Hey everyone, welcome to the newest chapter of Hear My Roar. I am so sorry for the delay school, work and preparing for the ACTs caused me to wait awhile before I could finish this. Last time Lucien, Jon, and Tyrion made their way to the Wall. After spending some time there Lucien, and Tyrion began their journey back South. Now with recap out of the way on with the story.
Well not exactly the reception I was expecting. After leaving Castle Black, Tyrion, Lucien and their group traveled to Winterfell to fulfill their promise to Jon Snow. What received them was Rob Stark waiting for them with a drawn sword on his lap. But very close. Not many houses liked his family very much.
"I must confess, I expected a slightly warmer welcome." Tyrion said.
"Any man of the Night's Watch is welcome." Robb Stark said, his voice stone.
"Any man of the Night's Watch, but not us, eh boy." Tyrion smirked.
"I'm not your boy, Lannister." Robb growled. "I am Lord of Winterfell while my father is away."
"Then you might learn a lord's courtesy, Stark." Lucien snapped back. Tyrion sighed. Usually his son would be the more level headed of the two, but he had the same flaw as the rest of their family, he had a temper. Especially, when it came to someone insulting him. Before, the two young lords could continue trading barbs, the sound of the door opening caught their attention. In walked a very large man carrying Bran Stark.
"So it is true, the boy lives. I could scarce believe it. You Starks are hard to kill."
"You Lannisters had best remember that," Robb turned to the man holding his brother. "Hodor bring my brother here."
"Hodor." The man said, walking forward with a smile.
And here I thought Jaime and I were polar opposites. Tyrion thought with amusement.
"Hello Bran, do you remember anything about what happened?" Tyrion asked.
"He has no memory of that day." Answered Maester Luwin.
"Curious," was the only thing Tyrion said.
"Why are you here?" Robb asked curtly.
Tyrion simply ignored him and continued to focus on Bran. "Do you like to ride, Bran?"
"Yes."
"The boy has lost the use of his legs, he cannot sit a horse." Maester Luwin said gently.
"Nonsense," Tyrion said. "With the right horse and the right saddle, even a cripple can ride."
"I'm not a cripple!" Bran snapped.
"Then I am not a dwarf," Tyrion said sarcastically. "My father will rejoice to hear it." Only Theon Greyjoy laughed at this.
"I have a gift for you." Tyrion said, handing Bran the designs for the saddle he himself used. "Give that to your saddler, he will provide the rest." Tyrion then began to explain what more needed to be done. "You must shape the horse to the rider, teach it to respond to the reins, to the voice. I would begin with an unbroken yearling, with no old training to be unlearned."
"Will I truly be able to ride?" Bran asked.
"You will," Tyrion said with a smile that was far kinder than his previous ones. "I promise, on horseback you will be as tall as any of them."
Robb Stark looked at him puzzled. "Is this some trap, Lannister? What's Bran to you? Why should you want to help him?"
"Your brother Jon asked it of us. And I have a tender spot in my heart for cripples, bastards, and broken things." Tyrion said with a grin. Robb Stark looked speechless. Not the monster you believe am I Stark?
"You've done my brother a kindness, the hospitality of Winterfell is yours."
"Spare us the false courtesy, Lord Stark." Tyrion said. "There's a brothel outside your walls, there me and my son will find a bed and both of us can sleep easier." Tyrion walked out without another word, Lucien following close behind. As the two Lannisters mounted their horses about to leave, Theon Greyjoy walked out into the courtyard.
"Going to see some northern ass?" Theon joked. "If either of you like red heads, ask for Ros."
"Come to see us off, Greyjoy?" Tyrion asked. "Kind of you, your master doesn't seem to like Lannisters."
"He's not my master."
"No of course not." Tyrion said, sarcastically. "What happened here?" Tyrion asked. "Where is Lady Stark, why did she not receive me?"
"She wasn't feeling well."
"You're lying." Lucien said, bluntly.
"She's not in Winterfell, is she?" Tyrion stated more than asked. "Where did she go?" Theon simply stayed silent. "Your loyalty to your captors is touching." Theon simply continued to stay quiet. "Tell me, how do you think Balon Greyjoy would feel if he could see his only surviving son turned lackey." Theon Greyjoy now look at the ground beginning to feel ashamed. "I can still see my father's fleet burning in Lannisport, I believe that was your uncle's doing."
"Must have been a pretty sight." Theon smirked.
"Nothing pretty like watching sailors burn alive." Theon's smirked dropped. "Yes, a great victory for your people, shame about how it all turned out."
"We were out numbered ten to one."
"A stupid rebellion then, I suppose your father realized that when your brothers died." Tyrion said. "And now here you are, your enemies squire." Tyrion smirked.
"Careful, Imp."
"I've offended you, forgive me it's been a rough morning." Tyrion said. "Anyway, don't despair, I'm a constant disappointment to my own father and I've learned to live with it." He then tossed a silver stag at Theon's feet. "Your next tumble with Ros is on me, I'll try not to wear her out." With that Tyrion and Lucien made their way to the brothel.
"Well I can say that I'm not going back there anytime soon." Lucien said. "Did you see how Robb Stark had his sword drawn the whole time?"
"What do you think caused it?" Tyrion asked, they would do this every now and then. Tyrion would give Lucien a problem and Lucien would need to figure it out. It was his way to make sure Lucien's mind stayed sharp. Tyrion loved his brother but he did not want his son to think the only way to solve a problem was with a sword.
Lucien thought for a second. "Well, based on the way Robb was acting, it appears he believed we were his enemy."
"Yes, but why?" Tyrion said, he was getting warmer.
"Well, he sent for Bran before we even asked almost as if he was showing him off." Lucien said.
"Yes, So what does that mean?"
"The Starks believe we or at least our family had something to do with Bran's fall."
"Correct, now next question who really pushed him?" Tyrion asked.
"That's easy, uncle Jaime, Cersei or both."
"Good, as a reward I let you take the night with Ros." Tyrion offered.
"No."
Tyrion greatly enjoyed himself that night, Ros was spectacular. A few residents of the brothel offered themselves to Lucien, but like always his son politely declined. Daybreak that morning the two Lannisters met with Yoren, a members of the Night's Watch and continued their journey south.
After two weeks of traveling the party stopped at an inn to rest. Unfortunately, there were no rooms,but after mentioning his father a room suddenly was open. Well, well, look who it is. To his surprise, as they were making their way to a table to eat he saw that one of the occupants of the inn was- "Lady Stark, what an unexpected pleasure," Tyrion said. "I was sorry to miss you at Winterfell." Apparently, no one else knew because nearly half the inns gasped after his declaration.
A strange look passed over Catelyn Stark's face she then stood up and pulled down her hood. "I was still Catelyn Tully the last time I bedded here," she said to the room. "You in the corner," she said to an older man. "Is that the black bat of Harrenhal I see embroidered on your surcoat, ser?"
The man got to his feet. "It is, my lady."
"And is Lady Whent a true and honest friend to my father, Lord Holster Tully of Riverrun?"
"She is," the man replied stoutly.
"The red stallion was ever a welcome sight in Riverrun," Lady Stark said to a trio by the fire. "My father counts JonosBracken among his oldest and most loyal bannermen."
The three men-at-arms exchanged uncertain looks. "Our Lord is honored by his trust," one of them said hesitantly.
"I envy your father, all these fine friends," Tyrion quipped, "but I do not quite see the purpose of this, Lady Stark."
She ignored him, turning to the large party in blue and grey. "I know your signal as well: the twin towers of Frey. How fares your good lord, sers?"
Their leader rose. "Lord Walder is well, my lady. He plans to take a new wife on his ninetieth name day, and asked your lord father to honor the wedding with his presence."
Lucien looked on in suspicion before his eyes widened, he crouched down to whisper in Tyrion's ear. "Father, get behind me and begin moving to the door." Tyrion's smirk dropped, his son had his hand on his sword that only meant one thing.
"This man came as a guest into my home, and there conspired to murder my son, a boy of seven," Catelyn Stark proclaimed to the room at large, pointing. Ser Rodrick, Winterfell's Master at Arms, moved to her side, sword in hand. "In the name of King Robertand the good lords you serve, I call upon you to seize him and help me return him to Winterfell to await the King's Justice." And with those word the swords were drawn.
And that ends the newest chapter of Hear My Roar. Sorry again that it took so long. Now onto the reviews.
Hail King Cerion: Glad you're enjoying it.
trollzor69: Only time will tell.