The days that followed the opening of the tourney were both odd and bloody. The first evening Jaime had returned, pleased with his success. He had qualified for the semi-final during the day's rounds. Yet Lyanna could not help but wonder at the death that had occurred. It was not the first death she had seen, before her father had taught her to use a dagger he had made it a condition for her to see death first hand, see the King's justice done by her father's own hand. That had been her first death. Yet this one death seamed strange, it was simply too odd that the one and only death during the joust had happened during the very first round.
Ser Hugh of the Vale was admittedly young, though not oddly so. Her husband had informed her that he had been younger than she was now when he rode in his first tournament. But it was not only his age and skill that had led his death, she had noticed that his gorget wasn't fastened properly, and if she had noticed surely Ser Gregor Clegane, a trusted bannerman of the Lannisters, would have noticed. No, Ser Hugh's death had been no accident. She had heard stories of the Clegane brothers' love for death and violence, and she would have dismissed the death as a result of it, but she had seen other opportunities to cause great injury during his other rounds, opportunities he had forgone. No, the death was odd. Though when her husband seemed unconcerned by her questions she let the subject drop.
"I fear I will not be available to attend the games until after mid-day tomorrow, my lord."
"Has Cersei decided to occupy your time again? I will talk to her." His superior attitude bothered her, she did not need him to fight her battles for her, but she bit back her anger.
"No, the Queen had been nothing but kind. Ser Barristan asked if he might call, it has been days since our last game you see."
"Game?" He asked suddenly curious again.
"Ser Barristan has been kind enough to teach me to play chess. He used to come almost every day before the wedding took up too much of my time. I dare say I have missed his company these last few days."
"I was unaware he had taken such a deep interest in you."
"He says that I will need the be apt at the game to survive court life. It is all about thinking ahead, he says."
"He is a talented strategist." Jaime admitted. "You could have had few more talented teachers. You seem to have a talent for choosing good allies, my lady."
"Whatever do you mean?" She asked, she wanted to know just how close an eye he had been keeping on her. In truth she had been surprised he had not known of Ser Barristan's visits, considering his words to the Queen. Then again their chess games had begun shortly after the archery challenge, perhaps Jaime had lost interest by then.
"First my brother, then the king, and now the leader of his guard. Two of which seem to have taken it upon themselves to teach you. And one to protect you."
"Your brother and Ser Barristan are intelligent men, they know many things I do not. As for the king, I fear I had little to do with it. Should I have taken more after my mother than my aunt I think he would have had little interest in me."
"Perhaps I have underestimated your cunning, wife." He admitted, smiling.
"I have not a single devious bone in my body." She told him, remembering his own words. A few of many that had made her see the uses of spies and allies. Words that had made her accept Ser Barristan's challenge, words that had made her act more kindly towards maids and servants, even help one pay for medicine for one of their children. Once she had been kind and talkative with servants out of pure curiosity and kindness, now it was to survive the indicate lanes and passages of the court. She was fairly confident even some of the Queen's personal servants would come and warn her if she or her family were in danger now. For now that was all she cared to know. But she had no desire to tell her husband that.
The day after the joust final one of her father's maids came calling on her former lady. She had often helped Lyanna dress and bath in the mornings since arriving in King's landing and she had taken a liking to her lady. She had even requested to come with Lyanna when she married, while she had denied the request on behalf of her sisters, it seemed the maid was still loyal to her more than the rest of her family.
The maid had heard her father and Ser Jory talking and had felt the need to inform Lyanna, Lady Stark had 'arrested' Lord Tyrion for attempting to have Bran assassinated. An attempt Lyanna had not even heard of.
It had taken Lyanna a good few minutes to gather her wits about her at the news. She refused to believe Lord Tyrion responsible for something like that; it would gain him nothing, he had no reason. She needed to find her husband before he heard it from someone else and did something regrettable. From what she had learned about the Lannisters this was an offence they would not take lightly. She needed to speak with him, immediately.
Two hours later Lyanna was all but running though the corridors of the Red Keep, apparently her husband was on Queen duty that day, which was all the better in Lyanna's opinion. While she was under no delusion that the Queen particularly liked her she was more likely to help her talk Jaime down than take his side and storm out the door looking for her father and family for a bloody retribution. She, if not Jaime, would see the possible reputations of such an action. However finding the Queen was more difficult than she had expected it to be. It took her a good while before she found someone who informed her the Queen was resting, only to have another guard outside the Queen's quarters inform her that she had ordered not to be disturbed under any circumstances.
No matter what Lyanna told them, she tried explaining politely, demanding to see her husband, and even pleading, nothing worked. She had been there nearly an hour before she saw her husband walking towards them, a surprised look on his face as he saw his aggravated wife waiting there.
"Lyanna-" He begun only to have her swirl to look at him, and sigh in relief at the sight of him.
"Would you please tell these two men to let me through, I need to speak with both you and your sister. It is urgent." He didn't need to say a word, a mere gesture with his hands made the two guards to what she had been trying to get them to do for a good long while. Move. Though he seemed fairly amused by her irritation as she walked beside him towards the queen's bedchamber. There he hesitated, wearing a fairly strange expression on his face as he looked between her and the door, then gestured for her to wait in one of the other rooms while he went to get his sister.
The queen did not look pleased as she followed Jaime into the room and saw Lyanna waiting by the window.
"Lyanna." She greeted, a forced smile on her lips, making her turn around to face them.
Suddenly nervous and uncertain Lyanna had to physically restrain herself and steady her voice as she spoke.
"Lady Stark has done something foolish, and I am here to plead with you to allow me to deal with it diplomatically, or at least try to, before you take action." She finally said.
"What has she done?" Jaime asked, more curious than anything else, the queen however looked unconcerned. So far so good.
"There was an attempt on Brandon's, my half-brother, life. Someone sent an assassin to his room."
"What does this have to do with us?" The Queen asked, with just a hint of annoyance. Though Lyanna saw her send a glance Jaime's way. He did the same.
"My father's wife is under the illusion that Lord Tyrion is responsible." This seemed to spark some interest and maybe even amusement in the Queen's eyes, but Jaime looked angry.
"What measures has she taken?"
"She has arrested him…. My father knew nothing of her plans, he is attempting to solve the problem as we speak."
"He sent you as his emissary?" Jaime asked through clenched teeth.
"No, he does not know that I know. He hopes to solve the matter before news reaches you. I am not as hopeful as he. I am sure someone will inform you of what has occurred before the sun rises tomorrow and the matter will not be solved before then. You know I hold great affection for Lord Tyrion, he is a good friend. I do not believe he did this, and with your permission I was hoping to see my father as the Lannister representative on this matter this afternoon."
Before she had even finished speaking her husband was making his way towards the door, Lyanna wasn't sure if it was her calling his name or the queen doing so that made him stop. It didn't matter, what mattered was that he had stopped and turned around to face them both again. He was furious. But he had stopped.
"Let her try." The queen said. "The King might just take Eddard Stark's side, and our father has taken a liking to your wife. Did he not tell you to keep her happy?" She continued as if his said wife wasn't even in the room. "Do you think killing her father will make her so?" That seemed to take some of the anger out of him as he glanced over at his worried wife. His face didn't soften, but there was something in his eyes that changed, something Lyanna couldn't put her finger on.
"Lord Stark had nothing to do with this?"
"I am told he seemed most upset by the news. He wants a peaceful ending to all this. I don't know if he believes him innocent, but he is not stupid." Jaime's expression clearly started that he disagreed with her assessment of her father. "He is honorable, and he foolishly believes everyone else is too. But he is not stupid, he knows what a war between our families would lead to. He will help us."
"Us?" Jaime asked, sounding almost sarcastic. "You no longer see yourself as a Stark then?"
"I was a Snow. But I am of their blood, and I don't want to see any of it staining the ground. Also, Lord Tyrion is dear to me. He claimed me as a sister even before the wedding, he did so before anyone else in your family. I may be married to you, husband, but you are still a stranger to me. Your brother is not. I want him here."
TBC…
