A/N: This is just going to be a small filler chapter I am afraid. it was going to be bigger but I decided that it was time for a cliff hanger!
The day was sunny but a cold wind still swept across the practice yard as the men at arms and others sparred with one another, the sweat still ran down their bodies and soaked into their inner garments as they fought one another in friendly combat, honing their skills with both sword and shield.
Jon stood a little to one side as he watched Rob and Theon spar, he was still a little unsure of his position within the hierarchy of Winterfell now, before he knew his place albeit at the bottom of the social ladder and although he had hated the way people treated him, at least they were being honest about how they felt about him.
For the last few days, ever since the king had blurted out who he really was people had acted differently around him and although he had hated the way he had been treated before at least people had not creeped around him and pretended to want to please to serve his needs, not that he had many needs that needed seeing to, he was used to doing most things for himself.
The sound of a polite cough was all the warning that Jon got, to show that he no longer stood alone and to one side, that someone had joined him and he turned to see who it was but no one was there. Jon was confused he was certain he had heard a cough but there was no one there.
"Down here you twit."
A voice somewhat irritably informed him and Jon glanced down to see the imp standing just a little to one side of him, staring up into his face as if he was trying to read him or devour him he thought. He had heard much about the littlest of the Lannister's, not all good in fact most of what he had heard had been in a dismissive and discrimatory manner towards the youngest of Lord Tywin's sons.
"My Lord,"
Jon nodded his head to him, showing him respect although he knew very few others really showed the little man any respect. He studied him as Tyrion returned the favour and studded him in return, the two gazing at each other for a few moments before Tyrion broke the silence.
"So you are the one who would usurp my nephews place as Roberts first born son are you?"
"It is not something that I had desired to do or would do, that is something your king has done, my lord."
"He is your king also young man, as well as your father it would seems."
"So I am told," Jon replied to him.
"Hmm," was Tyrion's reply, as he continued to study the quiet and almost sullen boy that stood before him, he knew what his family had told him about the lad and what he had heard about him from those of Winterfell, many who had not known that he was listening in, as many just dismissed him as nothing, even though he was a Lannister and a noble but being a dwarf definitely had it drawbacks or advantages depending on how one looked at it.
The sound of an angered cry and a clash of a sword had both looking back across the practice yard to see Theon on the ground and Rob standing over him with his sword aimed at the young krakens' throat. Rob looked as though he wanted to split the man on the ground in two and both Tyrion and Jon wondered what had occurred to produce such an unknown rage within the heir of Winterfell.
"Now what is going here to cause your cousin such anger, he is normally so mild mannered from what I have observed of him?" Tyrion murmured to Jon.
Both watched but made no move to approach the two in front of them for the moment as others had done so, with Rob being ordered to step back and lower his sword. They could see the reluctance in the young heirs stance at standing down and the anger that rolled off him was clearly visible.
"Possibly Theon has insulted either Rob or someone else in Winterfell with his words, he is good at that. Does not always knows when to keep his mouth shut, he is arrogant but then some young lords are." Jon told the little man that stood by his side.
"Umm not a wise young man that one, his arrogance one day may just cause him to lose his head or some other body part, depending on who he upsets." Tyrion remarked, smirking as he said it.
He glanced sideways again at Jon who at the moment had only eyes for what was going on ahead of them and Tyrion studied the boy, he generally could tell straight away about someone's character and whether or not they were a threat to his family or more importantly to himself but he was unsure what he felt about this possible threat to his family, he would take some studying Jon he decided, before he would make his decision.
A/N: So what has Theon said to make Rob so angry and just where does Tyrions loyalties lay, with his family or else where?