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Chapter 69 The Death of Tywin, Tyrion's Escape

Joffrey was dead. His body lay in the great hall of the sept. Cersei, forcing back her grief, stood beside the corpse of the "eternal emperor" with Tommen Baratheon.

"Your brother is dead. Do you know what that means?"

Tywin's face showed no sorrow. He strode up to the dais and spoke to the grieving Tommen.

Tommen stared at his grandfather in disbelief, shocked by Tywin's words.

"I am not jesting with you," Tywin said, seeing Tommen's doubt.

"It means I will be king," Tommen whispered.

"Yes, you will be king," Tywin replied. "What kind of king do you think you will be?" he pressed.

"A good one," Tommen answered, uncertain.

"Hm! That is what I hope," Tywin nodded. "You have the makings of a good king."

"Must we talk of this here?" Cersei asked, her voice tight with suppressed sorrow.

But Tywin paid her no heed. He continued speaking to Tommen: "But do you know what it takes to be a good king? Hm?"

"What is the most important quality a good king must have?" Tywin went on.

"Piety," Tommen said.

"Hm! Baelor the Blessed was pious. He built this sept, named a boy of five as High Septon, and ended up in his tomb before his time," Tywin told him.

"Justice!" Tommen said after a moment's thought.

"Aye! A good king must be just. Aerys I was just—but he sat on the throne for only a year before his brother slit his throat in his sleep," Tywin continued.

"What about strength?" Tommen asked, even less sure.

"Strength. Robert had strength. He won the war, overthrew the Targaryens. But in his seventeen years as king, he attended the Small Council only three times. He spent his days whoring, hunting, and drinking—until the last two killed him," Tywin explained patiently.

"Wisdom?" Tommen tried again.

"Wisdom, yes. But what is wisdom? A wise king knows what he knows... and what he does not. You are young. A wise young king listens to his counselors, heeds their words, until he comes of age. The wisest kings listen forever," Tywin said.

"Your brother was not a wise king. Nor a good one. Else he would not be lying there now," Tywin said, putting an arm around Tommen and gazing at Joffrey's body.

"Now, as king, you must marry. Do you understand why?" Tywin said, leading Tommen out of the sept as he spoke.

"To continue the family line!" Tommen said as they walked.

"Yes. Do you know why that matters?" Tywin asked again.

And so Tywin led Tommen from the sept, determined to mold him into a king after his own liking.

Two days later, Joffrey's body was laid to rest. Cersei, overcome with grief, had not appeared until the day Tyrion was to be tried—and even then, she wore only black as she entered the throne room.

In the Red Keep's throne room, Tywin—wearing the Hand of the King's badge—sat upon the Iron Throne. Oberyn Martell, the "Red Viper," sat beside him as Dorne's representative.

Tywin had struck a bargain with Oberyn: the marriage alliance would hold, and Tommen would wed Arianne Martell to strengthen the bond between House Lannister and House Martell.

All the nobles of King's Landing had gathered in the throne room that day—for Tyrion's trial.

And Shae, the prostitute Tyrion loved, had been brought before the court by Tywin to testify against Tyrion, accusing him of murdering Joffrey.