The grand feast in King's Landing came to an end amid songs, dancing, wine, and laughter.
Yet beneath the surface harmony, the seeds of conflict and war had already been sown.
After the banquet, Tywin Lannister's two brothers came to his chambers.
Tywin and Kevan sat facing one another, while their youngest brother, Tygett, stood nearby as a youthful attendant.
Though Tygett had been only ten during the War of the Stepstones, he had already shown astonishing courage and martial talent, personally slaying three grown opponents.
"When we were fighting on the front lines, what was he doing?" Tywin said coldly.
"He found himself a new lover, seducing our brother Gerold's wet nurse. Our uncle died on the battlefield, yet nothing stopped him from indulging in pleasure. Perhaps that lion's head of his contains nothing but lust, desire, and women."
"Our grandfather never intended to raise him as an heir," Tywin continued, his voice icy.
"Weak-willed. Mediocre in talent. Lacking in arms. He never even earned his knighthood, panic seizes him at the sound of a warhorn. If not for the early deaths of my uncles, House Lannister would never have fallen so low."
Kevan and Tygett said nothing, because every word was true.
Fate had elevated their father, Tytos Lannister, to Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West, and Shield of Lannisport, yet he had failed in every role.
What he left House Lannister was mockery, weakness, and humiliation.
"We will never allow our ancestors' glory to wither in our father's hands," Tywin said flatly.
Each time he defied his father's orders, matters improved. In Tywin's eyes, Tytos was unfit to be trusted, too soft, too eager to yield. Only iron discipline and ruthless resolve could restore fear of the lion.
House Lannister's glory would stand above all else.
"Indeed," Kevan nodded.
"Things have only worsened. Since Uncle Jason's death, the family lacks loyal, dependable commanders. Our influence in the Westerlands hasn't grown, it's been weakened by war. Lord Roger Reyne's repeated victories only make him look down on House Lannister all the more."
This could be called the darkest period in the history of the Westerlands.
Ironborn raiders and pirates from the Stepstones ravaged the western coast. Were it not for the aging and ailing Ironborn king still clinging to life, the situation might have been even worse. Some houses bent the knee to the Reach, others aligned themselves with House Tarbeck. Local disputes were increasingly settled with steel rather than a lord's judgment.
"We will not allow our grandfather's tragedy to repeat itself," Tywin said, his voice hard as stone.
"I will wash that shame away with blood. We will destroy the Red Lion's den at Castamere, wipe out House Tarbeck entirely, and kill Lady Ellyn and her wicked offspring."
He was speaking of an old injustice, of the death of Ser Ellyn's kin, slain by the Red Lion.
Lord Roger Reyne and his sister Lady Ellyn Reyne were the two people Tywin hated most in the world.
When Ser Ellyn had gone on his father's orders to summon House Tarbeck and demand accountability, Lady Ellyn incited her brother. Roger Reyne ambushed the camp and slaughtered hundreds.
And yet, in the end, the Laughing Lion forgave everything.
The knight's death meant nothing.
But the hatred endured, and festered to this day.
"We strike first," Kevan said through clenched teeth.
"Catch the Red Lion unprepared."
"We need men who are loyal, truly loyal to us," Tywin replied.
"The War of the Stepstones tempered many soldiers. I've already noted several capable knights. Kevan, you should recommend some as well. Any man swayed by Lord Reyne is unfit to serve. Soldiers with gratitude should remember who pays their wages."
Kevan and Tygett both nodded.
The age of peace was over.
Since House Reyne had chosen war, House Lannister would answer in kind.
"First, we raise an elite force, to suppress bandits and rebellious knights in the Westerlands, and to serve as the iron guarantee behind our debt collection. Second, we reclaim the debts Father foolishly loaned out. Those unable to repay will provide hostages. If it comes to it, force will be used, especially against Lord Roger Tarbeck and his bannermen."
Tywin's voice was calm, but his true target was clear.
The Red Lion of Castamere.
Remove that glaring symbol, and everything would fall back into place.
"Then do it," Kevan said firmly. "You'll have my full support."
Tygett looked uneasy, but nodded all the same.
"Brother," Kevan added after a pause,
"Do we not need the dragons' help? If we seek the crown's support, we might gain men and legitimacy. From what I saw today, Ser Barristan, Ser Gerold, even that wandering Braavosi swordsman, they are formidable warriors."
"No need," Tywin shook his head.
"This matter must remain secret. The more who know, the more dangerous it becomes."
He had already seen through the crown's predicament.
King's Landing was populous, but poor.
Its citizens were ill-suited for war. The crown's few soldiers were needed to defend the capital and guard against threats from across the Narrow Sea. Sending them west would stretch the realm thin. Mediation had already failed for precisely this reason, reinforcements lay beyond the crown's means.
"Your foresight is admirable," Kevan replied.
"Our strength alone is enough to destroy House Reyne."
Tywin nodded in satisfaction.
It was time to bring change to the Westerlands.
"A single lion cannot form a pride. Only a pride can conquer all."
"For the family."
"For the family."
The next morning, Tywin did not linger in King's Landing.
After a brief farewell to the king, he rode out with his brothers, reclaimed command of the Lannister forces, and returned west.
There was no resistance.
The war was over, and it was only natural that Lannister boys should command Lannister armies.
At the time, Lord Roger Reyne was still drowning himself in wine and whores, utterly unaware that the Lannister brothers had already marched home with the main host.
From a hidden vantage in the Red Keep, Rhaegar watched the Red Lion's banners retreat.
The rains of Castamere are coming, he thought.
And something truly exciting is about to happen.