Interlude: Neutrality Above All:
Lord Tywin was annoyed, and at this time, you could get used to that look of both displeasure and curiosity that was on his face. He had cleaned himself up a little, his mutton chops were thankfully shortened to a respectable length that didn't look like he was trying to have a fucking Lion's mane.
Gods, you wondered if you were foolish for not ordering that bastard to shave his muttonchops to assert dominance. It would have been fun and it would have been amazingly hilarious to see a beardless Tywin try to hold court. It may have been even intimidating, but you were wishing for the man's help, not his anger, enmity, and hatred.
As much as you already have when you removed him from the West, stole his son, and placed Tyrion on the Rock. Well, Jaime placed Tyrion on the Rock, but you were certain that he blamed you for that.
But sitting here, with Tywin before you, was an odd occurrence. You did not remember Tywin Lannister as the hand of the king, but you remembered your father's rants and raves when you hid behind your mother about how Tywin was the man who ruined his legacy as a great King. By being competent, and the true power behind the Throne, the Economy, and a great deal of the improvement you were sure history would credit to your father. If they were uneducated or bothered to ignore this man's talents.
You were certain enough that if he had it his way, Tywin Lannister would write his own history. In fact, you hoped for it. A Lord of the West, to a Master Diplomat, quite change of fortune if one squinted his eyes narrow enough to not see the demotion. A healthier one for you, he was still alive after all. Perhaps they may remember him as a man who put the realm over his ambition. Like a certain Spider who shall not be remembered as anything more than a footnote for your return.
You scratched your chin as Tywin finally broke the awkward silence. His green eyes were like a lino that just caught sight of its prey. "We must answer them with strength. They will not respect a Westeros that will not defend its own interests."
"After two wars Lord Tywin, what interests could we possibly have that is beyond treaty and protecting the seas from pirates? We are near decimated from those conflicts" You wanted to pick his brain, to figure out if there was more than just the raw, nacked ambition of Tywin Lannister, trying to restore his influence to court. You needed to know if there was the man who would do anything to keep Westeros safe and prosperous in that mind.
"Westeros has always had its shores protected from the East, from slavers and pirates from the strength of its armies that could be called upon, veteran forces that know nothing but war, even when supported by the smallfolk that know nothing of it." Tywin started. "The Royal navy is the second most powerful force in the world, after the Bravossi Fleet when one factor's in the iron and Redwyne fleet if under control of the Master of Ships." Lord Tywin was telling you things that you already knew, and you were quiet as you contemplated the words carefully.
"Yet you still have not answered my questions, what are the Interests of Westeros?" You replied.
Lord Tywin, uncharacteristically, spoke immediately after the words left your mouth. "It is your will, in the very end. But one must remember that others do not share the same interests. Many, if they feel threatened, may wish for war, or an expedition of some sort to secure their own interests."
"So there is no unified interests of Westeros. Just my own and others?" You asked. "I could have told you that?"
"Yet you did not, and you ask for my counsel." Tywin stated.
"I do not wish for there to be war in the East, not after so much war here in the West." You stated. "That is what I wish for, and there will not be any arguments from you. And you will assist me in making that known, to all that come to negotiate."
Tywin, for a brief moment, looked impressed, beneath the stony glare that he wore on his face. "And how may I assist you, your Grace?" He stated.
Slowly a smile rose on your face. "You know some of these men or their type, do you not?"
Tywin realized what you were doing. "What do you plan?"
"Simple, bait them in, have them make promises, find out how desperate they really are. Then I will come and make things clear that despite all their promises, their bribes, and they're most assured begging. I will not yield a single man of Westeros, to fight in their wars." You replied.
Lord Tywin, showed something you know is a rare sight. A smile. "Vey well your Grace. I will see it done."
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Two weeks. Two weeks of purely difficult and utterly asinine negotiations. You could count over a hundred times that you wanted to just throw these so-called diplomats to your dragon to have Ebrion eat them.
These were not diplomats, they were just men parading around, eating your food, sleeping in your castle, and trying to marry Dany off to one of their merchant princes.
Now you would not have minded such things if it were not for the bribes.
The copious amounts of bribes that would have made Robert Baratheon salivate at the idea of fighting them all.
The Braavosi diplomat, fresh from having a great deal of money returned due to you paying off all the debts, was adamant that he could secure a loan of 10 million gold dragons, at 1 percent interest, if you joined the Braavosi fleet in Smashing Pentos into dust and retaking Andalos from the Pentosi. When they tried to bribe Tywin, they made no simple remarks about removing Tyrion from the Rock permanently and having Tywin reinstated.
You had learned that, despite the possibility of that happening, even Tywin was not stirred enough to accept such a proposal. Every man had his price, but it seems the Braavosi had yet to find Tywin Lannister's. But they might have.
Magister Illyrio's man was much more… clued into your ideas and made no such promises as grandious. Only offering to "Remember that I know your name"
You had told Tywin it was a joke, and that he had stolen a book a long time ago. And you made sure to have that man killed when he stepped off of Westerosi soil. Maester Bill even prepared a poison to be used just in case you wanted him to suffer.
The rest were rather meager promises of gold, debt forgiveness ships, even land. But none of them really phased you as a truly remarkable thing that you wanted to have or wished to spend lives to obtain.
And all were equally boring.
But on the final day of the meetings, you had called them all tho the throne room, and you lounged on the throne, looking bored and lazy, but attentive, putting up a mask that all but Tywin Lannister thought legitimate. It was your plan after all.
Finally, you sat up. Everyone became quiet and attentive, you held them all in the palm of your hand. Just as you liked it. "My Lord's, I am going, to be frank with you. To utterly dismay and sense of decorum because have shown nothing of the sort while you were here. In fact, with the numerous bribes, the insulting ways you have tried to court my sister, and the threats against my court, the reason I don't kill you all and send your heads back to your masters, is because I am not my father. And that I do not fear the east."
"Your Grace, what is it that you mean?" One asked as you smiled, the trap finally laid bare.
"Because Westeros is not your backwater to use anymore, to steal the wealth of the nation that rightfully belongs to my people to see it used by decadent slavers who hold no value or honor to anything but coin." You stated as you stood. "I have seen your cities, grand as they are, but the city is the only grand part of it. Its people are nothing but a cesspool of filth that has never faced true terror, horror, or war in three hundred years. They think war is a glorious business that can be fought by those who will be bought and paid for."
You walked to face each and every one of those men. "You think that coin can buy anything. Yet it will not by my support or that of my lord's." You tilted your head as you saw all the diplomats prepare to argue.
"You- Your Lord, Tywin promised!" one shouted.
"Promised what? That I would consider the offer made, accept it for the poultry amount of gold and silver you can offer? To make my kingdom, ravaged by war, somehow wealthier when i lose all the free cities save one, from my choice?" You frowned. "Do not take me for a fool."
"Westeros is neutral in the bidding, the wars, and the conflicts of the east, and will be backed by Dragonfire if need be." You stated.
When it was silent again, you merely gave a mocking bow. "Go back to your masters, and tell them you failed."
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Lord Tywin was not amused by the theatrics. "You should have been more diplomatic."
"I was being very diplomatic. I didn't feed them to my dragon." You replied.
"You harsh statements and proclamation will not endear us to the east." He replied.
"I know, but that is something we will need to cross when we are ready. I will inform Lord Stannis to double his patrols and to make sure that any slaver that may be coming our way."
"You expect trouble?" Tywin asked.
"I expect it to find me Lord Tywin, ask your son how that tends to work out for the trouble." You replied.
All that left was a confused Tywin as you walked to your room, and to Arianne.
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Reward: You have strongly proclaimed Westerosi neutrality to the rest of the world during this time of strife in the east, Making little friends in the East.
The East burns, now that there is no West to come and tip the scales.
You have a strange feeling that the Eastern Cities are not happy with your decision, and will do anything to change your mind, but lack the will, the support, or the balls to do it themselves.
Westerosi ships are not at the moment under threat from Eastern companies and Free City impounding.
Lord Tywin, while a bit mad you were undiplomatic, is impressed by your ability to make the Diplomats look like fools, and ruin the Free cities reputation all over Westeros.
Your Lord's love the show of strength and are behind your decision to maintain neutrality.