Tyrion is the younger brother of Cersei and Jaime Lannister and was gratified when his father, Tywin, who he believes dislikes him, chose him to serve as Hand of the King to Tyrion's nephew King Joffrey. It was mainly due to Tyrion's planning that the Lannister forces held King's Landing, the country's capital, during an attack by the forces of Stannis Baratheon, the king's brother who wants the throne for himself. Tyrion was knocked unconscious during the attack and when he woke, he discovered that his father, Tywin, had returned to the city and taken the post of the Hand of the King for himself. Tyrion and his mistress, Shae, consider leaving the capital, but ultimately decide to stay.
