48 Enemies Move Against Each Other
~~~(POV: Tywin Lannister)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 66 Years)~~~
~~~(Location: Personal Study, The Red Keep, Kings Landing, Westeros)~~~
~~~(Date: 300 AC)~~~
The ink stains the paper as I write down orders. More than ever now, I find my hand sore. The silence of my study is the only time I get some peace. The problems my children have caused me... Stannis moving from the South...
It's a matter of a few weeks before he's here. The city is preparing for a siege. My eldest son is lost in the North. Held prisoner and likely never returning. Leaving me with the spiteful little monster to help me.
Tyrion's marriage to the whore is only adding to the shame of my house. Joffrey has begun to cause far more problems than he solves. Not only do The Small Folk loathe him, but they also don't fear him.
Which is worse... The fear we've generated is the only tool we have left to keep them in place. My eyes slowly drift to a letter I received a few days ago.
It's been one entire month since Raenon and Daenerys celebrated their nameday... My attempts to have them killed were stopped. That was only a secondary objective at this point. There is no practical way to end the existence of the Last Targaryens.
I've reduced to gathering as much intel as possible about these two young rulers. I have no doubts the only reason Raenon and Daenerys have power is from their dragons.
It's not like they'd need anything else.
Their armies of Unsullied and Martell forces bolster that threat. The Targaryens will inevitably be on our shores one day. Right now, my concerns are with Stannis. He could win The Iron Throne before anyone else. Take it from my house.
"Lord Hand."
The schemes have taken my attention so much I almost fail to notice the guard waiting for a response to a question I didn't hear him ask.
My head raises from the papers, and my eyebrows slightly raise for him to repeat the question. He clears his throat and straightens out.
"Lady Olenna Tyrell is here to see you, Lord Hand."
It only takes a moment before someone I consider an intellectual threat enters my study and sits across from me. She's come here to speak about one thing and one thing only. Loras Tyrell. The eldest son of Mace Tyrell.
Her eyes lock onto mine, and she's waiting for me to stop writing. Her eyes roll, and I can see my tactics hold little effect on her.
"Tywin Lannister... Your letters to my house have become too disturbing to ignore. Coming here personally seems to be the only way to handle said threats."
She's protecting Margaery Tyrell in hopes that Raenon and Daenerys will allow her to join their coupling. I can't reach the Tyrell girl anymore. Not without starting an outright war with The Tyrells, and that's something we can't afford.
I can't reach Margaery... To make her Queen next to Joffrey... But I can throw off Olenna's plans.
"What I said is true in the letters. If you don't allow the wedding of Loras Tyrell to Cersei, I'll permanently post him at The Kingsguard."
There is obvious distress and anger at my words from the older woman. She's not pleased I'm destroying all her plans.
"No. Loras is the future of House Tyrell. He shall not be posted to the Kingsguard."
She stands up and pulls the quill out of my hand. Snapping it and sitting back down. That leaves only one option.
"Then it's done. Loras shall marry Cersei, and through this marriage pact, you'll be our allies in all upcoming wars."
I, however, don't get the reaction I want.
"No such thing shall happen, Tywin. Highgarden is safe from Lannister's fame and fear. Any more letters, and we'll stop food coming to Kings Landing. No more taxes shall be paid to The Crown. And we both know how desperate you are for gold."
Threats upon threats.
It's clearly seen we'll get nowhere with this. If I can't manipulate and control Olenna, then her idiotic son shall fit better. Mace can be easily played compared to his mother. If one plan doesn't work, use the next one.
"We'll see what you'll say in due time. For the time being, I have a siege to prepare for. Now, leave."
Time I focus on the current problem.
Stannis Baratheon.
~~~(POV: Lady Olenna)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 72 Years)~~~
~~~(Location: Carriage, The Roseroad, Westeros)~~~
~~~(Date: 300 AC)~~~
Tywin has proven to be an enemy that won't go away with simple threats. Not that I expected it. His play to take Loras could work. His plans are clearly to target Mace next. My son is a fool compared to me.
My plans for my granddaughter are my main objective. Tywin knows he can't touch her. Not anymore. Margaery and The Targaryens aren't set in stone, but our foot is more than in the door.
"Lady Olenna..."
My attention turns to the nameless girl. I don't have the time to memorize all their names.
"Are you alright? You're looking a little pale."
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. The Tyrells have fully pulled out of Kings Landing at this point. Mace wasn't happy about it, but my house is more important than what he wants.
"Nothing to worry about. There isn't much time left before Tywin and his family are tested again."
I hope Stannis wins this coming battle. If he does, it'll make The Iron Throne weaker. Perhaps weak enough to convince Raenon the time to attack is now. The sooner he's in Westeros, the sooner my plans for Margaery to wed him occur.
There is one major problem.
Money.
When Raenon burned Braavos to a smoldering pit of ash, he destroyed the economic stability of Westeros and most of Essos. The only places that weren't affected were the places he controls. His very presence somewhere means money won't be a burden.
My house has gold to last us the next 100 years.
House Lannister will come knocking soon. If what I've heard is true, they'll need money.
~~~(POV: Cersei Lannister)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 39 Years)~~~
~~~(Location: Bedroom, The Red Keep, Kingslanding, Westeros)~~~
~~~(Date: 300 AC)~~~
"Where do you suppose Joffrey thinks he can get away with whatever he wants and whenever he wants? It's only a matter of time before Dragon Fire burns him. Raenon is coming, and our King still has no Queen beside him."
Tyrion sips at his wine cup with an arrogance that I've not seen in him since he got away with having his whore. Marrying the bitch too.
It's like father didn't even care.
Our discussion is about my eldest son... Joffrey...
"What do you want me to say, Tyrion!!? It's like the Gods have cursed us for our sins!! The Targaryens got away with it for an innumerable amount of time!! How can I not think that Jaime and I could too..."
There is a pity in my brother's eyes... Something I'd never thought the monster of the Lannister family'd subject to me.
"For starters, you could've shown a little discipline to the bastard. But it's not like he had someone like our father. He had Robert. And Jaime wasn't there for him either. For that would only support the rumors going around."
Again, rubbing the failures, I've committed in my face.
There really isn't much I can do at this point... Not for Joffrey...
"Everything is falling apart..."
I can't stop the tears from forming... Sooner, falling...
~~~(POV: Margaery Tyrell)~~~
~~~(Current Age: 17 Years)~~~
~~~(Location: Highgarden, The Reach, Westeros)~~~
~~~(Date: 300 AC)~~~
Grandmother is sitting across from me on the patio as a small party goes on away from us. Loras is with our father at the moment.
"Do you know why it's vital you're married to Raenon Targaryen in the coming two years."
The demand is apparent in her voice. Making it not a question. In my humble opinion, there are several reasons why it's vital. But to grandmother, there is only one that stands out to her.
"To have The Blood Of The Dragon in our family."
A slight smirk graces her aging features.
"Yes, Margaery. The Tyrell's future depends on you. Loras is the face... You're the important one. When you eventually marry Raenon, bear sons, and many of them... For dragons have returned, and they'll need riders."
Easier said than done. Daenerys is the one that will be the challenge. I don't doubt Raenon's will to hold out against me. If I were to advance on him, he'd reject me. He has great willpower.
Daenerys is the key for us to get into Raenon's life. The lock that's keeping other women and potential allies away is the sister of The Dragon Of Blood.
"What if I marry him, but he never lays with me..."
It's something that's been stewing in my head. Daenerys will keep me at more than arm's length from Raenon. She'll occupy his bed every night and not be privy to sharing.
"Don't worry, Margaery. Daenerys will warm up to you eventually. Become her friend. For real. That's the only way this will work."
That's going to take some time. But I've got time. My purity is intact, and that'll remain until I have my night with Raenon.
