Eyes Open / Ned Stark / Oberyn Martell

17. Scruff

Is it over now? Ned Stark out now!

'Better looking bitches than your used to uncle." Joffrey remarked snidely as he looked down at Tyrion laying in the kennels. Tyrion looked up to him with distaste as he brushed himself off. 'Mother was looking for you. We ride for Kings Landing today.' Joffrey told Tyrion, sandor told a dutiful servant behind Joffrey.

'Before you go you will call upon the Lord and Lady Stark and offer them your deepest sympathies' Tyrion told him

'What good are my sympathies?' Joffrey sneered.

'None but it is expected of you, your absences already been noted.' Tyrion told him.

'The boy means nothing to me and I can't stand the wailing of women-' tyrion slapped him across the face. Joffrey's jaw dropped, his mother would hear about this.

'One word and I hit you again' Tyrion threatened. 

'I'm telling mother!' Joffrey shouted, so Tyrion hit him again. Tyrion was going to be in for hell when Joffrey told Satori what he did.

'Go. Tell her, but first you will go to lady and lord stark fall upon your knees in front of them and tell them you are very sorry that you are at their service and all your prayers are with them. Do you understand?' Tyrion instructed.

'You can't!' Joffrey cried out and Tyrion slapped him again

'Do you understand?' Joffrey stormed off.

"MOTHER!" JOffrey shouted.

'The prince is going to remember that little lord.' Sandor remarked.

'I hope he does, if he forgets be a good dog and remind him for me.' Tyrion mused.

"MOTHER!"

"Baby what's wrong, what happened to your cheek?" Satori questioned touching his red cheek gently.

''Time for breakfast. Bread. And two of those little fish. And a mug of dark beer to wash it down. And bacon, burned black.' Tyrion remarked looking over the food.

'Little brother.' Jaime remarked.

''Beloved siblings.' Tyrion said smirking back at them. "Where is my beloved sibling?" Tyrion countered looking for Satori.

''Is Bran going to die ?' Mycella questioned

''Apparently not.' Tyrion told her picking at his food.

''What do you mean?' Cersei questioned, her eyes darting to Jaime.

''The Maester says the boy may live.' Tyrion told them and Cersei sucked in a breath trying to remain calm.

'It's no mercy, letting a child linger in such pain.' Cersei told him.

''Only the gods know for certain. All the rest of us can do is pray. The charms of the north seem entirely lost on you.' Tyrion remarked.

'I' still can't believe you're going to the wall. It's ridiculous even for you.' Cersei told him. 'what would mother say?'

''Where's your sense of wonder? The greatest structure ever built, the intrepid men of the Night's Watch, the wintry abode of the White Walkers.' Tyrion mused.

''Tell me you're not thinking of taking the black.' Jaime teased and Tyrion scoffed.

'And go celibate? The whores would go begging from Dorne to Casterly Rock. I just want to stand on top of the Wall and piss off the edge of the world.' Tyrion assured them.

'The children don't need to hear your filth. Come.' Cersei said leading her children away from the breakfast table, Tyrion's eyes followed them as he brought his cup to his lips.

"TYRION!" Satori shouted passing Cersei as she escourted the children out.

"Hello- thats not a happy hello," Tyrion realized.

"You hit Joffrey?" Satori demanded.

"He... needed it." Tyrion agreed cautiously.

"Tyrion," Satori growled.

"I am educating my nephew on manners."

"You hit Joffrey." Satori repeated scruffing his hair and giving it a tug.

"Ow," Tyrion said slowly.

"What is the matter with you?"

"Satori, dearest, please let me go." Tyrion countered. She released his hair and he ran a hand over his head. Satori growled out.

"Don't hurt Joffrey."

"He needs discipline." Tyrion corrected.

"Leave his discipline to his mother." Satori corrected before marching back out.

"You angered Satori." Jaime stated the obvious.

"I dont like her mad." Tyrion decided.

"Dont fuck with her favorite boy."

"I used to be her favorite boy." Tyrion remarked.

"When you were cute and little in her eyes." Jaime agreed. "Then I became the favorite."

"Lies, I was always above you." Jaime rolled his eyes.

"Is the boy really going to live?"

"Seems so." Tyrion confirmed.

''Even if the boy lives, he'll be a cripple, a grotesque. Give me a good clean death any day.' Jaime remarked.

'Speaking for the grotesques, I'd have to disagree. Death is so final, whereas life... Life is full of possibilities. I hope the boy does wake. I'd be very interested to hear what he has to say.' Tyrion remarked.

'My dear brother, there are times you make me wonder whose side you're on.' Jaime said down to him. Tyrion offered a coy smile.

'My dear brother, you wound me. You know how much I love my family.' Tyrion reminded him.

+

Catelyn rose she looked a mess as Cersei and Satori entered Bran's room.

'Please, sit.' Cersei assured as she looked over at Bran. Motionless on the bed. Satori moved to Bran's side, she couldnt imagine, the thought of Joffrey laying dead like this brought a shiver to her spine.

''I would have dressed, your Grace.' Catelyn said trying to make herself look presentable

''This is your home. I'm your guest.' Cersei reminded her, still staring down at Bran. 'Handsome one, isn't he?" Cersei glanced to Satori. "Joffrey was a twin..." Cersei remarked, Satori's gaze shifted cautiously to her. "I lost my first boy, a little black-haired beauty. They looked nothing alike, Joffrey and him." Cersei offered. "My little boy... He was a fighter too... tried to beat the fever that took him.' Cersei informed her. 'Forgive me. It's the last thing you need to hear right now.''

''I never knew.' Catelyn remarked softly.

''It was years ago. Robert was crazed, beat his hands bloody on the wall, all the things men do to show you how much they care." Cersei lied. Robert was happy enough with one son. Satori remembered what Robert said. The heir and could have had the spare, like Joffrey, like his boy were nothing but pieces to be moved across the board.

"The boy looked just like him. Such a little thing... A bird without feathers. They came to take his body away and Satori held me. I screamed and I battled, I cried into my sister... That little bundle. They took him away and I never saw him again.' Cersei remarked. 'Never have visited the crypt, never. I pray to the Mother every morning and night that she return your child to you.'

'I am grateful.' Catelyn said softly.

'Perhaps this time she'll listen.''