Casterly Rock was a fortress carved directly into the side of a towering, 600-foot-high mountain. This rocky giant not only provided unimaginable security but also contained an untold wealth of resources. Its cavernous depths even sheltered nine deep-draught harbors, hidden within the mountain's caves and sheltered from the sea.
As Viserys soared high above on his dragon, he couldn't help but think, 'It's almost like the Lonely Mountain from the Dwarvish kingdom in "The Lord of the Rings." But Casterly Rock's location is far better.' By standing by the sea, it avoided threats on all sides, with the mountains to the east serving as a natural barrier. 'The three dragons of Aegon couldn't destroy Harrenhal. What chance does anyone have against a mountain this fortified?' he mused. Even Visenya had been relieved that King Loren chose open combat rather than hiding within this mighty fortress.
In Viserys's mind, there was no denying the daunting challenge before him. 'The Lannisters may be boasting, but even so, capturing this place will be no easy feat—neither by a full-scale army nor a dragon raid.' Tywin had dedicated the last two years to bolstering Casterly Rock's defenses, adding countless long-range bows and crossbows capable of reaching dragon height. The fortress was now as bristling as a hedgehog, with an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers ready to defend it.
As the reconnaissance came to an end, Viserys guided his dragon to the ground and dismounted, his gaze turning to the vast army that now encircled Casterly Rock. Close to 100,000 troops were assembled, including the 30,000 men he'd led, 60,000 from his allies in the Reach, and 10,000 provided by Western nobles who had surrendered.
The moment his feet touched the earth, a group of nobles hastened to meet him.
"Your Grace, when will we begin the assault on Casterly Rock?" asked Regis, his voice filled with eager anticipation. To him, this battle represented his last, best chance to achieve greatness.
Viserys cast a glance over the group, noting the mixture of excitement and caution in their expressions. He knew the nobles didn't truly want the Lannisters wiped out. Despite the rivalries and frequent skirmishes among the Seven Kingdoms, a delicate balance held them together, and the wealth and influence of the Westerlands were simply too valuable. If he succeeded in taking Casterly Rock, the royal family's territory would carve right through Westeros, severing the north and south by the royal-controlled lands of the Kingdom, the Stormlands, the Reach, and the Westerlands, leaving only Dorne and the Reach isolated in the south.
'The Lannisters are no longer enemies, but potential allies for these nobles,' he realized. They would hesitate, knowing the consequences of total victory here. Understanding their motives, Viserys decided to keep his knowledge of the secret tunnels—detailed plans he'd acquired from the Imp—to himself.
"My lords, please tell me what plans you have for the attack," Viserys inquired, aiming to test the nobles' suggestions.
He first turned to the Red Viper, who had journeyed over half a month by boat around Westeros to join him.
"I can make a poison powder," the Red Viper suggested. "Perhaps you could ride a dragon and drop it on their heads."
"That would require a lot, wouldn't it?" Viserys asked, arching a brow.
The Red Viper gave a reluctant nod, conceding the point.
Then he looked at Lord Mace.
"Your Grace, Tywin certainly deserves to die, but I think perhaps you might consider sparing some of the Lannisters. It could be the way to undermine them from within. No one would dare say a word against the Lannisters continuing to rule Casterly Rock. But anyone would do, and it would be best if it wasn't a Targaryen."
Viserys nodded, but did not say anything. Then he looked at Randyll Tarly.
"Ser Randyll, do you have any good ideas?"
"Your Grace, the rocky mountains below Casterly Rock are steep and tall, and the Lannisters have built so many fortresses there. I cannot help you take Casterly Rock, but I am willing to be your battering ram!" Randyll Tarly was a relatively pure warrior. He still recognized Viserys to some extent, and he didn't think too much—he was simply laying out the facts.
Sam, behind him, looked up at the tall, rocky mountain, frowned, and pondered, unable to think of a good idea either.
Viserys had thoroughly figured out where their interests lay, so he said,
"In that case, we can withdraw some of our troops first. One hundred thousand troops costs a lot every day."
"Your Grace." Lord Mace stepped forward in response to Viserys's call.
"Highgarden has the most troops, so it's enough to leave behind ten thousand or so. We still have the dragons, which should be enough to keep Tywin honest."
"As you command, Your Grace."
Viserys turned to Hoyt and said, "Prince Hoyt, I'm going to send all the Dothraki cavalry back to Tyrosh."
"As you command, Your Grace."
Then he turned to the rest of the men.
"Tywin is now fighting the entire power of Westeros. I will be here until he surrenders!"
"Long live Your Grace! Long live Your Grace!" The officers, led by Regis and Conwyra, cheered, while Mace, the Red Viper, and the others froze for a moment before joining in with supportive noises.
...
In Casterly Rock, Tywin had anticipated the worst from the very beginning. He had begun preparing for Viserys' return to Westeros even before Robert decided to gather a fleet to attack Tyrosh. Tywin had noticed Viserys' actions of having Highgarden and Dorne stockpile grain, so he had begun his own stockpiling early.
The rocky mountains below Casterly Rock were full of excavated pits and caves, almost natural warehouses for storing food supplies. He stockpiled enough food to feed Casterly Rock for three years. Gold flowed out of the Lannister vaults like water, and food and weapons were absorbed endlessly. Casterly Rock was transformed into a giant fortress-cum-warehouse. Tywin believed that the Westerlands might not become a second Dorne, but Casterly Rock would definitely not yield.
He stood on a watchtower, overlooking the black banners flying below. To his side was the vast Sea of Sunset, and the red sunset turned his beard red and gold—the golden lion had become a red lion, just as it had with the House of Reyne of Castamere.
...
At night, several bright yellow flames suddenly flashed in the long, dark tunnel, lighting up the eyes of everyone. Viserys had performed a fire magic spell to illuminate the way, which was much better than torches—it didn't flicker in the wind, and it was far more convenient. He had long ago memorized the map Tyrion had given him.
Tyrion must have left himself a backdoor escape from the very beginning, Viserys thought. The tunnel Viserys and the others passed through was not only spacious but also barely smelled foul. It seemed Tyrion had deliberately constructed it while building the sewers of Casterly Rock years ago, so that one day he could use his own methods to "take Casterly Rock."
Regis was thrilled. He never thought he would be doing this sort of thing with Viserys again. The last time he had done something like this felt like four years ago...
"Strange, it was only four years ago, but it seems like decades have passed." He felt a bit odd and touched his sweaty bald head from all the climbing. Climbing this 600-foot high rocky mountain was exhausting. The internal passageways were winding and cramped, adding to the challenge. It had taken the group four hours to reach their intended location.
This time, Viserys had brought a total of 500 men. According to Tyrion's markings, this tunnel led directly to Tywin's room.
"Rest for a while; we'll attack in a quarter of an hour!" Viserys ordered, and the soldiers he had brought replenished their strength with water.
He turned to Regis and Conwyra. "Keep watch," he instructed before slipping into Dany's dream.
"Brother, the Red Viper just said he wanted to see you, but I sent him away."
"What does he want with me?"
"I suppose he still wants us to relax the terms of the Lannister surrender."
"The Red Viper... doesn't he know that the Lannisters must pay their debts?" Viserys muttered, clearly dissatisfied. If it had been someone else, perhaps Mace, he could have accepted it. But the Red Viper—Viserys saved his life more than once, and yet, when it came to vital interests, the man was truly relentless.
Viserys had to admit that Oberyn's personality reminded him a bit of Doran's. Even when Robert rebelled, and his sister, Elia, was in danger in King's Landing, Doran had sent only 10,000 men. And there was also the matter of Arianne... Martell was not an ideal partner.
"I'm already in position. You and the dragons will cover us in two quarters of an hour," he told her.
"Be careful, brother."
They quickly reviewed the plan they had agreed on. Viserys then woke up.
He glanced at the soldiers in the tunnel, all of whom had been handpicked by Conwyra from the ranks of the Unsullied. Viserys had long considered forming a "special forces team," and these men were its embryonic form.
Viserys stood, followed closely by Regis and Conwyra. He approached a wall, using the location Tyrion had marked in his memory. Pressing his ear to the stone, he listened intently and caught a faint sound—the bed creaking, as if someone was tossing and turning, unable to sleep. There was no doubt Tywin was on the other side of the wall.
Viserys took a few steps back and signaled for the others to make room. With a single, powerful kick, he smashed a large hole in the palm-thick wall.
Tywin, startled from his restless slumber, was abruptly showered with chunks of rubble as they scattered across his bed. Before he could react, Viserys had charged through the hole, emerging right beside Tywin's bed.
It seems Tyrion had thought this through, Viserys considered. If he'd placed the opening anywhere else, Tywin might have discovered it. Positioned near the bed, it was easily hidden, and Tywin, out of respect for his late wife Joanna, would likely not have brought anyone into his marriage chamber.
Before Tywin could fully process the intrusion, Viserys pressed a dagger to his neck. Immediately, a team of Unsullied in black leather armor followed, leaping through the wall one by one.
"Is that… Tyrion?" Tywin's voice was a rasp, but a bitter smile crept onto his face. "A father knows his own child."
He looked at Viserys. "Do you know our Lannister motto?" He never even thought of living.
Viserys narrowed his eyes as Tywin's expression turned fierce. "Hear Me... Roar!!" The old lion, in his fifties, glared at Viserys, shouting defiantly.
The guards below, already suspicious of the noise, heard Tywin's yell and began rushing up the stairs. But just as they moved, the roar of a dragon echoed overhead, shaking Casterly Rock to its core.
...
Outside, the roar of the dragon startled everyone awake, including the nobles laying siege to the fortress. The Red Viper burst from his tent, staring into the sky. In the moonlight, he could see the dragon's wings as it soared through the clouds, arrows from crossbows whizzing past its immense form.
Back inside, Viserys had knocked Tywin unconscious. Under the cover of darkness and the dragon's looming presence, the soldiers poured into surrounding strongholds and watchtowers. Soon, Viserys was leading his men, pressing further into the heart of Casterly Rock.
Once they reached the inner courtyard, Viserys displayed the defeated Tywin to the besieged defenders. With a single demand—surrender, and none would be executed—the soldiers of Casterly Rock laid down their arms. The offer of ten knighthoods from House Lannister, awarded to those who cooperated, sealed the deal; not a single weapon was raised against them.
As dawn broke and the first light of the golden sun poured through the Lion's Mouth, the banner of the three-headed dragon was raised high above Casterly Rock.