Chapter 43
Myr
Jon
Hours have passed since his meeting with the Golden Company's commanders, actually, almost the entire noon has passed and the answer to his offer is yet to be given. Jon could not help but feel nervous, a lot hindered on the Company accepting to fight for him. His mood was clear to everyone inside the tent they were currently occupying. Ser Arthur and Barristan were guarding the entrance of the tent outside while Loras, Robar, Grenn, Dany and Viserys were inside with him. Jon has taken up sharpening his blade to alleviate the stress, a habit he first picked up after seeing lord Eddard do it in the serene confines of the Winterfell godswood. Loras and Robar were sharing a glass of wine with Viserys while Dany was giving the two direwolves the best belly rub they ever had judging by the wolf's expressions. Grenn was surprisingly quiet for once, he was calmly sitting on one of the chairs gazing at the entrance every so often. Asher had been with them but had left to find Beshka who according to Asher is most likely passed out drunk somewhere by now. The tent was eerily quiet apart from the sounds of direwolves breathing and Jons whetstone going down the edge of his blade.
"What's taking them so long?" Loras finally broke the silence, slamming the cup he was holding on the table next to him. "This should be a done deal, the exiles get to return to Westeros and reclaim their lands and titles and we get an army."
"It's not so simple Loras," Robar said matter-of-factly.
"And why the fuck not?" asked Loras with annoyance.
"Because of the same reasons Westeros itself is not simple, politics, greed, and history," Robar answered. "Persuading people to change their ways of seeing and doing things is not easy, that goes double for people with power. These men have been a part of the force sworn to fight against house Targaryen for years and they also lead it. Jon might have given them a reason to swear themselves to him but pride is a fickle thing and the men of the Golden Company are proud of their history and traditions."
"Ser Robar makes a valid point," Viserys said. "Lord Connington has been a part of the company for the better part of two decades and has only had mediocre success with swaying the company's officers to our side."
"And what if they decide not to fight with us?" asked Loras.
"Then there is nothing we can do about it. Begging and pleading on our knees won't change anything, it will only serve to reassure them of their decision," Jon replied as he lifted his gaze from his blade to look at them. "The fleet will arrive here soon, yes?"
"Yes, it will. Ser Aurane will make sure that they arrive in time," Viserys confirmed and Jon nodded.
"If nothing else, at least we will have a fleet with which to blockade Blackwater Bay, fighting the Lannister/Tyrell alliance will be harder without the Company but is still doable. The loyalist houses and the North will have to be enough," Jon said.
"We will have to redraw the plans then, not to mention what the decision of house Martell will be," Robar added.
Jon sighed. "I know, one problem at a time please."
He was not even king yet and the stress of everything was getting to him already. This current predicament is only about getting the sellswords on his side, they haven't even engaged their enemies yet. Jon was having serious doubts if he can truly pull something like the reconquest of Westeros off. Granted he might have support but he was never taught how to lead or rule. He glanced at Viserys who looked like everything a good Targaryen king should be. He didn't know the man well but going by what he had been told and what he had seen so far Jon was wondering why the loyalists never tried placing Viserys on the throne. He was older than Jon, was raised by the Sword of the Morning and let's be honest more people would be ready to support his claim with fewer issues. Viserys cared greatly for his sister that much was obvious seeing as he was willing to tag along with Ser Barristan to rescue his sister from the slavers. The story Dany told was certainly amusing, a lord commander of the kingsguard, a prince and two sellswords trudging through a river of shit to rescue a princess. Viserys had kept his promise to his sister, in that way he was also better than Jon. Loras must have noticed Jon's somber demeanor.
"Oy, why the long face your grace?" Loras asked in a japing manner, smirking at his long-faced friend.
Jon looked at Loras, the corners of his lips moving upwards. "Very funny. How long has it been since you used that one?"
"Too long honestly," Loras replied.
Grenn burst out laughing like mad. "Long face….I get it…."
"So does anyone have any good stories to pass the time while we wait?" asked Dany. "I told you about my escape from the dungeons of Myr so I think it's only fair you tell a tale of your own."
"Escape?" Viseyrs said with a raised eyebrow. "It was a rescue."
"Escape, rescue, same thing really," Dany said dismissively.
"Yeah, just keep telling yourself that and I will be there to rescue you again next time when you get caught," Viserys replied with a slight grin. Dany huffed at her brother before sitting down on one of the empty chairs, Lady trailing after her, evidently not done with scratching yet.
"Well I got a few good ones about growing up in Runestone with my brothers," Robar replied. "And a few more about fighting the Mountain clans."
"Loras and I have some stories of our own..." Jon started saying but stopped once Ser Arthur walked inside the tent.
"Your Grace," he said with a bow.
"Ser Arthur, what is it?" Jon asked.
"You have a visitor, it's the spymaster Lysono Marr," Arthur answered. Well, this was certainly an interesting development. Have the officers made a decision?
"Let him in," Jon commanded and a few moments later the silver-haired spymaster of the Golden Company entered the tent and bowed.
"Your grace," Lysono Marr said, his voice smooth and slightly feminine.
"My lord, what brings you to my tent? Has the decision been made?"
Marr shook his head. "Unfortunately not yet your grace but it will be soon."
"And you know this how?" Jon asked in an inquisitive tone.
"It is my job to know things after all your grace. And I know that the deck is heavily stacked in your favor your grace," Marr replied in a sickly sweet tone.
"Is that so?"
"Indeed it is but I did not come here to tell you that, my purpose for coming here is something else altogether."
"And that is?" Jon asked once more.
"A simple advice on what to expect from some of your bannermen," Marr said. This intrigued Jon, he was wondering what the Valyrian man meant by that. Jon did not say a word allowing the man to continue. "You already know what most of the men of the Company want, they have told you as much but has Jon Connington told you what he desires for his support?"
"No, he hasn't," Jon said after a moment of silent contemplation. An eerily smile crossed Marr's lips.
"Connington desires the same thing he desired all those years ago during the Rebellion, what he coveted all his life," Marr said.
"And that is?" Jon asked impatiently, he did not like games like this, he liked when people just said things straight and simple instead of dancing around them but he knew he will have to get used to it.
"Storms End," Marr answered. "He fought for the Mad King and expected to be rewarded for it with Storms End and the title of Lord Paramount of the Stormlands after the defeat of Robert Baratheon but sadly for him, he lost not only the battle he fought against Robert Baratheon and any chance at achieving his goal once Aerys exiled him from Westeros. Now with you, he believes he has a second chance at attaining what he wants. He was always loyal to Rhaegar but that does not mean that loyalty was without ambition."
Jon wasn't sure if he should truly believe what was coming from the spymaster's mouth. He trusted Ser Arthur and the man had only good things to say about lord Connington. He knew from the stories he heard that Connington was close friends with his sire, that he served as Hand of the King for a short time until Aerys stripped him of his titles and exiled him for failure at the Battle of the Bells. "And your reason for telling me this is?"
"I just believed that your grace should be properly informed about the intentions of those who support you," Marr replied. Jon could not help but mistrust the man, there was just something odd about him. "In case you opt to place lord Connington as lord of Storms End that choice is yours but I can see a few difficulties that might arise. If you chose another option I might have some information that might benefit you in the long run."
"And what are your intentions, lord Marr?" Jon asked.
"My intentions your grace," Marr said with a strangely pleasant smile on her plump lips that would even make a whore jealous. "I'm just a common sellsword, I go where the gold takes me," For a moment nothing but silence filled the tent until Marr broke it with a sweet smile on his lips. "The commanders will reconvene soon, and seeing as I'm one of them it would be bad manners for me to be late your grace."
After a brief moment of two men staring each other down, Jon gave Marr the permeation to leave. After the sellsword left the tent Jon turned his attention to the ones who had the most experience with the Golden Company.
"What do you make of this? Do you know what he is talking about?" Jon asked Viserys and Dany and by the looks on their faces neither had an answer.
"I do not know about that but I do know one thing. Lysono Marr is anything but a common sellsword," Viserys said looking at the entrance of the tent.
An hour later the lord of Griffins Roost entered the tent with the news that the commanders have made their decision. The Golden Company will stand and fight for House Targaryen.
Dorne
Sunspear
Doran
Doran Nymerius Martell, the prince of Dorne sat in his wheelchair pealing a blood orange with his hands as he stared at the Shadow City from atop a balcony. His ever-fateful shadow Areo Hotah standing guard close to him. Heavy were the thoughts on the prince's mind, new revelations shed light on long-since berried events, old suspicions either proving true or false depending on the matter. All those years ago when king Aerys Targaryen asked for Elia's hand in marriage in the name of his son Rhaegar, Doran could never have predicted what terrible fate would befoul his sister and her children. Doran was much older than his siblings, Oberyn and Elia being close in age also made them close as siblings but that did not mean that their relationship was lacking. Doran had always been the careful older brother to both his brother and sister, doing his best to guide them and protect them after their mother died. He succeeded with Oberyn but failed with Elia. When the news reached him of his sister's fate he wanted nothing more than to summon the wrath of the gods upon Tywin Lannister and his mad dogs, to punish them for what they did but he quickly realized that there was nothing he could do. His sister and her children were dead, Rhaegar was dead, Robert Baratheon sat on the Iron Throne with most of the Seven kingdoms at his side and Tywin Lannister went unpunished. Oberyn was ready to lead what was left of their bannermen into bloody death if it meant avenging their sister but Doran persuaded his hot-tempered brother to cease his grief-induced madness. In the end, nothing could be done apart from waiting.
Many mistook Doran's patients for weakness but those who truly knew him knew better. Doran much like a desert viper patiently waited to see what his enemies will do first, for them to come as close to him as they can, for the perfect time to strike. But not even he could have anticipated the current state of events. He had originally thought that Viserys will be the key to his revenge but sending Oberyn to find the boy proved worthless, by the time his brother arrived at Bravos, Viserys and those who harbored him were gone. Over the years he had only heard unconfirmed whispers about the Targaryen boy's location but nothing truly of any certainty. Nevertheless, Doran continued to plot and prepare for the day when the dragon would rear its head and the chance for revenge would come. That day came but only it was a different dragon who reeled its head. He had long suspected that there was more to what happened between the Last Dragon and the She-Wolf, more than just a crazed lustful prince kidnapping a fair maid. Elia had written about her husband's strange obsession with prophecies and everyone knew about the moment when the smiles died when Rhaegar crowned Lyanna instead of Elia after winning the joust at Harrenhall. What happened was certainly out of character for Rhaegar, then again men have done stranger and dumber things for love. He hated how Rhaegar set aside Elia so easily but he knew what Mellario and Ashara said to be true, Elia had quickly grown discontent with the capital and had written how she longed to return home. Doran now wished that he took her grievances more seriously and gotten his sister out of that accursed place.
"Elia, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," Doran thought, the memory of his sister's kind smile coming to mind. During his musings, Doran heard the doors of the solar opening and closing, and someone walking towards him, he already knew who it was.
"Have you calmed down enough to have a proper discussion?" Doran asked his younger brother.
"Aye, I have. A few men of the household guard are a bit bruised but I know they won't hold it against me," Oberyn replied. His brother had decided to take to the sparing yard after the discussion he and Doran had after Mellario and Ashara left Doran's quarters.
"So, we have come to an agreement when it comes to that matter?" Doran asked.
"As much as I don't like it, we have, I just hope you are right about this brother. If not I will personally poison the imposter," Oberyn told his brother, Doran had little doubt that Oberyn spoke truly of his intentions but if Doran knew how to do anything right its to persuade Oberyn from acting on his worst impulses. "So what is our plan for moving forward?" Oberyn took a blood orange from a nearby bowl and sat on the ledge of the balcony.
"We will side with the Dragons, considering everything we have been told the boy actually has a good chance at succeeding. We need to prepare the banners for war, I want you to lead them when the time comes."
An eager glint appeared in Oberyns eyes. "Gladly brother. My spear has been rather dry lately, I could use some lion's blood to coat it."
"Yronwood will come with you as your second in command along with Quentyn to serve as mediator just in case. So I'm not telling you, but I'm ordering you to behave around Yronwood. In the coming weeks and months, much will change, that includes loyalties of lords and I rather not have house Martell among those to have to deal with disloyal bannermen. I have done my best to fix the relationship between house Martell and Yronwood, it cost me much," Doran said, a stern expression plastered on his face. That was another thing he regretted, he kept his bannerman in line but created a rift in his own family, losing another person he loved. As much as he hated it, his actions were necessary and justified, it was needed to preserve and strengthen House Martell if only Mellario could see it the way he did.
"You have my word brother, I will be on my best behavior," Oberyn said, placing one hand on his heart, a cheshire grin on his face.
Doran sighed. "I hope so," he lifted his gaze to look at his brother. "Mellario will be here soon, I think it would be best if you spent some time catching up with Ashara, it's been a long time since you two saw each other last."
Now Oberyn was the one to sigh and look uncertain. "I was so caught up with my own feelings that I completely forgot that she was here, it's unbecoming from me."
"She was your best friend growing up," Doran pointed out.
"That she was," Oberyn said, by the looks on his face Doran knew his brother was remembering something. "Ash was always there for me and for Elia, I wish I knew that she was alive..."
"Now you know, I suggest you use the time you have, she will most likely be the one to return with our message to the boy and you will be off to war soon after," Doran advised his brother. He remembered how Oberyn mourned Ashara as much as he did Elia, the war had taken more from Oberyn than it did from Doran.
"Then I guess I use what time I have to catch up as much as I can with Ash. I wonder if she still likes..." Oberyn said Doran did not get the last part as he gazed back at the night-covered Shadow city. Oberyn was easy, but now comes the hard part.
He knew that Mellario held him in contempt for his actions but it was how things were done in Westeros. Their cultures were different but they both hoped that their marriage would work and that their love will be enough to persevere. Oberyns brash actions and Doran's way of remedying the situation lead to a rift between his wife and him, one which only got worst with time. When we first laid his eyes on Mellario when she arrived he barely believed his eyes. He dared hope that she finally decided to return to him, to their children, to their family but he was disappointed when he learned that her purpose for returning was to serve as a messenger for the Targaryens. I small drop of hope still linger within him that she will return to them even if he had long since accepted her choice of leaving them. That made Doran wonder, why did Mellario choose to aid the Dragons, she never had much interaction with the former ruling dynasty of Westeros, so what was her reason? But now was not the time for wishing, now was the time for reality, for politics, and for the Game. His daughter and youngest son are at the Water Gardens, he will summon them to Sunspear soon enough. Arriane has been becoming more restless recently, it was high time she joined him here.
Not too long after Oberyn left, Mellario entered the prince's solar. Doran ordered Hotta to leave him and his estranged wife alone. Doran didn't doubt the loyalty of his trusted guardian but he felt that this conversation might turn into more than just informing Mellario of the decision he had reached.
"So?" Mellario asked simply, her tone neutral. Doran looked at his wife, she had barely changed since the last time he saw her.
"I have made my decision, Dorne and House Martell will stand with house Targaryen," Doran replied in a calm lordly tone.
"And what about Oberyn?" Mellario asked skeptically.
"My brother has agreed with me and is more than happy with the arrangement. He will lead the dornish spears into battle when the time comes," Doran said. Mellario kept the same skeptical look on her face.
"I hope that you have learned to control your brother better Doran, for all of our sake," Mellario said, the hint of venom in her voice did not go unnoticed.
"Oberyn will be of no issue, I assure you," Doran replied reassuringly.
Mellario scoffed. "Somehow I doubt that."
Doran was right, he knew that the conversation would direct itself to this. His wife still harbored great anger toward his brother and him. He would try to explain himself and try to make her see things the way he does but he knew how fruitless that would be, Mellario had her mind dead set on the matter and there was no way of ever changing it.
"When all is set and done, Tywin and his pride of lions will be brought low, with him, Clegane, and Lorch finally getting the punishment they deserve. For Elia and the children," Doran said.
"For Elia," Mellario repeated with a hint of sorrow in her voice. At least the two of them agreed on something. "H-How are our children?" she asked hesitantly.
"They are well, Quentyn is visiting Yronwood, while Arianne is with Tristane at the Water Gardens with their cousins for company and some other..." Doran said, not liking the company his daughter had been keeping recently, well one man in particular.
Mellario picked up on her husband's strange demeanor and raised an intrigued brow. "What other?"
Doran did not want to withhold the information, Mellario was the mother of their children as much as he was the father. He had tried broaching the subject with Arianne several times but she just ignored him and continued with her ways as if only to annoy him. Maybe her mother would have better luck.
Doran sighed. "Our daughter has recently started preferring the company of certain Gerold Dayne, Arthurs, and Asharas cousin."
"And?" Mellario asked. "If he is a Dayne, he would be a suitable company."
"Feelings and rank aren't the issues here, the issue is the man himself," Doran stated.
"How so? The man is a Dayne, if he is anything like Arthur..."
"That's the thing, the man isn't anything like Arthur apart from having skill with a blade. Gerold is a vane, jealous, cruel, and angry man, the polar opposite of Arthur. It is said that he claims the only reason Arthur became renowned was because of Dawn not his skill at arms. He went as far as mocking and bad-mouthing Arthur for losing to Eddard Stark. The man is more of a viper than Oberyn is, not to mention how dangerous the man is."
"Then why does Arienne keep him around?" Mellario asked concerned for the well-being of their daughter.
"I believe it's because of the trill and to spite me," Doran answered truthfully.
"Spite you? Why?"
"Your departure has been hard on the children, especially on Arianne as she was the oldest. She blamed you for it at first but with time she started to blame me as well. As she got older she started to do things to purposefully get under my skin, they were small at first but they grew over time. Keeping Darkstar around is just the latest."
An uncertain thoughtful look appeared on Mellarios face, he knew that look well, she had sported that same look every time something happened to their children, when Arianne was sick or when Quentyn broke his arm.
"M-Maybe I can talk with her, reason with her," Mellario said uncertainly but there was devotion there.
"You are welcome to try," Doran said. "If you are willing to stay that is. Arianne will be arriving here in a few days so you either wait for her and then leave for Essoss or leave as soon as you can to deliver the message to the Targaryens."
Mellario thought about it more a moment. "I will remain here to wait for our daughter. I will speak to Ashara about it, I'm sure she will understand. She is more than able to bring the message on her own."
"House Martell will arrange for proper security to follow her back to Myr, no harm will come to her, you have my word," Doran told his wife.
"Thank you Doran," she said in a truly grateful tone. After that, they briefly spoke about their two young sons, Doran mentioning Trystanes love for Myrcella, Tywins granddaughter. Neither Doran nor Mellario held any ill will towards the girl but Dorans was still ready to use her as leverage against the lions if the need arises. The situation would have been better if they had Tommen with them knowing that Tywin would care little for a princess compared to a prince. A few more things were discussed mainly goings on in Dorne and Essoss before Mellario decided to depart. Doran watched his wife leave his solar. Mellario would remain in Dorne, at least for the time being, as the children will keep her busy. His wife might be able to succeed where he had failed and bring their daughter back to the ground. Once the war is over, a king would need a queen to sit by his side and Arianne is the perfect candidate for the role.
Kings Landing
Tywin
Tywin Lannister was absolutely fuming on the inside, not only had his plan to get rid of the Young Wolf fail utterly but the Freys and the Boltons stayed on Stark's side but now they knew of the battle between the royal forces and the rebels have arrived. He immediately called an emergency council session to discuss the unfortunate development. The council members tricked in one by one, the last being the Fat Flower, prancing into the council chamber like a peacock, apologizing for his lateness until Tywin in a voice lined with anger told him to sit down, the fat man doing so quickly.
"What has happened, father? Why have so summoned us so early?" his daughter asked, clearly not to pleased that she was almost dragged from her bed.
"The news of lord Tarly's engagement with Robb Stark arrived this morning," Tywin said in an even tone, barely concealing his true feelings on the matter.
"And? Has the pup finally been killed?" Cersei asked inpatiantly. The rest of the council waited for his answer but he had a feeling that Varys had already received news of the battle prior to him.
"No," Tywin said simply.
"Did he manage to escape? Running off like a craven before the might of the Reach," Mace Tyrell asked triumphantly.
"No," Tywin said and he could see the realization slowly downing on the people present.
"He won, didn't he?" his son Tyrion said hesitantly.
"Not only that but lord Tarly and his banners have turned their cloaks over to Robb Starks side. Those who remained loyal to the crown were utterly crushed between Starks and Tarly forces," Tywin said, he did his best to hide his anger but a small amount of it could be seen lacing his eyes.
"By the gods," Pycelle uttered silently.
"WHAT?" shouted his daughter. Tywin quickly sent her a glare, commanding her to keep quiet and sit back down. She proceeded to do as told but turned he gaze to lord Tyrell, glaring daggers at the lord of the Reach. "I knew we could not trust you, I knew we could not trust the Reach, traitors all of you!"
"I-I-I don't know what to say L-lord Tywin," stuttered the Fat Flower. "Are you certain of this?"
"I can confirm the news to be true my lord, I received it from my own little birds moments before lord Tywin summoned us all," Varys replied in a sickly sweet tone, producing a small letter from his sleeve and handing it to lord Tyrell. "A truly unexpected turn of events, if I may say so."
"M-My lord hand, I-Im without word, I swear I did not know anything about this, I-I thought lord Tarly to be loyal," Mace tried defending himself, a truly pathetic sight in Tywins eyes.
"Lies! How could you not know about it!" Cersei shouted. Tywin once more ordered his daughter to remain quiet.
"I can assure you your grace that I knew nothing about this. Lord Tarly had been by my side almost the entire time since the war started. I fail to see when he could plan a betrayal like this. Why would he dishonor himself like this?"
"Why is easy to determine my lord Tyrell," Tyrion said matter-of-factly. "Lord Tarly has had certain opinions about you since the Rebellion, not to mention the view other Reach houses have on house Tyrell. Lord Tarly most likely sees himself and his own House as the rightful heirs to the Reach."
"But why betray the crown now?" asked the old maester.
"It is a gamble but a certain one if Robb Stark proves victorious, Tarly will oust House Tyrell from Highgarden and take it for himself, making house Tarly lords of the Reach and Wardens of the South," Tywin pointed out.
"Which houses have sided with him?" asked Mace fearfully.
"Hightower, Bulware, Oldflowers, Hunt, Ashford, among others," replied Varys. This made the lord of Highgarden pale even more. Those were among House Tyrells strongest bannermen.
"B-B-But my wife is the daughter of lord Hightower, why would he…?"
"How lord Tarly managed to gather that much support is yet unknown," the master of whisperers added. "What is known is that this will throw the Reach into a state of civil war."
"The Young Wolf proves to be a greater foe every time new from the Riverlands reaches the capitol," Tyrion said thoughtfully looking at his father. "What is our next move?"
"I will write a letter to Baelish and order him to get the Knights of the Vale to attack the Starks forces from the rear. That will buy us some time to deal with lord Tyrells unruly bannermen in his lands before marching north to finally deal with Stark once and for all," Tywin replied. He sent a glare at the Lord of Highgarden. He had thought that the Tyrells had a strong enough grasp over their bannermen but what was he to expect from a house of stewards? It was just a matter of time before some house rose to challenge them. Florents sided with Stannis and that got them nothing but this was different, it wasn't just one house but a coalition of them who switched sides over to Robb Stark. Something wasn't right, Tywin could feel it. Robb Stark was a gifted strategist, he had learned that the hard way but this, this was playing the game on Tywins own level. The boy is smart but there is no way that he is this gifted. Someone must be guiding him, but who? There was that spy that his sons had uncovered but the man had barely given any useful information out so far apart from the name of his contact which was a pseudonym, Lemoncloak. His own spies knew nothing of the man while Varys was of no help either, his own birds only bringing a rumor of two from Flea Bottom.
"With Tarly at his side, this adds some fifteen thousand men to Robb Starks army, not to mention the military expertise of lord Tarly and his lieutenants, the odds are tilting more and more in his favor," Tyrion pointed out.
"The boy will lose, father will make sure of that. And lord Tyrell will personally retake the lands belonging to the rebels in the Reach," Cersei spat out.
"How many men do you have left lord Tyrell?" Tywin asked.
"Well, without the ones who have turned traitor, that have been killed and the ones I sent back to the Reach, I would say that leave around thirty-five to forty thousand that are encamped at the Blackwater," Mace Tyrell replied.
"We can count that half of the soldiers in the Reach are against us now," Tywin said. "Lord Mace, you will lead half of the men camped at the capitol to bring order to your lands, the rest will stay to defend the capitol. Word will be sent to the Crownlands houses that have remained loyal to muster their banners and march here. They will join the remaining Lannister and Tyrell forces. The same will be done with the loyal Stormlands houses, if they refuse they will be put to the sword."
"Father, the Rosbys, Stokeworths, Rykkers have taken loses during the siege of the city, the others have only sided with us after Stannis lost the battle, is it wise to rely on them?" Tyrion asked.
"The Crownlands houses will heed the call of their king, unless they want someone else to supplant them and take their banners to us," Tywin replied. "Those to prove their loyalty will be rewarded after the war is over."
The discussion of what to do continued for another hour before the meeting was concluded by Tywin's order, all of the councilors left to attend to their duties apart from Cersei and Tyrion who were now sitting in his solar.
"So, what information have you kept from the council father?" Tyrion asked while taking a sip from a wine cup.
"I have kept nothing," Tywin replied, his voice sharp like an edge of a blade. "But I suspect that we are being played."
"How so?" Tyrion asked but before Tywin could give an answer his daughter butted her way in.
"It's the Tyrells, I told you before and I tell you now, it's them! They killed Joffrey and they are out to get us. They have sided with Robb Stark!" Cersei said accusingly.
"Enough of this Cersei!" Tywin half shouted. "This isn't the Tyrells doing, not entirely that is. Their incompetents and lack of control over their bannermen are to be blamed yes but that is not the whole of it."
"Then who?" Cersei asked, greeting her teeth. "Stannis? The Martells?"
"No, I believe we are dealing with someone who hasn't been seen in a long while, someone I had thought we had gotten rid off but now they are making their moves," Tywin replied.
"You mean the Targaryens," Tyrion said skeptically after a moment of thinking and Tywin nodded. "That explains why the Martells have declined our invitation to the royal wedding and the seat on the council. That would also explain why half Reach houses have turned against us all of the sudden but that does not explain why they sided with Robb Stark. The Starks and Tullys lead the rebellion against them, considering the Targaryen's track record I would believe that they would rather behead all of those responsible for their downfall instead of siding with them."
"Perhaps but only a fool does not use an opportunity when one presents itself. For all of their madness and stupidity, the Targryens occasionally produced good and capable leaders who if nothing else heeded the advice of those around them. Viserys and his sister have been presumed dead or taken into slavery for years now, presuming that without clear evidence was a miscalculation on my part. The boy has had enough time to learn and gather his strength. Currently, we hold the grip on the Iron Throne, and the Starks and Tullys are opposing us, and siding with them would prove the most reasonable course of action if one whats to challenge us. Not that I believe that the alliance between Targaryens and the rebels will last, the dragons will want all of the seven kingdoms, and with two declaring independence that is not possible."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Tyrion said. "Quiet clever. I didn't think I would see the day someone would be able to outsmart you, father."
Tywin shot his dwarf son a glare, he never liked Tyrions jabs at him nor the dwarf's constant need to be witty. "This is not time for your jokes Tyrion, we have found ourselves in a predicament, enemies surround us on all sides and our main allies have proven less than initially thought capable. If the Targaryens are truly behind it all then we can expect the Dornish to side with them. The Dornish will either aid the rebels in the Reach or march to take the Stormlands. Robb Stark and Rendyll Tarly will rest their forces briefly before moving south. Without the secure passage through the Reach, we will be cut off from the Westerlands and Casterly Rock."
"What are options then?" Cersei asked, finally contributing something to the conversation apart from accusations. "We already discussed how to deal with Robb Stark, how do we deal with the Targaryens?"
"I have already told you about the Baelish and the Vale and the Crownlands. To ensure the support of the Crownlands lords, guests will be sent from each of them to stay at the Red Keep until further notice. The Vale can muster from thirty to forty thousand men, that will be enough to deal with the rebels up north," Tywin answered.
"Hate to be the bearer of bad news father, but last time I checked lady Arryn was a Tully, she might not be the most sensible person I encountered but I think seeing her family's current situation she will be more likely to join them than us. Not to mention the fact Ned Stark fostered with house Arryn and was good friends with many of the current lords," Tyrion added his own two cents. The dwarf might be a walking insult to his house but he was not without a brain. If the Vale had a strong leader things might have been different but with Lysa Arryn ruling the Mountains of the Vale and her well-known feelings towards Bealish, the flesh peddler should be able to make the Knights of the Vale join the Lannisters if there is resistance, Baelish was ordered to deal with it in a quick manner.
"Baelish is a self-serving creature, relaying on him too much might prove dangerous," Tyrion pointed out.
"It will be dangerous for him if does not do as told," Tywin told his son. Tywin was not the man to leave anything to chance, he had already thought of procuring services from several assassin guilds, the Faceless men being on the top of his list, killing that many lords would prove to be costly but he does not need to kill every one of them, just the ones holding their factions together.