Dark Sister

-The Ghost of Harrenhal-

-The Ghost of Harrenhal-

299 AC
Harrenhal

Valyria had walked into the council chamber to find Lord Tywin looking over some maps. "Chilly morning wouldn't you say?" Valyria announced herself causing the lord to look up. "Yes, that's why I sent the girl to get more wood." Valyria nodded as she stalked in. She started to look over the map.

Just then the door opened and Ser Amory Lorch appeared in the doorway and then fell to the floor with a dart sticking out of his neck. Valyria drew Dark Sister in defense and looked to Lord Tywin with wide eyes.

"Wolfsbane. A rare substance, this is no common assassin." Lord Tywin spoke holding the dart they found on Ser Amory. "We hanged twenty men last night." The Mountain said in a monotone voice. "I don't care if you hanged a hundred. A man tried to kill me, I want his name, and I want his head." Lord Tywin stated. "We think it was an infiltrator from the Brotherhood without Banners." Valyria rolled her eyes at Ser Gregor's words.

"You blame them for everything bad that happens here. Are you sure they weren't just trying to kill Ser Amory? You created lots of enemies with what you did to Elia Martell." "This isn't about your personal vendettas, Valyria. In any case, we can't allow rebels behind our lines, harass us with impunity. We look like fools, they look like heroes, that's how kings fall. I want them dead. Every one." Lord Tywin stated.

"Killing then isn't the problem, it's finding them." Ser Gregor said. "Have you gone soft Clegane? I always thought you had a talent for violence. Burn the villages, burn the farms. Let them know what it means to choose the wrong side." Tywin ordered, with that the Mountain left as did Valyria.

An emergency meeting had been called after they had received word that Stannis Baratheon was sailing his fleet to Kings Landing, in hopes of taking the city whilst the majority of the Lannister forces were fighting the Starks. "Kings Landing will fall an hour after Stannis lands his force," Valyria stated. Ser Kevan spoke next "It's not too late for King Joffrey, and Cersei and the rest of the court to ride west to safety."

"Surrender the Iron Throne?" Tywin questioned his brother. "Better than seeing their heads mounted on the city gates. Stannis will execute them all." Kevan argues back. "No. A king who runs will not be king for long. He's a Lannister, he'll stand and fight." Tywin affirmed.

"Stannis two days from the capital and the wolf at our doorstep," Valyria said. "Scouts assure us Robb Stark remains north of Ashemark," Kevan stated. "Hah, the last time the scouts assured us of Stark movements, he lured us into a trap. Which is why my son is his prisoner." Lord Tywin spoke.

"Too close to Casterly Rock." "He sent a splinter force to recapture Winterfell. The Greyjoys have done us a great favor. Stark won't risk marching on Casterly Rock until he's at full force." Kevan tried to assure. "He's a boy, and he's never lost a battle. He'll risk anything at any time because he doesn't know enough to be afraid." Tywin stated as he got up from his chair and stalked over to the fireplace.

Silence blanketed the room as the Lord of Casterly Rock stared into the flames. Suddenly he moved, placing his hands on the back of Valyria and another lord's chair. "We'll ride at nightfall. I want a full night's march before he knows we're on the move. . . Clegane, you'll maintain a garrison here, at Harrenhal, track down this Brotherhood, and destroy them." He walked back to his chair.

"The girl's proven herself a good servant. She'll stay on with you. See that he doesn't get drunk in the evenings. He's a poor company when he's sober, but he's better at his work." Valyria's eyes darted to Arya who stared back and nodded to her. They all got up and left. A few hours later Valyria saddled her horse and rode alongside Lord Tywin as they rode for Kings Landing.