Of Lions, Wolves, and Dragons (Jon Snow)

1. Little Lion

Tywin Lannister remembered that day thirteen years ago vividly. His twins, Jaime and Cersei, were four years old and were excited to have a new baby brother or sister when they were told that their mother had gone into labor. He had to admit, though he did not tell many people other than his wife Joanna, he was excited as well. Tywin had never pictured himself to be the type of person to enjoy having a wife and family, but Joanna certainly changed him. On that day thirteen years ago, the bane of his existance was born. His dwarf of a son, Tyrion. Tyrion had almost killed his beloved Joanna to enter this world. The maesters had to work on her for hours after Tyrion was born, and she had almost died. However, they were successful in saving her, but the maesters assured the Lord of Casterly Rock that these would be the only children he would ever have. The golden twins and a dwarf. At least he had an heir in his son Jaime and a daughter that he could use to make a powerful alliance in the future when she became old enough to be married. Joanna loved Tyrion like Tywin could not. To him, Tyrion was a stain on his noble house. Of course Joanna was disappointed that they would not able to have more children, but she was alive and she was going to be able to see their children grow.

That was why it was now a shock that Jaime and Cersei are seventeen, Tyrion is thirteen, and Joanna is in labor with their fourth child. Why the Seven decided to give them another child, Tywin would never know, but from the time Joanna told him she was pregnant Tywin became terrified of the outcome. The last birth almost killed her. Now she was thirteen years older. What would this one do to his beloved wife?

The maester was in the room with his wife and her handmaids and Tywin was in his work room at Caterly Rock surrounded by his children. He couldn't help but think about the disappointments that his children had brought in his life. Jaime was supposed to be his heir, but he was chosen to be a member of the King's Guard instead, giving up any rights to titles or having children. King Aerys had made this appointment two years ago to spite Tywin and steal Tywin's heir away from him. At this, Tywin resigned his position as Hand of the King and had returned home. Cersei was supposed to be married to Aerys's eldest son Rhaegar, but Aerys slighted Tywin again by aligning with House Martel. Now he was left to determine which house he should marry Cersei to so that he could form an alliance that would bring strength to the Lannister name. And the dwarf! The dwarf continued to be the bane of his existance by marrying some lowborn girl that Jaime had rescued from attack. Tywin put an end to this as soon as he found out by having Jaime tell Tyrion that the girl was a whore, then Tywin's men all had their way with the lowborn girl. Of course, Tyrion did not know the truth of the situation. Tywin had Jaime lie to Tyrion so that Tywin could remove the lowborn stain from house. Jaime felt bad abot lying to Tyrion, but it was easy to guilt Jaime into doing this to make up for not being Tywin's heir.  Now Joanna was having another child. Tywin prayed for his wife's safety most of all, but after he prayed for a son that would become his true heir. Jaime could not inherit Casterly Rock and Tywin would not let the Rock fall into Tyrion's greedy clutches, so he needed another son to right what all had gone wrong with his children in the past few years.

His thoughts were interrupted by a handmaid running into the room without knocking saying, "My Lord Tywin, you must come quickly!"

Without another thought about his disappointments with his current children, he ran after the handmaid and into the room where his wife had just given birth. She was alive but just barely, the maester had told him after telling him that he had another daughter. He rushed to her side, not even thinking about his disappointment in not having a son to inherit his title. He grasped her hand and Joanna said weakly, "Did you see her, Tywin? She is beautiful!"

Tywin fought back tears and said, "I have not seen her yet, but if she is anything like her mother she is sure to be beautiful."

Joanna was not as brave to fight back tears and began to cry saying, "Tywin, you must love her. Make sure she knows how much her mother loved her since I will not be there for her."