A Decision and a Nameday
Ailyn watched Lord Tywin leave their chambers in stunned disbelief. After everything they had been through together, he was willing to cut her out of his life as quickly as he had pulled her into it. That was the very thing she had been afraid of: that one day, he would stop caring for her, stop loving her if, indeed, that was what he felt, as swiftly as the gathering darkness after the death of a candle flame.
I made him care for me and he made me want to be with him, thought Ailyn.
She paced around distractedly for the better part of an hour, thinking, weighing.
When Lady Ailyn was falling for Lord Darren, she felt as if he had made a daily charge at the doors of her heart and battered against them with sweet words, honesty and kindness. Not so with the Lord of Casterly Rock. It felt as though she had looked in a side room of her heart one day and found him there as though he had been there all along. Ailyn's affection for Tywin had developed so gradually in comparison with Lord Darren's sudden and complete capture of her, that she was surprised to remember how much she had disliked him upon their first meeting.
"My lady, won't you sit down for a moment?" asked Gana anxiously as Ailyn paused in the center of the room.
"Gana, have you ever been in love?" questioned Ailyn, moving to take the chair Gana was gesturing to.
Her maid blushed and looked down.
"Yes, my lady. Once," Gana answered, meeting Ailyn's eyes when she was finished speaking.
"You were? Why do I not remember you telling me about him?" Ailyn asked, surprised.
"I mentioned him to you once, my lady, but I fell in love with him at the same time as you were falling for Lord Darren. He was all you could focus on in the early days of your meeting and courtship," replied Gana gently.
"That was very selfish of me, Gana. I'm sorry. Why did you not run off with this man?" prompted Ailyn curiously.
"He said he loved me in return but he was a singer and such a dreamer. If we had run off together, we might have been happy for a time but I was never certain that he would be able to take care of me. He was still such a boy in many ways that I didn't trust him enough to throw my lot in with his. Perhaps I should have. I'll never know now," said Gana quietly.
"Why, is he dead?" asked Ailyn concerned.
"Oh no. He left Willow Glen for another city farther south. He never did tell me where he was going," remembered Gana, looking out the balcony.
"Maybe you'll find him again someday," offered Ailyn, taking her friend's hand.
"Maybe," said Gana with a smile. Then it was her turn to be concerned.
"I heard what Lord Tywin said to you. I don't think it fair of him to be so cold with you now when he took such good care of you while you were ill," Gana said quietly.
"It was very hard to hear him say that he was willing to ignore me for the rest of his life if that was what I wanted. I took an arrow for him!" exclaimed Ailyn, frustrated.
"Do you love him?" murmured Gana carefully meeting her mistress' eyes.
"Yes of course I love him. Isn't it obvious?" cried Ailyn.
"To me, it is, yes. But to him, well, he is a man, my lady. Most of them need things spelled out very carefully and slowly for them. Even the best of them, as I believe he is," replied Gana with a gentle smile.
"You think he is a good man, Gana?" asked Ailyn, looking at her friend.
"Yes, my lady, I do. And you do as well else you would not have married him," her maid stated firmly.
Ailyn smiled and looked at the floor.
"I suppose you're right. I'm being bull headed. Will you see if Lord Tywin will dine with me this evening?" suggested Lady Ailyn rising.
Gana smiled and nodded, stepping out to find the Hand of the King.
Ailyn went over by their bed and sat down on it, thinking.
When Gana returned she did not look as pleased as when she left.
Ailyn met her friend's eyes and knew the meeting between master and maid had not gone well.
"He declined?" asked Ailyn frowning.
"He said he had too many things to take care of this evening and did not expect to return until very late," amended Gana.
"Is he pushing me away already?" asked Ailyn more to herself than to anyone else.
"He may just be delaying having a conversation he is afraid to have," offered Gana.
"It sounds like his mind is already made up."
"He did hesitate, my lady, before declining. Ser Kevan did not look pleased with Lord Tywin's decision," Gana added, sitting down next to Ailyn.
Ailyn was silent for a time.
"Would you ask Maegery to come to me after the King is asleep?" Ailyn requested quietly.
"Of course, Ailyn," replied Gana, patting her friend's hand before getting up.
After Gana had left, Ailyn wanted to be comforted. Din, however, was not the comforting type.
"Din?" called Ailyn glancing over at the servant's door.
There was a slight pause and then Din appeared at the door, her wide eyes awaiting an order.
"Would you brush my hair?" asked Ailyn, getting up.
Din nodded and bobbed her usual curtsey, then followed Ailyn to her dressing table. She deftly pulled the pins from Ailyn's hair and let it hang down her back. Ailyn's eyes slid closed as Din ran her fingers through her hair and then separated it to brush a handful at a time. Her touch was sure but very gentle.
You promised to stand by him always and at the first sign of trouble, you pulled away. Given who he is, you should count yourself lucky that he still wants you at all, thought Ailyn. You are capable of far more constancy than this.
Lady Maergery arrived after dinner as Ailyn was contemplating whether or not to eat the rather rich looking desert in front of her.
"Maergery! I am so glad to see you," exclaimed Ailyn rising as Maergery embraced her carefully.
"I've missed you too, Ailyn. How is your shoulder?" she asked, giving it a concerned look.
"It hurts occasionally but I can use my hand for most things now as long as I don't need to hold anything heavy," replied Ailyn, sitting back down and gesturing for Maegery to take a seat beside her.
"Will you help me eat this?" asked Ailyn, indicating the large apple pastry topped with a generous dollop of cream.
"Of course," grinned Maergery, as Gana sliced it in half and put some on a plate for each lady.
"How is Tommen?" inquired Ailyn, after taking a few bites.
"Some days he is perfectly happy and others, it seems there is nothing I can do to cheer him up," lamented Maergery.
"He should have some boys his own age to play with, to keep him occupied. The less time he has to think about things, the better off he will be," suggested Ailyn.
"My brother and Lancel have been coming to see him and put on sword fights for him although I can't tell if he enjoys it or not. I think the loud noises might scare him a little," admitted Maergery, washing down the desert with some wine.
"He is much gentler than I think Tywin would like," said Ailyn quietly.
"When Lord Tywin was that age he was probably already planning the conquest of the Seven Kingdoms," murmured Maergery conspiratorially.
They both laughed when they glanced at the door, as if to be sure he would not somehow hear them.
When their laughter died away, Maergery hazarded a question.
"How have you both been doing after Tyrion's attack?" she asked softly.
"Not well. Tywin took good care of me when I was recovering but now that I've confronted him about why Tyrion attacked, we've grown apart a little," Ailyn said sadly, putting down her fork and wiping her mouth.
"You discovered something about Lord Tywin that unsettled you?" guessed Maergery.
Ailyn nodded.
Maergery smiled at Ailyn indulgently.
"Ailyn, you married the most powerful and perhaps the most ruthless man in the Seven Kingdoms. I imagine you would find out something unsettling about him every other day. I'm sure he has done things he never wishes to share with you," said Maegery, placing her hand over her friend's.
"I know. It's just difficult to ignore his past actions when they burst into our bedchamber with a crossbow," muttered Ailyn tightly.
"This …thing…you are referring to happened before you knew Lord Tywin?" asked Maergery.
Ailyn nodded.
"Then perhaps set it aside. You were not there to counsel him to a more reasonable action. You care for him, don't you?"
"Very much," said Ailyn with a smile.
"Then let it go. If you don't, you may lose him so soon after you finally securing him," reasoned Maergery.
Ailyn nodded again, knowing that what Maergery was saying was true.
"At the very least, you must miss his…husbandly attentions," quipped Maergery, with a naughty quirk at the corner of her mouth.
"Maergery!" laughed Ailyn, blushing.
"Please, I've been dying to ask you how he is as a lover," she whispered, fixing her full attention on Ailyn.
Ailyn bit her lip and gave her friend a look.
"Oh go on! My husband won't want me for at least another three or four years. I don't need details just a short, general answer will do," pressed Maergery leaning on the table toward Ailyn.
Ailyn stoked the flames of Maergery's curiosity more by blushing harder and not meeting her friend's gaze. She thought about all the times she and Tywin had been in bed together.
"I have no complaints, Maergery. He has never left me wanting," admitted Ailyn finally much to Maergery's delight.
"I knew it! He's been without a wife for so long, I'm sure he's anxious to make up for lost time. And you're strong enough to keep up with his needs?" prodded Maergery, ignoring Ailyn's red face.
"I've only had to ask him to stop once. He was behind me and was a little more…enthusiastic… than usual. Maergery, it's not funny," chided Ailyn, though she was still grinning herself, "I thought something was going to rip."
Maergery giggled and covered her mouth with her hand, leaning back in her chair. When she stopped laughing, she asked, "And did he listen? Did he stop?"
"Yes."
Maergery looked at her for a minute.
"Now that is power," said the Queen quietly.
"It scares me sometimes," admitted Ailyn under her breath.
Maergery smiled at her.
"Think of all the good you could do with it."
"I intend to. There are several projects in the city I have in mind that I would like to speak with you about in the next few days," said Ailyn with more assurance as she stood up from the table.
Maergery rose as well.
"I will look forward to it. Get some sleep, Ailyn. Speak with your Lord in the morning. Men are always more amenable to us in the morning," suggested Maergery.
"And how would you know that?" demanded Ailyn, a smile curving the side of her mouth.
But the Queen merely winked and kissed Ailyn on the cheek before she sauntered out the door.
Ailyn shook her head and called for Gana to help her into her dressing gown.
The next morning, Ailyn woke before Lord Tywin. She lay there is the lightening darkness, listening to his steady breathing, knowing that no matter what was going on in her head, her heart would never let her forsake him. Ailyn started dozing off again when Tywin's breaths seemed to trip over themselves and he snorted himself into wakefulness. She listened to him rub a hand over his face, and then felt him roll over towards her and pause. Her eyes were closed and she looked for all the world as though she were asleep. After a moment, he carefully rolled away from her and got out of bed. She waited until he had come back into the room from his bath and then quietly slipped out of bed, keeping the closed bed curtains between them. Ailyn let her night dress fall to the ground and then stepped out of her small clothes as well. She wrapped her red robe around her naked body and then moved around the bed to speak with her lord.
Lord Tywin was standing in front of a small mirror, brushing back his thin, tussled hair. He was wearing a large towel around his waist and nothing else. She took in the old battle scars that chased each other up his back, and appreciated the pleasing 'V' shape of his torso. His steward was walking over to Lord Tywin carrying a pair of breeches but he paused when he saw her.
Ailyn dismissed him with her eyes. He glanced at Lord Tywin's profile, nodded respectfully to her and then silently swept out after setting the breeches down on a table. Tywin turned his head as his steward began walking away, one golden eyebrow raised in surprise. He turned around a little further and noticed Ailyn behind him.
He moved to face her, his countenance became less thunderous but hovered around wary.
"Ailyn, I thought you were still asleep," he said quietly.
"I've been awake for a little while now. I'd like to talk to you if I may," replied Ailyn.
Both eyebrows went up.
"It can't wait until I'm clothed?"
Ailyn shook her head.
"Very well. Go on," prompted her lord.
Ailyn took a deep breath.
"I don't approve of the way you treat most of your family but when we were married, I never thought we would always agree on everything. We have been at odds on certain topics since the day we met. To others you can be cold, brutal, and unfeeling but you have shown me that you are capable of a great deal more than a wrathful tyrant. Perhaps I will never know everything about you but I don't want to throw away the opportunity to learn. I apologize for my inconstancy. I am your wife and I will stand by you. Despite some of the things you've done, I still want to be with you, more than anything. If you will still have me," said Ailyn hopefully.
Tywin looked pleased and relieved. He went to Ailyn and clasped her hands in his.
"I will," he answered tenderly.
Ailyn gave him a sly smile, gently tugged her hands away from him and untied her robe, so it fell to the floor. Tywin's eyes opened wider in surprise and his lips parted with a soft sound. The only thing covering Ailyn was the bandage still wrapped tightly around her shoulder.
"Will you have me right now?" she asked teasingly.
A dangerous glint filled the lion's eyes and he grabbed her hair at the back of her head and her waist, slamming her against his chest. She made a soft sound as he crushed his lips against hers and held her tightly to his chest. Her wounded arm was bent against his chest but it didn't hurt as she was expecting it to. His tongue flooded her mouth briefly then he began biting his way down her neck.
Suddenly, he stopped and looked down at her worriedly.
"Your shoulder… I don't want…" began Lord Tywin distractedly but Ailyn cut him off breathlessly.
"Damn my shoulder," she said impatiently, and kissed him just as roughly as he had a moment ago.
She arched into him and felt his hardness beneath the towel pressing against her abdomen. Suddenly, he reached down between them and touched her wet lips briefly before pressing one finger inside of her. Ailyn cried out at his intrusion, her cheeks flushing pink. She braced her arms on his chest, her mouth still open as he cupped her in his hand.
"Walk," he growled, a feral glint in his green eyes.
Ailyn's eyes opened wider and she took an obedient step back as he took one forward, his hand still firmly between her legs. He pushed against her as he took another step forward. She was gasping by the time they had walked back to the bed. She bent to sit, moaning at the friction of his hand moving with her. Ailyn let herself fall back on the bed, and lay there on the edge, her legs dangling on either side of Lord Tywin's hips. Without warning, he pulled his hand away to tug off his towel and grabbed her hips, tilting them to meet him. Tywin pushed all the way into her in one thrust and Ailyn cried out as her head snapped to the side. He began pistoning in and out of her faster and more roughly than he ever had. Ailyn managed two more wavering cries as her breasts jerked when their hips slammed together. She felt her desire just beginning to pool when Tywin stiffened and groaned, his face a grimace of exertion. Ailyn let her legs untangle from his waist as he braced himself on either side of her and slid away from her. He collapsed on his side, on the bed next to her, catching his breath as she slowed hers. She turned her head to watch him recover. He lay there with his eyes closed for a time and then met her gaze immediately when he opened them. Tywin laid one arm over her and propped himself up on his elbow to look at her, his expression apologetic and a little embarrassed.
Ailyn smiled warmly up at him and touched his chest.
"I love you," she whispered.
Tywin's eyebrows shot up in surprise and then he gave her his half smile, tenderness radiating from his green gaze.
"Ailyn, I…" he tried but his tongue stuck in his throat.
She still smiled and moved her hand to press a finger against his lips.
"I know, I heard you when I was recovering," she offered quietly.
Tywin's mouth moved in surprise but no words came out.
"I was unconscious most of the time but some conversations got through. I could never gather enough strength to speak or open my eyes, but I heard you say you loved me," she reassured him.
"And you came back," he finished for her.
Ailyn nodded affectionately.
Lord Tywin leaned down and kissed her gently.
"We can continue as before?" he asked hopefully, when he drew back.
Ailyn shook her head.
"Better than before," she promised him.
Tywin bent down and kissed her again so she could only feel, not see, his hand sliding over her stomach and down.
The Hand of the King remained with his wife all day as they renewed their acquaintance with one another, pausing their conversation and activities only to eat and sleep.
The next few days passed peacefully enough. Maergery and King Tommen came to see her and Kevan escorted her around the garden when she wished.
The morning of King Tommen's nameday celebration arrived more quickly than Ailyn had thought it would. Lady Ailyn and Lord Tywin rose at the same time and went to their respective dressing rooms to prepare for the coming day. Lord Tywin bathed and dressed with some minor assistance from his servant. He was about to slide his arms into his blue tunic when he heard a broken scream from Ailyn in the next room. Lord Tywin moved without thinking, grabbing a nearby dagger and running to Ailyn's room, shouting hoarsely for his guards as he went.
Din was just starting to open her door as he reached it. He shoved it roughly open, knocking the girl back against the wall as several guards from the hall arrived at his heels. His green eyes flew around the room and then settled on Ailyn who was kneeling on the floor, bent double with her wounded arm around her stomach, the other braced against the floor. Gana was also on the ground trying to help Ailyn up.
"Ailyn," began Lord Tywin and then stopped speaking and moving as she raised herself up to look at him.
His dagger clattered to the floor.
The lap of Ailyn's white underdress was stained with blood. The color abruptly fled from his face as he turned his head to dismiss the guards who were about to enter the room. Cautiously, Din moved to close the door behind Lord Tywin, giving him a wide berth as she did so.
Ailyn had been crying but choked back her tears when Lord Tywin ran into the room. She blinked up at him wetly as he met her eyes. He couldn't move and was looking down at her in horror. Tywin wasn't seeing her; he was seeing his nightmare.
Ailyn swallowed hard and put her hand out to Tywin.
"Tywin, I'm alright. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she repeated dismally, over and over.
Mechanically, Tywin moved over to where she had collapsed on the floor and sank to his knees as Gana rose to get Ailyn some rags for her small clothing and a clean dress.
"Ailyn … are you hurt?" he managed to get out, his eyes flicking from her face to the bloodstain.
Ailyn shook her head, still trying to hold back her tears and reached out to touch his face.
"I'm sorry I scared you. I'm not hurt, I promise. I'm just…being stupid…" she gasped out, looking away from him.
"Get Pycelle," Tywin barked at Gana. She stopped what she was doing at the sudden command.
"No, no I don't need him. Please, don't bring him here," pleaded Ailyn.
"Then tell me what is going on. Why did you scream?" he demanded, raising her blotchy face to look at him.
Gana didn't move as Ailyn tried to explain.
"It's my…moonblood, that's all," whispered Ailyn, still distraught.
"If it's only that, then why are you this upset?" pressed Tywin, trying to understand, the fear passing.
Ailyn looked disconsolately at the floor.
"It hurt more than usual in its coming," said Ailyn, not looking at him.
"And?" prompted Tywin gently.
Ailyn glanced up at him, her lip trembling a little.
"And it's been a month since we starting laying together. I just thought…I was hoping that…with you it might be different…that I might…be…" but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
"You were hoping for a child," said Lord Tywin softly.
Ailyn bit back a sob and nodded, still looking at the floor.
Lord Tywin tried to hide his sigh of relief, that it was only this that had caused her to cry out.
He reached out and cupped her face in both his hands, wiping her tears away with his thumbs.
"Ailyn, look at me," he requested gently.
It took her a moment, but eventually she obeyed.
"You are under no pressure from me to have a child. I know it is something you want very badly so I will try to give you one. Don't lose hope so quickly, Ailyn. It took more than a year before Joanna became pregnant with Jaime and Cersei," soothed Tywin.
Ailyn's eyes went wide. Tywin was never optimistic. The fact that he was trying to be so, in order to comfort her, meant more than his words. Ailyn forced a shaky smile.
"Thank you," she breathed gratefully.
Tywin nodded and got to his feet, helping Ailyn up as he went.
"Do you want me to…" Tywin trailed off, unsure of exactly how to assist Ailyn any further.
"No, Gana and I can manage. I'll finish dressing and be out in a little while," promised Ailyn.
Lord Tywin frowned at her.
"You've had a shock and are in pain, Ailyn. You should rest for the day," suggested Lord Tywin but Ailyn shook her head vehemently.
"No. Today is the King's nameday. It is important for his well being that we are both there with him. Even were I not worried about Tommen's emotional state, it is my duty as the wife of the Hand of the King to be present today, regardless of my personal feelings," said Ailyn firmly, drawing herself up and squaring her shoulders.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Tywin's mouth.
"I could order you to bed but I think you would ignore me," said Tywin, amused.
"You think correctly," replied Ailyn with an indulgent smile of her own.
"My lady," Tywin said, laying emphasis on the possessive, knowing that it pleased Ailyn.
"My lord," returned Ailyn in the same fashion.
Lord Tywin turned to go but paused by the door in front of Din. The girl's eyes went wide and she quickly retreated several steps to get out of his way.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
Din's mouth fell open in surprise. She shook her head in the negative and then watched him walk out the door, satisfied that he had not wounded Ailyn's maid in his haste.
Ailyn smiled at the closed door and then at Din, who started moving again after a moment.
Gana quickly helped Ailyn out of her soiled underdress and handed her a clean pair of small clothes and some rags. Din brought her corset over when she was clothed again and went for Ailyn's red dress at her request.
Lord Tywin was sitting at his desk, writing when Ailyn stepped out. The quill paused on the page as she moved over to sit in front of her mirror so Gana could put back her hair. He watched her for a moment then finished his letter. Gana quickly twisted a small section of Ailyn's hair back in an elegant knot while Din brought out the necklace Lord Tywin had given Ailyn before their wedding. Din slipped it on her as Gana held her hair out of the way. Ailyn traditionally never wore make up but she used a little powder today to even out the fading blotches in her cheeks from crying earlier. When she was satisfied, she stood up and turned to face Lord Tywin who had come to stand behind her. Din and Gana respectfully melted into the background.
"Will this do?" asked Ailyn, smoothing out her crimson dress with her good hand. The other remained stiffly bent at her side. She could move it now without too much pain but still preferred not to.
Lord Tywin looked at his necklace around her throat. She hadn't worn it since their wedding.
"I could not be more pleased or proud to have you at my side," he murmured, stepping close to her and kissing her mouth.
Ailyn smiled at him and walked with him, arm in arm to Tommen's celebrations.
The throne room has been transformed into an exotic menagerie for King Tommen's eleventh nameday. Many were kept in cages spaced evenly down the length of the room. A few men walked around with brightly colored parrots on their shoulders. The two cages closest to the throne held magnificent lions while those farther away held a tiger, a large black panther, several large birds and a few shaggy animals from Essos that Ailyn had never seen before. Tommen walked hand in hand with Maergery to all the cages, delighted with everything. Ailyn walked with Lord Tywin, greeting guests and thanking those who had procured the animals for the King.
"Maergery can we keep them?" asked Tommen of his wife as Ailyn and Lord Tywin came to stand with them before the lion cage.
"I don't know your Grace. Where would we keep them?" asked Maergery, glancing at Ailyn and Lord Tywin.
"Perhaps something could be built within the city?" suggested Ailyn, thinking aloud.
"We shall see. I suggest you enjoy them while they are here, Your Grace. The animals will need to be taken out by nightfall and housed properly," replied Lord Tywin, looking down at his grandson.
Tommen nodded and pulled Maergery over to what looked like overgrown shaggy goats.
"Excuse me a moment," murmured Lord Tywin, as he stepped away to speak with a small knot of lords.
Ailyn took a glass of wine from a nearby steward, and tried to ignore her growing headache. She was going to need some milk of the poppy soon and then go to bed. Ailyn spotted Ser Jaime and Lady Brienne near the pen holding two sparklingly white stallions. She seemed happy but Jaime was dismayed although he was trying to hide it.
Brienne smiled at Ser Jaime and then began walking to a refreshment table. Ailyn went over to her as Ser Jaime ran his hand through his hair and stared unseeingly at the horses before him.
"Good evening Lady Brienne. I am pleased you have stayed in King's Landing," offered Lady Ailyn coming to stand beside the lady knight.
"Lady Ailyn. My father is here with the idea of bringing me home however I have an audience with the King and Lord Tywin tomorrow which will change all that," said Brienne proudly.
"Lord Tywin hasn't mentioned anything to me. Why do you need to speak to him?" asked Lady Ailyn curiously.
"It is my wish to be named to His Grace's King's Guard," Lady Brienne said firmly, her blue eyes sparkling.
Ailyn tried to keep her mouth from falling open.
"I see. Tommen would be lucky to have you protecting him. You are very brave, Lady Brienne; I do admire you," admitted Ailyn with a smile.
"Thank you, my lady. I am pleased you have recovered from your injury. If you would excuse me," said Brienne, moving to speak with a tall, blonde haired man Ailyn assumed was her father.
She watched the lady knight walk away, her mind swirling with concern.
"Surely you can appreciate the irony of this situation as well as I can," muttered Ser Jaime, coming to stand next to Ailyn.
"Jaime you must speak with her before tomorrow or else Tywin may say something and confuse her," urged Ailyn, as Jaime took a large quaff of wine.
"I know. I'm trying to find just the right level of intoxication required for such a question."
Ailyn shook her head as Ser Jaime moved away from her. A pulse of pain shot across her forehead and Ailyn steadied herself on the table.
"Are you unwell?" simpered an ingratiating voice from behind her as a hand gently came to rest on her lower back.
Ailyn quickly looked to the side to see Lord Baelish's smirk as he came to stand before her.
"I have a slight headache, Lord Baelish, that is all," said Ailyn firmly, removing his hand.
"Perhaps you should retire for the night, my lady. The King is agreeably diverted and the Hand of the King is busy trying to keep our best merchants from squabbling. I'm sure any young man in this room would jump at the chance to carry you to bed, if you wished," said Lord Baelish glibly.
"I can take care of myself, Lord Baelish. As far as other men are concerned, I believe I married the only man in the room," said Lady Ailyn coldly. "I assume you value your life so I will not repeat the filth you have just uttered within my hearing. Good night."
Ailyn drew herself up and stalked away from him. She went over to Tommen and Maergery and wished the King a happy nameday and gave Maergery a hug. Ailyn drew Lord Tywin away from the merchants to tell him that she needed to retire.
"Is the pain that bad?" asked Lord Tywin quietly, looking at her with concern.
"It will be soon. I'd like to walk out under my own power. Stay and do what you need to. I'll see you later," answered Ailyn softly, pressing his hand.
Lord Tywin nodded and reluctantly watched his wife leave the hall. Gana met her in the hallway and together they made the long journey back to the Tower of the Hand.
Ailyn woke briefly when Lord Tywin came to bed much later in the evening.
"Better?" he whispered.
"Much, now that you are here," she whispered back, and dozed off again with her hand in his.
The next morning, Ailyn was just finishing breakfast before Maergery was due to arrive when a message arrived for her.
Frowning, Ailyn took the parchment and broke the Lannister seal. The message was short and sweet, Ailyn's eyes flying over the three words from Ser Jaime with pleasure.
She said yes.