A MOTHER'S PATH

Tysha keeps her head low as the last guard pulls up his pants and drops a silver stag on the pile of coins beside her. She looks at Tyrion, but he lowers his eyes. "I hope you both have learned your lessons." Tywin says.

Tysha looks at him, "And what lesson is that?"

He smiles, "You have spirit I give you that. You should learn to never reach beyond your station in life and my son has learned hopefully that no woman could ever love him." Tyrion stands up and leaves the house. "I want you gone by this time tomorrow whore." Tywin says and leaves.

Tysha cries after he leaves and grabs a hand full of the silver coins and throws them across the room. She is too sore from all the men who took turns doing what they wanted to her to move. She rubs her stomach and throws up. "Why?" It comes in a whisper, "WHY?" She screams.

Many hours pass before she hears horses. Her heart leaps in her chest, thinking that Tyrion had come back for her. The door opens and in walks Tyrion's brother. "You! You come to take a turn as well?"

"I am sorry I am so sorry."

She stares at him, "I would believe you if I haven't come to the conclusion that all men are lying dogs."

"I truly am sorry." He looks back, "Come in." A few women enter the house. "These woman will tend to you, help you bathe."

They help Tysha up and draw water in the master bedroom. After many hours Tysha comes out. "This is Bronn…A friend of Tyrion's and a Sell Sword. He will take you were ever you wish to go."

"I don't want nothing from you."

"Please…I…I tried to tell my father, but he jumped to conclusions…I had no idea that you and Tyrion married."

"Take his help my Lady.' A woman says, "Few women nowadays get a second chance after what you have been through."

"What is your name?"

"Davanna…I was Lord Tyrion's wet-nurse when he was a babe. I would like to come with you if you'll have me."

A wagon is provided with two chests of gold and with food for a long trip.

"Where will you go?" Jaime asks.

"I will know when I get there." Tysha replies. They leave with Bronn driving the wagon south. They drive all night and stop at sunset the next day.

"You're pregnant aren't you?"

Tysha looks at her, "How do you know?"

She smiles, "I have tended enough nobles in my time to know when a woman is with child." Davanna is plump and beautiful with short greying black hair and green eyes.

Bronn is busy making a fire, "Do you have children?"

"One with the Maesters, a son who is a soldier at Silver Hill and another son with the Night's Watch. I have a daughter she is married and another girl living in White Harbor…A healer." She hugs Tysha, "Why didn't you tell them about the child?"

"I have no wish to talk about it."

"Last question and I will leave you in peace. Are you going to keep the baby?"

She looks at her, "Of course. There is an old saying…The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world and I have always wanted a child." They eat and Bronn keeps watch all night. Every so often she would wake up and watch Bronn. She keeps a knife in the sleeve of her dress.

"Morning all!" He says before walking off to go piss.

Tysha takes a bucket and goes behind a bush. Davanna does the same, they eat and leave. Bronn sleeps as Davanna drives the wagon. "Where are we going?" Tysha asks.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Old Town…The Citedel to have my baby…and then…and then we shall see."

"See you are forming a plan already. And I think things will work out for you."

When they stop Bronn looks at Tysha, "You can sleep soundly without fear of me…I have no intention of sneaking upon you in the middle of the night and forcing your legs open."

She huffs, "All men have one thing on their mind…A lesson I have taken to heart."

"True enough, but all men are not the same."

"And what makes you so special?" Tysha demands.

He smiles, "I have three sisters…My father would often say to me and my brothers…Don't do anything to a woman you wouldn't want done to your sisters and mother. I may be a sell-sword, but I have a code. I don't hurt women or little girls…Men who that are sick bastards."

"So you have never been with a whore?" Tysha asks.

"I didn't say that."

"So then by your words, you wouldn't mind a man paying your sisters to get between their legs?"

"If my sisters needed to do that to survive…I would not judge them. I paid for it and I have had moments when I did not have to."

"Why cause you tricked the poor woman into spreading her legs?"

"No…no tricks…Women I found like confidence. A confident man can get what he wants from a woman most of tha time."

"Any of these women ever fell in love with you."

He hunches his shoulder, "A few, but I tell them before, that I am not looking for love."

"Love is a lie people tell themselves to get they want from others."

"Don't be that woman." Davanna says speaking up. "Don't be a bitter woman who closes herself off to friendship and love for what one man did."

"Its wasn't just!" She says raising her voice. "Best if I not talk about this anymore."

"Anyway you have nothing to fear from me."

She doesn't say it, but she does sleep a little more soundly that night. Eventually they reach Old Town and the Citadel of the Maesters. "May I help you?"

"I am with child."
The man closes the book he is reading and looks at Tysha, "Are you keeping the child?"

"I am…"

"Follow me." He shows Bronn where he can stay and then takes Tysha to a room that she and Davanna can share. She hands him a bag of gold, "What is this for?"

"I want to learn things…How to count, write, read, and speak properly…I will pay you twenty gold Dragons a month to educate me."

He takes the gold, "My name is Maester Hermon. Women are not allowed to study here…I will tutor you here in your room every evening. After evening meal."

Tysha already knows her letters, vowels and consonants, but she does not know how to put words and sentences together or grammer. "Apple please spell…"

"A-P-P-L-E…Apple…" He starts her lessons with. Tysha has a quick mind and is a fast learner. He spends one hour on each subject. Grammer, math, science, writing, and reading. Within six months she can read on her own with little to no help, count large numbers, and write. During the day she learns on her own and even buys a few books that she likes.

"I want to know the history of House Lannister…You have anything on that?" Tysha asks.

"Yes…" Hermon replies.

The next day he gives her the book, "Lann…the…Clever." She reads lying in bed with a swollen stomach of six months. Bronn had spending his time training with the guards or entertaining himself with the woman of the brothel.

The time had come for Tysha to give birth. Davanna stays and helps Maester Hermon deliver the baby. A few hours later a healthy baby boy with pale golden hair and mismatch eyes is born. "Why are his eyes different colors?" Davanna asks.

"We call it hetrochromia…"

"His father had different color eyes…" Tysha says feeding her baby.

Hermon cleans his hands and picks up paper, quill and ink. "And what name do you wish your baby to be recorded under?"

"Tytos Lannister."

He stares at her, "Um…who is the father?"

She looks at him, "Lord Tyrion Lannister of Casterly Rock."

He frowns, "The Youngest son of Lord Tywin Lannister?"

"Yes."

"Um…"

"We were married…His father forced him to annul the marriage."

"Then he's a bastard."

"No my son was conceived while we were married, by the law of gods and men he has a right to the Lannister name. I read a book on the laws of heirship and familial status."

Hermon smiles, "Of course you did." He says filling in the name. "Shall I make this public record?"

"No I will take the document of birth."

There is a knock, "Can I come in now?" Bronn asks peaking inside.

"Yes…"

"Oh wow, he's a handsome little fellow."

Tysha smiles, "Thank you."

"What's his name?"

"Tytos Lannister."

"Oh." She stays at the Citadel until Tytos is weaned off of breast milk. Then she buys passage on a ship for Braavos. "Why Braavos?" Bronn asks.

"Someone once told me not to reach beyond my station." She replies holding her son as the ship sets sail. Bronn had decided to go with the two women. "Braavos is the greatest city in the World. It was founded by slaves. And of slaves can build the Greatest city in the world, then I can build a future for myself and my son."