From Westeros to Essos : The Crusader King

The war has ended just as fast as it started and yet, the Old Lion was not pleased in the slightest. Despite having won a war, Lord Tywin had just learned from the Master of Whispers, nonetheless that House Arryn was the reason they managed to reach the Iron Islands without too much resistance from the Iron Fleet.

The son of the current Hand of The King, a boy just slightly older than his nephew, had become a rather unknown variable in the Game of Thrones. Even thought he had no right for the throne, Tywin was not a fool to ignore someone who had the possibility to raise four times as many men as the whole reach could muster. Not to mention the fleet that had made short work of the Iron Fleet.

Even now, he could remember the excitement the King emanated when they reached the waters close to the Iron Islands and no sight of the Iron fleet was anywhere. Despite the lack of danger, Tywin knew that if he were to let this unknow variable grow too much then his legacy might come to harm and so like any lord with a head on his shoulder and as the goodfather of the King he brought his worries to him, something that, to the Old Lion's surprise had made the King actually listen to him and even put Stannis Baratheon on high alert just in case the Volantene ships were to try something.

Alas, his worries were unfounded as those ships did nothing but keep their own fleet save while hunting down any and all ships that survived the massacre that would be later known as the Sword who cut the Kraken.

Even thought those Volantene sailors had not helped them siege the Iron Islands, Robert, in his mind, decided to reward those people for their help by giving them all of the ships that they had managed to capture, something that Tywin found extremely dangerous. After all what the King did, could have just armed a potential enemy against them with ships that they were in dire need of.

Trying not think too much about the lack of wariness in the King, Lord Tywin, looked at his son. Jaime Lannister, his first disappointment in life. Even thought he was his heir, Jaime refused to take off that blasted white cloak of his and actually take up the mantle of heir. But despite that, Tywin knew that one day, his son would see reason and return home where he should have been a long time ago.

"Speak."

Jaime shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling the weight of his father's gaze on him. He knew that Tywin expected him to report everything he had heard and seen while serving as the Kingsguard, but Jaime had never been good at playing the spy. He preferred to fight with his sword, not his tongue. But he knew better than to disobey his father, especially when he was in such a foul mood.

"I heard something that might interest you, father," Jaime began cautiously. "Something about the King's plans for the future. Well it's more like Lord Stark making the King considering this, but still the King commands."

Tywin raised an eyebrow, indicating that Jaime should continue.

"Well, father… you know that the King is fond of Jon Arryn. He trusts him and Lord Stark more than anyone, even his own brothers. And as you know, Arryn's son, Konrad if I remember correctly is betrothed to a Volantene noble if you could consider it a noble. "

Tywin nodded, keeping his expression unreadable. He was well aware of the alliance between House Arryn and the Volantene nobility, and he did not like it. As he thought before, this alliance was a variable he didn't like and as much as he would rather kill himself than admit, it might even challenge his own influence.

"What of it?"

"After a long and boring talk with Lord Stark regarding Arryn's son, the King has decided to send his brother, Stannis to Volantis, to negotiate a trade agreement with the triarchs. I'm not the smartest of men but even I known that an agreement with them will benefit the realm. Not to mention that it would make the old man happy if the brother of the King sees if his son is well."

Tywin frowned, when he heard than. He did not trust the Volantene, nor their exotic customs and religions. After all, no matter from where they came, they were just like the lords and ladies living in King's Landing. People who would stop at nothing to expand their power and wealth. As for Stannis himself… He was a rigid and humorless man, who followed the law to the letter, but lacked the charisma and charm of his elder brother. Tywin doubted that he would be able to handle the delicate and complex negotiations with the triarch, but in the end either one of the results would only benefit House Lannister in a way or the other.

"And what do you think of this plan?"

Jaime hesitated, unsure of what to say. He knew that his father wanted him to agree with him, and criticize the King's decision. But if he learned something from his beloved little brother, that was to always think before speaking in front of his father.

"I think that Lord Stark means well, father," Jaime said as diplomatically as someone like him could speak in the presence of the Old Lion. "Now, I have no idea why Stark might push for this, but if I were to guess, I think he wants to improve the relations between Westeros and Essos, and the king trusts his brother to do a good job. But at the same time, I think that it is a risky move, and that there are many dangers and uncertainties involved. For once… the boy was what three name days when he fled the Vale? What centenaries we have that he is still loyal to Iron Throne? Not to mention his betrothal with the triarch's daughter, another matter than I'm more than sure you are not happy about, father."

Tywin nodded at his eldest son's deduction, pleased that Jaime had some sense of the political situation.

"You are right, Jaime. I am not happy about this arrangement. But I have a way to turn it to our favor. I have decided to send Tyrion, along with a sizable Lannister escort, to accompany Stannis to Volantis. He will act as a second representative of the Iron Throne, and help with the negotiation."

Jaime looked surprised, and a bit worried for his little brother. He knew that his father despised Tyrion, but for his father to send his son to another continent on a wild chase…

"Why him, father?"

Before Jaime could even attempt continuing, Tywin gave him a cold stare, one that shut him up.

"Do not question my decisions. Tyrion is my son, whether I like it or not. And he is a Lannister, whether he acts like it or not. I not willing to send any of my brothers on this because they are needed elsewhere. Meanwhile Tyrion does nothing other than drinking and whoring."

Jaime wanted to shout that's because Tyrion doesn't have anything else to do, but he knows his father would never admit it. Instead, he kept his mouth shut and nodded slowly.

Life got easier ever since Maegyr become the father in low of Konrad. Once the slavery had been made illegal in the city and all of the slavers have either been put to the sword or fled, his young liege gained the control of over fifty thousand men and women willing to die for him, and that number was growing by each day the knights of the cross and the nuns as Konrad calls them keep helping the smallfolk in everything they could.

Sadly, once life gets easier, something has to happen. Yesterday one of the patrols sent to hunt down any slavers still roaming nearby had found a stronghold right next to Volantis building inside of a cave. Normally, if this were to happen anywhere else, a simple siege would have been more than enough to crush what was left of the enemy, but from what little their scouts managed to gather, the whole stronghold was actually heavily defended despite the lack of able bodies. Gods knows just how deep the cave goes or if it has any other hidden entrances form where the enemy could ambush them.

A direct assault would result in hundreds if not thousands of deaths and yet, Tyrek was not sure if they have any other option other than building siege engines and assaulting the place.

If that wasn't bad enough, one of his men had informed him that The Usurper as many calls Robert Baratheon had decided to send his brother to Volantis for God knows what reason.

Lead a siege seem easier than dealing with someone like Stannis Baratheon.

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