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01x04: Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things.
Chapter Nineteen: Tyrion's Gift.
"I must say I received a slightly warmer welcome on my last visit," Tyrion Lannister mused looking up at the high table where Robb was sat along with Maester Luwin and Sanira on either side of him. He was passing through on his way back to the capital after a visit to the Wall and Tyrion was a little surprised at how at how tense the atmosphere was compared to the last time that he visited.
Tyrion didn't know what had happened during the time that he had been at the Wall but he knew that Catelyn Stark should have been the one to greet him as was proper not her son and his wife.
"Any man of the Night's Watch is welcome at Winterfell," Robb stated paying more attention to Yoren than he was to Tyrion, he felt anger bubble within him about having another Lannister in Winterfell after what had happened.
If his mother was right, then it was a Lannister that had nearly killed Bran and had left him crippled for the rest of his life and he didn't want him staying here. Sanira tried not to show how she felt, she knew that if Robb continued to act like this and she hoped that Tyrion wasn't going to rise to the tension that was filling the room.
"Any man of the Night's Watch, but not I, eh, boy?" Tyrion mused raising an eyebrow at Robb, he was used to being disliked and looked down upon by people but this was something different. He had been welcomed into the Stark home last time but this time it was different and Tyrion wanted to know what was happened; he had a feeling that his siblings might have something to do with it.
It was no secret that they had both seemed a little off when they had heard that Bran was going to live and Tyrion had a strong feeling they had something to do with the boy's fall from that tower that had nearly killed him.
"I'm not your boy, Lannister. I'm Lord of Winterfell while my father is away," Robb replied annoyed that he was being talked down to, he was Lord right now and he deserved respect while he was in that position. Master Luwin offered Robb a look knowing that they didn't need the Lannister getting any more suspicious; he didn't like this anymore than he did but they had no idea which Lannister might have tried to kill Bran.
"Then you might learn a lord's courtesy," Tyrion stated watching Robb for a moment, his attention quickly turned to Sanira who was sat as her husband's side; he had to admit that his dear cousin looked better suited to life in the North. He had often sure that she would be married to some Southern Lord that her mother badgered her father into agreeing to and she would have been miserable down there.
Sanira wasn't built for a life in court and she would be a lot better suited for life in the North, she was very much a Northern lass like her mother was a Southern one. The doors behind Tyrion opened and everyone turned to see Hodor carrying Bran into the room, Tyrion couldn't help but stare at the small boy whose life had been ruined in such a horrible way.
"So it's true. Hello Bran. Do you remember anything about what happened?" Tyrion greeted curiously, he wanted to know just as much as anyone if Bran knew what had happened to him. Robb glared at Tyrion, he didn't know why the imp had asked such a thing and he wondered if he wanted to know because he feared that it would implicate someone that needed protecting.
Bran stared at Tyrion, he hated that everyone kept asking if he remembered anything about his accident; he was angry that this had happened to him more than anyone else.
"He has no memory of that day," Maester Luwin murmured sensing that this could end badly if he didn't intervene, it would not do well for Robb to accuse Tyrion of having a part in what had happened to Bran. The Lannisters would not react well if they were to take the imp hostage and Maester Luwin was sure that it would only lead to trouble especially with Catelyn and Eddard currently in the South.
"Curious," Tyrion mused sharing only a look at the high table before he focused on Bran, he had guessed that his siblings had something to do with this after that breakfast when they had learned that Bran was going to live. He just wasn't sure what had led them to do such a thing, it was a disappointment that Bran had no memory of what had led to his fall and Tyrion doubted the boy would ever remember.
"Why are you here?" Robb asked leaning back in his seat, he didn't like this and it was hard to hide the fact that Catelyn wasn't here; they didn't need anyone asking questions. It would ruin things if anyone were to discover that Catelyn was traveling to the capital, they had to make sure that it was kept a closely guarded secret where she might have gone.
Sanira took Robb's hand, she gave it a gentle squeeze aware that if she didn't distract him then he was likely to do something that would leak their suspicions to Tyrion.
"Would your charming companion be so kind as to kneel? My neck is beginning to hurt," Tyrion asked looking up and Bran, he ignored the jab from Robb and focused on the boy; he doubted that they had any idea on how to deal with his infliction. The Starks were doing their best for Bran that Tyrion was sure judging by Hodor who was carrying the boy around instead of having him rot away in bed without any other moment.
Robb watched them closely, he didn't know what Tyrion was planning but he knew that until his mother had answers they were all going to have to be careful.
"Kneel, Hodor," Bran said looking at the giant that was carrying him, he didn't know why the imp wanted to speak with him when he would much rather be up in his room away from people who could stare at him. Hodor did as he was told so that Tyrion wouldn't have to look up so far at them, he was careful not to drop Bran as he crouched down on the floor.
Tyrion smiled thankful, he could see Bran much better and he felt bad that someone maybe even his own siblings had left him in this situation; he wouldn't wish what had happened to him on anyone.
"Do you like to ride, Bran?" Tyrion asked wanting to make the boy's life better, he couldn't imagine how limited his life had been and how it would be without the right knowledge. Bran could very well spend the rest of his life trapped in this castle, every dream he'd ever had for the future was gone and there was nothing that was going to change that.
"Yes. Well, I mean I did like to," Bran mumbled looking to the floor, he hated how he had lost everything that he had ever dreamed of and he hoped that this would all be over now. Tyrion nodded his head understandingly, he was sure that this was still all sinking in for Bran; his entire life had been changed and there was no going back.
"The boy has lost the use of his legs," Maester Luwin reminded annoyed and not sure what Tyrion was aiming at, he was never going to be able to do the things that he had once enjoyed. Tyrion only rolled his eyes in response, he had come with a gift and he was sure that Bran would like it; he was sure that no one had even considered that things would make his life easier in some ways and make him more normal.
"What of it? With the right horse and saddle, even a cripple can ride," Tyrion asked signalling for the plans that he had brought with him, he knew that this would allow Bran some freedom that he had lost. Robb leant forward for a little, he was curious about what Tyrion had in mind and he hoped that it would make Bran's life easier; he couldn't imagine what it was like to be trapped in bed all day.
It would be a nightmare for him and Robb had a feeling that it was driving Bran made, he just wanted his younger brother to be happy even if a Lannister was somehow responsible for it right now.
"I'm not a cripple," Bran snapped not liking the name, he didn't like to think about how his life had been torn apart by his fall and he knew that was how people saw him now. He was never going to have the life that he wanted or be able to marry a woman from a good respectful noble family like Robb had done; he was only ever going to be the crippled Stark boy.
"Then I'm not a dwarf. My father will rejoice to hear it. I have a gift for you," Tyrion replied knowing that it would help if Bran accepted his situation instead of clinging to the past; he would never walk again and the sooner he accepted that the better. Moving to hand the piece of paper in his hands to Bran, Tyrion looked towards the high table where Robb was watching him closely; he was sure that young Lord would simper down sometime soon and get over his little grudge.
"Give that to your saddler. He'll provide the rest. You must shape the horse to the rider. Start with a yearling and teach it to respond to the reins and to the boy's voice," Tyrion instructed sure that this would help Bran, he had done a lot of research and this would make it easier for him. Bran's eyes lit up at the idea of being able to ride again, it was something that he had never thought possible now that he had lost the complete use in his legs and was stuck in bed.
"Will I really be able to ride?" Bran asked excitedly, he had no idea how Tyrion had the answers right now and he didn't care; he was just happy with the idea that he was going to be able to ride again. Sanira looked to Robb, she could see how happy Bran was and she hoped that whatever was going on that her husband could see that Tyrion had brought a great kindness to Bran that no one else had thought of.
She had always liked Tyrion a lot more than her other cousins and he was a lot kinder than them; Sanira doubted that would help in anyway if things went South.
"You will. On horseback you will be as tall as any of them," Tyrion confirmed with a smile, he could see how happy his gift had made the young Stark boy and he could understand how hard it was for Bran to be shut away or hear people whisper about him.
"Is this some kind of trick? Why do you want to help him?" Robb questioned not sure why Tyrion was being so kind to Bran, it didn't make sense especially if his mother was right about what had happened to Bran. He doubted that all the Lannisters could have been in on what had happened but it was all very suspicious and Robb wasn't sure who he could trust; he knew that Sanira was being extra careful when she wrote home to her family.
"I have a tender spot in my heart for cripples, bastards and broken things," Tyrion replied with a shrug, he looked towards Sanira knowing that he would like to speak with her alone before he continued on. Tyrion wished to congratulate her on her marriage even if he wasn't fond of the Starks, she looked happier here than he had seen her before and he guessed that had something to do with her being away from her mother.
"You've done my brother a kindness. The hospitality of Winterfell is yours," Robb said begrudgingly, he couldn't imagine what would happen if his mother had been here but he knew that he owed the Lannister right now.
"Spare me your false courtesies, Lord Stark. There's a brothel outside your walls. There I'll find a bed and both of us can sleep easier," Tyrion stated before turning to leave the hall, he would speak to Sanira before he left Winterfell.
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