THANK YOU
A11StarReader
chris blakeley
Joe Snow
Gabe Dotson
Black Raven
Mutekun
mango
For supporting my Patreon or Buymeacoffee
Support me and read advance chapters at my patreon or buymeacoffee
5 Chapters for 1$
10 chapters for 3$
20 chapters for 10$
35 chapters for 20$
50 chapters for 30$
buymeacoffee.com/Shashankbhatt
Patreon.com/Shahsank_bhatt
__________________________
[KING'S LANDING, DINING HALL, NIGHT]
[QUEEN CERSEI LANNISTER dines with LADY SANSA STARK, PRINCE TOMMEN, and PRINCESS MYRCELLA. The room is silent and awkward.]
Sansa shifted in her seat. Even here she felt the awkwardness seep in. She did not like the Queen much anymore, not after all the things she'd seen about her.
"When will Joffrey and Sansa be married?"
[SANSA's head jerks up and she looks over at CERSEI.]
Sansa's mouth turned sour at the thought.
"He won't marry you this time. He won't get the opportunity" Arya whispered to her sister.
Oddly enough Sansa was comforted by Arya's word. There was a first time for everything.
"Soon, darling, when the war is over."
"Mother says I'll have a new gown for the ceremony and another for the feast. But yours will be ivory since you're the bride."
"Ivory... Not even going to honour her House" Catelyn muttered scathingly. Her wedding gown was white, with the colours of her house embedded in elegant patterns and symbols. She could still remember it like it was yesterday.
[SANSA doesn't reply, a look of trepidation on her face. At her lack of response, MYRCELLA looks back at SANSA, as does CERSEI.]
"The princess just spoke to you."
"And she's eating, you vile woman!" Bran glared up at the Queen's image.
Sansa felt heartened by the support of her little brother.
Perhaps she should get to know them both better and be a better sister to them...
"Pardon, Your Grace. I'm sure your dress will be beautiful, Myrcella. I'm counting the days until the fighting is done and I can pledge my love to the King in sight of the gods."
[CERSEI watches SANSA as she makes her statement. SANSA looks close to tears at the end.]
"Is Joffrey going to kill Sansa's brother?"
[SANSA looks over at CERSEI again.]
"He might."
"As if" Robb snorted. That pansy was not going to be able to touch him, let alone kill him.
[SANSA takes a long drink of wine.]
"Would you like that?"
[CERSEI's answer is directed at TOMMEN, but she is looking at SANSA when she says it.]
Jon's eyes hardened at the vile woman.
"No. I don't think so."
"Myrcella and Tommen, they are the best of my brother and sister. Nothing like Joffrey" Tyrion supplied. Perhaps this would improve their standing with the Starks.
Myrcella flinched at the reminder of who her father was.
"Aye... they are" Ned nodded.
Myrcella looked up and saw Ned Stark smiling at her, nothing vindictive or mean, just kind and warm.
She felt her chest tighten.
"Lord Stark is nice. He won't let anything happen to us" Tommen whispered to her.
Myrcella gave a small nod.
"Even if he does, Sansa will do her duty. Won't you, little dove?"
"She needs to be put in her place" Robb muttered.
"She will be once we return" Jon muttered back.
[KING'S LANDING, TYRION'S CHAMBERS, DAY]
[GRAND MAESTER PYCELLE hands TYRION a vial of medicine.]
"Oh! Thank the gods. I haven't had a proper shit in six days."
"You have something planned" Jaime accused.
"I could just be constipated" Tyrion argued.
"And I could be the next King" Jaime snorted.
"I've encountered this problem before, my lord. The stresses of power often have this insalubrious effect. Two drops with water, daily."
"Right. I'm so grateful to have a man of your vast knowledge and wisdom on my side."
[TYRION indicates the chair behind PYCELLE. Pycelle sits]
"I can trust you, Pycelle, can I not?"
"Why, yes, of course, my lord."
"These are perilous times. And the crown must forge new alliances. And these alliances must often be sealed in matrimony."
[TYRION sits in the chair opposite PYCELLE.]
"Matrimony, huh? Yes."
"I'm trusting the council with these plans, but the Queen mustn't know. We can't have her meddling in affairs that could determine the future of the realm. There's too much at stake."
"Clever. Trying to find the moles" Doran mused.
"Oh, yes, yes. Indeed, yes. I shall be silent as the grave."
[TYRION walks to pour a drink.]
"I'm brokering an alliance with House Martell of Dorne. Princess Myrcella will wed their youngest son when she comes of age, ensuring their loyalty and their army, should we need it."
Myrcella turned to her uncle.
"Would you really?"
Tyrion thought for a moment.
"If it would protect you, perhaps I would. The Martells hold no love for us, but they would not hurt a child no matter who the child comes from."
Myrcella nodded and looked away. She always expected to be married to someone not her choosing for political gain. This was no different.
[VARYS now occupies the seat where PYCELLE had been sitting.]
"I plan to marry Princess Myrcella off to Theon Greyjoy."
"That is by far the worst lie you could have made up" Jaime pointed out. "Varys already guessed your motives just from that."
"I believe I would see through it" The Spymaster lowered his head to hide his smile.
"Shut up, both of you" Tyrion rolled his eyes.
"Theon Greyjoy? Forgive me, my lord, but how? He grew up a ward of Winterfell. He fights for Robb Stark."
"Precisely."
[TYRION turns and slowly walks away from VARYS.]
"Theon's father loathes the Starks and will convince the boy to come to our side. Greyjoy can destroy the Northern army from within and we can have his father's ships."
"Even worse. Anyone who knows Balon Greyjoy would know he would not care a spit who his son marries. Who, as it turns out, he doesn't care for either."
"Yes well, I didn't know that did I?" Tyrion scowled at his brother.
[TYRION turns around and LORD PETYR "LITTLEFINGER" BAELISH is now leaning against the desk, VARYS nowhere in sight.]
"I plan to wed Princess Myrcella to Robin Arryn of the Vale. Lysa is not fond of me. But perhaps the promise of a royal match will convince her to let bygones be bygones."
Jaime raised a brow.
Tyrion sighed.
"She imprisoned you. She tried to execute you. And you offer her son a princess?"
"For men in our position, holding grudges can be an encumbrance, don't you think?"
"And I suppose you want me to broker this agreement?"
"Who better?"
[LITTLEFINGER walks around the desk as he ponders.]
"Yes, I could sing this song to Lysa, if I cared to. What's in it for me?"
"The gratitude of the people of Westeros for helping to end this war, the adoration of the King for bringing the Vale back into the fold... and Harrenhal."
"Harrenhal is cursed."
"Never took you for a superstitious man. By all means, tear it down and rebuild. You'll be able to afford it. I plan to make you Lord of the Riverlands."
"You can't do that!" Caelyn shouted, standing up to glare at the imp.
"I assure you, Lady Stark, I don't plan to" Tyrion tried to appease her.
He was not able to appease her. The woman glared before sitting back down.
"With a single stroke, you'd make me one of the greatest lords in the realm."
"You served my family well in the matter of the succession."
"So did Janos Slynt, and he was given Harrenhal, too. Until you snatched it away."
"I need you to deliver Lysa Arryn. I didn't need Janos Slynt. It's settled, then?"
"Good. Oh. And remember-"
"The Queen mustn't know."
[TYRION drinks deeply and sets his empty glass on a table before exiting. LITTLEFINGER ponders.]