Okie, so obviously this fic is altering the facts a bit, like the supposed age gap between Jaime and Cersei and Tyrion and my OC. Also, I haven't read the books so the info I use is gleaned from the TV episodes I have watched plus the info I find on the Internet. So I own't be strictly sticking to all canon so if you see discrepancies then they're most likely there on purpose. And please don't make me explain how twins can look completely different in every way. I might be stretching the limits of just how different they can look (I'm no scientist) but this is fiction after all!

270AC

Tywin paced impatiently up and down the corridor outside the bed chamber that had been turned into a birthing room for his wife. He had been waiting for over a day to hear news of any kind and as the hours passed him by he contemplated forcing his way into the room.

He was lord of this castle. Why should he not be allowed access to every room, regardless of its use at the time? But something held him back. Fear?

Nothing about this pregnancy had seemed normal to him. When Joanna had carried Cersei and Jaime she had been happy and healthy. She had continued to function as she would if she wasn't pregnant and had only been confined to the bed during the birth and for two days after. Then she had resumed her activities, almost as if nothing had interrupted them.

This time she had barely managed to keep her food down and for the last two months had been ordered to remain in bed lest her activity bring on early labour. She had looked so ill, her lovely silken gold hair turning to a dry straw-like mess and her formerly milk-pale skin took on a pale green hue.

A horrible scream tore through the castle and Tywin, stopping him in his tracks right outside the door. A heavy silence followed and without thinking he charged into the chamber, stopping just inside the doorway as the scene in front of him confronted his senses.

The scent of blood filled the room and the heat from the fire was stifling. Blood stained linen was piled in a bucket at the foot of the bed but the sheet that covered his wife was unblemished, which he thought was a good sign.

His gaze darted to the midwife and her assistants and noted they were busy wrapping the infant but his first concern was Joanna.

He strode over to her and sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes scanning her face as her eyes opened slowly. A faint, slightly lopsided smile appeared on her lips causing Tywin to frown.

Joanna's fingers twitched as she tried to move her right hand up to smooth his forehead with her fingers but she only managed to move her arm to rest across her stomach.

"Don't frown my love. You'll scare the babies."

Her voice was almost a whisper and a bit slurred, confirming Tywin's thoughts that not everything had gone well during the birth. He didn't even register the word 'babies' as sorrow began to fill him.

He couldn't ignore the shadow of death that lurked in the corners of the room. He recognised that Joanna was dying, had been dying for the last eight and a half months. He just hadn't wanted to see it before. He grasped her left hand, struggling to find the words she needed to hear. All he could think of were words he had never thought he would utter, words full of hesitation and defeat.

"I can't….I can't do this without you."

Joanna blinked slowly at him in understanding, her smile remaining in place as she tried to reassure her faltering husband.

"You can. And you will. You are Tywin Lannister, strong and resilient. You will look after our children everyday, with me in your heart to guide you and love you. Keep them safe and love them for me."

Her eyelids fluttered down, closing off Tywin's view of the beautiful bright green orbs forever.

Her breathing became steady but slow as if she was asleep and Tywin remained at her side, holding her hand. As each breath took longer to come, he felt as if he was slowly turning to stone and when the final breath left her poor wasted body he felt as if his pulse died with hers. He dropped her hand and stood, exiting the room without even laying eyes on his new children. They might as well have been as dead as their mother, for Tywin knew he couldn't honour his wife's dying wish. Not when they had taken the one good thing in his life away and snuffed out what light he had within himself.

OoO Seventeen years later OoO

Tywin sat behind his desk in his study, a letter in front of him. He had already read it through twice. It was from his eldest daughter, Cersei. That alone was enough to make him rub his temple in irritation.

The missive began well enough, with useful information about the goings on in King's Landing but the paragraphs slowly descended into her, almost, whining about her marriage.

If there was one person in the world who didn't want to hear about it, it was her father. He hadn't made her a queen in order for her to lament her lack of happiness and satisfaction in her husband. He thought he had taught her better than that. Perhaps his other daughter would prove to have understood her lessons better.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Enter."

A girl of seventeen slipped into the room, closing the door behind her before she curtsied in front of her father. Once she was standing straight again she clasped her hands in front of her and waited quietly, eyes downcast.

Tywin studied his offspring and begrudgingly admitted to himself that she was turning into an attractive young woman. Her pale blonde hair and unblemished creamy skin were more than enough to make her stand out amongst her fellow females but the striking aquamarine colour of her eyes was what captivated others.

And she was proving to be intelligent, which meant more to him than the greatest beauty in the world. Unfortunately she was everything he had hoped Cersei would be. It seemed he had made the wrong daughter into a queen but now he would remedy his mistake.

"You will be leaving for King's Landing early tomorrow morning. Make sure you're packed and ready to go shortly after dawn. There's no need to pack more than you will need on the road. Additional items will be provided once you're in King's Landing."

Tywin reached for a piece of parchment, indicating that the short meeting was over.

"May I ask a question father?"

A scowl stole over his face as he looked back up. This was the last thing he needed but he waited. The girl took his silence as permission.

"Would I be allowed to take Tyrion with me? It would make the journey much more enjoyable for me and he also wouldn't be left behind to bother anyone here at Casterly Rock."

Tywin waved his hand in dismissal and went back to his parchment.

The girl held back a smile and dipped into a quick curtsy before leaving the room as quickly as she could without seeming to hurry in order go to her brother.

Once on the other side of the door to her father she breathed a sigh of relief. Being in his presence was never easy and after tomorrow she wouldn't have to see him for a long stretch of time, perhaps even forever!

She ran along the corridors until she came to the library. The door was partially closed as usual and she paused to catch her breath and compose her thoughts.

"I can hear you thinking, dear sister. You have something to tell me I'm sure."

Tyrion's voice floated out to her and she grinned. He always knew when she was near by, no matter how quiet she was.

She found her twin sitting in his usual place by one of the large windows that looked out over the ocean. He was seated at a table strewn with books on one subject or another with a jug of wine and cup within reaching distance on a smaller table next to his chair.

He looked up and smiled, putting down the book he held in his lap and waited expectantly.

She sat down opposite him, where her own book lay discarded.

"Father has told me that I'm to leave for King's Landing tomorrow morning."

That was all she said as she feigned interest in her book, waiting until her inquisitive brother couldn't resist asking for more. It didn't take very long.

"And? I'm sure there's more to it than that Celene. Though our father is a man of few words so it wouldn't surprise me if that was all he summoned you for. If it were me he would no doubt have simply had a note delivered by a servant to spare him the need to lay eyes on me."

His words were tinged with bitterness which made Celene feel a bit sad.

It was well known that Tywin despised his youngest son. Tyrion's life as a dwarf was already difficult and it was made worse by the fact that their father would only speak to him if he had absolutely no other choice.

"Now that you mention it, there was more. He said you could come with me. Make sure you're all ready to go by dawn tomorrow."

She leant back in the chair, knowing she hadn't fooled Tyrion for a second by implying that their father had initially included him in the journey. She pushed that thought aside; it didn't do to dwell on something or someone she couldn't change. She toyed with her hair and smiled.

"I wonder what King's Landing is like? It'll be so different than here. More people for sure. And maybe we'll see people from the other great Houses that we've read so much about."

She pursed her lips and put her elbows on the table, resting her chin on her hands. Tyrion enjoyed seeing his sister like this, relaxed and talkative. She presented a very different front to the rest of the castle but with him she was her natural self. A playful spark lit up her eyes.

"And you'll meet a beautiful, kind woman and get married. And King Robert will make you Hand of the King and you'll get to boss Cersei around all day!"

They laughed together, imagining Cersei's reaction to that situation.

Tyrion shook his head.

"You paint a lovely picture sister. But I don't think I will find the affection of a beautiful woman unless I pay her first."

He held up a hand to stall her objections.

"It's true. Remember, we swore to always be truthful with one another. I accept my lot in life," he shrugged,"No. It will be you who will be the one to marry. Once you set foot inside the Red Keep the noble men will be tripping over themselves to be introduced to you. And once you have your ten children, I will be the uncle who teaches them how to drink and appreciate a good book."

Celene shook her head but smiled. There was no use trying to convince Tyrion that he might one day be happily married but she held onto the hope anyway.

"Well, we'll see about the ten children part but maybe I won't marry at all. Then you and I could remain as we are forever. Father already has his queen and knight; why must anything change for us?"

The question hung between them as Tyrion smiled sadly at his sister before returning to his book. Celene sighed and turned to look out the window. She knew it was past the time for her to be married. And she knew she would have no choice in the matter.

That didn't mean she had to be happy about it.