Strange

Jon woke the next morning with a stiffness in his body and light aches in his joints from the night’s events. It took him a while to truly wrap his head around what had happened, and while he had certainly not been an innocent party, the event had disturbed him. Truly he just hoped that he could keep his head down and get through the remainder of his time at Casterly Rock without further issue. He washed the night’s stink of sweat and sex off himself using a nearby basin of water and slowly went about dressing himself. By the time he was presentable it struck him that he was probably late for breakfast and hurried out of his chambers.

What he found was a castle in the midst of madness. Servants rushed about in every which direction, all looking fairly panicked by something. Jon finally had enough and stopped one up. “What’s the meaning of all this?”

The old woman looked at him with fearful eyes. “It’s Lady Myrcella, she’s had a fall!”

Jon pushed past the woman and hurried towards Lord Tywin’s solar, where he found the man and, surprisingly, his dwarf son in deep conversation. Judging by their expressions it was not a pleasant conversation.

“Prince Jon,” Tywin said, in his usual cold way of greeting, “ I assume you have heard the news?”

“I have,” He looked at the older man, “but no one has told me how she is?”

Tywin’s voice was as cold and hard and frozen steel. “ Myrcella’s back is broken, she may not live.” His hands curled, “and if she does, there is a good chance it will be as a cripple.”

The news struck Jon like the sharpest slap. “How in the name of the Gods did she break her back?”

“One of the servants said that she playing around in the early morning near a more ancient part of the castle,” there was distaste in his voice, “when they found her, she had fallen several feet onto stone.”

For the first time, Tyrion spoke up. “That whole story is a farce. Myrcella may still have some childish innocence about her, but she would not do something so stupid and reckless,” he focused his mismatched eyes on Jon, “Not when she was so intent on courting you, My Prince.”

Tywin did not falter. “The servants know better than to lie to me,” he said coldly, “if they say that the girl was climbing and behaving like a disobedient child, then I’m inclined to believe them. There is no other alternative.”

“She could have been pushed,” Tyrion interjected, “you are not wanting for enemies.”

There was a horrible chill in the room as Tywin levelled a glare at his son. “There no enemies of House Lannister in this house, except, perhaps for the one that sits before me.”

“Fine,” Tyrion replied, pushed back his chair and awakdly hobbling out of his seat, “ refuse to see reason, but if any more harm befalls this house do not come to me for help.”

Jon watched him leave, mind working. Though he had only recently met Myrcella, he was more inclined to believe the Imp that the girl was not soon foolish as to go climbing in dangerous places, least of all when her betrothed was sleeping in the same Keep. Tywin spoke to him at length after that, discussing what this development would mean for their potential alliance. Jon refused to break the betrothal just yet, more inclined to wait and see what would happen with the lady’s health.

He was meant in the hallway, by the grimacing form of the Imp. “Charming man my father,” he said with a crooked smile, “you can practically feel the love.”

Jon allowed himself a laugh. “He takes some getting used to.”

“I’ve had my entire life and I’m still not used to him,” the dwarf waddled beside Jon for a moment, “Whether or not you believe me or him...I should hope that you do not reject my niece should she come out of this for the worse. She is the most kindhearted person in House Lannister...such miracles should be allowed to grow and thrive.”

“I told your father that I won’t make any decisions,” Jon replied, quietly. “For now, I think I shall wait and see, try and wrap my head around this.”

Tyrion gave him a meaningful look. “My Prince, I was being completely honest when I spoke to my father. I believe she was pushed, and if she is in danger...we all may be in danger,” with a shrug, he said, “look out for yourself. Not all monsters look like me.”