Wife of the Wolf, Husband of the Sun

Chapter Nine

Casterly Rock was resplendent in the warm sunlight, every single feature was in plain view and the only word that could be used to describe was it grand. It had existed for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years and the family that lived there now would make sure that it continued to endure.

It was carved out of the same stone of the mountain that it was set in and all over the mountain there were mine shafts that burrowed deep under the skin of the mountain, like worms under rotting flesh scurrying look for more food. There was always noise coming from the shafts, even at the very darkest of night there was always noise. It might drive a lesser man insane.

Tyrion Lannister was many things, but weak he was not. No matter what his father and dear older sister thought of him. His room was in a large tower which overlooked the largest, and most busy, of the mine shafts meaning that all hours of the day he heard the sound of heavy mine machinery and men breaking their backs to get gold out of the mine.

He did have to laugh at his father's sense of humour, he was a twisted little monster as his father so often like to remind him and he had him looked into a tower. He imagined that if he was someone else then he would find it absolutely hilarious.

He wondered what others thought of him, he had very rarely been able to leave Casterly Rock, the farthest he had ever been was the outskirt's of Lannisport and that was only when he was with his brother or one of his uncles, he knew of the stories that were passed around since he had been born and his mother had died giving birth to him.

He had heard it said that according to one story he had a head that was as large as a pumpkin, that his teeth were as long as dagger blades and he couldn't close his mouth because of them, he also heard that he had two black eyes and lions claws and a tail and even one time he was told that a story said he had a pair of scaly black wings.

Almost like a dragon, he wished that he had wings then he could fly as far away as he wanted and there would be no one to tell him what to do and what not to do. Noone would miss him anyway, except maybe for Jamie.

He sighed and looked down at the book he was reading, it told of the rise to power of House Tyrell, it was quite impressive to say the lest. They acted as the trusted and loyal servents and as soon as they had the opportunity they sized it and now they were the ones in control of the Reach, it was like the opposite version of his father's conflict with the Raines except the Tyrell's were smart enough not to take the fight to them.

He shut the book, he wasn't interested really but there was little else he could do but read so most of his time was spent reading so he had to at least pretend to be interested to stop himself from going mad and this was one of the few books he hadn't read yet. Maybe he should go and get one of his favourite's from the library, perhaps the one about Aegon's conquest? That one at least mentioned the dragons more than the book in front of him did.

Just as he was about to get up and leave the room the door opened and Jamie walked in, Jamie was everything that their father had wanted in a son, tall and golden and muscular and charming and so beautiful it hurt to look at him sometimes.

Jamie had always been his champion ever since Tyrion was born, he protected him and loved him when no one else would and had always made time for him, despite the fact it is was the one thing their sister hated about him. He had always loved him for that but at the same time it was impossible for Tyrion not to hate him as well, he was Perfect Jamie and he was Tyrion, the imp.

"Hello little brother." Jamie said with a warm smile as he walked over to where Tyrion was sitting and ruffled his hair and Tyrion ducked his head and smiled. It was such a simple gesture but it meant a great deal to him, very few people even wanted to be near him let alone touch and the few times he was touched it was from boys who were similar in age to him who wanted to punish himfor being different.

"Hello Jamie, how goes your training?" Tyrion asked with a sheepish smile, he would've gone to watch it but his father had forbidden him for some reason. "Have you read the book I told you about?"

"Not yet, I will get to it through I promise." Jamie promised and Tyrion knew he would, Jamie had never lied to him and he would never break a promise. "Anyway, father wants us both to come down to breakfast."

"Father actually wants me? Are you certain it's him? Perhaps a grumpkin snuck past the guards and replaced him in the night as we slept." Tyrion snarked and he don't think he ever felt more proud of himself then when Jamie laughed.

"I am certain that it's him, now, come on. Father will throw us both down a mine shaft if we keep him waiting." Jamie said as he stood up and walked out of the room, Tyrion following after him. "You want to race? I bet you'll beat me."

"You mean that you'll let me run ahead and use the shortcuts so you can let me win so I don't feel as bad, I love you brother but you are a terrible liar." Tyrion thought to himself but he didn't say anything, he didn't say anything however because he knew that his brother meant well and was only trying to help.

"No, I think I would just rather walk down if it's all the same to you brother." Tyrion said and Jamie nodded and then the two brothers began to walk down the steps of the tower, neither of them said anything but they didn't need too. It was a comfortable silence.

Eventually they made it to the small chamber where the Lannister family often broke their fast, it was a small room but it was cozy and there was a large table in the middle of it that took up half of the room. His father was sitting at the head of it, his eyes scanning a letter in his hands quite intently. He looked up when he saw them walk in but his eyes only watched them both for a moment before he went back to reading the letter.

Cersei was sitting at their father's left, looking beautiful as always with her long golden hair and bright green eyes and dressed in a beautiful red dress her eyes light up when she saw Jamie and then darkened when they landed on Tyrion, an expression of disgust darkened her lovely face, like she had seen a revolting beetle or a large slug crawl into the room. She turned her head away very quickly.

Jamie and Tyrion quickly sat down, as soon as they did their father spoke up. "It seems that the Princess Elia has gone north to marry Lord Stark's second son Eddard."

A large smile threatened to split Cersei's face. "Father, truly?" She breathed and despite how impossible it seemed her smile seemed to grow wider at her father's nod. "Good, that foreign whore was no match for Rhaegar and slowly freezing to death with a barbarian for a husband is no less than she deserves."

Tywin glanced at his daughter but said nothing about her language of the Dornish princess. "In a few moons you will go to court Cersei, you will need to adjust to the court as it will be your home for a very long time, perhaps the rest of your life."

"Of course father." Cersei said sweetly, always willing to act the dutiful daughter if it suited her.

"Jamie, you shall go with her and try and find a woman that you think shall be a suitable match. If I find that she is suitable enough for you than I shall contact their family and arrange a match." Tywin ordered.

"Yes father." Jamie said with a sigh, he knew that it was pointless for him to even try and argue with his father and every time he had tried it always ended painfully.

"Good." Tywin said with a nod, clearly pleased at his son and daughter's obedience before he continued. "I shall-

"Father." Tyrion interrupted and for the first time in his life Jamie felt truly scared for his brother's safety, no one in their right mind would dare interrupt Tywin Lannister when he was speaking if they planned on keeping their head but his brother showed no fear. "Might I ask something?"

Tywin's face was unreadable, it was impossible to tell if he was annoyed or furious at the interruption or if even felt anything about at all. He simply stared at his youngest son for a moment before he nodded. "You may." He said clearly.

"May I go to King's Landing father, I've always wanted to see the capital." Tyrion asked hopefully.

Cersei looked alarmed and glanced at her father with a horrified look in her eyes but she needn't have worried as her Father agreed with her. "No, you may not. I will not have you embarrassing either your brother or your sister or the rest of our family. Your existence is enough of a stain on our name as it is and I will not have you making it worse. Do you understand?"

Tyrion closed his eyes and tightened his fists, he willed himself not to cry. He would not give either his father or his sister any satisfaction and simply breathed through his teeth. "Of course father. I understand completely. But what am I to do while Jamie and my sweet sister are gone?"

"I shall find something suitable for you to entertain yourself with, do not worry for that." Tywin said as he glanced away from his youngest child and picked up another letter. "Have you anymore questions?"

"No father, might I be excused?" Tyrion said quietly, at his father's nod he jumped out of his chair and hurried towards the door trying to ignore the feeling of his sister's smug stare burning into his back. How he hated her!

As he left the room he could his father telling Jamie to stay in his seat, that there was still business that they had to discuss and once again Tyrion's heart swelled with love for his brother. Always his champion no matter what, truly the only one deserving of anything good in this wretched house.

He ran all the way back to his room and slammed the door shut, locking it behind him, he went over to his bed and laid down on it as he thought once again how wonderful it would be to have wings. To soar higher and higher and have no one to stop him.

Soon he would be a man grown and he would leave, his father wouldn't be able to keep him here forever and one day he would return with a beautiful wife who loved him for him and lovely children and his father and sister would realise that they had been wrong about him.

Yes. One day.

End of Chapter Nine

So the next two chapters will be other houses reacting to news that Elia had married Ned, specifically House Martell and Targaryen.

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