Lord Baelish had turned out to be useful, after all. His talks with House Tyrell, especially with Lady Olenna and Lady Margaery, had gotten the Lannisters the army they needed. They crushed Stannis from behind at the Battle of the Blackwater. This victory let Tywin leave most of his army in the Riverlands to hold the line against the North.
One threat was gone. The Baratheons were scattered, and the Tyrells were now on their side. This gave them the chance to focus all their power on the Starks.
Arya Stark had clearly figured this out. She looked more nervous these days, listening in on the war meetings. He often caught her glancing over her shoulder whenever she heard her brother's name. She must have known the war could turn against them. Tywin imagined she was picturing her family's heads on spikes right next to her father's.
She had every reason to worry. The Stark boy had made some big mistakes in this war.
First, he executed Rickard Karstark for killing two young Lannister hostages. It was the right punishment for disobeying an order, but it cost him a whole house of allies.
Second, he married some low-born girl for love instead of keeping his promise to Lord Frey. It was a stupid thing for a seventeen-year-old boy to do, and surprisingly dishonorable for Robb Stark. It made Tywin happy to see that the boy king could be just as foolish as anyone else. Walder Frey was not pleased with the insult and was more than happy to talk with Tywin about it.
Third, he gave the Greyjoy ward power in his army, and the boy turned on him. Theon Greyjoy joined his father in rebellion, and now Robb Stark's home was under attack. His younger brothers were hostages. It was stupid to trust a Greyjoy in the first place.
Fourth, he didn't even notice that another one of his allies was turning against him. Roose Bolton had lost faith in the boy king and now wanted to be the Warden of the North for himself.
The noose was tightening around the Young Wolf, both on and off the battlefield, and he didn't even know it. Tywin knew he had a chance to end this war now. It wouldn't be an honorable victory, but that didn't matter to him. He just wanted the war finished so they could prepare for winter.
Of course, there would be problems after House Stark fell. The North was stubborn and would be hard to control without a Stark in Winterfell. The Greyjoys would also be a problem. But Robb Stark would never agree to peace after what happened to his father. Not while he still had Jaime.
His cupbearer in disguise knew nothing about these plans. She would find out soon enough, and she would hate him for it. He didn't mind. Most people already hated him. But if her anger made her too bold, he would have to put her down.
"Do you need something, my lord?" Arya asked. She had noticed him watching her.
"No," Tywin said, rubbing his chin. "Actually... yes. An answer to a question." He leaned forward. "Your brother Robb. Were you close with him?"
Arya watched him with suspicion. "I'm not sure I want to answer that, my lord."
"No, but you will," Tywin stated simply.
The girl looked down at her feet, maybe thinking of a lie. But then she gave up. "Yes. We were all close. But I was always closest with Jon."
"Your bastard brother?"
"Don't call him that." Arya's gray eyes seemed to flash with fire.
"Why not? That's what he is," Tywin said. "There's no point in lying with kinder words."
Arya didn't reply. She often got quiet when she didn't have a good answer. It reminded Tywin of Cersei when she was a child. And Cersei now, for that matter.
"If your brother had to choose between his sisters and his war, what would he choose?" Tywin asked. "In your honest opinion."
Arya looked uncomfortable with the question. "I'm... not sure." She looked up at him. "He loves us a lot, but he loves the North, too. He wants to do what's right for the North now that father is gone. But... my mother is a Tully. Their words are Family, Duty, Honor."
"Family first," Tywin noted. "A sentimental idea. Will he follow your mother's words? Or your father's?"
"I don't know," Arya said softly. "If he refused to bend... would you kill me, my lord?"
She was a sharp girl. She knew that being a lady didn't mean she couldn't be killed.
Anyone can be killed.
"That depends," Tywin said at last.
The tent flaps parted, and Kevan rushed inside, out of breath. "Tywin. We have a visitor."
"Good or bad?" Tywin asked.
"Good. Very good." Kevan held the flap open. Tywin was shocked to see Jaime walk into the tent.
He stood up so fast he almost knocked his chair over. Tywin was not a man who showed his emotions, but he couldn't hide his surprise. Jaime had the nerve to smile.
"I'm back."
He was. And with his return, the war had shifted once again.