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~~~Tywin Lannister, Third Moon, 277 AC~~~
~~~Lannisport~~~
"So you're a Corsair?" I asked Janna once we were settled in the carriage, with Kevan sitting beside me and her opposite.
"Oh, no, nothing could be further from the truth," Janna replied, raising her hand and making a denial sign with it. I'm more of an administrator, or in a term you understand, I have a position as an organizer of the fleets I mentioned to you a few minutes ago."
Nodding, I didn't wait for her to rest and asked her more questions again, taking advantage of the instant, "And what is it that you organize? I don't want to sound rude, but a woman in charge of fleets of ships like the ones on the docks right now is strange to see."
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed how Kevan tensed at my comment while Janna only smiled again, oblivious to my words. "Well, basically, what I do is command the thirty ships under my command, organize the travel routes, accept what my ships will sell and buy, as well as decide where this will be done, along with being the one who directs all the trade routes in Xandar; in short, I am the one who decides whether to trade with anyone or anything."
Janna finished her speech with a haughty look on her face, and at the same time, I felt a sense of pride welling up in her. "You must be very well to hold such an important position in your kingdom," Kevan commented, surprised by the woman.
As for me, I was addressing the words she had said. This time, Kevan had hit the mark; he had befriended important people in Xandar, and in front of me was the proof of it, in the form of a woman who was at the forefront of the advance of the North and Dorne.
"Well, I belong to a cultured and noble family that does whatever they can to serve their country, along with some talents, of course," Janna said, looking out the carriage windows, an act that made her look more beautiful.
'Wait, what am I thinking?'
"Ohh, I didn't know you were a noble," at this point, Kevan was leading the conversation while I was still getting flashbacks of my time with Joanna. "Yes, I belong to a noble family of Xandar, the Bletchen."
"And what is the nobility in Xandar like? I don't know much about it, and I'm interested in it, especially since two years ago, Xandar didn't exist," I entered the conversation again after burying the stupid emotions in me that only made me distracted.
"The king creates the nobility; he is the one who decides which family becomes noble. Currently, there are only eighteen noble families, and in the case in which they become noble, it has to be because they hold important positions in Xandar or have served the kingdom. In the case of my family, I have two brothers, Lucios and Gallio; the first is the Military Minister; he is the one who controls the entire army of Xandar, while Gallio is the castellan, holds the same position as you, Lord Tywin."
'Bingo' was the opportunity I had been waiting for; if I married Janna, I would have access to Xandar and one of the most important noble families in Xandar.
"Well then, let's hope that the bonds our two families create will last a long time," I stressed, receiving both nods of approval.
Janna seemed like a strong and very intelligent woman, something that stood out to me—that, along with belonging to a family that held power within Xandar, made her a perfect match for House Lannister.
I had already discarded the plans to marry Cersei to Prince Rhaegar after Aerys humiliated me in front of the privy council by saying he would never marry his son to a cat. Instead of accepting the union between our two children for the kingdom's sound and stability, I had made a betrothal between him and Princess Elia of Dorne, a woman who, if the rumors were true, was too weak to give birth.
But now, I was no longer thinking about the kingdom's stability; this time, I was thinking about the future of my house, and if Aerys wanted to play games and take me out of the equation, I would show him why a Lannister always pays his debts.
Within minutes, we were already at the building lodging for the family members who would be in Lannisport, where Jaime and Cersei were already waiting for us.
Kevan came out first and offered his hand to Jana to help her down, only to be politely declined. Janna indicated that she could go down without help.
Once out of the carriage, I watched as Janna's companions were already out of the other carriage, with the ten guards on the ground intent on their surroundings. At that point, I noticed that said guards were not protecting Janna's companions, only her, and I noticed a pattern on the blade of their dual swords.
"Brother," Kevan spoke to me, causing me to take my eyes off the guards' swords and look towards Kevan and Janna. And walking up to them, I found Jaime and Cersei looking flawless.
"May I present my children, Jaime and Cersei," were introduced. They approached Janna and saluted, with Jaime kissing her knuckles and Cersei bowing.
"You are beautiful children; you will become great characters growing up. I see you have already used a sword; your shoulders are broad, and it has good balance," Lady Janna said, making Jaime smile at the fact of being noticed as a warrior while I squinted because even for the most knowledgeable people, it would be hard to notice something like that. Lady Janna noticed it immediately with just a glance.
And thinking about even women's training on Xandar from a young age, Lady Janna was similar to Zoila, who had visited King's Landing and killed the Tyrell man.
"You lack practice and sense management, but I have no doubt you will make a fine... What are the best warriors in Westeros called?" Lady Janna asked me, connecting her green eyes with mine. Knight," I said, with Lady Janna smiling and nodding. Yes, knight, you will make an excellent knight."
With that said, Janna, Kevan, and I left Jaime and Cersei behind to head to my site, ready to settle what would decide the future of my house.
"Lady Janna, as you already told us, you are the one who approves whether to trade, and I want to know what you have thought so far. Do you like the idea of trading with Westerland through Lannister and Lannisport?"
"Yes, the city has adequate docks, but they need to be expanded to accommodate merchant ships, as they are larger than you have seen today. Otherwise, I see no problem creating ties with Westerland and the Lannister family."
"If you are not uncomfortable with the question, I would like to know if you are engaged," I blurted out the comment, waiting to hear Janna's reaction. She raised an eyebrow. Does that go into business? Or are you thinking of some marriage alliance?" Lady Janna asked quizzically, not understanding why I was asking her about her love situation.
"Exactly. As a merchant and intelligent character, you will know that managing the interests of the members involved in any business is very important. Since what we are dealing with is a formal and very delicate matter, I bring up the subject of a possible marriage alliance because what is more firm and secure than a blood union?"
While I didn't need a marriage alliance to open trade between Westerland and Xandar, I did need a marriage to have a place in Xandarian affairs. I wouldn't waste the opportunity to have someone as important as Jana in the Lannister family.
"Well, to answer your earlier question, it's no, I'm not engaged to anyone, though I have been to meeting Gregory, an immaculate general, a good catch."
Kevan nodded as he gave me a sidelong glance, unsure which side the meeting would initially be about trade and not marriage.
"If what you are asking for is a marriage alliance, then it will be under some concessions, although, first of all, if I were to agree about marriage, who would be the other spouse?" That meant he wasn't refusing marriage, which would give me movement to proceed.
"Jaime is a good match; he will be the lord of Casterly Rock and Lord Paramount." Before I could speak, Kevan proposed to Jaime, which made me grit my teeth while making Lady Janna laugh.
"Hahaha, let's be serious, Jaime is a child; at most, he has entered puberty; I am already an older woman, almost entering my thirties, and his proposal was marriage, not to become a wet nurse to a child," Lady Janna replied, saying the word's marriage, child and wet nurse in a scathing tone.
"While Jaime will be a fine man when he grows up, he is still a child. Instead, I, Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock and Lord Paramount, ask for your hand in marriage, Lady Janna Bletchen of Xandar, for the sake of the union between our two great houses, as well as the ties between Westerland and Xandar." I spoke with a firm and serene tone, projecting confidence in my words, something that made Jana turn serious.
"Well, know that my king must first authorize the approval of this union; he, as the nominal head of the family of all the noble houses of Xandar, is the one in the decision to approve or not our union, but don't worry, he will accept, as for us, we will continue to talk business, which was what I came to this part of the world for in the first place," Lady Janna said, accepting me as she betrothed as long as her king accepted while giving me the confidence to see a promising future for my family.