Chapter 65: Casterly Rock
301 AC
Jon
He woke up well-rested in his tent and looked up to find his breeches. It had been three weeks since the fall of Lannisport and all was going swimmingly. Willem would be crowned in the Sept of the city in a week's time and Ser Harys Swyft proved a valuable addition to the Western council, both for his insights and his ability to pacify his grandson.
In private, the knight of Cornfield has voiced many of his concerns to him, but in public he had openly defended and supported adhering to all of Robb's demands. The one that had bothered him the most was the marriage of his grandson to Jeyne Westerling. He had made it clear that he had thought her of inadequate blood to marry him.
After she had arrived, her personality had done much to ease the issue, but the problem of her parentage remained. Lord Gawen Westerling was not one of the stronger lords in the kingdom, yet he was of an ancient and well-respected family. The problem had been that he had married the daughter of an ennobled spice trader. A woman who had turned out to be scheming with her brother and Tywin behind her husband's back.
At least some good had come from it for House Westerling in the end, as Lord Gawen's children had been acknowledged by Willem as the heirs to House Spicer. House Westerling had been impoverished and the wealth of House Spicer would help them rebuild their lands and reestablish their ties to their fellow lords. Already, Lord Gawen could be seen boasting of the big dowry both his daughters would receive. Because of this, many of the Westerlords had begun to show interest in his fourteen-year-old daughter Eleyna. Many houses, especially in the north of the kingdom, had lost a lot of their coin during the war and the large dowry was too enticing to them to pass up.
It hadn't gone unnoticed to Lord Gawen how much of this had come as the result of Robb's insistence that Willem should marry Jeyne, because of this the Lord Regent had been more than accommodating to him and his lords. All in all, the cooperation between his host and the Western Kingdom was going well.
He ordered the servants to bring some food and ale for him to start the day, while he sent some guards to get his friends and companions. He liked to break his fast in the company of his country's nobles. It not only served to ease his mind, but also to help bond the future lords of the North and Riverlands. This was something Robb had asked him to pay attention to on this campaign.
It was also a de facto war council, with almost all of the great families present. Many older lords were already using their sons at breakfast to bring up issues to him personally. He didn't mind, it spared him a lot of headaches during the day.
He rotated the seating every morning. Today he was seated close to Owen Norrey, Hendry Bracken, Tristan Ryger, Harmond Umber and Rodrik Flint. They talked about both their homelands and the situation in the Westerlands. It proved to be a surprisingly entertaining morning, with lots of laughter filling his tent. However, their morning was cut short prematurely when a young page ran in.
"Lord Snow, Lord Snow, my lord bids you to come to the front of the camp immediately! Something has happened at the Lion's Mouth." The young boy called out. He couldn't easily make out to which house he belonged, so he asked the boy which lord he meant. "I serve Lord Crakehall, my lord. He is my great-uncle. I'm one of his personal pages." The young boy boasted proudly. He nodded in turn and stood up.
His own page brought him Blackfyre, Gods he needed to find a new name for that sword quickly, and he bound it on his back. Horses were brought up for him and most of the young nobles of his brother's kingdom and together they rode towards the front of the camp.
When he arrived, he saw Lord Crakehall standing there with much of the Westerlander nobility that was not in Lannisport. To their side Ser Stefford Swyft, Ser Harys' eldest son and heir, paced around. The knight was completely distraught. He was crying and screaming doom and destruction upon Tywin Lannister in a manner completely unheard of from a Southern knight and heir of an important noble house.
He rode up to Lord Crakehall together with his companions. During their ride here, his best friends had gathered around him. As such, he was now flanked by Smalljon, Dacey Mormont, Harrion Karstark, Domeric Bolton and many important nobles mostly from the North.
He jumped from his horse on the ground and calmly demanded to know what was going on. "See for yourself, Lord Snow." Lord Roland Crakehall replied grimly, as he pointed to the Lion's Mouth.
At first, he saw nothing out of the ordinary, but then he noticed two bodies hanging from the walls. The one on the right seemed to be the lifeless body of a man, while the one on the left seemed to be that of a woman. In between them, a yellow flag had been lowered. It was the flag of House Swyft, a blue rooster on a yellow field.
He looked over to the heir of Cornfield and managed to put two and two together. He knew that Dorna Lannister, formerly Dorna Swyft, was still residing in Casterly Rock. She was Kevan Lannister's widow and the mother to King Willem. She was also Ser Steffon's elder sister.
Lord Roland saw that he realized what it meant. "Someone needs to go tell Ser Harys and the king. I think the council should do it." He spoke up, as he waved to himself and his companions Ser Addam Marbrand and Lord Serrett. He nodded in agreement to the statement. They had nothing to do with this, better let their own handle it.
Soon, the whole Westerlander force and administration was outraged. In Lannisport voices were calling for an assault on Casterly Rock. He understood the sentiment, but an assault would leave many of them slaughtered without any gains. He and his men did everything they could do to discourage people from trying to do that.
Dorna Lannister had not been especially well-liked by her noble countrymen, but she had been well-respected. From what he had heard, she was regarded as a dutiful wife to Ser Kevan. She seemed to have been kind, calm and had spent most of her time raising her children. She had only a few friends, but fewer enemies still. This respect in combination with the outrage of King Willem made the whole situation very volatile. The young monarch had been heard screaming that "uncle Tywin had killed both his parents and that he would pay dearly".
He had also asked around to know the identity of the male body that had been hanging from the walls. His name had been Ser Humfrey Swyft, the only son of Ser Harys younger brother, who had died in battle during the Greyjoy Rebellion.
After a few hours it had been clear something had to be done to ease the tension, otherwise problems would soon arise. After a short, but very heated, council with the most prominent lords of the region, it had been decided that two punitive expeditions would leave the army on the morrow. They would head over to the lands of houses Wyatt and Plumm, which had stayed loyal to Tywin up until now. Earlier, most of the council members had wanted to limit losses and damage in the region to a minimum, but now something needed to be done to get some of the hotheads away from the siege lines.
Dorna Lannister had been very well-liked by the ordinary people of Lannisport. She had spent most of her adult life in her residence in Lannisport with her children and they had often visited the markets and the harbor together. Although reserved, she had given rich donations to the local septs and put many a coin in the merchants' pockets. Only an hour after it had been decided to send punitive raids into the lands of the lords still loyal to Tywin, calls for volunteer battalions to join the punitive expeditions had spread all around the city with many set on joining them. It would do well to ease the tensions of the civilian populace, he guessed, so he let them be.
Robb would probably appreciate more damage being done to the interior of the region, as it would ensure a longer recovery from the war. Still, he went to bed with mixed feelings that night. Many innocent people would die in the coming days because their lords hadn't seen an opportunity to drop Tywin in time. I understand you now father. I understand why you never shared our youthful enthusiasm when we asked you about the Rebellion. He thought, as he pondered about what the former Lord of Winterfell would do. War was a cruel business, a thing most songs and stories seemed to forget.
He fell into a pleasant slumber, but it soon turned to more vicious dreams. He looked once more through Ghost's eyes, a thing which he had become well-accustomed to. He came back from a successful hunt and he still tasted the blood of the unlucky deer in the hairs around his maw. He quietly stalked through the camp. Most two-leggers had become accosted to his appearance in the daylight, but at night he could still constantly smell their urine whenever he passed by unannounced.
He stalked towards the big white tent in the middle. He had heard the two-leggers call it the "Snowcastle". As he neared the structure where his master was sleeping, he heard something. He could hear a twig break at the other side and whispered curses coming from the same direction. He could hear the two-leggers that followed his master everywhere walk around like they always did at night, but this was something different. He could smell sweat and uneasiness. He decided to silently stalk around without being seen.
He avoided the harmless two-leggers on their protection tours and reached the other side of the structure. There he saw three men dressed in black seeking entry. He could see the light of the moon reflect on the weapons they nervously held in their hands. Their purpose here was clear. He bared his teeth and vowed that they would never reach his master.
He charged and it took him only three jumps to reach the first one. He knocked him on his back and slashed with force at the face of the second one. He could hear bones snap on impact when his paw hit the two-legger's unprotected face. The third one anxiously raised his weapon and he could suddenly smell feces everywhere. He jumped up and bit out the man's throat in one fluent motion. He let go of him with satisfaction, as he knew the enemy would soon drown in his own blood.
He turned around to the first enemy, who had now recovered from his fall. He looked at him, the small shiny weapon in his hand shaking and he could smell his fear. He bared his bloodstained teeth in response and stalked forward. The two-legger screamed and dropped his weapon. He started running in the opposite direction. It was pathetic. Two-leggers were much too slow to even entertain the idea of outrunning him. One jump and he was on the foe's back. He looked at his neck and simply bit through it with force, snapping it clean through.
He got of the lifeless body and turned around to make sure they were all dead. He sniffed the air and pricked up his ears to search for more enemies but could find none. Finally satisfied, he stalked over towards the white structure, he had to check on his master He could hear his silent snoring from here, so he wasn't worried, but he would ensure his safety for the rest of the night.
He was cruelly awaked by cries of alarm from guards, but he already knew what had been going on when he saw Ghost enter his tent from the side. His paws, maw and pelt were all bloodied and he looked around and sniffed the air as if he was expecting danger to be nearby. He walked over to his companion. His dream came back in flashes. "Well-done, boy! I'll make sure that some fresh game will be delivered to you on the morrow. You deserve it." The direwolf looked at him and nodded, before going over to his empty bucket. The animal looked at it and down to his bloodied pelt and then back at it.
"Alright, I'll help you clean it off. I swear you are the laziest direwolf that has ever existed." He laughed. Ghost simply turned his head and looked at him as if to say, "and how many direwolves do you know human?"
He chose not to respond this time and simply picked up the bucket. Just as he was heading out, his page and three guards stormed in. "Lord Jon, are you alright?" The boy asked. Smart boy that one, he was one of the only ones that didn't call him Lord Snow. He must have picked up somewhere that he didn't like the name. Taking him on had been a favor to Lord Slate. It was his firstborn grandson and the older man had asked that he would learn how to rule and command at his side. He had been reluctant at first, but he didn't mind anymore as the boy was capable in his duties and pleasant enough company to be around.
"Took you long enough." He said in a mildly disappointed manner to the three guards. They looked at him in confusion until they saw the blood on Ghost's pelt. "Those beasts aren't natural." Andor whispered a little too loudly against a second guard, whose name he had forgotten. "Aye, they aren't natural, but this one has saved my life on numerous occasions and helped us win many battles. The same can be said about His Grace's companion. So, I would appreciate it if you looked at them just how we look at them, as gifts from the Gods sent to help us defend Hous Stark and the North against their enemies." Both guards nodded to him in shame.
He looked at the Slate boy. "Alert the guards on the outer perimeter, make sure the whole camp is checked to see if there are any more intruders. Their might me other attacks happening at this very time." Then he looked back at the guards. "You stay around me, while I clean up Ghost from his encounter. Make sure that there are no more unexpected surprises." All three looked in confusion at each other, but he just walked out and they quickly fell in line.
After he was done cleaning all of the direwolf's fur, Ghost was now around the same size as him, information about other attacks came in. Assassins had not only been sent to kill him, but also to end the lives of Lords Crakehall and Serrett, as well as Ser Addam. Only one had been successful. Lord Serrett was said to lay dying of his wounds and as such he raced to that side of the camp.
By the time he got there, it was already too late. Many other nobles had gathered at the main tent of House Serrett, as well as some of their different guards. All agreed, they would do a huge search of the whole camp immediately. Yet all knew that it would be almost impossible to find anyone. Only one man had been taken alive and he had shown them some insight in the attacks. He was a poor man-at-arms from the retinue of Lord Banefort. He had been paid a fortune by an unknown man to attack Lord Crakehall and had been promised double the amount again on the success of his task. The unknown man could be anyone and possible other perpetrators would be simple soldiers in the Western force.
Although dishonorable and despicable, it was a cunning move from the Old Lion. Not only did he try to rob them from their commanders, he also tried to disrupt the unity between the Westerlords and his own army. From now on, any Western levy could be a potential murderer to his own men. This would take a whole lot of work to smoothen out with his lords. He could already hear the Umbers and Ryswells demanding that they sent the troops of the Westerlands away. Luckily enough, most of the Western hotheads would be leaving on the punitive expeditions. By the time they came back, they would need to have everything back in order.
These were the last convulsions of a man trapped in his home and doomed to die. He had taken a vow before Robb that he would see their father and friends avenged. He would end the patriarch of House Lannister one way or the other and he would not leave these lands before he had achieved as much.
(Ten days later)
He was sharing lunch with Lords Bolton, Blackwood and Patrek Mallister when suddenly a page came running in. He recognized the boy from when Dorna Swyft had been hung from the walls of the Lion Mouth. It was Lord Roland Crakehall's personal page. A feeling of dread quickly took ahold of him. "Lord Snow! Lord Crakehall demands your immediate presence at the front of the camp!"
Domeric squinted at the boy. "Lord Crakehall demands his presence now, ey? With what right does he think he can summon the commander of the whole Northern and Riverlander army?"
The boy flinched under the scrutinizing gaze of those pale grey Bolton eyes and he stuttered out. "Something has happened at Casterly Rock, My Lord. Lord Crakehall has also sent for the King and the Lord Regent, that's all I know." After which he glanced at Lord Bolton and back at him. "But, … but I think he meant to say that … that he would greatly appreciate you coming as soon as you are able, My Lord."
He had to suppress a smile. Domeric had not inherited much from his treasonous father, but he did inherit the scrutinizing gaze only a Bolton could give you. He had been on the other side of Lord Roose's gaze many a time, so he knew how the boy felt. He held up his hand as to show Domeric that he had done enough.
"If Lord Roland asks for my presence, I will comply." He told the boy. He turned to his companions. "My Lords, would you wish to accompany me? Knowing damn well that no noble would pass upon the opportunity to get closer to the center of decision-making, he simply turned around and walked to the corner of the tent. He picked up Blackfyre and strapped it on his back and left, quickly followed by all. His own page quickly brought up his horse and looking pleadingly at him.
"Aye, saddle up, you can accompany us." The grin that split the boy's face was bigger than he could have ever imagined. The Slate boy quickly jumped on his small mare with glee. Sometimes, the boy made him think of Bran. It had been over two years since he had seen his younger brother and even longer since he had seen Arya, Sansa or Rickon. Would Rickon even still remember him? He longed for home, but they had to finish this first. If he didn't, Bran, Rickon and their children would need to continue in the future what he hadn't completed now.
They rode to the front of the camp. In front of it stood many of the nobles of the Riverlands, North and Westerlands. To his surprise, he saw a mounted figure dressed in Lannister red waiting on the field in front of them. He waited in the middle between the Lion's Mouth and the camp and had a banner with a white flag in his hand.
He rode up to Lord Roland, without bothering to dismount. "What is happening?"
The Lord of Crakehall pointed at the red figure. "That's Damion Lannister, oldest cousin to Lord Tywin. He has been standing there for nearly half an hour. He refuses to speak to anyone but you, the king or his regent."
"Could it be a trap?" He asked, as he went through his beard.
'It could be, yes, but I don't think so. In any case I have put over three thousand men on high alert, including a thousand heavy cavalry. That should deal with any trap they spring."
He nodded. The elder lord was no novice at matters like these. "I will go and hear what he has to say then." All nobles around him nodded.
He asked for Domeric and three of his guards to accompany him and rode up to the figure. "Good day, Ser. I am Jon Snow, commander of the united armies of the North, the Trident and the Westerlands. What is it you wish to say to me?"
The knight simply looked him over. At that exact time, Ghost came running over, his tongue hanging from his mouth as he raced to his side. The Lannister looked upon the direwolf with interest, but weirdly enough not with the usual fear. It was as if he had hoped to see the beast that had killed and frightened so much of his countrymen.
"Good day, Lord Snow. I am Damion Lannister. I would like to have a personal conversation with you, if that is possible." The Lannister knight responded, as he looked at Domeric and his guards.
Domeric immediately countered this. "Jon, you can't do this. This whole move has a trap written all over it!"
"I ensure you this is not a trap. I just have a message that only the leaders of this army can hear. As stated before, Lord Westerling or Willem Lannister are free to join the conversation when they arrive. As a gesture of goodwill to show you I mean no harm, you could leave your direwolf here with you. I am sure he would be worth more in your defense than your four companions combined." The knight replied calmly.
He grinned at that and as he looked over to Ghost, the direwolf lazily laid itself in between his horse and that of the Lannister. It was an almost comical show of force. This was Ghost's way of saying "I don't even need to stand up to make sure you will never do any harm to my master."
He looked back to Domeric, the grin still on his face and shrugged. "He's right you know. Ghost will know if there is any foul play long before we do. He will act accordingly, if that is the case." The last thing was said as a warning towards the Lannister knight, but he simply shrugged it off.
Domeric seemed to hesitate but in the end he relented. He turned his horse and the three guards silently followed him after he waved his hand.
"Now, before we get down to the business you wish to speak off, I would quite like to know in what capacity it is you speak." He spoke in a firm tone.
"Excuse me, My Lord. As said before, I am Ser Damion Lannister. My father was Ser Damon Lannister, eldest son of Ser Jason Lannister, the younger brother of the late Lord Tytos. My father was Tywin's eldest cousin and brother-in-law and as such I am the most senior male Lannister behind Willem and Martyn. I speak in the capacity of being the temporary castellan of Casterly Rock."
"Castellan? Why would Tywin need a castellan when he is stuck in the same castle?"
"I am not Tywin's castellan. This is the exact reason I wish to speak to you. This morning before dawn, a significant number of nobles rose up against Lord Tywin in secret. They had been asking him to discuss terms ever since the fall of Lannisport but he would have none of it. Many of us were shocked by the executions of Lady Dorna and Ser Humpfrey. To execute your own sister-in-law like that, after your brother died fighting for you was a thing none of us could agree with." He sighed.
"After what had happened to Houses Plumm and Wyatt and the showing you made of their demise the mood irreversibly changed. Everyone had heard the stories of what happened to the Twins. No lord had ever wished this to happen to his house or his family. When it became clear that it was true that Lord Tywin sent assassins to kill both you, your commanders and my fellow countrymen we could not idly stand by anymore." He looked at the man and thought about the multiple assassination attempts that had happened the last ten days. No major nobles had been killed, but they had lost many guards and Harmond Umber had been wounded during an attack against his father. Luckily enough, he had always had Ghost and the direwolf had dealt with many feeble attempts on his life.
"My wife is Lord Roland Crakehall's niece and Willem, Martyn and little Janei are just as much my kin as he was. The little girl will grow up an orphan all her life just because he wanted to prove his point. Lord Tywin tried to kill our own kin in the most disgusting of ways. We had enough."
"We?" He simply retorted.
The knight sighted. "Yes, we … I, together with much of the nobility left to us in the Rock, rose up against my lord and kinsman this morning. For those sins I will forever have to atone to the Gods."
He simply nodded. "What happened to Tywin?"
"He was killed in the fighting at his quarters, together with his sister Genna and her husband Emmon Frey. Many guards and minor nobles died in their defense, amongst them Genna's second son Lyonel Frey, husband to my wife's cousin Melesa. All of us had family on both sides of this conflict, Lord Snow. Whatever I did I had to betray my kin in some way or another. My son and I were in Casterly Rock, while my son-in-law Lord Antario Jast and my grandsons were besieging us. This awful situation had to stop … so I helped stop it. All others surrendered after their deaths."
He looked at the knight. At first, the man had sat tall upon his horse, now he was almost hanging over his saddle in shame. He barely dared to meet his eyes and he understood why. This was clearly a very dutiful and family-oriented man. He had had to choose between following his tyrannical liege and part of his family on one side and his honor and another part of his family on the other side. In the end, he had chosen the latter.
"You say Lord Tywin and all his immediate family are dead?"
"No, only the adults. We took Genna's youngest son 'Red' Walder and her grandsons Tywin and Willem captive. I would never kill children. I am not my cousin. Little Janei is being taken care of by my own wife for now as if she were her own." The knight said, a newfound pride clear in his voice.
"King Willem will want to see his little sister. His Frey cousins are decreed to be sent to the Wall, together with the rest of their ilk. The punishment for House Frey is clear, but we do not condone the killing of children either."
The knight nodded thankfully. "You keep saying King Willem. Has he been crowned yet?"
"Aye, he was crowned five days ago in the Sept of Lannisport by the local Septon with almost all Western nobles in attendance. I was there as a witness myself."
The man nodded in thought before straightening his back and continuing. "I want to have it known that my son had nothing to do with this, I made sure of that. Whatever you have to do to me I will accept without remorse, but I would ask that my son is left alone as he is innocent. I would also ask that he is allowed to inherit the resources I have spent my whole life collecting to ensure his future. I betrayed my liege lord and I am a kinslayer, he is neither of those things."
He looked at the Western knight. "If you ask me you never betrayed your liege lord. He betrayed you all and was deposed because of it by the vast majority of his peerage, among them your own son-in-law and grandsons. By the time you rose up, Willem was already your rightful liege, even if you didn't acknowledge it. For the kinslayer part you will have to atone to your kinsman and liege King Willem Lannister and the Gods, not to me. However, if you promise to hand over Casterly Rock to me now I will swear to make sure that your son and all what should belong to him will be untouched."
The man looked at him with a mixture of shock and gratitude. He bowed his head slowly. He solemnly dismounted his horse and went to one knee. "I, Ser Damion Lannister castellan of Casterly Rock, hereby surrender the castle to you and your army Lord Snow."
He looked perplexed at the show of decorum. He asked the man to stand up, which he did. "I think that after Tywin's history you will understand that I have to make sure that you aren't lying, although I personally believe you tell the truth." He said, as he looked over to Ghost. Ghost answered him with their mental connection, he detected no foul play.
"Of course, I do. He has hurt the Lannister name in more ways than one." The knight smiled sadly.
"I will send one of my trusted commanders with five hundred men to enter the fortress and take control of the Lion's Mouth. After that, I expect most of your remaining force to leave unarmed in small groups. Only then will King Willem or I enter his ancestral home. I expect all lords to assemble in the throne hall and all captives to be presented to us there. Then and there we will speak law. After today, the Westerlands will be whole again."
"And you will ensure my son's health and birthright?"
He looked the man deep into his eyes. "What's your son's name?"
"Ser Lucion Lannister"
"I will make sure Ser Lucion Lannister, son of Ser Damion, will be protected and allowed to come into the wealth and titles attained by his father. I swear this before the eyes of Gods and men, may they strike me down if I were ever to break my word." He replied solemnly.
He could see a weight being lifted from the older man's shoulders. He remounted his horse. "I will await your commander's presence at the gate, Lord Snow." He said, before turning his horse and riding back to Casterly Rock.
Ghost got back up and stretched his back, as he slowly walked towards him. "It seems our wait is over boy. Soon, we'll be able to go back home." Ghost seemed happy, as he lazily ran alongside the canter that he had forced his horse in.
Before he even got back to the siege line, the Greatjon shouted across the plain. "What the fuck was that Jon?" He waited until he got there to answer, so all would hear.
He inhaled sharply and called out loudly. "A large group of Westerlander nobles have risen up against Lord Tywin and his supporters this morning. The Tyrant himself, his sister Genna, his brother-in-law Emmon Frey and their son Lyonel Frey have died in the fighting. The rest of their kin has been taken into the nobles' custody. They have chosen Ser Damion Lannister, the closest male descendant of House Lannister left after King Willem and Prince Martyn, as their castellan. He has surrendered the castle to me before your eyes just now. The war is over, we have won."
All looked at him in shock. For a while, everyone was silent. Then, as one, the Westerlanders sighed in relief while the Northerners and Riverlanders screamed out of joy. Men wept and hugged, while victorious roars were heard from his Northmen. He let them have their fun for a while, but after a minute or so he signaled Smalljon to stop it. The heir to Last Hearth shouted at the top of his lungs and everyone was silent at once.
"Now, I don't expect any foul play. Yet, with these Lannisters we can never be sure. As such, I have reached an agreement with Ser Damion. Greatjon and five hundred of our best fighters will march on the gates in a few minutes." He looked over towards the giant lord. "You will take control of the Lion's Mouth. If everything goes according to plan, most of the Lannister host will come out piece meal onto the plain. You will let them through so the main army can deal with them. If anything goes awry, you close the cave on the other side until our forces arrive and then we clear the Rock together."
The Greatjon grinned and nodded. He shouted for his sons and kin to assemble and they stormed off towards the encampment that housed their men. He signaled for Domeric to join him and he strode after them.
"All others, assemble your men, we will have a lot of prisoners to take in the next couple of hours." He grinned.
Most men dispersed, but a small group from the back came towards him. He recognized King Willem, Lord Westerling and Ser Harys Swyft at the front. "Is it true? Is my uncle dead?" The young monarch asked.
"Aye, it seems so. We will know for sure when we enter the Rock together, Your Grace."
"You will risk him entering the Rock?" Ser Harys asked in shock.
"Aye, but only after Tywin's remaining forces have been cleared out and disarmed on the plains here. After that, the Umbers will hold the Lion Tooth and the only guards to be permitted to enter the main castle will be my own guards from Winterfell as well as His Grace's personal guard. I will not take any risks. Besides, Ghost here will be at our side until all nobles have been judged and the whole castle has been searched. He will identify any danger long before we do." He calmly responded.
King Willem seemed to be content with that, however Ser Harys still seemed hesitant. "I have some more good news for the both of you."
Both perked up questioningly. "Little Janei is safely in the custody of Ser Damion's wife, who is caring for her. You will soon be reunited again."
Both looked at him with mixed emotion. He could understand, they had fought for this moment for so long that they forgot to think about what they would do if they reached it. He would probably react much the same when he finally saw the towers of Winterfelf rising in the distance.
"Reunited, … how can I care for a little girl? Mother is dead, father is dead, Lancel is dead and Martyn is stuck in Riverrun … how can I care for her? All while trying to learn how to rule?" The fourteen-year-old boy proclaimed in despair.
He looked upon him with pity. Luckily, Lord Westerling jumped in. "My daughter will help you to take care of your sister, Your Grace. She had a lot of experience with her little sister and she will know what to do."
"Yes, and your grandmother and I will be there to help you as well. You have lost much Willem, but you have not lost all. In a year's time you will be married and starting your own family. Your little sister will be happily settled in and at that time your brother will return. The pain and despair are over. After today, we can start to rebuild your family, your home and your realm. You won't have to do all of it alone."
He nodded in agreement. "You have signed an alliance with us, King Willem. As such we will do everything to aid you in your endeavor. We wish for a peaceful and stable kingdom in the West. We will make sure that nothing happens to you and that your brother is well-educated to be able help you once you both come of age."
Willem Lannister nodded. "What would you all have me do?"
He looked to Lord Gawen and Ser Harys, before looking back at the boy. "You will need to speak law on the lords that rebelled against Tywin and those that remained loyal until the end. I will let you and yours decide on how to do that, as we promised you full autonomy in your internal affairs."
All three nodded respectfully. "I do have one demand and one recommendation." Now all three frowned at him.
"First my recommendation, those males that you do not wish to forgive should be send to the Wall. Be it noble, soldier or servant, you would seem more merciful if you give them the choice of the Wall instead of outright execution. Besides, the Night's Watch needs the people."
Lord Westerling nodded. "And the demand?" Ser Harys asked.
"Ser Damion had one condition for the surrender. I gave him my word and I would have it held up. His son Ser Lucion did not partake in the rebellion against your uncle and his death or kinslaying. He asked me to ensure that Ser Lucion would be pardoned and would be allowed to inherit his father's possessions and incomes, if you were to decide to condemn Ser Damion."
"Ensuring Ser Lucion safety and possessions? That's it?" Ser Harys asked.
"Aye, although if you would see it fit to grant him his status of closest male line descendant of Willem and Martyn, I would be forever grateful as well. Keeping the knight happy and loyal will also do well to ensure no further civil war erupts in the coming years." Both of the elder men nodded.
Ser Harys turned to his grandson. "How big are the possessions of Ser Damion, do you have any idea about that?"
King Willem stroked his bare chin in thought. "Ser Damion is Ser Jason's eldest grandson. Father always told me Ser Jason was handsomely rewarded by grandfather Tytos for his services as the general of the Lannister army and that uncle Tywin rewarded him in much the same manner. All Jason's sons were also compensated after his death on the Stepstones in the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Ser Damion was Ser Damon's only child to survive infancy and both of them have loyally served my grandfather and uncle for decades in minor roles across the West. They should have reaped some minor rewards from that. Through marriage, they also have good relations with Houses Stackspear and Lannister of Lannisport."
"Yes, but I remember Ser Damon to be quite wasteful with his money. He loved new horses, new clothes and new sets of armor." Ser Harys countered.
"My father told me much the same when he spoke off that part of the family. Yet, his son Ser Damion is entirely different. He has always been frugal with money and his father still left him a considerable amount. He turned his father's love for horses into one of the most profitable stables in a fifty-mile radius from the Rock. He also owns some small tracts of lands in the vicinity of the city, as well as in the lands of House Stackspear. If I remember correctly, he even owns an inn or two in Kayce and Lannisport, but I don't remember it well enough to say for sure." His grandson replied.
"So, a considerable amount of money for a knight without a real holdfast, but not enough to pose any significant threat?" Ser Harys summarized.
"Yes, something like that." King Willem replied.
He looked upon the boy with newfound interest. He had positively surprised him on multiple occasions during the campaign, but this was highly impressive. "How do you know all that?" He asked him.
"I know everything that all side branches of our family own. You must not forget, Lord Snow, that I was raised as the second son of a second son. I never stood to inherit anything. Even the majority of my father's vast wealth would have normally gone to my elder brother. My father forced Martyn and I to learn the fate and income of all of the side branches of our house to give us an idea of how we could sustain ourselves after he had ensured us a knighthood and a good marriage with a significant dowry. He didn't want us to turn out like one of Ser Damon's two youngest half-brothers, always begging the Lord of Casterly Rock for coin or employment to sustain them and their children. Father found it degrading and unworthy of the Lannister name."
Aye, that sounded like a Lannister alright. Still, it would serve young Willem well as the new head of the family. Although, much of the knowledge was without meaning now. He had studied the Lannister family tree for long and knew the damage the war had caused upon the family. Lord Tywin's branch had died out, as had the line of his brother Tygett and soon his sister's Gemma's entire line would end at the Wall as well. As the closest member of kin and head of the family, Willem would simply inherit all they had possessed. It would probably be a significant amount all together with which he would be able to start rebuilding the kingdom. Maybe Robb should have demanded higher war reparations?
Anyway, that wasn't all. Ser Jason Lannister had had four sons, Only Ser Damion and Ser Lucion remained in the male line with two sons and three grandsons of the old Lannister general dying during the war. All that remained were a score of eligible women with what would probably be very high dowries. The rest of the family had had it even worse. There were dozens of side branches in Lannisport and beyond stretching all the way back to a time long before the dragons had ever set foot upon Westerosi soil. Many of those branches had died out during the war. Some had died at Atranta, the God's Eye or other battles in the Riverlands, while others had died during the civil war or the capture of Lannisport. A score more of them would soon be sent to the Wall, with possible others from Casterly Rock joining them on their march.
He and Robb had held meticulous accounts of all distant Lannister cousins that had died during the war and where. Every time one of their rowdy nobles decided to protest against their new dealings with the West, they simply got the parchment with the information on it and shoved the dozens upon dozens of deaths in their faces. This had been the single most devastating war House Lannister had ever faced in recorded history. The deaths of father, Lord Rickard and Eddard Karstark, Wendel Manderly, Osric Umber, Rickard Ryswell, Lord Tytos Blackwood and all the others had been avenged ten times over. A fact they had made well-known to their vassals. This had silenced all of the new calls for more revenge.
The next couple of hours went by in a haze. They had disarmed and interned two thousand five hundred and sixty-seven men, while two hundred and seventy-four bodies had been pulled out of the Rock. The latter had been the casualties of this morning's uprising. Only Tywin's death had managed to stop the fighting.
Lannister and Stark guards had taken control of the fortress and had searched it from top to bottom. Only the mines hadn't been entirely checked yet, as that would take many days. He had simply ordered them barricaded shut and they would be guarded day and knight. All unfortunate souls that had awaited their time to strike there would never again see sunlight.
He had already sent a small message by raven to Riverrun and Winterfell. It simply stated that Tywin was dead and that the Rock had fallen. More information would be sent later on, after which Robb could spread it across all of Westeros.
He stood to the side of the ancestral Lannister throne room. He had been standing here for an hour, as he looked on how the new young king, his regent and his council dispensed justice upon all. It was clear that a change in government had arrived. Over half the servant staff were let go and replaced with people from Lannisport. The same could be said from the local guard. The core of King Willem's personal guard was formed from those soldiers of Ser Kevan's personal retinue that had been captured at the God's Eye, augmented by soldiers from Lannisport and House Swyft. Willem had known many of those men his entire life.
Most were simply let go, with only those closest to Tywin being sent to the Wall or the Silent Sisters. All nobles that had rebelled against Tywin were pardoned, on the conditions that they paid small reparations to the new ruler. All easily obliged. The heads of the other families were sent to the Wall, while their heirs could only come into their inheritances if they gave up lands, riches and hostages.
It was a pretty standard affair and it was well orchestrated by the council and Lord Regent. Those houses and supporters that had joined Willem from the start were moderately rewarded with lands, riches or businesses taken from the traitors, while the majority of it still went to Casterly Rock itself to stabilize the rule of the central authority. The council had already agreed to immediately send an envoy to the Iron Bank that the agreed sum could be picked up and he would meet with them on the morrow to discuss the payment plan for their debt to House Stark. He would see to the transport of the first installment himself to show how adamant they were upon the sum being paid in full.
To some controversy, King Willem had decided that Lord Tywin would be entombed with the other heads of House Lannister, while his father, mother and elder brother would be entombed in the Hall of Heroes together with his cousin Tyrion, who had died valiantly in the defense of King's Landing. Jaime and Cersei and their children would be barred entry because of the damage they had done to the house with their actions. They would be lain to rest in the ruins of the capital city they had called home.
When all was done, they looked at each other with glee. The war was finely over and the Westerlands was once again at peace. Now the rebuilding could start for them. He himself was one major step closer to home. Now all that stood in the way of reuniting with his family and starting a home for his own were the ironborn, as he still had an axe to grind with them for what they had done to his sister and his people.
This is it for this chapter. Sorry you had to wait so long on this one, real life has been crazy.
We see Tywin's last cruel actions with executions and assassination attempts being all too common. In the end, all had enough. Tywin was overthrown and killed like many a tyrant who lost his power and the trust of his people. Keep in mind the psychological effect the Rape of the Twins and the smaller but deadly raids on houses Plumm and Wyatt would have brought with them. Many inside of the Rock would have believed that, if they didn't rebel, their families would end, even those carrying the Lannister name.
Judgement is passed upon the last remaining supporters of Tywin and the Westerlands will once again be at peace. The kingdom is heavily damaged and will take at least a decade (or in their northern parts min 1-2 generations) to recover. This ensures peace on their western flank for Houses Stark and Tully, while giving them a weaker but valuable ally against the Ironborn and the Reach.
Hope you enjoyed it and thank you for all the support.
Fannic
Reviews:
- Rebfan90: Thank you!
- DrollPaladin: Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it.
- CadetMarshal: Thank you very much. I'm glad you brought up the detail. I had originally not planned to include the detail of the villages gained by the Tullys from the Goodbrooks, but I did so for three reasons. 1. (The main one) GRRM did it. I went back to a Jaime chapter in a DwD and there Jaime rules over the dispute between Bracken and Blackwood in this matter. Here he rules as Tommen's major representative and so I thought Robb had too. 2. He is the only noble that can decide which lands the Tullys get, as he is the only one above House Tully. 3. I wanted to bring the lands to life, as I'm working on my world building, but I appreciate all constructive criticism.
I'm delighted you like the cultural/religious integration. It's a thing often forgotten by writers. Giving Olyvar the Twins would give the smoothest transaction of power, as any victor's house (also Stark) would be seen as responsible for the brutal sack. He would never give Olyvar lands up north. The North gets autonomy and less interference from the South, giving lands to Southerners would make the whole point of the independence moot. That's why I cringe at stories that give the Bolton lands or others to Olyvar, Theon, … It would damage the social cohesion of the Northern peerage to the point that the next generation of Umbers, Ryswells, Karstarks, ... would consider rebellion. Let alone all the Northern vassals sworn to the Dreadfort.
I think you slightly overestimate the importance of the Twins. The reason Robb had to cross there was because there was an army to the south and many bridges had been destroyed due to extreme weather. In normal (peaceful) times, there are alternatives to cross, although it is the shortest way. I also think creating a crown domain inside the Riverlands would be despised by the Riverlanders, including House Tully. It would be too much after suddenly becoming king as well and be seen as Northerns meddling in their affairs and curbing their culture and autonomy.
- KEZZ 1: Thank you so much!
- Cliff West: Thanks! Everything north of the Wall will be discussed in a later chapter.
- Supremus85: Yes, Robb would never kill dozens of innocent children. However, he can't raise them as loyal vassals either. This would create dozens of rival claimants. Olyvar is only Walder's eighteenth son and he has many (great-)grandsons left as well. There would be dozens of wars to reclaim the Twins for someone in the next century, if he let them live freely. Often with the help of outside powers like the Reach or the Faith, other times leading to internal wars between loyal houses because of marriages etc. Many would also want revenge on Robb in later years, leading to rebellions and assassination attempts. Better to be rid of them and help the Wall too in doing so.
- Aetherium21: Thank you so much for the kind words!
- Sierra: Oh, thank you so much for the compliment. I hope you are glad with the new update.
- Guest: Yes, he was. A Manderly wife is an option, there are many other options as well.