There was no sound coming from inside when Joanna arrived. She knocked once, and then twice before announcing herself and entering.
The room was… in pristine condition.
But her son was not.
His mismatched eyes were red from crying, his hair a mess and his clothes slightly torn. The Imp stared up at his mother from the floor at the foot of the bed.
"Mother" Tyrion greeted, his voice cracking midway.
He was miserable and a part of Joanna broke hearing his tone.
She sat on the bed beside him and neither spoke for a while. Wine appeared in the plenty and Tyrion drank with reckless abandon. But then again, wine did nothing here and all injuries healed. So it was like juice, completely harmless.
"Do you know what father did?" Tyrion asked.
"I do" Joanna answered.
"And you've come to defend him, yes? That this was a lesson! A test to judge my worth! That he's seeing if I was worthy of being heir or some bullshit like that!" Tyrion said scornfully. He was not in the mood to argue with his mother, but if she said something along those lines, he would argue.
But he didn't need to.
Joanna ran her fingers through Tyrion's hair and he tensed.
"I can't defend your father, because what he did was deplorable," Joanna said evenly. "For whatever reason he may have done it-"
"Lannisters don't marry below their stations, and even if I am the scum of the lot, I am still a Lannister" Tyrion spat, as saying it from memory.
"Not good enough," Joanna said coldly. "He destroyed the life of an innocent. There is no defending that."
She pauses, unsure of how to progress with this, until she decides that there is only one possible route.
"Tell me about this girl of yours" she requested.
Tyrion tilted his head back and looked at her.
"I thought you already knew."
"I only know the story. I want to hear from you about the girl you fell so deeply in love with."
Tyrion stared at his mother for a moment before he lowered his head, allowing his mother to once more play with his hair.
"She was… scarcely a year older than I was" he began, "dark-haired, slender, with a face that would break your heart. It certainly broke mine" he choked on a laugh. "Lowborn, half-starved, unwashed… yet lovely."
He inhaled shakily and exhaled just as shakily.
"No doubt father thought she was after the Lannister wealth, after Casterly Rock! But he was wrong! She genuinely loved me. You know what she said? The day we decided to marry? She said she loved me. She said she loved my lips, my voice, the words I said to her, and how gently I treated her. She even loved my face! Look at me! Who can love a face like this?!"
With that Tyrion's hold on his emotions broke. A choked sob left his lips.
"She loved me! She loved me and-"
He had broken down completely, fat tears running down his face as he sobbed and wailed. He felt his mother wrap her arms around him and he buried his face in her chest, stubby hands wrapping around her.
-X-
Viewing Hall
-X-
"How long must we wait for your brother and mother?!" Robert demanded.
Jaime cleared his throat and resisted the urge to glare at the man. It hadn't even been that long! Though there was a chance it would take some time.
"We might as well begin" Jaime shrugged. "Tyrion has learned something that will take him time to process, so we best start without them."
The people in the room seemed to go with it, turning back to the wall and waiting for the vision to begin.
"Will he be alright?"
Jaime turned to see Myrcella looking at him. She tried to hide it, but she was worried.
Jaime sighed. Good, there wasn't anything major wrong between them then.
"Let's hope so" Jaime muttered.
[RIVERLANDS, WOODS, MORNING]
[LADY ARYA STARK lies on the ground, eyes open. She gets up quietly, picks up a large rock and creeps step by step towards THE Hound, who sleeps peacefully.]
"Go on, bash his head in " Aya cheered for herself in silence. So close, she was so close to killing Mycah's killer.
[She raises it over her head to strike. Without moving, he speaks. She freezes. He turns to look at her.]
"I'll give you one try, girl. Kill me and you're free. But if I live, I'll break both your hands. Go on, hit me. Hit me hard."
[RIVERLANDS, EDGE OF WOODS, LATER]
[THE HOUND rides his horse, with ARYA sitting side saddle in front of him.]
"Damnit" Arys clicked her tongue.
"You thought you could kill him?" Robb raised a brow.
"I had a big rock!"
"And twig arms. You could hardly lift the thing, where would the power to smash it down come from?"
Arya only scowled at his brother. She could have done it.
[He takes a bite of an apple and then offers to share with ARYA. She looks but ignores it, so THE HOUND takes another bite.]
"Sulk all you want. The truth is, you're lucky. You don't want to be alone out here, girl. Someone worse than me would find you."
"There's no one worse than you."
"Ha, you never knew my brother. He once killed a man for snoring."
Arya shivered. Surely that was some lie to get on her good side. Who would kill a man for snoring?!
A small part of Arya though tried to remember something the Mountain did that she was not able to recall. It was so long ago…
"There's plenty worse than me. There's men who like to beat little girls, men who like to rape them. I saved your sister from some of them."
"You're lying."
"He's not" Sansa muttered.
Arya knew that. But the future Arya did not.
"Ask her, if you ever see her again. Ask her who came back for her when the mob had her on her back. They would have taken her every which way and left her there with her throat cut open."
Sansa shifted uncomfortably at the information. Something disgusting would have happened to her… and that was before she was killed. She swallowed thickly and pushed the emotions back. It did not happen, she escaped and now… now she was marrying Tyrion Lannister…
[They reach a vista with an expansive river.]
"Is that the Blackwater?"
"The Blackwater? Where do you think I'm taking you?"
"Back to King's Landing to Joffrey and the queen."
"Fuck Joffrey. Fuck the queen. That's the Red Fork. I'm taking you to the Twins."
Arya perked up. How had she forgotten that the Hound would not take her to the Queen and her maniac of a son?! He'd abandoned the bastard!
Maybe her family had forgotten too, which was why they were worried.
Her family had not forgotten.
Unlike her, they were afraid the Hound would sell her off for something as measly as chicken and ale.
"But why?"
"Because your mother and brother will be there and they'll pay me for you."
"Why would they be at the Twins?"
"Those outlaws you love so much never told you? The whole countryside is yapping about it. Your uncle is marrying one of the Frey girls. So quit trying to bash my skull in and we might just make it there in time for the wedding."
"It would be nice to return at a wedding. They'll have good food" Arya muttered with a soft sigh.
[ESSOS, An open tent outside of YUNKAI]
[BARRISTAN stands next to MERO, PRENDAHL, and DAARIO NAHARIS. DAENERYS sits in front of them with MISSANDEI, while GREY WORM stand nearby.]
"Your Grace, allow me to present the captains of the Second Sons- Mero of Braavos"
"Good" Rhaegar muttered. So there was some sense in her. She's hiring a sellsword company. If only she'd have them focus on Westeros now…
"Prendahl na Ghezn, and Daario Naharis."
[MERO steps forward.]
"You are the Mother of Dragons? I swear I fucked you once in a pleasure house in Lys."
"I'm going to hear that a lot from these men aren't I" Daenerys asked dryly.
Oberyn chuckled with an answer. But his chuckle was answer enough for Daenerys, who buried her face in her hands.
"Mind your tongue."
"Why? I didn't mind hers. She licked my ass like she was born to do it."
[MERO sits on the couch next to DAENERYS and waggles his tongue suggestively at DAENERYS. She does not react... DAARIO and PRENDAHL sit nearby. MERO laughs.]
"You, slave girl, bring wine."
"We have no slaves here."
"You'll all be slaves after the battle unless I save you. Take your clothes off and come and sit on Mero's lap and I may give you my Second Sons."
"Drogon has burned one disgusting man. Maybe…"
"Maybe" Daenerys chuckled at Sansa's suggestion.
"Give me your Second Sons and I may not have you gelded. Ser Barristan, how many men fight for the Second Sons?"
"Under two thousand, Your Grace."
"We have more, don't we?"
"Ten thousand Unsullied."
Brandon the Elder snorted. With a deficit like that, these men had the balls to be coming with that confidence.
[MISSANDEI serves wine to MERO, He toasts DAENERYS and drinks. MISSANDEI serves DAARIO and PRENDAHL.]
"I'm only a young girl, new to the ways of war, but perhaps a seasoned captain like yourself can explain to me how you propose to defeat us."
"I hope the old man is better with a sword than he is with a lie. You have eight thousand Unsullied."
"Well, there goes the bluff" Renly clicked his tongue. This man was good with his information… as much as he was good to look at.
"You're very young to be a captain."
"He's not a captain. He's a lieutenant."
"Even if your numbers are right, you must admit the odds don't favour your side."
"The Second Sons have faced worse odds and won."
"The Second Sons have faced worse odds and run."
"Should be their words" Oberyn snorted. He'd heard of Mero and the poor reputation he walked with. This company was shamed for having him as a commander.
"Or you could fight for me."
"We've taken the slavers' gold. We fight for Yunkai."
[MERO motions for more wine. MISSANDEI obliges. MERO sniffs MISSNDEI, who jumps back, startled.]
"Is he a dog- what?" Daenerys sputtered.
"Mero is a colourful person for certain" Oberyn explained. "Not the best, but colourful."
"I would pay you as much and more."
"Our contract is our bond. If we break our bond, no one will hire the Second Sons again."
"Not many do these days" Oberyn mused.
"You seem to know a lot about the Second Sons" Renly stated suspiciously.
"I rode with them a long time ago" Oberyn explained with a smile, much to everyone's shock.
"Why?! You're a Prince of Dorne!" Rhaegar argued.
"And? Doesn't mean I can't serve under a banner ow does it" Oberyn rolled his eyes. "I got bored of it and started my own company."
"And how is that going these days?" Robert questioned. As someone who wanted to leave and join some Sellsword Company, he was intrigued.
"Sunk" Oberyn shrugged, much to Robert's frowning.
"Ride with me and you'll never need another contract. You'll have gold and castles and lordships of your choosing when I take back the Seven Kingdoms."
"You have no ships. You have no siege weapons. You have no cavalry."
Rhaegar held back a groan. His sister should be focussing on building an army! By the time it would be ready, her dragon would be grown.
"A fortnight ago, I had no army. A year ago, I had no dragons. You have two days to decide."
Well… that was a good point. Rhaegar still sighed. All of this was a distraction.
"Show me your cunt. I want to see if it's worth fighting for."
[GREY WORM speaks Valyrian]
"My Queen, shall I slice out his tongue for you?"
"Please do" Daenerys muttered.
[DAENERYS speaks Valyrian]
"These men are our guests."
Damned Guest Rights.
(DAENERYS speaks common.]
"You seem to be enjoying my wine. Perhaps you'd like a flagon to help you ponder."
"Only a flagon? And what are my brothers in arms to drink?"
"Piss for all she cares" Robb muttered. So far, he did not like the Essosi men much.
[DRAGONSTONE, WAR ROOM]
[KING STANNIS BARATHEON stands among his maps. MELISANDRE, GENDRY, and their accompanying soldiers enter.]
"Well, guess this is goodbye" Gendry muttered. He was going to die, there was no questioning it. But at least he knew what to do to avoid this. Get as far from King's Landing and every other city as possible. He'd jump to the Watch and desert if necessary.
[STANNIS walks over to GENDRY and grabs him by the chin to get a better look at his face. GENDRY stares back. GENDRY exits with the soldiers when dismissed.]
"What do you mean to do with him?"
"Isn't it obvious brother? She means to burn him too" Renly rolled his eyes.
"I think I'm well aware of that fact" Stannis ground out.
"Then why ask?" Renly challenged.
"You know what I mean to do with him."
"Then why bathe him and dress him in fine clothes? If it needs to be done, do it. Don't torture the boy."
Stannis gave Renly a look that said, 'Just be patient boy.'
Renly did not like that look.
"If the lamb sees the knife, she panics. Her panic seeps into her meat, darkens it, fouls the flavour."
"So I'm a lamb now?" Gendry asked incredulously.
"Heretics, they never have a right mind," Varys said soothingly.
[DRAGONSTONE, DUNGEON]
[STANNIS enters and DAVOS rises to meet him. They talk across the bars that imprison DAVOS.]
"You're questioning that Red Whore" Robert said approvingly.
"How do you know?" Renly asked.
"He came to Ser Davos. Stannis trusts Ser Davos' counsel more than most. He's doubting it" Robert explained.
Stannis nods. Perhaps his brother was right.
Renly did not look too certain.
"You don't belong in a place like this."
"Well, it's sad to say, but I've seen worse."
"Yeah… I'm sorry about your son. Didn't get the chance to tell you before. Good lad. Loyal lad."
[DAVOS nods]
"Melisandre's returned. Came back with a bastard boy. Robert's bastard boy. She says there's power in king's blood."
"Least you can do is learn my name. I am your sacrificial lamb and all" Gendry grunted.
Robert snorted while Stannis rolled his eyes. There was no doubt that the boy was Robert's.
"She's going to kill him."
"Sacrifice him."
"Forgive me, Your Grace, I'm not a learned man, but is there a difference between kill and sacrifice? The boy is your nephew."
"What of it? We're at war. Why should I spare the son of some tavern slut Robert bedded one drunken night?"
"Because he has your blood in his veins."
"So did Renly."
"Good, you recognize it "Renly mutters.
Stannis did not rise to the jab.
"Renly wronged you. Renly declared himself king when the throne belonged to you. He raised an army, and stole your bannermen."
Renly would have once boasted how those men had chosen him because they liked him better. But the reality was different to him now. He knew they were only there to put someone they could manipulate on the throne. Like the Tyrells had.
"This boy has done you no harm. He's an innocent."
"How many boys live in Westeros? How many girls? How many men? How many women? The darkness will devour them all, she says. The night that never ends. Unless I triumph. I never asked for this. No more than I asked to be king. We do not choose our destiny, but we must do our duty, no? Great or small, we must do our duty. What's one bastard boy against a kingdom?"
"She told you about the Long Night and White Walkers?" Ned Stark gasped, sitting up straighter. "How did she know about it to begin with?!"
"If her god can bring people from the dead, maybe her visions in the flames are not so made up" Catelyn suggested, though she did not look too happy about being the one to make that connection.
Ned relaxed just slightly. He had an explanation, but he did not like it. This woman, with such an important piece of information, chose instead to burn people and not rally them together or have someone rally them for her. Who would she fight with if all were burnt in the end?!
Stannis stared stoically. Was this how she got to him? His unshaken sense of duty? His strongest trait and the one he always prided in used against him… He wasn't sure how he felt about it.
"Your Grace, why did you come to see me today?"
"I came to free you. If you swear never to raise your hand to the Lady Melisandre again."
"I swear it. I can't swear never to speak against her."
Robert snorted. He liked this man. Honest to a fault and not afraid to mince his words. And loyal to boot! Ah, he could do with men like him.
"You have little regard for your own life."
"Quite little, Your Grace. Verging on none. You could have freed me yesterday or tomorrow, but you came to me now before this boy is put to the knife because you knew I'd counsel restraint. You came to hear me say it because you believe it yourself. You're not a man who slaughters innocents for gain or glory."
Robert gave a triumphant look. He was right.
Stannis was relieved that Robert was right.
Renly was still unconvinced.
[KING'S LANDING, THE SEPT OF BAELOR]
[QUEEN CERSEI LANNISTER and LADY MARGAERY TYRELL look on as the sept is prepared for the wedding.]
"You look radiant, Your Grace."
"Radiant? Why radiant?"
"It's the word that came to mind."
[MARGAERY takes CERSEI's arm in hers.]
"We're going to be sisters soon. We should be friends."
"You're 'naivety' won't fool everyone" Olenna whispered to her granddaughter.
"It needs to fool just the right people" Margaery countered with a smile. "Cersei Lannister regrettably is not one of them."
Olenna nods. Good, her granddaughter had not lost her touch.
[They begin to descend into the sept.]
"You're a musical girl, aren't you? I imagine you have a lovely voice."
"A better dancer than a singer, I'm afraid."
"Ah, but you know the song 'The Rains of Castamere'?"
"Everyone bloody knows it" Robert snorted. Those Lannisters love to play and remind people about it.
[They pass SER LORAS TYRELL, and stop a bit further along.]
"Of course. They play it so often here at court."
"So you know the story of House Reyne of Castamere?"
"Not as well as you, I'm sure."
"House Reyne was a powerful family. Very wealthy. The second wealthiest in Westeros. Aren't the Tyrells the second wealthiest family in Westeros now? Of course, ambitious climbers don't want to stop on the second-highest rung. If only you could take that final step, you'd see further than all the rest. You'd be alone with nothing but blue sky above you. So Lord Reyne built a castle as grand as Casterly Rock. He gave his wife diamonds larger than any my mother ever wore. And finally one day, he rebelled against my father."
"hey rebelled against Grandfather" Jaime corrected with a grimace. He remembered the lesson well. "Father took the fight to them, but grandfather was the Lord then."
Myrcella nods. She already knew this, even if her mother would insist else time to time. She loved to tell this tale the most.
[They continue down the great stairs to the main floor.]
"I remember seeing their bodies hanging high above the gates of Casterly Rock. My father let them rot up there all summer. It was a long summer. 'And now the rains weep o'er their halls, and not a soul to hear.'"
[They pause. CERSEI looks MARGAERY in the eye and frees her arm.]
"If you ever call me sister again, I'll have you strangled in your sleep."
"So uncouth" Olenna Tyrell clicked her tongue, but it was nothing playful. Her eyes were harsh and sharp, her gaze promised pain.
Margaery patted her Grandmother's hand soothingly. No need to say that the woman was protective of her family.
[OUTSIDE THE SEPT]
[The great doors open to the Sept of Baelor. SANSA walks through them, alone.]
"My wedding," Sansa said in a hollow tone. It was one thing that he'd be marrying the imp. But she hadn't realised until now that she'd be doing it alone…
[INSIDE THE SEPT]
[TYRION stands on the stage, watching SANSA enter at the other side of the sept. The crowd quiets. SANSA pauses at the top of the steps. KING JOFFREY BARATHEON approaches, smirking.]
"What are you doing?"
"Your father's gone. As the father of the realm, it is my duty to give you away to your husband."
Ned's hand clenched. As if it wasn't enough that the bastard killed him, but that he'd take his place too. Ned wanted to strangle him.
[SANSA takes JOFFREY's arm. The doors close. They descend the stairs and walk through the crowd, SANSA and JOFFREY approach TYRION, passing SER BRONN OF THE BLACKWATER, MARGAERY, LADY OLENNA TYRELL, LORAS, CERSEI, LORD TYWIN LANNISTER, and GRAND MAESTER PYCELLE, and reach TYRION and the HIGH SEPTON. JOFFREY reaches down and takes TYRION's step stool before noisily joining CERSEI and TYWIN. TYRION fumes.]
"You may now cloak the bride and bring her under your protection."
[SANSA turns her back to TYRION. He attempts to cloak SANSA, but he is too short.]
"Well, that's embarrassing."
Tyrion's voice made them all turn. The Imp and his mother had returned and without another word, they reclaimed their seats.
Jaime looked at Tyrion inquiringly, but his brother did not meet his gaze.
The Kingsguard sighed at that.
[JOFFREY snickers and some in the crowd join in. TYWIN quiets their rudeness with a look. SANSA kneels for TYRION. He places the cloak on her shoulders, and she accepts it. She rises.]
"Your Grace, Your Grace, my lords, my ladies, we stand here in the sight of gods and men to witness the union of man and wife. One flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever."
A somberness spread through the Starks particularly the ones from the present, particularly the parents. They should have been there for Sansa. It was a big day and they were not there for her.
Not this time. This time it would be different, the ones from the present all swore.