One may notice that the Chapters do not have a certain length or word number. Some will be bigger and some shorter, depending on the content and the narrative. But I try my best to make it all as much enjoyable as I can
273 AC – Casterly Rock, Westernland – Seat of Power: Aerys II Targaryen
It has been a dark year for the Proud Lion of Casterly Rock, although the beginning of it had started much brighter. His wife had him pregnant again and a new heir was in the way but something went wrong during labour.
Complications arose and in the end, the baby was born but his mother perished in the process. Tywin had felt his heart breaking upon seeing the pale corpse of his wife, lying on bloody red sheets. At that moment, he truly despised the colour red despite being the colour of his house.
One would say that at least he got a second heir but the Gods seemed to have chosen mockery over blessing. The child was deformed, an abomination in the eyes of many; including his father.
Short-limped and asymmetric, even his eyes did not match. If Tywin did not fully trust Joanna for her loyalty, he would have thought this child belonged to another but that was not the case.
This creature had been born and taken the life of the only woman Tywin ever truly felt love for. His hatred for the baby only grew from the day of his birth, his lips forming nothing but a scowl as his temper started to flare at random moments.
Due to the birth and the loss, he had remained away from King's Landing for almost a full moon rotation but he knew he would have to return to that foolish King once again.
He sat at his desk and glared holes at the papers in front of him. A lot had to be done but he was in no mood to deal with any of this, not now and not anytime soon. As he pushed the papers and scrolls to the side, his eyes fell upon a closed letter.
While there were many others, this one stood out for one thing; the Seal.
Instead of the normal Targaryen Seal or any known house seal, this one was different. It looked like an abstract version of a dragon seen sideways, the wings a curved detailed line. The design was simple but recognisable to someone like him.
The symbol of a Dragon Whisperer, he thought and broke the seal before unfolding the letter.
His green eyes fell on the neat words, spread equally across the paper and as he was reading it; he could almost hear the voice of Visenya in his mind.
Dear Tywin Lannister,
The news of Lady Joanna's passing reached King Landing and me as well. My deepest condolences, for the loss of a loved one, is never easy; a wife nonetheless.
I write to you in order to inform you that your stay at Casterly Rock has been extended by half a moon rotation by order of the King. I persuaded him to give you such privilege to properly mourn her loss and refocus back on the game.
For if you plan to return to King's Landing any sooner, make sure that your head is clear, My Lord. Grief often brings unresolved temper and in our position, it is almost impossible for us to express it.
I fear the King might try his antiques again or not properly respect the situation. It is why you should be ready by the time of your return to the Capital.
I will see you from close once you return.
Sincerely,
Visenya II Targaryen, Princess of the 7 Realms.
Tywin glanced from the letter at the emptiness of the room in front of him. He had not expected such a letter or such actions from her but as he replayed her advice in his mind; the more he understood.
Indeed, the King would not make his life any easier than it already was and his temper would not help him; if he chose to return with one. Respectful for the increased stay he was allowed, he would not let her attempts go to waste.
Per her words, he would grieve and then make proper plans for him and his family to return. He would not show any sign of weakness and he was not going to allow all his hard work and efforts to go to waste.
King's Landing, CrownLands – A day prior
Visenya sat behind her desk and was busy writing her letter to Tywin, her hand stable as her amber eyes were focused on the paper. A nasty bruise had started to form on her left eye, blackness spreading across her skin but the pain behind it seemed not to affect her; her mind focused on the task at hand.
When she heard the news, both she and her sister were devastated. The Queen especially, since Joanna was her former lady in waiting and had been by her side for quite some time.
Visenya felt sorry for the woman, who had been trapped in this unfair game and was unlucky enough to attract the attention of her brother. She was a good woman and a good mother as well while being from the few good things existing in Tywin's life.
Her loss would surely bring him down, at least for the time being and she knew it. She also knew, based on her brother's reaction, that he was not going to allow Tywin any time to cool off.
The words of Joanna's death did not affect him, for he simply saw her as another object he wished to sleep with but never got the chance of. It was why, Visenya had chosen to interfere and try to change his mind.
Her words had less honey on them this time as she brought up the loss of their own family, whether their grandparents first and then their parents. She went as far as to remind him of the loss of his unborn sons, who had perished before birth.
That was the last thing she had managed to say before she felt her brother's rage once again. This time, his fist had tried to strike her and had found the edge of her eye instead; quickly bruising it but not fully harming it.
In the end, though, he had given in and allowed the extra time for Tywin. It was clear that he did not approve of her interfering, defending a mere servant but his rage and his lack of brightness in the mind did not make him see through the facade.
He had dismissed her in the end, allowing her to retreat to her chambers and write the letter; for the King refused to do so.
Despite the latest injury, Visenya did not care as she let the hot wax fall on the paper and pressed the seal on it. Over the single year ever since her return, she and Tywin had formed a professional relationship; if one could call it that.
Often they would discuss the latest troubles of the realm, with Tywin sometimes considering her opinion as a third party that had more than enough proper knowledge to see the problem. She offered her opinion each time and often they would discuss it, reaching mutual conclusions.
If that were not the case, Tywin would continue informing and teaching her of the ways people ruled from the shadows; emphasizing with real examples what played importance in this game of thrones and in which order should things often be taken care of.
Some nights, they would simply play a game of Cyvasse or discuss while playing if there was something in their mind.
Their interactions became more and more frequent, a secret alliance building between them. Visenya was pushed to the side and underestimated because of her gender while she possessed a sharper mind than almost all of the men in the Council and beyond.
Tywin made good use of her intellect and fresh ideas, while also allowing her to remain on track with everything that was going on; not one important thing was to be forgotten or skipped.
They both benefited from it and passively, they started to cover for one another. It was why Visenya had managed to write that letter, despite poking the Dragon residing within her brother.
This mutual friendship and partnership was of importance since Tywin was the only man, who could keep this Kingdom from plummeting into economic crisis, famine, war and revolution. He was the only man capable of fixing the mistakes of the unworthy King and she knew that.
She needed him in this game as much as he had started to need her.
275 AC – King's Landing, CrownLands – Seat of Power: King Aerys II Targaryen
It has been two years since Joanna Lannister perished at birth and Tywin had become noticeably colder for those, who truly knew him. Once again focusing on picking after the King, this time he was not alone in this game.
Visenya had stood by his side in the shadows, both working together for the greater good of the realm. They worked in different circles but both brought sufficient and often important information to the table, and then they worked together for their benefit.
It was that particular year when Tywin started receiving letters from his sister in Casterly Rock. Lannisport had been in trouble lately, often attacks destroying shipments to the point other houses refused to send their products or do any trade.
If that was not all, the same attacks had been taking place in the nearby cities and there had been sightings close to Casterly Rock as well. His brother Gerion had written to him despite their roughened-up relationship and requested assistance; as well as backup.
He was young, 20-name days old and did not have full control over Lannister soldiers; since many had joined Tywin and his family when he returned to King's Landing. With approval from the King himself, he was allowed to return and ensure this nuisance was taken care of.
The same night before his departure, he was in his study and was busy adding the last pieces of his armour. His squire, a young stupid boy, was unable to help him and so he had sent him away; saying he would finish the job on his own.
At the same time that the young boy had rushed out of the room in fear, the mighty Princess of the Red Keep entered the room. She had made herself comfortable with his wine, a goblet resting in her hands while she sat comfortably on one of the chairs across his desk.
"When will you depart?" she asked him, her face serious as she swirled the red liquid in the golden goblet.
"By the first rays of dawn to earn time. I will guide my men through some unfamiliar roads to arrive sooner. I pray not to think at what condition I will find everything thanks to my brothers" he explained as he fixed his armour plate and fought with the straps.
Visenya glanced at the map laid on the desk, her eyes falling on the marked paths he talked about; quickly memorizing them. However, her eyes went to Tywin as he was busy fighting with his straps.
No matter how skilled a knight was, the armour was made to be worn and taken off with the assistance of someone. Based on the running squire she encountered, no such help would come for him.
She placed the goblet on the desk, at the side of the map and stood up before she made her way towards him. "Any idea whom you are fighting? What is your plan of action?" she asked as she reached him at the other side of the room.
She extended her hands faintly towards his straps but made no move as she looked at him. His sharp cold green eyes fell upon her own, a part of him not pleased with her assistance. If she was someone else, perhaps he would have mocked or insulted her for her impulsive actions but he refrained himself when it came to her.
Not because of the title she carried but rather because of the respect he had started to build for her during the years they worked together from the shadows.
He looked into her eyes, seeing no judgment or mockery of his situation. There was truly nothing much as if those burning pyres blocked everything she felt and thought. It was a unique sight, rare to only a few since many gave away everything by a mere look into their eyes.
Defeated and with his pride wounded, he allowed her to continue with her task. He watched her in silence for a moment as she worked with the leather straps, already familiar with them over the course of years.
Visenya had her armour, more than one actually and she knew the ways around it better than most squires. She often helped Rhaegar wear his own, especially while he was growing up. She worked silently and efficiently while she listened to his answer, her eyes not once leaving the task at hand.
"The letters have been unclear but I suspect a gathered group of bandits and robber knights. It would not be the first time we had to deal with them" he explained, briefly remembering the time his father was alive and the same plague had fallen upon their lands. "For starters, we arrive there with precaution and head straight for Casterly Rock. I am to reunite with my brothers and plan our course of action. We have dealt with them before; it will be no different now"
By the time he finished his words, Visenya was busy with the straps by his lower arms. Her lips were pushed into a thin line as she finished with them and slowly removed her hands, something bothering her but she did not say anything about it yet.
She lifted her head to look up at him, their proximity closer than almost any other time before. She studied his face as if she had seen something different once upon a time and she did. For the past two days, she had been visited by dragon dreams and none were pleasant.
However, she was never one to let them stop her or cause fear within her. No, she knew too well that trying to change them would only bring them upon someone much faster. She wished she could truly tell Tywin of her dream but he was a man of logic, he would have never believed her in the first place.
In the end, she took a step back and then headed for his desk; her hand grabbing the goblet of wine with some eagerness. "Beware of the silence in the night, My Lord," she said and emptied her goblet before turning her body halfway to face him. "And worry not for your children. I will have personal guards of mine keeping watch as shall I" she added, as if trying not to make him focus too much on her first sentence.
Tywin looked at her, lifting an eyebrow ever so faintly that if one was not paying attention; they would miss it. Visenya was never one to truly talk in riddles, although there were momentary occasions when she spoke far more vaguely than usual. He never truly questioned it, although it had plagued his mind more than once of the reasoning behind it.
Her first sentence was too vague, even for her and it sounded more like a joke than a piece of advice. Yet again, he kept it at the back of his dead for he suspected he might need it; even if it was in the long run.
Since it was clear she was not going to discuss it any longer, he focused on the second piece of information she had given him. He would, naturally, leave the children behind with the Septa and Wet Nurses.
"There will be no need for that, for I will leave some of my soldiers to stand guard" he explained as he tested the armour, surprised by how well-fitted Visenya had managed to make it with the straps. Usually, his squires left it too loose or too tight and he had to suffer through it most of the time.
"I am well aware but since Ser Kevan will join you, I find it wiser to have more guards. Mayhap this attack is a distraction to draw you away from the Red Keep and mayhap it is not but why risk it?" she asked him rhetorically.
Tywin thought for a moment what she had just said. His brother Kevan would join him along with the rest of the Lannister soldiers and it would not be a first if an attack was all but a bluff to draw him out and leave his heirs and legacy exposed.
Although, no one was truly foolish enough to try and harm the kids while residing in the Red Keep; it was not unknown and neither was it impossible. In real life, one would have to think of every possible scenario and have a plan to deal with each one of them, or they would be caught off guard and regret their next step.
While most soldiers were loyal to the King, there were some knights, who were loyal to her alone. Those had been brought to her from Dragonstone; others had been present during her teenage years and had been her guards or her teachers at arms.
In the end, Tywin looked from his armour at her. "Very well, if the Princess insists," he said, being as formal as she had been.
Behind closed doors, they had started to refer to one another by their names and merely used their title when sarcasm or faint mockery was involved. Of course, outside they kept all of their formalities and tried to reduce their interactions to a minimum; to prevent any more rumours of rising.
After all, Visenya had closed her 25th name day and had still settled for a suitor, giving more rise to the gossip of the court. Similarly, Tywin was no longer married and he could take a wife if he wished it at that time.
Even a fool would conclude where this would lead, not to mention that last time they did not hide their partnership well enough; the King sent Visenya to the Dragonstone as an act of resentment against both of them.
Visenya seemed pleased that he agreed, although she could tell he was not really in favour of it. That did not mean, however, that he had the time to argue with her when more important things were at play.
To celebrate her small victory, she filled him his goblet and handed it to him. Without saying another word, he took it and with a faint nod of his head; took a few sips of the slightly sweet red wine.