Solving Problems

It didn't take us long to reach the Inn, those two soldiers were speaking the truth in terms of the distance. The Inn itself was rather small, after all not many travellers journeyed between the Rock and Lannisport, and those that do make it there before sunset, eliminating the need of lodgings. It's location can also imply that it wasn't very busy, a statement I could confirm due to the lack of horses tied up outside and silhouettes through the blurred, poor-quality glass. Dismounting my horse, I hand the reins to one of my guards to tie up whilst I head on inside, not before ordering two of them to wait outside for the other guards from Lannisport to come.

Inside, the Inn had a few patrons, sitting around drinking ale and talking, nothing you wouldn't find odd. Spotting the innkeeper behind the bar, I make my my towards him, "Uh.. Milord" he says, surprised at my appearance, stopping what he was doing to focus on me better, "What uh... can I do for you?" The innkeep himself was a rather portly man, denoting his life to be quite comfortable.

"I'm looking for my brother, Tyrion. I had heard that he was here." I tell him, the man himself nods his head in affirmation before shaking it, "He was here Milord, stayed here for the last couple hours with that girl, even booked a room. However about an hour ago he sent his guards away and off he went with that girl of his." The innkeep said, I sigh and rub the bridge of my nose in frustration.

"Did he say where he was going?" I ask, I remember the books saying that he stayed in a cottage by the sea for a while but then that doesn't really narrow it down. "Not really Milord, but he road south, towards Lannisport." I hand the innkeep a Gold Dragon for his time and make my way out of the inn.

"Garth." I say to one of my guards, "I want you to ride on ahead and meet the others, tell them to span out and look for cottages, if they see a horse with the Lannister sigil on then they are to send a messenger to me, Do you understand." Garth nods his head before setting off down the road.

Checking each individual cottage was too time consuming and the innkeep mentioned he 'road south', implying that he was on a horse. He wouldn't have been able to ride on a different horse as his saddle is specially made for him, he might've swapped the saddle but I see no reason for him doing that and I don't recognise any of the horses outside the inn to be his.

"Is he not here then?" Monty asked from my left, I shake my head at his question "No, he left just before we arrived, headed towards Lannisport." I answer.

"Say, why are you so adamant about finding your brother?, I know it is dangerous for him to be left unprotected but surely there's no real reason rush." He asked, looking at me curiously. "It's not the fact that he's unprotected, it's who he is with that makes me rush. Why would he just disappear with a common girl?"

"You think he's been kidnapped?, that she is a spy?" Monty asked, I give a dismissive wave of my hand, "Probably not, just want to make sure he doesn't do something foolish and for my father to find out." Monty gives a solemn nod at that. He might have only met Tywin Lannister a handful of times but his reputation was more than enough to get a measure of the man.

"Anyway" I say, "We're not that far behind him, we might catch up if we pick up the pace." Though the chances of that were small, similar to what I had my other guards do, the ones with me currently were to spread out more and look for any signs of a horse coated with Lannister colours.

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The sun was rising, peaking over the numerous mountains and hills to the east. The search for Tyrion had turned up no results so far despite the hours of looking around. We were all tired, even the horses, no sleep the previous night ensured that. Whatever small amounts of food that was packed had been consumed and water in low quantity, however the occasional merchant or caravan would supply us when I offered pay.

I had sent one of my guards back to Casterly Rock in order to make sure Tyrion hadn't gone back, I know it is unlikely but I don't know what might've changed due to my presence in the world, one of the reasons I haven't interfered in any major events so far. If Tyrion wasn't there then he was to resupply on food and water and return with the other two guards I sent back with Tyrion's guards along with a batch of fresh horses.

"Cerion!" Monty calls out, gesturing his head to his right. Looking at what he was trying to show me, a small cottage comes into view from behind a tree, smoke coming out of the chimney and a horse tied up outside, a horse bearing the Lannister colours.

I let out a sigh of relief as I stop outside of the house, glad that I had finally found Tyrion. I still had my men check the perimeter though, just to err on the side of caution in case something may have happened. I also had a man wait on the road in order to make sure that the men coming from Casterly Rock won't accidently miss us. I would've also sent someone towards the men from Lannisport but I didn't want to leave us too unprotected.

I go to approach the house and knock on the door, hard enough for it to have been heard. Clattering sounds emerged from the house as well as a hushed whisper before footsteps that got louder as someone walked to the door.

"Cerion?" Tyrion's voice displays his confusion at my appearance, "What are you doing here?" Tyrion's shirt was buttoned up poorly, with one being in the wrong hole, he must've tried to put it on as fast as he can.

"I'm here to make sure you don't do anything foolish." I answer back, "Now are you going to invite me in?" Tyrion just steps aside and lets me in, I only allow Monty to follow me in though, Orton and the others wait outside.

Walking into the small cottage, the first thing I felt was a wave of heat from the roaring fireplace, a closer look around showed clothes strewn everywhere and eventually a bed. A bed where a young girl was sat upon. She could have only been around a year older than Tyrion and I, with dark hair and blue eyes along with a small oval face. Tysha.

"Hello." I say to her, I couldn't really think of anything else to say in the moment. Tyrion is beside me, panicking and confused on what to do, "Uh... um this is Tysha, Cerion. And this is my twin, the one I told you about Tysha." He says to me and then Tysha, I simply nod in her direction. As far as I was aware she wasn't to blame for what would've happened to her, just a mix of naivety and ignorance.

"You're just in time actually." Tyrion says to me, "A Septon lives nearby and we were..... uh both thinking on getting married." he finishes as he looks up at me. I sigh at his words, "Tyrion, do you know what the consequences of that would be?" I ask.

"I love her, Cerion. And she loves me." He says innocently. "What do you think father will do when he finds out you married a common girl?" I question him, Tyrion just looks up at me angrily, "I love her, he'll see that, he'll understand. He loved mother after all, and I have no use for him anyway."

"Don't be naïve." I tell him, "You know what he did to Grandfather's mistress, what do you think he is going to do when he finds out his son, a part of his legacy married a member of the smallfolk."

"He doesn't have to know." Tyrion cries back, Tysha comes in and stands beside Tyrion, "We could run away, live in someplace just like this in the Reach or elsewhere."

"It doesn't matter" I declare, "Father's spies are numerous and he'll always be looking for you." Tyrion just looks at me solemnly, "Don't you understand, I lover her Cerion." Tysha goes in to comfort him.

"If you love her then make sure she doesn't suffer, and right now that is anywhere where fathers power and influence can't reach." I tell him softly, sympathising with the both of them.

"Where then?, Where would she go?" He asks me as a tear falls from his eyes, "Essos would be the safest bet, no one would refuse him here in Westeros save the Starks and they hate our family." I inform the both of them, Tysha just draws in a breathe and looks at Tyrion sadly.

"I'll go with her then, I'll go to Essos as well." He tells me, I just shake my head "You can't, your too recognisable and you'll only put her in more danger."

"It okay." Tysha says to Tyrion, "I'll go Tyrion, I don't want you to suffer because of me, nor do I wish for you to see me suffer." Tyrion cries harder at her words, hugging her tighter than before. Tysha looks up at me and words 'thank you' as tears start to well up and fall down her face.