Ambitions, ambitions

A/N: I am sorry for the late post. Like I said in the comments, even if I don't have a fixed schedule I will try to post 10-15k words per week. So please keep commenting and supporting.

Also, I am sorry for this chapter. I know this feels a bit rushed and it is. If this story ever gets big I might change this arc a little bit with how the characters interact and how the events take place. Now enjoy the story!

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{MC POV}

The surprise on his face after learning the truth was definitely the best. I feel like I can keep going for a few centuries with just that.

Also, Bran and Lann's meeting would certainly be an event I won't miss. Add in the Storm King Durran and that's already a wet dream of many fanboys from back in the beyond.

I might take Lann to the north after he is done with his petty takeover of the golden rock known as Casterly Rock. I must say, the resolve of this boy is enough to be known as a part of the Age of Heroes.

But can he keep his love intact while achieving his ambitions? I could probably help with a quick spell of mental suggestions on the girl Lyssane. But that wouldn't be fun anymore.

So I'll just continue to observe. I need to write some curriculum for Bran in the meantime. The wolf pup has the destiny of stopping the 'Night King' and his army by building the wall.

If only they knew the true horrors behind that vile thing. But again, the whole point of me being here is so that they don't have to see those horrors, so I guess it'll be fine. Let the kids fight the 'Night King' while I see to it the real darkness doesn't descend.

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{Lann POV}

Adjusting to an almost godly being sleeping next door is something I might never be able to do. But at least he is acting the same as he was when I knew him only as a bard.

Although, I don't know if the most respected being of all of these lands acting like a crass, loudmouth drunkard is a good or a bad thing. But at least he doesn't intend to intervene or stop my plans.

"You think these petty things would even make me move my lazy ass around? If your 'grandfather' and his lackeys weren't bent on destroying the little cuties in the forest, I wouldn't have even batted an eye or come here so early." So he said.

As long as he doesn't intervene, my plan is almost certain to be completed. But how do I keep Lyssa with me? I can't let her go. Should I tell her the truth?

No! Master Raven knowing is already too one person too many. I'll try to explain it when it's all done and we have been together for a while. Maybe after we have had kids would be even better.

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{Lyssane POV}

Lord Father has been hurrying along the digging in the mines. Everyone in the family looks hurried too. At this rate, we might be getting away from here soon.

With this move getting closer, mother has started talking about marriage alliances once again. I can understand her worries, if we are to move to other territories, securing a marriage alliance would certainly help us get a foothold there.

After rebelling and all the effort I put into getting out of marriage alliances in the past, I can't seem to escape this fate. It's weird though, every time I think of marriage, I can't help but think of that sweet boy with his golden locks.

I don't think I have fallen in love with him. But with such obvious signs, I can't deny that I am well and truly infatuated with him. And to think I still believed I treated him as a brother I never had.

The images of him playing with the lion cubs, Anne and Lys as he calls them, just repeat in my mind. And that beautiful song he played for me on his instrument. Urgh!

It's not something possible. If the situation was the same then maybe we could've gotten together. But now that the family is in crisis, I can't possibly be with him, can I?

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{Lann POV}

It wasn't supposed to be like this! Why didn't I think of it sooner? Why didn't she talk to me about it?

"Why didn't you tell me about it earlier!?" I screamed at Lyssa who was staring at me with her sad pitiful eyes.

She finally came back after a fortnight, only to tell me that her family is moving and she is to be married to some lord up north in the fingers.

Why didn't I focus more on her? I was so occupied with driving the Casterlys out that I didn't even notice all this!

Lyssa looked at me with her glistening eyes, "I don't have a choice! Do you think I wanted to resign myself to a fate like this? What can I do when it's a crisis that affects my whole family? My decision to marry affects more than just me now that we have to move!"

Her shouts rang in my mind. I could hear a voice in my head telling me that this is all my fault. I drove her to that.

It wasn't late still. I could still confess the truth to her. I could tell her about my plans and make her understand, She could still stay with me!

I knew this was all wishful thinking. She agreed to a marriage and a life she didn't want for the sake of her family. The truth would only drive her away from me. And my plans would be ruined.

So I stayed silent. I stayed silent as I saw her eyes looking into mine, searching for an answer, a solution. And I stayed silent as I saw all her hopes die and tears streamed down her beautiful face.

Would achieving my ambitions clear away these memories? Would I be as happy then as I am sad today? I didn't have any answers. All I could do was silently look on as she turned back after petting the lions one last time.

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Taking over an empty castle was surprisingly easy. I walked into the castle occupied by the remaining soldiers who were hoping to strike it rich, my two lions following me.

There was a little resistance but the two lions snarling solved most of it. I walked to the middle of the castle where all the remaining soldiers and servants were gathered.

"Listen up you leeches. You abandoned your lord to stay back here and get a piece of the riches. I as the new lord of Casterly Rock will show mercy by not executing you immediately. But from today on you will serve me!" I declared to the stunned audience.

My lions roared right after to emphasize my authority. It will take a long time, but I am going to make this place my possession and make this place greater than any house can imagine.

The Casterlys were fools who were sitting on gold but not using it. The whole point of having gold is to use it and make more of it. And I intend to do just that.

Making ports, creating trade routes, increasing mining, and creating my own militia, There is so much to do. So much work and I am alone to do it.

Maybe it is good that I am so busy, I have less time to think of her. And at least I have my Anne and Lyssa with me. And Master Raven or Bard Jaskier or whatever he is who still pops up every once in a while.

"Miss me?" I heard the voice behind me. Speak of the devil.

"Master Raven." I bowed.

He looked me dead in the eye, "So, how is it? Now that you got what you wished for, are you happy?" I swear to the gods of the forests that I could hear the mocking in that plain voice.

I couldn't answer. I felt good, I felt accomplished. But I also felt empty. It was a mix of known and unknown feelings.

"I have yet to achieve my ambitions. I want to create the greatest house in this world. One that will last for thousands upon thousands of years. The House of…" He cut me off there.

"Yeah, yeah. The House Lannister." He said impassively. Of course, he knew. Why wouldn't he? Even if I never shared that with anyone.

He looked at me again and smirked, "While coming down from the north, I made time to attend little Lyssa's wedding. Her husband is the lord of the fingers. Balding old guy. Funny though."

I clenched my fists tight, looking down at the ground.

"Well, whatever. This should make for a good song. I'll look forward to the kind of achievements you will have little lion!" He said. More like he ordered.

"How was your trip up north Master Raven?" I tried distracting him from the discussion.

"Ah! The north is much more fun and interesting. Little wolf is growing great. He is bent on making a grand wall. His castle design for the Storm King was a hit too!" He started excitedly.

"The wolf pup might be coming down south to build a tower down at Oldtown. If possible I'll make him come here. A meeting of little lion and little wolf. How exciting!" And his weirdness resurfaced.

But I really did want to meet this Bran the builder, the wolf pup, who excites even the lazy Master Raven. For someone of the same age, he seems to be accomplishing great things. I can't lag behind!

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{Third POV}

In just a couple of years, the village beneath Casterly Rock had grown into a sizable town with booming trade. The influx of people was gradual. And the development of the place very obvious.

And in decades, Lannisters were already well known as the rising powerhouse in the continent with their title of the King of the Rocks. The richest and most militant house.

House Casterly did try to reclaim the castle but in the face of the power of Lannister gold and sellswords, it was a futile attempt.

There were also rumors of a Lady from the fingers being kidnapped just after the first year of her marriage. There was no war as everyone had expected. Not even a small skirmish. People even said it was just fanciful stories made up by some drunk.

But as a traveling bard put it, "The fingers can't close to make a fist when a large chunk of gold is holding it down to the ground."

And so, the tales of the famous first King of the Rocks, Lann the Clever spread through the world along with the other heroes from different parts of the land. But, those are stories for later.

A few decades into Lann's rule a song started to spread through the taverns,

"

The man of many lies, the man of great wits,

He cut the gold trees, he burned them he did,

The man of many lies, the man of great wits,

He used those embers, he dug a great pit,

The smoke did rise, and the prey was set.

The man of many lies, the man of great wits,

He loved a lioness, he tamed her with cubs,

He climbed hard, climbed alone on the rocks,

Looked back as he did, he didn't find his love.

But the man of many lies kept climbing up.

The smoke blinds the prey they fell to the pits,

The lion then roared, the sky was then lit,

Golden and yellow, yes the sky was then lit..."