Chapter 3: The Game

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Tyrion Lannister sat upon the Iron Throne."The state granaries are empty my lords," he said to the assembled court."Then import more!" someone shouted from the throng."The flow of imported Eastern grain has been halted by the sack of Qarth, there is no more to be had," Tyrion replied,"Sacked by your son!" the same voice shouted. Tyrion gave the Goldcloaks a quick a nod and a figure was grabbed from the crowd and hustled out of the Throne Room. A stay in the black cells should do that mouthy shit some good he thought."My lords and ladies," Tyrion stepped wearily to his feet, "the king and his council are doing everything in their power to ensure the kingdom has the food it needs to survive this long winter. I know you are scared and hungry, so are we all, but once the grain arrives the granaries will be opened. There is no more to be said." Tyrion signaled the court was over and began to leave. The council are doing everything in their power, the king is still on his seemingly never ending fucking honeymoon.Suddenly a man burst into the hall, the Gold Cloaks quickly intercepted him and held him back."Your Grace!" he shouted, his voice hoarse, before fainting away and collapsing to the floor, his black cloak covering his face.***Aerys stood alone in the oppressively dark great hall of Casterly Rock, the Lannister scarlet and gold long since painted over by Tararyen black and red and dragon banners hung from the ceiling. It was past midnight and the castle seemed entirely deserted, except for the carved stone lions that seemed to emerge from every wall. His father didn't keep many servants anyway, no one did, servants were just extra mouths to feed, might as well save the grain and pour your own wine.He'd been honeymooning at the Rock for the better part of three months and had little desire to return to Kings Landing, with it's infinite problems and zero solutions."Aerys?" said a voice behind him,He turned to see his wife Rowena, aunt to Lady Paramount Arra Umber of the North, standing behind him. She could be lazy, tricky and changeable as the wind but Gods how he loved her bravery, her fierce pride in who she was and the way she disdained the cold. As bad as the winter was in the south, the North was ten times worse. Aerys had completely given himself to his young new wife and she to him, no more dalliances or quick trips to the brothel. He stomach swelled gently with child."Rowena," Aerys said, stretching out his hand. She came to him and they embraced, her head resting on his shoulder. Aerys was not a short man but Rowena was a towering woman, at least a head taller than the king."Still can't sleep?" she asked raising her head to look in his eyes,"We're fucked Rowena," Aeyrs moved from her embrace and turned to the great portrait of his mother which adorned the eastern wall. "A Queen's Mercy" it was called. In the image Tommen "the Lannister kitten" kneeled before the queen, raising his crown towards her. Daenerys herself looked resplendent, standing with a sword in one hand and black cloak in the other, a bright sun behind her head. Tommen had vanished with his wife before reaching the Wall. The Gods only knew where they were now.The portrait conveniently left out the fact Jamie and Cersei Lannister had been fed to his mother's dragon."You worry too much," Rowena went to embrace him again. Aerys shook her off."It's unsustainable," Aerys said, beginning to pace, "The cold is spreading east, grain is becoming more scarce and more expensive. Every day there are less and less small-folk." Aerys picked up a half-drunk goblet of wine from a nearby table."Winter always ends my love," Rowana said"When?" Aerys snapped, "When the fuck does it end?" Aerys manically strode up and down the hall room ranting. "It's thirty years, thirty years of never-ending winter!" Aerys stopped suddenly, "And it's my job to fix it? How do I fight the cold Rowana? Do you know, does she?" he pointed at the portrait, "My dear mother who left me this poisoned chalice!" he threw his chalice of wine at the portrait of his mother. The portrait slid from the wall and fell to the floor. The crash of its thick frame crashing off the marble floor echoed through the hall. Behind the portrait an old damaged fresco was revealed, a middle aged man with golden hair stared sternly outwards, one arm around a mousey brown-haired women and the other resting on the shoulder of a blonde boy standing beside a blonde girl and an even smaller boy. Aerys realized with a start that the small boy was a dwarf.Aerys had never seen an image of his grandfather before. All statues and portraits of him had been destroyed after Daenerys' conquest. Why had Tyrion just covered this one? Why had he not painted over this part of the wall with the rest? A longing for a simpler time perhaps."Did he win?" Aerys asked, seemingly to himself."Win?" asked Rowana."Win. Tywin, my grandfather," Aerys gestured to the fresco, "He wanted his grandson to be king and I am his grandson." Aerys stared into his grandfather's eyes, the paint was flaking slightly. "In any normal arrangement I would be a Lannister not a Targaryen. Do you think he'd be satisfied with me?""What is this all about Aerys? Why haven't we returned to Kings Landing?" Rowana asked."I can't go back." Aerys refused to meet her eye."Why?""I'm useless. No king can save Westeros.""Then leave!" Rowana's voice was suddenly harsh, "Get on your dragon and fly away to Yi Ti or Asshai where it's still warm.""What are you..." Aerys began,"If you're going to be a coward at least commit to it!" Rowana spat back "Your grandfather would be disappointed in you. Your mother would be disgusted." Rowana turned and stormed out of the hall.***The next morning Aerys and Rowana stood shivering outside the Rock as their few servants loaded their luggage into a wagon, they were going back to Kings Landing."You're doing the right thing," Rowana smiled at Aerys who nodded tensely. They stepped up into the carriage and a footman came to close the door. The peace of the scene was interrupted by the sound of distant hoof beats."Halt!" Shouted Ser Rolly Duck. Aerys peered out and saw Ser Rolly exchanging quick words with the rider. Ser Rolly strode over to the carriage."A rider from your father your grace," he said, "The Nights Watch sends word. The Wall has fallen."