Lord Tywin enters the council chambers and takes his place. Also there are Cersei, Varys, Grand Maester Pycelle, Ser Kevan, Lord Mace, Lord Paxter, Lord Mathis, Lord Petyr, the High Septon, and Tyrion. Varys reports that Lord Randyll defeated Robett outside Duskendale. The northmen lost a thousand men, including Ser Helman. The survivors, led by Robett, are fleeing back towards Harrenhal, but Gregor is waiting to trap them. Robb has abandoned all his conquests in the Westerlands. Ser Daven is reforming the army defeated at Oxcross and is preparing to join Ser Forley at the Golden Tooth. They will descend on the Riverlands when Robb marches north. Lord Balon has declared himself King of the Isles and the North and offers an alliance in exchange for recognition of his control of the North. Mace and Paxter think this would be a fine arrangement, but Tywin does not weigh in either way. Tywin brings up the Vale, and Lord Petyr says he can handle it. He has bedded Lady Lysa many times before and believes he can wed her with his new title of Lord of Harrenhal and return the Vale to the fold without bloodshed. Tywin agrees; in fact, they had already arranged it before the meeting. Tyrion asks who will be master of coin and discovers that he is to be elevated to that position. Tywin says that he will restore Lord Robert to the title of Warden of the East if the plan succeeds. Lord Petyr will sail on the morrow on a Braavosi ship called the Merling King.
Lord Paxter returns to the Greyjoy alliance. Lord Tywin says they should do nothing at the moment and see if a better option presents itself. Tyrion senses that someone has made an offer and wonders who it is and what they are asking for.1 The discussion turns to wedding plans, and Pycelle reports that three hundred Dornishmen will be coming. Tywin explains that Prince Doran is coming to take his council seat,2 but Lord Mace is not happy. He has been feuding with the Martells since Willas was crippled. They next divide the rewards from the battle. Everyone gets something, but Lord Mace comes out best by securing the Florent lands for Ser Garlan, making him lord of Brightwater Keep. Lesser tracts were set aside for Lord Randyll, Lady Arwyn, Lord Leyton, and others not present, while Lord Paxter is granted thirty years remission on taxes for some of the best wine vintages of the Arbor. Varys reports on recent events. A kraken was sighted off the Fingers and sank an Ibbanese whaler, a new war is brewing between Tyrosh and Lys in which both cities hope to win Myr as an ally, and there are reports of a three-headed dragon in Qarth.3 Tywin asks if there is any sign of Tyrek yet, but there is not. Kevan reports that Ser Addam wants to know what to do with several goldcloak deserters that have returned. Tywin says to break their knees as a lesson. Tyrion thinks they should send most to the Wall, but Tywin feels that if the Starks and Greyjoys both claim the North then they should defend it.
When the session is over, Tywin asks Tyrion, Cersei, and Kevan to stay. Tyrion voices his distrust of Petyr, but Tywin will not hear of it. In fact, he has just informed Tywin of the Tyrell plot to spirit Sansa away to Highgarden.4 Tywin plans to forestall this through marriage, starting with Cersei. Cersei is adamantly against another marriage, but Tywin is firm. He plans to wed her to Willas. Cersei leaves in a fury. After she leaves, Tywin tells Tyrion that he will marry Sansa. Tyrion is not entirely happy, though the title of Lord Protector of Winterfell is appealing. He says it will not matter anyway once Robb has sons, and Tywin reveals that he married Jeyne. Tyrion is shocked for many reasons, including that his father does not seem mad.5 Tywin repeats that Tyrion must wed Sansa soon.
