Hello. Shall we dive in?
Chapter 1: Return of the Red Lion
He remembered seeing from the ship as he watched the banner of the red lion fade, he later heard how his family and household hid in the mines and tried seeing for peace but death is all they got in return.
Caspian was then spirited away, sailing from the Sunset Sea to Lys where they got a ship to Tyrosh.
He had often cried himself to sleep thinking about the end of his father and mother, of his cousin Renner and uncle Reynard and Maester Vultyss, and his lowborn friend Carver and Mychel. Dying, drowning under the mines which had been dry for years.
The years waned and he moved from place to place, when he was sixteen the gold he had left was gone and the servants who remained at his side had died or disappeared. He was on his own and had to make it on his own wits and strength, fortunately, Ser Malcolm the Master-at-Arms of Castamere taught him the way of the sword.
Becoming a Sellsword had its advantages, as Caspian saw and made more than a few influential friends.
For three years he served the Archon, Varelio Bellanar as his personal guard.
As of now, today was his last day. Archon Varelio smiled sadly, holding out his arms. "Lord Caspian, can I not convince you to stay?" He sighed and sheathed his blade, a magnificent piece of metal received when he was at Norvos.
"I have made wealth and friendships with you and your people, it is true... But I must return home soon." He told the man and the Archon lowered his arms in defeat.
It was true, he did make incredible wealth, enough to form his own mercenary company which was formed from two well-known companies of Westerosi Sellswords.
Five-thousand foot, two thousand mounted horsemen, and under a thousand archers. Eight thousand men in total, all he needs now is a fleet.
"Farewell, my Lord... Though might ask a favor of you?"
Varelio smirked, "You've served me well in these three years, saved me four times from an assassin's blade. What will you have of me?"
So it was bargained, fifty ships from the Tyroshi fleet.
He captained one of the larger war galleys, looking westwards as the war waged over the Realm of the Seven Kingdoms.
"Commander," He turned and saw his right hand, a man named Lorenzio of Tyrosh though he likes to go by Lorenzio Greycloak as he was half-Westerosi from his mother and wished to make a House of his own upon landing in the land of First Men.
Up till four months ago, going West wasn't his intention. He meant to form his own Company and rival the Golden Company and perhaps forge a Kingdom of his own somewhere in the far East.
But then he received a visit from the Dragon King's spymaster, a eunuch named Varys who had a proposition to make.
Caspian first thought this was a trick, Tywin as he knew was the King's Hand and had more than once taken a shot at ending his life. He held Varys by his throat as he explained what he wished him to do.
"War is coming to Westeros, I fear that the House of the Dragon had finally entered the end of its days." He pushed his dagger harder on the man's throat, "I hear you've gathered quite the formidable force since the destruction of your own House... How would you like a rebirth?"
The plan was thus, to sack Dragonstone for the rebel forces and as he inched closer to the island after fifteen days at sea it is to begin.
His attack needed to be as legitimate as possible so sadly these men defending the island and keep will need to die.
The fleet clashed, the enemy numbered twenty or so ships to their fifty and he felt an incoming storm off the horizon. Three hours and the battle on the sea was over, his forces landed and he jumped from his rowboat with Lorenzio and unsheathed his sword.
The battle going up to the keep was hazardous, arrows rained on them as they marched up the narrow path. He and several hundred shielded those carrying the battering ram, "Archers, loose!" Crossbow bolts and arrows were traded back and his men smashed the battering ram into the gate, twelve times it was repeated until they broke through.
Caspian parried a spear thrust, grabbing the weapon and then using his free hand to slash the man's throat with his short sword.
He lost two-thousand men taking Dragonstone, barging into the throne room where the remaining defenders and an old man stood holding an infant, and standing beside him was the young Viserys.
"You are not free-riders, I see no banners or sigils, who are you?"
"Surrender, Ser. The fight is over." He demanded, the old Knight with the Darry sigil reluctantly lowered his sword in his right hand, the babe in his left.
The remaining defenders threw down their weapons, "Lieutenant Lorenzio, take them outside, behead them." Each man was seized and dragged out of the hall.
Viserys angrily snapped, "They surrendered, why did you kill them?" Caspian ignored the question for the moment, cleaning the blood from his sword and sheathing the steel.
"That is because no one must know what happens here, little dragon." He sniffed the air, gods he forgot how cold it can be in Westeros. "Ser Willem Darry, a ship will escort you and the children to a safehouse within Tyrosh. I suggest going under new names and dying their hair. You will be well looked after."
The second phase, he would fake the children's deaths as Varys will do the same with Aegon.
It was gruesome work, bringing a fresh Valyrian cadaver and chopping off the head and a baby's corpse to pass them off. But butchers have their place, and a lion is a butcher. He thought as he stood above the battlements, the Targaryen banner being torn down and the red lion on a silver field taking its place.
Word would reach the King's Landing of the unknown army sacking Dragonstone, killing everyone in the castle and slaying the last Targaryen children.
Robert would raise his council, seeing who this unknown force might be until the Tyroshi fleet arrived on the Blackwater.
Caspian Reyne rode past Lannister and Baratheon guardsmen, Westermen were shocked to see the proud Red Lion that had once been a proud House, descendent of Kings.
He reached the Red Keep, he dismounted, and entered the Keep then inside the throne room, walking towards the Iron Throne.
"Who are you? Why have you come with Westerosi exiles and the Tyroshi fleet?" Robert Baratheon asked, Caspian grunted and grabbed a head and the corpse of an infant girl then threw it before the Iron Throne.
"My name is Caspian Reyne, head of House Reyne and rightful Lord of Castamere. Son of Roger Reyne, the Red Lion." He announced and knelt to one knee, "I came here with my army in the hopes of aiding in the overthrow of House Targaryen, your Grace. I beheaded Viserys myself, and cut the throat of his mother and stillborn sister to secure your reign." He added and unsheathed his blade.
He lowered it to the floor, "I pledge myself to House Baratheon, and to you and your heirs from this day to my last day."
Tywin eyed him with fury, "Your grace, this man's father rebelled against me years ago, his House has aided in the support of the Blackfyres as well. To accept his allegiance is to leave yourself to future uprisings."
"I cannot beg forgiveness for the actions of my father and ancestors, but unlike House Lannister, I chose my support willingly rather than waiting for a victor to be made." He barked back and glared at Tywin, Robert remained silent and then Pycelle and Varys spoke up.
"Lord Reyne did bring sword and fire to your enemies, your grace. I say pardon him." Varys said, his hands folded together.
Pycelle concurred, "Viserys and his sister's deaths does rend your rivals nonexistent, my King." Caspian noted the queer look sent to Pycelle by Tywin.
Jon Arryn, the pin of the Hand on his breast stepped forward. "Could you have been excessive, Lord Reyne?" Caspian scoffed, one cannot be excessive in these troubled times.
"Two less dragonspawn the world would have suffered," Robert said with a grin, "A good deed needs a good reward, what would you have of me?" Caspian frowned, he'd have to think about it.
He would relish going back to the Westerlands and reclaiming his home, digging out his family and putting them to rest but Tywin would sure as the Stranger walks have his life taken so he'll require a new place to reestablish himself.
Raising to his feet, he smirked, "I would take Harrenhal, your grace."
A Northman, bearing the Stark sigil was aghast, "Robert, House Whent are the rulers of Harrenhal. Shella Whent just lost her husband not too long ago in battle, and so did his sons."
"His daughter still lives, and unmarried, I hear," Varys mentioned and Robert nodded and stepped down to meet his eye.
Caspian didn't realize how small he was to the new King, "Very well, House Whent will fade with there being only women in rule, Lady Alys Whent will marry Lord Caspian Reyne, the new Lord of Harrenhal."
He could feel distrust from Eddard Stark, and ire from Tywin Lannister.
The Red Lion has returned home, weathering the storm he had been subjected to for the last twenty years of exile.
His Grace held a grand victory feast, along with announcing that he will be marrying Cersei Lannister, Tywin's daughter. Caspian sat with Lymond Vikary, the head of a cadet branch of his House, and saw Varys gesturing for him to follow.
The two of them found a quiet corner away from the dancing and feasting, he leaned his back against a pillar.
"You did well, and now you're Lord of Harrenhal and all of its land and incomes... Plus an army six-thousand strong." He nodded, smiling and scratching his chin.
"My losses will be repaid. Any Lord of Harrenhal can quickly become the richest House in Westeros if used the right way." He sighed and relaxed, "They are safe, in Tyrosh with new names and dyed hair. I did my part and now I shall capitalize on my pardon and ensure I destroy Tywin and his legacy." It may not be today, or even years from now but he will do it.
He has the patience, he's been patient for several years.
Varys seemed disappointed, "I saved them to repay Aerys for all that he has given me, I don't know whether Robert will be better than him but I suppose we shall see." Varys left and he watched from the dais, Cersei watching the celebrations.
She was beautiful, sort of reminded him of his aunt Ellyn.
He spent three months, the Tyroshi ships departing back to Tyrosh and Caspian sent his thanks to Valerio for the aid he has given him over this venture.
Lord Reyne and his remaining six-thousand soldiers would soon depart from King's Landing and marching up the Kingsroad.
He held the same thoughts as many of the men who were forced into exile, breathing cleaner air than the one from Tyrosh or another Free City... It felt like home.
Caspian stopped his horse and looked out across the God's Eye, and not far from it was his new seat, Harrenhal.
The castle has five towers of dizzying size, like it's reaching the very clouds, and has equally monstrous curtain walls. Caspian stopped his horse at the main gate which was closed to him and his army, he looked up and saw a man looking down at him.
The man is stiff-necked and stolid. The sigil of House Wode was sewed on his plate armor.
"Aren't you going to open your gate?" He asked the man who glared at him.
"Not for anyone I do not know, nor has Lady Whent informed me of such a visit by a vast host." He shook his head, of course, Pycelle didn't send word of the new ownership.
Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a scroll with the crowned stag on the wax. "This is a writ by the King, naming me your new master and Lord of Harrenhal. Now, Ser, please open my gate?" He said with a low growl in his voice.
Soon enough the portcullis ascended, he pushed his horse forward and his army entered the castle and he quickly turned to Lymond who decided to stand by him along with House Vikary and Lorenzio, a newly made Knight and head of the new House of Greycloak. "Spread out the army within the castle, begin repairs where necessary." His men nodded and left to do just that as he dismounted.
The Lady of House Whent, Shella and her daughter, Alys Whent stood with Ser whats-his-face from before.
Lady Shella Whent wasn't so old as he thought, she had long red hair and deep blue eyes. Her daughter looked like her as well, albeit younger, perhaps nine and ten with higher cheekbones and a growing bosom.
"Ser Willis said some strange things, my Lord. House Whent has held Harrenhal for four generations, we sided with King Robert in the war I don't- " He stopped Lady Whent from continuing on.
"Be that as it may, my Lady. I alone stopped future attempts by House Targaryen to invade and destroy the new regime." He opened the scroll, cleared his throat, and read out the command. "It is hereby declared that Lord Caspian of House Reyne is to take ownership of Harrenhal and all of its lands and incomes. Signed, by Robert Baratheon the first of his name and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms." He handed it to Lady Whent who grew more and more worried.
"What is to become of us?" She asked and he smiled.
"Well as of right now, you lot are trespassing." He said then his face softened, "But, I know what it feels like to lose your home to Lords and Kings, you all may remain with your households and pick a tower of your choice as my bannermen will do the same." He took a step forward, "As the new Lord and Master, I do require a bride and your daughter may take her place at my side as Lady Reyne."
Alys flushed in the face and ran inside, "I cannot force her, but neither will I cast out House Whent." Starting off with four Houses sworn to him is far better than three, and House Whent is a well-known family.
Caspian chose Kingspyre for his House's tower, he sat upon the bed and breathed in the air.
He often heard stories of Harrenhal, that it was haunted by Black Harren Hoare and his sons, the ghosts after them becoming eternal residents of the towers. House Qohorys, Strong, Lothston, Whent, and now House Reyne.
But he isn't afraid, the ghosts of his own family already haunt his dreams, and each night he sees his father drowning beneath Castamere.
"Ghosts are welcome, but too often do welcomes turn stale." He sighed.
House Reyne of Harrenhal will be better than House Reyne of Castamere, it won't bend or break under another lion's jaws as it had before. It won't depend on someone else for wealth and power, it will be a remembered House of glory and fame.
Dawn came and he rose from his sleep, ordering for Lord Vikary, Lady Whent, Ser Willis, and Ser Lorenzio to break their fast together. In fact, he had the servants join them too and his other lieutenants and commanders join in the morning feast within the Hunter's Hall.
He bit into a piece of bacon, it was so quiet that the ghosts could sing and all could hear them clearly.
Caspian turned to the Castellan, "Are there good places for hunts in the Riverlands? I have never been here before." His voice actually had an echo.
The aging Castellan thought for a moment, "The godswood is twenty acres of vibrant forest, always teaming with wildlife." He hummed and remembered seeing it, he just thought it was woodland and that he'd find the godswood while he was here.
Caspian turned his head back to his food but only played with it, eventually, he set his fork down. "I would launch a progress of my territory. Harrenhal is a vast castle, but the lands are larger, more importantly, I would like to begin the renovations of the castle."
The Maester, Tothmure piqued his head up, "My Lord, doing this will need coin. And as I recall, Lord Walter Whent spent much on the tourney almost three years ago and hasn't recovered."
"It's a good thing I have my own wealth from my time as a Sellsword Commander," He beamed, standing up and spreading his arms out. "Harrenhal is a large place, out of the five towers, three are currently housed since I arrived... I would begin by tearing down the five to a moderate and realistic level and repair the roofs." He smiled and sat back down.
"This will take years, my Lord," Shella said, trying to convince to let it be.
He won't, not now nor ever. "Then it will take years, my Lady Whent. We are five Houses, and we don't need to live in ruined castles till the curse takes us all and that begins by putting bones to rest." He left the hall then, walking the grounds.
Caspian was standing near a stump, a weirwood stump not far from the curtain walls when he heard a pair of soft feet.
It was Lady Alys Whent, she seemed nervous and he smiled, "Are you ready to accept my proposal, my Lady?"
She did look very beautiful, Alys folded her hands on her stomach. "You are older than me by years, my Lord." Not too old, he chuckled seeing this as just a way to converse.
"Just by a few my Lady, but it doesn't change that you'll be well loved and looked after." He swore and she sat on the weirwood stump. "Your House is young, yes? Mine goes back to the age of Heroes, the Lords of Castamere for 700 years." He said and she sighed, smiling at him slightly.
"Then your House rose in rebellion." He clenched his jaw, "Your father was a dangerous warrior, respected and feared." Just not by Tywin, "Let's say I marry you, will the rebellious nature of House Reyne continue?" Not in his lifetime, but he is not to know what his children or grandchildren will do in the future.
"We will be the greatest House in Westeros." He pointed out to a field vast beyond the godswood, "Fertile fields, and no Lord of Harrenhal has ever made use of it... I won't be like them."
He felt a hand take his own, Alys stood beside him confidently. "Then let us make it so, my Lord."
A month later, within the hall of a hundred hearths, the wedding of Caspian Reyne and Alys Whent took place.
Lords and Ladies of the Riverlands were invited all throughout the Kingdom, even the smallfolk of his territory was given a place among the ceremony and fed well and the wine ran red.
Edmure of the House Tully, Tytos of the House Blackwood, Stevron of the House Frey, Jonos of the House Bracken, and Jason of the House Mallister among many other Lords such as Lord Piper, Lord Roote, and Lord Smallwood.
The Septon from Harrentown tied his hand to Alys after taking her cloak and placing his own on her shoulders.
"We are here to join these two souls together as one, look upon one another and say the words."
Facing her, he spoke, "Father. Mother. Warrior. Smith. Maiden. Crone. Stranger. I am hers, and she is mine from this day to my last day." He then turned to face the guests, "With this kiss, I hereby pledge my undying love." He leaned forward and caught her lips with his own and his guest clapped their hands.
The feast was plentiful, he laughed and fed his wife a grape from a dish.
"My Lord Reyne." Edmure approached his table, "My father sends his congratulations to your Lordship."
"And I humbly accept that, my Lord Edmure." He rose from his seat and stood face to face with the heir to Riverrun. "In a fortnight or so I will be coming to Riverrun to officially swear my fealty to Lord Hoster Tully." The younger man nodded gratefully, "Please enjoy the celebrations, everyone! Minstrels sing us a song!" He shouted happily and the music got a little louder.
"Quite generous, Caspian, for allowing even the smallfolk to attend," Alys said and he chuckled, sipping from his cup.
"These smallfolk are my bannermen. Warriors, farmers, and workers. I am responsible for their happiness." He also means to retain support and love and respect for tonight's lavishments.
An hour or so when the night was making its zenith, Caspian announced the bedding ceremony where he and Alys were helped to their chambers in Kingspyre Tower.
He wasn't a maid, over his years in Essos he had laid with women from all over Tyrosh, to Lys and Pentos.
Alys pressed her naked chest on his back as he poured himself a cup of arbor gold, gulping it down and turned to his wife, and took her lips with his own. She backed whilst he pressed forward, eventually, they fell unto the bed and he felt himself rise from her touch.
She looked at him, running a hand through his dark hair, and smiled, "You do have the prettiest blue eyes I have ever seen." He smiled and kissed her neck, she moaned and he entered her.
It was a night of heavy passion, by morning when the servants came he turned them away so that he and Alys would spend another few hours in bed.
A half year later, in 285 he stood outside of the chamber door as the midwife and Maester Tothmure were inside aiding his wife into birthing their child.
Gods, he was nervous and not because his wife was in pain but because what if she dies? What if they both don't survive this and he ends up becoming a widow? Caspian bloodied his right hand, his nails digging into his skin.
Over the last few months, Alys and he had worked together, brightening Harrenhal with tapestries and flags of the red lion. He carved up his woodland of fifty percent of trees, the lumber being used to fix roofs and buildings within the castles.
During that time, he brought the best stonemasons from across the Narrow Sea and he asked them not to tear down and rebuild but mold the stone and make it look less like a ruin falling apart. The overseer on the project said that they can have Harrenhal in a moderately passing way within ten years.
Of course, he was heckled about the costs, he told the Castellan that money isn't much of an issue with his riches accumulated over his years of exile. That and Varelio still owe him three more favors from the times he saved the Tyroshi's life.
Harren the Black beggared his islands and the Riverlands to build the castle stone by stone, he is confident that with some modifications and some replacements, his fortress won't look as grand or terrifying as it did before Aegon burned it but it won't be the monstrosity he saw little over a year ago.
That and people seem happier, less dire or gloomy as they had been... Caspian would say he defeated the curse.
Alys's scream alerted him and he burst into the chamber thinking she was dying, but his frown quickly turned into a smile when the Maester held his newborn in his arms and Alys was breathless and tired, sweat coating her skin and the silken grey sheets.
"Congratulations, Lord and Lady Reyne. A newborn boy has been blessed to you." Tothmure said and he walked over to the cradle and saw the quiet child that was born to him.
The boy was robust and healthy, a tuft of dark-brown hair. He held the child's little hand with a finger, "My love... " He picked up his son and sat beside Alys and she cooed at the little lion.
"What should we name him?" He asked, usually a father has a right to his firstborn's name but that wasn't how his father did for him nor his father before.
Alys sighed, pinching her son's cheek gently then met his eyes. "Roger, after your own father. Roger Reyne, heir to Harrenhal."
AN: I couldn't concentrate on anything but this idea for the last few days, House Reyne is such an interesting House and Roger 'the Red Lion' is said to be like the most dangerous warrior in the Westerlands. This will be a stronger Harrenhal and a threat to either Lannisters, Starks, or Baratheons when the war of five Kings begin.
The next update will jump right into Season 1.