Tyrion enters the small council chamber, he is carrying a large tome. He spies Cersei and pauses. Tywin looked up and said, "You're late."

Tyrion asked looking at Cersei, "What's she doing here?"

Tywin said firmly, "Our business concerns her, too. Sit." Tyrion sits at the table.

Tyrion said formally, "You'll be pleased to learn that after one conversation with Olenna Tyrell, I've saved the crown hundreds of thousands on this wedding."

Tywin said ignoring him, "Never mind that now. We have something important to discuss."

Tyrion said proudly, "I'm Master of Coin. Saving money is important." Cersei was rolling her eyes glaring at him and smirking at him.

Tyrion said to Cersei, "Stop that. You're making me uncomfortable."

Tywin said directly, "Your sister has learned that your new friends the Tyrells are plotting to marry Sansa Stark to Ser Loras."

Tyrion said flippantly, "Very well. She's a lovely girl. Missing some of Loras' favorite bits, but I'm sure they'll make do."

Tywin said perturbed, "Your japes are not appreciated."

Tyrion said sarcastically, "It wasn't my best, but…" he held his hands out to the side.

Tywin said angrily, "I bring them into the royal fold and this is how they repay me, by trying to steal the key to the North out from under me."

Tyrion said sarcastically, "Sansa is the key to the North? I seem to remember she has an older brother."

Tywin said seriously, "The Karstarks have marched home. The young wolf has lost half his army. His days are numbered. Theon Greyjoy murdered both his brothers. That makes Sansa Stark the heir to Winterfell. And I am not about to hand her over to the Tyrells."

Tyrion said, "The Tyrell army is helping us to win this war. Do you really think it's wise to refuse them?"

Tywin said, "There's nothing to refuse. This is a plot. Plots are not public knowledge. And the Tyrells won't carry this one out until after Joffrey's wedding. We need to act first and kill this union in its crib."

Tyrion said, "And how do we do that?"

Tywin said, "We find Sansa Stark a different husband."

Tyrion said disinterestedly, "Wonderful."

Cersei said amused, "Yes, it is." Tyrion then realizes Tywin's intent to marry him to Sansa.

Tyrion said astonished, "You can't mean it."

Tywin said gruffly, "I can and I do."

Tyrion explained, "Joffrey has made this poor girl's life miserable since the day he took her father's head. Now she's finally free of him and you give her to me? That's cruel even for you. Aldarra will not put up with this. She is very protective of her. She is going to be spitting mad."

Cersei said snarkily, "Who cares what she thinks."

Tywin said, "Do you intend on mistreating her? The girl's happiness is not my concern, nor should it be yours. Aldarra will do as she's told."

Tyrion said, "She's a child! When have you ever thought Aldarra would just up and do as she's told. You're playing with fire and marrying Aldarra tomorrow too."

Cersei said, "She's flowered, I assure you. Sansa and I have discussed it at length. Aldarra is not her keeper, we are."

Tywin said, "There, you see? You will wed her, bed her, and put a child in her. Surely you're capable of that. I'll deal with Aldarra tonight."

Tyrion said obstinately, "And if I refuse?"

Tywin said snarkily, "You wanted to be rewarded for your valor in battle. Sansa Stark is a finer reward than you could ever dare hope for. And it is past time you were wed."

Tyrion said angrily, "I was wed. Or don't you remember?"

Tywin snapped, "Only too well."

Cersei said rubbing it in, "You should be thanking the gods for this. This is more than you deserve."

Tywin said to Cersei, "Tyrion will do as he's bid. As will you."

Cersei said affronted, "What do you mean?"

Tywin said, narrowing his eyes at her, "You'll marry Ser Loras."

Cersei said angrily, "I will not!"

Tywin said factually, "The boy is heir to Highgarden. Tyrion will secure the North, you will secure the Reach."

Cersei stubbornly said, crossing her arms, "No, I won't do it."

Tywin said harshly, "Yes, you will. You're still fertile. You need to marry again and breed."

Cersei said, sticking her nose in the air, "I am Queen Regent, not some broodmare."

Tywin said loud and forcefully, "You're my daughter! You will do as I command and you will marry Loras Tyrell and put an end to the disgusting rumors about you once and for all!"

Cersei whined, "Father, don't make me do it again, please." Tywin slams his fist on the table and rises.

Tywin said perturbed, "Not another word. My children. You've disgraced the Lannister name for far too long." Tywin leaves the room. Both Cersei and Tyrion sit there and brood.

—--

Olenna and Tywin are sitting in Tywin's study drinking wine. Olenna said, "Impossible." Tywin pours some wine.

Tywin said, "Why?"

Olenna said, boasting, "My grandson is the pride of Highgarden. The most desirable bachelor in all seven kingdoms. Your daughter…"

Tywin boasted back at her, "Is rich, the most beautiful woman in all seven kingdoms and the mother of the king." Tywin hands a glass to Olenna.

Olenna said, "Old."

Tywin said, "Old?"

Olenna said factually, "Old. I'm something of an expert on the subject. Her change will be upon her before long. I'll spare you the details of what will happen then. You men may have a stomach for bloodshed and slaughter, but this is another matter entirely."

Tywin said calculating, "The years punish us men as well, I promise you that. My stomach remains quite strong, however. The only thing that might turn it, are details of your grandson's nocturnal activities. Do you deny them?"

Olenna said casually, waving a hand, "Oh, not at all. A sword swallower through and through."

Tywin said pointedly, "And a boy with his affliction should be grateful for the opportunity to marry the most beautiful woman in the seven kingdoms and remove the stain from his name."

Olenna asks curiously, "Did you grow up with boy cousins, Lord Tywin? Sons of your father's bannermen, squires, stable boys?"

Tywin said flatly, "Of course."

Olenna asked, "And you never…"

Tywin said firmly, "No."

Olenna asked smiling, "Not once? Not in any way?"

Tywin said, "Never."

Olenna said smirking, "I congratulate you upon your restraint. But it's a natural thing, two boys having a go at each other beneath the sheets."

Tywin said appalled, "Perhaps Highgarden has a high tolerance for unnatural behavior."

Olenna said shrugging, "I wouldn't say that. True, we don't tie ourselves in knots over a discreet bit of buggery, but brothers and sisters… where I come from, that stain would be very difficult to wash out."

Tywin knew the old woman was baiting him. He said, "I will not breathe further life into a malicious lie by discussing it." Tywin stands, offended. He pours himself more wine.

Olenna inquired, "Lie or not, you must admit many people find it quite convincing. Convincing enough to put swords in their hands and send them off to kill Lannisters and Tyrells thanks to our new affiliation."

Tywin said, "I don't care what people believe. And neither do you." Olenna refuses Tywin's offer for more wine.

Olenna said, "As an authority on myself, I must disagree."

Tywin said calculating again, "Now, if the rumors about my children were true, then Joffrey is no king at all and House Tyrell is throwing its prized flower into the dirt."

Olenna came back at him saying, "And if Cersei is too old to give Loras children, we're throwing another prized flower into the dirt. It is a chance we simply cannot take."

Tywin said firmly, "The uncertainty makes you uncomfortable. All right. I'll remove it for you." Tywin sits back down at his desk.

Tywin said, narrowing his eyes, "If you refuse to marry Loras to Cersei, I will name him to the Kingsguard. I'm sure you're familiar with the Kingsguard vows. He will never marry. He will never have children."

Oleanna sat back and said, "Oh?"

Tywin said factually, "The Tyrell name will fade. And Highgarden will go to the children of Joffrey and Margaery."

Olenna asked, "You would have your grandson protected by someone who disgusts you?"

Tywin said back at her, "I would have my grandson protected by a skilled warrior who takes his vows seriously. So, shall I draw up the order? Or do you consent to this marriage?" Tywin takes up a quill and prepares to write. Olenna stands, and takes the quill from his hand.

Olenna spat, "It's a rare enough thing… a man who lives up to his reputation." Olenna snaps the quill and walks out of the room.

—--

Aldarra shouts very angrily at Tywin standing in his study, "What the hell do you mean by doing all this behind my and Sansa's back! How could you just tell me now like this!"

Tywin said getting upset, "Aldarra just calm yourself down and talk to me civilly."

Aldarra said flustered, "You want civil? You tell me this the day before you marry me that you're plotting behind my back to marry my friend off to your son to stop the Tyrell's from trying to marry her to Loras! All because if her brother died she is in control of the north. Did I miss anything?! What did Tyrion say? I bet he is angry about it and at you too! She is just a little girl! You just sit there like a spider weaving webs to politically toy with innocent lives. You Damn Lannisters!" Aldarra threw her book at him and turned her back huffing and crossing her arms. He dodged it and came up behind her wrapping his arms around her, locking her in his arms.

He said softly in her ear, "It will protect her from being manipulated by them when Margaery becomes queen. It's the first thing she is going to do, and I found out that she will decree that Loras and her are married. I couldn't have her marry those people, besides Loras he doesn't even like women but Cersei will be marrying him instead."

Aldarra giggled and he turned her around saying, "Oh, you liked that part?" He chuckles.

She said smirking, "I bet she just loved you telling her that and threw a tirade over it. But how did Olenna agree to that?"

He smirked, "Olenna had no choice and neither did Cersei. I made sure."

Aldarra said, "I can see your nobody's favorite person right now, Tywin. Baelish is plotting on Sansa and trying to take her away with him to the Vale when he leaves. He's promising to take her to her mother if she goes with him. I'd say that is treason if he does."

Tywin put his head down thinking. He asked, "Is she thinking about it?"

Aldarra said sadly, "I don't think so but news like this could push her away from me and here. Tywin, don't hurt my girl. I know you're playing control games with her life. She's like my sister and I love her."

He said, "I won't say anything official until after he leaves King's Landing after our wedding."

Aldarra said, "If he gets wind of it after tomorrow, he will tell her and it could scare her. If she goes with him because of this, I'm warning you, I'm going to be running after her. I can't let him hurt her. I swore a promise to protect her when nobody else would."

Tywin said, rubbing his hands up and down her back, "Let's not think about it. It hasn't happened. I can't let you go after her, Aldarra. Not this time." Aldarra thought, 'I warned him and he will not stop me. He's not listening to me again. I will not let Sansa go to the Erie without me. I'll kill the son of a bitch before I let him take her for his ambitions.'