Harrenhal, RiverLands - 10 days since Visenya & Tywin arrived.
There had been no battles between the Lannisters and the Starks for days now, allowing both sides to gather men and prepare better. The weather was slowly becoming colder, evident that winter was around the corner.
While the war continued between the two great houses, others moved from their place on the sidelines; mostly the two Stag Siblings. With Renly's death, Stannis' manpower had increased and it would be a matter of time before he would make his move.
If he was smart enough, he would do it once the war was over and both armies had been weakened. Yet, due to the same war; he might choose to attack other more important and strategic points; knowing there were not many that could stop him.
During another war council, it came to the attention of the powerful couple that Ser Amory Lorch delivered a letter to their enemies instead of their allies.
Tywin held the said letter in his hands, his expression hard to read but everyone could feel the anger radiating from him. No one dared to speak or even breathe loudly, knowing very well that the Lion was about to prance upon them and rip their throats out with its powerful fangs.
Eventually, he spoke.
"Can you read?" he asked the man sitting across from Visenya, who was at fault.
"My lord?" he exclaimed, clearly confused on the topic.
At the same time, Arya was about to serve some wine but Tywin used his hand and gently moved her back, so she wouldn't obstruct his view of any of his war council members.
The girl was confused for a moment until Visenya quietly motioned with her fingers to approach her. She grabbed her goblet and held it to the side, away from the table; allowing her to fill it without being in the way.
"Can you read?" Tywin asked again and Lord Amory just stared blankly back at him. "This letter detailing our infantry movements was meant for Lord Damon of House Marbrand. It was sent to Lord Marlyn of House Dormand" he explained, his voice stable despite the terrible mistake that endangered their army.
"My apologies, my lord. I must have-" he never got to finish as Tywin focused on Arya.
"Girl, fetch me the History of the Greater and the Lesser Houses. It's the one on this-" he did not have to continue explaining, since the girl picked up the right volume right away and brought it to the table.
This amused him to the point that he chuckled faintly at the whole scene while he stood up and opened the book.
Visenya was equally amused as she moved her goblet out of the way so there was space for the huge book.
"Looks like a cupbearer can read better than you, Lord Amory" she commented, making the man flush in embarrassment but also worry.
Tywin opened the book and found the right page, leaving it open for him to see. It was the page for House Dormand, its sigil drawn perfectly in the top middle of the page while history and information were written beneath it.
"To whom does House Dormand owe allegiance?" the Lion asked.
"My lord, I-"
The Old Lion of Casterly Rock smacked both his hands on the table out of nowhere.
"To the Starks of Winterfell!" he told him, his voice booming ever so slightly as he stared down at the incompetent man.
The sudden change and the sound startled Arya, making the wine jug shake in her hands and would have dropped it if a warmer bigger hand hadn't been placed on top of hers.
She looked at the owner in shock, been so long since someone had touched her; let alone with such care.
The owner of the hand was Visenya, who was busy looking at the terrified Ser Amory. She must have noticed or expected the girl to jump and her instincts kicked in, preventing the kid from dropping the jug.
The hand slowly retreated, amber eyes never leaving the incompetent and illiterate man and her husband, who was about to murder someone. "Do I have to remind you that they have twenty thousand men and my son!" he continued and if he could summon fire through his eyes, Lord Amory would long be a pile of ash by now. "l judged you might be good for something more than brutalizing peasants. I see I overestimated you. If you ever put my son's life at risk again, I'll..." he took a deep breath, realizing it was not worth it. "Leave us."
Lord Amory said nothing else as he stood up, terrified and also offended. Without saying anything, he left the room while everyone else remained quiet.
Tywin, now slightly calmer but still irritated turned to his cupbearer."Put the book away, girl."
He ordered as Visenya closed the book and handed it to her. Tywin noticed but amusement seemed to be more evident in his eyes than anything else.
"Maybe you should devise our next battle plan while you're about it." He continued.
"She would do a better job than most I know" the Dragoness commented.
As Arya turned and walked towards the table with the book, she could not help but chuckle silently in amusement and some pride. Tywin Lannister might be a powerful and strict man but sometimes, seemed to be something more.
Visenya, on the other hand, was much easier to be around; at least in Arya's mind. Truth be told, the young Stark was learning a lot from the two of them and did not mind that much spending time under the wing of her role model.
She could see the mighty Dragoness that she had read in all those books when she was younger. She was still powerful and intelligent, openly putting men in their place and leaving them with no room to argue.
She had a sarcastic side, throwing comments to humiliate or attack a man's ego but only when they truly deserved it. Arya found to admire that, even silently enjoying and wondering how Visenya would be during battle or in full command.
Because until now, the one on top of the pyramid was Tywin. He was the one to start a conversation or a topic and he was the one to end it, no one truly daring to go against him for they knew the consequences.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door as a guard entered but only a single step.
"Lord Petyr Baelish."
Neither the Lion nor the Dragoness seemed pleased to hear that name, the latter even leaving the quietest of groans under her breath.
"Give us the room," Tywin instructed and everyone got up, quickly obeying while he moved towards the fireplace.
Visenya also stood up and marched his way but she was clearly not happy about it.
"Perhaps I should let you two talk" she commented, stopping next to her husband but being a step in front of him.
"I didn't know the Dragon was intimidated by a mere mockingbird," he said, clearly taunting her.
She looked him dead in the eyes and tilted her head just a little bit.
"She is not but she might be tempted to use the mockingbird as target practice"
Her words amused Arya, who chuckled silently and continued watching; not sure where to go or what to do. She had thought of leaving as well but then heard their little conversation and chose to stay.
Visenya was about to walk away but two steps later; Tywin grabbed her upper arm and pulled her just a tad back.
"Behave, Visenya" he warned her, his tone lowering an octave. "I am well aware of your dislike but he is of use to us now. Act your role" he reminded her, warnings clear as day in his words.
Taking a deep breath, the Dragoness finally took a step back. Once he had her released, she moved to stand by his side.
The Old Lion was pleased that she obeyed since sometimes she did feel like doing her own thing. When he was not in the mood or when it was minor, he let her but there were times his patience was thin and had to put his foot down.
They had long discussed the weasel of the Council, Visenya meeting him for the first time when he had arrived at Casterly Rock to discuss certain things and business with them. The very same night, she had made it clear she did not trust him.
Truth be told, Tywin did not. He could see through his fake smile and empty words, seeing that he was nothing but a man who came from nothing and played dirty to get the power he held today.
He was dangerous because he was unpredictable, with his true allegiance being to none other than himself and his personal interests. However, he could be used as a temporary ally; especially when they were not present in King's Landing.
Tywin noticed Arya just standing and motioned for the table that had empty plates and goblets on it.
"Clear all this."
Just then, the man many called Littlefinger entered. His eyes went to the two hosts, a small fake smile on his lips.
"Lord Tywin, Lady Visenya" he greeted and approached them.
Before the Dragoness could move, he had taken her hand and brought the back of it to his lips.
"My Lady, you look as stunning as always. I can see the years have not touched you"
he continued, placing a quick peck on the back of her hand.
"Lord Baelish," she said, trying her best not to pull away or show any signs of disgust.
That was another reason why Tywin did not trust the skinny man. He would always try to win with compliments and coming too close to Visenya, merely to try and be charming; hiding it through manners and politeness.
"Baelish" Tywin called his name, standing right behind Visenya.
He was not amused, staring him down from above her shoulder and Littlefinger was smart enough to get the warning. He pulled his hand back and moved towards the nearest chair while his hosts did the same.
Tywin sat at the head of the table and unfortunately, Visenya had to sit by his right as his lady wife. This put her in the middle of the two men but the Old Lion had passively used his leg to pull her chair closer to him before she could sit, ensuring there was a bigger gap between her and the little weasel.
"What news from the capital do you bring, Lord Baelish?" Visenya asked as Arya grabbed a jug of wine to serve them while trying to prevent the man from recognising her.
"I travelled here directly from Renly Baratheon's camp" Baelish informed.
"Ah, the late King Renly. Rather a short reign. Murdered by a woman, I hear." Tywin said, already showing that he knew of the accusations.
Many people were pointing a finger at either a female spy sent to kill him at night or the woman he held in his own personal King's guard as a knight.
"So they say. There has been talk of other forces at work...dark forces."
There was a small silent exchange between the married couple. Tywin was not the one to truly believe in such forces and magic but considering his wife saw glimpses of the future, he had to be at least a little bit open-minded about them.
Of course, that did not mean he was going to expose any of this. No one knew of her dreams except him and it would remain that way until both of them were buried under the ground.
Visenya remained quiet but noticed how uncomfortable Arya was around their latest guest. She filled his glass and as she was about to walk away, Tywin stopped and handed her more goblets to clear.
"Men love to blame demons when their grand plans unravel." He said, returning to his guest.
"It is my belief that a moment of chaos affords opportunities lost soon after."
The Dragoness held back the need to scoff.
"And from such opportunities you have benefited, haven't you Lord Baelish?" she asked rhetorically, making her husband hold back a smirk. "However, that is not of importance now. You say that as if you were the first man alive to think it. Yes, a crisis is an opportunity; one that wise people know how to take"
Her husband hid his smirk behind his goblet and after taking a sip of his red wine, he decided to speak and save the mockingbird from the jaws of the Dragon.
"What other brilliant insights have you brought us?"
"After the Lannisters and the Starks, the Tyrells command the largest host. Their lands are the most fertile in the Seven Kingdoms, feeding horses and soldiers."
"Yes, yes, yes."
"The Tyrells have not yet declared for any of the surviving kings. Loras wants revenge. He blames Stannis for Renly's death. And Margaery-"
"Wants to be queen." Tywin finished for him, already seeing where he was leading the conversation.
"Yes, she does."
"House Tyrell rebelled against the Iron Throne, against our grandson"
It was not unknown that Margaery was married to Renly and that had ensured the younger Stag the support of the rich and powerful house. However, now that her husband is dead; she was left a widow but was still young and could marry another man.
"They did. And perhaps that treason should be punished one day, after Stannis and Robb Stark are defeated" Baelish said, earning their attention.
The Old Lion motioned with his hand towards Arya, who had been studying to the side.
"More wine for Lord Baelish."
The girl moved silently, head turned and bowed in a way that her brown bangs hid her face as much as possible.
"Lord Baelish," Visenya said, drawing his attention to her and away from the girl. "You sound as if you have a proposition for us?" she asked him.
Petyr smirked.
"Sharp as ever, my lady" he complimented. "If you will allow me to represent your family's interests, I believe that an advantageous agreement-"
"The Tyrell host has returned to Highgarden?" Tywin asked, interrupting him.
"They have."
He confirmed but just then, Arya ended up spilling some wine on the table and his hand.
She immediately grabbed a cloth and tried to mop it in panic. "Pardon, my lord."
Petyr did not seem to mind. "It's only wine," he said and turned to the couple. "What have you done to the poor kid to scare them that way" he joked but only received a glare from both of them.
Realizing that his joke was not appreciated, he turned to grab his goblet again and took a glance at Arya's face. He tried to look better but Visenya pulled his attention away.
"You would ride there yourself, Lord Baelish?" she asked him, already seeing where this discussion would lead.
He was forced to look at her.
"Tonight, with you and your Lord Husband's leave."
Tywin was silent for a moment.
"I'll have an answer by nightfall."
He glanced at Arya, who had not herself since the Mockingbird had arrived.
"That'll be all, girl."
He told her, passively dismissing her. She started to walk away, feeling Petyr's eyes on her form all the way.
"And what else?"
"On your son Tyrion's directive, I met with Catelyn Stark," Petyr confessed.
"Why?"
"He had an interesting proposal for her concerning her daughters" he explained and the look the Lion and Dragon gave him, showed that they wanted him to keep talking.