Six Months.

It had been six months since Jeyne and I had left Casterly Rock to arrive at Ashemark, the seat of House Marbrand.

The reception we received when we arrived at Ashemark was particularly warm. Lord Alyn, Jeyne's father greeted me by slapping my back and telling me how he was wrong about me. 'That I did indeed have balls.' His words not mine.

Apparently rumors had spread about my fight with Tion. While the how I defeated my brother was left unclear. The most consistent gossip ( and closest to truth) was that Tion and I had a fight which led to me defeating him in single combat.

This combined with Jeyne's glowing recommendation has led to Alyn warming up to me so much that he had actually started teaching me how to rule lands and make judgements with his son and heir Donnel.

And all this time my father's warning about the Marbrands was still on the back of my head.

It took me two months and countless hours in the library to find out what my father meant.

Marbrands were not the descendants of first men Kings like Westerlings and Reynes nor did they descend from Andal warlords like Tarbecks and Leffords. Their house was 1800 years old which was not much by Westerosi standards.

For most of their history Marbrands were a middling house with middling influence. The only famous member of House Marbrand in recent times was Lorent Marbrand, a member of King Viserys I Kingsguard and Rhaenyra's Queens guard.

In fact my marriage to Jeyne was the first marriage between Lannisters and Marbrands since the conquest.

The keyword being were.

Due to their decline in recent times Tarbecks and Westerlings were forced to sell large chunk of their lands to deal with their financial woes. Most of these lands were bought by Lord Alyn.

The Marbrands also are currently in alliance with Baneforts through Jeyne's mother, with Plumms and Brooms through Lord Alyn's sisters and with Stackspears due to betrothal of Donnel, Lord Alyn's son to Lord Stackspear's daughter. Making them effectively the strongest house in northern part of Westerlands with only Reynes as a competition.

All this happened in last 30 years.

No wonder my father was wary of Lord Marbrand.

It also made me realize my marriage to Jeyne was a double edged sword for Lord Alyn.

On one hand my father was honoring Lord Marbrand by marrying me to his daughter.

On the other hand I was a second son ( third son during most of our Betrothal) destined to spend rest of his life in Casterly Rock making Jeyne effectively a hostage.

It also made realize that maybe the only reason my father had allowed us to leave Casterly Rock was for Jeyne's safety.

I could easily see Lord Alyn going to war if something happens to Jeyne. The man doted on his only daughter.

Well, it was good thing for me.

Due to me defeating my brother becoming public information I had to work harder to upheld my new reputation.

I spent most of my time either with Lord Alyn, in training ground with knights or hunting bandits in order to gain more experience.

Which was good thing because a raven had just come from Casterly Rock.

Daemon Blackfyre III was coming to invade. And my father had requested my presence.

(SCENE BREAK)

I arrived at Casterly Rock with a thousand men from Marbrands, Baneforts and Stackspears. Lord Marbrand was apparently not going to join us and had instead sent Donnel in his stead.

And after spending few day in Rock, I realized most of the Lords had done the same. Of Six Thousand men gathered under the shadow of Casterly Rock, majority were led either by young Lords, heirs or second sons.

Ser Rupert who had been spending quite sometime with me telling me all about war had been the one to tell me why so many Lords had done this.

" This Rebellion is joke lad." The old man had told me. Seeing my raised eyebrows, he further explained, " Did you even know that the current Blackfyre was named Daemon? I certainly didn't nor did the most of Lords."

" Most of the Blackfyre supporters have lost all their power and influence. After third Rebellion and Peake uprising, a lot of people have given up on Blackfyre cause."

" To be truthful King Aegon doesn't need our men. He can easily defeat Blackfyre with Storm Lords and Crownlanders. Most of the Lords are treating this as an opportunity to teach their sons and heirs about true war and gain experience."

And I agreed.

The only reason my father was sending men to fight was because he was a big supporter of King Aegon. He was the one along with Lyonel Baratheon who had persuaded most of the Lords to choose the King Aegon during Great Council

King Aegon had even offered to name my father the Hand, but my father had refused.

Lord Flement Brax, my father's first cousin was currently Master of Laws in King Aegon's small Council.

(SCENE BREAK)

The hall was filled with laughs and stench of wine.

We were meant to start marching towards Kings Landing tomorrow so my father had decided to throw a departure feast.

I was sitting with Marbrands and Baneforts like I often did since I arrived back at Casterly Rock.

My eyes roamed the hall as everywhere men were laughing and enjoying themselves. Just on other side of my table 15 year old Sumner Crakehall who looked older than me was arm wrestling a member of House Brax.

My father was sitting on the table at high dias with Ser Rupert on his right and Tion on his left.

My eyes met Ellyn's who was sitting on Tion's left and she glared at me hatefully. I couldn't help but smile cheekily at her which caused her glare to increase if it could.

Not that it bothered me. I had avoided being in same room as Tion and Ellyn since my arrival. And neither of them had tried to confront me or anything.

There was also decrease of Reyne men in the Rock. The only Reyne men I had seen were Ellyn's guards.

The common Lannister soldiers also seem to respect me more always greeting me either with a 'milord' or slight bow of their head.

My father stood up from his chair causing the hall to quieten down.

" The Blackfyre's have again come to bloody our lands for their own greed and lust for power with foreign army at their back. They have come to plunder our towns rape our woman and kill our children. Will we let them?" he questioned loudly at end to which he received a resounding "No".

" Tomorrow the sons of Westerlands march for their rightful King to send these pretender and foreign invaders back where they came from." He said causing the hall to erupt in cheers but my father was not finished.

"With my eldest son and heir Tion in command." Tion got up his chest puffing up and with a smile on his face. His lady wife clapping and beaming beside him.

But it was my father's next words which shocked me.

"And my other son Tytos as his second in command." The Marbrand and Banefort men beside me started cheering even loudly.

I couldn't do anything other than stand up and smile awkwardly.

Gods, I hate you too dad