[King's Landing - Red Keep, Jail Cell]
Tyrion sat on the floor, staring aimlessly. The door unlocked and Podrick entered.
"Podrick. Apologies for the stench."
"I brought you some wine, my lord, but they took it from me."
"A noble effort."
"They didn't find the candles, though. A quill, some parchment, duck sausage, almonds, and some hard cheese." Podrick said, pulling some of those items from his pockets.
"You're a good lad. Any word of Shae?" Tyrion asked.
"I've heard nothing, my lord."
"I suppose that's a good thing. What are they saying about me out there?"
"You're to stand trial in a fortnight for murdering the king."
"Do you believe I murdered Joffrey?"
"No, my lord. You didn't?"
"No. Gods, no. The world is a better place without him, but I had nothing to do with it. I would like to think if I were arranging a royal assassination, I'd plan it in such a way that I wouldn't be standing there gawking like a fool when the king died. Trial in a fortnight. Have they announced the judges yet?"
"Your father."
"Of course."
"Mace Tyrell."
"Who will vote exactly as my father tells him to vote."
"And Prince Oberyn of Dorne."
"Oberyn? Give it to my father. He nevr fails to take advantage of a family tragedy."
"I'm supposed to get a list of names from you, my lord. Anyone who might testify on your behalf."
"Oh, I can call my own witnesses? How generous of them. Very well, my wife. Sansa."
"My lord, she's gone."
"Gone?"
"No one's seen her since the wedding. You don't think she..."
"No one had more 'cause to kill Joffrey than Sansa, but the girl is no assassin. Whoever killed the king wanted me to lose my head for it. And with my wife's disappearance, it makes me seem that much more guilty. Podrick."
"Yes, my lord?"
"They'll be following you now."
"Who will?"
"I don't know. They. They. The ominous they. The man pulling the strings. Or woman. My father. Maybe Joffrey was too much work for him. Sweet Tommen will be so much easier to handle. Whenever something bad happens to me, I assume it's my sister that had a hand in it. But say what you will of Cersei, she loves her children. She is the only one I'm certain had nothing to do with this murder. Which makes it unique as King's Landing murders go."
"Any other witnesses, my lord?"
"Varys could vouch for me if he dared."
"He's already been called as a witness for the queen."
"Of course. Fetch Bronn. I have a job for him."
"I've already asked, my lord. They won't let him see you."
"Why not?"
"They say he's a known cutthroat and your close associate. He's under investigation himself."
"And my brother? Will they at least allow me to see Jaime?"
"I'll ask, my lord." Podrick stood to leave, but hesitated. "There's something else, my lord. A man, I didn't know his face, he came to ask if I'd testify against you. Said I'd be named Ser Podrick Payne if I told the judges you'd bought a poison called the Strangler."
"Ser Podrick Payne? Has a nice ring to it. What did you tell him?"
"I didn't tell them anything, my lord."
"Are you going to accept their offer?"
"My lord."
"Testifying against me wasn't a suggestion. If they can't tempt you with honey, they'll choose something less sweet."
"You've been good to me, my lord."
"Pod, the trial's in a fortnight. They'll want an answer before that."
"I already gave them an answer, my lord."
"I will not have you dying on my behalf. Do you hear me? If I have to take that long walk to the executioner's block, I don't want to see your head already mounted."
"My lord."
"Pod, I am giving you an order. Go and find my brother. Tell him I need him. And get yourself out of King's Landing before it's too late. Pod! This is farewell."
"Farewell, my lord." Podrick nodded and opened the door.
"Pod. There has nevr lived a more loyal squire."
Podrick bowed his head as he exited, Tyrion hanging his head.
"He's a good boy," a voice sounded in the door, causing Tyrion to look up. "Loyal."
"What are you doing here Aelinor? If your mother..."
"Fuck what my mother thinks. You know, she's not as smart as she thinks she is. None of us are. It seems to be a Lannister trait. Other than Jaime and myself, you all seem to believe you possess some kind of superior amount of wisdom. At least Jaime and I know there is a lot we don't know."
"Aye. I suppose we do."
"After they carried you away, I poured wine from the same goblet you gave Joffrey, and drank it?"
"Why on Earth would you do that?"
"I was hoping to show them that you weren't behind his death."
"What if it had been tainted wine? You could have died. Aegar would be left without a mother."
"I know. But I know you. There's no way you're responsible for his death."
"And do you have any idea who could be?"
"Honestly, I was too distracted by my cunt of a brother doing his best to humiliate you. But, he drank it when you poured it and he was fine. Even when he called you back, he drank and nothing happened. Then he gave it to Margaery who set it down on the table."
"Not many who could get that close without being seen."
"Exactly. You were on the other end of the dais. Some time between the goblet being put on the table and him cutting the cake, the poison was slipped in his wine. My biggest question; was Joffrey the target?"
"What do you mean?"
"Everyone knows how hate Joffrey was. But he was drinking from the goblet gifted to him by Margaery's father. Either, or both, of them could have drunk from the cup."
"Yes, but it was Joffrey. To my knowledge, other than your mother, my sister, Margaery has no enemies in the Capital. The Lords and Ladies love her. The smallfolk love her."
"Yes. The smallfolk who don't realize their being used as pawns in her ambitious climb to Queen of the Seven Kingdoms."
"Be that as it may, Joffrey had far more enemies. After the Red Wedding, there were all those threats, causing his own to be pushed back. Perhaps one of these people bided their time and found their opportunity."
"What? Dressed as a servant and poisoned his wine."
"Maybe. All I know is, it wasn't me."
"I believe you." She sighed. "Maybe I can convince Jaime to come visit you. If I can keep him away from my mother long enough."
"I'd like that."
"Good.
Outside, Bronn and Jaime sparred by the sea. Once again, Aelinor sat nearby watching. It was amusing to see them fight. Especially the tactics her uncle's sellsword used.
Jaime attacked and Bronn parried. Jaime paused, panting, and spinning his sword. His skills had improved considerably from their last session. They exchanged attacks, Bronn pressing Jaime, and they deadlocked. Bronn grabs Jaime's golden hand and swats him across the face. Jaime fell to the ground. Aelinor couldn't resist bursting into laughter, but quickly stopped at her uncle's sharp stare.
"What the hell was that?"
"That was me knocking your ass to the dirt with your own hand." Bronn tossed Jaime back his hand, watching as he twisted it back in place.
"You're a rare talent. When you're fighting cripples, anyway."
"You learned to fight like a good little boy. I'll bet that thrust through the Mad King's back was pretty as a picture. You want to fight pretty or you want to win?"
"You talk to my brother this way?"
"Al the time. He got used to it."
They sit together on a low wall near Aelinor who offered them water.
Jaime drank. "Do you think he did it?"
"No. Oh, he hated the little twat, sure. But who didn't? And poison's not his style. Or murder, for that matter. You want to know for sure, why don't you ask him?"
Jaime didn't answer.
"You haven't been to see him yet, eh?"
"We're done for today."
He tossed the water skin to Bronn and started to walk way
"Your brother ever tell you how I came into his service?
"You stood for him in his trial by combat at the Eyrie."
"Aye. But only when Lady Arryn demanded the trial take place that day. You were his first choice. He named you for his champion because he knew you would ride day and night to come fight for him. You gonna fight for him now?"
Jaime exited and Aelinor followed after him.
"I think you should visit Tyrion. He doesn't many, so his big brother going to see him would be more than welcome."
"I'll think about it."
Later that day, Jaime had decided to listen to his niece. He and Tyrion sit in his cell.
"To tell you the truth, this isn't so bad. Four walls. A pot to piss in. I was chained to a wooden post covered in my own shit for monts."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"Maybe a bit. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner."
"It's complicated, yes. So how is our sister?"
"How do you think? Her son died in her arms."
"Her son?"
"Don't. You know what's coming?"
"My trial for regicide.Yes, I know. I know the whole bloody country thinks I'm guilty. I know that one of my three judges has wished me dead more times than I can count. And that judge is my father. As for Cersei, well, she's probably working on a way to avoid a trial altogether by having me killed."
"Now that you mention it, she did ask."
"So, should I turn around and close my eyes?"
"Depends. Did you do it?"
"The Kingslayer brothers. You like it? I like it. You're really asking if I killed your son?"
"Are you really asking if I'd kill my brother? How can I help you?"
"Well, you could set me free."
"You know I can't."
"Then there's really nothing else to say."
"What do you want me to do? Kill the guards? Sneak you out of the city in the back of a cart? I'm the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard."
"Sorry, I'd forgotten. I'd hate for you to do something inappropriate." Tyrion quipped.
"Inappropriate? You're accused of killing the king. Freeing you is treason."
"Except I didn't do it."
"Which is why we're having a trial."
"A trial. If the killer threw himself before the Iron Throne, confessed to his crimes, and gave evidence of his irrefutable of his guilt, it wouldn't matter to Cersei. She won't rest until my head's on a spike."
"Not just yours. She's offering a knighthood to whomever finds Sansa Stark."
"Sansa couldn't have done this."
"She had more reason than anyone in the Seven Kingdoms. Do you think it's a coincidence she disappeared the same night Joffrey died?"
"No, but... Sansa's not a killer. Not yet, anyway."
The brothers sat in silence before it was time for Jaime to leave.
All Tyrion could do was wait for trial. His undoubtedly biased trial.