Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/Veni_V
---------------
"Sir, are you jesting?" Redwyne said bluntly.
"Sansa Stark is in our hands."
"Don't forget, Jaime is in their hands as well," Cersei reminded him.
How could Tyrion forget? He had stopped that bastard Joffrey from tormenting Sansa in hopes that he could exchange her for his brother. "The Starks have been deeply wronged by the Ironborn. Who is the enemy of the Ironborn who captured Winterfell and burned Lord Eddard's two young sons alive?"
"The North is not at peace now, my lord," the eunuch said softly. "Even though the Ironborn have withdrawn."
"After reclaiming Winterfell, Lord Eddard has gathered a large army at White Harbor and appears to be preparing to sail south."
Tyrion suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
"Although Lord Tywin has brought us much good news, our enemies in the Riverlands remain resilient," Varys said.
Though they seemed to have a temporary advantage, their enemies appeared to be preserving their strength.
In the south, Ser Cortnay Penrose had reassembled an army at Storm's End, rigorously training new recruits, and appeared to be preparing to march against Bronzegate and the Stormlands.
King's Landing seemed to have fallen into a defensive position once again, and all the strategies originally intended to deal with Stannis had proven ineffective.
The army led by Mace Tyrell that besieged Storm's End was defeated by Penrose in one decisive stroke, and the Arbor Fleet, meant to counter the Royal Fleet, was sunk by the Ironborn.
If Stannis were allowed to reclaim the Stormlands, King's Landing would likely face siege from both north and south.
"Your Grace, Lord Hand, news has arrived by raven from Bronzegate. The Kingswood region is now occupied by Penrose's wildlings," Grand Maester Pycelle glanced at Tyrion.
Tyrion knew why the old man looked at him. It was because Shagga and the mountain clansmen had once worked under his command.
"Lord Ralph Buckler has urged us to send troops to support Bronzegate as soon as possible," Cersei said. In the hall, she asked the king to dispatch forces immediately.
"Unless Lord Randyll can bring his army back from the Riverlands, or we send troops from King's Landing." But that would leave the capital defenseless.
"Shouldn't we discuss the king's wedding?" the queen asked them. It had been postponed for far too long.
"Lord Tyrell is now a prisoner on Dragonstone. How can the wedding proceed if we don't secure his return?" Tyrion asked Cersei.
"A brother stands as father, Tyrion," Ser Kevan Lannister said. "Willas Tyrell will be in King's Landing to attend the king's wedding."
Tyrion realized they must now bind House Tyrell firmly to their cause. If Highgarden changed sides again, the Lannisters would truly be fighting alone.
It seemed Lord Tywin had made his decision long ago. Uncle Kevan would be his mouthpiece regardless of the occasion. Whatever Kevan said was as good as coming from Lord Tywin himself.
"Let's focus on the wedding and set aside this damned war for now," Lord Mathis Rowan said.
"I believe the Prince of Dorne should arrive in King's Landing soon." Prince Doran would take an important seat on the Small Council and at the same time avenge his sister Elia and her children. This was Tywin's promise to Dorne. Of course, Princess Myrcella, the king's sister, had already been betrothed to Prince Trystane of Dorne.
Trading The Mountain and a marriage alliance for Dorne's support was a bargain no matter how one viewed it.
But how sincere were they? Tyrion wasn't certain.
In his mind, if Stannis had taken the initiative to betroth his daughter to Prince Doran's son and offered the heads of Lord Tywin and The Mountain, Dorne would have been far more satisfied.
"My lord, from what I understand, His Excellency the Prince appears to have sent his brother, Prince Oberyn, in his stead due to his gout," Varys said.
"Whoever comes, my promise stands," Lord Tywin declared. He continued, "Has the crown been prepared for the High Septon?"
"The craftsmen have delivered the crown to the Great Sept, my lord," the Septon replied.
Lord Tywin nodded. "Any other matters to discuss?"
Seeing everyone shake their heads, he said, "Very well, this meeting is adjourned."
The lords and council members departed one by one.
"Tyrion, remain here," Lord Tywin stopped his son.
The Imp, who was about to turn and leave, shook his head and sat down irritably. Truthfully, he had no desire to be alone with his father.
The queen, who had already risen, sat back down after seeing her father detain Tyrion.
Tywin glanced at her but said nothing.
When only the three remained in the council chamber, the Imp, who had been impatiently fidgeting, finally asked, "Dear father, may I inquire why you've kept me here?"
"As a father, do I not have the right to ask you to stay?" Lord Tywin asked.
"Of course you do, but you must forgive your dwarf son for sitting so long his backside has grown numb."
Lord Tywin replied coldly, "As a Lannister, you must mind your words and actions, Tyrion."
"I follow your guidance, father." His tone was clearly dismissive.
"Put aside your thoughts of whores. Your wedding will take place before Joffrey's," Tywin reminded him. "I recall that the lad from Storm's End had a good relationship with you. Why not write to him and invite him to King's Landing?"
"He won't betray Stannis. You should have known that when you wrote offering to make him Lord of Storm's End. And now he's Stannis's son-in-law. In fact, I've always been curious how you determined he was dead." Tyrion thought his father incapable of distinguishing between the living and the dead.
"You should ask the Silent Sisters about that."
"If I marry Sansa, I'll only make an enemy of House Stark. Why not use her to exchange for Jaime?" Tyrion asked him.
"You'll take her maidenhead and become the son-in-law of Winterfell. If you can get her with child, Eddard Stark will have no choice but to acknowledge it."
It would be a wonder if the Starks didn't cut him to pieces with their swords when that time came.
"I hope the letter you write to Cole will explain the current situation," Lord Tywin continued.
"What?" Tyrion was momentarily confused.
"Where do you think the Dothraki will land if they cross the sea?" Tywin asked in return.
"King's Landing?"
"Unless Stannis wishes to abandon his castle or face the siege of Tyrosh and Ironborn alone," Tywin said sarcastically. "Tell him that if he doesn't want his greyscale-afflicted wife captured by Ironborn as a concubine or enslaved by Dothraki, he should come to King's Landing in good faith. Otherwise, they will face enemies from across the Narrow Sea alone."
"I hope he's a clever man, Tyrion. Not like his foolish father-in-law." Tywin stood up.
Tyrion saw Cersei smirking.