章節 35: Chapter 35

The sellsword had served his purpose brilliantly. Tyrion was still astonished. He was a free man, walking through the Bloody Gate, after weeks of being held captured by that crazy bitch.

Bronn walked alongside him. The Lannister heir waved at the lords and ladies that had congregated to see him leave. He was sure many of them would have loved to put a spear through his head but they were unable to do so.

They made it to the mountains surrounding the Vale when the clansmen ambushed them. Once more Tyrion promised gold and riches beyond imaginable for his life. Whoever said his tongue would not get him out of death situations was a true liar. They agreed to accompany him to King's Landing and receive their bounty.

The man became curious when he heard a woman's yell. He saw as a brute of man struck lady Sansa Arryn across the face. Two men held her back and tore her blue dress. The girl cried pitifully but did not struggle.

Lord Lannister found his voice. "Leave her be."

"She is not part of our deal Half-Man." Dolf growled.

"I will triple my offer if you leave her to me." Tyrion helped the girl up and led her to the fire Bronn had started.

"Are you hurt my lady?" Tyrion asked gently. The girl nodded and tried to close the gaps in her blue dress.

"I will make sure you reach King's Landing unharmed." She did not look at him or did anything but hide her face with her hands and hair.

Bronn smirked quickly but did not comment anything further. They continued their journey for a few more hours. They came to a clearing. It was suspicious or so the clansmen thought.

It happened in three heartbeats. Armed men came out of nowhere and attacked the tribesmen. Tyrion grabbed a screaming Sansa and pulled her away from the fighting. She screamed and hit him over and over. He yelled at her. "Stop, fucking bloody stop."

He put a hand over her mouth. "Stupid little girl." He hissed. She quieted then. He saw as one of the tribesmen fell. Tyrion grabbed a shield just in case he'd need it.

He heard the fight and peeked out. He then saw them, Jaime and Robb. He waited until his brother's men and Bronn were the last standing. He did not particularly like the tribesmen. "Brother, have you come to my rescue once more?" He yelled and stepped away from his hiding place.

Jaime let a guffaw and ran to him. "You are alive. News of your trial reached us last night. We were sure Lysa Arryn would kill you before we stormed the Eyrie."

Tyrion laughed, "She tried but I demanded trial by combat as is my right." Tyrion waddled to Robb. The boy smiled and hugged him.

"Where to now?" Robb asked his uncle Jaime.

Jaime shook his head somewhat affectionately. "You are going to Winterfell with your uncle Tyrion. I will go to Casterly Rock." The boy's demeanor deflated. What was it with the Starks; they were all sullen creatures.

Tyrion frowned. "I am a free man brother, declared innocent by the Seven. My place is in King's Landing. I will return Lady Sansa to her aunt and then meet you at Casterly Rock."

Jaime shook his head once more but mounted his horse. He asked for a horse. "You will be fine my lady. I will make sure no harm comes to you." She shook like a leaf but manage to ride the horse.

Bronn spat blood and mounted his horse. "You could have come out of hiding earlier."

"No sense in dealing with tribesmen our entire journey." He said and rode ahead.

Jaime told him about his stint in the Riverlands and a sense of dread settled in the pit of his stomach. Lannisters or not they still had plunged the ancestral lands of the Queen. King Robert would not be happy and he doubted Ned's ability to defend Jaime's actions.

They camped and travelled for three nights until they reached The Crossroads Inn. Lady Sansa had been given some clothes to wear. She had not said a word since they met.

They sat for supper when they heard the news. "King Robert is dead." Tyrion did not have to time to say anything because the next thing the innkeeper told them froze him. "The lord Hand is to be tried for treason. He killed Jon Arryn, Prince Gendry and the King."

Tyrion laughed humorlessly. Eddard would never do something as disloyal and dishonorable. Cersei would, but she didn't coach him. Eddard could not have killed Robert. He loved that fat man more than he did Benjen.

Robb was about to shout something or contradict the man when he pushed him down. "Sit down. We can't stay here."

Jaime motioned his men to follow him out of the inn. "Fetch one of your men." He addressed his elder brother.

"Travel to Saltpants and bring news." He said to the man who looked at Jaime for approval. His brother nodded and the man took off.

Tyrion then asked for a step-by-step account of what had transpired during his capture in the Eyrie

Robb was a ball of anxiety. He wanted to find a ship and rescue his father without a plan or anything more than his guilt. "I shouldn't have come with you. I should have stayed with father. Where is Tommen? Arya was always with Gendry. Joanna should be fine. She is a perfect lady. The queen and mother are friends, they have always been. Why would she accuse father of such treason?" the boy paced and asked questions neither uncle had.

They all waited by a fire that night. Robb then spoke suddenly like he was prone to do. "Mother, did mother and Bran travel South?"

Jaime looked at their nephew with worried eyes. Tyrion worried too. His sister was impulsive, did not think when it came to those she loved. Did father know? What was father doing besides sending men to Jaime?

Lady Sansa remained as quiet and still, away from them but listening intently.

They waited until the man came back. He was out of breath but fine.

"A mob killed the Lord Hand. The Queen sentenced Lord Stark to death. Ilyn Payne carried out the sentence. The men in the port all have five or six stories to tell." He lowered his head, "they all agree in something, the Lord Hand Stark died and so did Prince Gendry. The queen reigns while Renly Bartheon gathers strength to claim the throne."

"Impossible. Stannis is the true heir." Tyrion said calmly. Robb was pale and sat down. He was utterly silent. Jaime looked inscrutable. "My nephew and nieces?"

"Lost. No one knows, some say lady Arya and Prince Gendry were killed together. There are accounts that say lady Arya killed the crown Prince. There is no word on the boy or the other lady. "

Jaime looked at him. "The queen has them. Littlefinger is behind this. They have the girls and Tommen as hostages."

Robb looked thunderous and his direwolf growled and barked at anyone who came near it. "We have to get back to King's Landing and get my siblings back."

"We are not doing that. Jaime, do not look at him. We don't have the men or the power to take the city. We have to reach Casterly Rock. We have to meet with father." Tyrion addressed them sternly.

Robb shook his head. "Jon. Where is Jon?"

The man looked puzzled. It was obvious he did not know who Jon was. "Is there anything else you have learned from the port?"

He shook his head. Robb was uncontainable and raged that night. The men let him be. Tyrion ordered to hide all alcohol. Jaime sat next to him. "Stark is dead."

Tyrion felt uncomfortable, he could detect some hope in his brother's voice. Tyrion knew about his siblings' relationship. He was not blind or deaf. "She is our sister. Do not think for a second that she will look at you twice. She loves her northernman and her children. She is not a girl anymore. She is our sister."

"The Targaryens wed brother and sister." Jaime began.

"And half of them were crazier than rabid dogs." Tyrion gulped some wine.

"You don't understand." Jaime continued.

The younger man looked at his brother and downed more wine. "I don't and neither will Cersei. Do not think about it brother, it wont do you well to dwell on that matter." Tyrion finished and slept by the fire.

The travelled through the Kingsroad toward the Neck, avoiding the Riverlands as much as possible, Robb grew solemn as they inched toward the North. A great sight received them while travelling through the Neck.

He saw the golden Lion against the red field and the Grey direwolf against the white field. He dismounted his horse, as did Jaime and Robb.

Grey Wind circled lady Sansa. The girl looked properly scared. "Call your beast off. Bronn, escort Lady Sansa to an empty tent. Do not leave her side." Tyrion said. Robb called the direwolf to him, not before looking at lady Sansa with disgust. The boy resembled his mother in his temperament, a little too much.

Tyrion's legs ached but he managed to keep up with his golden brother and their equally tall nephew.

They reached the command tent in less than twenty minutes. Father, uncle Kevan and Jon were there along with Northern Lords and Western Lords.

Father merely glanced up. It was Jon who smiled and rushed to hug his brother. Robb hugged him back. "Father is dead." Robb said. Tyrion heard his six and ten year old nephew whisper despondently.

"We'll get Tommen and the girls back. We will burn Westeros until all of them are begging for their lives." Jon said ardently. Tyrion had never heard his eldest nephew speak with such hatred. Now that he saw him, he was unshaven; he didn't look like the boy he left in Winterfell.

Tywin motioned for the soldiers to leave. Uncle Kevan left too. Tyrion took his seat, as did Jaime. Jon and Robb sat down too. The youngest man looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but in the vicinity of his grandfather.

"You have started a war." He looked at Jaime and him. He was sure his father held them both equally guilty.

"Father with all due respect. Lysa Arryn is unhinged, she acted single handedly and captured my brother, your son." Jaime, as always to the rescue, Tyrion appreciated the sentiment but he did not need his elder brother to speak for him.

Cold Tywin Lannister remained eerily calm. "No matter. We have work to do. I will take Riverrun and Harrenhal. Jaime and Robb will march with me and then go South. Jon and his host will stay here until the Riverlands are secured. We will march to King's Landing and take the city back."

Jon nodded, so did Jaime and Robb. Tyrion agreed. "Where would I fall into all of this?" He asked curiously, used to being overlooked by his father at best.

"You will go back to Winterfell and advise Bran." Tywin declared.

"What about Casterly Rock?" He asked, curious as to who would protect the Westerlands.

"Kevan will hold it for your brother until he gets back." The man said and scribbled down some notes.

Anger set, deep into his being. "I am not going back to Casterly Rock. I am of the Kingsguard, sworn for life." Jaime said. The golden fool tried to defy father once more.

"Leave now, all of you. I grow tired of your whining." Tywin said. Robb and Jon looked ready to leave. Tywin dismissed all of them.

"Not you Jon." Tywin said without looking up.

Tyrion felt rage at his father but decided their talk would have to wait until they were alone. Casterly Rock was his and his would it remain. Tywin would not take that away from him.