"Sometimes, I wonder if I lead a Great House of Westeros or a house for lunatics. You didn't see how Genna confronted me! The way she talked to me! The way she addressed me! As she was my better!"

"Well, you know our sister was always prone to such outbursts. I suppose it comes with being married into House Frey. It can't be easy to deal with them. This last year must have been hell for her."

"Father made that match for her, even though I tried to make him see the futility of it. But he didn't listen. But that doesn't excuse Genna's behavior."

Kevan sighed. Sometimes, even he didn't understand his brother:

"Well, she is still our sister. I heard that she wished to talk to you. Maybe she will apologize."

"I have nothing to speak with her. Tell her I don't care what she wants!"

"Yes, my lord."

Meanwhile, Genna and Emmon were in their room talking while servants unpacked the last of their luggage:

"What are you doing, Sylla? This is a Braavosi golden cup, not a cock to rub it like that! Please, be careful!"

"Sorry, m'lady!"

"My love, let the girl be. She did nothing wrong."

"She did everything wrong, Emm! But of course, you loved it seeing her rubbing that cup that way? Hmm? Maybe you wished she would do the same to you?"

"No, my beautiful flower, I am only yours, as you are only mine!"

"Yes… So, what do you think about this brother of mine? He wishes to go to Valyria!"

"Well… he is a brave man… But many brave men tried to go over there and, you know, nothing has been heard of them ever since."

"Tsk… I never understood why men desire glory so much."

"Umm, it's complicated."

"Of course is complicated for you. You never understand such things. You are such a coward."

"I am not, my dear. For you, I would brave even the Dothraki Sea!"

"Ha! The only thing you ever braved is your back pain."

"For you!"

"Girls, leave us."

"Yes, m'lady!"

After the servants left, Emmon was in a state of bliss. Maybe Genna will reward him for being so romantic. Maybe she will even make love with him.

"Listen, Emm, I want to ask you a favor."

"For you, everything, my love!"

"Kevan told me that Tywin is unwilling to give me an answer to a problem of mine, because of what happened, you know, at the dinner. Now, I want you to go to him and tell him that you want to go hunting for a few days with Tyrion and Gerion, as a farewell for my youngest brother."

"But, little flower, the last time I went hunting I was ten. Me and my half-brother Ryger Rivers went to a forest for deer and I almost died there… And I can't speak with Lord Tywin… You know he hates me! I don't want to end up with my head on a spike! And that argument you had with him wouldn't help my cause either!"

"If there is something Tywin cares about is family. You are the father of his nephews. And besides, will not go hunting, fool. You will help me smuggle Tyrion out of Westeros!"

"What? My love, are you unwell?"

Genna then undressed, revealing her nakedness in front of her husband.

"Do I look unwell to you, Emm?"

"N-No, my love!"

"But what about you? Are you unwell… down there?"

"No! I am more than ready to couple with you!"

"Bah… If you can't handle this little mission I gave you, surely you are unable to handle me. Or the things I've learned from that filthy book I bought in Lannisport."

"What… what book?"

"What can you do in bed with equestrian gear!"

"Equestrian…?"

Genna approached Emm and touched his cock, which was covered by his pants.

"Yes. Wouldn't you want to be my little horse?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Then, be a good baby foal and go speak with Tywin. Tell him you want to take Tyrion with you and Gery to a hunt. But if you reveal the other part of my plan to him, I'll have you gelded and sent to the Wall as a bed warmer for those in the Night's Watch. Imagine, Emm, hundreds of black brothers with hungry cocks just waiting for you!"

"You… wouldn't do that to me, honey!"

"Try me!"

"Fine… I'll go! Right now!"

"That's the spirit."

Emmon left the room in a hurry while Genna put her dress back on her. She hoped that her husband wouldn't mess it up. Of course, she wouldn't geld him as he was the father of his children, and anyone who claims otherwise is a liar. She was only seven when she married him and in the last forty-seven years of marriage her feelings evolved from fear to disgust to a playful distaste. Genna enjoyed teasing and insulting Emmon as he never talked back. However, she cared for him and she enjoyed seeing Emmon happy, especially when he was in the presence of their grandchildren. Unlike many of his siblings, he was quite a reasonable individual, however a bit neurotic.

The nervous and bald headed Emmon knocked on the door of Tywin's solar.

"Come in!"

"Uh, Lord Tywin?"

"Ser Emmon."

"Sorry to disrupt your work but I want to talk to you!"

"Sit."

Emmon Frey nervously sat down on a chair. For the entirety of time he lived at Casterly Rock, he was dead afraid of Tywin Lannister. But now, he was Genna's little foal so that should put a bit of steel in his spine.

"Speak, Ser Emmon, I don't have all day!"

"Umm, since we came back to C-Casterly Rock and…umm… since Gerion will leave for Valyria… I want to go hunting with him in the forest near Lannisport!"

"Hmm… I didn't take you for a hunter, Ser Emmon."

"Well, umm, when I was a child I was a pretty good hunter. I remember the time me and my half-brother…"

"I don't want to hear your stories about what you did as a child. If you want to go with that foolish brother of mine and hunt, hunt."

"Umm…"

"Yes? There is more?"

"I want to take Tyrion with us."

Tywin's face was struck by a grimace that made Emmon sweat.

"To take a dwarf hunting? You need a mascot?"

"No but… He is family and…"

"My family, not yours!"

"Well... I married his aunt so…"

"You married his aunt because my father was a fool and a weakling. And because I can't turn back time to avoid this nefarious incident, you lived here, in my home, sharing the bed with my sister. But that doesn't give you any right to call yourself as being part of MY family!"

"Umm… Actually, I kind of am family, according to the laws of gods and men. And I know that you are a spiritual individual and you'd never… you know, break those rules!"

Emmon thought inside of him, amazed by the courage to face Tywin like this, speaking to him more words in a few minutes than in forty-seven years: Fool, what have you done? He will eat me alive. Gods, if he kills me, I hope he wouldn't torture me. A clean cut, straight to the neck, this is all what I'm asking for.

Tywin approached Emmon.

He's coming. Oh, at least I saw my beautiful tulip in her glorious nakedness after so much time. I'm dying happy!

"Listen, and listen well. If you really want to test my patience, the way your wife did, you are doing a good job. Leave this room and never return here unless I say otherwise. If you want to take that damnable monster with you, take it. Feed him to the boars!"

"Uh… thank you, my lord… We will go tomorrow!"

"I don't care! Just leave!"

Emmon Frey bowed and left the room with such speed that it looked like he was just fifteen not more than sixty, as he was. He arrived in his and his wife's chambers.

"My darling, after facing your brother and after I persuaded him, he let me take Tyrion to the hunt!"

"Finally, you are good for something! Though I doubt you persuaded Tywin. Maybe he was just fed up with you… Nevertheless, your mission was a success and for this, you will receive your reward. A kiss on the cheek!"

Emmon was a bit disappointed that the reward wasn't more substantial but a kiss on the cheek was more than he could have hoped for. Surely beats being gelded and sent to the Wall.

She kissed him and he smiled, being happier than ever.

"Now, for the second part of my plan. During the hunt, you will escort Tyrion to a house near the harbor in Lannisport and you will stay there with him for two days while Gerion and his men hunt. When the Laughing Lion will leave, you will bring Tyrion to the ship, you understand?"

"So… you plan on sending the boy to Valyria?"

"Gods… Emm, we will have to return to the Twins later this year. And imagine his life with Tywin. Tygett is dead, Gerion will leave, we will leave. What would happen with him all alone in this place?"

"Well, he will have Kevan and, you know… Dorna."

"Emm, Kevan and Dorna are just puppets on Tywin's string. They may be nice with the boy but when the moment will be upon them and they will have to face Tywin, they will side with him against Tyrion. Right now, we are the only hope this child has! And you know how mean and egotistical Tywin Lannister can be."

Emmon Frey knows very well. His time at Casterly Rock turned him from a cheerful and optimistic child to a nervous wreck, all because of something that he didn't chose. But Tywin never understood this and continued to bear for his good-brother a hefty amount of hatred. But Emmon had to adapt so he played the role of the sycophant kin hoping that one day, he will be free of this burden.

"Fine. Yes, you are right, as always. I feel pity for the boy too. And if I can help, I will help."

"Good."

"My dove… maybe…"

"What?"

"Maybe one day we will be free of this torment."

She smiled at him:

"One day."

The next morning, before dawn, a group of seven individuals left Casterly Rock. Gerion Lannister, Emmon Frey, Tyrion and four of Gerion's men, who were aware of the plan left for the hunting forest of Lannisport.

"Now, nephew, after we reach the city, we will separate. You and Emmon will remain at the house until we come back to leave for Valyria. Then, as we embark the Laughing Lion, Emmon will bring you aboard in a box."

"A box? Really?"

"Well, at least your height can be put to good use once in a while."

Gerion laughed and Tyrion smiled. Without Tywin in his life, maybe he will have a chance to become a little bit happier.

Early in the morning, Lannisport was quiet, apart from several drunks and some whores. A city built in the shadow of Casterly Rock, Lannisport was a center of trading in the Westerlands and one of the major settlements of Westeros. When he was a child, Tyrion read about Loreon Lannister, the fifth of his name, a former King of the Rock, who liked to wander the city dressed as a whore or Tyrod Lannister, a Warden of the West who killed himself because he was spurned by his Targaryen lover right in the middle of the harbor. A city with a great history, but of course, the cities of Essos made it look like a small fishing village. Braavos, Lys, Myr, Volantis… These were the sights Tyrion's eyes wanted to see. And finally, he would have this opportunity. By the time the sun was up, Emmon and Tyrion arrived at the safehouse.

"So, nephew… Why are you so keen on leaving for Valyria? Aren't you afraid that you will die, or worse in that place? I heard that those with greyscale wander those ruins, waiting for people to infect and turn into Stone Men."

"Everything would be better than a life alongside Tywin Lannister."

"Ugh… I know what are you saying. There was a time in my life when I wanted to be another. Even a commoner. To wake up in the morning, work the field, feed the animals, bed my loving wife, have sons and daughters and, in the end, die while my grandchildren and loved ones mourn me. Some of those I have. Not a loving wife, but sons and grandchildren. It will have to do!"

"Genna loves you, in her own way."

"Maybe. But I am not furious of her. I am furious of my lord father. My older brother Stevron married that Swann girl for love. And I loved another. But when Walder Frey decided to intermingle Frey and Lannister blood, my dreams were gone."

"Who did you love?"

"A Tully. Daughter of Lord Ceylor Tully and Lady Blackwood. Her name was Celia. The first time I saw her, I thought the Maiden herself arrived and smiled at me. I wanted her love more than everything else in my life. But she was then betrothed to Prince Jaehaerys who spurned her, that sister-fucker cunt."

Tyrion never heard Emmon Frey swear. He didn't even know the man had such passion inside his heart.

"Then, my father coerced your lord grandfather Tytos to marry his only daughter to me. A girl of seven. I was fourteen at the time. I obeyed my father and I moved to Casterly Rock. I never thought I would miss the Twins so much."

Tyrion felt pity for the man. After his own mother died, Tyrion didn't know any female figure in his life except for Cersei and his aunt Genna, though only the latter gave him love. And Emmon was not a bad man, either, however he could never display any affection for Tyrion in public, as he feared Tywin's wrath. Now, he felt his aunt's husband much more relaxed and with an even greater desire to talk, to open his heart.

"Tell me, would you like to go with us to Valyria?"

Emmon raised his eyebrow.

"To do what, puke my guts out on sea and then, after reaching Valyria, provided we reach it, of course, die there? Sorry, nephew, but that adventure is not for me. I will return to the Twins, eventually and if father dies, well… Maybe I could become lord, if my little dove keeps her word and helps with the, you know, succession."

"She wants to kill your elder brother and his sons?"

"No! Or, at least… I don't know. Certainly I don't want that! But… if that is the only way and the price I have to pay to return home for good and rule, well, I am willing to pay it. Cursed as a kinslayer I might be, but believe me, it is a far better fate than being treated like a roadside shit by the Lion of Lannister."

He was right. Tywin could make anyone commit murder just to escape him.

"But if she doesn't keep her word and my father dies, I will be content with just being there for my brother to help him. The moment Walder Frey closes his eyes forever a war will start. Brothers will fight brothers just to be named the new Lord of the Crossing."

"Emm… Thank you for doing this for me. I know Aunt Genna convinced you to participate in this plan but really, thank you."

Emmon smiled and ruffled Tyrion's hair.

"Tomorrow will be a difficult day, nephew. I suggest you try to sleep for a bit. It's not like we have much to do in this house beside talk, drink and sleep."

"Drink?"

"Yes, there is a full cellar."

"Why didn't you say that?"

"Well, Gerion told me to keep you sober for, you know, tomorrow!"

"Well, it's still today!"

"That it is!"

"Come one, Emm!"

They descended into the cellar of the house, which was filled to the brim with wine.

"It's like heaven."

"Indeed."

"So, what do you prefer, Arbor or Dornish?"

"Wine."

"Not picky, I like that!"

They opened a bottle of Arbor.

"Let's drink! For the future!"

"For the future, nephew."

After a couple more bottles, Tyrion and Emmon were both drunk.

"Emm… it's…wow, amazing!"

"Agh… Yeah."

"So, up for some more…?

"Nah… let's…"

Emmon fell on the floor of the cellar. Tyrion smiled.

"Heh… I hope I will see you again…"