Bab 29: Chapter 29: Discoveries
Author's note: Apologies for the long wait again, these chapters have been getting trickier as I build up to my alternate Blackwater. It will be my second full chapter battle. Anyhoo, Read, review and until next time.
Tywin
It took every ounce of willpower for Tywin not to lose his calm.
"Can you read?"
Polliver looked confused, "my lord."
Tywin breathed heavily and repeated the question, "CAN YOU READ?"
Polliver remained silent as Tywin held up a piece of parchment and continued. "This letter detailing our infantry movements was meant for Lord Garth of House Greenfield." Tywin gave Polliver a death stare, "It was sent to Lord Galbart of House Glover."
Polliver looked down, "apologies my lord I must have-"
Before he could explain himself Tywin called for Arya. "Girl fetch the book on the greater and lesser houses it's the one on the-" Arya immediately identified the book before Tywin could finish. Tywin almost smiled at that, 'at least she can think.' Arya set the heavy book down on the table and Tywin stood up. "Even my cup-bearer can read better than you."
Polliver's face turned pink and he gave a glare at Arya. Tywin flipped through the pages before coming to the section he was looking for. His finger pointed at a particular spot and looked back at Polliver. "To whom does House Glover owe allegiance?"
Polliver's eyes widened as he looked at the book. "m-my lord, I-I."
"TO THE STARKS OF WINTERFELL!" Tywin roared. "Who have over 50,000 men at their command!" Tywin slammed the book close and gave a humorless laugh. "And do you know what the funny part is? Galbart Glover has been dead for 3 months already, you gave crucial information to a dead man." Tywin leaned forward and came close to the trembling man's face. "I thought you would be good for more that terrorizing peasants. It seems I over estimated you. If you ever do something this stupid again." Tywin didn't need to finish. Everyone knew the last unsaid words.
Tywin turned to his other lords, "all of you leave us." Everyone except Arya and Kevan Lannister stayed in the room. Tywin rubbed his temples, "I am surrounded by idiots Kevan. Roland has two capable men to aid him and I have brainless pawns and a foolish king to put up with."
Kevan shook his head, "I still can't believe that Joffrey actually tried to kill his own brother. Roland isn't even the elder, yet Joffrey would kill him just to possess his betrothed. Not king ever started this bad, not even Aerys."
At the mention of the mad king, Tywin's face darkened. His mind went back to Aerys II's, own obsession with Joanna. 'Would Aerys have killed me to have her?' He wondered, the idea was not so far fetched.
To divert his mind from Joanna he chose to focus on recent events, namely Roland's victory at the Kingswood. Tywin couldn't decide whether to be happy or angry. On one hand his own grandson just made a great accomplishment. Defeating the cream of the Reach's army despite being outnumbered and defeating the Knight of the Flowers in single combat. All at the age of fifteen. But on the other Roland was now strong enough to take King's Landing and it threatened to bring down everything.
Tywin rubbed his forehead wondering if he was fighting for the right grandson. Thus far Joffrey has done nothing but commit one folly after another. Inside Tywin was infuriated by his eldest grandson. "That boy ruined everything for us," he muttered. 'Not only with starting this war but my own plans for Roland.'
Tywin had never told anyone except Kevan. With Jaime in the Kingsguard, this meant that Casterly Rock would fall to Tyrion. Tywin didn't care how many people said how clever he is, Tyrion will always be a drunken, whoring, spiteful little creature. He would rather burn in the deepest hell before he gave Tyrion Casterly Rock. Roland had given Tywin an opportunity to solve this dilemma.
Once Roland came of age Tywin intended to name Roland his heir, he had discussed it with him during his visit to Casterly Rock when he was thirteen. Though Roland expressed interest in the idea, he stated that he needed time to think about it. Just a few days later Tywin received Roland acceptance to Tywin's offer. Tywin almost smiled that day, he finally had a suitable heir to his seat who would be capable of managing it. Now that was all over, and all because of a girl. Kevan dismissed himself to attend to the troops, leaving him alone with his cupbearer Bella (Arya).
As Bella set up his meal, Tywin considered her for a moment. 'At least one person here besides Kevan with intelligence,' he thought. Something about her seemed out of place, though Tywin couldn't exactly put his finger on it. Her posture, way of speaking, mannerisms and the fact that she was clearly literate didn't fit with the traits of a commoner. But there was something else about her. Most people either bow or kneel when he approached, but not her. She stared up at him defiantly, her eyes blazing showing, Tywin could sense the fear but the girl refuse to show it. It was clear that the girl knew who he was, and she didn't care. Tywin felt sure that she was highborn, but to whom she clearly wasn't going to say. Obviously didn't want to be used as a bargaining chip.
"Is that mutton?" he asked her.
Bella nodded, "yes my lord."
Tywin frowned, "I don't like mutton." Truth be told he didn't care too much about such things. Food was food as long as it was properly prepared.
Bella started to pick the plates back up, "I'll bring something else from the kitchen then."
Tywin shook his head, "No need, are you hungry?'
"No," Bella said a little too quickly allowing Tywin to see through the lie.
Tywin hmphed, "Of course you are," He picked up the fork and handed it to her. "Sit down and eat."
Bella looked down at the plate with uncertainty. She probably thought it was a trap, then again no commoner had ever eaten at a lord's table before. "I-I can eat in the kitchen, my lord."
Tywin's lips curled, "it is bad manners to refuse a lord's offer."
Bella nodded and did as he told her, Tywin felt like a parent scolding a child around. Tywin watched her take bites too big for any lady to take. "You're small for your age," he said after a moment, "I suppose you've been underfed your whole life."
Bella shook her head, "I eat a lot, I just don't grow," she said with a mouthful of food.
Tywin nodded and walked over to the window. "This will be my last war, whether I win or lose."
"Have you ever lost before?" Bella asked boldly.
Tywin turned back to her amused, "Do you think I would be in my position if I had lost a war?"
Bella shook her head and turned back down to her plate. Tywin turned back to the window. "I gained my reputation in the Reyne Tarbeck Rebellion, but this is the war that I will be remembered for. 'The War Of The Four Kings' the people are calling it. I always knew that a war was coming. Never did I think that it would be fought between my own grandsons. The outcome of this war will determined my legacy."
As he spoke, Bella listened silently, "do you know what legacy means?" Tywin asked as he turned to her, she shook her head and continued eating. "It's what you pass to your children and your children's children. It's what remains of you when you're gone."
"Like a birthright?' She asked.
Tywin nodded and then started talking about Harrenhal. About how Harren the Black's folly cost him and his house by building the monstrous castle that was now housed Tywin's remaining forces in the Riverlands. Bella joined the talk by speaking of Aegon's sisters particularly Visenya who was one of the few warrior women in Westeros. Tywin smiled to himself, clearly this girl was well-educated and was more interested in swords then songs.
It was refreshing to have a conversation with someone who would fight back so to speak. Kevan was a good man but usually he just agreed with whatever Tywin said. Kevan was a capable man in his own right, sometimes he would throw in a suggestion during a plan but he usually let Tywin do most of the thinking. No one has ever given Tywin a good lengthy conversation since...'Joanna.'
Tywin had told Bella that she reminded him of his own daughter. But that was a lie and he knew it. Cersei was headstrong and reckless, and while this girl certainly was a stubborn little thing she wasn't reckless in any way. No... this girl was more like Tywin's own lady wife. Joanna didn't fear him, she was quick-witted and fierce. This girl was the same and it showed. Unfortunately Tywin never spoke of Joanna openly to anyone, he just couldn't do it without feeling bitter.
Afterwards, Tywin questioned the man who brought her in Raynald Westerling, Raynald was a good man from an old house, if only the same could be said for his mother's family. Tywin never trusted upstart houses like the Spicers who married into their position. Raynald's mother Sybell reminded him too much of Ellyn Reyne, the only woman Tywin had hated more that his father's mistress and justly so. While Tytos Lannister's mistress may have been a whore, at least she wasn't a scheming bitch like Ellyn Reyne. Sybell Spicer seemed to be cut from the same cloth with ambition to match her pride.
Raynald had little to tell him other than a name and her family was among the victims at the Mummer's Ford. The one curious thing was the sword she had been carrying was a sword. Not exactly a common item held by a commoner let alone a little girl. Tywin walked over to the desk to inspect the sword Raynald had taken from the girl. This was without a doubt castle-forged steel. The sword resembled those of Braavosi water dancers and fit the girl's frame too perfectly. It was clear that someone had made this sword for her, the question is who would make a sword for a little girl. A thought began to form in his head, but there would be plenty of time for that later.
Tywin noticed that during her free time Bella would go to see the new blacksmith Gendry at Harrenhal. The boy may have been young but there was no denying he had skill with a hammer. One of the possessions they had taken from Gendry's group had been a finely crafted helmet in the shape of a bull's head. Polliver claimed that the owner had been killed, but Tywin suspected that the real owner was still alive and now forging and fixing weapons for his soldiers. On the night Gendry was captured, their had been a fight between Polliver's men and the group Gendry was with. According to Polliver the boy had killed no less than ten of his men before being knocked to the ground. Gendry had been armed with a finely made warhammer. Tywin made a note to ask the boy about it. Yet something about the boy, something that seemed oddly familiar.
Tywin summoned the boy to his chambers for questioning. On the table was the bull helm taken from his group. The boy came in and kept his head down, but when he saw the helm he reacted ever so slightly, it was faint but still noticeable to Tywins eyes.
"Where are you from Gendry?"
"King's Landing mi'lord," Gendry answered.
Tywin figured as much, "And what did you do there?"
"I was the apprentice to Master Armourer Tobho Mott, mi'lord."
That surprised Tywin because he, himself knew Tobho Mott. In fact, Tywin was the one who invited him to Westeros in the first place. The reason for this was Tobho Mott was one of the very few people who could reforge Valyrian steel. "You must have been good to be under his service."
Gendry shrugged, "I thought I was good enough. Then without warning or reason, he just let me go."
"Is that why you were with the Night's Watch recruits?"
Gendry nodded and looked down at the floor. Tywin picked up the bull's helm and showed it to the boy. "Is this your work?"
Gendry nodded again reluctantly, "I made it for meself in my spare time." Tywin gave his own nod of approval. "This is fine work," Tywin went over and gestured to the warhammer. "Did you make this as well?"
Gendry shook his head, "No it was a gift mi'lord."
Tywin's eyebrows raised in suspicion, "from whom."
Gendry looked down sheepishly before saying, "the prince mi'lord, I made a special sword for him and he gave me a hammer in return as well as a generous fee."
Tywin's eyes narrowed. "And why would His grace King Joffrey do such a thing for you?"
Gendry looked up at Tywin his eyes surprised, "Not Joffrey mi'lord, the other prince, the black-haired one."
Tywin realized who Gendry meant and he had to fight to hide his own surprise. 'Of course,' Tywin realized. 'Gods I am aging, how did I not see it sooner, the hair, the curl of the mouth, his eye color is lighter but the shape was the same."
Tywin questioned him further and learned that both of the previous Hands of the King Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark has visited him before their subsequent downfalls. Tywin dismissed the boy and Kevan came in soon after. "Did you find out anything?" he asked.
Tywin nodded, "Prince Roland's Bastard Brother."
Cersei
Cersei lay naked on the bed with Jaime next to her, He traced his fingers along her swelling belly. Both of them had realized that even though they could not risk actual sex there are other ways to pleasure each other.
"I can't wait till it comes out," Cersei said rubbing her belly with a smile. "This wait is killing me." She lay on her back, her fingers buried in her twin's golden hair as he had his way between her legs.
Jaime looked up from his position and returned the smile, "don't worry my love, we can get by through other means."
Cersei let out a throaty laugh as her twin began fingering her womanhood causing a familiar thrill to course through her body. Instinctively she bucked her hips upward forcing Jaime's finger deeper into her sex.
Cersei gasped as she writhed on the bed. "Yes, yes, right there, ohh don't stop, don't stop. Jaime, oh my brother, my sweet brother." After he was done, Cersei took him into her mouth. By the time it was over, they were on their backs panting, Jaime turned over and placed a hand on her breast taking a nipple and rolling it gently between his thumb and forefinger.
Cersei giggled, "You always had a talent with your hand brother."
"Not just with a sword I think," Jaime replied with a smile.
Cersei mind drifted to other thoughts. As her second son continued his campaign, Cersei felt the inevitable confrontation between her sons draws ever closer.
"How is Joffrey doing," Cersei asked.
Jaime shook his head, "Joffrey is not the swordsman his brother is. Though he has improved somewhat, he has a long way to go."
"He does excel with a crossbow though," Cersei insisted.
Jaime nodded, "there's no denying that. If Joffrey was as dedicated to a sword as to a crossbow he would rival Roland. Tyrion proposed that perhaps his skill lies somewhere else after all the sword is not the only weapon. So I tried a number of other weapons and I discovered something."
Cersei turned fully to him intrigued, "what would that be?"
Joffrey seems to take a liking to double knives so I sent Bronn to find someone who is skilled in the art."
"And did you?" Cersei asked.
Jaime nodded. "A local enforcer named Karl Tanner, he's deadly with daggers and is renowned in Kings Landing."
Cersei's eyes widened, "you would have our son trained by some cutthroat from Flea Bottom?" She exclaimed.
Jaime pressed a hand to her lips to gently silence her. "keep your voice down Cersei," He warned. "Or do you want the whole castle to know he is OUR son."
Cersei 's voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't like the idea of a lowborn brigand near the king."
Jaime sighed, "What would you have me do Cersei? Joffrey has few strengths, and if he is going to face Roland, Joff will need every advantage he can take."
Cersei turned to the window. Though she still disapproved of it, this new event was the least of her worries. "Tommen and Myrcella will be leaving for Braavos soon," she said bitterly.
Jame cupped her cheek and turned her face towards his. "I know you are worried about them. but they are in safe hands. Ser Mandon Moore and Ser Arys Oakheart will be protecting them. Ser Mandon is the best kingsguard after me and Myrcella is fond of Ser Arys. They will be fine."
Cersei shook her head. "They don't belong in Braavos, they belong here with their mother, among family."
Jaime knew there would be no convincing her otherwise about this matter, Cersei loved her children all too fiercely. Then he remembered something. "Cersei, there's something you should know."
Cersei's gazed fix on his own, "what is it?"
Jamie closed his eyes and sighed, "Roland knows about us."
Cersei showed no sigh of surprise, "How is that new, he obviously was told by That honorable fool Ned Stark and his humorless uncle Lord Stannis-"
Before she could continue Jaime stopped her and shook his head. "He knew long before all this ever happened Cersei."
Cersei was speechless, "h-how did he?"
"Roland saw us one time when he was six," Jaime explained.
Cersei was stunned, 'Roland knew,' she thought in horror. 'He knew and he chose to protect me, he chose to keep our secret.' This revelation only added to her remorse, as a mother, her focus had been on Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella. Hardly giving nearly the same amount of effection to Roland. But he didn't care for he loved her all the same.
Cersei remembered when Roland was four he came down with scarlet fever. Cersei refused to leave his bed side and sat with him holding his tiny hand. Roland always had a strong grip. he clutched her finger tightly as his blue eyes stared at her as if she could make it stop. That bumbling fool Pycelle was convinced that he was going to die, the fever lasted a week far beyond the usual time. But Cersei refused to accept that, Roland couldn't die, he was a lion as well as a stag. 'He's strong he will live,' she told herself. But Roland fought, he resolutely refused to die. Finally on the eighth day he woke up laughing and Cersei picked him up and spun him around, her boy would live.
Now all Cersei wanted was her son to come home so she embrace could give him the love he had been denied for far too long.
Roland
Roland's ride to Bitterbridge proved to be more fruitful than anticipated. As he rode past the tents of the camp, the lords bowed and addressed him as 'My King.'
Roland turned to Marcus, "What are our numbers." he asked
Marcus nodded in approval. "Better than I expected Roland, I knew that the rest of the stormlords would bend the knee after Renly, but I never thought that so many Reach men would rally to your cause.
Roland cocked an eyebrow as Marcus continued
"We have the houses Osgrey, Florent, Meadows, Peake, Costayne, Ball, Willum, Mullendore, Crane, Varner, Oldflowers, Durwell, Cockshaw, Risley, Norcross, Cuy, Costayne Bulwer and Ambrose and both branches of House Fossoway. These houses combined have given us a force of 20,000 men."
Roland nodded in approval but Marcus looked troubled by something. Roland rolled his eyes in annoyance, "speak up Marcus, can't be too bad."
"Not all the Stormlords have bent knee to you, the Houses Tarth, Trant, Penrose, Staedmon and Lonmouth marched home when they learned of your uncle's death."
Roland sighed, he knew there would be those that believed that Renly's death was deliberate. "The price of a bitter victory," Roland would have to deal with these houses in time but for now he had other work to do.
As Emmon Cuy and Guyard Morrigan led his new host to Storm's End, Roland and his renegades galloped to Kings Landing. Roland didn't know what obstacles he would be facing if he mounted an assault on the capital so he decided to go there himself. For the sake of entering the city, Roland and his band decided to disguise themselves as smallfolk. They traded their armour for roughspun cloaks and linen clothing. Using a cart of harvest they took the guise of a supply caravan and were able to enter the city after all. In these desperate times Kings Landing wasn't going to turn down wagons bearing food. Roland took the name Jon to avoid attracting attention
Once they were inside the city they spread out to blend in amongst the masses. Some visited taverns, others the docks and still others roamed the streets themselves. They listened to gossip hoping to gleam any light on what Joffrey's small council had planned. They all agreed to meet at a tavern near the center of the city to report their findings.
Roland was sorely tempted to use the secret passage he had learned of to enter the Red Keep and settle this. but two thing's stopped him, one was that anything could go wrong and the risk was too great for even Roland to take. Second was Varys, he was certain that Varys knew of the passage but did Varys know that Roland knew of it? There could be a trap inside or it had been blocked already. Regardless of the case, Roland wasn't going to waste precious time on it.
As he explored his former home, Roland learned about many things. One was that Tyrion currently resided as Hand of the King in Tywin's place. This gave Roland concern. Tyrion was one of the most cunning minds he knew and that taking Kings Landing was now just as hard as if Tywin was here.
Roland strolled casually down the streets until he came upon a man speaking to a crowd about the ills that had befallen the city. Roland smirked as the man made his aspired speech and mused on the fact that the city would be easy to turn against Joffrey. But his smirk dropped once he realized that the man was talking about Tyrion blaming him for all their troubles and saying he is the reason Joffrey has had such misrule.
"Insects," Roland growled. "they are truly so stupid as to believe Tyrion is to blame for Joffrey's character." Roland started to see why Tywin held these people in such a low regard.
Arrived at the tavern where he met Marcus, Lem, Pello, and Anguy sitting in a corner. Beside them was a hooded man that Roland did not recognize. Roland took a seat and Marcus spoke. "Jon, this man claims to be sympathetic to our cause. I brought him so you can judge him for yourself."
The stranger pulled back his hood, and Roland's eyes widened in shock. He recognized this man, he was a master armorer, specifically the one who made Roland's first set of armor and Gendry's Warhammer. "It's nice to see you again Master Salloreon," Roland acknowledged after a moment.
"Glad to know you still remember me, mi'lord," Salloreon bowed his head.
"How can I forget the man who forged my equipment over the years," Roland replied with a smile. "So to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
Marcus and the others while Roland and Salloreon spoke in mutters. They were to give a tap if they sensed something. To further muffle Roland's conversation they pretended to be drunk talking and laughing loudly about the war. Salloreon explained that he was the leader of a group of Black supporters called the Antler Men and were willing to help in any way they could. Roland listened to Salloreon's case with interest. and began asking him about the recent events in the city.
Three giant Trebuchets are being built at the Mudd Gate," Salloreon explained. "The imp is having every metal worker in the city wasting good steel on some giant chain for some reason."
"Careful," Roland warned, "that is my uncle you are speaking about."
Salloreon bowed his head, "apologies mi'lord I meant no disrespect."
Roland nodded, "you are forgiven, now did my uncle say what the chain was for."
Salloreon shook his head, "no milord he just said either make the chain of wear ones."
Roland hmphed, though he wished to know Tyrion's plan he didn't want to attract unnecessary attention. Right now he had only one mission in mind. "No matter, "we have more important work to do Salloreon. I'm here to steal the fleet."
Salloreon's eyes widened, "you mean to steal the Royal Fleet mi'lord?"
Roland nodded, "truly only a small portion of it but yes, I intend to liberate some of Joffrey's galleys from his hand. Are the 'Antler Men,' up for that?"
Salloreon was silent for a moment and nodded. "I'll see what I can do mi'lord." he paused for a moment as if struck with a thought. "There is something else you should know mi'lord."
Roland cocked an eyebrow, "what would that be."
Salloreon leaned closer. I hear tell that Princess Myrcella and Prince Tommen are being sent to Braavos within the week."
It took Roland a lot to keep himself from having an outburst. 'They think they're protecting them?' he wondered incredulously. 'Fools, doesn't mother know I would never harm them.' Roland was saddened that his family had so little faith in his character. But then again he is plotting to bring down House Lannister for its crimes. Roland bowed his head, then an idea popped into his head. This event could be worked to his advantage. Roland needed to steal the fleet and the best way to do that was to create a distraction. Most likely there would be a gathering for his siblings departure. But this departure must not happen, he would need to prevent it
He turned to Salloreon, "prepare your men and inform me of when my brother and sister are to leave the city."
"Do you have a plan your mi'lord?" Salloreon inquired.
Roland nodded, "It's time to stir the hornet's nest, we are going to start a riot."
Status Power Mingguan
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