A few days go by and I start to talk to Tyrion's traveling friend, Bronn. He tried to get flirty with me, but nothing came of it. We're more friendly now than we had been. We also sparred to pass the time. He was surprised after our first sparring session. He didn't think I would be as good as really was. I think a tinge of respect appeared in his face the last time.
As we eat our mid-day meal we get news that Tyrion has decided to confess his 'crimes' to the Lady Arryn and her court. Bronn and I stick to the back of the room. He leans his side against the pillar I am leaning back on. I feel as though Tyrion can defend himself at this point. He doesn't need any help from me. Plus, once this is all over, I'll be leaving Lady Starks company. I need to find my next paying job. Bronn and I agreed to ride to the closest town then go our separate ways however this turns out. The room fills. Lady Arryn and her son sit atop the throne. The boy starts taping his dagger against the metal of the throne as everyone quiets down.
"You wish to confess your crimes?" Lady Arryn speaks.
"Yes, my lady." Tyrion answers. The tone of his voice sounds a bit off to me. "I do, my lady." Lady Arryn turns to look at her sister, standing next to the throne.
"The Sky Cells always break them." She then turns back to Tyrion. "Speak, Imp. Meet your Gods as an honest man." There is a long pause. Only the howling of the wind can be heard.
"Where do I begin, my lords and ladies?" Tyrion breaks the silence. "I'm a vile man," True. "I confess it. My crimes and sins are beyond counting." I guess that could be true. "I have lied and cheated," Truth again. "Gambled and whored." More truth. "I'm not particularly good at violence, but I'm good at convincing others to do violence for me." There is a shake in his voice, but I can tell it is a façade. "You want specifics, I suppose." I smirk at the little game he is about to play. "When I was seven I saw a servant girl bathing in the river. I stole her robe. She was forced to return to the castle, naked and in tears. If I close my eyes, I can still see her tits bouncing." Gasps escape most of the court while I try to hold back a laugh. I hope he lives through all of this. it would be a shame for the Lannisters to lose the one member of their family with any sense of humor. Sure, it's vulgar to some, but I find it very entertaining. "When I was ten, I stuffed my uncle's boot with goat shit. When confronted with my crime, I blamed a squire. Poor boy was flogged and I escaped justice." Okay, that was not as humorous, but they can't all be funny. "When I was twelve, I milked my eel into a pot of turtle stew." More gasps from the court. And again, I had to keep my hand over my mouth to keep my laughter in. This is more of a man's type of humor, but I've worked with men most of my life. I guess some things rubbed off on me. "I flogged the one-eyed snake. I skinned my sausage. I made the bald man cry," He gestures what the words describe, and I had to turn away to try and keep my composure. I see Bronn with a growing smile on his face. "Into the turtle stew, which I do believe my sister ate. At least I hope she did." I try to take deep breaths to calm myself, but an image of the Queen eating that turtle stew made it extremely hard. "I once brought a jackass and a honeycomb into a brothel-"
"Silence!" Lady Arryn shouts as she stands from the throne. I turn back to see the boy stand up next to his mother.
"What happened next?" The boy asks. His mother makes him sit back down.
"What do you think you're doing?" Lady Arryn asks.
"Confessing my crimes." Tyrion answers.
"Lord Tyrion," Lady Stark speaks. "You are accused of hiring a man to slay my son Bran in his bed. And of conspiring to murder my sister's husband, Lord Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King."
"Oh, I'm very sorry." Tyrion speaks. "I don't know anything about all that."
"You've had your little joke." Lady Arryn speaks in a stern tone. "I trust you enjoyed it." She looks over to the fat man whose territory is the Sky Cells. "Mord, take him back to the dungeon. But this time, find a smaller cell with a steeper floor."
"Is this how justice is done in the Vale?" Tyrion starts to defend himself. "You accuse me of crimes, I deny them, so you throw me into a cell to freeze and starve? Where is the King's justice? I am accused and demand a trial!" The people of the court murmur to themselves and the people around them.
"If you're tried and found guilty, then by the King's own laws you will pay with your life." Lady Arryn tells him.
"I understand the law." Tyrion responds.
"We have no executioner in the Eyrie." Lady Arryn speaks. "Life is more elegant here." She turns to her left. "Open the Moon Door." Two men go to a large wheel. They both began turning the large wheel and rumbling sounds from the floor in front of Tyrion. Wind rushes up the opening, blowing around Tyrion's golden locks. "You want a trial, my lord Lannister. Very well. My son will listen to whatever you have to say, and you will hear his judgement. Then you will leave, by one door or the other." I don't believe that's fair. The boy already wants to see the Tiny Man 'fly'.
"No need to bother Lord Robin." Tyrion speaks once again. "I demand a trial by combat." The people of the court laugh at his words. I just look to him in shock. Lady Stark and Lady Arryn share a look.
"You have that right." Lady Arryn tells Tyrion. Many men offer to be her champion until Robin shouts out.
"Make the bad man fly!" The boy shouts.
"Ser Vardis," Lady Arryn speaks to the Knight. "You're quiet. Don't you want to avenge my husband?" He kneels before he speaks.
"With all my heart, my lady. But, the Imp is half my size. It would be shameful to slaughter such a man and call it justice."
"Agreed." Tyrion speaks.
"You demanded a trial by combat." Lady Arryn speaks.
"Now I demand a champion." Tyrion responds. "I have that right, same as you."
"My lady," Ser Vardis speaks as he stands from his kneeled position. "I will gladly fight the Imp's champion for you."
"I wouldn't be too glad, Ser." Tyrion tells him. "I name my brother, Jaime Lannister." I cringe at the name. In fact either one of the twin Lannisters give me the creeps. The people of the court begin to whisper about the man whom Tyrion named.
"The Kingslayer," Lady Arryn speaks. "Is hundreds of miles from here."
"Send a raven for him." Tyrion tells her. "I'm happy to wait."
"The trial will be today." Lady Arryn says. Tyrion turns to the court.
"Do I have a volunteer?" He asks. I pause as the court laughs, hoping someone will help him before I volunteer myself. "Anyone?" I look over my shoulder at Bronn. He looks back at me and smiles. "Anyone?"
"I think we can assume that no one is willing-" As Lady Arryn speaks I go to step forward, but I feel a hand on my shoulder. Bronn stops me as he steps forward to interrupt her grace.
"I'll stand for the dwarf." The man says. Everyone looks his way. "The Woman With No Name was about to volunteer, but I wouldn't be able to see an unfair fight such as that, no matter how talented Ser Vardis is." I chuckle at his words. Tyrion looks back at us with a smile. Lady Arryn and Lady Stark do not look pleased in the slightest.
"Very well." Lady Arryn speaks. "The trial by combat will ensue on this very spot after the mid-day meal. Mord, bring the prisoner back to his cell. Allow his champion and the Woman With No Name to talk with him before the trial." The fat man drags Tyrion to the dungeon and Bronn and I follow. We eat our lunch with the Tiny Man, share jokes and laughter, and silently I pray for everything to work out the way it's supposed to.
Soon, the time comes. Mord leads us back to the location of the trial. I stand next to Tyrion in the back of the room. Bronn steps forward. He's handed his sword and offered a shield, which he rejects, as the Moon Door is opened again. There is a pause before Robin, the boy, yells out.
"Fight!" As the battle ensues I pray, mouthing the words. Ser Vardis attacks Bronn, and my friend backs up the stairs only to jump over the railing to get out of a tight corner.
"Stand and fight, coward!" Lady Arryn yells. Bronn kicks over a candle stand onto the stairs as Ser Vardis walks down them. He steps over the stand. As he attacks Bronn again, backing the him up to the Moon Door hole. I hold my breath as my friend is almost pushed in. Bronn pushes back at Ser Vardis. The fight continues, upper hand going back and forth between the two men. Bronn draws Ser Vardis's blood first, and Tyrion cheers next to me. "Enough, Ser Vardis!" Lady Arryn calls to her champion. "Finish him!" She seems a bit worried. Ser Vardis goes on the attack once again. Bronn ends up drawing even moor blood from the Knight. Said Knight continues to try and fight only to be tripped by Bronn. He pushes the shield away from the fallen man. Ser Vardis tries to defend himself only to have Bronn catch his arm and look up at Lady Arryn. He raises his sword and the court shouts at him to have mercy. Bronn brings down his sword on Ser Vardis's neck, killing him. Blood pours out and Bronn throws the vanquished Knight through the Moon Door opening. He watches the man fall before looking up at the Lady Arryn. Then he looks back at us. Tyrion thanks him with a nod, and I smile. Bronn returns my smile as the boy speaks from the throne.
"Is it over?" Robin asks his mother.
"You don't fight with honor." Lady Arryn sneers at Bronn.
"No." Bronn replies as Tyrion holds his wrists out to remind her grace of what must be done. "He did." Bronn points down the hole. My friend walks over to Tyrion and I as the Tiny Man turns to Mord. The fat man removes the shackles, then Tyrion walks over to Lady Catelyn and the white haired man with her.
"Can I make the little man fly now?" Robin asks.
"Not this little man." Tyrion answers him as Bronn and I share a quick hug. "This little man is going home. I believe you have something of mine." He asks the white haired man. Lady Catelyn nods sadly in approval causing the white haired man to toss Tyrion his money purse. He catches it easily then bows to Lady Stark and Lady Arryn. With that he walks past Bronn and I. I bow my head to the court before following him out. I see Tyrion toss the money purse to Mord. "A Lannister always pays his debts." The three of us walk out of the court and to the stables.
A/N: My OC was not in this chapter too much, but I wanted to show more of her personality. She's neutral, but to defend what she believes to be right she would have volunteered to be Tyrion's champion. It also shows that she can make a friend out of anyone, even someone like Bronn. What do you think so far? I love reading comments and reviews. I can't wait to read them.