Chapter one
Kevan Lannister looked out on the field were his brother's army was camped. A sea of red and gold surrounded the great castle of Castamere, seat of the second richest house in all of Westeros and his father's most powerful vassal. Tywin Lannister had proven himself to be a more than worthy man to follow, Kevan's elder brother had destroyed the Tarbeck and Reyne forces and was now prepared to break their halls and kill both Roger and Reynard Reyne. The lord of Castamere had already been taken captive by Tywin after Roger infiltrated the camp and tried to burn the food supplies to lower the spirit of their men.
Kevan remembered squiring for Robert Reyne,their father, after fighting alongside the lord of Castamere during the War of the Ninepenny Kings, Kevan was knighted by his eldest son, Roger. The man was considered one of the most deadliest knights in the Westerlands, ser Roger Reyne earned the name 'the Red Lion' because of it. But that was all in the past, the man had grown past his prime, and even if he was still as good as all those years before, the Red Lion still had a weak broken army and Kevan was prepared to do anything his brother required of him. Yet the young Lannister couldn't help but feel odd holding the man who knighted him and taught him how to fight captive. So out of respect, Kevan Lannister convinced his brother and the Red Lion's younger brother, Reynard, to negotiate terms of surrender.
His boots sinking in the dirt as he walked the Lannister camp, passing through a mob of half-drunk soldiers and a cloud of smoke, Kevan Lannister moved towards Tywin's tent to discuss how they would go about their siege. Tywin's tent was easy to recognize, it was the grandest in all the camp and their house's flags surrounded the tent. Kevan pushed the flaps away and entered the tent, inside was an oak table with Tywin at the head and their cousin Tygett beside him and their father's banner men, at least those who answered the call, were also seated at the table. Tygett, despite being two and ten name days old was brought by Tywin to war, he thought it'd be good for the boy to learn what war was like. "Good, you're here. Sit and we'll begin." Tywin said gesturing towards the other seat next to him. Kevan did as he was told and sat next to Tywin. "Any news from camp or from the Reynes, have they agreed on having the negotiations, or are they still cowering behind their walls?"
Kevan shifted slightly in his seat "Lord Reynard has agreed to negotiate for peace, under the terms that it will take place between the gates of Castamere and our camp, and we can each bring fifteen extra men."
Tywin seemed to think about the terms, it was clear as day that they were made so that the board were even between the players, which was dangerous considering that the Reynes could use this as an opportunity to kill Tywin and any other important general who might be present,if they're stupid enough that is. Tywin nodded "Agreeable, we negotiate for peace and should things go wrong, than we make sure that they all know what it means to cross the lion of Lannister."
"My Lord, are you sure that is wise, Reynard Reyne may use this as an opportunity to strike you down. I propose we neglect these negotiations, kill Roger and Reynard Reyne, we destroy their castle and take their gold, we erase House Reyne from this world." Lord Westerling said. Kevan was afraid this might happen, house Reyne is the second most powerful house in the Westerlands, so naturally some of the other lords will want them out of the picture.
"No" Tywin said "we do it my way, as planned, but you are right, my lord, he might kill me. That is why I am not going to attend these negotiations myself, ser Kevan is." Kevan's eyes widened at his brother's comment, he had to go instead of Tywin, but Kevan decided against speaking out against his brother in front of their father's vassals. "I'll send fifteen of our best knights with you, they will kill any man who dares to come too close to you and we will siege Castamere like we planned, if those negotiations go wrong. But they won't, Roger Reyne may be a brute who acts on impulse, but Reynard is everything but. He is smart enough to know the consequences of harming you, he won't risk everything he has to kill the second son."
Kevan had to admit that he was nervous at the thought of meeting with the enemy, but he did his best to hide that fact in front of the lords of the Westerlands. "As you wish, my lord, I will meet with Reynard Reyne and I'll make him bend the knee."
"Good" Tywin said, the heir to Casterly Rock reached inside his pocket and threw a piece of paper on the table. "These are the peace terms, we may have called it a negotiation, but we hold all the cards. We have his elder brother, we have the bigger army and we have the gold. Reynard Reyne has no choice, if he wants his house to continue its existence than he will have to oblige to the terms."
Kevan unfolded the letter, he looked at his brother with skepticism and he looked back as to say 'read'. Kevan's eyes scanned the piece of paper, the terms were everything he expected. Tywin did not want to make peace, but he did out of respect for Kevan's wishes. The terms were simple and harsh, the second son of Tytos Lannister focused his gaze on the other lords sitting at the table, they were all very satisfied with how far the Reynes would fall. Tytos' banner men held a certain scorn for both the Lannisters and the Reynes, but Tywin demanded respect and made it clear who was in charge after he killed all the Tarbecks and destroyed their castle.
The terms really pushed the Reynes and no doubt, Tywin hoped it would provoke Reynard Reyne to take action and attack. Every son born to Reynard Reyne and his wife will be fostered under Tywin of House Lannister. House Reyne of Castamere will receive tax increases and have to pay back twice as much as the gold they lent from House Lannister of Casterly Rock together with one thousand men. Reynard Reyne has to give large sums of gold to the lords who assisted in fighting against the Tarbecks and his forces, namely House Westerling, House Banefort, House Plumm and House Stackspear. Lastly, ser Roger Reyne, the Red Lion will abandon his lands and titles and take the black and join the Night's Watch.
After Kevan had read the letter to himself, he put it back on the table. His brother, Tygett spoke up "My Lord, if I may, I'd like to make a suggestion concerning the loyalties of the Reynes" Tywin nodded. "Lord Reynard is still unmarried, despite him being in his early thirties, I propose we marry him to one of our cousins."
Kevan knew his brother wel enough to see when he got mad, he hid it he spoke calmly but menacingly "I will not marry lady Joanna to a traitor like Reynard Reyne. House Reyne does not deserve to have the privilege of Lannister blood in their veins."
"I was not talking about lady Joanna, brother. You are right, they do not deserve pure Lannister blood." Kevan turned his gaze from Tygett to Tywin and noticed that his elder brother knew what he was talking about and he looked pleased. "I say we marry him to our other cousin, Lynora Hill. That way they are bound to us by blood and we can spite them one last time." He said with clear joy in his voice.
"I shall send a raven to king Jaehaerys, requesting he legitimize her so she can marry Reynard Reyne." Lord Plumm said, but Tywin shot it down.
"No, she will stay a bastard, like I said; he will not have the privilege of marrying a Lannister." Tywin said scornfully. "This meeting is over, you are dismissed." The bannermen did as they were told and left one by one, until only Tygett, Kevan and Tywin were left. Tywin turned his gaze towards Kevan, emerald met emerald. Kevan shifted under the steel gaze of his brother, he strongly believed that Tywin could kill a deer with just his gaze "Should Reynard Reyne accept the peace terms then you will make sure he upholds them, or the following chaos will be your fault." With that both Tywin and Tygett left the tent and Kevan.
Kevan pored himself a cup of wine, he brought the cup up to his lips and leaned his head back a little. The wine flowed through his mouth and past his throat, he put the cup down a harsher than he intended. After two more cups of wine Kevan too left the tent. He really knows how to put me on edge.
Feeling a little light headed and a little braver than normal, Kevan Lannister decided to confront someone he was anxious to face. He past only a couple tents before he reached a wooden cell in the middle of the Lannister camp, Tywin wanted his cell close so he couldn't do anything too rash. Kevan nodded at the guards who opened the cell and he stepped inside the poorly made makeshift prison his men constructed. Before him, on the ground against a wooden pillar sat the Red Lion, Roger Reyne. His dirty yellow hair was covered in dirt, his sapphire eyes were tired, but still as fierce as Kevan remembered. "So. . . the cub has come to visit the old lion." His voice was deep and menacing, he seemed to ignore the guards who were still outside his wooden prison. "Do you feel like a big man now, ser Kevan Lannister. . . huh? Clad in armor with a nice little sword on your hip, and me at your knees, I'd gut you like a fish were it not for these chains, I am still better than you with a sword, boy, I could beat you with a wooden stick." Kevan didn't know what to say, he understood why Roger was as angry as he was, as was his right, but it felt odd that the man who taught him how to swing a sword was in this pathetic state.
"I came here to talk to you, lord Roger, about terms of surrender." Kevan said.
Lord Reyne chuckled "Of course you did, you were always the careful type, but that ship sailed the moment you stopped the breath of my sister and her children." Roger then spit on the dirt only an inch away from Kevan's boot. "Fuck you, I don't surrender, I will die as the Red Lion, not some toothless kitten, I'd rather die before a Lannister rules over me for one more day."
Kevan sighed "Luckily for house Reyne, it is not up for you to decide rather or not the terms are met, it is up to Reynard."
"Reynard?" the Red Lion said with disbelieve "I am the lord of Castamere, how in seven hells does he get to make the decision?!"
"Because after this is over, you will be either dead" Roger snorted "or you'll join the Night's Watch."
"The Night's Watch? You want to freeze me to death at the Wall with cockles rapists and thieves? Just slit my throat and be done with it." Reyne's age clearly didn't hold him back the slightest, he proved that just a day ago when he infiltrated the Lannister camp with ten other men, in attempt to burn the food supplies. Had he succeeded than the Lannister army would have to choose between attacking without proper siege weapons, or return to the Rock for more supplies, or any other outcome that could only benefit the Reynes. The plan was most likely conducted by Reynard,, he was always the smarter one of the two.
When the Red Lion was discovered he proved just how dangerous he was, by killing ten of their men and wounding three of them. "You deserve this, my lord." Kevan said "You laughed at my father, you disobeyed him and your family has always been after the Lannister power, that became clear during 'the reign of Reynes'. Had you been loyal, this would not have happened, for a Lannister always pays his debts."
"You Lannister cunts are all the same, you hide behind those faces of plated gold, I know better then to follow cowards like your father. I don't know what those terms are your brother offered mine, nor do I want to know, but I do know this; as long as house Reyne stands you will not be able to sleep without being afraid, you will not be able to eat without being afraid and you will not fuck your whores without being afraid, we will make sure of that."
"I guess we'll see, I offered those terms out of respect for you and your father and we could still use your family, but we Lannisters of Casterly Rock will always stand above the Reynes of Castamere. You'll remember that when you freeze your fingers off at the Wall." Kevan turned away from the Red Lion and left the cage before saying one last thing to the knight "sleep well, my lord."
Roger looked at his brother who avoided his gaze. Only six years his junior and yet he looked like a child who disappointed his father. Roger wasn't allowed to see his brother before he left for the Wall, but now it was time for him to take the black, about twenty or so Lannister men would escort him to his new life as a crow. "I cannot believe you agreed to this, sending me to the Wall, at least have the balls to look me in the eye before I leave."
Reynard looked up from his boots and met his brother's blue orbs. "I had no choice, they would have killed you and ended our house, and my head would be on a spike by now. I don't knows about you, but I am quite fond of my head." Said Reynard.
"Castamere is strong, brother, she could have survived a siege for a year. My life was not in danger, those Lannister cunts needed me." Roger replied. His brother wasn't an impressive man, unlike himself, Reynard was skinny, he wasn't able to make men fear him.
"I will donate gold to the Night's Watch, to make your life a little easier in that cold waist land. I bought a gift for you, a long sword with our colors on the hilt and a lion. I gave it to one of your. . . guards."
Roger sighed, he could rarely stay mad at his little brother, he taught him everything a maester couldn't and his father wouldn't. "Thank you, Reynard." The two men exchanged a handshake and Roger pulled him closer and whispered in his ear so that the guards couldn't hear. "Never forget what they did to us. . . to our sister. . . and her children. Make them pay Reynard, for our house." Reynard nodded. The Lannister men didn't seem to hear the exchange just you wait, Lannisters, my claws are still long and sharp, as long and sharp as yours.
Ages of some of the characters in 281 AC
Reynard Reyne – 53
Lynora Hill – 37
