Disclaimer: Characters and past storylines belong to the series creators and George R.R. Martin.

I have a rendezvous with Death... It may be he shall take my hand, and lead me into his dark land,
And close my eyes and quench my breath- It may be I shall pass him still...
But I've a rendezvous with Death at midnight in some flaming town, when Spring trips north again this year;
And I to my pledged word am true, I shall not fail that rendezvous.

from I Have A Rendezvous With Death by Alan Seeger

Tyrion

†

With only two days to his departure, Queen Daenerys decided she would fly over the city on Drogon's back to help distract the guards watching over the bay, and everyone else in the city likely, while he snuck in. He appreciated the gesture, though he was more worried about what happened inside than what happened to him on his approach.

He left before she did, sailing on a small boat manned by Ironborn, down the coast. It would almost be dark by the time he reached the Bay, and with their natural skills at sea and Daenerys' display, he had no doubt he would get in. After that, he was not so sure.

Varys' spy would reach his brother Jaime with a simple message, "On the eve the sky burns black, a monster waits in the dragon's mouth for peace, or mercy."

Tyrion alone would enter through the old secret entrance, and find his kin or his enemy, and as he began to walk the long tunnel, he hoped these weren't his last moments as a free man. As he slid a false wall, he saw the glow of a torch. He walked slowly but steadily towards the light, trying hard not to make noise. He heard nothing, and felt no movement as he entered the vast chamber. He saw Bronn first, leaning against the wall, a wineskin in hand. At the sight of his old friend the pit in his gut disappeared. He saw his brother when he stood abruptly, nervous and alert.

"Tyrion," He said, sounding glad yet wary.

"Jaime, brother. Bet you had not thought to see me again."

He flashed a smile before turning to the other man, who had now approached them.

"Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, how relieved I am to see you at my brother's side. I suddenly have the sneaking suspicion that you're the spider's spy."

He smiled his usual lazy grin, "I am fucking her, so in a way, I suppose so. And I'm the Queen's lover's right hand man, gives me some leeway. And your brother's not crazy like your sister, so there's that."

"And I owe you a lordship and castle, don't think you're going anywhere anytime soon," Jaime spoke finally, his voice serious.

Tyrion decided to ignore it and said to Bronn, "Let me guess, Cersei cheated you out of marrying Lollys?"

"Aye she did, but at least the Mountain did not crush my head like an egg."

"There is that," He grinned.

He nodded to his brother, "I hear he's quite the hero these days."

"He's got a soft spot for the small folk," Bronn replied.

Jaime seemed to finally tire of being excluded as he said suddenly, "Why are you here Tyrion?"

They both turned to look at the Knight of Mercy as they called him, and Bronn decided it was time to let them speak as he took a step back, and pulled out his wineskin again, this time sitting.

He finally sobered up, and regarded his brother with equal seriousness.

"A lot has changed since I left Westeros, including me."

And you as well, by the looks of it. He'd never seen his brother this way, nervous and solemn, and he'd lost weight and darkness circled his eyes.

"It seems so. You serve the Targaryen Queen now, and I serve her enemy, our sister Queen Cersei," Jaime spoke with conviction, but Tyrion could tell it was not entirely genuine.

"If that is so, then why are you saving her enemies?"

Jaime had been standing absolutely still, but he sat once more at his words.

"They are not her enemies, not truly. She just cannot see it," He answered, looking more broken than Tyrion had ever seen him.

He realized that though Jaime seemed to hope she would come to her senses, he'd realized as well, that she needed to be stopped, one way or another. Tyrion stepped closer to his brother, and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"She will never stop," He said solemnly.

"And either my Queen will put an end to her reign or-"

Jaime interrupted him, "I wondered if this is why you came. You wish for me to murder our sister, my-" He stopped.

Tyrion dropped his arm to his side, suddenly wanting to have done with it.

"I was going to say 'or another will', but why sugar coat it? Yes. I have come to ask this of you brother, not to hurt you, but to prevent more bloodshed. She is our sister, but she cannot be allowed to continue as she does. She will burn this entire city and everyone in it and you must put an end to her cruelty before it is too late. It is your duty."

"I love her!" Jaime exclaimed suddenly, trying in vain to fight against what he surely knew to be right.

He waited a moment before he continued, "She is my blood just as you are, what of my duty to her?"

Tyrion's tone softened as he answered, "There has never been love between Cersei and I, but I cannot believe that this mad Queen is our sister anymore, nor who she ever wanted to be. She is warped and skewed by the death of her children, and what those fanatics did to her. An end to her misery, this is your duty to her. Mercy."

And then Jaime dropped his head, and through his tears Tyrion saw him nod.

He looked to Bronn who seemed nearly broken up about what Jaime had agreed to, but he only took a swallow from his skin of wine, and offered it to Tyrion. For the first time in a long time, he nodded no, then turned to his brother.

"Queen Daenerys and her fleet will arrive in Blackwater Bay in three days, by which time you will have convinced Cersei to play at peace. We Lannisters are famous for our treachery, surely she will not doubt nor dislike this plan of yours. She will invite her rival into the city and the Red Keep, where you will slay her."

Jaime looked up as he finished, "You wish me to kill the Targaryen?' He asked confused, his cheeks wet.

"You will not kill Daenerys brother… you will give our sister mercy. And the rightful Queen will pardon you."

Jaime did not say anything, seemingly considering this so called plan. Tyrion turned to the Ser, whom he'd known for a long time now.

"I will get you your Lordship and your castle, I promise you. You only need make sure Jaime does his part."

"You'll be the third Lannister to offer, and though 'the Lannisters always pay their debts' I am no lord and I have no young bride to my name."

"Third luck's a charm. And i'm a dwarf, should be extra lucky," He smiled pleadingly.

When he wasn't sure it worked he added, "She will take the iron throne, I am certain. Whether with my brother's help or the lives of thousands, she will take it. I am her hand. A lordship for the man who helped her get the throne is hardly asking much."

Still he did not speak.

"This Lannister has always paid his debts, and you would not be a Ser without me, I think you owe me this much. I do not ask you to risk your life, only that you make sure he risks his."

"Alright, alright. No need to beg," His old friend finally answered. "Just make sure I get that castle and wife."

"Done," He nodded gratefully.

"What will happen to me?" Jaime asked suddenly, though it did not seem like he cared much.

"She will let you return as Lord to Casterly Rock with your armies, once you swear fealty."

"Is my sister's death not payment enough? Must I rule a land I never wanted to as well?"

Tyrion did not want to scold his brother, but his family tended to only consider their own feelings in matters that affected many.

"You cannot return to the kingsguard, not for a third reign. And you are not innocent Jaime, none of us are. We have all done things... and we all pay for our choices. This is your payment, harsh though it may seem. Our sister Cersei has already paid with the lives of your children, it is time she cross the toll. And believe me the alternative is much worse."

What else is there for you here?

"I suppose they'll call me the Queenslayer now. I admit, it has a better ring to it."

He wondered if his brother did not know the nickname the people had already bestowed upon him, but decided it best not to say, not yet. He would do his duty with a heavy hand, and Tyrion did not think it kind to remind him the people loved him for opposing her.

He left shortly after everything had been arranged and they had discussed some of the other details. His ironborn men brought him back up the coast, the sun not full in the sky by the time they left the Bay. He did not think it wise to linger, and when Daenerys entered King's Landing he would stay on deck until his sister was dead. He did not wish to make her suffer the knowledge of Jaime's betrayal. Once she saw Tyrion, she would know, and she would hate Jaime in her final moments, and he would not do that to his brother.

They reunited with her fleet a day later, and when they arrived in King's Landing as promised, it had not taken more than half a day for his sister the Mad Queen to invite them into the Red Keep. And though Lord Varys and Queen Daenerys and the rest of them rejoiced in the knowledge that she'd fallen for their ploy and Jaime bent knee, he could not help feel sorrow for his brother, who would have his lover's blood on his hands.

Soon they would have this in common as well.