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casterlygldcs · 56 minutes

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there were many things tyland of house lannister would need to hear of his abilities, and his nature as king, and as a man; things that he would feel a sense of atonement and acceptance to hear, and things that would no doubt vex him - and yet regardless, he knew there was one thing he would never hear. that he had eyes for any other apart from the woman he had taken as his own through the exchange of the most holy of vows.

vows he believed were holy...as much as he had proved himself willing to involve himself in the dirty business of annulment and divorce.

"then you shall not be without lemon tarts." his response was swift, his hand still resting behind her chair as he stood over her, straightening back to his full height following kissing the top of her head. "and you need not restrain yourself from anything but that which would put risk to our golden future." the words were that of juxtaposition, laced with heaviness as well as affection.

not only would he not bring filth to his household by spreading his precious line to those who did not deserve it so, but he would not break and dishonour his vows in such a way.

there was no denying as much as she belonged to him, tyland lannister as a man belonged to her. which meant the entirety of his pressures, his high expectations and his standards were upon her and her alone. and all appeared soft, until the pair of emerald hues fixed upon a serving girl; and when the order came, it was blunt - in a voice that commanded large amounts of authority.

"how is my son?" tyland asked, the question again, one of authority - as though there would be no doubt or question about the matter. he would have a son; his daughter had already died, and he had detangled himself from the golden thorns of one union. as though he were wondering why there was not a plate of lemon tarts before her in this very instance. "all the realms will travel to see him when the time comes."

she was observant. she had always been observant; one of the things he had silently appreciated about her from a distance in their youth: days of chivalry, of tourneys and the colours of youth - they no longer could appreciate the painting when they held the brush. "there is dissent in your family's lands that needs putting down." he spoke, stressing your family; as though it was not her issue to deal with, or begin to worry about. "the old faith is rumoured to be maintained within the villages around silverhill; including mass."

the queen of the west found herself entirely more settled back home now, their time in the crownlands went smoothly, as much as she was aware, with lavish tea parties and art showcases, she found the entire visit quaint and pleasant, despite her dislike for some of the customs that were unfamiliar and strange, she dismissed them for the conversations she would be able to have with nobles of other kingdoms. still, the lady of silverhill was eager to begin looking forward to the near future, to see her promise come to fruition, and to become a mother to the future king of the westerlands.

she had been certain from the moment she realized she was with child that it was a son, the signs seemed to become more plain with each passing day. she yearned for fresh venison and lemon tarts, and the midwives had insisted it were things a boy demanded to grow strong in his mother’s womb. her suspicions seemed further confirmed when she began to feel the child’s movements and kicking, a reminder throughout the day of the blessings the gods had finally granted them.

even then, there was a certain level of exhaustion that seemed to come over here, in the initial days since their arrival back to casterly rock, she felt content being confined to her chambers, her ladies attending her, and her feeling entirely satisfied with the decor, suddenly, now setting her sights on soon picking decor for her son’s nursery. she had been deciding on fabrics when word came from the steward that her husband would soon visit, and the queen dismissed the extra attendants in preparation for his arrival, finding herself looking over every ringlet upon her head, before finding herself centered in the room, a low grateful curtsy as those around her showed their respects to the king who entered, easily commanding any space he found himself within.

“your grace.” the queen murmured gently in reply, rising from her form at the appropriate moment, kind gestures pulled into a genuine smile upon her face. all knew of the king’s iron fist, the way in which he ruled his kingdom with strength and a firm disposition, but none would deny the queen’s love for him, anyways, for it were clear in the very way she look upon him. a soft giggle escaped her as the puppies whimpered and pawed. “they have certainly missed us.”

grin only brightened at his words, hands naturally coming to cross in front of her, the swelling of her stomach more apparent now even beneath voluminous skirts. “i am quite well, my king.” katherine spoke as they walked to the side chamber. she sat within the seat he obtained for her, smoothly the skirts of her dress as she did, hands resting in her lap. “though i have an immense yearning for lemon tarts, so much so i’ve had to restrain myself.” she jested with an airy laugh, hues glancing down at her belly before back to her husband.

“matters at home seem to have taken much of your attention already, your grace.” katherine simply observed. “all is well, i hope?”

#c: katherine #katherine 002 #and she has no rival as my queen of the west ; forever heavy is the head that weighs the crown (tyland&eleanore)#did those feet in ancient time walk upon the west? was alayim built here among these golden caves? (the king & queen of the west)#all silver and gold to be the queen of choice : all the sun touches is your own (tyland&katherine)

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casterlygldcs · 3 days

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kingship looked as polished as ever upon the silhouette of jaehaerys targaryen; the mould had finally taken place, the young boy whose entire being was merely an amalgamation of all any in his life had ever wanted him to be. even in his rejection of certain wishes, even in all the boyish tantrums which had translated to moments of extreme anger in adulthood, that was even copied from another. who was jaehaerys targaryen at heart, if not the creation of every other in his life who had once pulled the strings of power?

"and do you know what it is he and his are doing across the narrow sea?" tyland asked, his question direct and forward; orbs of emeralds that appeared on each of the three heads of the lion were identical, but so different, were fixed upon the king who sat before him. for all the ups and downs that came in the relationship of the west and the land of rivers, there was no denying the amount of investment the gold of the rock had put into the rebuilding of their ally.

it was an economic strategy as much as it was a military one, in securing their eastern border: and considering the ruling lord of house lefford had voiced his attention had fixed toward a certain bracken, it only worked further in his favour. what did the lyseni wish to achieve in dismantling the structure which had already been set up, which only proved to benefit the lion king and his own?

"are your lyseni not also working with the serpents on your borders?" tyland asked, a hint of something clear in his voice; he had heard of the altercation which had taken place between the dragon king and the princess regent of dorne. "i would not have expected lys to be the bridge between the two of you." especially considering an offer of marriage had been extended toward the dornish princess, again, spread via conversation. for a moment tyland found himself wondering the king had found himself struck by the dornish woman, or whether she had managed to capture him in such a way.

"there is no need to dive into unknown pockets. the gold you owe me can be paid back over time. there is no rush considering all seems to be at peace." his words had a double meaning; he knew jaehaerys was trying to pay him back as soon as possible. tyland did not see the advantage of that: there was some use in knowing their gold still remained in the coffers of the dragons of kings landing. "especially when you are dealing with the king of glass. you never know when you shall need it."

the people of kings landing were prone to riots, after all.

“Your grace.” Tyland was meant to be a king, a man who helped in the ruling of seven kingdoms, someone who saw all sides of the realm. Who knew the weakness of regions better than the man who saw the kingdoms when they were seven? Jaehaerys admired much about Tyland Lannister and hoped to use the inspiration in his influence to rule his kingdom well. They were different in many ways, but he felt they had much in common where it counted, and it counted in many places. Jaehaerys spent much of his boyhood looking around for men to admire, he found Aemond to be too cruel and Criston to be too arrogant. Otto thought like a servant, but he worked like a master and Tyland always moved the way songs said Kings moved.

Jaehaerys nodded in agreement, he found himself thrown off by Lysarr in their first meeting though it wore off. “You know Otto was always thinking ahead. They say Rhaenyra cut off the only head in her court that could form a thought.” And he believed that, he believed his aunt was too stupid to understand the nature of things. She would have never been able to trust Otto but Otto Hightower being beheaded first was surely an oversight. An emotional move with no attempt to gather anything he knew. “I’ve known him from before. In Lys.”

Otto Hightower was always writing and building bridges and making connections. And during his “disappearance” he stopped to speak with Lysarr Rogare as his goal of being King came closer.

“I will be working with Lys and Volantis, if I can find a way for us to come to an agreement.” And he was certain they would reach many agreements when it came to Lysarr’s place in the realm. Banking was important. By the months end the funds would be mostly recovered from the Iron Bank and then he would make his next moves.

Jaehearys wore the hint of a smile at the question, chuckling to himself as he recalled the conversation with the High Septon. “There has been some confusion for the High Septon, I imagine.” A man who overstepped and played his hand to wildly. He would never be able win a game with a bad hand and a good face. What he wore on his sleeve was a weakness, and weaknesses were to be used to benefit.

“He was not chosen by the Hightower, not odd but not common either. Such a bold tongue for a man with no name. One who wears the glass crown must have ties to the world around him otherwise he is locked within his tower with no friends. A man without friends is a sad man indeed.” Jaehaerys didn’t speak in riddles, his tone flat with a voice that moved straight to the point. “I believe he means to convince me to join his side.” The dragon King smiled, there was a hint of the old mischief of a brat prince.

#c: jaehaerys #jaehaerys 005

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casterlygldcs · 4 days

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"they are bankers." it appeared, for a moment, as though tyland were explaining the obvious; there was no need to tell lord tirius rowan of all people who the rogares were - what was truly meant, was another matter entirely. the great chain of being was what caused the world to spin, a concrete understanding of one's place in the world and what it meant.

the constant shuffling deck of what was permissible and what would be considered a transgression was the game every living soul ought to know from the moment they were born. "they have positioned themselves to be of great value, in being able to mediate between the two powers our realms cannot." tirius himself spoke of the great value that came with securing closer ties, and yet it would be the lyseni who benefited from being able to rope the dragons and the vipers into deals alike.

there was an exception to those who understood such rule such as the great chain of being: bankers. blinded by money, and forgetting their blood ran as worthless and barren as relying on the sun to remain in a constant, fixed spot in the sky. they were once nothing, and would become nothing once again. usurers blinded by their own greed and gluttony, forgetting there was more to power than gold - something even the king of the rock would swear to. "they have an advantage."

the hightowers had the blood, and had the beginnings of the bank: and yet there had been silence from oldtown. silence from the cripple of the hightower; it had caused the cogs in the mind of the lion king to begin to turn. was there to be another feud with the false king adorning a crown of glass? had something already happened?

his mind trailed back to the reports of the conversation his brother had apparently had with the princess regent of dorne, a woman he knew nothing about, who now apparently held the sun within her hand: a three month old child held the crown, meaning there were other shadows at work here. multiple people the west and the reach alike would need to deal with, rather than one individual ruler.

he would ask about this princess regent of dorne, and who her most notable were.

"it is unlikely the reach will be able to persuade dorne to do anything in regard to cooperating with jaehaerys targaryen, due to the brash nature of your men at sea." dorne, was merely a front in the entirety of this conversation: in truth, there were multiple members of the lion's court who did not appreciate seeing the rising levels of confidence and dominance the redwynes and blackbars were putting upon the sea. their fleet essentially swarmed, totally to well up to a thousand following the annexation of the isles.

The word reached them and it was his duty to make sure it went through the council members and they prepared themselves to begin moving. They would be leaving this New Valyria to look for some answers. And there would be more questions then answers and of that he was certain. Who murdered the lord of the Hightower? Had it been something he brought on himself? Had one of his ex-wives hired an assassin? Both of them could afford it. One the daughter from a Western house with a mine and the other a daughter from Braavos and while he knew little about the former lady of House Hightower he knew that the Faceless men were in Braavos.

"I've yet to meet them, your grace." Though he wondered if he would have to sit down and speak with the bankers until they could replace their master of coin. And who would fill that role? They would have so much to do, so much to start with , and so much to finish. Last he'd heard there was work within Oldtown regarding a bank, he'd not been informed on further details which either meant it had stalled or had not been started. Stressed. He was quite possibly the most stressed he'd ever been.

The King of the Westerlands did not speak to him for conversation nor did he wish to hear the many opinions and views of the Hand of the Reach King. Tirius would listen, answer his questions in the best way he could without giving more information than his king would like for him to give. He understood his role. And he played it well, carefully.

"There is great value in securing closer ties. Assuring that we come to a mutual understanding." And he believed it possible. There was a conversation between his grace and the first and second ministers of Dorne. The Dornish would do as they were known to do and then they would come around to reason. As the Lion said, grain was important and the Reach wasn't called the bread basket because their bakers were the best in Westeros. He leaned over and whispered to one of his stewards and patted him on the shoulder sending him away before returning his focus on the golden king.

Tirius nodded as he listened to the other. He didn't speak too much when it came time to work. To listen and take mental note of all he heard. Every word would be repeated to his King to the best of his recollection and he recalled better when he spoke less. To him it was important to secure Dorne. With their power at sea they could take what they wanted. It was better to ask first. "We do shy away from taking hole of the sea." It was an agreement, an attack on the Summer Isles vessels could force a few hands. And it was pleasant to know the king of lions agreed with such a strategy.

#c: tirius #tirius 001

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casterlygldcs · 4 days

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COMMISSION! in the source link, you’ll find THREE HUNDRED gifs of the actor NIKOLAJ KOSTER-WALDAU in THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME (SEASON 1). all gifs were made by me from scratch, therefore i’d appreciate if they are not edited, redistributed, added to other gif hunts or claimed as someone elses. if you enjoy or plan on using them, please like or reblog the post. if you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee!

#resources.

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casterlygldcs · 25 days

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there were multiple notable strengths the hand of the king had across any kingdom; a position that had the most amount of respect and integrity regardless of the crown that rested upon the brow. the ruling lord of ashemark was a different matter, solely because he was the hand to tyland lannister; the westerlanders were entirely aware of their place on the social standing, on the great chain of being - and the hand of the lion king was a great man, greater than most.

add the fact he was trusted and considered a reliable voice within the court of elegant savagery, and eren marbrand become a dangerous man. to forget his power, and his place, was beginning to tread a dangerous line. the man knew his place whilst not attempting to overstretch or overbear himself, a pursuer of duty because of his title, rather than any other connection. "i am listening, lord hand."

would the suggestion be stressing the importance of uniformity? no anomalies, no changes, no differences.

he did not need to remind others of his association with the king to get matters sealed - and that was what made him a mighty danger to those who would wish to tread over him. the lion king knew the way this court worked: established long before he breathed, but only emphasised since casterly's gold was moulded into a crown. there would be others at the heels of his feet, mouths wide open: less men, more animals. and eren marbrand would be waiting for them.

there was no reaction to the news of the prince of fair isle deciding to remain within the court of casterly - only that of perceived politeness. tyland had contemplated on whether arron's presence in the council chamber would swing some matters askew, change the odds; or whether they too would find themselves closely associated. there were common links between them - arron's chosen wife was of the old way too, was she not? "the court will be ordered when the gods grant me my son."

for tyland would make a point of a son in the aftermath of his reformation. a divine point.

Eren nodded, he would look personally, there was a reason the King told him to do something and not them. And he mentioned the and her current state he nodded his head in agreement once more. He would never inform the queen of more than she needed to know, it was dangerous to play the game through a sitting royal, better to be a puppet who pulled small strings. That was the power of the hand, the hand ruled with the kings grace and his grace alone. Tarnishing that grace ruined his place and position.

It disgusted him for someone to insult his king and his king's wishes. Was it so difficult to follow orders? Why did so many struggle with doing as they were bid? Why did so many fight against what was natural? Their children would grow up looking toward the rock and knowing their Kings would guide them. And their royal coffers would stay full versus filling coffers of Oldtown and the Hightower.

Could they trust the Serrett brothers, that was the question he asked silently. Would there be some story fully prepared? There would be no way of knowing if they were intelligent. It mattered not. This would have to be put down and those guilty would have to be punished. He struggled on whether he wanted to suggest public punishment of go against it, for it could embolden those to see one of their own die well, but he dies screaming...well, there was something there.

"I look forward to hosting the Prince and will keep myself open until our meeting." The Prince of Fair Isle was coming to the Rock? He was gathering reports? When did he do anything other than sail around and cause issues for him to clean up. He would have to put his brother to task. Befriend the Prince. Use commonalities if any were to be found.

"I've a suggestion regard this issue possibly showing its face again."

#c: eren #eren 004

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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who: @withsilvereyes when and what: following the westerlands court's arrival back to casterly rock following the coronation festivities of king jaehaerys of house targaryen, tyland lannister does not see his wife the queen privately for a number of two days. it appears as though the couple are settling into their usual routine in casterly rock once again, when in reality the lion king is dealing with multiple councillors regarding the matter of house serrett. there is swirling beginning to occur within court, reported back by the lord hand. tyland lannister has now arrived at the queen's apartments in the afternoon; not the usual time he would arrive, though the pageboy sent forward word to the queen's household.

the place of a queen consort was not the council chamber; there should never be a vacant chair available for a queen to sit in on the proceedings that occurred within the realm - for there were roles that both men and women were expected to fulfil and stick to. to taint the image and the reputation of a queen with something as gritty as politics would only prove to make her seem on the same level as those she sits with: puts her into natural contention with the lords surrounding her, and marks her with another sort of responsibility that was not her own to bare.

when a queen already held the responsibility of securing the line of succession and delivering healthy, strong sons, to have her bare the weight and responsibility of matters such as law and commerce would only prove faulty.

the queen, was as the king: higher than all other subjects within the court, apart from the king himself. and so, when the queen of choice did not see her husband for some days, he expected she would know that he was busy. the matter regarding the serretts was truthfully, not as much of an emergency as some may consider he would believe it to be - resistance was expected in times of great change, and all that was required was a strong push. pushing forward through the battle, to reach the other side - all worthwhile outcomes needed to be at the cost of blood, sweat and tears.

it was on the third day following their arrival from kings landing did his steward send forward the page boy, informing the queen's household of his impending arrival within the hour: allowing for her majesty to ready herself and her attendants. for he wished to speak with her on matters of silverhill, and the work ambrose serrett had dedicated himself to: she would hear it from his own mouth, rather than any other courtier - if it were anyone else, the lord hand would have been the one to issue such news. but the queen was with child, and had performed in her duties with great precision and grace; he had seen the way in which the other women of other courts looked toward the westerland queen, the ideal model. perfection, in it's clearest and finest form.

it was what he expected, and what he would have of a queen of the west; and the gods had blessed him in presenting the consequences of his choice. as he entered the queen's apartments, tyland lannister found the scene which he expected to find; her household staff lined up, with his queen curtsying to greet him. "your grace." tyland addressed her, his tone warm as he looked upon her; there was no denying the fact that she was glowing, a radiant beauty whose nature was mirrored by her physical beauty. he watched as the her serving staff bowed and curtsied, before raising to their full height at his indication.

"i have come with the intention of enquiring as to the wellbeing of her majesty." he continued, stepping forward to close the distance between them - he made no effort to dismiss the courtiers; for it was important for the court to see the favour the king had in his queen. there was no other woman that existed in his sphere, in his realm of influence; and how that was the mightiest of triumphs, and the strongest of curses all at once. in the corner of the chambers came the sounds of pawing, and he saw the small dogs he had gifted her some months earlier; the king clapped his hands together, watching as they scampered forward to paw at the skirts of katherine.

the sight, and the momentary surprise that crossed over her golden features, was enough to cause a smile to cross over the features of the lion king; and he outstretched his hand to lead her from the dogs, and from the rest of the servants attending. "tell me, are you well? maester howard informed me of the kicking - it is a sign. of strength, and of deliverance." he led her to a side chamber, in which the chair was pulled for her to sit on by his own hand, leaning forward to softly plant a kiss atop her head. and then he allowed the veil to fall, knowing the rest of the courtiers would remain. he would see her as she is, before he spoke to her of matters that would no doubt concern her.

#c: katherine #katherine 002 #all silver and gold to be the queen of choice : all the sun touches is your own (tyland&katherine)#did those feet in ancient time walk upon the west? was alayim built here among these golden caves? (the king & queen of the west)

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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who: @lencra when and where: during coronation festivities, tyland lannister's mind is elsewhere; his eyes fall upon his cousin, the newly crowed queen lenora of house targaryen. this is set after the discussion between lenora and myriam, the current regent of dorne, in which myriam mentions the proposal issued to her by king jaehaerys. tyland has heard all too much of the doctrine of exceptionalism issued to valyrian men to take multiple wives; and had been waiting to see whether jaehaerys intended to lead by example.

there had been members of the dragon court that had coughed up hold venom in the clear indication the westerland influence had upon the court of kings landing: choking on the histories of flags of black and green and the mighty disgrace it had led to. the attack on lenora had been followed up by the westerlanders, with tyland seeing jaehaerys directly to voice his concerns regarding the reaction: what court was he ruling over? what vipers continued to linger and fester in his court that resulted in such treachery so early into the plans being set into motion?

there multiple houses in the crownlands that had fought for the claim of the half year queen and her children, who had fought loyally; the velaryons had lost a great amount of influence in court as a result of their loyalty to queen daenaerys, and yet they remained nonetheless.

tyland had even taken it upon himself to catch the hand of the dragon king - a man who appeared more twig than human, and asked for an update regarding the investigations. for the in the westerlands, an attack upon the princess would be considered treason - punishable by the swift sentence of death. and now the courtiers of various realms remained in great proximity to one another - not just westerosi, but even the lyseni and the braavosi from across the narrow sea. "an audience between myself and the rogare lord has been arranged for later in the week." he spoke, his arms resting behind his back as they walked along the stretch of the hall that was relatively empty; the side lines of the dancing, where there remained a flurry of colours with each swish of a skirt.

queendom suited lenora, despite the initial hitch in that matter: and that matter was not for tyland to speak on. it was her brothers who ought to remind her of the importance of maintaining her position, especially if the dragon king sought to start taking other wives. the limit was three - a fourth able to be taken in exchange for coin. but jaehaerys targaryen would not need to pay himself. the princess of dorne was a wildcard. it was a close call. she was no woman from a lesser house, but a woman with a region of her own - he would have had to end up trying to work out if he could have invested in dornish nobles overthrowing her.

"i intend on making a judgement on who the man is - though, by the looks of it, he seems to have established a connection with your husband the king." there was little that could make tyland lannister sway in his decision to remain an ally of the riverlands, especially one they were a lesser power than his own - he would not be able to exert that same level of influence over lys, nor did he feel like there was benefit in doing so. "though he too is allied with the dornish." that was all he needed to say on the matter; if the marriage with the dornish regent had gone through, it would have been a triarchy of it's own based in the crownlands - in direct contrast to the one established by the west.

the last thing they needed was dorne involving themselves, even in one way or another; the animosity and hate between the two realms will never truly be put out. but he was not willing to stand back and play the peacemaker; it was a smart move on behalf of jaehaerys in an attempt to stop the violence on his border. but it was too great a risk. "do you have any inclination as to who he could take as another?" tyland asked, his tone low as he spoke with his cousin, their steps in sync.

#c: lenora #lenora 002

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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who: @lysarrrogare when and where: following an introduction to the rightful heir of house roggare via king jaehaerys of house targaryen, king tyland lannister sits with lysarr rogare. the setting is within the lannister apartments of the red keep, and is an obviously formal affair; there remain guards of both houses on either side of the doors. in terms of the political sphere, tyland lannister has made his alliance with the riverlands abundantly clear through the announcement of guinevere lannister's betrothal to casimir tully.

there remained some distant sound of flutes from the rooms deeper into the apartments, where the court of the westerlands dined with one another - there was no denying the sense of spirit that seemed to come over the individual courtiers of the realm, to see the crown placed upon the brow of jaehaerys targaryen had ensured it felt as though the dance of dragons had truly come to an end. whilst tyland had extended his own hand and influence during the reign of queen daenaerys, in suggesting the use of the bank of casterly as opposed to the iron bank of braavos, jaehaerys was too cunning to accept money from the lannisters - for to do so, was the beginning of a greater, more complicated matter entirely.

"it is said that the lysene spring has placed your revenue higher than even the iron bank." as close to a compliment as one could come, and yet tyland lannister was commenting on mere fact: the lyseni were challenging the established banking authority across the narrow sea. and if tyland lannister could make judgement, the key holders would not be glad to hear of such a move. it were intriguing to the lion king, that the rogares of lys would focus on making an enemy of the riverlands - when their closer associate, the iron bank of braavos, held more of a threat than before. they would not appreciate being challenged, as tyland himself would not appreciate being challenged on this side of the narrow sea.

there were rumours spreading, of the braavosi being involved in the attack on the rogares in lys. that the political assassinations which were so common place in courts such as braavos and lys had come to a head due to the financial power of both mighty houses. tyland hismelf intended on keeping his hands washed of the matter, for the blood that would stain his hands would instead be of a matter. fighting for valyrians for ten years had made one lesson abundantly clear - focus on one's own first, always.

now the green king needed a method to repay the debts owed to house lannister, the debts that had been amassed by his cousin when she was queen: and he would find a way to do it sooner rather than later. was that part of the reason why the valryians of lys had found such comfort and belonging within the halls of the red keep? would tyland be receiving money from the lyseni, in the great benefits of their mighty spring, and then it were up to the targaryens to pay back the lyseni? tyland looked at the man that sat across from him with a gaze that made it clear he was working out what to make of the man that sat across from him: as much as he looked like a targaryen, he was not one.

there was a difference between the valyrians of westeros, and the valyrians from across the narrow sea: pivotal differences, such as that of bloodlines and inheritance. two forms of money, the old and the new, both made the world spin; and tyland was adamant in his understanding of the world and the view of it. "how do you intend on dealing with the braavosi?" tyland asked, clearly steering clear from the matter of the riverlands - though they would get to that mention. the riverlands was a region the lannisters had invested money in, a region they would soon extend influence over; gaining them a larger amount of land, stretching up the neck with the north, and the crownlands, and the vale.

#c: lysarr #lysarr 001

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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who: @erenmarbrand when and where: following the lion court's arrival to the westerlands, king tyland lannister holds an emergency meeting with lord eren marbrand, the hand of the king. at this point, the master of whispers had alerted eren of the growing rumours, and it had been confirmed by a landed knight within lannisport to eren marbrand earlier.

they walked at a fast pace, the portraits and majestic tapestries blurring by them as they wound their way through the caverns of the rock: there still was no place such as casterly rock, and being back in kings landing after so many years only further cemented this ideology in the mind of the lion king. they remained at the top, and would be in every respect once this schism with the bastard in a glass crown was thoroughly severed; there would be no other voice of authority within but that of the crown - a truly centralised power, with no influence but it's own from the very core of court life.

and yet, during their journey back to the sprawling majesty of the west; crossing through golden tooth in entering their lands from the east, the master of whispers had made the hand of the king aware of a matter growing within the lands of silverhill.

"look into how much time lord adrian serrett spent in imposing the new laws." tyland directed as they spoke, knowing that there would need to be some to take responsibility for the growing matter at hand: whilst he understood the ruling lord of the westerlands had always been focused on the economy of the realm and adding to the realm's treasury in all items confiscated in the rich septs across the entirety of the realm, that was not to be at the expense of his control as ruling lord.

the last thing tyland lannister needed was for there to be some tarnish the house of his queen, especially in the matter to her growing child; soon they would be nearing the end of that journey, and the queen would take to her true battlefield. the birthing bed. "you understand this matter is not to be repeated to the queen; not in her current condition." the only matter which tested the stability of the westerlands at this point in time, was indeed the delivery of a legitimate, male, heir. there were times where he found himself wondering if the gods had turned their back on the kingdom of elegant savagery, in all the times they were yet to have a clear line of succession.

the prince of fair isle was his heir, but it was important - no, pivotal, for a man to have heirs and children of his own. the time was nearing closer, and tyland would intend to ensure it was done correctly this time. there would be no mistake for errors: for he was sure the gods had shown their favour upon them. this was a new age of the land of the west.

"lord ambrose serrett has departed for his lands and intends to return with those to be held responsible." the moment they rode through the lion's mouth, ambrose had been rerouted to return to silverhill, immediately - no doubt with a weight upon his shoulders. it would be a fair assessment to argue such dissent grew as a result of there remaining one notable member of the court of the westerlands who had still not yet signed the act of supremacy of king tyland of house lannister - and that was the princess herself. it was a matter that would need discussion, though the lion king did not find this time to be the correct one. "the prince of fair isle has also made it his priority to remain in casterly rock, rather than continuing in his journey to fair isle. his intention is to meet with you later today, or early in the morrow - no doubt to obtain a full detailed update."

#c: eren #eren 004

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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who: @arronlannister when and where: kings landing, the morning the lyseni rogares arrive to kings landing; the brothers of house lannister remain within the private quarters within the lannister apartments, eating dinner privately instead of in the main feasting hall of the red keep this day. this is set prior to the untimely murder of lord garland hightower; though at this point he has returned back to the reach as according to salma's canon.

the conversation within the gardens of the rock, down at the grounds whilst what was the true reality of their world remain towering above them, had truthfully remained within the back of his mind - as much as he would not admit it to any other than the man that sat before him. there came a danger in a lion feeling as though he had no pride; an exiled lion never survived long in the wild, and such was the reality in this case. it would be rare for any to be able to physically overpower the prince of fair isle, and yet the slippery world of plots and schemes were a reality - as much as they were a reality the man attempted to distance himself from. the lion king had the knowledge that arron was inherently able to grasp the severity of such plots - and what was needed in order to deal with them.

it was their father that had warned tyland of the impending realities regarding house reyne and house tarbeck; his whole life, had been as much of a waiting game as it was dealing with them. for even lions needed to deal with challenges of being the head of the pride. "lord marbrand briefed me of some reputed issues stemming from silverhill." tyland spoke, slicing into the venison on his plate; he paid no attention to the sound of his blade against the porcelain, or the way in which the pink flowed from the venison. they had spent the majority of the evening with one another, deciding they would remain absent from the celebrations and festivities this day: the other courtiers, most notably the hand of the king, would represent their interests.

"religious dissent." tyland sliced his meat as though he sliced the hunt himself - the way their father had taught them to skin open a deer, and strip the carcass to take all from it, leaving nothing to waste. he remained silent as he saw the facial expression of arron lannister change slightly; there was a reason tyland lannister had intentionally kept a distance from the high septon. the master of whispers had reported the swirling rumours that seemed to be spirited within the west, the notion that jaehaerys targaryen was ready to help the king and the high septon come to some sort of conciliation. "i will send lord ambrose serrett to round up those within his own lands - it is their responsibility to ensure the matter is dealt with, imperatively." another sound of cutting, the knife against the porcelain of the plate - if the noise bothered arron, tyland himself did not notice.

"lord westerling advised against the entire group being executed - too soon following the matter at the starry sept." where westerland septons had fled over the border to seek sanctuary from the high septon, instead of swearing an oath of fealty: in the end, there was bloodshed on the septs of the starry, and the septons themselves seemed to meet their timely ends following their confessions being taken. the wonders of wine representing blood. "the most prominent will be hung within lannisport's square, and the rest can be held in solitary confinement or sent to the isles to be put to work." he uttered.

tyland lannister was wholly aware of any of the personal complications that came in the life of arron lannister these coming days, unaware of the tensions that had swirled between the princess and the princess consort; though he knew and understood it would be arron and fair isle who would take guinevere's son as a ward. the rumoured bastard; the thought was enough to almost make him shake his head. what they had, was the rightful heir to the vale; the dead king's son. "how is fair isle taking to the changes?" tyland asked, referring to the reformation and the changes. truthfully, he understood there would be some resistance: the early work needed to be pushed forward now.

#c: arron #arron 007 #and why must you ask me to make a place at a table that you too own? (tyland&arron)#be the match and i'll be your fuse ; the world made you a monster so hold dominion over it (tyland&arron)#but you're always ready ; being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble? (the sons of casterly rock)

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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who: @tiriusrowan when and where: kings landing, the night the reach council were made aware of the murder of lord garland hightower. at this point, tyland lannister has come across both of the rogares as they remain close with jaehaerys: he is contemplating what they could want, considering their tensions with the riverlands.

the lion king had not noticed the way in which members of the reach had quietly spread themselves throughout the celebrations of the hall, each of them crossing to another one by one as the news was uttered quietly. there was no way any in the room would have any depth of understanding as to the shocking events that had unfolded within the hightower some nights prior, ending in shattered glass and crimson seeping on marble floor.

"and have you come across either of the rogare siblings, my lord?" tyland asked, in his natural tone: commanding, the voice that had become his own for every subject and for everyone conversation. he had not noticed the way in which the hand of king cedric tyrell had moved to the other members of the court, watching a domino effect of sorts begin; only, he knew he had found himself beside the hand and multiple other members of the reach court, as well as his own. the lefford brothers remained silent in such company, no doubt a reflection of what had happened in previous months.

"it appears as though they are somehow friends of both the dragons and the vipers alike." the lyseni duo were the talk of the evening; renowned guests of king jaehaerys targaryen, representative of a new power that had consolidated across the narrow sea - an emerging class of merchants and bankers that could even threaten the might of the iron bank itself.

the riverlander associates were no doubt more on edge than their westerland or reach counterparts, considering the history of tensions that had boiled over between the two realms - one strike of a match was all it would take for violence that threaten to boil over the situation at hand. and tyland lannister only watched, as the lyseni made their discussions between the targaryens and the martells. how was it this valyrian breed were able to settle themselves between the two powers, despite the incessant anger and tensions between the two?

how was it the lyseni became the peacemakers between the targaryen and the dornish faction? truthfully, tyland lannister did not entirely know nor understand what level of importance the rogares held - to them individually, as well as a whole.

he would not speak on what he did not fully know nor understand yet; as he was still watching. still, their position as peacemaker put them at an advantage: not drawing blades against either side, but benefiting from both realms nonetheless. "it would be of great benefit to our own established alliance should dorne develop increasing indifference to the bank of lys. there is opportunity for the reach to hold a constant trade partner, especially as the demand for grain is constant." tyland lannister did not speak out of genuine care or respect for dorne. he spoke as though they were all figurines on a board, and he needed to ensure the emerging choices and factions were clear.

tyland lannister would not agree to shifting his alliance, and his influence on the riverlands, for the sake of bankers that were only now emerging as a major power. such matters could easily shift and change, and banks based on trade and commerce were not as stable at their core as banks built on natural resources. the westerlands, was the only bank in the continent based on natural resources. "tensions between your realms remain tense. as do ours, considering my involvement with the blackmont turned traitor. we know the dornish are prideful people. aggression at sea, even targeted against the summer isles, could push them into engaging closer with the lyseni rather than continental connections."

#c: tirius #tirius 001 #surprise thread one

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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who; @ashemarklion when and what: a random starter, in which king tyland lannister speaks with lord aslan marbrand in the moments following lord ambrose serrett's departure from casterly rock. the court of lions had arrived back to the kingdom of the west following departing from kings landing, in attendance of king jaehaerys targaryen's coronation feast.

did he suspect that there was a growing sense of tension and rivalry growing between house marbrand and house serrett? the answer was a resounding yes, with the prime example of the interaction to watch being that between the ruling lord of house serrett and the second son of ashemark - the court executioner. who, should lord ambrose serrett fulfil his duties in overseeing the rumours of dissent within lands belonging t o his family, would be busy sooner rather than later; it was barbaric to execute them all, and yet the most dominant of personalities and the key figures in the village, such as the septon, would need to be made an example of.

the rest would be place within confinement within the confines of lannisport, where there remained space for those who needed to repent: and how repentance was as savage as the court of the west itself these coming days. "lord marbrand." the lion spoke, as the man slipped from his horse; tyland was on his feet, considering he had just engaged in a discussion with the second son of silverhill. the queen's family, rather than his own; that needed to be earned. earned and deserved. he summoned the man to him, and remained stood at full height as the man moved into a bow.

"with me, my lord. you would have seen that once lord serrett returns, there will be further work to be done." executions, though also working with the master of laws to oversee what occurred to those who remained imprisoned. questioning, remained an important detail of each process - and there were facts to come to grips with. "it appears as though it were not rumour, but fact. your brother spoke to a landed knight earlier in the day during a rest break who confirmed the rumour, as we entered the gates of lannisport." aslan marbrand was an active member of the court, an increasingly present figure within the growing circle that surrounded the king: as was the way the court mechanism worked. at the centre was the king, and then came each outer ring growing more and more distant from him, and from influence.

ambrose serrett had also positioned himself in a ring around the court, knowing that he too needed to gain further prominence since the ascension and coronation of his sister as queen katherine, first of her name. it was not ambrose aslan worked closely with, but rather this older brother; often overlooking the method in which coin was handled in the richest realm of all the continent.

and it was only for so long would he feel content with watching, and understanding; playing the role of deputy. there was only so long any man could play such a role, and confine himself to such limits. adding another marbrand to the council would equate them to the influence the leffords had upon it - paired with being hand, they would outweigh the other factions in the westerland court. truthfully, tyland more often than not did not make the final decision in regards to who emerged victorious; that was often left to be seen as clear as night and day, the way the strongest in nature always proved victorious.

he would wait, and see; how was it aslan marbrand sought to implant himself upon the council when there were no vacant seats? each seat counted. "the prince is to remain in casterly for some time longer, and seeks to garner a full report of all the current punishable offences as well as the executions carried out over the last three months." the mention of arron was of no major significance to tyland himself, but to aslan marbrand - it was news that was not the most joyous to hear, considering it placed an obstacle between himself and dealing with a growing issue in regards to another who opposed both him and his brother the hand.

"how are you finding looking over the work of lord serrett?" tyland asked, knowing he need not go into explaining why the kingdom's finances were so detrimental. it was what made them stand out beyond the rest: what struck them as different from old money to the new money across the narrow sea. it was easy to get rich from investments and trade; but with that, it was easy to make a miscalculated move and find yourself scrambling. their worlds were different, and for an ample reason.

#c: aslan #aslan 001

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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who; @ambroseserrett when and what: a random starter, in which ambrose is dragged into the mess that is the court of the westerlands. there are rumours spreading that certain areas within the west continue to worship according to the starry sept, rather than the new laws dictated by the great sept of lannisport. one of the reports include a small sept and settlement located with serrett lands, brought forth by ambrose serrett.

the procession through the lion's mouth was met with the sounds of drums and trumpets, the cheering of crowds that had lined the streets all the way from the gates of lannisport, climbing higher and higher into the clouds and the skies to follow the stone path leading to the lion's den itself. the people remained in high spirits, and whilst they did not throw petals as was accustomed to other regions, they sung westerland folk songs and cheered; and as the lion king held onto the reins of his faithful steed, he found time itself began to blur. it was in momentous decisions and changes did such events occur within the court of elegant savagery; when he married the lady of silverhill, she who had become his queen of choice.

it was entirely possible he could have made a more pragmatic international match, and yet he had decided to crown the woman he knew from what felt like the beginning of the never ending story: the court of the west needed perfection, it needed stability, and where else would he find such a thing except for within a woman of the westerlands? and now, the small folk line the streets and cheered various names, as though they were not returning from a coronation but rather as though they were returning from war.

but to the small folk, who had been forced to watch the kraken arise on the horizon like a scene from the end of times, to the small folk who had lost mothers and sisters to the sea if not the krakens, this was the return from war. king jaehaerys targaryen had taken his rightful place upon the throne, and it was their king that had overseen the final chapter of the dance of dragons coming to a close. his queen was one of the fairest women in all the realm, the middle daughter of lanna lannister: it felt as though it were the beginning of some fairytale.

but fairytales were often rooted in darkness, and in disturbance. and as the men passed through the mighty entrance to the rock that was the lion's mouth, there was a large number of serrett guards who remained within the courtyard and the keep: the belly of the beast, the lion's mouth was cavernous, dark and dimly lit. there came a harsh light in the arch that saw the sunlight, and the clouds, the sunset sea; and all those who remained below them. ambrose serrett approached him at the king's hand waving a gloved hand forward, both of them remaining atop their horses and clad in their capes. for whilst some had seen the journey as the king closing the chapter that was the dance of dragons, it seemed as though some had viewed it as an opportunity for the king to once again be in the grace of the high septon.

the bastard, son of a whore who wore a rainbow crown made of glass. easily shattered, just as tyland had overseen such violent bloodshed upon the steps of the starry sept that sent shockwaves through the realms. the master of whispers had reported of the updates during their travels, and it became abundantly clear that ambrose serrett would quickly renavigate to serrett lands to round up those who were rumoured to continue worshipping according to the faith of oldtown. mass was supposed to be done in the ancient tongue of the west, the presence of wine and bread was void since it was never the body and blood of hugor of the hill, and the notion of paying for helping souls pass over as they await their judgement. all things tyland lannister had abolished, and yet here came the rumours...from the lands of his queen, most of all.

ambrose serrett was not the ruling lord of silverhill, but the master of coin was needed within the rock for the council meeting come tomorrow - meaning it was up to the second son to gather together those who had tainted their worship with treason. within lands of his own, just when his family had reached their heights - the kin of tyland lannister's queen of choice. "lord serrett!" tyland's voice was booming and deep over the large number of servants who began to unpack from the horses, making it clear he intended to stop the man.

he remained on his horse and tyland came off it, for ambrose serrett had a job to do. a hunt to begin, and a line to bring back.to the lion's den to be charged according to the king's justice. "your sister the queen is holding great amounts of faith in your ability to see this done. as do i." tyland added, the latter half not completely true: he was not wholly aware of the mechanisms of ambrose serrett, having known his older brother more. was there space to drive a wedge between the brothers? "the hand has been made aware of your responsibility - when they are brought to us, he will have prepared the trial." how some words said so little but so much at the same time. it was clear, from the very beginning, that this was to be no fair trial. such was the reality of needing to ensure dissent and resistance would adequately removed. decreasing it would not be enough.

#c: ambrose #ambrose 001

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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who: @casimirtully when and where: the court of kings landing, shortly following the departure of king cedric tyrell and the reach faction from the coronation festivities. king tyland lannister schedules an audience with the river king, following an interaction between himself and lysarr rogare, the head of the lyseni bank - and in complete opposition to king casimir of house tully.

truthfully, it did not take miracles to figure out what was happening beneath the cloistered alcoves of kings landing's red keep; the multiple groups and factions forced together in such close proximity, regardless of where they were technically accommodated, made certain tensions all too obvious and too clear. one could only imagine the tension that lingered in the air to know the tully king and his court remained in the same room as the rogares of lys; the crumbling of a family connection that had resulted in bloodshed and, what could be argued to be war.

it was during the winter feasts that the court of rivers had apparently put down their goblets and picked up their blades instead, venturing deeper into the country to wipe out what remained of lyseni mercenaries that had bunkered down. no doubt because they had no choice but to; to bunker down whilst engaging in guerrilla tactic was a useless move. "he appears lacking in moral limit." tyland commented, his goblet of wine to his lips as he spoke directly to the flame haired man sat beside him; though who they spoke of, was another matter entirely. "as you already know, considering the circumstances. he seems to have gotten comfortable with king jaehaerys, for the sake of cementing an alliance with the lyseni bank. their shared valyrian blood makes it all the more apparent."

tyland lannister had taken to an audience with the rightful heir of the rogare bank; according to inheritance and bloodline at least, though he knew nothing about the true capabilities of the man. the bank spoke for itself, considering the lyseni spring was renowned amongst all, even on this side of the continent - one looked at lyseni items with a sense of luxury, as though they were valuables that signified toward social statues. tyland lannister saw the rise and fall of many such a house, including the likes of the hightowers themselves; never would one have considered house hightower to be in the state it was in today, and yet here it was.

"truthfully, i suspect his sister is here to be an option for a bride. he had the doctrine issued for a reason - and he would expect to lead his nobles with his own example." admittedly a problem for the westerlands - there was only supposed to be one queen. and yet, there could be another - and with that, came more influence. more fingers in what was kings landing.

a shadow of it's former self. wealth acquired by trade, rather than physical natural resource, had it's advantage as much as it has it's downfalls; one being that they were unstable. one wrong move, and all the investments came tumbling. it had become clear what it was the rogares had set their eyes upon in regards to the westerlands and immense power of the lannisters; infamous even across the narrow sea, all heard of lannister gold and the rumours of it being cursed. to uproot their alliance with the riverlands, and instead shift interest into the mechanisms of the lyseni spring: only, tyland lannister knew that spring ended. nothing lasted forever, and as much as there was sudden rises in power, there was also shocking falls.

if he jumped onto every opportunity that came up, if he flung himself through every open door, he would find himself at a clear loss sooner rather than later. that was an importance factor in ruling; being able to evaluate what was truly more worthy in the long term, what held the biggest advantage and disadvantage. in the end, having a princess as a queen rather than remaining a princess married to a banker would prove more beneficial.

this was another house, another power gaining something of value for a short amount of time - it was not the same as the aristocratic, longstanding wealth of the noble houses of westeros. the two kings remained in the aftermath of a gathering feast between their two courts, following the announcement of the betrothal of king casimir tully and princess guinevere lannister - one by one the courtiers had taken their leave, until it was only the two kings left in the room. tyland watched the retreating figures of his brother and his sister, noting the way in which she briefly looked upon the pair of them before biding them goodnight; the sooner the marriage went through, the better. "but i suspect he was disappointed to know the betrothal is firmly set in stone."

#c: casimir #casimir 003

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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who: @jaehaerysiitargaryen when and where: set shortly following cedric and jae's interaction on the steps of the sept of baelor. jaehaerys returns from the sept to meet with tyland lannister, whose court remained in kings landing for this time - and who had not been seen within the sept of baelor, for one clear reason. the presence of a glass crown.

there came the sounding of bells that filled the skies of kings landing as the dragon king's procession returned to the heart of the red keep; filing through the winding lanes of kings landing back towards where the lions continued to await - for there was a reason the court of lions had not ventured to the sept of baelor, and it was less about the sept itself, but rather the individual who led the mass. the high septon continued holding association with multiple key members of the westerosi royals, most importantly being both jaehaerys targaryen and cedric tyrell; both kings understood that the influence of religion and politics should be kept separate from one another.

though tyland found himself wondering just how that would work when the high septon turned his attentions toward the inner workings of their own realms.

it appeared as though when one gave the son of a whore an inch of a stance, and he would only continue to take, and to take, and to take. and so the court of lions remained as the dragons and the roses, more like thorns, headed to the sept of baelor; he understood that the reach court had readjusted their travel plans, and needed to venture back to the reach sooner rather than later - citing something to do with matters of the summer isles. all had heard the rumours of the reach's aggression at sea, their privateering which was rumoured to kickstart the entire matter: there was no denying the fact the prince of fair isle would be far more versed in the matter than tyland himself in goings on at sea.

he would need to obtain the full picture now, whilst the man remained in the company of his people, and in his place: for he expected that upon returning to the west, the prince of fair isle would take his princess and return to fair isle. the fact continued to leave a bitter taste within the mouth of the lion king, and as he remained seated in a smaller gathering hall to the side of the main feasting hall of the red keep, surrounded by courtiers of the west; the hand of the king remained beside him, watching with eagle, hawk-like eyes as audience after audience was completed regarding petitions. taxes to be levied, taxes to be increased, taxes that needed to be paid.

reports of mass being conducted in the local villages according to the way of oldtown, rather than the way of lannisport. their own sept had made it abundantly clear how ritual and worship to take place, and as he looked toward the hand of the king, he knew it was his own to deal with. it was expected damage control, considering with great change there came the need for time - great change was not possible in the blink of an eye. old habits died slow, long, torturous deaths; and speaking of old habits, tyland lannister found himself noting the way in which the standard barers and stewards announced the presence of king jaehaerys of house targaryen.

tyland rose from his chair, bowing his head before the room was cleared; he had just come back from seeing both the high septon and cedric tyrell alike. a difficult man to persuade to work in their interests and their interests alone, and slippery - entirely slippery, needing to be watched. the crown suited jaehaerys, though he knew a fundamental reason why he thought so; how much had he sacrificed to see it so? how much blood had been spilled for it to be so? "your grace." tyland spoke as the last individual left the room; he had heard things. offerings of marriage to a dornish princess - he knew the doctrine of exceptionalism would prove to be na issue at hand.

for other queens meant other involvement: queens were not just themselves. they were their fathers, their brothers, their uncles, all the ambitions of the men who owned them in their lives - whose responsibility they were. "i found myself wondering what targaryen had now appeared, until i noted it were a rogare who seemed to make himself home in your halls." tyland noted, his tone almost cautionary as he spoke of the banker; he seemed a power hungry man, wishing to reinstate his position across the narrow sea considering all that had happened. and he were currently the enemy of the lands he sought to hold more influence over, once the final piece of his chess board had been polished. a queen.

"how goes the bastard of oldtown?" tyland asked, his tone entirely serious despite the clear taunt regarding the high septon. "he remains despite cedric tyrell returning?" the last the men had been in close proximity, the men of the west had orchestrated a butchery on the steps of oldtown's starry sept - a bloody it was. the septons who had escaped to the land of the starry, who were of westerland origin, had found some sanctuary within the starry before they met their timely ends, whilst in the embrace of the man they swore was the chosen representative for the voice of the gods on this mortal realm. all knew it was whoever the hightower had chosen usually, though this one - the wildcard, as tyland called him in mild humour to his own brother, had been an unexpected mistake.

#c: jaehaerys #jaehaerys 005

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casterlygldcs · 3 months

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♔

"truthfully, the reach remains a thorn in our side - despite their great power and prowess. they are slippery courtiers, led by a slippery king; his prolonged association with the high septon is a choice that has not gone unnoticed by members of the westerlands court." it were common to see cedric tyrell in the company of the unholy man in the rainbow glass; it was better to keep a watch of them, rather than assume too little of them. that was what he thought of the reach; whilst the kingdom of the west was one of elegant savagery, more than willing to handle matters with a blade, the reach would be able to obtain near the same merely by words and connections.

the currents were always shifting with the place; and tyland found one needed to wear not one mask, but many to keep themselves afloat. "add to that their growing tensions with the dornish borders, we could find ourselves being dragged into a regional conflict quickly. whilst i intend on seeing what the new dornish rulers make of themselves, i do not intend to do so just yet. should the redwyne and blackbar fleet continue threatening to sink summer isles ships within dornish waters, you may need to amplify security should we get involved. gods know, the dornish are poison in more ways than one." and such was a swift sight into the mechanisms of the mind of tyland lannister; the long plan, was always the focus of the statement, of the conversation.

the present was fleeting, and would be behind him once he finished making his words known clearly. he would speak with the prince and princess of fair isle regarding discussions to be had with the redwyne fleet, even if it were suggestions to appear less aggressive. then again, the summer isles did kidnap the brother of the princess consort - matters were more complicated than that. "house bracken." tyland repeated after leo, an element of surprise remaining within his tone; one of the brief moments he gave way to any sense of emotion. any sense of humane reality. instead, he merely nodded his head, a look of understanding coming across his face - he would not speak on the efficiency of his bringing forth an option, though it were clear that despite his serious gaze, he were amused.

there came a beat of silence when leo lefford gave a name; truthfully, he was expecting the man to go back and think over matters for a few days, as he usually did in matters that were considered to be the upmost of importance to him. if there were anyone else in these cloistered woods, they would have not seen the lion king be anyone and anything but that - the lion king.

"if you intend to double bind the influence we will have over the land of rivers, that is your own prerogative. you will receive a worthy dowry, and judging by the reports of tension regarding the hand, it is entirely possible lord bracken will be made hand. he will provide access to the other side of the narrow sea, further boosting house lefford's personal wealth."

truthfully if there were some other cousin branch of the hightower branch, tyland would have extended his interests towards obtaining the dowry from oldtown as a result of marrying one of the only noble women that remained associated with oldtown; there were great power players within the game, most of them dotted within the south with the exception of the stark king and his manderly followers within white harbour. considering leo lefford was held responsible for upholding passage into the realm itself, upholding the eastern seat along the border, that matter was being smoothly dealt with and handled with the union of the princess to the king of the riverlands.

he paused again upon mention of needing to talk to the lord; tyland himself knew leo lefford was close with the ruling lord of stone hedge. they had served in the same legion during the great war.

"you may pursue it, should you wish. there are other options that can be provided, should you require them." there were rogares he could have married guinevere to, for the sake of securing a greater power above even the bank of braavos; flourishing at dizzying heights in this moment of time. but it was sway over the land of rivers the lion king wished to obtain, the land almost being considered as a buffer between himself and those who could be perceived as a threat some day. there would be rogare cousins that leo lefford could marry, to secure a connection to the lyseni bank - and yet, he chose the lands which had all but been secured by the upcoming royal union. and then, he asked the question. "does what happened weigh on your conscience?"

the case of lenora was put behind them. the two cousins both understood how unimportant conversations about thing beyond their reach were. lenora had craved freedom, and in a way she got it. being the wife of jaehaerys targaryen was not an easy task, but warriors were forged in battle, not out of danger's reach. and the crownlands were sure to provide a trial by fire. but lenora was capable, and it was leo's hope she would find a way to put the mess behind her once and for all. she was his sister after all, but he was no longer there to act as a helping hand. he now had reasons to trust his sister was safe, and hope that she would use her wits in a useful way. for herself and her future offspring, and for the lefford family.

the topic of his position was a more welcome one. all were now informed of his rise in rank. he was no longer lord commander, but a high commander. no longer would his brother mock him by calling him a glorified guard. comments like that only solidified leo's belief that the gods were merciful to make him the firstborn. leander hid in dark corridors and listened to the whispers of the lowest among them, yet found time to mock a duty to protect the most important among them, the royal family. pride was not a sin, but short-sightedness was, and the seven blessed his younger brother with both, in abundance.

the duty of high commander was exactly that to the ruling lord of golden tooth. a sacred duty entrusted to him by his liege. there was little room for conceit in a position as high as his. he was no longer protecting only the most important family in the kingdom. he was in charge of the safety of all of the people of the westerlands. it was a daunting task, but as the heir to the lefford family, nothing less was expected of him. his destiny was not to breeze through life in a haze of low pleasures and childish entertainment. that role was intended for second sons, less important families, those who mattered less. leo's destiny was forged for him at his birth, not allowing him the luxury of choice. a loyal soldier and a powerful lord. anything lesser than that was frowned upon.

the high commander nodded at the suggestion of his king. he had been thinking about his new role ever since they had travelled to the reach. whatever his opinion regarding the hightowers of oldtown was, as high commander leo could not disregard the importance of the reach. they were a powerful kingdom with a new king and a new vision. the family that slighted his own was only a small part of the whole picture. he could look past them, for a greater cause. "the kingdom of the reach is our neighbour and their high commander would make for a powerful ally. i heard good things about lord florent. i shall make the arrangements to meet as soon as possible."

tyland lannister's words made perfect sense. the most desirable brides were rarely left unmarried, because all across the realm the lords were all the same - looking to secure their own bloodline. a lady who married into the westerlands, who would marry the ruling lord of house lefford, needed to be a picture of perfection. a wife as well as a mother, acting as a mirror to her lord husband. his own mother was a shining example, a woman who stepped up once his father came to an early end. and ever since the wedding of the tyrell king, the image of a woman who would be his wife was no longer an unseen figure. slowly but surely, the features turned doe-like, dark hair dominating his vision. leo had waited too long to act too many times. this was an important issue, and he could not do that now. his thoughts were interrupted only by the appearance of the wild animal. his hand grabbed his sword instinctively, ready to protect the king.

once the animal disappeared, his posture returned to its usual calm composure. once the forest became silent again, the high commander spoke again. "the younger sister of lord ronan bracken, lady brianna, could turn out to be an adequate choice. lord bracken fought alongside us during the war, where he proved himself to be honourable and intelligent. his sister doesn't seem to lack in virtues. it would ally house lefford to a great house of the riverlands, a house that follows similar ways as our own." the amount of words spoken by the lefford was unusual, but he wanted to explain himself and his choices clearly. "i would need to speak to lord bracken first, of course, and it would be expected of me to travel to the riverlands. but if arranged, lady bracken seems to be an acceptable choice."

#c: leo #leo 002 #i meant to shorten it but i love our boys dgufd

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casterlygldcs · 5 months

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♔

"you will stay." came the command; not an assurance, not an attempt to persuade, or talk him down. this display of emotion was clearly not appreciated nor accepted by the lion king, for he found himself looking upon the prince cracking himself open. none other were able to crack the king's rage open, and so, he seemed to do it himself for the world to see.

"you will tell me why you plead for me to make a place for you at a table that is of your name. it is yours, more than any other man within that council room." it were clear each time arron lannister crossed the straits and stepped foot upon the mainland, he felt out of place. as though he did not belong. putting himself into a box of what he could be and not be; limiting himself.

"then stop being scared." came his words. harsh; this was the sense of love that came from the words of tyland lannister. "stop walking the halls as a lost boy, as though they are not filled with your own dead ancestors. as though they are not alive with your brother and sister." tyland stepped forward now, his hand coming to rest upon his brother's face; it were like a moment of deja vu, for his father had always done the same. "i will tell you when to be afraid."

the mention of their mother was the last thing the lion king was expecting to hear from the prince of fair isle's lips in this moment, beneath the darkness of the skies and the heavens that it felt they too could have a grip on. in truth, it had been over a year since he had thought about his mother: it felt as though tyland lannister had never had a mother. a father. a beginning, or an end. as though he had become the crown of solid gold which no longer weighed heavy his head; the transition had been completed, and it had broken his brother somewhere along the years.

the years of the past were equally as important to the king as they were to the prince: only in ways that differed, was in how it showed.

"you should be afraid when your power is only your strength, and the name you have hollowed out of meaning. when you walk into a room and realise you are the guest in your own home."

none would think anything of the daily clean tombs of lord tymond and lady leona farman received; the cleaning girl just another piece in the constant movement that was within the lion's den of casterly rock. none would think anything of the guard that was stood to protect nobody but the dead from when the sun ruled the sky to when the moon conquered it. "she is dead." tyland spoke, his tone was a sense of harsh firmness that would cause the earth beneath the soles of their feet to crawl up, to hide away. his voice did not even shake at the memory of the scene; a vastness of golden curls sleeping beside a body that had stiffened. lady leona, and her guinevere.

"and yet to think them gone is a disservice to none but yourself. their guidance remains around you, both within casterly rock and upon fair isle." how he cursed the day his brother wandered into those caves, the intricate system of underground passages and became lost for days. he remembered the shadow of a man he found, head over his ears; starved for days, and yet, still alive. extremely weak, but alive. "you heard me tell jaehaerys targaryen he needs to take his place. i should have told you that first." arron tried to move, but tyland seemed to hold onto him more; though only because there was no rage. "you are more than what you have become. and you, you know it."

“I dreamt of mother.”

The words left him so suddenly, he didn’t know he was them until they tumbled from his lips. And it was a dream that kept coming to him and haunting him. Haunting his every waking moment. The look of her before him, she didn’t seem to be there, he could see through her and when she spoke she sounded like the wind. Whispers in a tongue he didn’t know and then a tongue he knew all too well. He remembered the way she always told him it was job to keep her safe. To protect them from themselves for they would unable to survive such a cruel world. And perhaps she hadn’t meant a word and said the same to them. Perhaps she looked upon him and knew the world would shatter him. And in ways she knew it all too well. The world Arron Lannister was meant to survive in didn’t exist. Not in reality, not in his waking moments. And he blinked, he was awake. Tyland stood there and he was upset with him.

“I saw her just there in front of me and she wasn’t there at all. It was like a waking nightmare. Manus eius sensi et frigidae erant.” I felt her hands and they were so cold. “Gwen is all we have left of her. She is all. We are not her.”

And these weren’t answers. Arron needed to talk about it, he needed to share these things with someone, anyone that could hear him for the lord wasn’t certain how long he could survive this, how long he would stand on the slippery rocks of the sea before the waves over took him. Arron didn’t know how to explain he was drowning, there was no water in his lungs. He didn’t know how to explain what was wrong with him. What he felt. He didn’t like to feel any of it.

“I am scared.”

Arron had never been afraid. Not like this. Not since he was in those caves. In that dark place with the witches. He didn’t hear his voice cracking, he lost everything he wanted to say to his brother as he felt himself start to break. Arron exhaled, he didn’t hear the shakiness of his breath, barely registered the blurring and unblurring of his vision. He didn’t see Tyland there for a moment and then he did. And he didn’t have a big brother. Not anymore. The boy who pulled him from the caves wasn’t there. They weren’t children any longer. They weren’t following behind Tyland as he protected them, led them.

“I miss you.”

He felt very small. He wanted to disappear within himself, and he wished the feeling would go as his eyes drifted off to the side to look over nothing, eyes drifting along the floor and then up the wall and over the window.

"I will go. I will make up for it."

They weren't here for that.

#c: arron #arron 006 #and why must you ask me to make a place at a table that you too own? (tyland&arron)#but you're always ready ; being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble? (the sons of casterly rock)#be the match and i'll be your fuse ; the world made you a monster so hold dominion over it (tyland&arron)#AHHHHHHH IT BEGINS

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