chapter 205 part 2
Daenerys sat astride Glyn, then reached up. She habitually went to sweep her long hair to one side, but her hand froze.
Glyn's hands were pillowed behind his head. Watching Daenerys, who had suddenly frozen, he couldn't help but smile.
Daenerys touched her tender scalp. Her pupils widened. "Where is my hair?"
She touched it again, repeating incredulously, "Where is my hair?!"
Just as Glyn was about to speak, Daenerys suddenly crawled off him and rushed barefoot to the dressing table.
Staring blankly at her bald reflection in the mirror for a moment, Daenerys burst into tears.
The scene should have been a sad one, but Glyn felt an urge to laugh. He... had to force his facial muscles into a more appropriate expression.
After a pause, Glyn left the bed. When Daenerys saw him approaching in the mirror, she immediately covered her face with both hands.
"Daenerys, trust me, you are very charming."
Daenerys's fingers parted slightly. She looked at Glyn standing behind her through the mirror.
"Glyn, this is because of the fire..."
As she spoke, she suddenly stopped. Her eyes caught sight of her bald head in the mirror, and Daenerys couldn't help but cry again.
Glyn thought for a moment and suggested, "Daenerys, should I have your handmaidens find you a pretty headscarf?"
...
...
Westeros, the Riverlands.
House Lannister's sworn knights, leading sellswords hired by Tywin Lannister, suddenly crossed the border between the Westerlands and the Riverlands.
Thousands of cavalry, divided into numerous small units, began to burn, kill, and plunder the Riverlands, ruled by House Tully.
The vassal armies had gathered at Riverrun under the command of Edmure Tully (son of the Lord of Riverrun and Catelyn's younger brother). Now, under his new orders, the lords were leading their forces back to their own lands to defend against the raids by the Westerlands cavalry.
The heir to Riverrun vowed to use all his strength to defend every inch of the Riverlands and protect every man, woman, and child sworn to his lord father.
With the Riverlands' forces scattered, Jaime Lannister led 15,000 westermen east from the Golden Tooth (the Westerlands' ancient fortress guarding the Riverlands). He easily defeated the various Riverlands forces one by one, and his army marched directly on House Tully's seat of Riverrun.
Tywin Lannister led 20,000 westermen across the Red Fork along the Goldroad, sweeping aside the scattered Riverlander armies.
Wherever Lord Tywin's army passed, the castles of the river lords were plundered, and villages were razed to the ground.
Lady Shella Whent of Harrenhal, lacking sufficient soldiers to defend against the westermen's advance, surrendered her castle to Lord Tywin. The Lannister army then occupied Harrenhal.
...
Outside the gates of Harrenhal, a gallows had been erected. The bodies hanging from it swung back and forth, covered in crows. When anyone approached, they cawed and shrieked, flapping their wings into the sky.
Inside a red tent, Lord Tywin sat at a table, a quill pen moving in his hand.
Although Tywin was over fifty, he still appeared tall, with long legs, broad shoulders, a flat stomach, and slender but muscular arms.
Ever since his golden hair began to thin, Lord Tywin had shaved his head. His mustache and beard were also scraped clean, leaving only his thick, golden side-whiskers.
Lord Tywin's eyes were pale green flecked with gold. It was rumored that a jester once joked that Lord Tywin even shat gold, for which he was thrown into the deepest dungeon of Casterly Rock. The jester is reportedly still alive today.
...
Lord Tywin's younger brother, Ser Kevan Lannister, entered the tent with hurried steps.
"Tywin, a raven just arrived. Jaime fought a decisive battle with House Tully's main force beneath the walls of Riverrun. The Riverlands army was crushed. Edmure Tully was captured, along with many other Riverland lords and knights."
Lord Tywin's quill pen paused. He looked up at his slightly stout brother and said, "Wait a moment."
Scratch, scratch, scratch. Shortly after, Lord Tywin finished writing the letter and set the quill aside.
Tywin extended his hand, and Ser Kevan immediately handed over Jaime's letter.
Taking the letter, Tywin quickly read it and nodded slightly.
After a moment of silence, Ser Kevan spoke. "Tywin, House Mallister still holds Seagard, and it is said that Walder Frey is also gathering his forces. Will they affect Jaime's siege?"
Tywin shook his head slightly. "The old fox of House Frey will not commit his troops unless he smells victory, and right now, the air is thick with the stench of defeat. As for Jason Mallister of Seagard, he lacks the men to act alone. Once Jaime takes Riverrun, both houses will bend the knee."
He paused, then added, "If House Stark doesn't send troops to support Riverrun, this war is already won."
Worry still lingered on Ser Kevan's face. "Stark's 20,000 men are stationed south of the Neck. They could march south at any time."
"You only learn how sharp a sword is by testing its edge."
After a moment's pause, Tywin continued, "The Stark boy is still just that—a boy. I imagine he enjoys playing at war with horns blowing and banners flying. But war is slaughter, and I doubt he has the stomach for it."
At the mention of the Starks, Ser Kevan felt his head throb. He rubbed his temples and said, "If only Cersei had managed to keep the wolf and his pups, House Stark would have submitted without us having to raise an army."
Hearing this, a vein bulged on Tywin's forehead. He let out a heavy, cold snort.
"Always thinking she's clever, always acting on her own foolish whims. She can't even control a boy king. When this war is over..."
As he spoke, Tywin walked to the long table covered with maps, lowered his eyes, and said, "She cannot remain in the Red Keep."
Ser Kevan never opposed his brother's decisions. He shrugged. "As you wish. I will look for a suitable place for her."
Tywin nodded almost imperceptibly, staring at the map of the Seven Kingdoms. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "How is he doing in King's Landing?"
Who was "he"? Ser Kevan naturally knew who he was referring to—Tywin's son, Tyrion Lannister, whose name he was even reluctant to mention.
"He's doing very well, cleaning up many of the messes Cersei and Joffrey made."
Tywin snorted with contempt. "He is a Lannister. It is his duty. Without that name, he would be nothing but an imp for others to jeer at."
Ser Kevan hesitated for a moment. "He came up with an idea that seems quite good..."
As he spoke, Ser Kevan took another letter from his tunic and handed it to Tywin.
Tywin began to read aloud: "My dear father, my apologies for forcing you to read a letter from your imp of a son. I dreamt last night that you nearly threw out your back trying to embrace me..."
The vein on Tywin's forehead bulged again, throbbing. He continued reading: "Thank you ever so much for sending an army to the Riverlands on behalf of the imp who lost half his nose. I am sure my proud father would never admit to doing something so touching... To display my Lannister status, a friend suggested I spend a great sum to have a new nose fashioned from gold... The effect is marvelous. People used to love the gold dragons you gave me, but now they love my golden nose even more..."
Tywin had always valued correspondence, believing that while some victories were won with sword and spear, others required paper, pen, and ravens.
Therefore, he patiently read through Tyrion's "diligent" greetings, and finally saw the main point of the letter.
Tywin placed the letter on the table and frowned. "He wants to arrange a marriage alliance with the Dornish?"
Ser Kevan nodded. "He told me his current difficulty is that Cersei does not want to marry Myrcella off, and her attitude is very firm."
(end of chapter)