aeternus | tywin lannister

VII

Tywin Lannister gazed up from the piece of paper as Maester Pycelle was talking when he heard the sounds of the door opening.

"Another small council meeting, I see," King Aerys II said as everyone got up. He walked towards the end of the table and looked at his subjects, "What's happening in this crazy world?" Before Maester Pycelle could say a word, he raised his hand and turned to Tywin, "I have some urgent matter to share with my Hand before anything else." The room fell silent.

"What is it, your grace?"

"My sister wants to marry you, after all. I gave her permission to step away from this alliance, but she still wants to marry you. Why is that?"

The council members looked silently at the two friends.

"You would have to ask her, your grace."

"I know why you want to marry her. But I guess it doesn't matter what she wants, no one ever knows what that girl wants, not even her. However, since you two are so insistent on marrying each other, I will have the wedding happen as soon as possible. And it will be held here. After that, you can take her anywhere you want. But I want the wedding to happen here, where she grew up and where us Targaryens always wed."

Tywin looked at him silently, wishing the king had never said that, "My grace, I understand your reasons, but she says she is still young to marry and I agreed to wait for her."

"She's sixteen for fuck's sake. But fine, who cares? You both will stay here until the wedding before someone has any clever ideas. Marry her whenever you want, but the ceremony will happen here with a bedding ceremony. It's a tradition and the Targaryens always go through with it. Why does she have to be any different?"

"If I may add something to this conversation, your grace," Maester Pycelle cleared his throat, "I agree with you. Bedding ceremonies have existed in this family for many generations."

"You are not adding anything, Maester Pycelle." Tywin spoke, making the king laugh and finish the rest of his cup, "So am I to tell your sister of this?"

"She won't be happy about it," said Ser Barristan, who was only attending the Small Councils for the second time, "Your Grace."

"I don't give a fuck about that whore's happiness. What's so wrong about a bedding ceremony? We all went through with it," he slammed his fist against the table, "She just needs to open her legs and that's it. I'm tired of this meeting."

•

"Rhaegar, do not touch it," Rhaella gathered her skirts as she followed her son who was chasing a lizard. Halaena watched the interaction silently, as she sat on the bench of the queen's garden with a small smile on her lips, "Rhaegar!"

Halaena and Rhaella never were really friends as they grew up, for Aerys and Rhaella functioned like a pair, while Halaena was the youngest and usually the excluded one. She never spoke to her sister about important matters and they were not used to spending time together at all. But now that Halaena would be leaving the Red Keep she started wondering if she should have done a bigger effort in order for them to be closer.

Rhaegar resembles his mother, thankfully. He was kinder than Aerys, but he craved attention the same way his father did. He loved to sing and dance, which led Halaena to believe he was a happy child.

It's a tricky thing to educate a future thing. Every single aspect you transmit to your child will reflect on how he acts as a king. If you spoil your child, they will think everything belongs to them. If you neglect them, they will search for vengeance. And if you are harsh towards them, they will turn out to be even harsher.