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Slowly they all returned to their seats, silent, ponderous and scheming. The wall lit up once they'd all taken their seats, a gentle hum emanating from it before it subsided and the images of a future they wished to avoid began to play.
[The Hound and another man grunt as they duel. Men and women look on from nearby. The Hound knocks the other man's shield away and knocks the man off of a wall. The view goes from the man to where Joffrey stands in a tent, watching.]
"Well struck... [Louder] Well struck, Dog.
"Great we're starting with that thing" Arya muttered under her breath, careful to not alert her mother of what she said.
Her mother did not hear her.
But Jon, sitting beside her again, did.
The boy smiled and shook his head.
[Joffrey turns to Sansa.]
"Did you like that?"
"It was well struck, Your Grace."
"I already said it was well-struck."
"What else is she supposed to say? That the man bled well or the Hound did a good job making him bleed?" Robb snorted with disdain.
"He might be expecting her to say those things exactly" Brandon the Elder spoke. He had changed his seat and was now sitting beside Robb. He wanted to get to know his nephews better, and what was a better way than to hear what they had to say up close and personal?
So far he liked Robb and Jon.
[Two men drag the man away, leaving behind a trail of blood. A boy walks over to clean up the blood. The announcer gestures to a man, who then walks over.]
"Ser Dontos the Red of House Hollard."
[The announcer gestures in the opposite direction, but no one comes forward.]
"That's embarrassing" Daenerys muttered.
"It is also dangerous for this Ser. Joffrey will not take tardiness lightly" Elia said gravely.
[Ser Dontos Walking down some stairs, awkwardly clutching his helmet and weapon.]
"And he's drunk" Oberyn clicked his tongue in amusement.
"Here I am."
[He drops his helmet.]
"Sorry, Your Grace."
[He puts it on backwards before apologising and putting it on correctly.]
"Are these what knights have been reduced to in the the future?" Joanna asked scandalized.
"I fear not everyone honours the title," Jaime said grimly. His expression turned grim when he felt eyes on him. He did not know who, but he knew someone was watching him closely after the comment.
"Are you drunk?"
"No. Uh, no, Your Grace. I had - I had two cups of wine."
"Two" Robert snorted.
"Two cups? That's not much at all. Please, have another cup."
"Are you sure, Your Grace?"
"Yes, to celebrate my name day! Have two, have as much as you like."
"That does not feel right" Tyrion commented. "Joffrey is not someone who is kind like this."
[Ser Dontos bows to Joffrey. Joffrey looks over to Ser Meryn.]
"Ser Meryn, help Ser Dontos celebrate my name day. See that he drinks his fill."
[Ser Meryn and two other kingsguard grab Ser Dontos. They bring him into a more open area nearby. Ser Dontos is forced on his knees. One kingsguard keeps Ser Dontos down. Ser Meryn and the other kingsguard get a funnel and a barrel of wine. Ser Meryn forces the funnel into Ser Dontos's mouth. The kingsguard with the barrel begins pouring the wine down the funnel. Ser Dontos begins gurgling and struggles a little bit.]
"Ah, that makes more sense" Tyrion nodded.
"The man will die" Myrcella muttered to her uncle, sitting beside him with Tommen on her other side. Tyrion had welcomed them both to join him, promising her that Jaime would not talk to her if she did so.
Jaime was not so happy with that premise.
"It makes sense for your brother. He is a cruel, cruel boy" Tyrion explained.
Myrcella nodded. Her uncle wasn't wrong.
"I only meant... it would be bad luck to kill a man on your name day."
"What kind of stupid peasant's superstition..."
"The girl is right. What a man sows on his name day, he reaps all year."
[Joffrey sighs.]
"Take him away. I'll have him killed tomorrow, the fool."
[The barrel and funnel are removed, and Ser Dontos is released. He pukes out a mixture of blood and wine onto the ground.]
"He is. A fool - you're so clever to see it. He'll make a much better fool than a knight. He doesn't deserve the mercy of a quick death."
"Did you hear My Lady, Ser Dontos? From this day, you'll be my new fool!"
"Excellently worked" Lyanna smiled at Sansa.
"I am so proud of you" Catelyn whispered to her daughter, while Ned gave her a proud nod and smile.
Even Arya looked at her with something close to fondness.
Sansa lowered her head to hide her blush.
[Tyrion, Bronn, and a number of hill tribesmen appear from the right. People murmur and look their way.]
"This should be fun" Tyrion leaned forward. He coulnd't wait to see the look on his sister's face when he breaks the news.
"We looked for you on the battlefield. You were nowhere to be found."
"I've been here, ruling the kingdoms."
"What a fine job you've done."
[He turns to Myrcella.]
"Look at you. More beautiful than ever."
[He turns to Tommen.]
"And you! You, you're going to be bigger than the Hound, but much better looking."
Myrcella and Tommen both smiled at their uncle on the wall and then t the uncle sat with them. Their uncle Tyrion had always been kind to them, always brought them gifts and told them fantastic stories.
It was no surprise he was their favourite uncle.
Only uncle, she thought to herself with a small frown.
[SMALL COUNCIL MEETING CHAMBER]
[Tyrion begins whistling from a distance. Everyone at the table turns to watch him approach.]
"Don't get up. More ravishing than ever, big sister."
[He kisses Cersei on the cheek.]
"War agrees with you. Forgive the interruption, carry on."
"What are you doing here?"
Jaime leaned forward with interest. Maybe he was a little excited to see Cersei being put in check.
Especially after what he'd seen her do.
"It's been a remarkable journey. I pissed off the edge of the Wall, I slept in a sky cell. I fought with the hill tribes. So many adventures, so much to be thankful for."
[Tyrion begins drinking his wine.]
"What are you doing here? This is the small council."
"Yes, well, I, do believe the Hand of the King is welcome at all small council meetings."
"Our father is Hand of the King."
"Yes, but in his absence..."
[Tyrion pulls out a letter. He hands it to Varys, who opens it, and begins reading it.]
"Your father has named Lord Tyrion to serve as Hand in his stead while he fights -"
"Out! All of you out!"
Tyrion grinned in delight at seeing the outrage on his sister's face.
[The small council members all get up and leave until it is only Cersei and Tyrion. Cersei stands up and approaches Tyrion.]
"I would like to know how you tricked Father into this."
Jaime snorted. Tricking their father? It was easier to make stone come to life!
"If I were capable of tricking Father, I'd be emperor of the world by now. You brought this on yourself."
"I've done nothing."
"Quite right. You did nothing when your son called for Ned Stark's head. Now the entire North has risen up against us."
"I tried to stop it."
"Did you? You failed. That bit of theatre will haunt our family for a generation."
"Robb Stark is a child."
"IS she delusional? Or in denial?" Lyanna asked incredulously.
"A bit of both" Tyrion answered. "One of the many charming qualities my sister possesses."
The manner in which he said 'charming' made Lyanna and many more snort.
"Who's won every battle he's fought? Do you understand we're losing the war?"
Ned's chest swelled with pride. His son was winning. Perhaps he had taught him enough or will teach him enough if he's winning.
"What do you know about warfare?"
"More than you now" Tyrion muttered.
"Nothing. But I know people. And I know that our enemies hate each other almost as much as they hate us."