Chapter 42

"Your lady wife has asked me to exile your whore from Winterfell." His sister entered the study where they worked side by side to keep the North functioning. Tyrion was pleasantly surprised by Cersei's attitudes toward his person. Two weeks after she came out of whatever took a hold of her and she was still pleasant to him.

Cersei treated him with respect and in turn he treated her with respect. It was as if he was discovering his sister all over again. This time she didn't have cutting words for him but she came to him with questions and advices about Winterfell. He had his reservations of course and did not trust her. Cersei never took an interest in him. She hated him for ripping their mother apart. Tyrion remembered all the times his sister belittled him whenever she had the chance.

He felt rage at her and glared at her. "Do not call her that."

"She is not a maid from Lorath or anywhere else. She is your whore. I have nothing against her. I couldn't care less if you have her here or let her live at the brothel." Cersei said with disdain.

"Why do you bring it to my attention then?" Tyrion read letters from father. The man asked if Roslin or Sansa were with child. None of the women were pregnant in fact. Roslin looked out of place in the North. She complained of colds all the time and lived with eternal runny noses.

"I thought you should know Lady Lannister does not agree with you having mistresses." Cersei replied nonchalantly.

Tyrion rolled his eyes. He hated to even think it but perhaps Sansa felt something other than disdain from him. "Out of curiosity what did you say to my lady wife?"

"Oh, I told her you had every right to take up whores if you wished to. I told her that she should think of warming your bed before asking me to remove your whore from said bed. You do know that eventually she will have to become your wife in the true sense of the word."

The man frowned. "I plan to delay that event as much as I can."

Cersei frowned. "You are protected here but once this war is over you will have to make her yours. Father will not stop until you bed her. I daresay he will bed her himself if you do not do the deed."

Tyrion frowned back. "If I don't do the deed as you put it there is hope for an annulment."

His sister laughed without mirth. "Our father believes in legacy. He wants to be remembered as more than Tywin Lannister. He wants humanity to remember our name. Jaime is a lost hope to him. You are what he has left and he will have you impregnate that girl or he will do so himself. He wants the East. Tywin Lannister is a profiteer. Last time there was a war he managed to overthrow the Targaryens, fill his pockets with riches and put his daughter in the North. This time his blood holds the North. He has the West, and theoretically holds the rightful heiress to the East. King's Landing will fall to Jon and his army. Our father will put Gendry Baratheon back in the Throne and have my daughter as queen. Her children will have Lannister blood in their veins. Arya's children will marry your children. My grandson with your granddaughter or perhaps my granddaughter with your grandson and in that case father will finally have a Lannister king."

Cersei arrived to the same conclusion he had. "He's merely a man. He will die before his supposed great-grandchildren take a breath." Tyrion responded.

"Does it matter?" She grabbed a bottle of wine and poured him and herself a glass.

"I suppose it doesn't." He said tiredly.

"Any news?" She would ask the same question every afternoon when she came to work with him. He would shake his head.

"Nothing. Jon should be preparing to march down to King's Landing. As far as I am aware they will have to wait until Stannis and Gendry sort Renly."

"That will take a couple of weeks." Cersei mused.

"We're stuck with each other for a while." Tyrion raised his glass and drank.

She smiled. "All I want is to see Catelyn's head on a spike."

He pulled a face. "You shouldn't speak so freely of your hatred for the queen."

"Oh, spare me. Your child bride should know her family is filled with traitors, scum of the worst kind." She spat out.

"Much like ours." Tyrion commented.

"Worse than ours. You wedded the child more than two months ago and her mother hasn't even asked for ransom. Lysa does not love her child and it seems Catelyn doesn't love her niece as much as she presumes to do."

Cersei was correct. Westeros knew of his marriage to Sansa and neither Lysa nor Catelyn send ravens inquiring about Sansa. Lannisters at least protected each other.

"Father sends his regards." Tyrion switched the topic and they worked on finances and taking care of Winterfell and the Wall. Benjen would lead another ranging in a few days' time and he required food, men and arms. Tyrion provided the absolutely necessary.

They spent the rest of the afternoon working and preparing plans for the next few weeks. "The Iron men were driven back by Jon's bannermen. Bolton's men captured Arryn's ward."

His sister rolled her eyes. "Good. Now Bolton can finally be useful for something."

The heir to the Iron Islands was a foolish boy with grandiose deliriums. The North couldn't be overtaken with a few ships. The boy was as good as dead. Balon Greyjoy must have known. Why then send his last living heir to a suicide mission?

"We should be careful. Ned never quite liked Roose Bolton."

Tyrion nodded, "Jon does not fully trust him either. He sent the Mormont women and half the Hornwood force with Bolton."

Cersei smiled. "Jon is his father's son." There were few things Tyrion was certain about. His father hated him. Jaime loved him. Anything could be bought with enough gold and the right words. He was clever, smarter than most people and Cersei loved all her children.

The man was always curious as to why Cersei accepted Jon as her child. He guessed now it was good a time as ever.

"Forgive me if I intrude but why didn't you get rid of Jon when Robb was born?"

Cersei looked at him with doubt and then spoke frankly. "I loved him too much. He was mine own from the moment I fed him. Ned and I never expected to have children. I don't think you remember, after all you were less than two and ten when I became Ned's wife but I had a stillborn, and two miscarriages after that. Maester Luwin gave up on my body when suddenly I became pregnant after you and Ned parted south to fight the Ironborn."

His sister must need a confidant. They were spending a lot of time together. He realized Cersei wasn't the same spoiled, cruel brat that made his life miserable when she was bored or ignored him completely when she was in one of her good moods. The siblings found common ground in their mutual hatred of father. Tyrion truly loved his nieces and nephews, all of them equally. Maybe he loved Robb, Bran and Jon better.

"Jon was so small, he looked so much like my own baby. I thought about killing Jon and then he opened his eyes and I thought my Joffrey would have had those same eyes. I couldn't think of not loving him. I didn't love Ned. Father always said loved was for children and the weak. I became a mother then and when Robb was born. I thought I would love my flesh better than Jon." Cersei laughed.

"If you ever say anything of this I will slowly skin you." She smiled. "When Robb was born. Jon came through the door looking for me and saw Robb on my arms. Eddard was on his way from the Iron Islands. Jon was so confused. He was so young but he must have understood Robb was his. He climbed the bed and kissed Robb's forehead. Jon deserves to be Lord of Winterfell. He is my first-born. I am very proud of him." Cersei spoke of her children with so much love. Tyrion didn't think she noticed. He smiled at his sister; he did that now and she smiled back at him.

"Dinner will be served shortly." A servant said shortly after their exchange.

"Another dull evening with my sister and daughter." Cersei gulped more wine.

"Do be fair. They are perfectly well bred." Tyrion offered his arm. Cersei took it and they walked down to the main halls.

Tyrion observed as his wife and niece conversed in hushed tones. They stopped once he and his sister reached the table.

"Is something the matter?" Cersei asked with a cold smile.

"No Lady Stark, all is well." Roslin said softly. She looked worse than ever.

Maester Luwin expressed his desire to examine her. The girl however refused to be near the man. Luwin looked at him with worried eyes. Sansa looked as beautiful as ever.

"Where are my sons?" Cersei asked to no one in particular.

"Rickon is fast asleep my lady. He was fussy but Osha put him to sleep. Bran is asleep too."

Cersei smiled at maester Luwin. As expected by his sister dinner was a dull and slow affair. He counted the minutes to be with Shae. She was a soft balm for his soul although she grew restless. She complained of the cold, the lack of attention and the fact that she had to serve his legal wife. Bronn was of no help. His advice was to fuck both women but keep them apart. "That was your mistake. You should have taken up with another whore not bring your old whore along with your bride."

He walked toward his rooms after a draining dinner. Cersei disliked Sansa and Roslin and was particularly cutting tonight. It was fruitless to try and talk to his wife. The girl detested him. She was treated fairly and enjoyed many privileges. He was sure to let Cersei know that she wasn't a prisoner. His sister did not like her but let her be as far as he knew. Tyrion arrived to his quarters and found a very naked Shae on his bed.

"Come to bed my Lion." She invited him by uncrossing her shapely legs. Tyrion smiled filthily and hurried to the bed.

He spent the rest of the night lost in Shae. He slept peacefully, sated and in the arms of a willing woman.

It was close to dawn but not quite yet when a servant almost knocked his door down. Tyrion woke startled. Shae was still fast asleep. "Wake up now." He said and ushered her to clothe herself.

"Come at once. Maester Luwin needs you." The woman said hurriedly.

He dressed quickly and waddled alongside the servant. They reached quarters by the west side of the castle. "Lady Roslin is sick." The maester said when he looked at him.

"She has measles. The illness has progressed more than I expected and I can't treat her any longer. I can only ease her pain." The man said sorrowfully.

Cersei was by his side. "Foolish girl." She didn't look worried at all.

"Why aren't you worried?" Tyrion hissed when the maester went inside the room.

"I had measles as a child. My children all had it but for Rickon. It is not an uncommon disease."

"Is this why you have removed Roslin from her quarters?" He asked feeling his heart rate slow down once more.

"Yes. I also ordered to burn her clothes. Do not worry dear brother; your lovely wife is inside her quarters. I will have maester Luwin check on her." Cersei spoke without much affect. She didn't like her daughter in law after all.

"Wait to send the ravens. I doubt Jon will get distracted by the news but it is best if we know for sure the girl is dead."

Tyrion was annoyed. "Why then have you interrupted my sleep?"

Cersei arched a perfect eyebrow, "you should be with your wife; in her quarters. Yet you share bed with another woman."

"By the gods. Must we always speak of this?" He hissed back.

"The castle has ears. You brought men and women with you; spies." Cersei replied.

Tyrion sighed, "thank you."

She nodded, "I will see to your wife now. I suggest you move your belongings back to your original quarters." She left then.

The man waited for maester Luwin to come back. He sat down by the door and thought about what Cersei said. He brought father's men with him. The man was blind, happy to be away from his father. He never thought about anyone reporting back to Lord Lannister. Luwin stepped out the door an hour later. "Lady Roslin is no longer with us. I am afraid her body did not withstand the illness."

Tyrion nodded. "Arrange for her to be buried in the goodswoods."

"We burn our dead." Luwin said somberly.

"Burn her then." Tyrion said and went to the study. He sent the news to his father and Jon.

The man returned to his quarters. He would return to the lovely and spacious quarters that were his since he visited Winterfell before Robb was alive. Shae wasn't in his bed anymore. That definitely aided his resolve. He didn't think he would be able to leave her side if she were there with him.

The next morning dawned bright and early as if mocking him. Tyrion heard the chirp of the birds. He wanted to close his eyes. He went down for breakfast and found Cersei, Bran and Sansa. Six months ago he would have rued the sight of his sister but now he welcomed her bright green gaze. She was an intermediary between Sansa and him. His wife respected her and thought her kind. Cersei put up a front in reality she couldn't stand the girl but she was smart enough to not let it show too much. Lady Stark would berate the girl here and there while appearing to be the epitome of politeness and ladylike manners.

"Have a seat Tyrion." Cersei motioned to her right.

She wore black, as did Sansa. The girl must have learned of Roslin's untimely death. "Thank you sweet sister." He kissed her hand. Cersei smiled.

"Sansa and I will be praying in the sept for Roslin's soul." Cersei said demurely.

Bran looked solemn too. "Forgive me my lady but I am concerned for your welfare. Have you had the measles?"

His wife nodded, "Yes my lord, as a child." He nodded and proceeded to eat.

They burned Roslin's body that early afternoon. Tyrion had never seen such a speedy funeral. It was for the best. He realized no one crossed more than three words with the young woman except for Sansa perhaps.

His young wife looked affected but as Cersei she had a stoic demeanor to her. Bran looked confused and too solemn for a child his age.

They returned to the castle. "Stay with Bran. I have ordered the servants to move your belongings back to your quarters." Cersei said as they walked back to the castle.

Tyrion stayed with Bran. "Uncle, is Tommen alive?"

"I don't know Bran." He spoke honestly to the child. They were by the grounds writing lessons for Bran. Osha was with Rickon.

"I dreamed him and father were alive. I was Summer in that dream and I saw the other direwolves too. Nymeria and Lady are together. Grey Wind, Ghost and Shaggydog are together too. Lan and I were here with you and mother."

Tyrion smiled. "I am sure it was a very nice dream Bran."

The boy nodded, "I miss my sisters a lot and Tommen. Joanna used to kiss my forehead and sneak me sweets. Arya and I fought with swords and Tommen liked me best out of all of us."

"If I tell you something will you keep it a secret?" He asked his nephew.

Bran nodded, "You're my favorite nephew." He whispered.

"You're my favorite uncle too." Bran smiled and continued with his writing.

Tyrion dreaded going back to the Castle. He listened to Cersei and stayed with Bran for the rest of the day. Bronn found them trying to sneak pastries out of the kitchens.

"You could have said something. I happen to know the cook very well." The sellsword waggled his eyebrows.

Tyrion smirked. Osha took his nephew, something about his mother asking for him.

Bronn and him remained in the kitchens drinking wine. "I need you to have Shae removed for the main castle."

The man laughed. "Making sense after all. I will arrange for her to go South in a few weeks."

Tyrion frowned, "no. I'll have her in a place near the gates of Winterfell."

The man looked like he wanted to say more but remained quiet. "As you wish but this is not going to have a good ending for you. Mark my words."

"I need you to do as I say." Tyrion was not ready to let go of Shae. He wouldn't do so not to please father or Cersei.

"I have a place in mind. Talk to her and tell her I will meet her there tomorrow night but take her from Winterfell before dinner." The heir to Casterly Rock did not want Shae to know he was moving to Sansa's quarters. It would cause her to be less pliable.

"As you wish but don't say I didn't tell you so when you are knee deep in shit." Bronn drank more from his goblet.

Tyrion Lannister ate slowly, methodically and tried to prolong dinner until it was obvious he had to retire.

"Cersei, I would like to speak more about…" She cut him off.

"I'm sorry dear I am terribly tired. Today's events are more than I can bear. I am sure my sister is tired too. Osha, carry Bran to his rooms and meet me after. Have Rickon ready for his feeding." His sister talked to the wildling woman and kissed him and Sansa goodnight.

They were the only ones in the hall. He could tell she was tense and nervous. "Do not fret my lady. My promise still stands. I shan't touch you, not until you want me to." He said openly.

Sansa's stance softened. "I shall retire now. Goodnight my lord." He watched her go.

He stayed in the cozy library by the East wing until it was absolutely necessary. Eventually he retired to his quarters. Sansa was fast asleep huddled under the different furs. Tyrion undressed to his breeches. The bed was big; they wouldn't have to touch each other. It would be fine. He had bedded his fair share of women, in all shapes, ages and sizes. He would be controlled. Tyrion couldn't say he was completely indifferent to Sansa. The girl was beautiful after all and he was drawn to her. He wanted to protect her. He closed his eyes and willed his body and mind to sleep.