The Iron Throne Room, Red Keep — King's Landing, CrownLands - Afternoon
The time for the trial had finally arrived and the throne room was filled with people. Stands and chairs had been placed at each side of the red carpet that crossed the room and led to the throne.
Everyone was present for the trial and each had their respective places. Two chairs had been placed at each side Of the Iron Throne for the judges and even a wooden podium with chains was placed at the base Of the Throne Steps for the accused to Stay while the trial was taking place.
Margaery, Loras and Olenna had been given chairs to sit at the right side of the throne but after the height of the stairs and closer to the crowd.
Cersei, Trystan and Visenya had their own chairs closer to the throne, also on the right side. They had a better view of the room, all dressed in their finest but each bearing a different expression on their faces.
The Lioness was uneasy, clearly wishing for the trial to end and hear Tyrion sentenced to death. She was still furious by the fact that her son was murdered by her brother, even though many told her it was not him. She refused to believe them because deep down she knew it was him.
Trystan was trying his best to remain still on his chair, hands placed on his lap and he mostly looked forward at nothing. He knew this was the big day he dreaded and wished to never come but now had to sit through. He had prayed in his mind that Tyrion would be found innocent one way or another by the end of the trial.
Visenya had the usual passive face she carried when in court, even her eyes somehow covering her thoughts on the subject. She kept sitting with her back straight and her chin high, not even turning to look at Olenna; who would occasionally steal glances her way.
Tommen was sitting on the Iron Throne with Tywin by his right while Lord Mace and Oberyn were waiting by the sides.
Eventually, the grand doors of the Throne Room opened and Jaime with Tyrion entered. The dwarf walked down the aisle through the crowd, flanked by two guards.
As he passed between the people, many called him a Kingslayer but the proud short Lion refused to bow his head or let their words affect him. He had survived threats, insults and bad jokes about his condition all his life.
People were fools if they thought he would bend under their words or even be affected by them. He was not going to give the satisfaction to anyone, not them, not his family... no one.
He was left to the accused dais and his wrists were finally freed from the chains he had been wearing all those days. Now trapped in the dais and unable to go anywhere, the guards and Jaime stepped away since there was no need to keep an eye on him.
Tywin glanced at Tommen and motioned for him to rise, the boy not accustomed yet to what he had to do. However, he quickly obeyed and did as he had; thus making everyone in the hall copy him and stand as well.
He then looked at his uncle. "l, Tommen Of the House Baratheon, First Of my Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, do hereby recuse myself from this trial. Tywin Of the House Lannister, Hand of the King, Protector of the Realm, will sit as judge in
my stead. And with him, Prince Oberyn Of the House Martell and Lord Mace of the House Tyrell. And if found guilty... May the gods punish the accused."
After he finished with his speech, one he had learnt rather fast, he walked down the Steps and towards the side. Jaime placed a hand on his back and escorted him to the side where he could sit and observe the trial.
Tywin was the first to move and stand in front of the Iron Throne as Oberyn and Mace moved to their respective places as well. Then, the Old Lion sat first and everyone followed him.
It had been too long since he had sat on the rather uncomfortable throne but it did bring back memories of his time when he ruled behind Aerys' back with Visenya. He looked at Tyrion, one hand clenching and unclenching his fist; a trait he had when he was usually frustrated and one that both Cersei and Trystan had inherited from him.
"Tyrion Of the House Lannister, you stand accused by the Queen Regent of regicide. Did you kill King Joffrey?" he asked his son.
Tyrion, who remained standing and also chained to the dais, felt that this was ridiculous. "No." Was his answer as he turned his body slightly to the left and to the right.
"Did your wife, the Lady Sansa?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Not that I know of."
"How would you say he died, then?"
"Choked on his pigeon pie."
Tyrion's answer earned a few gasps from the crowd and different reactions from his family.
Tywin tried his hardest to remain calm but his fist did remain closed for a few seconds longer. Jaime looked at him with disbelief at his mood to be cocky and act this way when his own life was on the line.
Visenya had let out a sigh and closed her eyes momentarily, knowing that the Trial had not even truly started and yet it was going downhill and rather fast. Trystan, by her side, parted his lips faintly in shock and wondered if all those days in the Black Cells had messed with his brother's mind.
"So you would blame the bakers?"
"Or the pigeons. Just leave me out of it."
Tyrion said, clearly wishing all of this to be over while his tone and words earned some laughter from specific individuals in the crowd.
The Trial continued and one by one the witnesses came to the stand. It was clear that they all had been paid by Cersei or personally hated Tyrion, thus their answers were as one expected; biased.
One example was the knight and member of the Kingsguard, Ser Meryn Trant. He had been one of the most loyal guards to the boy-king and had committed certain acts when Joffrey had given the order.
Yet, none Of those things were questioned at that moment as the knight brought up incidents where Tyrion had openly argued with the king and 'threatened' him.
"Once we'd got King Joffrey safely away from the mob, the Imp rounded on him. He slapped the king across the face and called him a vicious idiot and a fool. It wasn't the first time the Imp threatened Joffrey. Right here in this throne room, he marched up those steps and called our king a halfwit. Compared His Grace to the Mad King and suggested he'd meet the same fate. And when I spoke in the king's defence, he threatened to have me killed."
Trystan, who had been present on both occasions, felt his jaw clenching. He knew that those incidents were said from only one side and Tyrion had done more than good to speak that way to the idiot boy. He felt angry and he did not hide it on his face while sending death glares at the sadistic knight. A hand on his lap made him concentrate on it and not on his anger, feeling the familiar warmth coming from his mother.
He was not an idiot; he knew what she was doing. She was trying to keep him calm, in order not to save him from doing something stupid. He barely glanced at her but could see clearly that she also not agreeing, nor liking hearing Of such events when it was clear they were biased.
Tyrion tried to argue, despite his father ordering him to be silent but he did not; until he had said his part and reminded everyone of what Joffrey had done to Sansa.
"Silence! You will not speak unless called upon," Tywin said, internally fuming. "You're dismissed, Ser Meryn," he said to the knight, whose statement could not be taken seriously after Tyrion had counter-argued it with facts.
In Visenya's opinion, one of the more biased and clearly fake witnesses was Pycelle. He had been called upon the stand and first had to answer the kind of poisons he had in his store. Of course, the old man did not know them by heart.
Instead, he had them all written on different pages and was reading one by one. Often having to stop and bring the papers even closer to his face, trying to read the letters that he no longer could due to his age.
"...Basilisk venom, widow's blood... Wolfsbane, the essence of nightshade, sweet sleep... tears of Lys... demon's dance... blind eye—"
Visenya rolled her eyes, the sight being ridiculous and she could see that even Tywin was getting tired already.
Thankfully, Prince Oberyn grabbed the moment to interrupt the Old Maester.
"I think you have made your point, Grand Maester. You have a lot of poison in your store."
"Had, Prince Oberyn. My stores were plundered," Pycelle informed.
"By whom?" Tywin asked.
The old man turned to Tyrion.
"By the accused, Tyrion Lannister, after he had me wrongfully imprisoned," he said, clearly holding a personal grudge against Tyrion and also more than willing to accuse him given the chance.
However, Visenya knew that Pycelle was a frail old man, who would kiss the feet of anyone that dared to threaten him. Personal grudge or not, Cersei could have easily made him accuse Tyrion of the plundering without even having solid proof.
Tywin found his chance.
"Grand Maester, you examined King Joffrey's corpse. Was it without question poison that killed him?"
"Without question."
The Grand Maester said, causing the crowd to murmur in response.
Then, he pulled something from his sleeve, an item far too familiar to some people who were present. It was the same black hairnet that Sansa wore at the wedding.
Visenya's expression changed faintly and she sent a side glance at Olenna, meeting her gaze; who had managed to hide her reaction behind that of fake shock.
"This was found on the body of Dontos Hollard, the king's fool. He was last seen spiriting Sansa Stark, the wife Of the accused, away from the feast. She wore this hairnet the day of the wedding. The residue of a rarest and terrible poison was found inside these stones"
"Was this one of the poisons stolen from your store?" Tywin asked, his eyes focusing on the hairnet for a moment too long.
"It was...The Strangler." Pycelle explains, making the crowd gasp and murmur some more. "A poison few in the Seven Kingdoms possess. And used to strike down the noblest child the gods ever put on this good earth."
Trystan rolled his eyes faintly at the praise and adverbs used to describe Joffrey, who was far from those things if not the direct opposites. Yet, nothing could be done or said. However, he did also notice the very quick and faint eye exchange between Visenya and Olenna; curious as to why.
Why do I feel they know something more than the rest of us? He wondered, not able to think back how Tyrion had accused her Of being one of those most willing to poison and kill Joffrey.
Yet, he still refused to believe she had any part in it; although he had slowly started to double-question certain things.
The trial kept going, each witness just digging Tyrion's grave even deeper. For many, it would be obvious that all of it was rigged but the trial continued for one simple reason... Tywin.
He knew that his daughter had paid or terrified most witnesses to confess against Tyrion and he had to continue with the trial to show the world that he personally did not rig them but it was someone else.
However, he had a more selfish reason as well at the back of his mind; one that his wife did not know of. With the way the trial would continue, eventually, Tyrion would go for the sword unless someone agreed to a certain deal.
Tywin knew that Jaime would rush to protect Tyrion, having done so on multiple occasions growing up. It was all a matter of time before Jaime would come to him, agreeing to become his heir in exchange for Tyrion's life to be spared.
It was a great plan and it was the only thing why he was so patient during this trial. Although, when Cersei was on the stand and starting to twist most of the events to victimize herself, he did find his patience running thin.
He stole a glance at Visenya, seeing her just staring at Cersei with an unimpressed look. She was mentally tired as well from this ridiculous and rigged trial and was not in the mood for the unnecessary fake drama the Lioness had chosen as her path of action.
However, she had remained as poised and quiet as always; a true example of nobility. Of course, one could not say the same about their son; Trystan. The boy had become bolder with his facial expressions and he did not hide his disgust, annoyance or anger but had not moved from his position.
He had remained where he was, the hand of his mother placed on his lap to ensure he would not do anything reckless. Tywin knew the boy was not of such character to react in such a way but he did have a soft spot for Tyrion, after all.
They had grown up together and the two of them were rather close for a certain time until Trystan became too busy attending all of his lessons and sword practices to spend time with his older half-brother.
That did not mean there was not this brotherly bond between them.
"l will hurt you for this. A day will come when you think you are safe and happy and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth and you will know the debt is paid." Cersei said, repeating 'Tyrion's words, fake tears in her eyes.
Lord Mace seemed to believe it along with the rest of the crowd. "Your own brother said this to you?" he asked, not hiding his shock at the revelation.
Olenna rolled her eyes at how easily it was to persuade her son, who had unfortunately inherited the intelligence of his father or rather say; the lack of it. She could see right through the lies and fake tears, an act she expected from Cersei.
After all, she was a grieving mother and that was the only role she could play; if she wished to make Tyrion look more and more like the monster she thought he was.
"Shortly before the Battle of Blackwater Bay," she said and took a deep breath. "l confronted him about his plans to put Joffrey on the front lines. As it turned out when the attack came... Joff insisted on remaining at the battlements... He... believed his presence would inspire the troops."
Trystan narrowed his eyes at his half-sister. This isa lie! He thought in his mind and he glanced at Tyrion.
The two brothers looked at one another, both remembering clearly how the Battle of Blackwater Bay had taken place; how Tyrion had led the troops and kept them going until the relief party arrived.
The Half-Lion was certain that if his nephew was still alive, he would laugh and enjoy how people portrayed him like a saint, a war hero when he was nothing but a spoilt, sadistic mama's boy.
Oberyn was the most sceptical. Despite Cersei having approached him and trying to earn his favour to be fully against Tyrion, he was willing to try and make this rigged trial a little bit fairer.
"Tyrion said, 'and you will know the debt is paid.' What debt?" he asked her.
"I discovered he'd been keeping whores in the Tower of the Hand," she took another dramatic pause. "I asked him to confine his salacious acts to the brothel where such behaviour belongs. He wasn't pleased."
Tyrion shook his head as he leaned to the side, too tired of this trial already. He was too tired of hearing everyone making him the monster in the story while in reality, it was Joffrey all along.
He was not surprised by Cersei's drama but was simply not in the mood to hear anything else at the moment.
"Thank you, Your Grace, for the courage of your testimony," Lord Mace said, clearly having believed her every word.
Surprisingly, even Margaery let out a sigh as she knew the truth but she could not do anything. Olenna simply shook her head at the drama and at the stupidity of her son, who was always becoming 'soft' and 'empathic' at the worst moments, always.
Trystan kept looking at his sister with disbelief and betrayal at her lies but the woman barely paid him any mind, internally pleased with what she had managed and how well she played her role.
Visenya had closed her eyes and was focusing on her breathing, a short migraine having started somewhere in the middle of her stepdaughter's speech.
At last, all the witnesses had passed and the Trial was put on hold for an hour, in order for everyone to think of what they had heard. The Throne Room was quick to clear but a few guards and Tyrion, remained where he was.
Tywin had stood up from the Throne and was about to walk towards his wife when he noticed Olenna interlocking their elbows and gently pulling her out of the room.
"Hmmm," he exclaimed and narrowed his eyes as he kept climbing down the steps, eventually reaching a standing Trystan.
"Father," the boy greeted him, a small head bow.
"Where is your mother going?" he asked, eyes always locked on where Visenya and Olenna had left not so long ago.
"Lady Olenna wished for the two of them to take a last walk since Lady Olenna is to leave after the Trial and return to Highgarden," he explained, his eyes not once looking at his father.
Tywin turned his head and his attention to his younger son.
"You do not like this trial, do you?" he asked, hands behind his back.
The Half-Lion looked at him but immediately lowered his gaze.
"Father—"
"No stuttering, remember?" he interrupted him, reminding him of his many lessons on how a Lord should not stutter.
Trystan nodded his head.
"I simply can see no reason behind it when all the witnesses are clearly against Tyrion, Father," he explained, not once stuttering while his green eyes were locked on his father's chin and not directly into his eyes.
"The Trial is necessary for justice to be served, no matter how unjust it may seem to you," his father explained. "A Lord, let alone a leader, does not pull faces when something displeases them like a child," he scolded him, pointing out the fact that he had noticed how his facial expressions changed throughout the trial.
His son lowered his head.
"I apologize, Father. I did not mean it," he said, his eyes cast downwards.
He could feel the matching eyes of his father sizing him up and down in silence, not directly commenting on anything and simply letting his son wait in silent dread of what might come next.
"You have not been yourself ever since that Stark girl left," he continued, making Trystan swallow some saliva. "I do expect this to change, now that things are set in motion. I already have two sons that have disappointed me, I don't need a third one."
Trystan lifted his head slowly and locked his eyes with his father at last. He puffed his chest faintly, his face stone cold and void of any emotions while his chin was kept high.
"They will, Father, you have my word."
This seemed to please Tywin, who gently tapped the boy's cheek with his fingers a few times.
"Good. I expect to see those changes once the trial continues," he said and left, leaving a stiff Trystan to just stare ahead where his father once was.
When the mighty Old Lion had left the room, only then did he let out a heavy sigh. His shoulders slumped forward and his head was lowered, as if the weight of all those expectations and responsibilities were real physical weights that were strapped around his neck and shoulders.
He felt a pair of eyes on him and he turned to look at a mismatched pair of green and brown. Both brothers looked exhausted and they could see it with one another.
Surprisingly, the Half-Lion walked towards the dwarf before sitting by the base of the dais.
"I hope you do not mind, brother, but I will keep you company," he said, pressing his back against the wooden structure.
Tyrion did the same from the inside, the wood being the only thing separating their backs from touching.
"Be my guest. After Father's latest show, I do not blame you."
Trystan scoffed and shook his head, lifting his knees to rest his hands.
"When did things go so wrong?" he asked, eyes looking ahead.
"Honestly, I have asked myself that question a lot of times and have yet to find an answer. If you ever do and I am still alive, please be kind enough and let your brother know."
A weak smile formed on the lips of the Half-Lion.
"I assure you, you will be alive and I will tell you. Although, first you still owe me those tips for giving inspiring speeches to soldiers," he reminded him, drawing a scoff of amusement from his half-brother.
"You are not going to forget this, aren't you?"
"Nope."
The faintest of chuckles could be heard, soon coming from both of their mouths as the two brothers spent their last time in peace; unaware of how drastically things would soon change and not for the best.