King's Landing, CrownLands – 5 months since Aerys' abduction.
The trip to Duskendale was merely 6 days away from King's Landing, the looming castle placed close to the coast of Blackwater Bay at the North's East. The trip had been easy and quick, a big amount of combined forces had followed the mighty Lion and the Crown Prince.
However, despite the impending danger and the incoming fury of the Seven Kingdoms; Lord Darklyn did not surrender. Instead, he threatened the life of the King if Tywin dared to attack the city, something that he could easily do; especially with the barrels of wildfire he had in his possession.
Due to the bad nature between him and Aerys, Tywin would easily let the King die and simply crown his son in his place. The Young Prince had been a model soldier, listening to everything he was told by Tywin, asking questions and not once going against him or disrespecting him.
Yet, the Lord Hand knew he could not do it; not so easily. Rumours would spread and many soldiers might even back down if they were ordered to attack; making him look as if he didn't care for the wellbeing of the King.
So, Tywin chose the second best approach and sieged the port town. He made sure to cut any incoming or outcoming communication, trade and provisions. Since the castle was not big and its coffers had been rather dry; he knew Duskendale would not last that long.
So, the months passed and the army remained there while King Aerys was held prisoner in some gloomy cells beneath the castle. Lord Darklyn did not surrender but he knew he could not execute his only leverage, the only thing keeping him alive so far.
Tywin had been in constant contact with Visenya, who had her troubles at court. With the absence of the King and her temporary ascension to the throne, setbacks had risen. A woman had never truly sat for long on the Iron Throne, especially in recent history.
Yet, the mighty Dragoness handled everything as if she was born knowing how to do it. She ruled properly, she kept the Lords and Allies occupied and with enough information to keep them engaged but never too much to expose the true situation.
She continued with the trade, which had increased since Duskendale was under siege and had meetings with the small Council every day. Thankfully, her cousin Ser Steffon was an official member of the court thanks to Aerys and he was helping her wherever he could.
The communication was frequent, the two of them exchanging opinions and how they should proceed. In the last letter, Tywin said, he had openly admitted to planning to use Wildfire and burn the walls.
Then, simply allow the soldiers to sack the town and try to save the king as well. If they would fail, he knew of the fate of Aerys but there was no true guilt behind his words.
Visenya did not blame him because she had similar thoughts for quite some time now. One might even consider all of that as a sign from the 7 that Aerys had to go and this was the best way to have a different person in a position of such power.
Yet, the Dragon Princess refused to give up so easily. She wanted to make sure all the other alternatives had been thought thoroughly before they would go for a front attack. The idea came to her when during the early hours of the night, she happened to stare out of her window.
She spotted a servant leaving the Red Keep after finishing work, covering themselves with rags and dark clothing. If one would look like a poor peasant, it was easier to roam the roads of King's Landing without problems or fear of being mugged.
Then, an idea seemed to be sparked in her mind and she quickly returned to her desk and started to write her letter to Tywin. Her plan was simply, perhaps sounding impossible but it was one last worthy try.
A well-trained and capable soldier infiltrates under the cover of the night dressed in common folk clothing and liberates the King. Yet, as she wrote that letter she had to stop and think of who was truly capable and worthy of trust to do such a risky mission; in the name of the King that had fallen off the people's favour over the years.
In the end, she suggested the only man she could truly trust with that task; Ser Barristan Selmy. After writing her idea, she sealed the letter with the royal stamp of the Targaryen Dragon and sent it with a Raven.
Perhaps she should have discussed the idea better but time was of the essence for them. If she could free Aerys without risking his life during a siege, people would sing praises to such miracles; while in the end, it was all just logical and simple thinking.
Duskendale – CrownLands – 6.5 months since Aerys' capture
Tywin stood on top of his black stallion, watching from a safe distance the port town of Duskendale. For a moment, he felt as if he was back in Castamere, looking down upon it before he would execute his plan.
Well...their plan for Visenya's insight and wildfire were key in this operation.
When he had first received her letter, it had taken him a moment longer to process everything. He shouldn't be surprised since that plan came from Visenya but he could not fight it either. In the end, however, trusting her judgement he decided to enact upon her plan.
He had summoned Ser Barristan and given him a full day to execute the plan. If he failed or did not return by the arranged time, Tywin would storm the town and bring it to its knees.
Many might thought the noble knight would fail but to their surprise, just before the 24 hours could be closed; Ser Barristan returned with a wounded but alive King.
With the leverage gone, Tywin was no longer held back and by the words of Visenya and the royal seal on the scroll he had given her before leaving; he had full power to exact her revenge upon them.
So he did...
The barrels of wildfire were positioned close to the walls and once ignited, they lit up the area. Green fires started to devour everything they could find, houses and shops included. Townspeople and innocents rushed to avoid the ravaging flames, only to be grouped and cornered by Lannister and Targaryen men alike.
Without its walls, the city was theirs for the take.
The remaining wildfire was used to bring down the castle where the cowardice Lord Darklyn was trying to hide. Seeing the massive destruction and the impending doom, he also tried to escape but Tywin would not let him.
In the end, Darklyn and his immediate family, including his uncles, aunts, distant kinsmen and even his goodkin, House Hollard; were all gathered in the main square. By now, the green flames that devoured most of the city were slowly dying out since there was little material left for it to burn through.
Tywin had a plan for those traitors, who begged for his forgiveness after all they had done. However, soon it was not Tywin they were begging for mercy but Aerys. The King had pushed away the men supposed to guard him and even the Maester who was checking up on him.
Dirty by mud, skinnier than before but twice as mad he marched towards Tywin and Ser Barristan. His violet eyes burnt with blind revenge and he pointed a finger at the grovelling Lord Darklyn.
For the first time since he had been crowned King, Aerys showed everyone how twisted his mind was. He asked for the man behind everything to be beheaded while the rest of his family burnt alive.
Serala, the foreign wife of the Lord of Duskendale, paid the heaviest price. Aerys had her tongue and female genitals pulled out with a dagger, before burning her alive. The people were burning, screaming out of pain as the smell of burning flesh started to cover the area like an impending invisible cloud.
All that time, Aerys not once did turn around or blink as his victims burnt. He smirked wickedly as new pleasures both carnal and mental started to take over his mind at the sight of burning people, their screams and pleas sounding like the best harp music ever produced.
The only survivor of the massacre that day was young Dontos Hollard, who was only spared after Ser Barristan intervened. Considering he had just saved him, Aerys could not deny him any request and thus the boy remained the sole survivor.
Once it was all done, Aerys stumbled but remained standing; his body was weak but his mind was still asking for more blood and revenge. His eyes fell on the remnants of the mysterious green flames that were still burning around them.
He asked soldiers and even Ser Barristan but no one truly seemed to know the name or where it came from. Eventually, Aerys managed to ask Tywin but the Hand of the King only had one reply for him.
"Worry not about it, your grace. You should focus on healing and returning to your rightful duties"
Those words had left Aerys with growing suspicions, violet eyes glaring at the retreating proud form of Tywin; whose soldiers congratulated or stepped aside for him to pass. Aerys might had the crown upon his head but he was not the ruler.
King's Landing, CrownLands – 10 days since the destruction of Duskendale
The arrival back to King's Landing was a festive one, with many common folk and even nobles having gathered to see the return of the King. Aerys had been washed and given proper clothing to wear.
He was weak but being fed on the road had helped him regain some of his strength. The Targaryen ruler arrived with everyone at the Red Keep, where Visenya, Rhaella and the Small Council were waiting for them.
Aerys had been informed that Rhaegar had been sent with Tywin to free him, leaving Visenya to rule in their place. At first, he thought it was a joke but once it was confirmed, he saw red flashing in his vision.
He stood on top of his horse as his proud sister walked towards them. She carried herself with an air of elegance, clearly proud of what she was doing all those months while he was imprisoned.
She greeted Rhaegar with a small smile and a small nod of her head with Tywin while Rhaella moved straight to her husband. However, even seeing her did not seem to help with Aerys' mood or his growing paranoia.
The very same night Visenya had received a formal invite from Tywin, to have supper with him in his solar. When she entered the room, she was surprised to find him only with two plates of food on the table; no sign of his family.
"I was not aware this was a private supper" she commented with a small smile, feeling a little bit adventurous and went as far as to joke slightly.
"I do believe a private supper is more fitting, tonight. A small cause of celebration for our victory over Duskendale" he explained and pulled a chair for her to seat.
She smiled at his gesture and sat on the pulled chair, before allowing him to push it gently closer to the table. She could almost feel his breath close to her ear for a moment but she focused on the filled wine goblet in front of her to keep her composure.
Tywin sat by her left at the head of the table. Both started to eat in silence they were used to and comfortable with but only a few bites after did Visenya choose to speak.
"I heard of what happened in Duskendale. Wisdom was ecstatic to hear of the Wildfire's latest victims. People are already talking, they call it the Fires of Duskendale and once again; you are behind it" she informed him, taking a sip of her wine.
This seemed to draw his attention as he lifted a single eyebrow. "Is that so? I am the one given all the credit?" he asked, clearly referring to something else.
Visenya smirked and held herself from rolling her eyes. "If you are asking if I mind, then I am afraid you do not know me well enough" she said, lowering her goblet as she turned her head more to face him better. "I do not care for titles or songs, Tywin. My concern is the realm and to defend my family. Lord Darklyn and everyone else at Duskendale saw first-hand what happened and it will be a reminder for many. You being credited for it is not my primary concern"
There was this look that Tywin gave her, one that he rarely gave to someone; especially one outside of his family. Yet, the Dragon Princess seemed to be gifted by seeing it more than once; although she still did not know of what it truly meant.
Her words had amused him but also seemed to intrigue him. A lot of women craved power, and recognition but not her; she craved none. Her priority was her family and the realm, mostly due to the fact that her family would not survive if the realm was on the brink of war.
It was so unique in a woman and yet seemed to be paired so well with her intelligence, for only someone with her mind would be able to see how trivial personal recognition was; especially for a woman in a society where her gender was considered inferior.
Yet, a part of him did not truly like how calm she was with being ignored once again. She was one of a kind woman, with intelligence and witts. She made plans, created wildfire and she was the reason the King was safely back in his chambers.
The soldiers knew she had played a part in all of this but not the rest of the world. In their eyes, she was a naive unmarried woman and they loved to gossip about her. In reality, Tywin felt that Visenya should be respected for what she possessed, feared and admired all the same.
Clearing his throat with some wine, Tywin chose to continue the discussion but let it take a different turn on the subject. "They will remember, worry not. The lands and incomes of Duskendale will be granted to House Rykker, while the lands of House Hollard will be taken away while their villages had already been burnt and the castle is barely standing after the Wildfire attack"
She hummed in response and took a moment to swallow. "That is good. Such change of power will ensure the alliance of House Rykker to the Crown and reduce the chances of any further defiance from them"
Tywin agreed with a nod of his head. "Speaking of the crown, I learnt you had trouble ruling in my absence" he brought up as he leaned to one side of his chair, looking at her with interest; curious to see what she would say.
The topic seemed to leave a bitter taste in her mouth and she tried to wash it away with the sweet red wine. "I did but I handled them all the same. The gender should not matter when it comes to the Iron Throne and I made it clear over the past of 6 months" she started, lowering her goblet slowly to the table. "However, it is clear now that Westeros is not ready for a female ruler; not yet at least" she confessed, once again turning to face him.
She looked deep into his green eyes, admiring the specks of gold but also wishing that she could see his thoughts; get a glimpse of them at least. He was so well composed, such a closed book and she had trouble sometimes to speculate what he had in mind.
Eventually, he looked faintly forward again. "A lot of people are close-minded, they have been for years now since your ancestors sat on the Iron Throne. They are foolish to deny a woman as their Queen when the same woman easily rules them from the shadows"
His words seemed to bring a small smile upon her pink lips, and she felt a self of reassurance she was not sure she needed but she gladly accepted. She lifted her goblet for a toast and turned to face him. "A Queen hidden in the Shadows of an ignorant King, allied with those truly in power" she corrected him.
His smirk was evident, his eyes glowing with pride and there was no sign of disagreement on his face. Instead, he lifted his goblet and let the two objects clang against one another to a silent toast; to them...the Shadow King and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.