There was something to be said about being the second son. No responsibility of learning how to rule, no hordes of lickspittles trying to worm their way into your good graces, and most importantly to Loren, the ability to have an infinitely larger choice of the profession than what would be available to the heir or a bastard. At least that would be true if he wasn't the grandson and ward of Tywin Lannister.
In all other circumstances and to all of his fellow wards, tutelage under the very best the Westerlands had to offer would have been a blessing, not even to mention the abundance of financial, political, and even carnal opportunities that lay within the golden city to the south and the Rock itself. But, such freedom for Loren was not possible under the towering shadow of the Old Lion. While his cousins would be out and about enjoying themselves, he was subjected to a daily regiment of maths, letters, and history, followed by him receiving a lecture by Lord Tywin on a subject he deemed to be of importance, usually the importance of legacy and strict governance, something that the Lannister Lord always noted was something that Loren's father glaringly lacked. After pushing through these daily trials, Loren was awarded free time, which he usually consisted of training in the yard with the men-at-arms or going back to his rooms to sleep, sometimes forgoing dinner altogether.
Yet, his past eight years at Casterly Rock hasn't been always mundane. Loren had not allowed his grandsire to keep him in unseen and shackles and his eccentric action had led to more than one occasion where Lord Tywin was forced to dispatch a number of guardsmen to wrench Loren from his vices, mainly whoring and fighting, the most notable of which had been in his third year into his wardship he was dragged half-naked in front of Lord Tywin after having been discovered in bed with Alysanne Lefford. His grandfather remarked coldly that if it wasn't for his Lannister eyes, he would have sworn that a young Robert Baratheon stood before him. While Loren took it as a compliment, it was obviously an insult and Lord Tywin was unmerciful in his punishment: twenty lashes followed by a month of confinement to his rooms and a promise of a far greater punishment for the next offense, although Loren doubted that even Tywin would geld his future heir, he was not in the mood to tempt the Old Lion, especially considering his current mood.
It seemed that his dwarf uncle had made himself an enemy of the Starks and Tullys, being imprisoned by Catelyn Stark and then taken to her sister's castle of The Eyrie. In all other circumstances, his grandfather would have been happy to be rid of the stain on his family legacy and although Loren's prolonged time with Tywin had led him also to take a similar stance against his uncle, it paled against the borderline murderous rage that Tywin held for the murderer of his wife. But, Tywin, who had spent much of his young life rebuilding the pride and power of House Lannister, saw this as a direct challenge to that authority and Loren was weary of his response.
The Lord of Casterly Rock had called upon his bannermen to meet him at his seat and currently the lords of Swyft, Crakehall, Marbrand, and the knightly house of Clegane sat at the table with them. It was not the first interaction he had with any of these lords for Lord Tywin had taken him to every meeting he had with his bannermen so that Loren could acquaint himself with his future vassals.
"Has the Lady Arryn presented charges against Tyrion, my lord?" questioned Lord Damon.
"Catelyn Stark has accused Tyrion of the attempted murder of Brandon Stark as well as her own attempted murder." responded his uncle Kevan in place of Tywin.
"This is an attack against the Westerlands itself! The Northmen and Rivermen must think you soft my lord if they believe you will allow such blatant disrespect to your house. We must retaliate." advised Harys Swyft although Loren and everyone else knew the only reason he was allowed to speak was because his daughter was Tywin's good-sister.
"I would have calm in my hall lord Swyft." replied Lord Tywin "Ser Gregor," drawing the attention of the armored giant that stood close to the door. "You will take your men and begin to raid through the western Riverlands, burn their crops and sack their villages to your contentment, but take great care to disguise your sigil so no man can distinguish you from a normal brigand."
'If it wasn't for the ser, Gregor Clegane would be a brigand' thought Loren. But, the mad dog had his uses so Loren could never bring such thoughts to voice.
Tywin's order was met with a shake of the man's giant head before he departed to gather his marauders for a journey of rape and slaughter.
"Ser Gregor will be found out soon enough, my lord." counseled Loren. "Reports of a seven-foot tall man in full armour will bring only one suspect."
"That is part of the plan." coolly responded Tywin in a tone that Loren had learned quickly was used by Tywin when he spoke to latwits. "The western Riverlords will raise their levies and I have no doubt Eddard Stark will stir from King's Landing with his own men. Ser Gregor will not be able to defeat either with his small force, so I will raise our levies, sending half our army through the River Road towards Riverrun and the other through the Gold Road towards Harrenhal." Tywin gestured, maneuvering the gold cyvasse pieces to encircle the grey.
"You mean to capture Lord Stark." realized Loren. Tywin only nodded for him to continue with his observation. "With him in custody, you could force lady Catelyn to release Tyrion from imprisonment." Tywin did not respond, but his silence told him he was correct.
"Loren tell the Maester to send missives to my bannermen to prepare their levies and march to Casterly Rock with utmost haste. We will win this war And once again the lords of Westeros will know that Lion still has claws." Tywin said, his emerald eyes gleaming and the barest of quirks on his lips as he stared down upon the map of his kingdoms.
'Another civil war, only this time it's over a dwarf and an old man's pride.' Loren could only shake his head at the thought before going on to do his duty.
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