Taywin the Lioness

Why Now!

When I had awoke I felt weary and wore out, I had tossed all night long thinking of how I had lied to Alvor, I shouldn't have done that, but I know my Mother. Mother would never approve of him, she hates every man she crosses paths with. I mean I really surprised my Father has lived this long. Dealing with a lion, no-lioness is a touch job. Lannister are always known for their temper and wit.

I rolled to my side and saw Shanna had curled up in her chair and was sound asleep with her book. She was snoring ever so softly, I pulled my covers back and slipped my toes down to the fur, it was cold as I jerked them up silently with a hiss. I gingerly placed my toes back down and bit my lip but found it wasn't near as cold as before.

I pulled hair around and made one long braid before stepping softly to my trunk and pulling out my favorite trousers and shirt and slipping them on and tying the strings of my corset in the front, I reached for my scabbard and buckled it to my belt and slung yet again my dagger over my back and pulled my boots on and tying them before stepping in  the morning air.

The wind picked up as I stepped out and gave me a cold welcome so I went back inside and found my cape that I strapped over my body and headed back out.

I walked some time before I found Alvor, he didn't exactly take his job serious with being my guard. He sat at a dying fire alone with his hood pulled down and his coat hugging his shoulders. Alvor took no note of me while I walked over to him, my boots making a squishing noise with every step. I sat down next to him as Alvor continued to stare in the fire, I never turned to him but I let the words slip out like the mist that grew around us," I never meant to lie to you. I know you're blaming me for it all but being a Lannister is more than you think, I've appearances to keep and secrets of my own. No matter what I hope that somehow you can forgive me, Alvor. I never meant to hurt you as I only burned myself in this."

When Alvor didn't answer I stood up and started to walk back thinking that I wasted my breath on the likes of him, Alvor would never truly forgive me, even I knew that but Alvor could at least try. I knew taking him in my service was a mistake.

I never heard footsteps behind me as I walked away, Alvor could consider himself unemployed now.

When I walked back to my tent, thank god I wasn't given a room in the inn, I don't know if I could handle people right at this moment. I saw Shanna setting up with her nose stuck in her book. I loved to read but with this traveling I didn't want to risk reading and accidently ruining my books.

Shanna looked up and noticed me as I walked and gave a curt glare before standing up and taking my cape and scabbard and setting down on my trunk, I gave her one pathetic glance before I broke the ice and silence between to close sisters." I know, you think it's pretty pathetic of me. I know what goes through your mind when you look upon my now, I was once the might Taywin now reduced to the weak Taywin because of one stupid action. I can't let this eat my though, neither can you, Shanna."

Shanna lowered her eyes before striking up the courage," Always wise Taywin, never one without a mind. You make me happy to see the old Taywin, one that doesn't lie to her best friend."

I shook my head," Not friend," I approached Shanna and wrapped my arms around her," my sister."

Later that morning I went to break fast, I hadn't thought about Winterfell since...But Alvor was so much like him but so different. I hated comparing people but he reminded me of him so much but Alvor was more brutal, less forgiving and much more dangerous.

I walked in the inn and sat with my family were I ate in silence until my Mother spoke up and gave me a warm smile but I saw the inside of her heart. She hated the Starks and wanted their direwolves dead, if not the Starks themselves." My lovely, how did you sleep? I trust your dreams were well?"

I swallowed before I answered," Yes," I lied this time," but I did have one disturbing dream though." My Mother tilted her head," It was about the direwolves, I only heard their cries. I understood them, the wolves were mourning a sister of theirs. Then I saw it, in the snow covered with ice in the South. Everything was frozen and had frost swirling around the ice. It was freezing and I was there, freezing along with the wolves."

My Mother laughed," I doubt the lion would fall so low to die with the wolf." Thankfully no Stark was present." The lion doesn't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep, my dear."

I stared into her eyes my Mother's eyes hardened on my gaze then I let the words fall form my lips as I spoke quietly," No, we were dying, everyone was dead. It means we will all die sometime later, but not before we reap from our sins and suffer punishment for retribution and salvation." Thankfully as well that Myrcella and Tommen were arguing and didn't hear me.

Mother then gave me a cold glare," Why would you say such? What has gotten in to you Taywin, has your uncle been filling you head with such outlandish things again."

I was about to respond when the inn door opened with such force that I turned from where I was and saw Alvor pacing his way over to me. He stopped when he reached me and I saw the side of his lips curl into a smile," Forgive me my Lady Taywin, I had never meant to desert you."

I felt my pulse quicken with anger and saw Alvor's satisfaction grow on his smug face as I became red with both frustration and embarrassment. Alvor had followed me and made sure the Queen was present before I had announced him to my Mother, he was playing a game that he meant to win.

But I was going to win, one way or the other.

I glanced over at my Mother who gave me the same look she gave my Father when she was disgusted or pissed but I knew she was angry with me. The Queen's flaming green eyes spoke all, come hell or high water I was going to has my ass become grass. Mother would tear my a new hide...