Chapter 11

Cersei Lannister was furious as Ser Meryn Trant told her the news that everyone had failed to tell her in the day after he escape from the city.

"What do you mean Sansa is gone?" Cersei fumed and Ser Meryn slightly flinched.

"We sent someone to grab Sansa, but she wasn't in her room and most of her belongings were missing." Ser Meryn explained and Cersei gave a furious look.

"Our only asset is gone!" Cersei yelled at him and Ser Meryn flinched once again. Cersei continued shouting and berating the lone Kingsguard, until Ser Preston Greenfield entered the tent and Cersei attention turned to the other Kingsguard.

"Lord Tywin has received word from the Eyrie, your grace." Ser Preston told her and Cersei went from furious to intrigued as she wondered what Lysa Arryn had decided.

Cersei followed the two Kingsguard towards her fathers pavilion and upon entering the large tent, the scowl was evident on Tywin's face. His eyes darted back and forth as he read the contents of the letter and his free hand was curled into a tight fist. Whatever Lysa Arryn had decided, it was evident by the look on her fathers face that it would not benefit their cause and the Lannister's had hit a rough patch as of late. Jaime Lannister had been captured by Stark forces at the Battle of the Whispering Wood, The Martell's and Tyrell's were marching on the Westerlands, Joffey Baratheon had been dethroned by Stannis and Tyrion Lannister was reported missing after the Battle of King's Landing.

"Lysa Arryn will not be sending us aid." Tywin revealed and Cersei's blood boiled.

"Myrcella is to marry her son." Cersei stated angrily and Tywin's scowl turned to a grimace.

"Myrcella was supposedly caught trying to bed a young knight called Ser William Waynwood. Lysa sentenced her to a Sky Cell." Tywin told her in a calm tone, but Cersei looked as if she were ready to explode.

"I never wanted her sent to that wretched place and now she's going to die because of it!" Cersei grated, but Tywin kept his calm expression.

"He will not kill her." Tywin stated and Cersei gave him an incredulous look.

"If you had of continued reading, you would've noticed that Lysa is still planning to wed her to her son despite her alleged infidelity." Tywin explained, but it did nothing to calm Cersei's nerves.

"And you consider that a good thing?" Cersei asked incredulously.

"Myrcella is stronger than you believe, she will survive." Tywin stated and Cersei gave him a furious look.

"You want to leave my daughter in the hands of that old crone!" She yelled and Tywin ground his teeth.

"The Stark's have captured your brother, Stannis has dethroned your son, Tyrion is missing and the Tyrell's and Martell's are marching on our homelands. We have four problems to deal with and one army to combat them with, priority takes precedent." Tywin stated, but Cersei remained furious.

"And my daughter isn't first?" Cersei asked, not able to believe what her father was suggesting.

"The survival of our House is more important than saving a single member." Tywin told her harshly and Cersei opened her mouth to reply, but a Maester suddenly entered the tent, Cersei noticed a raven scroll

was held between his fingers and he looked worried about it's contents.

"We've recieved word from Hornvale that the Dornish slaughtered the garrison at Deep Den and they're continuing west towards Lannisport." The Maester told them in a worried tone before quickly leaving and Tywin stood in silence as he thought on his next move.

The Iron Throne was the seat of power within Westeros and with Stannis Baratheon occupying the chair, he would be viewed as the rightful king by the masses at King's Landing and the cities of Essos. Tywin needed Joffrey atop the Iron Throne for the sake of House Lannister, but with the Dornish threatning the Rock, Tywin needed to make a vital decision.

The Dornish had taken Deep Den and only the seven gods knew how many villages they'd razed on their way to Casterly Rock. The two largest problems Tywin currently faced was Stannis sitting the Iron Throne and The Dornish invasion of the Westerlands. The two problems were on opposite sides of Westeros and Tywin's army was to small to combat both opponent's.

"We're returning to the West." Tywin decided, breaking his silence and Cersei seemed horrified at the suggestion.

"Joffrey needs to sit the Iron Throne!" She cried in a angry outburst and Tywin glared at her.

"We cannot afford to lose the West." Tywin stated.

…

The Lannister army and the remnants of the City Watch that stayed loyal to King Joffrey numbered ten thousand, Tywin had the entire force pack up camp and begin the march to Casterly Rock. The army travelled along the Gold Road towards Deep Den and though King's Landing could still be seen in the distance, Joffrey Baratheon started complaining.