Tywin Lannister

281 AC

This could have gone better, he thought.

Oh, the Mad King was dead – and at the hands of his older son. King's Landing was in the hands of Robert Baratheon. But the men he'd sent to secure the royal family went beyond their remit, and Prince Aegon had been murdered, while Princess Elia and Princes Rhaenys had been assaulted. Gregor Clegane, at least, had paid with his life – slain by Ned Stark and Jamie.

Tywin had always found Gregor useful in some cases, especially for trials by combat. Well, that was a loss. Clegane's cruelty, though, would have been a bigger negative in the long run.

Lorch, on the one hand, had lived and talked, and made it clear that they had been given strict instructions not to harm the royal family. He was getting a one-way trip to the Wall.

Ned Stark had initially berated Jamie for killing the Mad King, but when Jamie had blurted out the news about the wildfire and the Mad King's last order, Ned's attitude had changed. So had that of Robert, who had given orders to move the wildfire to a (relatively) safe place.

"So, what to do about this situation?" Robert Baratheon asked the council, consisting of Ned Stark, King Robert, Jon Arryn, Stannis Baratheon, Hoster Tully, and Tywin.

"My suggestion is simple: Send Elia Martell and Rhaenys to Dorne with the bones of Aegon and the head of Clegane," Tywin said.

"I would agree," Ned Stark said. That generated a quick consensus.

"Very well, we will do so – after we have rescued Lyanna. Ned, take twenty men and head tot eh location Varys gave us," Robert said. "Bring our Lyanna home."

The matter turned to Jamie Lannister.

"Now for one of the harder parts," Robert said. "Jamie Lannister."

"Technically guilty of kingslaying," Stannis said.

"True," Jon Arryn said, "We should keep in mind, though, Jamie only slew the king to save the lives of the people of King's Landing."

"The order was unconscionable," Hoster Tully said.

"I would agree," Tywin said. "Castamere was one thing, and I will be named cruel for that all my days. That being said, what the Mad King ordered is way beyond that. Jamie broke his vows as a Kingsguard in the name of a higher duty."

Tyrion had made that argument earlier when Tywin had learned of the circumstances behind Jamie's actions. Now, Tywin was banking his oldest son's life on the theory his younger son was putting forth.

"When Aerys burned Rickard Stark alive and strangled Brandon Stark, he stopped being a king and became a tyrant," Tywin continued. "A tyrant who ordered the unjust deaths of tens of thousands."

"I would agree," Ned Stark said. "No oath should compel a knight to stand by as tens of thousands of smallfolk are murdered."

Stannis thought it over.

"I have to admit, that is a compelling argument. I wish that had been brought up when I was judging Davos Seaworth," he said. "Very well, I can acknowledge that Ser Jamie Lannister was placed in a position where to save thousands, he had to break his oath as a Kingsguard to stop a tyrant."

"Then I deem Jamie Lannister as Tyrantslayer," Robert said.

Ned Stark left with twenty men to ride to rescue Lyanna. After that, Tywin had to think about what to do in case that rescue was not successful.

Robert was clearly in love with Lyanna. Oh, he whored around, drank, and over-ate, but he had been willing to topple a king over his wolf. Cersei wanted to be a queen. That was plainer than the nose on his face.

But Cersei had a cruel streak – he'd spent a fair bit of the time since he left King's Landing trying to tame it. He had some success in that regard, but not as much as he would have liked.

If Lyanna was alive, he'd dodge the bullet – he'd marry Cersei off to Stannis. It wouldn't quite be queen, but good sister to the king would work out the best for all involved.

Cersei could see he was deep in thought. Tywin had sent her to help the poor in Lannisport for six months. After that, she had spent a year in the Reach with Tyrion and both had been encouraged by Tywin to try a few small schemes. Cersei had never known that he had pre-arranged that with Olenna Tyrell, who had a field day with the neophyte.

She'd come back after that year, humbled by the experience, and realizing she had much to learn.

"So, Father, what do we hope for from this?" Cersei asked.

"That Ned Stark recovers Lyanna alive and well," Tywin said.

"And if not?"

"I once promised you that you would be a queen. I hate to break that promise, but…"

"Father, I would still marry Robert," Cersei said.

"Could you accept that he would be mourning a woman he loved as much as I loved your mother?" Tywin asked – a question that pierced Cersei's hubris. "Cersei, this will require compassion, something that does not come easy to you. In this, you have the same fault I do."

He paused to sip his wine.

"There are some people who deserve our fury – after all, we Lannisters always repay our debts. But fury can be misdirected, a lesson I have learned the hard way with Tyrion."

"Who should I marry, then?" Cersei asked.

"Stannis Baratheon," Tywin said.

"The king's brother," Cersei thought. "There are worse marriages to be had. Robert can then wed that Florent girl. But she is sickly…"

"Leaving Stannis – and then your children – to inherit the Iron Throne," Tywin said.

"It's a sound plan, Father," Cersei said. "I suppose I could come to tolerate Stannis."

"You had better do more than tolerate," Tywin said.

"And if Lyanna dies…" Cersei said.

"If Lyanna dies, then we will deal with that," Tywin said.