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Tyrion wondered what it would be like to have a twin, and decided that he would rather not know Bad enough to face hiht too dreadful to contemplate

Prince Tommen spoke up "Do you have news of Bran, Uncle?"

"I stopped by the sickrooe The n"

"I don’t want Brandon to die," Tommen said timorously He was a sweet boy Not like his brother, but then Jaime and Tyrion were somewhat less than peas in a pod themselves

"Lord Eddard had a brother naes aryen It seems to be an unlucky name"

"Oh, not so unlucky as all that, surely," Tyrion said The servant brought his plate He ripped off a chunk of black bread

Cersei was studying hiave her a crooked set his wish The maester thinks the boy ave a happy gasp, and Tommen smiled nervously, but it was not the children Tyrion atching The glance that passed between Jaime and Cersei lasted no more than a second, but he did not aze to the table "That is no er in such pain"

"What were the maester’s words?" Jaime asked

The bacon crunched when he bit into it Tyrion chewed thoughtfully for ato die, he would have done so already It has been four days with no change"

"Will Bran get better, Uncle?" little Myrcella asked She had all of her mother’s beauty, and none of her nature

"His back is broken, little one," Tyrion told her "The fall shattered his legs as well They keep him alive with honey and water, or he would starve to death Perhaps, if he wakes, he will be able to eat real food, but he will never walk again"

"If he wakes," Cersei repeated "Is that likely?"

"The gods alone know," Tyrion told her "The maester only hopes" He chewed so the boy alive The creature is outside hisday and night, howling Every time they chase it away, it returns The maester said they closed theonce, to shut out the noise, and Bran seeain, his heart beat stronger"

The queen shuddered "There is so unnatural about those anierous I will not have any of the south with us"

Jai theirls everywhere"

Tyrion started on his fish "Are you leaving soon, then?"

"Not near soon enough," Cersei said Then she frowned "Are we leaving?" she echoed "What about you? Gods, don’t tell ed "Benjen Stark is returning to the Night’s Watch with his brother’s bastard I have a o with them and see this Wall we have all heard so much of"

Jai the black on us, sweet brother"

Tyrion laughed "What,from Dorne to Casterly Rock No, I just want to stand on top of the Wall and piss off the edge of the world"

Cersei stood abruptly "The children don’t need to hear this filth To roo behind her

Jaihtfully with those cool green eyes "Stark will never consent to leave Winterfell with his son lingering in the shadow of death"

"He will if Robert commands it," Tyrion said "And Robert will co Lord Eddard can do for the boy in any case"

"He could end his torment," Jaime said "I would, if it were ainst putting that suggestion to Lord Eddard, sweet brother," Tyrion said "He would not take it kindly"

"Even if the boy does live, he will be a cripple Worse than a cripple A grotesque Give ood clean death"

Tyrion replied with a shrug that accentuated the twist of his shoulders "Speaking for the grotesques," he said, "I beg to differ Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities"

Jaime smiled "You are a perverse little imp, aren’t you?"

"Oh, yes," Tyrion admitted "I hope the boy does wake I would be ht have to say"

His brother’s smile curdled like sour milk "Tyrion, ive me cause to wonder whose side you are on"

Tyrion’sblack beer to wash it all down, and grinned up wolfishly at Jaime, "Why, Jaime, my sweet brother," he said, "you wound me You kno much I love my family"