Loren Lannister (298 A.C. Third Moon)
Shores close to Casterly Rock.
Loren smiled when he saw the Rock on the horizon, and the small tower atop it, looking out onto the Sunset Sea. In his youth, he had tried to see the end of the world, or Essos, as the maester told him the world was round. Yet if that was so, why had no one ever returned from ventures into the Sunset Sea?
To be honest, let it remain a mystery for his lifetime. He did not need it. Becoming the Lord of the West was enough for him, to see his family thrive. He had seen the progress he could make in his lands in Castamere. He had even sailed past Casterly Port on this voyage from Seagard.
The lands of Castamere had fallen into disrepair; bandits roamed the lands, as they did in the lands of Tarbeck Hall. Those lands were split between the Westerlings, though he still controlled most of them, as well as the ruin of the castle. Over the years, he had sent crews to clear the ruins, to find if there was still value among the rubble, and to bury the dead.
Yet it had not been the priority for him and Tygett, who was his regent and his right hand. Together they ruled the lands and worked to restore order, so when Tygett died, it had been more of a loss for him and his son than for anyone else. Tygett had been at his side for quite some time, and he had learned much from him.
After Tygett died, he had taken control, even if it had been during his minority. Even before he had switched between half a year at the Rock learning to be his father's heir, much of his irritation was that he wasn't his father's second, that was Tyrion, and he loved his brother more than anyone, save for his daughters. So when his father had gotten a decree from the crown a moon after Joffrey's birth, declaring him the heir, he had not been happy. He had been content to learn to rule the lands of Castamere. Yet he never set his brother aside.
A year after his three-and-ten nameday, he married Lysenne to strengthen the crown's ties to the Reach, as well as the West. He was the future king's uncle, after all.
He sighed, thinking of his late wife. He wished she hadn't died. He hadn't even cared if she couldn't give him more children. His children deserved their mother, even though he found flaws in Lysenne. She loved her children.
Beth Cassel pulled him out of his musings. "That's Casterly Rock?" she asked.
"Indeed. The Rock and all its might. When you sail closer to it, you might see Lannisport itself," he replied.
As they sailed closer and Beth asked him more questions, the Rock's bells echoed in his ears. Looking up, the ship sailed into the mouth of the sculpted lion. The inner harbor of the Rock could house up to twenty warships, and perhaps more if not for the dockyards for merchant ships that were given permission to dock inside.
The seagulls quacked loudly and landed around the sails. He saw them, his three daughters, waiting together with Aunt Genna. He waved toward them, and his daughters happily waved back.
"Home," he muttered, or it was where his family was. Either in Castamere or the Rock.
The ship docked, and not much later the gangplank went down. Loren walked off the ship, followed by Bennard, Beth, and his guardsmen. He had not taken one step onto the quay before his daughters rushed him.
"Papa!" They came at him all at once, nearly knocking him back a step. Joanna reached him first, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, while Alicent grabbed his arm, and little Lysanne clung to his leg.
"We missed you," Joanna said quickly, her voice tumbling over itself. "You were gone forever," Alicent added, though she tried to sound less affected than her sister.
"You were," Lysanne insisted, looking up at him with wide, accusing eyes. "Forever is many days."
Loren laughed softly, crouching down to their level. "Not forever. Only a little while."
"That is forever," Lysanne said stubbornly, crossing her arms.
Joanna rolled her eyes. "It is not. Papa went to see the King and the Queen, so it was his duty"
"He was still gone,," Lysanne insisted.
"True, but he was with family, with Tommen and Myrcella" Alicent said, though she was smiling now. He smiled at Alicent, still remembering them, and he noted she didn't mention Joffrey.
Loren shook his head, smiling as he pulled them all closer. "I missed you all the same," he said, kissing each of them on the forehead in turn.
Joanna beamed at that, though she tried to compose herself quickly after, smoothing her dress as if she were already a lady grown.
Alicent, meanwhile, was already studying him.
"It's true you went to the Wall?" she asked, eyes sharp with curiosity.
"Indeed," Loren said. "It was almost as high as the Rock. Though it felt higher, and far colder."
"How cold?" Joanna asked.
"Could you see your breath?" Alicent added quickly.
"Did your hair freeze?" Lysanne asked.
"All of those," Loren answered with a chuckle. "The wind alone could steal the warmth from your bones."
Joanna gasped softly. "Did you see snarks? Or ice spiders?" she whispered, as if the creatures might hear her even here.
"No snarks or ice spiders," Loren said, "but I did see direwolves."
All three girls froze. "Direwolves?" Joanna repeated, eyes wide.
"Truly?" Alicent leaned closer. "Are they big?" Lysanne asked.
"Very," Loren said. "Each of the Stark children has one. Six in total."
"They let them inside?" Joanna asked, sounding both impressed and slightly horrified.
"They sleep with them," Loren said. Lysanne's mouth fell open. "In their beds?"
Alicent frowned slightly, thinking. "That sounds… cool." Before adding to "We should have lions,"
"Yes," Joanna agreed at once. "We have real lions. We can have to with us. Not just one or cloths, or shinning pieces."
"And one for me," Lysanne added quickly. "A small one."
"Sorry, girls but no, our Lions, aren't raised like those wolves. Wolves are similar to hounds, but lions are certainly not similar to cats."
"We could train them, raised them like Stark did." Joanna added, already imagining it.
"I want one that sleeps with me, to keep me save." Lysanne said.
Loren sighed now wishing that he hadn't told them of the direwolves. "Perhaps, there is away. We have asked the trainers. Yet I think it's doubtful."
"Yes asked, please. Even if can't be done." Joanna said, and Alicent, and Lysanne both nodded in agreement.
Loren rose then. "Girls, I have someone I wish you to meet."
He gestured, and Beth stepped forward from behind Bennard, a little hesitant. For a moment, the girls simply stared.
Beth's features were fine, almost too fine, her movements light and quiet. There was a stillness to her, a watchfulness that set her apart.
Loren smiled faintly. "Girls, this is Lady Beth Cassel, daughter of the Master of Arms of Winterfell. She will be staying with us."
Beth dipped into a small, careful curtsy. "My ladies."
Joanna stepped forward first, as she had been taught. "Hello, Lady Beth," she said, giving a proper curtsy. "I am Joanna."
"I am honored," Beth said softly, her voice gentle.
Joanna brightened. "I like your dress," she added quickly. "It is different."
Beth looked down at it, a little unsure. "It is Northern."
"Do like to sew?" Beth nodded and Joanna smiled brightly. "you, can help make one for me? Then I help you make on in the western style" Joanna asked. "I would love too, and have one in the style of the west."
Alicent stepped in next, less formal. "Do you ride?"
Beth blinked. "Sometimes."
"Are you good?" Alicent pressed.
"Not very," Beth admitted.
"I can teach you," Alicent said at once, with confidence far beyond her years. "Father teaches me, and together we are teaching Lysanne." Lysanne nodded, though she did not look entirely convinced of her own skill. She was still small when, only seven, it would take her time for her to get use to it.
Beth smiled slightly. "I would like that."
Alicent grinned, then, without warning, gave her a quick hug. "That will be fun. Joanna doesn't ride much." Beth stiffened for a moment, clearly not used to it, before slowly returning it.
Then it was Lysanne's turn. She stepped forward, hesitating, then gave a small, quick curtsy. "Hi," she said.
"Hello," Beth replied gently.
Lysanne stared at her a moment longer, then asked, "Do you know northern stories?"
Beth blinked again. "Some."
"yeah" Lysanne said, and gave Beth a hug. "You can you tell them to me in the future?"
" I could, if you tell, western once," Beth said softly, and Lysanne nodded in agreement. He smiled, Beth would fit in here. Together, with Joy they would make quite the group.
Genna laughed. "Welcome home, Loren," she said as she embraced him in a hug.
"Aunt Genna, thank you for taking care of them," he said. "I expect you have behaved?"
All the girls looked sideways at that, and Genna gave them a look. "Oh, that's a tale for later, isn't it, girls?" Genna asked.
"Yes," they all said quickly, before continuing speaking with Beth, who laughed at something the girls had said.
"So, a new ward?" Genna asked.
"Indeed. The Cassels are a minor house in the North, sworn to the Starks for centuries, holding a small holdfast near Winterfell. The current head of the house is the captain of the guard, and Beth, as I said, is the Master of Arms' daughter, Ser Rodrick Cassel."
"And how did the daughter become your ward?" Genna questioned.
"During the siege of Pyke, we bonded. We fought side by side for a while, and after the battle, he taught me a thing or two. In Winterfell we talked, and Beth wasn't going to Kingslanding with her two friends, so I suggested Beth join me, as ward." he explained.
"Very well. The girls need more companions. Sadly, they have only Joy, and I, to my pain, never had a daughter, only four boys. But four wonderful ones," his aunt added with a laugh, and he saw Tion smile from behind.
"That they are," he added. He walked over to Tion and Tyrek. "Well, lads, how have my pages and squire been?"
"Uncle Loren, we have kept up our training. Ser Addam Marbrand has been quite the trainer, but not as good as you," Tion noted.
"Good lads, but I suppose you both enjoy your evenings off," he replied. They both nodded. "Well, today will be your last day off. On the morrow, you will restart your duties."
"We will do as you command, Uncle Loren," Tyrek replied, and he smiled, the boy being almost like a son to him, or a very close nephew.
"Well, let us retire to the family wing. Aunt, can you find accommodations for Beth? Mayhap she can share a chamber with Joy. I know she hasn't had a chamber in the family wing, but it would allow Beth to be close, and the girls are very fond of Joy."
"That shall be arranged. It is suitable to have them share chambers, given both their stations," Genna noted.
He sighed. He did not care for such things, yet it was expected. He still was angry at his uncle Gerion for leaving; the family could use his joyfulness, as could his daughter, who had cried for a week when the news was brought of her father's disappearance.
"Good. Let us go. I need a good meal, as do the men. It has been a tiresome voyage," he added.
"It shall be done," Genna replied.
He smiled as he called for the girls, and they walked together with the family to the family wing.
Later that night Lord of the Rock solar.
After dinner, and after putting his girls to bed, telling them the story of the Knight of the Mirror Shield, he went to his father's solar, as the great Lord Tywin had summoned him.
He walked into the solar of the Lord of the Rock. Guards stood at attention as he passed, offering bows, which he acknowledged with a nod.
He stepped into the solar of the Lord of the Rock.
Calling it a solar hardly did it justice. The chamber was vast, as large as many a minor lord's hall. The ceilings rose high above, carved with lions and battles of old. A long table stood to one side, maps and ledgers neatly arranged upon it. Beyond, the private chambers stretched further, a bedchamber, an inbuilt bath, a dining space, all befitting the Lord of Casterly Rock.
Even as a child, Loren had rarely come here.
His father had rarely taken interest in him then. Tywin had been occupied with Jaime and Cersei, his golden heirs. Cersei, destined to be queen. Jaime, destined to inherit the Rock.
Loren had been… elsewhere, at Castemere, and being raised by Aunt Genna, and with Tygett's firm to guide him.
Tygett had been the closest thing he had known to a father.
That had changed the day Jaime took the white cloak.
The day Tywin needed an heir.
Even then, at a young age, he had found it confusing why his father did not take Tyrion under his wing.
Now, though, he walked into these rooms, knowing one day they would be his. He opened the door, and his father sat behind his desk, writing. The scratching of quill against parchment filled the room.
Loren took a seat without speaking.
He waited. His father did not look up.
He finished the letter in his own time, sealed it with wax, and only then lifted his gaze.
"Father, you summoned me?"
"I did," His father replied evenly. "Some time ago."
Loren allowed himself a faint smile. "I was putting my daughters to bed."
"They have your aunt, and a nurse, for that," his father noted, and Loren did not reply. He knew that he and his father had totally different perspectives when it came to children, or once being children, for that matter.
"So, the summons? It has been a long day, and I wish to go over some reports of Castamere before I go to bed," he replied, instead of giving his father an answer.
His father looked at him for a moment. "A letter arrived a week ago, from your sister. One of the Stark direwolves maimed Joffrey."
"Good. The boy needs some harshness in his life."
"Not good. If a direwolf can hurt one of our own, then others will as well. Although your sister demanded the wolf be killed. Stark carried out the deed himself," his father replied.
"Well, knowing Joffrey, he probably caused something to make the wolf attack," Loren muttered, knowing full well that during a trip to the Rock, Joffrey had bullied both his eldest girls and Myrcella. He had given the lad advice and punishment. He was the boy's uncle, even if the boy was a prince. Yet Cersei had complained, and Robert had not cared.
"Doesn't matter. Joffrey is part Lannister, part of our legacy. Whatever happens to Joffrey reflects on us as well."
Loren sighed. He had heard this before. The name, the legacy that lived on. They were but bone and blood, soon rotting in the ground.
He began to rise, not needing to hear more.
"Wait."
Loren looked at his father and sat back down.
"Tell me, what do you think of the Northern political landscape? They will closely align with us after Joffrey's marriage to Sansa Stark."
"Well, the North is loyal to the Starks, as they have been for a thousand years. If there is war, they will follow their lead, even if it is against us, or the Crown. Eddard Stark did not take the Handship out of pride or ambition. He did not want to leave, yet he did so out of duty, and because of the friendship he has with Robert. Robert treats Stark better than he does his brothers, or good-brothers, for that matter."
Loren paused, then took it further.
"This whole marriage, even if it seems political, was not designed that way. Robert still cares for Lyanna Stark, even now. The first thing he asked of Stark was to take him down to the crypts. Marrying Joffrey to Sansa is him binding himself by blood to Stark, and living his own dream through him."
He ended there, though the blood part was not even true. There was not a drop of Robert in those children. He had suspected it for some time, though he did not know exactly when he had become certain. Yet Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella were Jaime and Cersei's bastards, born of incest.
Perhaps the greatest political disaster since the bastards of Aegon the Unworthy like Bittersteel and Daemon Blackfyre were loosed upon the realm. If the truth ever came out, it would be war. Stannis's departure after Jon Arryn's death might hint that he knew something. Perhaps fearing that fact had caused his death.
"Fortunate Eddard Stark is not Cregan Stark. Eddard Stark is too soft, too honorable, too much raised a falcon. I would be more concerned if it had been Rickard Stark we were dealing with. That man had cunning, and wanted more influence in the realm. If not for Prince Rhaegar, the North would have held connections to four kingdoms of the realm. Five, if your brother's marriage to Lysa Arryn had gone through. Yet Aerys ruined it all and named him to the Kingsguard," his father stated.
"Perhaps." He replied, not wanting to discuss it more. There were many a night left, and tonight. He didn't wish to listen to his father, ramble about politics and legacy. "Did you want to hear more, or was that sufficient?" Loren asked.
"No, that is all. You may go."
Loren rose, and looked forward to the morrow, to spend time with his daughters and his squires.
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