TYWIN
Tywin watched his son, who looked back at him calmly, but for a moment Tywin could see a brief twitch at the corner of his eye. Yes, this was big news. Tywin knew it. Discussing marriage at the age of nine indeed seemed premature, but this was not about romance or childhood. This was about the future of House Lannister, about securing power for generations to come.
"I have thought of several candidates," said Tywin, placing his interlaced hands on the table. "Lyanna Stark of Winterfell, Catelyn Tully of Riverrun, and Janna Tyrell of Highgarden. Who do you think is the most suitable for you?" He was not truly asking for his son's opinion in the sense of seeking approval. He wanted to test his mind, to see if Jaime could see the strategic implications of each choice, beyond just names and titles.
Jaime did not answer immediately. Silence hung for a moment between them, broken only by the soft hiss of the fire in the hearth. "Isn't this too soon, Father?" he finally asked, his voice quiet and measured.
Tywin frowned. That was an evasion, not an answer. He did not like evasions. "This is a plan," he said sharply, his voice as sharp as a dagger's point. "A well thought out plan takes years before it is executed. Securing an alliance is the foundation of enduring power. The strongest oak takes decades to grow, Jaime. You cannot plant it when the storm has already arrived. Also, I did not ask you to return the question. I asked you to analyze. Do you understand that?"
Thinking for a moment, weighing his words under his father's sharp gaze, Jaime finally nodded.
"Lyanna Stark is a good candidate, Father." For the first time, Tywin saw a slight hesitation in his eyes. "The North is vast and has many resources."
"Timber and wool, you mean?" Tywin interjected, unimpressed. Resources that are difficult to extract and low in value compared to the gold of the West.
"They are part of it," Jaime confirmed, undaunted. "But there are also many regions that may be unexplored due to their vastness. I suspect there might be many undiscovered metal mines there, iron, silver, maybe even gold. That is very important for the future."
"Yes, unexplored," Tywin countered coldly. "And how can you be sure there will be many 'mines'? The North is a harsh and poor land. They are strong in battle, yes, their soldiers are as tough as their winters. But their wealth is insignificant. They have no large cities besides White Harbor, their trade is limited."
"According to my theory, Father..."
"Theories do not fill coffers," Tywin cut in, his impatience beginning to show. "Let us assume your theory is correct. It would require enormous capital just to search for those mines, sending expeditions into that frozen wilderness. And with the North's harsh climate and its small population, scattered across a vast territory, it would take years, even decades, just to start any meaningful production. The return would not be worth the cost, Jaime."
He paused, adding his true assessment of the North. "They are also too backward. Too bound to their ancient traditions of the Old Gods and trees with faces. They are indeed famously loyal, like good hunting dogs, but loyalty alone is not enough to build true power in this world. Blind loyalty is often a sign of a lack of ambition."
He saw Jaime accept his rebuttal without further argument. Good. The boy was learning to distinguish between interesting theories and harsh reality. "What about Tully?" Tywin pressed, moving to the next option.
"House Tully holds a vital strategic position," said Jaime. "Riverrun controls the Trident, the great rivers that flow through the heart of the kingdom. Any significant land and river trade between the North, the Vale, the Westerlands, and the Crownlands must pass through them." He glanced at his father. "If we want to ensure smoother passage for our paper and printed goods when marketing them throughout Westeros, securing the routes through the Riverlands is a good move. An alliance with Tully would give us direct influence over the course of this trade."
"However," Jaime continued, and Tywin listened intently to see if his son could see both sides of the coin. "Compared to the others, the return is smaller in terms of wealth or direct military strength. The Riverlands are often a battlefield. Their lands are fertile, but they do not have gold like us or an army as large as the Reach."
Jaime shifted in his seat, leaning slightly forward. "For example, if we were to invest heavily there, building infrastructure to support our trade, but if war breaks out, our investment would be a total loss. As I said before, the Riverlands are the 'heart' of the kingdom itself. And the heart is the first thing stabbed in a fight."
"But that means we would have a bulwark ourselves," Tywin countered. "If the Riverlands are the heart, then controlling them means the enemy must pass through them first. They would become our shield."
Jaime smiled bitterly, a smile too cynical for a nine-year-old boy. "A human bulwark, yes," he said quietly. "When at war, their soldiers would be the first to be spent, absorbing the first attack. And we, with our fresh troops, would come as a hero to save the day. That is indeed a valid strategy, Father."
Tywin stared at his son in silence. The observation was cruel, but strategically correct. Jaime saw the game for what it was: a cold calculation of lives and profit. He was not swayed by naive ideas of honor or inter.House friendship. He saw allies as tools, as shields, as assets. That was the thinking of a Lannister. That was his thinking.
"Lord Hoster is a cunning man," said Tywin, returning to the analysis. "But his ambition is great. He wants to see his family rise. He would see his daughter's match with the heir of Casterly Rock as a great victory."
"And a man like that can be controlled," Jaime added, understanding his father's line of thought. "Their ambition is a leash we can hold."
"Precisely," said Tywin. He considered the Tully alliance. It was solid. Strategic. Not too conspicuous. It would secure vital trade routes and create a useful buffer zone without provoking needless alarm among the other Houses or, more importantly, at the King's court. It was a measured step, a wise step.
Tywin nodded, accepting Jaime's analysis of House Tully. Logical and seeing the potential profits as well as the risks. That was good. Now, it was time to test his understanding of the greatest prize in the South.
"Now, Tyrell," said Tywin, his tone neutral.
Jaime leaned forward a bit more, his eyes now gleaming with a clear appreciation for raw power. "House Tyrell," he began, "possesses immense strength. Perhaps the greatest in the Seven Kingdoms if measured by the number of soldiers and food. The Reach is the breadbasket of Westeros, Father. They can feed an army far larger than any other House, and for much longer."
"Quantity does not always mean quality," Tywin interjected. "The armies of the Reach are famous for their proud, flowery knights, more concerned with tournaments than actual battle."
"That might be true for some of them," Jaime admitted, "but their sheer numbers alone are a force that cannot be underestimated. They 'might' be able to field sixty thousand swords if needed. Sixty thousand, Father. Even if only half of them are competent, that is still a formidable army." He paused for a moment, adding another important detail. "And do not forget Olenna Tyrell. She is a Redwyne."
Tywin nodded again. Of course he had not forgotten. That woman, it was said, was the true brain behind Highgarden. "The Redwyne fleet," he said.
"Exactly," said Jaime. "One of the largest fleets in Westeros. If we ally with Tyrell, we not only get the largest land army, but also easy access to significant naval power through their Redwyne connections. Imagine, Father. Our gold could fund their ships. We could control the sea and the land."
The image was indeed tempting. Very tempting. Nearly limitless power. Total domination. That was a language Tywin understood.
"They are also rich," Jaime continued. "Not as rich as us, of course, but their wealth from the wine, fruit, and grain trade is substantial."
Tywin said coldly. "The Tyrells are known for their boundless ambition. They rose to Lord Paramount after the fall of House Gardener because they knew when to bow to Aegon. They are stewards who became Lords. Their blood is not as ancient or as pure as ours." There was a slight tone of contempt in his voice.
"But their ambition also makes them motivated allies," Jaime countered. "They want to rise higher. They want recognition. An alliance with us would give them that. They would be eager partners."
"Eager partners, or dangerous competitors?" Tywin asked quietly. "Olenna Redwyne is not a woman easily controlled. And her son, Mace Tyrell, while not as clever as his mother, possesses an arrogance just as large."
Jaime was silent for a moment, considering that. "Every alliance has its risks, Father. Great power always comes with great challenges."
Tywin let the silence hang between them. He let his son contemplate the implications. Internally, Tywin had already weighed the pros and cons of the Tyrell alliance long before this conversation.
The Tyrells were indeed strong, yes. Very strong. A combined Lannister. Tyrell force would be like an unmatched giant in Westeros. But it was precisely that strength that was its biggest problem.It would be too conspicuous. Too threatening.
An alliance that large would immediately create opposing blocs. Stark, Arryn, Baratheon, maybe even Martell, they would see it as a blatant attempt to dominate the kingdom, a direct threat to the balance of power. They would unite against it, creating instability, suspicion, and possibly even civil war.
And that would be very disruptive to the paper and printing projects. Those projects required stability, open trade routes, and at least the illusion of cooperation between the great Houses. If the kingdom was split into suspicious factions, how could they sell their paper widely? How could they get supplies of flax from other regions? How could they control the flow of information if every great Lord built walls around their own lands? The Tyrell alliance was too risky for this much more subtle and potentially more powerful long term project.
Besides, the Tyrells are ambitious. Very ambitious. Olenna Tyrell is a masterful player of the game of thrones. They would not be content just being Lannister's partner. They would have their own agenda. Uniting the two most powerful Houses in the kingdom could easily turn into a destructive internal rivalry. They are hard to control.
Whereas the Tullys... they offered almost the same in terms of strategic position, control over the heart of the kingdom. Their military strength and wealth might be only half of the Tyrells, but they were far easier to control. Hoster Tully has dreams, but his dreams are more measured, more predictable. He wants status and security for his family. He can be managed. An alliance with the Tullys would significantly strengthen the Lannisters without making the entire kingdom panic. It was not a reckless move.
And most importantly, there was Aerys. The King was already wary of Tywin's power. If Tywin married his son to a Tyrell, Aerys would see it as a declaration of war. It would be the end of his position as Hand of the King, and the end of any hope of marrying Cersei to Rhaegar. The Tyrell alliance was too costly in terms of political consequences in King's Landing.
Tywin had already made his choice even before this conversation began. This discussion was merely a test for Jaime, a way to ensure his son understood these complexities. And Jaime had passed that test. He saw the strength of the Tyrells, but he also was beginning to understand the risks.
"Tully," Tywin said to his son, his voice flat and final.
He saw confusion flash across Jaime's face. After all the discussion about the unrivaled strength of the Tyrells, this decision must have seemed ridiculous. "Huh?"
"Catelyn Tully," Tywin affirmed, leaving no room for doubt. He had weighed all the variables, all the possibilities, and this was the most logical, the most strategic step for the long term. "She will be your wife."
....
You can read chapters 24-44 early on Patreon.com/Daario_W :D