Allyria had had to fight Jaime but she had made sure they got early to the meeting it still had not been early enough. Already seated at the great table was Tyrion sitting in the Grand Maester Pycelle's old spot. Upon his return Lord Tywin had seen him removed from prison but had done nothing to reinstate him. As Cersei's favorite pawn he was likely to be present. Though both Tyrion and Jaime were convinced she knew what this meeting would hold but all she could say was that it would start out as a small council then other family matters would be dealt with. Which is why there presence was necessary even though neither she nor Jaime had any rights to be here.
Tyrion gave a warm smile and Jaime strode purposefully towards his brother. Whether she had wanted to sit at the far end of the table, Allyria had little choice now.
She sat silently until Lord Tywin came in and the flock of other Lords followed. People had said once that it was he that had ruled the kingdom; Ilyn Payne had said it and lost a tongue. He would have been a great king he even looked the part. His blonde hair had paled in the years but he stood tall and broad, Tywin looked as much the warrior as Jaime ever did. The gold of the chain of the hand shone brilliantly against his blood red doublet. Some form of decorum made her stand, perhaps that was what made her think of him as a king. You always stood and bowed when graced by the king's presence. Suddenly she was blushing furiously and was much relieved when Tywin nodded in their direction and she could sit back down without looking like a total lack wit.
"Are you well?" Jaime whispered with a smirk.
"I don't know," she replied she was still flustered by her act of formality.
Ser Kevan walked over kissed Tyrion's cheek in greeting and then did the same to Jaime. It was the first he had seen either of his nephews. They had both been rather sequestered as of late. She could hear them speaking but she wasn't really listening. Allyria was waiting. The real reason she had come so early is because she wanted to get here before Cersei. Allyria wanted to watch her as she came in, see how she reacted to Jaime. Whether her gaze lingered or whether she acted indifferent. If Cersei no longer desired her hold over Jaime, as he was about to be a father to a child he could actually love, perhaps things would not be so difficult. She wished and hoped it would be that easy but she rather doubted it. Regardless she would not allow the tables to be turned, to walk in and see Cersei watching her husband.
She was a beautiful as ever. Her long blonde hair was brushed until it shined like glass and fell in smooth waves down her back. She wore a burnt orange dress with touches of gold embroidery. Around her waist was a golden metal girdle, a lion carefully etched into the metal sat over her naval. She glanced down the table, when she spotted Jaime she seemed to smile but Allyria was likely the only one to notice. Jaime hadn't even seen his sister yet. Ser Kevan still preoccupied him with news of his children; it made Allyria happy to see that Jaime really did care about his kin outside his siblings.
It seemed Ser Kevan had his fill of the boys, "you look radiant child." He leaned down to kiss her cheek and Allyria raised her head glad to receive him. She could smell the spicy soap he used as he shaved this morning.
"I am glad to hear that Lancel is improving," She said with a smile. He had lost a lot of blood and Maester Frenken had been unsure he would survive, now it seemed he would be fine. The last thing this man needed was to lose another son.
"I have told him of your kindness, between you and the queen I had hardly a moment to pray for my son myself." So Cersei prayed at Lancel's side? But what was she praying for?
"The queen has visited Lancel's beside?" Allyria's voice carried a not of surprise. "With all concerning her I am surprised she found a moment to spare. She is all kindness it seems."
"Yes," Kevan spoke wearing the kind of smile that made him seem a kindly old man and not the strong and confident soldier he was. "She has done my son a great honor." With that he went and took his spot next to his older brother at the head of the table.
Allyria didn't turn her head to look though; she stared straight ahead at her husband. It may have taken him a moment but now Jaime had noticed his sister's presence. His jaw was clenched tight; she could almost see the muscles straining to push the upwards even further then his teeth would allow. Even his fist was balled up. "Are you well?" It was her turn to ask.
He looked at her slightly bewildered but after a moment he seemed to understand her meaning. His hand loosed and rather roughly reached for his. He clenched a bit too tight but Allyria didn't wince. "I will be," he answered roughly; Allyria rather doubted the truth of that. If it had been in her power she would not have let him come. Though it would have only put off the inevitable. Jaime would have to see his sister again sooner or later. Allyria would prefer it to happen when she was present.
Cersei sat and, as Allyria had expected, Pycelle sat next to her. All the other lords scrambled for a seat of their own, each trying to get as close to Tywin as they could. Varys sat in the middle on the side same side of her, in fact only two seats down, and as everyone had taken their seats he looked like the cat who ate the canary. "Shall we start with the wedding plans then my lords?" he spoke.
"No," Tywin spoke clearly but quietly so that some of the older men had to strain to hear him. Paxter Redwyne the eldest at the table was leaning so far forward both his elbows rested on the table. "With the war," he finished his fingers intertwined resting before him on the table. Good, I will have no need to listen for the moment. The war no longer held any interest for her. Jaime had returned and Stannis' fleet had fled. He was far from defeated she knew that but there were other more important things to her then worrying when he would return.
Allyria sat silently for a good while. They spoke of the Greyjoys; apparently Balon had named him king. She had agreed with Tyrell that he could have Pyke if he wanted to be king of that gods forsaken spit of land let him. Of course he really wanted everything north of the neck and that was another matter though the lords of the Reach seemed to be unconcerned.
"It seems he didn't learn his lesson the first time." Jaime's voice made her jump. His mouth was set in a grim line, his voice may have been joking but nothing else was. He had been there the first time, The Greyjoy rebellion. Allyria wondered if he thought about that now.
"No he did not," Jaime's father replied just as terse. "This time he has the advantage, we are busy waging other wars. He knows that he does not face the full brunt of the kings forces."
"If the alliance is worth it I say we take it." Paxter Redwyne spoke up. "What are his terms?"
"He will fight the Starks for us and provide us with long ships and men to use as we see fit in return for all that land." Tywin's voice made it clear to anyone listening that he had no intention of entertaining that idea.
Lord Tyrell wasn't listening though, "A far trade I say we'll take his men and exchange he can have all the fighting and all the snow." He laughed shaking his great belly as he did so.
"Do you also pay your small folk to take your grain?" Allyria asked him dully. Her remarks earned her a quizzical look from the Lord of the Reach but she saw Tywin look at her as well. "Balon will have to fight the Starks whether we align with him or not. Why should we give him something when he'll do what he barters for regardless."
"Exactly," Tywin said wearing something Allyria supposed was akin to a smile but was really just frightening.
"So what should we do then?" Lord Tyrell asked her. He was clearly trying to save face after being embarrassed by her.
"Leave him be. A much better alliance would be to welcome the Frey's back into the fold. The Young Wolf married another and has betrayed them. Lord Walder would never take power but is most greedy in taking what is offered him." She shrugged her shoulders as if to say she didn't really care what any of these men did. "Then again I am only a woman, and from born into a lower house then you My Lord Tyrell, what would I know of war." With that she folded her arms and reverted back to watching those around her. Still she felt Tywin watching her, she didn't know whether she should be scared or proud.
Shortly they moved on to speaking of the wedding and it was Cersei time to shine. In here she was a courteous, no part of her was lacking in the polish of society. It was almost hard to reconcile this woman with the one that had threatened her not so long ago.
When they spoke of Doran Martell she was almost tempted to say that he would not becoming. A few years before her wedding Allyria and her father had gone to Sunspear to pay their respects to their liege lord. They went, but he was nowhere to be found. That's when she learned the ruler of Doran had gout so bad he hadn't left the water gardens in years. He would be unable to make it all the way to kingslanding even if he wanted to. She doubted very much whether he was very interested in this so called justice. No, it would be Oberyn. One look at Mace Tyrell's face showed her unwise it would be to make such an announcement and so she kept it to herself.
They moved swiftly on to rewarding themselves the spoils of war. A lot of men died under Stannis' fiery heart and plenty of them held lands. Everyone took their turn and when they were sated it was Varys turn to give his reports. Allyria wondered why he even bothered, Tywin barely looked like he was even listening let alone paying attention.
Just like that it was over, there were some gracious words from Kevan and as everyone was rising from their seats Tywin added, "I would like a private word with my children, and you Kevan." Allyria could almost feel the tension, the other men glad not to feel whatever was coming next. Lord Mace lingered a bit but finally he to left and Kevan closed the door behind him.
"Master of Coin?" Tyrion asked, his voice breaking the strained silence. "Whose idea was that?" Allyria was glad it wasn't Tyrion and not Jaime; maybe Tywin had finally stopped forcing his son into things Jaime obviously didn't want.
"Lord Peytr's." their father responded. "But it serves us well to have a Lannister in charge of the treasury. You came to me asking for more responsibility, do you no longer want it or are you afraid you will be incapable of the task?"
"No," Tyrion said flatly, "I fear a trap."
"As you should, he is not to be trusted I think." Ser Kevan added lightly
"He won Highgarden to our side." Cersei added.
"And sold you to Ned Stark, I know." Tyrion said with just a hint of triumph. "He will sell us all just as quick."
"If he hasn't already, I agree," Jaime added speaking for the first time since they discussed the Greyjoys. "I have never trusted him.
"A coin can be just as dangerous as a sword, trust me brother." It was like they were sharing their own private joke.
Kevan looked at him oddly, he was the only one willing to interrupt their little game. "Not to us, surely. The gold of Casterly Rock…"
Tyrion interrupted him, "is dug from the ground. Littlefingers is made from thin air, with a snap of his fingers."
"How is your sorcery brother?" Jaime asked with a smirk.
"Never very good I think, seems you might not be up to the task after all." Cersei said with a smirk as well.
"Littlefinger is a liar," Tyrion's voice was accusatory.
"- And black as well said the raven to the crow." Her smile was so wide it was almost terrible.
"Enough," Tywin slammed his hands on the table and Allyria jumped in her seat. "You will stop this unseemly behavior, you are Lannisters and you will act like it."
Ser Kevan cleared his throat awkwardly, "I would prefer Lord Petyr to any of Lysa's other suitors. They are men of the vale and each dangerous in their own way and proud. He is clever and cunning to be sure but he is low born and has no skill at arms. The men of the Vale will never except him." He looked at his brother, either for permission and or support, he nodded and then Kevan continued. "Not to mention, he continues to prove his loyalty. Only yesterday he brought us news of Tyrell plot to spirit Sansa away to Highgarden for a 'visit' wherein she would marry the Tyrell heir."
"Sansa is my hostage," Cersei said the anger and disbelief clear on her face. "She goes nowhere without my leave."
"Which you would be remiss in not granting to him. It would be declaring we don't trust him." Allyria said she was more confused though. Perhaps Littlefinger had told them of the plot but he wasn't the only one. The night Jaime had come home she had seen Sansa speaking to that disgraced night in the Godswood, she had stopped and over heard and despite what her better judgment said she had told her good-father.
"What do I care." She added with a shrug. Bloody fool.
Tyrion stepped in before she could which was probably for the best. "Sweet sister offend Tyrell and you offend all the Reach and they may start thinking they would be better off with Robb Stark."
"I will not have the rose and the direwolf in bed together." Lord Tywin declared, "We will stall him."
"How?" Jaime asked. Allyria could tell he tired from all this political game playing.
"By marriage, Cersei it is past time you remarried." It came so fast that for a moment everyone stared. Cersei looked as if she had been slapped and Jaime was as tense as a bowstring, the muscles in his jaw were straining again.
"No! No, I will not. Not again."
"Your grace," Ser Kevan's words were courteously and meant to be calming but it was wasted on the queen. "You are a young woman still. You are very fair and still fertile, surely you cannot wish to spend the rest of your days alone?"
"Three children are quite sufficient I think. I am Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, not a brood mare. I am the Queen Regent!" She was practically screeching. Were queen, emphasis on were.
"You are my daughter, and will do as I command." Lord Tywin's calm voice was most cold and almost cruel in response to Cersei's rage.
Allyria was waiting for the moment when Jaime would explode. He could only grind his teeth for so long before he would have to open his mouth just to stop the pain and then he wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut.
"I will not sit here and listen to this-"
"You will if you wish to have any voice in the choice of your next husband." He was still as calm and cold as before. She hesitated and then sat down and she knew, no matter what she said or Jaime or anyone it wouldn't matter, Tywin would get his way.
"I will not marry again!" Allyria had to restrain the chuckle.
"You will, and you will breed. Every child you birth makes Stannis more of a liar."
There it was, the real truth of the matter. For someone so smart, so adept at reading and understanding people he couldn't see his children for what they really were.
"I thought you said Lions do not concern themselves with the opinions of sheep." Jaime said his voice was so thick with venom if words could kill the whole room would faint dead away.
"This isn't sheep, this is our kingdom. Our legacy, you of all of my children should know my opinions on that. I will not be swayed." Tywin said his voice had grown a little tired and a little frustrated as if he hadn't planned on all of his children fighting him. "Mace Tyrell, Paxter Redwyne and Doran Martell are wed to younger woman likely to out live them. Balon Greyjoy's wife is elderly and failing, there is also his son, but that would commit us to an alliance one that I am not sure is the wisest course."
"No," Cersei's lips barely moved she was that strained. "No, no, no."
That would be very sweet, Allyria thought. She couldn't imagine the glee she would feel watching them pack her off to the Pyke.
Tywin went on, ignoring his daughter. "Oberyn Martell might suit." At this Allyria did laugh, she couldn't help it and Tywin looked at her. "This amuses you?"
"Oberyn Martell would never marry a Lannister. My father would have fought this marriage if he thought he could have and the Daynes have no personal grudge against the Lannisters. Oberyn Martell would rather die then do that, and Doran would never push him knowing that."
"He beds with boys." Jaime added in a menace, which earned him a cutting look from his father.
"Which is why I returned to the Reach, there are the Redwyne twins. I assume you do not object to marrying a younger man." Tywin looked down his nose at his daughter.
"I object to any marriage," her father just ignored her again.
"I think we must strengthen our link with Highgarden as it was the sword that broke Stannis. Loras would do, but he has taken the black and Garlan is wed to one of the Fossoways, yet there remains the eldest son."
"That would be Willas, the crippled one." Tyrion's lips curled up slightly at the edges.
"Willas is heir to Highgarden," Tyrion's look was as cold as the ice on the wall. "By all reports is a courtly and mild young man fond of reading and looking at the stars. He breeds some of the finest horses and hawks in the seven kingdoms. He would be my choice, but if you would prefer another I will hear your reasons."
"So kind of you." Cersei made a nasty face "I will need sometime to consider, do I have your leave to go?" Tywin waved her on and she left in a flurry of skirts.
"The king is just a boy, he might not like you taking his mother away?" Jaime stated, Allyria could tell the lengths he was going to, to appear calm.
"The king will do as he is told."
"What of Tommen, surely he needs his mother?"
"Cersei has never been the greatest at mothering, perhaps that is my fault for leaving you alone after Joanna passed. Tommen needs guidance to be sure but not from his mother. That is why after the wedding I intend to send him to Casterly Rock with you. You will teach him what it means to be a Lannister."
I will have to mother my husband's incestuous bastard. Allyria could feel her heart beating. It was like all the breath had left her, she liked Tommen to be sure, maybe even loved him in the way you can care about others without really having any attachment to them. But mother him? That was beyond even her wide scope of coping.
She felt both Jaime and Tyrion's eyes on her and yet she didn't dare move, even when Lord Tywin called her name. "Allyria, we owe you a debt as well. Petyr was not the only one to tell us of the plot afoot. Your marriage may have been forced, but you have more then proved your loyalty. I know you care for the girl." Tywin was being oddly kind and it made her nervous. If this is how he would act when she was pregnant then she had no problem be constantly with child. Being a brood mare might have its upside after all. "So you have been asked here to discuss her future."
"She has to marry, and she has to marry a Lannister."
"Yes," Tywin replied.
"Tyrion,"
"I hear the herald calling my name to the lists?"
"Your whoring is a weakness in you." He always was blunt. "Perhaps some of the blame is on me. Since you stand no taller then a boy I have found it hard to treat you as a man. It's past time you wed."
"Me, you intend for me to marry Sansa Stark. Not even you could be that cruel."
"It's not up to me, you will marry. You will however only marry Sansa if the Lady consents."
"She is unlike to do that, she would want a handsome bridegroom and I fear I fall far short of that."
"He, he doesn't mean Sansa," Allyria said quietly. "He means me." Everyone in the room turned and looked at her, she could feel every heart beat in her as if it was trying to pump its way out of her chest. He's playing with me; the Hand of the kingdom is playing with me again testing me again.
"Well then I will leave you to decide my fate hmm."
"Yes," Tywin waved him off again. You too Jaime, leave us."
They both left though Jaime did so stiffly as if he didn't really want to.
End Allyria's POV
Begin Jaime's POV
He sat on the edge of the bed his hands rest heavily on his thighs. Cersei or Allyria, one of them would come, and soon. He knew which one he wanted it to be but which one it would be was a different matter. He didn't have to wait long, which was good patience was never his virtue.
The door opened slowly but it didn't pause at the creak. Allyria, he thought, Cersei would knock. "Brother," but he was wrong. Cersei, he sighed heavily.
"You have to stop our father, he will listen to you. Have him send me to Casterly Rock, we can be together again if you do that." She was begging him for his help, something she had never done before but she still wouldn't come Jaime. She would never come to him; he always had to initiate it. She would comfort him, but only if he came to her, give but never offer.
"I will do for you as much as you did for me," he answered dryly
"Jaime," her voice was soft, she always did this when she needed him. "I had tried, honestly I did but you remember Robert. He was stubborn as that boar that killed him."
"That boar didn't kill him, and we both know that." She only shrugged at that with a little smile upon her lips. Lips that for all his words the other day Jaime still wanted to kiss.
"Can't help you, or won't it doesn't really matter does it."
"Together Jaime, we belong together. It's finally within our reach, can't you feel it?" She stepped closer to him and Jaime was fighting himself to stay seated.
"Did you ever want me? Really, or did you just not want some other woman to have me. You needed me, that's what it was, a wife would put you at risk. That I wouldn't drop everything do to what ever thing needed done simply because you asked it."
"It was never like that, you know I love you. That I wish it had only ever been you. I have done all of this for us. To protect us."
"No," He growled. "You did it for you, to protect you, to get more power for you."
"Do you really think so little of me?" Cersei asked.
"Gods be good Cersei I love you, I always have and I fear I always will. I will no longer share your bed. You are my sister and I owe you a duty of protection, which you may always rely on. Otherwise I am afraid I have nothing else to give you and would ask you to leave."
She stormed out again. He heard her voice just outside the still open door though. "Spying were you?" He heard Cersei say. "I hope you didn't hear anything distressing."
"No," Allyria, "Not a damn thing." Inwardly Jaime laughed. Cersei huffed off again and Allyria took her place.
"Hello," Jaime smiled weakly, he was glad to see her but he wasn't sure he was ready for the conversation that was about to happen. "Did you decide my brothers future? That is what my father wanted you for I assume?"
"Yes, I did not curse Tyrion with a wife who would never love him."
"By which you also mean you did not curse Sansa with my brother as a husband."
Her sigh was very audible. "I would not consider it a curse, but she would, you cannot fault her for that."
"I don't want to discuss this."
"Neither do I," She walked towards him, her hands softly touched his cheeks. Sliding backwards until she stroked his earlobes between her thumbs and index fingers. "Why did you kill Aerys?" She asked
Jaime pulled away, "That, you want to talk about that?" He had never told anyone and he wasn't sure he was willing to tell her.
She sighed again, "Not necessarily, I don't want to talk about forced marriages and I don't want to talk about your sister so I am struggling for topics. A story, tell me a story Jaime." Her hands were in his hair again and he could feel his worries melting away.
"Have you ever heard of battle fever?"
"No," She sat on the bed next to him and he felt her slowly pushing him onto his back. As he rested lying there on his bed, she placed her head on his chest. "Tell me about it."
"You stay there in a camp day in and day out and all you think of is death, your own, the men around you, the men you will kill." Jaime twirled a wisp of hair in his fingers. "Those who can't get out of their own head, they are the ones who die or are eaten from the inside by the things they have done. The ones who last, the great soldiers."
"The ones like you?" she asked her voice barely a whisper as if she didn't want to distract him.
"Yes," he said with a note of pride. "They have a thing that Sumner Crakehall, the man I squired for called battle fever. They go inside themselves, and in there you feel nothing. You don't feel the wounds then or the ache in your back from the weight of the armor or the sweat running down into your eyes. You stop feeling, you stop thinking, you stop being you, there is only the fight, the foe, this man and the next, and the next, and the next, and you know they are tired and afraid, but you're not. You're alive and death is all around you but their swords move so slowly that you dance right through them laughing."
"Jaime,"
"Hmm…"
"Never let anyone say you aren't as bright as your brother. That was beautiful Jaime."
"Was it?"
Author's noteSO LONG! It kind of got away from me there… I had to keep going though because that quote, because ugh, I love that quote!