The entire journey to King's Landing I spoke to no one, not even Bronn. I needed to think about what I was going to do once we got to the city. Being left with my thoughts helped me go through everything in my head. Every time I thought of Tyrion and Shae I would slow down to the back of the traveling group to cry without the others asking me what was wrong. Bronn understood, at least I think he did. But I thought about my personal relationship with Tyrion and it would cheer me up a bit. I fantasized about killing Shae, but that would only push Tyrion farther from me. I tried to think about what my life would be like without Tyrion in it any longer. And I just couldn't imagine what I would be doing. I couldn't imagine not seeing the Little Lannister ever again. As we ride up to the gates I feel two pairs of eyes on me. I look to Bronn, to my right.
"What'll it be, little Trixie?" He asks me. "You staying? Or heading off?" I look down to the reigns in my hands then over to Tyrion, on my left. He meets my gaze, and I can't bring myself to leave.
"I guess I can stick around for a little while." Tyrion smiles at my words, and I can't help but return it. He urges his horse forward and Bronn and I follow. We make our way to the castle and leave our horses in the stable. Tyrion leads us through the hallways to walk into the celebration of King Joffrey's name day. The festivities quiet down as we enter.
"We looked for you on the battlefield." Tyrion greets his nephew. "You were nowhere to be found." He steps up on the shaded platform where the King sits as Bronn and I wait in the sun. The Little Lannister serves himself some wine.
"I've been here, ruing the kingdoms." King Joffrey answers.
"What a fine job you've done." Tyrion tells him. His attention is then drawn to his niece and other nephew. "Look at you." He leans over and kisses his niece's cheek. "More beautiful than ever." I smile at his actions. I can tell he loves the younger members of his family, at the very least. "And you." He says to the younger nephew. "You-you're going to be bigger than the Hound, but much better looking. I look to the scarred man standing next to Bronn and I. "This one doesn't like me." Tyrion tells us.
"Can't imagine why." Bronn says as I smile at his words.
"We heard you were dead." King Joffrey says.
"I'm glad you're not dead." Myrcella, Tyrion's niece, comments.
"Me too, dear." Tyrion says as he looks out at the water beyond the walls of the castle. "Death is so boring, especially now with so much excitement in the world." He then makes his way over to the only person on the platform whom isn't a Lannister. "My lady, I'm sorry for your loss." My smile fades as I think of the Stark that was killed on the King's order.
"Her loss?" King Joffrey asks. "Her father was a confessed traitor."
"But still her father." Tyrion speaks. "Surely having recently lost your own beloved father you can sympathize." The King pauses before turning to Sansa.
"My father was a traitor." She starts. "My mother and brother are traitors, too. I am loyal to my beloved Joffrey." There is no inflection in her voice. She is forcing herself to say something she doesn't truly mean.
"Of course you are." Tyrion says. I know he has come to the same conclusion I have about the poor girl. "Well, enjoy your name day, Your Grace." He drinks the rest of the wine in his chalice. "I wish I could stay and celebrate, but there is work to be done." Tyrion walks off of the back of the platform and heads inside. I quickly make my way around the outside of the platform to follow the Little Lannister. I feel Bronn follow my actions.
"What work?" The King asks. "Why are you here?" Both of his questions are not answered as we continue to walk down the hallway. As we get closer Tyrion starts to whistle.
"Why are you so happy?" I ask.
"I get to tell my sister something she has no control over." I smile at his words. We walk into the throne room and the sight of the Iron Thrown takes my breath away.
"How can something so beautiful cause so much pain?" I ask. The two men look at me with questioning glances. "Other than the fact that it's made of pointy things that can cause pain." Neither one comments.
"You two will wait out here. I'll be back soon enough." He says as he walks into a door behind the throne. It doesn't take long for four men to walk out of the room. The sight of one of them makes me smile.
"Lord Varys," I say. "It's so good to see you again." The eunuch walks to me and takes my hands in his.
"My dear, it is good to see you as well." He says with the largest smile I've ever seen on his face. "What has brought you here, child?"
"Tyrion." I answer simply. "He has asked me to be his personal guard." He slowly lets go of my hands and hides them in his sleeves.
"Be warned, Little One, the game played in the capital is different from those played outside the walls of King's Landing." He tells me. "I hope you can watch your own back as well as the Imp's."
"Well, Lord Varys, his back is quite small." I start. "I'll be able to watch both of our backs with ease." He smiles at my answer.
"I hope you enjoy your stay in King's Landing, Little One." He says as he begins to walk away with a thin man.
"Thank you, my Lord. I plan to." I tell him. Bronn and I wait alone after the four men leave the throne room.
"What's with you and the bald man?" Bronn asks.
"He's asked me to work for him in the past." I tell him. "When I refused, he told me he had a feeling I would not take him up on his offer. He said he respected my decision, and considered me a friend."
"You sure he doesn't want to get in your trousers?" Bronn asks with a smirk, but I can't help the laugh bursting from my mouth.
"Oh Bronn, please, that's not even a possibility." He looks at me with confusion. "he's a eunuch, Bronn." I continue to laugh and Bronn joins in a little bit.
"What's so funny?" Tyrion's voice echoes through the throne room. Bronn and I look to him.
"Oh nothing." I say, calming my laughter. "Bronn just thought Lord Varys was looking to get into my trousers." I start to laugh again. This time I hear Tyrion join in.
"The eunuch?" He laughs.
"Yeah, yeah." Bronn says, not enjoying the slight tease. "How am I supposed to know the guy doesn't have any balls?" Tyrion and I only laugh harder and I end up hunching over.
"What's so funny?" A harsh woman's voice breaks through our laughter. I snap into a standing position.
"Your Grace, it was nothing." I say as I gaze upon her beauty. Her long hair, her eyes, those cheekbones, and the way she looks in that dress. Any woman would be envious of her, and I am no exception.
"You're a girl." She says to me.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"And what is your name, girl?" The Queen asks me. I look to the floor, not knowing what to answer.
"Cersei, sister, we've had a long journey." Tyrion tries to jump in. "I think we al-"
"Your Queen asked you a question." She says in a hard voice. I look up from the floor before answering.
"I am afraid I do not have an answer for you, Your Grace." I start. "I was raised by a mute woman, and she could not give me a name." I wait for her to react.
"Oh, wait a moment, you're that woman our father tried to hire over and over again." I look to the floor again.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"And somehow my brother convinced you to follow him around like a little puppy." She seemed either impressed With Tyrion or a bit disappointed with me.
"Yes I did." Tyrion says as he walks past Bronn and I. "Now, sister, we'll be going to our rooms to get some rest. Like I said, we've had a long journey." I follow Tyrion out into the hallway with Bronn close behind.
"Cersei's more beautiful than I remember." I whisper to myself, but because of the silence of the hallway both men heard me.
"You don't give yourself enough credit." Bronn says. "I'd take you over her any day."
"That's sweet, but if I was into women I'd be falling for her pretty hard."
"I guess you have a type." Tyrion says.
"Oh yeah?" I ask. "And what, may I ask, is my type?"
"Lannister." He answers simply. My face falls to a frown and my hands clench into fists. "I'm sure, once Jaime is back safely in King's Landing you'll fall for him too." I can't stop my right hand from unclenching and smacking the Tiny Man on the side of the head. "Ow!" He yells as he stops in front of me. He turns around as he places his hand on the side of his head where I smacked him. "What was that for?"
"You are so insensitive." I say as I point at him. I then storm away. "I'll find my bed chamber on my own." I call back to the men before I turn a corner. I walk the maze of hallways, getting quite lost, before I end up bumping into someone. "I'm so sorry, my lord." I say to the man.
"I am no lord." He tells me as he looks me up and down. I check him over as well. He's wearing armor, he's tall, and half of his face seems to be badly scarred.
"I seem to be lost." I say with a nervous smile. "I just came here with Tyrion." He doesn't say anything. "Were you at the King's name day celebration earlier?" I ask him.
"Yes." He says before beginning to walk off.
"Wait. I need help finding my bed chamber." I call to him.
"I don't know where what you are looking for is." He says as he continues to walk away from me. I decide to follow him.
"Where are you going now?" I ask.
"None of your business." The rest of our journey, we stay quiet. Eventually we come up to a large room with tables. Many men sit at those tables. They're eating and drinking and conversing until the two of us walk in. They go quiet as we walk in. I pause at the doorway as the scarred man walks ahead. All the men's eyes follow him as he walks by. I take a deep breath and decide to continue to follow the man. He sits at a free table and I sit across from him.
"Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot." I say. He looks at me in shock. "I have no name, so they call me The Woman With No Name." I tell him. "And what is your name?" It takes a moment before he answers me.
"Sandor Clegane." He speaks. My eyes grow wide a bit.
"Wait, you're The Hound." I say. "You are amazing."
"How so?" He didn't seem too curious with his question. He looks around for refreshments. He spots someone and waves them over.
"Breaking free of The Mountain's shadow would be quite a feat for anyone, Ser." He looks to me as the boy he waved over walks up to us.
"Bring us two horns of wine." He tells the boy. He rushes away as The Hound addresses me. "I would say making a name for yourself when you have no name is an equally difficult feat."
"So you have heard of me." I smirk. I see the corner of his mouth twitch up a little bit. We end up talking for a long time about our pasts. We swapped war stories, and drank until someone came up to our table I look up to see Bronn.
"So, this is where you've been." He says to me. "Tyrion wants to speak with you."
"About what? Guarding his chambers at night?" Bronn just looks at me. "Fine." I say, standing up. I turn to Sandor. "I've had a lovely time with you ser." He nods his head in response before glaring at Bronn. I turn back to him. "Lead the way." I say, gesturing towards the door. We walk in silence to Tyrion's chambers. Once there, I storm in without knocking. "What do you want? Half-man?" I ask in anger. I look to the bed and see Shae and Tyrion rushing to cover themselves up. "What's your problem? She's a whore and you could care less if anyone see's you naked. Now, what do you want?" Tyrion looks at me with wide eyes.
"What do you mean, what do I want?" He asks. "You're my personal guard. And you will address me as lord in this city." I'm taken aback by his words.
"I did not come here to be spoken down to by you." I say, thrusting a finger in his direction. "I chose to stay of my own volition. I can just as easily walk out of this wretched city and never come back." The dwarf's face softens at my words. "The only way I stay is if I do not guard you at night. Not while she lies with you." I point to Shae.
"What's that supposed to mean?" The whore asks in her accent, offended at my words. I say nothing and I do not meet her gaze. I continue to look to Tyrion, waiting for his response. He looks down to the floor in guilt. "You're jealous of me? You really do have feelings for him, don't you."
"Very well, Bronn will take up watch at night." The half-man finally decides. He snaps his head up to look at me once again. "But you will be here at daybreak to begin your watch."
"Of course, my lord." I emphasize as I curtsey and storm out of the room and down the corridor.
A/N: So, what do you think about "Trixie" and her relationship with those around her, now including Cersei and The Hound? Again, I wanted to show that she is drawn to those whom are somewhat neglected. She is also human and gets envious of others. She envies Cersei and her beauty, and she envies Shae and her relationship with Tyrion.
The incident with Tyrion saying that her type was Lannister was interesting to me. If Tyrion did not know of her feelings towards him, he would never have said what he did. She believed that he was trying to hurt her, when he was really trying to joke around with her. He was trying to relieve the tension of being in his sister's presence with a joke, but she found it inappropriate.
Anyways, tell me what you think of this story so far. I love reading reviews/comments. They make me so happy.