150- Thorns and Secrets.

~~~Third Person, Eleventh Moon, 277 AC~~~

~~~Casterly Rock, Westerland~~~

"My lady, the sewer drain leading to the sea where the Ironborn entered through has already been sealed," at Tywin's solar at Casterly Rock, Janna was having a meeting with key people of the fortress, compiling everything that happened during the Ironborn attack, "we have sealed the exit with seven steel grates one after the other, with this, we allow the drain to continue with its work, and prevent further events like these."

Janna, sitting behind the large antique oak desk, looked at the man with a satisfied face, "Thank you for your work, I will see to it myself that your payment to both you and the other smiths arrives as soon as possible", this caused a silly smile to form on the man's face, though a distinct surprise also appeared, for him, a simple blacksmith, to have the lady of Casterly Rock, and wife of the dread Tywin Lannister take care of his payment was something new.

"Thank you, my lady," however, the blacksmith would not pass on his fortune, and having finished his purpose, he bowed and quickly departed.

On his way out, he ran into Tygett, who was carrying a bunch of freshly harvested grapes in his hand, "my lord," the blacksmith greeted him respectfully, not daring to look him in the eye at any time, Tygett, for her part, squinted at the man as he walked away.

"Ah, my dear sister-in-law, how nice to see you, I see you are looking more beautiful every day, I guess you get the bossy thing," Tygett, in his ever cheerful and chirpy tone of voice, entered the solar with the confidence that comes with practice, coming to the front of the desk and sitting down on a red leather cushion.

"I don't command here, Tygett, I just make your brother's will be done, if he doesn't allow something, I can't do it, on the other hand, if I commanded; that wouldn't happen, see the difference?" Janna replied slowly, still not looking up from the papers on the desk.

"Yes, you're right about that," Tygett told her with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, still eating his grapes, "by the way, how much longer will King Jaesyrian be here? The presence of his dragon has the peasants doubtful, just yesterday I had to send personnel from the fortress to bring the grains from Lannisport because not many want to come here for fear of your king's dragon".

Janna looked up and looked Tygett in the eyes intently, green to green she met, and the mood of the solar seemed to stir, "Tywin, your lord seems very pleased with the king's stay here, if he doesn't mind, that he is the lord of Casterly Rock, why would that bother you?" Janna said softly, though her demeanor did not say the same.

"Well, Tywin has a lot on his mind, the succession problem in the Vale, the famine affecting the realm thanks to Mace Tyrell, the Greyjoy rebellion, the capture of Prince Rhaegar, I think he's too busy to decide what matters to him and what doesn't, don't you?"

Janna smiled and standing slightly from her chair, she reached out and took the grapes from Tygett's hand, much to Tygett's displeasure, "You mean I'm the one extending the king's stay here?" Janna said, popping a grape into her mouth and swallowing it whole. "Oh no, of course not, how do you think?" Tygett dismissed Janna's words with a disinterested wave of his hand, "I'm only saying that because I'm worried about whether I eat the grapes you're eating took over three days to arrive from Lannisport, I'm just concerned about the people in the fortress, they must eat, you know?"

"Well, I find it strange that you say that, when it is by my good management that you have food on your table because all the food that comes to Lannisport comes from Xandar, even these grapes, or where did you think these bigger, juicier, more delicious grapes came from? Clearly from the Reach, it wasn't, so don't try to fool me with your good talk."

"And if I may, I have a business to attend to," Janna said, returning her gaze to her papers. "Well..."

"ROOOAARR!"

However, a roar rang out, causing the walls to vibrate and the goblets to clink, "Ah! There's your answer, now as a good Lannister, make the peasants do their work and bring the food, or a night behind bars will be the least of their worries!"

Tygett gritted his teeth but said nothing more, instead, he rose from the couch and quietly walked away, leaving Janna alone to her business. "Sigh," Janna sighed softly as Tygett closed the door and she was left alone, rubbing the bridge of her nose with her fingertip. "Ay my king, I hope your stay in King's Landing is to your liking, for all I know, the city smells like shit," she said to herself, then turned her gaze back to her work.

~~~Highgarden, The Reach~~~

The situation of the richest kingdom in terms of food was going through difficult times, patrols of heavily armed soldiers were seen in all the important roads that connected the Reach with the rest of the kingdoms.

The Rose Road was closed, making the shipment of food to the capital or Stormlands a hopeless case, merchants in the kingdom wishing to buy grain to sell in the other kingdoms were being stopped, causing many of those engaged in that trade to go bankrupt, and the prospect of war in the distance kept the little people in constant fear.

And while all this was going on, the person who had long ago been leading the Reach was inside her room, looking out her large bedroom window at the white stone castle, sitting as she reflected on all that she had done wrong for the scale of the situation to be unleashed to this point.

"Nana, look, I've finished my embroidery," a young girl, looking youthful and wholesome, dressed in dresses with floral details and flowers woven into her hair, showed the embroidery to Lady Olenna, causing the Queen of Thorns to snap out of her thoughts and look at the girl in question.

"Let me guess, another golden rose? Can't you be original?" Olenna said with a small pucker to her puckered lips, causing the wrinkles at the corner of her mouth to show even more. "Honey, there are roses everywhere, on my clothes, on my plates, on my flower arrangements that my son brings in daily to make me feel better about being locked up in here, the last thing I want to see is another damn rose."

The girl looked uncomfortable, which caused Lady Olenna to sigh wearily over acted, "Growing strong," she said, reading the words the girl had embroidered, "Ha! There is no house motto more bland than that, Winter is coming, that is memorable, even the Jaesyrian house motto is reckless; Don't tickle a sleeping dragon, yes, that does sound strong, what a pity that even you, as much as you embroider those words every day if you must, you are not strong."

"Strong!" she said again after a while, making the poor girl who had been with her for several hours keeping her company almost jump out of her chair, "you have to be strong to protect yourself, not from that rose you embroidered, but from the Direwolves, the Krakens that walk our halls right now, the Dragon that flies over Westeros..."

"But hey, no problem at all to also look out for some roses, my wayward son is proof of that, look what a box of surprises he came out with." Just then, a servant entered the room, carrying a tray of goat cheeses with freshly baked bread and fruits, along with a jug of wine.

"My lady, your food," said the servant, a slightly fat man, bald and with a scowling look, Lady Olenna was about to send him away, but something about the man made her change her mind, "well, my girl, I will eat, go away, grow up strong." Lady Olenna said to the girl, who did not hesitate to gather her things and leave, leaving Lady Olenna alone with the servant.

"Who are you?" Lady Olenna asked bluntly, approaching the tray the servant had arranged on the nearby table and taking a piece of cheese, "Excuse me, my lady?" the servant replied still with his head down.

"Don't play these games with me, I've never seen you in the castle before, and I may not have left this room for days, but I know perfectly well what goes on in my household, besides, a servant doesn't wear damask robes, let alone slippers that look so soft... So don't make me repeat my question."

"Hahaha," the servant chuckled softly, he raised his head and his whole demeanor changed, gone was the shyness and fear, replaced by a strong confidence and an assurance of his status like no other, "I see the stories don't do you justice, Lady Olenna, and the nickname Queen of Thorns fits you like a glove."

"You have yet to introduce yourself, my dear." The servant nodded, "Well, I'm a man of secrets, they even call me crazy for talking to little birds."

Recognition flashed in Lady Olenna's eyes, and a smile appeared on her face, "ha, the king's newest advisor, Varys the Spider, who knew we would meet under these circumstances, this brings amusement to these old bones."

Varys smiled as well, "well, your circumstance may change," he expounded, as he pulled a small vial from within his garments, placing it on the table, "all that is lacking is the courage to do so."