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Jaime and two other knights went ahead while the others stayed at the camp with the horses.
Besides Tyrion, there were two knights escorting him to Harrenhal.
They had hardly slept after the attack, staying awake all night.
And as for Tyrion, well, seeing so much blood and so many corpses in a single day had left his mind in chaos.
It was disgusting, unpleasant — that's what he thought. Seeing a man with his stomach open and his intestines spilling out was never pleasant.
Early in the morning, around six, they gathered their belongings, mounted their horses, and set off.
Of course, they took the horses of those who had gone ahead — a warhorse was too valuable to leave behind, so they tied them with ropes and pulled them along.
Tyrion wondered what had happened to Sir Cayo.
Was he alright? And what about his brother — had he already arrived at Harrenhal?
Tyrion and the others spent the entire day riding towards the Harrenhal tournament.
After a long journey, around eight in the evening, after stopping countless times to rest, they reached the outskirts of Harrenhal. The flow of people was already heavy, as they joined with other travelers.
Harrenhal is the largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms and the seat of House Whent in the Riverlands, on the northern shore of God's Eye. Since Harrenhal was burned by dragonfire when Aegon the Conqueror descended from the sky and ignited it, turning the greatest castle in all of Westeros to rubble, its ruins remained, becoming a dark, haunting reminder of the fragility of greatness.
Harren, the Black, the founder of Harrenhal, built it along God's Eye as a monument to himself, intending it to be the largest castle in Westeros and to outshine all others.
Harren's dream took forty years to complete. Thousands of captives died in the quarries, chained to sledges or working in the five enormous towers. Men froze in the winter and suffered in the summer heat. Heart trees that had endured three thousand years were felled to provide beams and joists. Harren devastated the riverside lands and the Iron Islands to decorate his dream.
Once completed, Harren boasted that his new fortress was impregnable. However, he did not account for Aegon the Conqueror's invasion and his dragons. On the day Harren settled there, Aegon landed at what would become King's Landing. Aegon flew over the high walls and towering turrets on his dragon Balerion, the Black Dread, and roasted Harren alive in the highest tower, now known as the King's Tower.
"Where could Jaime be?" Tyrion wondered.
Tyrion knew his brother Jaime was not the most saintly of people, yet he still cared for him and worried.
Night was approaching when Tyrion first laid eyes on Harrenhal. It was not yet fully dark; the sun was setting.
As they drew closer, they saw hundreds of people walking in every direction, carrying food and wine, colorful tents and torches lit around the castle, merchants selling their wares, children playing, and families talking together.
Hundreds or thousands of tents spread across the fields where people camped. Tyrion guessed that the smaller tents were for poorer folk, while the wealthier had larger, more elaborate ones.
Colorful tents covered the surrounding fields — thousands of them. Each noble house pitched its tent with distinct colors and banners.
The jousting field was being set up before the walls, and wooden stands were being raised for nobles to watch.
Merchants, bards, blacksmiths, and cooks came from all over the Riverlands and even from King's Landing.
From what Tyrion knew, they had arrived early, but that was planned; the tournament was still several days away, and many people were already waiting.
Everything still seemed rather chaotic, but it was incredible — the first time Tyrion had seen so many people gathered.
Hundreds of people celebrating around, and Tyrion could only think of where his brother was.
"He must be around here. He's fine," said one of the knights, trying to reassure Tyrion.
They were looking for Tyrion when a messenger appeared. He was thin and looked like a normal boy.
"Are you companions of Jaime Lannister?" asked the boy.
"Yes… who are you?" asked Tyrion.
"My lord, I was sent to find you. Your brother asked me to tell you he is fine and waiting for you," said the young boy.
"And Sir Cayo?" asked Tyrion.
"Sir Cayo is well. He'll need some time to recover, but nothing serious," said the young squire.
"Where is Jaime?" asked Tyrion.
"My lord, your brother is meeting with the other nobles of Westeros," said the squire.
"Take me to him," said Tyrion.
"Yes, my lord."
The squire began walking, and Tyrion and his knights followed.
They seemed to be allowed into the castle only because they were nobility — commoners remained outside, camping among tents farther from the castle.
As they approached, they were received by guards.
Tyrion declared he was a Lannister and Jaime's brother, and they let him in without trouble, having already been warned of his coming.
He and his soldiers entered the initial part of Harrenhal. As they walked, they saw many tents of different colors and banners.
Grey and white — House Stark: a giant grey direwolf on a white-ice field.
Blue and silver — House Arryn: a white falcon in flight over a crescent moon on a sky-blue field.
Purple and gold — House Tully: a silver trout leaping over horizontal red and blue stripes.
Black and red — House Targaryen: a three-headed black dragon breathing fire on a red field.
Red and gold — House Lannister: where his brother was probably staying.
Yellow-gold with black bat — House Whent: the host banner, perhaps the most visible at the tournament.
Lady Shella Whent had overseen all the decorations, making sure every house's banner was displayed.
Tyrion realized that the tents were separate, and of course there were also tents outside the castle near the lake, which he had not yet seen.
The Lannisters, for example, stayed near other lords of the Westerlands — like the Lefford, Brax, and Crakehall families.
The Tullys, the regional hosts, stayed closest to the main entrance.
The Starks and Baratheons, coming from afar, were in areas closer to the lake.
Inside the walls, only the most important guests were allowed:
The Targaryen royalty
High lords such as Tywin Lannister, Hoster Tully, and Jon Arryn
Members of the Kingsguard escorting the Targaryens
These guests stayed in refurbished rooms and secure chambers, away from the burnt ruins, though the castle still seemed cold and haunted.
It was fascinating to see how each tent was close to its loyal vassals. Houses with stronger ties stayed together — an interesting sight for Tyrion.
Inside the castle, Tyrion headed toward the Lannister tents, where the squire had been leading him.
He was brought to a Lannister tent, guarded by Lannister soldiers. Tyrion dismounted, and after the guards recognized him, they let him in.
Inside were three people: his brother Jaime, his uncle Kevan Lannister, and his cousin Lancel Lannister.
They seemed to be talking, and when they saw Tyrion, they paused.
"Cousin," said Lancel.
Jaime and his uncle looked at Tyrion. Tyrion was not particularly close to Kevan, but he assumed that if Uncle Gerion wasn't present, it was because he must be occupied elsewhere.
"Uncle, good to see you are well," said Tyrion.
"Good to see you too, Tyrion. How have you been?" said his uncle.
Tyrion quickly asked what he wanted to know.
"And Sir Cayo? Where is he?" asked Tyrion.
"Yesterday, after we left, we met some travelers heading here. I asked them to give us a ride in their carriage, and when we arrived, we took Sir Cayo to a healer. He's out there now with the others. Don't worry, he's fine," said Jaime.
"That's good… What are you doing here, uncle?" asked Tyrion, looking at his uncle and cousin.
"I came on behalf of your father to represent our family at the tournament. I also brought my son; he wouldn't stop asking to come, so I let him join me," said Kevan.
"I see. When will the tournament start?" asked Tyrion.
"In eight days," replied his uncle.
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