The Rock of the West
- King's Landing, Westeros | 287 AC -
Artur V
"Mother, please stop crying."
It was the day I was to travel west to Casterly Rock, the day mother dreaded for several months. She had cried ever since she got the news that the day had arrived, with Joff at tow, both of them cried and sobbed with mother begging me to stay while Joff begging to come with.
I didn't know what to do until grandfather came to reassure mother and Joff. Though I don't think his words would ever be reassuring to mother.
"Enough, Cersei. You can always visit Casterly Rock with Joffrey."
Grandfather then went to father and Lord Arryn leaving me once again with a sorrowful mother and a Joff having a tantrum.
"Remember to keep by the side of your grandfather and Ser Barristan. Always write to us each day and remember if you want to come back, you can always come back."
"I'll remember, mother."
Joff then kept on leaving mother's side and went to me, giving me the tightest hug apart that of mother's own hugs.
"Please don't leaf, brutha."
Joff said, his young tongue still unable to form the words.
"Never worry, Joff. You can always go with mother when she visits. But remember, Joff, you are a prince and?"
"A prince always tinks of his peepel."
A small giggle coming out of my mouth at his words.
"A prince always thinks of his people. Goodbye mother, Joff, I love you both."
"I love you too, brutha!"
"I love you more my sweet cub."
Looking around, I saw Ser Barristan at the wheelhouse, coming over to him, he opened the door to the carriage, or wheelhouse as it was called here.
"You shall ride on your steed, Ser Barristan?"
"Yes, my prince, though I shall be riding close to the wheelhouse."
"I see."
Getting on the wheelhouse, I put my head out of the window and waved goodbye as grandfather entered. Placing my head back in as I saw a bittersweet smile on mother's face while she consoled Joff.
"Do you know where we are first headed?"
"An inn, perhaps? The only interesting place of our journey would be the seat of House Lydden, the Deep Den."
"Good, you know your houses and holdings."
"Mother has always taught much about the Westerlands, father not so much but Grandmaester Pycelle teaches me the most he can about the other regions of the Kingdoms when he has the time, though few as it may be, I learn most of what I know from the books I acquire from the Grandmaester."
Grandfather had the faintest of grins but I could see it. This might not be the most mundane trip after all.
- Casterly Rock, Westerlands | 287 AC -
Casterly Rock, the capital region of the Westerlands, and the seat of House Lannister. As high as a mountain, the Rock as it is abbreviated, is said to be unconquerable as its walls and mountain-like height and width makes it one of Westeros' most jaw-dropping castles. It is told that the Eyrie was built in the image and defensibility of the Rock and the beauty and grandeur of the Hightower under the commands of Roland I Arryn. Many great men and women called this castle home while some called it prison, such was the life of the Iron Born King, Harmund II Hoare, to think he was a hostage inside this behemoth of a castle.
Arriving at the gates of Casterly Rock, the wheelhouse strolled into the Lion's Mouth. A soldier of grandfather's opened his door. Grandfather walked out of the wheelhouse with his usual tact. Ser Barristan already at the side waiting for me to walk out.
Walking out, I saw the household of Casterly Rock, though the only ones I could place a name on were grandfather's brothers Ser Kevan and Gerion Lannister. Ser Tygett died of a pox two years ago while Lady Genna was with her family in the Twins. Grandfather spoke a few words with both of them until they laid their eyes on me did they kneel and bow their heads.
Only a second later would they stand once again, the curses of being royalty still gives me pains at my backside, sometimes I'd wished to have been born as a farmer, that way I could've had a peaceful life sowing and reaping my land of its harvest.
"Kevan, Gerrion, meet the Crown Prince, Artur Baratheon, my grandson, your grandnephew."
"It is good to meet you, my prince."
"Good to meet you, lad."
I could already see the difference in personality, I had heard granduncle Kevan was a slightly different version of grandfather and from what I could see, it was true. On the other hand, granduncle Gerion looked to be House Lannister's shining light as he boasted a calm and warm aura around him.
"It is as well meeting you both, granduncles."
"Shall we enter the Rock, brother?"
Granduncle Kevan asked grandfather.
"We shall. Come, Artur."
Following them, Ser Barristan trailed from behind as the servants unpacked our belongings and sent them to my chambers. Walking in the legendary Casterly Rock which is said to be thrice the height of both the Hightower of Oldtown in the Reach and the great ice Wall of the North.
Fabled to have once housed great and majestic lions, a symbol of royalty and strength in many parts of the southern duchies and principalities. Casterly Rock had many intertwining halls and corridors as it had many rooms for many different purposes.
It was once written in text that when Aegon and his sister-wife, Visenya, laid their eyes upon the Rock, even the Warrior Queen herself feared the Rock's impregnable walls, stating that even Dragonfire would fall short at the Rock's stone. Mayhaps the Warrior Queen spoke truth, the many layers of rock and walls of the bastion looked strong enough to fall short only to the Magian Walls of the Mathra-Uneia and the World's Gate.
Finally, we arrived to the Golden Gallery, grandfather and granduncle Kevan told me much about how the Golden Gallery was formed while granduncle Gerion was quite bored at their words.
It was majestic truly, something only the dwarves' own treasuries could match, there were piles upon piles of golden ornaments and items and bedazzled things, the walls themselves were plated gold as the chandeliers were made of pure glass. So much gold, I had heard that father was in debt to grandfather, worth over hundreds if not a million gold dragons, nearly everyone in the Red Keep said the saying of 'Lord Tywin shits gold,' yet this amount of gold is too much for my eyes.
The next area of interest was the Hall of Heroes, the hall that granduncle Gerion boasted much about. It was the area where many of the most valiant and strong of Lannisters were buried and their weapons and armors were kept. Unlike the Golden Gallery, the weapons and armors were not made of gold, not bedazzled by rare gems and stones. No. They were made of hardened steel and crafted by, the looks of it, the most skilled hands and hammers capable of being paid.
Grandfather and granduncles had skipped the Sept and the Weirwood tree since they had little care for religion. Grandfather and granduncle Kevan had left for grandfather's solar with granduncle Gerion taking me to my chambers.
Granduncle Gerion immediately left me at my doors, most likely he was needed at grandfather's solar. Going into my chambers, there was a servant unpacking my things, I had wanted to do it myself yet another one of my royal curses I suppose.
"Please leave my chambers."
"My prince, please allow me to first unpack your luggage before I leave."
"I am capable of doing such things. You are relieved of your duties for the day if you have no others."
The servant was shocked at my words but then walked off to the door.
"Good evening my prince, if you have need of anything, please call for any of us, we shall do as you command of us."
"Thank you, my good man, but please I have no need of your services as of yet, you may rest, eat or do whatever you wish."
The servant then finally left, now I was left with the silence of my room. It shall take me a while to rearrange my things but it shall be done.
After a few hours of arranging and compiling my things, I can finally read and write, since it was near dusk when we arrived at the Rock, Ser Barristan said that our training would continue tomorrow rather than today to both rest our muscles from traveling as well as having a good meal.
Writing a letter to be given to mother to inform her of my safe journey on the Goldsroad, it would be expected of her to be writing over a dozen letters to me about my safety and my wellbeing. As always, I loved her yet sometimes her overbearing nature is too much for even me.