Masters
Ruelle had recovered from her duel and encounter with Gregor and her bruises were nearly gone. Meeting with Tywin as they over looked the map with his son Tywinel; they had a decent fleet in place.
"I can give my brother the rule of Shade and establish something here not far from your lands here in Casterly rock. My price is a piece of land and Gregor Clegane." She said boldly with a look that brooked no backing down.
Tywinel stated he would consider her terms and the meeting was over that she was alone with Tywin. She was watching the Knights, watching Gregor try out his sharpened sword. Tywin joined her tilting his head a bit.
"You were never going to accept Jamie; Gregor was your intention wasn't it?" He finally spoke.
She grinned a bit.
"It was, I have tamed the mountain and I will take him, willingly given or forcefully taken." She looked at Tywin boldly like her words.
"I rather it be willingly given, loyalty is such a fragile thing without compromise and common sense." She arched a brow.
Tywin stilled inwardly, staring at each other, eyes showing defiance to each other, a lord and lady in an inner war of the mind.
"Why Gregor?" He asked keeping her gaze.
"Besides being freakishly tall and strong? He is more akin to a Shade than anything to me, he will make a strong partner to guard me. I asked him for a son; it would be wiser to have one with him than a knight of the king's guard. Lannister…or not." She said pointedly.
He nearly narrowed his eyes but arched a brow. She had planned this since before their arrival. Strategist! Having Gregor meant he would train her men even more, as her husband it would be his responsibility. He would have shadow of command of her army. Gregor and she already slept together and if he didn't marry her by law if she claimed foul he would have to kill his Mountain.
The Mountain had taken more than just a liking to her, he was possessive of her and an attack against her might test that loyalty boundary and his ire. Very, very, clever.
"I will speak with my son but I'm sure we will agree to your terms." He mused.
It would be the smartest decision; to go against it would be a folly either way. She inclined her head and left the room to go down to meet Gregor. He stayed where he was and even saw her cross the courtyard to the Knights. Talking, Gregor turned and she smiled at him, he tilted his head.
"I know you're there." Tywin mused.
Tywinel stepped out and joined his father.
"She has us cornered, but her terms are reasonable. I will agree to them, besides they can be a front line if any enemies even tried to come to the keep. They are violent people who train and live for battle. I like her, Gregor would be the brawn but she would be the brain." He mused.
Tywin arched a brow and smirked.
"As long as she survives him. Yet watching him I don't think he'll kill her as easily as he has anything else he's fucked. There is something different about her, he seems…calmer." She said narrowing his eyes a bit in thought before hmm'ing.
Tywin finally left and found Farfella to smile as she was teaching his girls a new stitch for sewing. Watching them, his power base was far more secure but his worry was still for Jamie. That was his son, his first born, and he was under that mad king's thumb. He didn't want his son in the King's guard, they couldn't marry or hold titles and lands, he still wanted him to Lord the Rock.
Sighing inwardly he let it go. There would be time to strategize a retrieval if need be, besides there was a rebellion on the horizon from the whispers ever since Rhaegar caught sight of the Stark girl at a tournament. Quiet a story for the fact he was already wed to a Martell by arrangement of his father. Yet Tywin knew that hadn't been well planned and fast planned matches broke or worse, it would be yet another weakness in the armor of the Targaryen line.
He had nothing against Rhaegar but that father of his, if anyone slit his throat even in his sleep he would not weep a single tear or feel a shred of remorse for his death. They finished and the girls giggled leaving and Farfella put down her sewing, she was barely starting to show. Looking to the side and at him. Smiling, he smiled back and joined her for a bit of luncheon.
Telling her about the meeting with Ruelle, her demands. Farfella was actually rather impressed, for a woman she knew how to play the game. Yet she was trying to be smart about it, yes there was a risk of death with Gregor, but she had a strange feeling that she would survive a lot longer than other maids he had been with and killed. The mountain was wild and untamable to most, though she had through respect. Ruelle had earned his and fought him in fact according to the report of a Knight who had guarded her while Gregor had reported to Tywin formerly.
In the world of men the women had to be careful, Farfella was in position to manipulate if need be, but she had yet to really find a reason to manipulate her children or Tywin. She wished Ruelle Luck and that she be wise in her action, Tywin was not a man to cross.
Ruelle greeted Gregor and asked him for a moment of his time. Gregor followed her to find she wanted to eat with him and he obliged. Talking to each other, though his answers were short she seemed interested in his thoughts and what he had to say. Listening to the story of Farfella's first ride with him, impressed with the woman, she had been for many years since she first heard of her. She was more afraid of her than of these men. Men were action; violence, but women, women were cunning. Women were the puppet masters in many ways. Only time would tell which strings would get cut and end their game.
