Tyrion Lannister sauntered into the room, whistling. In a coat of gold or a coat of red a lion still has claws. He waddled up to the table and scrambled into a chair. The dwarf poured himself some wine, raising the glass to his father's seat at the head of the table. And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours.

Tyrion looked into Lord Tywin's green eyes flecked with gold, and drank deeply.

"And who invited you to this meeting?" his father asked coolly.

"Why, father, I had assumed you had need of my quick wit," Tyrion replied swirling the dark liquid. "I hear the news from King's Landing is grave."

"Oh, let him stay, Tywin. The Seven know we have need of advice at a time such as this," his uncle Kevan said with a hint of impatience.

Tyrion waited with baited breath. "Oh, very well," his father snapped. He held out a paper for Tyrion to read. "It came from the capital this morning." Tyrion took the letter, noting the broken Baratheon seal.

Grandfather,

I write to inform you of the recent imprisonment of Queen Cersei Lannister, my mother and Ser Jaime Lannister, my father. His Highness Robert Baratheon First of his Name has discovered proof of their treacherous, incestuous union which produced my brothers and me. They are currently awaiting trial for their actions. Grand Maester Pycelle is accused of aiding and abetting them in their treason. The former squires Lancel and Tyrek Lannister are being held to determine whether they had any knowledge of the conspiracy. Tommen and I are innocent and have agreed to stay in the King's custody for our own safety.

I urge you to not take any rash actions. The King's Justice will come swiftly to traitors to the Crown and I do not wish for you to become one. I urge you again to remain calm in this time of crisis. We are perfectly safe and will be sent to the Faith or the Citadel when the trial has ended.

Your loving granddaughter,

Myrcella Waters

"Well, is that all? I had come hoping for more sensational news than this." Tyrion poured himself another goblet-full of wine. "Though I suppose my plans to visit my sweet sister at court have been canceled."

"This is no time for your japes!" Lord Tywin said, eyes flashing. "We need to decide how to respond to this outrage!"

Tyrion sipped his wine thoughtfully. "Respond? Stannis Baratheon has summed it up for us nicely. These are his words through the hand of my niece. If we take any action against the Iron Throne, we will be crushed."

Kevan Lannister sighed, and turned to face his brother. "Tyrion is right, Tywin. The West cannot hope to survive against all the Seven Kingdoms. If we call our banners the strength of the Crownlands and Stormlands will rise against us. Lords Stark and Arryn will back the King, the Riverlands with them and there is little love for you in Dorne. The Reach will not face the fury of the Baratheons if they have no hope of victory, and the Ironborn will not turn down the chance at plundering our shores. To rebel is to die."

"You talk of rolling over, and letting the stags have their way with us! And when they are done who will respect the Lannister name anymore? Legacy….that's what truly matters! After we're gone, our name is all that's left of us, and I will not be remembered for letting our house be dragged through the mud!"

Lord Tywin stood and paced over to the window overlooking the Sunset Sea. "When my father was lord, we were laughed at. Lords would borrow gold from us and refuse to pay it back. The 'Laughing Lion' they called my father. He would laugh away any offense, and our bannermen would laugh at him, at us, at how weak the lions had become. I put a stop to that, but don't think our bannermen are loyal because of any love for the Lannisters. I showed strength to the Reynes and Tarbecks, but if we appear weak now, they will jump at the chance to regain the power they once had. The Crakehalls, the Braxes, the Marbrands, even the Paynes will be breathing down our necks." He slammed his fist down on the windowsill. "I cannot allow that! I will not allow it! I must do something!"

Tyrion surveyed his father over the top of his wineglass. "You know father, as a dwarf, I have learned many things. From a young age, I learned I was not my brother. I would never ride in tourneys or become a master swordsman. Instead I learned to use what weapons the gods had seen fit to give me." He tapped his head. "My wits. I learned it is often preferable to talk one's way out of a conflict than to fight, especially for me given my poor skill at arms."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that at this moment you are a dwarf, not a knight. If you try to fight you will lose. Badly. However, if you were to try negotiating with the King… well I hear we own a good deal of the Crown's debt. Three million golden dragons was it?"

"Tyrion's idea is a good one, Tywin. Even if it doesn't work out, it will buy us time to prepare for a war. Find allies, hire sellswords."

Lord Tywin stared out at the waves crashing against the cliffs. The setting sun glinted off his whiskers, turning them to fiery gold. "Yes, it would do the trick. But who will go to King's Landing? I am needed at Casterly Rock, and Kevan will be needed to help me in the event of war. And I don't dare send any of my vassals; they cannot know what a precarious situation we are in. No, it must be a Lannister." Tywin turned to Tyrion an eyebrow raised.

Brilliant, my tongue has landed me in the middle of the most dangerous pissing contest in Westeros. Sighing, Tyrion said "I suppose I could go as an emissary to the Baratheons." That tongue of mine gets me in an as much trouble as it gets me out of, Tyrion thought ruefully. One of these days it will be the death of me.

"Hmmm," Tywin Lannister turned back to the window.

Tyrion got up from his seat and made his way awkwardly to the exit. His legs were cramping again. As he shuffled along, he was stopped by his father's voice.

"Is it true?"

Tyrion stood with one foot in the stone passageway. "I beg your pardon?"

"The… accusations in that letter. Are they true?" His words sounded forced, as if they came from him against his will.

He didn't know! Tyrion realized with a start. He almost burst out laughing. He had no idea that those golden twins of his were fucking! He must have been blind and deaf to not see it! "I'm sorry to tell you this father, but you can spend decades building your legacy, but your children can tear it all down in a matter of minutes."