( An edited version of the Lannister's reaction)
'' They WHAT?'' Tywin shouted at the officer who told them what happened. Tywin had suffered little sleep the night before in the Lannister Encampment. This news did not help his head ache at all.
'' My lord it is true. Eddard took the side of Renly and overthrew Joffery and Cersei. Renly has claimed the Iron throne.'' The officer said quickly.
Tywin nearly slammed his fist on the table. '' Dismissed. Summon my war council.''
'' They are already waiting for you, my lord.'' The officer announced.
Withing 2 minutes Tywin was at the war council, in the Lannister encampment in the Central Riverlands.
His younger brother Kevan was in the middle of speaking about the situation.
'' Renly and Eddard Stark allied the second Robert died and thwarted our plans. Cersei arrested, her son dethroned, her red-cloaks put to the sword, Renly Baratheon and Eddard Stark in control of the Iron Throne, its a catastrophe!'' He exclaimed.
His sons Jaime and Tyrion were at opposite ends of the table, and several officer's, including Ser Gregor Clegane, Amory Lorch, and Ser Adam Marbrand were tossing up different ideas.
'' Why should we even bother to negotiate?'' Gregor demanded. '' Let's just ride in double time and set that stag clown on fire and put his pet wolf to the sword while they are still not ready to face us! We can have the precious throne back within a fortnight!''
'' Too risky, we have to negotiate to get the Queen and her children back.'' Ser Addam argued.
'' At the moment we have no hostages, our armies are too far from the Capitol, and we are at risk of being attacked in the open while on the march. We should march to Casterly Rock, shore up our forces and then attack Renly.'' Tyrion objected.
'' And let Renly prepare for us, whilst our sweet sister is imprisoned?'' Jaime demanded. '' If we attack at full force, Renly will put our sister to the sword, and he knows it full well. But if we destroy his supply lines, he will realize that Lannister's pay their debts. We have to get Cersei back, that's whats most important, and then send Renly to the Seven Hells. ''
Finally Tywin, who had faced away from the council and allowed them to bicker, lost his patience. '' They have my Daughter! ''
Everyone was silenced as he faced them. '' They also have all of my grand-children, our means of holding the Iron Throne!''
'' Perhaps we should ransom the Queen and her children back and try to sue for peace?'' Kevan suggested.
Jaime suddenly slammed a dagger into the table and sunk the point half an inch deep into the wood. '' There is your peace. Renly saw to that the second he butchered my fellow sworn brother's of the Kings-guard and dragged my sister into a cell, the second Robert died.
You will have a better chance of licking honey off the edge of that blade unscathed than suing for peace. Renly used treachery and took advantage of the bond between our two houses to stab us in the back. As for Ned Stark, first he ordered his wife to kidnap my brother and send him to the Vale, now he has done the exact same thing to my sister. I will not let him or Renly live longer than it takes me to reach Kings-Landing- with or without you. So set aside your bickering, and Fucking do something about this situation!'' He yelled.
Everyone was staring, stunned at Jaime's sudden outburst.
Tyrion understood why Jaime was far more upset than he and Tywin were about Cersei being a hostage. He had known about their affair for years and told no one. As much as he loathed Cersei and as little respect he had for Joffery, he was fond of Tommen and Myrcella and kept the secret mainly for their sake, and his brother's and would not have done anything to harm them.
'' Out, all of you.'' Tywin ordered coldly.
Jaime and Tyrion started to follow the rest of the council out of the tent-
'' Not you two.'' Tywin commanded.
They both turned and sat back down.
'' You were right in saying that we will never have peace with Renly.'' Tywin told Jaime. '' Not after this. They just removed our hold over the Throne and kidnapped my daughter. If we allow this to go unanswered, our family name will be severely jeoprodized. Renly has just sent a letter demanding our allegiance to his rule, with Cersei as insurance against rebellion. He will never get away with this. ''
Tyrion listened on as his lord father- intentionally or simply out of habit- ignored him and focused all his attention on Jaime.
Tywin stared at his son for a long time, before speaking. '' But you cannot just storm Kings-Landing. They would slaughter you the second you approached the gates. But we cannot submit to this man. Right now Renly thinks he has all but won this war, and he will never agree to release Cersei. But if he has half the wits his drunk brother had, he will not harm Cersei or her children. But we cannot stay on open ground. We have to fall back, at least for now.'' He took a sip of watered down wine.
'' Seven Hells, we are surrounded by our enemies. Ned Stark and Renly couldn't have taken the Throne at a worse time for us. The Riverlords have mobilized for war against us, or will soon. Now the Storm-lands, the North, and now the Crownlands have risen up against us and overthrew our hold on the Throne. ''
'' A good overview of our perilous situation but were you about to say we should fall back?'' Tyrion asked.
'' For now, to Golden Tooth. We are too vulnerable on the open ground in the Riverlands. Jaime, you can forget about laying siege to Riverrun,we need all the men we have, to form up and get ready. Sooner or later, that charming half-wit Renly will charm enough lords to wipe us off the face of the earth if we are caught in the open. But this does not mean we are falling back. Renly has captured one of us and thwarted my plans for the Throne once Robert died. Lannister's pay their debts. This mean's no less than total war. ''
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Meanwhile Stannis read Renly's declaration as king, crumpled it up, and threw it away. '' He was my younger brother. I would have named him my heir. I am the rightful king of Westros and yet he betrays me and steals what is rightfully mine! Oh he thinks he can name me lord of Storms-End as well as Dragon-stone and name me as a military commander and that I will just lap it all away and bark in gratitude?''
His adviser/true-queen Melissandre walked closer to him. '' Your usurper brother has a traitors heart full of leaches and other traitorous vermin, my King. He stands against the lord of light. My lord you would do well to get rid of such treachery. ''
'' I understand that my brother willed Eddard to be protector of the realm until his rightful heir claimed it. No doubt Robert ignorantly thought it was Joffery but Eddard knew better. 7 hells this is crossing the line for Renly. He claimed what was mine. And Eddard that traitor. He removed the Lannisters from power for me only to change his mind and give it to Renly.''
'' You should ride and claim what is rightfully yours my king.'' Melissandre answered. '' Renly would not care for negotiations. He must be removed.''
'' Tomorrow at first light I will ride and demand to meet Renly. I will give him 1 day and 1 night to yield the throne to me. If he refuses I will have no choice but to attack Kings-landing.''
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2 days after Renly took the Iron throne, he started talking with Eddard about a possible trial for Cersei.
'' She has gotten away with her crimes for far too long! We must have a trial and sentence her for what she has done. Then who will follow her as queen?'' Renly asked.
'' I don't think that would be a good idea your grace, at this point her children have lost a father figure to them, and who knows what losing their mother could do to them. There is Tywin's vengeance to consider. '' Eddard replied.
'' Has your heart gone soft? As king I must do justice for those who have committed crimes to the Realm. And Cersei has much to answer for. Intentionally inserting false candidates for the Iron throne for one, using fortified wine to indirectly murder my brother to avoid being found guilty of Incest. Unlike what my brother would have done I will not accuse her for Incest. '' Renly defended.
'' She is already under guarded custody and unable to leave. She has 3 children, two of them not even 10 years old who have already lost a man who was a father to them in all but blood. If she is convicted she would be sent to the Black-cells as you already said. Then who would take care of them? If we send them back not only do we lose some of our leverage against Tywin Lannister but we put them at risk of being murdered by outlaws or worse, your brother!'' Eddard said.
'' And you would have her get away with murdering my brother and fooling our people who was the true king?''
'' You already exposed her. The world already knows that they are not the true heirs. There is no need to put Cersei at a trial.''
'' Perhaps you are right. We have a situation involving my treacherous brother to deal with first anyway. ''
Eddard left. He had not really seen his daughters ever since Renly over threw the Lannisters and rescued them from Cersei's men. Since then he confined Sansa and Ayra to their rooms to keep them safe.
The second he opened the door he saw Sansa's face streaked with tears. '' How could you arrest my prince? He was to be my future king and Husband! How could you choose that Drunk's greedy brother over Joffery? He lies with other men!'' And Sansa was on a roll, pelting Eddard with grief.
'' Quiet! Joffery is not the true king of Westros. It was a mistake that Robert was not aware of, and I was not aware of until a week ago. Joffery is not Robert's son-''
'' All the better! Its better that he is not related to that drunk witless sot!''
'' Joffery's true Father is Jaime Lannister. ''
That shut Sansa up. '' The King-slayer? Why?''
'' Cersei confessed to me that all 3 of her children are the bastards of the King-slayer. Joffery and his mother are under-arrest.''
'' A BASTARD? The queen slept with her BROTHER?''
Sansa sat down hard, blushing. All her years she was not nearly as friendly to Jon Snow as Arya was, mainly because he was a bastard. Now she found that her betrothed was a bastard of incest. It was nearly hypocritical.
'' Sansa I know this is a lot to take in. In 2 days I will have you both sent to Winterfell. I must remain as Renly's hand. Recent events will stir up trouble no doubt and Renly says I am needed here. His rule needs to be made steady before it is safe for me to leave. ''
He left her in her room and greeted Arya. This time she did not pelt him with reason's why he did the wrong thing, thankfully. Rather she was really happy that Cersei and Joffery were arrested. '' So that Bitch has no children by Robert and all her children are by her brother?At least they are taken off the throne. Better Renly than that brat who ordered Mycah's death.''
'' All true. In 2 days I intend to send you back to Winterfell with your sister. There is too much tension and trouble brewing here. ''
'' Winterfell? But Syrio says I am getting really good at swordsmanship! I can't leave my classes now!''
'' You are in too much trouble already here. If I had not come quickly Ser Mandon might have captured you already. Tywin Lannister and Stannis have both declared hostility against Renly and are riding to Kings-landing as we speak. They are 14 days away from here at best. They will be coming for those responsible for putting Renly on the Iron throne. I must remain to help Renly. As for you, what do we say to Death?''
His final question nearly caught her off guard. Almost. '' Not today'' she replied 1 second later, surprised that he knew about that.
Two days later, Eddard finally said good-buy to his daughters. He made sure they were well protected, in case Tywin or Stannis tried anything funny. Tywin was responsible for the murders of Ellia Martell and her children and according to Rumours, Stannis was in league with Melissandre, a woman who believed in the lord of the light and sometimes burned people alive.
He turned around as soon as their cavalry disappeared. He had a king to assist and a Kingdom to co-rule.
For the next week Eddard was hard at work managing both internal and External issues. Renly was crowned as King. Although he was not the eldest surviving Baratheon brother, he did in fact win far more support and loyalty than Stannis ever would have. He was right about one thing: Hardly anyone wanted Stannis as their king in Westros.
A major problem in the country was the massive debt crisis Robert had racked up with all his drinking and squandering. Although he was not master of Coin he was allowed to make decisions to reverse the debt. Although the Crown owed the Iron Bank 21 million Gold Dragons, within 9 days of Eddard's attention under Renly's rule the money started trickling back to repay the massive debts. It was a small stream compared to the River that would have erased the Crowns Debts quickly but it was a start and it was satisfying the Iron Bank officials enough to withhold calling in the loans. Renly had reluctantly agreed to cancel the intended party he wanted to Celebrate for being crowned king.
And Tywin's host was only 2 weeks from Kings Landing. Stannis was the bigger threat, being so much closer to the Capitol from his seat in Dragonstone, he was only 1 week away.
Stannis refused to budge. He demanded the throne. Renly had countered that no one wanted Stannis as a King. He was right, but Stannis never went down without a fight.
They had to be ready to defend the capitol against first Stannis, and then Tywin.
( So this is my second Chapter. I did a little more time proofreading this and making spaces to make it easier to read but every time I save the draft, everything defaults back into single spaces again. Can anyone tell me how to overcome this so its easier to read? Please let me know.
Thanks for reviewing.)