A/N: Just a little note, here, for those who are not fandom blind and for those that are. If anyone is looking for a little more clarification or background on my poem, a simple Google search of The War of the Ninepenny Kings as well as The Rains of Castamere (which was my inspiration for this piece), will easily connect you to more information on the characters and locations. I hope you like it. I accept all forms of constructive criticism (concrit), and any feedback in general. Thank you for reading. * I would also like to acknowledge Igenlode Wordsmith for the impromptu edit and help with formatting my work and making it look a million times better!
Onyx
The gathering dusk announced the forthcoming gloom
Candles and fires lit every room
Joyous and jubilant noises rang out
As the lords and the ladies of the west did shout
But above all the clatter, one voice did call:
"A welcome! A welcome! A welcome to all!
For I, Lord Tytos, of the House Lannister, do say
I shall send my sons to war on this day!"
The knights gathered 'round in front of the hall
Glinting and gleaming in armor stood tall
One stood out above the rest
A youthful arrogance to conquer his test
With visions of glory, imagining his enemies fall
His hair the color of sun-beaten straw
Shining and sparkling was the gold inlay on his hilt
Despite his young age, he bested them all in a tilt
His dashing looks awarded him any maiden he would choose
And he was aptly named Tywin, for Tywin would never lose
"You three shall ride forth, ride forth into battle—
Dispose of the enemy like slaughtered cattle!"
It wasn't his brother, Kevin, nor Tygett to garner the stares
No...it was Tywin, but Tywin refused to care
His frigid blue eyes glared hard and long
Regarding his father, who was weaker than he was strong
"Represent your House, bestow upon it greatness
Show those Ninepenny kings that they cannot escape this
Their deaths are imminent, I promise you that
For my brother, Ser Jason, shall lead the attack!"
But the cheers in the hall were of a different sort
As the bannermen of Lord Tytos were quick to retort:
"He's a coward! He's a sham! Open your eyes and see!
'Go forth, my sons, for 'tis better you than 'tis me!' "
The calls came unbidden and without end
But Tytos would only smile, for they were all his "friends"
However, Tywin stood still, fists clenched tight
Unable to abide the unbearable sight
How could his father withstand such disgrace?
As they laughed and they mocked him right to his face...
"Now, Now, that is all in good fun
But that is quite enough, quite enough, everyone."
The smile on Lord Tytos' face was wide and without care
While Tywin stood and could only stare
"I ask you all to rise, out of respect for my House and my sons."
But everyone refused, a cold bitter shun
Silence befell the masses, but Lord Tytos was still in bliss
He continued onward as if nothing was amiss
Tytos stood to face the golden Lion of Lannister
that pranced and clawed on its bright red banner
With his head held high, so Tytos spoke: "Hear me Roar."
"More like: Hear me Snore!"
A raucous laughter sprung up from the crowd
That's when young Tywin spun right around
The steel of his sword scraped against its scabbard
As he withdrew the metal to point it at those bastards
Shocked and surprised, were the great gathered crew
For not one of them, not one, knew what to do
"Laugh at my father, and you're laughing at me
You'll all regret this, one day you shall see
I make note of your faces and poor family name
Go ahead and jest if you think this a game
I shall be back to make you endure
I shall be back, for that I am sure!"
Off Tywin strode from the hall with his plight
He gathered his things and rode into the night
"Grey Gallows lies to the south, we shall land on Bloodstone
We have been sent here to defend the Iron Throne.
Blood and carnage is what shall come
Of mercy and sympathy, they shall have none!
Ride forth, men, and cut them all down
For 'tis our swords that protect the Crown!"
The voice of Ser Jason Lannister called to his men:
"Attack! Attack!" He sang, again and again
The long ship hit the shore and the great mass spilled out
To slaughter and maim, without a single doubt
Steel on steel sparked on the ground
As the battle commenced with a loud clashing sound
Tywin charged forth, surpassing Ser Jason
Slamming his sword into any freemason
The Free Cities hadn't an army so well trained
They took what they could get, no matter their name
Doubtless, their skill lacked, yet their numbers were fierce
For their steel tips would find flesh, and through mail, it would pierce
Tywin swung his longsword at any man or foe
He swung with great force and sent many below
His boots sunk quick into the reddening sand
He found it hard to move without grabbing for a hand
The army of Bloodstone flew at them with great haste
As if they tried to win some long foot race
Lannister men cried shouts of anguish and fear
As the Bloodstone host caught them from the rear
"Move! Up the beach and to the city!
For once we arrive, I feel for them a great pity!
We shall destroy their walls and take down their host!
Because we are the ones who want it the most!"
Ser Jason's voice called as he led the attack
He didn't even see the sword drive through his back
The dark blood gushed through the hole in his chest
Ser Jason's hands clamped down on his blood-soaked vest
Young Tywin shoved hard against the men at his front
The edge of his sword had grown woefully blunt
"Uncle Jason!" Tywin screamed with a great mighty shout
As his cold blue eyes watched Ser Jason bleed out
"There's no time! We must press on and extinguish their flame!"
The man who called out was none other than Lord Roger Reyne
Lord Reyne grabbed Tywin and shoved him forth
For they must continue their bloody march north
But just as the whole army of Bloodstone were engrossed
Another Lannister horde stormed up the coast
Archers took aim as they notched and they drew
And into the air, all of their arrows flew
The wind feathered the fletching as they raced through the sky
To pierce the heart of every man, and sentence them to die
With a new found strength, Tywin did rise
Wiping the blood and the sweat from his eyes
His gloved hands grabbed tight to his hilt
As he bashed and he slashed at what they had built
The thousands poured over the sands of Bloodstone
Leaving not a single enemy alone
And just as their victory came into view
Tywin stopped suddenly, not knowing what he should do
An arrow had found him, it came as a shock
For the arrow had flown from where they had docked
He sank to his knees as he clutched at his belly
His legs became shaky and wobbly like jelly
And onto his back, so Tywin did fall
But this wasn't his end, not here, not at all
"You must rest, m'lord, come rest, dear Ser."
Tywin opened his eyes as his body did stir.
"I...I am no Ser, do not address me as such
A Ser is a knight, and I am not that much."
"The fever took you, for you've been asleep
You missed King Jaehaerys II enter the keep
He laid upon you his great mighty sword
And said you have served more than any great Lord
He granted you knighthood, and so you shall be called
Your father is proud and quite enthralled."
"My father? The one they laughed at and joked?
I could care less if while I was gone he had croaked
It makes me sick just to watch him talk
In his shoes, I shan't ever walk
Because I am Tywin and they will all bow
My time is here and my time is right now."
The young Lannister pulled himself up
He snatched for some wine and drained the whole cup
His body was bruised and beaten and blue
The feelings of anger stirred and they grew
"Fetch me a quill and some parchment to write
As my father's heir, I have every right
To call upon those who have disgraced me and mine
Hurry up, Hurry up, we haven't much time
I want them to know that they will pay us back."
The maester who attended Ser Tywin was taken aback
"M'lord, you must gather your strength; you must rest
You haven't the right since your father is still Warden of the West
Like it or not, his word is law
Even if you like it, quite not at all."
Tywin scowled at the man who was too scared to grin
"Old man, I am Ser Tywin, and Ser Tywin always wins
I don't need my father," as he got up from his bed
"Do as I say, old man, or I will have your head."
And so it went, as he wrote and he wrote
"My honorable Lords and great mighty vassals
Hear my words and report to my castle
The time has come to pay back what you owe
Pay us back, or you'll be marked a foe
You shall settle your debts, and come to heel
You will bend the knee, and before us, you shall kneel
Mark my words, for if you do not pay
A hostage will be surrendered on said day
No longer will you steal from the Lord of Casterly Rock
Disobey me and you'll find your heads on the block."
And so he inked his letter in vain:
"Ser Tywin Lannister, the first of his name."
"You cannot do this, for that I am sure
Do you really want the West to go into war?"
Lord Tytos spoke to Tywin as he said with a frown
"These Lords are my men, and they have yet to let me down
I am telling you, recall those letters and take them in hand
This is an order; a direct command."
Tywin rose from his seat and slammed on the table
"Do you think this a fairy tale? Some children's fable?
You have done nothing but make us look weak
I want our gold. Honor and respect, I seek
You're old and fragile, I will tell you this
Once you are dead, you shall not be missed
We will proceed with this plan, and that is that
As the Lannister name begins its ascent back
We will be feared and respected as in the past
Our name will live, for it's the only thing that will last
After we die, they will still sing our name
For we will achieve all of our fame."
Tytos sat down as he looked at his son
"Where have I gone wrong with you? What have I done?
I taught you to be kind, but now we're in too deep
You are not to treat our people like sheep."
Tywin shook his head as he walked away
"Come back, my son! Come back, I say!"
The look on the tired Lord's face said it all
Then the tears welled in his eyes and he began to bawl
Tywin marched on as he heard his father's sobs
"What a sad man, a complete utter slob
'Where have I gone wrong?' Oh, please
I shall have all of those peasants down on their knees
Beg for mercy and beg for my forgiveness
But they shall have none of it, for I will not forgive this."
Tywin stopped as he was about to leave
His eyes looked to the lion on his sleeve
He thought of his father and all who did borrow
Then it hit him, a twinge of sorrow
If he listened hard enough, Tywin could still hear him cry
But he pushed it out of his mind, without batting an eye
Tywin walked through his castle and through the hall
As his army were the ones to answer his call
Ser Tygett and Ser Kevin stood side by side
Then Tywin took a great mighty stride
"I have just received word, as our pigeons flew
All houses have agreed, all but for two
Kevin, you and your host will go with me to Tarbeck Hall
We will crush and destroy all of their walls
Tygett you'll stay here with a reserve full of men
Then we will see how much they want to revolt, then."
And when the dusk of the night swept over the land
The Lannister army took sword in hand
Hooves and boot beat as they made their trek
To take down the revolt of House Tarbeck
"They stole from us and mocked us a great many years
They will pay with their blood and their tears."
So, onward they marched until the sun rose
That's when they saw House Tarbeck up the road
"There lies their castle, onward and charge!"
The Lannister host was three times as large
Unfortunate souls of Tarbeck came out
But the Lannisters slaughtered each one throughout
It was Ser Tywin who led his men on
And so as it was in the first verse of his song
"Take the castle! Break the walls and line up around!
Ignite the torches and burn it all down!"
The first boulder was launched and into the air, it soared
The great mighty rock took out a whole horde
The brick and stone crumbled as the main tower collapsed
Then the Lannisters pounced on the attack
A second rock flew and broke the last rampart
And while the men pulled the castle apart
Young Tywin strode in and observed the destruction
He removed a large wooden panel obstruction
Under the rubble and under a pile
What Tywin saw, made him smile
The crushed corpse of Ellyn Tarbeck stared up at him blankly
"Please, there is no need to beg me
You brought this on yourself, you hold the blame
I warned you that I would remember your name."
"Ellyn!" The scream of a man cried out
"I'll kill you, Tywin!" came the enraged shout
It belonged to Walderan Tarbeck, as he came charging in
But the single-combat was over before it could begin
Tywin withdrew his sword and parried Walderan's slice
As Walderan blinked, Tywin stabbed him twice
Once in the stomach and the deathblow to the neck
Lord Walderan's limp body fell to the deck
He spat up red blood as Tywin pulled his sword free
"You fool, all you had to pay was one simple fee."
Another smile spread as he watched the man die
"What's that? Oh, just lay there and cry
Your castle has been torched, your woman is dead
We left not one single man to have fled
We slew your whole family, there is nothing left
To you, I say, that you fell to the best."
That's where Tywin left the Lord of Tarbeck Hall
Tywin stood over him, and he stood rather tall
"Kevin, regroup the men, we march right away
I shall not waste one more single day
We'll take the Reynes by surprise
They won't know what hit them 'till they see our eyes."
Everyone gathered around the burning keep
"Now our enemies lie in their eternal sleep,"
Tywin addressed them
"The Reynes will die, I do so condemn
Of Ellyn and Walderan, bring me their heads
Do it! Do as I said!
Put them on pikes for all to see
For this is what happens when those choose to defy me
Gather your weapons for onward we march—"
But Tywin stopped talking as if his throat were parched
He couldn't believe what he saw on the plain
It was Lord Roger, Lord Roger Reyne
"Ha, ha, ha, the fool rushes into the lion's jaws
Once more we shall butcher them with our great mighty claws
March forth, men! March forth and kill!
Slaughter each one at your own will!"
The Lannisters, 10,000 strong, clashed with the Reynes
The Tarbeck fate was suffered just all the same
As the fight took place, beneath the Tarbeck flames
Ser Tywin just laughed, to him it was all a game
Lord Roger had but a few thousand, not nearly enough
So he called out, "Retreat! Retreat! Their host is too tough!
Run to the hills and do not engage!
We have awoken the lion! And fierce is his rage!"
The Reynes, what few remained, ran far and long
Each one of them vanished, like the second verse of the song
"Let them go! Let them run!
This battle is far too much fun!
Run, Lord Reyne, run far and run fast!
You will all be killed! Right down to the last!"
Ser Tywin stood and watched them all go
As the castle of Tarbeck burned brightly below
He turned to watch the stones collapse
Tywin only stood quiet, in his silence he relapsed
Flames leaped up high into the night
Exhaustion settled in after their fight
They set up their camp so they could rest
One more fight to win in order to take back the West.
Days had passed before they received word
Tywin tried to read the lines, but most were blurred
The letter was from Lord Reyne, and it was penned in coal
"The oaf wants peace, I guess the fighting took its toll
He claims he'll come to heel and pay back the gold
Sadly, it's too late, I knew he would fold."
He spoke to Ser Kevin, they had nothing but time
"Our outriders say they escaped to their mine."
Kevin told Tywin, which made Tywin grin
"Perfect...we shall seal them all in
Bring me a map, this feels like a dream,"
He pointed, "There, you see that stream?
Set our men to making a barricade
Use every pick and every spade
Block the entrance so that no one can leave
We can dam up that stream, I do so believe
Dam it up and flood out their cave
So they all suffer a cold watery grave."
The order was given and then carried out
It took several days, but the water would sprout
The liquid sneaked through all open cracks
Every man knew there was no turning back
Tywin stood at the entrance and listened to the screams
"What have we done, Tywin? This is truly too mean."
Kevin stood behind him, his face more pale than curdled milk
His sandy hair blew in the wind like fine silk
"All of those women and children...all of them dead—"
"You heard my words, you know what I said
They chose to revolt, it was their choice,"
Young Tywin spoke in a quiet hushed voice
Tywin's eyes wouldn't meet Kevin's as he slowly turned away
For the drowning wasn't the worst decision that day
The worst was the boy, who was no older than three
Tywin had him strung up and hanged from a tree
"It had to be done, it had to, dear brother."
"But it wasn't the boy's fault that Ellyn was his grandmother."
"We shall speak no more of this, what's done is done
Be happy, Kevin, for the Lannisters have won
Our name will be feared and respected for once
No longer will they call our stupid father a dunce
So, be happy, Kevin, for we won the day—"
"Sadly, the cost, that poor boy had to pay."
"Enough, it's done, no more will I hear
Now we must go, and burn down Castamere."
The castle's walls were set to the torch
As the rains fell on all that was scorched
That was quite a long time ago
The Tarbeck and Reyne rebellion, all would know
For Ser Tywin, most everything that followed was grand
Since the rebellion, he restored order to his savaged land
All of the Lords shown the Lannisters a newfound respect
Because none of them wanted to follow Reyne nor Tarbeck
Tywin would go on to serve the whole realm
He was named the King's Hand, and he took up the helm
He guided the lands to prosperity and money
It was a swell time in this land of milk and honey
But not one forgot what had happened that day
In every tavern the singers would say:
"He chopped them all down! Every last one!
To me, that doesn't sound like much fun
I'm sure glad that I'm on his good side."
And whenever one was in Tywin's presence, he showed respect and would rise
The man that was the legend was never forgotten
Since the corpses of Tarbeck and Reyne hung outside his keep; decrepit and rotten
Still, Tywin would visit the hall once a year
And shed not one single tear
He walked through the ashes as the sky grew dim
As the sinister clouds of a storm flew in
It pelted him with rain, as it moved pretty near
But he spoke not a word, for there was not a soul to hear.
The End