Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Tywin Lannister was not known for his patience or his caring nature. Most people thought of the words cold and cruel when attempting to describe him. He did not have time to be warm and caring, he had a region to protect and now a whole kingdom to run. His children were all a disappointment, he had tried so hard to give them bright futures and all they did was spit on them. He had made his daughter a queen, and all she did was complain and drive the kingdom to ruin. She had raised a future king to be a spoiled and cruel brat, someone who took pleasure in hurting other people. His eldest son, the one who should be taking charge of their family was happy to be a glorified guard. Following unworthy kings around and spitting on his legacy. Tyrion had been a disappointment since the day he was born, and now spent most of his time drinking and whoring. House Lannister, the house he had worked so hard for was in great peril.
Now, his stupid grandson was destroying the kingdom. The child was unworthy to be named king, or even a human being. Tywin had been shocked when listening to the reports about what his grandson had been doing. Killing one of the most important Lords in Westeros, started a war he could not afford, starving his subjects, and abusing high-born ladies under his care. Tyrion had informed him what had happened in the throne room a few days before Tywin arrived in the city. The way Joffrey had called Lady Sansa to the throne room and had the kingsguards beat her. The girl’s older sister had gotten involved, knocking one of the guards over the head. She had almost been killed before Tyrion intervened and removed both girls from the throne room. His grandson was so stupid and so was his daughter for allowing this insanity to continue. The two Stark girls were important hostages of the crown. The eldest was the key to the North, she was Robb Stark’s heir. How could his children have turned out so wrong?
There was a knock on his door before one of his red cloaks opened it and bowed to him. The knight stepped aside, allowing the girl he had been waiting for to enter the room. He had to admit the Stark girl was beautiful, even if she looked more like a Tully. She had pale skin, almost translucent, the Tully red hair and blue eyes. Her features were delicate, almost like a doll and she was pleasantly tall. Tywin frowned when he noticed what she was wearing, even from a distance he could tell the blue gown was old and was a bit small for her. He could clearly see her ankles and it was extremely tight around her tiny waist. His daughter had not even taken care of clothing her properly.
“My Lord.” Tywin was surprised by how sweet her voice sounded, almost melodic. Her curtsey was flawless and she stood tall under his scrutiny. “I was told you asked to see me.”
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Lady Serena. Please sit.” He gestured to the chair across from him and waited for her to take her seat. Even her movements were graceful, she had been raised as the perfect lady. “I have called you here to discuss the matter of your betrothal. Since you are now under the care of the crown it has fallen to us to find a proper suitor for you.”
“That duty has fallen to my brother Robb.” Tywin’s eyes narrowed as she contradicted him without batting an eyelash. Her smile was pleasant as she looked him in the eye. “By law, the duty of finding me a husband has fallen to my eldest male relative. Which in this case is my brother Robb, who is the new Lord Stark.”
“He is also a traitor to the crown.” Tywin’s voice was sharper this time, but the girl sitting across from him did not bat an eyelash. “You had your sixteen name day a moon ago, which means you are of age and need to wed someone loyal to the crown.”
“And who would that be?” Tywin’s eyes narrowed at the tone in her voice. She was not the least intimidated by him. “Because I imagine that it will also have to be someone loyal to House Lannister. Or maybe you are planning to wed me into your house directly?”
“You should be pleased, since your family are traitors you should be wedded to a minor lord.” Her expression did not change, she looked amused. “I could marry you to a simple knight and be done with it.”
“But then you would lose the North.” It irked him that she was right and that she was not scared. His daughter and grandson were idiots and had been very wrong about her. There was nothing stupid about this girl, he could see the intelligence in her eyes. “That is what you want, after all, a tie to an old powerful house.”
“Your family has been named traitors, which means that your lands and titles will be forfeited once your brother loses the war.”
“If he loses the war.” Tywin felt his eye twitch at her insolence. “From what I heard, my brother has not lost a battle yet. While your troops keep chasing their tails. And even if my brother were to lose the war, only a Stark could rule the north. My two youngest brothers are dead, you need me for whatever plans you are thinking of.”
“I can see you think highly of yourself.” What he hated the most was that she was right. She knew her worth and that was something he had not counted on. He had expected a cowardly girl, who was too stupid to know better. Instead, he was facing a wolf who would not be beaten into submission. He did not have time to play games with her. “You will wed Tyrion in a fortnight.”
“I do not think so.” Tywin’s hands tightened around the quill he had been using and glared at the girl. She just sat there poised and regal as if she were a queen. “Like I have said before I am my brother’s heir. I am a descendant of the kings of winter, my bloodline goes back eight thousand years. There is no one more appropriate for your house than me or my sister, but she is too young still. I also have ties to the Riverlands and the Vale, and there is the small fact that no one has ever questioned my parentage. While the same cannot be said for certain members of your family.”
“I will advise you to tread carefully, my lady.”
“This is no new information, my lord. I am merely repeating what most people here think and whisper when they believe no one is listening.” Tywin should have known better than to listen to his daughter. Cersei did not know who she had under her roof for so many years. “Everyone knows that you will never allow your youngest son to inherit anything, which is why he would not be a suitable husband for me. Then there is your son Jaime, who while he has proven to be able to bear children, is unable to wed because of his position as a member of the Kingsguard.”
“Be careful girl.” Tywin would have killed her if he could. “You should know better than to repeat the slanders you hear.”
“You should know that rumors can be more damaging than the truth. After all, it was the rumors of your two eldest children's love affair that started a war. Everyone in the seven kingdoms is questioning where Joffrey should be the one sitting on the throne. Questioning if he is even a Baratheon. The truth does not matter any longer, even if we both know what it is. Because thanks to that rumor the realm was plunged into war and people will now forever question the legitimacy of your legacy.” She was lucky he did not hit women because right now he wanted to feel her neck under his hands more than anything. What bothered him the most was that she was speaking the truth. “Your house needs someone like me to bring forth a new generation of Lannisters, children whose legitimacy cannot be questioned. That cannot happen if I wed Tyrion.”
Tywin sat back thinking about what she had said, knowing that she spoke the truth. They were not even sure that Tyrion was capable of siring children. Jaime could not wed because he was a member of the Kingsguard and he was lost to him at this time. Tywin had no idea where his eldest son was. He could not trust Serena with any of the Lannister cousins. The girl was right, she was capable of bringing forth a new generation of Lannisters. She could save his house, and give him legitimate heirs. Tywin looked at her for a few minutes, knowing that there was no other choice. He had hoped it would not come to this but now could see that there was no other option. He could not allow this girl to fall into someone else’s hands, it would be like giving away the North.
Tywin Lannister (46 years old.)
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Serena tightened her hands around the wool of her gown, thankful that the desk covered it. She did not want the lord to see how nervous she was, how intimidating he was. She had seen Tywin Lannister once after he saved the city from Stannis’s troops. She had been in the back of the throne room when he entered and she had seen the look in Joffrey’s eyes. The king was afraid of his grandsire, and Tywin Lannister was a king, he did not need a crown for everyone to know he was the one in charge. As soon as Serena saw him she knew that he was the only one who could protect her and her sister. Joffrey and Cersei hated them and they enjoyed humiliating both girls. Joffrey always took it one step further, humiliating and hurting Sansa physically. Serena had intervened a few times, but most times Joffrey did things when she was not present. Other times he would have the Kingsguards restrain her while another beat Sansa.
Serena could not stand the pain in her sister’s eyes, she needed to put a strong enough barrier between Joffrey, Cersei, and them. Tywin was that barrier, but she would have to convince him to wed her first. When the king had visited Winterfell her father had been talking about a betrothal between one of the Manderlys and Serena. The King had chosen to betroth Sansa and Joffrey. Then Serena’s betrothed had died during a fight with some of the free folk that had snuck past the wall. Serena was sorry for the Manderlys, but she could not be sad. She had never met her betrothed. Her father had wanted to wait before introducing them since Serena was not of age. Then her father had been named hand and the decision had been made for Serena to travel south with her father and sisters.
The moment she had been told Tywin Lannister wanted to meet with her, she knew exactly what she was after. He was going to wed her to a Lannister, it did not take much for her to work out who he had chosen. Tywin was smart enough not to give the North to the extended family, he would want to keep her in his direct family line. Jaime was not a choice due to him being lost and a Kingsguard. There was also the fact that Jaime had been the one to push Bran off the broken tower and there was no way Serena would ever wed him. Which only left Tyrion, since Tywin did not see himself as a choice. Serena did not have anything against the dwarf, not even the fact that he was a dwarf. Tyrion Lannister was funny and incredibly smart, but he could not protect her or her sister. Which only left Tywin, the lord of Casterly Rock, and the hand of the King.
Serena knew better than to put the idea to him directly, she could not show her hand too soon. If she made the request she knew the lord would attempt to find another solution, which would mean precious time. Time Serena did not have, she had seen the way Joffrey looked at Sansa. The boy would not wait too long before attempting to bed her sister and Serena would never allow that to happen. She would kill that stupid idiot first, even if that meant her execution. So she just stayed silent, waiting for Tywin Lannister to realize the only option left was him. It did not take too long.
“If you are unable to wed any of my sons, then the only option left is myself.” Tywin looked like he would rather do anything else. “We would have to wed so that way you could not be taken advantage of.”
“I will agree to wed you, but I have a few conditions.” She resisted the urge to snort like she was stupid enough not to realize he was the one taking advantage of her. “I will need some assurances first.”
“Assurances?” He spat out the word like it was dirty. “You would be marrying into one of the greatest houses in the seven kingdoms. You will become Lady of Casterly Rock and the West. I would think that is assurance enough.”
“You would think so, but it is not.” Serena steeled herself, she could not appear weak. Tywin Lannister would detect the minimal amount of weakness and pounce on it like a hungry lion, tearing her apart. She would not allow that to happen. “I will need you to guarantee my sister’s safety also. Sansa will be moved into the Tower of the Hand and she will be given protection. No one will be allowed to abuse her or make decisions about her life without consulting me. I will have the final say over my sister’s wedding.”
“I believe you have overestimated your value, my lady.”
“Perhaps, but I am related to three of the seven kingdoms. My bloodline is one of the oldest in Westeros.” Her hands tightened on her gown once more as she gave him an amused smile. “You will not find too many people that will meet your high standards unless you want to wed your children to each other.”
He glared at her, not happy with what she was saying, but knowing it was the truth. If he did not wed her, then he would lose the North and that was something he would not allow.
“I have a few decisions to make. One of my red cloaks will accompany you back to your chambers.” He stood up and Serena followed suit. “I will assign some of the red cloaks as guards for you and your sister. They will accompany both of you everywhere and stand outside of your doors while you are in your chambers. We will speak at a later date.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Serena's curtsey was deep as she walked out of his solar, following the same guard who had retrieved her. Once she was in her chambers she leaned against the door, letting out a breath and looking at her shaking hands. She was lucky she had been able to control herself until she was on her own. She had learned a lot of things while in Kings Landing, one of her first lessons was that no one should be trusted until their loyalty had been proven. She had been witness to how people would smile to your face while stabbing you in the back. She had learned to keep her emotions in check, the more weakness you showed the more they tried to pick you apart.
“Serena.” Sansa walked from behind one of the screens, her face scared. “What did Lord Tywin say? Is he going to take you away?”
“No, everything is well.” Serena took her sister’s hands, giving her a small smile. “Lord Tywin has some decisions to make, but for now we are protected.”
“We are?” Sansa’s eyes were wide.
“Yes, he sent some of the red cloaks. They will accompany us when we walk around the castle.” Serena caressed her sister’s face. “They will stand outside our doors while we sleep.”
She could see the look of relief on Sansa’s face and hugged her. Her poor sister had been terrified of Joffrey sneaking into her chambers and raping her. Sansa had gone through so much, she had changed from the happy, trusting girl she used to be. Serena could not allow her sister to lose any more of herself. For years, Serena had waited for her brother Robb to rescue them, but her brother still was not there. When he had taken Jaime Lannister prisoner a year ago she had believed he would use the man to barter for their freedom. Instead, her brother had kept the Kingslayer as a prisoner and left Serena and Sansa trapped in this hell. If her brother would not protect them then Serena would. It did not matter what it cost her, Sansa would be safe.
Serena Stark (16 years old.)
Sansa Stark (14 years old.)