18 The Vale of Arryn And Politics
~~~(POV: Tywin Lannister)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 55 Years)~~~
~~~(Location: The Vale of Arryn, War Camp, Westeros)~~~
~~~(Date: 297 AC)~~~
"So you're telling me Tyrion escaped on his own? He's a clever little thing."
The subject of chatter around the camp has been this for the past few days, and Tyrion should be on his way to me. The spiteful and lustful little creature proves to be more than just a dwarf. Much to the humiliation of House Lannister.
Tyrion is a clever man. Something that I wish my other children had inherited. Jaime and Cersei have proven to be failures in the making. Something that's thrown into my face every time I see them.
The rumors about them have spread to almost every part of Westeros. And while I had known of their abominations, I had always hoped they were false. But now they're nothing but confirmed for me.
"Lord Tywin, I have news from the South."
A man I know not the name of walks into my tent. He hands me the letter and leaves. I've been getting letters often these days.
But this letter holds interesting news.
"Stannis Baratheon and Renly Baratheon are on the brink of war. And the North is busy fending off the Boltons and the Wildlings."
More and more Houses are going to war in claims of land and titles. Jaime and Cersei are to blame for all of this. If they hadn't been incestuous creatures, there would be no wars in the South. Brandon Stark never would've been injured, and the North would be secure.
But Joffrey ordered the execution of Ned Stark and sealed the fate of a war with the North. Having Sansa Stark hostage helps, but Joffrey proves to be problematic.
As I place the letter down, the tent opens again, and Jaime walks into the tent. My oldest son. The one who was supposed to carry my legacy. Taking the vows and duties as a Kingsguard thoroughly shattered that hope.
This leaves Tyrion as my only male heir. I'll have to find a solution to the hindrance the dwarf is creating.
"Father."
My response is a long sigh, and I pull out one of the letters I got early morning yesterday.
"Raenon Targaryen has returned. Riding a dragon and taking his sister away with him."
He lowers his head just a little before raising it again. Flexing his mouth into a straight line in understanding.
"You know what this means."
He nods his head and makes his way over to me.
"Another claim to The Iron Throne, father."
Jaime is slow to answer, and it's from how tired he is. But everyone is tired in this war camp. We've been traveling and fighting in The Vale for months now, ever since Jon Arryn died. Lady Arryn blames us for his death, but I see through those lies.
Since Tyrion is free from The Eyrie, there is no longer a need to be in The Vale, and we'll be leaving back to Kings Landing. Tyrion is already on his way and will be taking over as Hand of The King until I return.
"Of all the enemies House Lannister faces. Do you know which worries me the most?"
We were supposed to have won when The Mad King was killed. But that's been ruined. The Lannisters were supposed to have ruled for 1000 years.
"I don't know, Father. Dragons and Targaryens sound like a problem we should worry about."
Those are threats half a world away. House Lannister's enemy is far more dangerous than some children out of our borders.
"Joffrey."
My answer seems to stun my son, and it makes sense, given Jaime is Joffrey's father. Something he thinks I don't know.
"Why, father?"
What an idiotic question.
"Because he's a cruel boy that knows nothing other than inflicting pain on others. He cares not for anything other than himself and his sick desires. I have half a mind to kill the boy."
Joffrey will be the ruination of the Lannisters. This, I know.
Jaime remains silent at my words. And there isn't much left to say.
"When we return to Kings Landing, there won't be any more problems. We'll gather our strength and increase our numbers. The Baratheons in the South are moving, and The Starks won't be distracted for long in the North."
He simply nods his head, and I wave for him to leave. We're in the best position as of now. We're returning home, and my soldiers will get their rest before more conflict comes.
~~~(POV: Tyrion Lannister)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 32 Years)~~~
~~~(Location: Kings Landing, The Red Keep, Office)~~~
~~~(Date: 297 AC)~~~
The amount of work The Hand of the King has will take more years off my life than any amount of wine and women I partake in. And Bronn's constant tapping and fiddling don't do any good to the needed silence to complete this work.
Before I can say anything about it, Varys walks in.
"I'd like to speak with you alone, Tyrion."
Bronn looks at me with a tilted head, and I nod for him to leave. He stands up and makes his way out of the office. Varys approaches and takes a seat across from me.
"Varys... To what do I owe the pleasure..."
He leans forward in his chair and makes sure to keep his voice low.
"I wish to speak with you about the political developments in Westeros and Essos. More enemies pop up as the days pass."
He's not wrong. There isn't any good news on the horizon for us. Not with Joffrey as King and enemies gathering around us. While our strongest opposition is fighting its own battles, it won't be like that forever.
The Baratheons will eventually be united. Either under Stannis or Renly. And the Starks are making allies with many Houses South of Winterfell and deeper.
My quill is put to rest in its ink bottle, and I lean back in my chair.
"Yes, and we'll continue to gather enemies. I'm sure you've heard the rumors yourself."
He slowly nods and squints his eyes just a little.
"What worries me is further East. In Essos. While I've lost track of Daenerys and Raenon, they'll gain power quickly. But the greatest threat currently is Joffrey. The common people hate him, and the other noble houses think him unfit as King."
Varys knows exactly what he's talking about when it comes to this. Joffrey will continue to get worse. And when he does. More houses will start to rally behind the Baratheons or Starks. Some might even head to Essos if the Targaryens reveal themselves.
"Sadly, there is nothing we can do about Joffrey. However, my father has plans for when he returns. What they are, I have no idea. But I'm sure they will strengthen the Lannisters and The Iron Throne."
Leaving it in my father's hands isn't something I'd do. And Varys knows that.
"You know there is nothing to save Joffrey and the hate for his rule he'll instill in the people."
I don't have any plans, and that's because I'm busy trying to find a traitor in the ranks of power here in Kings Landing.
"My first plan of action is finding and rooting out the traitors within The Red Keep. You can be sure there are more outside these walls and in Kings Landing itself. Spies and speakers."
Speakers are more dangerous than spies. They incite rebellion in the people and spread whispers and lies.
"But that's only a temporary solution. We'll need to discuss this more at length later. I must be on my way."
Varys stands up and leaves. And Bronn reenters a few minutes later.
"So?"
Bronn is my personal protector, and I do need him to know the dangers. So another long conversation is about to happen.
~~~(POV: Cersei Lannister)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 36 Years)~~~
~~~(Location: Kings Landing, The Red Keep, Bed Chambers)~~~
~~~(Date: 297 AC)~~~
What was father thinking!? Making that thing Hand of the King! Joffrey hates his uncle, and this will only continue to make him uncontrollable.
I'm alone in my bed chamber... Normally, Jaime and I would meet up. Robert would be passed out drunk by now. But he's gone. And that leaves me as Queen Regent. Father has tasked me with several things while he's away.
And I've done those. But I've also taken care of my own goals. Mainly, Joffrey remain as King, and I control him. He's proven to be volatile. But he still listens to me.
The Targaryens in Essos aren't my concern. And I doubt they'll live to return to Westeros. Dragon or not. They'll need an army, ships, and allies in Westeros. They have none of those, and that's why everything won't work for the last Targaryens.
Viserys has already proven useless, and I doubt he'll live much longer. But Raenon and Daenerys are too young to know anything about ruling and leading. Not with armies and not with lands and subjects.
They're of no threat to Westeros.
"Stannis and Renly..."
They're our greatest threats at the moment. And Robb Stark in the North is rumored to be on the rise. Winning battles against the Boltons and The Wildlings. Father is on his way back to Kings Landing, but that could be a few more weeks. Maybe a month.
The only good thing coming out of all this is Jaime returning home to me.
"Political games and war are exhausting..."
My bed has proven to help me rest these days. The Small Council is proving less useful the longer my father is gone. And two spots still need to be filled. Tyrion is serving as Hand and proving to stop and anticipate any move I make.
I'll have to stop him in his tracks. And the best way to do that is to bring his nightly sins to light. Father will punish him when he returns, and Tyrion will be thrown off his balcony and into the dirt where he belongs.
I'll see to it personally.
