It wasn't Bronn's first time in the capital, yet he returned to it with a better position than before. Shae and Lady Rebekah left the group as soon as they arrived, and Bronn couldn't help but notice the icy looks from Rebekah. Women could be mad for days, so he decided to blink playfully at her. Although she gave her best to stay firm, a blush crept up in her face.

Bronn followed Tyrion up to the Red Keep, joining King Joffrey's nameday celebrations. The sun shone above the heads of the noble crowd, while the boy King enjoyed letting fools fight each other. Lady Sansa Stark sat next to him, silent and pale. Bronn had heard rumors about Joffrey's viciousness, and it certainly would made his stay in the capital interesting. Tyrion was bolt as ever, putting a stop to Joffrey's smug smile. They left the boy king pouting over his uncle's words, both men satisfied with the small feeling of power.

-„I want you to hire men in my name, pick the best fighters you can find but make sure their not already working for someone. You need to provide lodging for the hilltribes and then you can meet me again for dinner."

Tyrion instructed, then grinned at the taller men „That's when you're getting your payment, Bronn. You won't be disappointed." He promised, and Bonn grunted. „I hope so, wouldn't want to do all this work for nothing."

-„Lannister always pay their debts." Tyrion muttered while they walked through the gardens. The small council was waiting, and Tyrion couldn't wait to see their surprise on their faces.

OoOoO

The hot water cleaned Rebekah's bruised and dirty skin, making her muscles relax. Her hair hung down in dark reddish-brown waves, finally smelling good again. The two maidens worked quietly, but Rebekah didn't mind. She needed the silence to think about all what happened to her in the past days. A women needed to listen to her intuition, Septa Olene had advised the Lady in her early years. And right now, Lady Rebekah's intuition was clearly telling Roran was murdered, most likely by her stepfather Mycah. Rebekah couldn't help but feel responsable. Of course, Mycah had no right to touch her the way he did. It was wrong, and Rebekah never regretted defending herself. But the consequences were horrible, leaving the young women with guilt. Her departure to Casterly Rock had made Lord Mycah uncontrollably angry and Rebekah had ignored the danger he could be to her brothers. Even after his aggressions towards her, she had refused to see how he really was.

Rebekah closed her eyes. Shae was right, accusing Mycah in the open would be worse for Dewan – It was too easy for Mycah to hire men to kill Dewan. What other options did she have? Dewan wasn't old enough, Rebekah was a women, House Waldorf was too weak. No one would take sides with her and Dewan, since Lord Mycah may murdered his step-son, but was not a bad Lord for Shadow Castle.

No one would believe her, everyone would believe she just wanted more power for herself.
Her head began to hurt and she felt the weight of her worries on her shoulders. She didn't dare thinking of the other big problem: An impending betrothal to Gregor Clegane.

OoOoO

The gold weight heavy in Bronn's pockets. Tyrion hadn't lied about paying his debts, and in addition, the wine and food tasted heavenly. He even got some coins extra, and Tyrion explained they were meant for him keeping an eye out for Rebekah Waldorf. Bronn just shrugged, but he liked the idea of watching the sublime girl.

-„Cersei's face was priceless. I would be even happier if the situation wasn't so bad. She let her stupid boy chop of Ned Stark's head." Tyrion said between two bites of the roast.

-„At least you don't have to worry about him." Bronn stated, not really caring about politics but letting Tyrion talk.

-„Oh no, not about Ned Stark. Only about his son, the whole North, Stannis, Renly and a vicious not so Baratheon King on the Iron Throne. Not to mention the task of being the hand of the King with my father's crawls in my neck." The sarcasm couldn't be missed, yet both men laughed, the wine causing them to be light headed.

The door opened, and a young squire announced with a trembling voice: „The Lady Rebekah Waldorf, my lord Hand."

Bronn almost choked on the chicken he was eating. The woman infront of them couldn't be compared to the tired, worried and dirty girl from the last days. Her fire colored hair shone softly, a simple small braid being wrapped around her forehead like a crown and leaving the rest cascade in open waves. The dress was light green, with a very fitting corsage to accentuate the women's slender waist but full breasts. Two lighter, almost transparent strands of fabric were crossed over her chest and her shoulders, leaving only a little peak at the corsage and the cleavage free. Bronn remembered seeing the style of the dress in the Westerlands before, yet Lady Rebekah's mint colored dress was embellished with golden embroideries and white pearls. Her warm amber eyes looked awake and her smile lit up her face, revealing small dimples.

-„My Lord Hand. Bronn." She greeted and curtsied gracefully, her smile turning into a more mocking one.

-„Aah, Lady Rebekah, you look ravishing. I though you may enjoy a quit dinner with friends before the work as my assistant starts."

Bronn never left her sight as she sat down on a chair on the other side of Tyrion, facing the sellsword.

-„I hope you don't mind our common friend's company, Lady Rebekah." Tyrion said, handing her a plate of food and a cup of wine. Bronn scoffed, raising his cup to the red-haired Lady.
-„As long as he doesn't tie me up again." She replied sarcastically, causing Tyrion to laugh loudly. Bronn raised his eyebrow, surprised by her daring tone. A nice dress and a bath was apparently enough to make this Lady get bold again.

-„I'd leave that to your soon-to-be husband Ser Gregor Clegane, he will need some rope if he wants to keep you in his holdings."

-„Like you probably need a rope to keep any women near to you."

-„Most of my women use ropes in different ways." Bronn smiled meaningfully.

-„Only because you pay them to."

-„You get many great things with gold, my lady."

-„It's sad if you get nothing from people without gold."

-„Oh, you would get a lot from people with a few other favors."

-„Enough! Please, try to get along. Bronn, do not forget she's a Lady, thus you should show her more respect. Lady Rebekah, don't forget he works for me and I need him. Thank you." Tyrion interrupted the verbal exchange, looking up unimpressed from his food.

Bronn was pleased to see Rebekah's chest rising and falling fastly, showing her indignation.

Rebekah scolded herself for letting herself get flustered by this common man with the cold blue eyes. She had seen him fighting, catlike and with great strength, yet she hadn't thought he would be witty enough in a verbal attack. And to her great shame, she didn't win this little quarrel. The woman cleared her throat and looked down to her plate.

-„Well I know she's a lady. I'm surprised she talks at me at all, normally pretty girls don't feel comfortable with filthy bastards like me." He said, smiling at her even though she still looked down.

-„It's great that you know what you are, Bronn. Lady Rebekah is just warm-hearted enough to enjoy even not so noble company." Tyrion explained with a chuckle. Rebekah felt the tension vanish thanks to her friend, and she nodded in agreement. „Maybe it's because I got to know the noblest of companies. Like your..."

-„Lovely sister? Dear Father? You are right, Lady Rebekah, they make our common sellsword look as chaste and soft as a septa."

The three of them laughed, but they all realized they would not get to enjoy much evenings like this again.

Hi :) They finally arrive in King's Landing and from now on the story really starts ;)
Thanks to .7 and Sparky She-Demon for leaving already a few reviews, they really make me happy!

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