I ended up being the only one allowed to ride my horse away from the Eyrie, so I follow behind the two men as they start walking. We have to travel back the way we came. We've been traveling for a couple days now and I haven't even seen anyone from the hill tribes. As I zone out I begin to hum a tune. I used to hear the women, from the town I lived near in my youth, sing it to their children. I start thinking about that town. I start to hear someone whistling along with the melody I was humming. I grow silent and stop my horse.
"What are you doing?" I ask the Tiny Man whistling. Both men stop and look back at me.
"I figured I'd join in on your little tune." He answers.
"Well, stop it." I say in a stern tone. "You're making it seem upbeat and joyous. It's supposed to be a lullaby."
"From where?" Bronn asks.
"From where I grew up." I say, looking down at the reigns in my hands. "I don't remember the name of the little village. It's so small, neither one of you probably know it. Anyway, we should probably stop making this much noise. There are hill tribes all around here. We haven't seen one yet, but make no mistake Little Lord Lannister, they're out there. This is their territory. They know how to hide." With that I walk forward. The two men part to make room for me too pass between them, and I ride ahead.
Tyrion POV
I watch as that Trixie rides her chestnut colored steed ahead of us. The fire in her has done something to me inside. If I were to wed any type of woman, it should be a woman like that. She can hold her own in battle, she doesn't need anything except her steed, sword, and shield. She doesn't sacrifice her beliefs for gold, and she won't let anyone take advantage of her. As Bronn and I begin to walk and catch up with her, I begin to whistle the same tune again.
"Will you shut up?" Bronn asks from next to me. "That woman is right about the hill tribes, you know."
"If I'm going to die, it may as well be with her song in my heart." I tell him.
"I should just take her and your food and leave you here." Bronn suggests. "Eh? What would you do then?"
"Starve, most likely."
"You don't think I'll do it, do you?" The tall man says. I stop in my tracks and Bronn stops with me.
"What do you want, Bronn?" I ask. "Gold? Women? Golden women? Stick with me and you'll have them all," I look ahead and begin to walk once again. "For as long as I'm around and not for a moment longer." I hear Bronn's footsteps behind me. "But you knew that. That is why you so valiantly took up arms to defend my honor, and keep the woman from doing so."
"Fair enough." The man says. "But don't go looking for me to bend the knee and 'my lord' you every time you take a shit. And I know she won't either. I'm not your toady and I'm not your friend."
"Though I would treasure your friendship and hers, I'm mainly interested in both of your facilities to murder." I tell him. "And if the day ever comes when you're tempted to sell me out, remember this: whatever their price, I'll beat it. I like living." Then I go back to my whistling.
The Woman's POV
We find a good place to make camp for the night and Bronn hunts down a goat for us to eat. Bronn and I split the watches of the night, knowing Tyrion would be useless at keeping watch. All that pampered rich blood in him will have him sleeping through the night. I take first watch, and it's pretty quiet. Half way through the night Bronn takes watch. Near the end I hear rustling in the bushes on the side of the road. I snap awake and see that Bronn is aware of what I've heard. He nods silently to me before looking over at the Tiny Man, still asleep.
"Tyrion." Bronn whispers, trying to wake him. I roll my eyes and kick the small man's foot.
"Tyrion." I speak as he jolts awake. Bronn and I stand and grab our swords, ready for what may come next. My loyal steed starts to make a fuss, so I try to calm him. With swords drawn, and Tyrion trying to hide behind Bronn, we watch as people of the hill tribes surround us. Tyrion is the first to speak to them.
"Come, share our fire." He says. "Help yourselves to our goat."
"That's not what they're looking for." I whisper to him harshly. I end up standing to the side of Bronn and I feel him grab my wrist lightly. I look to him in question, but he just looks out into the foliage. Is he nervous? The leader of the tribe speaks.
"When you meet your Gods, you tell them Shagga, son of Dolf of the Stone Crows sent you." The deep voiced man tells us.
"I am Tyrion, son of Tywin of Clan Lannister."
"How would you like to die, Tyrion, son of Tywin?" At least he's nice enough to ask.
"In my own bed," The short man starts. "At the age of 80 with a bellyful of wine and a girl's mouth around my cock." I roll my eyes as Shagga laughs at the words.
"Take the half-man." He tells the rest of the men surrounding us. "He can dance for the children. Kill the other two, and that horse is very nice. We'll take that too." He turns away as the others come closer. Bronn lets go of my hand and pulls another blade from his belt. I get in a fighting stance as Tyrion tries to stop what's going on.
"No no no no no!" He shouts. "My-my house is rich and powerful." The men stop and Shagga turns back to us. "If you see us through these mountains, my father will shower you with gold."
"We have no use for a half-man's promises."
"Half-man maybe, but at least I have the courage to face my enemies." Tyrion fights back. "What do the Stone Crows do? Hide behind rocks and shiver when the knights of the vale ride by?" I would speak, but with Tyrion being the most persuasive of our trio, I keep quiet. "Are those the best weapons you could steal?" The men look down at their axes. "Good enough for killing sheep, if the sheep don't fight back. Lannister smiths shit better steel." Shagga swings his axe at Tyrion and scratches his cheek.
"You think you can win us over with your trinkets?" Shagga asks. I watch through the corner of my eye as Tyrion takes one of his rings off and presents it to the hill tribe leader. Shagga takes the ring as Tyrion speaks.
"That trinket is worth more than everything your tribe owns." Shagga slips the ring on his pinky finger as Tyrion continues. "But if you help us, Shagga, son of Dolf, I will not give you trinkets. I will give you this." He holds his arms out. What is that supposed to mean?
"What is 'this'?" Shagga asks the question I was thinking.
"The Vale of Arryn." Tyrion answers simply. "The lords of the Vale have always spat upon the hill tribes. The lords of the Vale want me dead. I believe it is time for new Lords of the Vale." There is a moment of silence before Shagga agrees. I let out a sigh of relief, but my muscles continue to be tense. They are still holding us captive until they get what Tyrion promised them. I get on my horse as we start to walk where Shagga is going. But, they do not allow me to hold the reigns. One of Shagga's men grabs them from my hand and begins walking with everyone else. Shagga leads us to their camp where they gather more men and women to go with us. One of the women says something and points to me. They look up at me in confusion.
"Why do you have short hair, woman?" Shagga asks me.
"I cut my hair so it can't be used against me in battle." I answer.
"So you fight alongside men?" He asks.
"Where else would I fight? It's all I know." I watch the man smile and laugh.
"I like her." He tells Tyrion. "I will have her for my forces along with everything else you've promised me, Short Man."
"I'm sorry, but she is off limits to our deal." Tyrion tells them.
"And why is that? Are you wed to the woman?" My eyes grow wide at the words. I look to the Tiny Man to see what he'll say.
"Not yet." Is what comes out of his mouth. I roll my eyes as Shagga addresses me once again.
"What is your name, woman?"
"I do not have one." I tell him honestly. he looks back to Tyrion.
"Why would a Lannister be wed to a woman with no name?" This Shagga is a smart one. I smirk as Tyrion thinks of a response.
"Well, I'm not the most liked child in my family. My father could care less who I marry at this point." That is such a lie. Tywin is awful. He cares about his family line, even when it comes to Tyrion. Sure, he doesn't care about the dwarf in the family, but if he brought him an heir he'd be happy with the continuation of the Lannister name. He's a vile man. He'd be disappointed if the child was born of a woman with no name. Especially me. I know he hates my rejections.
"We'll see once we meet your father, half-man." With that, Shagga turns away and gathers more hill tribesmen and women. Then we are off to see Lord Tywin. It only takes a day's journey to come across a camp of red tents. We stop at the top of a hill and Tyrion speaks.
"From here it might be best if Bronn, my woman, and I, continue alone."
"Best for Tyrion, son of Tywin. Not best for me." Shagga tells him. "If the half-man betrays us, Shagga, son of Dolf, will cut off his manhood-"
"And feed it to the goats, yes." I try to hide my giggle. They must have discussed this at length on the journey. "Alright then. Time to meet my father." We head down the hill towards the camp. I dismount where all the other horses are held and secure my steed before joining the group in heading towards the largest tent of them all. Tyrion leads the way, Bronn and I behind him, and the hill tribes behind us. We enter the tent, Tyrion, then me, then Bronn, then three representatives of the hill tribes.
"Tyrion."
"Uncle." Tyrion replies. "Father." I watch the head of the house of Lannister. To be honest, he looks a little disappointed to see his own son return to him.
"The rumors of your demise were unfounded." Lord Tywin says.
"Sorry to disappoint you." Tyrion replies.
"And who are these...companions of yours?" Tyrion reluctantly turns to the hill tribe leaders.
"This is Shagga, son of Dolf, Chieftain of the Stone Crows. Timett, son of Timett, ruler of the Burned Men. This fair maid is Chella, daughter of Chevk, leader of the Black Ears." He tells his father as he goes down the line. Then he comes back to Bronn. "Here we have Bronn, son of..." There is a pause, even I don't know whom Bronn's father is.
"You wouldn't know him." Bronn says when he realized the pause was for him to fill.
"Then, last but not least, you already know the Woman with no Name." Tyrion gestures to me. Tywin glares at me with a clenched jaw. "May I present my lord father, Tywin, son of Tytos of House Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West." Tyrion then addresses his father directly. "Kind of you to go to war for me." He sits in the chair across from his father and goes to reach for the pitcher of wine to pour himself a glass only to have Tywin pull it away from his reach.
"You left us no choice." The old man answers him. "The honor of the house was at stake. Your brother would never have submitted to capture so meekly."
"We have our differences, Jaime and I." Tyrion starts. "He's braver. I'm better looking." I smile at the words.
"He's been covering himself in glory." Tywin tells Tyrion.
"Jaime smashed the river lords at the Golden Tooth," His uncle informs. "And now lays siege to Riverrun, Catelyn Stark's homeland."
"And the Starks? Lord Eddard?" Tyrion asks.
"Is our hostage." Tywin speaks again. "He will lead no armies from his dungeon cell." Why was he imprisoned? Ned was a friend. He never hired me, but I've talked to him and his family many times over the years. They allowed me to be a guest in their home. He's a good man. What could he have done to land himself in a cell?
"How did my sweet sister persuade the King to imprison his dear friend Ned?" Tyrion asks.
"Robert Baratheon is dead." Tywin answers. "Joffrey rules in King's Landing." How could this happen? It seems as if a lot of things are happening at once.
"My sister rules, you mean." Tyrion clarifies. Tywin nods with a smile as his uncle speaks.
"Stark's son has called his banners. He moves south with a strong host." This truly is a war between the Lannisters and the Starks.
"A green boy." Tywin comments. "One taste of battle and he'll run back to Winterfell with his tail between his legs.
"Maybe." Tyrion says. I can see his mind working through all of this information. "Though the boy does have a certain belligerence. You'd like him. While we're on the subject of war, I made promises to my friends here, and a Lannister always pays his debts. We shall require 3,000 helms and shields, plus swords, pikes, gorgets, maces-" A page boy interrupts Tyrion as he presents a message to Tywin.
"If it please my lord," The boy starts. "Ser Addam bids me report that the Northmen have crossed the Neck." Tywin stands up and looks a bit happy about this news. Happier than his own son retuning.
"The wolf rushes into the lion's jaws. So be it." The man says. "Kevan, command the drummers beat assembly." He tells Tyrion's uncle. "And send word to Jaime that I am moving against Robb Stark."
"At once, my lord." Kevan replies before leaving the tent. Tywin comes around the table, looks me in the eye, then Bronn, then he moves to Shagga and the leaders of the other hill tribes. I watch as Tyrion leans across the table and finally reaches the pitcher of what I still assume is wine.
"It is said that the men of the mountain clans are great warriors." Tywin starts. "Ride with me against my enemies and you shall have all my son promised you and more."
"Only if the half-man and the woman fight with us." I snap my head over to look at Shagga. Tywin looks my way with a smirk. "Until we hold the steel he pledged us, the little lion's life, as well as her's, are ours." I snap my head back to look at Tyrion. He looks just as terrified as me. I didn't come here to fight in this war. I wouldn't have fought on either side. Tywin looks at both of us as I feel Bronn's hand on my back. I look up at him as he smiles. It makes me smile back. He's a good friend, even if he doesn't think so. Tywin dismisses us and I run back to my horse, hoping I can get there before anyone can catch me. I hear Bronn call out with Tyrion's nickname for me.
"Trixie!" I don't look back at him. I continue on my path to my horse, but I'm cutoff by one of Shagga's men. I stop and Bronn catches up to me. "Come on, Trixie, it won't be that bad." He tries to calm me.
"You don't get it Bronn!" I yell at him. "I don't belong here! I'll die! You'll die! Tyrion will probably die! Lord Tywin will kill multiple problems with one battle!"
"You need to calm down." He tells me. "Come get a drink with me." He puts an arm around my shoulder and leads me to find the tent with the food and ale. "Ye have little faith. I haven't known you long, but I've never known you to be a coward."
"I'm no coward!" I yell at him, and all the men within range of my voice stopped and looked at us. "Can someone tell us where to get some ale around here!?" I yell my question. One of the men points a few tents over and Bronn and I head in that direction. We spend a majority of the day there, eating, drinking, laughing. Eventually Tyrion joined us. We get on the topic of love lives. Obviously, I am only sitting quietly at the two men babble on about their sexual conquests.
"Come on, Trixie, you must have been joking when you told me your chastity was still intact." Tyrion slurs a bit too loud for my liking. I'm still on my first mug of ale. I refuse to let my senses blur around people I don't fully trust.
"I don't lie, Little Lord Lannister." I smile at him.
"You must live a dull life then." He tells me.
"And I believe yours is too exciting." I snap back with a smile.
"I'm curious," He starts speaking again. "If you had to choose to bed either Bronn or I, whom would you choose?"
"Are you secretly a twelve year old girl?" I joke with a chuckle, and Bronn joins in.
"I don't believe so." His answer only causes me to laugh louder. "But I am curious. Which one of us do you find more attractive?"
"My answer might surprise you, Tiny Man." I smile at him.
"Oh, I doubt it." He says. "You'll choose Bronn." He seems a bit defeated.
"Says whom?"
"Says every other woman's tastes, unless I pay them." Tyrion answers as he takes another gulp from his mug.
"You wouldn't have to pay me." I say, honestly. He snaps his gaze up to look at me.
"Why?" He asks in awe.
"I find myself being drawn to misfits and outcasts. To people like me. To me, Bronn and you are on the same level." I tell him.
"Fair enough." He seems to be accepting of my answer until he realizes I haven't answered his original question. "But you didn't really answer my question."
"You'll know my answer soon enough." I say with a smile and a wink. The rest of the evening goes by fast and find a tent to sleep in. The men pass out on the large bed from the effects of the ale, and I end up between them. Bronn buries his face into my neck and I giggle slightly, and Tyrion lays his head on my chest. There isn't a lot of cushioning there, but he hums happily as he falls into a deep sleep. Nothing happens, my chastity is still intact. But I have to admit, this is the safest I've felt in a long time. Even with a battle looming over me. I must get through this and keep my friends safe.
I run my hands through each of the man's hair, Bronn on my left and Tyrion on my right. Bronn's is greasier and thicker than Tyrion's, but the feeling is calming and soon I drift off to sleep.
A/N: Like I said at the end, nothing happens between "Trixie" and either of the two men. Bronn will end up just being a good friend, and Tyrion will be the main love interest. Don't worry. What do you think about "Trixie" as a character? Do you like her relationships with the other characters? I would love to know what you think.