12th Month of 299 A.C. King's Landing
Lord Tywin Lannister
Tywin Lannister could not help wondering if there was something more to the news coming in from the north and the riverlands. To him it seemed all too co-ordinated for a region that had lost its king and had no sovereign to rule over it. Oh the throne had the north for now, but whoever came into power in the void that Bolton's death had created, well that would most certainly be interesting. Tywin was not sure if he would be able to handle that though, since the Dornish had come, something within him had been acting up, his insides were not safe anymore. He needed to secure everything before death greeted him. That was why he had summoned his brother here, to discuss the realm.
"Bolton's bastard sent word once more asking for more men to aid him. It seems thee Freys who came north were not seen past the neck. The cranongmen it appears have seen to them, as they were wont to do." Tywin says matter of factly.
"That is good is it not, for it means that Bolton's bastard is now more dependent on you for aid." His brother Kevan replies.
"Indeed it does. And yet the thought of Bolton's bastard sitting within Winterfell does something to my sensibilities. No, the sooner we can see him ended the better it will be. Karstark has sent word asking for permission to fight for Lady Arya Stark, and of course one would be smart to grant it." Tywin replies.
"Karstark, do they not have some claim to Winterfell?" his brother asks.
"It is tenuous at best. And regardless the northmen would never fight for someone not related to Eddard Stark. His daughter allows for this to happen, and of course, the girl sent forward to play Arya Stark will never live past her wedding to the bastard. Nor will the bastard should all go to plan." Tywin responds.
"Do you not think the Karstarks will look askance at this? Especially considering the rumours circulating about the lady Sansa?" his brother asks.
"Those rumours mean nothing. Especially if Tyrion does not have the mind to see the job done, I shall see to it myself." Tywin says.
His brother looks at him surprised. "You would do that brother? I thought you would have no other but Joanna?"
Tywin knows his brother is merely asking a question, but he can feel his nerves fraying now. "I will do what is necessary to ensure the north belongs to us. If my son cannot do his duty, then it must as always fall to me to do it. I will not allow such an opportunity to go to waste."
"There is always Prince Tommen, brother." His brother says. "He is young and is said to be friends with Lady Sansa. Should Tyrion prove to be unwilling, I am sure Prince Tommen would be more so."
"Tommen will serve another purpose. There will come a time when the Rock will need an heir that is his purpose. Unless Joffrey proves to be a greater fool than his father." Tywin replies curtly.
"Seeing the way the king is acting, I think that might well come to pass brother." Kevan says. "Of course the Tyrells will want their daughter married to him in that instance."
"The Tyrells will take what we give them. They owe the fact that their heads are not on spikes to my patience. Mace Tyrell is a bumbling fool with no thought of the game. It is his mother who worries me more. And she is not taking well." Tywin replies.
Kevan looks at him a long moment, and Tywin knows his brother is debating saying something, but thinks better of it, and instead turns his attention to another matter. "Genna has written from Riverrun asking for you to intercede on her behalf. She claims she was misled."
"Genna always claims she has been misled. What happened at Riverrun was most unfortunate, but it had to happen. We cannot be associated with the Freys, not after what they did at Edmure Tully's wedding. And I did say in Joffrey's name that the Tullys would get their revenge." Tywin says.
"You do not think it is a bit suspicious that they were attacked and their men killed when the surrender was to happen, and yet Daven was not taken prisoner?" Kevan asks.
"Daven was not taken prisoner, because whoever organised this attack, knew that he held more value alive and free than as a hostage. That is the only way they could ensure that whatever message it was they are trying to get across, reached my ears." Tywin says.
"And message do you think that is brother?" Kevan asks, a hint of fear in his voice.
"That they were not done, whoever this is, and they know some things we would rather they did not, and the time for discussion is coming." Tywin says, his voice calm, despite how nervous he feels.
"Do you think it could be the Starks?" his brother asks. "After all we know that there is something going on the Twins, Black Walder would not be coming to the capital if there was not."
"The Starks are dead. Whether this is someone acting for the bastard I do not know. All I know is that the bastard must be brought before us before we can ensure the safety of Lady Sansa's travel with a Lannister escort." Tywin responds.
His brother looks at him a moment and then responds. "Is the bastard truly that much of a threat brother? He swore vows to the watch, he cannot go anywhere without his brothers trying to kill him. Thorne would make sure of that."
Tywin considers this a moment and then says. "So long as the bastard lives, he remains a focal point for dissension to Tyrion's rule in the north. I cannot and will not allow that. He must die before they can go north."
Tyrion Lannister
Ah it felt good to be out in the open, away from the toxic atmosphere of Maegor's Holdfast. Away and standing, remaining true and tall, well not tall so much as true. Tyrion had not felt so happy in a long time, not since Tysha and the secret he had learned there and then. But it would not do, to think on that now. No, Tyrion was more content to spend the time with his nephew, and his wife. Looking at them, he wished he could find someone to care for him as much as Sansa clearly cared for Tommen.
"Well my prince, pray tell me what wonders you have discovered in your lessons." Tyrion says looking intently at his nephew.
Tommen, unlike Joffrey, has always been happy to share, and so he says. "I learned about Daeron the Good today. About how he brought Dorne into the realm peacefully, something that his father, and cousin could not do. And I learned about the heavy price he paid."
"A heavy price indeed. He saw his brother die fighting and one of them lived in exile. And yet he gained something more precious from his marriage to Dorne. He gained a wife he loved, and children he cherished." Tyrion says, looking and seeing the look passing between his nephew and wife. He feels nothing but pity for them.
"Aye, he was a good king. But his methods were sometimes lacking. He preferred words to force, and during the time he lived, that might not have always been the smartest thing to do." His nephew says.
"And what would you have done during his reign nephew? He had troubles true enough, but he was smart enough to realise when perhaps a hard word was better than shoving a sword down someone's throat." Tyrion says.
"Words are no good without showing you mean to force the issue. King Daeron never did that, and he suffered a Blackfyre rebellion for it. And his heir died because of his leniency toward his mad grandson." His nephew says.
Tyrion looks at his nephew, truly looks at him, and sees the way his nephew's eyes continuously dart toward Sansa, Tyrion knows he should feel some sort of jealousy, but all he wants is to go to the High Septon and ask for their marriage to be annulled. Instead he merely says. "It is not always easy to go against family, even when you know they are wrong. If it were easy, Joffrey would not get away with as much as he does."
His wife gasps then. "You cannot say such a thing out loud, Tyrion. If the eunuch were to hear you, there would be trouble."
Tyrion takes a deep sip of wine and then turns to his wife and says. "What of it? The eunuch will not do anything about this if he knows of it. Why, who do you think it is who has been spreading rumours about the king? The spider of course."
"The Spider has spreading those vile lies about Joffrey?" Tommen asks. "But why, how do you know this, and how have you not gone before the council to discuss them?"
"He does it because it suits whatever it is he wants. And I have not gone before the council, because I am not like to be believed. I have reason enough to despise Joffrey, for him to accuse me of working with the damned eunuch. No, I have mentioned them to you, because the council will believe you more than me." He pauses then. "That is of course if you want to go before the council."
He sees his nephew hesitate then. "Ah, you still hold a fear of what your grandfather will say. Come now Tommen, you cannot fear him so. He is just a man, and you did better on the council than anyone else, when I was hand."
"But that's the thing though, Joffrey attends council more, now that grandfather is here. And what's there to say he would not do to me as he wants done to you?" Tommen asks.
"Surely Joffrey is not as rash as that? To go after his own family? That would only make the Tyrells smell blood. For one thing, I know Margaery would jump at the chance to spread discord." Sansa says, surprising them all including herself with her observation.
"What makes you think that?" Tyrion asks.
His wife is silent a moment and then she replies. "They are playing a game, the Tyrells. They always have been. The way her brothers and family courted the people before she came here, the way she visits the sick and the needy. It is all a game, designed to win the people. Joffrey never does that, he is foolish enough to believe that his own name will allow him the people's love. Queen Cersei is much like that as well." His wife pauses then, and turns her attention to Tommen. "You aren't like that Tommen. You know the value of people, you are kind, and caring. Joffrey would be a fool to go for you."
Tyrion smiles at the way his nephew blushes and says. "Why my lady, I did not know you were so observant. Tell me, what more do you know about the court?"
His wife is hesitant then, but she proceeds when Tommen smiles at her, Tyrion feels a lurch and then the beginnings of a plan forming. "I know that there are factions developing. It seems the Tyrells are trying to win the nobles over to their cause, and some are going willingly. The lords of the Crownlands remain resistant, but not for too long."
"And what makes you say that?" Tyrion asks interested.
"They have always been loyal to the dragons, but have resented Tyrell influence. They were loyal to Robert because of who he was, but Joffrey, Joffrey inspires nothing but fear." Sansa says.
"And a monarch who inspires fear, is no good whatsoever, when it comes down to it." Tommen says sagely.
Tyrion claps his hands then. "Excellent, truly excellent." Now if only this wedding could come sooner.