The Hand's Study, Tower of the Hand, Red Keep — King's Landing, CrownLands
It was around lunchtime and Tywin had his served in his study, while he was once again dealing with the latest troubles. Visenya would have hers with Olenna and Margaery, which meant she would be unavailable for a while.
This was the perfect time for him to confront Jaime and have him summoned into the Study a little bit after he had eaten. He watched as his disappointment of a son walked inside the room, dressed in the Kingsguard armour with that ridiculous white cloak around his shoulders.
"You asked to see me, Father?" he asked as he walked towards the desk.
If he knew why his Father would wish to see him after their latest talk during the Trial, he did not show it. Instead, he remained standing and simply waited for him to speak when he was ready, unfazed by the passing seconds that he was left to stand in silence.
"I did, although I do suspect you must know why I summoned you here," he said and wiped his mouth with a napkin before looking at his son, not even bothering to stand from his chair.
If he did dare to stand, he might have lashed at his son. However, he kept his composure for now and waited.
Jaime was not as stupid as many might think, already seeing where this would lead. In the end, he nodded his head, silently answering his rather rhetorical question before he also chose to say it out loud.
"Tyrion."
"Good, we are on the same page so far," Tywin said, sarcasm dripping from his voice with some mockery, a sign that he was not in the best mood and one could not truly blame him after all that had happened in less than 24 hours. "You told Tyrion of the truth about that whore girl, did you not?"
The young Lion was not surprised that his Father did not even call the girl by her real name, since she never mattered to him. It was surprising, how yesterday he saw the mighty Tywin expressing love to his wife but right now; he was simply facing a ruthless house head and lord who, unfortunately, was also his Father. It was easier now, for Jaime to see why he and so many others had believed this facade wedding between the Lion and the Dragon, with feelings truly hidden from any third parties and prying eyes.
"I did but only because I thought Prince Oberyn would die during combat," he confessed and quickly rushed to explain his reasoning. "I didn't know that—"
His words were cut short as Tywin slammed his fist on the desk, making almost every item on the desk shake from the force.
"You did not know that he would escape? You did not know that he would come after me? You did not know that your own good-mother would get shot by an arrow?" with each question, his tone became colder.
With each question, a part of his composure was slipping away. With each question, his anger flared and it was visible in the way his eyes glowed with anger; the gold within his irises only being emphasized by such strong emotion.
He glared at his son, who had managed to disappoint him once again. If he was not his firstborn, if he was not his son but some other relative; Tywin would have long sent him away.
However, because Jaime was not any of those things, a part of his pride did not let him act that impulsively; although one would wonder for how long this would remain considering how many times he had disappointed him.
Jaime did not lower his head in shame but he did drop his gaze from his father to the desk, to avoid his glaring. He did not blame him for the anger, because he had messed it up; big time.
It was his confession that made Tyrion go on a quest for answers.
It was his actions that resulted in his good-mother having an arrow through her abdomen.
It was him that had started this chain reaction of events and things could have ended up way worse.
He felt cold sweat rolling down his spine as he imagined one of those two actually dying because of Tyrion.
"I fucked it up, I know," he said, accepting all the blame and not backing away from it. "I opened my mouth and it cost me."
Tywin narrowed his eyes, studying him as if trying to see whether his words and apology were honest or just a way to escape any further punishment. His knuckles cracked as he closed his fist even tighter than before.
"It did cost you and you better not forget it," he said as he slowly stood up. "Your kindness for your brother made him a murderer and a fugitive." He started to walk around the desk and towards his son. "Your actions resulted in your good-mother suffering an arrow wound and barely escaping with her life. Your consequences and your punishment are to keep living, knowing all of those things that you caused." He now stood in front of his son, staring him down. "Knowing that your brother will be trialed and killed if he is ever found and this time, there will be no pleas or deals about the Wall."
Jaime did not have to be told more to understand, to get the message clearly. He already felt guilty about what had happened and now he would have to be reminded of that guilt each time he would see his good-mother, each time there would be news of his brother.
His actions had cost him almost his full family. One could say that he escaped it all lightly; with only losing one brother but that did not truly make things easier for him in the end.
Halls of the Red Keep, Red Keep - King's Landing, CrownLands
After the lunch was over and there were no more things to discuss, Visenya excused herself to an early leave. It was around time for her to get another dose of milk of poppy and Qyburn had made it clear that she should take it easy.
She walked down the hallways she was so familiar with, a Lannister guard just two steps behind her. Tywin did not let her leave without supervision and she had fought with him to take one guard and not the 4 he had insisted on giving her.
As she walked down the hallway she spotted a figure coming from the right corridor that met the one she was walking down. A small smile formed on her lips upon recognizing Oberyn, who seemed to be looking for someone; most likely her.
Upon spotting her, he marched her way with long strides and she met him halfway.
"Prince Oberyn," she greeted, glad to see him standing and moving after he almost lost his life the day before.
"Princess," he greeted as he came to a halt in front of her, his dark eyes quickly scanning her body for any sign of serious injury, not hiding his concern for her.
It was an amusing thing to see and Visenya chose not to torture him any longer. She placed her hand gently to the place the arrow had marked her, to indicate to him where the injury was.
"I am alright, Prince Oberyn. My wound was not serious and it has already been taken care of," she reassured him. "There is nothing to worry about."
Yet, her words did not seem to work a lot on him. He looked from where she had placed her hand to her face, all jokes and amusement long gone from his face. Instead, there was this seriousness that he had only when he talked of Ellaria and when he fought the Mountain.
"I defended Tyrion in combat for I did have him for a decent man, more decent than the rest of the Lions. However, I promise you, Visenya, that if my paths ever cross with him or the eunuch; I will bring them to you to face justice for their crimes," he said, using her real name and not her former title; a sign of how serious he was.
If she was any other lady, unmarried nonetheless, perhaps she would have swooned by his words. The way he vowed that promise, made it clear that it was no joke for him and he was not going to break it.
Considering he was a man, who for almost 20 years, was planning a way to exact revenge on the murderer of his sister; one would feel honoured.
She offered him a small smile as she kept looking at him in the eyes, her gaze softer and there was this twinkle of amusement in her golden orbs.
"I am certain of that, Prince Oberyn. I have the utmost faith in you," she said, managing to earn a small smile from him.
You better be lucky because by the pace Tywin is going, he might find them before you do, she joked in her mind.
"You seem oddly good after such an injury. I was informed that you were shot in the stomach," he pointed out, voicing some parts of his curiosity.
When he had first learnt the news, he thought it was Tywin, who had gotten injured. He was happy but also annoyed that he could not personally have that satisfaction. Then, he learnt the details a few hours later and how it was Visenya, who got wounded; a way to harm Tywin through her.
To say that he was not furious, would be an understatement. He remembered how proudly she had said that being married to the Old Lion she was given protection and yet because of him, she ended up with an arrow through her body.
"Not directly my stomach," she corrected him since the details of the injury had not been told to anyone else. "It caught most of my side, missing any organs by a single inch according to the Maester."
She did not wish to go into any more details, especially if what Qyburn said was true. The hit from the war hammer had created a disfiguration of her uterus, barely visible on the outside unless someone touched and sensed carefully.
The very same hit had somehow affected her organs, shifting them faintly from their original position. It never caused her any harm and might be the only reason why that arrow had come out the other way clean and she had survived a very dangerous scenario.
Oberyn heard her carefully, frowning faintly with his eyebrows as he tried to understand how it exactly happened. However, when she did not go into any more details; he chose not to chase them either.
"Through my travels, I have obtained some very useful pastes, made from some unique herbs not growing anywhere near. I will bring you some of them for your wound," he said, making it clear that he was not going to take a no as an answer.
She shook her head faintly in amusement.
"I will tell the guards to wait for it then," she said with the same small smile. "Would you like to escort me back to my chambers? I am afraid I cannot stand like that for much longer."
He did not say anything and simply nodded his head, before moving to be by her side; offering his elbow for her to take. She did so without hesitation, both ignoring the faint glares coming from her guard; following them two steps behind.
Their steps fell into sync, their walk casual and without any hurry.
Walking did not seem to annoy Visenya's wound as standing up did, but she could feel the same annoyance nonetheless.
She hid it behind her small smile and looked forward.
"How long will you reside in King's Landing, Prince Oberyn? I mean, now that justice has been served; your girls back at Dorne might be missing you."
Oberyn at last gave his usual cocky smirk.
"You almost sound as if you will miss me, Princess," he joked and earned an eye roll from her, pleased to see her trying hard not to crack a bigger smile. "I thought of staying a little while longer, until the latest wedding between your grandson and the young Rose. My brother might join us for the wedding as well since I hear his condition has started to improve."
"My Lord Husband will be ecstatic if the rest of your family chooses to attend and I am sure the Tyrells would be too," she joked faintly, bringing up the known feud between the two families.
It was not unknown that the Martells and the Tyrells had a long feud between them, dating back to the time of Aegon the Conqueror; according to some books. However, the biggest feud seemed to have started during a jousting tournament.
Prince Oberyn and the firstborn of Lord Mace, Willas, faced against one another. Victorious came to be the Dornish Prince, who had managed to knock his opponent to the ground. Yet, it was not without consequences because the fall was bad enough to cripple the heir of Highgarden and make him lose his chance at knighthood.
It was the very same reason why the Martells and the Tyrells had been given chambers as far away from one another. The smaller houses that followed each of the two bigger families, were also kept at respectful distance to ensure no bloodshed would take place.
Of course, with the incident with Ellaria; one often forgot that the Martells had a feud with one more family except the Lannisters.
"I will not lie, I was thinking of leaving soon. Then I thought that I could still get under Tywin's skin a few more times before I truly had to return to Dorne," he joked, making her roll her eyes; again.
"You simply just love getting under people's skins, don't you?" she asked, although partially she knew the answer.
He offered her his most charming smirk.
"I like getting under a lot of things such as dresses, skirts, breeches—"
"Point taken," she interrupted him before he got too far, earning another chuckle from him.
Throne Room, Great Pyramid - Meereen ,Essos
Daenerys was sitting on her throne, listening to the latest reports. A lot of things had taken place rather quickly, causing her trouble when it came to her ruling and bringing with them; unwanted complications.
"A word from Westeros, Khaleesi," the exiled knight and one of her trusted advisors, Jorah, said as he approached with a letter in hand.
"What does it say, Ser Jorah?" Daenerys asked, not sure what more bad news she could bear today.
She had heard enough already, almost none were good and she was not sure how much she could take. Her plans to go to Westeros had long been halted by the inside enemies she had to handle, something she often felt she was not really good at; despite the encouragement and support of her companions like Ser Barristan, Missandei and Ser Jorah.
"There was a trial for the murder of King Joffrey. The accused, Tyrion Lannister, was found innocent but escaped the very same night and attacked Lady Visenya with a crossbow," he informed, summarizing the news.
The letter had been small, almost summarizing the events so he did not have to do much. It had arrived just now and had come directly to her upon reading it; also surprised by the change of events.
The news made the young Targaryen look at him with big purple eyes, filled with concern and worry.
"What?" she exclaimed as she stood up from her throne and headed his way, taking the letter from his extended hand. "How is that even possible? How is she now?" she asked, clearly worried for the woman that, ironically, she had yet to meet from close.
That did not mean she did not care, especially after Ser Barristan had explained what she had done for the King and her family; despite all odds. Daenerys still believed that her aunt was the secret supporter, the one that had somehow helped her and Viserys since they were children; the one that had ensured they would have allies and shelter while in Essos.
"She had been injured but it is said she is well, nothing too serious," Ser Jorah answered her.
A sigh of relief escaped the lips of Ser Barristan, audible enough that he earned a look from the other Westerosi knight. It was known by now that the older knight was the one, who knew the former Princess the best and one would not lie when they would say that he seemed to see her as something more than just someone he once served. There was a more personal relationship between them, one that not even Ser Barristan himself chose to openly deny.
"That is good," he commented, momentarily worried that something had happened.
If she had been killed by another Lion, the noble knight would have made sure to eradicate that cursed family once they returned to Westeros. He would not allow another Targaryen to be killed by a lion when four of them had already suffered at their hands. Especially since Visenya herself had promised she would be safe and would look after herself.
When her son, Trystan, had arrived in King's Landing; Ser Barristan had taken him under his wing and helped him train. He could often see the sweet character of Rhaegar, one truly shaped and affected by the sweet and unique character of Visenya. The boy had sworn to him that she was happy, healthy and above all; safe. It was the only reason why he had remained calm, despite still fearing Tywin Lannister might harm her; considering his cold nature and reputation.
"The letter says that Lord Varys is also missing," Daenerys pointed out after she read the letter a few times, trying her best to focus her tired mind and eyes on the small piece of paper held between her hands.
"It does, Khaleesi. The Spider might have planned it all along and worked along with the Imp," Jorah said, reaching a conclusion that was logical enough.
"Your Grace," Ser Barristan said, walking her way. "If Tyrion Lannister and Varys are gone, that means Tywin Lannister will be putting some of his resources into finding them. This might be our opportunity to catch them off guard while they are chasing their own tails."
Jorah, as per usual, did not agree with his idea.
"I do not believe it is wise, Khaleesi. We have bigger problems here to deal with like the Sons of the Harpy. If we are to gather our forces and leave, we allow our enemy to reclaim what you fought so hard to take from them; including the people you freed from slavery."
Daenerys looked at both knights but in her mind, she already had an answer and a plan. She had a lot to deal with presently, like Drogon eating children and sheep and not coming to her, her other two babies chained and held in a room and the Sons of the Harpy that had come out of nowhere; threatening everything she had accomplished so far.
"Ser Jorah is right. I need to ensure that my people are safe before I depart for Westeros, which means I must first deal with what is inside my own city."