Chapter 108: ‘ Points of View ‘

Chapter 108: ‘ Points of View ‘

POV: Lord of the Rock;

Lord's Solarium, Casterly Rock.

Seconds after the first actual slash was swung...

"I don't deny that either. Prince Doran has offered me and all my retinue warm hospitality." The eleven-year-old gaze became colder and more calculating. Though the tone of his voice remained as cordial as before.

The boy seemed not to waver...

"More than just 'warm hospitality,' from its sounds. House Martell has called for the largest banquet the royal palace has seen in decades. So... the question I can't help but ask, and for which I would appreciate an answer, is... Why?"

The answer to this question could have determined the outcome of relations between The West and The North.

Tywin was no slouch. He knew that this individual in front of him, incredible as he was, could pull the strings of the entire North moving it even against the wishes of House Stark...

The boy looked away and allowed himself another sip from the cup before saying:

"A question to which I could give a thousand different answers, one more convincing than the other... However, though I'm afraid I have to disagree with many of your ways, know that I have the utmost respect for Tywin of House Lannister.

So you deserve a response worthy of the value that name represents...

But first, I would like to receive equal consideration from you, if that is not too much to ask." The True Ruler of the North replied.

Tywin's gaze grew angry. He had not appreciated this interlude, but he maintained the solid firmness in his bearing by not conceding any more telltale signs to his counterpart.

"What you ask can only be granted to those whose loyalty I believe to be of the utmost value. Something I have never bestowed upon anyone thus far. I wouldn't count too much on that, boy." Tywin replied.

"And I wouldn't count too much on you deserving that answer, my Lord." The Lion seemed not to fully understand the sentence. It seemed a contradiction to what had been said earlier. Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

"I will elaborate. The person to whom I would answer truthfully is Lord Tywin Lannister. Or, to be more precise, I would respond to the man who once bore that name...

A man who single-handedly raised an ancient and noble House from inevitable collapse at a young age. The man who overturned his family's good name in a few short years, bringing order and prosperity back to the West.

The Hand of the King raised seven kingdoms from the brink of ruin, promoting laws, making trade agreements, and paying off risky debts with forces that the Crown underestimated.

The man who, through arranged marriages, attempted to reconnect with all the Great Houses of Westeros and achieve the most significant period of peace and prosperity these lands have ever seen.

Yes, I would answer with complete sincerity to that man, leaving nothing out.

I would answer to the true former Ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. And not to a man attached to old wounds and personal grudges, abandoning to fate anyone who does not bear the Lannister name." The slash came and left its mark.

A few times in his life, Tywin was struck on the personal side. Most who succeeded had not survived the affront. But only one person before managed to wound him so smoothly and cleanly... the one who knew Old Lion better than anyone, Johanna Lannister.

Tywin stood still and silent. A few moments of weakness prevented him from thinking clearly, thus delaying the best response to that affront.

"I would pay close attention to your next words, Lord Duncan..." And Tywin had to pay attention to his own. It wasn't until he uttered the word 'Lord' that he realized the slight misstep he had made.

The cold, calculating, cunning, and emotionally controlled man faltered for a few moments, regaining control soon after.

"It was not my intention to offend you, Lord Tywin. But if you are unable to hear true answers and not cheap phoney swill they peddle as truth in King's Landing, then do not ask." The Lion took the blow with dignity, not answering awkwardly as before.

The man took a moment, which his opponent granted him, to consider the most appropriate counter-offensive.

"Since expectation has yet to be earned by both of you, what answer would you give to the type of man you do not trust?" Tywin tested the waters.

"That it is my wish that the lands of the North, the West, and Dorne forge good relations. That House Stark, House Lannister, and House Martell work together to achieve good trade and, if need be, military alliances." Bloody Snow replied.

"A lean and fanciful answer. We both know that House Martell hides and protects the rightful heirs to the Iron Throne. This alliance will be impossible until Dorne hands over Rhaegar's sons." Old Lion.

"Why?" Bloody Snow.

"Why? I just explained why," Lion asked with slight irritation.

"What I mean is: why do you want Dorne as an enemy instead of an ally? For a piece of symbolic hardware? For a crown and some minor nobleman falsely decrying the words, 'majesty' or 'your grace'? For control over King's Landing? Personally, I see no real reason to risk so much blood and gold..."

Tywin was about to get caught up in the impulse to respond in kind to that arrogant brat who had yet to learn the basics of history and the rules of power, but he stopped himself a moment later.

Instinct told him that many potential objective reasoning lay behind those questions.

He remained silent and signalled his counterpart with a nod to continue and elaborate on the arguments.

"If it were about power and leaving a mark on history, I would understand it while not agreeing with the medium. But what is there really to gain by sitting on the Iron Throne? Prestige? Gold? Power over the masses? And at what price? Personally, I would never sit on that trouble-making monstrosity. Nor would I wish my loved ones to be burdened with such weight." The boy paused to think while staring at the golden cup.

Ironmen have harassed the west coast of Westeros for millennia with raids, rapes, and pillaging. Especially the lands of the West and North...

If Balon had chosen to sit on the throne of Salt and Rock and announce to all the world that from now on, The Old Way would end and that from that moment on, the Iron Islands would be famous for trade, fishing, and the safety of the seas, avoiding launching mad attacks on Lannisport, Seaguard, and Bear Island, how many would have joined Robert in recapturing those barren and dangerous pieces of rock?

You Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of The West, what military support would you have offered to the Crown?"

The third tremendous blow entered his chest, denting Tywin Lannister's shining red armour. Knocking him clean off the Golden Lion, proud and fierce as he rode.

A myriad of thoughts, hypotheses and plausible scenarios invested the true pillar of the Crown.

What would he have done in that case? War? No.

Instead of sailing with an armed fleet to reconquer useless pieces of rock forgotten by the gods, he would have marched with an army of advisors and delegates to King's Landing.

He would have personally squeezed every lesser Lord, advisor, or council member so that Robert would choose Peace and negotiations over War...

The threat of sea marauders was the root cause of the stagnant naval trade in the West. Such a scenario would have only brought enormous benefits to his lands and the entire Kingdom.

So much for sixty thousand swords. Robert would have been lucky to get ten thousand of them together! House Redwine would never have sacrificed its fleet for such senseless folly.

Now Tywin could see it clearly-he saw the hypothetical scenario of an all-out war against Dorne.

{Who would he fight? And to what end? What did Robert Baratheon's kingdom offer in exchange for a bloody and costly war?}

What if Aegon sang his comeback song to the world while remaining well within the safety of the sand walls? What if Dorne did not move to attack the Kingdom lands but chose a Hyper Defensive war?

...Without any direct provocation from the Dornians, forty...perhaps fifty thousand swords at most would march through Prince's Pass.

Dorne knew its sandy, rocky desert better than anyone.

Poisoned wells, guerrilla warfare among the rocky paths, assaults on supply caravans... If Tywin had been in command of Dorne's army, he would have implemented hundreds or more counter-offensives to counter Robert's raging hammer.

He would have exhausted the Stags King's army step by step by avoiding direct confrontation...

And Robert Baratheon, First of his Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, could not have afforded to lose a single battle.

Half of his fragile domain would switch sides and unleash Chaos on all the remaining Six Kingdoms at the first defeat.

Aegon had everything to offer - lands, castles, titles. He could have sold off half the continent with just paper and ink... but what about the Crown? What could King Robert have offered his 'loyal' vassals?

An all-out war would have been too risky...

A blade in the shadows? Poison? The song of Targaryen madness? Were those their best weapons to counter the rightful heir to the Iron Throne?

No... If they hadn't even been able to find out where Aegon and Rhaenys had been hiding these past six years, what chance would they succeed?

The House of Black and White was 'Absolutely Out of Reach'. The faceless men demanded a sum so obscene that it would have made that of the bratty Tallhart of the time pale...

'... The unknown Protector! How did I not think of that!' Tywin turned his gaze to the white-haired compound figure sitting behind him.

What if that unknown force was also behind it to protect Aegon?

Nothing was more disadvantageous in war than facing unknown forces...

The prospects of victory were lowering by the second in Lord Tywin Lannister's brilliant mind.

The foundation on which he built his future dynasty was more fragile than he thought...

If these thoughts had blossomed at the moment when Gregor Clegane and Armory Lorch came to him empty-handed on that fateful day in King's Landing... Lorch would not have gotten away with trivial floggings or Gregor with simple imprisonment... No... Both would have been hung to rot in front of the gates of Casterly Rock after slow torture.

Time passed, and all the possible bleak and disastrous scenarios surfaced in Old Lion's mind.

A question shattered those thoughts...

"Do you understand my point of view now, Lord Warden of the West?"

*********

End Chapter.

****If you have a chance and desire to support me.

Here's my Ko-fy link for you: /duncanrandargotpaladin

Thanks everyone and leave a comment! See you next time!****