28 Part 28 - Tyrion's thoughts

(Flashback to early 286 AC)

(Tyrion POV)

Monster ... that was the only word that my mind managed to produce that day. I always knew my brother was special ... different from all the other humans. But only on that fateful day, did I come close to understanding just how much different he truly was.

Since I could remember Escanor had been with me, protecting me, teaching me and playing with me. He was my guiding light in the dark and muddy waters that was Casterly Rock. Escanor shined like ... like the sun.

And just like the sun, I felt that he was looking down on everyone and everything. At least on almost everything. He was always the same with me and our siblings. And yet ... I would not call it arrogance.

When I asked Escanor about his behaviour towards others, to this day, he would always say the same: "Why would I try and interact with others who have no significance to me? After all ... they're weak."

Each and every time it was a similar reaction or answer. He looked down on them. Like the sun doesn't care about the planets that circle around her, according to Escanor that's what they do, Escanor did not care about those trying to get close to him.

.

In the depressing and hurtful existence that was my life, my brothers Escanor and Jaime were the only ones that cared about me. I thought I finally found someone on that special day. The day when Jaime and I ... well mostly Jaime, saved a young girl of three and ten name days from Bandits.

Tysha ... the love of my life, the moon to my planet, my everything. I had never been this happy in my entire life and I knew that I was beyond lucky to have found her.

She genuinely cared about me and truly loves me for who I am. Her singing was the most beautiful thing there was. I could see her feelings for me in the way she looked at me.

It was inevitable that we married... I thought I would die of happiness when she accepted my proposal.

It is still clear to me like it was yesterday, the moment I bribed the drunken Septon to have us married. I knew that a sober one would never marry us because they fear Father too much.

I can still see myself walking out of Casterly Rock towards the camp of my brother. Indeed I was walking. Although I felt as if I was flying. And I can still see Escanor's surprised face when I told him about my marriage.

He was surprised at first and for the shortest moment, I feared that he would not approve of my decision. The thought of Escanor not approving of Tysha was the most pain I felt ... ever. Because I knew that I could never decide between both of them.

Escanor probably saw my thoughts on my face and his expression softened. He smiled very softly at me and then asked me: "What would be the lucky lady's name, Tyrion?"

I was ecstatic beyond reason when I heard him say those words. He approved and wanted to know more about Tysha. I was right about him. He is the best brother there could ever be.

"Her name is Tysha, Brother. She is the most pretty and lovely woman in existence. I can tell you when she looks at me, my heart stops beating and her smile threatens to knock me out. Imagine she really loves me, Brother. Actual love, can you imagine? Oh, I am sooo happy ..."

I must have talked for hours about how great Tysha was and how happy I was. He never said a word and only listened with a smile on his face. When I was finished talking and realised that I had been talking none stop, I was embarrassed.

And yet he laughed at me.

"HaHaHa, Tyrion I am very happy. It seems you have been hit hard. I shall meet her soon."

He then looked at me and calmed down. Then he addressed the problem that I knew would come but did not want to think about.

"Do not worry brother. Leave the talk with FAther to me. I will deal with the aftermath of this and see it through till the end. Of that ... you have my word."

It felt like Escanor took the mountain load off my shoulders. Whenever Escanor said he gave his word about something it was guaranteed to happen. I knew he would never go back on his word.

.

I stood there next to Jaime and was looking at my wife being harassed, groped and hurt. A whore ... Jaime said she was a whore he had paid for me to lose my virginity ...

no ... no No NO NO NO NONONONONO NOOOOO! Why? Tears ran down my face. Jaime told me to not sweat it and enjoy the moment I had ...

I looked as more than twenty guards were ripping the dress from my wife and pushed her to the ground. Her screams for help and begging would be burnt into my soul for the rest of my life.

I was weak ... just like the ones Escanor spoke about. I was not a lion ... I was a sheep. A disappointment, a disgrace ... pathetic. I could not do anything at that moment and I am certain that I would have even gone through with the order of Jaime to defile Tysha in front of everyone as well.

Father had paid every guard who did the deed with her, one silver coin.

.

.

.

Then something happened that would give me nightmares for the rest of my life.

Just as the first guard was about to r*pe my wife, a big paw-like hand grabbed his head from behind and lifted him up like it weighed nothing.

I was never happier to see my brother than at that moment. It felt like, at that exact moment, a monster had descended to earth to wipe the entirety of humanity out.

I still don't understand how it was possible but when Escanor looked around the courtyard and his gaze passed over me, I felt pressure pressing me down. I could see a giant of a man looking down at me and he was NOT amused.

To describe the bloody and gory scene that followed would not do it justice. You just had to have been there. My brother called it the greatest sin: Toying with a human's heart. And when he sentenced everyone involved to death, I could see and smell some of the guards shit and piss themselves.

I was scared ... really scared. I think I shat my pants as well. No, I am certain I shat my pants.

.

I don't know how Escanor managed to solve this 'clusterfuck', as Escanor called it, but I was very happy. The fact that he had to leave Casterly Rock without any help to rebuild Castamere and took Tysha with him, was hard for me but it was still better than the alternative of her getting massr*ped.

Since that day, my brother's light shines even brighter. He has gotten even more proud. Thankfully ... he's still the same old Escanor when we are alone.

He makes sure that I am allowed to visit Tysha whenever I wish and my relationship with my wife is just as strong if not stronger than before. Although she needed time to digest what happened and almost happened to her, I know that Escanor helped her through it and brought us closer together.

I will forever be grateful to my brother and no matter what ... I will stand by his side till the day I die.

Jaime on the other hand ... stopped being my brother the moment I found out the truth. His lie about Tysha being a whore and him trying to have me r*pe my own wife in front of everyone ... we were done. He took the spot next to Father on my hate list.

I would pay them back one day. I will make sure they regret this. Mark my words ... I swear it on my name Tyrion Lannister.

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Next chapter we'll see Tywin's 'talk' with Escanor and how it came to be that Escanor went to Castamere.

I can't wait to write their talk. It's time someone tought good ol' Tywin some manners...

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