Chapter 7

Link was quickly led away from the King's podium by Lannister guards after the cheering of the small folk had died down. They escorted him through the winding, stinking streets of King's Landing and up Aegon's hill to the Red Keep.

As the gates to the Keep opened, Link saw how much quieter the castle was without the King and most of his court, it was almost peaceful. The Lannister guards continued to escort him throughout the castle and into Maegor's holdfast. When they finally arrived at his room, the captain of the guard turned to him and spoke.

"Lord Tywin has commanded you to wash and dress before the melee and joust M'lord. He has then commanded me to escort you back down to the tourney grounds in time for the melee."

Link thanked the tall man with a nod as he entered his room. As he closed the heavy oak door behind him, Link saw a bronze Bath set out before him, filled with steaming hot water, just how he liked it. He quickly changed out of his sweaty clothes and set out a crimson silk tunic, embroidered with the golden lion of house Lannister, with a black cloak, breeches and boots for him to wear after his wash.

As he sank into the bath, Link let out a sigh of contentment, the tired muscles in his back finally releasing the tension that had built up in them throughout the archery contest. As he washed, his mind wandered to his father and what his reaction would be to his defiance. He didn't look that angry. Cersei on the other hand… Link's thoughts trailed off as he sank deeper into the comfort that the bath presented. He stayed in the bath long after the water had gone cold, pondering on memories and friends long lost, he wondered about his Uncle Gerion and what he was doing, what adventures he might find in Old Valyria. He'll be in Old Valyria by now, surely fighting dragons and long dead Valyrian sorcerers. Link thought with a laugh.

A knock on the door interrupted his amusing thoughts on his favourite uncle, and with a jolt Link realised that once again, he was late. He hurriedly got out of the bronze bath and dried himself with a towel whilst throwing on his clothes.

He opened the Oak door to the Captain's scowling face, his golden eyebrows furrowed in annoyance, his thin lips stretched into a frown.

"We are late to the melee M'lord" the man said with his gravelly voice. Link flushed and scratched the back of his head, abashed.

"Sorry Ser, I lost track of the time." Link said with an apologetic smile.

"No need for the apologies milord, and I am no Ser, just Lann from Lannisport." Lann said with a reassuring smile, "We best be on our way if we want to catch the rest of the melee M'lord."

"No need to be proper Lann, just call me Link, my father's the Lord" Link said with a cheeky grin and a laugh as they went through the confusing, but beautiful and luxurious maze that was Maegor's holdfast. As they left Maegor's through the drawbridge and out the Red Keep into the stinking streets of King's Landing, Lann told Link About himself.

"As I said before, I was born in Lannisport, the best place in Westeros. Me mother was the daughter of a candlemaker, so when I was younger I was always helping her and me Grandad run the stall. I never knew me Dad, and me mother would never speak of him, I'm a bastard you see. I signed up to the Lannisport city watch when I wasn't much older than you M'lord."

"Link!" A familiar voice shouted, interrupting Lann. He whipped around to see Triston jogging towards him with a smile on his face.

"Well done on your win Link! I watched it from the stands with my father, he was amazed at your skill." Triston said as he caught up to Link.

"Thanks Triston." Link said with a friendly smile

"I'll talk to you later, Link. I've got to go and help my father prepare for his joust later."

"Tell your father good luck from me, see you at the feast Triston." Link said as he waved.

"Goodbye Link!" Triston shouted as he ran after his father who was no doubt up ahead.

Triston's father was the brother of the current Lord Massey and was a knight of good skill. Triston said that he had taught him all he knew when it came to the arts of war and that he was a good father.

Lann opened his mouth to continue speaking but closed it again with a click sound when he realised that they had arrived once again to the tourney grounds. As they approached his family's box, Lann reverted to his stony silence, his face carved from ice and his green eyes no longer held the light of mischief and happiness they had when he was talking of Lannisport. Even his own men suffer under father's reputation, Link thought darkly.

When they arrived at the box, only his father and Tyrion were in it, Tywin was frowning in distaste at something Tyrion had said, whilst his brother laughed at his own joke, a goblet of wine in hand.

"Ah, dear brother, I must congratulate you on your win earlier. It was simply marvellous to see the expression on our sweet sister's face. A memory that I will be sure to cherish forever. "Tyrion said with a wry smile and amusement dancing in his mismatched eyes.

"You're welcome Tyrion" Link said with a conspiratorial grin. His Father turned his disinterested eyes from the melee that had already begun to Lann.

"You are dismissed Captain" Lann shot Link a small smile before bowing to his father and scurrying off as fast as he could. Tywin finally turned his eyes to Link. "We will talk about your win tonight boy, after the feast. Yes, tonight you will explain to me why you continue to defy me." he said coldly. Tywin then rose from his seat and left the box. Tyrion and Link watched in silence as Lord Tywin sat next to Robert and Cersei in the Royal Box. Listening to her poison and Joff's lies no doubt, Link thought bitterly.

"Don't be so grim, dear brother, father is pleased with you." That was pleased? Link thought in shock and confusion. Seeing Link's bewildered look, Tyrion continued with a kind smile "In his eyes, you have done more for house Lannister by accident in a day than I have in my entire life. Your act of charity has repaired our standing with the smallfolk."

Suddenly everything clicked together in his mind and he let out a gasp as he realised it. "The Sack of King's Landing."

Tyrion smiled and said "Precisely brother. The small folk have hated everything associated with the name Lannister since the Sack-" Rightly so "but your actions today have reversed some of the hate that the small folk hold towards us."

Link tilted his head in confusion as he asked "Why would father care? He is always saying how the opinions of those he deems lesser than himself meant nothing to him. Why would changing the small folk's opinion please him?"

"Because Link, our father is a hypocrite. Everything he has built has been from his reputation. The small folk having more love towards us means that they will be loyal to the name Lannister. That is why father is pleased. Now watch the rest of the melee before you miss it entirely." Tyrion said with a smirk.

The melee lasted for 2 hours with almost 40 people taking part. Every competitor fought with blunted weapons in a small clearing that no doubt held great green luscious grass before the melee took place, but was now only mud and blood. Fearless Thoros of Myr came out on top with his blade of green fire, spooking his competitors so much that he easily swooped in and won every short duel he partook in. Like Link, Thoros was presented the winners purse by King Robert and quickly left afterwards.

The last part of the tourney took part later that day, and he couldn't wait to see his brother Jaime in action for the first time. Someday soon, it will be Epona and I who will be winning all of the tourneys. The master at arms, Ser Benedict Broom, of Casterly Rock called him a prodigy in jousting, marvelling at his ability of controlling his stead. His Uncle Gerion and brother Tyrion had always joked that he was Jaime come again.

Silence gathered around the arena as the herald announced the challengers "Ser Walder Rivers of the Twins faces off against Ser Maldon Massey of Massey's Hook."

Triston's father! Link thought as he immediately leaned forwards in his seat. The two knights suddenly charged at each other, great clouds of dust being kicked up in the air as their horses charged. Triston's father was crouched down low on his horse whilst Ser Walder stood upright. They both hugged the rail as they got closer, until finally a great big crack sound echoed around the arena as Maldon's lance shattered into a million pieces against the Frey knight's shoulder whilst his only slid off of Maldon's shield, Ser Walder only barely managing to stay on his horse.

Triston handed his father a new lance with a grin, but before Link could blink the two knights charged at each other once again. They hugged the rail as they got closer and closer. The knights brought up their lances to aim, but instead of the crack he was expecting to hear it was a wet squish. NOO! Link thought in horror as he saw the cause of the wet sound. The Frey knight's lances had rode up and went through Maldon's throat, killing him instantly. Maldon fell from his horse with a dull thud, blood squirting all over his polished armour.

Triston, Link thought as he ran from the box through the stands, pushing through the throng of people. Horrified screams were sounding all around him as he tried desperately to get to Triston, to his friend. He heard the guards scrambling, shouting through the crowd to try and catch up with him, but he was too quick.

When he finally pushed through the crowd he saw Triston sobbing over his father's body with Massey men trying to pull him away from his father and the silent sisters hovering behind them.

"NO! Please no." Triston shouted, tears streaming down his face, the Massey men finally able to pull Triston away from his father, allowing the silent sisters to tend to Maldon.

Link slowly approached Triston and placed his hand on the taller boy's shoulder before saying. "I'm sorry Triston, I'm so very sorry." Triston only nodded and continued weeping for the father that was forever lost to him.

Link didn't see Jaime joust in the end but he didn't care, his friend had needed him and he would do anything for his friends. Triston would be going back home to Massey's Hook, to bury his father and stay with his Lord uncle, he and his father had only been in King's Landing because of the tourney.

Tyrion told him that Jaime had won the joust and crowned Cersei his Queen of Love and Beauty. Ahh yes, Cersei, the epitome of love and kindness, Link thought sarcastically as he walked through the halls of the Red Keep, on his way to the Great Hall for the feast. He looked up to the main dais where his family were seated with the King and his Hand. The hall was packed with people from all over Westeros. It was a boisterous affair with bards singing lively songs like The Bear and the Maiden Fair and Lords laughing at one joke or another, King Robert laughing most of all.

He sat down in the empty seat next to Tyrion just as the servants brought the food in. Platters of ribs roasted in a crust of garlic and herbs, salads of sweetgrass, spinach and plums, roasted onions that were dipped in gravy were among a few of the dishes that the servants brought.

Tyrion turned to him with a goblet of wine in hand and sympathy written on his face. "How is your friend?" Tyrion asked softly.

"He's grieving. He and his father were close, but Triston's strong, he'll persevere." Link said. His father was a good man who loved his family, mine on the other hand.. Link scowled at himself, No! That's a horrible thing to think, Triston's father is dead. As cold and loveless as my father is, I am lucky to have one, Link thought, berating himself.

He picked a few slices of the honeyed chicken and a portion of the salad for himself with a goblet of iced milk, sweetened with honey to wash it down. As he ate, he glanced at the glutinous Lords that ate in the hall, how they compared to the thin small folk in Flea Bottom. With his appetite gone, Link sat back in his chair and thought of Hyrule and its people, how different they were to Westeros.

He sensed, rather than saw his father's eyes on him. He looked over to see his father rising from his chair and looking expectantly at him, Link rose from his chair too, said his goodbyes to Tyrion and followed after their father just as the dancing started. Like earlier that day, the halls of the Red keep were deserted, except for the occasional guards doing their rounds.

When he finally arrived at his father's temporary solar, Tywin was already seated behind his desk in his chair of lions, the fire roaring beside him. His father was writing a letter and didn't look up at him until he had finished and Link was seated in a chair opposite him.

At last his father spoke, "You took your time." he said imperiously. "You defied me today, I explicitly told you that you were not allowed to participate in the tourney but you have gone against my orders once again."

"Because the punishment in the first place was unjust. Joffrey should have been punished as well!" Link said in outrage.

Tywin acted as if Link didn't even say anything and continued on "I must admit, some good has come of this. Today, you managed to improve the standing of house Lannister, even if it was only with the small folk, and for that you will be rewarded, but if you ever defy me again there will be worse consequences than not being allowed to participate in a tourney." He said, his eyes as hard as flint.

Link only nodded in resignation as a response. Wait did he say reward? Link thought in confusion. Tywin must have seen his look because he then said, "Yes, you are getting a reward. Whilst Tyrion and I go back to Casterly Rock you will stay here and be cupbearer, then squire for King Robert. It is a great honour, I was cupbearer and squire for King Aegon V when I was your age."

I have to stay with Cersei and Joff! Link thought, dumbstruck with horror. "Thank you father, may I be excused?" Link said, as polite as he could, still reeling from his so-called reward. It's not a reward It's a punishment from father disguised as a reward Link realised. Tywin nodded and waved his hand, signalling for him to leave.

As he left the solar and walked through the corridors of the Red keep, he realised that for the first time in his life he wanted to stay in Casterly Rock.

Hello! I know It has been a while and I deeply apologise for that, life has just been getting in the way. Between revising for even more important exams in June, getting covid, ect. It has been hectic but that is no excuse. I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you for reading! Please, if you have time, review it really does help out.