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ATP
It seemed the reasonable choice for Stannis in that situation.
Lion locked in cage
Lost in his thoughts, Lord Tywin Lannister barely listens to the shaking voice of Grand Maester Pycelle. The Maester is enumerating the latest news his ravens have brought from all the Seven Kingdoms.
"Lord Tully's wife died in childbirth."
Staring still at nowhere, Tywin does not even move his head. However, this bit of information catches his interest.
In the name of the King, Edmure Tully fights at the border of the Reach and the Crownlands.
"And the child?"
"Stillborn," the Grand Maester replies with well-trained empathy.
That means the heir to the Riverlands is the second son of Lord Edmure's older sister. What is the boy's name…? Brandon, maybe.
"The Iron Fleet is raiding along the firth of the Mander. Euron Greyjoy does a good service for us distracting the Tyrell's attention…"
With a wave of his hand, Tywin silences him, then, sends him away. He does not need Pycelle's advices in the matters of warfare.
Still the Starks are on his mind. They strengthened the Wall and they have started rebuilding the fortress of Moat Cailin. A Stark girl would be the perfect bride for a king. Would be if Joffrey…
Cersei rushes into the chamber.
"I want to see my son."
Tywin leans over his paper again after he put it aside to hear what Pycelle wanted to say.
"Your son is with Ser Barristan practicing swordplay. You can see him after that."
"I'm speaking about Joffrey."
Of course she is.
"Care for the son who matters," Tywin advises her.
Though, Cersei is blind and deaf when someone – even her lord father – tries to draw her attention to her older son's unworthiness. As she proves it right now:
"Joffrey…"
"… will be locked away and forgotten," Tywin cuts in. "If we had any luck, all of his foolishness and mistakes would fall into oblivion with him, but that is beyond my power."
"He is the king." Her voice becomes lower and unsure, still, she says it, "Your king."
Using that against him, Cersei's boldness is outright insolence. Tywin does not tolerate it.
"He isn't my king. And he will never be anyone's. He does not deserve it. That awful, spoilt son of yours would destroy everything I've built, everything I've done for this family. I won't let it happen. If he wasn't my blood he wouldn't live long enough to see the end of the war."
Cersei breathes sharply.
"Joffrey is your grandson. A lion of the Rock."
"Only a caricature of a lion," Tywin declares with bitterness. One more disappointment. "He can spend the rest of his days in quiet and peace, or he can spend them struggling and mourning but he will spend them far from here."
"And what are your plans with Tommen?" Cersei hisses, trembling. Clearly, she can hardly contain herself not to burst out.
Tywin lies back in his chair to look into her eyes. They are not burning with anger, instead, they are cold which surprises him.
"When we gain victory above our enemies," he replies, "it will be announced that King Joffrey's health took a turn for the worse due to the war's burdens and his state doesn't allow him anymore to fulfill his duty towards the realm, so he will disclaim the throne and give the Seven Kingdoms and all his subjects' safe and welfare to his brother's hands."
After a long, heavy silence, Cersei stiffly nods.
In response, Tywin nods too, as a warning.
"Now go, I have a lot to do."
Cersei turns to leave but stops for a moment before she exits the chamber.
"And where is your victory, father?" she asks with poison in her voice, then, she slams the door.
