NOTE - Sorry it's been a while, but finally another update to this story. Enjoy!

Tywin

It was good to be home. Between his time at court with his friend Prince Aerys and now the war, Tywin had not been at the Rock for longer than a few days in almost six years. He had never considered himself a nostalgic man, and he had certainly not missed his home while he was away. Yet, now he was home, he wondered why he had ever left.

Pushing these weak thoughts from his mind, he returned to the business of restoring his family name. The Lannister fleet was in a sorry state, and he had ordered that those vessels that were suitable be refitted and re-crewed, while those that were not seaworthy were to be scuttled. He had named Ser Emmon Frey to oversee this task, mostly to keep his sister Genna on his side. His sister knew that Emmon was simple and weak, but she was curiously fond of her weasel-faced husband. Frey had come to see him only that morning.

"My lord, I -"

"Ser Tywin. I may rule now, but my father is still the Lord of Casterly Rock."

"As you say, Ser. The cost of your planned refit of your ships will be astronomical. I conducted the surveys myself, the fleet is in a deplorable state, but repairing it would be crippling."

"I doubt it, Emmon."

"But these sums are enormous. Over a million gold dragons."

"A trifle. Do it."

"But ser... yes Ser Tywin."

The weasel had slunk out after that. Tywin knew exactly how much gold his house had and he had not lied, a million dragons was but a grain in the sand dune of Lannister wealth. With Kevan out collecting debts and Tyg, Jason and his cousins hunting bandits, order was gradually being restored, or so he hoped. He rose from his desk and began to walk out to the garden. He had an appointment to keep.

When he arrived at the appointed place, Joanna was already there. She was beautiful. Her long hair shone in the sun, and her figure stirred things in Tywin that he had seldom ever felt. He watched her as she looked out over the sea. Eventually, she turned.

"Tywin! I was wondering when you would appear, your message was so cryptic I didn't feel I could refuse. What is it?"

"I find myself in a predicament Joanna."

"What? My father told me you were running things now, but I haven't seen you until now."

"That's just it. I am in a position of great responsibility and power, requiring all my attention, yet I am distracted."

"By what?"

"You, Joanna."

"Me? You don't mean, do you?"

"That I want you, that I love you? Yes I do."

"Tywin, I know what you mean, but think. What would my father say? What would your father say?"

"My father will stutter and go back to his whore's bed. Your father said he would not oppose it if it was what you wanted. Do you want it?"

"Yes." Joanna whispered. She looked nervous but excited, her green eyes glowing.

Tywin got down on one knee. "Joanna Lannister, will you marry me?"

"Yes!" She cried and threw herself on him.

Lord Tytos summoned him at nightfall. His increasingly large father was not happy.

"First you come in and effectively displace your own father, then show utter contempt for him by removing all his friends from the court, and now you go and get betrothed to your own cousin! This has gone far enough Tywin! As of tomorrow morning, I am taking my home back, and sending you to court."

"No."

"What?"

"No, father. I will not go. If you send me away, Kevan and Jason will take my place. I only took power to put a stop to the continuous mocking our house has suffered under your rule. Those 'friends' of yours are not your friends, but your mistresses, merchants, pimps and whoremongers all. As for the betrothal, Jason has agreed to the match, and I love her father."

"You will do as you are commanded."

"I will not." He turned and left. His father was a good man, truly, but easily swayed and eager to please. He had given Genna to the Frey stoat for no reason other than to please Lord Walder, and he had become so forgiving with debt repayment that their debtors no longer even bothered to keep track of their borrowed amounts.

He would change it, he had no choice. So far it had been easy. The Marbrands had sworn their support, as Tywin had known they would. Lord Alyn Marbrand was Tywin's uncle, his mother's brother. House Prester had also sworn allegiance, but it's debts were so deep to their liege lord that they would not likely recover in this generation. The real trouble would come when the repayment demands reached the Tarbecks and Reynes. These two houses were the leaders of the opposition to Lannister rule, always had been, mainly because their combined strength was great enough to defy Casterly Rock. Joined by a marriage alliance between Lord Tarbeck and Lord Reyne's sister, they could be guaranteed to refuse repayment. Then it would come to battle and blood. Tywin was determined though. They would be humbled, and they would be crippled. They would never be strong enough to threaten the Rock again.