Weiss

The weeks following Weiss' duel with Ser Amory Lorch passed by quickly, with Lord Tywin having to arrange the stay of countless lords, knights, and King Robert, who drew closer with every passing day. That didn't mean everything was comfortable. Mother had become more devoted to the Seven, visiting the Sept every seven days, and she made sure to drag Weiss along, much to the white haired girl's annoyance. Still, it was Weiss' fault in the end for forming the symbol of the Seven over her chest before her fight with Ser Amory Lorch started. Father and Mother kept their promise about always caring for her as their daughter, but there was always something hidden behind their eyes, apprehension and anxiety. It made Weiss nervous, but there was nothing she could do aside from reassuring her parents that she would be fine with Lord Tywin's latest command.

Weiss would be allowed to join the men in the training yard and practice her swordsmanship under the eye of the Master-at-Arms of the Gold Keep, Ser Janas Ruthermont, as long as it didn't interfere with the lessons taught to her by Septa Loria about being a lady. Ser Janas was an old man, even older than Ser Tylan, and was ten times the grouch. The ancient knight had managed to survive the Ironborn attack on the Gold Keep, with the rumors saying that he had killed five men before sounding the alarm before retreating to gather any surviving guards. He also didn't happen to like Weiss joining the other squires and knights in the training yard. Whether out of sexism or her upsetting a delicate routine, or even just him being a grouch was up in the air.

Dressed in brown trousers with a simple red leather shirt, and her hair tied back into a ponytail with a red ribbon, Weiss looked out of place amongst the squires and knights gathered in the training yard of the Gold Keep. Nearly everyone towered over her, including Robert Brax who kept sending her discreet glances when he thought she wasn't looking. Admittedly, she was used to that, even Ruby was taller than her petite form.

"Keep that sword up!" Ser Janas boomed, his shrill voice screaming at the pair of young squires that were in the middle of a spar. He hadn't allowed Weiss to join a single match since she had joined them. Her duel with Ser Amory Lorch didn't have many witnesses, only the four Lannister brothers, her parents, Ser Lyle Crakehall, and a few other men sworn to secrecy. That did little to stop the spread of rumors, even with the threat of punishment by Lord Tywin looming over everyone. Not helped that the Strongboar had loudly demanded his money from Lorch after the duel, and when the pig had refused, found himself beaten into the training ground again.

Nobody who wasn't present at the duel believed that she was capable of defeating a full grown man, which was fine. Weiss would rather have people underestimate her than being fully prepared, and it was Lorch, he barely counted as a knight in any event. It was a bit annoying though, not being able to spar against other people and focusing only on her drills. Roger Lannett, Ser Tylan's grandson, was one of the squires in the spar, against some Westerling boy named Raynald.

"I hope he doesn't end up injured." Alysanne whispered beside Weiss. Her Father had long arrived at Lannisport, and was staying in Casterly Rock as one of Lord Tywin's closest commanders. Leo Lefford may not have been the greatest warrior or strategist, but he was good with numbers and organization. Weiss knew that her friend was relieved her Father would be far from any fighting.

"He has a handsome face." Alis added in agreement. They were talking about Roger since he had the regular features of a Lannister, with blonde hair, green eyes, and a pointed nose. No one would cheer for Raynald, House Westerling had once been an influential family, but had now fallen on hard times. Raynald's Mother was from House Spicer, a rather new house founded by merchants given a lordship by Tytos Lannister, Lord Tywin's Father. That had improved their fortunes, but lowered their standing amongst the lordly houses. Weiss didn't particularly care, someone could be of noble blood and still be an idiot, while a person of so called 'low-birth' could prove themself to be of a much higher caliber. Still, she had to consider appearances and such, so she had to be careful how she reacted.

"They're both just swinging their sword-arms." Weiss shrugged. She stood away from the boys and watchful men, with Alysanne and Alis standing by her side. The two girls liked to join her, not being intimidated by her despite the rumors that had started to float around Weiss. The Lannister heiress suspected that they only joined her in the training yard to stare at the sweaty men and boys.

"Strong arms." Alis giggled. She was staring at Roger alongside Alysanne, her cheeks a shade of red. Weiss was personally tired of blondes, most of them were related to her in some way, and she wasn't keen on checking out any would-be cousins. That and she was betrothed now to a Redwyne, a boy she had never met before.

Roger and Raynald remained evenly matched, with both trying their best to slam their tourney swords onto the other's chest. It was rather boring if Weiss was being honest, no one here could match the skills of her friends from Remnant, though she could admit they were prodigies, and had trained for far longer than these boys had trained. She hoped Ser Janas would allow her to have a spar today. Sure she could use her Father's title to get what she wanted, but that would only bring back unwanted memories. Back when she was the spoiled heiress to the SDC, and would throw around the Schnee name like it was a weapon.

Raynald eventually managed to slip past Roger's defenses, and slammed his tourney sword against the Lannett's side, sending him to the ground. Alysanne and Alis winced while the other squires cheered. Once she was done here, Weiss was going to have to take a bath before assisting her Mother with the matters of the Gold Keep and then joining Septa Loria for her evening lessons. Today Weiss would be singing hymns of the Seven, Septa Loria and Mother often claimed she had the loveliest voice in all the kingdoms.

It was true of course, Weiss was a classically trained musician and singer. She missed her guitar, piano and drums. Perhaps she could try and recreate her old instruments? If nothing else, she was going to find a way to bring some of her old catalog back, if only to shake up the variety of what she had to listen to.

Raynald extended his arm to help Roger up, who only gave him a glare and slapped his arm away. Roger got up on his own and stomped away, joining the other boys who were now cheering. Someone was a bit of a sore loser, it seemed.

"Do better next time Lannett!" Ser Lanas shook his head. "Your grandsire would've beaten him in a single minute." Hearing other mention Ser Tylan still made Weiss feel guilty. Not that she could've done much in that case, but guilt didn't care for being reasonable.

"Brax, you're up." Ser Lanas turned to her Father's squire. "Who shall you challenge to a duel?"

Robert would probably try fighting another squire, with the levies from around the Westerlands slowly arriving, more and more noblemen were arriving to prepare for the invasion of the Iron Islands. Even now, the banners of the Crakehalls, Leffords, Brax, Marbrands, Prester, and Lydden were easily found, not even counting the minor lords and knightly houses. More would be arriving, except the Houses who were closest to the coast, they would likely be fortifying their positions to avoid an attack. And King Robert's immediate arrival meant that houses from the Crownlands, Stormlands, Riverlands, the Vale and the North would bring countless banners Weiss wouldn't be able to recognize.

"I wish to face Lady Weiss." Robert declared. That caught everyone by surprise, including Weiss who stared at him with wide eyes, and earned the young Brax a round of whispers and giggles from the other boys. Either someone was a fool, or had lost a bet.

Even Ser Janas looked like he wanted to burst out laughing, his thick neck wiggling softly as he clenched his jaw. He had a clean shaven face with a balding head with a few white hairs on top. Alysanne gave Robert a sharp glare, who puffed his chest out from his side of the training yard.

"Do you actually plan on fighting him?" Alis whispered, not that Weiss paid her companion any mind. Instead, she crossed her arms.

"Do you accept, Lady Weiss?" Ser Janas said with a slight sneer hidden beneath a veneer of politeness. He wasn't happy with being forced to 'train' a woman, not that Weiss needed any. She'd much prefer practicing the skills from her past life, and working out her body as best as she could as a seven year old girl.

"I accept." Weiss said, stepping forward. She'd just use her aura to enhance her strength just enough to wield the blunted tourney blades. As efficient as she was with daggers, Weiss always felt comfortable with an actual sword in her hands.

Weiss' answer only caused the laughter to spread, with even Roger Lannett joining in. Well, it was time to prove them all wrong, even if she had to beat them one by one, or all at once if she had to. She wasn't going to kill Robert, or maim him, he was just a little kid. Weiss was just going to hurt him, a little. Better a pint of sweat in the training yard then a pint of blood in the field, as Winter had put it.

Yeah right, it was going to hurt a lot once she was done with him.

Tywin

"King Robert has arrived at Pinkmaiden, my Lord." Maester Creylin announced, his brown eyes staring down at a pile of letters that had arrived by raven. It was a hefty stack, necessitating the Maester to have one of his apprentices carry them in a bag down from the rookery.

Tywin sat at the head of a long table in one of Casterly Rock's many large rooms, where he'd preplaced maps, an imitation of Dragonstone's fabled Chamber of the Painted Table. All of his brothers were present, along with the lords of the Westerlands, his chosen commanders for the upcoming war with the Ironborn. Kevan sat to his right, while the old Maester sat directly to Tywin's left, passing him each letter as needed.

"His Grace's progress has been slow." Leo Lefford grumbled. His daughter had been present in the Gold Keep during the Ironborn raid, one of Lady Weiss' female companions. The Lord of the Golden Tooth was eager to get revenge on those who would dare try to turn his only child into a saltwife. He was far from a decent commander or fighter and would better serve in the rear in charge of supplies. Still, he was at least aware of that weakness of his, and would serve in the rear, while not happily, but efficiently.

"The Lord Hand's excuse would likely state that King Robert is gathering more men, drawn from Hoster Tully's levies." Damon Marbrant of Ashemark spoke up, one of Tywin's cousins through his Mother. He spoke the truth, yet the entire realm knew better. Robert was only good for fighting and fucking whores. Well, if nothing else, he was going to get his wishes fulfilled in droves when he finally showed up.

Tywin remained silent, allowing his bannermen to bicker amongst themselves as the Maester continued with the letters.

"We have received a raven from Oldtown, penned by Lord Stannis Baratheon." Maester Creylin croaked. He was a Frey bastard if Tywin remembered correctly, and was recently appointed to serve the Rock.

"Excellent." Dramen said, near the far end of the table seated between Lord Roland Crakehall and Ser Harys Swyft, Kevan's goodfather. "He must've met up with the fleet sent by the Redwynes."

The fool was lucky he was Tywin's kin, and for having a daughter as competent as Lady Weiss. Even after witnessing her duel with Ser Amory Lorch, who had been specifically ordered not to show any mercy or hold back, it was hard to believe that she was capable of defeating four Ironborn, and one of Tywin's knights. It almost made him regret having her betrothed to the Redwynes, such skill at killing must be cultivated, even if she happened to be a girl who had only seen seven namedays. Still, who knows? War changes the plans of men all the time. Perhaps a more deserving candidate for her hand would appear? Another Lannister cousin perhaps?

"What does the letter say?" Tywin finally spoke, taking a small sip of Arbor red. Stannie Baratheon was a hard man, unblooded in naval warfare, and had only gained the position as Robert's brother. Still, he was tenacious, any man who was willing to starve himself and his men, while keeping their loyalty, was to be respected.

"Lord Stannis reports that he has met up with the Redwyne and Hightower fleets that will assist in the battle to come. His goodfather, Lord Leyton Hightower, has provided forty war galleys." Maester Creylin started his summary. Tywin would read the details himself once he was alone. "However, the twenty galleys from the Redwyne fleet are undermanned, and have only provided enough men for the rowers."

Those Reach bastards. Tywin clenched his jaw, his cold eyes hard. The Redwynes believe they could cheat him? They would soon learn that a Lannister always paid their debts. Fortunately, he could see an easy solution for this problem, while also allowing some of his subordinates a chance at glory.

"The Master-of-Ships requests that we provide enough fighting men to fill the Redwyne ships." Maester Creylin finished awkwardly. His bannermen immediately started arguing, with even Tygett joining in. Tywin remained silent, aloof, considering his options.

"Stannis Baratheon does not request, he demands!" Lord Antario Jast complained.

"Filthy Reachmen." Ser Stafford Lannister muttered loudly. They were correct, the Redwynes had the strongest fleet in all of the Seven Kingdoms, and for them to provide half-manned ships was an insult, especially after the betrothal Tywin had arranged. Especially since this was a chance at them finally removing their hated foe, the Ironborn, at long last. Tywin made a note that he was going to increase the tariffs any Reach merchantmen would be receiving in the Westerlands in the coming moons.

"We will not send our levies." Tywin spoke up after a few seconds, his eyes scanning each of his bannermen. "My army is needed for the invasion of the Iron Islands, not to fill some Redwyne ships." Lannister pikes and crossbows at sea would be nearly useless without any prior training.

"Lannisport is full of sellswords and hedge knights my Lord." Dramen said, his daughter would be an excellent asset in the future. For those reasons Tywin allowed her to train with the men, and had rumors spread despite his outward order of containing them. Image was everything, and hers would be tied directly with the Lannisters. Tywin paused, considering Dramen's words carefully.

"Coin is easier to replace than men." Kevin added to Lord Dramen's words. Kevin wasn't wrong, and it was better to sacrifice sellswords and hedge knights vs actually valuable levies. Besides, if anyone stood out as particularly competent, well, he could use a replacement, given 'ser' Lorch had proven to be useless.

"Very well." Tywin gave them a single nod of his head. "Lord Dramen, I leave you the task of hiring these sellswords. Casterly Rock shall provide the funds, since you must be busy rebuilding Lannisport." A subtle jab for being the cause of having to rely on the Redwynes and Stannis Baratheon.

Dramen's face flushed red as he bowed his head. "As you command, my Lord." Apparently he was keen to make up for his past errors. Whether or not he would succeed was another matter altogether.

"Gerion shall have command of the sellswords." Tywin continued. His younger brother enjoyed being out on the sea, and only a handful of ships from his fleet had survived, those hidden in the small harbor within Casterly Rock. "He shall drill them, and make them into something worthy of the Lannister name."

They had a war to win, and much to organize before that oaf Robert arrived.

Weiss

A battered and bruised Robert Brax laid on the ground. He stared up at Weiss with wide and confused eyes. She only gave him a smug smirk, having defeated him in ten moves, and that was her holding back. Though, to be fair to the boy, she hadn't humiliated him like she had for Lorch. Robert hadn't even gotten a chance to land a single strike on her, not for lack of trying on his part, as Weiss had used her tourney blade to guide his blows away from her, controlling his movements until she finally tripped him up.

"Anyone else?" Weiss shrugged, turning to look at the gathered group of squires that stared at her with wide eyes alongside Ser Janas. She hadn't even broken a sweat. In the background, Brax still laid there, gasping for breath. Winded and bruised, yet still intact.

A dozen hands shot in the air. Whether out of a masochistic desire to be stepped on, or a desire to avenge their comrade, she was unsure. Be them one or a dozen, she would break them all.

She was a Lannister. Hear Her Roar.

A/N

Sorry this took a bit longer than usual, there were some small details that had to be hammered out. Two surprises are also on the way, so keep an eye out for that.