[SMALL COUNCIL CHAMBER]
[MACE opens the door for the HIGH SEPTON. He approaches the table. In better light, it is clear that his face is heavily bruised. MACE closes the door and walks over. The HIGH SEPTON addresses each of the members present.]
"As the High Septon of the Faith of the Seven, I give voice to the will of the Gods and am their foremost servant in this world. An insult to me is an insult to the Gods. An assault on my person is an assault on our very religion."
"An assault on someone like you is a blessing and a favour for the religion and the devout" Catelyn snapped angrily.
"I was assaulted, by those fanatics who call themselves 'Sparrows."
"Sparrows? What an odd name" Tyrion noted.
Jon Arryn noted that name down.
"They humiliated me, they beat me, and they left me naked and bleeding on the cobblestones. I am lucky to be alive."
"Unlucky for us that you are" Catelyn muttered.
"I heard this all began in Littlefinger's brothel."
"High Septon, this is a rather shocking thing to hear."
"I tend to both the highest born and the lowliest amongst us. Even prostitutes may earn the mercy of the Mother."
"Yes, some mercy that was" Margaery snorted.
"So you were administering to the needs of these devout prostitutes?"
"A man's private affairs ought to stay private!"
"Afraid your private matters would leak out?" Rhaegar said in a dangerous teasing tone, relishing the fear in Pycelle's eyes.
"What do you want from us, High Septon?"
"Justice! I ask that you protect our Faith by arresting these criminals and throwing them in the black cells. I ask that you execute their leader, this so-called High Sparrow. He's a threat to everything we hold sacred. If he goes unpunished-"
"High Sparrow" Jon Arryn mused.
"And where do I find this man? This High Sparrow?"
[STREETS OF KING'S LANDING]
[A soldier helps CERSEI out of her carriage. She begins walking forward. SER MERYN stands ahead of her. CERSEI questions a poor man where she could find the HIGH SPARROW. The man points up the stairs. They are crowded with people. CERSEI and SER MERYN ascend them. CERSEI covers her nose. At the top of the stairs is a large room. She watches as many people eat at tables. In the centre of the room, an old man is giving soup to people in line. CERSEI approaches him.]
"A young man said I would find the High Sparrow back here. Where is he?"
"High Sparrow? Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Like Lord Duckling, or King Turtle.''
"So it's him then, the High Sparrow?" Shireen asked.
"Probably" Renly nodded.
"So, it's meant to. We're often stuck with the names our enemies give to us. The notion that we are all equal in the eyes of Seven doesn't sit well with some, so they belittle me."
[A woman blesses the HIGH SPARROW and he blesses her back while pouring her soup]
"It's only a name, quite an easy burden to wear. Far easier than hers."
"Why no shoes?"
"Because I gave them away to someone who needed them more. We all do that. It stops us from forgetting what we really are."
"So that's how he gets people on his side... kindness and pretending that he is nothing special" Tyrion mused.
"I don't think he is acting" Catelyn argued. The man seemed humble... as a High Septon should be...
"Is that why you came to King's Landing? To remind everyone?"
"Everyone? I have a hard enough job reminding myself. Oh, I tell them no one's special. And they think I'm special for telling them SO."
"Perhaps they're right."
"It would be comforting to believe that, wouldn't it? The Gods sent you here to tempt me? I hope not. I had assumed you'd only come here to arrest me. For that incident with the High Septon."
"An unacceptable way to treat the chosen representative of the Gods in this world, wouldn't you say?"
"Hypocrisy is a boil. Lancing is never pleasant."
"Heh... he said lancing when Lancel Lannister was the one to lead the attack."
A few people snorted.
"Although, they could have been more careful with the blade."
"The High Septon came to speak to me today. He doesn't want me to arrest you, he wants me to execute you."
"I wouldn't presume to know your thoughts on the matter."
[CERSEI pauses a moment]
"My thoughts on the matter align with your own. The High Septon's behaviour was corrosive, as was his attitude. Having a man like that reside in the Sept eats away the Faith from the inside. So now he resides in the Red Keep's dungeons instead."
[The HIGH SPARROW looks up at her surprised]
"The Faith and the Crown are the two pillars that hold up this world. If one collapses, so does the other. We must do everything necessary to protect one another."
"I can see what she's trying to do here... but knowing her she will do something stupid and make it all blow up in her face" Tyrion muttered.
[VOLANTIS; VARYS AND TYRION'S CARRIAGE]
[TYRION repeatedly opens and closes a window.]
"I hate it when you do that" Jaime grunted in displeasure.
"I only do that when I'm not in a favourable condition, or when I'm nervous" Tyrion rolled his eyes.
"You are always in an unfavourable condition" Jaime grunted again.
Tyrion rolled his eyes again.
"I have to get out of this wheelhouse."
"Volantis is a large city."
"I have to get out of this wheelhouse."
"The likelihood of you being spotted here increases a hundredfold."
"Mm, I have to get out of this wheelhouse."
"You should listen to people who know a thing or two about being on the run," Varys said with a frown.
"Have you been on the run?" Rhaegar questioned.
"I am not seeing anyone else in that vision, so it has to be me," Varys said in a short snappish tone. He did not elaborate on the matter.
Rhaegar frowned, his gaze on Varys critical.
[TYRION walks over to VARYS]
"I will not be of any use to Daenerys Targaryen if I lose my mind. I can't remember the last face I saw that wasn't yours."
"It's a perfectly good face."
"I'm losing my mind."
"If anyone recognizes you, you'll lose more than that."
"Look, we are thousands of miles from Westeros. What am I? One more drunk dwarf."
"So was Viserys and I in Lys. But the assassins still found us" Daenerys said with a frown.
"You have distinct features. I on the other hand-"
"Will either get recognized and killed, or sold into slavery as a dwarf" Varys cut in sharply.
Tyrion scowled.
[VARYS and TYRION walk through a busy marketplace.]
"Guess you convinced him" Jaime snorted.
"I can be quite convincing" Tyrion puffed with pride, while Varys scowled.
"Annoying, you mean you can be quite annoying."
Tyrion smirked.
"Slaves."
"Yes. The Volantene masters are very organized. Flies for dung shovelers. Hammers for builders. Tears for whores. Lest they forget."
"As if slavery was not bad enough, now they brand them!" Ned muttered darkly.
[VARYS and TYRION arrive at a clearing in the market and stop. A woman speaks before a large crowd. A Red Priestess is leading a prayer in Valyrian. VARYS turns to take TYRION away but does not find him there. TYRION watches from some nearby steps, and drinks some wine.]
"You stupid imp" Varys muttered darkly. He'd put his life at risk for this drunk bastard... oh how he wished his future self would have left the Imp to rot and die.
[VARYS is able to locate TYRION and approaches him]
"See, he found me!" Tyrion defended himself to his clearly displeased brother and mother.
[The priestess slowly turns her head to lock eyes with TYRION. VARYS AND TYRION return to the marketplace and continue walking. They stop at a large door, which a man is guarding. He rubs TYRION'S head.]
"One of the many reasons Dwarves are such sought-after slaves, rub their heads for good luck" Varys explained the man's actions just as the man explained it in Valyrian himself.
[The duo enter through the large doors, which belong to a brothel. They sit down at a table, and a woman comes to bring them wine. TYRION clinks his glass against VARYS'. A prostitute dressed as Daenerys walks through the brothel]
[A man from across the room calls her the mother of dragons and calls her over]
Daenerys blushed darkly from embarrassment. The prostitutes are dressing up like her....
"It appears you're not the only Targaryen supporter."
"Someone who inspires priests and whores is worth taking seriously."
Daenerys snorted, still blushing dirty. This was no way to show being taken seriously.
"Well,"
[TYRION watches her kiss the man]
"She's taken."
[TYRION spots another prostitute, with shorter dark hair. He gets up.]
"Where're you going?"
"I need to speak to someone with hair."
[TYRION approaches the black-haired prostitute. The two converse and jokes are exchanged before the prostitute takes his hand to take him away. But to TYRION'S shock, he is not feeling like it. Tyrion walks away. Varys, noticing that Tyrion is no longer in his view, gets up worriedly.]
"Oh my god" Joanna groaned. "Just once just listen to people!"
Tyrion shifted in discomfort.
[TYRION pisses out of a window and sips his wine. He throws the cup out into the water below. He notices that someone is behind him. He turns to see it's not Varys, but JORAH]
"He turned his back on Westeros. He's not doing shit to me" Tyrion said with the utmost confidence.
[JORAH looks behind him. As TYRION pulls up his pants, JORAH puts a rope around him and begins tying it. He puts a rag over Tyrion's mouth.]
"I'm taking you to the Queen."
" balls..."