The Legacy

Part 23

Serra,

I trust you.

-King Robb Stark

Viserra read the note over and over again. Those three words carried so much weight. She questioned whether she could carry it.

I have no choice she thought. Now that her temper has cooled she went to speak with the only person she trusted less than Cersei.

"He's 300 miles away!" Viserra heard the shout from just outside the door. She debated whether or not to interrupt. By the sound of it Tyrion was not prepared in any way for this discussion. Viserra knocked on the door and waited. Although for not very long, Shae swung the door open. Tyrion appeared behind her.

"Lady Stark" he greeted formally.

"Lord Tyrion, I hope I am not interrupting" Viserra glanced at Shae.

"Yes-"

"No" Tyrion cut Shae off, causing her to storm off. The loud slamming of the door let Tyrion know the discussion was not over. "Please come in"

"Thank you" Tyrion motioned for her to sit down and joined her. The two sat quietly for a moment until Viserra spoke. "I want you to know I'm not here to apologize."

"I did not expect you too, lady Stark"

"Good, for as long as I breathe I will fight for those I love and my home" Viserra was stern in her confession.

"I expect nothing less." Tyrion stated. The pair sat again in silence. This time Tyrion spoke up. "I do not think the North seceding at this point in time is the best solution to the war."

"At this point in time?" she raised her brow.

"It is known no outsider can hold the North. If the North were to become independent there would need to be an alliance with the crown." Tyrion spoke with his hands. "That is the only way I could see this playing out."

"Sansa will not marry Joffrey" she glared.

"I'm afraid that is no longer in your or my hands" Tyrion stood up and made his way to the wine bottle.

"Seven hells it isn't. As the eldest Stark I do have say." Viserra felt the fury start to resurface.

"About that..." Tyrion pointed at her with the cup in his hand. "I have been meaning to ask." he sat back down. "Your father Brandon Stark, was Warden of the North at the time of his death. By laws of man you should've held that title when you came of age, not your uncle." Viserra did not answer and he continued. "I doubt the honorable Ned Stark would keep the title for himself out of greed or power, and being as he and Robert are now dead. You are within your right to claim Wardeness of the North." Tyrion watched as Viserra became cold. "So Robb is calling himself the King of the North with no real claim, not like you. Viserra Stark, daughter of Brandon Stark Warden of the North and Princess Elaena Targaryen." Tyrion drank his wine.

"I didn't want it" Viserra answered dryly.

"Do you want it now?" he placed his cup down.

"No"

"If you did want it, I believe with your lineage and right to claim, the North could become independent as you so wish"

"Robb is king of the North" Viserra glared at him.

"Robb is usurping the title from you, technically."

"The North is my home and Robb is my King. I will speak nothing more of this." Viserra was final and moved on. "I worry my new found freedom has now put Sansa in greater danger than she was before" Tyrion sensed he was going to get nothing further out of her he answered.

"You have my word no danger would come to Sansa." Tyrion restated.

"See, I accept the word of those I trust. I do not trust you" Viserra leaned back in her seat.

"Have I given you a reason to distrust?" Tyrion tried to make sense of it.

"Your family is trying to kill mine, and you would only benefit from mine and Sansa death."

"Valid argument." He drank from his cup. "what can I do to assure her safety and put your mind at ease?"

"I want your mercenary Bronn to be her private guard"

"Not possible, Bronn is now the commander of the City Watch" he stated.

"Since when?" Viserra asked surprised.

"Since last night. That last commander as you well know betrayed the last hand, your uncle, and I did not feel comfortable having him lurk around." Tyrion shook his head at the thought.

"Smart." Viserra nodded.

"I could assign some of the City Watch to Sansa." he offered.

"No, I do not trust them to value her life over their own. Even if commanded." she tapped her fingers on the table. Tyrion sat up and a thought crossed his face and he quickly dismissed it. "What?"

"What? Nothing." he answered.

"You had an idea, didn't you?" Viserra pointed at him.

"No, well yes." Tyrion stood up and walked around the table. "what of Shae?"

"What of her?" she asked confused.

"She can certainly defend herself and if need be Sansa. She has no connection to Cersei or any one else on the small council. And I solve the small problem she was yelling about."

"Are you certain?" Viserra was now at eye level with him.

"It would take some persuading, but I think this may be the best option." Tyrion looked over to the closed door.

"Fine, only because I know what she means to you. And if anything happens to Sansa, I know it will pain you deeply when I slit her throat in front of you" Viserra smiled at the thought. Tyrion was caught off guard from her comment. He had never thought of the young Stark girl as sadistic as she appeared now.

"No harm will come to either of them" Tyrion steeled at this statement.

"Understood" Viserra agreed for the moment. "Are you sure your sister hasn't slithered her way to her yet?"

"No, I know my sister. She would've dangled it in my face." Tyrion sat back down. "My sister informants are everywhere and they have to be brought to light"

"How so?"

"I do not trust anyone on the small council, I know one of them is feeding her information." Tyrion tapped at his cup.

"So feed each of them a different lie." Viserra offered. "Whichever comes to light, will tell you what you wish to know"

"That might work." Tyrion leaned forward. "But what lie?"

"Perhaps Stark movements?"

"No." Tyrion racked his brain until he found the answer. "My sister has one redeeming quality and its being a mother. I will broker an alliance for Myrcella through matrimony"

"To who?"

"I suppose whoever spills our little secret gets to decide that" Tyrion finished his drink and excused himself.

A few days passed since her conversation with Tyrion. It was revealed the next morning Princess Myrcella was going to marry the young Dorne prince. They had their answer in which Pycelle was Cersei's pawn. Viserra was there when Pycelle was confronted. It gave her pleasure to see the old man beg. When she heard how Pycelle did nothing to save Jon Arryn, she had a blade at his throat. Tyrion stopped her from killing him, and in rebellion she cut off his beard to the root. Taking that small compensation the old man was sentenced to a black cell.