Tywin & Visenya's Chambers, Red Keep - King's Landing, CrownLands - Later that Night
After the Small Council Meeting, Visenya had left Tywin to handle a few last things and chose to return to their private chambers. Choosing not to change from her dress, she instead picked up one book written in High Valyrian and got herself comfortable in one of the armchairs.
She was busy reading in peace, the old language offering some comfort to her. She had been taught like all of her siblings but she had proved to be the only one truly learning it. Her siblings eventually could speak it in a way or get rid of their heavy accent.
Visenya, on the other hand, seemed quite natural to it. She was able to read, speak and even write in the Old language known as High Valyrian. Her trips to the East allowed her to hear Low Valyrian as well although their complexity and being made by several different dialects proved troublesome in the beginning.
Halfway through her reading, the door to their room was pushed open and then closed; before the bolt was put in place. Tywin stole her a glance, not surprised to find her reading. Since she was young she had shown to him that she did read a lot but unlike other kids reading stories, she focused on history, combat, tactics and so on.
He walked into the room, removed his jacket as usual and filled himself with a goblet of wine. Then, he moved to sit in his armchair and simply stared at the fireplace while taking a sip of his wine.
His wife closed her book, having already memorized the page she was on and placed it on the small table. She crossed one leg over the other and leaned more back, showing a more relaxed but still graceful nature.
"Do you want to start or shall I?" she asked him, head turned faintly to be able to look at him.
"There is nothing for me to say. Your decision to make Tyrion Master of Coin was good and can be worked around," he said and swirled the wine in his goblet, looking at it before his green eyes focused on her. "You are aware enough of what I dealt with today. You, on the other hand, have been pretty busy."
She scoffed faintly in amusement. "I wouldn't say I have been that busy but I did have an interesting day," she said, slightly moving her hanging leg from the ankle and below. "Olenna knows of Joffrey's...nature and the Old Thorn is not happy about it."
"She plans to do something?" he questioned.
Her reply was a simple shake of her head. "I don't know but she might shortly. She requested my help, trying to use the fact that I am a mother myself to justify her thoughts and possible future actions."
He changed his posture, his body turned slightly more as his attention was fully on her now.
"I didn't answer her. If I had accepted immediately, it would raise suspicions and if I refused; she might never trust me again. I asked for time, which she understood. I won't make any moves yet until I have gathered more clues of what she has in mind about Joffrey and Margaery."
Tywin seemed pleased with her answer and her way of thinking, expecting nothing else from the woman he had chosen to be his wife. It was that specific reason why he trusted her to deal with the court and other noble ladies because she was simply that good at seeing through their lies and earning their 'friendship' as women would call it.
He sipped some of his wine. "Good. This will give us time to prepare better. I do suspect she will not leave until the wedding takes place, so we need to keep an eye on her as well."
She nodded her head in agreement. "I don't think that is the only reason why she will remain in King's Landing," she started, earning his attention.
She glanced at the dancing flames for a moment as she organized her thoughts.
"I think they have their eyes on the Stark girl, Sansa."
He arched an eyebrow, an indication for her to go into more detail.
"I saw Margaery spending time with her and it would make sense considering—"
"She is Robb Stark's heir and Olenna's grandson is unmarried, a second son to the future heir of Winterfell. It would give them the power of the North, a future heir to rule for them because the North does not take foreigners for rulers and as a second son, their child will not have direct claims to Highgarden, yet," he interrupted her, already realizing where her thoughts were leading her.
Visenya hummed in agreement. "Yes, that's what I suspect. It would be their only move now. Margaery has her hands on Joffrey and Loras on Sansa, ensuring the Throne and the North," she summarized, fingers drumming against the arm of the armchair. "You have to give credit to Olenna for her timing," she continued, earning a sharp glare from Tywin.
He did understand her words and indeed the old woman's plan was rather good, he would not lie but he was not going to admit it out loud either. Instead of praising the woman, he was more annoyed with her because she was trouble.
It did make things interesting, a small challenge for him to overcome without losing his power or his allies but that did not mean he took pleasure in having more things to deal with.
In the end, he took a big gulp of his wine and looked at the flames again, clearly thinking of their next step.
"We cannot allow the Stark girl to join the Tyrells, for that we must bind her to us."
She understood his thinking but at the same time did not directly follow it.
"Trystan is your heir to Casterly Rock, so he is not a candidate...Jaime is still out there and even if he were to return, he has taken the oath and refuses to break it...this leaves..."
Her eyebrows frowned faintly as the image became clear in her mind.
"...Tyrion."
Tywin nodded, to show that her thoughts and conclusion were correct.
"Yes. He did come to me requesting a reward for his 'efforts' and asked for Casterly Rock. I denied it to him but since he is a Lannister I can still...reward him," he spat the word, "with a good title, which you provided, and a wife—the Stark girl."
She let out a heavy sigh. "He won't accept and you know it. He will argue and he will not make it easy," she reminded him, glancing at him with the tip of her eye.
His grip on the goblet tightened subconsciously. "I don't care for his opinion, Visenya. He will do as he is commanded and will marry the Stark girl—but not now," he said, making her look at him with small confusion and curiosity.
"If we were to announce the wedding now, Olenna would know we are on her tail and will be more careful with her plans," he explained, slowly relaxing his fingers around his drink. "We will let them plan for now, focus mostly on fixing this realm and find Jaime. Once the time is right, we will snatch that Stark girl right through their hands and then offer them an alternative, to ensure their cooperation and reduce their betrayal."
It was times like those that Visenya had a clear view of the intelligent mind of Tywin. He was a great tactician but he was a far better politician. He knew how to play the game better than anyone, when to make the right moves and leave his opponents with no choice but to take the scraps he would give them.
He was ruthless, he was cunning and above all...he was her Lion.
She could not help but smile in pride, hearing the plan that he had just created after seeing their latest obstacles. It was something she truly admired and could sit there and witness for hours on end, seeing his complex mind working and planning ten steps ahead.
However, a part of her subconscious remained drowned in worry because his plan would bring lots of turmoil to their family. Tyrion marrying Sansa was one thing, and if her suspicions were correct; Visenya could already see who this alternative offer included.
Great Sept of Baelor, King's Landing - Crown Lands - The following day
The wedding would take some time to take place, which gave plenty of time for Joffrey to 'impress' his new wife; having gotten quite interested in showing off to her. At the same time, Cersei, Visenya and Olenna would escort him as they all made their path to the Great Sept where the wedding would eventually take place.
Cersei was not happy to see Visenya but after realizing that Olenna had personally invited her, all she could do was turn sour but say nothing. Her expression was noticed by the Old Thorn, who took pleasure in it, mischief glowing in her aged eyes.
Olenna had wrapped her elbow around Visenya's, with the excuse of her old age and the need for a stable footing. Taking the lead, the two of them walked with Cersei trailing behind them; staring daggers at both of them.
Further in the back, Joffrey was leading Margaery. The Boy King had returned from his hunt and was immediately by Margaery's side, ready to tell her all about it but due to their visit; he had changed the topic.
As they walked through the doors and towards the statues, Visenya looked around her in silence. The Sept had remained the same all those years, not once changing. She remembered how her siblings got married there, how Cersei got married to Robert and how she got married to Tywin.
Through her memories, she could remember the day that Rhaegar walked her down towards Tywin while her siblings were present. She could remember the day when she took the oath in front of the seven and the last day when her family was all together.
"Ah, memories. Such troublesome little things, aren't they?" she heard Olenna say, snapping her from her quick little trip down memory lane.
She turned to look at the shorter and older woman. "I am sorry, Lady Olenna?"
"Just call me Olenna. I do not need to be called Lady by the only woman that is not far younger than I am," she corrected her, feeling the glare of Cersei on her back. "I was saying about memories. This place brings them back, doesn't it?"
They continued walking slowly.
"I remember when the news reached us of your marriage to that grumpy Lion. Never in my life would I have expected he would get remarried, to a Dragon nonetheless."
That makes two of us, you old hag, Cersei thought as she eavesdropped on their conversation.
Visenya was amused, evident by how the curve of her lips changed. "It was a day I am sure many did not expect. It is odd when you think about it," she started, earning the attention of her companion by her side. "Looking back, it has been so many years but it doesn't truly feel like it."
"Tell me about it. I remember my wedding to that oaf. No matter how many years we remained together, I always thought it was far less. Only after his stupidity killed him did I stop counting the years," she said. "Have I told you how he perished?"
"I have been told...more like heard when the incident took place," she admitted.
"Finally, one person who knows. Honestly, I have gotten tired of having to explain it to everyone all the time. It is not even a great story. It only proves the intelligence of the man I married," she commented, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. "I cannot say the same for you. After all, you actually married a decent man when it comes to intelligence. Now, as for everything else..."
She did not finish, letting her words trail off but the message was clearly passed.
The Dragoness cleared her throat. "I do not believe this is a place for such discussion," she argued back, doing her best to be polite.
Olenna chuckled. "Is there any better place to discuss anything than here?" she asked rhetorically.
Cersei, getting tired of hearing the two of them talk like old pals while she was left outside, decided to join. She walked next to her good-mother but did not touch her.
"As interesting as personal discussions are, I do believe we need to focus on the important things at the moment, like the wedding ceremony," she said but before she could continue, she was interrupted by Joffrey.
He had rushed deeper into the Sept first and pointed to a specific place on the floor, where a small metallic panel filled with holes would allow air to move from the catacombs beneath them to the upper room.
"Rhaenyra Targaryen was murdered by her brother or rather his dragon. It ate her while her son watched. What's left of her is buried in the crypts right down there" he said, not realizing how uninterested Margaery was. "However, he did not live long because her adopted sister, Naelys Targaryen, came for revenge. She led her enormous dragon on a hunt after them and it is said that the dragon ate both of them mid-air!" he continued.
The familiar but tragic story made Visenya subconsciously stiffen. She never liked how the First Dance of Dragons truly ended, how many tears and blood were shed during it or how things turned out right after it.
"Family History is never easy, dear. Trust me, I know" Olenna told her in a lower tone and offered a faint comforting squeeze of her fingers around her upper arm before glancing at Cersei. "Please do continue"
"The ceremony is traditionally held in the main sanctum, which seats seven hundred comfortably." The Lioness continued.
"There appears to be a good deal of room elsewhere on the premises for everyone else" Olenna pointed out as they looked around, walking deeper into the Sept.
"There aren't more than seven hundred people of any importance."
"No, the rest are there to look adoringly upon the seven hundred to remind them how superior they must be to have the best seats," the Old Thorn said, amusing the two women.
They heard Joffrey continuing with his storytelling and they turned to look at the 'happy couple' as they approached them.
"Over there in that urn, the ashes of Aerion Targaryen. Aerion Bright flame, they called him. He thought drinking wildfire would turn him into a dragon" he explained, earning a fake laugh from Margaery that he did not see through. "He was wrong. And, of course, there's the Mad King, killed by my uncle" he said, not once glancing at his aunt as if she was not the sister of the said King.
Visenya kept her face indifferent, although the gloating coming from the spoilt boy was a challenge to her temper. A long time ago, Visenya approached Jaime and learnt the truth behind his actions; behind the murder of her brother.
She did not blame him, she did not accuse him and she did not hate him either. She understood better than anyone for she knew, if she was there, she would have also done the same.
However, no one else knew and Jaime never told them; not that they would believe him. Instead, he remained silent and simply accepted the gossip and talk behind his back with the same mask his good-mother would wear for years.
"Would you like to see where the last Targaryens are buried?" Joffrey asked Margaery, looking like a little kid ready to show all of his toys.
Cersei, whether not liking to remember the history or actually trying to do something for her good-mother, spoke up. "Are you sure Lady Margaery doesn't find all this a bit macabre?"
"Oh, no, it's quite all right, Your Grace. I'd love to see their tombs, really. It's like taking a walk through history." The young Rose said with the perfect fake smile and excitement, one that her future husband did not see through but the rest of the women did.
"The tomb's just up here." The boy king said, gently placing his hand on her waist and leading her towards the steps, a gentler nature far opposite to his usual, sadistic one.
The three women started to follow at their own pace with Olenna choosing to finally include Cersei into the discussion, only to get important information.
"You were married here, Your Grace?" she asked her.
The Lioness was surprised by the question but answered nonetheless.
"Yes."
"That was what your good-mother and I were discussing. Must seem like only yesterday to you too."
Cersei barely glanced at them as they reached the top of the steps.
"Seems like a lifetime ago."
"Your husband, was he buried here as well?" Olenna asked, pulling gently her hand away from Visenya as the three women stood in an almost triangle formation.
"No, he wanted his remains returned to Storm's End."
Thankfully, because my ancestors would never rest if he were to be buried there, I wouldn't either for that matter, Visenya thought mentally but kept her face indifferent, and right on time as Olenna was stealing glances her way.
"Such a tragedy."
"A fairly predictable tragedy. Hunting and drinking don't mix."
"I should say not. My son's a hunter. It helps him forget he's never been within a mile of a real battle."
"I seem to recall he laid siege to Storm's End for the better part of a year," Cersei said, proving that she was also in possession of Westerosi history; although not to the degree of her parents or Trystan.
Unlike them, she had a limit to how much useless information about the accomplishments of men she could learn before feeling her food coming up her throat.
Olenna rolled her eyes faintly. "All he laid siege to was the banquet table in the command tent," she said, making the younger woman chuckle faintly, partially relating to that with Visenya due to her brother and Cersei due to her husband.
"I told him to stay out of Robert's Rebellion. He had no business fighting an actual warrior," the old woman continued, not failing to notice how the Dragoness tightened her jaw faintly. "We mothers do what we can to keep our sons from the grave. But they do seem to yearn for it. We shower them with good sense, and it slides right off like rain off a wing."
The Dragoness said nothing, for she did not truly feel that was accurate for all sons. She had no complaint about Trystan, who had turned out to be far better than she would ever dream of. Yet, she understood why Lady Olenna was saying that when one would look around them and see the majority of such sons fitting such description.
"And yet the world belongs to them," Cersei commented with a small bitterness due to the injustice.
Olenna scoffed. "A ridiculous arrangement, to my mind."
Cersei, on the other hand, did not seem to share any amusement. "The gods have seen fit to make it so." She reminded them, killing any mood that existed between the three of them.
The topic was a rather heavy one, especially for Cersei. Like Visenya had told her, she once had power but now it had been taken away from her, bit by bit until she would have nothing. Men kept their power, kept ruling and kept having everything while she only took what was left behind.
She hated that, seeing the comparison daily whether between her siblings or with any other man in her life; her sons included. She knew that Olenna and Visenya cared less and joked about it because they were not in her place.
Olenna might be a widow but she still had a lot of power, like she always did. She was wise, respected and led the whole House by moving the puppet strings of her son.
Visenya, the all-mighty Dragoness as everyone called her, was the most powerful among the three of them. She had her supporters, the loyalty of the men and the power given to her by being married to the Hand; the most powerful Hand and also man to ever exist in their lifetime.
Suddenly, Joffrey ordered the doors to open while the crowd had gathered outside. Cersei tried to stop him but he ignored her as the huge doors of the Sept were pulled open. A huge crowd of common folk had gathered, held back by the Lannister guards that formed a blockage and were a barrier between the common people and the nobles.
Surprisingly, the people were not mad. Instead, they started to cheer and chant Margaery's name as they called her Queen and they even did the same for Joffrey; showing their 'love' for them as the young couple stood with their hands interlocked.
Cersei could only watch a few steps ahead of the other women as the people worshipped her son but also his new bride, while the very same people almost had them killed more than a week ago.
Visenya watched, not surprised by the events but remained silent; until a hand slithered its way like a snake around her arm.
"The love the people can give when their stomachs are full, huh?" she said, sending a passive message that the Dragoness picked up too well.
We brought you the food and we earned the love of your people. We have the power to take them to our side and bring you down with them if we wish.
That was the message the old woman was passing, a clear indication of how much power they had obtained and why it would be wiser for the Lannisters to truly side with them and specifically why Visenya should choose them.
It also showed how quickly Margaery had won the hearts of the people and the heart of Joffrey as well, the boy king already a puppet in her arms without much trouble.
She forced a fake small smile. "Indeed. Good thing that your visit was so well planned, then," she commented but said nothing more, for she knew there was no need for it.
The game had already started and the next move was hers.