17. WHO SHE REALLY IS
-It must sting. -Genna said, sipping some wine and enjoying herself with her brother's misery.
-What do you mean?
-You have just lost on your own game.
-I do not feel like a loser.
-She has you twisted around her little finger, and I am sure you expected it to be the other way around.
-We are both equally twisted, and I managed to avoid the crisis.
-There was never a crisis. -Genna frowned, surprised that he missed such a massive clue on Catelyn's actions- This conversation you have shared with me, brother... This was not you saving the engagement. The engagement was never at risk. This was you being made to apologize for your mistakes.
-I do not see it this way. She was also in some trouble, considering that I would have the right to break the engagement if the rumours about her maidenhood proved to be truth.
-You would be right, if you hadn't come here. -Genna almost laughed- You should have seen the difference on her behaviour from when her father told her about the Stark boy's rumours, and when we made Enya tell her you were on your way. It was night and day. She barely left her chambers for a week, until she heard of you coming.
Tywin's stunned silence extracted a giggle of his sister.
-Besides, she knew there was never any merit to said rumours, so any advantage you believed you had was void. She made you apologize for being cruel and distant, and she humbled you with her intact honour.
-She was willing to provide me with proof of maidenhood, afraid of losing me. –granted her methods were unusual.
-She had already placed you on her tower, before the conversation even started. She would have not done that in any scenario where you two would not be together anymore. You think you had any angle here, but you did not. She was secure you wouldn't hold anything of weight against her, and she knew that you were in the wrong. You two had made sure to stablish closeness and you, all by yourself, decided to undo it.
Tywin was so caught up in the moment, that he missed that. She had expected him with his chambers ready a flight of stairs away from her, a meal to be served and a warm bath.
-I will tell you all about your little bride while you were away and then you may understand her better...
Genna was resting on a chase, a glass of wine on her hands, dressed in full Lannister red and with her hair looking so pristine, like brushed gold, Tywin wondered how women manage to do that.
-For an entire moon, maybe more, she was just a girl planning her wedding... She sewed her entire wedding dress in less than a moon, and besides Enya, no one knows how it looks like. She was, in the truest sense of the word, the Lady of Riverrun, but she was also a giggly bride. When the wedding had to be postponed, she solved it in about ten minutes. By the next day from when your letter arrived, she had written, sealed and sent the cancellations, and at the same time, in the same paper, she was calling men to arms to go and support you. You. Remember, at the time, the West was the only realm to be affected. And at that moment, gathering you support was more important to her than a wedding.
Tywin didn't know what Genna was trying to convey with all that, but he was enjoying her account of the crisis. He also had no idea she was the one calling the bannermen. It was never a matter of having the Riverlands coming to aid in the West, as this Rebellion was more of an offence to Robert's rule, through Cersei, than to Tywin himself.
-When Catelyn cries, everyone knows. She is a ginger, it remains all over her face. That day, she cried, and Enya was the only one allowed near her, but she only cried once. She cried for you. Not for a wedding, but for her man that she did not know when she was going to see again. I honestly do not know how you two managed to be that tight in such a small amount of time, but there it goes!
Genna sipped her wine for a moment, allowing Tywin to reflect on her words. And then he understood why Catelyn didn't agonize for the wedding, or shared the same frustration he did when forced to turn back from Ashmark. When he left vows of fidelity and devotion had been made between them, intimately, no need for witnesses. After all, that was not a wedding for strengthening bonds between Houses. She took his words to heart, she trusted and believed him, like he asked her to. And even though the formality of a wedding would happen eventually, for them, that was all it was. A formality.
-However she decided to be strong, because at that moment, that was what we all needed. You included. –Genna resumed her account- I was in shambles, our house had being attacked! Saera was scared, Gerion was still enjoying his first weeks as a married man and would have to run into battle, Emmon wasn't with me... My twins in Lannisport at the time, I thought I would lose my mind. But Cat held our spirits up.
Genna's twins, a pair of young identical boys, were both training in the West to become Knights. They were only two and ten, and from all Tywin's nephews, they were his favourites. Walden and Tyrek were like the same person split in two, and their focus on their training made them as committed to it as Jaime had being in the past. They refused to go to their brother's wedding, and also refused to go to their uncle's as well. What they didn't refuse was to join the archers in the defence of Lannisport during the troubles, where both of them seemed to thrive, even with Tywin explicitly forbidding it.
-When Maeryan arrived with Janei, she was received like royalty. Catelyn made sure to bond with her, knowing that the connexion between them was very valuable. She learned from me and Maeryan all she could about the West and about what expected her there. Janei calls her aunt. Saera worships her, even more now that she worked out for herself that she is being trained to rule with Edmure. So more than just affection, my little girl already feels a great deal of gratitude towards her, for guaranteeing she will marry into one of the Seven Great Houses. But even more, marrying the boy she is enchanted with and not a stranger from a land far away.
-You shan't worry about Cersei. –he quickly added.
-Of course I worry about Cersei. She hasn't answered my letters. She certainly believes I have betrayed her by supporting this marriage. I understand she is my Queen, but you are my brother.
-As I said. –he reiterated- Saera's fostering and engagement is already ratified by Robert. Emmon made sure to do it.
-Yes, I am glad he did that. I was so worried about her safety…
-Well, is not like Cersei would hurt her cousin.
The look of incredulity on Genna's face took Tywin aback.
-Ask Catelyn. –she suggested- Ask her why Cersei is not to be trusted.
-What would Catelyn know?
-I am not sure. I wasn't made privy. It involves Meister Hoth.
-A threat? –Tywin asked, a raised eyebrow.
-Ask her. I honestly don't know.
-You were telling me about my bride. –he changed subject, uncomfortable with the thought of his daughter threatening people he cared for.
-Very well… -Genna took a deep breath, aware of her brother's denial in relation to his daughter, and her twin for all those rumours were worth- All of that was happening, while you were all in peril and we kept losing. When Seagard was attacked, the Mallister women lost their minds. But she could not do the same. Eddard Stark arrived with news, and Cat's first action was to leave the Lord Warden of the North by the gates, and run to comfort her friend. And I promise you with all my heart... They are like us. Like the three of us, you, Kevan and I. Yes, as your soldier spy told you, they hugged in the gates, and they sat under Enya's son's tree. They talked. But Edmure and Saera were there the entire time, as well as the Lannister guards, who, by the way, are the guard she uses now. Not her father's. Yours. That night, she invited Saera to sleep with her, as Enya sometimes does. To not allow anything to ever be suggested.
-Today her guard was Tully.
-Today she was making a point. Because you deserved every second of headache she gave you during that talk. Learn something with the past: you do not own your wife, you love her.
He didn't believe he had a sense of ownership over Catelyn, but he could understand why his silent obsession over her maidenhood was giving away the idea.
-Jo was amazing and we loved her dearly. But Catelyn is formidable on her own right. And you should not expect a lady who will bend to your wishes, who will lay down and take your temper like a beating. She will bite back, she will tell you what is on her mind. She will honour you over anything, but herself. Treat her like an equal, talk to her, ask her, and open the dialogue. Don't disrespect her by making hearsay be more important than who she is. And for the love of the Seven! Do not spy on your wife!
-It was not a matter of spying on her, but being informed.
-Right. -Genna rolled her eyes- The sooner you admit to your shortcomings, the quicker you can fix them. Just be aware, she will not take too well to being spied on.
-I had expected this entire time for you to be on my side, sister. But I see that my bride has you twisted around her little finger as well.
-I am relaying you the facts. I was unsure about her, yes. But that was at the beginning. She is much more committed to you than you seem to be with her. And that was the grounds for my reluctance: if she would honour the Lannister name as I expected. She will struggle with Casterly Rock's ostentatious luxury, but if that is the worst I can think on mentioning, I trust her to be a great ruler by your side.
Genna sipped her wine and seemed to reflect for a moment. Tywin wondered if she was avoiding her husband by spending so long with him. Gods knew that they could not expect to see Kevan or Maeryan for the rest of the day.
-She lost her mind when her horse died, and I thought it was an exaggerated response, but there's a lot more to that than what meets the eye. -she continued- First of all, she was suppressing her emotions for moons. The fight with Lysa was actually horrific. The horse was nearly decapitated and there was so much blood...
-Catelyn does not deal well with violent events.
-No wonder why! Everything Catelyn had inside, it came out when the horse she nursed back to life, less than a year after her mother had died, was brutally taken from her. And to make it all better, you disappeared. Not interested. Brooding away. Grieving a maidenhood that was never meant to be yours anyway... So yes, brother. She is not well. She might be better now, but she hasn't been well for a while.
-I imagine that finding herself back at managing a crisis in time of conflict, must have brought to the surface the memories she might have tried to supress from the war.
-How interesting it is that someone so strong and capable can also be so fragile?
-I believe is my job now to make sure she finds comfort when her fragility overcomes the strength. And protect her.
-Indeed. -Genna agreed- Now, I must find my husband. -she stood up and realigned her dress- The poor man needed some rest. I'll see you at dinner, my dear.
And with that, she left after kissing her brother on his face. Catelyn came for him when it was time for supper. He could tell that her hair was still slightly wet from her bath, and she was wearing a green dress that looked more comfortable than her usual garments, made of cotton and not corseted.
-You brought your Steward with you. -she said, back on his embrace- The one you mentioned as a prospect to Enya.
-Yes.
-I see. And is he still unaware of your ideas to remarry him to her?
-Of course.
-Oh... -she giggled- She will torture the poor man.
-I wouldn't expect any less from her.
-I can say that she likes him.
-He is a very likeable character. And even men say he is good looking.
-He is. -she agreed- And that was not lost on Enya.
Rowan Westerling had a well chiselled face, very angular and masculine. His beard was used in a very close shave, and his hair was brown and short. He was tall, strong. But he also was somewhat awkward, in an endearing way. He didn't seem used to feminine attention because he hadn't made himself available to it after his wife passing. And Tywin trusted that Enya would be well capable of turning that around, if she so desired.
-They will make beautiful babies. -Catelyn said, confident that Enya would have her way- What is bothering you? –she asked, noticing the furrowed eyebrows and touching them.
-Are you going to tell me? About Cersei?
-I wasn't planning on doing that tonight, but I see that Lady Genna has spoken to you.
-What did Cersei do to you?
-She didn't manage to do anything. –Catelyn assured him- Your daughter isn't very bright on her schemes. However, I will not underestimate her.
-What did she do?
Catelyn took a deep breath and walked away from him, to stare through the window. She wasn't looking forward to that conversation, because she knew what would come after it.
-She tried to send Meister Hoth to Robert, as support. You know, meister Hoth is Ironborn. She claimed that he would probably be great help to her King.
-That… Almost sounds sensible. –he frowned in confusion.
-To take his place in the meantime, she sent an apprentice. I have told you that I manage this Household closely and that I must trust the people who serve me. I couldn't know if that was her trying to protect her husband, to establish another type of contact with me… But I had this feeling, and it turned out I was in the right. He was supposed to poison me.
-Catelyn… -Tywin was in shock, making his way to her- I…
-Is not your fault. –she said, holding his face with one hand- But it is your responsibility to make her stop.
-Oh, darling… -he pulled her closer, an arm tightening around her waist- I vow to protect you and yours from her. Saera will never join her, I promise you this much as well.
-I have thoroughly ignored or disobeyed my Queen multiple times. –she said- And I cannot deny that this makes me uneasy.
-That it your good-daughter, not your Queen. We owe her nothing. She will be put under control, and now with her son being born, her attention will have to shift.
-However, my guard will remain raised.
-As it should. That was a clear and obvious attempt.
-Others might not be. –she agreed, hugging him- Do not fret, my love.
-What happened to the apprentice? –he asked- The man that was prepared to poison you?
-I kept him in the dungeons, waiting for you. Father wanted to execute him, but I thought I would need proof to convince you of this.
-No… -he felt the guilt again- No, I will never doubt your word ever again, darling.
She took him down the stairs to the dining room, where a good number of people seemed to be already congregating in one large table. He could see they were mostly noble women, that initially came to Riverrun for the wedding and remained for the duration of the troubles, as their husbands attended the call to arms.
It was an enjoyable evening, although they all went back to their chambers fairly early. Catelyn even endured some of the talks about battle, and when the group started to dwindle, it was time to settle for some rest. And Tywin noticed that Catelyn's septa seemed deeply unhappy with him been placed on her tower. And that she followed Catelyn upstairs, after they parted ways.
He thought about asking the woman what was her problem, but he had learned that Catelyn usually had a firm grip on the workings of her castle. And she would not be intimidated by this. Enya was also making her way to bed, and Tywin learned her chambers were near his, on the same level, and that Saera also occupied one of the apartments.
-Are you well? -Enya asked, seeing Tywin standing on the hallway.
-The septa. -he said- She seems enraged.
-That is her normal state, my lord. She would be happier if you and Catelyn hated each other. She was also very close to Lysa when we were little, and after Spirit, we have been keeping a close eye on her. -Enya smiled- You should not worry, we have a good measure of her. Get some rest.
-My presence on the tower is causing these issues.
-Catelyn wouldn't have you anywhere else. And honestly, the castle is full. She gave you one of the best apartments, where you can have your servants near you. Also, you are to be married soon. Do not worry.
And with that, Tywin decided to return to his chambers, as he was increasingly tired. He had some sense that right upstairs from him, his lady would be getting ready to sleep, and by being so close, he felt at peace to fall asleep and rest.