---
Outside Harrenhal Castle, Jaime was gathered with some men.
He was drinking, eating, and having fun—after all, that was what the tournament was for.
They were sitting around the castle's ruins, among broken stones.
The topic of conversation, of course, was women.
They told stories about battles they had fought, times they had nearly died, and as they talked, they filled their bellies with drink.
Meanwhile, inside the castle, Tyrion was looking for Jaime with Ned Stark.
Tyrion searched the castle, and while doing so, he ran into several people.
He met the future king, Robert Baratheon. Robert was Ned's friend, and when Ned saw him, they stopped to talk. Tyrion spoke with him briefly; his first impression was that Robert was impulsive and stubborn.
He also met Benjen Stark, Ned's brother. Benjen recognized him, and Ned introduced him to Tyrion. At first sight, Tyrion liked Benjen.
As for the other Starks, Tyrion also glimpsed Lyanna Stark while searching for Jaime. She was very beautiful, and it made sense why Robert had fallen for her. Rhaegar and Robert had good reasons, Tyrion thought.
As for Lord Rickard, Tyrion did not see him but heard from Ned that his father was present.
Others he saw while looking for Jaime included Prince Rhaegar, Arthur Dayne, Mace Tyrell, Howland Reed, Gerold Hightower, and many others.
After searching, Tyrion and Ned concluded that Jaime was not inside the castle, but probably outside.
It would be unseemly to let a child wander alone, so Ned accompanied him. Besides, Ned liked the little dwarf and didn't mind helping a Lannister.
They went outside, where many families were gathered, people settling in, and numerous merchant tents scattered around the castle.
"Where do you think your brother might be?" Ned asked.
Tyrion thought and concluded that Jaime was likely celebrating.
"So where would you go if you were young and wanted to drink and laugh without being bothered?" Tyrion asked Ned.
Ned pondered, and the answer came to mind.
"I know a good spot… we'll see where your brother is," Ned said.
(Behind the castle, near the river close to the castle)
"One more, one more, one more!" shouted half a dozen people repeatedly.
Jaime was holding a mug of ale. He had already drunk several and wanted to drink another, but wasn't sure he could.
"One more!" said a knight.
"I can't… anymore…" Jaime said, feeling the urge to vomit.
"One more mug, you can do it," another knight said.
Influenced, Jaime drank another mug of ale.
He raised the mug and cheered.
"That's it! Well done! Hahaha!" the knights celebrated.
Soon after thinking he had managed it, Jaime vomited.
It poured from his mouth and filled the ground with a foul smell.
"I think he's drunk," said one knight.
"I think he's going to die from drinking too much…" murmured another.
"I'm fine… I can manage one more…" Jaime murmured.
Just as he was about to drink again, he fell backward and passed out. The knights were about to check on Jaime when someone approached—a dwarf accompanied by Lord Ned Stark.
"My lord…" the knights said, forming a line and ignoring the fallen Jaime.
As for the dwarf, some already knew Jaime's brother, while others had never seen him, but Tyrion wore clothes with the Lannister sigil, so they knew he was a Lannister.
"You shouldn't be drinking so much. You should be on watch," Ned Stark said.
"We're sorry, my lord. You're right," one of the knights said.
"You should be punished for this behavior, but we are in times of celebration and peace, so I will let it go this time," Ned said.
"Thank you very much, my lord," the soldiers replied.
"I can't believe this…" Tyrion said, drawing everyone's attention.
"My lord… we are very sorry and apologize," said the knights. Even those who didn't know Tyrion recognized him as noble by his clothing. Those who didn't know him were a bit more fearful of his judgment; after all, noble children could be cruel and insensitive sometimes.
"I can't believe he came and drank so much without me. He could at least have invited me," Tyrion said, surprising everyone.
Ned Stark turned to Tyrion and said,
"Tyrion, you shouldn't be drinking, Tyrion."
"Just because I'm a dwarf? Look, dwarves come too, you know…" Tyrion said to Ned, with a look that said, I wanted to, after all.
"No, because you are a child," Ned Stark replied.
"That's… true… but… I wanted to. You're right, I shouldn't," Tyrion murmured.
Ned Stark turned to the fallen Lannister on the ground. Jaime had passed out, very drunk after all.
"Take him to his chambers," Ned said.
The knights hurried and did as their lord commanded, lifting Jaime by the arms as quickly as possible.
Not all the knights went. Only two carried Jaime; Tyrion instructed the rest to stay.
He wanted to talk a bit with Jaime's knight friends whom he hadn't met yet.
Tyrion introduced himself to them, and after Ned left, he stayed to drink with them (without Ned knowing).
The days at Harrenhal passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the tournament arrived.
During his stay, Tyrion had met practically all the important nobles of the great houses.
The Lannister name gave him influence; as Tywin's son, everyone either feared, respected, or hated the Lannisters.
Today the tournament would begin. The stands for the commoners had been finished, as had those for the nobles. Before, there had been many people, but now, on tournament day, there were even more.
Before the tournament, Tyrion befriended some of the knights who were Jaime's friends.
He also met Lord Rickard Stark. Since Tyrion had befriended Ned, he eventually met his father.
Tyrion was in the Lannister tent, waiting for the tournament to start. His brother Jaime would participate, and if he remembered correctly, at the end of the tournament, Jaime would become a member of the Kingsguard.
As Tyrion was lost in thought, Jaime entered the tent.
He was dressed beautifully in a magnificent armor with Lannister sigil details. The armor was both striking and elegant.
Jaime was a good fighter, one of the best for his age, or so Tyrion had always heard. Tyrion didn't fight, so he didn't fully understand how skilled his brother was.
"How do I look?" Jaime asked.
Tyrion responded with a slight smile.
"Not bad. I'd even say it looks good, though it might make you even more narcissistic," Tyrion said.
"I know… you don't want to admit it, but I look very handsome in this armor. I still remember the feeling the first time I saw it," Jaime replied.
"It's a beautiful armor. You're lucky—besides love and care, you also get a nice armor from our father. Will I ever get one like that?" Tyrion asked.
"I'm sorry, Tyrion… I don't think so. But don't be sad. In the future, when I die, it will be yours. I promise," Jaime said with a slight smile.
"Then I hope it never becomes mine," Tyrion answered sincerely.
Jaime felt the sincerity in his brother's words. Jaime knew noble families often had problems over inheritance, but Tyrion seemed unconcerned with such things. He had never once shown desire for anything from their father or tried to claim what should be his.
Technically, Jaime was the rightful heir to Casterly Rock, but Tyrion, being Tywin's son, might have had some claim too.
But he never really cared.
"Thank you, Tyrion," Jaime said.
"Don't thank me yet; I could change my mind in the future. It's a fine armor—it must be worth a lot of money," Tyrion said.
"Certainly," Jaime said as he grabbed his best sword. The tournament was about to start.
He sheathed his sword and turned his back to Tyrion, about to leave, but before exiting, he heard his brother say:
"Good luck. I'll be cheering for you. I hope you don't die," Tyrion said.
Jaime turned and thanked him.
"Thanks, but I won't die. I'm going to win," Jaime said as he left.
---