19

Chapter 19: CH 19 ChangesNotes:

Ok, sorry to say but this will probably be the last update for this month, going on my first long vacation since...well I can't remember, that's how long its been :(

Anyway, hope you all enjoy this chapter! :)

On another matter, this story now offcially has a TV Tropes page! :D So yay! :D

Chapter Text

Chapter 19 Changes

Barristan Selmy

They'd given him a room to rest in, but he couldn't rest. The opulence of the room didn't help. He had been avoiding too many thoughts, and being in Casterly Rock after anything that had happened was very strange. As strange as the ride and escape from King's Landing. By some strange twist of fate, the Seven had seen him joining forces with the Lannisters.

After everything that Cersei did to see him dismissed from the Kingsguard and how she cuckolded Robert as well as so many other crimes...here he was in the Westerlands with Jaime Lannister. And both him and the Kingslayer were now sworn to House Targaryen once more. Though, Jaime had discarded his white cloak the moment they'd entered the Westerlands.

And the Imp was the Queen's Hand, just to make matter more surreal.

Tyrion Lannister, Hand to the Queen, Daenerys Targaryen...just how in the name of the Old Gods and the New that came about was beyond him. And Tyrion was now also Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. A bloodless coup with Tywin Lannister now locked away in his own rooms a prisoner in what was his own castle a scant moon ago.

To say it was bewildering was understating the matter.

And that wasn't even taking into consideration Jon Targaryen.

Rhaegar's son. A son Barristan never even knew existed because Eddard Stark of all people lied and hid him. And a trueborn son at that!

Barristan rubbed his face. He mourned Rhaegar at the Trident. He'd been his friend till the end, despite the strangeness and dishonor of the Prince's actions that last year.

He thought back to the long ride here, the Hound had been unusually talkative, but at least he knew now that he'd saved Grey Worm in Meereen. His death hadn't been for nothing. The Unsullied commander had survived until the very end.

He rubbed his face again. That wasn't the only thing the Hound had talked about. The Others are coming. The Long Night is returning. It would be a second Age of Heroes.

Oh, what strange times that we live in...

He sat and stewed in his thoughts and his reminiscence, feeling the pressure of all the years he had lived pressing down on his shoulders, thankfully a knocking at his door cut into his revere.

"It's Jaime!" came the Kingslayer's voice from behind the door.

"Come in." Barristan called after a moment, gathering his thoughts.

The door opened and Jaime Lannister swept into the room. Gone was the golden armour and the white cloak and instead he was decked out in Lannister finery, the gold lion of Lannister stitched blazonly across his chest. This was the Lion of Lannister, not the bitter Kingsguard any more.

Barristan frowned at him, "Ser Jaime," he cast a disapproving look at the gold Lion, "So you're going to claim your birthright now?"

Jaime's smug face turned aghast, "Gods no, Tyrion is Lord now, I'm serving him now," he retorted his face now contorted with annoyance.

Barristan frowned, "That's it? You will serve him?"

Jaime nodded, "I've renounced any claim I have to the Rock. I'm not cut out to rule, Tyrion is father's son, I just have my sword..." he faltered for a moment and grimaced, "That's all I'm really good at, though we discovered we're actually a pretty good team like that." He pulled up a chair and sat next to Barristan, his expression turning thoughtful for a moment.

A silence descended on them as Barristan looked at Jaime, giving him a close scrutinizing look, the Westerlands Knight looked just like the Jaime he knew. Arrogant, self assured and conceited, but after so many years serving together, he could see the differences. The smile was the same, but there was an openness that hadn't been there before, his words had less of a bite to them and were less cutting. He'd seen him talking and dealing with those around him and this Jaime, seemed to be a gentler kind. Perhaps one could even say...a humbler man.

He cast a glance at Jaime's face as the smug look returned...at least a humbler man by Lannister standards.

Barristan thought back to their ride from King's Landing, there had been a lot of time to do nothing but think and talk...and the Hound had been very talkative, a certain unknown issue about Wildfire and the Mad King amongst everything else discussed.

That had been a shocking revelation. He'd seen Jaime in a new light, to stand by a vow and watch thousands burn or to stop the King and break his solemn vow.

He scowled at him, breaching that subject, "Clegane mentioned why you killed Aerys...knowing Queen Daenerys , I understand why she pardoned you of that crime...and I cannot help but agree with her. Aerys's plan was a beastly thing, it is good that he did not have the chance to commit that atrocity."

Jaime looked chagrined and more than a little guilty now.

"...but you're an idiot for keeping quiet when Stark named you Kingslayer." Barristan reprimanded, "We all named you an oathbreaker, and cursed you...but under the circumstances, I truly can understand and I cannot find it in myself to condemn you for that act."

Jaime brightened and smiled that same haughty smile that he was so well known for.

"...but that doesn't excuse all you did with Cersei!" he scowled darkly, "Or everything else your spawn committed." Barristan spat in unamused annoyance. Jaime had always been a muddied person, but with the full scope of everything Barristan knew now, he was even more so.

Jaime squirmed in his chair at the compliment and reprimand.

Silence descended on them after Barristan finished, he'd been holding that in his mind, the words that he hadn't imagined he was capable of saying, the stain on the honor the Kingsguard was something he had imagined would never be removed...but much had changed.

As the silence stretched out uncomfortably, and Jaime continued to shift uneasily. Finally, he asked, "What will you do now?"

And that was the crux of the matter, what to do now? From Jaime's words, the Queen would be expecting him...but things were changed now. He had gone to her the first time because of duty. She was the only true Targaryen heir left...but that suddenly wasn't the case now.

"Jon Snow is truly Rhaegar's son?" he asked suddenly.

Jaime gave him a surprised look, "Yes."

He'd heard it from Jaime that first night in the Red Keep and again many times on the road, from the Hound, that sellsword Bronn and a smattering of the Redcloaks.

Eddard Stark had done the unimaginable, he'd saved and raised Rhaegar's last son as his own.

Duty compelled him to protect the true King. Duty was pulling him North now. To protect his friend's last son. He'd failed Rhaegar at the Trident. He'd failed Rhaenys and Aegon not being with them when the Mountain came...the children's deaths had always lain heavily on him. It was why he'd stayed with the Lannisters till they reached Casterly Rock. He had no wish to see Tommen or Myrcella share a similar fate, it would only weigh on him just as heavily. Innocent children always seemed to be the first causalities of war.

"I was going to return to the Queen, but...if Jon truly is who you say he is...then my duty is to protect my King," Barristan said gravely. Daenerys would miss him, but duty was duty. He had never shirked it and he had no intention of starting now.

Jaime stared at him for a moment before nodding his head, "As you say. Alright then, I'll personally arrange for a fast ship from Lannisport to the North for you."

He rose to leave and make the preparations, leaving Barristan to his turbulent thoughts.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Bronn

He watched as the Hound stared down at Tyrion. The tension was high as the stare off continued in Tyrion's new solar.

"Well what kind of a Lannister cunt would I be if I didn't have a Clegane cunt to help me?" Tyrion finally said breaking the tension.

The Hound scowled for a moment, "Not a very good one I think."

"Heh, that's probably true," Tyrion replied with a soft chuckle.

"What about my brother?" the Hound asked suddenly, his tone intense.

"He dies." Tyrion stated with a finality of tone much too reminiscent of his father than Tyrion would ever care to admit.

"Good. Send me after him." the Hound retorted quickly.

"No. I have need of a good loyal man here...and Gregor's probably already reached the Riverlands by now. I doubt you'll reach him before the River Lords have strung him up," Tyrion denied the request.

The Hound huffed unhappily before asking gruffly, "So what now, then?"

"For now, continue being a sworn sword. Protect Tommen and Myrcella, with the truth about them coming out their lives will be very different," he paused and gave Clegane an amused look, "I'm sure it'll be a more enjoyable job than before."

The Hound snorted and sneered, "Better than dealing with the little shit, that's for sure."

Tyrion shrugged, "Well nobody is going to be dealing with Joffrey now."

The Hound's sneer turned into a happy rictus.

Tyrion gave him a sharp look, "Well what are you waiting for? Get to it!"

The Hound huffed and left leaving him alone with Tyrion, Tyrion cast him a speculative look and then walked around the table and took his seat...but he didn't say anything.

In response, Bronn, nonchalantly, took a seat opposite Tyrion. He gave a him a look and then said, "Now I believe there's the issue of what's owed to me."

Tyrion raised an eyebrow at him and give him a look, "Of course, we Lannisters always pay our debts."

"Well this one's been a long time coming," Bronn retorted dryly. "Lot's of accumulated interest. Plus let's say two lifetimes of service."

Tyrion just nodded slowly, a small smile coming to his face, "Your words are getting complicated again."

He ignored the comment "There's the matter of some gold...quite a bit of gold actually...and my castle." He stared down Tyrion daring him to disagree.

"Of course, the gold matter is easily settled as for a castle...well Castamere is vacant, and it even has rich gold mines," Tyrion remarked idly with a smug smile on his face, as he took a gulp of wine.

"I am not fucking becoming the Lord of fucking Castamere, just so you can throw that damn song at me whenever you get mad at me!" Bronn cried out unamused by Tyrion's smug smile and smugger option.

"Really? The mines there are still quite rich," he responded smugly.

"No. Just No."

Tyrion laughed.

"The Westerlands are pretty damn big, I'm sure there are a whole bunch of castles that you can give me." Bronn remarked idly.

"True, but I would prefer something directly sworn to Casterly Rock. We do have so much fun together when we are working together," he added in a happy tone, "And with all that's happening I will definitely need your help."

Bronn raised a speculative eyebrow at him, "Things aren't as stable here then?"

"Oh no, with both Uncle Kevan and Aunt Genna backing me, my new position is quite secure in the Rock. And enough of my lords seem to remember just what is coming for us. So they won't be a problem," Tyrion admitted, "that said...Robert is alive and it's just a matter of time till he finds out about Jon and Daenerys." Tyrion paused and took a deep gulp of his wine, "And won't that be fun..." he deadpanned.

Bronn winced, even a lowly former sellsword like him knew of Robert Baratheon's prodigious rage towards House Targaryen.

"Yes...well that's nothing to do with me...at least for now, we were talking about castles," Bronn said bringing them back to heart of the matter.

"Yes we were," Tyrion paused and cocked his head at Bronn quizzically, "How about the Golden Tooth? Lord Lefford only has the one daughter, and he has been looking for a good match for her. She is a little headstrong but also quite beautiful! Much more than Lollys Stokeworth is! Of course, you'll have to take her name..how does Bronn Lefford, Lord of the Golden Tooth sound?"

Bronn blinked in surprise, the Golden Tooth and House Lefford were one of the Lannister's most powerful and rich bannermen, "It sounds a little too good to be true." he remarked dryly.

"Lord Lefford is here. It is a small matter to work our charms on him while we're waiting for word from Winterfell," Tyrion nodded, "Yes- that is an option, Lefford isn't the best tactician, but with you by his side it would secure that path into the Westerlands."

Bronn gave Tyrion an incredulous look, "Really? You're going to use me like that? Is that all I'm to you? A sword arm?"

"I've always used you like that," Tyrion snorted, "It's why you're so valuable to me. Plus think of it this way, the Leffords are actually family to the Lannisters of Casterly Rock, you get money, power, a castle and marry into a highborn family. Plus I have no intention of being a Kinslayer this time around...keeping father around to watch my triumph is much too much fun! So that's an extra plus for you." Tyrion was grinning now.

The damned smug Imp had a point...and it was pretty much everything that he ever wanted finally being given to him and much much more. Of course there were some drawbacks. First of all being they had to survive the Long Night before he would truly be able to enjoy and revel in all of those riches, plus there were other drawbacks.

Bronn gave Tyrion a speculative look, "I'm not sure how I feel about becoming a part of your family...I mean that would actually make your mad sister my kin."

Tyrion snorted and laughed.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Eddard Stark

Ned stood in trepidation in front of the locked door. Unlike his need to speak with Jon, this was a meeting he had been dreading and putting off for some time...but they were all about to leave Winterfell and he couldn't put it off any more.

He gestured to the guards at the door and they opened the door, with heavy steps he entered, the sound of the door closing behind him echoing in the silent room.

The sole occupant was sitting at a table, a half eaten tray of food sat in front of him. He looked up and his eyes widened as he saw Eddard standing their. He stood up quickly.

"Lord...Stark," came Theon's halting voice, he gulped audibly. The boy's tone had a strange lilt to it.

His face felt frozen stiff as he met the wide eyes of Theon. He took a moment and stared at the bruised face of Theon Greyjoy. Robb had been pulled off of him fast enough, but his son had still left his mark on Theon. The nose was crocked now, he had two black eyes that were partially healed now and the swollen lips had disappeared completely now.

"Theon," he said gravely.

Theon flinched at his name and cast his eyes down staring at the floor, Ned could see the him trembling now.

Ned didn't know what to say, he'd imagined how this would go, but now that the moment had come he was at a loss at how to proceed, "What do you have to say for yourself?" he finally managed to say.

Theon mumbled something and didn't raise his head.

Ned's rage suddenly came to the forefront of his mind, he stepped forward and grabbed Theon's face and forced him to face him, "Look at me when I speak to you!"

Theon looked, his eyes wide with shock now, as tears started to steam down his face.

"You betrayed us. You betrayed Robb. What do you have to say for yourself?!" Ned demanded again.

Theon just shook his head, his mouth opened but no words came. This wasn't the cocky boy he knew once, he looked miserable and downtrodden.

"You were my hostage, but I treated you well. If you had been anywhere else you would have been treated worse, much worse. I raised you along side my own children. Robb was like a brother to you! And still you betrayed him!"

Theon only continued to mumble. His words undecipherable and distant.

"Speak damn you!"

Theon gulped hard and this time he did manage to speak coherent words, "I'm...sorry..."

"Sorry? Understand, Only Jon's command keeps me from taking your head!" Ned thundered beyond angry, his tone as cold as ice, "This is far, far beyond sorry!"

Theon quivered but again, he could not form any coherent words.

Ned was hiding his own trembling now, this wasn't going as he wanted or expected. This strange Theon wasn't what he had expected when he'd come to confront the boy.

Since their reawakening, he'd listened as Robb had raged over Theon's betrayal, as Jon and Sansa explained just how much Theon had paid for his mistakes. He'd helped murder the people of Winterfell. He'd executed Ser Rodrik and pretended to murder Bran AND Rickon. It had cost Robb so much and had only aided in his subsequent demise. Just one more costly mistake for the then King in the North.

He'd wanted to speak and understand why Theon had done those things- though he could see Balon's greasy hand behind the betrayal. All boys wanted to make their father's proud but...Balon was not worthy of anyone's love or respect.

Instead, he found himself boiling with rage and anger...he should have waited it was all too fresh in his mind. He couldn't distance himself enough to be cold and pragmatic. This among everything else that was being thrown at him was just too much. He should have postponed this but he couldn't. By Jon's command Theon would be leaving Winterfell at the same time as them...but he would be going to Torrhen's Square with an escort of Manderly men, from there he'd be placed on a ship to the Iron Islands, and back to his sister. As per Jon's agreement with Yara Greyjoy.

He let go of Theon's face and stepped back trying to gain perspective as his emotions continued to churn in turmoil. He paced for a moment back and forth in front of Theon. It was too much at times, all that had changed, all the new replacing the old. His own betrayal of Robert tormented his mind, coming to the forefront of his thoughts at the most inopportune of moments ever since he swore the North to Jon.

He cast it all aside, it all had to be done, for the Living. The Others were coming and nothing else matters now.

He turned back to Theon his face set in stone, "You will leave Winterfell, you will return to the Iron Islands...but if you ever return to the North...I will take your head myself," his tone was ice as his heart broke at the words he had to say.

Theon's eyes were wet as he turned away, still unwilling to meet his eyes, "I...I...I...understand." he mumbled in his strange tone.

Ned turned around and swept out of the room, the guards locking the door behind him. He couldn't afford to spend more time dealing with Theon, he would mourn for the boy he knew later...there was more important things to do.

It was time to leave for the Dreadfort.