Casterly Rock loomed before us, a colossal and jagged rock reaching high into the sky. We paused at the summit of one of the rolling hills in the Westerlands, taking in the awe-inspiring sight.
"Fuck me," Zane exclaimed, his hands shielding his eyes as he peered at the castle tower atop Casterly Rock. From our distance, it appeared diminutive, like a tiny finger capping a mountain. "I've never seen anything so tall!"
"They say it stands taller than The Wall, which reaches 700 feet at certain points," Brien added.
I glanced at the clear blue sky, where a lone wisp of cloud trailed along. "Dragons soar even higher. Nonetheless, I'm grateful to lay my eyes on it."
In the fields before us, a large company of riders emerged over the grassy horizon. Each carried the Golden Lion on their banners, and their crowns gleamed with gold.
And leading them all was Lord Jason Lannister himself, the Warden of the West.
With a smile, I urged my horse into a brisk trot across the field to meet them, flanked by Ser Steffon and Lorent.
"My Lord!" I called out warmly. As I drew closer, the sheer number of riders became apparent. "And the entire House Lannister, it seems?"
Indeed, it appeared that all the Lannister men, from boys to the elderly, had assembled to greet me. Each displayed a dazzling array of wealth; studded jewels and armored horses. They regarded me with gracious eyes, green as seas of jade, and gleamed like a grassy sun.
Lord Jason appeared imposing as he sat tall on his steed. He placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head. "Welcome, Prince Rhaenar. And welcome to all! The halls of Casterly Rock open their doors to you."
Lord Jason and I exchanged smirks, each for our own reasons. We were both twins, but he was the elder. There was an undeniable sense of pompous swagger about him, unapologetic and unfazed. I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at the thought of Rhaenyra's complete disdain for the man.
Yet, Lord Jason had proved a generous supporter of revelry, and that was something I admired about him. Setting politics aside, I might have enjoyed his company, albeit in brief encounters. I must admit my bias: Lord Jason had offered substantial sums of gold for my artworks over the years, even though I never accepted. In those moments, my artistic vanity found a certain fondness for him.
As we trotted along the the sunset coast, I couldn't resist teasing Lord Jason, who rode by my side. "Curious, I thought I'd see your daughters. Or any women, really."
Lord Jason chuckled in response. "That's why men wage war, because women would never be ready for battle on time."
"Is that so?" My thoughts turned to Evelyn, who always prepared herself for the march each morning, never failing to be fully equipped and ready to go. "I assumed it was beauty sleep."
Lord Jason and I shared a feigned laughter. And in that brief moment, we were two biggest cunts in the Seven Kingdoms.
As we approached the rock, the walls of Lannisport grew taller. A slight easterly wind caused the sails of the merchant ships in the bay to flutter.
I took a deep, meditative breath through my nose and exhaled with satisfaction, "Smell that, Brien? It's the very air of Lann the Clever, thousands of years ago!"
"Save a few differences," Brien remarked, referring to the fact that the scent of Lannisport had not existed during Lann's time.
Lord Jason seemed flattered by our interest. "Is this your first time seeing the rock?" he asked, as if he had personally designed and constructed it.
"Just so. Rhaenyra had the opportunity to tour here with our mother when we were younger. While she was laying eyes, I was at home, reading about it."
My thoughts wandered to the Age of Heroes when House Casterly ruled the Rock. It was only when Lann the Clever tricked the them into fleeing their keep that the Lannisters came to be. Hair like gold manes of the mythical lions that once roamed those mountains.
They were as fertile as they were shrewd, with so many offspring that families had to branch off and found a settlement just a few miles below on the coast. Thus, the city of Lannisport came to be, and there, hundreds if not thousands of Lannisters resided, content to indulge in their family name.
Bells rang as we approached the city. Thousands of smallfolk lined the way, cheering and waving. I blew kisses to the maidens and revealed a gleaming smile.
Sundance swooped into the bay, scooping up a mouthful of water. Then with a mighty exhale, he released the watery breath, and a fine spray shimmered in the clear blue sky.
In that fleeting moment, a rainbow formed, and on his golden wings was cast a chasm of color which glittered like stars in dreams.
Lord Jason laughed as the smallfolk gasped. "A water dragon? Never thought I'd see the day."
"New days dawn, my Lord," I said playfully, "Fire warms hearths. Water heals hearts."
But Brien brooded in thought, 'And ice will hail away.'
As we rounded the bend, the Rock came into view against the backdrop of the sunset sea. Standing at its base, it surpassed our wildest imaginations. Lord Jason informed me of its estimated height, around 2,100 feet, and during sunset, it cast a black silhouette of a lion against the orange sky.
Mounting its peaks were walls and watchtowers, while its facade boasted scattered windows and arrow slits, cleverly disguising its true enormity.
Yet, it was the interior that left a lasting impression. A vast network of tunnels housed dungeons, storerooms, barracks, halls, stables, stairways, courtyards, balconies, gardens, a sept, passages, caves, mines, galleries, chutes, wells, armories, bedchambers, and servant's quarters.
The Rock stood as a self-contained realm, encompassing every aspect of life. An impregnable fortress to enemies, a grand grotto to friends, a tall kiss from to the west
However far away~