With the conclusion of the Black Wolf saga this is now my main focus for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, that will mean updates at a similar rate to the Stark stories, but towards the end especially I had a large number of buffer chapters, which I do not for this one. So count yourselves as lucky (or unlucky if you're a reader that isn't a fan of the direction this is taking) that this chapter is out now, and I will work on getting a decent number of buffer chapters ready to start uploading this a lot more frequently.

As for the story itself, one thing I should probably point out before we start. Littlefinger's title is taken from his holdings on the Game of Thrones CK2 mod. In the actual books his castle and lands don't have a name that I can find, so I've used Midlor Point.

I've borrowed a small line or two of dialogue from Season 4 Episode 8.

I own nothing but the OC's, everyone and everything else from this chapter comes from either George R R Martin, HBO, or perhaps, for this chapter, perhaps even Telltale Games Art Department.

The Lannisport host arrived back at Casterly Rock as the sun was at its highest in the sky, and Loren was grateful to see Cerenna amongst a small group in the castle courtyard. Grinning, he pulled his horse to a halt and dismounted, walking over towards her. "My Lady." He bowed his head.

"My Lord." Cerenna curtseyed. "Welcome home."

"Yes, welcome home, Lord Loren." Tyrion also greeted, and Loren was initially shocked to see the dwarf in the Westerlands stood next to his wife. Loren fell down to a knee and hugged the man.

"Uncle, this is a surprise." He commented happily.

Tyrion smirked. "Quite like you did, I felt the capital rather stifling and needed a break." Tyrion shook his head. "But alas, you have returned, and I would not dampen your mood with my tales of woe just yet."

Loren nodded. "We shall speak later, Uncle." He said, knowing full well what he needed to say to the Imp. Tyrion bowed and walked back into the castle, and Loren pulled Cerenna in for a hug. "I am glad to see you." He said quietly.

"Come, I have something to show you." Cerenna said eagerly. She pulled him by the hand and dragged him into the castle, stopping inside the empty Golden Gallery.

"What are we doing here?" Loren asked.

Cerenna just turned her back to him and locked the door from the inside. "I wanted to show you, not write to you about this." She said as she began to unlace her cloak. She held it out for Loren to take, which he did suspiciously. "I tried, but it can't wait until we get up to our chambers."

"What's going on?" He asked her. Cerenna took a deep breath, and turned around, a smile on her lips. Loren at first didn't notice anything different, but then his eyes noticed her stomach. "Are you…?" He stepped forwards and placed one hand on her hip and another on her stomach.

Cerenna nodded. "Only a few months gone." She smiled up at him. "This is ok, isn't it?"

Loren was grinning. "Of course it is." He reassured her. "This is wonderful news, Ren." He leant in to kiss her deeply, before pulling away and staring down at the vague bump. "Does anybody else know?"

"Maester Creylen knows." She explained. "As does Ella, Daven and Tyrion. Mother and Father too. We can announce the news soon enough, but for now I just want us to be able to enjoy it." She placed a hand on Loren's chest. "We've had enough trouble, isn't it time for a little happiness?"

Loren nodded, though his mind was thrown back to his time at Payne Hall. "We have been reckless though, Ren." He sighed. "I wouldn't change our actions for anything I swear, but Lord Walder is reportedly furious, and it took Harrenhal to appease Lord Payne."

"You are Loren, of the House Lannister." Cerenna told him firmly. "Lord Walder may be angry, and if he reacts then you will meet him head on, as a lion would." She kissed his cheek. "You're right, we have been reckless. Our dreams have made reality dangerous it is true, but we can worry about that later. For now, we celebrate our baby."

Loren grinned, picking his wife up as she squealed and wrapped her legs around his waist. "Celebrate." He repeated with a grin as he pushed her over to the golden lined walls of the Golden Gallery. "We can do that."

Tyland awoke early on the morning of the trial by combat. The duel was to take place by the tourney grounds after noon, so there was still a good chunk of the day to deal with beforehand, and Tyland made a start by getting dressed in his House colours, looking to portray a semblance of pride in Jaime to the crowds.

With Sansa entering the final few months of her pregnancy she had been moved to separate chambers, allowing Tyland a chance to get some work done whilst eating breakfast without an angry, hormonal child in the background distracting him. Tyland set out to instruct Ser Addam Marbrand on where the Gold Cloaks should be positioned during the duel, as well as choosing between three unsavoury characters to act as a new Chief Gaoler. Once he had picked the person who he could influence more, Tyland picked up his papers and went to leave the room, but not before he tied the sword belt holding Red Rain and a gilded golden dagger to his waist.

His first visit was to Vylarr who was to bring the chosen Gaoler to him that morning, before he found Ser Addam and handed him the instructions. With another hour or so until the Small Council meeting of the day, Tyland found himself walking towards the White Sword Tower towards Jaime. As he arrived outside his brother's chambers, he heard raised voices coming from inside. Stopping for a moment to listen, he groaned as he heard his sister.

"It's been so long, Jaime… If you die today…"

"I won't die." Jaime said firmly. "Lyn Corbray is good, but he's arrogant. I have fought many men like him before, most of them better swordsman than he."

"I don't want there to be any chance of us not being together again." Tyland heard Cersei say, and he wanted to barge in once again, though something in Jaime's voice stopped him.

"We haven't been together since Stannis attacked!" Jaime's voice cried. "I keep pushing you away, but you refuse to take no for an answer."

Cersei scoffed audibly. "You value the opinion of our brother far too much. Who cares what he thinks? We are one, you and I. We always have been…"

"No more." Jaime said firmly. "I cannot tell you any more ways, Cersei. Find yourself another cock to bounce on, ideally Loras Tyrell's given that you are to wed. I'm done."

There was a silence for a moment before footsteps started stomping over to the door. Tyland positioned himself to knock when the door opened, and Cersei opened it, alarmed. "How much did you hear?"

"I've literally just arrived." Tyland lied smoothly. Cersei looked at him suspiciously but stormed past him on the way out. Tyland entered Jaime's room and closed the door.

"How much did you really hear?" Jaime asked, sat on his bed in his Kingsguard armour.

"I heard you turn her down." Tyland told his brother. "And I heard about before the Blackwater…"

Jaime sighed. "The only time since you caught us, I swear. I didn't want to, but I didn't know if either of us would survive…"

"I understand." Tyland shrugged, standing over by the window where he could see the duelling area being set up. "I fear I've been harsh to you both."

Jaime scoffed. "You what?"

Tyland shrugged. "This Tysha thing keeps getting dragged back up again, and it's made me reflect slightly. I suppose for most people, you do not choose who you love."

"No, but you can choose to act on it." Jaime told him firmly. "You were right about forcing us to stop… whatever it is we were doing." He sighed as he sat down and rubbed his eyes. "What do you want, brother?"

Tyland nodded. "Ah, yes." He remembered, and he began to unbuckle his belt.

Jaime smirked. "I know I turned down Cersei, but that isn't to say I want to do that with you instead."

Tyland rolled his eyes. "A poor jape." He took off the sword belt and handed it to Jaime. "Here."

Tentatively, Jaime took the sword in his hands, unsheathing it by an inch. "Red Rain…" Jaime whispered.

"It is yours only for the duel." Tyland told him. "Lyn Corbray has a Valyrian Steel blade, it makes no sense to go into it underprepared." Tyland then placed a hand on Jaime's armoured shoulder. "Do not die, brother."

Jaime shook his head, snapping the blade back inside it's sheathe. "I must avenge Joffrey, have no fear. The only people dying this day will be from the Vale."

After tidying both himself and Cerenna up after their romp in the Golden Gallery, Loren had something quick to eat before he met his uncle in the Godswood. He spotted his Uncle staring up at the twisted Weirwood tree in the centre of the stone garden. "It baffles me that the Northerners actually worship these things." Loren told him.

Tyrion looked around to see who had joined him. "I find it alarmingly peaceful, in a strange sort of way." He turned to face Loren and bowed his head. "My Lord."

Loren scoffed. "Acting Lord, but never to you. I'm always Loren to you, Uncle."

Tyrion smirked and nodded appreciatively. "The fleet is coming on nicely. Wood from Crakehall lands is being shipped in daily, and I have hired a team of Braavosi architects to make up some plans." He explained.

"Good." Loren nodded, leading Tyrion away from the Weirwood as they took a stroll across the gardens. "A powerful fleet is something we've lacked for a while."

"You have something on your mind, nephew." Tyrion said, prodding. "We could have discussed this in your offices, yet here we are in the Godswood. Would you care to share? I'm an excellent listener."

Loren smirked. "It's been a long year. Seeing Lord Payne after all I've done… it just made me think."

"Never apologise for love, Loren." Tyrion murmured. "Not enough of it exists in the world."

"No wonder when so many go to war over it." Loren muttered. "Unless you are Tywin Lannister, of course."

Tyrion grinned. "My, I didn't expect you to speak about our Lord Hand in such a manner. I like it."

"I didn't realise how much of our history is based upon fear." Loren admitted. "When I was growing up, all you would hear about the Reyne's is that justice was done. With House Drumm, we chalk that off to justice for my Mother." Loren sighed. "Necessary actions I suppose, but it does nothing to appease me when innocents die."

Tyrion nodded. "You have a softer heart than that of your Father and Grandfather, and you must never see that as a weakness." Tyrion insisted. "You are young yet, and you will understand in time when it is time for ruthlessness and when it is time for kindness. I foresee both in your future, I'm afraid."

Loren nodded. "I spared Cerenna some of the details, but Lord Walder is gearing up for a civil war. He doesn't like the fact that Emmon now holds Riverrun given how close he is to House Lannister, and by proxy me. He's holding off for now as he's just married another child or something, but news of the pregnancy may remind him of what we stole."

"You didn't steal." Tyrion shook his head. "Thinking like this will cause you to look at your wife with nothing but regret. Could you have acted better? Perhaps, but I wouldn't have wanted you to do so." Tyrion looked over a balcony at the sunset glistening over the sea. "As I told you, love is rare enough in this world. You are lucky you are in a position to grasp it with both hands and to tell the world to fuck off. Not all of us are."

Loren looked downcast, and he knew what he needed to do. "Uncle." He gained Tyrion's attention again.

"What is it?" Tyrion asked.

"I need to tell you something…"

In the hours before the duel, Tywin had called the Small Council together for a meeting. Jaime was absent of course as he was down in the training yard getting himself used to wielding a Valyrian Steel blade, but the rest of the council was in attendance. The meeting had started on the group deciding a Master of Ships, with the overwhelming majority agreeing that Paxter Redwyne was the best fit. As Tywin drafted out a summons for the Arbor Lord, attention then turned to a couple of letters that had been received.

"Lord Bolton has broken the Wildling host at Castle Black, the head of Mance Rayder now sits proudly on the walls of the Dreadfort, whilst Lady Arryn has written directly to the King, Lord Hand." Pycelle explained. Tywin dropped his pen and looked over darkly at the Grand Maester, who shakingly handed the sealed letter over to the Hand of the King. Tyland waited patiently for his Father to read it, and the Lannister patriarch was done in less than a minute.

"More blustering." He muttered. "Lady Arryn is threatening rebellion if we do not free Lord Baelish."

Mace Tyrell scoffed. "Lord Baelish is on trial for murdering the King."

Tyland rolled his eyes at the obvious statement. "We cannot free him, and the Vale do not have the strength to force us into submission."

"This matter with Walder Frey in the Riverlands needs sorting quickly, we need to control the High Road." Tywin explained. "Pycelle, write to Loren at Casterly Rock. He is to march into the Riverlands and force a peace between the factions of House Frey at Riverrun. I want a united Riverlands ready and waiting for if Lysa Arryn does come crawling down from the mountains. Also write to Runestone. Lord Royce was the closest one of his Lords that Jon Arryn could call a friend, explain clearly that any hint of a Vale rebellion will be treated as harshly as the Northerners was."

Pycelle bowed his head. "As you wish, My Lord."

"Are the preparations for the duel completed?" Tywin asked, eager to get the thought of more war out of everyone's minds.

Tyland nodded. "The arena has been built and Ser Lyn Corbray has been informed of the times. This matter will be over by nightfall." He explained, before adding. "We should also send a reminder to Lady Arryn of who she is threatening."

Tywin agreed. "Send Marillion to the Eyrie. Lord Tyrell, you yourself will pay him handsomely to sing nothing but the Rains of Castamere."

"At once, Lord Tywin." Mace agreed, and Tyland smirked at how easily his Father could persuade the other Lord Paramount to part with his own money.

"Good, then is there anything else before we part?" Tywin asked.

The spymaster had been very quiet up until then, but finally the bald man poked up his head and said. "Whispers from the East, Lord Hand."

"The Targaryen girl." Tywin commented.

"She has conquered Meereen and is now sitting in the Great Pyramid and fancies herself the Queen of Slavers Bay." Varys explained. "Though there is a distinct lack of slavery now in Slavers Bay."

Tyland sensed an opportunity in that. "Not many local noblemen will like that change of law. We can use this to our advantage."

"We can." Tywin nodded. "Varys, arrange for a coronation gift from us, a rather sharp knife will do."

Varys bowed his head. "At once, Lord Hand."

"Then if that is everything." Tywin said, standing up. The rest of the council followed suit. "Tyland, write to Lord Bolton commending him on his efforts at the Wall, it needs to come from you as Lord of Winterfell."

Tyland bowed his head. "I shall do so before the duel."

"Good." Tywin nodded curtly. "Then I shall see you all for Baelish's trial, My Lords." He dismissed, and the Small Council filtered out of the room, their thoughts beginning to focus on whether Jaime could defeat the famed Valeman or not.

It was a dull, grey afternoon, a fact that Tyland was quite happy about as he took his seat beside his Father in the crimson tent overlooking the duelling circle. Looking down at the two combatants, Tyland noticed that both sets of armour, silver for Ser Lyn Corbray and golden for Jaime, were polished to perfection and too much sunlight could have proved disastrous. Jaime was being attended to by a couple of other Kingsguard members, whilst in the Vale corner it looked like Littlefinger was whispering ferociously in his champion's ear.

"No Lady Sansa?" His sister's condescending tone sounded in his ears and brought his attention back to his own personal space. Tyland sighed as his sister took the seat to his left.

"The babe has her feeling unwell, she is being well looked after I assure you." Tyland said diplomatically, moving his drink closer to him on the side table.

Tywin sounded pleased with that. "With any luck in a few months the babe shall be born strong and healthy, and we can finally settle matters North of the Neck." He said from Tyland's right.

The final seat inside the tent was then taken up by Mace Tyrell who sat boastfully next to the Hand of the King, and Tyland was slightly confused at that. "Is the King not joining us?"

"His Grace has other important matters to attend to and does not wish to grant the accused the privilege of his full attention." Cersei explained.

Tyland thought that was obviously rubbish, but he almost laughed when Mace Tyrell added. "He and the Queen have gone boating on King Joffrey's wedding gift. I believe they are being taught how to fish."

Tyland turned to his sister who was failing horribly at hiding her scowl, and Tyland took a sip of lemon water, the drink tasting sweeter than usual. "May the King and his betrothed have a wonderful time whilst we watch the barbaric nature of men hacking one another to bits."

"Enough." Tywin said firmly. "It is starting."

Sure enough, Tyland turned to face forwards and he saw Grand Maester Pycelle stumbling out to the middle of the circle. The rest of the crowd started to fall silent as the horns blew, and the old man started to address the crowd. "In the sight of Gods and Men, we gather to ascertain the guilt or innocence of this man, Lord Petyr Baelish of Midlor Point. May the Mother grant them mercy. May the Father give them such justice as they deserve, and May the Warrior guide the hand of our champion…"

"They should get on with it." Cersei muttered. "This is the trial over the murder of a King." Tywin said sternly. "It will be done by the book."

Finally, once all the speeches were concluded Pycelle bowed his head and left, allowing Jaime and Lyn Corbray to move to the centre. They stopped roughly ten feet away from one another when Tywin stood up and addressed them. "Ser Lyn Corbray, Lord Commander Jaime Lannister. You have both vowed to fight to the death for your respective causes, and so a fight to the death it shall be." The horns then blew, and the armoured combatants began to circle one another.

Lyn Corbray was the first to speak, announcing loudly for the crowd's pleasure. "My Lady has had the pleasure of crossing swords with Valyrian Steel once before, Ser. That blade has only ever truly been wielded by pirates and scum."

Tyland scowled at the brazen way Lyn Corbray insulted him and his hands gripped his chair arms so tightly his knuckles were pale white. Jaime meanwhile, responded just as arrogantly and as loudly. "A battle in which it lost to a King, Ser. As it will do once more today, given that I am the King's own sword. You would have been better off bedding your Lady than wielding it in battle."

Corbray roared and swung forwards, but the blow was easily deflected by Jaime's white Kingsguard shield. The Lannister then tested his opponents defence, though the slash was also parried. The battle was soon begun in earnest then, and instead of intermittent sounds of swords against shields, Valyrian Steel on Valyrian Steel sung in the air. It was almost too quick for Tyland to keep up with as the pride of the Vale met the pride of the West in a battle that would surely end up in history. Red Rain and Lady Forlorn flew at one another ferociously, and it was simply the skill of the two men that meant after almost 5 minutes no man had been injured.

The first sight of a potential victor came around then, and it was Jaime who got the advantage. After a high parry with his shield Jaime then ducked under the next swing and threw himself at the Valeman. A clash of armour sounded through the arena and then Jaime was straddling Lyn Corbray, before the Vale Knight acrobatically kicked Jaime off of him and both men were on the floor. They both picked themselves up, but Jaime was quicker in slamming Red Rain into the top of the Corbray's shield, and the sword embed itself deep into the wood. Ripping the wood away from it's wielder, a cheer went up from the crowd as Jaime ripped Red Rain out of the shield and turned back to face Lyn Corbray, now shield less. They both stood there panting for a moment before Jaime dropped his own shield.

"You damned fool…" Tyland whispered, but his attention was solely on the two men stood a few feet apart from one another. "Just finish him."

That of course, was easier said than done, and both men weren't renowned for no reason. The swords swung, the smoke-grey Lady Forlorn and the blood red Red Rain swirled and hacked at one another, with every blow being parried or dodged.

"This is taking too long." Cersei grumbled.

"Both men are skilled warriors." Tywin said with an air of calm about his voice, though Tyland noticed a slight tremble in his next words. "Jaime will be fine." As soon as the Hand of the King said that, Lyn Corbray struck with a pair of attacks that broke through Jaime's strong defence. One blow caught him in the underside of the arm, the next however, just glanced the gap in the middle of his Kingsguard helmet.

"No!" Cersei cried and went to stand, but Tyland gripped her arm tightly and slammed her back into her seat to stop her from moving. She tried fighting for a split second, but then her other hand came to rest on Tyland's and she squeezed, a comforting feeling for him.

Jaime at this point had gotten some distance between him and his opponent, and after checking that his nose wound wasn't bad in anyway, he swung Red Rain in a circle and went on a vicious attack.

"This is it…" Tyland whispered. He knew his brother, and Jaime wasn't playing around anymore. The Kingsguard knight hacked and thrust his blade in any direction to make the Valeman unsure of where to defend. Corbray parried at least a dozen times in a manner of seconds as he was stepping backwards until the Valeman was pushed up against the barrier by the water. "Come on Jaime, finish him!" He cried, though the shouts of the crowd made his own cry drown out. Jaime held his place, swiping and thrusting out Red Rain, making Lyn Corbray almost dance against the barrier in his attempts to dodge. The Valeman tried to push past Jaime, but he was simply thrown back, and in his unbalance Jaime hacked down against Lady Forlorn, breaking Corbray's grip and sending the sword into the water.

A cheer erupted from the crowds, as Jaime held his blade up to Lyn Corbray's neck. Tyland knew that Jaime was trying to convince the man to yield, but at the shake of Lyn's head, Jaime screamed. "YIELD!"

"NEVER!" Corbray roared back, and then came an angry roar as Jaime rammed Red Rain hilt deep into the Valeman's neck. A silence fell as he pulled back his blade and Lyn Corbray fell to his knees, and then to the floor with a metallic thud, before the crowd erupted in cheers.

Tyland was smirking, Cersei was crying, and Tywin Lannister just rose to his feet gracefully. The horns blew for quiet, and Tywin began to speak. "Lord Petyr Baelish. You asked for justice in a Trial by Combat. Justice has been given. In the name of King Tommen Baratheon of the House Baratheon, you are hereby sentenced to death."

It was a strange sense of quiet that filled Jaime's chambers as he was patched up after the battle. Lady Forlorn had given Jaime a small scar on the bridge of his nose and a deeper wound in the top of his arm, but other than that the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was just tired. Very quickly after the sentencing Jaime had been brought up to the White Sword Tower, and his family had followed him there. Tywin Lannister was staring out of the window towards the coastline, Cersei was sat in the corner looking worriedly at Jaime, who was seemingly looking anywhere else, whilst Tyland was stood in the doorway.

"You played with him." Tyland noted once the Maesters had walked off, leaving Jaime shirtless with his arm in a sling.

"I beat him." Jaime shrugged, wincing at the movement.

"You could have beaten him when he lost his shield, you played with him." Tyland repeated.

Jaime scoffed. "I had to drop my own, it was the honourable thing to do."

"Honour?" Cersei scoffed. "Why did you care about honour? This your life on the line, the reputation of our… my son." She looked hesitantly up at Tywin, who seemingly hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary.

"You don't understand." Jaime scowled. "The image of this fight was almost as important as this fight itself. I am the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, the symbol of the crown's martial power. If I fought dirty, then the crown would be dirty. I gave him his chances, he told me he would rather die than yield, so I obliged."

"Jaime did well." Tywin said from the window, and all eyes turned to him. "For once, his… honourable nature, has done us a favour. Tommen is a symbol of justice and honour, while Littlefinger will die a traitor's death at the hands of Ser Ilyn."

"What of Lysa Arryn?" Tyland asked. "She will not be best pleased."

"We have sent our letters and our threats, if she is too blind to see them as her doom if she tries anything, then let her." Tywin stated bluntly. "The Gods have spoken, and we are in control, not Lysa Arryn, nor the Lords of the Vale that might be angered at this."

Jaime snorted. "The Gods, you believe in them now Father, that they guided my arm?"

"Not in the slightest." Tywin said. "You yourself guided your arm, and it is yet another victory for House Lannister against anyone who would oppose us." Tyland reckoned he saw the hint of a smile on his Father's face, but it could have just been a trick of the light. "Ready yourselves, the execution is in an hour."

"So soon?" Jaime asked.

Tywin nodded. "Baelish is nothing, unimportant. He will get an execution at the block like any other minor noble. Best to get it over with quickly and place his head on the walls before he has any more chance to attempt to squirm his way out of trouble." He then sighed contently before striding out of the room before stopping by Tyland. "Somebody needs to fish Lady Forlorn out of the sea." He remembered.

"I'll see to it now." Tyland nodded as he moved to follow his Father, but he remembered that Cersei was also still in the room. Turning curiously to Jaime, the younger Lannister brother nodded his head once, saying that it was ok, and Tyland followed his Father out of the Kingsguard Tower.

As Tyland looked down from the third-floor corridor that overlooked the small square filled with the lucky onlookers that got let in. Lady Forlorn had been recovered when the Gold Cloaks had heard a fisherman bragging of reeling in the blade. Said fisherman was now in the stocks while Lady Forlorn was being cleaned and wrapped up, ready to send back to Hearts Home.

After that business had been sorted, Tyland found a quiet spot away from the rest of the gathering nobles to stand and watch Baelish lose his head, and for a while he had been alone waiting for the blade to swing, but just as the crowd started to jeer as the disgraced minor Lord was led out, he heard footsteps walking towards him.

"Has it started?" Sansa's voice asked and Tyland turned towards his wife and saw that she was with her ever-present Forrester friend, who was holding the hand of ever growing Stark.

Shaking his head, Tyland responded. "Not yet, they are bringing him out now."

"Good." Sansa muttered, and she walked closer to stand beside him, staring down. They were high up, so they couldn't hear anything other than the crowds, but that was fine with Tyland.

"I wouldn't want to die there." Mira Forrester muttered.

"Don't commit treason, then." Tyland retorted.

Sansa scoffed and stroked her friend's hand before placing her own back on her belly, and the trio watched on as Lord Baelish's final rites were read out, and Ilyn Payne stepped forwards with a big, steel greatsword. Less than ten of seconds later Baelish was shoved to his knees and the sword began to swing, cutting off his head in one, clean swing.

"Good." Sansa repeated. "Come along Mira, I want to finish that outfit before dusk." And without another word to Tyland the Stark girl walked back the way she came from leaving him as bemused as he was relieved.

I feel like a lot happened in this chapter, with Loren telling Tyrion something over in Casterly Rock, though I think we all know what he's telling Tyrion… In King's Landing however, a reminder that Jaime is refusing Cersei, there is some news about what's gone on elsewhere in the world with Daenerys and the North. This puts us almost at the end of Season 4 in the show timeline.

Finally, Baelish's death. The hardest scene for me to write was the duel as I had to get the mix of a pair of expertly skilled swordsmen with what Tyland thought of it all and some reactions from the Royal Tent. I think I did alright though… The reason Lyn Corbray didn't yield was because it's considered highly dishonourable to yield in a trial by combat if anybody was wondering.

I hope you all enjoyed it. I realise a number of people aren't happy with some of the characters, and all I can really say to that is that I trust in what I'm doing. I have an outline of 60 chapters that is all but completed, I just need to add some more scenes into the last few chapters, but I can't do that until I get further into the story. I know where this leads and I'm excited for it!

Next time: We are solely in King's Landing as Tyrion is wed to Shireen Baratheon.

Reviews:

Supremus85: The Northern houses have a distinct lack of leadership though and no Starks, they haven't the strength to keep independence and Balon Greyjoy would never ally with the North. Lysa may complain but I can't see the Vale houses going to war with the Lannister/Tyrell army over Baelish.

Cleo9427: I mean I think it's better because I wrote it haha! Whether the readers agree with me is one for the future, however.

sniperbro1998: For now Oberyn can only sit on his hatred.

janisliepa908: They are both barely adults so of course they have visions of grandeur. Lannisters however have only been overly relevant since Tywin. Before that they stuck to the Westerlands for the most part, with the exception of Tyland Lannister during the Dance of the Dragons. They've had their fair share of idiot rulers as well as good and kind rulers. I've made this point to a number of my readers and I will make it again. If Tyland charms you, then take a long look at yourself. I don't write him to be charming. He's a cruel individual that has been brought up not to care about other peoples lives if it impacts his and his family's standing. We are not even halfway through this story and there is still plenty of time for characters to change.

EstarossaTheBasilisk: Firstly, thank you for the monster of a review. It was really thought provoking and I'll try and explain myself in response to your points as best I can. The problem with making Tyland do things alone as compared to Loren is his current position in the world. He is Master of Laws, so is involved in the King's Landing side of things. There he has a King to deal with, a Hand of the King that is also his Lord, Father, and the man he has looked up to all his life, and there is also a number of family members around. Unlike in the early chapters he can't really do anything on his own because of everything that is going on around him. Loren meanwhile is the Acting Lord of Casterly Rock, so is in charge on the other side of the continent. For point 2 and what is he good at, I would say he's an exceptional commander and he's a disciplinarian, all roles taught to him by Tywin who groomed him from a young age to be his perfect idea of an heir. He will never be an assassin as he wasn't brought up that way, but he is very capable in winning battles, as shown in the Greyjoy Rebellion and the battles against Robb Stark earlier in the story. Point 3, he isn't a feeling man. He was groomed by his Father when he was at his most vulnerable and has been moulded by him. When the rare occasions that emotion does get to him, it's mainly through anger of how it affects his family standing, such as when his first wife was taken by the Ironborn. I don't agree I don't show what his family think of him. I've shown pretty clearly that Tywin sees him as the next him, Cersei hates him, Jaime dislikes his actions but owes him his reputation, Tyrion from now on will despise him more than he perhaps did before, and Loren initially thought of Tyland as a hero, now is disgusted by his actions and that's the main reason he wants to be better. As for his thoughts on what isn't happening in the moment, that would take me out of the story if I'm constantly describing unimportant things at that moment in time. Thank you for the lengthy review again I really do appreciate it!

Mem0ry: Wow… what did Tommen do for you to wish him dead?

Cauti0n: Thank you!