"They have my son."

Tyrion sat amongst the assembled lords and captains and bannermen who had made it through the grueling march that Tywin Lannister had set. They had set a hard pace and any man who was unable to keep up was left behind. Every day saw a few men who did not rise from their slumbers and a few others who fell by the wayside and were unable to get back up. The loss of a few men was deemed necessary if they were to make it to

They had no time to care for the wounded if they wanted to reach Riverrun before Robb Stark and his army did. But that all seemed like a fruitless endeavor as they now sat in the Crossroads Inn and listened to the news that the messenger wearing the brindled boar of Crakehall bore.

All that marching, and the Young Wolf still beat them by days. Tyrion had half a mind to laugh at that, but as he moved his arm to pick up his wine glass pain shot through it, and any desire to find the situation humorous left him. His brief time in battle made it clear that his brothers were clearly insane, for who would find enjoyment in this?

"They do, my lord." The messenger's voice was tired, and the man looked like he was going to collapse where stood.

A silence had fallen over the gathered men as the news settled in. Jaime had been captured and his host was either killed, captured, or sent running. The siege of Riverrun was over, and it was not in a Lannister victory. Tyrion was thankful that Jaime hadn't been killed in the fighting. He also took note of his lord father's words. My son, as if Jaime was the only son that the Mighty Tywin Lannister had.

Would Jason have laughed at their father's words just now?

Probably not, Tyrion's eldest brother had grown rather grim over the years. Oh, the man still had his moments of laughter and smiles, but for the most part he was a more closed off figure. War was apparently not all that it was told to be, and Tyrion had heard it more than once that from Jason that there was no honor in war.

That there was no glory in it, just death.

Tyrion didn't like it when his brother got into that dark place in his mind. He made every effort to pull the man back into the present, and away from the Sack of King's Landing. Tyrion tried to do everything to get the old Jason back, but it seems that the Jason he knew before Robert's Rebellion had died during the Sack, and the man who had come back was not really Jason anymore.

He was the Kingslayer.

No one would say it to his face, but they did say it behind his back. Kingslayer, the man who killed King Aerys Targaryen the Second of His Name. The man who disarmed and knocked out his own brother and took the Mad King's head in one swing. The man who had taken the Red Keep and the very same one who had slew Ser Gregor Clegane after he had found out what had happened to the Targaryen children.

Tyrion hadn't been there that day, but many of the lords and knights that he was sitting amongst had been. Tyrion hadn't seen his brother until over a fortnight after the Sack of King's Landing, but these men had. They had witnessed his brother fly into a rage. Tyrion had heard near two dozen different versions of the tale, and each one always portrayed the same picture.

Jason Lannister had butchered all of the men that were under Ser Gregor Clegane's command when he learned of what had happened in Maegor's Holdfast. It was said that Jason's sword was so coated in the blood of Lannister men that it looked as if he was Lann the Cleaver come again, but this time it was Mountain's Men who were the victims. Tyrion heard tell of a dozen different ways that Jason had killed Ser Gregor Clegane.

Some tales had it that his brother stabbed the monstrous man right through the face when he was least expecting it. Other tales had it that Jason ordered his men to hold Clegane down while he ripped both of the man's eyes out and then took his head. There were even tales that said that Jason had done it in a duel, one against one, and that he had won it with nary a scratch.

They were all fanciful tales, but the end result was the same, Gregor Clegane was no more after that day.

Tyrion's brother wasn't the same after he returned from Robert's Rebellion. Jason returned to Casterly Rock a changed man, and Tyrion mourned the man that his brother used to be. The jovial and easy smiles were gone and in their place were a more hardened look. There were ghosts in his eyes, Tyrion had seen them when he and Jason spent late nights wandering Casterly Rock's halls.

It made him wonder what he truly saw on that fateful day. What had Jason seen that made him vow to never enter King's Landing again? Was the sight of the butchered Targaryen children really that scarring?

Tyrion didn't truly want to know, and he hoped that he never would experience anything like what Jason had.

"How could this happen?" Ser Harys Swyft said. "How? Even after the Whispering Wood, you had Riverrun surrounded by a Lannister host near twenty thousand strong… what madness made Ser Jaime decide to split his men into three separate camps? Surely he knew how vulnerable that would leave them?"

Tyrion's attention was drawn back to the present by the words of Ser Harys. The man was a craven and not at all a military commander. For true, the man's only reason for even being here was because of his daughter's marriage to Uncle Keven. Ser Harys provided little to no actual military expertise, yet here he still was.

"I would have done the same." Uncle Kevan said. "The castle is situated at the end of the point of land where the Tumblestone flows into the Red Fork. The rivers form two sides of a triangle and when the Tullys open their sluice gates upstream they can create a third side and turn Riverrun into and island. It would be impossible to besiege the castle unless the attacker did so from all three sides, which Ser Jaime did."

"Ser Kevan speaks the truth my lords." The messenger said. "Our camps were built with palisades and trench lines and everything. But there was no warning for when Robb Stark and his men attacked. They hit the north camp first and we were never expecting an attack as we thought Ser Jaime had gone after them. We had no idea that the Stark host was east of the Green Fork."

"And your outriders? They saw nothing? They gave no warning?"

The questions came from a man that Tyrion knew not to respect. Ser Amory Lorch may be a knight and one of Lord Tywin's bannermen, but Tyrion would never hold the man up to any level of respect. The knight of the manticore was one of the only men that had escaped Jason's rage induced killing spree during the Sack. Amory Lorch had run for his life then and had made sure to steer clear of Jason ever since.

Tyrion felt that he understood why Jason hated the man so much. He had even heard tell that Lorch boasted about killing Princess Rhaenys, and that he seemed proud of the fifty or so stabs that it had taken to do the little girl in. It was a shame that the man slipped through Jason's fingers, for this man did not deserve life.

"Our outriders had been vanishing. They would go out and never return." The messenger said.

Another silence filled the tent at that. It appeared as if they had underestimated the Young Wolf's tenacity at warfare. Jaime had let his army go blind and underprepared as he chased down what he thought was Robb Stark's host. The glory seeking fool.

"You said they came in the night." Uncle Kevan said.

"Aye, they stole a march on us and attacked during the night. The Blackfish led the van and cut down our sentries and moved the palisades away for the Stark cavalry. Our own men were still mostly in their tents sleeping and were not prepared for the armored horses breaking through out lines. They attacked one camp and cut down any man who tried to cross the river over to the other side to help."

"What of Lord Brax? My father was among those at the siege." Ser Flement Brax asked.

"I'm sorry my lord. Lord Brax drowned as he tried to cross over the river."

Tyrion watched as Ser Flement took in the news of his father's death. The man was young and probably thought that this war would be a quick and easy one, done in six months at the most. It was turning out to be anything but.

"The Riverrun garrison came out and attacked us in the rear before we could properly assemble to mount a counterattack across the river. It was a slaughter my lords."

"Gods save us." Lord Lefford swore.

"The Tyroshi sellswords who had accompanied us to the siege struck their banners and went over to Robb Stark's side as our host was decimated. Ser Forley Prester's retreat must have been what made the sellswords turn." The messenger looked grim at that.

"Damn that man. I warned Jaime not to trust that one for a man who fights for gold is only loyal to their purse." Uncle Kevan said, not sounding surprised at all.

"How did it come to this?" Ser Harys said. "Ser Jaime taken; the siege broken… this is a catastrophe!"

"I'm sure we are all grateful for that reminder Ser Harys. The question is what to do now." Ser Addam Marbrand said.

"What are we to do? Ser Jaime's host is all but slaughtered and gone. The Tullys and Starks are sitting squarely across our supply lines and are cutting us off from the West! They could march on Casterly Rock and the Westerlands and we would be unable to stop them. We are beaten my lords; we must sue for peace."

"Peace?" Tyrion snorted and threw his glass of wine to the ground, the glass shattering and the wine spreading across the wooden floorboards, looking all too much like blood.

"There's your peace, Joffrey saw to it when he took Lord Stark's head and mounted it on the spikes of the Red Keep. You'll have an easier time drinking from that glass than you will convincing Robb Stark to make peace now. He's winning… or hadn't you noticed?"

"The war is not done yet." Ser Addam said. "We are not lost yet. I would welcome the chance to test my sword against the Young Wolf."

"Perhaps we should offer a truce and exchange of prisoners?" Lord Lefford said.

Tyrion heard a scoff come from his right and he looked towards someone who he had almost forgotten was here. His nephew, Ser Gerold Lannister, was shaking his head at his grandfather's words. Jason's eldest son looked just like he had at that age, and Tyrion knew that the boy of seventeen years was just as smart as his father as well.

"They would never agree to that grandfather." Gerold said. "Robb Stark is winning and has no cause to exchange Uncle Jaime."

Lord Lefford looked at his grandson with a somewhat pained expression. Jason and Alysanne's children were all as smart as could be. Gerold and Leo were the sons that any father would want, and little Isabella was every inch the capable lady that her mother was. They were also very much Lannisters and had little of the Lefford blood in them.

"Queen Cersei has Robb Stark's sisters. Mayhaps, we give them in exchange…" Ser Harys said.

"He would have to be a complete idiot to trade Jaime Lannister for two girls." Ser Addam said.

"Then a ransom must be made. Any amount of gold to get Ser Jaime back." Lord Lefford offered.

"Jaime's armor has enough gold in it to keep Robb Stark's army fed and paid for months." Tyrion said.

"We cannot ask for a truce, it would show that we are beaten and that the war is done, which it certainly is not. We need to march on them." Ser Addam said.

"Surely, Queen Cersei and the friends we have at court would be able to send us some fresh troops. And mayhaps we should send for Ser Jason to raise a new host."

"My lord father is commanding the defense of the Westerlands. Sending for him would leave our homes vulnerable." Gerold said.

"They have my son." Tywin Lannister said as he rose to his feet. He was a tall man who cut an imposing figure and his stare could cut through steel as it was right now. "Leave me. All of you."

Everyone got to their feet and made for the door. Gerold tsked as he stepped into the spilled wine that Tyrion had made earlier. Tyrion got to his feet and was about to say something to his nephew when his lord father gave him a look.

"Not you. Kevan and Gerold stay as well. The rest of you, get out."

Gerold halted before making his way back to his seat. The gold and red armor that he wore was polished to a mirror shine and Tyrion knew that he had fought well. He had been with the right flank when they had attacked Roose Bolton's host. Gerold had fought, killed, and came out of it with only some slight bruising.

Which was more than Tyrion could say for himself, his damned arm was still throbbing with pain and each movement was a trying endeavor.

Nevertheless, Tyrion settled back down into his seat and tried not to look too shocked that he was asked to stay. Uncle Kevan was across the room and near the wine casks and Tyrion asked for him to get another glass but was cut off by his father.

"Here." The man said as he put his glass of wine in front of Tyrion, the liquid was untouched.

Tyrion took the drink with surprise as his father took a seat back at the head of the table.

"You were right about Stark. If the man were alive, we could have made peace and ended this war already. We could have dealt with Winterfell and Riverrun in an orderly fashion and moved to deal with Robert's brothers. But dead… shear and utter madness."

Tywin Lannister punctuated his words with a curled fist.

"Joff's only a boy." Tyrion pointed out, though it was a weak excuse, and he knew it. "At his age, I committed a few follies of my own."

"I didn't know you ordered a man's death when you were his age." Gerold said.

Tyrion looked at his nephew and was met with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. Gerold was exactly how Jason had been before the Sack of King's Landing. The boy was still quick with a smile and a quip.

"Our situation has gotten worse, there is a new king that we have to deal with." Lord Tywin said.

"What? A new king? What happened to Joffrey?" Uncle Kevan looked confused.

"Nothing… the boy still sits on the Iron Throne but reports from Varys are telling a concerning story from the south. Renly Baratheon has gone and crowned himself king, marrying Margaery Tyrell at Highgarden and within a fortnight past he has the power of the Reach and most of the Stormlands with him."

"Can he do that? Just make himself king?" Gerold asked.

"It matters not if he can, he already has, and now my daughter commands us to ride for King's Landing to defend the Red Keep against the youngest Baratheon brother." Lord Tywin said.

"And how is our Good King Joffrey taking the news?" Tyrion asked and he noticed a smirk come once again to Gerold lips.

All of Jason's children were older and smarter than Joffrey. The three of them were just better than their royal cousin, and Joffrey had taken that as expected, which was not well at all. Cersei's spoiled brat was useless compared to Gerold or Leo or even Isabella.

Sometimes Tyrion wondered how those two families could be so different. But than he actually thought about it for a moment and knew the truth of it immediately. Jason knew how to raise a family while Cersei didn't. Their older brother also wasn't obsessed with himself like Cersei was with herself.

It was a miracle that they were all actually siblings. They couldn't be more different from each other if they tried.

"Cersei has not seen fit to tell him yet." Lord Tywin said. "She fears he might go and march out to meet Renly on the battlefield himself."

"The day Joffrey leads a host into battle is the day that pigs start flying." Gerold said with a completely straight face.

Tyrion had to hold back a snort at that. Uncle Kevan had the shadow of a smile on his lips and though Lord Tywin didn't show it, Tyrion knew that he thought it funny as well. Joffrey was not Demon of the Trident, not in a hundred years.

"The City Watch would be his army."

"That would leave King's Landing undefended. It would allow for Lord Stannis to leave Dragonstone and march right in." Uncle Kevan said.

"Stannis is doing nothing while his younger brother claims the Iron Throne?" Tyrion asked.

"Varys reports his whispers of what is happening. Whispers of Stannis building ships and hiring sellswords and summoning witches from the east. But is any of that true?" Tywin Lannister scoffed and then waved a hand at Gerold. "Bring us the map."

Tyrion's nephew stepped to and in moments the table was covered by the leather map. Gerold smoothed it out and took some of the wine glasses that were left behind and placed them on the corners to act as weights. The map showed six of the Seven Kingdoms, with the North being left out as it was too large to fit on the map itself.

"We are in a bad way with Jaime captured. Roose Bolton and his army may be scattered, but Robb Stark and his host are sitting between us and the West. Moat Cailin and the Twins are held by men loyal to the Starks and we cannot move south less we wish to face Renly Baratheon. It would take a battle to get back to Lannisport or Casterly Rock, and one that would us gravely depleted if we were to actually meet the Stark boy's host. Going east would leave the road to the west wide open, and all the while we have enemies on three sides."

"We should send word to my father. He can raise a new host and send it to our aid." Gerold said.

"Jason is now the only thing standing between Robb Stark and the Westerlands. Even if he raises a new host, it will take time and the men will be as green as grass." Uncle Kevan said.

"There's also the threat of the Iron Born." Lord Tywin said. "Jason fears another attack on the Lannister fleet and Lannisport."

"Does Balon Greyjoy have it in him for another rebellion?" Tyrion asked.

"He won't as long as he knows that Jason is at Casterly Rock with his men. Though, that does not help our situation. Robb Stark will soon have the Lords of the Trident on his side and together their numbers may exceed our own. With Roose Bolton behind us as well, I fear that if we stay here, we will be caught between three armies." Uncle Kevan said.

"I have no intention of remaining here. We must finish our business with Robb Stark and then move to defeat Renly Baratheon before he can march from Highgarden. Bolton's host is mostly scattered, so he is of little threat to us and won't give us pursuit. So, on the morrow we shall march for Harrenhal. Kevan, send word to Jason that he is to raise a new host at Casterly Rock and give command to Stafford, I want Ser Addam's outriders to screen our march and that he is to have as many men as required." Lord Tywin said.

"Harrenhal? That seems like an unlucky place." Gerold said.

"It matters not what the common folk label it. Tell Ser Amory Lorch that he is to take his men and light the Riverlands afire form the Gods Eye to the Red Fork."

"It will be done." Uncle Kevan said, though he ha a grim expression on his face as he left.

"You may as well send your savages with Lorch. They can plunder as they like, anything they can get their hands on is theirs to keep. Everything they don't want can burn." Tyrion's father said to him.

"I am remiss to part with them. I've grown rather fond of my wildlings you see." Tyrion said.

"You don't plan to get yourself married now do you uncle?" Gerold asked.

Tyrion was about to replay with a quip of his own when his lord father butted in.

"You best keep them under control than. I'll not have them plunder the city."

"Which city?" Tyrion asked.

"King's Landing. I'm sending you and Gerold to court."

Tyrion was not expecting that at all and took a sip of his wine to absorb the news. Gerold decided to offer his shock in a more verbal form.

"What? That is the last place I would go."

"I must agree with my nephew on that one father. King's Landing seems like it's going to be a dangerous place in the coming months. And what are we even to do there anyway?" Tyrion said.

"Rule." Was all that the man said.

"Rule? Oh, Cersei might have a word or two to say about that." Tyrion said into his wine glass.

"I'd rather stay here with the army grandfather. My father said to avoid the snake pit that is King's Landing at all costs. I'm inclined to heed his words." Gerold said.

"You both will be going to King's Landing. Tyrion will be acting as Hand of the King in my stead and you Gerold, will be taking command of Lannister Household Guard in the city. Your father sent one hundred of his personal guards with you, and you are going to take all of them with you and get the rest of the Lannister guards in that city into order. Tyrion, you will get the city into order and curtail Cersei and Joffrey so that they don't wander into another blunder. I've started to wonder what sort of counsel they are offering if this is the state of the realm. Take control of the situation and if you smell a whiff of treason from any of them, mount their heads on the walls of the Red Keep. That is my word, see it done."

With that, Lord Tywin Lannister stood from his seat and made for the door.

"Why not send for Jason? Wouldn't he be better suited for the position?" Tyrion asked. His brother was the future Lord of Casterly Rock and was a better statesmen by far compared to himself.

Lord Tywin stopped and looked back.

"Jason has vowed to never enter the city again. You shall do so in his place."

Tyrion didn't get another word in as his lord father was gone by then. Jason would truly be the better choice to act as Hand of the King. He commanded respect and authority just as much as their father did. He knew how to get things done with they needed doing and he had loyal men around him to do so.

But… King's Landing was the one place that Jason had vowed to never enter again. The Sack of King's Landing still haunted his brother's nightmares and Tyrion couldn't quite blame him for not wanting to see the place again. Though, that meant that Tyrion himself was going to have to do the job, and he had to drag Gerold along as well.

"My father said that King's Landing is the last place anyone would want to be. It's the only time I've seen him cry, when he brings up the Sack." Gerold said, his voice quieter than it usually was.

Tyrion knew that Jason had told his children what he had done during the sack, and what he had failed to do. He had killed one Targaryen and failed to save two others. He became the Kingslayer and the Raging Lion all in one night. Jason never was the same after the Sack.

"Your father has good reason to dislike the city." Tyrion said and put a hand on his nephew's arm. "But its not all bad. Sure, the place smells of shit and the court is full of schemers and backstabbers. There is Joffrey and Cersei to deal with, but you have one hundred of your father's best men, and you'll have me. I am your favorite uncle after all."

"I hope your right uncle. I hope really hope you are." Gerold said and offered Tyrion a small smile.

Tyrion watched the boy go and he sighed as he was left alone in the room. Dealing with Cersei and Joffrey was the last thing he wanted. And there was the added pressure of keeping Gerold alive, though, hopefully Jason's men would do most of that for him.

He sighed again and finished the last of his wine. He set the glass down onto the table with finality and rolled his shoulders as he exited the room.

King's Landing here we come.