1st Month of 300 A.C. King's Landing
Lord Tywin Lannister
Joffrey was dead, and for that Tywin was more than willing to thank the gods he no longer believed existed. The boy had been a complete terror, a monster no doubt from the polluted blood within his system. The blood of a fire house that had once been powerful and dominant. The blood that had given Tywin his greatness, but had turned his grandson into a monster. There was hope yet for his legacy, after all, Tommen was now king, and the boy sat before him seemed to have more sense than his father, his mother and brother combined, something that whilst not difficult was a damned sight welcome after the difficulties of Joffrey.
"So tell me Your Grace, what have you managed to learn from the Stark girl?" Tywin asks his grandson.
Tommen, the king, who looks much like Jaime did in his youth, and yet holds himself like Robert Baratheon, replies. "She told me where that hair net of hers came from. Ser Dontos Hollard, the drunkard who served as Joffrey's fool. The fool has been missing for some time. I do believe we might have some way to make the Tyrells take the fall for this."
Tywin looks at his grandson and responds. "Hollard was working for Baelish that much I have been able to find out. But do go on, how would you have us pin the blame on the Tyrells?"
His grandson takes a moment before he replies. "It is simple really, it was Baelish who went to negotiate with them after Renly's death. It was Baelish who spoke with them about the terms, and from speaking with Sansa, it was Hollard who warned her against the Tyrells, though where else might he have gotten such a thing other than from Baelish. But yes, the Tyrells have taken far too much of an interest in Sansa for things not to be intriguing."
"The Tyrells wanted Lady Sansa merely for her claim to Winterfell, and as such wanted nothing more from her. I do believe that is obvious from what we saw during the trial, considering how willing they were to believe the nonsense that Cersei had her witnesses come forward with." Tywin says.
"And yet Sansa continues to believe the best of Margaery. I do not understand why." his grandson complains.
"Lady Sansa wishes to believe the best of Margaery Tyrell, because the girl offered her the hand of friendship when none else here would do so. That was foolish of Cersei, to prevent her other female company, perhaps if that had been done, she would not have been so willing to run." Tywin responds, looking at his grandson and seeing the small flash of anger there. "To run from one such as you Your Grace, there must have been much and more that was being offered."
Tywin feels his lips twitch at the sight of his grandson puffing himself up. "Sansa was being guided by evil forces grandfather. Whatever was to happen did not happen, and therefore she is not guilty of anything there. I would rather see the Tyrells brought down."
Tywin merely nods. "Of course Your Grace. I was not suggesting otherwise. Though to find more suitable evidence to bring down the Tyrells we shall need more than just the word of Sansa Stark and a few handmaidens. Furthermore, your marriage must needs be discussed. The Tyrell alliance was subject to Margaery Tyrell marrying your brother. Your brother is now dead, and as such you are expected to fulfil his contract."
Tywin sees his grandson stiffen then. "I will not marry the girl. For all we know she is plotting to have me killed as well. No, I will not allow that to happen."
Tywin sighs slightly then. "And what would you do then Your Grace? The Tyrells are far too powerful to alienate. We must give them something else then."
His grandson is silent a moment and then responds. "We do not need to give them a royal marriage. Already they have more power on the small council then the Starks did when Eddard Stark was alive. No, it is time we looked to others within their kingdom, and sought to use the traditional rivalries there to bring them within our grasp."
Tywin feels something akin to pride flow through him at his grandson's words. "There are many different elements that make up the Tyrells power base all of whom are divided within themselves over different aims. What would you suggest Your Grace?"
"Randyll Tarly." his grandson responds and Tywin feels his interest perk up. "The man is one of the greatest commanders within Westeros and yet his liege lord is a buffoon who cannot fight to save his life. Why does such a man continue to serve Mace Tyrell? It is something I have never understood, especially considering what he made his own son do. There is some other reasoning behind what Tarly is doing, and I do believe if we offer him Highgarden or the Lord Paramountship he would certainly be willing to consider it."
"You would need to show your strength. Joffrey did not have to face such a challenge, but you, you are younger and must therefore take the initiative." Tywin states.
"I plan on doing so grandfather." his grandson responds. "I mean to ensure any support for Stannis Baratheon within the crownlands and elsewhere is destroyed, and furthermore I mean to see what is happening within the riverlands."
Tywin considers this a moment and then says. "All good and well, but Tarly will need for you to demonstrate some show of strength to him in person before he ever considers turning on his liege lord."
His grandson is silent for a long time then, and as the silence stretches on, Tywin wonders if his hope in the boy might have been misplaced, the child is only three and ten namedays old, and yet he demonstrates the same smartness that Tywin remembers his cousin Damon showing. Eventually the boy says. "I know just what Tarly will want, and I intend to give that to him."
"And what is that Your Grace?" Tywin asks.
"A chance to show his liege lord just who he is. A chance to earn his own rightful place in the world." the king states.
Maidenpool
Lord Randyll Tarly
Maidenpool was an infested shit hole. That much Randyll had always known, the city was one of those places that tried too hard to be like King's Landing and failed miserably because of it. Randyll had known Lord Mooton's father, and had respected the man, but Lord Walys was a fool, not someone to be respected or feared, merely angry with. That his own daughter had contributed to his downfall said something, the girl had been hung of course, Randyll would not allow traitors to continue living let alone be allowed to marry his son and heir. Dickon was developing into a strong young man, and a capable knight at that, and then there were his girls, he would need to find suitable husbands for them in due course. There was a never ending list of things for him to do considering the fool that was his liege lord.
Mace Tyrell, a buffoon if ever there was one, and yet the man was his liege lord. The man was a pale image of the father, and as such Randyll found himself wondering what Luthor had been thinking when he had gone hunting that fateful day. Alas, it did no good to dwell on the past, for there were more pressing matters that needed to be taken care of. Looking at the men before him, Randyll speaks. "Tell me, what word has there been from Riverrun? Has Lord Edmure raised those men he needs to deal with the last of those damned vagabonds?"
A moment's silence and then Ser Edmund Rivers speaks. "It seems he has my lord. Lord Edmure has taken some five hundred men at arms with him to pursue the Brotherhood and Lord Beric, and it seems he is confident of finding them."
Randyll merely nods. "Very well, let the Lord of Riverrun deal with those causing trouble within his lands. But should he show even one bit of inclination in turning his cloak I shall send men to burn him to a mere splint of what he is. Now what more word is there?"
His captain Ser Garth Osgrey speaks. "Well, my lord, it seems that Lord Mace is beginning to prepare for the demonstrations that might well come from King Tommen's refusal to marry Lady Margaery. It seems our liege lord is determined to bring about the marriage one way or another. And from what I have seen, it seems he might even threaten to bring about the withdrawal of troops from the capital."
Randyll looks at the man and snorts. "Mace making any sort of definitive choice is something that one must take with a grain of salt. No doubt he talks as if he will do these things, but I truly doubt he will. He wants his daughter to be queen to desperately to risk doing anything that might jeopardize that. Besides, it does not seem as if this king is anything like his brother. King Tommen will not allow for anyone questioning his decisions, but unlike his brother, he will allow Mace to fall on his own sword." he pauses a moment and then looks at Garth and asks. "You still have the babe?"
Osgrey nods. "I do my lord. Lady Margaery's child is safe and secure."
"Good, ensure that the child is within reach should Mace make any sudden movements. And send word to the hand that we have something he might want should Mace begin acting out of the agreement." Randyll responds.
"Of course my lord." Garth says, before Randyll dismisses him and Rivers, leaving him alone with his son.
"Why did you allow Garth to leave so readily father?" his son asks.
"Because there are some things that one should not speak of in front of a servant. That is what Garth is. I might have known him since we were both boys, but he works for me, he is not my equal nor shall he be my equal. I mean to speak to you of the king and what it would mean for our family if you were to become friendly with him." Randyll says.
His son is silent a moment before responding. "And what if the king does not take a liking to me? He does not seem at all like his brother, and King Joffrey was easy to please and get to know."
"Then you must approach it from a different angle. King Tommen, is not the beast his brother was. But he is a boy all the same, and he likes certain things, you must get to know what those things are, and then when you do, use them." Randyll says.
His son looks thoughtful for a moment before he replies. "Well I know he likes the Lady Sansa. And I know he likes reading, but other than that I can think of nothing else that might be of use."
Randyll sighs internally, though Dickon is a good warrior and a good heir, he has not a mind for scheming, not like the other boy did. Still, better Dickon than that fat oaf. He takes a breath and then says. "I know the king likes to ride, Dickon, you must think beyond the mere basics of what you know. You must find out specific details, and use them to your advantage."
His son looks at him and asks. "Why though? If things truly are going the way you seem to think they are, are we not destined to fall as far as the Tyrells? We are linked with them, and as such might as well suffer their fate."
Randyll looks at his son for a long moment then, considering all he has taught the lad, and all that it took before he finally got the heir he always wanted. The more he thinks about it, the more he wonders if he was perhaps a bit too harsh on the other boy, perhaps if he had been more patient, in the way his father was with him, the boy could have developed and Dickon could have aided him. Taking another breath, Randyll picks up a letter with the king's stamp on it, and says. "Because the throne knows how to reward those loyal to it."