TYWIN
"Catelyn and Jaime are very suitable, My Lord. Truly, I cannot think of a more matching pair in all the Seven Kingdoms."
Hoster Tully's voice sounded warm and friendly, a little too loud in Tywin's ears, full of the enthusiasm of a father who had just secured the best deal of his life, or perhaps a merchant who had just sold his wares at a high price. The man smiled broadly beneath his thick reddish-brown mustache, his eyes twinkling, reflecting the light of thousands of candles illuminating the Great Hall of the Red Keep tonight.
Tywin Lannister stood before him, his posture perfectly erect. He held a goblet of water with a steady yet relaxed grip.
"That is good," Tywin answered flatly, his voice calm, lacking the emotional intonation Hoster might have expected. "As future husband and wife, it is only proper for them to understand each other early on. Marriage is an alliance, Lord Tully, not just the union of two bodies. Their compatibility can help and complement each other in managing Casterly Rock in the future."
Hoster nodded in agreement quickly, as if afraid of losing momentum. "Exactly, Lord Tywin. Catelyn... she is a bright girl. She was educated to be a Lady since she could walk. She knows her duty. She knows how to manage a household, how to support her husband. And Jaime... ah, your son is an extraordinary young man."
Tywin listened, or at least appeared to listen, giving small nods at the right moments, but most of his mental capacity was elsewhere.
His mind was currently slightly filled with disorder, a rare and unpleasant sensation he hated. Tywin Lannister liked order. He liked control. And right now, he felt his grip on the reins of the kingdom slightly... loosening.
The cause was Rhaegar Targaryen.
His memory drifted to the recent event, inside the King's gloomy and dust-smelling solar. Rhaegar had just rejected his suggestion to replace the Commander of the City Watch and several other key officials with Lannister men.
The rejection itself was not surprising; a young King often wanted to show his authority, scratching his territorial post like a young cat. What surprised Tywin was the way Rhaegar did it.
He did not get angry or accuse like Aerys in his final days. He did not give stupid emotional reasons or hide behind poetic vagueness. Rhaegar rejected him calmly, logically, and firmly. That purple gaze did not waver.
The New King did not want the Lannisters to hold too much control in King's Landing as it would trigger rifts and jealousy among the other Lords. It was a smart argument.
But, Tywin did not expect Rhaegar to say it so blatantly. Usually, the boy, as he knew him before, a gentle figure, would only reject Tywin's advice subtly, perhaps by citing ancient history or saying that 'the time was not yet right'.
But yesterday's development was something else. There was steel behind that silk. There was something sharp behind that handsome face.
Interesting, thought Tywin, sipping his water a little to wet his lips. He is not just a puppet king who will obey everyone's wishes, it seems.
That could be an asset. A strong King could stabilize a kingdom fractured post-Duskendale, which in turn would benefit business, trade, and wealth. Stability was good for gold. But, it could also be a disaster if that 'strength' turned into stubbornness. If Rhaegar was just going to be another Aerys, who viewed wise counsel as a threat to his ego and sincere help as an attempt to seize power, then Tywin had to prepare for a long, exhausting, and dangerous game.
He could not let history repeat itself. He would not let House Lannister be sidelined again after everything he had built.
He had to quickly find a new way to control, or at least direct, the boy. If Rhaegar closed the front door to Tywin's political influence, then Tywin had to enter through the window.
Tywin's eyes shifted momentarily from Hoster's still-smiling face, searching for his son's figure in the glittering crowd. Jaime.
The boy stood near a pillar, talking with Arthur Dayne. Jaime looked relaxed, confident. He had access to Rhaegar's closed heart. Rhaegar trusted him. Rhaegar considered him a friend.
I will let him stay here, decided Tywin internally, a new strategy forming in his mind.
The initial plan was to bring Jaime home to Casterly Rock after the coronation to prepare him as heir fully and begin his marriage with Catelyn. He wanted Jaime to finish training with his uncle there, then learn to manage the mines and the port. But the situation had changed. King's Landing was the main stage now. If Tywin could not whisper reason into Rhaegar's ear directly due to political suspicion, then Jaime could do it as a 'best friend'. Jaime could be the anchor that kept Rhaegar grounded, and kept him close to Lannister interests. Jaime could be Tywin's eyes and ears in the King's inner circle, a place where even the Hand of the King was forbidden to enter.
Tywin shifted his gaze back to the party room, to the sea of fake smiling faces.
King's Landing was heating up, far different from the surface that looked full of laughter, music, and wine. Everyone here, Tyrell, Martell, Stark, Arryn, was racking their respective brains.
They were like sharks smelling blood in the water. Aerys's death and the rise of a young King who was not yet officially married had triggered their greedy lusts. They were looking for advantages they could gain in the future. Positions in the Small Council that might be vacant, port tax cuts, trading rights, and of course, the biggest prize of all: the Queen's crown.
It was sickening. They did not know their place. They thought they were equal to the Lion just because they were invited to the party. They thought they could fill the void left by Aerys. Tywin had to be able to show where they belonged. That the throne might belong to Dragons, but its foundation was built by Lannisters.
"...and Catelyn loves Riverrun very much, but I am sure she will fall in love with Lannisport," Hoster was still talking, unaware that Tywin's mind had wandered all over the political map of Westeros. "She loves the sound of water."
"That is good," replied Tywin, returning to the conversation. "As future husband and wife, it is only proper for them to understand each other. I will ensure Jaime treats her with the respect worthy of a daughter of House Tully. We Lannisters always pay our debts, and that includes our obligations to family."
"Ah, those words," Hoster chuckled. "Always soothing to hear."
Tywin swirled his cup gently, the ripples of water inside reflecting the candlelight. In the corner of his sharp eye, he detected movement near the main dais.
Rhaegar, who stood alone with a distinctive aura, as if he were the only person grieving, was just approached.
Lord Luthor Tyrell and his wife, Lady Olenna.
Tywin did not need to hear a single word to understand what was happening. Olenna's body language told everything, leaning forward aggressively yet gracefully, a smile too sweet like poisonous honey, a hand pointing vaguely towards a group of young girls in the distance.
In short, the Tyrells were selling. And their merchandise was an unmarried daughter. Janna Tyrell.
Tywin snorted softly inside, barely visible. He had once considered the girl for Jaime a few years ago, before he chose Catelyn. Janna was beautiful, had good hips for childbearing, and Highgarden was wealthy. It would have been a strong alliance.
However, at that time he thought of Aerys. Aerys would have viewed the union of Lannister and Tyrell, the two greatest wealths in the kingdom, as an existential threat to his throne. It was too risky.
Because of that consideration, the Tyrell option did not materialize. Instead, the Heir of Casterly Rock was now betrothed to the daughter of the man currently before him, Hoster Tully.
And now, Olenna was trying to sell her 'unsold' merchandise to the King. Trying to place a Tyrell rose in a dragon's bed.
Good luck, thought Tywin cynically. You will only tire your mouth.
"Yes, time will bring them closer," Hoster spoke again, breaking Tywin's analysis once more. The Lord Tully truly could not read the atmosphere or realize that his interlocutor's attention was divided. However, the next sentence caught Tywin's attention completely.
"By the way, Lord Tywin," said Hoster, his tone turning more business-like. "I have sent orders to my vassals."
Tywin turned, giving a full stare this time. His green eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh? What orders?"
"To plant hemp in large quantities," continued Hoster proudly, puffing out his chest a little. "We have all seen the benefits of your papers. The Maester at Riverrun does not stop praising it. And that seems to make the lords think about it quickly. I want the Riverlands to be the main supplier of the raw material. Our lands are fertile and wet, suitable for that fiber plant."
Tywin's lips thinned into a straight line which, to those who knew him very well, was a rare sign of approval. Almost resembling a smile.
Good, he thought. Very good.
With the Riverlands dedicating part of their farmland to supply raw materials en masse, the main obstacle to paper production in Lannisport, which was consistent raw material supply, would not slow down for now. Jaime needed raw materials in giant quantities if he wanted to meet the demand of all Westeros, and Tywin needed a stable supply chain that did not depend on imports of used rags from Essos or middlemen who took profits.
"You did well, Lord Tully," praised Tywin, and this time, the praise was sincere, though his voice remained flat. "That initiative will be very profitable for both of us. I am glad to hear it. Ensure the quality is maintained."
"Of course, of course," Hoster nodded quickly, his face beaming from being praised. "I will oversee the harvest myself."
In the distance, over Hoster's shoulder, Tywin saw Lady Olenna laughing, a laugh that looked polite but her eyes did not join in the smile. She bowed excusing herself from Rhaegar, followed by her husband who looked confused as usual. The Queen of Thorns' face looked calm, but Tywin could see a slight stiffness in her jaw. A tension in her shoulders.
Rejected.
Rhaegar did not accept her offer.
One competitor down, noted Tywin with cold satisfaction.
Rhaegar returned to being alone for a moment, drinking his wine with a distant gaze.
Then, another figure approached. A larger, warmer figure.
Steffon Baratheon.
Tywin observed his childhood friend greeting Rhaegar with a familiarity that made several other Lords hold their breath. Steffon laughed, a sound that could be heard even from this distance, and Rhaegar, for the first time tonight, looked a little relaxed. A sincere smile appeared on the King's face.
Tywin's eyes narrowed. He sipped his water again, letting the cold liquid soothe his racing mind.
He had to ensure Jaime did his job well. Rhaegar's friendship must not be obstructed by anyone.
"It seems tonight will be long," muttered Tywin, more to himself than to Hoster.
"A lively party, indeed," commented Hoster, misinterpreting Tywin's tone.
"Very," replied Tywin hollowly.
...
The 'feast' was still ongoing in the Great Hall, a noisy show of ambition where wine flowed as heavily as false praise. But for Tywin Lannister, the spectacle had lost its utility for tonight. He had seen what he needed to see, heard what he needed to hear, and made his presence felt long enough.
He excused himself without fanfare, leaving the sickening hustle of music and laughter behind.
Jaime was at his side, leaving the celebration without the slightest hesitation. His son followed with steady and silent steps, his footsteps on the stone floor sounding rhythmic, synchronized with Tywin's steps.
They passed through the long and drafty corridors of the Red Keep. Cold stone walls were illuminated by rows of candles in iron sconces embedded in the walls. The candle flames flickered slightly from the night wind sneaking in through window cracks, creating dancing shadows on their faces.
The silence in the corridor felt heavy, but it was the kind of silence Tywin liked. Silence that gave room to think, to plan, to dissect the chaos they had just left.
"You saw it, didn't you?" Tywin said in a low tone, his voice barely louder than the whisper of the wind, so only the two of them could hear in the empty hallway.
Jaime turned, his face calm under the dim light.
"In circumstances like this, it is inevitable, Father," answered Jaime, without a tone of surprise. "Everyone wants to see how much luck they have. The King's death is unfortunate, but it also makes people flock to reach for something."
"And that cannot be allowed," said Tywin firmly.
They arrived in front of a thick wooden door, where Tywin worked. The Lannister guards at the door straightened up and opened the door quickly upon seeing their lord.
Tywin stepped inside, followed by Jaime.
The room was familiar. Tywin walked towards the hearth where the embers were still glowing dimly. He turned, staring at his son who now stood in the middle of the room.
"The current King might look solid," continued Tywin, connecting his thoughts. "Rhaegar has good posture and a face that makes the smallfolk cry with emotion. But if he is constantly battered relentlessly by offers, flattery, and pressure from all directions, wavering will be inevitable. His foundation is not yet established. You, Jaime, must ensure he stays on the right path."
Jaime closed the door behind him, locking out the outside world. He walked closer, his face showing a hint of boredom.
"What else am I doing right now?" asked Jaime. "Rhaegar won't trust people that quickly. He is an emotional man, yes, he feels too deeply, but he is also not stupid."
Tywin stared at him for a moment, assessing. Then sat on the high-backed chair behind his desk, the position that always made him feel most in control. Jaime followed, taking the chair opposite him.
"We must accelerate our plans," said Tywin, his fingers interlocked on the table. "I will make Rhaegar announce the betrothal to Cersei as soon as possible. This can no longer be delayed. The longer he remains single, the bolder other Lords will be in offering their daughters. We must close that door permanently."
Jaime nodded, not arguing. He knew the urgency.
And after that, thought Tywin, after the blood tie was secured through marriage, he would have the freedom to focus on other things.
Tywin's eyes returned to stare at Jaime. He did not see a boy of ten and one namedays. He saw an asset. An asset that perhaps he had underutilized fully until now.
The boy and Maester Creylen who helped him, always had good ideas. Ideas that initially sounded ridiculous or trivial, but ultimately proved to yield gold and undeniable strategic advantages.
Tywin realized, with a hint of discomfort he rarely admitted, that he had never truly asked what was inside his son's mind in depth.
First because of ego. He was Tywin Lannister. He had ruled the Seven Kingdoms while Aerys played with his fantasies. He did not want to be seen as a stupid or weak person for having to ask a small child's opinion. A father dictates, not asks. A Hand gives orders, not seeks advice from a teenager.
But facts were facts. Paper. The printing press. The compass. Schools.
All of that had been proven. Paper had revolutionized administration and given Casterly Rock a new power whose value could rival their gold mines in the long run. The compass gave a naval advantage no one else possessed yet.
Perhaps, thought Tywin while staring into his son's green eyes, it was time to erode that ego slowly. Results were more important than personal pride.
The second reason was time. Serving Aerys was a full-time job that drained the soul. Guarding his own kingdom required Tywin's every attention. And Jaime was at Casterly Rock, far in the West.
But now... now the situation was different.
Aerys was dead. That burden had been lifted. Rhaegar, although needing guidance, was at least still safe.
And Jaime was here. In King's Landing. Sitting right before him.
Tywin made a decision in silence. He would let the boy stay in the capital. He would not send him home to manage Casterly Rock just yet. Kevan could manage the Rock.
Jaime was more useful here. Not just as a King tamer, but as a thinker of the future.
Tywin would start making time. He would start digging into the boy's head, mining his strange ideas like mining a new vein of gold at Casterly Rock. He wanted to know what else Jaime could create. Farming tools? New economic systems? Construction?
Or, a weapon?
...
Power Stones would be greatly appreciated, it would also keep me motivated for faster updates. If we reach 300, I will upload an extra chapter.
Also, you can read early chapters at Patreon.com/Daario_W
Thanks for reading!