A Wedding to Finalize
Spring was finally upon them, about time to put it lightly as the last winter had lingered on for far too long. Ellyn had urged Tion on for the wedding, even if the lord himself would rather have waited then he knew it was his duty, despite his desire to run from duty. Now it was the time for celebration and for weddings, and as such they would hold one for the realm to attend and welcome this coming summer. Tion however had spent a lot of time in bed, after his wound which he now nearly had fully recovered from. He had wanted to fight in the tournament but after their old maester spoke with him then he had promised to refrain for a few more months, allowing himself to train further and come back in his old shape. He didn't actually mind overly much, he knew Ellyn would have wanted him to compete on her behalf but he himself liked the role of a lord, sitting and watching over the tournament. Despite all of this, it was something else, not the Maesters word, not the sitting back and relaxing, no it was something else that drove him to not partake, instead play the role of a lord.
Now he was traveling north, to settle the last affairs before the marriage, to Castamere. Tion had ridden for a few days, already disliking the thought of Castamere. While the Lannisters had man their home in the giant stone hill, the Reynes had dug down, pursuing the gold, silver and gems. On the surface the fortifications resembled those of any other minor lord, two stout towers and a curtain wall protecting the keep. The real marvel of Castamere was below ground, where the Reynes widened the mines as they ran dry, turning them into halls, galleries, bedchambers, and a vast grand ballroom. Over the years, these subterranean rooms had grown to a full nine-tenths of the castle’s space.
As Tion rode through the gates he had a smile on his face, even if a slightly annoyed look. He had never enjoyed Castamere, too underground, too enclosed. Not that he let the Reynes see it on his face. Spring was finally here and it was a time for celebration, the warm clothes could be packed away and that was exactly what Tion had done, taking on lighter clothes for the first time in years. He looked around at the servants, all standing there ready as he halted his horse before he dismounted.
One of the servants, clad in Reyne livery of silver and red quickly took the horse to deliver to the stables. As he did that, Roger Reyne came out of the keep, dressed in fine clothing, clearly inspired by eastern fashion. At his side was Lady Rowan, a slight young woman with braided red hair. She too was dressed in high quality silks from Essos. Roger smiled upon seeing Tion, the scar on his jawline now just a thin white line. “Tion! Welcome to Castamere!” he said proudly, throwing his arms wide.
Tion laughed as he embraced him, looking at his clothes as Tion stood in front of him, he looked liked a pampered fool, having spend too much time in the capital, had the Red Lion lost his touch?. “Has the wine already gone to your head?” Looking at Lady Reyne with a smile before turning back to Roger. “Has the quality of own our clothmakers declined?”
“Did it ever match that of the free cities?” Roger asked good naturedly as he returned the embrace. “I am a man of great importance in the King’s court, I must look the part.” Roger smiled as he stepped back. “It is good to see you looking well Tion. Let me introduce you to my new bride, Bethany.”
Lady Rowan stepped forward offering Tion a slight courtsy though her face lacked any sign of happiness as she looked at him. “Hello Lord Lannister.”
His smile faded slightly before he forced it through as he nodded. “Lady Reyne, it's an honour to meet you, I am sorry I could not attend the wedding.” He said, looking at her with a bit of doubt.
“Think nothing of it,” she replied coldly before turning to her husband. “Roger, I must go check on the kitchens.”
“Of course,” the Red Lion replied as she began to leave the courtyard. He motioned for Tion to follow him as he made his own way to the keep. “She is a hellion Tion.” he said quietly with a laugh. “A true descendant of Rowan Gold-tree.”
“With any luck then your marriage is warmer than the stare she gave me.” He said in a quiet tone. “Does marriage suit you?”
“More than I had expected to be honest, she is quite… exciting.” Roger said as he led Tion down to one of the halls one level under the ground. On this level the feeling of being in a cave was not complete, skylights were still carved into the ceiling and lanterns on the smoothly carved stone walls provided more than adequate lighting. “Can you blame her for a cold stare? She was supposed to have a home at Casterly Rock at one time.” Roger laughed as he took a seat at a heavy stone table and a servant poured him a goblet of wine.
Tion went over and sat across from him as a servant poured him a glass as well. “I suppose, I never really met her before but Castamere isn't that bad of a replacement.” He said as he drank a bit, Tion had never understood why Roger choose her, the woman that Tion put aside, was it to spite him or his sister or perhaps his bride, or did Roger care at all. Tion spoke up “I did not expect you to be content with marriage, certainly not after you bought so many brothels.”
“I have bought a great many things in King’s Landing, very little of which has been for my personal use,” Roger said with a smirk. “you might be surprised how unsatisfied the men of the capital are, I hardly need the mines here any longer.” He swirled his wine, sniffing it lightly before sighing and taking a sip. “I am lucky my father had the foresight to keep a well stocked cellar. The wineries in Lys are quite poor at their trade.” He looked back to Tion with a raised eyebrow. “What of you though Tion, do you expect to be content in marriage?”
Tion laughed, running a hand through his hair a bit uncertain, it's not as if he ever knew anyone other than Ellyn in such a way.. “I guess.” He said drinking a bit more wine. “I doubt much will change though.” He said as he looked at Reyne.
Roger nodded, leaning forward a bit on the table. “Reynard has told me that she's made herself at home at the Rock. I trust she hasn't been too much trouble for you. The Seven know father could never quite manage her.”
Tion laughed a bit more as he drank some more wine. “She is certainly spending plenty on feasts and balls, she certainly didn't wait with becoming my wife before she began to empty my coffers. But yes, she seems happy there.”
“Good, that is good to hear,” Roger said, taking another sip of his wine and leaning back in his seat. “Perhaps the two of you will come to King’s Landing after the wedding. No doubt you will be impressed with what your father and I have done there.”
Tion nodded. “Perhaps, I imagine we will eventually. How is my father, and our affairs in the capital?”
“Your father is well, he spend a great deal of his time with the queen mother, though that should come as no surprise,” Roger said. “The plan with the Myrish wines has gone quite well, though Lord Redwyne has cried to the Hand. I expect nothing much will come of it, all of our actions were legal and no one favors the idea of a Redwyne Martell monopoly.”
Cried, Tion thought, a rather undiplomatic term. “They were fools, with any luck they will halt their actions or continue acting like fools.” Tion said as he enjoyed the wine, the gods forbid they gathered some senses. “I will look forward to how they act, then we shall act accordingly.” Tion finished the wine. “Now the reason I came here, the wedding to your sister must be finalized, as in a dowry.”
Roger chuckled as he put down his goblet. “I would have thought that Ellyn has provided more than enough of a dowry already.” He smiled and shook his head. “You will receive a fair dowry Tion, do not fear.” He raised an eyebrow curiously. “Unless you had something specific in mind.”
“Yes, I imagine you would know.” Tion sat thinking for a bit, he always wondered just how much Ellyn told on her to her family of their affairs, of Tion’s affairs. “There isn't much, we could always use some more wine. But I trust that you will pay fairly.” Tion took a deep breath. “I can't decide about the tournament, five champions defending the honour of your sister, or a standard tournament” He looked at his arm. “It's still not fully healed, I won't be joining the joust.”
“A shame,” Roger replied. “She would have done well to have you riding for her. Of course if you do decide to have champions Reynard and I would compete in her name, though you know my true skill lies in the melee. Who else would you have defend her honor?”
“I know she would have prefered that, but I don't mind overly, there will be plenty of other great tournaments where I will fight for her.” He said with a servant refilling his cup as he drank again. “I guess Baratheon, Dunk perhaps if they show up, Westerlings maybe.”
“The black knight?” Roger spat, before taking another sip of his wine. “Given the choice I would not have that one anywhere near my sister, much less responsible for defending her honor.”
Tion looked surprised, smiling as he enjoyed Roger’s rather extreme reaction. “He is married to my cousin, I heard he was rather skilled.” Tion said as he took a sip. “Am I missing something?”
“Come now Tion,” Roger said, growing somewhat annoyed as he thought about it. “You have heard what they say about the man, what he does in Lannisport, to saying nothing of his interactions with the smallfolk.”
“I've heard, but has any of it actually been proven. From what I have been told then its purely rumours.” Tion said with a small nod. “Besides, it's the smallfolk, his name and title protects him.”
“Rumors always come from somewhere Tion, do not be naive.” As Roger spoke he motioned for the servant to refill his goblet. “And whatever his title might be I do not recall our oaths ever saying that we will protect the innocent and women, unless they are the smallfolk.” He took a sip of the wine and took a deep breath in a half successful attempt to let the anger out of his voice. “Does as you will Tion, just keep an eye on the man.”
Tion smiled as he sat back in the chair. “You have become awfully righteous as of late Roger. We must protect the innocent, that is true and we must administer rightful justice, that are some of the oaths. We cannot punish a man for rumours, you know that as well, there is no proof that the Black Knight has done anything illegal.” Tion drank some more. “If you wish him away from your sister, so be it.”
“I do Tion, I do not trust the man.” Roger stated plainly. “And I have always tried to keep to my oaths, the world would be a better place if more did.”
“Cheer up Roger, you are going to a wedding soon, I would rather not have you so grim.” Tion said. “So then, you support the five champions over the standard tournament?”
Roger shook his head, realizing that he had become dour, and laughed. “Ashford was quite memorable, was it not?”
“Certainly was, but let's not hope for more royal deaths this time. I imagine most will attend the wedding, the tournament not at least for the prices.” Tion said, taking a breath looking at Roger. “Tell me, did you ever visit that Tarth girl again? From what I was told back then, the Red Lion snatched a high priced deer from the flock.”
Roger shook his head again. “No, I did not, though had I been able to take her from that bastard I would have. I only hope that she did not suffer too much in the aftermath. She was a sweet enough girl, innocent.” He laughed weakly and took another sip. “Things probably would have been better had I done nothing.” He shrugged.
“You wouldn't have gotten stabbed, that's for sure.” Tion responded. “What would it have gained to take her away from her husband, her future was secure even if somewhat unpleasant, did you intent to marry her?” Tion asked, “What even possessed you to sleep with the wife of that bastard, wouldn't it have been simpler to just pick a maid or servant. Not to mention fight him to near death.”
“Had you waited a few more moments to interrupt us I would have had his head dashed on the cobblestones. I would have been pleased with that.” Roger shrugged again his hand finding the small, clean scar on his side under his clothing.. “But no, I did not intend to marry her, merely provide her comfort as he dishonored her in front of a hall full of people.”
Tion nodded. “By sleeping with her of course.” He said with a laugh, “But alright then.” Tion said as he stood up. “Tomorrow, how about we go on a hunt? celebrate the spring.”
Roger nodded, standing as well. “Yes, I thought we might hunt some boar, like when we were squires.” He motioned to one of the servants. “He can show you to your quarters if you would like to rest. I'm afraid I must see to my wife before she has your food poisoned.” He said with a laugh, clapping a hand on Tion’s back.
Tion laughed. “Right, would be unfortunate.” He said before going with the servant.
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Ravens going out to all over the realm
I hereby write to the lords of the realm to inform you of the marriage of my son, Tion Lannister to Ellyn Reyne. I write to invite you all to the wedding, as well as the grand tournament in which all eligible riders may partake under standard rules. This will be a chance for sons, brothers, uncles and cousins to come feast and partake in the celebrations, not to mention take home a heavy purse should they prove themselves in the tournaments.
-Gerold Lannister, Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West and Shield of Lannisport.
(All are invited, tournament will be 5 champions defending the honour of Lady Ellyn Reyne. If anyone wants to start as champion then PM me, the prices will be 750 gold for each of the five champions, 500 for whoever wins the melee and 400 for whoever wins the archery.)
