Casterly Rock, Westernland - 18 days since Tywin left King's Landing

A usual trip on horseback from King's Landing to Casterly Rock could take from 20 to 25 days depending always on the weather and the speed one was moving. Through the unnamed paths that Tywin had learnt through his childhood, the trip took them only 18 days.

Before the sun could rise on the 19th day, they had arrived at their destination. Instead of taking the usual path that led them directly to Lannisport and then heading for Casterly Rock, Tywin had led his soldiers off the path and through the small valleys and forest at the base of one of the mountains.

While the path was rocky, it did offer them cover and a faster route to reach their destination.

Throughout the whole trip, he had barely said much other than giving orders and keeping in touch with his brothers. The attacks had stopped for a few days and then seemed to focus more on Lannisport again, causing more destruction than just stealing.

The army from Casterly Rock had been separated in half, with one part being led by Gerion to handle the troubles by the port and defend the cargo residing there. The other part had remained to secure Casterly Rock, under the leadership of Tygett. Although their primary house was a full fortress that could not easily be taken down, it was always wise not to leave it fully unguarded.

As they marched through the forest and towards open land, Tywin could see the silhouette of his childhood home and the main seat of power of his house; in the distance. Lights from the torches were a contrast against the darkness of the night, although the soon-rising rays of the sun had made the sky less dark and dense than before.

The famous Castle was built at the edge of a cliff, where sharp rocks awaited the fates of any ship foolish to try and reach the sores while the waves of the Sunset Sea crashed against them; the sound echoing across the Castle like the roar of a lion.

"You have been awfully quiet brother" Kevan said as he guided his stallion to be next to the black one of his brother.

While only two years younger, Kevan seemed to have inherited a similar good part along with Tywin. Despite Tywin shadowing all of his siblings, Kevan was never one to hold a grudge or ruin their relationship. Instead, he had built a relationship with him and had ridden under his banners for years now.

He knew his brother better than anyone, except for their sister Genna; who most of the time seemed to know him the most. Either way, Tywin often discussed certain thoughts and plans with his brother, especially when it came to decisions about the army and a battle.

"I do not see a reason to be wasting my breath if there is no need for it" Tywin replied, his enamelled crimson red armour making him stand out compared to the simple grey of his brother.

Truth be told, Tywin had been rethinking how to handle the issue but also the words Visenya had told him. 'The Silence in the Shadows', sounded ridiculous and sometimes he wondered why his mind did not let it go.

His brother rolled his eyes at his answer but did not chase the subject. Tywin had always been rather serious even as a child and only Joanna had managed to truly make him laugh but that was even rarely.

Yet, Kevan had noticed that his brother had passed the stage of mourning rather fast and there was this silent glimmer in his eyes from time to time. It had taken him some time to find the reasons behind it until he took better notice of the secret company he kept in the shadows.

The sly Princess of the 7 Kingdoms seemed to spend quite some time with his brother, although one could never truly know the true topics of their discussions. Kevan doubted anything truly took place between them, both far too prideful and busy with the 'kingdom' to bother but the presence they had on one another was not common.

For a moment, Kevan wondered if something had been told between them before their departure, that had put his dear brother in such a serious mood; well more serious than usual.

"Is it me or is it rather quiet?" he questioned out loud, mostly voicing his thoughts upon noticing his surroundings.

The WesternLand had always been one filled with natural booming wildlife, whether that be from the fishes in the ocean or the many games existing in the valleys and forests across the land.

More than one Kevan could remember hearing the sound of owls screeching in the night or the nightingales searching for a mate before the moon was fully up to the sky. Sometimes, the brothers would wake up early to go for a hunt to catch the first deer that had moved in search of dewed grass or hares that had come out after their slumber.

Now, though, things seemed to be too quiet and unless he had been away for far too long; this did not settle well with him.

Tywin would have ignored him but then stretched his ear and realized that he was right. There was silence all around them, the only sound being the sound of the hooves of the horses as they carried through the slightly muddy ground.

This made him stop his horse and since he was at the front, many of the soldiers behind him did the same. He looked around slowly, an odd feeling settling into the pit of his stomach and a wave of uneasiness started to be felt even by his stallion.

"Brother? What is wrong?" Kevan asked him but for a moment, Tywin did not listen to him.

Instead, his green eyes darted left and right as the voice of Visenya seemed to echo in his mind.

"Beware of the silence in the night, My Lord"

His words became more uneasy and as Tywin looked around him, he swore he saw some of the shadows move.

"Beware of the silence in the night, My Lord"

"Silence in the Night"

"Silence...Night"

"To Casterly Rock, now!" he ordered and marched his worse into a quick gallop.

Confused, his brother and soldiers obeyed nonetheless and started to gallop forward. Merely a few seconds after the order had been given, did the sound of arrows passing through the sky reached their ears; followed by the sound of hooves and yells of men.

From the shadows around them, masked by the greenery, dozens upon dozens of men emerged with their swords or bows ready. Torches were illuminated and a war cry echoed across the silent night as the mysterious group tried to sneak upon the Lion.

Most of his men had moved forward, their archers trying to keep anyone from coming too close but some soldiers did fall behind and had to fend for their lives. Tywin was not one to retreat usually but even he was not foolish enough to stay in the middle of an ambush.

He guided his horse, leading his party with many following as they moved fast towards Casterly Rock. The sound of fighting seemed to have been heard as the Gates of the Castle was slowly lifted while many Lannister bannermen moved outside to help defend the incoming party.

King's Landing, CrownLands – 32 days after Tywin left

Visenya slammed her fist on her desk, the force making her ink pot and the quill pot shake faintly. Her amber eyes glowed with anger, the fire within her raging and her body trembling from tension.

She took a few deep breaths and looked at the person across from her, her cousin and Lord of Storm's end; Steffon Baratheon. On the desk in front of her were letters from Tywin; addressed to the King and also her.

"How can he say those things?!" she demanded as she looked at her cousin.

Despite being only 4 name days her senior, he looked far more mature thanks to his growing black beard. Steffon had been an active member of their family, being quite close to Aerys due to their ages but also their time as squires and pages when they were younger.

He knew Visenya and often looked after her, being the one to often help her train with a sword as a child; using his own experience to assist her. Their relationship was never the one of lovely cousins, for the Princess was not one to show love or affection easily; especially to a man.

Especially after the fire at Summerhall, she stopped truly smiling or being affectionate to almost everyone; the exception sometimes being her sister Rhaella. Yet, that did not mean the two cousins did not often talk.

Steffon was not part of Aerys Small Council, for he was mostly back at the Stormlands with his wife and son; Robert. However, due to Rhaella being pregnant again after a few miscarriages; Aerys had summoned him back for a while.

Not being able to refuse an order from the King, Steffon had arrived alone and he had spent his days in the Small Council; almost taking the place of Tywin while he was in Casterly Rock.

This allowed Visenya to approach him and later get all the information she needed from him, or at least the most important things; like learning that her dear brother refused to send help to Tywin.

"He is more focused on the upcoming heir, you know how he is. He will not risk his men for some rebels that are not even in the CrownLands" he explained.

Visenya lifted her hand off the desk, not caring about the small numbness due to the harsh contact with the wooden surface.

It had been 13 days since Tywin fell on an ambush but had managed to seal himself and most of his men in Casterly Rock. The castle itself was almost impossible to siege and they could remain there for months to come if not a full year.

The problem was that their coffers and rations were not in enough quantity since the first reaping had yet to take place. Due to the Harsh Winter that had just passed, even Casterly Rock did not have enough food for all those men and for a long time siege.

At the same time, that group calling themselves the White Lions had kept attacking Lannisport. Without trade and help from there, no provisions could be sent to Casterly Rock the innocent people there were a victim of violent attacks, raids and rapes alike.

The group called themselves the White Lions and they were far from small. Based on the intellect Tywin had sent her, their leader was Pitt Hills although by now he had taken the Lannister Family Name.

He was a bastard of Tytos Lannister and a whore, who had come to reclaim his 'birthright' as he had called it. With him were paid mercenaries as well as soldiers of Reyne and Tarbeck families.

Tywin had almost exterminated both families during his earlier years for their debts to the Lannisters and only a few had survived. Now, those few had re-banded themselves like in the past and along with this bastard-born they had come for revenge.

"The CrownLands and Casterly Rock are part of the 7 Kingdoms. If he fails to defend them and refuses to send any help to his people, what kind of king is he?" she questioned, although the answer was already obvious enough. A bad, stubborn, selfish one, she added in her mind.

"There is nothing that can be done, Visenya. No soldier will move without the official proclamation from their King, whether you like it or not" Steffon said, not once surprised by her outburst or her words.

They were in private and over the years, he had started to see who truly cared for the good of the Kingdom and had a hand in the affairs that took place. He was no fool, by far, as even the common people had started to see Tywin was the one with the true power.

He, being present in the Red Keep, could see more; like his younger cousin being in alliance with Tywin or working on parallel but also similar paths. It did not surprise him, rather offered him some reassurance that there were some logical and proper people to ensure no stupid war would be waged.

Steffon noticed how her expression changed, a dangerous glimmer in her eyes as her lips were pressed into a thin line; curved to form the faintest of smirks. Her demeanour quickly changed, her small outburst long forgotten as she regained control of her temper and herself.

"I know that look, Visenya. You always have it when you plan something and it will not end well" he said, suddenly feeling very self-cautious.

From a young age, Visenya seemed to be the brightest of the three siblings and everyone could see that. Often ignored or underestimated due to her young age and gender, she made sure to take such chances and put into action multiple plans she would come up with.

Many of them ended in a small disaster or drew a negative response once she got discovered by her parents or her grandparents. Although, King Aegon was far more lenient with her since she was his favourite grandchild; the same did not truly go for her father.

As the years passed, Visenya kept having such plans in mind like persuading Steffon to teach her the art of combat or charming a King's Guard to let her train. She had gone as far as to fake papers and take money from the royal coffers, to build herself armour and pay Maesters and Blacksmiths alike for her own goals.

In the past, she might have escaped with a minor scolding but she was no longer a child and the King was no longer a fool. Jaeharys had often ignored her and Aerys tried to do the same but it was clear that her brother had started to keep a tab on her.

"Oh I do, dear cousin but worry not; I will not involve you this time" she said, making him leave a small sigh of relief. He truly did not wish to be on Aery's bad side, not now that his temper seemed to have started to get out of control as the years passed. "Let me deal with my brother. All I ask of you, for the sake of family, is to remain silent...and ensure my head won't be requested on the chopping board"

Her last words made him shiver, not wishing to imagine such an incident. Then, he felt the slightest amount of cold sweat as his mind processed her words more carefully. Whatever she had planned, was big...bigger than anything she had ever done before.

Worse was the fact that she would most likely, end up pissing off her brother to a dangerous level. Dangerous enough to have her executed? Steffon was not sure but he did not want to wish for any worse scenarios either.

Of all his cousins, Visenya was the one to keep the most contact with and had even warned him of what to expect when he was summoned back to court for a while. She had been the only relative to truly remember growing up together for Aerys had long forgotten his childhood friends and instead focused too much on the golden crown upon his head.

In the end, he let out a defeated sigh. "Whatever you have planned, Visenya...just please be careful. For I am afraid the Ghost of your Grandfather will come and haunt me if I have been the one to let you march into your doom"

The woman did not reply the gears in her mind already turning and working as she sat down on her chair and grabbed her quill. She had work to do and only half a day to prepare everything before it was too late.