Lady of the West
Chapter One
The stench had faded away somewhat, which considering what the last few weeks of his life had been like was as close to bliss as he could hope for, and lavender and other sweet-smelling herbs had been hidden around the Rock, both to sweeten the air and to clean it so there could be less of a chance for the plague to reassert itself by the inhaling of rotten humours.
It was the least they could do, after all as they had a royal visit to deal with. His scouts had told him that the royal procession was half a day out earlier that morning and now, as he stood in top room of one of Casterly Rock's towers, he could see the thin line creeping closer and closer with every moment and he had to remind himself that he was not a little boy anymore.
He was the last son of Tytos Lannister, and it fell to him to protect the family, any sign of weakness would not be forgiven by anyone. He turned around and made his way within the castle and reached the central shaft of the Rock where the wooden and metal cage was waiting to take him down to the ground.
Once he reached the ground Tygett walked until he was in the main courtyard, cast in the vast shadow of the Rock. Genna and her husband were already there, Genna resplendent in crimson and gold with rubies in her hair and Emmon, well, Emmon looked as good as a Frey was ever going to, in blue doublet and soft grey trousers with a silver chain around his neck.
Cersei was in her septa's arms, bundled up warmly. Tygett had been against her being here for this, she was still so young, and he wanted to be sure that any chance of her falling ill was reduced by keeping her confined to the nursery, but Genna had insisted that the babe be here when the King arrived, they had to present to the entire royal court that not only did the Rock have an heir, but their family supported her claim entirely.
The politics of it made the back of his neck itch, but Tygett knew it was just another part of keeping little Cersei as safe as possible.
And so, he stood tall when two knights of the Kingsguard rode through the gates and only dropped to a knee when the King rode through on a Dornish mare the colour of cream with a golden main that shone in the sun. King Aerys climbed down from his house, dressed in robes of rich purple velvet over cream doublet and black trousers, his crown on his brow and his indigo eyes glanced over everything.
"You may rise," the King said as he strode to stand in front of them and Tygett sent a silent prayer up to the gods, he had never been comfortable kneeling, so he was glad that at least that part of it was over somewhat quickly.
"Your Grace you do us great honour with your visit, Casterly Rock is yours." Tygett spoke as the royal wheelhouse trundled through the gates, it was surprising to see that it was smaller than the one that Tywin had commissioned for the ladies of the Rock but then his dear late brother did so like to show off. "I only wish that we could welcome your Grace in a happier time."
"As do I," The King spoke with a frown, his eyes gaining a distant quality. "Tywin and I did not always agree, to be sure. He could be a stubborn man, far too prideful for his own good and oft forget his place but he was an admirable hand despite all of that, and a dear friend to me as well. I shall miss him terribly."
"I am sure that my brother would be proud to know that he was held in his Grace's thoughts," Tygett was also sure that if his brother's ashes could do it they would be frowning heavily.
Queen Rhaella and Prince Rhaegar left the wheelhouse, and their presence seemed to irritate the King who's frowned seemed to deepen when caught sight of his wife and son. "Where is the girl?"
Tygett glanced over at Genna who stepped forward, after taking the babe from her Septa's arms, "Your Grace, may I present to you my sister the Lady Genna and my niece, Lady Cersei Lannister, Lady of House Lannister and Casterly Rock."
"Such a grand estate for such a little girl," the King said with a chuckle as he looked up at the vast shadow of the Rock before his gaze dropped back down to Cersei, who seemed utterly bored by the presence of these strangers as her eyes fell shut and she snuggled closer to Genna's chest. "We must all of us pray that the responsiblity of it does not crush her."
"We will see to it that it won't," Genna answered, in a tone that was just on the other side of insolent. The King seemed shocked, and for a moment Tygett thought that he saw a flare of rage in his indigo eyes, but just as soon as it appeared it was gone, and the King nodded in agreement.
"Your Grace, you must be tired from your journey. We have had rooms prepared for you, for the Queen and Prince Rhaegar and a feast will be held later on in the night." Tygett spoke and the King nodded his assent, muttering about how he was tired, and he would like to be shown to his rooms
Tygett agreed to show the King to his room while Genna would tend to the Queen and to Prince Rhaegar, the King's chambers were near the top of the Rock and he did seem somewhat unnerved by the idea of climbing into the cage, but he did not voice any complaint to it, though he did seem relived when their journey finally ended.
"These will do, I suppose." King Aerys said as he stepped inside his chambers for the first time, glancing over them in a way that gave Tygett the feeling that the other man was looking for something to complain about. "I would like you to remain for a moment, so that we might discuss something in private, away from prying eyes and poisonous tongues."
Tygett blinked and nodded and dismissed the servants, though one of the Kingsguard remained behind but he didn't feel too worried about that, the Kingsguard were meant to be deaf when it came to the matters of what the King conversed about. "What is it that your Grace would have of me?"
Aerys sighed and sat down at the edge of his bed, his hands coming to rest on his knees. "The girl, I think it speaks very well of both you and Lady Genna that you wish to preserve Tywin's legacy, would that all of us has such loyal siblings," A hint of bitterness had infected the king's words then. "But there are certain practicalities that you and the Lady Genna have ignored."
"And what practicalities are those, your Grace?" Tygett asked, keeping his hands clenched behind his back, his face blank and his mask stone.
"For a start? I highly doubt that the lords of west will fall behind a little girl, a babe-in-arms, no matter who her father is," The king rose from the bed and walked over to the balcony in his room which overlooked the Sunset Sea. "Your own father had troubles with dissent, did he not? Even open rebellion, the lords of the west will not follow a weak lord."
"Perhaps they won't, and perhaps my father was a weak man," there was no perhaps about it, Lord Tytos had been a weak man no matter how much Tygett wanted to think fondly of him. "But Tywin reminded them of the strength of House Lannister, and if his daughter has need of me to do the same then I will do so. The law on this matter is clear, Cersei has no brothers and thus Casterly Rock is hers."
"Casterly Rock may be hers, but that does not mean everything that was Tywin's will go to her," The king turned to face him and Tygett was certain that there was a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "A warden has certain duties that are expected of them, they are to guard the realm from any threats that could come from the direction of which they are charged. How is a babe to defend the realm, will she spit up at them?"
"We never expected for your Grace to leave the position of the Warden of the West absent, it is a vital position with the threat that Ironborn may go back to raiding one day," It was always a threat, the current Lord of the isles had apparently outlawed it but how long would that be the case? How tempting a target would the West be now that Tywin was dead?
"If the idea of it pleases your Grace, then I would be more than willing to step into the role. I was taught by the same men who taught Tywin and while I would never claim to be my brother's equal," Kevan had made it clear to him more than once that he would never be able to equal Tywin. "I am certain that I would be more than adequate in the role, I am a warrior, it's what I'm good at."
The king nodded slightly, his lips quirking into a smile. "Not the worst idea I've ever heard, to be sure, but would that be enough on its own to keep the lords of the west placated? I am not too certain about that," The King stepped closer to him and put his hands on Tygett's shoulders in a way that only his father had ever done to him when he was still a tiny lad. "I have an idea of my own, if you would hear it."
"Of course, your Grace." Tygett answered, having a terrible feeling that he was walking into a trap.
"I would suggest betrothing Lady Cersei to my son Rhaegar, they shall be wed when she comes of age and when Rhaegar becomes king she shall become Queen, and you will rule in Casterly Rock as my warden of the West, and I think that you shall become an even greater one than even Lord Tywin could ever hope to be," The King's eyes were shinning, almost feverish. "What do you think of that?"
"Your...Your Grace does me a great honour, I am truly grateful to you," Tygett wanted to say yes, he could prove to Tywin at last that he should have trusted him more, that he could have been a powerful ally. The scared and lonely little boy that still lived in his chest was screaming, begging him to say yes.
But Tywin was dead, and he wasn't a little boy anymore. "I will need to think on it, your Grace."
The king pulled his hands back liked he had been burned and there was an ugly frown on his face, rage filled his eyes so easily. "What is there to think of? I am offering to make your niece a Queen, what greater prize can she hope for than that? It was what Tywin always wanted, his ambition was so plain that it practically stunk, it was offensive, but I bore it gracefully and now I am willing to give you what he always wanted and make you one of the most powerful lords in the Realm and you waver?"
"Tywin did always want his daughter to be Queen, I do not deny it and considering how much you owe to him I think it was the very least you owe to him," The King's mouth flopped open like a fish and he looked like Tygett had slapped him and for a moment he wished he had more patience, and to know when to shut up but the Gods had never given him those virtues. "Tywin also wanted Casterly Rock to go to a Lannister, to lions with golden hair and emerald eyes. Not to silver haired dragons, Casterly Rock would go to Cersei and Rhaegar's second son I assume in this world, a son with the name of Targaryen. I bet you would like that."
The shock on the other man's face was gone, now only rage. "You are impudent and insolent, I gave you this offer in all good faith, but it seems that just like your brother the rest of you Lannister's think far too much of yourselves, get out."
"Your Grace," Tygett bowed and walked out the room, once the door was shut, he rubbed at his eyes.
And hoped he didn't just make a terrible mistake.
End of Chapter One
So, I've only ever written Aerys when he's full on mad, I tried to capture that there's hints of that here but he's still pretty lucid and also that he's still pretty jealous of Tywin.
Next chapter is from Genna's point of view as she shows Rhaella around and will also show the feast and Genna's reaction to Tygett's decision.
