There were times that Tyrion wished he could start drinking again, not that anyone was stopping him. It was his choice and he could begin again whenever he needed to. But he was also aware that whenever he drank it would dull his mind and make him forget, a good thing for him who was at the end of most jests and disapproval. But he needed his wits about him now until all the issues were resolved.
Oh but how tempted he was right now to just have Pod pour him a cup and keep pouring him cups until the night was over.
But he couldn't do that now. He was not afforded that luxury as Lord of Casterly Rock and the unwilling host.
When his uncle had said that all the Lords and Ladies of the West were coming, Tyrion had thought the man was exaggerating. He expected the major houses only, and then too not all of them.
He was wrong.
They all had come.
The Lords and Ladies had poured in from all across the West, dressing in their finest and ready to impress. Each came, conveyed their condolence, and slipped in a remark that rubbed Tyrion the wrong way. Most came with their daughters or granddaughters. Some of these girls were as old as Ned Stark's heir, like the Westerling girl. Some were so young that Tyrion begged the gods that they were brought forward for Tommen. Otherwise, it would mean that words were going around about Tyrion liking children…
But these women were women who would normally not pay Tyrion any attention more than him being a Lannister. They would sneer at the mention of him, throw him fake smiles and false courtesies, just like their mothers had when Tyrion was offered to them as a husband all those years ago. No, they were all here for the coveted seat of the Lady of Casterly Rock. Being his wife was a burden they were ready to bear for it.
"Tell me Pod, what do you make of these people?" Tyrion asked the boy who was pouring him water.
"They are from great Houses, my Lord," Podrick said gently.
"Yes, but what do you think of them?"
"I… don't know my Lord. I'm not sure I know them well enough to have an opinion of them…"
"Perhaps you should go and mingle with the men they brought with them. Find things out for me."
Podrick bowed to Tyrion, placing the jug of water down before walking away.
"That boy will get you nothing feasible," Ledy Genna said, sipping her wine with a huff.
"I don't need him to get me anything like that" Tyrion chuckled. "He needs friends. And squires usually make friends when they mingle with the men at arms."
"You care too much about the smaller details" the woman scoffed, making Tyrion chuckle again.
"Still displeased I chose Podrick over one of your sons?"
"I have no idea what you mean."
She absolutely knew what he meant. It wasn't that hard to figure out that both his aunts wanted Tyrion to take one of their sons as a squire. But Tyrion had Pod, and what he'd seen of the boy was enough for him to want no other squires but him.
"You sons will be Knights one day, and for that, they need to squire for someone who would make use of them more than just pouring someone wine or being lazy company."
Lady Genna shook her head softly.
"It's because they take more after their father isn't it."
Tyrion would not deny it. The Frey prominence already made it hard for Tyrion to treat them as a family all the time.
"If that were the case I'd have taken Lancel as my squire" Tyrion pointed out. "I can assure you, it's for their best. And Ser Cedric is not a bad knight either. Though if you are displeased with him as well, I'd be happy to find a more fitting Knight for them."
"No, Ser Cedric shall do. They are Lannisters. Once they get their knighthood they can resume their Lannister ways."
Tyrion refrained from pointing out that they were Frey.
"My Lord" Tyrion looked away from his aunt to see a man standing before him, bowing slightly. From the colors he wore and the color of his hair, he was a Lannister. Probably from Lannisport. Tyrion hadn't seen him around till now, probably just arrived.
"Cousin Jonah" Lady Genna greeted with a smile. So Tyrion was correct in his assumption. "And this must be little Rosamund. My haven't you grown into a little beauty."
She was Myrcella's age and looked a lot like her as well. Though she had straight hair compared to Myrcella's curls.
"My Lady, My Lord" the young girl curtsied with a smile.
"Have you had anything to eat or drink yet?" Tyrion asked his cousin Jonah.
"I'm afraid not. We have just arrived and have come to greet you immediately" Lord Jonah explained.
And to present his daughter too no doubt.
"And you have" Tyrion smiled, a tad warmer to the young girl. "Now please, replenish yourselves. No doubt we'll have much time to talk after."
Both father and daughter walked away with a bow.
"She's a pretty thing. Will grow up to be a beautiful young woman" Lady Genna commented around her cup of wine.
"It's a Lannister trait I'm afraid. Our women grow into becoming stunning things" Tyrion smirked and his aunt shook her head.
"He was probably presenting his daughter to you."
"For Tommen I'm hoping."
"We both know who they are all here for."
Tyrion did. Mismatched eyes looked over the collected mass, all eating, drinking, and being merry. And this was supposed to be something of a memorial for his father. Goes to show just how much they cared for the man.
Tyrion froze suddenly, something his aunt did not fail to notice. But Tyrion shrugged it off with a shake of his head. There were plenty of black-haired blue-eyed servants around…
He stood suddenly, plucking his cup and gently tapping a spoon against it to grab the attention of the rest.
"I thank you all for coming all this way to pay your respects to my father, my Lords and Ladies" Tyrion declared and a general rumble and nods ran across the great hall. "Most of you knew my father well, so it would be useless of an endeavor to set myself as someone my father approved of" A small bout of laughter was heard but Tyrion did not react to it. "But, I'd like to believe that after finding out about Jaime and Cersei, the of us had bonded some, if not then all the time spent eating together and discussing the future of Casterly Rock together were for nothing. I will not lie and say that I never wanted to be Lord of Casterly Rock, but I always knew my father would not have it. Yet here I stand as Lord of Casterly Rock. Perhaps the gods saw something in me and wished for me to sit here today."
The gods saw much but it was all man's action that got Tyrion here.
"Regardless, I am now Lord of Casterly Rock. But I can assure you, my time as your Warden is short. My father and I spoke at length about the future of Casterly Rock and House Lannister, and we had both decided that Tommen would be named my father's heir. The boy is young, but under my father's tutelage, he would grow into a formidable Lord. Alas, my Father did not live to see that day. But I intend to see that ambition of my father fulfilled."
Tyrion raised a hand and motioned for the boy to follow. Nervously Tommen did so, walking over to his uncle from the seat he occupied at the high table.
"I have named Tommen my heir and have the King's blessing for it. I'm sure many of you have many things to say about this. You may take it up with the King if you so wish to. But I can assure you, nothing will change this decision of mine."
-x-
"Your speech today has rubbed many Lords and Ladies the wrong way."
"I can assure you, uncle, there was no way for us to rub them the right way with this. If father was around, they would have fallen in line."
"But he is not, and we must stand firm and just as fierce for Tommen."
"Aye, we must."
The three sipped their cups of drinks.
"Tommen is a sweet child, as is Myrcella. We must make sure they don't feel so lonely and make some friends. It would go a long way in helping them politically as well."
"I have been looking into it, aunt. Lord Jonah's daughter, she's the same age as Myrcella. Perhaps her as a lady in waiting for her would be a good idea."
"I was thinking the same thing. There are a few more girls here who could possibly fit the role. If not, we can look beyond the West."
"Perhaps a good Frey, sister?"
Genna groaned and Kevan chuckled. The man then turned to Tyrion.
"Ladies in Waiting are important and everything, but have you given further thought to who she should be betrothed to? The King may have naturalized them, but that won't be enough for these men and women to offer their sons for her hand."
"If Myrcella grows to be half as beautiful as her mother, they would be lining up" Genna pointed out.
"They may think she's half as mad as her mother too" Kevan pointed out.
"We are in between a rock and a hard place here. No puns intended" Tyrion smirked. "But I can assure you, uncle, I have a plan. One that would give Myrcella a husband who would care deeply for her and her needs, and brings us closer to the King Cersei and Jaime have slighted."
"Oh?" both uncle and aunt looked at him curiously.
"The King had naturalized not two but three bastards" Tyrion pointed out.
"Ned Stark's bastard? That's who you're planning on marrying Myrcella to?" Genna raised a brow.
"The King and Lord Stark are good friends, brothers in all but blood. And Lord Stark loves his children, all of them. He respects his sons and allows their input in conversation. If we can have him on our side, the King will be on our side. We wouldn't need to worry about Robert changing his mind and coming for us after that."
"And you think Ned Stark would just ask for Myrcella's hand for his son?" Kevan asked. "His dislike for our family is well known."
"Jaime's secret did us a favor with that. He may yet be open-minded about this. So I shall take Myrcella to Winterfell, speak about the Wall and how the West could help in fortifying it."
"The Wall? Why would we be interested in the Wall and what those savages North of it do to it?" Genna asked.
Oh if only they knew about the horrors that waited for them.
"Oh I just need an excuse to go up there and piss off the edge of the world" Tyrion smirked.
They'll know soon enough…
So this feels more like a filler chapter which truth be told it is. I was supposed to add certain parts of this chapter into Tyrion III but couldn't find a proper way to insert it. So this chapter exists.
1. Jonah Lannister doesn't exist, but his daughter Rosamund does. She was a lady in waiting for Myrcella in the books. Thought I'd make that happen here too. Her father's name is unknown, so I named him Jonah