"I'm not sure I understand?"
Alanna said softly looking at Tywin. Several days had passed since she had been taken captive by the Lannister. Now it seemed that they were moving camp to Harrenhal and taking her with them.
"What don't you understand? The fact that we're leaving or the fact that you're coming with?"
Tywin questioned looking up from his papers.
It had been a rough couple of days for him. Jamie was still missing and nobody in his council seemed to really give a damn about his son. And with Robb Stark advancing they needed to move to a more secure location.
Alanna tightened the grip on her hand as she stood there holding them together in front of her.
"The last."
She said watching as Tywin stopped writing down whatever it was he had been working on when she entered the tent. He sighed deeply and leaned back straight in his chair.
His jaw wiggled around a bit before it set. Alanna felt as if she had been put on the spot the way Tywin's strong gaze roamed her body for a moment before landing on her own eyes.
"Because I say so."
He told her. Alanna's jaw set and Tywin noticed. The silence set in and he watched as her throat bobbed a bit as she swallowed. However, Alanna didn't find the silence the problem, it was Tywin's gaze.
The old lion had the most transcending gaze she had ever seen on anyone -- beautiful almost, if it wasn't so deadly.
"How long am I to remain your guest?"
"Until I find another purpose for you."
"What you mean to say is until my usefulness has ran its course. When my brother dies, can I expect the same?"
Tywin arched a brow. Her voice was strong and her head held high. He lowered his head a bit, eyeing her from his slanted gaze.
"You believe your brother is going to lose."
"Tyrion once told me that a Lannister always pays their debts. Yours is to kill my brother. As much as I hate to admit it, Robb will die by your hand one way or another."
Tywin couldn't help but find a slight amusement from the young woman before him. She was young, yes. But she was also oddly wise for her age. She was certainly far smarter than his own daughter that much was certain.
He looked at her for a moment longer before he stood up from his chair. Her eyes watched him as he walked to a small side table that stood against the wall of his tent that held a jug and some glasses.
Tywin poured one glass and then turned on his heels and walked right before Alanna. He stopped and held out the glass for her. She looked at it before quickly looking up at Tywin.
Reaching out she took the glass, brushing his calloused fingers as she did. He then dropped his arm and returned to fetch his own drink.
"You're a smart woman. And young. Both are a deadly combination against anyone standing on the wrong side."
Tywin said turning back around to face Alanna as he took a sip of his wine. He seen that she merely held hers in both hands, holding it up around her chest.
"That being said, any man would be cautious about which side he stands on."
"Are you trying to say you want on my good side, Lord Tywin?"
"And if I do?"
He questioned leaving the witty girl puzzled for a moment. Why on earth would Tywin want something as to be her allie? True, once her brother dies, she is the next in line for the throne of the North being the eldest.
But Sansa is to marry the king, Joffery, so regardless of it, there are going to be heirs for the North that will take over once Alanna herself dies.
"When your brother dies, you'll be next in line for the North, and that power is something that our houses, combined, can use as a benefit to each other."
Alanna felt her eyes widening. Her mouth slightly agape before she shut it quickly and swallowed.
"Our houses? Lord Tywin, last I checked our houses were at war with each other... your... your grandson beheaded my father. Sansa is to marry Joffery but -- "
"I'm not speaking about Sansa and Joffery, I'm speaking about you."
Tywin snapped into the conversation. His jaw clenched as he turned and placed his cup down onto the desk, his desk. He took several steps forward and stopped directly in front of Alanna.
She tensed but only a bit. Anyone foolish enough not to in the presence of Tywin Lannister would be a fool.
She kept her eyes locked with his. His gaze was so green but laced with gold that Alanna found herself trapped in them.
However, Tywin could say the same about her own eyes. Oddly unusual for a Stark. Her eyes unlike the grayish blue, instead, blue with hints of gold of her own.
"You want me to marry one of your sons? Tyrion?"
She asked her voice barely above a whisper. Her chest heaved slowly as she attempted to keep her hands from shaking. Tywin noticed the look in her eyes, though she held her fear well, she did not hide it as well in her eyes.
"No. Tyrion doesn't deserve someone like yourself."
He told her, watching as her breath hitched and her eyes widened a bit more. It was then that Alanna broke her gaze with Tywin to place her glass down onto the desk not far from Tywin's own.
She could hear her heart beating in her ears from the anxiety that set into her body.
She gazed back up at Tywin, knowing that she had caught onto what he was suggesting.
"You tell me that you're going to kill my brother and yet in the same conversation imply that you'll have my hand?"
She said quietly looking at Tywin.
"Tywin Lannister, you are the devil."
She spat the startled news finally setting aside for her and allowing for the anger to come to a boil.
She watched as Tywin narrowed his eyes and scoffed at her.
"Devil am I? Tell me, would the Devil allow you fresh clothes? A tent of your own? Food, drink... your life?"
"Yes, yes in exchange for what it is he wants."
She said quickly causing Tywin to scoff.
"Watch it, girl. I enjoy your witt, but I quickly grow tired of your silver tongue."
"Excuse me then, Lord Tywin. Allow me to take my leave. I'm sure you have much work left. After all, you're adding a plus one to your moving party to Harrenhal after all."
She said giving the man a quick bow before storming away from Tywin Lannister the proud old lion.
Not a second after she left Tywin's tent where her guards on her tail as they followed her back to her tent. By the time she arrived she was almost a sobbing mess. She managed to make it inside luckily before she broke down into tears.
She was angry. She was so angry toward her brother, toward Tywin, toward any man that had ever done her wrongly.
She sat on the edge of her cot and put her hands over her face and just cared to herself.
And several days latter she found herself roaming the desecrated halls of the blacken castle Harrenhal.
Tywin had been true to his word in having her moved along with him. The journey hadn't been as long as it had been hard. Alanna was tired, she had long since stopped crying, but she was still so tired.
It didn't help the fact that Tywin had called her to dinner again, just like he had the night prior to their move. But now being in a castle, Alanna felt more trapped than ever.
She sighed through her nose as she made her way toward Tywin's private quarters, which oddly enough acted as his meeting room for his small council of the Lannister family army.
Seeing the door open, Alanna entered the room. Tywin was gazing out the window across from the table. She looked at the fire for a moment, it was roaring in the pit off to the left of the room.
"You beckoned me, Lord Tywin?"
Hearing her speak up behind him caused him to turn around. He looked her up and down for a moment before he nodded his head.
"Yes, I did."
He told her as he turned away from the window and toward a chair that was to his right. He motioned with his head for her to approach. She blinked slowly and then stepped forward.
Even dressed in man's clothing, Tywin Lannister still treated her like the lady she had been raised to be -- and he liked to think of himself as a gentleman still.
She took a seat in the chair and looked down at her food before her. Hearing Tywin take his own seat he cleared his throat, causing Alanna to look at him.
"Have you gave anymore thought to my offer?"
He was asking about the marriage proposal. Alanna blinked slowly, her eyes starting to hurt as she looked at him. They felt heavy and tired, about the way she felt. The question didn't do much to help her either.
"The way I see it is I don't have much of a choice do I? I can only expect that if I continue to say no, you'll grow tired with me, kill me, and then Sansa and Joffery will end up taking the North."
She told him catching the slightest hint of bewilderment in his gaze from her answer.
"Has anyone ever told you you're too smart for your own good?"
"Yes, my father."
She told Tywin. Looking away from him for a moment Alanna sighed before looking back at him.
"If I agree, you must promise me that Sansa is protected from harm."
"Done."
Tywin said quickly slightly throwing Alanna off. How could he just so easily make that promise? Was he so desperate to secure the North that he was willing to do it?
The answer was simple. Of course he was he was Tywin Lannister, head of the House Lannister, Hand of the King, and many other titles that Alanna didn't even bother to think about right now.
No, instead there was only one thought that plagued her mind right now.
Why in the hell did she find his eyes so breathtaking?