Coming of the Red Anchor

Rise and Fall

Kings Landing

Tyrion

He waddled through the corridors of the Red Keep, his squire Podrick just behind him, and whistled happily to himself. A raven should have arrived at the Eyrie either yesterday or today with a message which should bring them to the Lannister side. He regretfully had his sister to thank for that idea.

- Flashback -

He was in the Tower of the Hand drinking some wine and trying to read when his sister came striding through the door angrily. "Is it true?" she hissed.

"Is what true?" he replied dumbly.

"You're sending my daughter to Dorne to wed some Dornish bastard."

"Technically he's a trueborn prince, not a bastard. Small difference for someone like you I know sweet sister, but for most there is a chasm between them."

"I don't care. My darling Myrcella is not some whore you can use to pay for those whoring Dornish bastards. They aren't worthy of my daughter. She should marry someone like Lancel or someone loyal to us."

"We need their spears, or at least their neutrality. Besides the Vale will soon surely join the Starks so we need something else. The Dornish can invade the Reach and drawn some of their troops south. We are going to have…" he trailed off at seeing his sisters smug grin. "What?"

"Oh you don't know? I know something you don't? My so intelligent little brother doesn't know something. How delicious. I can't wait to tell father you aren't as smart as you think you little beast" she said, her voice dripping with sweetness before turning cruel. Tyrion simply made a hand gesture for her to get on with it. Cersei sighed before speaking. "The Vale won't ever join the Starks."

"What?! Why ever not? Lysa is Catelyn Stark's sister and aunt to the Stark children. Her brother and other family have all sided with the Starks and their supposed Targaryen, why would she not especially when Eddard Stark was also fostered in the Vale too?" Tyrion asked in confusion. Cersei just grinned smugly.

"Because Lysa was bedding Baelish for the last several years if not longer. The old fool Arryn never even suspected. Her boy is likely of Baelish's seed and not the falcon's." Tyrion gaped at his sister in surprise. He had wondered if something had been going on between those two when he had visited the capital previously but he hadn't thought it had been that long lasting or that serious. He hadn't thought either that both of them would be stupid enough to do so while under the nose of Lysa's husband. Gods, what a mess. However that did give him an idea.

"Why thank you sweet sister, that has given me a plan to bring them to our side and perhaps remove the Starks from the board for good" he said with a grin and brought out some parchment and began to write. Cersei stared at him angrily for his non-dismissal before storming out.

- Flashback ends -

He just hoped the letter was enough. He soon reached his office where he found two Lannister redcloaks he hadn't seen before standing guard at the door. He glanced at either of them nervously before opening the door to his office whereupon he found his father of all people sitting at the desk, a small cup of wine on the table top, while reading through various pieces of parchment. "Father! What great joy it brings me to see you alive and well. Do you bring glad tidings of victory over the Starks?" he asked hopefully.

"Sit" came to cold voice of the Old Lion. Sensing the bad mood of his father he quietly sat in the chair opposite him. "You have done well in planning for the coming siege. Scorpions, catapults and swords all readied for use. Not bad if still underwhelming" Tywin complimented grudgingly.

"That is not all father" Tyrion said slowly. "We have casks of wildfire ready to throw down upon whoever attacks. I have prepared more for Renly than Stannis given that Stannis continues to remain at Dragonstone with the bulk of the royal fleet while Renly is only a day away. His host was spotted on the horizon."

"So I saw. But wildfire? Are you out of your stunted little mind?!" Tywin thundered angrily. "That stuff is just as likely to burn this city to the ground than it is to kill our enemies."

"It was Cersei who started it. I merely took over to try to put some sense to its use" Tyrion deflected truthfully. Tywin grunted.

"Yes that is the sort of thing she'd do. She's not as smart as she thinks, her plans are all too obvious, half-baked and as subtle as a brick while being liable to backfire on us even worse. Still, we can use it to our advantage."

"Father what happened? Why are you here?" Tyrion asked worriedly.

"Harrenhal has fallen. My army retreated south and is currently now encamped at Hayford, just along the Kingsroad. No one is to know I was here. You will continue your plans. Make sure the walls are held for the longest time possible. Prepare choke points throughout the city and bleed the enemy for every foot of land you are forced to give. Once they are committed with most of their troops engaged deploy the wildfire down upon them, preferably outside the city walls. My host will then ride and take them from their left flank. Between the walls, the fire and my charge the roses will be cut down or burned. After that we will recover our strength for when the wolves inevitably come south." Tyrion gulped and nodded at his father's orders, they were mostly what he'd thought to do already.

"And Casterly Rock?" Tyrion asked nervously. His father's face became like stone but Tyrion could see the flicker of emotion, he'd always watched his father carefully so as to know when to deliver bad news or not.

"It is… still held by the northmen" Tywin answered bitterly. "The host I ordered to retake it was devastated. Of over ten thousand only nine hundred escaped. Our strength at home is all but gone. Once the Reach is dealt with Jaime will head to the Westerlands and gather a new host but I am not hopeful. We can in theory raise around fifty thousand swords. My host and Kevan's combined was about five and thirty thousand, plus the ten back home and we have close to exhausted most of our troops. He may barely get another ten if we are lucky and hire sellswords as well."

"But with Casterly Rock-" Tyrion began.

"Promises can pay for some of it" Tywin said with a dismissive wave. "Offer lordships, knighthoods and so forth. I will not allow the Lannister name to fall any further into disgrace or even into dust. We can not fail or all our heads will roll. You will hold the capital until I return. Send a raven upon Renly's approach."

"Yes father, as you command" Tyrion said stiffly. "And what of the Starks? Are they coming south?"

"No. It seems they let us go and they are now resting while also hunting down my remaining raiding parties in the Riverlands, that should keep them occupied while we deal with the Renly Baratheon. We can only be glad they never decided to ally together. Now, I shall go and prepare my men. Hold the capital or die doing so, I care not which. This city shall not fall, am I understood?"

"Yes father" Tyrion answered. Tywin stood and stared down at him icily before nodding and storming out the room. Tyrion let out the breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. Gods, they were definitely fucked. Damn his sister and Joffrey for messing everything up.

The Vale

Catelyn Stark

Her journey to the Vale had been a long and tedious one taking many days, it was particularly bad when it came to the High Road though thankfully no mountain clans appeared on her journey. The Bloody Gate had been a sight for sore eyes though as it had allowed her and her guards to properly rest and eat in safety before moving on with an escort of Vale knights up to the Eyrie. The mountain road was grey, misty and occasionally rainy, with the odd hour of sun thrown in for good measure. It reminded her of many northern days so she and the Stark guards trudged on regardless, not feeling the cold mountain that much. Her rivermen however shivered and muttered complaints about the cold and the wind.

She had not quite dealt with the lies her husband had told not that, on reflection, they were lies. He had never referred to Jon as his son except on the rare occasion but merely had stated the boy has his blood. An omission rather than a lie and one not corrected but merely left to peoples' assumption. She could not fault him for taking in and protecting the boy. Family, Duty, Honour. Those were her own house's words and family came before all else so in that she did sympathise with her husband. What she had not liked were the lies and the whispers on who the boy's mother could be. Ashara Dayne had been a frequently mentioned possibility and it was only that the woman was dead which had stayed Catelyn's hand from questioning further. That and the cold but terribly sad look Ned had got the three times she had asked. She could even understand not telling her at first as they'd barely known each other, having only met at the Tourney of Harrenhal prior to their wedding. What had hurt was that after five children and eight and ten years of marriage he had not told her the truth. And so she had been cool to him ever since the meeting at Riverrun and thus request to see her sister and bring the Vale to their side had been a welcome respite from the awkward atmosphere between her and Ned and her and Jon. The time apart gave them all a period to breathe and contemplate.

After another day's ride they eventually reached the Eyrie, the towering isolated castle which sat atop a mountain and which had only one long, narrow winding path to reach it, guarded by the Gates of the Moon. It was impossible to take unless you had a dragon which no one did, though she did vaguely recall mention by Warrington that Daenerys had hatched three but surely it was a mummery? She shrugged the thought away as she approached the mountain stronghold and pondered how to word her nephew's request for aid. She also considered the conversation she'd had with her uncle Brynden about Lysa which had been quite concerning. Mad with grief perhaps but her uncle seemed to believe it was more than that. A madness older than Arryn's death.

The grey stone walls of the castle towered above her as they traversed the narrow path to the castle, wind howling at times and making it hard to walk. Indeed it took most of the day to go from the Gates of the Moon to the courtyard in the main bailey. She and her ten guards and escort were there upon received by Lord Yohn Royce of all people. His face was lined and his hair grey, with slate-grey eyes and bushy eyebrows. He was tall with a proud and formidable presence who was equally noble and honourable like as many in the Vale were. He was also an old friend of Ned's.

"Lady Stark, welcome to Eyrie and the Vale."

"Lord Royce, a pleasure to see you again."

"Indeed my lady, I myself have only just returned from Kings Landing. I am glad to be clear of that cesspit. I'm sorry I could do little to help Ned when they came for him though I'm glad he was freed and managed to escape. The last I saw you my lady was when I brought my son to The Wall, we still grieve his passing. The raven came a few moons ago" the older man said sadly.

"I grieve with you my lord and my thanks, I doubt there was little you could have done. Last I knew my goodbrother Benjen had also sadly disappeared beyond the Wall. Dead they believe."

"My condolences then, please pass them on to Ned when next you see him."

"Of course. Now tell me, how is my sister. Uncle Brynden was troubled when we spoke."

"Aye my lady, your sister is, forgive, mad with grief. I fear you will not like what you see" Lord Royce said, his face clear with worry and concern. "Ser Vardis, see Lady Starks guards settled in the barracks. This way my lady, we shall see if she will receive you." A knight in full plate armour with a blue cloak nodded and began leading all but two of her men away, deeper into the castle. Lord Royce then led her into the main keep itself, down through a few corridors and finally into the High Hall.

The hall was a long and austere place, few tapestries or ornaments lined the walls, with the walls themselves were made of blue-veined white marble which glinted in the torch light. At the end of the hall on a podium sat the throne of the Arryns, a seat carved of weirwood which had greyed and browned slightly with age and dirt. The room was lit by a dozen narrow, arched windows, between which were torches mounted on high iron or silver sconces throwing extra light into the room and casting shadows here and there.

Seated upon the weirwood throne was her sister. She looked tired and haggard. Her hair was messy and not combed neatly or tied like her own. Her sister also seemed to lack her vibrant red hair and seemed more a brunette with hints of red than the Tully red she, her children possessed. Her skin was pale and clammy too, not at all a healthy look for a regent and single mother to possess. Indeed it seemed despite being only two years younger she looked around ten years older than herself. Worst of all was her nephew Robert Arryn, he was sat on his mother's lap while suckling at her teat. Catelyn stared in surprise, it was well known that it was both inappropriate and harmful to the child to be doing this at his age. The boy was ten and clearly too old for such things. Looking at her nephew she saw that he too was pale and small for his age, perhaps stunted in growth due to the breastfeeding. His hair was brown and he had big eyes which were runny. Robert seemed to have spindly arms and legs and his skin was splotchy as well. In all the boy was sick, weak and in no way as healthy as her own boys despite Bran being partially crippled now. She feared for the Vale and House Arryn if he was to remain like this.

Lysa looked up and seemed to sneer slightly before taking a relatively calm and regal pose. "Lady Stark, why do you come here?"

"Why so formal sister, can I not just come to see how my sister is following her husband's murder?" Catelyn replied in surprise due to the formality. Lysa however seemed to shudder at mention of her husband.

"What brings you here sister?" Lysa asked, this time more sweetly though it sounded false in truth to Catelyn.

"To ask for your aid in bringing down the Lannisters. They tried to kill my son, they tried to execute my husband and they did kill yours. If not for vengeance for family and honour then perhaps because my nephew, Jaehaerys Targayen, trueborn son of Rhaegar and Lyanna, asks for the aid of the noble knights of the Vale to ensure the rightful heir to the throne is placed upon it and not the bastards born of the incest of Cersei and Jaime Lannister" Catelyn announced and requested clearly to all in the room. There were mutters of outrage at mention of their Lord's murderer and the incest of the Lannisters. But there were grumbles too about a Targaryen, even one raised in the North by Ned Stark.

"Can we make them fly mother?" Robert asked eagerly while glancing at the moon door that lay open before the throne, allowing a slight draft to waft through with fresh, crisp and clean mountain air.

"Quiet my sweet, our enemies will be dealt with in time. Silence! I will have order in my kingdom." Lysa yelled over the loud muttering which was quickly silenced. "I will not risk the safety of my sweetrobin. The Eyrie is impregnable, no one will hurt my sweet boy here surrounded by my knights."

"But my lady, aren't we duty bound to bring our lord's killers to justice? Justice this dragon king would offer us?" asked one lord.

"No! No! No one leaves the Vale! NO ONE!" She went to speak more when a servant came through holding a message.

"My lady, a message from Kings Landing, from the Lord Hand" the servant said nervously. Lysa beckoned the man nearer and snatched the note away from him before breaking the seal. The servant hurried away and out of sight. Catelyn however frowned at her sister. Why was she talking to the Hand of the King? Lysa however seemed to freeze and stare at the letter before growing angry, crumbling it into a ball and dropping it to one side.

"That beastly imp, how dare he threaten me! What does he know of my love for Petyr?! He does, however, raise a valid point" she said changing swiftly from anger to calm before giving a girlish giggle and looking down at her sister angrily. "Yours banners killed him. He was to be mine, after all I did for him and your men took him from me. Poor sweet Petyr, so brave, so ambitious, so clever, he'd have risen higher, he would have, he would, and he's so sweet and gentle. My poor Petyr. BUT YOU TOOK HIM AWAY FROM ME! AFTER ALL I DID FOR HIM!"

"Lysa what are you going on about? Petyr? You mean our Petyr from Riverrun, the Lord Baelish? He betrayed my Ned, left him to rot in the Black Cells. He wasn't a good man Lysa. He wasn't the man we knew."

"Lies! Lies!" Lysa retorted angrily.

"No it's the truth. Besides that, what do you mean all you've done? What did you do? Oh Lysa, tell me, what have you done?" Catelyn asked in confusion before turning into worry. Lysa giggled, pulling young Robert closer and he began to suck at her breast again causing another giggle.

"That beastly old man should never of been my sweetrobin's father, it should have been Petyr." The Vale lords and courtiers gasped at her besmirching of Jon Arryn and the plans for an affair. "We tried hard enough too and I gave him my maiden's gift before father ruined it all. Finally I was rid of that old man, just like Petyr suggested, and I was free to have my Petyr. But your banners killed him. THEY KILLED MY PETYR!" Catelyn looked around worriedly and saw many of the lords in the room; Lord Royce, Lord Horton Redfort and Lady Anya Waynwood, were also looking on in worry and concern.

"Lysa, please.." Catelyn tried but was interrupted by Lysa starting another rant.

"Oh my poor Petyr. Tears, tears, tears. No, no need for tears now, must lead the Vale... but that's not what you said in King's Landing my Petyr. You told me to put the tears in Jon's wine, and I did. For Robert, and for us! And I wrote Catelyn and told her the Lannisters had killed my lord husband, just as you said. That was so clever... you were always clever my sweet Petyr." It was clear now that Lysa was in some delusion, picturing Petyr beside and kissing her given the expression on her face. Not helped by the boy still suckling at her breast undoubtedly.

"My lady" Lord Royce began cautiously, tearing Lysa from her fantasy. "Did you kill Lord Arryn?"

"Lies, it's all lies, that beastly old man started the lies. I am regent, I AM! No one threatens my poor sweetrobin" the demented woman ranted.

"Robert" came a muttered correction from the ageing Lord Redfort.

"Seven hells, we'll never get a proper word out of this harpy" Lady Anya commented grumpily with an apologetic glance to Catelyn.

"Who killed Lord Arryn?" Yohn pressed again.

"It was Petyr who suggested it, a way for us to be together as we should have since we were together at Riverrun. Oh he looked at Catelyn but she didn't love you the way I did. I've always loved you. I've proved it, haven't I? I gave you my maiden's gift. I would have given you a son too, but they murdered him with moon tea, with tansy and mint and wormwood, a spoon of honey and a drop of pennyroyal. It wasn't me, I never knew, I only drank what Father gave me…" she was lost again in her mind, prattling on about her and Petyr's liaisons under Jon Arryn's nose. Royce sighed in frustration until she then repeated, "you told me to put the tears in Jon's wine, and I did. For Robert, and for us!"

"Tears? What tears?" barked Lord Royce.

"Tears of Lys, that beastly old man ruined everything and stopped me from being with my Petyr. And then your banners killed him" Lysa admitted to Royce and then accused at Catelyn.

"Mother can we make them fly now?" young Robert innocently asked.

"Nephew Robert, come and let me have a look at you" Catelyn asked, suddenly eager to get him away from his mother. Lysa grabbed the boy close to her.

"No, no one shall have my Robert. No one! My poor boy needs me and me alone. Petyr said we'd be together with that old man gone and the Lannisters blamed. We could have been safe here while war ruins everyone else. We'd be free and the throne eventually ours. Petyr was so proud of his plan, his ladder of chaos. My son, a king after me, and me being queen beside my dear Petyr."

"Gods, she has totally lost it" Lady Anya muttered, barely loud enough for those around her to hear who in turn snorted in agreement.

"She's totally criminal you mean. She murdered our lord and helped cause this war" Lord Royce corrected. Catelyn just shook her head in disappointment. Her sister had truly gone mad. Mad enough to kill her husband and help start a war and was now delusional enough to think she could be queen. Gods, how had her sister fallen so?

"Come, sweet nephew, why don't you show me your lovely castle hmm?" Catelyn tried again, seeing the others in the room nod at the idea of getting the boy away from his unstable mother. Robert looked down at her and grinned happily, his mouth trailing milk from his suckling.

"Yes aunt, I be happy to show you my castle. You want to help me make some bad men fly?" he asked eagerly and childishly.

"Noo! You stay with me Sweetrobin. No one takes you anywhere" Lysa said before grabbing the boy close.

"My lady, why not allow your sister to be shown around by the boy? His aunt will not harm him, surely you can see that?" Yohn Royce asked calmly, his voice booming around the room.

"No! No no no! My boy stays with me!" Lysa replied, panic-stricken at the thought of er boy leaving her.

"My lady please, we are just trying to help you and Robert" argued Lord Redfort imploringly.

"Indeed Lady Arryn, he is my family too, I want to help my cousin to be a good lord" spoke a young handsome man with sandy hair and deep blue eyes. Given his words, and appearance, Catelyn believed him to be Harrold Hardyng, cousin and heir presumptive of Robert.

"No, noo! He is mine and any who threaten him shall die!" Lysa practically screeched, clutching tightly at her son.

"Sister we just want to help" Catelyn said calmly, trying to keep things calm given how close to the moon door Lysa was and how defensive she was being.

"No, no help, especially from you, your banners killed my Petyr. You won't take me or my son. No you won't. No, guards, seize her and take her to the sky cells, she means to kill me like they did my Petyr! Seize these lords who want to usurp my sweetrobin. Defend your liege lord!" There was a momentary pause of silence as everyone stared at Lysa in total confusion and bewilderment. Even the guards instructed to arrest said lords and ladies stared uncomprehendingly at her given that no such threats had been made nor had anyone drawn swords or made to do anything of the like. "Guards! Guards!" Lysa shouted in frustration yet still no one moved due to the confusion over the orders. "I won't let you take my sweetrobin from me" Lysa then declared upon seeing no guards move to carry out her demands and with that pronouncement she clutched Robert even tighter to her and jumped through the open moon door which sat beside the weirwood throne.

No one could stop her as it was so unexpected and people were too far away. By the time Harrold had dashed forward and looked down through the door there was no sign of either Robert or Lysa. He gulped nervously before backing away from the hole and shaking his head in disbelief. A couple of maids who had been standing nearby burst into tears at the apparent murder-suicide, Catelyn presumed them to have been the nursemaids and carers of young Robert. Yohn Royce turned sharply to one of the gaping guards. "Shut that damned hole in the floor man, before anyone else falls through." Said guard nodded and jumped to work, heading over to the winch and began to slowly turn it. With each turn the moon door slowly closed, ridding the room of the breeze and its accompanying wail. As that went on the lords and ladies of the Vale just looked on in shock and horror. None had seen this happening and none had intended it. Catelyn herself walked unsteadily to the small knee high wall which surrounded the moon door and collapsed against it out of grief and stress. She wept quietly for the sister she had known at Riverrun and the boy young Robert could have been.

"My lords and Ladies, might I suggest we go to our rooms and take some time to come to terms with this. We can assemble later to resolve this… situation" Lord Royce suggested though many could here the implied order. A few mutterings of condolences to Catelyn passed over her as she wept for her family.

"My lady, perhaps you should go to your guest quarters. It has been a long and eventful day, some sleep may do you well" Lord Royce said gently, a hand placed comfortingly on her shoulder. She nodded slowly before being escorted carefully out and then down a couple of corridors and up a flight of stairs before being shown to a comfortable single bed room with a wardrobe, drawers and a small writing desk. Yohn helped her to the bed and gently laid her upon it before leaving the room and allowing her to process everything that had happened. Eventually after a few tears the tired and mournful lady of Winterfell fell asleep.

xxxxx

Yohn Royce

As the lady of Winterfell slept Yohn Royce took command of the Eyrie, issuing orders for food supplies to be checked, repairs to be carried out and the guards trained as they should be plus many other things. Indeed many of these duties had fallen to the side as the stewards had been left with little instruction from Lysa beyond maintain everything as it was. Returning to the main hall he frowned in concern at the throne, wondering if there was something he could have done sooner to prevent this tragedy. As he looked around he spotted a piece of crumpled parchment on the floor and realised it was the letter from Kings Landing lying by the vacant throne. Curious to know what had been said, it may impact the security of the Vale after all, he picked it up, unravelled it and read.

To Lady Lysa Arryn, Lady Regent of the Vale

I request and command you to bend the knee to my nephew, King Tommen of the House Baratheon, and send your forces immediately against the traitorous Starks and their Riverland allies in order to put down this false dragon and rebellion. In return we shall help you get justice and revenge for your lover Petyr Baelish and reward your son with confirmation as Lord of the Eyrie, Lord Paramount of the Vale and Warden of the East. Failure to comply will result in the unfortunate news of your affair with Baelish becoming widely known, suspicion thrown on your son's parentage as well as the stripping of all lands and titles from House Arryn. My father will not tolerate neutrality any longer, he does, after all, have long arms and a song named after him.

With great expectation of loyalty to the crown,

Tyrion Lannister

Acting Hand of the King

So that was the threat and offer the dwarf had presented. No wonder Lysa went mad, not that the dwarf could have foreseen this affect. He likely expected her to fall into line to prevent rumours and reinforce her command of the Vale. Yohn scoffed, like that would happen, more likely the Vale would do nothing and wait out the war completely. They certainly wouldn't fight against Ned Stark even if Lysa commanded it. Oh the news of a Targaryen had concerned them, they'd fought against the last on, but he was raised a Stark so that counted for something. Many had muttered about what the supposed prince was like, indeed Yohn himself barely recalled seeing the boy on his visit to Winterfell. The only impression he had was a sullen and brooding lad who kept to the shadows. Likely the effect of Lady Stark being harsh on the boy due to her upbringing, not that the Vale could say it was any better though bastards were certainly treated with a fairer hand here compared to other places. Only Dorne treated them equally with the North somewhat behind that and ahead of others. Dorne due to their ways and some Rhoynish influence no doubt. The North due to the need for every able body to farm the land, fish the rivers and defend the land.

He sighed tiredly. Yes this letter was definitely going to set the cat amongst the pigeons.

Renly

He was sat casually upon his horse at the banks of the Blackwater, Kings Landing was just on the other side. His army had settled down to camp on this side, well away from the riverbank and with guards posted at regular positions to keep watch overnight. They would attack in the morning after everyone was rested. They had brought up some ships from the Stormlands and were currently building rafts and landing craft to ferry themselves across. In the morning a number of his forces would head up the river to the Kingsroad bridge and begin the siege from the west side while others crossed to besiege the south and blockade the docks. He could not fail. The numbers were against the lions and the Starks had bled them greatly so he had no doubt he would win. It's not like dragons existed any more and no one was stupid enough to use wildfire after what the Mad King had done. Besides, the last he'd heard the entire leadership of the alchemist guild had been mysteriously murdered during the Sack, thus no one was left to make it any more. Yes, victory was in his grasp and a new dynasty would begin.

He paused, then sighed. Hmm he really would have to try harder with Margery. She was a nice girl who meant well and cared for the people but more importantly was a girl who brought the many thousands of men with her but he could not love how she wanted or needed. He turned to his left where Loras sat astride his horse. Gods, now there was a handsome man. A man he loved. And he just happened to be rather good in bed as well. He sighed before giving a loving smile to Loras who smirked. Tomorrow it would all be his he thought with a final glance at the capital. For now though a night in his tent with his love was due.

AN: Another chapter is here in which Lysa went mad, Tyrion was smug and Renly confident. All are no doubt wrong. So I went with the idea that Littlefinger may have told Lysa some of his plans in order to convince her to join him, like his aim to be king and make her his queen, if she helped him off Lord Arryn and blame the Lannisters (he certainly wouldn't mention his likely plan of making Catelyn, or later Sansa, said queen after ridding the world of Starks). Tyrion thinks he's being smart but misjudges it as usual (a blunder like trying to take Casterly Rock when it held no use to anyone). And Renly forgets that there were apprentices, novices etc who weren't killed off. Hope you liked it and any comments/reviews please leave as well.