Part 1 - Escanor Lannister

272 AC

- Casterly Rock –

In a spacious bedroom, a young and delicate woman was sleeping. She had sweat on her forehead and her beautiful long golden hair was dishevelled.

It looked like she had gone through an exhausting experience as her thorax rose and fell quickly.

The door opened silently and the midwife entered with a bundle of linen in her arms. She made sure not to make too much sound so as to not wake her present.

"My lady. I bring you the youngest cub, my lady."

The midwife spoke softly.

Joanna's eyes fluttered and she opened her eyes to look at the midwife. A weak but brilliant smile adorned her face as she saw the little 'present'.

"Please let me see him."

"Certainly, my lady."

Gently the midwife placed the small baby right next to Joanna. This way they could smell each other and the bonding process could start. This was an important moment for the child.

"My prince, my little cub. You're the most cute thing I have ever seen, my love. Mommy loves you more than anything in the world."

Joanna showered the newborn with so much love that the air gained a pink taint.

The door to the bedroom opened once again. This time it was not as silent but not loud either. A tall, slender and broad-shouldered man entered together with the Maester of Casterly Rock, Creylen.

Joanna looked at the new addition to the room and saw her husband. On the normally emotionless face of her love, she could see many emotions. Worry, anxiousness and even slight anger. Probably because he blamed the Maester for his incompetence. The birth of the newest addition to the Lannister House was anything but easy and safe.

Tywin was livid and scared when Maester Creyen said that Joanna might die during childbirth. She was the one thing he really cared about and loved. His children as well, but nowhere as much as Joanna.

Tywin approached his wife and touched her forehead gently. He wanted to make sure that she was really alright and healthy. Then, after calming down somewhat, he looked at the bundle of joy that lay in her arms.

Joanna could read his expression and knew that he was overjoyed right now.

"It's a healthy baby, my lord. There is nothing wrong with it. I'm sure he'll grow very strong in the future, my lord.", Maester Creylen said after he had checked on the newborn.

Tywin nodded ever so slightly without replying to the man. Creylen and the midwife knew that they were excused and left the chamber.

"He's beautiful ... is he not, husband?", Joanna said weakly.

"... Yes. You did well, my love."

Tywin was unable to express his joy and relief to his wife. But he knew that Joanna knew him better than anyone, so it was not necessary.

"What will we name him?", Joanna smiled at her husband. She saw the smallest smile as he held their little cub in his arms.

"Escanor ... He'll be named Escanor."

"Escanor Lannister. A fitting name."

"Indeed."

The reason this was a fitting name was that Escanor was born with a very peculiar birthmark on his back. It was located in the middle of his back and looked very much like the face of a male lion. Joanna thought it a sign that little Escanor was going to achieve great things. Tywin didn't have any opinion on the matter. He was interested though what his newest Lion cub would be able to do in the future.

(Escanor POV)

*Gasp*

'What? What's going on? Where am I? Shouldn't I be dead?'

Everything is dark. I can feel something but I can't open my eyes. They feel so heavy.

I remember dying.

I was never someone of importance in my life. I had a five-to-nine job, was never married, didn't have many friends and lived alone. I didn't have a problem with authorities. But I was always very prideful.

There were some things you just don't do to a man and that's to hurt his pride. So when this pompous prick came into the office and started to insult him, he didn't really care about it. It was normal and he accepted that he was no one of importance. As long as he could get food on the table and care for his girlfriend, he was happy.

When this prick started to get angry at the lack of a reaction, on his part, he got angry. He started to insult his girl and said that he had f*cked her real good last night and the night before.

Escanor almost lost his cool right then and there. He was a very strong man and kept fit. He liked to lifts weights, but not too much, and he also liked to do martial arts, but also not too much. Everything was done with measure in his life. But at that moment he almost punched the pompous as*hole.

He had to work overtime last night and wasn't able to go home. This morning when he called her she acted strange. He was scared all of a sudden and grabbed his phone and called her again.

She didn't pick up this time and he got even more worried. Out of desperation he left the office and drove home.

The situation he found himself in was the worst thing he had ever seen. His girl was crying in the shower and the bed was all bloody. He knew insinctively what happened and completely lost it.

The son of the CEO was still in the bed sleeping. Like a freight truck, he began beating the man to a bloody pulp and wasn't able to stop. His pride had been hurt and they dared to touch his girl. The one thing that brought joy and colour to his life.

The father of the man he killed didn't like it very much and he was killed in prison.