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

My back is full of insect wings, collectors poke and scalpels ring,
The gospel here according to me, says I shouldn't be feeling any such thing

Beneath I stretch out the wait slow, to keep safe my keepsakes
Till I build up enough steam to run out of steam to float upstream to lands of forgotten kings

To a church riddle I throw this, who belongs and who goes…
I wrap such chaos sweet with bow
And send it off on the backs of a hundred crows…

from A Wax Seal by Billy Corgan

Tyrion

†

It did not take long for her to decide to leave for Pyke and the North as there was little more left to settle than rebuilding the throne room and managing the daily affairs of the realm. Order had already been restored to the city with Queen Daenerys's arrival, and it had been maintained when his brother handed over his army, the city watch as well as the goldcloaks, and it had been kept by a man who's loyalty ran deeper than gold, try as he might to deny it.

When Jaime had tried to run away, it was Bronn who had sent word to him, who'd learned of Cersei's ploy and warned them of it, and whose presence had delayed Jaime enough for an altered version of his own plan to remain in play.

They owed him a great deal, and though Queen Daenerys did not object when he'd asked her to make him a lord, she'd done so, though only in title. His lands would be given when the seven kingdoms, though in actuality nine, were united at last. Tyrion understood her reasoning, she did not know yet where she'd need him once the realm was one. He accepted this, though he'd not been pleased at first.

In the wake of all this, the only situation that called for true maneuvering had been dealing with Cersei's loyal subjects, though there hadn't been many. They could not simply have them all killed after all, they had to show mercy as well. Though it was not easy deciding who was harmless enough to leave alive.

The most notable, Maester Qyburn, once hand of the Queen, was no Maester at all, only a man with their knowledge, twisted by a dark need to outwit the gods. Tyrion had questioned him for the Mountain's whereabouts, though he was fairly certain the man would not reveal his creation's destination.

He'd not even been tempted to torture Qyburn for the information, surely a creature of that size with a face like his would be seen, sooner or later. They had not even had him hanged for creating the beast, nor serving his sister, since it was clear he did it only to serve himself. They had it done for what he found out, what no one but himself, Varys and the Queen knew.

It had not taken long for Varys' little birds to return to him, nor to share their darkest secret. The moment the children left them, the Spider never more looked like he earned his namesake; he was near bursting with murderous anger, his cheeks damp by the tears that had managed to escape his eyes.

Tyrion had never liked Maester Pycelle, in fact he often wished the man a bloody death, but the children did not deserve his death on their hands, though they did not realize it yet, they would someday.

On the other hand, he had gone out of his way to ensure Balon Swann had been pardoned, though Queen Daenerys had yet to agree to allow him to remain part of her guard, she had given him leave to remain in the castle, under his own service. Tyrion had always liked the knight, he was noble and during his time as hand, the only one worthy of the kingsguard, aside from his own brother of course.

In the morning, the true test would start when she left for Casterly Rock, along with Yara and Theon Greyjoy. Missandei and Grey Worm would leave as well, and he was not surprised to find he'd miss their company. He was just getting them to loosen up after all. King's Landing would be under his care, luckily Varys would remain at his side, as would Lady Olenna though he would not call that luck exactly. and.

He closed the book he had long since given up on reading, as he wondered how his brother would receive them there was a knock at his door.

'Come in,' he bellowed loud enough for whomever it was since he did not feel like getting out of his bed.

When the door opened he half expected to see Podrick standing there, but it was his new squire, a boy little younger than his last named Daryn, though with reddish brown hair instead of black. He was the second youngest son of Lord Serret of Silverhill, and though he wasn't much like Podrick, Tyrion liked the boy.

"My lord," He said once he stood at the foot of the bed. "Queen Daenerys waits in your solar, she wishes to speak with you."

He groaned as he threw his covers from him, and stood, knowing nothing good would come from this late meeting. He put on his breeches and Daryn, helped with his boots as well as his cloak as the night was decidedly cool.

He dismissed his squire before walking alone to his solar. He had not wanted to move back into the tower of the Hand, and so he hadn't. Instead he returned to the rooms he had while he was married to Sansa, and while memories of his time there were not what one could call pleasant, they were at least not as bad as the ones the Tower invoked.

She was already seated with two glasses of wine set on the table before her.

"Your Grace," He said with a bow before he moved to the empty seat, raised his glass to her and took one long swallow.

She smiled and nodded in return, though she said nothing until after he was done.

"I know it is late, but there is something I'd like to discuss before I leave."

"Of course your Grace," He said accommodatingly.

"My time is your time," He added with a smirk.

Surprisingly, she did not address the jest.

"After I take Pyke, and sail North, I think it would be wise I marry the King in Winterfell, so his people may witness our union."

He wanted to tell her she was getting far ahead of herself, but he doubted the words would be appreciated. Though of course, the notion itself made complete sense.

"I agree, though you will need to perform a ceremony in King's Landing as well, so that the rest of the realm may witness it."

She seemed to have thought of this already as she began to nod before he'd finished.

"Yes of course. Though I expect the great houses to attend my first as well. When the time comes you will inform Lady Olenna and send word to Ellaria that she and Obara must attend our wedding and swear fealty to King Jon. As for Pyke, I will accept Theon in Yara's stead, as she ought not to leave the Iron Islands yet."

She spoke as if Yara already ruled over the ironborn, but in truth, he had no reason to doubt that would come to pass. He did wonder if taking the younger Greyjoy to the North was the best course of action, and could not help voicing his concern.

"Not to be impertinent, my Queen, but is it wise to take Theon to Winterfell? He did burn it down after all," He asked delicately.

She sipped from her glass of wine before answering.

"There must be peace between the ironborn and the North. Theon's presence, will be the first of many steps I will take to unite the kingdoms."

She drank again, and hesitated a moment before she spoke.

"My marriage will unite the South and North, but I must ensure a lasting peace."

He nodded agreeing with her, but it seemed as if she meant to say more, so he said nothing.

"Jon is King in the North, but Lady Sansa is the true key to the Riverlands and the Vale. I must bind her to me as well. As I have no male siblings nor relatives, I must wed her to the lord of one of the kingdoms sworn to me."

She paused, her gaze heavy on him, and he understood then, who she meant.

"I was imposed on Sansa Stark once your Grace, and she fled from me, I do not expect her to wed me a second time," He countered.

She smirked then, and by her amusement it was clear she was not referring to him.

"You are Hand of the Queen, and your place is here in the capital. Jon will be king, and he will be represent the North in King's Landing. No, Lady Sansa will marry the only male Lord I have to offer."

Surprise hit his face as he understood who she meant, "Your Grace, surely you cannot mean my brother."

"You will ride for Casterly Rock once I have sent word, and you will convince Ser Jaime to do this. Then he will come to Winterfell, swear fealty to Jon, along with Lord Bronn, and attend our wedding. Then Lannister will wed Stark, and the war your father, sister and nephew started, will finally be at an end."

She did not address his words directly, but he realized in that moment, she had been planning this union for some time.

He understood now why she'd asked him to remain in King's Landing when they spoke of her plans to take the Iron Islands, why she did not need him to go North even though there was no one better to broker such an alliance as him, who knew them both.

She had known even then, that she would need him to convince Jaime in this proposal, because they were brothers and he was the only one who could, or perhaps she thought it would be easier for Jaime to accept if he knew Tyrion gave his consent.

He was glad to be spared the trip to Pyke, but this new task was hardly an improvement. Though he pitied Sansa for it seemed she could not escape his family, he did not object. She had never truly been his wife after all, nor had he truly loved her, though he could not avoid feeling bitter when he realized it was likely she would not mind having to share her bed with Jaime as much as she had with him.

With a sigh he finally nodded, and forced himself to dispel the notion from his mind. It was then that he remembered the real obstacle to this union.

"You realize your Grace, King Jon will not agree to this."

"He will come to understand the necessity of their union," She replied simply, though forcefully enough that Tyrion did not question her.

†

After she left, the city remained in a calm lull, and he was surprised to find out from Varys and his little birds, that the smallfolk no longer called him the Imp, halfman nor demon monkey. They simply called him the Dragon's Hand. He was a little disappointed the nickname was rather poorly thought up, and lacked cleverness. He did not say as much of course, as he did not want to seem ungrateful, even just to Lord Varys.

"Turns out you're a liberator no matter who you are if the last ruler was a murderous cu-".

"Lord Tyrion please," His friend interrupted him.

"There is no need for vulgarity. Your Queen sister is dead. Let us speak no more of it."

He sighed, for once feeling perhaps he'd almost gone a tad too far.

"Any other news?" He asked, giving the man what he'd wanted.

"As a matter of fact there is, it seems the Mountain has been sighted in the Reach, and he does not travel alone."

This managed to surprise him, though it explained a great deal. As deadly as Ser Gregor was, he could not believe he'd run to save his own skin, but he also could not believe there was no purpose to his journey. This was the work of his sister, though she was long dead, she still had her hand in the game.

"Who is his companion?" He asked, standing from his seat in his solar, to stretch his legs and serve himself his first cup of wine for the day. It was just after his morning meal, and as usual Lord Varys came with his whispers. Soon they would depart to the throne room where he would oversee construction as well as see petitioners until midday.

"A woman," He answered simply.

The answer was unexpectedly vague and so he could not help but ask, "A woman? Is that all your little birds told you?"

He did not react to the slight, only answered, "Not only is she tall, and dresses like a man, she wears a heavy cloak and hood, it was not easy to discern as much. It would seem she is leading them, as they have not left a trail of bodies in their wake, and were spotted only twice."

"This is the work of my dead sister, I know it."

He was not sure what Cersei had hoped to accomplish sending the Mountain on this secret mission and yet, he was curious. Try as did, he could not conceive what it could be, and while he felt concern, he was not truly worried. What great matter could Ser Gregor command when he was no man, only a monster? There was the woman of course, though he was fairly certain she was more prisoner than plotter.

"I'm afraid you are right, my Lord. What will you do about it?"

He considered it for a moment before he came to an answer that satisfied him for the moment.

"For now, let's just keep our eyes on him shall we? See what he's up to. He is not out for blood it would seem, and for the moment, in the Reach he is out of harm's way, so to speak."

Varys smiled before he spoke, "Very well, my Lord."

It was in that moment, that there was a knock at the door.

"It would seem it is time to head to the throne room," He said then, as he served himself another cup of wine. He took a sip of it before telling whomever it was, likely his squire Daryn, to enter. It was him, as expected, though the boy did not speak only shut the door and moved further into the room.

He bowed to Lord Varys, before moving closer to them and raised his arm, holding a small scroll in his hand.

"A raven just arrived for you my Lord," He said before stepping close enough to hand it over.

He did not need to see the seal of red wax, nor the three headed dragon ingrained in it, to know who it was from. It had arrived much sooner than he'd expected, and since he thought he'd have more time, he had put the matter out of his mind. Now as he opened the letter and read the brief message inside, he was glad for the time he would have on his journey, in which to think.

"The time has come it would seem. Prepare our things Daryn, we will leave in the morning."

"Where to?" Lord Varys said then.

Tyrion was surprised he did not seem to have figured out Queen Daenerys' secret plan. He realized then, that this was perhaps the only time in the many years that they've known each other, that he actually knew something the Spider did not.

After he took another sip of his wine, with a heavy smile he finally answered.

"Casterly Rock."

a/n: So remember that time I skipped Tyrion's chapter? Well turns out, that wasn't the best idea. So it's here, reworked because of said mistake. Sorry bout that. But I promise, Jon is next!

Shameless plug: check out my blog, fansfieldpark on tumblr. I post mostly fandom stuff, including GOT, TWD, BTVS, SPN, and my own edits. THNKS.

Again, thanks for reading, and please review. They give me life.