A Shadow and a Wolf

Tyrion XXII

A boat was approaching with a white banner and the green banner of House Reed. There had to be about ten men in the boat, all rowing except one holding the helm. Tyrion was standing on the side of the Kingsroad with the Blackfish and Bronn, waiting for Howland Reed. The Lord of Greywater Watch had come to negotiate with them after the failed attempt to kidnap Sansa and kill Tyrion in the middle of the night. Tyrion still didn't forgive the crannogmen and Arya Stark for attempting to kill him and take Sansa away from him. They could have tried to speak with him, but Tyrion supposed Howland Reed had no wish to speak with him after Ned Stark's execution and the Red Wedding. Again, Tyrion had to thank Cersei, Joffrey and his father for having him almost killed.

If Howland Reed came for a parley now, it was because he had no choice. They had eight of his people, including one of his bannermen, Lord Aran Fenn. Even more important, they had Arya and Sansa. If Howland Reed was to get them, he had no choice but to negotiate. Knowing the character of Northerners, Tyrion didn't expect these negotiations to be easy. The boat reached the bank and some of the men started to get off. One of them took their lead and walked to Tyrion and the other men with him. He stopped right in front of Tyrion, a suspicious look on his face.

"Lord Lannister. Ser Brynden," he said.

"Lord Reed," replied the Blackfish.

So here was the Lord of Greywater Watch. There was nothing about him to distinguish him from the rest of his people. He wore the same clothes, was as small as the others, and he was among the oarsmen in the boat. However, despite being smaller than all the other men, the crannogmen were still taller than Tyrion. Even among them, he would be a dwarf.

"I'm surprised to see you standing at the side of the Lord of Casterly Rock, Ser Brynden. However, that explains why there are Tully banners in this army. I'm sure you have good reasons to march with the Lannisters," said Howland Reed, not paying attention to Tyrion.

"I have," confirmed the Blackfish. "And I will explain you everything, but not here. You want to see Sansa and Arya? Then follow us."

Howland Reed hesitated. He looked at Tyrion, then to Brynden Tully, and finally he nodded. It was a good thing the Blackfish was there, or else the Lord of the crannogmen may never have followed them. They walked in silence to the pavilion where the others were waiting for them. There were all the people they thought who were needed for negotiations. Sansa sat in a comfortable chair. The maester still said she should move as little as possible, and Tyrion was not about to argue with him. Not only was she badly injured, but she was also pregnant. Tyrion had feared the worst not only for her, but for the baby as well.

Sitting next to Sansa was her sister, Arya Stark. Tyrion had not expected Sansa's sister to try to kill him, and almost to succeed in killing her own sister, when they would meet. He didn't expect to find her in the Neck either, and certainly not in the middle of the night in his own tent, while he and Sansa were making love. During the first two days following the nocturnal attack, Sansa had been raving, saying it was her sister in their tent that night. Tyrion hadn't believed her in the first place, but the third day she had seemed more conscious and told him in the most serious way that it was her sister, and that she wanted to see her. She had almost ordered him to let her see Arya. Tyrion had Bronn fetch the girl, and he had recognized her after some time. That was Arya Stark.

Now here she was. She still wore the garments of the crannogmen. Only a few people knew who she was. Tyrion didn't want the new that Arya Stark was in their camp to spread. Almost everyone who knew who she was stood in the tent right now. Tyrion and Arya were both staring at each other. Arya Stark didn't forgive him for marrying Sansa, and Tyrion didn't forgive her for almost killing his wife and their child. He remembered how pale Sansa had seemed for days, the blood spurting from her shoulder, the fear he had to lose his wife and his child in the same night. All that because of this little girl who thought he should die. Because Sansa asked, he had allowed her to live comfortably in a tent without chains, but he maintained heavy guard around her at all time. If it had been up to him, he would have let the Stark girl in the cage with the other crannogmen. He had lost thirteen men when they had invaded his camp to kill him in his bed, with Sansa lying next to him, and his wife had almost been killed in the attempt. He wasn't about to forget. Yet, he accepted to receive Howland Reed. No matter what grudge he had against the crannogmen now, he needed them.