[King's Landing - Red Keep, Tywin's Chambers]
In the aftermath of the trial by combat, it later became known neither combatant had died.
The Mountain had been exposed to Manticore venom, believed to be from Oberyn's spear. He was on death's door, ready to go in the blink of an eye.
Whereas, the Dornish Prince was believed to have collapsed due to the intense pressure his opponent had applied to his skull. His body was allowing him to rest as it repaired itself.
None of this changed Tywin's mind. Both men had fallen in the combat circle, so Tyrion would be judged guilty. It was a sign from the Gods.
Now he stood arguing with his only daughter.
"Not another word. We've been over this, the matter's closed." He said.
"I'm opening it again."
"You are betrothed to Baelor Hightower. Still betrothed to Baelor Hightower and you will marry Baelor Hightower as soon as Tommen marries Margaery."
"I will not."
"Jaime cannot marry or inherit lands. Tyrion's sentence will be carried out tomorrow. You have, on several occasions, made great claims about your commitment to this family's futurr. Your role in that futur is more vital now than it ever was."
"I don't care. I will stay in King's Landing where I belong with my son, the king."
"When you were nine years old, I was called to the capital. I decided to take your brother with me and not you. You insisted that you would not be left at Casterly Rock under any circumstances and if you recall-"
"I'm not interested in hearing another one of your smug stories about the time you won. This isn't going to be one of those times."
"Do you think you'll be the first person dragged into a sept to be married against her will?"
"When you mqrched into the throne room to tell me we'd won the Battle of the Blackwater, do you remember? I was sitting on the throne with Tommen, Aelinor nearby. I was about to give him essence of nightshade. Then I would have given it to Aelinor too. That's how far I was willing to go when I thought someone awful had come to take my children away. Someone awful is coming to take them away."
"No."
"Joffrey is dead. Aelinor is married to that sword-swallowing husband of hers. Myrcella's been sold like livestock. And now you want to ship me off to Oldtown and steal my boy, my last boy. Margaery will dig her claws in and you will dig your claws in and you will fight over him like beasts until you rip him apart. I will burn our house to the ground before I let that happen."
"And how will you do that?"
"I'll tell everyone the truth."
"And what truth would that be?"
Cersei stared at her father. "You don't know, do you? You nevr believed it. How is that possible?" She let out a sarcastic chuckle. "What am I saying? Of course it's possible. How can someone so consumed by the idea of his family have any conception of what his actual family was doing? We were right there in front of you and you didn't see us. One look in the past twenty years, one real look, and you would have known."
"Known what?"
"Everything they say is true. About Jaime and me."
"No, no, no, no, no."
"Your legacy is a lie."
"I don't believe you."
"Yes you do."
Cersei walked away, leaving Tywin standing there alone to process what his daughter had just confessed.
[Red Keep - Tommen's Chambers]
Tommen had been sitting, lost in thought, when a knock sounded on his door.
"Come in."
The door opened to reveal his sister.
"Aelinor?"
"Your Grace," she curtsied mockingly as the door closed behind her.
"You don't need to call me that. You're my sister."
"Sister or not, it is expected."
"You didn't call Joffrey 'Your Grace'."
"Joffrey was a cunt."
They descended into laughter.
"I'm sorry you've been put into this position so young."
"I nevr expected to become King."
"How could you? Joffrey was the firstborn male. As wicked sas he was, I don't think any of us could have foreseen the way he died. Which brings me to why I came here-"
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
"Yes?" Tommen answered hesitantly.
The door opened to reveal a servant.
"My apologies, Your Grace, Princess," he bowed.
"What is it?"
The man held up a piece of parchment. "Ellaria Sand asked that I deliver this to you. It is from Prince Oberyn."
Tommen stood and accepted the letter.
"Have they left then?" Aelinor asked.
"Yes, Princess. They left early this morning. They wished to return the Prince to his homeland, to be surrounded by family, in case things took a turn for the worse."
"Of course."
It was understandable. They hadn't come to the capital as warriors, but as guests for a royal wedding.
With Oberyn unconscious, he had no way of defending himself should someone attempt to finish what The Mountain started.
The servant bowed before exiting.
"What does it say?" She stood behind her baby brother, reading over his shoulder.
To His Grace, King Tommen Baratheon,
If you are reading this, I must not able to make this request in person. I, Prince Oberyn, request that Tywin Lannister be tried for his involvement in the death of my sister, Princess Elia Martell, and her children, Aegon and Rhaenys.
It is known The Mountain and Amory Lorch are under your command. With Lorch dead, the last person who is physically responsible for their deaths is The Mountain.
However, I wholeheartedly believe these men did not act alone, but on the orders of your grandfather, Tywin Lannister.
My sister and her children were innocents in a war torn world, much like yourself and your sisters.
I implore you to see reason and provide House Martell the justice they have been waiting for.
Sincerely,
Prince Oberyn Nymeros Martell
Tommen looked up at his older sister. "What do I do?"
"The right thing." She said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Amory Lorch may have been a vicious bastard, but now he's a dead, vicious bastard. The Mountain is all brawn. There is no way he came up with the idea to slaughter Princess Elia and her children, much less convince someone to aid him. It is time our grandfather answer for his crimes."
"I will think about it."
"Very well brother." She kissed him on the forehead. "I will visit you in the morning. See if you've made a decision. Goodnight."
She walked to the door before pausing. "Brother?"
"Yes?"
"There's still time to save our uncle."
"But the trial-"
"Nothing but farce. Out mother and grandfather had already made up their minds that he was guilty. The trial was simply to appease the realm." She told him.
"I gave up my right to preside over the trial."
"Yes, but you're the King. Your word is law. Kings have the ability to create new ones, especially when they would greatly benefit the Realm. Just something to think about." She opened the door and exited, hoping her words had taken root in her brother's mind.
[Red Keep - Tyrion's Cell]
Tyrion was lying on his bed, unable to sleep when the door opened.
"Oh, get on with it you son of a whore." Tyrion shouted without looking up.
"Is that any way to speak about our mother?"
Jaime.
His face was illuminated by the torch he was carrying.
"What’re you doing?"
"What do you think I’m doing?" They exited his cell which Tyrion was surprised to find was unguarded. "The galley’s waiting in the bay bound for the Free Cities."
"Who’s helping you?"
"Varys."
"Varys?"
You have more friends than you thought."
They reached the end of the underground tunnel.
"There’s a locked door at the top of the stairs. Knock on it twice, and then twice again. Varys will open."
"I suppose this is goodbye, then."
They hugged.
"Farewell, little brother."
"Jaime, thank you. For my life."
"Quickly now."
Tyrion grabbed the torch his brother left behind and used a trap door to enter a room. There was a woman sleeping on a double bed, and nearby was the booch of the Hand of the King.
"Tywin… my lion..." She said, turning over, only to reveal herself as Shae.
When she noticed him, they stared at one another before she raced to grab a knife, which she and Tyrion struggled over.
Eventually Tyrion overpowered her, grabbing the necklace around her neck and pulling. The necklace he had given her.
She slapped him, causing him to lose his balance, but he used it to his advantage, maintaining his hold on the necklace.
When he finally felt her stop struggling, he released his grip.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he muttered as he wept.
He stood and grabbed a crossbow from the wall and entered the privy, where he found his father.
"Tyrion! Put down the crossbow." Of course Tyrion did not oblige. "Who released you? Ah, your brother, I expect. He alwys had a soft spot for you. Come, we'll go and talk in my chambers." Tyrion tightened his grip on the crossbow when his father moved to stand. "Is this how you want to speak to me? Shaming your father has alwys given you pleasure…"
"All my life, you’ve wanted me dead."
"Yes. But you refused to die. I respect that, even admire it. You fight for what's yours. I'd nevr let them execute you. Is that what you fear? I'd nevr let Ilyn Payne take your head. You're a Lannister. You're my son."
"I loved her."
"Who?"
"Shae."
"Bah, Tyrion. Put down that crossbow."
Of course Tyrion did not oblige.
"I murdered her. With my own hands."
"It doesn’t matter."
"It doesn’t matter?"
"She was a whore!"
"Say that word again," Tyrion challenged his father.
"And what? You’ll kill your own father in the privy? No. You’re my son. Enough of this nonsense…"
"I am your son, and you sentenced me to die. You knew I didn’t poison Joffrey, but you sentenced me all the same. Why?"
"Enough. We’ll go back to my chambers and speak with some dignity."
"I can’t go back there. She’s in there."
"What? Are you afraid of a dead whore?"
Tyrion kept his word and fired the crossbow at his father, striking him in the chest. He quickly loaded another arrow, before raising it again.
"You shot me. You’re no son of mine."
"I am your son. I have alwys been your son."
Tywin moved to stand and Tyrion fired again. This one proved enough to finally kill the Old Lion.
He turned and walked away, tossing the crossbow on the ground.
He stood at the door and knocked as his brother instructed.
Varys opened the door, peering inside.
"What have you done?" He ushered Tyrion into a room where a wooden crate awaited. "Quickly. Trust me, my friend, I’ve brought you this far."
Tyrion climbed inside the crate and Varys covered him with sacks, filled with unknown contents.
Varys loaded Tyrion, in a transport container, onto a ship. He was about to return to King's Landing, but must have had second thoughts. He turned around and boarded the ship himself.
[Red Keep - Tommen's Chambers]
Aelinor returned to her brother's chambers the next morning, as promised.
They didn't even have a chance to sit down before a guard entered the room.
"What is it?" Aelinor asked, noticing the frantic look on his face.
"It's the Hand."
"What about our grandfather?"
"He's dead. Killed by a crossbow. And your Uncle Tyrion escaped as well."
The two siblings looked at one another.
This was going to change everything.