cp12

Interlude: Kevan Lannister

Harys Swfyt was moaning. "How! How could this happen? Ser Jaime and his host lost?"

Addam Marbrand was quick to interject. "Not lost. A defeat, but not lost. Ser Forley managed to retreat with half Jaime's host, we could regroup…"

"Lost!" Kevan hid a wince as his good-father wailed again. He loved his wife, but Ser Harrys was… well… "Hopeless! Jaime captured. My poor sweet grandson Martyn. Jaime captured! Captured! Defeat after defeat! We must beg terms."

Addam Marbrand was shaking his head. "A few battles does not a war make. We can regroup with Ser Forley. Combine with our own host."

Kevan did not think that would make much difference. They had lost many men at Harroway's town, but even more in their desperate retreat. Every day more men had been left behind dying, or worse, slipped off into the night. Their host was barely half of those that had crossed steel with the Tullys. Most of their equipment and baggage had been abandoned. The fact that they were having this meeting in a rundown inn on the side of the rode was telling. Even combined with with Jaime's survivors they would have been hard pressed to deal with the Tullys alone, let alone the Starks as well.

Lord Lefford was quick to point that out. "We can't hope to contest the Starks and Tullys on the open field. And with recent news…" he trailed off for a minute, but Kevan knew what he referred to. Exhausted and dispirited as their men were, word that Renly had crowned himself king, with all the backing of the Reach behind him, had spread through the camp like wildfire. No one had been brave enough to mention it to his brother yet.

Lefford gave Tywin a sideways glance, perhaps waiting to see if he would acknowledge the rumor of Renly's crowning. When Tywin remained stonily silent, the lord pressed on. "We must retreat to the Westerlands. Regroup. Perhaps get reinforcements, and ransom Ser Jaime whatever the cost. We underestimated Edmure Tully once, we can't afford to do so again."

Kevan doubted the Starks and Tullys would return Jaime to them whatever they offered. The others were arguing over each other, and Harrys was taken up his wailing again. But Kevan had eyes only for his brother. This sort of silence was unusual for him. To the others, it might seem like Tywin was simply stoically listening to his lords, but Kevan knew his brother better. Tywin would never show weakness, but the tension in his arms, the sweat on his brow. It showed Kevan all he needed to know.

He understood too. A part of him wanted to crawl into a ball. Tywin had not said anything. Would not. And intellectually Kevan knew he had done all he could, but part of him couldn't shake the guilt that it had been his center which was hammered by the Tully's so hard. Indeed, the men under his command had melted away like summer snow under the Tully onslaught. That was on him. And then poor Martyn, his sweet son. With Eddard Stark dead, gods knew what those savages would do to his boy.

Guilt and worry gnawed at his guts. But. He forced it down. A look at his brother told him he had to. Tywin too had lost a son now. Two, in fact. He was staying strong for their family, while all around him their lords were panicking, and Kevan could not let his brother down by doing anything less himself.

As if on cue, Tywin rose to his feet. His mere presence cutting off the babble of the other lords. "They have my son." The other lords averted their gaze, unable to meet their Liege's eyes. "Enough. Leave me. All of you."

Kevan knew that last didn't apply to him, and remained seated as the others made their exits.

Tywin stayed silent as the last of the lords filed out. And he stayed silent once they were gone too. His brother was more rattled than he let on.

Silently, Kevan got to his feet and crossed the small room, taking the map from where it was leaning against the wall and unrolling it, smoothing the leather flat.

Tywin's eyes drifted down to the map, and his lip twisted ever so slightly upwards. That hint of a smile he only ever showed to Kevan. They knew each other well. Kevan knew his brother would see this for what it was, a subtle reminder of his duty.

"We are even worse off than it seems." Tywin finally spoke. "Stark and Tully will have over forty thousand. Robb Stark on one side, and Tully on the other." His brother pronounced Tully like a curse. His humiliating misreading of the boy still stung. "With Renly to our south, we are cut off from the capital as well. Stannis sits in the narrow sea. Dorne nurses their grudges. The Arryns."

The last was said with no further explanation. But one was not needed. His brother may have had no love for his younger son, but the boy was still a Lannister. A Lannister whom the Arryns had killed with impunity and in cold blood. Whatever else came of this war, the Arryn's would pay their debts.

Kevan squinted at the map. It was a bleak situation indeed. But they had seen bleaker. If he had one certainty in the world, it was in his brother. But Tywin sometimes needed a prod. Which was what Kevan was for. "We will need reinforcements, Lord Lefford has the right of that. And we can't stay here trapped between Stark and Tully."

"I do not intend to. We will not give that Tully-boy another easy victory." Tywin was silent for a long moment, before giving a nod. "I had thought Stannis the true threat. I still do. But with Eddard Stark dead…" their eyes met and nothing more needed to be said. That folly. What possessed Cersei to kill the Lord of Winterfell, Kevan did not know. Alive, they could have used him to forge a peace with Stark and Tully. But dead? Rank madness.

Tywin continued. "Whatever his fault, Ser Harrys has the truth of it. Those boys, Stark and Tully, they will be overeager in their victory and enraged over Lord Eddard's death. There will be no peace with them."

"A retreat to the Rock?" Kevan hazarded a guess. More to help his brother refine his thoughts than anything else.

Tywin shook his head though. "No. Our enemies would just follow us. We will need more men. A new host. Mercenaries from oversea."

Kevan grimaced at that, but said nothing. He distrusted mercenaries on principle, but they would need every edge they could get. "That will take time to do."

Tywin nodded, his eyes sharpening on the map. "Time is what we need. We will retreat. But not to the West." His finger traced a line on the map. "Here."

Kevan leaned over his brother's shoulder. "Stoney Sept?"

"We will take a page from young Lord Tully's book. It is a large town with strong walls. Large enough to fit our host, strong enough it will not be easily assailed. And we will make it stronger still."

Kevan thought he could see where his brother's mind was going. "Strong enough to offset their advantage in numbers."

Tywin's eyes glinted. "Yes. We will send out our freeriders as well. Vargo Hoat. Gregor Clegane. I want the Riverlands to burn, and their rivers to run red."

Kevan nodded, getting to his feet. "It will be done." He could see his brothers plan clearly enough. Burn the Riverlands. Gather supplies for their armies, and force their enemies to come at them. "If Lord Tully leaves you unchallenged, his lords will see he cannot defend his own lands. They will pressure him, victory at Harroway or not."

"It won't even come to that." His brother dismissed that with a hand wave. "Tully is young, and like as not drunk on his victory. He will want to finish us off."

Kevan let himself give a small smile. "But assaulting a fortified town is not like an open battle. Their numbers won't matter."

"And if he sees that and doesn't assault? Well…" Tywin trailed off. But Kevan could fill in the blank. Either Edmure Tully would assault their fortified town, or he would try to siege them out. If he did the former, they had the defensive edge. If the latter, then they would have time for their reinforcements to gather and train. And Tully would find himself caught between two hosts.

"The Riverlands will burn then my lord. I will give the order at once." Kevan made to exit the room, but stopped at his brother's raised hand.

"Kevan…"

He turned to look at his brother. There was more. Of course there was. That was the difference between Tywin and lesser lords. Any lord could come up with a battle plan, but his brother always found a way to win. It was why, even now in their darkest hour, he didn't doubt.

"That is not enough." After a long pause, his brother continued. "Jaime has left us in a bad way. Our own losses as well. We will not… can not… win this on the field alone."

"Our enemies are many." Kevan offered.

"Our enemies are many. So we need allies."

Kevan considered that as he retook his seat. His brother wasn't wrong, but… "Who?"

"Anyone," was the blunt response.

"The Starks and Tully's…" Kevan offered.

"Are not an option, yes."

"The Arryns." Kevan said nothing else. They were not an option either.

"Stannis Baratheon will never bend. He is a true threat."

"Dorne has not forgiven us either." Kevan considered Tywin. He knew his brother enough to know what he was implying. "But Renly has crowned himself king, and has no love of us."

"No love of us, but no hatred either."

"He has crowned himself king though…" He studied his brother, unsure where this was going.

Tywin was silent for a long moment, studying the map. "We balance on a knife's edge. One wrong step and we face ruin." Kevan made to speak, but Tywin cut him off, continuing. "Ruin. Not just defeat. The jackal's are at the lion's flank. They would tear us apart and destroy the legacy of centuries. If we lose, we will lose everything."

Kevan regarded him silently. This is what made his brother a great man. Kevan might have no idea how to get out of this mess, but his bother did. Tywin would see them through the crisis, no matter the cost to himself. "Then we must not lose. We've faced long odds before."

A ghost of a smile flickered across Tywin's face. "Tarbeck Hall." Tywin stated it as a fact.

Kevan's own smile was broader and clearer. Memories flooding back. "Bloodstone Island." He countered back, remembering their dark days at that battle decades before.

Still though, Tywin was hesitating over something. And if his brother was hesitating. Well. Kevan met his gaze squarely. "Brother." Just one word, but he tried to communicate more through his eyes. His support for Tywin, his faith, his trust.

After a long moment Tywin continued. "House Lannister must come first."

Kevan nodded. "Always." He thought of Jaime at the mercy of the Starks. His own poor son. Their father, gods rest his foolish soul. The long line of Lannisters behind them. "Always," he repeated.

Tywin gave him that ghost of a smile again before continuing. "You will go to Renly."

That surprised Kevan. "Me?"

Tywin gave him a level look. "There is no one else. The fate of our house will hinge on those negotiations."

Kevan didn't like it. Didn't like leaving his brother's side. Tywin would need a steady presence for his plans at the Stoney Sept to work. But. He would do his duty. And he was not blind to the fact that with Tyrion dead and Jaime captured they were short on capable Lannisters.

Still though. He understood his brother had a plan, but it wasn't fully clear to him yet. "I doubt Renly will give up his crown, and the Tyrell's would not stand for it. Tywin… what is to be my task?"

"Allies brother. We need allies. You are to get us allies. Whatever the cost, we will pay it."

Kevan hesitated. "And if Renly demands our bending the knee to him?"

Tywin paused for a long moment. Kevan could see his brother's eyes stray across the map to where Kings Landing was labeled. Finally, Tywin continued. "House Lannister must come first."

Kevan hesitated. He knew what his brother was implying. Normally, he wouldn't force him to say his thoughts out loud. But this? "You mean to recognize Renly as King? You are withdrawing support from Joffrey and Cersei?"

Tywin shook his head. "No. To do so would humiliate House Lannister." And it went without saying between them, that after the indignities of their youth, neither would ever suffer that to pass.

"But." Tywin continued. "After our twin defeats to House Tully and Stark? We can't continue as we are. You are to go to Renly's camp Kevan, and you are to stay there." He emphasized those last two words.

Kevan gave a nod to show his understanding. "To search for an opening."

"Or to make one." His brother countered. "Perhaps Renly will agree to be Regent and heir to Joffrey."

Kevan made a skeptical noise, and Tywin nodded his head. "Unlikely, but perhaps. Or perhaps we acknowledge him king. Recognize that in these times of trouble we need a warrior and an adult on the throne." Their was a slight lilt to Tywin's voice, one likely only Kevan would recognize. It said what he thought of the idea of Renly being a warrior king. Still though. Kevan understood. Such a statement would be about face saving for House Lannister. They would need a legitimate reason to back Renly.

"And Joffrey?" Kevan asked.

Tywin tilted his head ever so slightly. "Renly's beloved nephew. And heir until Renly sires a son." The word 'if' hung unspoken in the air.

"Ask Renly to protect and mentor his nephew?" Kevan turned that over in his head. Neither one of them thought Renly gave a fig for Joffrey. But. If such a fiction gave Renly the support of House Lannister? Would he entertain it?

"The Tyrell's won't like it. Renly might hesitate, his own claim is much weaker if Robert's children live."

Tywin was shaking his head though. "Not weaker. By what right does Renly claim the throne? Even if he acknowledges Stannis' lies…" Tywin trailed off at that, and Kevan felt the temperature of the room drop a few degrees. Word of Stannis claims about Cersei had reached them. And he had never seen his brother angrier. A cold anger, but all the worse for that. Stannis would regret those lies, of that Kevan did not doubt. One did not humiliate Tywin Lannister and expect to walk away unscathed.

Still, he saw where his brother was going now, and interrupted Tywin. "If the lies were true, that would make Stannis King, not Renly. And even the Tyrell's can't be comfortable at the idea of the younger brother usurping the older…"

Tywin nodded ever so slightly. "But if Renly acknowledges the rumors as false, then Stannis' claim is exposed as the fraud it is. And we then askRenly to take the throne due to his Nephew's youth…" A thin fiction. But, one that would give Renly legitimacy.

Kevan mused. "He may not be interested…"

Tywin cut him off. "You will see that he is. You will see that we have the allies we need."

Kevan agreed. He wouldn't let his brother down again. Still. "Cersei will not like it…"

Tywin sneered. "My daughter has no say in the matter. She and her son have stumbled from one mistake to the next. She will do as she is told."

"And if Renly still will not accept? If Cersei won't have her son set his crown aside? If Stannis swoops down on King's Landing while we are distracted?"

His brother was silent for a long moment. Finally he stood, pinning Kevan with his eyes. "Kevan. You will go. You will search for opportunities. You will get us allies." Each statement was said with finality. "Whatever the cost, you will pay it. Our house will survive. Honor intact. Joffrey is our grandson, but House Lannister will come first. No matter what."

Kevan bowed his head for a moment. Then looked up to meet his Tywin's eyes. He tried to will all his faith, love, and trust to his brother as they locked gazes. This was why Tywin was a great man. And why Kevan was grateful this sort of burden fell on his brother. If their positions were reversed, Kevan was not sure he could make the tough decision. The sacrifice. But Tywin would always put their honor and house first. And if he asked hard service from those around him in return, Kevan would not let him down. Could not.

Still holding Tywin's gaze, Kevan got to his feet again. "For House Lannister."

His brother nodded his head in return. "For our House."

And with that, Kevan spun on his heels towards the door. He had a mission to achieve. Allies to gain. Much planning to do. He would not let his brother down. Ever.

A/N: Well, and there you have it. The short interlude from Kevan. Hopefully I did him justice. I always found his relationship to Tywin and the trust between them fascinating. Plus it is always fun to play with a 'flawed' pov. How much of what Kevan thinks/sees is accurate due to his understanding Tywin better than others, and how much is his blindness and love for his brother making him biased? On a side note, this chapter made me miss Tyrion some. There were definitely some moments just *begging* for him to insert a witty aside or a "at least Rhaegar Targaryn is still dead" comment. Anyway, as I mentioned, the next chapter is already written. I want to do a little editing (it is tough with no betas) and will probably release it sometime later this week.