Tyrion had rarely seen noble women of the Capitol sporting their hair down as the styles here were much more ornate than much of Westeros. He had never seen a crown of such beauty. Almost reaching the curve of her backside were a sea of tousled curls the color of wheat in early morning, or honeycomb straight from the hive. The sun trickled in through the high windows of the throne room and all at once her hair gleamed a thousand different shades of blonde, and each was as beautiful as the one before it. Tyrion had seen many beautiful things in his twenty and six years of life, but she was the most beautiful of all.
Cersei had been discussing the girl for weeks. A Hightower girl of only ten and seven years with more class and tact than some twice her age. Cersei had been absolutely tickled that her father had offered her to the courts to be in Margaery's tight knit group of ladies in waiting. She hoped to make the girl her pet in order to spy on Margaery as if she needed anymore pets. The Tyrell girl was just as sweet and charming as her cousin. God help them both, Tyrion thought as he led Shona by the elbow to her chambers in Maegor's Holdfast. His own chambers were not far from hers which made it all the better. He felt the compelling need to protect the innocent and that included Shona Hightower as well as the unfortunate future queen of Westeros. He didn't know who he felt worse for: Shona or Margaery. One was on the verge of being used by his secretly evil sister, and the other was weeks away from being married to Joffrey, the bastard king with a passion for killing other bastards as well as cuddly bunnies.
"I know you've probably been asked this countless times but was your journey here as terrible as all my previous ones have been?" Tyrion asked genuinely making the young girl laugh unexpectedly.
"In all honesty it was the worst experience of my life. If I had known what I was getting myself into I would have stayed in my tower. I don't think I belong here." She trailed off in sadness. Tyrion gave her elbow a kind squeeze of understanding, "If you're being honest then I suppose I will be honest in return. There are days when I feel the exact same way but then I realize that without me my family would lack any sort of intellect. We are all necessary in this world. We are all put into situations for very specific reasons. I wish I knew the reason behind my need to be here. I guess for comic relief?"
"I appreciate your comedy, my lord. It is rather refreshing and a lot better than the gossip I have heard the entire venture here." Shona stated for she was certainly intrigued by the man beside her.
"Just what are the maids gossiping about these days? Certainly not grumpkins and snarks." Tyrion replied a little winded from their climbing of several stairs.
"Something about Princess Myrcella being kidnapped by pirates from Dorne. It's very silly, I know."
"Dornish pirates," Tyrion laughed, his eyes twinkling with humor, "Only partly true."
Shona was curious as to which part of the tale had been true but was cut short in her questioning of such when her room came into view. Tyrion let go of her elbow and bowed to her, "I enjoyed our walk, my lady. Let me know if I can be of assistance. I assure you I will be a great deal more helpful than my darling sister or nephew will be. Until next time."
With that Tyrion was gone to his chambers leaving the girl to stand idly in the wide hallway before she entered into her assumedly plush chambers. Tyrion was sure they were a lot better furnished than his own for her room was just two down from Margaery's. As guest of honor and the future queen she was given the second best behind Joffrey's own quarters where King Robert had once bled to death. The bed had been changed out and the styling of the room was different by Joffrey's demand, but to Tyrion the room still smelt of death and despair. He hoped it gave the cocky little brat nightmares.
Podrick was in his chambers stacking books and cleaning off Tyrion's messy desk when he reappeared. Tyrion liked Podrick Payne more so than any previous squire he had ever had the pleasure of knowing. He kept his mouth shut and did as he was commanded without an ounce of resistance. Then again the main reason being his commitment to Tyrion himself. The boy had risked certain death to remain by his side at The Battle of Blackwater, and for that Tyrion felt as if he could never repay his squire enough. No amount of gold could have brought him back from death and no amount of gold would be enough thanks for Podrick saving his pitiful life. Tyrion would live out the rest of his years with a marred face from battle, but it sure beat the hell out of having no head remaining at all. Dead in the ground, he thought with a smirk. He almost felt badly for disappointing his family so much with his survival.
"Podrick, they always say rubbing a dwarf's head brings good luck. Maybe we should make that a part of new battle strategy. Then I'll have some actual importance in battle since apparently risking my life wasn't enough for my father."
Tyrion was still bitter about Tywin's extremely cruel last words to him involving his potential inheritance of Casterly Rock. Much to his surprise Tyrion had no chance of inheriting his family's prestigious seat even as Tywin's only plausible heir. Jaime was sworn into the Kingsguard and could not wed nor be named Lord after Tywin. Cersei was unfortunately born a girl and not a boy. Tyrion himself had been born fortunately a boy, but more unfortunately a dwarf and a constant embarrassment to the Lannister name according to Tywin Lannister.
You will never hold The Rock.
The words had been sharp enough to cut glass, and more so cruel as they were intended to be. Tywin did not let his disdain for the youngest Lannister son go unnoticed by anyone, especially the son himself. Tyrion had sat through the cruelty for twenty and six years and judging by his father's finesse in recent battle he would be dealing with cruel words for twenty and six more. Tywin Lannister could be on his death bed and still would refuse to name Tyrion as his heir apparent. He was willing to be that stated in his will it would plainly state, And to Tyrion, the family embarrassment, goes my chamber pot and all its contents.
Cersei would get gold and jewels. Jaime would get swords and armor. Tyrion would get shit.
"Podrick, if I die remind me to leave everything I own to you." Tyrion stated gloomily as he poured his own glass of wine before Podrick even had the opportunity. The lad's eyes still remained turned downwards but a slight smile wrinkled the corners of his mouth. Tyrion drained the glass like his life depended on it and had another. He would show up drunk for dinner and he could care less. After all, he was already the family embarrassment.
Tyrion dozed off for a few hours and awake abruptly with the slime of drool lingering on his stubble covered cheek. Podrick was no longer in the chamber, but his candles were flickering and a fire crackled softly in the hearth taking the chill away from the crisp night. Winter was quickly approaching and Tyrion hated it for King's Landing was never this cold. Soon he would have to run to a tailor and have winter clothing custom made in his minuscule size. Furs of all sorts and heavy wool. In a few short months they would all be dressed like the Starks. It almost pained him to think of The Starks, especially the hostage girl still in his sister's grasp. Joffrey's play thing was always sporting a new bruise and on arrival to dinner Tyrion noticed a new one marring her pretty face high on her cheekbone. It was almost as blue as her eyes. Sansa had tried to conceal it with powder which helped slightly but someone would have to be blind not to notice. It was simply that everyone chose to ignore it which made Tyrion even more angered at the situation. How he wished to put a switch to his nephew's hide.
Dinner was surprisingly boring with only Bronn to keep him company as it was not often that others made the choice to join his dining party. Joffrey had decided to dine in his chambers with his mother to discuss council matters further. The first course was a delicate and light rosehip soup which was obviously something thought up by Cersei who planned the feast according to their guests from The Reach. The taste was not for him, but Tyrion was pleased to see the ladies enjoying it including the sad Stark daughter and Shona of Hightower.
"Tell me, what do you think of little miss Hightower?" Bronn asked with a smirk catching Tyrion in the act of watching Shona across the dining hall. Tyrion could simply shrug, "She's a beautiful and intelligent girl from what I've observed. She'd polite and well spoken. Sweet, even? Why?"
"You just seem awfully interested in how she's chewing her goose." Bronn snorted into his mulled wine making Tyrion laugh. Shona's eyes searched for the sound in the dining hall and smiled kindly at Tyrion. Bronn leaned over and whispered in his ear, "She's giving you a very seductive look. I dare you to go over and ask her to your chambers for a night cap."
"The girl is much too young for my taste I am afraid. You're more than welcome to try yourself though you might end up slapped by not only Lady Hightower but half her ladies as well. I am just thankful to have a night away from my frigid sister. I swear I can see her plotting my death when I catch her eye for longer than she'd like."
Bronn shrugged at Tyrion's response, "You did send her only daughter away. Do you blame her for acting cold towards you? I'm about ready to ignore you and she isn't even my daughter."
"My dear friend," Tyrion smirked up at him from over his goblet of wine, "You couldn't ignore me if you tried. We need each other, you and I."
"I wish it weren't so, but at least I get good wine out of it!." Bronn cheered in sarcasm toasting Tyrion with his own goblet. The sellsword and the dwarf drank their fill and dined on stuffed goose, cherry tarts, and plums drenched in sweet molasses before leaving the hall going in separate directions. Bronn was seeking a girl from Cersei's personal arsenal of maids for reasons Tyrion suspected, and Tyrion was bound for the library to find a thick volume to read before bed. Something boring for he was having trouble getting to sleep lately with all the stress surrounding him like a haze. He almost seemed sluggish some days as it swallowed him whole. When he returned to his chambers carrying two thick bound leather wrapped novels he found a woman waiting for him in bed asleep. She was dark of hair and naked as the day she was born. He dropped the books onto his desk jolting the girl awake. He stood beside his feather bed and took in her bare form.
"Don't just stand there, My Lion. Come keep me warm."
"I'll do that and more." He spoke softly to his Shae cradling a cheek before undressing and climbing into bed and under the thin sheets blowing out the only lit candle on the stand beside him cloaking them in complete darkness.