Chapter 23 - Dragons roar and Stags charge
Casterly Rock -10th Month of 279 - Week 4, day 3
Tywin Lannister looked on silently as his eldest son paced back and forth in the corridor outside The birthing room, where his good daughter laboured to bring the heir into the world. It had been hours. It had started late the night before, and now it was nearly the midday meal. Not that Jaime had even noticed. Tywin had not
The door opened revealing Joanna, her face flushed. She beamed a smile and held out her hand to Jamie. "Come Jamie, Karlyn is waiting.."
Jamie stared "It's done?!" He asked, his face was a study of fear and hope..
Joanna nodded. "Come Jamie." she repeated with a smile.
Jamie pushed past his mother as Tywin moved to his wife's side. He looked in as Jamie moved to the bed where he could just see the figure of Karlyn slumped in the bed as women moved around. A maid, the one who had been with Karlyn since the beginning, approached the bed with a bundle in her arms. She handed the bundle to Jamie, who had been speaking softly with his wife, brushing her hair back from her face.
Karlyn was looking up at him, fatigue on her face, yet her lips were curved in a smile.
Twyin and Joanna watched the moment and Joanna linked her arm through her husbands. "A boy" She whispered in his ear. "Allow them to tell you though."
Before Tywin could reply, Jamie stood, the babe in his arms. He kissed his wife's head and then walked over to his parents. "Father, Mother. May I present, Tristan Lannister, heir to Casterly Rock"
Joanna smiled and took the babe gently. She looked down, the downy head was a light blonde like his father and grandfathers. "He is perfect" she said.
Tywin nodded. "I will send Ravens announcing it. Congratulations to you both." He gave Jamie a clap on the back and then with a nod at his wife he left the room, to go and announce that the Lannister line would continue. It would be celebrated that night, an heir and then tomorrow the Septon would bless the babe in the sept. He knew Karlyn would allow it, they had discussed it. After the blessing, Jamie had agreed to take the child to the Stone Garden and place their hand on the Weirwood. It was a strange request but Jamie had agreed to do it.
Casterly Rock -10th Month of 279 - Week 4, day 6
It had been three days since the birth of the new heir and here was Jamie and Tywin, mounted before a host. Jamie looked at the steps to the keep. There, barely recovered from the birthing bed, his wife, dressed in a dark red gown with silver and gold trims, carrying their son in her arms. She held herself upright, though only he and Mira knew how hard it was when she just wanted to sleep or sit with Trentan. He saluted her with his sword. And then he and his father led their banners out of Casterly Rock, and off to war. Around the hilt of said sword was a dark blue ribbon, edged with Lannister red and gold. His wife's favour.
Karlyn sagged back into Mira as the host left the courtyard. "My Lady, let us get you back to bed" Mira said and ushered Karlyn back to her and Jamie's chambers. Joanna watched her go. It was more than expected but Karlyn had insisted. She wanted to see Jamie depart because she wanted to be seen.
Hours later, Joanna found Karlyn sitting in the nursery with her son, singing softly. Mira, was sitting a short distance away and the other maids were keeping their distance. She walked over to her good-daughter and sat down beside her. "How are you feeling?" she asked Karlyn
"Well, the Maester says I will be able to resume normal activities in the next few days." Karlyn's gaze was fixed on her son.
Joanna smiled. "Jamie said you both have plans.." she said in a low tone so only Karlyn could hear.
Karlyn nodded. "He and the Prince have made plans to save the Prince's family if things come to it. A manse in Essos has been secured. Braavos I believe." Her voice was just as low.
Joanna nodded. War was a bad thing, it was good that the prince was planning. She knew, deep down, her son was planning as well. "And your plans?"
"As we are seen as firm supporters, Jaime has set in place a few contingencies. We will be safe." Karlyn said softly.
"Are the rumours true?"
"Yes" Karlyn replied softly. "When she is 14...father has promised the Prince, his daughter to fulfil the pact of Ice and Fire."
Joanna nodded.
Mira watched silently from a short distance away, a wet nurse was in another room. Mira, was Karlyn's most trusted maid and one of the few within Casterly Rock who knew what her Lord and Lady were planning and it would never leave her lips. But she knew that Karlyn would tell Joanna only because the Lady of Casterly Rock needed to know.
Joanna spent the next few hours with her good daughter and grandson before returning to her duties. She wondered how long she would have with them, before war, tore the family even further apart.
Battle of the Rushing Falls -12th Month of 279 - Week 2, day 6 – Aerys Camp
The battle lines were drawn. Robert Baratheon sat on his charger looking across the field to the opposing army. Lannister banners, Tyrell Banners, Northern Banners - that hurt a bit, knowing that his best friend was on the other side of this, Banners from the Vale and the Riverlands set the opposing army alight with colour. His own army was smaller in number of families, but his scouts said they were close to evenly matched. But scouts could be wrong.
He considered his options. He had joined the king because he wanted payback for his father's death. He ignored the rumours that were put about that his father had been killed because the KING had sent the assassins after Princess Cersei. Now he had just received word that Rickard Stark had betrothed Lyanna to the Prince. The Lion-Wolf-Dragon alliance was back and when Lyanna was 14 they would wed. That had made him see red. So he had sent a raven to Riverrun, hoping for the eldest daughter but was only given the youngest. He accepted it, for he had learned that Karlyn Stark-Lannister had organised for her brother Eddard to marry Catelyn Tully. He thought it would eventually help. But he highly doubted it now as he stared across at the banners on the far side. Wolf banners, right next to the Lions.
Determined, he slammed down his visor and roared "FOR KING AERYS!" And the charge happened.
The battle was bloody, but relatively short. And at the end, Robert was dragged from the field by his bannermen as the Northern army began to hammer the knights of the stormlands heavily. They retreated to the cheers of Prince Rhaegar's forces.
As he was dragged from the battle, Robert saw clearly, Jamie Lannister astride his white charger beside a man in Stark colours. From a distance it looked like Eddard, but the banner beside him, spoke that it was lord Rickard not his second son. Robert cursed sulfureous, his surcoat of yellow with the dancing black stag was tattered and blood stained from the men he had slain and he could slay more he was sure but he retreated back to the Stormlands. However he did allow his army remnants to pillage and burn as they went. Which sowed chaos as Twyin sent knights and troops of the Vale after them. Which burned Robert's caw even more, the fact that his foster father would not stand with him.
Battle of the Rushing Falls -12th Month of 279 - Week 2, day 6 - Rhaegar's Army
Rhaegar watched the fleeing army, his jaw set. He turned to Twyin and Rickard. "He will be back."
Twyin nodded. "Yes. One battle does not win a war."
Rickard dismounted from his horse and sighed. "It's a shame, his father would be so disappointed."
Their conversation ceased as Jamie led a young man forward. He was dressed in Baratheon colours and was not bound but watched quite closely. That said, he was unarmed and showed no signs of combat.
"Lord Stannis Baratheon" Rhaegar said nodding at his younger cousin. "Nice find Lord Jamie."
"Wasn't hard Your Grace, Stannis was not among the fighting. He came to me." Jamie said. This had people staring at the heir to Casterly Rock in slight shock.
Stannis knelt without asking. "Your Grace." He said "I am loyal to you, Your Grace. Not my brother and his delusions."
Rhaegar considered the younger man. "Why?"
Stannis looked up. "My brother believes that his Grace, King Aerys will name him heir. That your brother will be deemed unsuitable if Robert kills you and brings your corpse before your father. His Grace has all but promised this. I frankly disagree. His Grace is responsible for our father's death. He brings nothing but chaos and destruction."
Rhaegar exchanged looks with Twyin who gave a considering nod.
"Rise Lord Stannis." Rhaegar said. "And be recognised as a leal lord, and once we hath routed my father, Lord of Storms End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands."
Stannis stared at Rhaegar and bowed after he stood. "Your Grace."
Whatever else was about to be said was cut short by the appearance of Eddard on his horse. "Your Grace" he said. "Missives from Kings Landing." He handed over scrolls. "From your father"
Which meant that Jon Connington had failed. Rhaegar had expected more from the man who professed his undying loyalty to the Prince.
Rhaegar began to read. "Father is proclaiming me illegitimate. Says my mother played him false. She is being confined in the Maiden vault." He handed over the scroll. "He is demanding the Lords go to Kings Landing and bend the knee to him and my brother. Though, we all know he means more than that." He looked at Twyin. "Summon the war council. We are going to answer this."
Twyin nodded and then said "With Fire and Blood Your Grace?"
"Fire and Blood." Came the calm reply. The last Dance of Dragons had been bad, with Dragons to aide in the destruction, it was the only good thing that tis current dance did not have.
Twyin and Rickard moved off to gather the war council and Jamie, Stannis and Eddard exchanged looks before heading to the tents.
Casterly Rock -12th Month of 279 - Week 2, day 7- Late afternoon
A small rowboat left the caves from beneath Casterly Rock, a hooded figure in the bow as it was rowed out to the ship awaiting offshore. In the rowboat behind the figure was a chest with the Lannister seal on it. A short time later the rowboat returned without the passenger and chest.
On one of the many battlements, Karlyn, wrapped in a cloak of Lannister red and gold, watched the rowboat. She had come up here in the afternoon, to watch as her husband's orders were seen through. They hoped and prayed for Rhaegar to be successful but they both knew that it was not always possible for this to happen. She had put her own slant on his plan because she wanted coverage as well. Her sister would be mixed up in this soon enough and that was more than enough reason for Karlyn to add more protection. She would do anything to protected her family.