Dramen
In all of the years Dramen had been alive, he never thought that he would see Lannisport sacked before his very eyes. Lannisport had been burned and sacked a few times in its history, any city in Westeros could hold claim to that. It had been decades, if not over a hundred years, since Lannisport had last attacked, once again by the Ironborn, not since the Dance of Dragons when Dalton Grejoy sacked the city if Dramen remembered his books. Those books would soon have his name as the Lord of Lannisport as the Lannister fleet burned in the docks without a fight, every war galley and cog still anchored. Even from the Gold Keep, Dramen would see the flames of the expensive ships soar into the night sky. He swore he could literally see golden flames leaping from the burning hulks, which did not help his mood any.
With bloodshot eyes, the Lord of Lannisport marched out into the courtyard of the Gold Keep, armored in black and red plate with a Lannister half-helm in his hands. His squire, Robert Brax, carried Dramen's lance, and was dressed in boiled leather with a light chain shirt fitted to suit his smaller body. Rows of armored men on horses had already gathered in the courtyard, their spears and lances glimmering from the moonlight and torches.
"My Lord." Ser Larys approached him, wearing his full set of armor, heavy and expensive plate. He held the reins of a chestnut horse, one of Dramen's finest, a warhorse named Steelhoof, who pawed the ground, anxious as they were to shed blood. Ser Tylan stood beside him, dressed in boiled leather and a mail shirt. The old knight looked tired and wary, yet almost eager to fight once more, holding the reins to another horse.
"Ser Larys, Ser Tylan." Dramen grabbed hold of the reins, preparing to mount the horse Ser Larys had brought, Oakfeather. While not as bloodthirsty as Steelhoof, Oakfeather was still eager to ride once more into battle.
"I have managed to rally forty lancers from the City Watch, my Lord." Ser Larys continued speaking. "And twenty riders from the household guards." That no doubt was a mix of knights and men-at-arms that guarded the Gold Keep, Dramen had already ordered dozens more to rally the City Watch stationed around Lannisport. If all went well, they should be able to meet up with them and push the invaders back to the docks. And ideally they would trounce this raid before Lord Tywin showed up. It might be the best way to keep his head attached to his body, after all.
"Ser Larys, Brax, you two shall ride with me." Dramen said loudly, waving off Robert to gather two more horses. "I leave command of the Gold Keep to Ser Tylan." It was a risk he was taking, leaving the Gold Keep so undefended, yet even with a small garrison they should be able to withstand a siege should the Ironborn somehow be able to push the City Watch and Lannister footmen back. Also if they did fall, well, Lord Tywin would be coming with reinforcements, so they would have a very short period to lay siege before they were crushed.
"You honor me, my Lord." Ser Tylan bowed his head, his eyes hard like iron. Robert Brax returned with a horse, one smaller than the Dramen's and Sery Lary's.
"It is not an honor, Ser Tylan." Dramen narrowed his eyes, turning his attention to the lowering drawbridge. Ser Larys easily mounted his steed, and took his position to Dramen's right. Robert struggled a little more, but managed to do the same, still holding onto Dramen's lance. "I leave the safety of my family in your hands."
There was an unspoken threat, one that Ser Tylan likely understood. Should something happen to Ceria or Weiss under Tylan's watch, not even being a Lannett would protect the old knight from punishment. Admittedly, it was also a sign of trust in the man, he was letting him protect his treasures, and given he had picked up on the raid, was a sign of his confidence in the man.
"I shall protect Lady Lannister and Lady Weiss with my life, this I swear by the Seven, my Lord Lannister." Ser Tylan said. He pressed his right arm over his chest. The old man was reliable in a fight, even if his age was starting to catch up to him. It would be worth considering, in the aftermath, to ask him to take on a successor, or at least help train up one, and enjoy an honorable retirement from his position as Weiss' sworn sword. There were plenty of Lannetts, Lantells and Lanny's in Lannisport that could fulfill those duties.
"Good." Dramen slid his half-helm on and extended his hand, grabbing the lance Robert held out for him with ease. Ser Larys grabbed the Lannister banner from his own squire, a Westerling, holding the roaring golden lion on red high in the air. "Men of Lannisport! On me!" He bellowed.
Dramen urged Oakfeather onward, speeding up to a gallop. Robert and Sery Larys followed closely behind, with his knights, mounted men-at-arms and lancers from the City Watch following closely. It was an impressive sight straight out of a story, a column of armored knights riding off to save their burning city. The stomps and hooves of the horses striking the ground caused the drawbridge to tremble, yet Dramen did not falter nor turn back.
The Lord of Lannisport kept his gaze forward, his lance and sword ready to strike down those who dared to invade his home. The smallfolk cowering in the streets immediately moved out of the way, Dramen and his men would not stop until every last squid was dead.
"Hear me roar!" Dramen shouted, his soldiers yelled the words of House Lannister back. A Lannister always paid their debts, something the Greyjoys were going to have to learn the hard way.
"To the docks!"
Weiss
Even if she had her suspicions earlier regarding the Ironborn, seeing an actual attack on Lannisport left Weiss shocked and confused. She expected an attack to target literally anywhere else in the Westerlands, not an attack on the largest city, especially with the shadow of Casterly Rock hanging over Lannisport. Though it made a twisted sense, burn down the nearest fleet, and you can run around until reinforcements are mustered. But that was only short-term thinking, the Lannisters were related to King Robert by marriage, and Lord Tywin was infamous for being vindictive as catchall. Balon Greyjoy was basically declaring war on all Seven Kingdoms, and had to be able to realize this would not end well for him.
"Hurry my Ladies." Ser Tylan rushed a few paces ahead of Weiss and her friends, with the two red cloaks covering their rear. Alysanne and Alis struggled to keep up, their hands busy holding up the hems of their nightgowns.
"Has the Gold Keep been infiltrated?" Weiss asked in between a few mock breaths, she had an image of a seven year old girl to keep up. Plus to be fair, she was still somewhat asleep when this happened.
"Lord Dramen has the City Watch holding the Ironborn back." Ser Tylan slowed down. "Since he left to reinforce the city there haven't been any messengers, but there is no need to worry. This is just a precaution."
Understandable, with the entire Ironborn fleet assaulting the city. If they were brave enough to attack Lannisport, then they were insane enough to dare and try attacking the Gold Keep. They turned a corner, heading in the direction of Mother's chambers, which were not too far from Weiss' own. Weiss' group paused when they nearly slammed into another group. Two more red cloaks armed with short spears, with Weiss' Mother standing in between them.
"Weiss! Thank the Seven you're okay." Mother immediately pulled Weiss into a tight hug before checking on Alysanne and Alis, they were both her responsibility as the Lady of the Gold Keep, and as her daughter's friends.
Ser Tylan pulled one of Mother's guards to the side, a man named Joston if Weiss remembered correctly. "Have you received any word from Lord Dramen or Ser Larys." He whispered low enough for the Ladies not to catch, Weiss' aura enhanced ears allowed her to hear everything.
"None. Ser Janas has a watchman keeping watch over the bridge for riders." Joston answered, keeping his gaze low. Ser Janas Ruthermont was the Master-at-Arms of the Gold Keep, and was even older than Ser Tylan, and grouchier to go along with it.
"Good." Ser Tylan's green eyes turned to Weiss and her guards. "We shall head to Lord Dramen's solar and stay there until the Squids have been driven off."
Father's solar was at the far end of the Gold Keep, facing Casterly Rock rather than the docks like Weiss' room. There was a symbolism there that Weiss was less concerned about at the moment versus the fact it had a solid door and was one of the most secure rooms in the Keep. And unlike the vaults, it was a lot easier to access from their current location.
"Joston, you take the lead, Robart and Tarik cover the rear." Ser Tylan ordered, his hand never leaving the pommel of his sword. "Bryen with me."
The armored men took up their positions, with not a single servant in sight. Had they been sent to their homes, or were they also taking shelter elsewhere? Weiss would have to find out later. Mother took one of her small hands, holding it tightly, but gently. Alysanne and Alis remained silent, sticking to each other closely as they followed her Father's men, each with long years of service to House Lannister. Weiss remembered each of their faces, Robart always kept an eye on her whenever she was playing in the gardens with Alis, and Tarik joined them on their trip to the docks just the day before. They would keep Weisa, her Mother, and her friends safe, she was sure of it.
The hallways of the Gold Keep were silent and dark, their only light coming from the torches that lined the carved walls. Only the sounds of their light footsteps and the clanking armor of her guards echoed through the castle. She couldn't even hear the servants or other guards asif the castle was empty. If Weiss paid attention, she could hear the faint ringing of bells from all over Lannisport, warning of the attack. They were too late, the city and docks were already in flames. Also if you hadn't realized by now the city was under attack, you were either dead or such a deep sleeper you may as well be dead.
"Everything will be fine, children." Weiss heard her Mother whisper, doing her best to comfort Alis and Alysanne. They nodded with shaky smiles, whispering prayers to the Seven under their breath. Weiss wasn't going to put her faith in gods, the Brothers certainly hadn't done anything to earn it, let alone the Seven, but in the men willing to protect them with their lives. She lost her faith the moment Atlas fell, and when she'd learned how they utterly messed up Remnant.
Weiss lost track of how long they had been walking, when a loud sound tore through the empty silence. The sound of a horn bellowed through the hallway, causing Ser Tylan to pull his longsword out of his sheath, and holding it defensibly with two hands. The other men snapped to attention, evidently a bit spooked at how close it sounded.
"Intruders! Keep an eye out men, defend the Ladies with your lives if need be, and pray to the Warrior for strength." Ser Tylan's voice sounded like a growling lion. They advanced a few more hallways when they heard more footsteps, ones that weren't their own.
"Steady men." Ser Tylan said softly as they approached an intersecting pathway. With their flanks secured, he motioned Bryen to join Joston at the front of the group with the wave of a hand.
Joston held his short spear in a defensive position, one that must've been drilled into him for years, while Bryen's stance with his short sword looked more uncertain, nervous. Weiss' eyes found themselves stuck to the ground ahead of her, in the middle of the intersection. There was a shadow, she was barely able to make it out thanks to the flickering torches. Another shadow joined it, then another, and another, until they all merged into one big blob.
A man emerged from the corner, with freshly drawn blood decorating his old and rusty armor, his unkept beard long and black as the night. He held a short axe in his calloused hands, his crazed eyes staring straight at them.
"Defend the Ladies!" Ser Tylan bellowed as the Ironborn released a savage yell. More raiders rounded the corner as Tarik joined Bryen and Joston. The three charged the intruders as Ser Tylan placed himself between Weiss and the raiders. "Hear me roar!"
"Casterly Ro-" Tarik's yell died in his throat as the lead Ironborn threw his axe, burying itself in his throat. He gargled on his lifeblood as he fell back, struggling to breathe, blood foaming at his mouth, and turning his gray beard a dark red.One of the ladies, she wasn't sure which, or all of them, screamed behind her. Joston shoved his spear in the opening of another raider's armor, showering the air with red liquid. The raider screamed and pulled away, causing blood to fountain out of the wound.
"We'll take another way, hurry!" Robart shouted loudly, he grabbed hold of Mother's wrist, pulling her into a run. She ran after him, not even bothering to lift up her skirt as she did so.
"Run my Ladies! I will be right behind you." Ser Tylan held his sword defensively, his back towards them as Joston and Bryen did their best to hold the line.
"Run!" Weiss grabbed Alysanne and Alis' hands, following Robart and her Mother. She didn't look back, reassured by Ser Tylan's footsteps which were soon overshadowed by the sound of men yelling, screaming, and dying. Weiss was less reassured at the sounds of battle behind him that didn't last as long as she'd hoped for. It took all of her self control to not scream in frustration and charge the invaders herself.
They should feel lucky, after all, a Lannister always paid her debts.
A/N
This was supposed to be a large single chapter, but we decided to split it in half to make everyone suffer with a cliffhanger.
Night_Stalker and I have been enjoying the theories, and the omake. Those are always fun to read, even if they're not exactly what we have planned. Let us know if you're enjoying the story so far! That always helps with us write quick updates.
And here's an edit of Weiss' future banner! (FFN readers will need to use another site to see)