Author's Note: I like to think about what would change if Sansa went with Sandor after the battle of Blackwater, not just for her, but to the whole storyline. So far in this story, nothing, that's about to change, starting with King's Landing.
Warning: Tyrion and Varys are incredibly fun to write.
Disclaimer: As always, none of the characters featured in this chapter belong to me, they are the intellectual property of George RR Martin.
A Sword with Wings
Interlude one
Lord Varys was an intelligent man.
No, he wasn't an intelligent man, he was a spider, resting on his web. His connecting threads stretched throughout Westeros and beyond, to places many people didn't even know existed. And no matter how far a single thread stretched, it always lead back to the center of the web where he was waiting.
That was how he got so far, by waiting. No matter how long it took, or how far the information had to come from. The Spider always got what he needed.
This came at a cost when information was time sensitive, however, the rushing of songs down his threads got lost on the way, or threads got tangled. It was incredibly frustrating when this happened. Not for the Spider, oh, he could wait and wait, but the Lions, the Wolves, and all the other mighty creatures, no, they could not bear it.
Such was the case with the missing Stark girl.
Sansa had vanished the night of the Blackwater. All eyes had turned to Lord Varys for information that he did not conclusively have. Only rumors. Only whispers.
He stood in his chamber reading a letter from one of his little birds to the north. He read over the letter several times before a knock came to his door, he was expecting company but he loosened his grip on the paper, prepared to toss it into the fire if that knock was not who he was expecting. "Yes, come on in." He greeted.
Much to his relief, Lord Tyrion Lannister opened his door, yes, just who he had been waiting for. He was former hand of the king, removed from his position upon the arrival of his father and recently named master of coin in place of Petyr Baelish. It had been an odd transition for Tyrion, but so far he seemed to be settling into his new position nicely.
The dwarf closed the door fully before turning his attention to the letter Varys carried, "Any good news?" He asked.
Varys only shrugged slightly and dropped the letter into the flames without a care, "Same as ever I'm afraid. Only rumors and contradicting whispers."
"Any particular rumors and whispers?" Tyrion asked as he came in closer, nodding to the burning letter.
Varys picked his allies carefully, almost as carefully as he picked his enemies. Tyrion was an intelligent fellow, and worth far more than even his own family judged him. A good ally worthy of confidence.
"I don't know what you expect to hear my lord," Varys told him, as he invited the dwarf to sit at his table "As I said, it's much of the same news. One of my my spies swears on his life he saw the Hound take Sansa Stark and flee the city the night Stannis attacked our gates."
"So you've told me, but not the council?" Tyrion accepted a glass of wine the master of whispers offered him.
"I can't very well tell the council something I'm not entirely sure is true." Varys explained, "It was dark, the wildfire made it impossible for the lad to see details of the other figure. Just a girl, approximately Sansa's age. I cannot confirm whether or not Sandor Clegane actually ran off with his king's betrothed.
"Former betrothed." Tyrion corrected him around a sip from his cup, "And apparently, Clegane's former king as well."
"Ah, yes, can't forget that." Varys cracked a smile, "What was it, he said? Fuck the knights-"
"Fuck the Kingsguard," Tyrion quoted, "Fuck the city, fuck the king.I might have found it hilarious if I wasn't certain we were going to die that night."
"I can just imagine our dear king's face." Varys commented.
"I still giggle when I see it under my eye lids." Tyrion continued, and took another sip from his wine. "But you told me you'd have your spies look into it, and they've come up with nothing?"
Varys gave a light shrug, "Once again, my lord, nothing substantial. The Hound was reportedly seen off the King's Road just outside Sow's Horn, not long after the battle, accompanied by a girl, also around Sansa's age, but dark of hair and commonly dressed."
"Clothes can be changed." Tyrion said, "And hair can be dyed."
"That is true, but would so little information convince your father to spend men out looking for the King's runaway dog?" Varys suggested.
Tyrion frowned, "Hm, I suppose not." He responded, and though his cup was not yet empty, poured himself more wine. "What about the other rumor, of another companion?"
"Yes, not much development on that either. I've heard several songs about someone joining them just passed Harrenhall, they seemed to be on their way to the twins."
"Where Sansa's mother and brother were supposed to be for the wedding of Edmure Tully." Tyrion noted with a grim look on his face. News of the deaths of Catelyn and Robb Stark had not taken long to reach the Red Keep.
"The little bird who told me of this was brought here in chains if, you recall me telling you." Varys reminded him, "Arrested by Lannister soldiers and evidently rescued by the Hound, a High born lady he was escorting for the crown, and his bastard son."
"The Hound was never given and order to escort anyone out of King's Landing." Tyrion mused, "Ever."
"And not really the fathering type, wouldn't you agree? Considering his own upbringing." Varys replied, taking the first sip of his own wine, "But that is what my little bird heard, and reported."
"And you've hear nothing since…?" Tyrion was a good man, despite his flaws, he did not want to speak of the horrendous treachery that had taken place at the Twins.
"My lord, we have arrived at the place we began," the Master of whispers said, "The only songs I've heard are the same ones I have been hearing for weeks, with only minor changes in notes."
Tyrion looked up suddenly, as if sensing some hidden truth Varys had missed, "What kind of changes?" He asked. When Varys did not answer he sat a little straighter in his seat, "Surely the master of whispers knows that every detail matters, now what kind of changes?"
The fire crackled and popped in the momentary silence before Varys sighed, "I have one whisper that has reached me that the Hound is currently staying at an inn, a day's ride from the twins, from a reliable source. This song claims that the lady is his lover, and that it's their daughter that is traveling with them now."
He watched the logical conclusion that the dwarf had drawn up shatter out of his eyes. Tyrion blinked and made a confused face while he thought over this change in information. Clearly he had been thinking that Sansa had left with the Hound and he'd been taking her to her family, for one reason or another, and they'd merely picked up a straggler from the war on the way.
"Not so easy to discern the truth, is it?" Varys chuckled. "Not when one bird tells you one thing, and a second tells you another."
"I suppose not." Tyrion agreed, "but he has seemed to have stopped for now, right? Your birds can give us more information on it soon."
Varys hesitated to reply, prompting the dwarf to repeat himself, although this time the remark was a question, rather than a statement. "I… I don't know about that Lord Tyrion." Vayrs admitted, "True the Hound seems to have found a place to lie for a while, but other matters have come to my attention."
"Matters more important than finding the only remaining Stark known to be living?" Tyrion raised a brow, "What could be more important than 'the key to the north'? As my Father likes to say."
"Your predecessor, I'm afraid." Varys replied.
"Littlefinger?"
"Lord Petyr Baelish has gone off to wed his lady love, the widow Lysa Arryn." The sarcasm in his voice was not hidden. Everyone with any knowledge of the man knew it was Lady Arryn's sister, the now deceased Catelyn Stark, that Petyr Baelish desired.
"Yes, a great tragedy, I'm sure their both absolutely miserable. Well, Baelish at any rate, to my understanding this is Lysa's dream come true." Tyrion looked over his drink at Varys who only stared back at him, waiting for the dwarf to realize what the problem was. "Is there some travesty I've overlooked?"
"Catelyn Stark is dead."
"Yes, and poor Littlefinger must be so devastated. I'm honestly touched by how much you care about your friends dear Lord Varys, but why does this impede you from your search for SansaStark?"
Varys was a little disappointed that Tyrion couldn't see why this was troubling. "My Lord, you know what a dangerous man Baelish is. And he is no longer in the capital to be kept in check." Tyrion's eyes widened a little, starting to grasp his meaning, "What's worse is that our dear Sansa was growing to be quiet a lovely little lady when last we saw her. Almost as lovely as her mother. No doubt, she will only grow lovelier. And she's missing."
"And if Littlefinger finds her first…"
"I'm sure I don't need to elaborate, but yes, I do fear for the girl's well being if Petyr Baelish gets to her before we do," Varys said, " and she's been through so much already."
"So you need some of your birds to be keeping an eye on Littlefinger then." Tyrion concluded, "And the Hound…?"
"So far that song has been nothing more than twittering in the woods. I can spare a few birds to send after him, but it's very likely a dead end. I need to start looking elsewhere." Varys replied, then decided to change the subject. "Might I ask, your thoughts on King Joffery's new betrothed, my lord? Lady Margery certainly seems more than a match for your nephew."
"Certainly seems to be." Tyrion agreed. "More than a match indeed. My dear sister is very suspicious of the Tyrells, but father keeps insisting they can do no harm."
"What sort of harm does your sister think they can do?" Varys replied, thinking carefully about these new pieces that had appeared in their Game. The Tyrells were a powerful family, with lots of influence.
They'd make for worthy allies as well, in the Game. And just as dangerous enemies. This would have to be played out carefully.
"I'm not a suspicious old crone like my sister," Tyrion replied, "She sees them as some kind of personal threat, like she expects them to stab her in the back. She's always like that mind you. But they are an ambitious lot…"
Ambition was good, the lust for power was always easy to bargain with. A plan started forming in Varys's mind. Unfortunately, most of it would have to wait for certain factors to become available. First and foremost, they needed the Tyrells on their side.
Tyrion seemed to see this in his eyes and finished up his wine and set the cup on the table as he leaned over. "So, what do we do next?"
"I think I may have to arrange a little meeting with the Queen of Thorns." Varys replied, "I might ask you to do the same, but your sister could very well find that a bit bold."
"One of these days Lord Varys, I may start insisting you begin to include me on all of your schemes." Tyrion stood up after that, "And I am becoming quite curious as to who's side you're really on."
"Ned Stark asked me that once, and I will tell you exactly what I told him." Varys answered, "I am on the side that best serves the realm. Some one has to be."
"Ah, and the side that best serves the realm is subject to change frequently, is it not?" Tyrion noted.
"Indeed it is." Varys concluded and bid Tyrion farewell, they probably wouldn't be seeing one another until the next small council meeting, but Varys did intend to keep an eye on the dwarf.
After all it wasn't often a spider caught a lion in his web.