121 AC
Casterly Rock, Seat of House Lannister.
A moon after the skirmish of Rooster Rock.
Lord Serret approached the massive gate of Casterly Rock as he always did, with sheer awe. What a sight. His own keep was dwarfed many times over by this pinnacle on a cliff. He could see his son at his side, being lost in the grandness of it all, and where other lords saw wealth and power to obtain, Lord Serret saw humility and the finality of life.
For are we not specks of dust in the grander world? It was something his father told him, and his father's father said. A lesson in humility. Always humble yourself lest the world will find a way to, and trust me, the world will.
The road was well paved. Lannister gold gets you that, and the roads were abuzz with activity. It was a grand tourney, but why? The King was ill, and he wouldn't dare risk leaving the Red Keep. Yet why the pomp? Lannister broods were being born all the time. Is it for the Queen? Mayhaps. Lord Serret overheard whispers that the Queen was not happy with King Viserys and his choice of heir. The Hightowers scheming, as always.
Lord Serret didn't hate the Hightowers. He just saw their obvious ploy for what it was. However, it's maddening to think King Viserys wouldn't change his heir and treat Princess Rhaenyra as special, yet no special privileges were given.
No, Lord Serret wouldn't take a side, not if forced to. And the way his liege lord was cozying up to the Queen like this and not inviting Rhaenyra only made everyone sure of where his loyalty lay.
And he couldn't break the oaths of fealty lest all his enemies would destroy all he held dear. No, Lord Serret had a wild card. Something his father always told him he needed. Every Serret was well versed in the game. It's why the Lannisters always ask us to send a second son to steward at the Rock. No second son has went, not since the Conquest. The Lannisters forget the Serrets and how they stopped every encroaching Reach time and time again.
His grandfather told him that if it wasn't for the endless wars in the Reach with the Gardener Kings, the Serrets would've made a play for the Kingship of the Rock. He had full belief in his ancestors. However, would they have been successful? Who knows.
As his mind went to the present, now dismounted, he entered the courtyard, which was massive. He saw Lord Jason Lannister waiting there with bread and salt.
He then got to a knee and bowed. So did all of his men. Thank the Seven he beat it into Alex to maintain decorum while they were visiting. Many on the road looked at Alex like he was otherworldly. An otherworldly little shit, Lord Serret mused.
"Lord Serret, welcome! I offer you bread and salt," Jason Lannister said with a deep smile.
Lord Serret got up, ate the bread and salt. Thus were his men protected under guest rights.
"Lord Serret, I have a bath running for you and your heir, as well as rooms for the men. Enjoy my hospitality and all I have to offer. I wish you join me for a talk after you are well settled here. I will be waiting at the start of the melee in my box. I do hope you enjoy Lannisport as well." Jason smiled once more.
Lord Serret bowed and ordered his men to their rooms to be bathed and fed. He saw Alex with Cadwyn flanking him. Alex gave him a stinky face, and Cadwyn apologised for him. Alex was being eyed due to his height by everybody around. People would stop and just look at him. By the Seven, this was going to be fun.
THE NEXT DAY
Lord Serret emerged into the box with Lannister banners, his sworn men in step at his back. They were asked to wait outside while Lord Serret had a word with his liege lord.
Lord Jason greeted him heartily and asked him to sit. The melee was about to begin, and Lord Lannister had a great view. The best view, second to the Queen's box beside them and her sons'. They were here much earlier than Lord Serret. An unfortunate consequence of the skirmish he had with the bandits. They wasted precious time.
"Lord Serret, who is that man you have with you?" Lord Jason inquired.
"Whoever may you be talking about, my lord?" Lord Serret awkwardly said.
"That tall, towering fellow, the one with the very distinct lion pelts around him. I just wonder how you have him in your service. I've never seen height like that, least in the Westerlands," Lord Jason quizzed.
"He was a simple hunter, my lord. He stopped a very cunning beast from killing my smallfolk, and for that, I am in his debt," Lord Serret said firmly.
"Ah well, that doesn't matter now. I was hoping for a tragic backstory, not the issues of the smallfolk," Lord Jason chuckled.
Lord Serret had to contain his rage, his mask unwavering. His smile portraying the perfect obedient lord. He hated the man ever since he renewed his oath of fealty at the Rock when Jason Lannister came to be Lord Paramount. Lord Serret knew this man would doom the Westerlands and its people into idiocy. Lord Serret much preferred Tyland Lannister, a simpler Lannister and much more amenable than this pride infested man.
"You can leave now, Lord Serret. I have a seat reserved for House Reyne, and your time is up," Lord Jason Lannister laughed, the slight burning Lord Serret with a cold, cold fury.
Lord Serret smiled and left. He then found his seat in a smaller box lower down, overlooking the large melee area. He picked at his own colours as one man, one mountain of a man, emerged from the woodlands. Lord Serret grinned as he knew what was about to happen.
They think the peafowls weak, his father's lessons coming to him. It's time to show peafowl feathers to this accursed world.
Go forth, Alex Armstrong. Bring glory to the smallfolk.