Chapter 11: Returning

Back at the Twins, Genna Lannister stood upon one of the banisters overlooking the Green Fork. She did not particularly enjoy returning to the home of Walder Frey but anything for the family and all that.

Her eyes watched the water move beneath her in a steady, almost motionless rhythm. As she thought, she knew that Emmon off elsewhere in his diminutive status, looking to have found the wine.

As she thought about what she did for her family, she was coming to realize that she was not doing this for House Lannister, but she was doing all of this work for Jon.

How strange it was that a child who meant nothing to her only a year ago was suddenly becoming pivotal to her life. Already, through him, she saw the disappointment of her own children, and in a way, her husband and brother, Kevan.

Kevan did not have a thought that Tywin did not have first. Her husband was a sycophant to his father. Her sons were the definition of weak-willed disappointments that could not decide if they wanted anything for themselves or if all they did was for the approval of the great Walder Frey.

Her husband was even worse. He could not decide what he wanted or when. When Walder snapped at him, he balked; when Genna stood up, he flinched; when Tywin spoke, he complied.

This nature of his was to bend the most influential person in closest proximity. He had no spine.

Then, there was Jon. How could a child ... a literal child ... have more will than her husband and son? As she looked out at the dingy sky, she could see why Tywin had brought him into the fold. Being a legitimized bastard, Jon knew he would inherit little, so he would worked harder than most. She had been there when the idiot boy worked himself into exhausted and collapsed.

He had said he did not want to be sent back to Winterfell in disappointment.

The knowledge that failure could lead to punishment pushed him harder than any whip might. Sadly, for that very quality, Genna cared for this child. He did not deserve to be overworked and for nothing more than the fact that he wanted to succeed.

That he gave a vow to a girl that could not further his position told Genna that Jon was a Stark son more than ever, and as such, he needed to be protected until he could protect himself.

One would be able to recognize that this was more accurate than any loyalty she had given Tywin, and yet it was because of Tywin that she had even come to care for the boy.

Oh the messy lives they led. Genna knew she was far too deeply invested in Jon, but there was nothing to be done about it. She came to the Twins to protect that boy, and so she would.

In some way, she realized some things never changed, and in others, they altered a great deal and irrevocably.

Footsteps approaching from behind her interrupted her tumultuous thoughts.

“Lady Genna. It is good of you and your husband to make your way back to the Twins after such a short visit.”

She turned and found Walder Frey limping to her son, cane in hand.

“Your husband has gone to drink?” Walder asked in a somewhat respectful tone.