The Lord of Casterly Rock sat in his solar, flanked by his brother, Ser Kevan Lannister, and his only remaining son, Tyrion. It was already past midday and the sun shone through the windows of his lavishly decorated office. Tywin couldn't care less for the fancy tapestries from Myr, the intricately carved mahogany furniture from the best artisans of the Westerlands, nor the expensive stained glass imported from Myr or Dorne.
For him all these things served a sole purpose and no other: to show the economic might of the Westerlands and the wealth of the Lannisters. It was meant to show any dignitary worthy of getting a private audience with Tywin Lannister that his house was not to be trifled with and neither was he and that, in turn, there were many riches to be found as a friend and ally of Casterly Rock . Were it not for this purpose, the room would have been far simpler, with only basic needs and comforts.
He examined the last report that had reached him by raven from Gregor Clegane's camp and he wasn't happy. His frown was such that even his brother decided it was not a good idea to interrupt his thoughts, so they waited until he was finished. Tywin took another sip of his goblet of wine, while Tyrion was already serving himself a fourth cup.
"This is a very unfortunate situation" he muttered while looking at his son "You've just arrived so you don't know what has been happening recently. Thus, I'll bring you up to speed."
Tyrion for one, was surprised he was summoned to such a meeting. Normally it would be a private matter between Tywin and Kevan and he'd only be let known of the decisions after they had been made and only about the parts that concerned his activities. Now, it seems, his father was placing greater focus on his son. Even the customary scorn or disapproving looks he'd get from his father every time they'd see each other had subsided completely. The death of Jamie really hit him hard, or so Tyrion thought.
He was taken out of his inner machinations as Tywin continued talking, explaining what he had ordered his Mad Dogs to do and the results of such actions. At each new development, his surprise only increased. He could barely believe his father had ordered such brash actions.
"So let me see if I heard you correctly, father" Tyrion said sarcastically, albeit less than his past self would "You sent Gregor Clegane and one hundred and fifty men to attack the King's Entourage at night and Amory Lorch with fifty more to do the very same with the Sorceress…"
He continued.
"And they both fantastically botched their tasks? Lorch is dead, killed by the Witch herself, who by now should be running at full speed to spread the word in Riverrun. And Clegane managed to only injure the King with no damage to Lord Stark. Well, I'd dare say that we're royally fucked now. "
His remarks earned him one of Tywin's trademark glares. Then, as if a switch had been turned, his expression softened into a simple and emotionless frown as he looked at the reports once more, just to be sure they were not some sort of a nightmare he could wake up from. He drank again and sighed. Tyrion and Kevan traded a sad knowing look. Tywin had been drinking much more than usual since he heard of Jamie's death.
"Perhaps…" Tywin conceded "it was a risky move. Giving them more men would have made them easier to detect and slower in their movement. We couldn't wait to attack them too close to King's Landing or we risked them getting reinforcements. I hoped the King would die and the realm would enter a succession crisis, allowing us to put Joffrey on the throne. Alas, that fat excuse of a King lives and there will be no crisis to take advantage."
"Who'd put a mad bastard on the Iron Throne? One born of incest most of all." remarked Tyrion, which earned him another glare from Tywin, while Kevan could only sigh "Have you even seen the boy since we arrived? He's absolutely insane, father. He only whines about being held from seeing his father or throws tantrums about how he's gonna have everyone who blocks his path executed. Hardly someone who wins allies."
"Who'd put him there, you ask? Mad or not, there are plenty who would make him King. Those who still fear the might of the Westerlands and those who understand that there'd be much more to be gained in aligning with us instead of doing so with the rigid and unbending Stannis or that pillow biter Renly. And, if Joffrey became too much of a nuisance, he could simply be crowned and soon disposed of in favor of Thommen when things got more stable."
"You'd do that?" Tyrion asked only half-surprised "You'd kill your own grandson?"
"Accidents happen" Tywin answered with a tone that betrayed no emotion. Kevan looked at his brother with wide eyes as if he had just caught him fucking a septa. Although kinslaying was a much more serious sin than that.
"But now that won't be possible, will it? With the King alive and well, there's not a chance precious Joffrey would get even close to that chair."
"If the reports are to be trusted, the King is far from well" said Kevan "alive, yes, but with the Stranger not close behind him. There are still chances he won't make it. Ser Gregor's men did a number on him. Of course, even fat, he is still a formidable warrior and managed to dispatch several of our men before succumbing to his own wounds. "
"And if he does make it? What will we do then? Pretend it wasn't us and lean on the bandit story?"
"No Ser Gregor's report say he was confident that he'd wipe out the King's camp so he showed himself openly. Many have probably recognized him. By now they're sure to know it was the Mountain who attacked them." growled the Warden of the West, already thinking how he'd punish his Mad Dog for this failure. His rage was such, he was even considering sending him to the Dornish if it'd buy him some respite from the south. "If Robert survives, we rise in rebellion. That drunkard dared kill your siblings. He dared spit on the Lanniser name. That is an offense I'll never forget. We will stand against him and I will have his head, one way or another."
"But brother, we can't possibly stand alone against the other Six Kingdoms."
"We could. First of all, not all Kingdoms have a reason to rush to Robert's aid. The North and the Riverlands are sure to join, as will the Stormlands."
Tywin started pointing to areas of a map of Westeros he had opened on top of the reports as he spoke.
"The Vale, however, might sit it out. Lysa Arryn is a madwoman and if our intelligence there is to be trusted, she may want to isolate the Vale in fear of us. The Reach has lost a lot of power and prestige during Robert's reign. That oaf, Mace Tyrell can be convinced to join us if we play his pride right. Perhaps securing his blood on the Iron Throne with a marriage alliance could secure their allegiance. Dorne hates the Baratheons almost as much as they hate us. I don't see why they'd run to his aid. If we give them Lorch's head now, promise Clegane's head after the war along with a few concessions from the crown, they might agree to stay in their desert. The Iron Islands can even be persuaded to fully join us. We can give them permission to reap a Kingdom out of the North in whichever lands they conquered. I'm sure Balon Greyjoy is itching for a reason to get back at Eddard Stark"
"These are a lot of ifs father" said Tyrion looking at the map "Even considering your plan working out perfectly and we keep Dorne and the Vale quiet and gather the support of the Iron Islands and the Reach… It would be two or three regions against four, the North, Riverlands, Crownlands and Stormlands. We would still have our work cut out for us. How do you plan to control such a wide frontline? I'm no grand strategist, but I can see that the numbers are stacked against us."
"Are they?" Tywin scoffed " You forget the the Reach has almost the same manpower than the North, Riverlands and Vale combined. With their aid, we'd be on an even playing field against Robert. And, even if they refuse to join, we have options. The crown is 6 million golden dragons in debt, 3 million of those are owed to us and another large portion is owed to the Iron Bank. We can seize Baratheon, Tully and Stark assets present in the Westerlands, as well as their vassals' and allies', as a way of paying for the debt, which Robert or Stark will no doubt declare void. This gold will allow us to hire entire companies of sellswords, both from Westeros and Essos, as well as supplies and good equipment for these armies. Furthermore, with the Kingdom in chaos, the Iron Bank will have no option but to call in their debt as well or risk not being paid. The Crown has no such cash to give and the Iron Bank will see that their opposition is supported. In this case, us."
Tyrion couldn't believe what he was hearing. The plan was absolute madness. His father had gone absolutely insane with vengeance. The worst part, however, is that Tyrion saw how it all could work out perfectly. The Kingdoms had feuds with each other almost as much as they had with the Lannisters, not to mention their internal disputes, which would only boil further with the instability. This was a time game and the more Tywin could hold out and expand his reach, the more the Kingdoms would plunge into chaos, while the Lannisters reaped all the benefits in the end.
A knock on the door caught all three by surprise. Tywin waited for one of his guards to come in and announce the person waiting outside. When he heard who it was, he ordered him to be let in.
"Lord Varys…" said Tywin, eyeing at the spider with a curious look "to what do we owe your presence so far away from the Capital? Surely your presence will be greatly needed in the times to come, no?"
The eunuch took a long look at the lavishly decorated room and the three people sitting ahead of him. To Tyrion, it seemed less that he was taking in new details, but gazing at a familiar place he had been before a long time ago. The spider finally smiled and answered.
"My Lords" Varys said with his smooth voice "My little birds have whispered many concerning tales in these last months. First there was the unfortunate fate of your children, Lord Tywin. Then a so-called Which of Westeros walks in our midst, using her magic everywhere she goes, which I'm sure you all find very concerning. And now… the King's entourage was attacked by a group of bandits too well equipped to be bandits. Some even say they saw the Mountain that Rides take to the field alongside these criminals. Quite an interesting set of tales, is it not, My Lords? "
"Drop the charades, Lord Varys" Tywin hissed "What was so important that you came all the way here to spin your webs?"
"My Lord Tywin, you wound me" Varys feigned disappointment before continuing "I came here because I haven't forgotten a friend from the times of King Aerys. We worked for so many years together, My Lord, it would be a pity if I left you alone at such a troubling time for your House. I know that you seek vengeance, Lord Tywin, and you're more than right to do so. A man in your position has only the right to do so. Thus, as I've said, I came to help. More than that, I came to offer you a way to achieve this vengeance."
"And what way would that be, Lord Varys?" asked Kevan before his brother could speak.
"Fire and Blood"
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Hey everyone, Agandor here!
Thanks a lot for reading! I hope you've enjoyed this chapter as we took some time to explore another perspective of this story.
The next chapter, coming on Friday, will also take us to another POV. But don't worry, we will come back to Arabella soon enough in Chapter 9.
Have a fantastic day!