A Song of The Stars
TalesofNine
Tyrion
Tyrion was enjoying a late morning by himself breaking his fast on a fine meal of fresh bread, cheese, sausage, and a warm porridge of barley. After successfully establishing himself as Hand of the King with the orders of his father and putting the few people he trusted in King's Landing where he needed them Tyrion had allowed himself to spend a night with Shae enjoying the comforts of her embrace. He returned early in the morning before the sun had risen half drunk and much too tired for anything before, he slipped into bed and passed out however this morning he felt rather refreshed despite his previous night.
Podrick Payne, his young squire nervously entered the room bowing silently. Tyrion gave him a warm smile reflecting his good mood as he slid his leftovers in his direction.
"A fine meal today, Pod," he said. "Care to join me? I don't bite."
"Oh, I'm sorry my lord but I came to bring a message," Podrick said apologetically. "Ser Arys Oakheart has brought word that the Queen requests your presence."
"The Queen?" Tyrion said. "And what business would she have for me this fine morning?"
Cersei usually avoided him on a good day which meant she was either angry with him for reasons he did not know, or something was concerning her, neither of which were very good scenarios.
"I'll head to her chambers after I finish," Tyrion murmured with a sigh. "Might as well enjoy my good morning while it lasts."
"My Lord she is in the Throne Room with the King and the Council."
There was a loud clatter as Tyrion dropped a plate and silverware to the floor his mouth temporarily agape.
"You might have started with that Pod," he said half joking half angry. "I should be going now I believe. Prepare to fetch me a nice cloak, will you? I'll dress quickly."
"Yes, my lord!"
Tyrion hurriedly made himself presentable in fine ruby-colored boots, black trousers, and a red and gold doublet with two lions on each side facing each other. Podrick carefully placed a brown and grey seal fur cloak over his shoulders which was comfortably warm as Tyrion began hobbling out of his chambers. Ser Arys inclined his head and began walking silently in escort no doubt ordered by Cersei to see Tyrion did not wander off. He searched his mind wondering what she could have possibly wanted, especially where it concerned Joffrey and the Council. He had made no major moves yet simply removed Janos Slynt but that would not be enough to cause such a confrontation.
As they approached the throne room Ser Arys stopped by the door and pushed it open where Tyrion saw the unexpected gathering. Joffrey was seated at the base of the Iron Throne, beside him were Cersei and Lady Sansa Stark who looked less miserable than usual, which Tyrion was unsure how to interpret at this moment. The rest of the Small Council was gathered in raised seats to the side as below a man in City Guard armor was presenting three large carts that were assembled. The man was speaking as Tyrion hurriedly moved toward his seat.
"These are what we have recovered so far," The man said. "This cart was brought in by folk from the Kingswood, Fishermen from Blackwater Bay brought in this load and these articles were recovered in the city."
As Tyrion sat Cersei looked toward him with an annoyed expression.
"Well?"
"Well, what dear sister?" Tyrion said. "I believe I will need some context."
Cersei sighed an annoyed look on her face. "Did you not see the falling star last night? It had half the city screaming in a panic!"
Tyrion wondered if she meant the Red Comat but there had never been reports of objects falling from a comet before.
"I'm afraid I have missed something I was rather distracted last night and went to bed early."
"Drunk no doubt," Cersei said. "Something fell from the sky causing a bright flash and raining down debris across the realm. We have been getting ravens all day with reports of disturbances and riots caused by panicking smallfolk. Now we've recovered these…things."
Tyrion looked harder at the carts now and suddenly realized why even Joffrey seemed interested in the articles. He stood and approached the carts as he inspected each of them full of fragments large and small, much of it left in ruins but doubtlessly familiar.
"This is…steel. Forged steel." Tyrion said. "Seven hells…What is this?"
"Now do you understand? Ser Gregori, please show my brother the largest one."
The Guardsmen nodded and moved to the side of the cart and grunted as he hoisted up a large sheet of steel it was black with burn marks but had a distinctive color and as he turned it around Tyrion could make out the shape of a blue sphere and stars with a red line and the shape of land stretching into the horizon.
"Heraldry…"
"Before you ask, we have consulted our records," Varys said. "No house in all the known world bears such a sigil."
Grand Maester Pycelle coughed loudly before he spoke up grumbling something to himself as he eyed the curious material.
"Nor would you find such a record. There is no such thing as flying steel, with your grace I assure you there is a perfectly rational explanation for this. What with the war and the end of summer approaching there is doubtlessly going to be ailments."
"Surely you're not suggesting we ignore this," Tyrion said. "This is significant we should get an investigation started."
"I have sent Ravens to Oldtown," Pycelle said sounding annoyed. "They will send Maesters to study the material and identify it."
"I am inclined to agree with the Grand Maester," Littlefinger said. "Steel is steel regardless of its origin and there could be any number of explanations."
Joffrey stood up suddenly from his chair and approached the carts, he looked toward the sigil with curious eyes before brushing a hand against the steel. Tyrion thought poorly of Joffrey most days, but the boy was not entirely foolish, especially when it came to things that excited his boyish curiosities. The significance of this strange event was not lost on him when he suddenly turned.
"I want to make a sword out of this steel," Joffrey said. "Send for a blacksmith to take some and have it melted into a blade. A longsword I'll give it to my grandsire as a gift."
"Very good your grace," Pycelle said. "That would be the best use for this strange metal."
"Leave this sheet at least," Tyrion said. "This sigil is concerning I do not like the idea there is a house out there we do not know. What language is this writing?"
"Not a known one in these lands," Lord Varys said. "The system of writing seems familiar to the Common Tongue, but the characters could mean anything."
Tyrion was unsure why he felt so troubled. These metallic shards were strange they were so orderly in form with perfect circles and precise craftsmanship that would take decades for even the most skilled of smiths to forge. And it felt strong as he pulled at it despite being broken by the force of its fall it felt strong incredibly strong. He was curious if Joffrey would be able to get the sword he wanted.
"You said there were ravens?" He spoke up. "How widespread are these fragments?"
"They fell throughout the Crown Lands and into the sea, there are reports of falling stars in the Westerlands and Riverlands. A particularly large one reportedly fell in Harrenhal and hit the God's Eye we've received…. Queer reports a recovery has been made and they're riding to King's Landing as we speak." Littlefinger said as he adjusted himself in his seat.
"And what exactly are these queer reports, Lord Baelish?"
"No need," Cersei said. "They have just arrived."
Tyrion followed his sister's gaze as the doors opened once again a group of City Guardsmen escorted another cart covered by a cloth while a man in a ragged dress slowly walked into the hall fumbling with his hat as he looked around wildly. Behind him, two boys around Joffrey's age carefully pulled the cart before the three of them bowed.
"Rise before your King," Joffrey said. "I am told you have performed a great service to the realm."
"I…" The man spoke before coughing. "I am honored your grace…M'Lords and Ladies, I am uh… Aegor. I am a fisherman who lives on the Gods Eye with my sons and my wife. We keep our peace and serve the realm; I wish you good health and long life…"
"Yes, yes," Joffrey said dismissively. "Tell us what you witnessed!"
Aegor nodded despite Joffrey's rudeness he seemed happy to skip formalities uncomfortable in court.
"Well, your grace I was preparing to go out onto the water to fish when I heard a sound like the world was shattering. I went outside to see my wife pointing to the air we thought it was a falling star, but it was so close we could hear the roar as it fell and hit the Gods Eye, it sent water so far up it started to rain, water and fish alike. By the time it stopped, I saw it in the water just resting like a ship at sea…I have no words for it your grace it looked like the tower of a castle grey and pointed but it was torn asunder by fire it looked to be collapsing."
Aegor trembled slightly as he recounted the tale. For once everyone was listening intently even Cersei was leaning in.
"I went out on the water alone I wanted to get a better look at it. When I got closer, I could barely make any more sense of it the whole thing was burning yet I found an entrance that was flooding. I went inside and well…I do not think myself mad, but I do not know how to explain what I saw in there. Dancing lights, strange sounds, all madness but as I moved through, I found myself in a large room smoking with flames and more strange lights. I intended to grab something and leave but well I found something on the ground.
He looked over at the cart and nodded toward his son.
"Go ahead, boys."
The boys nodded quickly and turned the cart around peeling back the cloth which revealed a man sitting in the back. He was covered in bandages and wrappings, but his clothing was entirely foreign. A room full of some of the wealthiest and most powerful figures in the whole of Westeros could not make sense of it. He wore torn black boots, and blue and green trousers that hugged his body tightly, and beside him was some sort of sleeved tunic which bore the same heraldry as the piece Tyrion had been inspecting.
They thought the man dead until there was a groaning sigh and the man's chest rose and fell.
"I found him wounded on the floor rambling madness," Aegor said. "I decided to pull him out of that cursed place and fled back to my boat. When I reached the shore, I could not believe my eyes when Lord Tywin Lannister awaited me and told me to ride to King's Landing while his men took to the lake. I came as swiftly as the horses he gave us allowed."
"You have done the realm a great service," Joffrey said formally. "See that good Aegor receives coin and be on his way."
Aegor took that as his dismissal and hastily ushered his sons away leaving the cart with the wounded man. Once the fishermen had left, they slowly approached the man inspecting him closely. Much of his body was bandaged, bruised, and bloody as he breathed weakly what could be made out was his tanned skin and long dark hair which dotted his body as he looked around meeting their faces his green eyes shuddered before closing as he grunted in pain.
"He looks…Dornish," Cersei said more to herself than anyone. "Pycelle, will he live?"
Pycelle gave the man a cursory inspection gently yet firmly he felt his bandages and peered at him the man grunted and winced at his touch breathing hard.
"Difficult to say, my lady," he said. "The wounds are grave it is a wonder he survived the journey here. He appears to be far too wounded to be coherent."
Pycelle snapped his fingers to emphasize his point when the man shifted letting out a groan he looked around.
"Cap…Mehmet…Larsson…" He grunted. "UA…sss…K-karlsef…ni… Interstellar…Union…"
"Inter…stellar?" Tyrion repeated, he looked up at Varys almost pleading. "Tell me you know something of this."
Tyrion's hope was lost, Varys stared with an expression he almost dared to call fear. There were a few things Lord Varys did not know or at least hear about in this world. And if he was at a loss there was truly no hope.
"I have heard no such title I'm afraid my lord," Varys said. "I would dismiss this man as mad if not for his…evidence."
Next to the man was a small assembly of items he had been carrying when the Fisherman Aegor had grabbed him a few boxes with the unfamiliar language. One was white with a red shape drawn on it, another was black with large white letters and there was a green box with characters written in yellow, there was also a strange item. Tyrion picked it up and inspected it, it almost looked like some form of tablet like those of ancient civilizations, but it appeared almost transparent with small groves carved into it. He touched it when there was a sudden burst of light shapes and characters appeared but no more as Tyrion could make no sense of it.
"Dancing lights…" He spoke. "Well, is this not a fine mystery we have found ourselves with?"
"I am not in the mood for mysteries," Cersei said. "Pycelle have him taken to the chamber and see him healed he is our only source of information do not let him die. The rest of you make yourselves useful for once and find something of value. If there are any more of these…strangers, they are a danger."
"For once, we are agreed," Tyrion said. "I have reading to do…much reading. And Joffrey put that down."
Joffrey was inspecting the strange tunic holding it up.
"I want to keep it," he said. "Not like he will be wearing it."
"We do not know if it is dangerous yet," Cersei said gently. "Leave it be for now until we can be sure."
Joffrey sighed and nodded. "Very well. Come Sansa and you too dog, I've grown bored of this."
The young lady Stark said nothing but bowed and departed but Tyrion noticed her eyes linger as Maester Pycelle summoned aides to assist him.
"Transport him gently and bring milk of the poppy, it will help him rest for now."
As he disappeared the gathering shared looks but there was nothing more to be said. A new danger had befallen the realm, and it was one they had no context or information on. A loose end in a place where loose ends were unacceptable. Cersei quietly departed without a word while Varys and Littlefinger exchanged looks before leaving Tyrion remaining staring at the blue sphere before finally departing the throne room. As he stepped outside, he found Bronn waiting for him next to Podrick staring at his shoe in boredom.
"Long meeting," Bronn said. "I miss something exciting?"
"Come Bronn I'll tell you all about it," Tyrion said. "We are about to be very busy."