Sorry for the little delay. I should have updated last Friday.

A family reunion, the small council gets bigger (for once) and everyone is planning plots and schemes like always in this stinking city.


TYRION XI

"Ser Barristan, tell me everything that happened."

They were walking in the corridors of the Red Keep, heading for the small council chambers, with one hundred men from the Westerlands behind them. Tyrion had to make sure that everyone was conscious of his power and his influence as soon as he arrived in the Red Keep, and that he didn't come to be someone's toy. It was also a measure of safety. Cersei already tried to kill him.

It hadn't been difficult to enter the Red Keep and Maegor's Holdfast. The man who was in charge of the gate was a lieutenant of the red cloaks. Cersei replaced their captain, a man that Tyrion chose himself, by one of Janos Slynt's men, a corrupted officer of the City Watch, but the other officers of the red cloaks were still sworn to Casterly Rock, so they were bound to obey Tyrion before they obeyed Cersei or the king. The portcullis was raised without much hesitation. The doors of the Red Keep were wide open for him and Margaery. His wife was to take care of settling them while Tyrion would pay a visit to his siblings. He needed a good discussion with them.

Ser Barristan had welcomed them, his usual self, respectful, and Tyrion ordered him to lead him to Cersei and Jaime. The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was reluctant at first, saying that the Queen Regent and the Hand of the King were in the middle of a meeting of the small council, but after some polite arguing, Ser Barristan complied and led the way, and now Tyrion wanted to know how the Warden of the North ended up with his head planted on a spike, decorating the battlements of Maegor's Holdfast.

"I don't know everything, my lord, but I'll tell you what I know. I was hunting with the king when the events broke off. King Robert was heavily wounded by a boar during the hunt. We brought him back as quickly as possible. He asked to see Lord Stark, but while we were absent, the Lord of Winterfell was arrested. The queen placed him under arrest after he made threats against her and her children. According to the queen, he plotted to seize the Iron Throne for himself. I'm not sure of the nature of these threats, but the queen said they were serious. The king asked for Lord Stark. He was in great pain. It was decided to tell him that Lord Stark left the city and was far away, and to reduce the pain, the Grand Maester gave him some milk of the poppy. The king died before the night was over," the knight explained.

"Who decided to hide the truth to Robert? And whose decision was it to put him to sleep with milk of the poppy?"

"The queen told us to tell this lie. She said that it would only make his final hours worse for the king, to know that his best friend betrayed him. As for the milk of the poppy, it was Pycelle's suggestion."

"Of course. It was Pycelle's idea."

Tyrion knew that the old man didn't respect his vows more than the members of the Night's Watch or the High Septon, and that half the maesters through the Seven Kingdoms, if not more, were better than Pycelle, but he wasn't entirely incompetent either. Milk of the poppy was a choice to make the last hours of a dying man less painful, but it was also possible that Pycelle gave the milk on Cersei's orders. Jon Arryn had died in curious circumstances, and if he was poisoned, then there were three possibilities. The first one was that Jon Arryn wasn't poisoned, and then it was normal that Pycelle found nothing. The second possibility was that Jon Arryn was actually poisoned, and that Pycelle didn't find poison in his body, or didn't notice the signs of poisoning. Finally, Jon Arryn was poisoned and Pycelle was an accomplice in this murder. The latter would mean that he was in league with Cersei.

"King Robert died, and Joffrey was crowned. The truth about Lord Stark's failed coup was exposed after the crowning," Ser Barristan resumed.

"And Cersei was named Queen Regent at this moment, I suppose."

"Yes, by our new king. It was approved by the small council. Janos Slynt was also appointed on the small council with the queen, and named Master of Laws."

"And how did it come that Ned Stark was executed?"

"Lord Stark confessed his crimes before the Great Sept of Baelor, in the presence of the High Septon, the king, the small council and the people. The king then ordered his execution." The knight looked tired as he said that.

"And no one tried to stop him?"

"He is the king, my lord. A king's word is law."

"Right, but no one opposed this? No one tried to talk him out of this idea?"

"I believe the queen tried to convince him to renounce this. He said that your sister wanted Lord Stark to be given the right to take the black." It seemed that Cersei wasn't entirely a fool. "He also said that the Lady Sansa asked him to show mercy for her father." Of course, she would. "She begged him to spare her father as Ser Ilyn was about to chop his head."

"Wait a minute. Sansa Stark was there when her father was executed?"

"Yes, my lord. She fainted when her father was killed." The kingsguard had a sorry expression on his face.

"My nephew has a unique way of winning the heart of his betrothed. So, the only people who tried to stop this folly were two women? I'm disappointed, Ser Barristan."

"Lord Varys ran to the king to talk to him when he took the decision."

"Two women, and an eunuch. What about the Grand Maester? The Master of Coin? And Slynt, since he is Master of Laws now?"

"I think they were too much surprised to do anything. We all were, my lord."

"So my brother did nothing either?"

"He stood with our sworn brothers, in position to protect the king. We had to watch the crowd. It was unruly all the time. If the gold cloaks failed to hold them off, it was our duty to protect the king."

"And what about you, Ser Barristan? You did nothing?"

"I was surprised by this decision, my lord, and even more surprised of Lord Stark's treason, but this was the king's decision, and it's not my place to question them."

He was looking ahead of him as he said so. "If it had been your call, Ser Barristan, would you have executed Ned Stark?"

"It's not my place to say what the king should do, my lord."

"Ser Barristan." Tyrion took his arm and stopped. His men behind them halted as well. "You served under three kings. I know you were there when Rickard and Brandon Stark were killed. You remember that day?"

"Only too well."

"What do you think of this? Do you think it was right to kill these two men?"

"No," the knight answered after a moment of hesitation. "They didn't deserve to die, and not like this. What the Mad King did… It was horrible."

"So you disapprove of what he did?"

"Yes, my lord. Even back then, I didn't agree with what the Mad King did to them."

"But you did nothing to stop him from doing so?"

"No, my lord. The Kingsguard is sworn to protect the king, to serve him. I take no pride in serving this man, but I did my duty, whether it was pleasing or not."

"Knowing what happened afterwards, how these murders led to the rebellion, to the death of your king, his son, and his grandchildren, and even of Elia Martell, would you say it was the best thing to obey him, since obeying him led to his loss? I'm not judging you, Ser Barristan. You were not the only man to do nothing on that day. My own brother told me what happened. There were lords, knights, ladies, and none of them did or said anything. But I want your opinion. Do you think that following your orders was the best way to protect Aerys?"

A long moment of silence went. "May I speak frankly, Lord Tyrion?"

"Go on."

"Sometimes, I wonder if I made the right decision at Duskendale. I wonder if I made the right thing when I saved Aerys that day."

Tyrion nodded. He understood what the knight meant. Aerys's folly took a darker turn if it was possible after the Defiance of Duskendale. There were people who said that his lord father hadn't pressed the operations against the Darklyns because he hoped that Aerys wouldn't survive the siege. It was even said that in the middle of a council, as Lord Tywin prepared a full-scale attack on Duskendale, after Lord Darklyn said he would put Aerys to death if any attack was launched, many of the commanders who were present opposed his father's plan on the base that the king might die during the assault. His father replied: "He may or he may not, but if he does, we have a better king right here." He raised his hand to indicate the heir, Rhaegar Targaryen.

Perhaps his father hoped that Rhaegar would accept to marry Cersei once he was on the throne. Perhaps it would have been the case. If the Mad King had died on this day, Rhaegar would have become king, and Cersei queen as Tywin Lannister would have remained his Hand. How history would have been different then. Tyrion wondered if Cersei would have killed Rhaegar like she killed Robert. Maybe Jaime would never have become a kingsguard and he would be Lord of Casterly Rock right now.

"Ser Barristan," Tyrion began, "you swore to serve the king and to protect him, but sometimes the best way to serve the king is not to obey him. Sometimes a king needs to be protected from himself."

The Lord Commander looked at him in a curious way, then he nodded. "Yes, my lord," he said politely.

They resumed their path to the small council chambers. Tyrion had to be careful. His sister had Janos Slynt on her side, and he had a seat on the small council. Both Pycelle and Littlefinger were possibly her allies, and as for Varys, even though the eunuch helped him the last time he came to the capital, Tyrion couldn't trust him. At least he seemed to have tried to convince Joffrey to not kill Ned Stark, which meant that he was probably the one person on the small council that Tyrion could expect to have some good sense. The men he brought would be loyal to him, and so were Margaery's guards, but as for the red cloaks, he couldn't be certain. They might obey him before they obeyed Cersei, but he would have to be careful with their new captain for the time he needed to get rid of him, and he couldn't expect to give them a direct order against the queen, not after most of them spent years in the capital near her. There was also the Kingsguard. Ser Barristan would take no side, but as for the others, he would have to gather information about each of them, to know where their loyalties lied. And there was Jaime of course. He didn't try to stop Joffrey, though Tyrion couldn't blame him for that. Why did Cersei name him Hand of the King? Jaime was never made for that kind of things, and Tyrion was sure that his brother had no wish to be Hand. Ser Barristan said he stood with his sworn brothers during the execution. Whatever side Jaime was, Tyrion was sure that he didn't want to be Hand.

They arrived before the doors giving on the chambers. Ser Mandon Moore, one of the kingsguards, stood before the door. Jaime once told him that he was the most dangerous member of the Kingsguard, because you could never tell what he would do.

"Ser Mandon, open the door," Barristan Selmy said.

"The small council is in session, Lord Commander," he replied. "Her Grace left orders, the council in session is not to be disturbed"

"It would be only a small disturbance, ser," Tyrion said.

"Her Grace does not wish to be disturbed," Ser Mandon repeated slowly, as if Tyrion was a dullard who didn't hear the first time he said it. Tyrion took note to make this knight understand who he was talking to later.

"Ser Mandon," his Lord Commander began, "Lord Tyrion is the queen's brother and the uncle of our king. He rode from Casterly Rock as quickly as he could. He must have very important tidings to bring to the small council."

"Then he will give them once the session is over. The queen doesn't wish to be disturbed."

That was one kingsguard who was loyal to Cersei, obviously. "The queen will want to hear what I have to say, Ser Mandon," Tyrion told him. "If she hears that you didn't let me in when she hears the news that I'm carrying, I'm afraid you might become the first target of her rage."

"It doesn't matter. The queen told me that she doesn't want to be disturbed."

He was stubborn. "I have very important, even vital news and information, that could decide of your king's fate, Ser Mandon. So whether you let me go in, or I make my own way in."

He snapped his fingers, and immediately the one hundred men behind unsheathed their swords, while not completely taking them out of their scabbards. "Please, my lord," Ser Barristan said, raising a hand in an appeasing way. He looked back to his fellow. "Ser Mandon, let Lord Tyrion go inside. I'll take the blame if the queen has anything to reproach you."

Mandon Moore's eyes didn't show any fear, nor any emotion of any kind. As Tyrion was about to lose patience and to order his men to force their way into the chambers, he stepped aside and opened the door. "You may enter. They may not."

"I'm afraid they will. I don't trust the safety of my sister with the son of a butcher sitting at the same table than her," he said.

"Two men, no more."

"It will be ten, and Ser Barristan as well. We are in troubled times, we must take all the necessary precautions." Tyrion made a movement with his head, and ten soldiers walked in. He watched Ser Mandon, waiting to see what he would do. He did nothing. "My other men will wait for me here. Use the time to get to know them."

Tyrion joined his men, Ser Barristan on his heels. The red armors allowed him to walk before, with the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard by his side. The presence of Ser Barristan by his side would be helpful, and perhaps it would bring Cersei to think that the old knight was on Tyrion's side. She would never trust Ser Barristan after that, which could work out in Tyrion's favor.

They turned around a column and arrived in the middle of a conversation. The six people sitting at the table stopped anything they were doing and looked at him. To Tyrion's surprise, Jaime was present. He stood up and came immediately to him, shaking his hand.

"Tyrion, glad to see you. We heard you were coming." His brother was obviously relieved.

"Nice to see you again, big brother. Hi, big sister. You're more ravishing than ever. War agrees with you," Tyrion said to her attention.

Cersei was standing as well, but she didn't leave her place at the table, the king's place. It seemed that Joffrey took after his father to not attend the reunions of the small council. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought that I could bring you some small help, considering the dire situation we're in. There was something very interesting, and unexpected, over the gates when I arrived." He made sure from his tone and his gaze that she understood what he was talking about, and that he wasn't happy about it.

"We'll discuss about it once this session of the small council is over. And I will have a serious talk with Ser Mandon Moore as to why he let you enter."

"Your Grace, I ordered Ser Mandon to let Lord Tyrion in. Lord and Lady Lannister rode tirelessly to come here. They're carrying important news."

"You let them in?" Cersei asked, looking at the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, a reaction that Tyrion expected and hoped for.

"We're already settling. Margaery and I decided that since the Tower of the Hand was empty, we would reside there," Tyrion declared.

"You did what?" Cersei said with outrage.

"We thought it would be the most appropriate place. We brought a few men with us. They need place where they can live. Now, since the welcome is done, perhaps we could get to the important matters. I have tidings of great importance to discuss with my bother and my sister. So everyone whose last name is not Lannister, or who doesn't have a last name, get out."

The members of the small council looked at each other. Cersei was fuming. "Get out, all of you." She almost echoed him. This time, the whole small council did as he was told. His sister had the hold on the council, for now. "You too," she said to the attention of the people behind Tyrion. Ser Barristan walked away after he bowed, but Tyrion's men remained in place. "I told you to go out," she repeated. They didn't move.

"All right, you may go," Tyrion told them, and they moved out. If Cersei had the above-average intelligence Tyrion granted her, she would understand that the men he brought with him were his and not hers.

As soon as they were all out, his sister was on him. "How many men did you bring with you?"

"Two thousand. They're here to protect Joffrey, and to protect us too. You are included in the us."

"Two thousand men? You really think you can set me aside with that number?"

"Cersei, Tyrion is our brother," Jaime said.

"That's something very true, Jaime, though our sister seems like she needs to be reminded of this on a regular basis," Tyrion quipped.

"You're taking me for a fool?" she asked, venom in her voice.

"No, I'm taking you for the queen who thinks herself more clever than she is."

"Because you think you are so clever?"

"More clever than you. I'm not the one who endangered our whole family."

"I did nothing."

"Nothing?" This time, Tyrion allowed some of his rage to go out. He walked to the table where Cersei still stood nearby, took a piece of paper from his doublet and tackled it with so much violence on the table that it shook. "Then perhaps you can explain how Eddard Stark came to write to my wife, and to know about yours and Jaime's nocturnal activities?"

He raised his voice as he said that. Time went on until Jaime spoke. "She knows?"

Tyrion stared back at his brother. "All the Seven Kingdoms will know soon enough."

"You told that little whore of yours…"

His hand moved immediately and made contact with Cersei's cheek, sending her on the floor. It wasn't the first time he slapped his sister, and the last time he did was the same reason than now. "You call her again like that, and it's more than a smack you will get."

"Tyrion, what have you done…" his brother began.

"You, SHUT UP!" Tyrion was ready could forgive everything to Jaime, but this time he couldn't forgive without giving free reign to his fury. "I just lied to my wife to protect you. I made her believe that Eddard Stark wasn't telling the truth, for you both, and for the children, because you're my family. I lied to the woman I love for you, I came all this way to prevent a war from happening, a war that could destroy our family. I arrive, and I find Ned Stark's head on a spike! All our hopes of peace gone! It wasn't enough to try to kill a boy of ten. You had to bring us into a full-scale war. The Baratheons and the Starks are against us, with half the Seven Kingdoms behind them. Congratulations! You just managed to repeat Aerys's folly, only you did it at the beginning of Joffrey's reign instead of the end. What a wonderful Queen Regent and Hand of the King you make. Father would be proud of you. His two golden children! I wonder what would disappoint his the most. The incest, or your stupidity?"

He stopped to breathe. He betrayed Margaery to protect Jaime, Cersei, Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen, and some of them would never have done the same for him, and in exchange what he got were insults against his wife and disdain. Jaime had gone to take care of Cersei lying on the floor. He tried to help her to stand back, but she pushed aside the arms he offered. As Tyrion let his anger speak, Jaime looked at him, an expression that looked like fear, or probably more like surprise, on his face. His sister had a bruise on the cheek.

"If Joffrey was present…" his sister started.

"I'm sure he would find it very funny, and interesting, to learn who his real father is."

"Don't ever tell him!" She pointed a menacing finger towards him.

"You have my word." She didn't need to threaten him for that. Tyrion hadn't come all this way to save his family to give up on them the moment he arrived.

"Tyrion," his brother said, "it was Joffrey who decided to kill Ned Stark. Our plan was to send him to the Wall after he confessed betraying Robert. Joffrey was supposed to spare him in exchange of Robb Stark's loyalty."

"It seems that Joffrey didn't listen to you."

"I tried to stop him," Cersei said.

"Did you? You failed. That bit of theater will haunt our family for a generation."

"Robb Stark is a child," she snickered.

"And he hasn't lost a single battle so far."

"He didn't win any battle. He never fought any," Jaime said.

"The same can be said about two people here, and although you fought in battle, Jaime, you never led an army. We are as green as Robb Stark. Stannis is not, and nor are Roose Bolton, Jon Umber or the Blackfish, or Yohn Royce. And Robb Stark is Ned Stark's son. His father is the one who truly won the War of the Five Kings, and who defeated in great part the Greyjoys when they raised in rebellion. Our father cannot boast as many victories. He couldn't even defend his own fleet against Balon Greyjoy. And it's not as if he taught much about war to any of you."

"Nor to you," his sister retorted.

"You could be surprised."

It was true that Tywin never truly cared about his second son, but his father left him several lessons on warfare and politics before he died, and Tyrion completed this with the large amounts of books and scrolls he read since the day Creylen showed him his first letters.

"You bring us nothing," Cersei spat. "You keep shouting and insulting us, beating your own sister for a whore who…"

He tried to slap her again, but Jaime caught his wrist. "That's enough! Both of you!" He released Tyrion's arm, and he knew better than to try again. Cersei had a large smile over her face. She saw every small victory as a great one, and relished in them. "We are family. The whole world is turning on us. We can't allow to fight among each other. What would Father think of us?"

"Nothing different from what he already thought," Tyrion replied.

"You mean what he thought about you," Cersei corrected.

"It's true, because I'm a dwarf. His opinion on you two wouldn't change because you acted like idiots."

"It's not the time for that. We need to prepare," Jaime scowled. "Tyrion is right. We're going to have half of the realm on us before long if it's not already the case. Robb Stark will know soon enough about his father's death, and Stannis and Renly are going to take arms against us too."

"Very well, and what do you suggest that we do, Jaime?" their sister asked. "You didn't give a single advice since I had you appointed as Hand. Maybe it's time for you to be the man our father always wanted you to be."

Tyrion's brother looked at his sister. He was wearing his armor of the Kingsguard. He took something inside his armor and handed it to Cersei. It was the Hand's badge. "You want an advice? Very well. Name a Hand who can make sure that our son makes it through the year."

His sister was first struck by surprise, and then her eyes were throwing daggers. It was just like Tyrion suspected. Cersei forced the position of Hand on Jaime. His brother never wanted the job.

"And who would you have me choose?" Cersei asked him. "What other fool would you suggest that I give this?"

Jaime turned around and looked at him. Tyrion grimaced. "You always believed that I was a fool. Better to choose one from your family."

"You are both fools. What does he know of warfare?" she asked her twin.

"I know that our enemies hate each other almost as much as they hate us."

"How clever," she mocked. "As if I didn't know it already. Out of the question that I make you Hand."

"Cersei, Tyrion is our brother," Jaime told her. "Our bannermen in the west follow him, and his wife is the daughter of Mace Tyrell. By making him Hand, you will make sure that these two kingdoms are with us."

"I would have the same result if I threw them both into a cell."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, big sister," Tyrion warned. "If you imprison his daughter, you will throw Mace Tyrell in Stannis's arms. As for the Westerlands, you just saw a few minutes ago that they obey me, not you."

"I am the queen. They will obey if their lord is in the dungeons."

His sister was really crazier than he thought. He began to wonder if she still had an above-average intelligence. "I doubt it. They won't let me be arrested. I have two thousand men with me, and they all are within these walls. How many of your own do you have?" His sister found nothing to say to that. "Aren't the support of the Reach and the Westerlands enough for tolerating the brother you hate as Hand? Anyway, who else would you name?"

"Cersei, please," his brother almost begged her.

Cersei considered her two brothers, then the pin that had been their father's for twenty years. She finally stared at Tyrion and slowly walked to him, towering him with her height. He looked back at her, unimpressed, though he was ready for anything to happen.

"Joffrey is king," she said.

"Joffrey is king," he repeated, as if it was necessary to say. If he didn't consider Joffrey to be his king, he wouldn't have come. He would have left Robb Stark deal with his nephew, and then manage to profit from the war like his father did fifteen years ago. Not exactly like his father did, but he would have found a way to make House Lannister stronger from this.

"You are here to advise him."

She threw the pin in his direction, and he caught it, probably to her regret. Tyrion looked at it. He had thought about the possibility of becoming Hand after Jon Arryn died. He went to Winterfell to convince Ned Stark of staying away from the capital. If the honorable fool had listened, he might still be alive, and they wouldn't be in all this mess.

"Good," Tyrion said he pinned the badge on his doublet. He proceeded to the table and poured himself a glass of wine, one for his brother and another for his sister. He needed that. "Now that we stopped squabbling amongst ourselves, perhaps we could get to serious matters."

He sat at the seat made for the Hand. Jaime sat by his side, and Cersei went back to the king's chair.

"Before we begin, I believe I deserve a few answers, so we can all be follow the same line. Who killed Jon Arryn?"

Tyrion waited for an answer. "We don't know." It was Cersei who answered.

"You don't know?"

"He came to us, accused me and Jaime of the same crimes than Eddard Stark, and the day after he was dying."

"And this wasn't your doing?"

"We were planning to kill him, but he died before we could put up a plan," Jaime explained. "No matter what or who killed him, he told Robert nothing. We should thank the person who got us rid of him."

"What about he assassin you sent after Brandon Stark?"

"What?"

"Don't worry, Jaime. I know that if you were to kill someone, you would do it yourself. However, there's someone in this room who's good at making the others do her dirty work."

He looked at Cersei. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said.

"A few days after you left Winterfell, a man who hid in the stables tried to murder Brandon Stark. Don't tell me this has nothing to do with the boy's fall."

"We don't know who did this. We have nothing to see with that. Jaime and I thought about killing the boy, but his mother was always by his side. It was impossible. We only hoped he would never wake up."

"Well, he did wake up, but he had no memory of what he saw in that tower. Margaery believes it's you."

"Well, you'll only have to tell her that she is wrong," Cersei replied with a satisfied grin.

"What about Robert? I suppose this wasn't your doing as well?"

"We didn't kill him. He did all the work himself. We only helped. Lancel gave him strongwine during the hunt."

"Which explains how he earned his knighthood." Kevan had been right about his son. "And who sent our beloved uncle away from the city?"

"Kevan was too old to do anything useful."

"Our lord father would disagree if he was alive. And I disagree as well, since I made him commander of half our forces."

"I bed your pardon," Cersei said, outraged.

"Our paths met on the road. I had two armies raised. One is at the Golden Tooth, and the other one is following the Goldroad. Each are thirty thousand men strong. Kevan commands the one heading our way."

Jaime sighed in what looked like relief. "It will be good to see him again." Cersei obviously didn't approve.

"Still, that doesn't answer my question. Why was he excluded from the small council?"

He looked intently at his sister, waiting for an answer. "Why do you ask me all these questions? I'm sure Kevan already gave you his side of the story."

"I want to hear yours."

"And why that?"

"Because you are my sister, and for the sake of your children that I love, I'm ready to believe what you say." Which didn't mean he would believe her.

After a moment of consideration, she spoke. "He tried to stop me, to rule instead of me, and of my son. I did what was necessary."

"So you turned the gold cloaks against your own uncle and removed him from the small council?"

"He turned against me in the first place."

"You could have found someone better than Slynt to replace him. How do you think both the lords and the people are looking at us, knowing we chose the son of a butcher as Master of Laws?"

"I didn't have much time to consider."

"You really trust this man?"

"I don't. I trust no one, but I need him."

Yes, YOU need him. "And Harrenhal? Your idea?"

"Littlefinger's."

"I think he also proposed that he could marry the young Sansa," Jaime added.

"Littlefinger? Married to Sansa Stark?"

"He was too lowborn. I refused. For now, her betrothal with Joffrey remains intact," his sister said. Poor girl.

"I don't think this union will bring us much now that we killed her father."

"We cannot break the betrothal. The High Septon is already angry that we executed Ned Stark on the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor without telling him. Breaking an official betrothal could make him an enemy."

Perhaps his sister was finally not so much a fool. "Well, you managed to create a mess much worse than I expected."

"Tyrion, we have problems in the capital, true, but we have armies against us everywhere. Renly, Stannis, Robb Stark. We should focus on our troops," Jaime intervened.

"Very well. Do we have a map?" Jaime brought one. "As I said, we have two armies for now. One at the Golden Tooth, led by Daven and his father Stafford, and another coming from Deep Den with Kevan. They will be here within a few days."

"And then? What is your plan with them?" Cersei asked on a mocking tone.

"I'm planning to have them march on Harrenhal. It will serve as an excellent base of operation in the Riverlands, and we will be able to stop Robb Stark on his way to the city. And since you so kindly granted it to Slynt, we have the right to seize it."

"Good. We will take back the Riverlands," Cersei said.

"What about he Tyrells?" Jaime asked.

"They didn't mobilize yet," Tyrion answered. "Margaery only told her father to remain ready. They will need some time to raise their armies, which will leave King's Landing without much defence for a few weeks, but between my two thousand men and the gold cloaks, it should be enough to keep Stannis at bay. The Tyrells will mostly have to take care of the Stormlands, and of Dorne if they rise against us. We'll also need to fortify the coasts. Theon Greyjoy is the Starks' hostage. Balon Greyjoy could side with them. I won't have many men to spare to defend the city, but for now, we don't need many."

"With the south occupied with the Tyrells, and the North with us, King's Landing might never be in danger. Stannis left with the royal fleet after Jon Arryn died, but he doesn't have enough men to take the city by himself. Varys says he is arming ships, but Renly seems to be quiet for now. He didn't call his banners," Jaime resumed.

"It seems a better idea to stop the enemy before he is at our gates," Cersei approved.

Tyrion knew very well that Cersei would never approve with one of his plans like that. She had an idea behind her head, and he had some idea of what it might be. He let slip willingly that he wouldn't keep many men in the city. Cersei was capable of being patient, and she would bid her time before she took action against him, waiting for the Lannister armies to be far away before attempting anything. Only, she wouldn't have enough time for that, because Tyrion would make the first move.

"Well, as long as the Tyrells fight with us, we should be all right," Jaime said, seeming relieved.

"Yes, if the Tyrells remain true to their word. I never understood how a rose could grow strong," Cersei commented. Look at Margaery, and you'll know soon enough that a rose can grow not only beautiful, but strong and dangerous, big sister. "I will go. I have matters to attend to as queen."

"Queen Regent," Tyrion corrected. "And before you leave, there's an important matter to discuss about he reunions of the small council."

"What matter?" Cersei said with exasperation. She had already begun to walk away.

"I want Margaery to attend the small council meetings." He could see the anger in Cersei's eyes as soon as he suggested it. "We need the Tyrells at our side, and giving Mace Tyrell's daughter a seat on the small council as an advisor will be enough to make him more eager than ever to serve Joffrey."

Against all odds, Cersei smiled sweetly. "Of course. It might do me some good to have another woman sitting with me on the council." And on that, Cersei walked away. Tyrion knew immediately that Cersei was planning something against him.

Jaime sighed. "She's been insufferable ever since Ned Stark told her he knew about us."

"How did he find out?" Tyrion asked his brother. They were alone now.

"No idea, but he did, just like Jon Arryn."

"And you didn't kill him?"

"No, I told you, Tyrion. Something else, or someone else, killed him. I don't know who. Cersei hides me nothing, at least not after they're done." It seemed that the mystery of Jon Arryn's death and the attempt of murder on Brandon Stark remained unsolved. "I'm glad to see you all the same, little brother."

"Me too, Jaime." Tyrion raised is cup to his elder brother, and they both drank.

"I'm sorry for all this, and for… what it forced you to do… concerning your wife."

Tyrion put back his cup on the table. "I once told her that I would never hide anything from her. She trusts me, Jaime, and I betrayed that trust."

A long moment of silence went on. "She will never know," his brother declared. "I'll make sure she never knows, or believes it, if you prefer."

"Believe would be more appropriate. Stannis will spread the word soon enough to press his claim on the Iron Throne."

"This man is as enjoyable as wet shit."

"I will never understand how you can love Cersei, Jaime. Not in that way."

"We don't get to choose who we love, Tyrion."

Tyrion looked down. "No, we don't." His thoughts went to Margaery, then to Tysha, and a long moment of silence passed before Jaime spoke again.

"We'll get throughthist, Tyrion. I promise. And everything will be like before."

"I doubt it." How could things be like before when he would know for the rest of his life that he lied to the woman he loved, hid such a secret from her, when she trusted him and loved him like no one else did before?

"It will be. It must."

Tyrion too a sip of wine. It was time to make his first move. "As much as I hate to do that, Jaime, I must send you far away from here."

His brother choked as he just drank too. "Pardon me?"

"When Kevan comes and ride to war, you will go with him." Tyrion looked at his brother and added on a joking tone. "Don't tell me you're afraid of war?"

"I'm not, Tyrion," he laughed, "but I am a kingsguard. So unless Joffrey, or someone of his family follows Kevan, I don't see who I would have to protect in the Riverlands."

"Jaime, you realize that soon, everyone in Westeros will hear from Stannis about your affair with Cersei?"

"And you believe that sending me away will stop these rumors?"

"No, but keeping you here may feed them. I know you, Jaime. I know you won't be able to stop yourself from seeing Cersei in secret. What will we do if Margaery surprises you, or anyone else? She hates Cersei, and she will keep a close eye on her, and my wife is not an idiot. If you stay here, the moment you spend some time with our sister, Margaery will learn the truth, and then we will lose the Reach." And I will lose my wife.

Jaime looked aside. He wasn't happy about this. "It won't be forever," Tyrion reassured him. "As soon as the war is over and that Robb Stark and Stannis Baratheon are defeated, you'll come back to King's Landing. No one will dare to repeat their accusations, Margaery and I will go back to the Rock, and you'll be free to fuck your own sister behind curtains as much as you like."

Though the latter was unlikely to happen. Jaime was a kingsguard, bound to serve the king, to stay by his side. Tyrion didn't intend for Cersei to remain by Joffrey's side for long. Not if he had something to say about it. Jaime may be furious about it, but Tyrion thought that it would do some good to his brother to be away from Cersei for a long period.

"You really think that your wife could find out if I was to stay?" Jaime asked.

"She will find out. There's a limit to what I can make her believe."

With a resigned look, Jaime nodded. "Very well. I'll leave with Kevan. It's been some time since I fought a real war. It will be good to be on the battlefield again. I'm sick of this city and all its morons."

"One more thing. Do you think you can refrain yourself from bedding Cersei until your departure?"

"I can, but don't expect me to refrain much longer when I'm back."

"Then I'll make sure Margaery and I are somewhere else when you and Cersei are reunited." He would make sure of that, indeed. Cersei would be far away by the time Jaime would be back to the capital.

"So, how are things with your wife?"

His brother looked concerned. "Good enough." His voice was weak when he spoke. He tried not to think about it, or to convince himself that he did what was necessary to protect his family, but more than ever, he felt that he didn't deserve Margaery.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Jaime, I'm sure. Things are going to be good enough as long as she is convinced that there is nothing between you and Cersei," Tyrion snapped.

His brother nodded, and after a straining silence, Jaime stood up. "I'll go. I'm free to dedicate myself to my duties of kingsguard now that I am free of those of Hand."

"You really fulfilled them?" Tyrion was skeptical about it.

"No. I wish you luck, little brother. You'll need it. The two last Hands didn't survive," his brother said grimly.

As he walked away, Tyrion muttered. "The last four Hands."

Tyrion emptied his cup of wine. Jaime would be gone soon, but there was much more to do. He didn't linger in the small council chambers and headed for the Tower of the Hand.

The last time Tyrion came here was when he negotiated with Jon Arryn over taxes. The matters he would have to attend now were far more crucial, and challenging. He climbed the many stairs leading to the Hand's rooms, the very same who were occupied by Eddard Stark only a few weeks ago. Where northern guards must have patrolled not long ago was now filled with men harboring the colors of House Lannister. For the first time in twenty years, a Lannister was Hand of the King. See, Father. This is your legacy. Your mad grandson is king, your mad daughter is queen, your kingslayer son is member of the Kingsguard, and your dwarf son is Hand of the King. You got what you wanted. Would you be happy if you were alive to see it?

Tyrion hoped to find Margaery arranging their new living quarters when he reached the top of the tower, but when he asked one of his men where she was, he told him that she wasn't in the tower. Tyrion went to the bedchamber, and found Mira Forrester, his wife's handmaiden, placing the few things they brought with them all around.

"Lady Mira."

"Lord Tyrion." She stood straight when he entered, stopping her work.

"Do you know where Margaery is?"

"I believe she is with Lady Sansa. She went to see her right after she made sure we could handle the organization of these rooms."

"Oh, it's true." The Stark girl could certainly use some company. Joffrey had always been irresponsible and a brat, but Tyrion didn't expect that he could show so much cruelty towards the girl he was supposed to marry.

"My lord, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course, Lady Mira. What is it?"

She hesitated. "King Joffrey executed Lord Stark. As for me, it's a murder."

Tyrion observed the girl. She was from the North, and although Margaery didn't doubt her loyalty one second and that Tyrion was aware that the northern girl was very attached to his wife, it didn't change the fact that it was the liege lord of her family who had just been killed by his nephew.

"You've met Ned Stark in the past, haven't you, my lady?"

"Yes, twice. Once when I was a child, at Ironrath. He came to visit our home. And the last time when I rode to Highgarden. My father and I stopped at Winterfell on our way."

Her face was hard, but he could see grief on it as well. Ned Stark was respected, and even loved in the North. Margaery was loved even more in the Westerlands. Almost no one wept for Tywin Lannister when he died. Would someone weep for him when Tyrion would die?

"Don't say that before anyone, Lady Mira," Tyrion advised her.

"I won't." Clever girl.

"I won't lie to you, my lady, this is a tragedy. My nephew may have ordered his death, but I didn't want Eddard Stark to die."

"I know. You and Lady Margaery did your best, but… I'm afraid for my father. He's riding with Robb Stark. Who knows what could happen to him in this war."

Tyrion nodded. "If I have a chance to make peace, I'll seize it, my lady, have no doubt about it, but I'm afraid there's going to be a war, no matter what we do now."

"I know," she said in a very low voice. She didn't seem angry after him, perhaps because he was Margaery's husband.

"Oh, my lord." Tyrion turned to his right to see another handmaiden, Sera Durwell, carrying a pile of clothes.

"I'll leave you to your work, my ladies. I have some of my own."

And he worked. In the hours following his appointment as Hand of the King, Tyrion Lannister took several decisions. The first was to remove the heads from the battlements. They had been there already too long. He also had a discussion with every member of the small council, separately. Littlefinger informed him on the state of the Crown's finances. Of course, it was to be expected that the rebellions would cause a shortfall in the Crown's revenues. Robert had kept indebting the Realm until his last breath, and war would increase the expenses of the Crown like never before. The effectives of the City Watch were doubled since the death of Eddard Stark, and Janos Slynt was already recruiting another two thousand men. When Tyrion asked who had this idea, he wasn't surprised to learn that it was Cersei who got it. In short, the situation of the finances would get worse. Robert had truly been a terrible king when it came to manage the Realm. A king was supposed to stock gold in times of peace and during summers, so he could spend it during in times of war and during winter. Robert had the longest summer in living memory, and he used it to bring the Crown close to bankruptcy. Once the war was over, Tyrion would have to make sure to solve this situation, and to make sure that his nephew could reimburse the debts he owed to him and his wife's family.

Lord Varys brought him news from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. The Riverlands and the North both mobilized their forces, but the Vale strangely made no move. His spies in the Eyrie told him that Lady Arryn didn't make any preparation for war after she heard of Ned Stark's arrest. That was all the opposite of Stannis. He was preparing ships and men, made a Red Priestess from Asshai come to Dragonstone, and had a letter written that was to be sent through all the Seven Kingdoms. Varys didn't tell him the content of this message, but it was useless. Tyrion had a very good idea of what it would be. Renly seemed to be taking his time to assemble his men, despite messages he received from his brother. The Martells made no movement. There were no news from the Iron Islands. The Spider's spies reported him nothing from this side.

The meeting with Pycelle was short, and Tyrion made sure that it was short. The Grand Maester mostly spent the meeting congratulating him and saying that his and Margaery's presence were a blessing. He wasn't sure which of the three he despised the most between the Grand Maester, the Spider and Littlefinger. The only information Tyrion got from the old man was that Pycelle was a lickspitter.

The interview that was the most productive was the one with Janos Slynt, newly elevated to the position of Lord of Harrenhal and Master of Laws.

"Your presence is welcome, my lord. We have sore need of you. Rebellion everywhere, crime rising, spirits in turmoil and excited," the new lord said.

"I was hoping that your new recruits would help to maintain the king's peace, Lord Janos."

"They do, my lord, but they need time to learn. They are only recruits, green boys, untrained." Like most of your men. "I also had to give my best man, Allar, to command the red cloaks. The queen required the services of my best lieutenant to command her personal guard."

"I suppose you would like to get him back in the gold cloaks. Commanding a royal guard must be quite boring after the excitement of the streets."

"I must admit that I miss Allar's presence. The smallfolk respect him." Why not say that they feared him? "But I am at the service of the king, and he wanted my best man to command her Grace's guards."

Tyrion leaned forward over his desk. "My sister is very concerned about her son's safety, but with the two thousand men I brought, I think that the safety of the king is assured. Your man Allar will certainly be more useful in the streets. The real problems are in the streets, not inside the Red Keep."

"If you say so, my lord."

"Lord Slynt, don't tell you don't miss your main lieutenant who made such a wonderful job as an officer of the City Watch."

"I do miss him, but the queen asked for my best man."

"She won't need it anymore. Your men are needed in the streets, to patrol the city. You made an excellent work, Lord Janos, and the Realm is in debt towards you."

"I thank you, my lord." This man was easy to flatter. He had gotten rather above himself.

"And you know what we say. A Lannister always pays his debts." Tyrion produced a large pouch full of gold and dropped it on his desk before the man. The size was impressive. Janos Slynt's eyes grew.

"My lord, I…"

"Don't react this way, Lord Janos. This isn't for you."

The man became suspicious at once. "I beg your pardon."

"This is for your man Allar, for the excellent work he made as captain of the red cloaks." Tyrion took another pouch, larger than the first one. "This is for you."

The Lord Commander of the City Watch opened it and verified that it was truly gold. He was immediately satisfied when he bit the piece. "Thank you, my lord. Janos Slynt shall not forget it."

"I'm sure of that. Allar will go back to his functions in the City Watch. I think he's going to lessen your workload. As a lord, you shouldn't work too hard."

"He won't complain before this, my lord. I assure you. May I know who will replace him?"

"I'll name someone worthy of being your lieutenant's successor." That someone wouldn't be hard to find.

"I'm your obliged."

Janos Slynt left. He had no idea of what Tyrion was preparing, and he wouldn't suspect anything before long. Tyrion had Vylarr called and announced him that he was once again the captain of the red cloaks. They were all Tyrion's now.

Tyrion kept working until the time came for supper. Margaery arrived around that time too.

"Where have you been?" he asked her after she kissed him and took place at their table.

"I was with Sansa," she said.

"How is she?"

"What do you think? Her father just died, and he was executed on the order of the man she loved."

"Of course. That was a stupid question."

"She needed someone. She's heartbroken." The first service arrived at this moment. "Tyrion, Joffrey was spoiled, arrogant, but this… This is pure cruelty. He killed the father of his betrothed right before her, and he even forced Sansa to look upon her father's head while it was on a spike."

He didn't know about the latter. "It seems I misjudged my nephew. He's worse than I thought. He's definitely Robert's son."

He said it because he believed it. Joffrey had more of Robert than Jaime in him. "I wonder if it wouldn't be better if he was your brother's son." He looked at her, surprised. "We could take the crown away from him and give it to Tommen."

Sweet Tommen, certainly the most naïve and the kindest of all Cersei's children. "We wouldn't be at war if Tommen was king, it's true. But Joffrey is the king, and our nephew. I can't overthrow him to put his brother into his place." He made her understand with his gaze that he definitely couldn't do that.

"I know, Tyrion. I was thinking aloud. But still… what Joffrey did… He is just as horrible as his mother. I'm afraid he holds more from her than from his father." Tyrion couldn't argue about it. "When I think that I considered the possibility of marrying him one day, if this allowed me to be queen."

"I've never been happier that you married me," Tyrion said. Margaery returned his smile, but it waned very quickly.

"Sansa is going to be miserable with him."

"I said so to her father once, and he didn't listen. But I'm afraid she will be more miserable than I believed back then." He felt pity for this girl. He hated to see innocent people suffering. He remembered how the girl looked happy back at Winterfell, before the prospect to leave for King's Landing. Back then, he hadn't been sure if he should warn her about Joffrey to not get her hopes too high about him, o if he should leave her to her illusions, allowing her to be a child a little while longer. Maybe it would have been better if he warned her, but he doubted it would make much difference in the end. Her father would still be dead.

"She is the last Stark we have, Tyrion. If we allow Joffrey to do what he likes… He ordered his kingsguards to beat her!"

"He did that?"

"Yes. She still had marks of it on her cheeks when I saw her."

Tyrion dropped himself back into his chair. "I thought that we would have a Robert the Second with Joffrey. It seems that we have Aerys the Third instead."

"He already started a war. We cannot allow him to rule the Seven Kingdoms. No more than Cersei."

"I agree, but it may be easier with Joffrey than with my sister. Joffrey doesn't seem interested by ruling. We only have to fix his mind on something else. With Cersei, it will be more difficult."

"Perhaps, but we must neutralize her all the same."

Tyron nodded. His plans for that were already in motion. He only wished that he could dedicate all his time to deprive Cersei of all power, instead of having a war to fight at the same time. He needed Kevan to head north first before he made his first move.

"I already sent a raven to my father," Margaery resumed, taking some boar. "And I told Loras to intercede for us with Renly. He is at Storm's End with him right now. Hopefully, we will only have to face three kingdoms."

"Two, if we are lucky enough. According to Varys, the Vale isn't moving. Lysa Arryn didn't seem concerned by the death of her brother-in-law."

"Maybe it will be a short war," she said, hope behind her voice, but Tyrion could feel her doubts. They both knew better than to expect things to go as they planned. "What of Dorne?"

"No movement from this side either. I don't believe that the Martells want to fight for Stannis or Robb Stark more than they want to fight for us. All our families played a role in the death of his sister and her children."

"They might try to attack the Reach, Tyrion. My father will have to keep some troops to watch our frontiers in the south. He won't be able to send all his forces against the Stormlands or the North if necessary."

"He shouldn't have to keep too many men. Dorne cannot raise as many men as the historians would like us to believe. They increased the number of men the Targaryens faced to make their conquest look harder and more glorious."

"The Martells sacked Highgarden in the past, Tyrion. My father cannot take this threat lightly."

Tyrion had to agree that she was right. "The best way would be to make sure that Dorne sides with us, or at least remains neutral. For now, we can only count on the Westerlands and the Reach. It is likely to be enough, but I would feel safer if we had more allies. The Vale didn't join the war yet, but with Ned Stark's death, Lady Arryn might change her opinions and call her banners. And there are the Iron Islands. We are without news from them. Balon Greyjoy's only son is a ward of the Starks." Tyrion sighed and looked at his wife. "You remember what's the best way to forge alliances?"

"Of course. Marriage." Margaery smiled wickedly. "Robin Arryn is unwed, Prince Doran's son, Trystane, is unwed too, Theon Greyjoy is unwed, and his father has a daughter, I think."

Tyrion confirmed. "Yara Greyjoy. From what I know, she is unmarried too."

"Well." She laid her fork in her plate and crossed her graceful fingers. "We have three men, or boys, one is a lord and the others are heirs, and a lady, on the other side. And it happens that we have a king, a princess and a prince, and all are unwed as well. And my brother is an heir, and unwed too."

They looked at each other, and exchanged the same smile. They were thinking about the same thing. Tyrion took his cup and raised it to her. "I'm listening, my queen. Who shall we marry?"


We begin a new arc in this story, an arc where TYrion and Margaery will truly rule the Seven Kingdoms, or at least those still obeying Joffrey. I hope you'll enjoy it. The power couple is in King's Landing... and there are people who are going to try to take their place.

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Next chapter : Jon