(Third Person POV)
[The Next Morning]
"Where is Tygett?" Tywin asked around as he stepped outside, "I need to speak to him."
He was asking one of his knights, who was standing guard to the side.
"I do not know, My Lord." He said, "I have not seen him since the night prior. He stormed away, carrying a bottle of wine."
Tywin's face hardened, "Did he take to the bottle again?" He muttered, "And Gerion? Where is my foolish younger brother?"
"I believe he is still asleep, My Lord." the Knight said
"These damn brothers of mine." Tywin said with a scowl, "Call Kevan, I need to speak to my brothers. Now."
"Yes, My Lord." The Knight said
As Tywin turned around, he bumped into Tyrion, who was walking out the doorway. The young boy fell on his butt, causing him to grunt.
"Ah." He said
Tywin looked down, "Watch it, boy." He said with a cold tone, "Do you not see I am standing here?"
"Father." Tywin looked up to see Jaime walking up to them, "Careful with Tyrion."
"Careful?" Tywin asked, "How about you be careful and watch where your brother goes? He should not be behind others, lest he be squashed like a bug by accident."
Tyrion looked up at his father, "That hurt."
"I care not for any of that." Tywin said, avoiding eye contact, "Take the boy away, Jaime."
Jaime frowned, "Father...."
As he said this, Joanna walked out of the building, as if she were looking for Tyrion.
"Where is Tyrion?" She said as she looked at him, "Oh, my boy....what happened?"
"He bumped into Father." Jaime said as she walked up to him and crouched down, "He fell."
"Tywin." Joanna said, "You should be careful."
"I was not the one who walked without looking." Tywin said, "You should teach the damned boy to watch where he-"
"He's your son." Joanna cut him off, "Stop treating him like he's not!"
Tywin stared at her coldly, his silence causing unease to the knights and soldiers around them. They shifted nervously, unsure if they should leave or not.
"Now is not the time for this." Tywin said seriously, "I've had enough. Jaime, go look for your Uncle Tyg."
"But-" Jaime started
"I will not repeat myself, boy." Tywin walked back inside
As he walked, Tyrion got up and began to run away, sobbing.
"T-Tyrion!" Joanna started
"Oh, not again." Jaime frowned, "I'll go after him."
"No, I will." Joanna said, "Go look for Tyg, Jaime."
Jaime nodded, "Very well."
Jaime began to walk away as Joanna straightened up and patted her skirt. She looked to the side and saw that some Knights were looking for her.
"I would appreciate it if one of you accompanied both myself and Jaime in our tasks." She said
"R-Right, My Lady." The Knight bowed, "We'll do that."
**************
Over by the port, Joanna walked over to Tyrion who was sitting on a crate next to a familiar figure.
"Tyrion!" She called out, making her way to them, "What are you doing here? You're awfully swift for a boy your age."
She reached the crates, seeing that he was sitting next to Ellion, eating some pastries.
"Quite good, no?" Ellion asked Tyrion as the boy had crumbs on his face, "I just bought them. They're fresh."
Tyrion was nodding, "Yes." He said, "Good."
Joanna could not help but smile slightly at this, seeing her son in a much better mood. She noticed his eyes were still red from crying, the boy having felt the need to sob after the cold moment with his father.
Ellion looked at her, "Oh, Lady Joanna." He said, "Sorry about that. I had just come from the bakery and saw your son crying alone. I figured I'd stay with the lad and offer him a pastry."
"That is fine, Ser Ellion." Joanna walked up to Tyrion and patted his cheek, "My poor boy, he is a gentle soul."
"Let me guess." Ellion said, "His father was a bit rude to him. That's not good, Lady Joanna. You should put your foot down and tell Tywin to go easy on the kid."
Joanna sighed, "I would love nothing for that to happen." She said, "But Tywin will not-.....No, it is not appropriate to speak to you about this."
Ellion chuckled, "Why not?" He asked, "It's just us. Oh, by the way. I heard some soldiers were looking for Tygett. He's on the ship, asleep. I guess he was drinking too much. He woke up not too long ago, saying he doesn't remember much from the night prior and went back to sleep."
"I see." Joanna said, "Did you see Jaime?"
Ellion nodded, "Yea, he went to wake him up." He said, "I told him to be careful, his uncle was quite grumpy."
Joanna chuckled, "Right..." She said, "Tyrion, we should head on back."
"Sit for a bit." Ellion said, "The sight of the sea is quite nice. And these pastries are nice and tasty. At least until Tygett wakes up and you can all go back together. It's not safe for you to be that alone. Besides, you won't be bothered on the way."
Joanna sighed and sat down next to Tyrion, "I suppose it shouldn't hurt." she said, "But I wonder what Tywin would think about this."
"Nothing to worry about." Ellion shrugged, "Tyrion here is a witness, he knows there's nothing going on."
Joanna looked at her son, who was eating the pastry, "Hm...." She ran her hand through his hair, "My sweet boy has taken a liking to you."
"Is that so?" Ellion asked, "Well, I can't say I am great with children, but I don't treat them like trash."
"Hm...." Joanna looked at Ellion, who was chewing, "Is that so?"
Ellion nodded, "Mhm."
Tyrion dropped down from the crate, "I am going to look for Jaime and Uncle Tyg." He said, "Can I?"
"Which ship is it?" Joanna asked
Ellion pointed at the galleon that was docked not too far away, "That one over there." I said, "I'd say he could go and check things out, Jaime is there. But he should be careful not to slip."
"Do not run on the ramp, Tyrion." Joanna said, "I will await here, okay? Don't take too long, tell your Uncle that your Father is calling for him at once."
Tyrion nodded, "Yes." He said, "Thank you."
He turned around and rushed over to the ship, slowly walking over the ramp and boarding the ship as Ellion watched attentively. There was a box of pastries between him and Joanna, which he had placed as the boy had walked over. Joanna eyed the pastries, a bit tempted to grab one since she was hungry and had not eaten much that morning.
Ellion finished his own pastry, "Nice lemon taste." He said, still looking over by the ship, "Quite good."
"I might try one." Joanna said softly as she reached into the box
Ellion reached as well, not looking, "Yea."
Their hands then met, Ellion grabbing hers by accident. This caused the two of them to freeze momentarily, legitimately taken aback by what had happened.
"Oh." Joanna said, not pulling back from Ellion's grasp
Ellion looked at his hand, "Oh, my bad." He said, not letting go, his hand gently wrapped around hers, "I was reaching for a pastry."
Joanna looked at him, a surprised look in her eye, "Y-Yes...." She said, her breathing becoming a bit labored, "That's.....that's right...."
Ellion let go and grabbed one, "Here." He said as he gave it to her, "They're good, you can eat one."
Joanna took the pastry, "Yes, thank you." She said as she looked ahead, "They smell delicious."
"Yep." Ellion grabbed another one, "They do."
They both ate in silence, around a minute passed by as the two of them watched the waters.
Then, Joanna broke the silence, "M-My Husband has been rather cold with Tyrion." She said softly, "It is good that someone who is not his family is treating him better than everyone does."
Ellion looked at her, "Is that so?"
"Everyone treats him as a Lordling but also with a subtle cold, due to him being a dwarf." She said with a nod, "But not you, Ser Ellion. For that, I thank you."
"There is no need to." I said, "I am doing what a normal person should do with a child. Treat them well and fairly. Tyrion is a good soul; he's young and innocent. I sense nothing but good within him."
"He takes after his mother in that sense."