(Y/n) looked out of the window of the carriage. The great grey city of Kings Landing growing ever closer. She had no real idea why her father had sent her to the capital. For so many years, he had done his best to keep her away from her cousins. Yet now, now he was sending her right into the lion's den. Now he was allowing her to see him again. Not that she was sure that she wanted to, given what she now knew.

She would never say that her father was a cruel man. He was solid and serious for the most part yes, but never cruel. And even though he had sent her away after her refusal to marry any of the suitors that were paraded in front of her, he had still made sure that her home was comfortable and well appointed. Leaving her to never want for anything. Something that if she had been the daughter of Tywin, (Y/n) was sure would never have been allowed to happen. But that said, her father seemed to have taken a great delight in telling her about Tyrion's escapades. About his first lover, his wife, being a whore by the name of Tysha. About his many visits to the brothels of Kings Landing since his arrival in the capital.

(Y/n) knew why he had done it. She knew that her father wished to show her that Tyrion was as no good as everyone else believed. That he was not worth the love that she had felt for him all those years. That he was not worthy of her. And given all what she had heard, (Y/n) had reluctantly begun to feel that that was the case. That that night under that starry, starry sky, had meant nothing to the little man. And that if he would marry a whore, he was most certainly not worthy to be with a lioness. Or at least that was what she was trying to convince herself of. Yet her heart was not as fickle as Tyrion's. She had sworn to the gods that night, as her maestre had locked her in her room, that she would stay a maiden until she could be with the boy that she loved. Until she was the bride of Tyrion Lannister. And it would appear that the gods wished to keep her to her word. That they wished for her to die as a maid. The thought that Tyrion may already have another whore that he wished to marry, eating her up inside. Yet she had determined to make the best of it. She had rarely been allowed to leave her home. So, to be sent to Kings Landing. To be allowed to see so many new faces and things, would certainly make a nice change. To see Jaime, and even Cersei and her uncle, would be welcome. And even if Tyrion had never thought of her again since that night. Even if he had forgotten all about her, and that first kiss. Even if everything had been a lie, she had promised herself that she would treat him as she always had. She would treat him as what he was. Her cousin.

                                                         >>-----------------------------------<<

Tywin made his way down from the Tower of the Hand. He had been informed that the carriage of his niece would soon be with them. That the child he had not seen in many a long year, would soon be before him once again. He had never been a man of sentiment. A man that let his heart rule his head, but he had always like (Y/n). There was something about her that reminded him of his beloved Joanna. Something about her that had made him wish that she was his daughter rather than Cersei. When he had heard from (Y/n)'s maestre about what she had seen go on between (Y/n) and Tyrion that night, he had found that he couldn't blame his son for wanting her. That a match between the pair would not be the worst thing in the world, especially not for Tyrion at any rate. Yet he could also understand why Kevan had not liked the notion. That the last thing that he would want for his precious daughter, would be for her to be wed to something like Tyrion. Both old lions well aware that (Y/n) could do so much better than the imp. Yet after all these years, Tywin had finally managed to persuade his brother to send her back to them. To allow the two cousins to see one another again.

Tywin had never liked his youngest son's choice in women since (Y/n) had left. He didn't like the name of Lannister, being associated with a whore that had been willing to service every one of his guards, while her husband watched, for the right amount of gold. The Lannister patriarch telling his brother, that if (Y/n) had chosen to never marry, then there should be no need to worry about bringing the two cousins back together. Though Tywin did in fact hope, that Tyrion and (Y/n) may still feel for one another, as they had done all those years ago. The old lion more than happy with the notion of a marriage between the two. Now all he had to hope for, was that Tyrion didn't ruin all of his plans, with his drinking and whoring.

"Where is your brother?" Tywin enquired gruffly, as he made his way into the courtyard. His eyes falling on the twins that were already waiting to greet their cousin.

"I.......I don't know. When I left him, he was getting ready." Jaime explained. The golden lion not quite sure why his brother hadn't made an appearance yet, given how excited at the news of (Y/n)'s arrival he seemed to have been. Tywin unable to stop himself from growling at the thought his son was already trying to ruin everything.

"You men!" Tywin called out to two waiting guards.

"Go to my son's room and bring him down here. I will not have him shaming me in my niece's eyes." The old lion barked. The two men scurrying off to find the little man.

                                                        >>-----------------------------------<<

Tyrion looked out of the window. He could see his father and brother and sister waiting for (Y/n)'s arrival. And as much as he wanted to go down there. To be the first of the family that she would see. The first one that she would smile at. To be the one that she would rush to and throw her arms around, as she was helped down from her landau. He had a feeling that that would not be the reception that he would get this time.

He was sure that somehow, (Y/n) would know of all that had happened since they had seen one another last. Of Tysha and all the other women. Of all the other things that he had done. That night, she had told him that she would only ever love him. That she would only ever want to be his. And he had done the same. Yet, unlike (Y/n) he had not kept that promise. He had taken lovers. Taken a wife. The guilt building up inside him, as he watched a carriage slowly draw up into the courtyard.

"Ya not goin down ta see her? After all that lookin out into tha night sky, ya not going ta be there when she steps outta tha carriage?" Bronn asked from behind him. The two men watching as the Lannister guards made their way over to open the door of the landeau.

"How can I? How can I face her? I betrayed her. I.................." Tyrion began to explain. His words cut off as two guards entered the room.

"Ya father has asked that ya come to the courtyard, milord." One of the men explained, as he stepped forward. Tyrion knowing that that was an order not a request.

"Well, looks like ya goin whether ya like it or not." Bronn sniffed, as he and Tyrion reluctantly made their way out of the room. The bannermen following closely behind. Tyrion knowing that there was now no way that he could avoid the meeting.

                                                                  >>-----------------------------<<

(Y/n) took a deep breath, as the carriage slowed and then pulled to a stop. Her driver informing her that they had finally arrived at their destination. She had to admit that there was part of her that wanted to tell the coachman to just turn around and take her home. That she wanted to leave and never come back. But she knew that it was far too late for that. That she could already see her uncle and the twins waiting for her. So, despite all the feelings and emotions that were bombarding her. Despite the ache she felt in her heart, she knew that she would have to face this as best she could.

Slowly the door to her carriage was opened. A hand reaching in for her to take. The lioness doing just that, and letting the guard help her down from the carriage. Doing her best to smile, she made her way over to the waiting lions. Her heart breaking a little more as she noted that Tyrion was not even there to greet her after all this time.

"Uncle Tywin. It is so nice to see you again." (Y/n) said, as she made her way over to her uncle. Curtsying respectfully before the head of House Lannister.

"(Y/n), my dear. I see that you are still as exquisite as you ever were. It seems such a shame that such beauty has been denied the world for so long. But hopefully, while you are in Kings Landing, we will be able to prove to you that there are greater things than your little home. And maybe we will be able to persuade you to even stay." Tywin replied, as he took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"You of course remember Cersei and Jaime." Tywin continued, as (Y/n) turned her attention to the pair.

"Of course. Your grace." (Y/n) replied, as she curtsied to Cersei. (Y/n) not quite sure what kind of reception she would get from her after all this time.

(Y/n) knew all too well of Cersei's reputation. Of how she had been as a child. Knew that she could never truly be trusted. And despite the fact that they had never really clashed during her time at Casterly Rock, (Y/n) knew that Cersei liked to be seen as the most beautiful woman in the room. The most intelligent. In truth, the only woman in the room. So, given the fact that she wasn't currently the focus of all male attention, (Y/n) was not sure what to expect. And was definitely not expecting that the queen would pull her into her arms.

"(Y/n). It is so good to see you again. We have so much to catch up on. So much time we have missed out on. We must talk over tea and lemon cakes." Cersei seemed to gush. (Y/n) tentatively hugging her cousin in return. Hoping that one of Cersei's hands didn't have a knife in it.

"I would very much like that, your grace. I know that I am most interested to hear all about your life, and the children." (Y/n) replied. Relieved as Cersei finally let her go.

"What? No greeting for me?" Jaime enquired. A genuine broad smile spreading across (Y/n)'s lips, as she looked at her handsome cousin.

"I always have a greeting for you, Jaime. It is nice to see that my cousin has lost none of his charm or beauty." (Y/n) told him. Finding herself letting out a happy sigh as he pulled her into a hug. His embrace feeling much safer than that of his twins.

"It would appear that one of you is missing. Where is Ty................."

"Hello, (Y/n)." A soft voice said from behind her. (Y/n)'s smile dropping, as she turned and saw Tyrion. The lioness pushing her nails into the palm of her hand, as she forced herself not to cry at the sight of the man that she had loved since they were both children.