PROLOGUE
Maester Akis sat thoughtfully in the Hall of Gold. He remembered this place's history very well, having lived through most of it and then some. Akis had come to Casterly Rock in service of the Lannisters when he was a young man, chained very recently. He recalled back all those events then, trying to distract himself from the fast approaching din outside the Hall doors.
The Rock was no ordinary castle, but the mightiest and most splendid of all the holdings in the entirety of the Westerlands. Its roots are ancient, founded back in the Dawn age by the Casterlys of old, and later ruled over by the Lannisters in the Age of Heroes. It has witnessed the Andalic invasions, the Dragon Conquests, and the War of the Usurper.
Casterly Rock sits atop a high hill, spreading deep under it through caverns and hidden chambers, dungeons, and was rich beyond imagining, the hill it sat on said to contain a gold mine. The Rock's defenses were robust in strength, its natural location giving it a higher standing, and the extremely tall and thick curtain walls that surrounded the main keep itself. One wall was at the bottom of the hill and the other, right around the top. But all these defenses could not aid the castle in its most dire moment.
Remembering came easy for Akis, but concentrating got harder as the noise outside grew even nearer. He had just been bound to the Rock back then. Lord Paramount Tytos Lannister was the Warden of the West, under the good king Jaehaerys the second Targaryen. Lord Tytos was a kindly fellow, treating his vassals well and fair, but he mostly kept to himself, preferring the company of his wife, and hunting. Tytos was not an authoritative figure like his son was. He lacked ambition and will to rule, making him seem unable and weak in the eyes of his bannermen, especially the Lords of the song, Tarbeck and Reyne.
The Tarbecks were an ancient house, alike and close in many ways to the Reynes. Maester Akis remembered the time when the news about Lord Reyne's marriage into the Tarbecks. The Reynes were the second richest house after the Lannisters themselves, but they were not contented with being second, nor were the Tarbecks. House Reynes seat was the huge castle of Castamere, but in the time of the rebellion.
The Reynes were also an ancient house, going back before the dragon conquests. Tarbecks were also powerful and rich, both houses had many a gold and silver mine between them. The Lords Paramount of the Westerlands were always firm in their rulership, curbing the power of their vassals and enforcing their hierarchical dominance. But the chance for rebellion came in the reign of the meek Lord Tytos, and they took it.
Lord Tytos was called the toothless lion, and not without reason. Tytos inherited the Rock after his father's sudden death, being only a teen back then, he was not interested as he should have been in the governance of the state. Yes, he left his realm to the Councillors, Akis was one of the few council members who actually cared for the sake of the Westerlands, that's why he was spared.
In the reign of Lord Tytos, the Lannisters were in great decline. Their economy collapsing, their vassals mocking them, their armies demoralized. It all came back to Tytos and his poor choices, be it in investment or council-ship. Trade was dying, barely any ships unloaded in Lannisport.
It was Lord Tywin Lannister who restored the house to its precedent glory. Tywin was a man unlike his father in anyway but the hair color. He had sat seething at his father's many failures, being humiliated by the vassals of the treacherous houses and their Lords. Tywin ascended to the seat of the Rock when he was only twenty years, he had drive, and ambition fueled him to achieve his goals and pay his debts.
The corrupt council was hanged and the great mistakes of the father undone. It was his reign that saw the rise of Lannister power and ferocity. But still a threat remained, the now rebelling houses of Tarbeck and Reyne, backed by other smaller houses.
Open rebellion was declared when Lord Tytos passed away. Tywin himself took control of his forces, marshaled them and led them to a decisive victory against the Reynes. The Halls of Castamere were destroyed, and all of Reyne blood put to the sword. This resounding victory was called the clash of Lions, later the song was made about it. Maester Akis has now passed thirty years in service to house Lannister.
Many things had happened in the last twenty years alone. The Dragon kings have fallen, the stag was crowned, the North rebelled, the king murdered. King Tommen of Houses Baratheon and Lannister now sits on the Iron Throne, forged three hundred years ago by Aegon the Conqueror. Lord Tywin is also dead, the news arrived just a fortnight ago from the capital, killed by his own son. The Imp, Tyrion of house Lannister. Lord Kevan is now the Warden of the West and lord of Casterly Rock. May the Gods preserve and guide his rule.
It was late in the night when the messenger burst through the large oaken doors of the Gold Hall, filling it with the echoing noise of his footsteps on the smooth, shiny marble flooring. Lord Kevan sat on his throne, a sad and contemplating look on his face. He has lost too much.
Maester Akis knew. Kevan had lost two of his sons, the third on death's door. Now he has lost his brother too, his nephew was crippled and his house in disarray. Nonetheless, he had a duty to fulfill, so he turned his head attentively towards the hard breathing messenger who had just arrived.
"My Lord ! I bring news from across the Narrow Sea. The eunuch Varys has been confirmed and sighted in the free city of Pentos two nights ago. The murderous Imp might be with him, my Lord." Kevan stared at the messenger, expecting more from him, when none came he gave a sigh of boredom. "Cousin, you've done us a great service, thank our informers in Essos for their efforts, but we need more information.
"I NEED a confirmed location. No matter, bring me the warrants and orders that need the kings sign and I shall bring them with me on the morrow when I travel to King's Landing."
The messenger composed himself, bowed, and was off, already exiting the Gold Hall in haste. Lord Kevan looked at the Maester then said, "Akis, bring quill and ink quickly, I need you to write something for me." The Maester stood from his bench, bowed, then was off. He exited the Hall through a side door on the right.
The Maester walked briskly towards his chambers in the right wing of the large keep. Akis' chambers were under the hill, so he had to descend many stairs and hallways before he reached the door to the room. The Maester fumbled with his key chain, eventually finding the right one. In a swift move, the door was unlocked, the Maester stepped through the boundary of the room, fetched the required materials, then started back again.
In these cold nights, the under hill parts of the Rock were very warm, but the top was not. Winter has truly arrived, soon snows will begin to fall and the lower caverns will be locked off, that would be Akis' job. The Maester remembered when Lord Tywin's body had arrived a night ago. It was he who dressed and prepared the body to be buried in the graveyard with the rest of the Lannisters. The crossbow bolt that ended his life would have only damaged a younger fellow, but Lord Tywin was five and sixty. It was Lord Kevan himself who buried the body today, tears rolling down his red cheeks. Kevan was inspired by his brother, and loved him too.
If Lord Kevan were like Tywin then the Westerlands were in safe hands.
As the Maester reached the side door of the Gold hall, shouts of argument could be heard from there. Akis was accustomed to out of hand conversations, but this seemed different. Lord Kevan's voice was clearly distinguishable, but the other voice wasn't. It was gruff with a hint of over cockiness in it. The Maester didn't know who it was. Some Western Lord most probably. Akis knocked lightly on the door, waiting to be admitted into the Hall. "Come in, fast now."
Lord Kevan's voice was urgent, this business must be bothering him somehow. The Maester stepped into the Hall quietly, bowed to the Lord of the Westerlands, then took his seat beneath the throne silently. The unknown Lord, clearly dressed like one in flowing robes and red gilded armor, with a long crimson cape tumbling down his back. Two golden lion brooches held the cape to his broad, well muscled shoulders. "My Lord, I see that you are busy now, may I take my leave then ?"
Lord Kevan looked distastefully towards the Lord in gilded armor then said, "no, Steffard, I want you to witness this." Steffard bowed with a surprised look on his face. "As my Lord of Lannister wishes." He took a seat opposite the Maester gracefully, sliding his long cloak behind him so as to not sit on it. The Maester didn't feel warm towards this man, he has never seen or heard of him before. Perhaps he's a Frey. More and more of House Frey of the Crossings have been arriving lately at Casterly Rock, due to their many marriage ties with Lord Kevan and his sons.
Lord Kevan looked at the Maester before raising his voice and saying, "In the name of Tommen, first of his name, Lord of the seven kingdoms and protector of the realm, ..." The Maester was impressed by the authoritative and song voice of his Lord, nonetheless he wrote, his skilled, deft hands sliding along the paper gracefully. "I, Lord Kevan of House Lannister, decree, by the power that was given to me, that all lands and holdings in the region of Castamere be transferred to the ownership of Lord Steffard Lannister." The gilded Lord looked up astonished, do did the Maester. He's a Lannister !
A broad smile spread across Lord Steffard's face, many thoughts swirling in his mind.
"This business is concluded, I will retire for now, finish the letter, Maester, then send it by raven to the capital, i'll make sure the King signs it." The Maester nodded dutifully and set about finishing his job. Soon the Gold Hall was empty but for Lord Steffard, who had chosen to stay, and the already finishing Maester.
When the letter was finished, the Maester made to stand, but Lord Steffard cleared his throat and raised a hand, "wait, maester, I would like to discuss something with you before you take leave." Akis looked suspiciously at the young Lord, but honor had bound him to the service of this house, so he had no choice but to hear the man out. "Speak what you wish, my Lord." Steffard looked around the room, as if expecting to be overheard by the wall, the returned his gaze at the waiting Maester.
"Castamere was not what I had in mind, but it will do. The land is rich with ore and fertile too, but it comes with a problem I think our good Liege is not aware of."
"What might that be, my Lord ?" Steffard continued without care of the interruption, "the Reynes were all supposed to be dead, but I have received shocking news from Essos. It seems two more Reynes had survived the clash of Lions !" The Maester was beyond baffled, his speechlessness must have showed on his old face, for the gilded Lord gave a short cruel laugh, "do not look so astonished yet, Maester, the worst is yet to come."
The Maester couldn't contain his curiosity. How could any of them be alive. "Perhaps it is better if we speak more in private, my chambers perhaps, if you wish it of course my lord ?" The burly Lord gave a curt nod, and they were off towards the Maester's chambers. All the way down, Akis couldn't stop thinking about what Steffard had said just minutes ago. It's impossible, all the bodies were left to rot on the walls for years, how is this happened ?
Soon, they were in the snug Chambers, surrounded by dusty books, quills, scrolls, inkpots and potions. The Maester felt more in control when he was surrounded by his own stuff, "please continue, my lord." Steffard was observing the room with a cynical, it seemed he was no man of knowledge or learning. "The worst part, dear Maester, is that they know."
"They know of what my Lord ?" Curiosity was pushing him to madness, he had to know. "They know of their claim, Maester !" Akis just stared at Lord Steffard, dumbfounded. "What claim ?"