Chapitre 124: 48
Chapter 48: Part XLVIIINotes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just borrowing for a while.
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The Red Keep – King's Landing – 299 AC
One of the problems of sending letters by raven is that if the message to be communicated was lengthy, detailed, complicated or simply excessively verbose then a single bird was simply unable to carry it. Judging by the pile of paper the Lord Protector himself handed to Tyrion to read it must have required a small flock of birds to ferry it all down from Castle Black and he was grateful that he could read better than most. It would have taken his brother an age to get through it all.
When summoned to attend Lord Stark in his chambers, and told to take the seat across from him in front of his desk his desk, Tyrion had fully expected a tongue lashing about facilitating the entry of a pair of whores into the king's apartments. Fortunately it seemed the man had other more pressing issues, both political and personal, to deal with and he wanted an outside opinion on the matter.
Eddard Stark immediately knew when Tyrion reached the more personally vexing part of the missive as he read through it when the dwarf's expression switched from one of studiousness to undisguised mirth. "If you're going to laugh then laugh" Stark told Tyrion. "If it wasn't my own son involved, I'd likely see the humour in it."
To his credit Tyrion managed to maintain a modicum of seriousness. "It's an interesting predicament, but it could certainly be worse, My Lord" Tyrion told him. "May I hazard a guess as to why it's me you're talking to about this?" he asked rhetorically. "I travelled with Jon from Winterfell to the Wall and later spent time there, giving me ample opportunity to get to know him and evaluate his character. I also got to know the Lord Commander to an extent during my brief stay at Castle Black and it's logical to assume that during my long journey back to King's Landing with Yoren I learned a fair deal more about the Night's Watch than most people ever do."
"You both like to talk" Stark confirmed.
"He's surprisingly good company for a man of the Night's Watch, my theory regarding that is it's because he gets to spend considerably more time than most of them away from the Wall where it's warmer and less depressing" Tyrion told him.
"He's a good friend of my brother, to me that speaks well of his character, but it's your character, rather than just what and who you know, that is one of the reasons I sought you out for advice" Stark told him.
"My character? Gods, then I am in trouble" Tyrion replied, feigning distress. "I deny everything, especially the things I actually did."
Eddard Stark sighed. "A little less frivolity on your part would not go amiss, this is a serious matter" he told Tyrion sternly. "At first I entertained the possibility that you only designed the saddle for Bran so he could still ride a horse to curry some favour with me, but since then it's become clear that it was just an example of how much you sympathise with those in need of help" he said. "Most recently the time you've spent with the Lady Shireen has brightened up her life considerably."
"Much as I'd like to claim credit for her seeming happier in herself I would attribute much of that to not living on Dragonstone anymore, it's near as depressing a location as the Wall" Tyrion replied, only partially in jest. "Moreover enjoying the company of your daughters boosted her spirits mightily and helped bring her out of her shell" he continued. "Honestly, having someone to discuss books with comes a distant third I'd say."
"You don't just talk about books with her, you make her laugh" Stark countered.
"I make everyone laugh, with a few exceptions that seem utterly bereft of a sense-of-humour" Tyrion replied, wondering if Stark considered himself in the latter group. "I tell jokes to adults and clown for children, better that than end up morose and absorbed in self-pity. Although, if I'm being completely honest, I've also found that absorption of wine helps too."
Definitely not the stunted fool his father once told me he was, Eddard Stark thought to himself, though he was more inclined to trust in King Joffrey's observation that his uncle Tyrion was the only one of Tywin Lannister's children that inherited his intellect. "If you were asked how Jon might defend himself from a charge of breaking his vows to the Night's Watch what would you suggest?" he asked.
"I assume that the reason you are seeking my counsel rather than my father's is that this is a personal matter not one of state" tyrion replied. "With that as a given, I would say that strangely enough my inclination towards seeing the humour in situations serves me very well here because my first thoughts on the matter are that, under the circumstances, the farcical elements of his predicament could well work in Jon's favour."
"How so?" Stark queried, intrigued.
"It's better to have people laughing at you than it is have them wanting your head" Tyrion explained his thinking on the matter. "It resembles a comedy-of-errors from a well-written mummers play far more than it does a deliberate breaking of his wows. On that note, while it would normally be the case that a Brother of the Night's Watch taking a wife would damn him in this case Jon has an effective defensive from the charge."
"That being?"
"Intent, obviously" Tyrion replied. "If you murder a man we hang you, but if you kill a man by accident we don't, or we shouldn't" he began to explain his thinking. "Jon clearly had no way to know that killing the wildling's companions, taking her prisoner, binding her and taking her with him meant he was carrying out some kind of barbaric marriage ceremony. It was totally inadvertent on his part, there was no intent to break his oath."
Eddard Stark nodded his agreement. "You believe his account then?"
"I spent enough time travelling from Winterfell to the Wall with Jon to be able to properly measure his worth" Tyrion replied. "I heard his thoughts and opinions spoken aloud and witnessed his interactions with others" he continued. "Fundamentally I liked your son and I trusted him, and given that I consider myself an excellent judge of character I'm inclined to believe him here."
"There are those that might argue he still took a wife, thus violating his vow to the Night's Watch, intent or no" Stark counter-argued. "An oath is a sacred thing and the Gods are judgemental and will not be mocked."
"Did he break his oath?" Tyrion asked rhetorically. "Did he make his wedding vows in front of a Weirwood, or before a Septon to gain the blessing of the Old God's or the New? No he didn't, and putting the Gods aside in favour of the law once again, if I was arguing his case from a legal standpoint I would want to know when the Seven Kingdoms ever recognised Wildling customs or laws as valid. Why should we recognise the thuggish and bizarre mating ritual they see as equating to a real marriage any more than we would accept slavery just because they buy and sell people legally in Essos?"
Stark frowned. "Some might call that sophistry."
"Let them" Tyrion replied flatly. "Please correct me if I am wrong, but your conundrum is that you are understandably driven to want to be of aid to your son, but you find the notion of explicitly leveraging the authority accorded you by your position in his favour, distasteful from an ethical standpoint."
"I do" Stark confirmed.
"Your stand against blatant nepotism is commendable, if not a position likely to find much traction amongst the Great Houses" Tyrion wryly observed. "I doubt many Lords in your position would shrink from such a minor abuse of power and if you expect your shining example to sway many to your way of thinking I fear you may be sorely disappointed."
"I'm not responsible for the conscience or integrity of anyone but myself" Stark replied flatly. "Regardless of that, imagine how it would be perceived amongst the other Brother's of the Night's Watch if the son of the Lord Regent was the only one free to flout the rules."
Tyrion chuckled. "Judging by the brisk trade the men of the Night's Watch enjoy with the ladies of Mole's Town flouting the rules, in spirit at least, is hardly uncommon. Or do you expect Jon to hold to a higher standard than his compatriots."
"The vow of the Night's Watch is that a brother 'shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children' I expect all of them to hold to their oath" Stark stated firmly.
"Then it's a good thing they don't wed the whores and the whores themselves are liberal in their use of Moon Tea to prevent pregnancy" Tyrion replied. "You see how finagling the rules by applying a strict interpretation works to Jon's favour as well I assume."
Eddard Stark frowned. "You're yet to persuade me that he didn't, in fact, take a wife and others will see it the same way" he told Tyrion.
"They'll want to believe it because it's funny" Tyrion told him. "I'm sure that Jon won't enjoy being portrayed as a hapless victim of circumstance, but he can't really deny that he was. In my opinion the more problematic issue is that he killed this Ranger, Quorhin Halfhand."
"That was what the Halfhand wanted him to do in order that Jon might infiltrate the Wildlings" Stark responded. "It wasn't something he could do himself, they all knew him too well by reputation and Mance knew him personally, they would never believe he turned against the Night's Watch."
"Unfortunately we only have Jon's testimony to support that" Tyrion pointed out.
"Jon is no liar" Stark responded sharply.
"He lied to the Wildlings" Tyrion replied, drily. "Although in principle I agree with you that he is not a man that would utter falsehoods unless performing his duty made that necessary" he continued. "Your objective is therefore to make others believe in his fundamental honesty. Character witnesses would be the obvious choice. If you are seeking not to appear as intervening personally I would suggest for a start your son Robb, his position as acting Warden of the North carries weight, perhaps Theon Greyjoy as heir to the Iron Islands, although the reputation of his people might make him a less than ideal choice, any friends he has made in the Night's Watch obviously and perhaps even myself."
"You would witness to Jon's character?"
"Of course, he's no oathbreaker or murderer, he's just not blessed with an abundance of good fortune" Tyrion replied. "It should, of course, be repeatedly mentioned that Jon chose to return to Castle Black rather than remain with the wildlings which is indicative that he's either a man of honour or a blithering idiot. If anyone leans towards the latter interpretation simply counter that blithering idiots don't invent such complicated and twisted tales in their defence, they lack the imagination."
Before Eddard Stark could respond he was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Enter" he said loudly, guessing, correctly as it turned out who it would be.
The door to his office swung opened to reveal his eldest daughter Sansa stood there, she took a step inside but then stopped, remaining by the door. "You asked me to tell you when I was setting out to meet King Joffrey."
Tyrion stood up, faced her and bowed. "Lady Sansa" he greeted her.
"My Lord Tyrion" Sansa replied with a warm smile. "I hope the day finds you well?" she asked politely.
"If it hadn't as yet seeing you would have brightened it considerably" Tyrion replied chivalrously.
"Give the king my regards and I hope you'll both enjoy your walk in the gardens" Eddard Stark told her.
"Oh, we're not meeting in the gardens, the king has invited me to his rooms" Sansa replied seeming very happy about it.
Her father narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "For what purpose?" he wanted to know. Joffrey seemed like a good lad but even good lads are less than trustworthy around pretty young girls.
Sansa giggled. "There is nothing unseemly about it father" she promised him. "Lady Alys is accompanying me and Septa Mordane will be close by. The king invited us to share luncheon with him."
It took an effort of will Tyrion did not know he possessed not to jest about what had happened to the last attractive redhead and her friend who had attended the king in his quarters, but somehow he managed to restrain himself. If he had consumed but merely one or two more cups of wine earlier he might not have succeeded. "May I ask a favour, Lady Sansa" he said instead. "Could you let my nephew know that I loaned his copy of Kin of the Stag to Lady Shireen. She mentioned Ser Galladon of Morne in passing and I thought she might be interested in learning more about him."
"Of course, My Lord" Sansa agreed. "May I be on my way father?" she requested.
"You may. Enjoy your luncheon and please close the door on the way out" Eddard Stark replied.
"My Lady" Tyrion bid her farewell with another bow.
"My Lord" Sansa replied, returning his bow with a gentle curtsey before she departed, pulling the door closed behind her as Tyrion resumed his seat.
"You were saying?" Stark prompted Tyrion to resume his musings.
Tyrion pursed his lips. "If I might have your permission to offer an argument that might cut a little deep, albeit with good intent, I can provide an argument you could use to blunt an objection to Jon being spared punishment" he said.
"Permission granted" Stark agreed, wondering where the dwarf might be going with this.
Tyrion leaned forward in his chair. "Look at it this way" he began. "From the perspective of Wildling marriage customs, and their polygamous ways for that matter, Robert's Rebellion was fought on a false premise because Rhaegar's abduction of your sister was perfectly lawful and acceptable."
A flash of anger briefly shot across Stark's face before he regained some of his composure. "Easy now" he warned.
"And that reaction is why you should express that very argument yourself, My Lord" Tyrion responded with satisfaction. "By making such an equivalence anyone thinking to argue that your son is indeed married to this wildling is going to be extremely reticent to do so out loud for fear of how you might react. You won't have to exert influence explicitly, the implicit possibility of incurring your wrath should be more than sufficient."
Stark considered the suggested course of action with distaste. "That seems like an abuse of my position and the authority accorded me because of it" he said.
"But you wouldn't be exercising that power in reality, it would occur only in their own imaginations" Tyrion suggested. "Simply mentioning it in passing, making the equivalence, should be more than enough."
Eddard Stark, Lord Protector of the Seven Kingdoms asked himself what Lyanna might think about this and couldn't help but think she would want him to do whatever was needed to protect her son. The comparison between Jon and this wildling girl and Lyanna and Rhaegar made him wince however. "Perhaps we should continue this conversation over a cup of wine and something to eat?" he suggested.
"Sounds like a splendid idea to me" Tyrion replied brightly.
Such was the size of Maegor's Holdfast and some of the twisting passageways within that by the time Sansa and Alys reached the corridor the king's quarters could be found upon Alys was totally lost and could only hope Sansa wasn't. "Do hurry up Septa Mordaine" Sansa called back to their chaperone who was trailing behind their faster pace.
"I'm not as young as I used to be, Milady" the Septa replied apologetically.
"She was young?" Sansa whispered to Alys who laughed and was about to whisper something back before she was interrupted by the sounds of a commotion ahead, voices being raised inside the king's rooms and what might have been something getting knocked over.
The kingsguard who should have been stood at his post in the corridor was missing but as they neared their destination Sansa could recognise the voice of Ser Arys Oakheart coming from within the king's chambers.
"Your Grace, please allow me to assist" the kingsguard seemed to be pleading.
"I did not request your intervention and I am perfectly capable of dealing with this myself" king Joffrey's voice could be heard to reply. "This is your last warning Lady Melisandre, you can either leave as commanded with some modicum of dignity left intact or you can do so otherwise" he ordered in a stern tone. "I care nought for whatever salacious rumours you may have heard, you requested an audience under false pretences and as a result I consider myself free to ignore the usual proprieties."
"If you would just grant me the opportunity to be of service…" a woman's voice could be heard to respond, its Essosi accent obvious despite being muffled by the door.
The door itself suddenly burst open and shortly thereafter a finely made red dress was thrown out into the corridor, landing not three yards from where Sansa now stood.
Sansa was still staring at the dress in disbelief at what was going on when a woman was flung bodily out of the room to join the dress. She had bright red hair and a figure Sansa imagined men would greatly admire, that figure on full display because she was completely naked apart from an ornate necklace that bore a large ruby upon it.
King Joffrey emerged with a stern expression on his face. "And if you ever try that again I'll…" he began to berate the woman before he noticed he had an audience. "Lady Sansa, Lady Alys" he greeted them with a slight bow. "Do please come in and make yourself comfortable, I will be done with the Lady Melisandre presently" he told them, his expression and demeanour indicating that he was entirely unflustered and utterly unphased by the situation.
Her own face frozen in shock Sansa blinked then she curtsied because she couldn't think what else to do, Alys following suit because neither could she.
Melisandre of Asshai picked up her dress and glared at Septa Mordaine. "You only wish you looked this good" she told the other clergywoman haughtily as Octavian stood aside to let Sansa and Alys pass on through.
Notes:
Note from the Author:
With the notable exception of his own father Tyrion tends to impress people with his intellect and has enjoyed plenty of opportunities to interact with the people now running Westeros. Eddard Stark was looking for advice regarding issues not those of the state and thought the little man with the big ideas might be a good source of it. It of course helps greatly that Tyrion knows Jon personally and has familiarity with the Night's Watch.
Somehow Melisandre became aware of Octavian's new interests and attempted to use her wiles upon him. Unfortunately for her messing around with a foreign priestess is far too politically risky (and she's deeply unnerving).
Octavian's patrician calm amidst the most awkward circumstances is, as ever, an absolute joy to behold!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone