Marriage.
To the young Lyanna, it was not something that she thought she would have to deal with so quickly. She belonged to one of the most prestigious houses in the realm, but she was still young. Shaena's situation was different from hers. And yet, a big revelation had been thrown right at her face in the form of Robert Baratheon and his stupidity.
Lyanna still did not understand why Robert did what he did. She did not understand why he thought that he had any claim to her. She was happy that Ned found a friend he could trust while in the south, but that had nothing to do with her. If it were not for the fact that Rhaegal had so thoroughly thrashed him, then she might have given Robert a piece of her mind.
Too bad he was unconscious. Besides, he had been humiliated enough, hadn't he?
In any case, she had bigger problems to deal with right now.
"We'll talk when I return." It was all her father had told her before he left for Casterly Rock with Robert's father and the king. According to Brandon, some big meeting was going to take place that would settle the aftermath of the duel between the houses Targaryen and Baratheon, but this too mostly went over her head.
Whatever happened to Robert now was not her concern.
No, Lyanna's mind was more preoccupied with thoughts concerning her betrothal.
Benjen tried to be supportive, and while she appreciated his concern for her well being her younger brother just didn't have the right words to settle her mind. Her mother was not here unfortunately, and Brandon had gone off to have a word with Ned.
This left her mostly alone.
Thankfully their pavilion had not been destroyed when Rhaegal's dragon landed on the tourney grounds, so at least Lyanna was able to settle in and have some privacy. Her main source of comfort was none other than Winter who rested beside her.
The truth was that Lyanna did not know what to think. She did not know Daeron all that well. In all their meetings, they barely spoke. And they had only met two times. She knew that the boy was younger than her, but that was about it. If he was anything like his two older brothers, then he would grow into a very handsome prince. He was probably talented too. All the Targaryens seemed to be. Well, Rhaegal, Rhaegar, and Shaena were talented.
Lyanna's thoughts paused.
'Shaena.'
Unless things changed, they were going to become sisters by marriage. It was another weird thought for her to think about. She always wanted a sister. She did not really think of Catelyn as such, but Shaena was different. They were of similar age, and they had written to one another often. If there was one Targaryen that Lyanna was confident that she knew a little bit about, then it was her.
Shaena wasn't a bad person. She made Lyanna feel more comfortable than other southern highborn ladies. She did not care if Lyanna acted like her usual self, not the prim and proper lady that her father wanted her to be.
That made Lyanna feel better.
There were other things for Lyanna to consider. Daeron had a dragon. If she asked, then she could possibly ride with him one day. Didn't that sound amazing?
It was supposed to be amazing, and yet there was no strong emotion in her heart whenever she thought of Daeron.
Rhaegal was the impressive crown prince who possessed incredible magic and brought back the dragons. Rhaegar was the beautiful harpist who made everyone around him feel more at ease. They were also two of the most skilled fighters in the realm. No doubt the twin brothers were some of the most talented Targaryens to have ever been born.
Daeron was just….Daeron.
What was she supposed to think of him?
'I don't know him.'
She didn't know him yet.
Things could change, right? Shaena only ever really talked about Rhaegal, so Lyanna was going to have to get to know the third prince on her own.
That sounded like a good plan, right? After all, she wasn't the only one who was caught off guard by this whole affair. Daeron had seemed to be just as much in the dark as she. There was something for them to bond over.
Right?
Lyanna did not know if her reassurances settled her heart, or they were even reassurances to begin with.
She just thought and thought some more. About marriage. About dragons. About Daeron. About how some part of her pictured herself marrying either Rhaegal or Rhaegar instead.
She thought about many things.
Lyanna did not even know when she fell asleep, but she was certain that she must have at some point because she suddenly found herself standing before the weirwood tree inside the godswood of Winterfell. Lyanna would never mistake this tree for any other. She visited the godswood more than anyone else in the family. She was very familiar with it.
And yet, this presented her with a problem.
"How…."
Lyanna's voice trailed off.
How had she gotten here? Wasn't she in the Westerlands?
The face carved on the tree stared back at her in silence. Like always, it never answered any of her questions.
Many outside of the North found the weirwoods to be strange. To Lyanna, they were a familiar and sometimes comforting sight.
Perhaps she was the strange one.
"Remarkable. So you were the first to make it here."
Lyanna nearly shrieked when an unexpected voice reached her ears.
"What!?" Startled, she frantically looked around the godswood.
It was empty.
But the voice-!
"I'm up here, child."
Lyanna froze for a moment. Slowly, she looked up at the tree. The leaves were red as normal. What was not normal was the crow that stood on one of the tree's branches. Why?
Because the crow had three eyes.
All three of the eyes were staring down at her.
Despite the cold around her, Lyanna found herself sweating as she stared at the creature. Instinctively, she knew that the crow was not normal and not just because of the eyes. No. There was something….almost otherworldly within those eyes.
Like something that was not meant to exist.
"Originally, we were meant to speak under different circumstances." The crow's voice was slow and dry. Almost like talking was a chore. "You were meant to be older, and you were meant to be guided to the place with the green hands. And you were not supposed to be alone. This time, I was prepared to meet with your brother, not you. I suppose the dragon cannot change everything, after all. Perhaps I should have expected it. You hold more potential than any of your siblings."
Lyanna did not understand.
The crow must have realized it too as it spoke again.
"What could have been matters little now. Time continues to move forward, and I was unable to stop its course. I wonder if that will bring you comfort, to know that your son will not be born. Or do you prefer to cling to your life, forever ignorant of the true affairs of the world?"
"Son? I don't-"
"Don't mind me, Lyanna Stark. Now that I'm able to talk so much, I find myself rambling more than what is necessary."
Lyanna never would have guessed. The crow sounded utterly devoid of any emotion.
"Did you bring me here?" The girl was surprised that she was able to ask such a direct question. The crow terrified her.
"I did not. You brought yourself here. Your heightened emotions must have awakened the gift within you."
What?
"You hold a rarer and stronger gift than your brothers, Lyanna Stark. The gift of greensight. There was always a possibility of one of them awakening it as well, but it seems fate has kept her hand on you, for you were the only one to awaken it once more. Or perhaps in time they might just be able to do it too. It matters not. I suppose you were lucky. Rather than undergo any trials, you were able to access your gifts on your own. The benefits of a world with new magic. Perhaps not as exciting. You did not take flight and stare into the heart of winter."
Lyanna was still struggling to understand. She didn't care for most of what she just heard.
"Then how do I leave?"
"You want to go already?"
"Yes."
She didn't want to be near this crow. Something told her that it was not a good idea.
"Strange. Most want to explore their gifts as soon as possible. I suppose your age works against you."
"Just let me go. Please."
"You misunderstand. I'm not holding you here. This was to be your dream, of what came before. Of what will happen. Of what can happen. Perhaps you will want to see more once you understand what it truly means to gaze into the other side."
Lyanna did not answer. Even if she were to want to stick around, which she didn't, she found herself being flung back from the godswood. Almost as if an invisible force dragged her away.
This time, she shrieked. Somehow, her shriek shattered the world around her, slowly drifting her to darkness.
Amidst the darkness, the crow suddenly appeared before her, delivering but a single peck to her forehead before disappearing once more.
"We shall meet again. Perhaps then you will be ready."
The crow's voice echoed around her.
Then, as if the world was flipped upside down, Lyanna found herself gasping for air as she rose from her bed, her face marred with sweat.
Winter lifted her head from where she rested beside her, startled.
Benjen looked startled too.
Lyanna could not focus on them. She couldn't speak. She was close to tears.
It would take a while before she was able to calm herself and reflect on what she just experienced.
The fear would remain with her for sometime.
---
Leyton Hightower allowed himself to bask in the good fortune that had been placed before him, and all without having to do anything about it.
A man's stupidity was another man's fortune, or something like that.
Truth be told, Leyton was not a man who enjoyed tourneys very much. He did not enjoy many social events for that matter. He was not martially inclined like so many other lords out there. He preferred his books and his quiet over the thundering sounds of the sword and the horse and the lance and all the others. He saw no point to it.
His sons thought differently. They were excited to be here. This was a very significant tourney, after all. That alone would not be enough for him to show his face, but the realm was constantly changing and so he had to adapt. In this new world where dragons and magic were becoming commonplace, Leyton could not remain locked up in his tower. That would just leave his family exposed to the machinations of others.
He never could have imagined that deciding to attend the tourney would provide him with a front row seat of such tantalizing developments.
"You seem to be in a good mood, father." His eldest Baelor did not miss the change in his mood. Leyton had been ill-tempered since they set out from the Hightower to come to Lannisport. Of course, no one outside of his immediate family realized that he was in such a poor mood.
"It must be because we're not sleeping inside a tent anymore," Garth suggested as he took a sip from his drink. He was sitting by the lone table of the room with two of his sisters.
The Hightower's pavilion had been one of the tents that had been crushed by the crown prince's dragon. Luckily, Leyton was able to secure rooms for him and his family at one of the inns in Lannisport.
Sleeping indoors in his own room was so much more comfortable than sleeping inside a fucking tent of all things.
"Is that the reason why you all suddenly decided to barge into my room then?" Alysanne complained with a huff. The girl had claimed the bed since Leyton ordered them all inside. "You all have rooms, you know."
Leyla smiled softly. "Father must have something he wishes to say. Right?"
"Is it about the match? Or the dragon?" Denyse gushed. "The prince's flames were frightening but alluring, weren't they?"
"I don't think Robert Baratheon would agree with 'alluring,' dear sister," Baelor said with a shake of his head. "Those flames almost killed him."
"And he's going to become my good brother," Alysanne murmured, her face annoyed.
Leyla giggled. "I hear that many young ladies have been drawn to his good looks."
"I don't think that's going to last for too much longer, not with his eye missing," Baelor drawled out.
"Hm, yes." Leyton spoke up. "Robert Baratheon is part of the reason why I summoned you all. Or rather, it's about his stupidity and the opportunities this will present us with."
His children did not seem to understand.
Leyton studied them for a moment, taking in their faces one at a time. His wife had remained at the Hightower with their youngest daughter and newborn son. Alerie was with the Tyrells. Malora was probably on Dragonstone.
They were all safe.
Leyton did not beat around the bush.
"By now, Robert Baratheon will have been disinherited and stripped of all titles, thus making his younger brother the new heir to Storm's End."
His words had the desired effect that he was looking for.
Alysanne's eyes widened first, followed closely by her sisters. Garth looked stunned while Baelor was more contemplative.
"Disinherited?" Garth echoed.
"Yes." Leyton nodded. "Do not be so naive, my son. The Targaryens will see Robert Baratheon as an enemy after this stunt, and no one will blame them for it. The king is not a forgiving man. In order to make sure that his house is not alienated moving forward, Steffon Baratheon will have no choice but to toss him aside. He's a caring man, but even he understands what he must do, especially after Robert was the one who put himself in such a position."
Denyse jumped to her feet with a squeal. "So that means Alysanne will be the new Lady of Storm's End?"
"The new Lady of the Stormlands," Baelor whispered in understanding.
"Indeed." Leyton looked at Alysanne with happiness. "When you mentioned to me that you found Stannis Baratheon interesting, I did not foresee this development."
Stannis had interacted with all of his children when he came to visit Oldtown with the crown prince, but it was Alysanne who took a liking to him the most, which initially surprised Leyton. Stannis was a more quiet and solemn child compared to his older brother. Leyton did not foresee the boy making many friends in his life. Despite that, he had earned himself a place by the crown prince's side. That, along with being the second-born son of the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, made him a very good option for a husband for his daughter.
Leyton was now more glad than ever that he allowed himself to follow his daughter's wishes and set up a betrothal between her and Stannis. His family had inadvertently scored itself a very powerful alliance in the process.
Denyse ran to Alysanne who still looked taken aback and grabbed her hands with her own, still squealing.
"When you told me you were happy to be wed to that boring boy, I thought you were going mad, sister. Now I see that you were playing the long game!"
Alysanne slowly shook her head. "I did not think that-"
"It's alright, daughter." She was still young. Leyton did not disparage her for her slow reaction. She had earned quite a place for herself in Westeros, and Leyton could not be prouder of her for it. "You don't need to do anything differently going forward. Your circumstances might change, but you two are still who you were yesterday."
"Yes. Stannis is still the same boy who jumps every time you touch him," Leyla teased. "Honestly, it's quite amusing to see him fumble every time you're near him."
A small smile began to form on Alysanne's face. "Yes. His reactions are quite cute, are they not?"
"Quite." Baelor cleared his throat. Leyton could tell that his eldest was not interested in hearing his sisters gossip about a boy. He could not blame him. "How certain are you of this, father?"
"Very much so. It's the least that the Baratheons will have to do in order to quell the king's outrage. Divulging the betrothal in such a disrespectful manner while challenging the crown before the realm could very well see Robert Baratheon lose his head."
Leyton doubted that Robert would actually lose his life, but he would not be surprised if that ended up happening too. Not that it would matter to him all that much. Robert's fate was not his concern.
"With Robert disinherited, this also means that Elia Martell will be freed from her betrothal."
At this, Leyton's eyes went to Baelor who quickly caught on.
"You mean to send a raven to Sunspear."
"Yes. Princess Loreza once denied me Elia's hand in marriage for you, Baelor. She was more focused on securing a royal match for her daughter. When that didn't work out, she sought the Lannisters and then the Baratheons. Now, both options are closed to her. She will have to look elsewhere for a match."
The Arryns were a possibility he supposed, but that match brought no real benefit to the Martells. Besides, there was always a possibility that Jon Arryn would remarry, thus displacing Elbert Arryn as the heir. The least likely option was if Loreza decided to marry her daughter to the old lord, but Leyton could not see the Martells going down that route.
"Sunspear will need a match that does not leave them wholly isolated. Even if indirectly, we will have ties to the crown prince through Alysanne's marriage with Stannis. And Malora already serves in his council."
The Hightowers would become the best match politically for the Martells. Leyton would have preferred if Prince Doran remained unwed, but the man was much too old for that. Besides, from what he heard, the heir to Sunspear chose to marry for love rather than for political benefit. This left the Martells with fewer options.
Baelor's face showed that he understood.
"Very well, father. I will do as you ask."
Denyse pouted. "What is this? Alysanne gets a future Lord Paramount while Baelor gets a princess. What about the rest of us?"
Garth snorted into his cup. "I prefer a white cloak myself."
"You think too small as always, brother."
"And you're always dreaming."
As his children fell into another bout of bickering, Leyton allowed himself to relax a little as he thought more about the future.
'Now, if only Malora seduces Rhaegal, then everything will fall into place.'
Leyton hadn't told his daughter to do anything. He had no grand scheme to repeat the same mistakes of his predecessors. He knew his place, but he also knew his daughter and her personality. She could be stubborn and driven when she wanted to be. If she succeeded, then it would be another powerful connection for the family. The strongest of them all in fact. Leyton did not care if she sired any bastards. He never planned for her to marry in the first place.
The Targaryens. The Tyrells. The Baratheons. The Martells. Leyton would have ties to all these powerful houses.
The Hightowers had kept their heads low ever since the Dance, for good reason, and because of it many in the realm had forgotten about the power and influence that they wielded. There was a reason why the Tyrells had been so forceful in seeking them out. And now, without overreaching, Leyton found himself building a political bloc that rivaled those of the past. No, it perhaps even surpassed it.
Leyton wondered why the gods decided to smile upon him and family during this turbulent time, but he was not going to complain. Not when the future looked so bright for his house.
---
They were all mocking him. Stannis could sense it as he walked through the halls of the Casterly Rock. Many of the servants' eyes followed his every step, and worse he could do nothing about it.
'No, they're mocking all of us,' he thought with clenched teeth.
His father. His entire family. All because of Robert's stupidity.
If his brother still wasn't unconscious, then Stannis would have tried fighting him himself. He cared little for his brother's injuries. They were nothing compared to the consequences that he left them with.
'All of it, for some girl.'
Stannis could hardly believe that Robert had grown into such a buffoon. Could he not see the bigger picture? Had his time in the Eyrie taught him nothing but to swing a hammer? By the Seven, he was going to become the Lord of Storm's End one day. He was nearly a man grown but still behaved like a child. Was Stannis going to have to always bail him out and take care of every single one of his mistakes?
Stannis did not very much enjoy that idea. He was a second son, so he knew his place. His duty.
It still grated on him.
Even the damn squid Euron Greyjoy conducted himself with more dignity than Robert, and the Greyjoy enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh just as much as Robert reportedly did.
'The prince has surrounded himself with capable men. What has Robert been doing all this time?'
The more Stannis thought about it, the angrier he became.
Was his family going to suffer more shame once Robert took over? What other house would look favorable upon them after this fiasco? What would become of house Baratheon at this rate?
The thing that Stannis feared the most was Rhaegal casting him aside due to his anger at Robert. The more rational part of him told him that that wasn't likely. Rhaegal wasn't as hotheaded as Robert.
But the fear remained, and Stannis could do little to quell it.
Stannis had no clear destination as he walked through the castle. He had arrived at Casterly Rock with his father earlier after the king demanded a meeting with him. Lord Rickard Stark and Lord Tywin Lannister were also present. The rest of the royal family had arrived with the king. He did not know if Rhaegal had come with them or not, and Stannis was too ashamed to show his face to any of them to find out.
Jon had been in hysterics ever since the duel occurred. He had wanted to storm the Arryn's tent where Robert was being looked after, but Arthur told him to just return to Casterly Rock before the knight left the Royal Box. No doubt to go to Rhaegal's side.
Hours later, Stannis was still fretting over everything that had happened. Ironically enough, the only one to show him some sympathy was Tywin's younger son.
Tyrion Lannister came by and offered him a slice of cake which he said always cheered him up before his mother called for him.
Stannis was not a person who enjoyed many luxuries, finding them pointless. But that slice of cake tasted better than any other had before.
Now, Stannis sat by his lonesome in one of the balconies overlooking a small garden. Stannis was impressed when he first saw it. The garden was in full bloom, almost as if the plants were not deep inside a giant stone hill. The presence of the garden almost made him forget that he was technically underground.
It was almost calming.
"Son."
Stannis tore his eyes away from the garden below to glance over to the entrance of the balcony. There, his father emerged with a bleak look to him.
Stannis hated seeing his father like this. He looked so defeated. Whatever misgivings he might have toward him, Stannis still recognized the man as his father.
"Father-"
"You don't have to get up, Stannis."
Stannis stopped.
Steffon came to join him and sat by his side. It was quiet in this part of the castle. Probably because the royal family was here. The servants were probably scrambling to make sure that everything was in order for them.
"I was told you came this way by Joanna's son."
Tyrion.
Stannis felt his mouth twitch a little. Whether it was because he wanted to smile he did not know.
"He's rather keen on making sure that I am okay."
Stannis did not really understand. He had spoken on brief occasions with the boy, but that did not make them friends. Despite his ghastly appearance, Stannis found the boy's mind to be sharp, sharper than Jaime's. If he had had a normal birth, then the boy would have had a bright future ahead of him.
"He seems to not have been corrupted by Tywin's ways just yet," Steffon joked.
Stannis sometimes forgot that his father and the stern lion had grown up as friends. He did not see himself continuing that friendship with Jaime.
"You were with the king for a while." Stannis changed the topic. He wanted to know what had happened with King Aerys.
At this, Steffon let out a heavy sigh as he slumped in his seat. He looked tired, more tired than Stannis had ever seen him before.
"I believe we can weather out the worst of it. The king's ire was concentrated mostly on Robert."
Stannis clenched his teeth. "But Robert is your heir. How is Storm's End to prosper if Robert is at odds with the king and his heir?"
"Because Robert is no longer the heir to Storm's End, Stannis. He has been disinherited."
Stannis' mind came to a stop at that revelation. All of his previous doubts, his worries. They all withered away at the realization that Robert would no longer be the next Lord of Storm's End.
"What-"
"You're smart, Stannis. You must have considered this possibility."
Honestly, he had not. Stannis blamed his fear getting the best of him.
Of course disinheritance was always an option. It was extreme, but these were extreme circumstances, were they not? Stannis recalled how something similar had occurred once before, only in reverse. How the heir to King Aegon V had been disinherited due to his desire to marry a common girl rather than wed the daughter of Lyonel Baratheon.
History often rhymed, did it not?
Stannis' mind arrived at another revelation.
"Then-"
"Yes." Steffon placed a hand on Stannis' shoulder, his grip firm. "You will inherit Storm's End after me, Stannis. Without me even noticing, you have more than earned it."
It was the first praise his father had ever given him, and Stannis did not know how to react.
"How?"
"You have forged a strong bond with Prince Rhaegal. You are not blind. You know that he's the source of the crown's might. He will shape the realm in his image. There's little doubt of that. And you have ensured that Storm's End will not be forgotten. More than just familial ties, you have built something stronger. Your betrothal with Alysanne Hightower also presents us with new opportunities. The Hightowers' wealth and connections in the Reach and Essos cannot be underestimated. You've also become familiar with many important lords thanks to your participation in the prince's northern voyage. Because of you, our house can say that it played a role in the rebirth of the dragons. I worried about our future in the realm. Robert hadn't built the same connections that you have. Now I can rest more easy knowing everything that you have done up until now has ensured that we will not be left behind."
Stannis could hardly believe that his father had been paying so much attention to his activities these past several years.
He almost cried.
"It seems the father has finally understood his son's true worth."
Father and son turned back to the entrance of the balcony. Rhaegal now stood there with a small grin with Ser Arthur by his side. The prince was not wearing that impressive armor but was now dressed in his black doublet with his favored black and green cloak.
Stannis and Steffon rose to their feet.
"My prince-"
"No need to stand on attention on my account," Rhaegal reassured Stannis, which calmed the boy's heart.
Rhaegal did not appear angry with him.
"You've returned, my prince." Steffon was more calm as he addressed the approaching Rhaegal.
Arthur remained by the entrance.
"I could not stay away for long," Rhaegal responded as he came to a stop before them. "There is so much to do now that the realm has lost a lord and a prince."
Steffon cracked a small smile. "You joke as always."
"I assure you, it's no joking matter. I'm sure many of the lords will not be happy about my brother's betrothal to Lyanna Stark."
Amidst Robert's stupidity, Stannis had almost forgotten about that tidbit.
"It's the first time a prince shall wed a Northerner."
"There will be many who will target Rhaegar next." Rhaegal waved his arm lazily. "But that's for me and my father to worry about." He looked at Steffon in the eyes. "Depending on what my father decided, I was prepared to go to war."
Stannis felt a chill crawl up his spine.
Steffon's smile vanished. "So the king has informed you."
"Yes. I was not going to let Robert get away. Disinheritance was the smallest price he could have paid. I would not have tolerated him as the next Lord Paramount."
Steffon's eyes narrowed. "You could have killed him."
"The temptation was there," Rhaegal admitted without shame. "However, I will already have enough of a headache dealing with those who will find my usage of magic distasteful. I did not need Robert's death on top of that. There are already many whispers in the realm who say that my abilities mark me as a heathen. I would rather not be drawn to a pointless war if I can help it, but I will not run away from it either."
"You are being rather forthcoming with me right now, my prince," Steffon said after a moment's silence.
Stannis noticed this as well.
Rhaegal shrugged. "As my father's new Hand, I thought some transparency between us would do us good."
Wait, what?
Stannis' eyes widened as he turned to his father. "You're the new Hand of the King?"
Rhaegal chuckled. "Oh, you hadn't told him yet?"
"There were other things to discuss first."
"So it's true?" Stannis could not believe it. Why would the king award his father after what Robert had done?
With another sigh, Steffon explained.
"I was already in talks with his Grace about replacing Tywin as the Hand long before the tourney even began. I expected to be dismissed, but his Grace decided to keep our arrangement. My appointment will commence after the tourney has concluded."
"Hm. I'm sure the lion was not happy," Rhaegal said, his eyes dancing with amusement.
Steffon hesitated. "Lord Tywin was….understanding."
Stannis did not know how truthful his father was being right now. Given Tywin's personality, he wasn't too keen to believe that the man had taken it well.
"I'm sure." Rhaegal's tone was more dismissive. "My father has grown tired of the old lion's game. The Lannisters think too much of themselves. Despite Robert's blunder, you are not to blame for this incident. You are the only other my father can trust with the position."
Steffon smiled ruefully. "Do you trust me, Prince Rhaegal?"
"Who can say?" Rhaegal turned to walk out but stopped. He did not face them as he asked Steffon one final question. "Do you resent me for what I did to your son?"
Stannis watched in silence as his father thought on his answer.
"No. I do not. Robert made his choices. His future has become limited, but he still has one. I know your reasons were not selfless, but I thank you all the same for sparing his life. Perhaps the harshness of the North will instill the values in him that I could not."
The North?
'Robert is not just being disinherited,' Stannis realized.
He was being exiled.
Rhaegal did not respond.
Stannis watched him leave the balcony with Ser Arthur.
When he awoke this morning, he had been nothing more than the second son who stood to inherit nothing that he did not build for himself.
Now, he was going to become one of the most powerful men in the realm.
Fate was truly fickle.
---
It was late into the evening when Hoster received an impromptu invitation to Casterly Rock.
Unlike Rickard, Hoster was lucky enough to not be involved in the day's event. It was not his family who was caught in a scandal that was already the talk of the entire realm. Lords and smallfolk alike gossiped in the tourney grounds and in the city about the betrothal of Prince Daeron Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.
It would not take long for the Martells to get word of this mess either.
In their earlier dealings, Rickard had all but confirmed that the Targaryens had bestowed a royal match to his house, so Robert's stunt did not catch Hoster off guard as much as it had others. This was after Hoster had been trying to figure out why Rickard had turned down the Baratheons and their offer.
Weren't the Starks and Baratheons good allies? What about the Arryns? In previous letters with Jon Arryn, Hoster learned that the old lord had been very eager to see Robert and Lyanna betrothed. No doubt to strengthen his coalition.
'A coalition that no longer exists.'
Hoster had been playing it safe this entire time. While he was happy to tie his house to the Starks, he was not so eager to jump into a formal alliance with Jon Arryn and his heir. A marriage between Brandon and Catelyn ensured that his grandson would be the Lord of Winterfell one day, securing the North as a powerful ally for at least two generations. It was less messy. Less complicated.
There was just too much uncertainty in the realm for Hoster to make that kind of decision with the Arryns. Not with all the schemes that Jon was trying to orchestrate.
Still, while not surprised, Hoster still felt sour about the whole thing. He was certain that the Targaryens hadn't once considered his house for marriage. If it came down to it, he would have ended his talks with the Starks and presented Catelyn to them. Lysa was also an option too. Prince Rhaegal was not available, but there were two other princes of similar ages that could have made for good matches.
'We got passed over again.'
Another insult, but one that Hoster had to swallow. He had been a witness to the powers the Targaryens wielded. From Rhaegal's magic to the dragons, he had no choice but to bow his head and play nice.
His heart was a different story. In his mind, he shouted. He cursed. He did everything that he could imagine, and still his pride did not recover.
So why was he going to Casterly Rock? To meet the king?
Of course not. The invitation came from none other than Tywin himself.
It was a curious turn of events, which was why Hoster traveled to the castle with some reservation. He had once visited the famous castle in his youth. Back then, neither he nor Tywin had been lords but rather heirs. Those were simpler times.
Now, Hoster entered the private solar as Lord of Riverrun while Tywin greeted him as the Lord of Casterly Rock and the Hand of the King.
Yet, neither of them looked happy as Tywin served them each a cup of wine.
"It's been years since we last spoke," Tywin began as he took a small sip from his drink.
Hoster did the same. "Yes."
He was not going to say more than he had to until Tywin revealed his reasons for inviting him here.
The Lord of Casterly Rock leaned back in his chair, his pale green eyes studying Hoster as he relaxed ever so slightly. It was a rare show of fatigue from the overly proud man.
"This tourney will be talked about for many years to come and not for the reasons that I had hoped."
Oh?
Hoster cocked his head. "Of what do you speak, Lord Hand?"
"Don't play the fool." Tywin snapped at him. "Tell me. Did you know about the king's dealings with the Starks beforehand?"
Suddenly, Hoster realized that perhaps he had gotten too overconfident. He had thought that no one in the king's small council was aware of his correspondence with the Arryns.
'No, I'm overthinking it.' It was possible that Tywin thought that Rickard might have told him about the betrothal during their own negotiations.
Hoster tried to maintain his composure. "I already suspected. I heard that the Starks rejected the Baratheons. They had little reason to do so unless they had a better offer."
And what better offer was there than a prince with a dragon.
His answer also didn't reveal anything new. It was already common knowledge that his daughter was betrothed to Brandon Stark. He didn't have to hide his communication with Rickard.
"It seems I've been too blind for too long," Tywin muttered, his face sour. "I was too focused on Aerys that I let the situation slip from my control."
Hoster shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was not used to….whatever this was.
"What exactly is this about, Lord Hand? For what reason have you called me here?"
If Tywin suspected treachery, then surely Hoster would have already been placed under arrest. So what was going on here?
Tywin's eyes were blank for a couple of seconds before he refocused on Hoster.
"Recently, I've gotten word of interesting activity coming from the Vale. Activity that I suspect you might be involved in."
Hoster did not deny it. Not right away. Reacting strongly would do the opposite of helping him right now.
"I'm afraid I do not know what you mean, Lord Hand."
Tywin waved off his words, annoyed. "Playing coy will do you no good here, Lord Tully. You are not as discreet as you think you are. There have been a lot of ravens coming from the Vale to the North and to Riverrun. The warding of Robert Baratheon and a Stark. Your daughter's betrothal to Brandon Stark. These are not isolated events. There is something there. In their arrogance, Aerys and his beloved prince have not yet turned their gaze on you because they do not deem you a threat. Not yet. I know better. But count yourself lucky. I have no interest in sharing my opinion with Aerys."
What?
"The situation has changed rapidly, and I must adapt," Tywin explained when he noticed Hoster's confusion. "I had a mind to share what I know with the king eventually, but that no longer matters. Like you, I have been ignored by the dragons and tossed aside. Now I must do what I can to salvage what I can."
No doubt if Tywin had secured an alliance with the Targaryens, then the Lannisters would move to dispose of them if they posed some sort of threat to the crown.
Hoster began to understand why that wasn't the case. "Rhaegal will still marry his sister then."
Incestuous bastards. For all of his supposed gifts, Rhaegal Targaryen was no different from his grandfather. He could have anyone he wanted, but rather he chose to remain fixed by his sister's side. Aerys and Rhaella had been forced into their marriage. What was Rhaegal's excuse?
"I suspect Rhaegar has a match ready too," Tywin replied. "Aerys just has not deemed it necessary to share it with the rest of us. No." He shook his head. "It's Rhaegal. He's the one with the plans."
Hoster knew that already. His brother's letters said as much. They were filled with glowing praise and explanations about what was happening in the capital. The letters were never addressed to him of course, but to his children. It made little difference. Hoster knew his brother. As angry as he was with Brynden, Hoster knew the type of person that his brother was. He would not write about empty flattery.
No, his brother meant every word.
It made Hoster nervous to see the new King's Landing for himself the next time he visited the city. Not that he was eager to go any time soon. Not when he now knew that someone in the small council knew about Jon Arryn's activities. Who was to say that there were not others? Didn't the king have a Master of Whisperers too?
"I tried approaching him once, but I was ignored." Tywin seemed to be venting. The situation must have really gotten to him if he was speaking so candidly. "He thinks of the Lannisters as beneath him. I thought that perhaps I could apply enough pressure on Aerys to change Rhaegal's mind. I was wrong." He gritted his teeth. "Now, I've been removed from the board and have to fight for scraps like a common mutt."
Hoster understood the feeling. If things had gone differently, then the king could have been his cousin. The Tullys would have been fully secured in their position for many years to come.
There would have been two queens back-to-back who hailed from the Riverlands. What a fantastic world that would have been.
Hoster kept his mind in the present, however. He had already wallowed in his pity about what-ifs for far too long.
"So what do you want from me exactly?" Tywin had yet to explain that part to Hoster, although he was already beginning to suspect what this was about.
"You have a daughter remaining, do you not?"
Hoster's eyes narrowed. "I do."
"I have a son." Tywin took another sip from his wine. "What do you say about your daughter becoming the future Lady of Casterly Rock?"