Disclaimer: I do not own the Song of Ice and Fire series. I did pull a few paragraphs from it for the beginning of this story though, just so any readers can understand where I'm beginning this from in the book (it's Tyrion's chapter in 'A Storm of Swords,' where Lord Tywin is supposed to tell him he's marrying Sansa. I'm giving this different circumstances though!)

"I object to marrying any-" fumed Cersei, outraged, before being cut off by her father.

"I have considered the Redwyne twins, Theon Greyjoy, Quentyn Martell, and a number of others. But our alliance with Highgarden was the sword that broke Stannis. It should be tempered and made stronger. Ser Loras has taken the white and Ser Garlan has wed to one of the Fossoways, but there remains the eldest son, the boy they scheme to wed to Sansa Stark."

Willas Tyrell. Tyrion was taking a wicked pleasure in Cersei's helpless fury. "That would be the cripple," he said.

Their father chilled him with a look. "Willas is heir to Highgarden, and by all reports a mild and courtly young man, fond of reading books and looking at the stars. He has a passion for breeding animals as well, and owns the finest hounds, hawks, and horses in the Seven Kingdoms."

A perfect match, mused Tyrion. Cersei also has a passion for breeding. He pitied poor Willas Tyrell, and did not know whether he wanted to laugh at his sister or weep for her.

"The Tyrell heir will be my choice," Lord Tywin concluded. Cersei waited for more, but nothing was given to her. She drew herself up in all her queenly fury.

"That is so very kind of you father," she said icily, "I shall need a few days to consider. Do I have your leave to go?"

"No," said Lord Tywin sharply. "There is another matter I must address with the two of you, should Lord Tyrell bring up his scheme with Willas and the Stark girl. We've sealed off one end of the plan; Lord Tyrell should be happy enough with the exchange of a deceased lord's daughter for a queen. But this situation has brought my attention that Sansa Stark is of marrying age, and as an heiress is going to be highly desired."

"She is no heiress yet," pointed out Tyrion. Cersei sulked silently in the background, attentive all the same. "Her brother Robb still lives, in case you hadn't noticed."

"And is wed to that Jeyne Westerling, breaking his oath to the Freys," said Lord Tywin with a wicked glint in his eyes. "War is a nasty thing, and takes its price in lords and peasants alike. If the bloody battles don't get him, I'm sure the good Lord Frey will have something to say about it."

"Jeyne Westerling?" gasped Tyrion and Cersei simultaneously. Cersei had lost her interest in sulking and was quite engrossed. "Well Father, if she has any children, then our little heiress will be nothing at all."

"I'm sure, under the worst circumstances, someone can take care of such a problem," said Lord Tywin darkly. They both nodded; it wasn't exactly uncommon for the Lannisters to claw down anyone in the way of opportunity. "But in order to do so, we need a man of ours at Winterfell when the time comes; a man in place and ready to step up to the position of Lord Protector."

No, thought Tyrion to himself. No, please no. Not me. My Shae…

"Immediately upon his return, Jaime is to wed the Stark girl."

Cersei and Tyrion stared at him, shocked, for a full five seconds before Cersei exploded.

"Are you mad?" she snarled, her green eyes glowing with the heat of her anger. "He is your son, fighting for your own line, and you're going to gift him with a whelp of a bride when he comes back? Marry her to one of our cousins, we've got those aplenty! For god's sake, marry her to Tyrion! He could certainly use a bride!"

"I don't gift my son with merely a very young bride; I gift him with the castles and lands of Winterfell. And we need someone we can entirely trust to be on our side up there. Jaime would never betray his own blood, and should the time come he is strong enough to handle Robb Stark. Tyrion is too cunning for sorts. We need him here where we both need him for strategy, and can keep an eye on him."

"Standing right here, but thank you father. I'll accept a few harsh words in place of the loss of my celibacy." Tyrion's father and sister shot him scathing looks, but he couldn't care less. They were right, after all. But he had an important point to make to Cersei, to hammer in the point that he should not marry Sansa Stark. "Cersei is correct though, father. Why give such a very young bride to Jaime? There is no way he will be attracted to her, his eyes will always stray to older, perhaps more developed women."

And with a subtle elbowing, the dwarf immediately woke Cersei's cunning. She would have kissed him had Lord Tywin been absent. If Jaime married the Stark girl, not only would he be neglectful of his shy young bride, but he would be wedded for life, with no threat of more attractive prospects to draw his attention from Cersei.

Her heated passion for their brother had clouded her sense, but she saw it now.

"Yes, Tyrion, but if he has a litter on the Stark girl, and I am wed to Willas, then all of these nasty rumors about Jaime and I will dissipate entirely! Joffrey's claim to the throne will go unchallenged! But wait...father, what of Jaime's white cloak? As a member of the Kingsguard, he is not allowed to marry or hold land!"

"Another good point, but one that is thrown down easily enough. It is a simple matter of being released by the king. The singers shall love him for this, the king's kindness in allowing a member of his guard to leave him for love," said Lord Tywin, united with his daughter against Tyrion yet again. But Tyrion welcomed this. It was a feigned fight that would put him exactly where he wanted; back in Shae's bed. He bowed mockingly.

"Alas, I have been outnumbered. By all means, marry our dear Jaime to the she-wolf." He stood back to watch the planning commence.

"Now, tonight at dinner, we should announce the betrothal," mused Lord Tywin. "You'll have to warn the Stark girl beforehand, Cersei, so she looks appropriately dressed. Also, she should not cause a scene about it. It's a great honor, to wed to firstborn Lannister son."

"We need to announce it before Lord Tyrell suggests he whisk Sansa off to Highgarden, anyways," said Cersei.

"Wait, what of Casterly Rock?" asked Tyrion suddenly. Jaime, as the eldest son, was the rightful heir to the seat of Casterly. With Cersei as the queen, and Jaime the Lord Protector of Winterfell, there was no one to rule Casterly except…

"Don't be foolish, Tyrion," laughed Lord Tywin. "I am not going to die anytime soon. But once this war is done and Jaime is saddled with Winterfell, we will find the younger sister. You shall wed her, and Jaime will bow out, allowing you and your wolf to hold Winterfell. He shall bring the Stark girl back with him to Casterly Rock, where he shall sit as a lord."

"Pretty, this little plan of yours," spat Tyrion angrily. "Sansa Stark is too young for me already, now you'll throw me the even smaller sister?"

"Young for you, and young for Jaime, but they will do all the same. You can have all the whores you want on the side, but these wives you'll take for their claims.

"But that's two claims to Winterfell," argued Tyrion uselessly. "Why not marry me to another realm, you know, broaden your alliances?"

"I prefer strong claims to many claims, Tyrion," said Lord Tywin coldly. "Cersei and Joffrey will both marry into Highgarden. The Freys have already invested in our cousins, and will surely settle for them once they've reaped their revenge on the oath-breaking wolf boy. You and Jaime shall both hold a claim to Winterfell. You see, should we not be able to find the younger Stark girl, then we can figure something else out. I am not dying anytime soon, and perhaps we can wed Myrcella to one of the younger boys. We will have the time to figure such things out after we've staked our claim."

"I see," sneered Tyrion, "Gods forbid I hold a castle." He turned and began to waddle from the room. "Don't worry father, I am neither bitter nor vengeful. We all know how little ruling has ever appealed to me."

"Tyrion, when we find the younger girl, you shall hold a castle," threw back Cersei. "Like it or not."

"Cersei, will you tell her before supper? Personally?" asked Lord Tywin of his only daughter. Cersei laughed and tossed her bright golden hair back over her shoulder.

"Of course, father. Who wouldn't be honored to marry the Kingslayer, greatest knight in the Kingdom?"