Quick Recap:
Tony is at Castle Black with Jon.
Steve is with Brienne and Jaime at King's Landing.
Nat and Clint are with Arya and the boys making their way through the Riverlands.
Robb and Catelyn are fighting in the war near Harrenhal.
Theon has taken over Winterfell.
Bran, Rickon, Hodor, and Osha are heading north for the Wall.
Bruce, Selvig, Rhodey, Pepper, and Happy remain in New York with the Tesseract.
And Thor remains on Asgard awaiting Loki's trial.
Chapter 20 - The Small Council
"'From this time until the end of time, we are not part of your realm, but a free and independent Kingdom of the North.'" said Cersei reading a raven's scroll from none other than Robb Stark out loud. "He has more spirit than his father, I'll give him that." she snarked. Tyrion watched his sister rip it cleanly in half.
"You've perfected the art of tearing up papers." he noted. "We can give him his father's bones back, at least, as a gesture of good faith.
"You'll give the Starks our reply, cousin?" she said eloquently to another Lannister.
"I will, Your Grace." said the meek man before leaving the small council chamber.
"Safe travels, cousin." said Tyrion kindly. "You have a deft hand with diplomacy." he added for Cersei.
"If that's everything… " his sister said impatiently.
"A raven flew in this morning from Castle Black," said Grand Maester Pycelle. Tyrion turned towards the old man, twitching his fingers anxiously on his left hand.
"Trouble with the wildlings." Varys answered calmly.
"That's why they're called 'wildlings'," said Petyr Baelish across the table from the master of spies.
"Somewhat less wild these days." responded Varys without making eye contact with him. Tyrion quickly took the scroll and read it.
"The Lord Commander asks that we send more men to man the Wall." said the dwarf.
"Perhaps he's forgotten we're fighting a war. We have no men to spare." Cersei said sharply.
"The cold winds are rising and the dead rise with them." Tyrion continued to read.
"The northerners are a superstitious people." said Pycelle.
"According to the Commander, one of these dead men attacked him in his chambers. Mormont doesn't lie." Tyrion said sternly.
"How do you kill a dead man?" asked Varys curiously.
"Apparently you burn him." responded Tyrion.
"One trip to the Wall and you come back believing in grumpkins and snarks." said his sister sarcastically. Tyrion stared at the table recalling the secret message regarding the supposed fallen Stark.
"I don't know what I believe, but here's a fact for you the Night's Watch is the only thing that separates us from what lies beyond the Wall." he said seriously.
"I have every confidence that the brave men of the Night's Watch will protect us all." Cersei said still not taking the note seriously. They stopped bickering when the door to the small council opened, and Brienne of Tarth, and Jaime Lannister stepped through. A bath, fresh clothes, a shave and a haircut might have eliminated the muck from Jaime's face, but the horrors of war still stained him. Cersei and Tyrion's demeanor completely changed once they saw their brother. Tyrion thought his sister might pass out either from elation or horror once they saw his mutilated wrist in a sling. He had not seen his brother in months. He certainly had seen better days. Tyrion was too shocked to react, so Varys stood up respectfully, arms outstretched to receive Brienne's hand.
"My lady, I cannot express how elated we are that you have returned Sir Jaime safely." he said kindly clasping her hand gently.
"Thank you … my Lord, I was just fulfilling my duty," she said uncertain. Cersei sneered at her and Jaime's missing limb.
"Yes, as gallant and capable as you are Lady Brienne, I hear you had help," said Little Finger in an overconfident, grizzly tone. Varys released her hand and returned to the table. All the people at the small council waited for a response.
"Yes … we did," Jaime said awkwardly. A third party entered the room and politely closed the door behind him. Tyrion furrowed his brows. He didn't know what was weirder, his brother's missing hand, or this stranger. His gaze lingered for far too long. He could certainly pass for a Lannister, or a knight. Tyrion feared if his father ever found out, he might replace him as his son, or replace Jaime as Lord Commander. Steve stood before them tall, but awkward, letting his hands rest at his sides. It felt as if he should not be there or rather he was forced to be there. He saw five people at the heavily ornate table; an old man, a smug man, a bald man, a short man, and a very bitter woman. He recognized none of them, but he assumed they had some kind of significance.
"Ah, there he is … " said the smug man standing up from his seat as a welcome gesture, but Steve did not feel welcomed, "I hear you are quite the fighter." The bald man gave him a side eyed glance. Brienne held her breath. The bitter woman clenched her jaw.
"And if you are quite the fighter, then why was my brother not delivered to us in one piece?" she said through her teeth. The smile from the smug man disappeared and he sat back down. The air grew thin.
"We are at war, your Grace … misfortunes are bound to happen," said Jaime finally speaking up for both of them.
"Yes … misfortunes are bound to happen," she repeated in a breathy hiss. Steve noticed Jaime's lack of fear of this woman. He seemed to be the only one, minus the short man and himself. Steve was still surprised by how Jaime addressed her.
"I beg your pardon, your Grace, but who do we have the pleasure of thanking for Lord Jaime's survival?" the old man dared to ask. Steve was not sure if he should speak, when Brienne spoke up for him.
"Steve Rogers of the Reach," she said, which seemed to anger the woman further.
"Really? … And why would a low born help a Lannister?" she asked suspiciously, leaning forward. Steve's eyes narrowed in surprise and disgust.
"Cersei," warned the short man.
"You expect you are getting a reward?" she pushed further.
"And why shouldn't he?" challenged the short man with open arms. Cersei dangerously glared at her younger sibling. "Both of them delivered our brother to us alive. Why shouldn't they get a reward," the short man said playfully defusing the tension in the room. Steve raised both eyebrows and dared to glance at Jaime. The Kingslayer could feel his glare burning a hole in the back of his head. "Give them both accommodations, payment, and a knighthood … at least," said the short man.
"Need I remind Lord Tyrion, that women cannot become knights," said the old man. Steve looked at him cross. Tyrion gave the old man a look of distain which did not go unnoticed by the Captain.
"Well … then give them both accommodations, payment … and safety … that they will not be harmed whilst they stay at King's Landing." said Lord Tyrion. "That seems fair does it not?" he asked his sister. Cersei kept her face expressionless.
"Fair enough … for now," she said finally meeting Jaime's equal gaze.
"Thank you … My Lord … Your Grace," said Brienne bowing. Steve definitely began to reconsider whom he had saved.