chapter 176 part 1
Chapter 176 Tyrion, Hand of the King 2
Cersei Lannister swirled the wine in her goblet, not answering Tyrion Lannister's question. She lowered her gaze, seemingly contemplating her answer.
Tyrion asked again, "Cersei, do you think they're reliable? Or rather, do you trust them?"
Her hand stilled. Queen Cersei gracefully took a sip of the Arbor red and said leisurely, "Why do you ask?"
As she spoke, her green eyes flickered. "Does Father have other arrangements?"
Tyrion pointed to the letter on the table, which his sister had crumpled into a ball, and said, "You must not have been paying attention. Our dear father dislikes vague expressions..."
Tyrion thought to himself that his sister's attention had likely been completely absorbed by the part about his appointment as Hand of the King, so she hadn't paid any mind to the rest.
Cersei first glanced at her imp of a brother, who wore a sincere expression, before setting down her wine goblet and picking up the letter.
Queen Cersei smoothed open the crumpled letter, her brows furrowing as she began to read.
...
Tyrion lightly swirled his wine goblet... *Glyn isn't as naive as my sister. It's hard to sway his heart with words alone. If House crabbe's traditions were unfavorable to him... he'd dare swear to the Seven that Glyn would immediately offer a very palatable new interpretation.*
Tyrion took a sip of wine, his eyes flickering... *Perhaps House Stark could be a breakthrough point. If Glyn still clings to his knightly heart, he must be in agony right now... I'll choose to talk with Glyn at Chataya's brothel. I can comfort the little one while I'm there.*
A lewd smile involuntarily appeared on Tyrion's face, but he quickly caught himself and immediately covered it by taking a drink.
"This is all the Old Lion's own speculation!"
Queen Cersei's voice interrupted Tyrion's thoughts.
"On what grounds does he think everyone around me is disloyal? Does he take me for a fool?"
Tyrion's gaze flickered, and he said softly, "Sister, would you like to hear my analysis?"
Queen Cersei leaned back in her chair and glanced at the humble posture of her imp of a brother. She nodded slightly.
"He knows that although your son has only been king for a short time, the trouble he has caused is already countless. The Old Lion deduces from this that someone has corrupted our Joffrey."
His nephew the king sat upon the high Iron Throne, deciding cases as he saw fit. If he was bored, he would hand the cases over to the Small Council. But if a case interested him... no one could stop his absurd judgments, and that included his sister Cersei, who was famous for her willfulness.
For instance... a thief was dragged before him, and Joffrey ordered his men to chop off the man's hand on the spot in the throne room. Two knights were in a dispute over a piece of land and petitioned the king to decide the matter; Joffrey ordered them to settle it with a duel to the death. A woman knelt, begging for the head of a man executed for a crime, hoping to bury his body whole; Joffrey declared that those who love criminals are criminals themselves, and the poor woman was dragged to the dungeons by the Gold Cloaks. A fat tavern singer was accused of composing a song that mocked the late King Robert I; Joffrey, finding the song amusing, showed mercy by announcing the fat singer could choose to keep either his fingers or his tongue. And so on.
Tyrion blinked. The solemn throne room had become Joffrey's playground.
After a moment of silence, Queen Cersei spoke, "Tyrion, Joffrey doesn't lack for ministers' loyal advice and good counsel, but you should know his personality well. He's always been a bit stubborn... Now that Joffrey is king, he feels even more that he should do as he pleases. He thinks a king should not be ordered about by anyone."
"The Iron Throne is truly a fine chair."
Tyrion first sighed with emotion, then continued, "The crown makes any man's mind unclear, let alone Joffrey, who is not yet a man grown."
Tyrion pointed to the crumpled letter. "Our dear father is looking forward to your performance... My good sister, you are Joffrey's Queen Regent."
Queen Cersei eyed her imp of a brother suspiciously. "Pycelle and Varys are both stupid and cowardly, but at least they are obedient."
Tyrion nodded slightly. He had a fair grasp of Pycelle's and Varys's standing in Queen Cersei's eyes. He felt he could win one of them over for his own use... one for his sister, one for him. Very fair, and very amicable.
Tyrion said in a low voice, "What happened with Eddard Stark? I imagine you know very well... Letting him take the black would have made us fewer enemies, but Joffrey wanted him killed. If not for that change, the rebellion might not have happened."
Queen Cersei's eyes shifted, and she frowned. "I instructed Joffrey carefully. The plan was to show mercy, let Stark take the black, and send him to the Wall."
"That way, not only would the threat be gone for good, but peace with Winterfell wouldn't have been impossible... But as it turned out, Joffrey felt he had a responsibility to give the crowd a good show. What could I do?"
"Ser Ilyn was more than eager, happy to carry out the order without so much as asking me! Gods be good, at least the commoners' riot didn't let Stark die on our execution block."
Tyrion smiled and nodded... *Yes! It's all someone else's fault, my good sister!*
"Still haven't found Eddard Stark's... whereabouts?"
Queen Cersei shook her head.
Tyrion sighed. "Winterfell will still blame us for all of this..."
Cersei cut him off angrily, "On what grounds? We weren't the ones who did it! The culprits are those hateful commoners!"
Tyrion shrugged and helplessly changed the subject.
"Then I ask..."
Tyrion's words were once again cut off by Queen Cersei. "Sansa is also gone."
Tyrion froze for a moment, as if to confirm he hadn't misheard. "The Stark girl?"
Queen Cersei furrowed her brow and nodded slightly.
"Ha!"
Tyrion picked up his goblet and drained it in one go. He grinned. "It seems only the lion or the wolf can survive... My good sister, we are our father's good children. We should pray to the Seven every day for our good father's health... My request isn't high, just that he can hold on until these troubles are resolved."
He paused, then added, "I'm telling the truth. Father is still more reliable. He can shield his troublemaking children from the wind and rain. I have a great urge to piously kiss his shoes right now... if he doesn't mind."
Cersei gave Tyrion a contemptuous glance. "I can also shield the Lannisters from the wind and rain. The mother lion will destroy all her enemies."
Tyrion actually wanted to ask Cersei: *My charming sister, by what means, pray tell? By willfulness and arrogance?*
Tyrion nodded as if in agreement, showing an expression of admiration... He really couldn't keep up the pretense!
He gave a slight smile and chose to change the subject.
"I suppose dismissing Ser Barristan Selmy from the Kingsguard was also Joffrey's own idea?"
Cersei's green eyes quivered. After a moment, she sighed. "Joffrey wanted someone to blame for Robert's death. Varys suggested making an example of Ser Barristan. It wasn't a bad idea. On one hand... Jaime could take over as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and gain a seat on the Small Council. On the other hand, Joffrey is very fond of Sandor crabbe, so he had a bone to throw his dog. We had intended to grant Selmy a castle, but that useless old man was discontent and was driven away."