Fffc Bingo Card - The ugly side of power

[m_findlow]

Title: The ugly side of power
Fandom: Game of Thrones
Characters: Tyrion, Jaime
Author: m_findlow
Rating: M
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Bingo Card Prompt - Iron at fffc
Summary: Tyrion is left in awe of the Iron Throne.

Tyrion wandered slowly around the grand throne room, taking it all in. No matter how many times he came to King's Landing, the sheer size and grandeur of the place took the breath from his chest. Even now without the King at its head and the court full of lord and ladies, the room was no less awe-inspiring. It was a far cry from the practical functionality of the halls at Casterly Rock. They place was as much his father as anything, solid, imposing and straightforward. King's Landing was much more to Tyrion's liking.

The tapestries hung on the walls were the height of three men and depicted many of the great battles in history with their knight and armored horses charging into certain death. It was no wonder knights loved battle so much. It must have seemed so romantic and fantastical. Not something he was volunteering himself for, of course, but for a young man it must have been alluring, especially in these times of peace when a knight's tasks were merely to look fearsome without having to draw a sword.

Strangely of all the images depicted, there wasn't a single one that involved any Targaryens.  King Robert must truly have thought to wipe their house from existence, as if they weren't already. How magnificent this room must have been when it had been full of the skulls of those great dragons. Small wonder the Targaryens ruled as long as they did. Who would dare challenge such a beast?

He continued to walk towards the far end of the hall. At the very head was the great stained glass seven pointed star, casting its multicoloured sunlight into the room and illuminating the throne that dominated the space. Tyrion stepped up into the podium that housed the great seat of power, getting the closest look at it he'd ever had.

'Just don't sit on it,' called out a voice. He turned to find Jaime standing in the huge double doorways, his white Kingsguard cape flowing around him like water.

'Yes, I keep forgetting about that time you took it upon yourself to test it out. Did you feel kingly when you sat there?'

'Rather less so when I had Ned Stark threatening to dethrone me with the tip of his sword,' Jaime replied walking slowly towards Tyrion.

'Jealousy?'

'Piety.'

'Ah. The Starks. Always so noble.'

Tyrion studied the way the swords of the King's enemies had been melded and fashioned together. Not a thousand, as the stories all said, he decided. Two hundred at most. Why anyone would covet it remains a mystery to him. What kind of king would wish to seat himself upon a thing that would attempt to cut him to ribbons? And why was it called the iron throne? What knight would wield a sword made of iron?

'It truly is an ugly thing,' Jaime declared.

'Quite right,' Tyrion agreed. 'But then again, what is power if not the most ugly and divisive thing there is?'