THE TIGER AND THE LION

JAIME

Jaime rides beside his brother happy to free again. On the inside he is feeling many emotions, especially shame at being captured by a boy. A boy who outfought his father at every turn. "You have been quiet ever since we left Ashemark..." Tyrion says.

"Have I? I don't mean to be..."

"Tell your little brother what's bothering you?" Jaime laughs, "What?"

"Usually I am the one you confide in..."

"War changes a man..."

"It most certainly does..."

Tyrion grabs the reigns of Jaime's horse and stops, "Look Jaime...It is not your fault...No one blames you...We all underestimated Robb Stark..."

"Father won't see it that way...All he will see is the son who allowed himself to be captured..."

"So what! Remind father that he allowed himself to be beaten on the battlefield three times..." They laugh, "Do not allow the old man to use it against you...Besides he will need you...Especially if he turns south to fight the Martells and the Romyns..."

Jaime nods, "Speaking of which...Have they advanced on the Capitol?"

"No the bulk of their forces is at High Garden..."

This time Jaime grabs the reigns of Tyrion's horse, "I need you to help me convince father that we should not attack them...I get the feeling the Romyns want us to come to them..."

Tyrion nods, "They probably do...But when has father ever listened to either of us...No he will want to take the field against House Romyn..."

"How is Cersei doing?"

He hesitates, "What…"

He sighs and leads their horses away from the group, "You have always stuck up for me…So answer me truthfully…Do you love Cersei…"

Jaime frowns, "Of course I love her she is my sister…" Tyrion stares at him, he sighs. "You know don't you?"

"I have known since I was twelve name days old…"

"Yes I love her…"

"Have there been any other women?"

"No if there were I would have told you…" Tyrion looks away, "What…what is it?"

"Not my place to say…Besides you will think I am lying to drive a wedge between the two of you…"

"How could you…" Even as the words leave his mouth Jaime realizes, "She would never!" Tyrion starts to rides away, but Jaime grabs the reigns of his horse. "What do you know?"

"She found comfort in the arms of our cousin Lancel Lannister…"

Jaime's anger rises, "I'll kill that little…"

"This is why I didn't want to tell you…You always respond in anger…Promise me you won't do anything rash, like kill our own blood…"

"I can promise that…"

"Think of Aunt Dorna…"

"She likes you not me…"

"Then do as a wedding present to me…"

Jaime looks at him, "Wedding present?"

"I am to marry Margaery Tyrell…"

"Oh…Congrats bro…"

Tyrion places a hand on his shoulder, "Promise me…"

Jaime grits his teeth, "I promise…I won't kill our cousin…"

"Or beat him senseless…"

"Bro you have to leave me something…"

"Promise!"

"Fine I won't kick the crap out of him…"

"Or hire anyone else to do it…"

Jaime looks at Tyrion, "I think I like you better when you are drunk…"

Because of the peace treaty Tyrion's group cannot travel to King's Landing via the River Road. It would take them past Riverrun and then Harrenhal. They would also have to pay a tax so they rode south through the mountains and then turned east down the Golden Road. As they traveled many Martell and Romyn scouts are spotted. Soon they reach King's Landing.

"You don't look worse for rare…" Kevan Lannister says to Jaime.

"You do…You look older…"

"Smart ass…"

"Father!" Both Martyn and Willem scream running up to Kevan Lannister.

Jaime smiles, but then he sees Cesrei and his smile vanishes. "Jaime I am glad you are well…"

Whenever he is angry with her he calls her, "Sister!" Then he walks off after the cold greeting. After a shave and a bath he reports to his father.

"Enjoyed your vacation?"

"Not much of a vacation…For the first two weeks the Young Dog let me sit in my own piss and shit…Then he says that if I behave and try not to escape I would be treated fairly…I started getting baths and hot meals…"

"I need you on the battlefield at my side…"

"Is it wise to face the Martells and Romyns in open battle?"
"And I suppose you are a war master all of a sudden…"

"I learn from mistakes…Perhaps we should invade Dorne instead of doing what they want us to do…"

"Perhaps you don't know, but the blackwater is blocked off by Redwyne, Dornish, and Romyn ships thirteen hundred strong…The Reach is under their control…This city won't last with all these mouths to feed…We need the resources of the Reach…"

"Fine when do we march?"

"Three more days…" Three days later 76,000 troops march out of the city.

JULIAN

Within the time it took Tyrion to travel to Ashemark and make peace, then travel back to King's Landing Julian Romyn and Prince Oberyn have complete control of the Reach. Many of the Lords in the Reach surrendered after many threats. One by one they surrendered, all except Three Towers. Julian sent a force to take the castle. After seven days of bombardment from catapults Lord Constayne yielded the castle.

Julian is alone in the solar writing his wife a letter. There is a knock at the door, "Enter!"

It is his cousin Ceasar, "Tywin Lannister's forces are on the move…"

"Good he can't afford to leave the Reach in our hands…Get the men ready…I will join you when I have finished this…"

"Yes My Lord…"

Julian finishes his letter and has the Maester send it off by Raven, then he dresses in his armor. They wait at High Garden for the Royal army of King Tommen. Word is received from Grassy Vale that Tywin Lannister's forces are marching up the roseroad. Julian divides his Calvary into three groups in the vanguard. Then his infantry and archers are in alternating lines behind the Calvary. A line of infantry then a line of archers. His catapults are on ten foot tall wooden towers. The height will give his catapults longer range. Prince Oberyn is on a horse leading the Infantry with Lord Anders, while Julian and his nephew will lead the Calvary.

"Here they come..." Ceasar says from his horse. "Shall we attack now?"

Julian shakes his head, "No allow them to set their forces in formation..."

They wait as the enemy forces place the heavy Calvary to the right and left flanks. Their Infantry is placed in the center and the archers and catapults to the rear. Julian looks at Oberyn and Anders with an eye signal. They leave their command posts to join him and then all four ride out. Tywin approaches from the opposing army with Jaime, Lords Randyl Tarly, and Vance Cobray.

"Lord Tywin...I am surprised to see out here...Especially after suffering three losses at the hands of the King in the North..."

"The Lannisters always pay their debts...A fact well known by your wife..."

Julian just smiles and looks at Jaime, "And Ser Jaime...You look no worse for ware despite your captivity..."

"No one need die today Romyn...Let us fight our own fight you and I...Winner take all...What do you say the Sword of the West against the Tiger of the West..."

Julian looks at Tywin, "I am up for that...But I don't think your father will let you off your leash..."

"You are tresspassing on these lands...They are under the domain of King Tommen..." Randyl says, "Surrender and bend the knee."

"Tommen is a bastard...The son of Jaime Lannister..."

"I will cut your tongue out for those filthy lies..." Jaime says.

Julian nudges his horse forward, "Tommen is your son Ser Jaime and he is not fit to be King..."

"And who is?" Vance Cobray asks. "Prince Viserys is dead from what I hear..."

"The son of Prince Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark...Aegon Targaryen the Seventh of his name and the rightful heir to the Iron Throne..."

"Rhaegar had no son with the she-wolf and if he did he is a bastard..." Randyl says.

"No...Rhaegar and Lyanna fell in love...He took her as his second wife...She and Princess Elia were friends as well...I raised Aegon as my son Jon Romyn..."

"Where is he?" Jaime asks, "To much of a coward to be here or is he as mad as his grandfather..."

"Aegon has gone North to visit his Kin Aemon Targaryen who serves as a Maester at Castle Black..."

"I have had enough of this!" Tywin says interrupting, "Today you and all your men die..."

"No Lord Tywin...Today you will die by my hand...Your son will follow...along with the rest of your House...This is the beginning of the End for House Lannister..."

"I will look for you on the battlefield..."

Tywin rides off with Lord Tarly and Cobray, meanwhile Jaime lingers for a few minutes before riding back towards his army. Julian, Ceasar, Oberyn, and Anders ride back to their forces. Both sides sound a horn and drums are beaten. The sky is cloudy, the wind is blowing a perfect day for a battle. Julian raises his hand and the three groups of Calvary forces break into a trot and then after a few feet a full gallop. Meanwhile Tywin's forces attack at full force with the Infantry and archers marching forward. Both sides fire a volley of arrows at the other. Men and horses on both sides fall to arrows. Because Julian's catapults are sitting on tall towers they are able to fire longer distances. Troops at the rear of the enemy army are killed.

The two forces collide into one another, lances are broken, men are instantly killed, by sword, tipped lances, axes, spears, and arrows. Julian kills a man with his lance then he draws his sword and with one swing he decapitates the next man. Three more men are killed by Julian, before he is knocked off his horse. A Tarly soldier trots up to him and tries to kill Julian, but he slashes the man's horse across the neck and then buries his sword into his head. Julian snatches the next man off his horse, kills him and starts making his way towards Tywin Lannister. The battlefield is a confusion of men, horses, bloody swords, battle cries, and screams of death.

The rear of the royal forces must regroup because of the range of Julian's catapults. Also his infantry and archers are marching across the battlefield. The foot soldiers insert themselves into the battle aiding the men on horses, while the archers fire into the ranks of the enemy. Slowly the royal army is being pushed back northeast. Julian finally reaches Tywin Lannister on horseback and the two fight. Tywin surprises Julian by leaping off his horse and tackling him off his. As they fall Julian strikes Tywin in the throat so when they hit the ground Julian is able to free his leg still caught in the saddle strap. When he gets to his feet Tywin is still recovering from the strike to his throat. Before Julian can finish off Tywin a Lannister man attacks Julian.

The two fight and Julian kills him with a slash to the throat. By now Tywin has recovered and the two leaders of their Houses start fighting. With a roar Julian breaks Tywin's sword. "FATHER!" Jaime screams from across the battlefield. Julian impales Tywin in the stomach, as he falls to his knees he twists the sword. Then he grabs Tywin by the head as he yanks his sword from his gut.

"I told you old man...I told you that you would die at my hands..."

He swings his sword and decapitates Tywin Lannister. Julian raises the head high and roars a victory. His victory is short lived as Randyl Tarly throws Jaime his sword Heart's Bane. "Ser Jaime!"

Jaime catches the sword out of the air and gallops toward Julian Romyn. Julian drops the head and rolls to the side of Jaime's horse cutting off the front right leg. As Jaime gets to his feet Julian fights and kills two Lannister men. Then he turns to face Jaime, who fights with reckless abandon. Jaime is so focused on Julian Romyn that he fails to notice Prince Oberyn. "Look out!" Vance Cobray says attacking. He runs in between Julian and Jaime to fight Oberyn.

"I'm going to kill you!" Jaime screams renewing his assault on Julian. Julian steps into his guard grabs his sword hand and brings his sword across severing the hand. He is about to finish Jaime Lannister off when he is struck in the right shoulder by an arrow.

Julian's men pull him off the battlefield, "The head! Grab the head!" He yells as they place him on a horse and ride to the rear of the army. As Julian is taken back towards the healing tents the enemy sounds a retreat.

Julian looks at his squire, 'Did you get the head?"

He hold its up, "Yes my Lord..."

"Good dip it in bronze and mount it..."

"Milk of the poppy My Lord?" The Maester asks.

"No!"

"The bone was not hit...The muscle punctured...It may take a few weeks to heal, but you won't lose the arm..."

The tent flap opens and Ceasar walks in, "Shall we pursue them?"

"No...Let them go...Our men need to rest, the wounded must be tended to and the dead honored..."

JAIME

They carry him on a horse as the army retreats back to Bitterbridge. This was the second time Jaime had failed his father Tywin Lannister and now he is dead. All his life Jaime had taken many things for granted. He enjoyed a good fight, but little else in life he gave much attention to accept his sister and brother. His father tried to teach him many things, most of which he ignored or took for granted, but now his father is dead and Jaime had failed to protect him. When they stopped Qyburn tended his wound, by checking for infection, then he closed off the stump.

"How are you?" Lord Randyl asks entering the tent.

"Angry! My father is dead...And I lost my sword hand..."

"And you are now the Lord of Casterly Rock and the head of House Lannister..."

Jaime looks at him, "Why did you call for a retreat?"

"We were losing and I wanted to keep this army in tact...That is why?"

"If we don't defeat them on the battlefield...we may as well bend the knee..."

"Or we retreat back to King's Landing and fight from a place of strength..."

Many hours later Jaime is placed in a private cart so that he can rest. The wounded are placed on carts and the army marches back towards King's Landing. Randyl thought it better not to send word ahead as not to cause a panic. Vance Cobray died from a cut he received from fighting Oberyn Martell. Upon returning to the Red Keep Jaime is taken to his room and has the servants summon his family. "Jaime!" He can tell she wishes to throw herself into his arms, but she refrains herself in front of Tyrion, Tommen, and Myrcella. He on the other hand is still angry at the news that she had been unfaithful with to him with Lancel. "Where is father? Lord Randyl will tell me nothing..."

Jaime tries to keep his composure, but the tears fall down his cheeks, "Father..." He clears his throat, "Father fell in battle...Julian Romyn killed him..."

Cersei gasps, "No...gods no!"

"Grandfather!" Myrcella whispers hugging her mother.

"I'm going to kill them! I will kill them all!" Tommen declares, "All those damned Romyns..."

"Get in line..." Tyrion whispers. He places a hand on Jaime's shoulder, "Did they recover father's body?"

Jaime shakes his head, "Julian Romyn beheaded him...I tried to get to father...I was too late..."

TYRION

Later Tyrion is in his room drinking with Bronn, "The old goat and I never git along...And no matter what I did I could not win his approval..."

"Always the same fathers and sons...Either they are good friends or the worst of enemies...My father and I were good friends..."

Tyrion raises his goblet, "To fathers..."

"To fathers..."

"Lord Randyl Tarly..." Podrick says escorting him into the room.

"Lord Tarly have a drink with us..."

"No...I need you...The Realm needs you..."

He looks at him, "Why?"

"Between you and me...I believe we have a chance to defeat the enemy...If we put our heads together...But we must move quickly...Your sister is trying to make your brother Hand of the King..."

"Right..." It takes him a while, but Tyrion sobers up, not that he was stone drunk. First he tends to his brother and eventually convinces him that life is not over. He has him train to use his left hand with Bronn. Then he convinces Tommen to name him Hand of the King. Tyrion sends a representative to Lord Julian to negotiate the release of his father's body. Next he plans for the wedding of King Tommen to Lady Talla Tarly. The wedding will be a distraction from war and boost the moral of the men