Bringing the Dawn

XL.

Tyrion Lannister

Kings Landing, 300AC

He hated Kings Landing.

He'd never said so aloud but anyone who was good at reading faces would have noticed it. Then again, he could probably put it down to the sour scent of piss and shit and rot. It had been years since he had last set foot in the capital, and now he was being ordered to live here. Something he did not want to do. But even Tywin's own children knew not to cross him. An order was an order. Much like his wonderful sister was given to Robert Baratheon after the rebellion to be his Queen because King Scab rejected her as Rhaegar's Queen. Whilst many things said King had done was awful, even Tyrion was aware that was a good move.

Lannister men flanked the walls outside of the city, capes of Lannister red decorating the tops of the walls with heads coated in tar to preserve them for longer dotted here and there. Wondering which one of them was Lord Eddard's. Closing his eyes for a moment at the sheer stupidity of the move. At least they still had two Stark's to trade. Not ideal, but with the correct moves certainly doable.

The journey took them nearing a month. Normally, it would've been much shorter but with having to weave around the squabbling Baratheon brothers almost doubled it. Before travelling here would've despised it, the wheelhouse he travelled in always making his stunted and twisted legs cramp more than they usually did. This time though was different. It gave him time to think everything over and come to some conclusions. To say they were fucked was an understatement at best.

The conclusion he had come to regarding Jon Snow had no proof as of yet, but he knew deep within it was true. Eddard Stark's honour was held in high regard (or in stupidity, depending on who was asked), and it was known he never lied. The fight he had with Robert Baratheon over the Targaryen children was common knowledge across the Kingdom's. A part of him was giddy about confronting his sister about it because she was told for years she would marry Rhaegar no matter what and would birth him children with dashing silver hair and violet eyes. She would be livid, and the sheer thought that if she attempted anything with him would rain their father down on her was glorious.

Tyrion tried his best to remember what he could of the 'bastard' of Winterfell. When he had travelled to the North he had always kept to the shadows. Had he known then? If he did, he had to commend the boy for not immediately throttling his dearest goodbrother for what had happened. If the roles were switched, he would've done something. But if he hadn't known, when had he found out? The timeline was tight if this were correct.

No, there were two options.

The first was he had known when they had all visited and miraculously managed to keep quiet on it. The second was he didn't know and he found out sometime to them arriving and Lord Eddard leaving for the capital with his daughters. Things were shattered, and it left them very few options.

Then again, would it?

Rhaegar Targaryen was wed to Elia Martell. Whilst it wasn't unknown for a Targaryen to take multiple wives, the Faith would not like it. Nor did they like annulments, many seeing it as a betrayal of vows to the Seven. He wasn't a pious man, but appearances had to be kept up. A sense of calmness overcoming him. It was likely the boy was still a bastard, and bastard Targaryen's had a sour taste for many with the numerous failed Blackfyre rebellions. The last being slain by none other than Ser Barristan. That was another stupid move, having him removed from the Kingsguard. He would've had key information and might've given some insight. But now House Selmy were heavily insulted and would either flock to someone else or remain neutral which left one ally less.

There were three routes they could go down. The first being the Iron Islands. They had a formidable fleet that was only beaten by the Redwyne's and the Velaryon's. A fleet patrolling the Blackwater would be ideal. If they offered them food and areas to raid and pillage as they pleased they might be swayed. A move as such would not be received well though so that would be a last resort option. The second was the Vale even if his father would hate it after Lady Lysa insulted House Lannister by taking him prisoner with little to no evidence for a crime he did not commit. But they did have a fantastic army and if the words he had heard on his journey down were accurate, had opted to remain neutral. If they were to depose of her in some way, Lord Robyn was a piece. Perhaps betrothing him to his niece? They were of a similar age, but he cringed internally as he recalled the boy still suckling at his mothers teat.