37. Making Amends

Tywin Lannister PoV

"Lord Aethan Velaryon is dead, and I want answers." King Aegon asked bluntly as Prince Jaehaerys, Lord Commander Duncan and Lord Edwyle Stark sat looking at me. I was currently standing in the King's Tent; the Melee having concluded less than an hour ago. Lord Commander Duncan was the victor in the end.

I understood that I needed to be very precise in what I said or I would make an already bad situation worse. From the King's tone, I couldn't beat around the bush and needed to get straight to the point. I would be going with plan A which I had already worked out in case things had gone badly.

"Your Grace, this truly was an accident. Robar actions were to never cause permanent harm to Lord Velaryon, he didn't even know that it was Aethan Velaryon, he thought it was the other knight."

"And what about Ilyn's actions, can you say the same, did he intend to cause permanent harm to Lord Velaryon?" The King asked pointedly.

"Unfortunately, it seems so your Grace. A moon ago, Ilyn addressed Arys in jest, very poorly, something he had been warned of previously after Ser Wyl brought it to my attention. I intended to have him punished on this occasion, but before I could berate him for it, Lord Velaryon inserted himself in the matter and made a public show of it. I didn't allow it to continue and left Lord Velaryon in the training yard. I had Ilyn confined to my manse for a month. That however was not the end of it." I said garnering interest from the others, King Aegon however maintained a stoic look.

"I became aware of certain activities taking place between Lady Elyn Reyne and Lord Velaryon." I paused for dramatic effect, making it seem like I was finally acting my age and was a little conflicted about the subject matter I was about to speak on. "Lady Reyne allowed Lord Velaryon to bed her with intentions of securing a marriage pact between Loar Roger Reynes son and Lord Aethan Velaryon's sister."

"And why should we believe that she would allow him to bed her to secure this marriage pact? This isn't even for one of her children, much less, it has no significant benefits to her." Lord Stark interjected.

"I cannot say why exactly, other than it is in her nature, Lord Hand. I have known this woman my entire life and she has been a scourge on House Lannister right up until my grandfather had her married off to Lord Tarbeck even after she continued to be a menace to us as she had always coveted the title of the Lady of House Lannister. She one time even tried to seduce my father.

I heard from a known gossip at court, Lady Melinna Cargyll, that most older women are excited by being pursued by a younger nobleman."

"Enough, what does this have to do with today's events." The king brought the conversation on track.

"Yes, your Grace. Seeing as she had such an antagonistic relationship with my family and then when you mentioned one day that Melissa Velaryon would make a suitable match for Aerys. I doubled down on my efforts to get to the bottom of the situation, going as far as to pay off informants within House Reyne and Velaryon. From both sides, I confirmed that Lady Elyn and Lord Velaryon were indeed meeting frequently since coming to King's Landing.

I also learned that Lord Velaryon had been boasting about scolding me for the behaviour of one of my men. I am ashamed to say after hearing this what I did after was purely out of spite." Again, I paused for a moment and looked slightly downwards as if regretting something.

"What did you do Tywin?" The King asked with a softer now almost grandfatherly tone.

"A couple of days ago I began spreading rumours about Lady Ellyn and Lord Velaryon, about how she had allowed him to bed her to secure a wedding pact. That he instead had been intending to put forward his sister as a candidate for Arys."

"Why would you do that?" Now Prince Jaehaerys asked an angry look now on his face. I assumed that he didn't like that his son had now been involved in my scheme, but this had been a calculated risk on my part.

"My Prince, because, Lord Velaryon already showed that he was willing to involve Arys from the onset. The day he approached us in the training yard, he threatened to report Ser Ilyn to you for his behaviour. I understood that he was trying to curry favour with Arys who is only 9 name days and yourself. If his sister married Arys and one day became Queen, what wouldn't he do?

The man is ambitious and for good reason seeing the circumstances in which he became the Lord of House Velaryon. But he would willingly make an enemy of me to elevate himself, how many enemies would he be willing to make if his status grew even more?"

With this response, Jaehaerys backed down slightly as he thought about my words.

"Again, Lord Velaryon is dead, what does a possible affair between him and Lady Ellyn have to do with that?" King Aegon asked again trying to get back on track.

"Yes, your Grace. I spread this rumour to ruin their plans and to paint them in the worst possible light. I was careful to not leave any traces that I had been the start of the rumours but my informants came back and told me that Lord Velaryon a day ago started fuming and shouting that he would destroy me.

That he would be cripple Ilyn and Robar during the tourney. He had also enlisted House Reyne and House Brune. I cannot say if he approached Lord Tarbeck, seeing as how it wouldn't be a good situation if he found out about the rumours. From the look he had on his face today, I suspect he already did.

I informed Lord Crakehall and the knights from House Marbrand and a few others of the situation and asked if they would safeguard my men from any moves that those three might try to outnumber my men. 

I also suspect that his cousin Ser Brent Bywater, after seeing him fight, was the better fighter. Aethan Velaryon intentionally concealed his identity to safeguard himself, probably to also take credit for defeating Ilyn after the end of the Melee.

I had also put both Ilyn and Robar on guard against this potential scheme and I asked Robar to watch Ilyn's back. I also told them to not hold back when facing anyone from these Houses. However, Ilyn held resentment towards Lord Velaryon for his confinement"

Everyone was now silent contemplating my words. "I see." Finally, King Aegon responded. "I have always been impressed by your level of intelligence from since the first time I met you, but there are times that it causes me to forget that you are still only 10 and 1 name days. You plotted and made a move against a Lord of the realm while being my direct subordinate, you chose to pursue this matter and did you not once consider coming to me?

I have no doubt that Robar did not intend to intentionally cause the death of Lord Velaryon. That still does not change the fact that he is dead. For the time until his child is born, there are no more males of House Velaryon. Also, the other Lords whether on friendly terms or not with House Velaryon will want answers or there will be discontentment if the situation is not adequately." The King paused gauging my expression.

"He is most likely dead because of the chain of events set in motion by your actions. So, tell me Tywin, I am giving you a chance how do you propose to rectify this situation?" This took me a little off guard as I did not expect him to be so direct. But clearly, he had believed my events of the situation, it had also helped that I had been utilising 'Deceit' to its highest in order to add sincerity to my words.

 I took a moment to compose myself. I didn't want to appear if I had already prepared a response. "Your Grace, pending the birth of the child there may not be a succession crisis if it is a boy, if it is a girl, forgive me for saying this, but this presents an opportunity for House Targaryen."

The King's eyes opened as well as all the others, especially the prince. "Melissa Velaryon is only 6 years the senior of Aerys, she possesses a strong Varian bloodline and now is free of anyone's influence. She in my opinion is an ideal candidate for marriage to Aerys.

 If the child is a girl, House Velaryon will have no more male members with only Melissa to claim Driftmark and its holdings. In the future should the union produce multiple male heirs, the 2nd son, after the 1st inherits the throne, can take the name Velaryon and restart the House. In the meantime, Aerys would be free to manage Driftmark until such time. If the child of Aethan Velaryon is a boy, then he only needsto be raised properly until he is old enough to claim his seat."

Everyone contemplated my response. Prince Jaehaerys seemed to like this idea from his slight facial movements which I picked up while watching him.

"Yes, that is something to consider, but what of the other Lords, how do you intend to appease them? Robar is your sworn sword and you put him in the position to begin with." King Aegon asked with a stern look.

"I…your Grace, I, you are right, I am the cause of this. I will need to speak with my Lord Father and ask him for assistance, I propose that House Lannister will financially compensation the widow!?" I suggested, feigning uncertainty.

"That still will not be enough, what of Robar?" King Aegon asked but I now knew what he wanted to hear.

I got down on my knee and with the humblest response I could muster I pleaded. It irked me to have to resort to this but I understood that this was a test. He wanted to see how much trust I had in him and how much I would be willing to lower my head for my friend.

"Your Grace, I accept full responsibility for what has taken place here today. Please pardon Robar for this situation. He is a good man who has only done what I had asked of him. He once saved my life and true his own actions and by your grace has been elevated from a nameless knight to one who has now begun to gain recognition and respect. Please your Grace do not punish him for this."

With that, the King's gaze softens again. "This is the humblest I have seen you since you have come to court, I'm glad to see that appreciate and value your friend as much as you do. For you I will take care of this, I hope that you remember this kindness' that I have granted you as you have served me well."

I allowed a look of gratitude to wash over my face as I looked up at him. "Thank you, your Grace, I am deeply grateful for this, I shall always remember what you have done for me and will remain your most steadfast servant," I said, this was what the King wanted, the loyalty of the future Lord of House Lannister. 

"Your Grace we, still have one other issue that needs to be addressed!" Lord Commander Duncan for the first time spoke up.

"Yes, there most certainly is." Prince Jaehaerys added and continued. "Ser Ilyn Payne, had it not been for The Kings timely intervention, would have killed Ser Brent Bywater while thinking it he was Lord Aethan Velaryon. How do you propose to rectify this? Be reminded that unlike Ser Robar Sheild who did not have any intentions to kill, Ser Ilyn Payne did."

"My Prince, I understand. Ser Ilyn is my sworn sword and, on his behalf, I say that he has no excuse. I will also make arrangements to compensate Ser Brent Bywater. I also have a counter proposal. Ser Ilyn Payne is a very misunderstood individual. He is a man with a penchant for violence as well as no behaviour. However, he has served me loyal thus far.

I propose to further appease the nobility, that Ser Ilyn Payne be exiled to Essos. There he will join the golden company acting as a double agent for the Crown." This caused everyone present to have a shocked expression.

"What makes you certain that Ser Ilyn Payne will agree to this?" Lord Stark asked raising his voice.

"Ser Ilyn Payne cares not for his honour or accomplishments. Instead, he lives in the moment, for the thrill of battle. To him, if I explain it to him, it will be an adventure of a lifetime. If he is well compensated and promised a pardon when he is ready to return, he will gladly march onto any battlefield and spill blood. "I could see my words were well received. Each of them contemplated the implications.

To me, it was a no-brainer as I had already discussed this with Ilyn as part of the worst-case scenario. Unfortunately, we were now here and it was I said, to Ilyn this would be one big adventure. 

"Tywin, leave us for now, we will meet again later at the Red Keep before the feast, Ilyn and Robar will be brought back with us, I wish to have words with both of them." The King after a long while of contemplating finally answered. 

Author Note- Hey guys, had some free time so you get a bonus chapter this week, thanks again for the support and also go check out my other book; The Emperor in the Shadows. It is a Peter Parker Fan-Fic where he never becomes Spider-man but instead through the use of magic becomes a force to be reckoned with. It is not a romance but instead, a look at what would happen to someone who should have become a true hero is forced down a road where he is broken down until he can no longer have anywhere else to go but up. Leave a comment, reply or review if you like it and as always; don't be an asshole.