My second ASOIAF OC! Meet Tytos. I'll talk more at the end on why I made him, but he will certainly have a role to play!
Oh, and to the guest reviewer last chapter... You've had a few rather shrewd thoughts similar to my own, I think! If you read the other story when it happens, I swear I'm not copying!
And I'd like to say a general thanks to all who reviewed. Thank you! I sincerely appreciate them all!
Ser Tytos Waters
The raven had arrived three days ago, bearing news of the death of Keven Lannister, and Casterly Rock's Maester, Hadlow, had made the announcement to the household the day afterwards, in the main hall. Tytos had stood by his side, face stern, as the words, a day old, were read.
Many of the members of the guard had stood forth, speaking of how he would be missed. Tytos too said his part, emphasising the strength of both Kevan and his brother Tywin, and how they had forwarded the Lannisters in peace and in war.
"Lord Kevan will be missed," Tytos stated, "but we must look to the future. Maester Hadlow, who is now the rightful Lord of Casterly Rock?"
"It is not so easy as that to say, I warn you," stated Hadlow. "Of Lord Tywin's children, none are in a position to inherit, nor his grandchildren. All of Lord Tywin's siblings are dead, besides Genna Frey, and I do not reccommend we allow any Frey within spitting distance of Casterly Rock. Ser Lancel, Kevan's firstborn son, is of the warriors sons now, and wishes himself a quiet lifestyle. Beyond him in the line, he has a small brother, who is in no way the person needed to lead this House through the coming winter. The question of succession is a clouded one indeed, Tytos. There seem few possibilities but having a council rule for young Martyn until he would come of age is, I find, the wisest course of action to take."
Ser Garth, a tall, strong and stubborn man and the captain of the Rock's guard, stepped forward. "I volunteer myself for a place on this council."
Tytos himself stepped forwards, after a brief interval. "I would suggest Maester Hadlow as a wise and learned choice of a council member, and the Captain Tarrow as another, a man of the sea capable of strengthening our sea defences against the Ironborn. All in favour?" A chorus of ayes rose up in support for the two middle-aged and well-liked men. "I would also like to suggest myself as the head of this prospective council."
A chorus of murmurs broke out, which Ser Garth Estren headed sharply; "Under whose authority?"
Tytos drew from behind him a scroll, which he presented to Maester Hadlow, who inspected its seal. "The lion of Lannister?" he said, questioningly.
"The lion of Lannister," Tytos confirmed. "It is a letter sent to me by my Lord father, shortly before his death. Would you perchance read it aloud, for all to hear?"
"Indeed," Hadlow replied. "It reads;
Tytos,
Events move apace. Tyrion is to be executed, and Jaime will not leave the Kingsguard. I intend shortly to summon Kevan to King's Landing in my place and head to the Riverlands, to sway Lords such as Blackwood to the King's cause and to eliminate the bandits that plague the roads and farmlands.
Should such events come to be, I would entrust you with the safekeeping of Casterly Rock. If you perform admirably, I shall have you legitimised.
The Rock needs an heir. Fail me not.
Lord Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West, and Hand of the King."
Hadlow, Garth, Captain Tarrow, and the lords, ladies, and men of the household stared at Tytos, finally seeing the resemblance in the stern brow and the bones of the cheek. The twenty-three year old intoned his voice a little deeper in the hope of furthering the resemblance when next he spoke.
"It was shortly after I received this message that the news of my Lord father's death reached us, and this letter was driven from my mind in grief. However, I recently recalled it, and found it again but this morning. In accordance with the will of Lord Tywin, I request that I should have a place at the head of this council."
Looking around the hall, Tytos spied little resistance to his suggestion bar Ser Garth; in suggesting the two other members of the council, he had gained the support, if reluctant, of those who respected them and they themselves. Garth would emerge as a problem soon enough, but Tytos knew that opposition would spring up if he named all the council members himself. As it was, four was an unfortunate number and would appear to be in his favour too much...
"Garth," Tytos interjected, "have you any suggestions as to a fifth council member?"
Garth would see only the offer, Tytos knew, rather than the recognition of Tytos as head of the council that was slightly hidden. And with any luck, Ser Garth would suggest-
"Ser Robin Brax."
-Garth's second, an able and trusted knight, well-liked on the Rock and in Lannisport, and Tytos's friend of seven years.
They had trained together often, initially, at swords. They'd exchanged occasional letters while Tytos had travelled the south, learning the lands quietly and meeting a few contacts, most notably in Dorne. When Tytos had returned, shortly before the war, he'd found Robin rising the ranks, and they'd met up every so often since, as Tytos's father had had him stay put at Casterly Rock, not that he was complaining.
Robin had red hair, a short beard, a near-permanent grin and a stout build. He strode forwards to stand at Garth's side. "I would be honoured, comrades."
"Then it is settled," Tytos stated. "All
in favour of such a council with myself at the head, say aye."
The hall rang with the noise, and Tytos felt himself smile. "You have my thanks. This council shall convene in the small chambers to the side of this hall, after an appropriate mourning period for Lord Kevan has been imposed by all those close to him. I go now to the sept, to mourn. My friends of the new Council, shall we convene two days hence, and discuss the problems that shall be facing our young Lord-in-waiting, Martyn Lannister?"
Tarrow, a blonde man with blue eyes and a weathered face, nodded first. Hadlow and Garth followed suit, and Robin last of all, with a small grin to Tytos at the same time.
Tytos nodded to the hall, it's golden statues, it's arches and pillars, and the men within it who had granted him control. "Fare well until next we meet," he said, before striding forwards, face stern as the crowd parted for him, heading outside.
He breathed deep in the fresh air and gazed out for a few seconds, across the surrounding countryside, as he strode down the steps. Messages needs must be sent, he thought, before turning towards the sept. But they can wait.
He prayed to the Father for hope that he would do Tywin proud, to the Warrior for the strength of his arm and plans, and to the Stranger for Kevan's spirit.
But that was two days past, now, and the Council was meeting for the first time.
"Ser Robin, Ser Garth, Captain Tarrow, Maester Hadlow. Have you any issues you would wish to put to this council, or suggestions perhaps?"
"Indeed, my Lord," Captain Tarrow said. Though not a Lord, Tytos didn't bother correcting him. "I would intend to increase spending on the production and maintenance of our force of warships, so as better to defend against the Iron Islands. They have ravaged the North and the Reach, and it would appear we may be next. Without the Redwyne fleet defending the Reach, Lord Paxter reportedly heading to King's Landing to ensure a Tyrell majority in the Small Council, the Ironborn are free to raid up the coastline. We need to improve our defences."
If the Ironborn wanted to attack us more than any other port, they would have, but they haven't. They have little enough reason to come here, and are more a threat to others.
"We have more than enough enemies inland to worry about," Ser Garth Estren stated. "Reports state that some false Targaryen, Aegon, is landing in the Stormlands and likely has the allegiance of Dorne. Why waste money at sea when the Ironmen are busy elsewhere?"
Some false Targaryen, perhaps, but a false Baratheon sits the throne now. Dragons would be a true claim, but they lie in Slaver's Bay. Is it worth allegiance to one of the three claimants to the throne in the east, for the others to fight us later? Is it worth fighting one? We have bigger problems.
"The Tyrells are the power in King's Landing now," stated Captain Tarrow. "Let them deal with it, and us protect ourselves from the Ironborn raiders."
Robin Brax spoke almost exactly Tytos's thoughts on the matter. "If the Tyrells will deal with this Aegon, why would the Ironborn leave the rich pickings of the Reach? At least until the false prince is defeated, we're safe from them."
Tytos spoke. "So we shall strike them. Captain Tarrow, you shall have your defences. Additional catapults and fire-arrows will go into production. However, we needs must build ships as well. Garth, how many troops do we currently hold, here and in Lannisport?"
"Between fifteen and twenty thousand, Ser," Ser Garth stated.
Tytos nodded. "And Captain Tarrow, how many warships have we in the bay, and how many men can each hold?"
"We're still rebuilding from the destruction of the Greyjoy Rebellion, my Lord. We would usually try to keep forty to forty-five, but currently we have thirty-three warships, with two in production that should be finished by the end of this week. Each should hold roughly a hundred and twenty soldiers, with the right amount of supplies for a decent journey. That would make a total of-"
"Four thousand, two hundred soldiers that could be transported by sea, given that the two ships in production are included," Maester Hadlow finished. "But where would you be hoping to mount a sea invasion?"
"We strike the Ironborn. We strike Pyke. We tear their longships out of the water, cast their Seastone Chair back into the sea, and we occupy an empty castle. The ships patrol the other islands, ensure we have control of the sea, and Euron Greyjoy has to make do with settling down in Highgarden with a bottle of Dornish. They don't even have their Iron Fleet, am none will follow the king that lost them their home. We install some puppet, and they follow our lead."
"But how do you expect the Ironborn to react when they hear of it?" Maester Hadlow asked. "I doubt they won't fight back."
"We will choose our moment,"Tytos stated. "Once the dragon is defeated, we shall send Randyll Tarly and Mace Tyrell both a message. Tell them to close the mouth of the Mander. Tell them the Ironborn will attempt to swarm out in droves. If any longships get past them, they should be easy for us to deal with, and the Iron Islands will be one less problem for whoever is to hold the throne by the time Martyn is old enough to decide whose claim to support."
"When it happens, who should lead this attack? Yourself?" Garth asked, as if hopeful. "It is your plan after all, and a fine one too."
"I would stay and safeguard the Rock, Ser Garth, as my father had requested of me. I intend not to fail him. In fact, you yourself would be my suggestion for the man to lead our forces; an experienced commander, respected, and able. Five thousand men you shall take the Islands with."
"My lord, we can only carry forty-two hundred, as the Maester said," Tarrow reminded.
"There is likely to be over a month between then and now," Tytos replied. "How fast can your shipwrights build five ships?"
"With the correct materials, three weeks."
Tytos nodded. "I'll want ten in four. The wealth of the Rock is behind you. Hire all the craftsmen you'll need, slow the pace of building after four weeks. Five in three from there on, and we should be well prepared for offence and defence at sea. All in favour?"
All four nodded.
"Tarrow?"
"My Lord?"
"Get to work."
"My Lord." Captain Tarrow bowed and exited.
"Ser Robin, Ser Garth. Are the troops prepared for an attack and a siege?"
"Aye," Robin stated. "They've been drilled hard lately, and it shows."
"They're improving," Garth continued. "Give it a month and they'll be storming castles like they've done it since birth."
"See to it that they are."
"Milord." Garth exited, though Robin remained seated.
"Thank you for your assistance, Maester Hadlow. You may leave," Tytos smiled gently at the man, whose talent and intelligence he respected greatly.
"Thank you, Tytos. And if I may say so, you are very much like your Lord father at times. Little wonder they were calling you milord so fast!" Hadlow strode out of the room.
Robin moved to the seat on Tytos's right, which had been occupied by Garth previously. Tytos sighed in relief. "The meeting is over," he said, "I can breathe, which is fortunate."
"Best not get in the habit of making japes, Tytos, it doesn't make you seem like your Lord Father now does it?"
"The relief must have got to me. Pay it no heed." Tytos looked Robin in the eye. "We're finally making the choices, friend."
"Well, you are. Good thing too. I wouldn't have thought of the attack on the Islands."
"It's a handy solution, but not a full one. It is impressive enough to placate the council into the idea that we have a long-term strategy, and also enough, is it works out, to earn me a legitimacy from whichever crown the Tyrells marry into next. It also cements me as a leader and puts something to my name."
"But how isn't it a full solution?"
"We have no influence on King's Landing or who rules or wins there. One king or queen may not uphold a legitimacy granted by another. Should anyone ally with the Iron Islands, whose main fleet is missing, we turn them against us. And it does not end the fighting altogether. It cows enemies, it does not defeat. It does not eliminate." Tytos sighed. "I have work to do yet this day. Go watch the men train. I'll see you in three days."
Tytos rose and strode to his solar; not the Lord's, not yet, but no longer just a bastard's, either.
It was the room of a somebody. Tytos was only just beginning his rise to his father's place.
He would savour every step.
Tytos... He's cropped up because I was thinking recently, about how, with the death of Kevan, there were very few options for Casterly Rock to pass to, as Maester Hadlow outlined. It occurred to me that Tywin must have known this even as Kevan was alive; and he didn't want the Rock to go to Tyrion.
Tywin was never one to keep all his eggs in one basket, so why not one more son? Hidden, learning, ready to be raised up and above Lancel?
It was a possibility, so why not? I made it happen. What do you think of him?
