Tyrion was lying in his tent with Shae beside him. After the shattering defeat at the Whispering Wood and the capture of Jaime, Tywin had been driving his troops as fast as he could to Harrenhal. Being on the march a raven could not reach them. It had taken three days for a rider to find them and deliver the news.

"I never thought he would ever die."

"Your brother?" Shae asked.

Tyrion gently stroked her cheek. "I can remember him as a twelve year old boy with a wooden sword beating boys four or five years older. I never in my life ever saw anyone better on horseback. I've lost count of how many dragons I won betting on him at tourney. Everyone always said he was the finest swordsman in all the realm. I never imagined he could ever be killed. I never worried for him, because I always knew Jaime would come through. Who could ever kill Jaime?"

She stirred and propped herself up on an elbow. Her soft fingers touched his face. "You are crying."

"Sorry, I didn't know the Imp could even shed tears. Tell no one, I should hate to fail their expectations."

"It's all right, you loved your brother."

Maybe the concern in her eyes was just a lie. He had known many whores and understood that the best of them could deceive a man with little effort. Especially a man like him who wanted to believe it. "Jaime was always kind to me. He never treated me like a dwarf, not even when we were children. He always saw me as his little brother. Jaime was the only one who ever treated me as if I were normal. Some of my uncles and cousins and some of the servants treated me well, but always in the same fashion as they would have a pet or some curiosity. When I was with Jaime I was just Tyrion, when I was with anyone else I was the dwarf."

She nodded. "I am glad you had him, and I am sorry for your loss."

He shut his eyes. Is this what it would have been like with Tysha? The simple comfort of a loving wife.

Fool. Fool. Fool. You're an ugly dwarf. The only affections a woman will ever give you are ones you pay for.

Tyrion sat up and glanced about the tent. "Do we have more wine?"

"You've been drinking all day. Haven't you had enough?"

"I am still conscious, so obviously not."

He was just about to push the blankets aside and go see for himself when the tent flap was pulled open. Bronn stepped inside.

"Glad to see I'm not interrupting."

"You should knock before coming in." Tyrion said.

"How do you knock on canvas?"

"Never mind, help me find a bottle of wine. You can help me commiserate. I'll tell you some exciting tales about my life, some of them might even be true."

"The adventures of Tyrion the Mighty, I look forward to it but it's going to have to wait. Your father has summoned you to his tent."

"Has he called a war council?"

"No, looks like it's just you."

Tyrion shut his eyes and shook his weary head. "Oh fuck me."

XXX

Tywin Lannister had never made any secret of the disdain and contempt in which he held Tyrion. He had always avoided his younger son as much as possible. On those rare occasions when Tyrion had been summoned to his father's presence it had always been due to some transgression. Tyrion had learned to dread private meetings with his father. Nothing good ever came from them. Entering his father's command tent he did not expect that to change.

Within there was an ornately carved long table with just two chairs. His father occupied one at the head of the table. His father motioned to the empty seat to his right.

"Sit." Tywin commanded, as he might have to one of his dogs.

Tyrion waddled over to the table, deliberately exaggerating his stride. His father watched in silence as he climbed into the chair.

There was pitcher and a single goblet. Tyrion couldn't tell how much wine remained in the pitcher, but he noted that the goblet was nearly empty. His father's cheeks were unusually dark and his eyes red. Was it possible the mighty Tywin had been drinking to console himself just as he had? Tyrion couldn't picture it. His father was never one for vulgar displays or showing any sort of human weakness. Father did not drink, whore, gamble, laugh, smile, or cry. The only emotion he ever seemed content to display was anger. Most of the time he was simply cold and calculating.

Tyrion expected to receive a lecture about some transgression. To be reminded what a fool he was for allowing Catelyn Stark to take him unawares or for consorting openly with whores and sellswords. His father never tired of telling him about how he was shaming the Lannister name.

But to Tyrion's surprise Tywin simply sat there looking at him. The expression on his father's face was one he'd never seen before. Anger? Melancholy? Frustration? Resignation? Tyrion thought he saw all of them there. He couldn't really blame the old man if he was in his cups and having trouble dealing with things. His father had always seen himself in Jaime, and had loved both him and his sister more than anything else.

"The gods," Tywin finally spoke. "Are cruel and play jests on all of us, great and small."

"You don't say?" Tyrion managed to keep a straight face. "Thank you for the revelation father."

"Spare me your clever retorts." He picked up his goblet and quickly emptied it. Setting it down he refilled it. "Everything I have done has been for the sake of the family name and for my children, everything. I have devoted my life to making our house strong so that when I am gone the name would live on long after me."

"Some of your children meant more to you than others."

"And what father would love a stunted dwarf as much as his true son or daughter?"

I am as much your true son as Jaime was. Tyrion managed not to let the retort escape his lips. He knew that to every father a dwarf was a bastard, saying so now would not help things.

Tywin continued. "When Robert died all my efforts should have borne fruit. My daughter would have been queen regent, helping to counsel and guide her son. With Joffrey sitting the Iron Throne Jaime would have long last been released from his oath and been free to marry and claim Casterly Rock as my heir."

"Jaime would never have agreed to that."

"He would have put up some stupid argument, but he would have done his duty as a Lannister. I'd have seen to that."

You'd have tried. Tyrion had known just how seriously Jaime had taken his oath to serve in the Kingsguard. He had also known of the special ties between Jaime and Cersei. The last thing his brother had wanted was to marry some girl and return to Casterly Rock. "And what plans did you have for me father?"

"Once I was gone you would have received more than enough gold in your inheritance to let you drink and whore your way to an early grave."

"Very generous of you." Gold and pride were the two things his family had in abundance. To his father a large sum of gold was the absolute bare minimum he was entitled to. What was telling was the fact he would not be given any lands or titles. Tyrion had no doubt that his father hoped he would simply die one day without any children and be forgotten forever. Yet he was sure that to his father's way of thinking that was being generous.

"My efforts and plans should have been rewarded. I should have gone to my grave secure in the knowledge my family was prosperous and strong." He took a sip of his wine. "Instead, everything I have struggled for has turned to ashes. Joffrey dead, Jaime dead, the North, the Riverlands, the Reach, and the Stormlands all risen up against us; our house is in danger of extinction. And all because of the stupidity of my children and grandchildren."

Tywin shook his head.

"Killing Ned Stark, dismissing Barristan Selmy, appointing Clegane to take his place, making that butcher Slynt not just a lord but the lord of Harrenhal, and then executing the Stark girl, one piece of madness after another. It almost reminds me of the Targaryens."

More than you realize, Joffrey had the makings of another Aerys. His father had spent precious little time at court and had not really known what Jof was. While Tyrion would never admit to it he'd been relieved when he'd heard the news his nephew was dead.

There seemed to be a distressing number of things Tyrion could not say out loud.

"Killing Lord Eddard and Sansa Stark were the worst mistakes." Tywin kept speaking. "The first guaranteed the North would rise, and the second was an invitation for Robb Stark to kill my son. I understood that immediately, that's why I offered them the terms I did. Had Jaime not been prisoner you can be certain my terms would have been harsher. If they had accepted…" Tywin paused, his eyes lost focus for a moment. Perhaps he was imagining Jaime's returning to him, a bit humbled but alive and well. "But they didn't, and we must deal what is and not what we would wish to be."

"Well I would agree with you that things are dire, but just what would you like me to do about it? Was there some reason you called me here?"

Tywin's full attention returned to him. "Your sister sent me a message. In the name of King Tommen she has ordered me to bring my army to King's Landing and to serve as Hand of the King. She does not request, she commands."

Tyrion knew just how miserable and frustrated Cersei had been in her role as Robert's queen. She had always lusted for real power, now that she finally had some she was obviously letting it go to her head. Cersei was a greater fool than Tyrion had ever imagined if she believed she could give father orders.

"I don't pretend to be a military strategist, but what good would taking the army to King's Landing do?"

"It would make her and our new king feel a little safer, that's all. Which is why for the time being we will remain here. I have sent Ser Gregor and his riders raiding along the Trident and am raising a new host in Lannisport to make up for the army we lost at Riverrun. I must keep Renly and the northmen from joining hands or we will be in even greater peril."

"The reports say Robb Stark has declared for Stannis. Will Renly want to fight beside him?"

"Stannis and Renly may end fighting one another, that doesn't mean they won't set aside their differences until they've dealt with us. In any case you can leave the strategies to me, I have something else in mind for you."

"Oh good, so there was an actual reason you called me here?"

"You and fifty guards will set out for King's Landing come the morning."

Both of Tyrion's eyebrows jumped up. If his father had made him a general he would not have been more surprised. "And what am I to do there?"

"Rule. I intend you to be King's Hand in my stead. The situation is too dangerous to allow any more stupidity from Cersei and her fool court."

"You think Cersei or anyone else will take orders from me?"

"Leave Cersei to me. Along with a proclamation naming you Hand I'll give you a letter to give my daughter. I am going to explain the situation to her very clearly."

"Coming from you she might actually listen." Tyrion paused. "Why me though? Why not Uncle Kevan or someone else?"

Tywin's hands clenched. "Because you are my son, and my heir."

Tyrion's jaw fell and he gaped like a fish on a hook. His father had never once acknowledge him as his son, never mind heir. He suspected his father never would have so long as Jaime were alive, even if he kept his white cloak.

"Well? No words of gratitude? I am giving you Casterly Rock. Can you at least pretend to be thankful?"

"I… I thank you father. I truly thank you." It was the first time he'd ever spoken those words to him and meant it.

Tywin gave a slight nod. "Listen to me well Tyrion. Up until now I have tolerated your behavior because you were the family embarrassment. I accepted the disgrace because I knew there was no point trying to redeem you. But all that has changed now, you are my heir and one day you will be Lord of Casterly Rock, assuming we don't all get slaughtered in this war. Everything you do reflects on our family. If you play the fool everyone in the Seven Kingdoms will see our house in that light. Do you understand?"

"Yes father." Having just been given his life's ambition Tyrion found it much easier to be polite.

"No more whoring or gambling or drinking with thieves. A second son might be able to get away with it but not the family heir. From this point on I expect you to behave like a true Lannister. Is that clear?"

"Yes father."

"And if you find it impossible to master your baser instincts at least limit your behavior to places where no one can see you."

"Are you saying I can be a drunken lust filled beast so long as I do it discreetly?"

"I am saying try to avoid bringing any more disgrace on the family name." He picked up his goblet and took a drink. "Now go, I want you to be ready to leave early in the morning."

XXX

When he returned to his tent Shae was awake, waiting for him.

"Is everything all right?"

He strode over to her and gave her a kiss. "Just fine. I mean to bring you to court my sweetling."