A Shadow and a Wolf

Tyrion IV

It was almost night. Tyrion was sitting with his squire, Pod, initiating him to drinking. He had initiated him to whoring not long ago, it was time for another sin now. Tyrion drank deeply and quickly. Sansa was off with Shae to the godswood for hours, so they had all their time. Perhaps she was praying for his death. The boy barely managed to follow, but he did. He always did what Tyrion ordered him. If he ordered his squire to jump from the battlements of the Red Keep into the bay, he would probably do it. Not that Tyrion would order him to do so. He liked the boy. And he didn't see how useful such an order could be.

Tyrion reflected on the last three days as he got drunk. It had been some time since he was drunk for good. The last time was during his wedding. He had drunk in hope to forget the events of his wedding night next day, but finally it had proved useless. Except for keeping his head when he threatened his nephew. The so-called king who rejoiced so much at the idea of his mother-in-law and brother-in-law's deaths. Tyrion felt bad for them. He didn't know why. The boy was insulting when he received him at Winterfell, a sword before him to show Tyrion there was no hospitality for him. And Lady Stark arrested him on the word of a brothel keeper and it started a war that led to the death of all her family but her eldest daughter. Tyrion couldn't believe how stupid the Starks were in the name of honor. Ned Stark supporting against all odds Stannis Baratheon, a man despised by most of the people and loved by none? And his refusal of Renly's help? Or warning his sister that he knew about her children? What a fool he was. If Ned Stark had accepted to be Regent of the realm, he could have kept Joffrey in check. The war between the Lannisters and the Tullys would only have been an accident for the beginning of a new reign.

And what about Catelyn Stark? She started the war with his arrest. And what was her idea to bring him to her half-mad sister and her sickly nephew who had less brain than Joffrey? And Robb Stark, who lost his war in the bedchamber. And by beheading one of his most important bannerman. Pride and honor. Sometimes you had to accept to bend the knee to people you hated if you wanted to survive. Sansa had understood this. She had learned to hold her tongue and to do what was asked for her. And she lived. Tyrion was admiring her for that ever since her beating before the court. He could never have done it in her stead.

Tyrion knew he was being unfair to blame the Starks for their own deaths. Joffrey and Cersei were far more responsible for this war than Ned Stark who only tried to do something he believed was right. The man wasn't interested in power, which was more than rare in the Seven Kingdoms. He would have made a good regent if the City Watch and this butcher Janos Slynt hadn't betrayed him. Not to mention Baelish's role in this. And it was his father who organized the Red Wedding. What a hypocrite he was to blame the Starks because he had petty problems with Sansa. And to say he had made a deal with Catelyn Stark to send her Sansa and Arya if she gave him back his brother. A Lannister always pays his debts, but it was difficult to pay debts to dead people. The best thing he could do now was to protect Sansa. Here is how I fulfill our deal Lady Stark. I marry your daughter in order to protect her against the people who had your husband, your son and you killed.

They emptied cup after cup, a handmaiden bringing them more wine and taking back the empty jugs. Podrick was struggling more and more to follow Tyrion, but he wouldn't give him a second of rest. He had to remember his first drinking time. With some luck people would talk about his drinking performance as well as the other one very soon. All that thanks to Tyrion Lannister.

As he swallowed the rest of his goblet, Pod wasn't able to finish his own. "Keep up." It was an order. He didn't wait for the boy to empty the rest of it and filled both their cups again.

"I don't think I can, my lord." Obviously he believed he couldn't take anymore. So Tyrion had every reason in the world to encourage him even more. The more drunk you got the first time the better.