James Baratheon-3rd Person (wanted to try it out)
"They have my son," Tywin Lannister said. When James lifted his arm, pain shot through his elbow, reminding him of his own brief taste of battle.
His Grandfather's assembled captains and bannermen had fallen very quiet as their Lord read out the report from Riverrun. After Lord Tywin's two days of relentless marching a messenger had arrived from Riverrun. Robb Stark had beaten them to Jaime. While they were still burying the dead from the battle with Stark's infantry, led by Roose Bolton, Jaime had been caught out at the Whispering Wood by the boy and his cavalry.
"How could this happen?" James asked. "How? Even after the Whispering Wood, Jamie had Riverrun ringed in iron, surrounded by a great host . . . why did he decide to split his men into three separate camps? Surely he knew how vulnerable that would leave them?"
"I would have done the same," Ser Kevan responded, a good deal more calmly than Tywin have been. "You have never seen Riverrun, or you would know that Jaime had little choice in the matter. Had he not he would have been trapped between the rivers and the walls, and would be unable to retreat."
Tywin remained entirly silent. Lord Tywin was often quiet in council, preferring to listen before he spoke. Yet this silence was uncharacteristic even for him, and his wine was untouched. Lord Tywin wove his fingers together under his chin. Only his eyes moved as he listened. His bristling golden side-whiskers framed the still face, but Tyrion could see tiny beads of sweat dappling his father's shaven head. "How could it happen?" Ser Harys Swyft wailed again. "Ser Jaime taken captive, the siege broken and army scattered! We can't-"
"Ser Harys?"
"Yes, my prince?"
"Shut up. The question is, what shall we do about it?" the war council stayed silent"What can we do? Jaime's host is all slaughtered or taken."
"Stark and the Tullys sit squarely across our line of supply. We are cut off from the west!"
Ser Marbrand rose, "They can march on Casterly Rock if they so choose, and what's to stop them?" Ser Hrys finished what they were all pointing toward, "My lords, we are beaten. We must sue for peace."
Tyrion took a deep drink of his wine and hurled his empty cup to the floor, shattering it into a thousand pieces. "There's your peace. Joffery saw to that when he took off Ned Stark's head. You'll have an easier time drinking wine from that cup than you will convincing Robb Stark to make peace now. He's winning... hadn't you noticed?"
"Two battles do not make a war," Prince James said.
"And what are we to offer for my brother? Lord Eddard's rotting head?"
"I had heard that Queen Cersei has the Hand's daughters," Lord Lefford said hopefully. "If we give them back..."
Ser Addam snorted disdainfully. "He would have to be an utter fool to trade Jaime Lannister's life for two girls."
"Then we must ransom Ser Jaime, whatever it costs," Lord Lefford said.
Lord Tywin Lannister rose to his feet. "They have my son," he said once more. "Leave me. All of you." Tyrion rose to depart with the rest, but his father gave him a look. "Not you, Tyrion." Tyrion eased himself into a chair beside his father. "You are right about Ned Stark. Alive, we might have used Lord Eddard to forge a peace with Winterfell and Riverrun, a peace that would have given us the time we need to deal with Robert's brothers."
"What of Stannis?" asked Tyrion.
"He had laid claim to Storm's End, but not the Crown. His ships sail from Dragonstone to fight the stormlanders who support Renly."
"And what of Renly?" Tywin answered his son's question, "Renly Baratheon wed Margaery Tyrell at Highgarden yesterday and now he has the crown. The Tyrells have bent the knee to him."
"What about James?"
"What about the crowned prince?"
"He's a Baratheon" Tyrion pointed out. "And the Baratheons control the Stormlands. Name him Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, and make the storm lords choose from Renly, Stannis, or James. "
"I know we can't stay here." Tywin rose, "Noone will stay here. Clegane will set the Riverlands on fire from the tips of the Trident to God's Eye. The rest of us will regroup at Harrenhall." Lord Tywin took a drink from his goblet, "You will go to King's Landing."
"King's Landing?
I am sending you to court."
"And what am I to do there?" "Rule," his father said curtly "You will serve as Hand of the King in my stead." Tyrion was thunderstruck.
"Cersei will not like that." Tywin gave his son a shrug,
"Let her say what she likes. Her son needs to be taken in hand before he ruins us all." He pointed a finger at Tyrion's face. "If Cersei cannot curb the boy, you must."
"Why me?" asked Tyrion, cocking his head to one side.
"You are my son." Tyrion narrowed his eyes at his father.
"And what of James?" The old lion's jaw clenched, "He proven himself as a decent commander and warrior but he cannot stay here where he risks dying on the battlefield. I'm making him master-at-arms of King's Landing. You are to make sure he is named Lord Pararmount of the Stormlands. You and he will take charge of King's Landing's defences" Tyrion had not expected that
"You think he is ready for such responsiblity." he asked his father.
"Only if you can keep a leash on him." he clarified, "It should be easy for you to do. The boy seems to have loyalty to you, hence why he burned villages, killed farmers, and marched up to the Vale to free you"
Lord Tywin crossed the room. "One last thing," he said at the door. "You will not take the whore to court." Tyrion sat alone in the pavillion for a long while after his father was gone.
