[Chapter Size: 1100 Words.]
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As the war intensified, a great wave of refugees spread across the Seven Kingdoms.
Many of them began to gather in King's Landing, swelling the city's population from over 400,000 to nearly 500,000.
The most immediate impression upon entering King's Landing was the stench, stronger and more overwhelming than ever.
…
The Red Keep Square
This was the great square of the Red Keep, overlooking the sea.
Today was Joffrey's name day. The young king sat watching as the Hound fought against a knight.
"Kill him, dog!" Joffrey shouted with delight.
The Hound met his expectations, driving his sword through the knight and shoving him off the platform.
Excited, Joffrey walked to the edge, peering down at the corpse below. "Next time, find a stronger opponent for the dog," he commanded.
Soon, a fat knight stumbled onto the stage. Joffrey frowned. "Wait, have you been drinking?"
The knight froze, sweat beading on his brow. "Forgive me, Your Grace. I was nervous and… had two cups of wine."
Joffrey nodded. "That's fine, it is only natural." Then he turned to a guard, his eyes alight with mischief. "Bring this knight two barrels of wine."
Relief on the knight's face turned quickly to dread when he saw Joffrey's cruel smile.
"Let him drink his fill!" Joffrey declared.
"No, Your Grace! Please, I swear I'll never drink again!" The knight fell to his knees, begging for mercy.
But Joffrey only grinned, enjoying the sight of men pleading before him.
Nearby, Sansa forced a smile, watching as the knight vomited from being made to drink. "Your Grace, it is your name day. It would be terrible if someone were to die," she said gently.
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out. "Lady Sansa is right. It is, after all, your name day." Tyrion's voice carried from the distance.
Joffrey scowled, glaring at his uncle as if to say: Why in the seven hells did you return?
Ignoring him, Tyrion went to Sansa. "I am sorry for what happened to your father," he said softly.
"Thank you, Lord Tyrion," Sansa replied, glancing nervously at Joffrey. "But my father was a traitor… as were my mother and brother. I love my king with all my heart."
Tyrion studied her with mild surprise, then moved on toward the council chamber.
…
The Small Council
Inside, Cersei was gathered with Janos Slynt, Pycelle, Petyr Baelish, Varys, and others.
As the sound of mocking whistles filled the air, Tyrion entered at a leisurely pace.
He first kissed Cersei's cheek, then looked at her with a sly smile. "Did you miss me, dear sister?"
"What are you doing here? This is a royal meeting!" Cersei snapped, struggling to keep her fury in check.
"Oh, I know very well this is a royal meeting," Tyrion replied, amused. "And I also know my father's intentions."
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a sealed letter, and handed it to Pycelle.
The Grand Maester's hands trembled as he opened it. "It reads: Appoint Tyrion Lannister as Hand of the King in times of war."
He passed the letter to Cersei.
She read it in disbelief. Once certain the words were genuine, her face twisted with rage. "Leave us! All of you!"
The others departed, hiding their satisfaction behind impassive expressions. They sensed entertainment ahead.
"Theon Greyjoy had just left, and now the new Hand has arrived," one thought. "This will be worth watching."
Tyrion smirked. "Father is very disappointed in you. Now, you are the child who brings him shame, not me."
Cersei said nothing, just as she had not protested when Joffrey ordered Ned Stark's execution.
"My brother Jaime has been captured by the wolf pups, and now we don't know if he's alive or dead. We once had three Starks, but now only two girls remain," Tyrion complained to Cersei.
"One."
Tyrion suddenly raised his head. "One?" He set down his cup. "What did you say? One?"
Cersei licked her lips. "The youngest has vanished."
Tyrion drew a long breath. "You mean to say the little girl disappeared under the watch of a Gold Cloak?"
"Our attention was fixed entirely on Theon Greyjoy at the time. He must have taken the youngest!" Cersei declared, as if convinced Theon had spirited Arya away.
Tyrion pressed her for details. When he heard Cersei's account, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"That Theon Greyjoy! He truly marched off with 2,500 men and two-thirds of King's Landing's grain, right under everyone's nose!" Tyrion was half-amused at the sheer incompetence surrounding Cersei and the council.
He had never expected his nephew to trust anyone so blindly, least of all an ambitious schemer like Theon Greyjoy.
Tyrion was certain that those in power had wanted to be rid of Theon quickly, that was the only reason he had managed to take so much so easily.
Cersei, however, now regretted allowing Theon to leave with such provisions. "A Lannister always pays her debts. He betrayed me, and I will make him pay."
Tyrion nodded slightly. "Yes, you will make the Lord of the Iron Islands, commander of five thousand seasoned warriors and the occupier of Riverrun, pay the price."
He let out a weary sigh. "But what we should truly be considering now is Renly and Stannis in the south, don't you think?"
Cersei picked up a letter and handed it to him. "Renly is dead. Murdered in his own tent. They say it was his sworn shield, Brienne, who did it."
Tyrion opened the letter, scanned its contents, and frowned, lost in thought.
With Renly gone, the Reach would likely return to neutrality. Stannis would be the greatest beneficiary, and he would certainly not waste the chance to claim the strength of the Stormlands.
This development was both good and bad for King's Landing.
Had Renly lived, the city would have faced a southern host of 100,000 men, ready to march either on King's Landing itself or Dragonstone.
But with Renly dead, the threat was reduced: Stannis could muster perhaps 30,000 men and a fleet. Given his character, he would sail directly for Blackwater Bay with the Royal Fleet.
At last, Tyrion sighed, folded the letter, and left to find Shae.
He returned to Shae's hidden chambers. While she was distracted, Tyrion slipped behind her, wrapped his arms around her hips, and pressed his face into the curve of her backside.
Shae startled at the sudden embrace. Glancing back and seeing it was Tyrion, she exhaled in relief.
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