1st Month of 300 A.C. King's Landing
Tyrion Lannister
Joffrey was dead, the monster was gone, and Tyrion was happy about that, happy that something had at least gone right during his time in the damned city. So many other things had been tried and failed, his wife, well she was not really his wife anymore, he had tried to warn her, had tried to get her away from King's Landing, but she had spoken to someone. And somehow Baelish had come to know of it and they had been wed. That was one of the things he regretted, deeply, truly regretted, leaving Sansa with someone like him, when throughout the course of the war, before the Blackwater and even after it, he had been working hard to get Sansa away. Away from King's Landing, even if it broke Tommen's heart.
He stands now, before the court standing on a podium he looks at the high table, the throne looming ominously behind it, Tommen sat atop it. The king speaks. "Thank you all for coming. We are here today, for what I believe shall be the final day of the trial. We have heard some convincing arguments from both sides. But I would wish to hear some closing arguments and decisions before the final decision is made. Lord Rosby as master of laws if you could present your arguments first."
Rosby is an old man, far older than Pycelle, and Tyrion wonders how he can even stand. "Thank you, Your Grace. After the testimony of three members of the Kingsguard and some sworn testimony from the Queen Dowager herself, there is one final person who I would like to call before the stand." A moment's silence and then. "Lady Sansa's lady in waiting, Shae."
There is a moment's silence as Tyrion feels his heart enter his mouth, Shae looks so breathtakingly beautiful, but she looks at him beseeching him for his forgiveness, Cersei truly has gone to some lengths. Shae sits down and then Rosby speaks once more. "Shae, would you please tell the court how you came to know Tyrion Lannister?
"I met him during the battle of the Green Fork, where he had the sellsword Bronn bring me before him. I was to be his whore, to cook and clean for him and to love him. He made me call him, my giant of Lannister." Shae says, there is laughter at that.
"What else did he make you do?" Rosby asks.
"He made me go and communicate with those who are considered traitors to the crown. He made me speak with those I knew within the enemy camp, and he used me for his own foul purposes." Shae says.
Tyrion feels his anger grow then, but he bites his tongue. "What foul purposes were these?"
"He plotted his nephew's death, he communicated with those who know the darkest of arts and decided on a way to get the necessary tools for the deed. He had me speak with the Grand Maester in order to procure these tools and then he sent me away, he had no more use for me. For he had his wife to help him with the planning and the plotting." Shae responds.
"A lie!" Tyrion bites. "Why are you telling such lies?!"
"You shall remain quiet until spoken to Tyrion." his father says sharply.
"And what role did the Lady Sansa play in these acts?" Rosby asks.
"She was sent to get to know Lady Margaery, to get to know her and assess where her weaknesses were." Shae says, her voice beginning to crack. Tyrion closes his eyes then. "She was sent to charm the Lady Margaery and to ensure that she got as much information from her as she possibly could."
"Why did they require information?" Rosby asks.
The whole throne room is quiet now, awaiting Shae's response. Tyrion keeps his eyes shut tight, this is one part he cannot deny. He swallows and then he hears Shae respond. "Because Tyrion wanted to use that information to harm the Tyrells, he wanted to know as much about them as possible so that when all was done, he could use that information to bring them down."
There is a shocked gasp that runs through the throne room at this, and Tyrion swallows even more, for he knows that that is something he cannot willingly deny. For he has tried to do that, when he saw the Tyrells abandon Sansa so easily, he decided they would suffer. He might not have loved his former wife, but he did care for her, and she did not deserve that. Finally, Lord Rosby speaks. "Thank you, no further questions."
Tyrion opens his eyes then as he sees Rosby hobble off to sit down. There is a long silence after that, and then finally, Lord Tywin speaks. "My King, I believe we should hear what the accused has to say."
His nephew nods. "Of course, Lord Tyrion if you could."
Tyrion takes a deep breath and then laughs. "Well after that little display I am not quite sure what I can say to convince you all that I am innocent." He pauses, laughs once more, then looks at his sister. "Well done Cersei, you have firmly earned the right to become the worst sister in the whole of Westeros. You accuse me of something I have never done. I might have said things, and I might not have liked the brat, but he was my blood, and I was always taught that blood meant more than anything else. Whatever else his failings, he was just a boy, and I do not harm boys."
A murmur and then. "But you just like hurting girls then?" Tyrion looks up and sees Mace Tyrell fuming.
"I tell you Lord Tyrell, I did nothing but help Lady Margaery, I know things that would make your blood curl if you heard them. But you will not, and I will not waste my breath trying to ensure that you hear them." Tyrion responds. He looks up at the king then and says. "Your Grace, if you wish to kill me, then do so. I know it will hurt, but perhaps you might gain some solace from knowing your tormentor is dead."
King Tommen I Baratheon
His uncle's words echo throughout his mind, and he hears the whispers and gasps at the man's words. He looks at his uncle and sees the absolute lack of anything but acceptance there, and anger grows inside of him. How dare his uncle give up so easily? How dare he question Tommen's faith in him? Tommen looks to where his mother is and sees a look of absolute smugness on her face, and his anger grows even more. He has not forgotten her words before, and now he will use them to harm her. "We are not quite done yet uncle. Mother come forward."
His mother comes forward before them then, and she curtseys. "You wish to speak with me Your Grace?"
Tommen smiles. "I do." He stands then, and the whole room stands. "Sit down all of you please." they sit down and he feels something akin to power flow through him at that. Taking a breath he looks at his mother and says. "Tell me mother, why did you accuse uncle Tyrion of murdering Joffrey?"
Murmurs break out at this, but his mother looks at him and calmly replies. "Because he had the most motive to do such a thing."
"And what makes you think that?" Tommen asks.
His mother snorts. "He always talked down to your brother, he always made threats against him. Joffrey told me on more than one occasion that he was afraid of Tyrion, that he knew that the dwarf would be the death of him. It seems he was right."
Tommen's anger grows at this. "And you do not think that Joffrey might well have earned some of that ire from uncle Tyrion? Joffrey was not exactly blameless. He was a mad boy, and a cruel one at that. His treatment of Lady Sansa is proof enough of that."
His mother bristles then. "Your brother was the king, and Sansa was a traitor. Her whole family were traitors. She deserved everything she got. Your brother did what he had to, to ensure our family was safe."
Tommen laughs then, a bitter sound. "Safe? Is that what you call the riots when Cella was leaving for Dorne? Is that what you call the many times when we could not leave the Red Keep because Joffrey's actions at the Great Sept had caused lunacy within the streets? Is that what you call it when he used to do those things to me?" his voice begins to break then. "That was not the action of a king, but the action of a beast."
His mother stiffens. "He was your brother, and he loved you. You needed to be toughened up. A boy cannot rule Westeros, only a man can."
Tommen walks down the steps of the throne toward his mother, anger propelling him forward. "A man? A man or a beast? That is what Joffrey was mother, no amount of denying it could change what he was. He was an animal who deserved what he got. He was my brother, and I loved him, but he died the way he lived."
"You would say that about your own flesh and blood?" His mother snarls. "You are no Lannister."
"You are right mother, I am no Lannister. My father was Robert Baratheon, and I am his son and heir. Mine is the fury. And I will not allow your own prejudices to ruin this trial. Now either take back all you have had others testify to saying or leave." Tommen booms.
The room is alive with whispering now, and Tommen swears he hears someone say. "That's a true Baratheon there." He feels his chest swell with pride at that, but merely looks at his mother. She looks completely stunned, and hurt as well. Tommen feels nothing at this, he merely looks at his mother and waits for her to speak.
"I will not go back on what I said, or what others have said. For it is the truth. Your uncle is a murderer and a monster and he will bring you down to the pits of the seven hells Your Grace. If you cannot see that, then you are a blind fool." his mother says.
Tommen grits his teeth then and after a moment responds. "No mother, it is you who is the fool. You refuse to see the truth even when it is there staring you in the face. You never looked at me before Joffrey died, and now that he is gone, and I wear the crown you do not look at me as a person." He stops then, and looks around the hall. "None of these fools do. The only people who do are either not here or are being tried for something they did not do. I will not have it. The injustice must stop."
"You would allow this monster back?" Tommen hears someone ask.
Turning around he sees that it is Mace Tyrell who has asked the question. "No, Lord Mace. I would allow my uncle back home, I would allow him to walk a free man. We all know these accusations are nonsense. What man would ever want to be caught with the weapon that killed his king, let alone the man who all know hates the king? My uncle is not a fool, and despite my mother's attempts, I will not allow these things to ruin this family."
"A profound statement Your Grace. And one that is much too wise for someone of your years." Prince Oberyn says. "Tell me, where did you come to learn how to speak like that?"
Tommen looks at the prince and says. "I am a prince, and I am a person of the people. That is something my brother never learned. I am the people and they are me. That is the way it has always been. I will not allow petty grudges to stop that."
"What is your decision Your Grace?" his grandfather asks.
Tommen looks at his grandfather, and then at his uncle, he feels his heart hammer in his chest and then he says. "I find Tyrion Lannister, not guilty of the crime of killing his king. He is innocent, and free to go."