Foundations

The Red Keep 

Sansa still found it terrifying to look upon, it makes her very nervous.

Seeing Loren hold Cornelia up, a warm smile across his menacing face- He looked as if he was the purest person in the city, a great facade. She looked to his side, Margaery looking so regal- All she and Loren are missing are the crowns and an official coronation ceremony.

A sigh left her as she put a hand on her swelling stomach, her child kicked and she seethed while looking at the happy pair, remembering how she would often think of ways to kill the babe before he was born until she'd feel terrible about it.

Her brother was in the South, he had an army behind him and she's still a captive of the Iron Throne. He didn't care to save her or at least bargain with Loren about releasing her.

All she could conclude was that Jon doesn't care, perhaps it works better that she remains South while he stays King.

"My Lady, you are in deep thought?" She ignored her servant's inquiry, she wouldn't even look the woman in the eyes.

She was more a spy than a servant, someone either ordered by Loren or Margaery to keep an eye on her and ensure she doesn't do something that they don't like, much like the Kingsguard and servants that follow and protect Tommen and Shireen.

The daughter of Eddard Stark felt pity for the boy, thinking that his fate is bleak at the end of this war and when none stood in the way of his uncle.

Loren noticed her quiet and stood, his daughter still in his arms. "You seem tense, my Lady, please be relax." He said and she kindly snapped back with a lie of her own, she's learned much in these last several years.

"It's hard to relax with two armies, and three dragons running around." She said, playing the part she's had to for a long time.

"Rest assured, the threats of his grace will all be gone and soon." He told her and she quickly responded, her anger rising slightly.

"The threats of his grace... Or the threats of you?" Loren didn't bother to hide his smile, he reached over and caressed her cheek then slid down to wrap around her throat gently. She fought to show no fear of him, looking into his eye coldly.

In the end, Loren walked past her and exited the nursery after handing the serving girl his daughter with Margaery.

Even in her dreams, she wishes the Hand ill and misfortune, that he'll hopefully meet his end at the edge of a Northern sword and head be put upon a spike.

Walking down to the throne room, Loren pondered on the last two weeks that he's been home and began preparing the armies that would be marching North with the White Wolf and Dragon Queen.

Nearly half he's left in command of Damon and Lord Mace, twenty-five thousand men. Ten-thousand infantry, ten-thousand horsemen, four-thousand archers, and one-thousand knights plus a year's worth of supplies.

The other thirty-five thousand he will keep South, to hold the borders to the territories he still controls.

Qyburn already has spies inside behind the enemy lines and in the North. Daenerys and Jon Snow met on one other occasion after the summit, to speak about what? He doesn't know, but he can safely assume they are plotting a coalition.

That suspicion alone made the preparations rush along, getting the men, weapons, horses, and siege weapons ready to begin moving to the North.

"My love." He further gripped his wife's hand, caressing her cheek sweetly.

"Soon enough it will all be ours, everything, and will be our children after we leave this world." His promise would become a reality, a wave and the doors opened to the beginning of his courtly duties as Hand, beside his nephew, the King.

Tommen looked at him, intimidated as he and his wife sat on the right side of the throne where on the left is Shireen and Davos who had taken a post as a sort of personal steward beside the 'Queen'.

Margaery has informed him of Shireen's clear disdain, of him for her father's death, and of how he holds Tommen as a puppet King to have all the power. She asked him if it was safer to simply force Tommen to abdicate, taking the throne and title of King.

He had scolded his wife, explaining that if he craved it all that way then he or his line wouldn't be in power for long.

Loren told her that he will never be the King, not in his lifetime. I am the Hand, I am here to build the foundations. He thought, imagining his son being the one to take that final step and make House Lannister the Kings that they used to be, only then can his grandchildren bask in the glories that he had taken to forge their crowns.

As for Shireen, she can be dealt with once Tommen has a son of his own, then there won't need to be another wife.

A sigh left the Hand of the King, today's session of court ending fairly quickly and his nephew handed him the crown before leaving with his Kingsguard and wife. The old in the crown felt smooth, the tiny antlers around it making the object a little ridiculous.

It's one thing he agree's with about Robb Stark's crown, it looked menacing albeit he had to rip it from one of Walder's spawns. Stannis Baratheon's crown also looked regal, for a warrior despite the man himself not being worthy to wear it, unlike the Young Wolf who at least had some victories over his House during those conflicts.

Letting the crown slip from his fingers, the object fell on to the Iron Throne- The real power to the Seven Kingdoms.

"I want what members of the Small Council that aren't deployed brought in for a meeting, moves must be made while the enemy leaves their holds."

Highgarden 

As the Queen leads the greater half of her Unsullied and Dothraki to aid the North, Tyrion is left with several thousand to defend the territories they've taken in the short time since landing in Dorne.

Looking across the table, he saw his three advisors and two commanders that would be aiding him these next few weeks.

And honestly, he could barely trust any but two that are standing here.

First and foremost was Theon, who betrayed his King and murdered Jon's two brothers, the boy's sister is currently sailing some of their soldiers North while a great many march on foot or horse.

Looking next to him was Lord Harmen Uller and his illegitimate daughter, Ellaria Sand. Ellaria Uller, now, and each of her daughters named a Martell by the Queen. Tyrion honestly thought it was too generous, especially with Trystane still at the Capital and Doran at Sunspear.

Edric Dayne was young, yet with his own advisors, the boy's proven loyal and quite courageous... Much like Pod.

The last was one he trusts most of all, Varys. The Master of Whispers chose to stay behind so as to have more access to his network of information and the numerous spies that still report to him.

"Why have us gather, I have drills to do with my men." Lord Uller said, too big for his britches since the defeat of House Martell during the Fall of the Yronwood.

"That is precisely why I called you all here, as the Queen goes North, we must contend with Loren in the South." Theon cleared his throat, moving to add in his own opinions.

"The Scarred Lion said he would agree to the truce, her majesty wouldn't be happy about us attacking Loren." It's like the fall of his House hadn't dawned on the newly made eunuch much less of who orchestrated that campaign.

"If you believe him to keep his word then the Greyjoys are indeed fools, unless the women of the Iron Islands are the minds of those raids?" He didn't wait to hear Theon and continued speaking. "As much as I wished the Queen would have killed Loren or attacked him at Summerhall, we have lengthened this war by months and I would have King's Landing conquered when her grace returns to the South." He added and used the stool to get a look at the map.

No doubt his brother is already making moves, and from the area and their controlled territory. "The first bout will be at Bitterbridge or Grassy Vale. We have 20,000 men and that leaves us at a disadvantage considering the Reach is on Loren's side, and he has more food." Three months they have to end this, to his count and he'd like to begin immediately.

Edric stepped forward, a proud smile on his face. "I volunteer to lead the vanguard, Lord Hand." He liked his spirit, Harmen laughed heartily and patted the boy on the shoulder.

"I believe more experience is needed to lead such forces, I name myself to the challenge," Theon said with a frown, yet his eyes looked more alert than ever.

"Most of these men are Dornish, they should be led by a Dornishman," Ellaria said, suggesting her father who was eager to add to his ego.

Theon didn't appreciate it and shot back a response. "If you recall, I was there during the Whispering Wood and the Battle of the Camps which decimated the Lannister forces." As much as he understands Theon's experience, those battles weren't won on his merit or ability.

And they don't have a Young Wolf here to make miracle victories happen, and his brother is far more cunning.

"I believe Harmen should lead the vanguard, get some rest for the next several weeks will be hard for all of us." He decided, the older man with the experience will lead their frontline forces.

After everyone left to assume their duties, Varys found him in on the battlements, massaging his forehead on the difficult task of outsmarting Loren to regain the ownership of Casterly Rock and the Westerlands.

"You and Loren Lannister, two cunning lions fighting over a delicious bone." He smirked at Varys joke, the eunuch is finally starting to be funny.

"Any news from King's Landing?" He asked and Varys sighed, frustration being expressed through his brows.

"At most, we've caught spies around our territory but so far, no news from my birds in the city or Red Keep. It appears, that whoever is Loren's Master of Whispers is either very persuasive, or he is a man crueler than even Loren." He dreads to know anyone more ruthless than his little brother.

"I guess it won't matter, in the end. I know how to force my brother to make mistakes."

Hearing the eunuch's feet become quieter and quieter, Tyrion only looked out to the vastness of the Reach, his mismatched eyes gleaming with determination and a goal to avenge Jaime, his father, even Cersei.