5th Month of 299 A.C. Casterly Rock

Lady Joanna Lannister

As so often happened when war erupted in the kingdoms, the men rode of dreaming of glory and honour, and the women were left to face the harsh realities of the destruction that would undoubtedly come. The thing was that in the past whenever Tywin had ridden off to war, Joanna had known that he was riding off for a good cause, this time though, this time she was not so sure. For Tywin, her husband and the love of her life, was riding out to war, to fight to defend a throne that was not her grandson's, Stannis Baratheon's claims were true Joanna knew, she had known from the moment Joffrey Baratheon had been born, and she had feared for this day. Nothing she had done had ever managed to convince the twins to stop the wrong that they were doing, they were not Targaryens, they had no excuse and yet still they continued. Jaime, her firstborn son and her favourite had been corrupted by Cersei, her daughter, her golden daughter who was so full of hate and anger it scared her. Lucion was Tywin's true heir, no matter what Tywin said, Joanna knew that her husband saw more of himself in Lucion than in Jaime and that scared him. And then there was Tyrion the youngest of her children and the one she knew the best, he was a smart man and would be of great use to Lucion in King's Landing. Of her grandchildren she knew little though she knew Joffrey was a monster that needed to be stopped and Myrcella was a sweet girl. Lucion's children she knew better, Loren betrothed to Myrcella was smart and cunning as his father, Tybolt was a good and honourable lad and good with a sword, Damon was sly and cunning, and then the girls were mostly cunning and smart at least Genna and her namesake were, Elia was sweet and quiet.

And it was the children who were threatened now that war had come to the Westerlands, and it was for that purpose that Joanna had called a meeting with Ser Daven Stafford's boy, her gooddaughter Alysanne and her half brother Damon. "You all know what is happening out there, out in the fields of our home. Our lands are being raided, our people slain and forced from their homes by the northmen. Already we have lost one battle at Oxcross and Stafford died, he did not prepare and he died for it as did thousands of others. Robb Stark has taken Ashemark and heads towards the Crag as we speak. His lords' bannermen are raiding along the coast, Banefort, Castamere, Tarbeck Hall all of these places are losing whatever treasures they might have once had. Our livestock is being moved towards the Riverlands, we are losing the war in our own back yard, and whilst my husband remains trapped in Harrenhal and my son prepares to deal with Stannis Baratheon, I must needs know what plans are being made should the boy look to hit the Rock."

With that she looked to Daven, a strong lad, a good swordsman, everything Stafford had never been. "Well my lady, I can tell you now that the men I have managed to train so far are nowhere near battle ready. It will require some miracle for us not to be destroyed in battle should the Young Wolf and his northmen come a calling. We need more time, but I fear that is something we do not have."

"Why what news have you heard?" Joanna asks.

"It seems that some of our men in Lannisport have reported seeing Ironborn ships sailing close by. And not the merchant vessels that we have become accustomed to, these are the ships of the Iron Fleet." Daven replies.

"Is the Silence the ship leading them?" Alysanne asks. Her gooddaughter always has been very smart and perceptive.

Her nephew looks at Alysanne then and nods his head. "Aye my lady. The Silence and all its evil was the ship leading the delegation of the Iron Fleet as it sailed forth. Though oddly enough, the fleet did not think to look towards Lannisport as they had done during the Greyjoy rebellion. And it does seem as if they have brought ships from Fair Isle with them as well."

Joanna smiles at that, so it seems Lucion's plan had worked then. "That is good. They are not going to be invading the West Daven, you need not fear on that count. It seems Balon Greyjoy has finally heeded sense and has accepted the offer my son gave him, the returning of his ward for help against the North. The Iron Fleet is sailing to attack the north and to reduce it to ash and dust."

There is silence for a long time before Alysanne asks. "Can we be sure that the Ironborn will stay true to the agreement and not simply use it as an excuse to go looting and raiding as the Red Kraken did during the dance?"

Joanna shrugged her shoulders. "Who can say whether or not the Kraken will ever truly know what is good for it. But they will not dare risk the wrath of the Rock, for they know what happened last time they tried. Now, Daven how much longer do you think it will take before your men are ready to enter the field?"

Her nephew was silent for a moment and then he answered. "At least another month or so my lady. We need that time to fully prepare for the challenges ahead and ensure that we do not need to rely on the city watch of Lannisport."

Joanna nods and turns to her half brother Damon and says. "Damon, I need you to send a raven, or get a message to Harrenhal. Tell Tywin our need is desperate and that he is needed back home." Her half brother, solemn and quiet nods and then she continues. "Now then, there is one more pressing issue we have to discuss. My son Lucion has as hand betrothed his and your daughter Alysanne to Prince Trystane Martell, and as such requests that she leave for Dorne as soon as possible. Now once the Ironborn are gone from our shores we should perhaps consider sending her with a guard and going from there. Of course the Redwyne fleet will still be a problem."

Damon speaks then. "I have friends amongst the lords of the Shield Islands who could see to it that the ship that has Elia on it and the ships escorting her do not meet any trouble from Redwyne whatsoever."

"How would your friend ensure that Damon? If you do not mind me asking." Alysanne asked a mother's concern showing in her voice.

Her brother as always merely smiled and said simply. "Lord Moribald and I have always been good friends, and he despises the Redwynes and the Tyrells. He will make sure none interfere with the ships going to Sunspear. You have my word."

Alysanne nods and then Joanna says. "And with any luck with Renly now dead, the Tyrells will soon be on our side regardless. We need not fear."