Chapter 13. Unpleasant News

Part 1. Politics

King's Landing Tower of the Hand

Tywin stood over his desk with a letter from his brother Kevan. "Hornvale, Golden Tooth, Ashemark, the Crag, Kayce, Casterly Rock, Lannisport, and Clegane's Keep…" He said whispering to himself. He had called a meeting of the small council, but first he had to deal with Olenna Tyrell.

"Milord Lady Olenna to see you…"

He put away the letter, "Show her in…"

"Lord Hand…We meet again…"

"Please have a seat…Would you like some wine?" He asks pouring a glass.

"No thank you…" She watches him with calculating eyes as he takes a seat with his goblet, "So the last time we were here we were discussing Sansa Stark…Any idea who took the young lady?"

He smiles, "I asked you here to address the rumors that you are calling off the wedding…"

Olenna returns his smile, "There are rumors flying all over the capital Lord Hand. How about the one about the Young Wolf who has almost 100,000 men at his back…Or the one about the Knights of the Vale fighting in this war… Casterly Rock has been burnt to the ground …Here is one I found most interesting…The Iron Bank has loaned Stannis Baratheon enough gold to buy an army with…50,000 strong…"

Tywin sighs, "Is that why you have called off the wedding?"

"If our roles were reversed wouldn't you call it off…"

"We have an agreement…if House Tyrell calls its banners and the Martells fights with us they can be defeated…"

She grunts, "If…If the world was built on ifs no one would go hungry…Men would be faithful to their wives and everyone would be of noble birth…If holds no power in the Game of Thrones…The Young Wolf has beaten you thrice on the battlefield…Now he has army to avenge his father and anyone else who gets in his way…"

"I have a plan!" Tywin says interrupting, "But I need your help!"

She sighs, "And what is this plan…"

"I'm not willing to say yet…The Wolf has ears even here in the capital…But remember how Stannis was…held off…"

She sighs, "Okay Lord Tywin…If you can convince the Martells to fight beside us and If you defeat the Young Wolf in battle…Then yes I allow my granddaughter to marry your grandson…"

Tywin stands up, "Thank you dear lady…Now if you will excuse me I have a meeting to attend…" When Tywin arrives Joffrey, Verys, Mance Tyrell, Cersei, Tyrion, and Maester Pycel are all waiting. "Go ahead Lord Verys…"

"It took much digging on my part…But I finally learned who took Lady Sansa Stark from the Capital…His name is Justin Stark – The Black Wolf of the East…He is the only son of Benjen Stark…His mother died giving birth to him…Lord Benjen Stark joined the Night's Watch after his wife died…Justin grew up at Winterfell until he was 13. He ran away after confronting his father at the wall. Justin grew up on the streets of Braavos stealing to survive…Eventually a noble sword master of Braavos took him in…He befriended a young man by the name of Victor Brice…Together they built an army…Justin has fought and defeated the Dothraki in open combat…He has never lost a battle in the East and is referred to as the Black Wolf of the East…It was Justin Stark who took Sansa…"

"I should have placed her in the dungeon with her treacherous father…" Cersei says speaking up. "From here they sailed to White Harbor…In White Harbor the Black Wolf awaited for the arrival of his ally and friend…An army of 60,000 men was divided into two forces...

20,000 troops were placed under the command of this Victor Brace. He has captured Yara Greyjoy and driven the Iron Born out of the North…While marching to his cousin Justin meets with the Karstarks…Richard Karstark the current head of House Karstark has married Sansa Stark and renewed his oath to the Starks…Justin has attacked the Twins…"

"Why?" Joffrey asks.

"I convinced Walder Frey to fight for us…" Tywin says speaking up.

"Yes it was Justin Stark who convinced Robb Stark to attack the Twins…Petyr Baelish is dead and Lysa Tully has been placed under house arrest…the Blackfish has been made Regent of the Eyrie…Robb Stark has taken Golden Tooth, Hornvale, Ashemark, the Crag, Kayce, Lannisport, and Casterly Rock…Lord Kevin is massing a force at Cornfield…"

"What about the Starks?" Cersei asks.

"They have returned to Ashemark…"

As Verys sat down Joffrey looks at everyone at the table before speaking, "We should have all our troops come to the capital and if those shits attacks us we can do to them what we did to Stannis…"

Tyrion grunts, "Tell me nephew…Do you really think the Starks would fall for the same trick…No they will wait for us to come to them…Robb has numbers now…"

"So we have the Tyrells and the Martells…"

Tywin looks at Mance who squirms in his seat, "The Tyrells will only fight if I can convince the Martells to fight with us…"

"And why shouldn't they?" Joffrey demands, "I am betrothed to Lady Tyrell…"

Mance clears his throat, but it is Tywin who speaks, "The wedding has been called off for the time being…"

Joffrey looks at Mance, "Your family will honor the marriage or I ill strip you of titles and give High Gardens to someone more worthy…"

Tywin stands up, "That will not be necessary your grace…I have a plan…But first I must speak with Prince Oberyn when he arrives…"

Verys clears his throat, "Prince Oberyn has been in the capital for the past three days…"

"Why am I only hearing this now?" Verys hesitates searching for an answer, "Never mind! Where is he?"

"The brothal milord…"

Part 2. Prince Oberyn

Prince Oberyn was at the brothel that once belonged to Petyr Baelish. It now belonged to Tyrion Lannister through another name. Oberyn was with his lover or Paramour wife Ellaria Sand. The two of them were having a private orgy with two other women and a man when Tywin Lannister burst in. Oberyn sits up. "Lord Tywin! Please come in…"

He sneers at what he sees, "Prince Oberyn I need to speak with you…in private!"

"Are you sure you don't want to join us?" Ellaria asks, "A big strapping man such as yourself…"

He looks at her trying to keep his composure, "No thank you…My business is urgent…"

Oberyn sighs, "Everything is urgent these days…No one has time for the pleasures of life…" He slaps the man on his ass, "Leave us…" The women and the man make a hasty exit.

Tywin looks at Ellaria, "I said I would like to speak with you alone…"

"Speak! Ellaria is my wife in all things but marriage…" He stands up to pour some wine, "Would you like some?"

"I would like it if you put some clothes on…"

Oberyn takes the robe and covers himself, "so what can I do for you Lord hand?"

Tywin takes a seat on the chair, "Robb Stark's cousin Justin Stark has returned and he has brought with him 60,000 swords…"

"Ah the Black Wolf of the East…I have heard this…"

"Then I need your family to summon all its banners and march with us…"

He takes a grape and eats it, "Why should my family risk the lives of our people to fight a war your grandson started?"

He sighs, "For one your nephew is betrothed to my granddaughter…"

"They are not married yet! We could return her and seek a more worthy alliance…"

"I have a plan…that will ensure victory…"

"Let me guess…You plan to take wildfire onto the battlefield…" Tywin squirms, "If I figured this out why wouldn't the Starks?" Tywin just stares at him, "I came to King's Landing for a wedding…I get here and there isn't going to be one…and you ask me for my help…You have lost three times against the Young Wolf and he has taken half the Westerlands…I think it is time to sue for peace…"

"Would you at least ask your father?"

Oberyn sighs, "I will ask…but you may not like the answer…"

Tywin thanks him and returns to the Red Keep. Five days later Prince Oberyn comes to see him. "My father is willing to summon his banners only if I or someone else leads our forces…He has no confidence in your ability to defeat the Starks…Also if we lose this battle I am to withdraw my forces…"

Tywin weighs the implications in his head, he has no choice, "Tell your father I agree…"

Just then a Lannister soldier bursts in, "Begging your pardon milord…Your son Jaime has been found…"

"JAIME!"