was arousing. Bronn's cock stirred in his breeches.

"Alright. I'm in the mood now." He laid down on the mattress and looked at Daisy removing her clothes. He had already seen her naked body in the past, as her customer or as another woman's customer, but it was always pleasant to see a naked woman, no matter how often you saw her this way. She untied his breeches and made love to him atop of him. Bronn had fucked her before, but she seemed better than the previous times. She probably had more experience than before. She cried in pleasure as Bronn grunted in pleasure as well. It wasn't the only time they did it. Bronn had her for the night, his last night in King's Landing, and he wanted to enjoy it as much as he could before he would spend weeks on bad roads. He fell asleep, then awoke to fuck her again a few times, and each time he liked it. She really got better compared to the last time he saw her, though he wasn't sure when was the last time he used her services. When morning came, Bronn did it one last time. She was under him, panting and smiling. She had smiled during the whole night, from the moment she undressed.

"How did you like my thanks?" she asked him in a low and seductive voice in his ear.

"Very much. I wish I received such thanks more often." She laughed. Bronn rolled over her, putting an end to their joining. He began to put on his clothes. "You're good. Even better than the last time I had you."

"I have people to teach me."

"Then your teachers are excellent. Thank them for me."

Her face turned sour. "I won't ever see you again."

Bronn sighed. "Not before a long time. I don't know when I'll come back to King's Landing." Daisy looked at the mattress under her. She really looked sad about his departure. Truth or act? There was no way for him to find out, but he had to admit the girl was far from evil. Just like his dwarf friend, Bronn didn't like to see whores being mistreated, except when they were bitches. This girl wasn't. In the end, they were all people who had nothing and were reduced to work for highborn people and clean their boots in order to survive. You could clean the boots while insulting them, like Bronn did, but you were still cleaning them all the same. Bronn looked at the girl more closely as she averted her eyes from him. She had a lovely body, all forms a woman could have, beautiful long hair. And she fucked very well.

"I'll miss you. You're a good man." Bronn hoped the girl didn't really think what she said. He was no better than the other people. Only, they had to pay him very handsomely if they wanted him to commit monstrous things. An idea came to him.

"You don't have to miss me. Not if you're with me."

She looked back at him, confusion plain of her face again. "What do you mean?"

"If you're with me, then you won't miss me, though you may come to miss the times I wasn't with you. But you could come with me."

Surprise stuck to her face. "Come with you?"

"Aye. I would like to have a bedwarmer with me on the road." Bronn continued to put on his clothes as he explained. "That will be a few weeks before we reach the keep, so I'll need someone to keep me company. You'll only have to warm me and my bed at nights, and you'll spend the rest of the day washing clothes, carrying wood, and riding with us. And once we've arrived to my castle, you can share my bed. I hate to be alone in it every night. You would have a much better life in the Westerlands than here where you must pleasure old and ugly men."

She stared at him with wonderment. "I can really come with you?"

"Aye, but I must warn you. I'm going to marry at some moment. I don't think it will happen very soon, but it will happen. When it does, I'll have to send you away. But I'll make sure you can go wherever you want and start a new life. One of my friends had a girl like you in his service. He was forced to send her away when he got married, but now she lives in a luxurious house in Pentos. She has gold, jewels, servants, everything she wants. I can't promise you the same things, but you'll be a lot better than you are actually. So, what do you say?"

She looked stunned for a time, but then she rose from the bed with a huge smile. "I'm coming."

"Alright. Now dress up. We leave very soon."

An hour later, Ser Bronn of the Blackwater rode off King's Landing for his new lands with a bedwarmer and a hundred men bearing the colors of the Lannisters.


I don't know how this will end for Bronn in the show, but I hope he will see Tyrion again in Season 7, and that he'll go back working for him. Tyrion has a tendancy to really pay ALL his debts, while Cersei only pays those she wants to pay. I would switch sides as soon as possible if I were Bronn. Their discussions were gold in the four first seasons.

Please review

Next chapter: Sansa