The Shadow Queen of Tywin Lannister

XLV. A War Benefits No One

A few hours after the meeting, Visenya and Tywin had returned to their tent. Tywin sat on his chair and merely leaned on his hands while on his desk were the letters of all those news, including those of Trystan that were scattered across the wooden furniture.

Visenya stretched her arms and moved her neck from one side to the other, feeling the tension forming knots. It had been quite a while since she had felt that pressure on her shoulders and she could not say she had missed it.

She let her hair loose and massaged her aching scalp, the migraine from before yet to pass and the wine might have made it worse. She had closed her eyes momentarily but opened them upon seeing Tywin just staring ahead in silence; the only thing moving being his shoulders with each silent breath and his eyes whenever he blinked.

She knew that he took Jaime's capture seriously, not just because of Lannister's pride. Jaime was his son, no matter how many times he failed to please his father. He was his first heir, his first male son and that meant something; more than what many would think.

She had a soft spot for him as well, being by his side as he grew but she did not share their bond. Yet, she understood personally how he felt because it was the same anger she had when she lost Rhaegar and the same feelings she would have if instead of Jaime; it was Trystan.

With how messed up things were, she felt they were back in their younger years. When Aerys and his small council or anyone else messed things up and they had to clean after it, control the damage before it ruined the empire.

It was not an easy job and it was not pleasant either. It kept them both busy, often testing their patience with what they had to deal with; mostly the stupidity and incompetence of those around them.

She silently walked towards him, her bloody red dress barely touching the floor as she had a simple cloak around her shoulders to ensure she did not freeze with the lower temperatures. She moved around his desk and placed her one hand on his stiff shoulder.

Visenya gently let it stay there and then placed her other hand on his other shoulder, feeling the stiff muscles. Her fingers started to massage those areas as she pressed herself more against the back of the chair.

"We will get him back, my love. We will get Jaime back and make sure no one touches any of our children, again" she said, moving her hands a little further up and closer to his neck.

"We will and he will be alive. Whether I have to burn down all of the RiverLands and its people, I will get my son back"

Her hands moved to slowly spread across his collarbone as she bent forward and leaned more. "Our son" she corrected, reminding him that she saw Jaime as her own and was there for him. "We will get him back, no matter what," she said and placed her chin on his shoulder, her hands placed above his rising and falling chest. "Jaime will be by your side for time to come" she whispered to his ear, her breath warm against his skin as the smell of wine reached him.

Tywin was not really an affectionate person and neither was Visenya. There were times when little shows of contact were all it would be given and none would complain. However, there were times Visenya felt that her lover needed more and she had tested different ways to deliver.

Indeed, she was not often one to go for the affection or let it be one-sided but Tywin did appreciate her words and her gesture. His mind was racing like crazy, his body tired and stiff from all that pressure and yet was not going to bend.

After having to control and handle everything on his own, he needed a chance to relax; to take a breather. He could never truly have it but many times, he found that her presence was having similar effects.