"It seems I can no longer be delusional", his father declares. "You are my heir, indeed."
One would think Tyrion's greatest wish is coming true, but of course Tywin Lannister doesn't let him be happy.
"You must behave like it, now", he continues. "I've let you whore around because it would taint your reputation, but now we both must restore our House's image. Your idiot siblings ruined the family name with their foolishness. It falls on us to make House Lannister great again. No more visits to brothels, no more whores on your bed. I will find a suitable bride for you, and you will be faithful to her."
At least he's ordering him to stay celibate forever. He needs heirs from my seed, he notices. Otherwise lordship will go to my siblings's bastards.
Tyrion has always known about their affair; it's always been obvious in his eyes. Jaime and Cersei never behaved around each other as brother and sister, but as lovers. Their father has been blind to it, as he always is to anything that doesn't fit his world view, but not there is no denial anymore. Not only he lost two heirs on the same day—one to the Night's Watch and another to exile—he has to look, every day at the living proof of their dishonor, in the form of their three children.
From the day Cersei and Jaime received their sentence, the children have reacted to it in many different ways. Joffrey's tantrums initially increased in frequency, and he stayed in denial until they stopped by Riverrun, and he found himself unable to demand royal treatment. Afterwards, he closed off… much like Myrcella.
His niece has always been a sweet girl, despite her mother's efforts to turn her into a female Joffrey—Cersei never hid her favoritism. She reminded Tyrion of her father in the way she loved her uncle: publicly, although timidly, as if she'd be punished otherwise. In the days after their departure from Winterfell, her face has been unreadable. Joffrey claimed she was afraid of their grandfather, and while the boy may be right, Tyrion doubts it's all there is to it.
Tommen was the one least affected. Perhaps it's due to his young age, but when Arya asked him if he was fine, the boy simply said, "I am not a prince anymore, so now I can be a knight!" Knighthood has been his dream ever since he could grab a sword, indeed, but he wonders if his nephew simply does not understand the burden of bastardy like his older siblings do.
Regardless, Tyrion is set on fulfilling the promises he made to their parents—especially Jaime, who all but begged him to keep them safe. "If you can", he also said, "find a way to train them in metalbending. All of them. Myrcella shouldn't know the misery her mother did."
It's with that thought in mind that he approaches his father a day after he announced his plans to wed him to a noblewoman. "Your grandchildren should continue their training", he says, without bothering with small pleasantries; he and Father never did, with each other. "Their bending may prove useful in face of their new status."
Tywin doesn't look at him at first, seemingly having found something interesting in his room's walls. It feels like an eternity has passed when he finally answers, "Have all of them begun their training, in King's Landing?"
He frowns, trying to remember, and nods. "Of course, Joffrey is the most skilled, but Myrcella doesn't seem to be too far behind. Both of their parents are gifted benders, so it's not far-fetched to think their children will grow to be master benders too, if properly trained. No one would dare belittle master benders because of their birth."
It takes another while for Tywin to reply to that. "You may be my son, after all." Tyrion's eyes widen, but he doesn't interrupt him. "Yes, their bending may be their salvation… ours too, especially if your eventual offspring takes after you, or their mother."
At that, he blinks and opens his mouth to speak. "Am I not to marry a metalbender's daughter?"
Tywin sighs. "Doubtfully. At this point, most suitable brides from the Westerlands are already married, and the ones left are too young. Under normal circumstances, I'd safely consider them, but we are disgraced now. Not every lord will willingly give his young daughter away to a Lannister. Our best bet would be a widow, or a woman of your age who has yet to marry for whatever reason, but we are lacking those here."
"Aren't there metalbender Houses outside the Westerlands?"
"Only one, House Tarth. Lord Selwyn has a daughter aged eight-and-ten, second in line, a metalbender, whose betrothals have been broken several times… However, it is known she will only accept a husband if he beats her in combat." His pointed look covers everything he has to say on the matter. "That being said, it is wise to wed you to a non bender. That way your heritage can be as strong—or as weak—as hers, increasing your chances of siring a metalbender."
The subject is now widely different from the initial one, but Tyrion can't help but ask, "And who would that be?"
"There are options", he says vaguely. "I am gathering information. I'll approach you when I'm done." A pause. "Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen are to begin their training tomorrow morning, under my tutelage. You are dismissed; go tell them the news."
Surprised as he is—not only is his father willing to personally train his bastard grandchildren, including Myrcella, he just said he'll show Tyrion his options for a bride—Tyrion simply bids his goodbye and leaves.
Now that he is the heir to Casterly Rock, Tyrion follows his father's shadow for most of the day. He watches, learns and gives his input in many subjects, and he likes to watch his niece and nephews train their bending.
Set on having at least one gold miner in the family, his father takes all three to the mines. Jaime never liked the task, and Cersei has never gone down there enough times to count, but House Lannister metalbenders are primarily miners, and Tywin won't waste his second chance.
It's Myrcella who grows into the activity the most. Tommen insists he is to become a knight, so he prefers weapon making like his father, while Joffrey shows no particular preference. He never liked to be a metalbender, he reminds himself. He had wished to be an earthbender; claimed he wanted to be like his father. Poor boy. Soon Tywin favors his granddaughter over his grandsons, spending more time teaching her. It is up to Tyrion to give his nephews his attention, to prevent them from feeling abandoned—again. He doesn't like the perspective of taking care of Joffrey, but he has promises to keep, and the boy might be his heir.
Tommen is content to be left playing, but Tyrion decides to show the ropes of lordship to his older nephew. It is, honestly, a bitchy work, and he often finds himself looking for a bottle of wine to relax, but it's better than doing nothing while waiting for Tywin and Myrcella to come back from the mines.
One day, Tywin approaches him with a small list: names of potential brides. He reads the list and silently ponders about each candidate.
Jeyne Westerling. A non bender from a metalbender house, slightly older than Joffrey. Wedding a Westerling would strengthen Lannister's ties to the lands which they are wardens of, not to mention there were big chances of them siring a metalbender heir. That being said, Tyrion does find her too young, and House Westerling is a poor house, economically speaking. Are we this desperate? I like to think not.
Kyra Frey. A non bender from a non bender House. His aunt Genna has already married a Frey, and none of her kids are metalbenders, meaning bending has officially died out in her branch of the family. House Frey has remarkably tried to get benders for generations, but their blood is seemingly too strong, and all attempts fell short. Wedding a Frey may show even more desperation than wedding a Westerling.
Lucinda Marbrand, daughter and sister of metalbenders. Her brother Addam is Jaime's childhood friend—the only one Cersei didn't alienate—and an alliance between the two houses would be beneficial. However, Lucinda is a childless widow; she may be barren. Marrying her is risky business.
Rosamund Lannister, from Lannisport. Er, no. She is what, eight years old? Is Father mad?
Allyria Dayne, a non bender from the only known lavabender house in the world. Sister of the late Ser Arthur and Ashara—infamously rumored to be the mother of Lord Eddard Stark's bastard son. If he recalls correctly, Allyria is only a few years younger than him. Why hasn't she married yet? Regardless, she seems a good option.
There are other names, from Westerlands and nearby regions, and he even catches sight of a Mormont name—apparently Lady Maege bore a non bender daughter, Lyra. After much thought, he ranks the women from best to worst choice. Worst option is decidedly Rosamund. What was Father thinking?
Tywin says nothing as he reads his list, and dismisses him with a hand wave. It is odd to discuss marriage. After Tysha—the only woman who ever loved me—he had resigned himself to brothels. The whores were willing to see past his size and face when they saw his coin. He never thought he'd take a wife.
Before he left for the Wall, Jaime confessed he had lied about Tysha. "She was never a whore", he said, nearly choking. "She's always been sincere in everything. But Father could not have you wedded to a commoner."
In another life, Tyrion would have hated his brother for what he did. However, in this life he forgives him. After all, who could escape Tywin's machinations and refuse his orders? Especially at their age, at the time. So young and frightened.
When he asked about her whereabouts, Jaime looked like he could cry. "She was supposed to head for Braavos", he said, "but she… she ran to the beach and let herself drown. I'm so, so sorry."
The only thing stopping him from strangling Father for what he did is his usefulness. He needs Tywin to train his grandchildren, and he knows he'll have more resources and authority to rebuild House Lannister's name. I need him as an ally for now, if I want to ascend to lordship without a revolt. The Imp cannot take a disgraced Rock. Only when our reputation is restored will I get rid of him. In the meantime, I must act like a well-behaved son. And so it goes, as months pass by. Tywin keeps reasserting his authority, showing nothing has changed despite the stain by his elder children. Tyrion learns and teaches, and goes around the people to see his lands with his own eyes.
One day, he discusses with Father the possibility to send Joffrey away as someone's squire when they are interrupted by a servant. "A letter from the Wall", she announces, handing it to Tywin. Frowning, he opens it and reads it aloud.
This is madness, he thinks as he hears the words. But Jaime's imagination is not that good. If he claims to have fought a wight, he must have done it. And I doubt he'd ask for new recruits for the Night's Watch just out of fondness for his new service.
"This is false", Father declares, throwing the letter at the table. "It is not his handwriting. And look at the amount of fantastical nonsense!"
Tyrion frowns and looks at the letter. Indeed, its handwriting is too pretty to be his brother's, who always had trouble learning how to read and write. Still… "But the letter came from the Wall. Perhaps Jaime chose to dictate the letter instead of hurting our eyes with his writing."
"The contents are absurd. Others? Wights? Next thing he'll write about the Long Night dawning on us!"
"Still, Father, this letter seems serious. Shouldn't we at least check its veracity?"
Tywin raises his left eyebrow. "How do you suggest we do it?"
"First of all, write a letter to Jaime asking if the contents of this one are true. Secondly, one of us—I suppose me—could go there and see for ourselves."
A short silence precedes his reply. "Good suggestions. Go write the letter… and I'll organize a voyage. You'll go, and bring Joffrey along. Hopefully we'll find a lord for him to squire on the way, or drop him on the Wall if Jaime's words about temporary service are true." He stands up, but stops himself from turning around. "By the way… I almost forgot. I received a letter from House Dayne. Lady Allyria is to come to Casterly Rock in a moon's turn with her older brother to discuss a betrothal between you two."
He nods, and Tywin leaves the room.