TYRION
KING'S LANDING – GENDRY
Gendry is one of eighteen bastards fathered by King Robert Baratheon, though he himself has no idea who his father is. Gendry's mother died when he was seven. A year afterwards a man showed up and took him to Tobho Mott the best blacksmith in King's Landing if not all of Westeros. The man paid for him to be apprenticed to Mott. Gendry excelled at his work and learned quickly.
One faithful day he got a visit from the Hand of the King Jon Arryn and Lord Stannis Baratheon. They asked him many questions concerning his mother and father. Gendry wondered a lot about their visit. After all nobles don't visit commoners and ask question like that. Then not long after the Hand of the King dies Gendry gets a visit from the new Hand of the King Eddard Stark. He asks some of the same questions Lords Jon and Stannis did.
Three months after the new Hand arrives the king dies. Gendry is hard at work when he gets a visit from a Knight. "Gendry!"
"Yes Master…" He replies walking to the front.
The man dismisses Mott, "I am Ser Alfred Hobbs…I serve House Romyn…I have an offer for you Gendry…"
"What offer?"
"How would you like to Squire for me?"
"Me a Squire…"
"Yes…Squires often become Knights…I see a lot of potential in you…"
"Why are you offering me this?"
"Because of who your father is…"
"And who is that?"
"King Robert Baratheon…You are his bastard…"
Dumbfounded Gendry sits down, "My mother never said anything…"
"Why should she…Listen Gendry I am heading back to West Point do you wish to come?"
"I don't know Master Mott is offering me a partnership in his forge…"
"You may want to come with me…It is not safe for Robert's bastards in King's Lamding…"
"Why?"
He leans in closer to whisper, "Queen Cersei's children were all fathered by her own brother…To keep suspicions down she is rounding up all Robert's bastards in the city to be sent to the wall…"
"But why? None of us can inherit the Iron Throne…"
"You were visited by Lords Arryn, Stannis, and Stark were you not?"
"Yeah so…"
"So someone can use all of you to prove her children are not Robert's…"
Reluctantly Gendry agrees and leaves with the Knight for West Point.
TYRION
"Stupid cunt!" Tyrion says after learning what Cersei did with Robert's bastards. So he removes Janos Slynt from the office of Lord Commander of the City Watch, sends him to the wall, and replaces him with his man Bronn. Despite his last name people often underestimate Tyrion, because he is a Dwarf and he enjoys proving them wrong.
Since being made Hand of the King he has excelled at the position and as a bonus he gets to frustrate and annoy his sister. His defensive plans for the city have even impressed Randyl Tarly. His ownership of Baelish's brothels gives Tyrion access to a wide range of information he can use to his advantage.
PRESENT DAY
Every morning Tyrion leaves the Red Keep to spend time with his favorite whore Ros. Sometimes he breaks his fast at the Keep, other times he breaks his fast with Bronn and the men of the city watch or at a tavern in the city. Then he inspects the defenses and makes sure everything is on schedule for the upcoming battle with Stannis.
Tyrion had learned of his sister's ploy to use Wild Fire against Stannis. He took control of the project and ordered the Pyromancers to stop making the deadly liquid. The arrival of Roose Bolton and his men did not boost moral as no one trusted them. So Tyrion has Roose Bolton prove his loyalty by attacking and capturing Harrenhal. A Raven arrives a few weeks later saying that he had captured the castle.
"My Lord!" A man rides up to him on a horse. The man is an agent for Lady Vastell the Master of Whipsers.
Tyrion is walking back to the Red Keep. "Yes what is it?" Bronn is with Tyrion as usual.
"Lady Vastell sent me you are needed back at the Red Keep immediately."
When he returns Tyrion heads for Vastell's office. When he arrives she is not alone. "Lord Tyrion thank you for coming…"
"Has something happened?"
"In a manner of speaking…This is…"
She points at the man, "Reed Holsten my Lord…I fought with your brother in the Riverlands…"
Tyrion frowns, "Did my brother send you?"
"No my Lord…I was…I was sent by the King in the North…"
"There is no King in the North…Explain yourself…"
"Your father divided his forces…He placed 40,000 men under Ser Jaime's command…We were to march to Riverrun and on the way burn villages and take livestock…We believed the enemy was still encamped at Riverrun…They left their tents up and marched at night…We received word from the Banefort that it was under siege…Anyway Ser Jaime's forces were ambushed…"
"My brother is he dead?" Tyrion asks fearfully.
"No he along with many others…myself included was captured…The Starks, Tullys, and Knights of the Vale named Robb Stark their King…" He pulls out a rolled up scroll, "I was released with this letter to deliver to the King and his advisors…"
"I found out…" Lady Vastell says speaking up, "…and had my people intercept this man and bring him strait to me…"
Tyrion smiles on the inside, his father had not sent word on this and is obviously embarrassed that he was out maneuvered by a green boy. Tyrion opens the letter and reads in silence.
To the Bastard who sits on the Iron Throne and his advisors
I Robb Stark heir of Winterfell…son of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn Stark have been named King in the North by my banners…House Tully…and the Lords of the Vale…I have captured Ser Jaime Lannister the Queen's brother and lover; along with many Lords and Knights who fight for House Lannister…
If you desire peace these are my terms and they are non-negotiable…From this day forth the Kingdom of the North shall extend from Harrenhal to the Wall…From the Vale to the Riverlands…We are an independent and free Kingdom…
A mutual exchange of prisoners…Ser Jaime and his men for my Father Lord Eddard Stark and his men…Comply and I will end hostilities…The traitors Roose Bolton and Lord Corbray will also be surrendered to us…along with all their men…
Continue to hold my father and his men and I will litter the south with Lannister dead
With Regards
Robb Stark
The King in the North
Tyrion folds the letter back up and looks at Reed, "Get yourself some rest and food then report to Lord Rykker.
Vastell waits until he leaves, "I know what happened, but what does the letter say…"
"My brother has been captured by the Stark forces…The Vale…the Riverlords…and the Stark Banners have named Robb Stark King in the North…"
"Dam!"
"Yeah dam…" He looks at Vastell. Even though she is one of the people Eddard Stark was considering for Master of Whispers she has become a valued ally to Tyrion. "Call for a meeting of the small council…" Later they all gather in the council chambers near the throne room. As usual Tommen attends the meeting.
"You may begin uncle…"
"Thank you your Grace…" Tyrion holds up the letter, "Seems my father underestimated Robb Stark…" He explains what happened all the time watching Cersei's reactions. "This is King Robb's demands for peace…"
"How…how can he be King if I am King…" Tommen asks.
"He is a Usurper my son…He is not a real King…"
"He is King if his men call him the King in the North and holds Ser Jaime and many of our men prisoner…" Tyrion replies earning a look from Cersei.
"Mother…you said Grandfather is the greatest battle commander in the world…How can he lose?"
"Sometimes men lose battles Your Grace…" Lord Randyl Tarly says speaking up, "I have lost battles…A lost battle does not mean we lose the war…"
"Are we going to lose the war?"
"No my son…"
"You have good men fighting for you my King…But the capture of Ser Jaime complicates matters and then there is Stannis…"
Cersei holds her hand out, "May I see that?" When Tyrion hands her the letter she tears it up, "We will release his father and his men in exchange for Ser Jaime and our men, but Independence is out of the question…"
Tyrion shakes his head, "We grant the North its independence, but the Riverlands and the Vale remain within the domains of the Iron Throne…" Maester Pycel says.
"You think Robb Stark will agree to that? Or the Lords of the Vale and the Riverlands…No they will want their independence as well…" Tyrion says.
"What do we do uncle?"
He sighs, "If we give Robb Stark what he wants…Our armies will be free to focus on Stannis…"
"Lord Tarly what do you say?" Tommen asks looking at him.
"I say we offer counter terms…Stall for time…Which I think he is doing with these unreasonable requests…"
"I agree!" Cersei says speaking up. Maester Pycell also agrees. Lady Vastell has a different opinion.
"Give him what he wants as Lord Tyrion says, then later after we defeat Stannis…and our other enemies we take back the North by force…"
Just then a man enters and hands Randyl Tarly a letter, "What is it?" Tyrion asks.
He sighs and passes the letter across the table, "The Golden Company has been annihilated…"
Tommen frowns, "A…Ann…"
"Destroyed my King…" Tyrion says looking at Vastell, "Do you know the strength of their military forces yet?"
"I am working on it My Lord Hand…"
After two more hours they dismiss and Tyrion heads down to the dungeons. "Lord Tyrion…" Eddard Stark says.
"Lord Stark…How are you? Any complaints…"
"Only that I wish to go home with my men…"
Tyrion sighs, "You may get your wish…"
"How so…"
"Your son has won his first victory against my father…" as Tyrion explains what happened he can tell Eddard takes great pride in his son's accomplishments, "They have named your son King in the North…"
He smiles, "My son…King in the North…"
"We will send him counter terms for peace, but Lord Randyl believes that he is stalling for time…"
"My son…Commanding men on the battlefield and winning…"
"Well don't be too overjoyed…Stannis will attack the city and soon…He will not be pleased your son has been declared King in the North…" Tyrion leaves to take care some business. A few weeks later he receives word that his father lost another battle against Robb Stark and is retreating to Harrenhal.
Tommen is in the yard training with the sword. He trains three times a day as his Uncle Jaime told him to do. "How is he doing?" Tyrion asks the Master at Arms.
"He is doing well actually…"
"Uncle!"
He bows, "My King…" They walk through the garden with the two members of the King's Guard trailing far behind.
"Uncle is it true?"
"Is what true?"
"What people say about me, Joffrey, and Myrcella?"
"What do they say?" Tyrion asks knowing full well what is said.
"That we are bastards fathered by our own Uncle…"
Tyrion sighs, "What do you believe?"
He hunches his shoulders, "I don't know…Father was never close to any of us…When Uncle Jaime was here...teaching me to fight…It was like having the father I always wanted…"
Tyrion stops and grabs him by the shoulders, "Tommen listen to me…People say all kinds of things…Now if you weren't Robert's son would we be fighting so hard to keep you on the throne?"
"No…I guess not, but if I am Robert's son why is Uncle Stannis trying to take the Throne?"
"He is jealous of your father…Always has been…"
"Lord Tyrion…" Vastell says running up to them. She bows to Tommen, "My King."
"What is it Lady Vastell?"
"Stannis has left Dragonstone…"
"Right…"
Everything had been ready for days now. Everyone knew their jobs and everything is in place to repel the enemy. Bronn is walking beside Tyrion, "Are the ships in place?"
"Yes and well hidden…"
"What about the mud gate?"
"Reinforced! Though if this plan of yours works I do not foresee them making land fall…"
"He can still land his troops near the King's Wood and come at us from the River…" That gives Tyrion another idea. "Find Lord Tarly…"
A few hours later Bronn returns with Lord Randyl Tarly, "You wanted to see me my Lord?"
"Yes…I need you to send some men to the blackwater rush and find as many barges as they can…Then load them with Wild Fire…"
He stares at him, "We are depending on Wild Fire too much…"
"I know, but I want to win and I want to lose as few men as possible…"
"Very well then…"
To sail from Dragonstone to King's Landing will take Stannis five days. On the fifth day his fleet is spotted by men in watch towers who send Ravens to the Capitol. "A group of ships broke off from the main fleet to attack Rosby…" Vastell says reporting to Tyrion and Lord Tarly.
"Shit!" Tyrion says.
"How many?" Randyl asks.
"About thirty thousand strong…"
"I will take all of our Calvary and half the archers to repel them…" Randyl offers Tyrion his hand, "If I do not return please watch over my wife and daughter…"
"Please return Lord Tarly…I have grown quit fond of you…"
"And you have earned my respect…"
Before going to the battlements Tyrion goes to see Lord Stark. As he is heading for the battlements he is joined by Joffrey. "What do you think you are doing?"
"Going to see the battle of course…"
When they reach the battlements overlooking the mud gate and bay Sandor Clegane is there as well. "Well I am off…" Bronn says.
"Bronn!"
"Yeah…"
"Come back my friend…"
"I always do…"
Tyrion takes a spy glass and looks out over the water. The bells are sounding, but soon drums echo across the water. "They are deploying oars…" Lady Vastell says.
"Send the signal to the barges on the river…" Tyrion commands. The men at the Blackwater rush receive the signal and release gallons of Wild Fire into the river.
"Where is our fleet Uncle…" Joffrey asks.
He looks at him then returns his attention to the bay. "Mother!"
Tyrion looks back to see Cersei and Tommen, "Shouldn't you be with the ladies of court…"
"I wanted to see if this plan of yours works…"
Tyrion looks at Tommen, "My King would you like to give the signal?"
"Yes Uncle!"
The signal is given and a great chain rises up out of the water with a net attached to it. The chain stretches from shore to shore blocking off the beach to the mud gate. The ships are traveling to fast to stop and the vanguard ships smash into the chain breaking their halls. Ships behind slam into those ships in the front and the fleet is stalled. A second signal is sent and a ship approaches the fleet from left and right flanks. Arrows are fired and there is a huge green explosion.
The men on the battlements cheer as the heat from the explosion can be felt on the battlements. Over half of Stannis' ships are decimated. "Even I must say that I am impressed…" Joffrey says.
"It's not over yet…" Tyrion replies; that is when Joffrey shoves Tyrion over the side, but Sandor reaches out and grabs him.
"Joffrey!" Cersei screams.
"No!" Tommen screams shoving Joffrey over the battlements.
As he falls Sandor pulls Tyrion up. "JOFFREY!" Cersei screams again.
"Mother I…" Tommen looks at his hands and runs off.
With teary eyes they watch as Cersei walks off, "Cersei!" Tyrion looks at Sandor, "Clegane you had best leave King's Landing now…"
"And go where?"
"Join the Romyns…Go to the wall…You saved my life and I will not see you killed by my emotionally unstable sister…" He walks off, "Wait!" He pauses and looks at Tyrion who hands him a bag of gold, "Take care Clegane…"
"You as well…"
"Captain! Send men to recover Prince Joffrey's body…" Tyrion leaves the battlements and goes to find Tommen.
"His grace does not wish to be disturbed…" Ser Oakheart says.
"Announce me." Tyrion commands. He is allowed into Tommen's room and finds the boy lying on his bed crying. "Tommen…"
He looks up and falls into Tyrion's arms. "I didn't mean to…I…"
"Shush! I know you didn't mean it…"
"When I saw him push you I…I…"
Tyrion hugs him tightly, "Try not to think about it…"
"Do you think mother is mad at me?"
"Of course I am not…You are my son…"
They look and find Cersei standing in the doorway. Tommen leaps off the bed and runs into her arms. They hug and as they do she looks at Tyrion. "Leave me alone with my son…"
Tyrion gets up and stops by Tommen to pat him on the shoulder. He looks at Cersei again without saying a word and leaves. "There you are!" Bronn says walking up to him.
"Come my friend let us find some wine and get drunk…" after getting two bottles of wine and two cups, Tyrion goes to the throne room and sits down. "How do I look?"
Bronn nods, "Not half bad…Maybe you should be King…"
Tyrion takes another drink and then he leaps off the throne, "How old were you when you killed your first man?" Tyrion asks.
Bronn frowns, "Let me see…guess I was ten and four name days old…"
"Who did you kill?"
They enter the council chambers by the throne room and sit down. "Um…I think it was…Oh yes the baker's husband…He caught me with his wife…Vowed to kill me…Sent his wife to the silent sisters…Big tits that one had…What a waste…"
"He had a lot of brothers so I had to leave my village and never looked back…"
"You have brothers? Sisters?"
"Two brothers…two sisters…I'm tha youngest…brother anyway."
Tyrion raises his goblet, "To the youngest…"
The door opens and in walks Ser Lancel Lannister who was knighted at the Queen's bidding, "My Lord Hand…"
"Cousin…come sit and drink with us…"
"I came to report that Lord Tarly has engaged Stannis' men…A miles northeast of the city. He is returning to the city to make a stand…The fire trap on the river worked, but a large force is heading back to their ships to sail to Rosby…"
"Send all troops to the North Gate to defend the wall…"
"My Lord…"
"Not your fault you know…About Joffrey…" Bronn says after Lancel leaves.
Tyrion sighs, "I know…I am just sorry Tommen had to stain his hands with the blood of his own brother…"
"It won't be the last time he sheds blood trust that…"
Tyrion drinks until he passes out. He is awakened by a huge thud on the table. Standing over him is his father Lord Tywin Lannister. "Father!" Tyrion says sitting up and stretching. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to relieve the siege on the city…When I arrived Stannis' men were getting ready to attack the North Gate…I drove them off…We have won…"
"Congratulations…"
"When you sober up come and see me in the Tower of the Hand…"
Tyrion takes a bath and when he walks out to get dressed there is a young man waiting, "Who are you?"
"Podrick Payne my Lord…Everyone calls me Pod…Lord Tywin has made me your squire…"
"Payne…Payne…Are you related Ser Ilyn Payne?"
"A distant cousin My Lord…I put out some clothes for you…"
Pod turns his head while Tyrion get's dressed. "Do you know how to use a sword Pod?"
"No My Lord…"
"I did Squire for Lord Swyft for a short time…"
"Come my father is waiting…" The Tower of the Hand has many steps so Tyrion kept his old residence in the royal wing of the palace. That is why he often holds small council meetings near the throne room. "You wanted to see me father…"
"Your sister told me what happened, but I wanted to hear it from you…"
"What did she say?" He just stares at Tyrion instead of answering. He sighs, "Joffrey pushed me of the battlements, but at the last minute Sandor Clegane caught me and pulled me back up. I heard her scream, then I heard Tommen and that is when he shoved his brother over the side…"
"And you tricked Tommen into naming you Hand of the King…"
"I am a good Hand ask anyone…"
"You will resign."
Now it is Tyrion's turn to stare, "And why would I do that?"
"Because I command it!" He replies raising his voice.
Tyrion shakes his head, "No…I will not resign…If you want it so much then ask Tommen to remove me from office…" Tyrion gets up to leave.
"I haven't dismissed you…"
Tyrion stops by the door, "You have been dismissing me all your life…"A few days later Lady Vastell comes to see Tyrion. "Lady Vastell…"
"Lord Tyrion…I am leaving…Your father has dismissed me…"
He frowns, "Why?"
"Wouldn't say…I came to say goodbye I enjoyed working with you…"
"Will you stay in King's Landing as my guest…I will pay you to keep me informed…"
She nods, "Very well…then…You should know that House Romyn and Martell are getting ready to attack the Reach…"
"What of Stannis?"
"Fleeing back to Dragonstone…"
"Your father is thinking of sending his fleet to Dragonstone to finish Stannis off…"
"That would be suicide…The Place is a fortress…"
"Yes it is…"
Tyrion starts pacing, "Can you get me in contact with the Faceless Men?"
"They won't kill Stannis…He is a King…Technically..."
"No I want someone else Dead…"
She frowns, "Who?"
"Tell me all you know about this Red Woman…"