I've grown incredibly discouraged whilst writing this. I feel like this story is not getting any interest and no one is telling me if it's no good. So if you think I shouldn't continue and this is not interesting anyone please let me know because though this is something that's dear to my heart and I would like to see it through, I also don't want to put too much energy into it when it's not really much good to anyone else. Thanks.
Dear Lorraine,
I am glad I have finally found the time to write to you. I hope you are well and I am pleased to let you know that Duncan is fitting in accordingly here from what I can see -I have even overheard a few ladies show interest on some occasions.
Now that I have returned to the place I have lived in almost half my life I am struggling to find any appeal to it. Perhaps it is just that the work I must get done is tedious, but nothing looks particularly legendary -so don't believe everything you read in your books, my lady. Now that I am no longer a Knight by profession I have been delegated to work out issues with the council now that the King's Regent has died and there really is no one that can take his place. I have a few options in mind, all of them have faults but I fear the options do not get better than that. That means that I will be extending my stay a little longer, just until everything is in order. I owe my nephew this.
In other news, the King sends his regards to you. He even says he wishes to meet you some time -perhaps when this ordeal is over. I should think Tommen would like to see Casterly Rock sometime, I don't think you would like to go to King's Landing -but that is mostly because I have no wish to return there. Where I do wish to return to, is where you currently are, my lady. My knees have a slight ache to them now that I do not indulge myself with our usual morning walks. Also, there is no one here that is any good at chess -or anyone I would tolerate enough to endure for an entire game. Except perhaps for my nephew and your brother. We have supped together a number of times now and fear not -I have not picked his brain about you or your childhood endeavors...yet. So be weary, I am well on my way to testing his tolerance for wine.
I hope your siblings are well. And I hope you do not feel so lonely without my good company. Please stay out of trouble, if that is not too much to ask. If so, I will make sure you receive a special gift.
Yours,
Lord Jaime Lannister.
Dearest Jaime,
I was happy to finally get word of you -though I assure you Duncan had kept me informed well enough about you. Espionage may just be my forte. Perhaps it is good that you are busy, I find that being busy makes the time fly and I am still under the assumption that you are in a hurry to return to my company.
I rest easier knowing Duncan is safe and getting on well -us Mabrands save for Addam have never adapted swiftly to new places. I hope he will find happiness and learn to enjoy himself there, but not too much. He promised to return, and I hold people to their words.
I have faith you will find a solution to the matters you face. I know I may seem naïve but I am not blind to the obvious issues we face as a Kingdom, and any shift in leadership is a matter not taken lightly. I do not know if you would take any advice from someone as inexperienced as me but you can think of it like chess: Consider not just the immediate future but the steps that follow and all the variables and obstacles that will come your way. Size up your opponents, and use their patterns against them. Thus far, it has worked for me. But then again all I have had to do was beat a Lannister at chess, not bring stability to an entire Realm.
I am honoured the King sends his regards and would be greatly pleased to meet him one day. It is strange to think that some day soon he will be a part of my family. For he is to you what Janyne's children are to me -so I would expect you to do more than roll your eyes at them in the future. It pains me to admit that the lack of your presence has had an effect on me. I have been trying to busy myself with others but I fear no one is as hopeless as you are. Addam has Margot and though I wish I could spend more time with the both of them I also know better. They are newly wed and the most important time for a relationship to form and prosper is now. Also, Elaine has kept me company well enough but has thrown herself to her paint series obsessively -she fears she may not get it done before having to leave. I once took pleasure in solitude, but now it makes me think of the time I spent with you.
Moving on, if you get my brother drunk with the intention of exploiting him for information I will go out of my way to uncover your deepest, darkest secret my Lord.
Furthermore, I am offended that you think me up to no good. And what is this gift you speak of? I hate surprises. But I also love them. Return soon.
Yours,
Lorraine Marbrand.
Dearest Lorraine,
I responded to your letter the moment it had arrived. Remind me to never make the mistake of delaying my reply to you. Others can rot.
Though I have been keeping busy I am afraid the time can not fly fast enough for my liking. I have still not come up with a suitable, or even reasonable, arrangement for the council and though I have a few ideas floating around I have a feeling they may not be easily received by the rest of the council. Strangely, the advice you have given me makes a lot of sense and has led me to think differently about my choices. It is also why I am taking longer and inciting more care to the process, as I must consider all possible outcomes to ensure our King is best serviced and cared for.
Tell me, my lady, who is it you think I can trust enough to do this? I think it probable to place Mace Tyrell as Regent for the time being as he is obliged to care for Tommen as he is his daughter's husband. But the council is swarming with lord of the reach, and their loyalty is to themselves. Lord Tarly, the man Duncan is a squire to, is an excellent mastr of laws but I wish to keep it that way -handing him the position of the Hand would give too much power to the Reach. There is little to no Western influence on the board, and I think it may be imperative that I place one of my bannerman somewhere on the council -which i'm sure you will agree with. However, on the matter of the Hand I still face much confusion as there is an idea I have but am not too sure about...too many variables. I hope I can solve it to the best of my abilities so I may be well on my way and assured that the Realm will find peace soon.
In other news I am happy to tell you that I did not need to get your brother drunk -he was only too happy to tell me of your younger self and how you would sometimes stuff Addam's pillows with bush vines when he made you angry. I hope I do not suffer the same fate, though I suppose it will have to be up to me not to infuriate you so.
I am glad to know you are thinking of me, it makes me feel less lonely somehow. Furthermore, forget about your gift until I return, for there is no chance of you knowing what it is. Not from me. And do not bother Duncan about it, he knows nothing and I will keep it that way.
I miss the smell of your hair.
Yours,
Lord Jaime Lannister.
My Dearest Jaime,
It is good to know you have learned your lesson. And even better to know that you are still capable of learning, who knew?
I told you my advice would have its advantageous, even if it meant being away for longer. But it alright, I will pretend not to mind at all.
It seems to me, my Lord, that your options are extremely limited. Mace Tyrell seems like a good enough choice -albeit a temporary one, for the time being as Regent. A Western representative is imperative, for you can not afford for the Reach to to monopolize the council. Moreover, have you considered the Stormlords? It would do you well to appease them, they have their navies and you could place a loyalist as the Master of Ships. It is important for the Seven Kingdoms to have representatives of almost every Kingdom to ensure that it is not only the interests of the majority of council members that are being served. The North is still too unstable to award with a representative, and Addam has told me that Edmure Tully is still technically your prisoner at Casterly Rock. I do not wish to question your judgement, my Lord, but if the Tully's were to have a seat at the council would it not help relieve tensions between the Riverlands and the south? Would it not also help earn the River Lords trust?If Edmure Tully serves some kind of role in King's Landing he can be put under surveillance and obviously could not return to Riverrun as his duties would not allow it. Maybe his duties can be a kind of penance for his support of the rebellion, and he can be returned his family seat after he had been released. Though I think it is only my sympathy for one who has lost his home -even if they were in support of a traitor, if I am honest I find it a shame that all those years of family legacy have just been wiped out by the actions and decisions of one. Forgive me if I am assuming too much. Perhaps it would just be easier to name your Aunt's husband, Lord Emmon Frey of Riverrun?
On a less damp note, I have no shame in admitting that I do punish those that cross me. So let that be a lesson. Also, do not feel so flattered at my missing you -I am sure you long for my company far more.
Instead of anticipating what your gift will be, I will imagine the most outrageous thing possible and hold you to the highest expectations. You can disappoint me now instead of later.
I pray for your swift return, my Lord. I find myself at times reaching for your arm only to find it is not there -please save me from looking a fool.
Yours,
Lorraine Marbrand.
My Dearest Lorraine,
I must admit, your thoughts regarding Edmure Tully were the exact same as mine. That was the hard issue I was considering and I was not sure others would be quite so receptive.
I had not even thought of the Storm Lords and bringing someone trusted on their end would do well to placate the growing Tyrell influence. After receiving your letter I broached the subject with Lord Tarly whom I know has no affection for me but he agrees that the Riverlords must be appeased and that they will never accept Emmon as their leige. To be truthful, Lord Emmon is not worthy of Riverrun nor is he worthy of anything he has been given. If he were my liege it would not take me a day to overthrow him, and with the coming winter it has been brought to my attention that the Realm will be in need of all the crops and sustenance it can get. But the title of the Hand is too large to risk giving to such a controversial choice. Instead, Lord Tarly and I have agreed that we will place Lord Edmure on the small council after I return to Casterly Rock. Lord Edmure will be joined by his wife in King's Landing and he will be kept under strict surveillance. He would be given a new title and the appearance of renewed trust and mercy and any attempt from him to disobey that will result in the decision to impart any punishment deemed fit with public's approval. Beyond that, once enough time has passed he will be released back to Riverrun -my Aunt has no fondness for it anyway and prefers Darry. His heir will be kept as a ward by the King to ensure no further attempts for rebellion and with patience that will appease the Riverlands. And in the mean time, we have agreed to place Ser Daven Lannister as the acting Hand of the King and have sent his summons as well as Lord Roland Crakehall as master of arms on the small council. My cousin Daven is an admirable knight who, if nothing else, lives to serve his family. Lord Roland is a smart and strong man and has always been a loyal bannerman to my father and I used to squire for him in my youth -so I have every confidence that his decisions will not go completely against my wishes.
I can only thank you Lorraine, for your letters have given me clarity. And I do not thank people so easily, my Lady.
I could not help but notice your tone seemed a little threatening in your previous letter, so I shall remind you that it would not do you much good to rouse the lion.
You are almost driving me to abandon the idea of a gift. But on the bright side, I am happy to report that I have now made arrangements for my return. I shall be leaving within the span of this coming week so by the time you will receive this I will only be a few days away from leaving and will unfortunately not get your reply should you send one.
This will be my last letter to you before I see you again. I told you I would not be long, my Lady. And now you can be one of the few people to say I have kept my word.
Yours faithfully,
Lord Jaime Lannister.
Just a quick filler chapter! It turned out shorter than expected but oh well, I needed something to pass the time and also explain the political atmosphere. Please let me know if there are any thoughts or complaints about the events I have portrayed.