Conversations with the not so dead

Author's Notes: Thanks for all the reviews! :) It's much appreciated. I've been planning this for a while. ***Westerosi morals and standards are in effect here. Please bare this mind as you read...and that Bronn is an evil bastard with no heart.*** As always don't forget to review! :D

Rating: M; it's Game of Thrones, anything less is not Game of thrones :D

Summary: Companion piece to my other fic, the Raven's Plan. A series of conversations from minor characters perspectives.

Alysanne Lefford I or How Bronn finally got his castle...

She was aware of the maneuvering that was happening around her. Lord Tyrion had been making overtures to her simplistic father...and Father had lapped up the attention from the new Lord Of Casterly Rock eagerly like a thirsty dog. The added confusion of him not remembering was not helping. He was still pompous and egotistical as always, if had remembered his death, it would have probably have tempered his pride. She shuddered as she thought of that possible future, as the Starks were apt to say, Winter is Coming. It had been ominous before...and much more so now she knew what the words truly spoke of.

She grunted in an unladylike manner as she walked through Casterly Rock, the visit here was dragging on as Lord Tyrion consolidated his hold on the Westerlands. It was all rather a simple matter, most of the Lords were pledging their loyalty with little noise. The fact that both the indomitable Lady Genna and loyal Ser Kevan had forsaken their own brother spoke volumes of how futile any further support for the Old Lion would be. Even Father had balked at voicing any objections as how complete Lord Tyrion's grip on the Rock was fully revealed.

Her thoughts came to an abrupt end as a man came to stand in her path. The man stood there with a pleasant but unwelcome smile on his lips. She knew him and grimaced inside, she'd been avoiding him.

"Ser Bronn," she said in a neutral tone. The lowborn sellsword was wearing black leathers and looked the part of a lowborn man...but the knight had Lord Tyrion's confidence and was not someone to be crossed lightly, even if she was the heir of the Golden Tooth and House Lefford; the second richest house of the Westerlands.

And more importantly, he was the man that father and Lord Tyrion were trying to marry her to...

"Lady Alysanne," he bowed with a smug smile in his face.

"Ser Bronn," She nodded and made to walk past him but he moved into her path. She glared at him. "Did you want something, Ser?" she asked with a haughty tone.

"Aye. And you know what I want," he retorted quickly with a nod, unmussed by her unwelcoming tone.

She stared back icily, "You are a lowborn sellsword and my father is Lord Leo Lefford of the Golden Tooth and-"

"...he lost his own castle didn't he? Not an impressive man is he? Made a mess of so many things didn't he? Not that I blame him much, even Tywin Lannister couldn't defeat the Young Wolf on the battlefield," Bronn interrupted irreverently.

She grimaced, there was more truth to the insolent words than she was happy with, "I'm aware of the mess my father made of the defense of the Golden Tooth and the Westerlands."

"Me- I'm good at all those things he's not so good at. Wouldn't be here if I wasn't," Bronn retorted smugly.

She ground her teeth and glared again, "And?" she demanded.

Unexpectedly, he stepped very close to her before continuing. Much closer than was appropriate for an unmarried man and woman, he whispered, "I also know all about your friend, Lady Tyra, that pretty little Handmaiden of yours."

The expression on her face froze as she realised the full import of his emphasis. He stepped away from her and waited, giving her an expectant look and raised eyebrows.

She grit her teeth, and asked through clenched teeth, "What do you want?"

Slowly, his smug grin grew broader on his face, "I'm a reasonable man. I want what's owed to me. A title. A castle," he paused and shrugged, "Beyond that I'm open to negotiation." he paused again and added with a short chuckle, "Technically, I think I'm owed two castles and two titles...but I'm not greedy, I'll settle for one of each."

She frowned at his audacity and insolence and then quickly looked around, thankfully they were alone in the corridor, before turning back and asking pointedly, "Negotiations?"

"Simple, way I see it, no matter what happens you need an heir and Tyrion needs someone competent holding the Golden Tooth," began Bronn quietly, "I get what I'm owed and you do whatever you want behind closed doors."

She looked at Bronn with a suspicious look, this sounded much to good to be true.

She gave him a dismissive look, "And what about your needs?"

He laughed, "That's what whores are for."

Her lips twisted in distaste, but his words weren't wrong. She knew she had to marry, that was unavoidable, she was the heir. And even if she wasn't and she'd had other siblings, she still would have been forced into a marriage to some son of a noble house. Secrets could be kept but too many times, these secrets had the habit of being revealed at inopportune times. At least this way, it was one less person to hide from.

His words were direct and had merit. And he was already known to have kept the Lannisters' secrets. For a price of course, but he was trustworthy to a certain point. Very slowly she warmed to the idea, it was not an unattractive prospect...assuming they survived the Long Night. Quickly she came to a decision, she nodded, "You keep your whores private...no bastards. And I rule in all but name."

Bronn gave her a saccharine smile, "I'll leave the honeyed words for you- and the boring stuff...I'll stick to killing our- and Tyrion's enemies."

She extended her hand towards him, "I will speak to my father, for now...we have a deal."

Bronn took the hand, but instead of shaking it in agreement, he brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles while giving her a smooth half-bow, "Yes, my lady, I think we do."

She arched an eyebrow at his unexpected action, "At least I won't have to teach you too many manners," she retorted smartly.

Bronn laughed, "I've been spending too much time with fancy folk."

She arched an eyebrow at him, and said dryly, "You're about to become fancy folk."

Bronn just gave her a toothy smug smile in response, "I know."

Author's notes: Hope you liked this. In another fic I read, it was hinted that Alysanne was possibly gay, so I decided to explore it here as a lever that Bronn could lean on to get his castle. And please remember this is Westeros, this is a better arrangement than she could hope for under most circumstances. Anyway, don't forget to review! :)