Bringing the Dawn

LXIV.

Tyrion Lannister

A tunnel beneath Chataya's, 301 AC

How the tides had turned. Of all the things that could've happened, this was the last thing anyone would've considered. Word had been coming for weeks on what was coming their way yet somehow they had still been ill prepared. It had been weeks since the city had fallen to a Dragon once more. Right up until the bitter end his oh so sweet sister had been harping on how the Red Keep had never been taken and that it would never fall to someone undeserving of such a thing yet she had eventually calmed down somewhat. Well, more their father had ordered Grand Maester Pycelle to mix her beloved wine with some sweet sleep to make her drowsy to the point she couldn't argue back.

The same could not be said for Joffrey however. The vile leech had done nothing but complain and rant on how his throne had been taken from him and he would make the Targaryen's pay. Every time he done so, Tyrion had rolled his eyes before retorting back.

"And then his dragons will come after you, dearest nephew."

His answer never changed, his tone never changed. Always dripping in sarcasm but lower than usual given their shit situation. They had tried to get out of the city, yet they had found out the hard way many of the tunnels which went farther than the walls of Kings Landing had collapsed from lack of use. How his father knew as many of them as he did was surprising but one in particular vexed Tyrion. He'd been in the Tower of the Hand for months, yet the entire time there had been a tunnel leading directly to Chataya's? What had baffled him more was when they had escaped through said tunnel Alayaya had stated something which further annoyed him from lack of knowledge.

"Would you like me to fetch Marei, my Lord?"

Given the way she had spoken the words so casually, it meant it was something that happened before. Possibly many times before. Whilst he himself had never lain with Marei there was no denying she was incredibly beautiful. With her long pale golden hair and equally pale green eyes that almost looked like peridots when the light hit them. Only seven years younger than he himself was yet always gave him a look of disgust whenever he tried to advance on her. Not a new expression for him to experience, and given the way Alayaya had spoken to his father the way she had, Tywin clearly had fondness for Marei.

It was a strange thought. Tywin Lannister who never took another wife after Joanna Lannister had died in birthing bed was seeing a whore. Regularly given the simplicity of the conversation. Yet Tyrion didn't dare to open his mouth and ask the questions that he was desperate to have an answer to. Now was not the time, nor was it the right place. They had to get out of the damned city one way or another. Ser Jacelyn was still in his pocket which was a good thing, as was Bronn, yet his wonderful sister and great father were very against asking for help from those they saw as lower than them. The longer they waited though, the more likely it was for this Jaeron to get more people to his side which would further box them in. Their only hope was getting to the Westerland's to start building a force to take back what was theirs. Three more days had passed however when there was a visitor in the tunnel, and since Cersei had finally finished her wine skins she was fully aware as was her son. The brats face getting more and more purple as the days went on in anger for sitting around doing nothing. It annoyed him greatly, that his nephew actually rightfully felt something for once as they were all thinking similarly. Pale golden hair seeming to glow in the dim candlelight as she got close enough to be within a couple metres of them.

"You called for me, my Lord?"

Marei asked, looking directly to Tywin. Cersei's emerald coloured eyes flashing in anger at the blatant disrespect of ignoring both herself and her son, yet he was biting back a laugh. Nothing amused him more than grinding Cersei's gears and in a single sentence this whore had done just that. Deciding right that moment he liked her even if she did not like him.