[KING'S LANDING]
[The camera pans up to the hold of a sword hewn from Valeryan steel. TYWIN draws it and hands it to a blacksmith, who knocks its hilt off with a hammer, and then places the blade into the forge. It melts into molten sludge and is then recast into two swords.]
"How dare he" Ned Stark said furiously, voicing the outrage of The Starks. That was Ice, the sword of House Stark, their ancestral property. What gave Tywin Lannister the right?!
"He coulnd't buy one for years, so now he resorts to stealing" snorted Tyrion. This was theft of course, in the name of seizing loot from war it may be called but Tyrion would call it stealing.
So below the Lord of Casterly Rock.
"What happened to House Targaryen's swords?" Jon asked.
To everyone's surprise, he asked Rhaegar that. Even Rhaegar was surprised.
"Blackfyre was taken beyond the Narrow Seas after the failed Blackfyre Rebellion and Bloodraven took Dark Sister with him to the Wall. Both are lost to us" the man explained.
"A shame to let them go with those" Jon frowned.
"Indeed" Rhaegar nods, hiding his smile. Jon talked to him without trying to rip his head off.
"What was that?" Robb hissed to Jon.
"He's a Targaryen. He'd know better than anyone what happened to his family heirlooms" Jon answered with a shrug.
Robb's heat died down and he nodded. That made sense.
[JAIME holds up a sword, admiring it.]
"You've returned to the capital!" Tyrion cheered, subdued and more for himself and his family than for all to hear.
Joanna smiled in relief.
Jaime did not. He wasn't sure how the others would react to his hand missing.
"No one's made a Valyrian steel sword since the Doom of Valyria."
"There are three living smiths who know how to rework Valyrian steel. The finest of them was in Volantis. Came here to King's Landing at my invitation."
"Where did you get this much Valyrian steel?"
"From someone who no longer had need of it."
Ned growled under his breath. Fucking Lannister. That sword should have gone to his son, not to be used by some butcher, and then reforged into the hands of the Kingslayer, and whatever beast was born into House Lannister after him.
"You've wanted one of these in the family for a long time."
"And now we have two. The original weapon was absurdly large. Plenty of steel for two swords."
"Absurdly" Brandon the Elder snorted in disgust. "Stark men went to war with that sword!"
"That thing? But it's so heavy!" Bran exclaimed in surprise. He never touched the sword, nor tried to lift it. He purely went by its size.
Brandon the Elder grinned.
"Us Starks are plenty strong. And Valyrian Steel is lighter than it looks. It's easy to swing around. I can do it, and so can Father."
Both Brnadons looked at Ned, who snorted.
"Yes, I can as well" he answered. Though not well. He wasn't as tall as his brother or father and more often than not the sword would brush the ground in battle. Ned did not like that much.
[JAIME attempts to sheath the sword into the cover lying on the table, but fails awkwardly.]
Jaime pursed his lips at the state of him, at the state his father was seeing him in.
"You'll have to train your left hand."
"Any decent swordsman knows how to use both hands."
"You do not," Tyrion said pointedly.
"I do not" Jaime sighed.
"You'll never be as good."
"No. But as long as I'm better than everyone else, I suppose it doesn't matter."
"You can't serve in the Kingsguard with one hand."
"Naturally" Margaery nodded. "He'd be a liability."
"Where's that written? I can and I will. The Kingsguard oath is for life."
"Your insistence on clinging to the White Cloak is tiring sometimes" Tyrion muttered. "You're being given an out, to be away from the cesspool that is King's Landing. Just take it and leave."
It wasn't so easy, Jaime Lannister knew. What would he have without the cloak? Lord of Castery Rock? He'd be compared to his father. The matter of running a Kingdom was not his cup of tea, and he would never take responsibility like that willingly.
"The war is over. The king is safe."
"The king is never safe. How many people in this city alone would love to see his head on a pike?"
"Far more than those that want to see him happy I'm guessing" Jaime answered his future self's question.
"Not likely, considering Margaery Tyrell's attempts to connect to the smallfolk" Joanna pointed out. "Joffrey might be liked by association."
"I had forgotten about that" Jaime mumbled.
"Other knights protected the king while you were a prisoner. They will continue to do so when you go home. You'll return to Casterly Rock and rule in my stead."
"You are the Lord of Casterly Rock."
"I am the King's Hand. My place is here. I don't expect to see the Rock again before I die."
"You know what they call me? Kingslayer. Oathbreaker. A man without honour. Now you want me to break another sacred vow."
"I think your honour was salvaged some with that revelation," Tyrion said with a smirk.
Jaime snorted.
"Those who hate us will find ways to still hate us no matter what."
He said this while glaring at Ned Stark's back. If he's learned anything from being here, it's that Ned Stark would find some way to justify himself or his family and friends.
Jaime Lannister was not going to have it.
He may even speak to the man about the gall of asking for Myrcella as a Ward. Who did he think he was?
"If you think your bloody honour comes before..."
"My bloody honour is beyond repair, but my answer is still no. I don't want Casterly Rock. I don't want a wife. I don't want children."
"That might be the first time you've stood up to the man, brother," Tyrion said with a smile.
"We all have our limits, don't we?" Jaime smiled back.
"For 40 years I've tried to teach you. If you haven't learned by now, you never will. Go. If serving as a glorified bodyguard is the sum of your ambition, go serve."
"I suppose you want the sword back."
"Keep it. A one-handed man with no family needs all the help he can get."
"Worry not brother, you will always have me by your side," Tyrion said with a grin.
"Oh, the horror" Jaime gasped, snorting when Tyrion playfully punched him.
[KINGS LANDING, BROTHEL INTERIOR]
[TYRION and BRONN enter swiftly to find OBERYN, his paramour ELLARIA SAND and a few Lannister men.]
"Oh look, I'm here," Oberyn said with false cheer.
"Probably sent to attend the wedding in my stead" Doran explained.
"I could have been invited."
"After what you said and were going to do when news of Elia's murder came to us?"
Oberyn snorted, waving his brother off. But the man wasn't wrong.
[OBERYN flicks his dagger free from the table, and one of the Lannister men's hand. The man lets out a cry of anguish and then he and his friend move away quickly. ELLARIA moves to OBERYN, and caresses him.]
"Apologies, my love."
"Is that your wife?" Daenerys questioned. "She's very pretty."
"Paramour" Oberyn corrected with a smile. "I have no wives and do not plan to take any either. And yes, she is very pretty."
[OBERYN and ELLARIA kiss passionately. TYRION and BRONN exchange a puzzled look.]
"I'm here to welcome you to the capital."
"I think they've already managed that," Renly said with a chuckle.
"Ellaria Sand, my paramour. The king's own Uncle Imp. Tyrion, son of Tywin Lannister."
"If there's anything I can do to make your stay..."
[OBERYN looked away from TYRION to BRONN]
"What are you? His hired killer?"
"Yeah, he hates us" Tyrion sighed. He wasn't surprised, just tired of it. Too many haters.
"It started that way, aye. Now I'm a knight."
"How did that come to pass?"
"Killed the right people, I suppose."
[OBERYN laughs. BRONN joins him.]
"We'll need a few more girls. Girls, yes?"
[Comically, BRONN nods while TYRION shakes his head.]
"He likes Bronn better," Jaime said teasingly.
"His lack of golden hair and green eyes earned him points," Tyrion said blandly.
"Prince Oberyn, if I may, a word in private?"
[Outside of the brothel.]
[The door opens and TYRION and OBERYN emerge.]
"Seems I visited the Lannister brothel by mistake."
"Oh, they take all kinds."
"Hard not to when they're fucking everywhere" Robert grunted in displeasure. Another thing he needed to change, was his entire fucking court.
"The king is very grateful that you travelled all this way for his wedding."
"Let us speak the truth here. Joffrey is insulted. I am only the second son after all."
"Knowing him… yes" Myrcella muttered. Her brother was… petty like that, for lack of a better word.
"Well, speaking as a fellow second son, I have grown rather used to being the family insult. Why did you come to King's Landing, Prince Oberyn?"
"I was invited to the royal wedding."
"I thought we were speaking the truth."
"The last time I was in the capital was many years ago. Another wedding. My sister Elia and Rhaegar Targaryen, the Last Dragon."
Rhaegar shifted in discomfort.
"My sister loved him. She bore his children. Swaddled them, rocked them, fed them at her own breast. Elia wouldn't let the wet nurse touch them. And beautiful, noble Rhaegar Targaryen left her for another woman."
Lyanna flinched at those words.
"That started a war and the war ended right here when your father's army took the city..."
"I wasn't actually present."
"Does not matter," Oberyn said curtly, adding nothing towards an explanation.
"And butchered those children. My nephew and niece. Carved them up and wrapped them in Lannister cloaks."
Rhaegar's hands fisted in anger. But it was not only anger but guilt as well. Rhaenys… his little Princess would always come to him on the nights when she couldn't sleep, or come to him if she was scared of something.
He was her biggest protector. And he was the reason she was so brutally murdered.
There was no way around this, she died, because of his foolishness. Both his children and Elia died because of his foolishness.
"And my sister, you know what they did to her?"
[TYRION's gaze is cast downward, so OBERYN takes his chin and meets his eyes.]
"I'm asking you a question."
"I've heard rumours."
"So have I. The one I keep hearing is that Gregor Clegane the Mountain raped Elia and split her in half with his great sword."
Oberyn gently hit his thigh with his fist. Rumours… they were not rumours. Those Lannister dogs were proud to detail the events. He knew that was exactly what happened.
"If the Mountain killed my sister, your father gave the order. Tell your father I'm here. And tell him the Lannisters aren't the only ones who pay their debts."
"And they say the North Remembers" Tyrion tried to joke, but he was worried nonetheless. Both he and his future self had their hand full with their respective versions of Oberyn Martell.
He was lucky the one with him did not do something yet.
[ESSOS]
[DAENERYS sits with DROGON nuzzling her, while VISERION and RHAEGAL fly in the distance. DAENERYS chuckles and strokes DROGON, soothing him. JORAH walks up. VISERION and RHAEGAL tussle in mid-air over a carcass, which lands before the rock where DAENERYS sits. The two dragons follow, fighting to claim the meat. DROGON rises to his haunches and roars. The other dragons submit and DROGON moves to take the carcass. JORAH comes closer.]
"They're dragons, Khaleesi. They can never be tamed. Not even by their mother."
"Dragons are not slaves or servants for anyone to tame" Rhaegar said heatedly, both from Jorah Mormonts words and the feelings from hearing about his children's fate. "They are beasts of magic, fire-made flesh, they have minds of their own. You bond with them like a familiar, not a pet."
"What's a familiar?" Daenerys asked her brother, keeping her tone even and not hostile. Not too long ago the ma was screaming at her and calling her things.
"Familiars are friends, but the kind that are closest to you. They know you, know your secrets and are your biggest supporters. Dragonbonding is the same pincipal. Once a dragon has chosen you, you must be their friend, their confidant, their biggest ally. They are proud creatures, so if they accept you and take you on their backs, you have earned their respect and have done right by them and they will do anything you wish them to do."
Daenerys nodded with a modicum of awe. She had not known this, Viserys had never taught her this.
[King's Landing]
[QYBURN places a sleeve over the stump of JAIME's wrist. He then grabs a golden hand and pushes it onto Jaime's stump, twisting it into place]
"They already said Lannisters shit gold. What are they going to say when you walk around with that atrocity?" Tyrion barked a laugh.
"Jaime Goldenhand sounds better than Jaime Kingslayer" Jaime chuckled, making his brother snort.
"A work of art, really. The craftsmanship is excellent."
"You like it so much, you're welcome to chop off your own hand and take it."
"Such an ingrate. I spent days with the goldsmith - getting the details just right."
"Of course, it would be her" Jaime rolled his eyes. Only Cersei would think of something as preposterous as this.
"Days?"
"The better part of an afternoon. There, how does that feel?"
"Probably is the same for her since she isn't doing anything for herself" Arya mumbled.
"Probably is for herself more than for Jaime" Sansa added. "Just so she can hold up some image of perfection."
Arya rolled her eyes. That was probably it.
[QYBURN squeezes the hand firmly into place, and JAIME winces. QYBURN starts to depart but CERSEI intercepts him.]
"Thank you for your help with the other matter."
"The symptoms have abated?"
"Gone completely. I am in your debt, Maester Qyburn."
Jaime's face fell and he grew serious. He had an idea about what she was talking about…
[QYBURN turns to JAIME, who waves his fake hand meekly. QYBURN gives CERSEI one last look and exits.]
"I've grown rather fond of him. He's quite talented, you know?"
"What symptoms?"
"Symptoms that are not your concern."
"You let him touch you? You never let Pycelle near you."
"You think I'd let that old lecher put his hands on me? He smells like a dead cat."
"I agree. I wouldn't let him touch me either" Renly nodded. Less about the smell and more about the man himself. A rat.
"You drink more than you used to. Why?"
"Let's see, you started a brawl in the streets with Ned Stark and disappeared from the capital. My husband died in a tragic hunting accident."
"Accident" Robert snorted. That bitch had her bitch cousin feed him wine until he was too drunk to point a fucking spear!
"My only daughter was shipped off to Dorne."
Myrcella frowned. How was she doing now? Prince Oberyn was in the Capital yet she was not. Did they not want her there to attend her brother's wedding? Who's idea was it? Her grandfather's? He seemed to be the one in charge now so probably.
Why didn't they want her there?
"We suffered through a siege."
"A rather short siege."
"A rather short siege that I didn't expect to survive. And now I'm marrying my eldest son to a wicked little bitch from Highgarden,"
Margaerys snorted. She had done nothing to seem that way. She was not denying that she couldn't be wicked, but she has yet to see her be wicked at all.
"While I'm supposed to marry her brother, a renowned pillow-biter. So..."
"Father disowned me today."
"He can't disown you. You're all he's got."
"You're forgetting Tyrion."
"More likely she's omitting me entirely than forgetting me" Tyrin muttered.
"You don't really plan on staying in the Kingsguard, do you?"
"Staying in the Kingsguard means I live right here in the Red Keep with you."
[He moves to kiss her.]
"Not now."
Jaime's eyes narrowed coldly. She he was right, she was fucking some other Lannister.
"Not now? When? I've been back for weeks."
[CERSEI does not answer.]
"Something's changed."
"Everything's changed. You come back after all this time with no apologies and one hand and expect everything to be the same?"
"What does she want me to apologise for?!" the Kingslayer snapped, furious and disbelieving.
"She thinks you abandoned her" Tyrion snorted. "Only goes to show how self-centred our sister is.
"Well she can shover her self-centred attitude up her fucking ass" Jaime snarled.
Disregarding the language, Myrcella had to agree with her father. What was wrong with her mother to demand an apology like this?!
"What do you want me to apologize for?"
"For leaving me."
"You think I wanted to be taken prisoner?"
"Don't know what you wanted. You weren't here. You left me alone."
"Because your fucking waste of air son started a fucking war" Jaime snapped.
"Easy" Joanna put a hand on Jaim's shoulder. "Losing your temper now will get you nothing. She can't hear you.
Cersei should have been here just so he could scream at her now, Jaime thought.
"Every day I was a prisoner, I plotted my escape. Every day. I murdered people so I could be here with you."
"You took too long."
"That bitch" Jaime fumed, running his hand through his hair in frustration. Whatever he felt for her was dying very fast the more he saw of her, especially how much he was replaceable to her.