The Rightful Heir
Tyrion POV
What the hell was going on in King's Landing? The news of the Tyrell massacre had reached here, and no matter how fast the words spread, it would still take quite a few days, if not weeks. Even if it was a Great Lord, his wife, and mother, with numerous servants and knights who were killed, it felt like the news was purposely spread to every corner of the world as fast as possible.
Assassins sent by Stannis infiltrated the Red Keep. What kind of bullshit was that? Even the most minor lord knew that it couldn't be achieved so easily. No matter how much my father spun the tale about Stannis' long hatred for the Tyrells, nobody would just dismiss his involvement in this.
But what could I even do about the situation if even the Queen didn't do anything? Without being there and seeing any of it, I could already guess what had happened. I knew my father had just gotten rid of his competition and put a leash on the Queen and the new Lord of Highgarden.
Damn it, it will now be even harder to kill Tywin. Still, it wasn't impossible. The problem was that Prince Doran wasn't a fool who could be manipulated by me. The moment I let go of my guard, I might be forced to make promises I would have to pay for the rest of my life.
And something was going on that I wasn't privy to. And not just the birth of Princess Arianne's daughter. Something far bigger and more secretive than I could imagine. And I didn't like being kept away from all of it.
"My lord, are you awake?"
"Come in." Awake? I hadn't even slept.
"I brought breakfast." Pod, as loyal as always, made sure to check on me before dawn.
First, I went for the bottle with liquid inside. I hadn't realized how thirsty I was until I smelled the sweet scent coming from the bottle. Pouring myself a cup, I was disappointed once I took a sip.
"Juice?"
"Aye, made from blood oranges straight from the Water Gardens," Pod explained.
I could only finish it so as not to disappoint Pod, as he probably went through a lot to get it to me. After all, I was nothing but a prisoner right now. Prince Doran might have tried to make me feel like I was a guest, but I knew better.
They hadn't used any force against me, but I could detect from the voices that discouraged me from going anywhere I wanted that if I didn't listen, they might just use it. There was nothing that could be done about it either.
I was a Lannister, and they still didn't know what would hurt Tywin more, killing me or leaving me alive. Well, at least I was fed and had a nice bed to sleep on. And if I were going to be killed, at least I could be sure the Martells wouldn't hide their daggers from me. I would know when my time had come.
"Did you hear anything new?"
The worst mistake they could make would be to underestimate Pod and let him roam as he wished. Or try to get him to their side. I would be more than happy to let the boy join the service of the Martells; gods only knew how much safer it would be for him.
It was quite incredible how things had changed. At first, I didn't think much of the boy, and now he was everything I had. The only one who stuck with me to the very end. But his loyalty was misplaced; I didn't deserve it.
"I heard some people came to meet Prince Doran, though I couldn't get anyone to tell me who."
Either the Martells didn't want others to know who their new guests were, or the guests didn't like to flaunt themselves. It wouldn't be either of the kings, as there would be no need for their secrecy. That got me a bit excited.
Maybe I was overthinking things as usual, but I couldn't help myself as I was bored to the seven hells. I needed something to happen, or I was going to go mad. And even if this was nothing in the end, I couldn't help but get my greasy hands in it anyway.
"Pod, prepare a bath, and find me the best clothing I have."
Whoever it was, I was sure to charm them. I just needed to try to look my best. Even though I didn't even know who I was going to try to charm. But a beggar can't be a chooser, and I needed an ally, no matter who they were.
…
If only everyone were as friendly-looking as Ser Andrey Dalt. His easy smile was always a delight to see, even if it was never directed at me. I guessed he didn't like his new job as a watchdog following me.
But the moment I mentioned I wanted to see the princess, he suddenly brightened up. Too bad, as much as Dorne was open to all people of all stations, there was still too much of a gap between their stations. Ser Andrey was reaching too high and dreaming too easily.
Though I couldn't blame him. Princess Arianne seemed happy to lead men like him by their noses. And even after giving birth to a daughter, it seemed no man could resist her charm. If I didn't know my place, I might have tried my luck too.
"Princess, the dwarf is here to see you," Ser Andrey knocked on the door to the princess's chamber.
"The door is open."
It sure was a sight to see the Princess cradling a baby in her arms. Her motherly behavior only gave her more charm. A mature charm that made boys try to be men to win her heart. Too bad, as I was getting too tired of the longing in the eyes of every knight I met as they looked at the princess.
"Lord Tyrion, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I heard Prince Doran is returning to Sunspear to meet the new guests," I replied, not even trying to hide my intentions. "I wondered who these important guests were for him to come himself to meet."
"You're not the only curious one," the Princess replied. "These guests said many things, yet it is hard for me to believe any of them. Words fly from their mouths too easily; it is hard to catch their true meaning."
"Now I am even more curious."
"Well, too bad, I won't say much more." The Princess smiled sweetly as she poured us each a cup of wine. "Not until my father returns, at least. But instead, I can talk about something else, like how the Royal Fleet has destroyed the Iron Islands. Would you like to hear that?"
"What?" That was news to me.
"Reports have come not long before, of Victarion Greyjoy and the Iron Fleet intercepting the Royal Fleet. Though it is hard to say if it is true or not, word is that Lord Victarion is dead, even if it is only the fishermen who say it; when so many say the same thing, it is hard to dismiss it."
"Well, that doesn't bode well." It seemed that Tywin had taken more action than I thought. "Even worse for you, I would guess."
"Why?" But Princess Arianne didn't seem to be disturbed by it. "Thousands of men die, but the King still lives. And it will only strengthen their need for Dorne's aid."
It seemed Dorne wanted the Iron Islands more than I expected. Or did they want Theon Greyjoy? Looking at the baby girl, with dark hair and dark eyes, I tried to guess what the Martells were planning.
"Beautiful, isn't she?" the Princess asked. "She sure gave me a new perspective on life."
"And what would that be?"
"Aren't you a curious little thing?" the Princess commented on my behavior. "You will realize it once you have children of your own. It changes how one views what power is. I thought it was something that I was entitled to, but now I know it is something that I should take."
Well, I never thought of myself as capable of understanding women to begin with, so it wasn't a surprise to be confused by her words. Hopefully, it wasn't something I should watch out for in the future, as I was more concerned about the Iron Fleet falling. It meant one of two things, neither of which boded well for me.
Either my father wins his war, and it is only the start of the Greyjoys' fall, or we are all fucked once Theon Greyjoy returns and seeks retribution. I just didn't think that the Black King was someone to take a loss.
By all accounts, he was crazy, and what would happen once he returned and saw what had happened while he was gone? I was sure he would only make this mess we were in a lot messier.
"Princess," another knight walked up to us. "Prince Doran is calling for you."
Damn, so the news I got was already this old for Prince Doran to return this soon. I didn't even have a chance to meet the new guests and make any moves. It sure didn't bode well for me.
"Come, Lord Tyrion," Princess Arianne beckoned me. "My father might not want to hear your opinion, but I do. I'm sure if nothing else, it will be entertaining to hear it."
Well, how could I deny such an opportunity? But I was now quite worried, even if it was natural for me to feel it. Whoever the people I was going to meet were, they were not as simple as I had hoped for Princess Arianne to ask me to meet them.
…
I wonder if in this world, people just didn't know how to stay dead. Every time, it was less surprising to hear of someone dead not being dead. At this point, the Others were probably coming back after thousands of years, too. What a time to be born.
"Lord Connington," Prince Doran addressed one of the men in the audience. "Please meet my daughter and heir, Princess Arianne, and Lord Tyrion Lannister."
"I didn't expect a Lannister to be here," the dead man replied. Well, it wasn't like I expected to see him here either. "Should I be worried about this presence?"
"That depends," I replied. "If you are a mummer's trick trying to get into the good faith of my father, or not."
"As long as a Lannister King sits on the Throne, they will be our enemies," he simply stated.
"Well, then you don't have to be worried about me," I replied. "As long as the Lannister King sits on that throne, I will always be their enemy."
"Enough, I don't care who you are or why you are here." The boy with silver hair and dark purple eyes was everything I would expect from a Targaryen prince, but it felt a bit too much. "As the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, I came to demand the loyalty of my family and subjects."
Damn, straight to the point. They had just finished introducing themselves, and now he comes to demand them. I wonder if it is a quality or a flaw of his. If it were someone like my father or Theon Greyjoy who demanded something from others, not many would decline them.
If it were my father, he would demand loyalty while already knowing he wouldn't receive any other answer. It would be by threatening them or by already holding a hostage; it didn't matter. If it worked, it worked.
If it were Theon Greyjoy, it would be after he had already defeated them one way or another and was only asking out of courtesy. But this boy, he didn't seem to have anything but his name, even if it was his real name.
"Prince Doran!" Before anyone could reply to the rightful heir's demand, a man burst into the hall. "A fleet! A fleet is closing in!"
"Banners?"
"A Golden Kraken and a Red Three-headed Dragon," the man quickly responded. "And dragons."
"Dragons?"
"Dragons could be seen flying above the fleet."
Well, well, well. One unexpected thing after another. Life sure wasn't boring here. Though I wondered who this saved. Did it save Prince Doran from answering the rightful heir's demand, or did it save the rightful heir from hearing the answer?
A.N. As always. Thanks for reading and supporting me. If you want more 7 more chapters of this story and 42 chapters in total with all my current stories, please consider supporting me on pa treon ironworlf852. Thanks in advance.