I do not own Game of Thrones or a Song of Ice and Fire, they belong to Geroge R.R. Martin and HBO. None of the characters are my own apart from Lucian and others that may appear later in the story.

His footsteps rang out and reverberated around him as Lucian Lannister strode down the corridors of Casterly Rock. He knew these corridors well after all he had been walking them for most of his life.

Lucian Lannister, second son of the great Tywin Lannister, brother of the queen and twin to the Imp, Tyrion Lannister. Lucian paid no attention to soldiers and maids as they stepped out of the way and bowed or curtseyed, the lion did not concern himself with those below him.

As Lucian passed windows he would sometimes glance out of them to see the glorious jewel of Lannisport far below them and the rippling sea only just beyond it and then on… on forever over the sea. His uncle Gerion had sailed off on the sea to never return, it was a fools errand.

Lucian returned his gaze ahead as he turned into another corridor, this one lined with Lannister banners that shifted slightly in the silent wind that brushed through the corridor.

Lucian had called Casterly Rock home for all of his life. He had visited other keeps and holdings, including King's Landing, but none ever seemed as glorious, beautiful or accommodating as Casterly Rock was. The walls were ancient, the entire fortress carved out of a stone hill. The entire fortress has a sense of being natural but yet grand at the same time. Every corridor was tunnelled to perfection, every corner crafted with intent. It was no wonder the Rock had never fallen.

Lucian passed the corridor of banners and turned onto a flight of stairs, which he ascended swiftly, his red and golden clothes flapping about him slightly as he climbed. In all honesty they weren't exactly his clothes, his brother Jaime had left many pieces of clothing at the Rock when he had left for the Kingsguard and much of it fitted Lucian so he had added it to his own wardrobe.

He climbed the steps to find a large wooden door before him guarded by two tall guards who glanced at Lucian before swiftly knocking twice on the door and opening it for Lucian who entered without a word.

Lord Tywin's solar could never be anything but magnificent. The roof was almost as tall as that in the dining hall with engravings of lions dancing all over it. Bookshelves lined the walls to Lucian's right and to his left sat cabinets and small drawers.

At the end of the room was a large desk and sitting in a heavily engraved lion chair sat Lord Tywin himself who was scribbling away on some parchment as the door closed behind Lucian. Lucian knew his place here.

He did not sit nor move from his place by the door knowing that when his father was ready for him then he would acknowledge him. Once Lucian had stood there for a whole hour before father had gestured him to sit.

This time it was merely five minutes before father curled up the parchment applied the Lannister seal and moved it aside before gesturing to the seat opposite him. Not once did he look at Lucian.

Lucian sat briskly but not hastily knowing that his father may glare at him otherwise. Out of all the Lannister children it was probably Lucian who knew their father best. He had spent most of his life around his father learning his likes and dislikes, his ways of thinking. Perhaps that was why Lucian had become so like his father. He himself never thought it but others often pointed it out and even once Aunt Genna had mistaken Lucian for Tywin when drunk. Lucian personally didn't see the resemblance.

"How was Lord Eron?" spoke the Great Lion quietly, yet somehow it echoed around Lucian. Lord Eron was one of father's lesser vassals who had appeared yesterday at Casterly Rock complaining about taxes imposed by his lord. Tywin had assigned Lucian to sort out the problem.

"Foolish and hot headed," came Lucian's simple reply as Tywin nodded and rose. Lucian watched his father bring out some goblets and wine out from the cabinets before filling two goblets and placing one in front of Lucian whilst keeping the other. Lucian took his goblet slowly before taking a delicate sip.

"I hear he left nearly as soon as he arrived."

"He did. I told him if he kept on complaining then I would send him back home with a singer so that he may hear the Rains of Castamere all the way back to his holding." Lucian watched as his father nodded slightly before sipping his wine. That was the most you could expect from Tywin Lannister. Lucian had watched lords and generals strut up to his father to try and impress him with some tale of courage or valour and more than often Tywin Lannister would do little more than ignore them.

"Good, insubordination will not be tolerated." Lucian simply sipped his wine there. He didn't know what hew as meant to say, there wasn't anything to say.

"I have something that needs doing Lucian, and I would have you do it." Lucian watched his father as he set down his goblet and looked into Lucian's eyes green and gold meeting green and gold.

"I shall do whatever you ask of me."

"Obedience is expected," father said simply without turning away, "I received a message this morning informing me of the death of Jon Arryn within the past week." Father was silent then and Lucian knew he was looking for a reaction or perhaps waiting to see if Lucian had something to say.

"The King will want a new hand." Lucian said slowly never blinking as his father's eyes stared into his own.

"The King will need a new hand, yes."

"What is it you require of me?" asked Lucian but not impatiently, never impatiently before his father.

"The King intends to ride north to Winterfell no doubt to install Eddard Stark as his new hand," father said breaking the contact a fingering his goblet slowly, "I want you with them." Lucian wanted to ask why that was needed but knew it was unwise. Father would tell him if Lucian needed to know.

"When will I leave?"

"Come the morning with ten of our guard. You'll travel to King's Landing and then up to Winterfell before returning again. You're siblings will be there, the lot of them, I want you to keep them in check," Lucian blinked once and his father registered it immediately, "you are confused."

"Excuse me father, but I fail to see how my presence is-"

"The King is travelling north to acquire a new hand, there is already bad blood between our house and Eddard Stark's when he found your brother by Aerys Targaryen," father spoke swiftly and strikingly as if somehow Lucian had been a fool, "no doubt your siblings will do a good job by themselves at only making that blood boil. We cannot afford for the hand of the king to stand against us for whatever reasons. Lord Eddard has never met you, Lucian, you're not like your siblings," Lucian kept himself expressionless as his father continued, "should our family keep in check and do what is expected then there is no need for Lord Eddard to have ill feelings towards us. I have matters of my own to attend to here therefore I'm sending you in my stead. Now do you understand?" the last sentence was brutally harsh and Lucian nodded once to show he did understand before his father nodded curtly.

"Good, keep Cersei away from her malice, keep Jaime away from his arrogance and keep Tyrion away from his whore houses."

"Yes father," Lucian spoke simply before Tywin flicked his hand briskly showing he wanted Lucian to go.

Lucian complied without hesitation, it was unwise to do otherwise, and he set off to his chambers so as to pack his clothing for the journey.

Author's Note;

This is an idea that I've been thinking about for a bit now, tell me if you like it or not. Just a quick note on my other Game of Thrones fic I'm doing, I haven't abandoned it I'm just stuck with it, give it time and I'll upload when I feel it's right. Thanks for reading.