257 AC

It was not even a year after her wedding that Tya Lannister became a widow.

What a tragedy, women said with concern, sending sympathetic looks her way. She's so young... imagine being a widow at fifteen, with not even a child to console her over her husband's death.

As it turned out, being a widow at fifteen made Tya feel better than she had done in a long while, as those who knew her could tell. She had been at Casterly Rock for four months - having been unable to take any more of life at the Twins - when she received the news. It was delivered by a messenger who had clearly expected to be greeted by a sobbing, grief-stricken young woman and did not know what to do with her.

"It was murder, milady," The man said solemnly. "Him and his two companions were found in the woods, robbed of all valuables. Bandits, no doubt, they get bolder every year. All were dead when we got there, and... No, you don't want to hear the rest,"

"Tell me," She ordered, raising an eyebrow at his hesitation. "Go on, I won't faint,"

"Ser Emmon's throat was slit from ear to ear," The messenger grimaced. "Likely the outlaws realised too late he was from a noble house and didn't want him seeing their faces and sending men after them. Apologies, milady,"

He gave her an odd look as a smile crept onto her face.

"Perhaps the next husband my father forces upon me will be man enough to fight off a few common wretches,"

Those words and that smile quickly spread and became infamous across the Seven Kingdoms. Tya might have been ill-advised in saying something so callous so soon after her husband's death, but honestly could not care less what anyone said. Let them suspect her of murder if they liked; she was a hundred leagues away in Casterly Rock when the incident occurred, and how could they blame an ambush by bandits on a young lady like her? As if she'd know the first thing about plotting a murder, let alone where to find such unsavoury types to do it.

It was a good thing that the two men she had entrusted the job to were discreet, members of her personal guard whose loyalty could be relied upon, considering how much she had paid them.

She didn't go to the funeral. She never even went back to the Twins, simply ordered her possessions brought back to Casterly Rock, then set off for King's Landing once more.

"Did you do it?" Was the first thing Aerys asked her when she returned to the Red Keep, a big grin on his face. "Did you kill him? Congratulations either way, for being rid of that weasel. He was below you in every possible way,"

She couldn't help but smile slightly at that, though she normally disdained compliments, taking his offered arm. Tya wore gold that day. She had worn not a single black garment since word reached her of Emmon's death.

"My thanks, your Grace," Was her only careful reply. His grin grew. Let him take from that what he will.

Though she was escorted into the castle on the arm of the prince, she only had eyes for the squire stood beside Ser Duncan of the Kingsguard.

"Jason," She smiled briefly at him, which Aerys noted with some annoyance.

Her cousin had gone to King's Landing shortly after her wedding, to squire for Ser Duncan the Tall; the knight had been present at the Twins and had seen Jason's remarkable skill with a sword in the practice yard, promptly asking him to become his squire. A great honour, even though the man was no longer in his prime with greying hair and a lined face.

"My Lady Lannister," Jason grinned back. She raised an eyebrow at the formal address, even though she was pleased by his use of her widowed name. Every time someone called her Lady Frey she had strongly corrected them, no matter how many times her former husband's family riled at it. "Tya,"

"Jason," She nodded, satisfied.

At this point Aerys stepped in. She rather wished he wasn't there.

"Ah yes, I forget you two were so close," He smiled charmingly as ever, though there was a slight edge to it. "I daresay Jason and I have become friends in your absence,"

She had gathered that from the letters she had been sent from both boys. It was no surprise Aerys liked Jason; most people did. He was witty, quietly confident (never arrogant) and knew when to act humble, but never subservient.

"Certainly, your Grace," Her cousin beamed convincingly. "I need some competition in the training yard, after all,"

Tya fought the urge to snort, catching Jason's eye unbeknownst to Aerys, who laughed, clearly pleased by the compliment; he wasn't good at telling when people were lying. The prince was average at best with a sword; his interests lay in music, art, dancing and winning people over with his charm. Perhaps that was why he was so interested in Tya, as he had yet to do so with her.

Another thing Jason did well was lie through his teeth whilst giving compliments. Tya's pride and general scorn for others would never allow her to do such a thing, though it was amusing to watch. Ser Duncan clearly saw through the lie, frowning slightly at his squire's words, not one who was very good at hiding his feelings. His opinion of the young prince did not seem to be very high, which said a lot.

"Your grandfather wished to see you in his solar after you greeted Lady Tya, my prince," The legendary knight said to Aerys.

"Really?" The prince frowned, irritated. "I don't suppose it's optional?" Ser Duncan shook his head. "Fine. Well you must join us for dinner tonight, Tya. Yourself and your cousin, along with me and Rhaella,"

"Of course," She inclined her head.

"Then I'll see you later, my lady," Aerys gave her a rather long kiss on her hand before leaving with a swagger in his step. Ser Duncan followed, though Jason stayed behind.

She raised an eyebrow after the prince; did he think he was charming her? Becoming a widow had made her no sweeter or easily impressed.

"Watch out for that one," Jason's easy smile was gone the moment Aerys rounded the corner, replaced with a shrewd look. "He talks of you far too frequently. If he could, he'd have his sister as his queen like a proper Targaryen, and you as his mistress," Gone were the days when he wanted her as queen then, which was the least she would settle for from him. Mistress. As if she would lower herself such.

"It's all talk," She said, though was angered nonetheless by the disrespect. "Let me handle Aerys if it comes to it - he listens to me more than most. You have to be his friend, so don't do anything foolish,"

"As if I would," He smiled wryly. "I've missed you too much for you to be angry at me,"

Tya smiled too, briefly, taking his offered arm. They set off towards the gardens.

"Those months I was stuck at the Twins I would have given anything for some intelligent company," She'd have given anything to not have her hated husband crawling into her bed. Not that she made any effort to make such nights enjoyable for him; her glare never left her face, which clearly unnerved Emmon, though the mocking from his brothers and cousins every time he stopped laying with her for a long period of time clearly outweighed his fear of her. Fool.

"And you have it now?" He glanced doubtfully in the direction Aerys had just gone, making her lips twitch. "Your dress looks beautiful, by the way. No black mourning gown for Tya? Not even blue and grey, to honour his house," He tutted in mock-disappointment.

"I wore every shade under the sun at the Twins, aside from their colours," She pressed her lips together. "Today I wondered what colour appeared furthest from grief, and arrived at this," She waved a hand at her gold dress. Jason laughed then, and she enjoyed hearing laughter knowing that it wasn't mocking her.

"Well you're the most radiant young widow I've ever seen,"

Everyone in their right mind had learned not to compliment her like that, as she would meet most with her usual cold stare and a raised eyebrow. With her cousin, however, she simply smiled fleetingly and said nothing, though she knew he saw it.

As if Tya Lannister is going to settle with being tied to a second son for the rest of her life! Bear in mind also that she was only fourteen when she married (the same as Genna in canon) so the whole experience must have been highly unpleasant beyond her own snobbish shame at the match being beneath her.

Anyway, what did you think of this chapter? I wrote Tya with a bit more of a sense of humour around Jason, seeing as Joanna is supposed to have brought out the best in Tywin and made him smile where few others could.

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment, even a few words means a lot!