Tywin walked through the once familiar corridors of the Red Keep, sweeping through them as he tried to ignore the bad memories that came with this place, as he tried to ignore all of the good memories that came from this place. He grit his teeth when he realised that what he was smelling was fire, burning flesh, and the chemicals that came from Wild Fire.
He moved as quickly as he could through the corridors and finally was able to see the door of the Throne Room in front of him. It had been a long ride here and he had raced here, he had pushed each horse as fast as he could to reach the next town or village, and he had taken up a fresh horse to keep going.
The rebellion had come from nowhere, he had been at Casterly Rock dealing with the issues of being Lord Lannister, which if he was honest was utterly boring after being Hand of the King, when word had reached him that for some reason Rhaegar had kidnapped Lyanna Stark, disappeared with her, Robert Baratheon who had been her betrothed had gone into rebellion with the second oldest Stark brother.
Aerys madness all of a sudden seemed to have reached a point where no one wanted to put up with it anymore, the mutterings about him burning people became shouts, and the worry that Rhaegar was turning into his Father with this random action seemed to push everything over the edge of the cliff.
Tywin had sat staring confused at the missive informing him of what had happened, and requesting that he join the rebellion, utterly baffled about what had happened and where this had come from. He knew Rhaegar well, he was fond of the Prince, and he cared for him, and he knew him well. His randomly kidnapping a young woman just wasn't in his character.
The rebellion forming had not been muttered about, it hadn't been a possibility, and he hadn't seen it coming. Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark had come from absolutely nowhere and fanned the flames of fury.
And Tywin's son was in Kings Landing.
Jamie was a Kings Guard.
Tywin had moved as quickly as he could to get to the Capital, to get to his son.
As he hurried towards the Throne Room doors he watched a Guard slipping through the doors before they were closed again, and as he reached the doors though the guards bowed their heads in respect, they did not move to let him in.
It was only a couple of moments that he had to wait before the Guard opened the door and the three guarding it stepped back to allow him into the Throne Room.
It was shockingly empty, not what he had been expecting, he had been expecting it to be full of nobles, Lords and Soldiers, the council, and the others that would be affected by this turn of events. Instead, he found two more Kings Guard in there, along with Elia Martel and Jamie. He walked as quickly down the Throne Room as he could without looking as though he were hurrying until he was within talking distance of the small group.
"Lord Lannister," The voice wasn't expected, and he saw there was a fifth person in the Throne Room. Harrison Targaryen walked closer to the group already there, reaching them at the same time as Tywin.
"Prince Harrison," Tywin bowed. "Princess Elia," he bowed to the woman, wondering what on the earth she was thinking about what had happened with Rhaegar and Lyanna. He turned back to Harrison and took in the younger Prince. He had not had much to do with Harrison, the younger Prince had been fostered for a time to Storms End, Dorne, and then to Highgarden. He had only just returned to Kings Landing when Tywin had been banished from it.
Tywin knew Rhaella had sent her second son away to try and protect him from everything at Kings Landing, from his father and his madness, she had been unable to manage to do the same for her other children.
Tywin suddenly wondered where Rhaella and Prince Viserys were.
"Father," Jamie looked at him, and there was something written on his face that concerned Tywin, an expression that he could not read, but his son was no longer a boy, he had grown up, and quickly. Tywin had been expecting it having heard the things that Aerys had been doing inside of the Red Keep, but this was something else, something bigger.
"Are you with those rebelling Lord Tywin?" Harrison asked, and Tywin's attention moved back to the younger Prince.
He was very little like Rhaegar, he had the silver blond hair, but instead of sitting to shoulder level the way Rhaegar's did Harrison's seemed to sweep down to the base of his back, though Tywin only got a glance of this as Harrison's hair was braided tightly back. He had one indigo and one green eye as certain Targaryen's tended to be born with at random, they had the brightness and intelligence that Rhaegar's did though. He was not as tall or broad as Rhaegar was, instead, he stood around half a foot shorter than Tywin's own 6,3, and he was slender, a more delicate frame.
"That depends on how things are going," Tywin answered, and he was surprised to see Harrison's stern face move, a hint of a smile appearing on his face before it disappeared.
"My Father is dead," Harrison said, stunning Tywin.
"What…"
"Your son killed him," Harrison nodded.
"Jamie?" Tywin turned to his son with wide green eyes, utterly stunned now. His son was a Kings Guard, he had taken serious vows to protect the King, he had vowed to guard him with his own body against all threats.
"He had no other choice, he made the right decision," Harrison said, and Jamie and Tywin's heads snapped around to him. "My Father was utterly mad, and he was going to burn the city, and everyone in it,"
"The stories about the Wild Fire caches throughout the city," Tywin sighed.
"Appear to be true," Harrison nodded.
"I never thought he would…"
"His madness was too far gone," Harrison shook his head.
"So Rhaegar is King, wherever he is?" Tywin squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them again.
"Rhaegar is dead," Harrison's words were a little tighter, more hurt, and Tywin turned wide-eyed to look at Elia, the young Princess tightened her arms around herself, but she tilted her head back and met his eyes, nodding sharply to confirm Harrison's words.
"But…how…what…" Tywin's mind was spinning, and he stopped for a second, pulling his brain together to stop himself from giving too much away.
"Robert Baratheon, he killed him two days ago in battle, he is heading here, now to claim the throne," Harrison's back was straight, his chin tilted up, proud and tall despite the words that he was saying, but he could see the way Harrison's jew was tightly clenched, he could see the way his indigo and green eyes reflected some of the emotions that he was feeling.
"Are you to be King?" Tywin glanced at the Iron Throne, which was right there, and then back to the second-born Prince.
"Rhaegar has a daughter and a son," Harrison shook his head.
"Both of which are children," Tywin pointed out.
"An issue yes," Harrison nodded. "But the rightful heirs,"
"Where are your mother and Viserys?" Tywin asked.
"Dragon Stone, Father sent them there when the news of the rebellion reached the city. Mother is pregnant again, due any day," Harrison said, and then with truly gritted teeth, "He raped her,"
Tywin sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes. He had feared that such a thing was happening, even before he had been stripped of the title of Hand and sent away.
"You wish to make an alliance?" Tywin asked opening his eyes again.
"We have Stannis Baratheon, hostage, I was able to take Storms End, the Tyrells and many others are still loyal to us. But yes, you are quite aware, even with this news being dropped on you, that we need your backing, especially with my niece and nephew being so young," Harrison nodded.
"Jamie," Tywin turned to look at his young son.
"There is no revenge to be taken for his actions, and I claim none. I would do the same whether we were in this situation or not," Harrison said firmly, ignoring the shuffling of the two Kings Guard there, clearly unhappy with this. "How my Father died will be buried with him. He had a heart attack,"
"Why?" Tywin looked back to Harrison.
"I am not an idiot," Harrison snorted a little, smiling, "I am aware that I could use this against you, and I am perfectly capable and able to use multiple political situations to my benefit when I need to. However, Jamie did what needed to be done, had he not I have no doubt that all of my family would have been wiped out considering the head of my family was utterly mad. He also saved the city, he saved all of the people here and stopped….that… being the last act that my family would be known for. It takes a lot for a man to move past his vows and the risk of his honour to do something that clearly must be done for the benefit of so many others. Jamie's name will not be dragged through the mud,"
Tywin looked at the younger man, and suddenly he had a much better grasp on the younger man, and who he was.
"I will stand by the Crown, as I have for many years," Tywin said.
"Is that the Targaryen Crown, or whoever is going to wear it?" Harrison snorted raising his eyebrow.
"The Targaryen crown," Tywin smiled a little. The Prince was incredibly intelligent.
"Then you had better have this back," Harrison reached into his pocket and held his hand out, the pin of the Hand of the King sitting in his palm.
"You are not claiming that title?" Tywin asked already taking the pin and moving to affix it to the familiar place on his chest.
"We both know that would not be the most beneficial for us right now, making sure you have that position back will be the most beneficial," Harrison said.
"Most would want the power anyway," Tywin hummed once the pin was in place.
"Yes they would," Harrison nodded and then turned and started moving towards the door, clearly expecting Tywin to follow. Clearly showing the power that he had.
Tywin nodded to his son who was still looking too pale, and too shocked and was still under the suspicious glares of the other King's Guard, he met Elia's eyes, a wealth of pain, shock, and confusion in them before he turned and followed after the Prince, as he had silently demanded.
"Lyanna Stark," Harrison said once Tywin had caught up with him as they swept through the corridors of the Keep, towards the tower of the Hand of the King Tywin realised.
"What happened?" Tywin asked, and the deep sigh that Harrison let out made Tywin even more confused and concerned as to what he was about to hear.
"My brother took Lyanna Stark to wife," Harrison rubbed his forehead.
"She was willing?" Tywin asked, and then carried on before Harrison could answer, "Harrenhal,"
"Indeed," Harrison nodded. "She was willing, and he took her because she realised that she was pregnant,"
"Pardon?" Tywin blinked.
"Yes," Harrison sighed.
"Lyanna and the baby?" Tywin asked, his brain desperately trying to catch up with everything as the two of them made their way up the stairs to the main meeting room of the Hand of the King.
"Lyanna barely survived the birth, it could still go badly, only the next few weeks will tell, the baby is a boy, healthy and safe as far as we can tell. Lyanna, the baby, and Eddard Stark are making their way here, at Lyanna's demand. Arthur Dayne has been seriously injured, he is also touch and go," Harrison leaned against the table and turned to look at Tywin.
"What does this mean for the rebellion?" Tywin asked, leaning opposite Harrison.
"Eddard seems to have lost his fire, and is wracked with guilt realising that he was part of killing his sister's husband, Robert is still stampeding around the country like a wounded bull shouting about how Lyanna loves him, how she has been taken against her will, and longs to be in his arms, he is stomping about making his way here. I do not know if he has been told about the marriage or his beloved Lyanna's choice. Nor do I know yet if he is aware that Eddard is no longer with him," Harrison rolled his eyes.
"How is Princess Elia taking it?" Tywin asked cautiously.
"Better than is to be expected, and heartbroken at the same time," Harrison sighed, and his face truly allowed his sorrow to show for a few moments.
"She had no clue?" Tywin asked.
"None," Harrison shook his head, smoothing his features again.
"A fine mess. I heard that Rickard and Brandon Stark came to the city?"
"Dead, my Father burned Rickard Stark alive inside his armour, and Brandon Stark strangled himself to death when he had a rope tied around his throat and a sword placed just out of his grip with a promise to let him and his father go should he free the man," Harrison grimaced.
"Why are you not taking the throne? It would be more stable," Tywin asked suddenly.
"I have no desire to be King, and I am not made for it. Nor is it right," Harrison answered smoothly, and then he inclined his head, "Besides that, the succession is right that it falls to Rhaegar's children, I can be of more help behind the throne, we are likely to gain some sympathy and some breathing space with a child on the throne rather than an adult, especially the child of the recently wrongfully killed beloved Prince, and we can not afford to offend Dorne even more right now by ignoring Elia's children's rights," Harrison answered.
"You have quite the mind," Tywin hummed.
"As do you. And I need your mind right now Lord Tywin," Harrison looked at the older man intently. "I know that my family has wronged yours, and I am not just talking about the dismissal of you as Hand of the King,"
Tywin tensed and he stepped towards the young Prince without real thought, anger burning through him as he realised that the Prince had worked out what had happened.
"He raped her, my wife, and I do not know if Tyrion is my son," Tywin said the words out loud for the first time. Harrison's unusual eyes closed at the confirmation, and Tywin felt all anger washing from him at the drawn expression that crossed the Prince's face.
"I am sorry,"
"That apology is not yours to give," Tywin shook his head, and when concerned indigo and green eyes opened and fell on him, he shook his head and carried on, "Nor is the fault on you. The man whose fault it is is dead, at my son's sword, even though he does not know what happened,"
"Irony seems to be the word of the day at the moment," Harrison snorted.
"Indeed," Tywin nodded, moving to ruffle through the piles of paperwork piled up in the room until he could find the map he was looking for. Clearing the table of more stacks of paperwork with a smooth wash of his hand over the wood he threw the map down on the table. "Who do you know are allies still?" He asked.
Harrison stepped up to the map, and the two of them poured over the paper for the next several hours, plotting and planning, and working out where they would go from here.
Tywin moved through the corridor of the Keep aiming towards the Throne Room, he seemed to spend most of his time sweeping through these hallways and corridors at the moment. Back and forth from various different meetings. This time unlike his first arrival in the Captial weeks ago the Guards quickly opened the doors to the Throne Room for him immediately and allowed him to pass through.
Those standing in the room turned to watch him, and Oberyn Martell looked furious and as though he were about to start poisoning everyone in sight at any second. Having the Red Viper in the Keep was the last thing that Tywin wanted, however, they could not afford the insult of banning him from the Captial, and they needed his help.
"Oberyn, Harrison, and Tywin had nothing to do with it, they have been supportive, and they have backed Aegon being King," Elia carried on speaking as Tywin reached them.
"They are waiting for the right moment to take the throne, either both of them or one of them," Oberyn shook his head.
"Prince Oberyn, with all due respect, if I was going to do it, I would have done so in the immediate aftermath of my Father's death. If I were to now seize the throne I would have to kill my niece and nephew, and then I would be nothing more than a usurper and a child killer. Aegon is Rhaegar's rightful heir as by the Laws of this land, and I will do everything that I can to make sure that he lives a long, healthy, and happy life, and make sure that he has a Kingdom to rule. You can either help with that, or you can return to Dorne," Harrison said firmly.
"Harry," Oberyn frowned, and Tywin felt a small stab of something in his stomach when he realised that these two knew each other and that Harrison had spent some years with the other.
"Oberyn, I have enough of a fight to make here in suppressing everything that has happened and trying to ensure that there is a throne for Aegon to rule from. I have my sister and brother being shipped over from Dragon Stone, I have Lyanna Stark and her son being shipped here, and I need to try and work out what I am going to do with them, I have Robert Baratheon stomping around, still carrying on his rebellion, the last thing I need if you storming around here causing problems for me because of your wounded pride!" Harrison said the exhaustion that he was feeling showed on his face.
"The insult…"
"Is mine Oberyn, and I am not holding it against Harrison, or Lord Tywin, they have both been working hard to try and make sure that Aegon is recognised as King and can rule as one. If anyone has the right to decide that they can not bear the insult, it is me. I have no clue what I am feeling right now, and I can not even confront Rhaegar about it because he is…he has been killed, and I do not know what to feel about that! I need your support right now Oberyn, my children do!" Elia spoke up.
Harrison stepped up to her side and took her hand, squeezing it gently as she turned her face away, clearly trying to gain some composure. Over the last few weeks the two of them had become close, Harrison had been a strength for Elia that Tywin knew the Princess needed after all the revelations. His only concern was who Harrison leaned on.
Over the past weeks, Tywin had been impressed with how smart the Prince was, he thought five moves ahead and had the charm to manage to soothe the many ruffled feathers of those who were considering rebelling or carrying on rebelling, and Harrison had managed to make his way through a majority of them, winning them back over to the Targaryen side, or calming them enough for now to buy them time. Between the Prince and Tywin they had managed to grab hold of the situation, and now just needed to wrestle things under control.
"Elia," Oberyn said slightly pleadingly. "You and the children are in danger,"
"From me?" Harrison raised his eyebrow.
"That isn't what I meant," Oberyn shook his head.
"It is what you said, when I came in, that myself or Harrison would be looking to steal the crown," Tywin crossed his arms.
"I did not mean that!" Oberyn shook his head.
"Neither Harrison nor myself had anything to do with the situation that we are now in, and we are working hard, we are working day and night to try and ensure that the throne is there for Aegon to sit on when he is old enough," Tywin said sharply. "Your suspicion of myself I will say has a foundation in it, however, your distrust towards Harrison is not only undeserved, but cruel when he has done nothing but work himself to the bone to make sure that your sister's life, and the lives of her children, your niece, and nephew are safe, and that they gain their inheritance,"
Harrison blinked at Tywin at those words his indigo and green eyes wide, with a shine in them that Tywin had not seen in them before.
"I didn't mean it that way Harry, I am sorry," Oberyn frowned. "It has all been very stressful,"
"And you think it hasn't for me?" Harrison said softly.
"I am sorry," Oberyn looked down at the floor.
"We need a united front right now Oberyn, we need you to show support for us all here, my children need Dorne behind them," Elia said softly.
"Of course, any way that I can help, show support I will. But Robert Baratheon is still out there," Oberyn sighed.
"He is, and he needs to be dealt with," Tywin hummed.
Harrison turned to him with sharp eyes, of course sensing something under Tywin's overt tones.
"Figure me, Lyanna and Eddard Stark have arrived, with the baby," a messenger ran into the room.
"Tywin would you…" Harrison turned to him, and the uncertainty that he felt about the situation with the girl and the baby showed through.
"I will go and deal with them and make sure that they are settled. Ser Arthur Dayne?" Tywin asked.
"I will go and deal with him, I have the best Maesters ready," Harrison nodded.
"I will come with you Lord Tywin," Elia tilted her head back.
"Are you sure Elia?" Harrison asked concerned.
"I want to see her, and the baby," Elia nodded.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Harrison asked.
"No, you're not ready, I will be fine," Elia managed to smile for him.
"I will be there as well," Tywin reminded Harrison, and he watched with a small sense of satisfaction as Harrison's shoulders relaxed.
"I will see you both later," Harrison nodded before turning and hurrying away.
"I will go with him, I am likely to say something I should not if I go with you," Oberyn grumbled before hurrying after Harrison.
"Are you worried about them Lord Tywin?" Elia's voice drew Tywin's green eyes away from where Harrison and Oberyn had disappeared through a side door.
"You're brother is no threat to Harrison?" Twyin frowned looking down at the young woman.
"That is not what I meant," Elia smiled a little before turning and starting to make her way from the Throne Room to the rooms that they had set up for Lyanna.
"What do you mean?" Tywin asked cautiously following her.
"I see how you look at Harrison," Elia said softly. "I see how you watch him,"
"I…he is an attractive young man," Tywin felt embarrassed to realise that his appreciation of Harrison had not been as discrete as he thought it had been.
"He is beautiful, sharply intelligent, kind when he can be, deadly when he needs to be, and has the Targaryen ability to carry children I have heard," Elia hummed.
"And much younger than myself," Tywin muttered.
"That means very little, and we both know it," Elia laughed a little. "I have seen him looking back at you,"
"You have?" Tywin frowned, looking up at her, he had not believed that Harrison felt anything for him besides professional.
"I have," Elia nodded. "You could be good together, more than making a terrifying team, you could be happy together I believe, something we could all do a little of. Harrison especially,"
"He says nothing of how he feels about everything that has happened," Tywin said, that concern he felt for the young man flaring again.
"No, he feels it though," Elia glanced at Tywin who nodded in agreement.
"I think he believes because of the actions of his father, and Rhaegar, he needs to carry it all himself, as punishment for their actions," Tywin sighed.
"That is my worry as well," Elia sighed as well. "It is another reason that I think you would be good for him,"
"I am not sure of that," Tywin shook his head before they came to a stop outside a door. "Are you sure of this my Princess?"
"No," Elia snorted before she tilted her chin up sharply and rapped on the door before walking into the suite of rooms that they had set aside for the Stark siblings.
Gerold Highgarden stood from the sofa as they walked in and bowed his head, not meeting Elia's gaze even as shame washed over his features.
"Princess Elia, Lord Tywin," Eddard Stark stepped out of one of the bedrooms and stood awkwardly looking at them.
"Lord Stark," Tywin said and watched grief and anger sweep over the young man's face.
"How is your sister?" Elia asked as Eddard opened his mouth, to say who knew what.
"I…she is healing, the Maesters say she is not out of the woods yet," Eddard looked over his shoulder.
"The baby?" Tywin asked.
"Well, he is hale and hearty," Eddard nodded, brightening a little at the talk of the baby.
"Is Lyanna well enough for me to see her?" Elia asked.
"I am not sure that is…"
"I am," the voice came from inside of the bedroom, and Eddard's shoulders dropped before he stepped aside, allowing Elia and Tywin to walk into the room.
The girl was lying on the bed in the center of the room, she was pale, worryingly pale, made even more stark, pardoning the pun, because of her jet-black hair. Grey eyes were cautious as she watched them walk in and come to stand at the bottom of her sick bed.
A small baby slept soundly in the basket next to the bed.
"What have you called him?" Elia asked looking at the baby.
"Jahaerys," Lyanna answered.
"A good name," Tywin nodded.
"Princess Elia, I am sorry for what we have done to you," Lyanna said.
"What did you intend to say to me? You and Rgaegar, when you returned with a baby and were to inform me that you were also married," Elia looked at the girl. "Was my marriage to be annulled and my children declared bastards?"
"Wait, you didn't know?" Eddard asked walking fully into the room from where he had been hovering in the doorway.
"No she didn't," Lyanna shook her head, looking down at her lap. "Rhaegar wasn't going to annul your marriage, he was going to keep both of us as his wives, as in the days of old,"
"And of course he expected me to roll over and go along with this," Elia snorted.
"You were his wife," Lyanna shrugged.
"Lyanna…" Eddard shook his head.
"My son is the new King, Prince Harrison is assisting in trying to put down the rebellion that has been started," Elia glanced at Eddard who looked down at his feet. "Your…your son is now part of the Royal family. He should grow up as such,"
"Thank you," Lyanna said softly looking up at her.
"Don't thank me, right now I have very little to say to you, and I have no clue what to say to you. My husband is dead, and this is…" Elia grit her teeth.
"He was my husband as well," Lyanna muttered.
"Princess Elia has been married to Rhaegar for ten years, you have had a fling with him, married him, and produced a child that has produced war, many deaths, and a situation that is still on a knife edge because of your actions, and his actions, unfortunately for you, you are the only one who is left to answer for those actions, and results," Tywin warned.
"You can not speak to my sister like that!" Eddard flared up.
"I can when I am one of those working day and night to clean up the mess that has been made!" Tywin turned on the young man.
"Our Father and brother are dead!" Lyanna snapped sitting up a little more.
"Yes they are," Tywin said sharply. "And I am sorry for that, but you and Rhaegar started this by running away into the night and telling no one that you were married, that you were willing! Your brother started a rebellion, started a war, and with that, come consequences,"
"I…" Lyanna and Eddard both looked down.
"This is a mess, and it is one that we are still working to repair. What happens here forward, time will only tell," Tywin sighed.
"I just want my son to be safe," Lyanna said quietly.
"Nothing will happen to your son," Elia looked again at the newborn, closing her eyes tightly before opening them again, "If nothing else he is the brother of my children, and he is the last thing that Rhaegar left in this world. He died for that baby,"
The Princess spun around with those words and hurried from the room, though not before they all saw the tear rolling down her face that she was not able to prevent.
"Lady Stark, Lord Stark," Tywin sighed bowing before turning and following the Princess.
Tywin looked up at the knock on his door, frowning he looked to the window and thought that the time had to be gone midnight. He rubbed his tired eyes, strained from the paperwork that he had been staring at over the last hours.
"Come in," He called.
Harrison stepping into his room was unexpected, though, at the same time, he thought that he was the only one that would disturb him at this time of night. Tywin blinked when he realised that Harrison was dressed casually, he was not wearing his normal finery, which he used as armour Tywin had realised. His clothing while fine, was simple, tunics and embroidered coats. Now though he was walking through the door wearing only his shirt and close-fitting trousers, a simple pair of slippers on his feet, and his silver blond hair was piled on top of his head in a bun, not braided back the way that it had been.
Tywin found himself wondering with some burning jealousy in his stomach if the Prince had been to see Oberyn, and that was the reason for his state of casualness.
"I hope I am not disturbing you," Harrison said as he walked in.
"You never do," Tywin answered honestly.
"You flatter me," Harrison smiled shutting the door behind himself and walking over to sit opposite Tywin at his desk.
"I can flatter when needed, less skilled than yourself, but I can do it. It is not something that I use very often though," Tywin hummed standing and making his way to the small table that held his decanter of Highgarden wine and poured two glasses.
"So you are not flattering me?" Harrison asked.
"No, you never bother me," Tywin answered handing Harrison a glass before retaking his seat and taking a sip from his glass.
"I worry that I do sometimes, especially when I keep seeking you out to talk through this, or that," Harrison hummed.
"With your mind, it is a pleasure to talk to you, even if what we discuss at the moment is difficult and headache-inducing," Tywin nodded.
"Lady Olena is really the only other person that I have been able to talk to without holding back," Harrison agreed.
"While I am sure your time fostered to Highgarden was pleasant for you, I agree regarding Lady Olena, however all of my previous conversations with her have been like grasping my hand around the thorny stems of the roses of their House," Tywin snorted.
"I can imagine that, I have seen her reduce a few men to tears when they have gone up against her," Harrison smiled into his glass.
"Her husband most of them I would imagine," Tywin chuckled.
"I almost feel bad for him," Harrison said taking an appreciative sip of the wine.
"There is something on your mind," Tywin stated rather than asked.
"You are thinking about something," Harrison looked at him with those unusual eyes that were haunting Tywin.
"Robert," Tywin nodded, settling back into his chair away from his paperwork.
"Yes?" Harrison narrowed his eyes.
"We are in a better position, a more certain position. I am going to suggest that in a few days, unless he is captured in the meantime, I take an army out to stop him and capture him," Tywin said.
Harrison's whole demeanour changed in a second, he tensed so fast it looked as though it hurt, his lips pinched tightly together and his eyes seemed to go blank, unreadable.
"I do not think that is a good idea," Harrison shook his head.
"We can not allow him to carry on, taking him out would be the best thing that we can do to truly get things settled," Tywin said frowning a little.
"I understand that, I do not think that you should be the one to lead the army," Harrison shook his head again.
"I am a perfectly capable warrior as well as administrator," Tywin felt the stab to his ego that he did not normally allow.
"I know that Oberyn could go," Harrison pinched his lips together tightly.
"Except that would inspire no loyalty in our new regime to be seen to be hiding behind someone who isn't from this land, and I know these lands better," Tywin said sharply. "I am not as young as I used to be, but I am capable,"
"I am not saying you are not capable, but you are needed here!" Harrison stood, and the anger going through the younger man baffled Tywin a little, he had been so in control of himself before now.
"I am needed there as well, to stop Robert before he carries on tearing his way around the country, the longer we take no action against him the more foolish we look," Tywin stood as well.
"I agree, send someone else!" Harrison waved his hands a little.
"Do you have that little faith in me?" Tywin frowned.
"It has nothing to do with faith!" Harrison snapped.
"Then what is it?" Twyin found himself getting inexplicably angry as well in a way that he had not for a long time.
"What if I ordered you to stay?" Harrison tilted his chin up, looking every inch the Prince that he was despite his dress, except for the fury snapping through his eyes.
"You and I both know that will not work, we need a partnership right now for your niece and nephew's sakes, not me obeying your every word. Especially when you will not tell me why you are so against it," Tywin calmed himself a little.
"We can not afford to lose you!" Harrison snapped.
"So you think I will lose?"
"Rhaegar was meant to be the greatest warrior of our age, and he died at Robert's hand," Harrison spat out, and Tywin felt an idiot for not realising. Harrison had been through so much recently, he had lost so much, but he just carried on so strongly, that Tywin found himself forgetting sometimes, as ridiculous as it sounded.
"I have more experience than Rhaegar, and I am not bound to the guilt that he was feeling, or the distraction of everything that was happening around him," Tywin said gently, stepping around the table and closer to Harrison who suddenly seemed smaller than he normally did, as the anger washed out of him, and the concern, the grief that he was feeling was clear.
"Still, were something to happen to you…" Harrison pursed his lips.
"Things are set into place here, they will be fine without me," Tywin shook his head.
"That isn't…" Harrison turned his head away. "Do what you feel is best Lord Lannister," He said coldly before turning and leaving the room before Tywin could say anything else, staring after the young man.
His conversation with Elia came back to him and he drained his glass of its wine as his mind span. He knew that he was not unattractive, there was an age difference between him and Harrison, but he was not unappealing. However, Harrison had spent time with the beautiful Martells, and the beautiful Highgardens. He knew Harrison appreciated his mind, but would that be enough?
He had not planned on ever remarrying, Johanna he had been lucky enough to marry for love and call it political. After her loss, it had felt as though his heart had been taken out, and he had been settled on making sure that House Lannister was as powerful as he could make it, and leaving a legacy for his children…all three of them. He had not imagined remarrying, never mind falling in love with someone else, the Prince had swept into his life during this utterly chaotic time, and he seemed to have swept Tywin's heart, withered and cold though it was, along with him.
"Father?" Jamie stepped into the room, no longer a White cloak, he was wearing Lannister red and gold again. Harrison had released him from his vows as a King's Guard, though he had made it clear that it was because Tywin's heir should never have been claimed as a King's Guard. There was also the faint worry of how the other Kings Guard looked at him. Harrison had made his feelings for Jamie and his honour clear however by requesting that Jamie guard Elia. He was not King's Guard, but he was guarding the mother of the King.
"Jamie," Tywin motioned him in.
"Are you ready?" Jamie asked.
"Yes, I will be leaving in an hour," Tywin nodded.
"Prince Harrison, he isn't happy about it," Jamie said carefully.
"No, he isn't," Tywin looked at his son, and he allowed a small smile to touch his lips as he realised that Jamie understood why. "This needs to be done though,"
"He will be upset that you have left," Jamie said carefully.
"I know," Tywin nodded. "I want you to guard over the Prince and Elia, no matter what happens to me,"
"Father," Jamie frowned straightening.
"I have every plan on coming back, but only a fool does not make provisions. Guard them both and help them in making sure that Aegon sits on the throne when he is old enough to walk," Tywin snorted.
"I will," Jamie nodded.
"Give the Prince this, when I have been gone from the city for at least an hour," Tywin held an envelope out to Jamie.
"Are you being romantic Father?" Jamie smiled a little, taking the object.
"Don't be cheeky," Tywin growled, but he reached out and squeezed his son's shoulder, smiling back.
"Make sure you come back Father," Jamie requested.
"I will," Tywin nodded before turning and finishing his packing, his son retreating, leaving the disquiet air between them.
Tywin did not want to do this, he did not want to risk everything here to go to war, but it needed to be done. Robert Baratheon was a threat, and he was a threat that needed to be put down. Tywin could not stand the threat being out there when he could do something about it.
"Prince Harrison?" Jamie called walking into the Prince's rooms after being called in.
"He is gone then?" Harrison did not look at him, simply carried on staring out of the window that overlooked Blackwater Bay.
"He asked me to bring you this after he had been gone for an hour," Jamie walked over to him and held out the envelope. Harrison turned at that, and he eyed the envelope suspiciously, as though it was going to burst into flames before he took it. "I will be with Princess Elia, if you need us," Jamie bowed.
"I have told you not to do that," Harrison sighed.
"But I will carry on doing so," Jamie smiled before turning and leaving the melancholic Prince.
Harrison stared out the window again for a little while, turning the envelope in his hand round and round until finally he sighed to himself for being so ridiculous and stepped back from the window. He made his way over to his lit fireplace and settled into his chair before ripping open the envelope before he could second guess himself.
The letter was fairly short, in Tywin's neat writing, but what caught his attention was the ring affixed to the bottom of the letter in Lannister red wax. He prised the ring free and stared at the simple golden band that he had seen on Tywin's hand every single time they had been together. It had always struck him as unusual considering some of the fancier jewelry that he had seen Tywin wearing, it was just a simple, thin golden strip really, no decoration, no jewels.
Prince Harrison,
I hope you will pardon my forwardness. I know that you are not happy with me leaving, I am not happy to be leaving behind King's Landing, and more importantly those in it. But I could not live with myself were something to happen when I could have prevented it.
I beg your forgiveness for leaving, and I wish that it was not in the nature that we had parted. I do not wish to cause you any more grief than the overwhelming and unfair balance of grief that you have already been through, and I will do everything that I can to make sure that I am not someone else for you to grieve over.
Over the last couple of months of working together, you have come to mean a lot to me, and I believe, in the face of your reaction to my leaving, you feel the same way. I am an older, boring man, and while politically I have plenty to offer, personally, I am sure that there are others that can offer you more. My heart, shriveled and cold, though it is, is yours should you wish it.
The ring was my great-great-great grandfather's and has been passed down through the generations of Lannisters. I hope that you will keep it safe for me, and return to me once I am back at Kings Landing.
Faithfully Yours
Tywin
Harrison clenched the ring tightly in his hand as he read the letter over and over again. He closed his eyes and he sent a prayer to the Old Valyrian Gods that Tywin would come back for the ring.
And for him.
Harrison hurried through the corridors with as much grace as he could manage, the guards kept their eyes facing forward, even as the excitement could be felt going through the Keep. Word had reached them that Robert had been defeated and captured by Tywin and his army nearly two weeks ago, and finally the Hand of the King had returned in triumph to the city with his prisoner.
Harrison used the side corridors and shortcuts through the Keep until finally, he was able to slip through the side door into the Throne Room. He took a breath and brushed his hands down his clothes as he moved across the room until he reached the dais leading up to the Iron Throne.
Elia glanced around and then her eyes widened as a smile swept across her lips when she saw him, Jamie turned and his eyes widened as he choked on the air he sucked in when he saw him. As gracefully as he could he came to a stop between them and tilted his chin up, challenging them to say something to him.
"You look stunning," Elia smiled.
"Thank you," Harrisson flushed.
"He is back then?" Oberyn said walking into the Throne Room with Eddard, the Stark Lord was clearly slightly reluctant to be there, but he understood the need for him to stand at their side at the same time.
"Wow," Lyanna blinked as she stepped in from the door Harry had used, baby Jaeherys held in her arms. "I didn't know we were dressing up,"
"It is for a special occasion," Elia said to her. Lyanna chuckled as she came to stand next to her, her fellow queen. Things were still uncomfortable between them at times, things were uncertain, but they had all realised that they had a middle ground between them. The children were innocent, and they were incredibly vulnerable right now, they needed to work together, they needed to pull together for their sakes.
They had so many young lives under their care, needing their protection, that they had all reached the agreement that they needed to be the best that they could be for them, they needed to form some sort of a family around them for their sake, and with that, they were able to work passed the grievances and hurts that they had to try and build something new and fresh.
They had to set the best examples they could for Rhaenys, Aegon, Jaeherys, Viserys, and Daenerys.
A part of their being able to find that middle ground was the relief that they had all felt, even Eddard, with Robert's capture. Not having him looming over them as a threat, worrying them for the young lives that were under their care.
Harrison smiled as the door opened to the side again and the children were brought into the room, Viserys running over to him to tell him what he and Rhaenys had been doing that day, though his brother paused mid-word to stare wide-eyed at him.
"You look so handsome, Uncle Harrison!" Rhaenyrs practically had hearts in her eyes as she looked at him.
"Thank you," Harrison smiled at her warmly. "Jamie, do shut your mouth, you make me feel as though I go around looking like I live over the Wall normally," Harrison turned to the Lannister Knight.
"No…I…you…I..erm…" Jamie stammered and flushed when everyone around him laughed.
"Take a breath lad before you have a heart attack," Ser Arthur Dayne patted him warmly on the shoulder.
Harrison smiled at the Knight, he had thankfully recovered from his wounds, and his acceptance and warmth towards the young man had helped ease the way the other King's Guard treated him.
They all turned and sobered up when there was a rap on the door in warning before the Lords, Ladies, Nobles, and people of the court were allowed into the Throne Room, the crowd filtering in, talking excitedly to each other. The arrival of the Hand of the King had been eagerly awaited, and all of them were looking forward to the celebrations that were to come.
Finally, they were all in and in place, and Harrison looked to the Guards at the door who were standing waiting. They nodded to him, and he nodded back indicating for them to summon Tywin.
It felt as though he had to wait hours until finally, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching down the corridor, the clang of armour echoing, indicating Tywin was approaching. He straightened his back and fought not to reach up to play with the necklace around his neck, the simple golden band threaded through it, as had become his habit recently.
Tywin swept around the corner and into the Throne Room, and his eyes were immediately drawn to Harrison standing at the base of the Iron Throne waiting for him. His eyes were drawn to Harrison normally, there was no way that he could have looked anywhere else right now as he took in the sight in front of him as he got closer and closer to Harrison.
The slightly foolish feeling he had had in sending that letter, and wondering how Harrison had taken it was swept away when he realised that Harrison was dressed for him, that he was dressed in this finery for him.
The Prince was wearing fitted black trousers and a fitted red shirt, the cut of the shirt lying low on the Prince's chest and showing off his sharp collar bones and pale chest in a way that felt oddly intimate considering his shirts normally were closed around his throat. Over the top, was a long coat that swept to the floor and had long, heavy sleeves, lined with red silk that looked almost like blood when Harrison moved. The black fabric had been stitched in a way that made it look like dragon scales, harkening to his sigil which was embroidered in blood-red thread on his shoulders, and though Tywin could not see it at that moment, on the back of the coat as well. The coat was tapered and fitted to Harrison's slender frame.
Sweeping down over the black fabric was Harrison's silver blond hair, loose completely except for a couple of braids, Harrison had left his hair completely down, and the contrast along with his pale skin was utterly breathtaking. Sitting on his head was a simple golden circlet, the faint pattern of dragon scales engraved into the metal, with a diamond sitting perfectly in the centre. With a jolt, Tywin realised that he himself had given the circlet as a gift to Harrison five years ago on his nameday.
"Lord Tywin, you have returned, and victorious," Harrison called into the room and silence swept over everyone.
"Prince Harrison, it was my honour," Tywin bowed. "The traitor is currently in the cells, ready to be spoken to,"
Eddard and Lyanna shifted just a little, and Harrison and Tywin both made a note to speak to the siblings, they could not show themselves that way. They all knew that the conversation, and Robert's life, would rest on the siblings convincing him to accept whatever punishments were put his way, sign agreements and essentially his freedom away, agree to send his hostages to Kings Landing, and go back to Storms End where he would be nothing more than a puppet Lord, and would need to behave for the rest of his life.
Otherwise, they would have him executed.
"May I introduce my daughter Cersei," Tywin motioned to the side, and his beautiful daughter stepped forward and curtseyed to Harrison.
The Prince had to fight back his smile as he listened to the mutterings going through the hallway, the looks exchanged between the different Lords, Ladies and Nobles. They thought Tywin had brought his daughter here to marry her to Harrison. If only they knew. And he wondered if Tywin was aware of Cersei and Jamie's relationship. Though he would not turn and look at Jamie during a moment like this, the way Cersei's green eyes flicked from Harrison and settled on where Jamie was standing was incredibly telling.
"My son, Tyrion," Tywin said a little tenser and Harrison glanced at the little boy that could be his half brother. Tyrion was five now, and though he was not a cute child, there was a cheekiness about him, even as he peered up from where he was standing next to his nurse.
"Hello Tyrion," Harrison allowed himself to smile at the little boy.
"Hello," Tyrion brightened and he bowed deeply at Harrison before straightening and looking at Tywin for approval. The Hand of the King inclined his head slightly and Tyrion looked back to Harrison nervously.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both," Harrison smiled at the two children of the man that he…
"And it is good to have you back in the city Lord Hand,"
"It is good to be back, I also bring with me Benjin Stark, I bumped into him along the road back to the Captial," Tywin motioned to the side and a slightly travel-worn young man stepped forward and bowed.
"Benjin," Harrison smiled and was impressed that the Stark siblings were able to control themselves to also just greet their brother, waiting for later to properly welcome him.
"Lord Benjin was waging a powerful stand against the rebellion in the Riverlands, he made it almost easy to clean up," Tywin said, and the younger Stark flushed at the praise.
"Then it is definitely good to have you here Goodbrother," Harrison smiled. He ignored the twittering and muttering going around at him acknowledging the…odd circumstances of their family.
"Pleasure," Benjin didn't seem to know what to do with himself, and Harrison took pity on him.
"Come my Lord Hand, we have a feast prepared for you and your retinue, the brave men who have helped settle this realm from the rebellion, and chaos, caused by Robert Baratheon. We have all slept a little easier in our beds since news of your victory reached us," Harrison said the words for everyone, his eyes holding Tywin's. "Let us feast, and celebrate!" he clapped his hands, and the servants moved swiftly as they had practiced, bringing in the tables, benches, chairs and following swiftly behind, food and drink for the feast.
"You're going to give him a heart attack," Jamie murmured to Harrison as a band hurried into the room and set up in their space, quickly striking up a merry tune as laughter and chatter filled the massive room.
"Shush you and go and see Cersei before she combusts," Harrison muttered back. The young man glanced nervously at him, but Harrison gave him a gentle nudge, bending to take Daenerys from her nurse's arms and holding his little sister close as Tywin swept up the stairs towards him.
"This is Daenerys then?" Tywin glanced down at the baby.
"Daenerys Stormborn," Harrison smiled down at the beautiful baby as she let out a little yawn. "She is going to be meant for great things," he said certainly.
"They all are I think, and those great things can be done together, if we teach them right," Tywin hummed.
"Prince Harrison, it is an honour to meet you," Harrison smiled down at Tyrion who had scrambled up the steps after his father.
"And I you, I have been looking forward to meeting you," Harrison said gently, crouching down so that he was eye to eye with the little boy, ignoring the muttering from the room.
"Is this your sister?" Tyrion asked, peering curiously at the baby in Harrison's arms.
"It is, Daenerys," Harrison nodded. Tywin moved to pull Tyrion back when the little boy gripped hold of Harrison's arm so that he could look closer at the baby, Tyrion's wide green eyes staring up at him uncertainly when Harrison shook his head at the Hand and instead tilted his arms so Tyrion could see her better.
"She smiled," Tyrion beamed, looking up at his Father.
"Very good," Tywin nodded.
"She cries every time Jamie looks at her," Harrison mock whispered to Tyrion.
"It isn't my fault!" Jamie protested stepping up behind Tyrion and resting his hand on his brother's shoulder gently.
"Jamie!" Tyrion beamed turning to hug his brother. Tywin reached down and took Harrison's arm to help him to his feet.
"It is good to have you back," Harrison said softly, the words only for them.
"It is good to be back," Tywin's green eyes were practically burning as they looked down at him.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but the feast is ready," Elia stepped up next to them breaking the moment.
"Who are you?" Viserys asked Tyrion who ducked a little behind Jamie.
"Serys!" Rhaenys scolded. "It is Lord Tywin's son, come on you can sit with us," she reached out and offered her hand to the little boy who took it hesitantly and then found himself tugged along to the table, Viserys spluttering as he followed behind.
"Here we go," Harrison passed Daenerys over to her nurse after kissing her head.
The babies were taken away for the feast, and then their odd group cross family settled at the head table for the feast, Elia and Lyanna sitting at the center with Harrison and Tywin on either side of them.
"I am not going to bite you, I promise," Harrison smiled slightly at Benjin who was seated on one side of him, and Lyanna who was seated on the other laughing softly.
"I feel like a chunk of coal next to a diamond," Benjin groaned.
"Thank you for the compliment," Harrison said, blushing slightly. "But don't worry, we will have you all styled up soon, you have been fighting and traveling for a good while,"
"Lord Tywin looks as though he is about to start stabbing things," Lyanna whispered to Harrison. When he turned he could see Tywin glowering at Benjin while Elia fought back her laughter.
"Please don't get me killed!" Benjin begged when Harrison turned back towards him, his indigo and emerald eyes glinting with mischief.
"Lord Tywin," Arthur announced, his blue eyes dancing with amusement.
"Thank you, Arthur, you may all leave," Harrison narrowed his eyes at the Knight.
"Shall we wait?" Arthur smirked.
"Go!" Harrison ordered, and as Tywin stepped through the door, the laughing King's Guard stepped out with Harrison's household knights and guards and shut the door firmly behind themselves.
"Prince Harrison," Tywin bowed slightly.
"You don't need to call me that, and you know you don't," Harrison snorted.
"I feel I do when you look as you do tonight," Tywin stepped from his bow, and then stepped closer to Harrison, his eyes scanning over the Prince, his expression utterly hungry now that they were alone.
"I wanted to be dressed up for your return," Harrison nodded. "I wanted to surprise you,"
"That you did. Just seeing you would have been enough, seeing you like this, in all your beauty," Tywin moved forward until he was in Harrison's personal space. "It made every second away from your side worth it to see you again,"
"I was so worried about you," Harrison sighed, closing the space between them, daring to reach up and cup Tywin's cheek. He stroked his thumb over the skin of the older man's cheek and looked him over intently. "I missed you," he admitted.
"I missed you too, more than I was expecting, and I was expecting it," Tywin chuckled, not daring to reach out for the other yet.
"I am sorry we parted as we did," Harrison murmured, dropping his eyes embarrassed.
"I understand why you did not want me to go, I understand completely. I did not want to leave you, I did not want to risk not coming back. I never want to be the cause of one tear from you," Tywin said softly.
"So do not leave my side again," Harrison looked up at Tywin, staring intently at the older man.
"I will do everything that I can to try and not," Tywin promised.
"I must marry soon," Harrison said, completely unexpectedly, and Tywin found his heart aching in his chest suddenly.
"I…it would be advisable, yes, people will be expecting it," Tywin nodded.
"It needs to be a good, political marriage, someone that will benefit the throne, my nephew, someone that will help secure the realm after the rebellion. There have been mutterings in Court recently about it, and who people think I should marry," Harrison listed.
"Yes, there are a few sensible choices," Tywin nodded, not so subtly dislodging Harrison's hand from his face, and taking a step back. He felt a fool, an old fool, he had thought Harrison intended a relationship with him…instead, perhaps it seemed he intended them to have an affair. Until Harrison married, perhaps he hoped to carry it on after the marriage.
"Stannis Baratheon, Loras or Margery Highgarden, Benjin Stark, Jon Arryn have all been suggested the most," Harrison said, "Even Oberyn, though with the way he has been whoring himself around the city that one is not so popular. A few have even said I should marry Elia,"
"Indeed," Tywin took a breath and tried the fight everything down that he was feeling right now. "It is something that needs to be weighed up carefully, and the right match made," he managed to say.
"Indeed," Harrison echoed him, and then firm indigo and green eyes locked onto him with an expression that had fire washing through Tywin as though he had drunk Wild fire. "So, you had better marry me before others get any stupid ideas in their heads,"
"You…" Tywin blinked at the Prince before his green eyes narrowed. "You wound me up on purpose,"
"I did," Harrison smirked at him. "I want to marry no one but you, I want you to be my husband, and I want to spend my life with you. So, Lord Tywin Lannister, Hand of the King, our marriage will be announced and we will be married as soon as possible,"
"Do I get a say in this?" Tywin arched an eyebrow. Then felt as though he had swallowed his tongue when Harrison reached up and undid the buttons from his coat and pulled the fabric from his body, revealing that he had removed his red shirt since the feast, and stood in front of Tywin wearing only his black trousers as the soft thwump of the heavy fabric hitting the floor seemed to echo around the room.
Tywin corrected himself, Harrison was naked except for the black trousers, his circlet, and a simple golden ban on a simple golden chain, fastened around Harrison's throat.
"Do you have any objections?" Harrison tilted his head, his blond hair moving around him like water.
"I…no, my Prince," Tywin's thoughts were slowly coming back together.
"Good, I have started the foundations of the wedding, we should be able to be married within the fortnight," Harrison nodded.
"And are we to stay celebrate until then, it is only two weeks," Tywin asked.
"I really hope not," Harrison dropped the act a little and looked up at Tywin with a passion in his eyes that Tywin felt echoing through him.
"Thank the Gods," Tywin muttered before sweeping forward and wrapping his arms around Harrison's bare waist, holding onto him tightly, pulling him against his chest as he leaned down and pressed their lips together.
Harrison seemed to melt against him, groaning softly into his mouth as he went up onto his toes and wrapped his arms around Tywin's shoulders, kissing him back passionately. Tywin could almost taste how much the younger man had missed him, the joy at being back together, and the joy in their first kiss, and he hoped that Harrison was able to read the same in him.
Looking down at the Prince as he helped Tywin strip out of his outer layers and then shirt, he thought that the Prince could, Harrison seemed to read him in a way that not even Johanna had been able to, he was able to see through to his soul it felt like.
They quickly came together again, both groaning in delight as their bare chests were pressed together, their hands sweeping over warm, bare flesh, searching, familiarising, and appropriating the other's body for their own.
"Harrison, do you want…" Tywin found himself struggling to say the words, feeling for the first time in his life as though he might be reaching too far for something, reaching for something that was not for his touch.
A warm hand cupped his face again, and gentle kisses were swept over his cheek, down to his lips where fleeting, fluttering kisses were placed until Harrison pulled back again.
"I want you to make love to me," Harrison said softly, looking up at Tywin with a heat in them that had new fires burning through him.
Harrison took his hands and guided him through his living quarters and into his bedroom beyond, shutting the door behind them before falling back into Tywin's embrace. They made their way with more grace than Tywin expected to Harrison's bed and fell onto it in a tangle of limbs.
Tywin let out a pleased groan, surprised when a nimble hand undid the laces of his trousers and slipped inside, the soft, slender hand wrapped around his already hard, weeping erection and stroked it firmly.
"Though I have been stripping myself raw thinking of you, if you carry on this is going to be over before I can be inside your sweet body," Tywin warned gripping Harrison's wrist to stop him. He looked down and was delighted to see a deep red blush sweeping up Harrison's chest and over his cheeks, painting him in a delicious shade.
"Then you had better hurry, I have not been able to stop thinking about this moment," Harrison groaned withdrawing his hand and instead starting to push Tywin's trousers down his hips. Tywin quickly stripped him off, impatiently yanking his boots off with them, before he turned and helped Harrison to finish unlacing his own trousers, and then gripped them and yanked them off of the Prince.
"You have been thinking of me?" Tywin asked, his voice sounding more like the growl of the lion on his sigil than that of a man right now. He grabbed the jar of oil from the bedside cabinet that was clearly for this moment, and quickly slicked up his fingers before taking in the image of the naked man in front of him.
"Yes, constantly," Harrison said, and it took a moment to remember that he had asked Harrison something when he was faced with seeing his naked body for the first time.
"I thought of coming back unannounced, coming to your rooms while you were dressed only in your nightshirt, just embracing you, making love to you on the rug in front of your fire," Tywin licked his lips as he pressed a finger inside of Harrison.
"We need to do that," Harrison nodded frantically, pressing down on the finger. "Another," he groaned.
"I don't want to hurt you," Tywin frowned.
"That is sweet, but I have been masturbating thinking about you since the news arrived that you won and were on your way back," Harrison laughed breathlessly before groaning when Tywin pressed another finger inside of him.
"You have no idea what you do to me, your mind, your wit, how dangerous you can be, how beautiful you are," Tywin groaned, stretching Harrison as quickly as he dared.
"I love that you appreciate my mind as much as my beauty," Harrison drew Tywin up his body with a demanding tug on his hair and he sealed their lips together again in a desperate kiss. "Now,"
Unable to deny Harrison in this moment, and aware that there would be very little he would be able to deny Harrison in the future, Tywin liberally slicked himself up before he pressed into the hot, tight body of the Prince, the two of them groaning into each other's mouths as Tywin sank through into the heated depths of Harrison's body until he was fully buried inside of him.
"You're as hot as a dragon's fire," Tywin groaned.
"You feel so good," Harrison answered, moving to wrap his legs around Tywin, moving to wrap his arms around his shoulders. It could feel as though he were clinging to Tywin, but instead, the older man oddly felt a sense of security. Here buried inside of Harrison, his arms and legs wrapped around him he felt as though they were in their own world, his constantly noisy mind quietened and focussed only on the man underneath him and the pleasure burning through his body. He felt as though Harrison was protecting him from the noise of the world.
"Make love to me," Harrison whispered into the space between them, his eyes shining with an emotion that had Tywin's heart jerking in his chest.
Pulling back Tywin sucked in a breath, unable to take his eyes from Harrison as he drew himself to the tip and then pressed firmly back inside the burning heat he never wanted to leave. He built up a steady rhythm, moving inside of the body of the stunning Prince who seemed to want him as much as he wanted the Prince.
Harrison panted underneath him, his hips moving to match Tywin's rhythm, and the room filled with the sound of their lovemaking until the two of them were so close to the edge that they could both practically taste it.
"Tywin," Harrison groaned, throwing his head back, exposing his pale throat to Tywin, pleasure flush decorating the pale skin, as he panted and groaned with the pleasure going through him. Growling quite convincingly Tywin managed to lift one of Harrison's legs from his hip, and as the younger man murmured in protest, he lifted it slightly higher up his body and tilting Harrison a little, he started pounding into his body. "Ugh! Tywin!"
The sounds that Harrison let out drove Tywin almost mad with lust and he kept up the harder rhythm, thrusting and pounding into the tight body under his until Harrison cried out and Tywin felt his body suddenly clamping down around him, completely taking him by surprise as he cried out himself and spilled inside of Harrison's body.
"No, stay," Harrison protected a little hoarsely when Tywin went to pull back.
"I think my body is trying to get hard again, and it might kill me," Tywin groaned. Harrison laughed softly, and Tywin huffed at the minx, he would feel a little put out if he could feel the tremour going through Harrison's body, after pleasure washing through his body.
Carefully he moved them so that Harrison was lying on top of him and he was lying flat on his back. The feeling of being pressed tightly inside of Harrison, was something that he realised he could fast become addicted to.
"I need to give you it back," Harrison murmured tiredly Tywin started playing with the ring around his throat.
"Hmm, I would rather you keep it," Tywin said.
"You said it has been in your family for generations," Harrison looked up at him with those unusual eyes that had haunted Tywin the whole time that he had been away.
"It has been, think of it as a promise, our promise, separate to the ones that we will make in front of the country that they will see, and be told is for political reasons. And when the time is right, we can pass it to our children," Tywin smiled.
"Jamie…" Harrison protested.
"I think he will understand," Tywin chuckled. "Besides the boy adores you, I feel as though I could tell him that I am giving you Casterly Rock and he would be fine with that as long as he gets to stay with you,"
"Hardly!" Harrison protested flushing.
"You have a way about you," Tywin said softly, brushing the back of his hand along Harrison's face.
"Tywin," Harrison muttered embarrassed, burying his face into Twyin's chest.
"I apologise, I did not mean to embarrass you," Tywin chuckled.
"You're lucky I love you," Harrison said softly, and Tywin fought not to freeze.
"Do you?" He asked almost breathlessly.
"Yes," Harrison sounded so incredibly nervous, and Tywin couldn't have that.
"I love you as well. I think I started falling for you right away when I walked into that throne room and haven't stopped since,"
"We can be happy together," Harrison said surely.
"I believe so," Tywin hummed, and then laughed slightly, "Even with the slightly odd family we seem to be forging through choice and through none,"
"The Starks are different, but they have their pluses as well. Eddard will need training though, he is an honest, good man, who also has no political nouse and can be a complete idiot when it has nothing to do with Winterfell," Harrison sighed.
"That bad?" Tywin grimaced.
"I had to restrain myself from trying to smother him several times," Harrison said dryly.
"We will make sure it works, somehow," Tywin snorted.
"Together?" Harrison looked at Tywin with those stunning eyes, his hair mussed and somehow managing to be attractive despite being an utter riot.
"Together," Tywin smiled.
"I feel as though you are my gift, for everything that I have had to lose," Harrison said softly after putting out the candle on the bedside, the dying light of the fire the only thing lighting the room. Tywin's heart ached for the young man.
"I will also do everything within my power to make sure that you don't have to endure any more loss, and I believe together, we are more than capable of protecting it all," Tywin promised into the darkness of the night, "And as long as I have you in my arms, as long as I have your love, it will all be worth it, every moment,"
"Every moment," Harrison whispered against his chest.
"Every moment goes by so quickly," Lyanna sighed watching Jaeherys huffing and taking his stance again, holding his sword high while Jamie smiled and indulged the 12-year-old, moving into position again.
"What is that look for?" Elia asked Harrison, catching the expression on his face.
"Every moment does go by quickly, but there have been so many good ones," he sighed contently.
"So many," the beloved voice came from behind him before Tywin leaned down and brushed a kiss over his cheek and then his lips when he turned. "And so many more to come," he sighed running his hands around the swell of Harrison's stomach.
"Honestly, you two are as loved up as you were when you first met," Elia chuckled.
"And like rabbits since as well," Oberyn snorted.
"Don't be crude," Tywin scowled at the Viper who held his hands up with a chuckle, as ever knowing not to take Tywin's sharp words to heart.
"Having a fifth child is a little excessive," Lyanna grinned. "Poor Cersei looks mortified when you announce a new pregnancy,"
"She has no leg to stand on," Tywin rolled his eyes.
"Did you need me?" Harrison asked.
"Oh yes, Stannis Baratheon is here," Tywin sighed.
"Ugh, that man could bore me to tears," Harrison groaned but held his hands out to Tywin to pull him to his feet. "Why couldn't he have come a month later and I could truly claim the pregnancy is too far along,"
"Because there was no way you were leaving me with him, so I hurried him here," Tywin said in a sweet tone.
"You're sleeping on the sofa tonight," Harrison said in an equally sweet tone, the others laughing behind them as they walked away.
"Not long and the babe will be here," Tywin smiled.
"Hmm, I was thinking," Harrison said softly, linking his arm through Tywin's as they walked along the slightly uneven path.
"Yes?" Tywin glanced down at his stunning husband.
"Once the baby is old enough, we could take a holiday, Elia, Lyanna, and Gods forbid Oberyn can manage without us for a few months, we could take the children and a break together," Harrison suggested, glancing up with indigo and green eyes to gauge Tywin's thoughts, smiling when he read his husband's face as he so easily did.
"Have you been thinking about this for a while?" Tywin asked.
"I enjoy being here, but I have been feeling the desire for a little break recently," Harrison nodded.
"We could take longer than a few months," Tywin suggested and laughed when Harrison scrunched his nose.
"By the Gods no, we would both go stir crazy with boredom, and who knows what these idiots would do in that time," Harrison snorted.
"That is our family you're talking about," Tywin chuckled.
"And I love them," Harrison grinned.
"A break would be nice, just you, me, and the children. It would be nice to properly show Daenerys Casterly Rock, and I am not sure Tyrion really fully remembers it," Tywin hummed.
"Take a little tour around our lands and just relax a little," Harrison nodded.
"We can make plans and when the baby is old enough head out," Tywin agreed. "You are telling our family though,"
"You say that like I won't take great delight in watching the horror on their faces," Harrison laughed. He chuckled when as they stepped into the Keep Tywin pulled him aside and pressed him gently against the wall, kissing him gently as he cupped his stomach.
"So many wonderful moments, and so many wonderful ones to come," Tywin hummed softly.
"You remember?" Harrison asked brightly, wrapping his arms around Tywin's shoulders.
"I remember every moment with you," Tywin smiled pulling the ring that Harrison never took off from under his top.
"I love you," Harrison said, every single thing he was feeling written across his face, and clear to hear in his voice.
"My beautiful Dragon Prince, I love you too," Tywin smiled before leaning down to kiss Harrison, another kiss in the million kisses that they had shared, and the million more that he hoped they would share.