iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 377 Backstab
After a scream broke the quiet morning, the Northerners drew their swords again, and the Twins became a hell on earth.

Rumor has it that the Northern lords carried Robb's body away from the Twins and headed north.

Rumor has it that one of the surviving Freys, Emmon Frey, has claimed the title of Lord of the Twins, encouraged by his wife, Genna Lannister.

…………

"Everything is as you wished. A small stone (Chapter 356) changed the situation in the riverlands." Ser Kevan bowed deeply to his brother.

Lord Tywin's eyes did not leave the map on the table: "Do you have the specific whereabouts of Brynden Tully?"

Ser Kevan shook his head. "After leaving the Twins, he seemed to have disappeared."

He came to the map, lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said, "I guess he is heading to Riverrun."

After a pause, Lord Tywin's majestic voice sounded: "Kevan, declare to the lords of the Seven Kingdoms that Tully Stark trampled on the rights of guests at the wedding banquet in the Twins. In the name of the king and the council, Brynden Tully and the Tully family are deprived of all rights to Riverrun and the Riverlands."

Ser Kevan nodded his head. "I think it won't be long before the lords of the riverlands bend the knee to the Red Keep."

"The next thing is for you to go see Archbishop Orido..."

Lord Tywin tapped his fingers on the table a few times and continued, "Tell him to write a letter to Lord Eddard of Winterfell in the name of the Church of the Seven, denouncing the vile and cruel behavior of his eldest son and heir."

Hearing this, Ser Kevan seemed to have foreseen the day when Lannister would quell the war in the Seven Kingdoms: "I will hint to Archbishop Olidor that if he succeeds in this matter, you will support his election as High Bishop."

Lord Tywin tapped his chin and paused, his eyes sweeping across the riverlands on the map: "Vargo Hoat's garrison at Harrenhal consists of less than a thousand warriors (Chapter 349)... As long as we send troops, they will not hold out to the death."

As he spoke, he looked up at his brother and said, "Kevan, in the name of the King and the Council, I appoint you as the Earl of Harrenhal and the Governor of the Trident."

Sir Kevan opened his mouth and said, "This..."

Lord Tywin stood up straight, with his hands behind his back, and said, "Follow Gyenna's suggestion, let Lancel marry Arielle Frey."

He looked at his brother, "Kevan, your mission is to ensure that the Lannisters gain control of the Riverlands."

Ser Kevan's chest rose and fell slowly, and he saluted and said, "Lord Tywin, I will not let you down."

Lord Tywin nodded slightly, then he turned his gaze back to the map, paused, and suddenly asked, "Is Joffrey attending class?"

Ser Kevan spread his hands and said, "I sent more people yesterday, so he can finally stay here."

Lord Tywin's voice was slightly cold: "Keep him quiet before the wedding."

…………

Maegor Tower Hall.

"Bring them in." Queen Cersei, who was sitting high up, was wearing a dark green dress. She raised her hand and gestured with an expectant look on her face.

After a while, two figures in tattered clothes, who looked like they hadn't taken a bath in years, appeared and knelt down to pay their respects.

At Sir Osney's command they opened the leather bags they had brought.

Suddenly, a pungent smell of corruption emanated, and many guards standing nearby covered their mouths and vomited.

One of them reached into the bag and pulled out a gray-green head crawling with maggots.

Queen Cersei leaned forward, looked him over carefully, paused, and said coldly, "This is not the dwarf I want."

Another person loudly retorted: "Your Majesty, look, this is the dwarf, but his face is rotten and his appearance cannot be seen clearly."

"Idiots, little devils have no noses. You wasted my time and killed innocent people. I should have hanged you..."

If they were killed, even if she offered a generous reward, the others would back off, and Tyrion would flee. So she would rather have the dwarfs' heads piled up like a mountain than allow that to happen.

She waved her hand. "Forget it. Get lost. Lord Osfryd, take them out."

This was the fifteenth head that had been offered. Fortunately, today's was a dwarf's head, the previous one was just that of an ugly child.

"Your Majesty, do you want to continue watching?"

"Of course, I look forward to the good news that the little devil will die every day."

The man was a Tyroshi, short and stocky, with a forked beard dyed green and pink. The flattering smile on his face reminded Queen Cersei of Varys.

"Your Majesty the Queen Mother."

The Tyroshi bowed deeply. "You are as beautiful as the legends say. Even across the narrow sea, your beauty is still praised by people. I am honored to serve you. I have brought you your brother's head."

………One day in the future, when you are drowned in tears, your brother will strangle your pale neck and take your life…………

When the Tyroshi spoke of his "brother," using the same old Valyrian word as the witch, it made her hair stand on end.

"The little devil is not my brother. He wasn't before and he isn't now."

Cersei looked at the box brought by the Tyroshi again with expectation. "If it is indeed the head of the Imp, I will make you an earl on the spot and reward you with a castle and land."

The lioness raised her chin slightly. The title was just a cheap thing, and the riverlands, which had experienced a long period of war, were full of abandoned castles without owners. They stood desolately among the burned villages and fields overgrown with weeds.

A hint of smugness crossed her lips, but this kind of thing was enough to make everyone crazy for the little devil's head.

"As ordered."

The Tyroshi opened the box with a flamboyant gesture, revealing a staring dwarf head on the light blue velvet cloth inside.

Queen Cersei looked at him for a long time, gripping the armrest of the chair, and said, "No, his eyes are both brown, while the little devil's eyes are one black and one green. And..."

The more she talked, the angrier she got: "He's bald and twice as old as the little devil!"

The Tyroshi seemed to shrink in front of the lioness's anger, and moved his lips, saying, "This is a misunderstanding, an honest misunderstanding. The dwarves look too much alike... By the way, Your Majesty, look, he has no nose either!"

There was fire burning in the lioness' eyes: "Of course he has no nose, because... you cut it off."

The Tyroshi's forehead was covered with sweat. "No, Your Majesty, absolutely not..."

"no?"

Cersei said coldly: "At least you are not as stupid as the fool just now... But since you owe the dwarf a nose, then, Lannister must pay his debts, Ser Meryn!"

As she spoke, Ser Meryn Trant, a member of the Kingsguard, stepped out from behind.

"Cut off his nose, and then..."

Cersei's breasts rose and fell several times because of her suppressed anger. "When I see the little devil's head, remember to remind me that you have locked him up in the dark cell."

"As you command." Ser Meryn roughly dragged the protesting Tyrosh dwarf out. Leaning against the armrest of the chair, Cersei was silent for a while, then suddenly asked, "Any letter from Ser Jaime?"

"Uh, I haven't received it yet."

After a pause, Sir Osney said respectfully, "Your Majesty, there are three more people waiting outside. They said they have brought the whereabouts of the little devil."

Cersei frowned slightly and said, "Let them in."

"The little devil is hiding in the women's quarters of Storm's End. Many people have seen him, making a living by pleasing men with his mouth."

"I have seen him on Braavos merchant ships. The sailors loved his acrobatics."

"He was playing tricks on the hill near the God's Eye Lake in Hejian Land, and he called himself Sparrow."

After listening to the information given by the three people, Queen Cersei promised: "If you can guide the brave knights to capture the Little Devil, you will be rewarded handsomely. Listen carefully, it must be the Little Devil himself. If it's not him..."

She changed her tone and warned in a cold voice: "My knights will not tolerate deception or the nonsense of idiots. If the information is wrong, they will cut off your tongues."

As soon as she finished speaking, the three of them hesitated, claiming that the little devil they saw might be another dwarf. They insisted on confirming it before reporting.

After the guards took the people away, Cersei shouted angrily: "Are there so many dwarfs in the world? Pour me some wine!"

"Not a lot, but it has become more recently, Your Majesty."

Sir Osney walked over with the flagon and poured the wine. After hesitating for a moment, he comforted him, "Don't worry. Someone will find the little devil eventually, and once he is found, he will die."

At this time, a red-robed guard hurried into the hall and said, "Your Majesty, Duke Green requests an audience."

Queen Cersei snorted, "Take him to the small hall. I will be there in a moment."

The small hall of Maegta.

While pouring the wine, Maid Mira whispered, "Ever since Ser Jaime suddenly left King's Landing, Queen Cersei has had nightmares almost every night."

Green picked up the full glass, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Was it the same when Ser Jaime was imprisoned in Riverrun?"

Maid Mira recalled and said, "There has never been such a thing before."

"Thank you." Green's fingers moved slightly, and a golden dragon slid into the collar of Mira's maid.

After the little maid left with a sweet smile, Green came to the window with a glass of wine and looked out at the Maegta Gardens where the birds were singing and the flowers were blooming.

After a long while, when Green was about to finish the wine in his glass, there was movement from the direction of the door.

After a pause, Green turned around, smiled, and stroked his chest and said, "Good day, Queen Cersei."

Then he heard Cersei's snort.

She was wearing a burgundy long dress that exposed her shoulders and half of her breasts. She wore a necklace sparkling with green light on her delicate collarbone, and her golden hairnet was inlaid with larger emeralds.

"Did you and James agree to leave me together?"

Green looked at the lioness who was looking for an accusation, smiled and said, "I think Jaime left without saying goodbye in order to escape the roar of Lord Tywin?"

"Cowardly man, once I know where he is, I will have someone send him a dress."

Green took Cersei's hand and asked her to sit down. He said, "The mercenaries of the Seven Kingdoms are going crazy for the 'Bounty of the Lioness'."

"Huh, James didn't even come over to see me before he left."

With a clang, the maids poured the wine and left at Cersei's signal.

She took a sip of Summer Red, raised her chin, and continued, "I have to clean up the mess he made."

Green shrugged and said, "He's lucky enough."

Swirling his glass, he added, "Ser Jaime knows very well that you dislike Tyrion."

Taking another sip of wine, Cersei's eyes swept over Green's body, and she curled her lips and said, "What's wrong with you lately? I'm not used to you not wearing armor."

Green spread his hands and said, "It's because I often meet with Prime Minister Tywin and Duke Mace. When I'm with them, I'm like a guard, so I'm changing my original habits."

Cersei's skirt moved, she kicked off her gold-rimmed sandals, stretched out one foot, and gently placed it above Green's knee.

"It is necessary to get used to it, indeed. I mean myself, my dear Green."

Green lowered his eyes and looked at it, then said helplessly, "It's an honor for me."

Faced with the temptation of the lioness, he had to take the initiative to explain: "If the war continues for too long, the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms will lose confidence in Joffrey's Iron Throne..."

After a pause, he reached out and grabbed Cersei's restless foot, and then continued: "So, it is our responsibility to give them hope for peace."

Cersei glanced at Green and said, "My dear, you are actually going to Crab Island. I remember you have been thinking about that place for a long time."

"You have a keen eye. Nothing can be hidden from you, Your Majesty."

Cersei tucked her feet back under her skirts with a smug look on her face. After a pause, she stood up and paced back and forth for a few steps. Suddenly, she said, "I want to negotiate with the old lion. The throne room has become Joffrey's prison. I want to rescue my son."

"King Joffrey has a strong character, and Hand Tywin is...stubborn."

Green rubbed his head. “That dinner (Chapter 358) may have frightened Prime Minister Tywin.”

Cersei said contemptuously: "This is no reason for the old lion to imprison Joffrey. Humph, he is getting weaker as he gets older."

Green frowned and said, "When the wedding comes, I think Prime Minister Tywin will have no reason to continue restricting King Joffrey's freedom."

"wedding………"

Margaery's cunning face flashed through her mind. Cersei gritted her teeth and said, "If that's the case, Joffrey will think that it was Tyrell who saved him, and he will trust them more instead of Lannister in the future."

Green groaned for a moment and said, "You are wise to have such concerns. I support you to talk to Prime Minister Tywin because this is related to the interests of the Lannisters. If it doesn't go well..."

He stood up and walked in front of Cersei, lowered his voice slightly, and continued: "Perhaps we can let King Joffrey pretend to be sick, so that Prime Minister Tywin will have to give in."

"Pretending to be sick?" Cersei's clear green eyes lit up.

Green nodded: "We can ask Pycelle for help in this matter..."

Before he finished speaking, he shook his head and denied it: "No, he is too timid, it will be easy for Prime Minister Tywin to find out the abnormality."

(End of this chapter)