Chapter II

Jamie's POV

When I woke up, for one wonderful moment I did not know where I was and I almost could not remember what had happened. After a while, I regretted that I haven't get drunk to death. Cersei betrayed me. Yes, I know, I've endured Robert for years, his crude behavior, how he treated Cersei and the fact that my children carried his name, but that, it was somehow different. Cersei WANTED to become a queen, and because we could not officially be together anyway, I gladly allowed such a development of events. Since the death of our mother, the only thing that really have mattered to me was what Cersei wanted. There was one exception - the day I became a Kingslayer.

I sighed. I was waiting for a conversation with this honorable fool, Eddar Stark, and his wife, who sometimes made the impression that she, as we sometimes say, was wearing the pants in this marriage. I did not know who turns out worse, he, she, or entire rows of Northerners angry by the fact that the Southener even thought of marrying their bride. Nobody, however, could match my own father. Busy with thoughts, I stumbled into my father's room without knocking. Fortunately, Tyrion was already there, he was sipping wine quite calmly. My father pointed out my place without a word. I sat on the edge of the chair. He was looking through some documents. I realized with irritation that Cersei always pretended to do something similar to show the interlocutor her superiority - as if she could not find a better time to sign bills for the court. I loved her so much, and now I was looking for excuses to hate her even more. It will be best if I leave. Also, it will be best if this stupid youngster moves in the opposite direction.

- Tyrion told me that you finally started thinking. - Father said without preliminaries. - Can you share with me than ... the fruits of this process? - Thanks a lot, brother, I thought, giving him a look, but he just shrugged. In fact, he had little time to prepare our father, and they both honestly hated each other.- I decided to dump the white and get married.

Father raised his eyebrows and put down the papers. Before he could comment on my confession, I said:

- Father ... I want to marry Sansa Stark.

My father looked at me carefully. He did not get angry, but he did not even smile.

- Why her?

Because I want to be as far away from Cersei as possible, I am condemning myself to a voluntary exile and I want my wife to be at least loyal to me?...

- And why not? - I replied offhandedly and suddenly realized how immature this answer was. - I ... Northerners are honorable. I want a wife from the North, and she is ... the best of highborn.

- And very pretty.

- Beautiful. Too young for me, but ... I can wait a year or two.

- Just a year, Jamie. - he replied almost gently. - Your duties as my successor have been waiting long enough.

- So, do you agree?

- I did not say that. I'd rather ... Margeary Tyrell, for example. Highgarden ...

- Oh no! I do not want a wife who would be superior to me with intelligence. Tyrion laughed openly, and a barely composed grimace of surprise ran through father's face.

- You have really thought it through, haven't you?

- Yes.

- Cersei hates her. – wtrącił Tyrion.

- Cersei hates every younger well-born woman in her environment. - I growled.

- Have you quarreled? - Father asked.

- Usually, you do not care about our relations.

- Listen to me, son. If your decision is a childish prank caused by ... – now, this is Tywin Lannister, whom we know and love!

- Father, the longer I think about it, the more I like my own idea. And if you ask for the first time in your life, yes, we have argued about raising children. However, it does not affect my decision.

Tyrion choked with wine, and father looked at him suspiciously.

- Dopiero TERAZ się o to pokłóciliście, Jamie? – zapytał przytomnie, choć jak zwykle dowcipnie i złośliwie mój mały brat.

- And if Eddar Stark refuses you?

- He will not refuse you and his friend.

- What?! - my father get angry.

- If you and Tyrion support me, you both surely will be able to convince its height, that the daughter of his best friend on the court and in Casterly Rock is a great idea.

- If he agrees, you will take Tommen and Mycella with you for some time.

- So you agree? - I was glad.

- Let's assume that I agree. How do you want to go about it?

- First, I want to confess to Starks - in trust - the truth about the death of the Mad King.

- And what is the truth about Aerys' death? - father was surprised.

We talked about my life like a father and son so rarely that it did not bother me to hide from him that it was not the family's interest that told me to sting Aerys. When, with pain, taking a breath every moment, I told him everything, he burst out:

- BELLIES FULL OF GREEN FIRE ARE STILL STANDIN UNDER THE CITY, AND YOU HANE NOT SAY ANYTHING TO ME?! A pair of fools! Idiots! - The Old Lion we know and love, without a doubt. It does not matter what his sons lived through all these years. He was worried about Kings Landing and his duties. He mastered himself. He called.

- Bring Varys, Littlefinger and ... for now, two of them!" Send a message to Arryn that I have to see him. No. Prepare a letter and bring it to me. In the blink of an eye! Secondly? - he asked calmly after the servant left.

- Secondly - I continued in the absurdity of the situation. - I was hoping that Tyrion would help me figure out the situation in the North and ... the customs there.

Tyrion only laughed, and my father looked at me with pity, which I was worth at that moment.

- Tyrion will finally make himself useful for something. You two will stop bumbling and whoreing and you will find out about the situation of all the Seven Kingdoms and Casterly Rock, and of course in the customs of the North, so that you do not make yourself a fool. You have two weeks for it.

- Two weeks?! I wanted to leave tomorrow!

- Did not imagine that a Lannister would court a lady, even unofficially, with empty hands and without a trusted retinue? We must make some preparations. - he stood up. - And for now, not a word to anyone about these ... a pair of idiots! - he went to the door.

- Father! Could you ... do not tell Cersei?

How Tyrion have to suffered the grimace that ran over the face of the Old Lion, when the unwanted son addressed him differently than the head of the family?

- I did not mean that. I do not need female ... intrigues.

He marched out of his own rooms as if with new energy, and Tyrion looked at me and began to giggle in an uncontrollable way.

- If you could see your face! Well, brother, you're marrying! About time! - he mocked without mercy.

- And if they refuse me? - I mumbled. Tyrion spilled out tears of her eyes.

- Head up, knight! You have your old Lion and the Littlest Lord on your side! We will save you from the wrath of the Starks, their direwolves, and above all - from the fury of Catelyn Stark! And Sansa will love you as soon as you discover your intentions from her! He breathed and wiped his eyes. - After all, you are a golden-haired knight and you will regain honor in the eyes of her family. Everything will be fine. You will not have to marry Margeary Tyrell. Though if anyone would ask me for an opinion, first of all, everyone underestimates Stark girl, but - secondly - I would prefer Rose of Highgarden. Wine?

I shook my head. The aroma of alcohol itself irritated me and made me nauseous, and the prospect of nagging over the chronicles and watching Cersei for the next two weeks did not make me feel any better.

- Tell me why Sansa? To make Cersei angry? - Tyrion suddenly became serious.

- I do not know. Maybe she will believe that I have a bit of honor left?

- It's a poor basis for mutual understanding.

- TYRION! I understand father, but do YOU really want me to get married ?!

- Well, all right, all right! - He giggled again. - Come!

- Where?

- What do you mean, where? To the library! Did you hear? I have two weeks to make you the future Lord of Casterly Rock and the heir of the Lannister family! Ah, but you will not forget about the poor, younger dwarf brother, when you reach the top?

- Tyrion, have mercy today, I have a hangover, have you forgotten? ...