I've been very slow for the last three months. As I explained before, I had an internship in diplomacy; then I wrote a memoir, then went back to school. I'm slowly beginning to write again (expecially since I actually write in class), however this year is proving more taxing than the last one. That being said I do not intend to abandon this fanfic, and my scenario already extend farther than A Dance With Dragons (though I cannot promise I will be able to go that far).

I have some news, though.

This was supposed to be a longer chapter, but I kept you waiting long enough, so it will be split. It's sleeping on my hardrive for two long. I hope I'll be able to be (a lot) quicker for the last chapters.

The next-next chapter will be the last of this fic. Then, I'm planning to proof read it and improve the writing, since I keep finding new mistakes every time I reread the first chapters. If you're an english native speaker, now is the time to point out recurrent mistakes. You would be of great help to me.

When I'm done, I'll move to the second part of the story. It will involve a honeymoon, Braavos, the Lannister brothers (minus Tywin), a carnival, Oberyn Martell playing detective and the prettiest dresses ever.

Since it's the end of the story, I would love to have some feedback on what you liked, what you disliked and what you would like to read in the next fic. I'm not asking my followers to post a review for each chapter, but it would be kind of you to do so at this point. I'm not asking out of pride ; yes, it's great when people tell me the story is good, I won't deny it. But reviews are most useful in improving the story and writing something close to your expectations. This is why I'd rather have three lines on what you didn't like than three lines on what you did like.

Now that I'm done ranting, here is the ninth chapter ! I hope you'll enjoy it !

Chapter 8 : Grand Old Plans

My time in Casterly Rock was coming to an end.

When the thought struck me, I could not help but feel slightly fearful. Fairkeep was mine but not my home. Since I followed Tywin eight years ago, I had visited once a year ; not nearly enough for my people to know me.

We started to plan my wedding. Now that I was aware of the landslide I would experience, I was overwhelmed by nervousness : I was used to being Tywin's ward, to live in his library, safe and secluded. In two months I would turn into a wife, I would have to assert myself as the Lady of Fairkeep, perhaps even against my own husband, I would have to explore my own lands, and I felt wholly unprepared.

Then, there was the matter with Joy.

I had promised Gerion I would welcome her in Fairkeep, yet I had somehow failed to picture how we would deal with it. I had supposed the choice would be delayed. Afterall, a baby doesn't talk and requires no education. We could have waited three good years before any decision had to be made – but no, I had foolishly promised the mother I would care for her bastard as if she was my own. I had felt immense relief when she told me she wanted to join the Silent Sisters. Silent Sisters don't steal your husband. Silent Sisters don't have children.

Now Joy was mine, and with a few words I became a young, unprepared mother.

I visited her every day. Much to my dismay, Gerion didn't, and anger flared in my chest when the nursemaid told me he never came. The only Lannisters who did were Genna, who had been instructed to choose the nurse and furnish the room, and Tywin himself when he decided one day to drop by and make sure everything was in good order. I shared my fury with Dorna and Darlessa, but their utter lack of surprise doused the fire.

"Most men don't care that much about young children," Dorna said without lifting her nose from her stiches. "Kevan did, but Tygett didn't until Tyrek started to walk."

"Perhaps Gerion is afraid to face the consequences of his actions," Darlessa added. "Afterall, he was never fond of responsibilities. We were all expecting Tywin to take care of Joy on the long run. And by that I mean he would have paid someone to play family, not that he would keep her at the Rock. I really don't understand why you would like to keep her."

I mumbled some lie, though I wondered if they knew the truth. The fact was that since I had my first moonblood, I never experienced the regularity it should have. I actually feared I had gotten pregnant twice until Maester Joris explained how people make children, and why a virgin couldn't be pregnant. I had been ashamed and half relieved, but certain that something was wrong with me. What if I was barren? What if Joy was, in fact, my only chance to become a mother at all?

I decided not to confront Gerion. First, I would have plenty of time in Fairkeep to get him interested in Joy's education. Second, he was already running for the medal of the worse betrothed when it came to the planning of the wedding, since his usual answer were : "Well, why don't you ask Tywin ?" (that was when I wanted to know if he wanted a grant wedding or a more intimate one), "I don't care." (that was when I asked what colors we should have for our wedding clothes ; he then had the thoughtfulness to lie and tell me I would look good in any color), "Tywin's already decided." (that was when I tried to talk about who was going to be invited) and, last but not least : "Why do you even bother asking me ? Tywin..."

Irritation was more than building up. Tywin was literally taking over my wedding. I understood the point: he wanted to gather his lords, to play politics. Marrying his brother to a Lady in her own rights wasn't some child play. But it angered me to find he often forgot to consult me ; I had made plans, I had been expecting things, and I was now losing the battle for the best day of my life while my future husband wasn't even fighting. It was as if Gerion was so certain he couldn't control his life that he didn't try.

I decided to take the matter in my own hands and follow Gerion's advices : to have a good, long and angry talk with Lord Tywin Lannister, Warden of the West, Shield of Lannisport, Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. And just to be sure I wouldn't cower, I did it after a long and frustrating talk with Gerion.

I met Tywin in his solar. He was in a good mood but, unfortunately, started the conversation with the worse subject he could have chosen : by telling me my wedding preparation were going well.

"I'm very happy to hear it," I said, a bit sourly. "But I would be happier if I had been, actually, involved in the preparations."

"You are involved. I had you note regarding the feast and it was approved."

"Don't you find it a bit shocking that my sole participation is planning the dishes?"

He looked puzzled at my outburst. It was a slight, hard to discern expression. Tywin was so used to guard every thought that even with his own family, he never showed what he felt. It probably explained why he didn't rebuff me immediately.

"Your sole participation? Is someone else actually planning to dress you and your sisters?"

"Oh, please. We both know my dress is a secondary issue. I was talking about the guests. The date. Where it's going to be held. And by the way, I would find it quite distasteful if the Rains of Castamere were to be played during the evening."

He sighed. I felt like a little girl throwing a tantrum.

"Fine. What do you want?"

"I think my wedding should be held in Fairkeep."

This time, surprise was written all over his face. Any other man would have laughed. He didn't. Tywin Lannister never did.

"Impossible."

"If we did it in Fairkeep, people wouldn't believe the Lannisters are taking over my lands."

"Fairkeep cannot accommodate all the guests I'm planning to invite. And no, don't tell me you want a private wedding. I will not marry my youngest brother without the honors he deserves. Furthermore, the Lannister are taking over your lands. I though you of all people had enough lucidity to understand what was happening."

I did. But he didn't have to phrase it this way. I also didn't want to get married in Fairkeep which, compared to the Rock, was as grand as a pigsty. I felt loyalty should make me want to stage my wedding where I would rule, but the truth was that the superficial part of me wanted to walk down the aisle of the gilded septuary of Lannisport.

"Gerion doesn't want a grand wedding, you know."

"I don't care about what he believes he wants", Tywin said. He was running out of patience and, while he was usually more patient with me, he still had a fairly short amount of it. "Gerion never knew what his family needs him to do. He doesn't even know what is good for him or how to take decisions."

"And whose fault is that?" I mustered all my courage to look him in the eyes. "You are the one who always say children's faults are mostly their parent's failures."

"My mother died one year after Gerion's birth and my father never raised him. They didn't..."

"I wasn't talking about them," I said, cutting him in a very uncourtuous, un-lady-like way. "I was talking about you. You are the one who raised Gerion. It's your fault if he behaves like a thirty years old child."

He opened his mouth. Then closed it. Then he opened it again, and closed it for good. Some people would feel proud: it wasn't often that Tywin Lannister was at loss of words. I didn't. I was waiting for him to explode. I thought he was going to but, after he few seconds, he seemed to deflate.

"I really fail to understand what you're trying to tell me."

I blinked. Of all answers, getting this one from Tywin was... distressing. Was it a plot? Was he trying to trap me by making me say things dire enough to cancel the wedding? Or worse? He was the most intelligent man I ever met. He was able to hold his own in most subjects against Maester Joris. Jon Arryn was the only politician who seemed to be able to handle Tywin. For Gods sake, he had been able to assist a surgeon for a cesarean operation, and the girl had survived! How could he flatly declare that he "failed to understand"?

"Well, err," I stuttered. "You are aware that Gerion is, well, very immature for his age, aren't you?"

"Gerion is very impulsive. Immature is not the word I would use."

And now, who is deluding himself?

"I know he is your favorite, but..."

"He isn't my favorite. Why does everyone seem to believe he is?" Tywin asked, genially puzzled. It made him look younger, though the owl-like tilt of his head was a bit disturbing.

"If Tygett or Kevan insulted you, would you let them? Gerion hit you once, and he was never punished for this. You would never tolerate this from any other man."

"I still fail to see what you are trying to tell me."

"What I'm trying to... err, well, I..." The truth was: I wasn't sure myself. "Perhaps you should let Gerion grow up. Make his own decisions. You know, leave the nest."

By the look on Tywin's face, he truly didn't know. Now that I thought of it, none of his siblings had actually managed to escape him. Genna was the most independent, and Tygett certainly tried. But at the end, all of them lived in his shadow. I remembered how even Queen Cersei cowered in front of him. It struck me that, perhaps, Tywin himself wasn't even able to let them go, that the possibility didn't exist in his mind.

"Maybe you are over protecting him," I said, trying to find another angle. "He knows that whatever he does, at the end, his oldest brother is always going to repair the damages."

"I see."

"Perhaps you could… involve Gerion, a bit more, in the wedding preparations?"

"I will. I will also think about that… favoritism. Is that all you wanted to say?"

I couldn't believe it was so easy. I nodded, still unsure about what would follow.

Tywin's revenges were worse when served cold, after all.