The Prince of Thorns

♠Stannis's Siege🏹

An armored Alester stands by the window while Podrick helps to dress Tyrion in his armor.

ALESTER: "I've always hated those damn bells. They ring for horror. A dead king, a city under siege."

TYRION: "A wedding."

ALESTER: "Exactly. Most weddings around here aren't happy. Podrick, is that it?"

PODRICK: "Nearly, my lord."

Alester unfolds a map before them.

ALESTER: "The map you asked for."

Tyrion steps down to study the map. Podrick continues to dress him.

TYRION: "There must be twenty miles of tunnels beneath the city."

ALESTER: "Closer to fifty. The Targaryen's built this city to withstand a siege and to provide escape if necessary."

TYRION: "I'm not escaping. Strange as it sounds, I'm the captain of the ship, and if the ship goes down, I go with her."

ALESTER: "I reckon that makes us Co-captains then."

Podrick hands Tyrion his war axe.

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In the throne room last conversations are held before the battle.

ALESTER: "Remember, wait till the ships-"

BRONN: "The ships are in the bay."

TYRION: "They must be far enough in-"

BRONN: "I know what "in" means. Do you know how to use that?"

TYRION: "I chopped wood once. No, I watched my brother chopping wood."

BRONN: "I saw you kill a man with a shield. You'll be unstoppable with an ax. And with Alester the brave by your side they'll cower in fear."

They clasp hands.

BRONN: "You two don't get yourselves killed on me now."

TYRION: "Nor you, my friend."

BRONN: "Oh, are we friends now?"

TYRION: "Of course, we are. Just because I pay you for your services doesn't diminish our friendship."

BRONN: "Enhances it, really."

TYRION: "Oh! "Enhances." Fancy word for a sellsword."

BRONN: "Been spending time with fancy folks."

Bronn exits. Lady Sansa Stark and Shae enter.

TYRION: "Lady Sansa and Sheila."

ALESTER: "My ladies."

SHAE: "Shae."

TYRION: "Shae, yes. Surely my sister has asked you to join the other highborn ladies in Maegor's holdfast."

SANSA: "She has, my lord, but King Joffrey sent for me to see him off."

King Joffrey and The Hound enter.

JOFFREY: "Sansa."

TYRION: "Always been a great romantic, my nephew."

JOFFREY: "Sansa, come here."

SANSA: "I will pray for your safe return, my lord."

TYRION: "Will you?"

SANSA: "Just as I pray for the kings."

Sansa walks away.

TYRION: "Stay safe, my lady."

SHAE: "And you, my lion."

Podrick and Tyrion exit

JOFFREY: "Your king rides forth to battle. You should see him off with a kiss."

He draws his sword and presents it.

JOFFREY: "My new blade. Hearteater, I've named it. Kiss it."

Sansa leans down and kissed the blade.

JOFFREY: "You'll kiss it again when I return and taste my uncle's blood."

SANSA: "Will you slay him yourself?"

JOFFREY: "If Stannis is fool enough to come near me."

SANSA: "So you'll be outside the gates fighting in the vanguard?"

JOFFREY: "A king doesn't discuss battle plans with stupid girls."

SANSA: "I'm sorry, Your Grace. You're right, I'm stupid. Of course, you'll be in the vanguard. They say my brother Robb always goes where the fighting is thickest. And he is only a pretender."

JOFFREY: "Your brother's turn will come. Then you can lick his blood off Hearteater, too."

Joffrey and The Hound exit

SHAE: "Some of those boys will never come back."

SANSA: "Joffrey will. The worst ones always live."

SHAE: "Shh. Come, my lady."