Asoiaf: I Have a Wolverine Template

Chapter 14

Chapter 14: The feast of lions
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Third POV:

Tywin and his men finally reached the towering gates of Casterly Rock, the massive stronghold looming high above them. The guards, upon seeing their lord paramount, immediately opened the gates without delay. The clanking of metal echoed as the bridge from the mainland lowered, allowing Tywin and his retinue to cross.

As they rode across the bridge, Tywin noticed familiar faces waiting for him. His brother Kevan stood patiently alongside their sister Genna. Beyond them, he could see his children—Jaime and Cersei—engaged in what looked like a playful squabble, picking at each other until Genna intervened, scolding them for their behavior.

Once they crossed, Tywin and his men dismounted. The moment his boots touched the stone, his children straightened up, their playfulness replaced with the seriousness befitting their father's presence.

Kevan approached first, a smile on his face. "Brother, welcome home," he greeted, giving Tywin a respectful nod.

Tywin nodded back but kept his usual stoic demeanor, his face unreadable as he moved towards Genna and his children. Kevan, meanwhile, turned to greet their younger brothers, Gerion and Tygett, offering them a more relaxed embrace, his smile widening as he hugged them.

"Brother, how was your time in the capital? You seem skinnier than before," Genna teased, giving Tywin a large hug despite his stiff posture.

Tywin stood firm, his expression unchanged, though he did pat Genna's back in a rare display of affection. She released him after a moment, moving on to greet her other brothers.

Now before his children, Tywin took a moment to observe them. Jaime stood first, his eyes wide and nervous, his voice shaky as he stammered, "F-f-father, w-w-welcome back."

Tywin's gaze softened, if only slightly. The boy had improved since their last encounter in King's Landing, where Jaime had been too overwhelmed with awe and fear to even speak. Though still far from perfect, there was progress.

Cersei, on the other hand, delivered her greeting flawlessly, her voice steady and confident. "Welcome back, Father. How was your journey?"

Tywin, though surprised by her poise, gave her a small nod of approval. "The journey was uneventful," he said, his tone measured. "But now, I'm back."

He crouched down, placing a hand on both Jaime and Cersei's shoulders, a rare sign of affection that he bestowed only in private moments like these. Both children straightened under his touch, beaming slightly under their father's approval.

The Lannister family and their retinue began the long ascent up the many steps of Casterly Rock, following Tywin's lead. Each step echoed with the sound of boots on stone, their ascent slow and steady as the towering stronghold loomed above. As they neared the top, Tywin's eyes fixed on the large doors that led to the grand hall where Joanna would be waiting. He straightened his posture even further, his hand smoothing over his garments, making sure everything was in place.

Behind him, he could hear Genna and his brothers teasing him under their breath, chuckling about how he always became soft-hearted and obedient when it came to his wife. Tywin paid them no mind; after all, there was truth to their words.

The guards at the doors moved aside and began to open them, the heavy wood groaning as it swung wide. Tywin stepped into the hall, his eyes immediately drawn to the high table where Joanna sat, radiant as ever. His lioness.

He separated from his family and retinue, walking briskly towards her. The others took their respective seats—his brothers and sister sitting near the high table as well, while Cersei dragged a reluctant Jaime along to sit beside their mother.