18 Ch. 18 The Feast

Tyrion indulged himself in drink during the feast. It wasn't his father's disdainful looks that soured his mood, or even the fact Uncle Gerion was seated between Tywin and Lancel. It was the feeling of being push aside by one of the few men in this world he cherished.

While Uncle Gerion did honor him in front of the reception party and even gifted him a rare dragon egg, Lancel was given higher honors. The order in which Gerion gave his thanks and gifts would be seen as a clear message on who Gerion Lannister valued more.

It should have been Tyrion, the lawful heir to Casterly Rock, that was given honors just before the Warden of the West. Lancel may have come up with some useful ideas, but it was Tyrion that made those ideas a reality. It was he that refined those rough sketches and he that traveled to Lannisport to commission craftsman to have them built, while Lancel hid in Casterly Rock.

Despite how wronged he felt, Tyrion still couldn't resist giving Uncle Gerion his full attention. Uncle Gerion's voice enchanted all at the Head Table, as he spun his tale of danger, pirates, and treasure. As Tyrion listened to the tales of Uncle Gerion's battling pirates at the edge of the Smoking Sea, Tyrion was filled with envy and regret.

Uncle Gerion's description of the ruins of a Valyrian city made Tyrion wish he accompanied his uncle. But Tyrion never asked a single time to join Uncle Gerion's voyage. While he dearly loved his uncle, it was Tyrion's own cowardice that prevented him from joining his uncle. Tyrion was convinced he would never see Gerion again.

Tywin's voice easily broke-up Tyrion's depressing thoughts. "You have done our family a tremendous service and solidified House Lannister's seat as the most powerful house in all the Seven Kingdoms," Tywin stated to Gerion. Tywin paused to run his hand over the hilt of Brightroar, beautifully displayed on the High Table.

"Ask of me a boon, and it will be granted," Tywin boldly told Gerion.

Tyrion watched as Uncle Gerion looked down to the sleeping Joy in his lap. After a moment of gazing at his daughter, Gerion meets Tywin's stare. "I want Joy legitimized," Uncle Gerion said in a tone devoid of any humor.

"It will be done," Tywin unhesitatingly declared.

Tyrion was flabbergasted. Just like that? Just like that! Tywin so easily and quickly promised to achieve something only the king could grant!

As the members of his family began to depart the feast, Tyrion remained seated, blankly staring over the Great Hall. This is a monumental day for House Lannister, yet it feels like a betrayal to Tyrion.

When Tyrion finally realized he was the last sitting at the High Table, he slid out of his chair and stumbled into the side of the table. After steadying himself with the aid of the heavy furniture, Tyrion drunkenly moved out of the Great Hall. He was so unsteady, he was forced to keep a hand on the wall as he walked.

"You can barely walk," a familiar voice said from behind Tyrion.

Glancing over his shoulder, Tyrion found a slightly blurred image of Lancel. "Looks like we can add an impeccable observation to your list of perfections," Tyrion slurred.

Lancel closed his eyes for a moment and released a sigh. "Go and sleep it off, cousin," Lancel said in a tired tone.

Leaning his back against the wall, Tyrion turned his head to face his younger cousin. "Already attempting to order me about, huh? You have not usurped my birthright yet, boy." Tyrion sneered.

"Enough, cousin. Wine makes fools of us all. Please..." Lancel began before being interrupted.

"Oh, so I'm a fool now, am I? Is that why you covet Casterly Rock? Because you think you take it from a fool?" Tyrion condescendingly said.

Lancel raised his hands up in a soothing gesture. "Stop Tyrion..." Lancel attempted to say.

"Say it!" Tyrion commanded as he pushed off the wall to fully face a boy half his age, yet still taller than him. "I want to hear you admit you want what is rightfully mine!"

Lancel lowered his hands to his side and shook his head. "You are one of the smartest people I know, cousin. You are well-read, creative, and sharp. But you are unquestionably a fool. You have blinded yourself with your self-loathing and are convinced everyone is as shallow as you are." Lancel softly stated.

Tyrion could only stare at his cousin as he attempted to process what he just heard. Apparently, Lancel took his confusion as a need to explain.

"I have tried to befriend you, for years, for no other reason than I enjoyed spending time with you. At one point, I thought we could change the Westerlands for the better. Between the two of us, we could have created innovations many have never even dreamed of." Lancel said as he stepped in front of Tyrion.

"But you refused me, in some bizarre attempt to create something for yourself. And what you created, with your drinking, whoring, and entitlement is an image of another Tytos Lannister." Lancel said in a grave tone. "The high lords across Westeros already view you as weak and someone easily challenged. You are not to be feared. It is not your dwarfism, but your reputation that endangers our family and the Lannister legacy."

"What do you know?" Tyrion angrily snapped. "You have looks, skill, and the affection of everyone here. You've been given every opportunity one would..." Tyrion ranted before Lancel loudly cut him off with a stern tone of voice.

"Your father gave you an opportunity when he placed you in charge of the drains and cisterns. It was a test to see what you would do with responsibility. You could have created 'bathhouses', improved pumps, or even created something to eliminate the need for a chamber pot. But you did none of that. You charged the smallfolk to expand the sewers and maintain the water system while you fucked-off in Lannisport." Lancel berated.

"How... Did you just come up with those ideas just now?" Tyrion asked in shock.

Regaining his calm demeanor, Lancel studied his cousin. "What would anger you more, me just coming up with ideas at this moment, or me having those ideas for years, yet not sharing them with you?" Lancel asked.

Tyrion was dumbstruck. Either possibility angered Tyrion for different reasons. Worse yet, Tyrion couldn't answer Lancel's question.

"You are my family, Tyrion, and I wish you no ill-will. But I have a responsibility to my family, to protect them as best I can. You as Lord of Casterly Rock would jeopardize the lives of everyone I hold dear, and I refuse to be your Tywin." Lancel said with a great amount of raw emotion.

"Goodnight, cousin," Lancel said as he stepped around a speechless Tyrion.