It was Jaime who found her first. Her son entered the throne room with two dozen Lannister soldiers at his back, along with the second Stark son, Eddard, with a company of his own men.

Tya had stepped away from Aerys' lifeless corpse shortly after his death. Awaiting the outcome of the siege, she had sat down on the steps of the throne to clean the dagger on her already ruined skirts. That had been over an hour ago, and she pleased to finally have a source of information.

All of the men were bloody from battle, their armour dented and shields notched, but every one of them wore a look of victory on their faces. Which quickly twisted into surprise as they saw the body of the king lying crumpled at her feet.

She rose to greet them, stepping carelessly over Aerys, noticing two of the men who had taken her from her chambers were shouldering their way to the front. One of them managed to speak before any of the newcomers.

"It's done, milady," One held up the grisled head of Lord Rosshart, still dripping blood onto the floor. "The pyromancer is dead,"

"Have it stuck on a pike over the gatehouse," She told him. The head of their absent friend - the one who had manhandled and threatened her when escorting her to the throne room - would likely join it if she ever got her hands on him. No doubt why he had not returned with the other two.

"Gotten a taste for murder, Mother?" Jaime asked with a grin as the men nodded and left at her dismissal, though her son's tone belied his curiosity.

Perhaps it was a mark of the eventful day, but instead of snapping at him for the glib remark, Tya smiled a small smile in grim satisfaction.

"Aerys and Rosshart planted caches of wildfire all over the city," She said, for Jaime's benefit as well as everyone else's. "We had discovered the plot and started to take steps to remove the caches we knew about, but the work was incomplete and there were undoubtedly some we did not know about. Aerys managed to escape from his chambers as the gates fell when everyone was distracted and ordered a guard to bring him the pyromancer. I had them both killed to stop the entire city going up in flames,"

An outbreak of shocked murmuring followed her words, and Eddard Stark's frown deepened.

"Pardon me, my lady, but how long ago did you kill King Aerys?" One of Jaime's knights - a Crakehall, judging from his sigil - inquired.

"An hour or so," She replied, narrowing her eyes. "What does it matter?"

"There you go Lannister," The Crakehall nudged Jaime. "You're a Kingslayer, not a Princeslayer. Has a much better ring to it,"

"You killed Rhaegar?" Tya asked him sharply. That would be almost poetic.

"I struck a mortal blow," Jaime said, grimacing slightly. "He's not dead yet, but his stomach is burst and he will be soon,"

"Where is he?"

"I believe Uncle Kevan is having him wheeled up Aegon's Hill in a wagon as we speak. He assumed you'd want to speak with the prince, if he lasts long enough,"

Kevan had assumed right. Jaime moved closer to her so they could speak more privately, as the men dispersed slightly. His armour was as bloody as her dress.

"Father's alive and mostly uninjured," He told her, and she was gladdened for it, not having wanted to ask in front of everyone. "I don't think any of the family fell, though I think Gerion was hurt quite badly when his horse fell underneath him. Robert Baratheon died storming the gate, too - his men were the first through, of course. I think it was Selmy that did it. That's why Stark looks even more morose than normal. It's likely for the best, though - turns out Lord Rickard had not actually informed Robert that Lyanna was to marry me when she returned, not him,"

She agreed with that assessment.

"And Rhaegar?"

"I saw him almost at the gate and went straight for him to stop them closing it," He shrugged, not seeming as thrilled as she would have expected to have done a deed that would see his name writteen down in history. "Cut through what seemed like two dozen soldiers, and Ser Jonothor of the Kingsguard. Rhaegar's good with a sword, but better with a lance. I fought him, and Dayne was right there beside us - he could easily have stepped in and finished me, but it seemed like he was deliberately engaging himself with other opponents. Then after Rhaegar fell - his guts were spilling out, he was obviously going to die - I was going to make it quick but Dayne stopped me. He wanted him taken alive,"

"He hasn't forgotten Ashara," She said, feeling a sense of grim justice.

"Quite," Her son said with a bleak smile.

There was a pause.

"I'm going to find Rhaegar," Tya told him. "You stay here to hold the throne room. Send men to fetch Cersei and Aegon from Maegor's Holdfast, too - I want that boy sat on the throne by the time the rest of them get here,"

Jaime nodded, seeming glad for something to do.

Kevan and his men had just escorted the wagon bearing the dying prince - king for now, she supposed, seeing as Aerys was dead and he was not - into the courtyard when Tya made it outside to meet them.

"My thanks, brother," She greeted Kevan first, taking his hands in her own in an uncharacteristic display of gratitude. "The battle went just as we hoped,"

He smiled wryly.

"I've been hearing whispers you finally did away with Aerys. I hope you savoured it,"

She couldn't help but smile faintly back.

"The last thing he heard was my voice telling him that I won,"

He chuckled at that, as she glanced at the wagon behind him.

"He won't last long, Tya," Kevan warned. "You'd best say your piece quick,"

Tya nodded, stepping up to the wagon to see Rhaegar lying there, dying. It was a gruesome set of injuries Jaime had given him, and his face was twisted in obvious agony, though his violet eyes narrowed at the sight of her.

"One day - " He gasped out, panting and gasping through bursts of pain. "One day you will... see that a - that you should have... listened. When the Others - rise again and... and the Wall comes... crashing down - you'll wish you heeded - my words,"

"You're as mad as your father," She replied with no sympathy at all. Even on his deathbed he was still talking about that cursed prophecy. "You should have listened, your Grace. I did warn you what would happen if you betrayed me,"

"You're one - to talk - of... betrayal,"

"This is justice," Tya corrected, voice cold. "For my daughter, for Aegon, for myself, and for Houses Stark, Baratheon and Dayne," Before he could speak, she continued. "I killed your father with this dagger. His body lies crumpled at the foot of the Iron Throne. So I suppose you die a king, at least," Even if it is for less than half a day. Her tone was disdainful, almost mocking.

His face was full of loathing, regret and disappointment both, eyes closing for a moment.

"I do not - wish to die with... you... looming over me,"

"Out of respect for your mother, I'll grant you that last request," She said. Rhaella had clearly been told what had happened, for she had burst into the courtyard and was running towards them, Prince Viserys hanging back with a scared expression on his face. "You listen to her weeping, and know that her grief is down to you. And if you have any love for her at all, do not mention that wretched prophecy,"

With that, Tya drew back and stepped away.

"Cover his wounds," She told one of the nearby soldiers. "Use a cloak, a sack, anything. Her Grace does not need to see that,"

She left Rhaella to grieve, to hold her son as he died. Her presence was not welcome there, nor did she wish to gloat any further.

Aerys' end had been far more satisfying than Rhaegar's, she decided. A build up of madness and hatred and toxic, twisted friendship, culminating in a crashing downfall. The prince, on the other hand, had been promising since the day he was born. He was clever, sensible and noble, and would have made an excellent king had it not been for the madness of recent years, his single-minded obsession that had torn his house apart.

Now he lay dying in a wagon in the courtyard of the Red Keep, as his mother sobbed over him and his little brother clenched his fists. Meanwhile, his son sat on the Iron Throne in the arms of Cersei, who appeared regal and proud despite being newly made a widow.

Tya took her usual place at the base of the throne on the right hand side of the king, as the lords of Westeros assembled before them.

In the end, it was Rhaella who remained as Aegon's Regent, rather than the title passing to Cersei as the boy's mother. Tya's daughter was not happy about this at all, though (grudgingly) understood the reasoning behind it. Both Aerys and Rhaegar had been killed by Lannisters, and the plot to undermine their authority had been orchestrated by Tya as well. A Targaryen must be seen to be in control, else dangerous whispers would start to spread.

To placate her daughter, Tya would not arrange another marriage for her despite there being plenty of alliances to form; Cersei would remain in court with her son for the foreseeable future. Needless to say, this had been Jason's idea rather than Tya's, though she had to admit it did soften any resentment within the family that may have built up otherwise.

Tya remained in the position she had held since she was twenty years old, Hand of the King. Rhaella was learning to rule, and was more competent than Aerys had ever been, but it was a slow process and she was still a soft touch. Thankfully her Hand was anything but.

They were faced with new difficulties now, first and foremost the fact that many lords were hardly pleased that the realm was being run by two women and an infant. Never mind that they had put up with a madman ruling for decades. Tya was forced to have the small council (all of them men, of course) present at most functions, to stave off many of the inevitable questioning and undermining of their decisions by making it appear that the council had more power than it actually did.

She dealt with those men like she always had, however. They had been present all throughout her Handship, particularly in those first few years before she had proved herself, and had been waiting for another excuse to rear their ugly heads now. Whilst she could not afford to show any weakness or falter in any way, she did not fear any minor threat they posed. Those who mattered would soon realise that the realm was healing after Rhaegar's madness under Rhaella and Tya.

A multitude of marriages and betrothals had been made between most of the great houses, to ensure a united front for the coming years. Elbert Arryn was husband to Elia Martell, whilst Doran Martell had wed Catelyn Tully. Lysa Tully was betrothed to Willas Tyrell, and the baby Tyrell daughter Margaery was betrothed to Viserys Targaryen. The infant King Aegon was promised to the future daughter of Stannis Baratheon, now lord, and his new Stormlands bride. Rohanne Lannister was due to wed Brandon Stark when she came of age, whilst Lyanna Stark was to marry Jaime Lannister in the coming year.

Seeing as their daughter was to marry him one day, Viserys would go to squire at Highgarden when he turned thirteen. It was too risky to send him there to foster any sooner. Not with Aegon so young, his rule still in the tentative early stages.

Yes, it was best to keep Aerys' second son close for the time being. Tya had seen the hatred burning in that boy's eyes when he looked at her. Rhaella had informed her that Viserys was angry at everyone and everything these days. He had reportedly had a tantrum about Rhaegar shortly after his death, demanding why his once-idolised brother had to be so stupid and selfish and ruin everything, before bursting into tears. Tya was a very easy person to blame.

Rohanne, Damon and Tyrion had all returned to court following Rhaegar's death. Rohanne spend a lot of time around the Starks; Brandon and Eddard had remained in King's Landing whilst their father led the Northern troops back to Winterfell, seeing as it was not safe for Lyanna to travel whilst so heavily pregnant. Tya's second daughter was good friends with Lyanna and Eddard, and her Brandon seemed to be amused by and interested in her at least. Though if he even looked at her the wrong way before they were married, Tya would have his head.

Brandon was clearly restless in King's Landing, and irritated that it had not been his own hand to strike down Rhaegar. Nonetheless, he was very protective of his sister and would certainly not leave her in what he charmingly described as 'a pit of vipers'.

Eddard was much more calm and reasonable, despite his permanently grim expression, and Tya found herself wishing that he was the eldest son, not his brother. Brandon was charismatic and sharp, more intelligent than he looked, but he was reckless and angered easily. If anyone would be able to handle him, it was Rohanne, though Tya would not be the first mother to hope for a less ruthless man for her daughter.

Damon too was happy. He had started to squire for Ser Arthur Dayne, an arrangement that had come about because of Jaime, who was friends with the Kingsguard knight. The boy was a fair fighter, though not the prodigy his elder brother had been; he was like by Ser Arthur more for his noble ideals and kindness than his skill level.

Tya had resumed her lessons with Tyrion, during which he eagerly took in her every word. He truly was the most politically astute of all her children, even Cersei, though she would never mention that to her eldest daughter. Yet Tya found herself unable to refrain from giving Tyrion a small smile one day after he gave the exact answer she was looking for, and the grin that spread across the boy's face made her stomach clench.

And as for Jaime, he had returned to Casterly Rock with Kevan when the Westerlands army returned home. Before they left, Tya had asked her brother if he was angry at her son, for enabling his daughter's escape to Oldtown and leaving Jaime himself as the heir to Casterly Rock.

"Any other boy and I would want him sent to the Wall," He replied gruffly. "You as well, for I'd think you put him up to it. But I know Jaime, and I know my daughter. He did what he thought was right for her, without any thoughts of ambition in his head. It likely was best for her, too. Janei wouldn't have lasted long as Lady Lannister. Even the threat of marriage hanging over her was enough to sent her into disproportionate fits of panic... she's always been a delicate girl. No, Janei will be happy as a septa - I wrote to her, and she hopes to return home some day and serve future Lannister daughters. Besides, Jaime is as close to a son as I've had since Gerold,"

"He learned more from you and Jason than he ever did from me," Tya admitted. Her son's style of ruling would be far different to her own, she was sure, but at least he was competent in his own way and not running off to Essos to avoid any responsibility.

"That's not necessarily a bad thing," Kevan smiled, even as she glared at him.

"Nor is it a good thing," She countered.

"It won't be as hard for him as it was for us," Her brother said. "Jaime is a man, for one. Neither will he be directly following our father's rule of incompetence. The lords of the West respect us both, and they respect him too, seeing as he has fought alongside them and learned at my side for all these years. Why, he has already made a name for himself - Kingslayer. And for that reason, he will not have a mad king hindering him at every turn,"

Tya made a noise of agreement. She supposed he was right about that.

284AC

Lyanna's babe was born early that year. Jon Snow looked almost as different from his half-brother Aegon as it was possible to be. Dark haired and blue eyes that were fast fading to grey peered up at Tya from a longish face. Even as a baby, he looked Stark through and through. There was little trace of his father whatsoever, aside from how quiet he was. Aegon had been born loud and roaring.

Tya would much rather the bastard boy did not exist at all, though arranging that would have started another war. The child could have at least had the decency to be born Jenny Snow instead, but at least he was not Rhaegar in miniature.

Jon Snow left King's Landing a month after his birth in the arms of his mother, accompanied by Brandon and Eddard as they took a ship to White Harbour. Rhaegar's bastard son would return south soon enough, when Lyanna wed Jaime. At least they would be able to monitor him, growing up in Casterly Rock. She would give the Starks as little opportunity as possible to create another line of Blackfyres.

The boy's half-sisters would remain in the Red Keep, alongside Aegon. Visenya, Daena and Valaena would be a comfort to Rhaella at least, along with her own young daughter Daenerys, after Rhaegar's death. Tya had been expecting her friend to hold her at least partly responsible for the death of her eldest son - particularly considering who had been the one to strike the mortal blow - and although the queen likely did, she did not show any outward resentment towards Tya.

She had questioned Rhaella about this once, curious at how the woman could be so forgiving, knowing that she herself would stop at nothing to destroy all traces of anyone who had done to her family what she had done to the Targaryens.

"There is no point in holding onto hate," The Queen Regent had said sadly. "You've been my friend since we were girls, Tya. You know my feelings about Aerys - the only resentment there is that I myself was too craven to stab him in the heart decades ago. As for Rhaegar - " She paused, blinking away tears. "He was about to tear the kingdoms apart. You warned him, and gave him a lot of chances to do the right thing. But my sweet boy was not himself in recent years. The Rhaegar I knew would never have been so reckless, so foolish or so cruel. I am glad Lady Lyanna is gone, for I could hardly stand to look her in the eye knowing that my son turned out to be far too much like his father after all,"

That was as good an explanation as any, she supposed, though Tya could still not understand it. Forgiven, not forgotten, was what she gleaned from Rhaella's words.

"Is forgiveness so foreign to you?" Jason asked her, amused; she had relayed the queen's words to her husband that evening. Her husband was lounging in one of the chairs by the fire in their bedchamber, whilst she stood at the window looking out over the city.

At the look on her face, he laughed.

"Forget I asked. I know you have not yet forgiven me for stealing your doll when you were five, or pushing you into the sea in Lannisport, let alone someone killing your firstborn son,"

"You cut the doll's hair to shreds with your eating knife, then cut yourself on it and got blood all over her dress," She had to smile faintly. "I certainly have not forgiven that,"

"Well you're a worse woman than I," He sighed in mock-disappointment. "I forgave you a long time ago for having my friend sent away, for breaking my finger and for tattling on me to your mother every other day. I suppose our wedding night made up for all that,"

"For you, perhaps," She said flatly, and Jason grinned.

"So you would not even forgive your husband for a slight that occured nearly forty ago?"

"The fact you are my husband - someone I trust - makes the betrayal that much worse,"

"I'm glad to finally hear you can trust me, after all this time," He said, shaking his head. "I think you're going to have to settle for the fact that you will never understand Rhaella's remarkable tolerance of you. She's certainly not acting your friend and hiding daggers beneath her smiles, if that's what you're concerned about,"

The thought had crossed her mind.

"You're paranoid and ridiculous," Her husband told her. "Not everyone is you, Tya,"

"I know that," She narrowed her eyes, though returned to her seat beside him. Tya initially sat stiffly, but Jason wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to lean against him, and she relaxed against him after a few seconds. "The very word paranoid reminds me of Aerys. Do not call me such again,"

"How about stubborn - am I allowed to call you that? Are cold, ruthless, and haughty permitted? Or proud, villainous, terminally ambitious, insufferable - "

"You may call me Lady Hand and bite your wagging tongue," She dug her elbow into his side, hearing his breath of laughter.

There was an easy silence.

"You've done so much, you know," Jason said, amusement in his tone fading into warmth. "Your methods might not have been the most savoury, but most lords wouldn't fit everything you've accomplished into three lifetimes. Murdered your way out of an unsavoury marriage. Restored your house's reputation. Wormed your way into the good graces of the king and queen, so much so that he would appoint you Hand for his entire reign, despite the fact he despised you for half of it. Very few people would have been able to manage Aerys and the realm at once, let alone deposed him, then orchestrated the downfall of his son when he displeased you. On top of all that, you lived to tell the tale. Your grandson is king, your son heir to Casterly Rock, your daughter the future Lady of Winterfell, and that's not even everything,"

He was right, but few people ever put it that way, let alone praised her for it. She looked up at her husband, meeting his green eyes. He had been at her side, unwavering, throughout all of the things she had described. Few men would put up with being in their wife's shadow at all, let alone to such a great extent, and even fewer would actually make themselves useful.

"I love you," The words came out without her thinking too much about it.

Jason's eyes widened. The look on his face was worth the uncharacteristic honesty and emotion.

"I know," He replied, obviously very surprised, though a smile was creeping onto his face. "You didn't have to say it. Though I'm glad that you did,"

"Don't get used to it,"

"I wouldn't dare," There was another pause. "For what it's worth, Tya, my cold-hearted lioness, I love you too. Despite the fact you infuriate me beyond measure on a regular basis,"

"Evidently you don't like the sound of your own voice as much as I thought," She raised an eyebrow at him, disbelieving. "For you clearly cannot hear yourself. You - of all people - have the nerve to call me infuriating?"

"And I meant it," He laughed, then laughed harder at her glare. "We can both be right, you know. Though my version of infuriating is making stupid japes and knowing how to get under your skin, whilst yours is cutting off someone's hand when it would probably have been better to leave it attached. The same word can have multiple meanings,"

"You're making me wish I married Aerys," She glowered at Jason before looking away and shuffling tighter against him.

He laughed at that.

"Gods, there's a nightmarish thought that will haunt me for days to come. You certainly wouldn't have waited twenty years to stab him if that was the case,"

They fell into an easy silence, Tya watching the flames of the fire die down, more relaxed than she had been in years. There were still struggles to be had, of course - running the Seven Kingdoms for her infant grandson was hardly a stress-free task - but there were no imminent wars, no direct threats, no dire emergencies.

Likely that would all change in the future, be it the following day or ten years time. But for now, in one of those incredibly rare moments of peace, Tya Lannister let herself sink into her husband's arms in front of a fire and close her eyes.

And we've come to the end of this story! A Lioness Still Has Claws was a pleasure to write, and Tya is a delight, despite being an awful person (though slightly less awful than Tywin). This has been one of the fastest growing stories I've published (thanks all of you for that) and I'm glad I could share it. Just the epilogue to go now - by popular request this will be from Dany's POV, but will feature all of Rhaegar's children, and of course Tya and the Lannisters - and possibly some bonus chapters if I can polish up my drafts.

Thanks so much for reading!