After the body of Ser Lorch was found in the Princess' chambers, they were thoroughly searched. But, no explaination for how the knight had wound up in her chambers without being seen could be found.

[King's Landing - Small Council Chamber]

The small council sat at their table. Alton Lannister stood nearby as Cersei read the letter aloud.

"From this time until the end of time, we are not part of your realm, but a free and independent Kingdom of the North." She ripped the letter. " He has more spirit than his father, I'll give him that."

"You've perfected the art of tearing up papers. Give him his father's bones back, at least, as a gesture of good faith." Tyrion told her.

"You'll give the Starks our reply, cousin?"

"I will, Your Grace."

"Did you see my brother when you were the Starks guest?" Cersei asked, causing Varys and Baelish to look annoyed.

"I did. They have not broken his spirit, Your Grace."

"If you speak with him, tell him he's not been forgotten."

"I will, Your Grace."

"Safe travels, cousin." Tyrion bid as Alton left the room, followed by two gold cloaks.

"You have a deft hand with diplomacy." Tyrion commented.

"If that's everything?" Cersei asked.

"A raven flew in this morning from Castle Black." Pycelle handed a letter to Tyrion, who unfurled it and began reading.

"Trouble with the wildlings?" Varys asked.

"That's why they're called wildlings." Baelish commented.

"Somewhat less wild these days. It seems they've stopped killing each other and started following this King-Beyond-the-Wall." Varys informed them.

"Another king? How many is that now, Five? I've lost count." Cersei said.

"Lord Commander asks that we send more men to man The Wall." Tyrion told them.

"Perhaps he's forgotten we're fighting a war. We have no men to spare." Cersei replied.

"Cold winds are rising, and the dead rise with them."

"The northerners are a superstitious people." Pycelle told him.

Everyone but Tyrion stood up to leave.

"According to the Commander, one of these dead men attacked him in his chambers." This cause the others to stop. "Mormont doesn't lie."

"How do you kill a dead man?" Varys asked.

"Apparently you burn him." Tyrion replied.

"One trip to The Wall and you come back believing in grumpkins and snarks." She began walking away, followed by Varys.

"I don't know what I believe, but here's a fact for you. The Night's Watch is the only thing that separates us from what lies beyond the Wall."

"I have every confidence the brave men of the Night's Watch will protect us all."

Everyone but Tyrion left.

"Have they not found out how or why Ser Lorch was in the Princess' chambers?" He asked his sister, causing her to turn back.

"No," Cersei responded shortly.

"A shame." He responded. "And quite frightening. We have no idea why he was inside or who killed him. If he was the intended target."

"Aelinor has been moved to chambers closer to mine. She will be fine."

"So I hope."

His sister sent him one last glare, before turning and finally exiting.

[King's Landing - Private Dining Room]

Tyrion sat at a table with Janos Slynt, the Commander of the City Watch (and baby killer).

"More wine?" Podrick, Tyrion's new squire, asked.

He began pouring Janos a glass of wine when he accidentally spilled some.

"Damn it, boy!" Janos shouted.

"Apologies, my lord."

"Leave us, Podrick. I believe we know how to pour our own wine."

"Is that your new squire? Could have found you a proper lad." Janos said as Podrick left.

"Myself, I prefer the improper ones."

"Hmm, that's a good red. Dornish?"

"You know your wines, my lord."

"That I do. A fine dinner, my lord."

"Call me Tyrion, please. I'm sure you're getting used to fine dinners, now that you're a lord."

"Maybe I'll hire this cook of yours." Janos joked.

"Wars have been started for less."

They both laughed and Janos sipped his wine.

"I heard there was some trouble in Littlefinger's brothel the other night."

"Hmm. Nasty business, had to be done."

"Yes, of course. City Watch must keep the peace. Only, I hadn't realized peace depended on killing babies."

"Orders are orders." Janos replied.

"Quite right. Especially the queen's orders."

"I nevr said they were the queen's orders."

"No, but who else would want to murder King Robert's bastards? She's alwys been a jealous woman."

"You know your sister better than I do."

"You've heard the awful rumors about my brother and sister."

"I don't listen to filth."

"That's good of you, but you have heard them. I suppose people who do believe that filth, consider Robert's bastards to be better claimants to the throne than Cersei's children."

"Joffrey is my king, the rest doesn't interest me." He sipped his wine.

"I appreciate your loyalty. Tell me. When your men slaughtered Ned Stark's men in the throne room, did you give the order?"

"I did. And I would again. The man was a traitor. He tried to buy my loyalty."

"The fool! He had no idea you were already bought."

"Are you drunk? I'll not have my honor questioned by an Imp."

"I'm not questioning your honor, Lord Janos. I'm denying its existence."

"You think I'll stand here and take this from you, dwarf."

"Dwarf? You should have stopped at imp. And yes, you will stand here and take it from me, unless you'd like to take it from my friend here."

Tyrion gestured towards Bronn, who has entered the room.

"I intend to serve as Hand of the King until my father returns from the war, and seeing as you betrayed the last Hand of the King, well, I just wouldn't feel safe with you lurking about."

"What are you ta- My friends at court will not allow this. The queen herself-"

"The queen regent. And you're a fool to believe she's your friend."

"We shall hear what Joffrey has to say about this."

"No, we shan't." Tyrion nodded at Bronn, who gestured for some armed men to enter the room. "There's a ship leaving for East Watch by the sea tonight. From there, I'm afraid it's rather a long walk to Castle Black. I hope you enjoy the Wall. I found it surprisingly beautiful, in a brutal, horribly uncomfortable sort of way."

"The lads will escort you. The streets aren't safe at night, my lord." Bronn told him.

"These men are under my command." Bronn laughed. "I command you to arrest this cutthroat."

"His name is Bronn... and he is the new commander of the City Watch."

"Boys?" Bronn called.

The gold cloaks in the room grabbed Janos.

"I have friends at court! Powerful friends! The king himself made me a lord!" Janos shouted as they began dragging him away.

Once he was out of sight, Bronn sat down, and Tyrion poured him a cup of wine.

"To the new Commander."

Tyrion and Bronn clinked their glasses together before taking a sip.

"If I told you to murder, an infant girl say, still at her mother's breast, would you do it without question?"

"Without question? No. I'd ask how much."

[King's Landing - Tyrion's Room]

Tyrion had returned to his room and now sat at a table, nursing a cup of wine. His sister had barged in not long after, and she now stood pacing in front of him.

"Lord Janos Slynt was Commander of the City Watch. You had no right to exile him."

"I have every right. I am the King's Hand."

"You're serving as the King's Hand until father gets here. I am Queen Regent."

"Listen to me, Queen Regent, you're losing the people. Do you hear me?"

"Ha, the people. You think I care?"

"You might find it difficult to rule over millions who want you dead. Half the city will starve when winter comes. The other half will plot to overthrow you. And your gold-plated thugs just gave them the rallying cry, "The Queen slaughters babies." Cersei said nothing. "You don't even have the decency to deny it."

Cersei looked down and walked toward the window. Tyrion looked down, and then up at her.

"It wasn't you who gave the order, was it? Joffrey didn't even tell you. Or did he tell you? I imagine that would be even worse."

"He did what needed to be done." She began softly, before raising her voice. "You want to be the Hand of the King? You want to rule? This is what ruling is! Lying on a bed of weeds, ripping them out by the root one by one before they strangle you in your sleep."

"I'm no king, but I think there's more to ruling that that. Apparently your daughter thinks the same."

"I don't care what you think! You've nevr taken it seriously. You haven't, Jaime hasn't." She sat down. "It's all fallen on me."

Tyrion tried to stifle his laughter. "As has Jaime repeatedly, according to Stannis Baratheon."

"You're funny." She laughed. "You've alwys been funny. But none of your jokes will ever match the first one, will they? You remember... back when you ripped my mother open on your way out of her and she bled to death."

"She was my mother too." Tyrion told her sadly.

"Now they're gone, for the sake of you. There's no bigger joke in the world than that. "

Tyrion watched as his sister stormed out.

As long his eldest nephew was king, they were in trouble.