REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD
EDDARD
He watches as Catelyn helps Sansa pack her things to leave the Capital. "Cat…Cat we need to talk."
She sighs and follows him to his Solar, "What is it?"
"What Cersei said in the Throne Room at her trial…"
She takes his hand, "Ned…I forgave you a long time ago. And we agreed that we would never speak of it again."
He nods, "Aye, but…I…I have never been unfaithful to you…Robert…he bought me a woman to lay with. But I never…We talked and I paid her and sent her away. Um…Lyanna is Jon's mother. Prince Rhaegar didn't kidnap or rape her. They fell in love and married in secret…She named him Aegon and with her last dying breath she asked me to protect him. If Robert knew the truth he would have killed him." She just stares at him. "Cat…"
She starts crying and runs up to him and hugs him, "Why did you lie to me?"
"I…Had I known you would have reacted the way you did…I would have told the truth…The fewer people who know a secret the better.
BESKA - CASTERLY ROCK
Beska was a beautiful woman in her own right. A former pit fighter who won her freedom. She joined the Lost Legion and became lovers with the Commander. Eventually the commander died and Beska was made commander. Her army was in Volantis when they were approached by a representative of the Iron Bank. In addition to the one million in gold they were paid, they were given ten percent ownership of the Race track business in exchange for employment for life.
The time had come to take Casterly Rock. The army had received the message after Tytos revealed himself at the tourney. To enter the castle Beska leads five hundred men to through a secret passage Tyrion Lannister built to sneak whores into the Rock. Another five hundred is led by Bronn through a passage that goes from an unused mine all to the family crypts beneath Winterfell.
Casterly Rock itself sits on a cliff held up by three natural rock pillar formations. The middle pillar has hand and feet holds built into it and a lift. Beska climbs the hand holds and lowers the lift for her men. They gather in the wine cellar. Then they sneak and kill their way through the castle to the armory. They steal Lannister guard armor to move more freely in the castle.
Breska sets out to capture Kevan Lannister. She sends men in teams of five to find his sons, Emory Frey, Gerion Lannister and his daughter. The rest of the men head to the battlements to kill the men on patrol and archers, also to secure the Raven tower. Bronn and his enter the crypts to find their own men waiting with Lannister Armor. They quickly and dress and take up key positions in the castle. A signal is sent to the rest of the troops hiding in the countryside and they run up the causeway and enter the castle. The old Lannister banners are taken down and the new banners are put up in its place.
By sunrise Tytos and his father along with Tytos' servants and personal guards ride up the causeway and into Casterly Rock through the Lion's Gate. "Casterly Rock is ours father."
"Yes it is."
Kevan and the rest of the family are on their knees in the courtyard. "When my brother learns about this boy, you will wish you had stayed under whatever rock you crawled from under.
"Uncle Kevan…Tell me did you ever speak out against anything your brother has ever done? Or is your head truly stuck up his ass."
"Do not speak to him Kevan. He is not aware of the Seven hells that is about to be unleashed on him." Gerion says.
"I have been planning my revenge for years…Every possible scenario, every counter move that my enemies could make…I am ready for…No Uncle…It is I who will unleash the seven hells…Now Hear Me Roar!"
"Tyrion…are with him?" Kevan asks.
"He is my son. I chose this family over my wife long ago…I have tried and tried to prove myself one of you…No more…I am allied with my son."
"Rise…You are free to roam the castle as you will…But I am Lord of Casterly Rock…My servants have been instructed to serve you as they would me…Know this…They will not betray me for all the gold in the Iron Bank…Any treachery will be met with terrible wrath…Do not try me…I know every secret passage, every room in the Castle…We can become family or you can be my enemy. The choice is yours…"
TYWIN
He rides with his sister and his men at his back riding along the Golden Road heading back west, Robert had pardoned Cersei, but an assassin killed her and Tywin knew who was behind that. He would place a bounty on Tytos' head, along with Tyrion. Genna tried to talk him out of it, but Tywin felt wronged and he will have his pound of flesh.
On the flip side he admired Tytos. The young man was ruthless, strong, powerful, and skilled. All the things he wanted Jaime to be. If he lost then House Lannister would wind up in strong hands. At the same time he had no intention of losing. He secretly wanted to make peace with the boy, but he wanted revenge for Cersei.
After seven days of traveling they reach Deep Den. "My Lord welcome." The Chief Steward of the Castle says. Deep Den is another fortress that belongs directly to the Lannisters. "We have had a Raven from Casterly Rock, my Lord. I am sorry it is not good news."
To Lord Tywin Lannister
My condolences on that bitch Cersei. But she had to die. As I have said…I have taken Casterly Rock…And I intend to bury my mother in the family crypt where she belongs. You may come to try and take it back if you can
With Regards,
Tytos Lannister Lord of Casterly Rock
He balls the message up, "Let me see that." Genna demands. He gives her crumpled message. "Send the ravens and call my banners. Over the next few weeks they come. The Lords and armies of Houses, Swyft, Lefford, Marbrand, Hetherspoon, Yarwyck Lorch, and Greenfeild. Houses Westerling, Payne, and Crakehall have sworn oaths to Tytos Lannister. The Westerlings were promised Deep Den. Podrick Payne who is related to House Payne convinced his relatives to support Tytos, and Crakehalls promised a stake in the new gold mine Tytos had discoevered through his fire visions.
After taking account of his army Tywin commanded 45,000 troops
. With the Lost Legion, Houses Westerling, Payne, and Crakehall Tytos' army numbered 35,000 strong. "We have confirmed it my Lord…Houses Payne, Crakehall, and Westerling have turned against you in favor of this Tytos." Lord Marbrand says.
"And I will put them all to the sword. My Lord there are secret passages into the Castle. We will use the one in Lannisport…It goes all the way to Casterly Rock…Lord Marbrand will lead five thousand men through this secret passage. Lord Lefford will another force five thousand strong through a secret passage that goes from this cave and opens up in the crypts…I will lead the main army up the causeway…We will not attack until you send the signal from the battlements…"
"Do we know how many men he has in the castle?" Lord Garth Greenfield asks.
"The combined might of Payne, Westerling and Crakehall would give 25,000 men…" Tywin responds. "So he may have another five to ten thousand sell-swords so anywhere from 30 to 35,000 troops."
"When do we attack?"
"At midnight…We march tomorrow."
TYTOS
"Everyone is in position My Lord." Breska says to Tytos.
He nods and looks at her, "Good…The Old Lion should be leaving the mountain passes by now. I am off to bed make sure every man is in place before the guard changes."
"Yes My Lord."
The next morning he broke his fast with his family. Even though they gave him venomous looks. Tytos and Tyrion were the only two at the table to speak. On the second week a message came from Lannisport. Tywin Lannister had come. They do not sound the bells, as word is passed by mouth, The Castle comes to life. Kevan and the other Lannisters are locked in their rooms, the children are allowed to stay with their parents.
BRONN
Bronn is at the mouth of the passage that goes to Lannisport. When he hears the men trying to sneak up the tunnel he lights a torch and throws it, then he closes the door. The fire erupts up the tunnel killing all five thousand men. He heads for the battlements. "Threat neutralized My Lord…"
Then they are joined by Breska. "All dead, My Lord."
Tytos nods, send the signal. The signal is sent and Tywin leads the charge up the causeway to the Hunter's Gate. Halfway up the path, flaming barrels and arrows fly killing hundreds of men. A barrel explodes near Tywin knocking him off the side of the path. His ears are ringing. It takes him a while to get to his feet. His men come to recover him and take him back to the main force.
"Son of Bitch was ready for us My Lord." Greenfield says.
A Squire enters the Maester's tent, "My Lord…Lord Marbrand and Lefford's forces have been destroyed." A horn sounds and they run outside to see the Knights of the Vale charging them from the Northeast.
TYTOS
He walks up and down the men that had been captured. "Kill them all. Hang them from ramparts!" Tytos goes to the inner courtyard where Tywin is being held. "Hello old man." Tywin does not respond. "I told you what would happen. Now you will pay for what you did to my mother." He has him stripped and then whipped, fifty lashes. Then he has someone place wooden cocks all over. Two is his ass, a necklace around his neck, one in each nose all carved to fit where they are placed. One in his navel, one in each ear, and a large one in his mouth attached to a strap.
Then Tywin naked, whipped, bleeding, and humiliated is taken up to the battlements over the Lion's Gate. A rope is placed around his neck and then Tytos kicks him off. He kicks and convulses for a few minutes before he dies. "For you mother." Tytos says.
A feast is held for the next week. Then the Lords of the Vale leave to return home. Next Ravens are sent out demanding that the Lords of the West come to Casterly Rock to swear fealty to Tytos. Sons and Second sons, and Lady Lefford of Golden Tooth come. To swear an oath to the new Lord of Casterly Rock. Some had to be threatened with assassination. Bronn is made the Lord of Golden Tooth and Lady Lefford is forced to marry him. Eventually the two fall in love.
Breska is given the Crag, but Tytos invests the gold in the rundown castle to make it modern. As promised the Westerlings are given Deep Den. He names his father Lord of Lannisport. The rest of the family is confined to Casterly Rock. Privately Tytos buries his mother in the family Lannister Crypt. Two weeks after the castle is taken Genna arrives with the children Myrcella and Tommen.
"If you have any humanity in you. Then please take my brother's body down and give him a proper burial."
He sighs and looks at his Steward, "Have the old goat's body taken down and buried in the family crypts."
Genna hugs him, "Thank you."
