Tywin Lannister – Harrenhal
His rage over the last number of moons had been almost overwhelming, not since Joanna dying had been so angry.
When the war had first begun he had smiled at the thought that at long last he would finally be able to ensure a Lannister legacy that would last a thousand thousand years.
With his grandson on the Iron Throne Tywin would have pushed his families influence to all corners of the realm. He had been planning marriages for his grandchildren and Kevin's children that would have saw his blood rule not only the West and Kings Landing but the Vale, Stormlands, Riverlands and Reach.
His legacy was slipping away from him though with every loss that he suffered and he was finding it harder and harder to not give into his emotions like his father had been known to do.
When his army had first invaded the Riverlands everything had gone perfectly; he had beaten the army the Tully boy had sent out against him, taken every castle along the Trident and put the Riverlands to the torch, showing the realm what happens when a Lannister is threatened.
His progress had all been stopped though with the arrival of Robb Stark and the northern army. Jaime the fool that he was had fallen right into Starks hands getting himself caught at the Whispering Wood before his army was crushed outside the walls of Riverrun.
The loss of Jaime's army could have been dealt with if it weren't for the defeat Tywin himself suffered at the hands of Bolton and his heir causing him to lose not only much of his army but the Mountain one of his most useful dogs.
It was after two of those defeats that he had been forced to regroup at Harrenhal until Tyrion sent Ned Stark from the capital to him. Stark never came though, Cersei had allowed her son to kill the man all but ensuring that the lords of the North and Riverlands would continue in their rebellion.
Tywin had watched powerless as the combined northern/riverlands armies took back each and every one of the castles he had captured along the Trident slaughtering hundreds of his men in the process. To his despair that had only been the beginning; time and time again his attempts to strike at Starks forces at been squashed. First by Roose Bolton and much more recently by forces commanded by Randyll Tarly's son and heir.
His only true victory in the Riverlands since the arrival of the northerners had been Kevin's taking of Maidenpool and the annihilation of the Mootons. Despite the victory Tywin couldn't celebrate as Stark and Ser Garlan Tyrell had wrecked havoc in the west taking hold of most of his bannermen's homes causing him nothing but issues among his lords.
The war wasn't going all that well for them outside of the Riverlands either, true Renly Baratheon had been killed and Alester Florent was fighting Mace Tyrell but Stannis Baratheon was alive and well with the might of the Narrow Sea and Stormlands at his back.
It was Stannis Baratheon that Tywin was thinking about now, the last reports he had was what that Stannis was within sight of the capital and was planning on attacking in force. He had heard nothing since and the lack of news was beginning to worry him greatly.
However much he had wanted to ride south and destroy Stannis once and for all he knew he could not. The moment he left Harrenhal, Randyll Tarly and the Blackfish would descend on the castle and ensure that Tywin never returned to the Riverlands. He had considered sending Kevin south with his host but Roose Bolton had been moving steadily closer and the loss of Maidenpool now would see him surrounded.
With that in mind he had told Tyrion that aid would not be coming and that he would need to ensure their claim was secure no matter what.
Whatever could be said about tyrion, Tywin could never say the boy wasn't smart. Tyrion would make sure that Tommen was away from the capital should it or the king fall so their family wasn't without hope. With any luck Tyrion and his sellswords would be able to weaken Stannis enough so that Tywin and his army had the time to deal with Robb Stark.
Thinking of his army Tywin looked out upon Harrenhall's great hall where over a thousand men were breaking their fast. From his seat he could see the lords of the Westerlands and Crownlands side by side. Unwilling to lose anymore of his men Tywin had ordered the lords of the Crownlands to gather their full strength and march to his aid.
Remembering the threats and promises he had been forced to make to get these sheep to come to his aid had angered him greatly. He would put them in their place when he won the war of that he had no doubt.
Drawing himself from his thoughts he saw a man wearing his families colours coated in blood and mud rushing down Harrenhal's great hall towards the high table.
"My lord I bring a letter from your son" the man said breathlessly from behind a half dozen guards who prevented him from getting to close to Tywin and the other lords.
Father,
Stannis Baratheon is dead, the capital is secure.
Our defences have been weakened greatly more than half my men are either dead or too injured to fight again. Their deaths have not been in vain though the rebel lords have suffered more than double our losses.
The lords of the Narrow Sea and Stormlands have bent the knee once more; I am taking hostages from each lord to ensure their loyalty.
I have taken control of Stannis's fleet and intend to send it to Dragonstone to take Stannis's heir prisoner.
Varys has learnt of Alester Florent's defeat in the Reach, Dorne has sided with the rebels and if our reports are correct intend to march to the Riverlands with Ser Garlan and his army.
I am sending what remains of my sellswords and much of Stannis's former army north to aid you against Robb Stark, expect them in ten days at most.
Tyrion Lannister
Hand of the King
Despite himself Tywin couldn't help but smile and let out a small laugh. Looking up from the letter Tywin noticed every eye in the hall was upon him but none dared to speak.
After several moments of silence Tywin stood up and spoke out his voice echoing throughout the massive hall "the false king Stannis Baratheon is dead, King's Landing is safe once more"
Chants, cheers and applause begun almost immediately after he finished speaking which he allowed for a short while before he lifted up his arm to call for silence. "The lords of the Stormlands and Narrow Sea will soon join us to fight for the rightful king. Together we will bring down Robb Stark and end this war once and for all" he said loudly bringing yet again more cheers and chants even louder than before.
Listening as the recently arrived knight tell all those gathered of the Battle of the Blackwater Tywin couldn't help but consider for a brief moment that perhaps Tyrion was his son after all and maybe the boy was worthy of holding the Rock.
Pushing those thoughts aside for the moment Tywin once more began thinking of his legacy and the fact that only Robb Stark remained in his way from his achieving everything he had always desired.
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