Chapter 8

I added the new chapter 8, that goes before this one.

...

Tywin was siting in his solar, twisting his chain violently, hurting his fingers. The golden hands were glittering in the glow of on oil lamp.

It was over. The dragons would be here tomorrow. The downfall started a month ago, when the Targaryen army landed in Dorn. Numerous informers were reporting the same story about the enormous live dragons that make the strongest knights tremble. He did not believe in Dragons before, they did not exist for three hundred years. The stories that came from sailors and travels sounded like fairy tales for children, not fit for a practical man like he was. The Targaryens were taking over the Westeros almost bloodless. No lord would want his lands and castle being burned by unstoppable beasts. Almost all southern houses already pledged fealty to king Aegon and queen Daenerys. He new, even the Lannister army wouldn't have a chance against the dragon fire; he was not a fool even to try. The raven arrived with a message, an ultimatum actually. If Targaryens would be welcomed into the Red Keep without resistance, only the guilty ones would be prosecuted and guilty, he was, indeed.

With soft little Tommen he would rule Westeros till his last breath. He had paid the Iron Bank the Crown's debts; he kept everything and everyone under control. Bloody Seven, how he could not foresee this? He could hire faceless men long ago, even though it would probably cost him half of his fortune.

…

He saw Arya was in the room, clad in a burgundy gown with some gold embroidery, Lannister colors. She never was fond of wearing gold, so she meant this dress for him.

He had recommended she go North two weeks ago, but she replied with determination in her still-gray eyes, "I'll stay with you till the end".

They could flee to Free Cities, with Lannister money and live in luxury there. He would do it if she would ask him. But he wouldn't dare to bring it up himself. He new, even if she would respect her vows and would follow him, she would despise, hate, or pity him afterwards, defeated, week old husband. He would rather die, than allow her to feel this way towards him. He could glimpse the admiration in her eyes, when he took down the boar with one strike in the hunt. He could see how proud she was of him sitting on the Iron Throne, ruling the Seven Kingdoms. Sure, she loved him being strong; she loved him being powerful, if she loved him at all? He was never sure about her true fillings towards him, they never brought it up with each other.

He new, he took her in her youth without giving her much choice. Lions never hesitated to take what they wanted. He expected their marriage would be more formal, and he consented to it. What happened afterwards, was like a gift from the gods he never truly believed. It was the bliss of the two years; they were together, he just treasured every moment of her company, every moment of their intimacy. She was always wild, made him feel forty years younger and somehow less lordly. Even now the memories of the moments, like her return from her first visit to Winterfell made him smile.

Tywin expected an embrace and kiss…he ought to know his lady wife better."

…..

"Raven just came, Tommen is in a safe place, Jaime and Brienne are watching over him." Arya draped her arms around him and kissed his bald head. The first time in all this year her husband looked really old, his shoulders, always straight before now stooped.

Queen Margaery had fled the Red Keep with all other Tyrell's a week ago, leaving, her little pet husband whom she pretended to love during all this years, behind. Arya will get this bitch one day…She smiled sadly. The latest little king was such a sweet boy, totally opposite to monstrous Joffrey. When they were fleeing the Red Keep, his greatest concern was about his zoo, he was leaving behind, not about loosing the Iron Throne. Arya always protected the little king from Tywin who couldn't abide that his almost ten and four grandson was not manly enough, couldn't bring himself to kill animals when they were hunting. Tywin and Arya both were avid hunters. Tywin even skinned their game for himself. Arya wouldn't mind doing it also, but Tywin did not want to see her messy.

"Please, lighten up about it, Tywin. Just do it for him as his hand" Arya used to calm her husband down jokingly. Tommen was not really a craven; just, he loved animals to the fault. He was a tough boy in his one way; not naturally gifted with sword or arrow but displayed persistence nevertheless, training for hours until he got better results.

….

"Can't believe, turncloak Tyrion is with them. He will be sneering when they cut my head off," wrath overtook Tywin. "Tyrion will have Casterly Rock."

Arya did not comment, she suspected, Tywin had contributed a lot to this mutual hatred. "But Tyrion is your son, maybe…" she almost said he might could save him…for a moment she had a faint hope but, no, when Cersei wanted the Imp's head Tywin was on his daughter's side.

…

Arya remembered talking to Tyrion once. She had stayed in the Red Keep for several days before she was sent to Casterly Rock. Sansa had just married and couldn't overcome aversion of her husband. They had dinner together, and Arya enjoyed a lot of Tyrion's wits and sarcastic jokes. Sansa was miserable with her formal respect of Tyrion: "If it pleases my lord", courtesy antics. Arya told her sister," What's wrong with you, Sansa, he is really fun, just try to become friends with him." Now, Sansa is living in Winterfell her home but distraught having not emotionally recovered from Littlefinger yet, not even annuling her marriage with Tyrion .

…

" No Tyrion wouldn't even try to spare me, it is an old score between us to settle, And, Arya, do not beg for mercy for me, you are a terrible petitioner, you get angry the next minute and your pleadings sound like demands," continued Tywin. Of course he was right, but she had saved several people from the execution with this demeanor.

"Even if they will show me mercy, I don't want to be sent to the Wall", continued Tywin with scorn," No offence to you beloved brother lord Snow, but I will not tolerate taking commands not from him, not from anyone else."

….

Suddenly he pulled her up, sat her on his lap, hugging her tightly.

His voice changed to almost sorrowful," I am so sorry my girl, leaving you like this. I wish they wouldn't get me alive, so you wouldn't see me humiliated and beheaded".

Arya smiled softly, fighting tears, "Are you sure about it, Tywin? He nodded. "Let's have some vintage dornishen, left from our wedding anniversary."

….

He took his lion goblet quietly. "Thank you, my love. Try not to get married again too soon".

It looked like a natural death, a failed heart….

She kissed Tywin's cold forehead. Her lion never proved himself wrong. She would not deny or forget the happiness of their two years together.

She would mourn him tonight.

Tomorrow Arya should be strong. The North would depend on her wits. And, frankly, she did want to see the dragons.