Naldier had been stationed on the wall for the past six months. Ever since lord Tyrion vanished, the amount of guards on active watch doubled, leaving Naldier with less than seven hours of sleep each night. That was okay with Nadier, he enjoyed his time on the wall. No one passed through the southern city gate without his knowing, and nothing went over his head.

"Keep a vigilant watch tonight," said the Commander. "I recently received reports of a possible threat; a lone archer approaching from the south."

"You know that I keep a steady watch regardless of the circumstance," said Naldier. "But if it pleases you sir, I will swear by the old gods and the new that my vigilance will be of the utmost tonight. My attention could not be pulled from this spot if all the brothels in the city emptied and the occupant ran the streets in their usual decorum."

"Pleases me it does, but don't be so cocky," said the Commander. "Cockiness leads to arrogance, arrogance leads to mistakes, and I have no use for soldiers that make mistakes. It is better to question one's self a fool than to be proven one later."

"Yes sir," said Naldier, rolling his eyes. "I'll keep that in mind."

Tyrion approached the bridge with a drawn, gold plated crossbow in-hand. The sag of his shoulders matched the sluggishness in his step. As his feet meet the first wooden plank, his stomach twisted unpleasantly, reminding him of his last meal; the one he gouged down three nights before.

"Halt," said Naldier, bellowing from atop the wall. The command reverberated off the cobbled walls lining the sides of the wooden bridge, stretching out to meet Tyrion at their end. "What trouble do you bring and for what purpose?"

"Ha," said Tyrion. "What trouble? Am I such a threat that the city guard must accuse me before ever stepping foot inside the wall. Surely you could not have missed the stagger in my step or the ruggedness of my person. Is it now common curtesy to harass a common beggar?"

"It is not for your crotchety appearance that I judge you," said Naldier harshly. "My concern is with the weapon that you so boldly carry."

"This Bow?" asked Tyrion as he lifted it over his head and waved it about excitedly.

"Drop your weapon and turn your back to this city" came the guards demand. "We rarely open our gates to outsiders and never to those thus armed."

Here is a bold one

"Oh, but I am not an outsider," said Tyrion with a smirk. "What do you make of my bow?"

"I see a dangerous weapon in the hands of a madman," the guard remarked.

"Anything else?" asked Tyrion.

"It is drawn," said Naldier.

"And it is golden," Tyrion said, gleaming. "Who carries weapons of gold?"

"The Lanisters, of course!" said Naldier.

"So they do," said Tyrion, raising his golden, lions-paw gauntlets to the sky. I am Tyrion, Son of Tywin, your liege and the lord of this city"

"Tyrion!" exclaimed the guard. "Open the gate, quickly!"

Tyrion took his time hobbling over the bridge as the gate crashed open.

The guard ran out to meet the returned lord, giving him support as Tyrion slung his arm over the guards shoulder.

"I apologize my lord, what a fool I am, not to have recognized you." said Naldier.

"How could you have? I can barely even recognize myself at the moment" replied Tyrion. "We will discuss it over a drink tonight. Until then, I must bathe and report to my father."

"Very well, my lord," said Naldier. "Again, I apologize. I should not have been so quick to judge you. After six months on the wall without a hitch, my pride was at full wax. You tarnished my perfect record sir. For that I curse you and thank you doubly."