The Sage of Thrones

Chapter 9 ~ Game Changer

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Tywin Lannister was not amused. In fact, he wasn't smiling. The man rarely did these days. Namely due to his eldest son Jaime Lannister. His son showed such promise in his younger years. Granted, Jaime was still young, but that wouldn't be the case forever, and Tywin knew it with each passing day going by. Jaime was quite skilled with the sword and had been squired under Ser Barristan himself when the Mad King still sat on the Iron Throne. His son was charming, handsome, wealthy, and showed such potential in being the Heir to Casterly Rock that Tywin wanted in a son.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way of raising his eldest son, Tywin Lannister had miscalculated (yet another rare thing) regarding Jaime's actions in life, and saw his Heir become a Kingsguard. While a position of high esteem and honor, it had its drawbacks, and one of them was a Kingsguard must forfeit all other titles he will, or might inherit in the future. Not only that, but the Kingsguard cannot have a child once they become one of its members.

Meaning Jaime had thrown away any chance of becoming the future Lord of Casterly Rock and siring an Heir to one day succeed him. It had upset Tywin greatly considering how much time, effort, and gold he put into molding Jaime into being his Heir. The only two alternatives left to him was to either name Tyrion the new Lord of Casterly Rock or go out, have a bastard with some woman, and then legitimize the boy as his son. Neither choice suited Tywin Lannister in the slightest since he neither approved of either choice regarding Jaime's replacement.

And if things were bad enough, the current Hand of the King, one Ned Stark of the North was making demands of him while the King was on a hunting trip, and drowning in wine.

"Summoned to court to answer for the crimes of your bannerman, Amory Lorch and his men. Uh...arrive within a fortnight or be branded an enemy of the Crown. Poor Ned Stark using such a tactic. Brave man. Terrible judgment," said Jaime while reading out loud the words on the parchment a rider had come to give Tywin Lannister earlier.

"You think so? I find the terrible judgment was yours and yours alone. Attacking him was stupid, as is evident from the condition you are in. Lannisters do not act like fools!" said Tywin in a scolding tone while using his knife to kill a dead stag.

Outside of the tent, Lannister men were getting out of their own. All them getting ready to eat, drink, and then march on the road to war. When word had reached Tywin of his youngest son's kidnapping by Catelyn Stark, the elderly lion had been furious. Not over his son in terms of caring about him. He didn't care about Tyrion like most Fathers would. What Tywin cared about was the Lannister name and how Catelyn Stark had, in her own way, attempted to weaken his House, and make it less feared then it truly was when spoken by rivals.

"I had a good reason for what I did," protested Jaime while Tywin wasn't convinced.

"Unlikely. You clearly want to say something clever. So go on, say something clever in an attempt to impress me," replied Tywin while Jaime frowned at his Father's coldness.

"Catelyn Stark took my brother. The Demon Sage was backing her in this. I wanted to get him back and acted like a Lannister in doing it. Through force," replied Jaime while he saw his Father shake his head.

"Why is he still alive?" asked Tywin suddenly.

"Tyrion?" questioned Jaime while Tywin looked up at him.

"Ned Stark. You face him and his men. Why is he still alive?" asked Tywin with Jaime just shrugging.

"One of my men interfered. Speared him right through the leg before I could finish him," said Jaime while Tywin scoffing since he saw through the lie.