Chapter 40: The Rains of Castamere
By the end of 261 AC, the power struggle in the Westerlands had reached its breaking point.
Reconciliation and courtesy between great houses were always fragile things. In less than a year, what little peace existed had shattered beyond repair.
Ser Tywin Lannister did not attend the so-called Red Lion banquet. In his heart, there was no room for compromise—only cold hatred, iron discipline, and ruthless resolve.
The good days of House Reyne of Castamere, and their allies of House Tarbeck, had come to an end.
In the Small Council chamber of the Red Keep, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen sat quietly beside King Jaehaerys II.
Present were the King himself, Lord Ormund Baratheon, Hand of the King, Prince Aerys Targaryen, and Rhaegar—along with members of the Kingsguard standing watch.
A raven had arrived bearing grim news, sealed with the mark of the White Bull.
The letter was from Ser Gerold Hightower, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
Tywin Lannister had exterminated House Tarbeck and was now laying siege to Castamere, the seat of House Reyne.
Rhaegar read the letter aloud, his voice calm and clear, missing not a single word. His sharp intellect and unusual maturity had long since ceased to surprise those around him.
The Reyne–Tarbeck alliance had collapsed even faster than it had in recorded history.
King Jaehaerys II and Lord Ormund Baratheon listened in silence.
"By His Grace's authority, I arrived at Casterly Rock with two hundred cavalry and concluded negotiations with Ser Tywin Lannister.
Ser Tywin summoned Lords Reyne and Tarbeck to Casterly Rock to answer for their crimes. Acting as royal envoy, I issued a final summons for arbitration.
Lord Roger Reyne responded with open violence, breaking his oath of fealty to House Lannister.
Houses Reyne and Tarbeck are in rebellion. I have formally proclaimed the Edict of Treason."
Rhaegar understood—this had been their last chance.
The Iron Throne had attempted mediation three times. Each was rejected.
House Reyne had defied the King's decree outright and had even been complicit in the humiliation and deaths of Lannister kin in the past.
Anyone with eyes could see the truth: the Crown now stood with House Lannister.
Ser Gerold Hightower had publicly read the Edict of Treason at Casterly Rock, rallying Lannister vassals and legitimizing Tywin's actions in the name of royal justice.
Rhaegar continued:
"With the Edict proclaimed, Ser Tywin's forces swelled.
He led five hundred knights of House Lannister, three thousand foot soldiers and crossbowmen, later reinforced by his bannermen to a total of nine thousand men.
House Tarbeck has been utterly destroyed.
Lord Reyne attempted relief but was wounded and fled back to Castamere.
Castamere is now fully surrounded.
House Reyne has withdrawn into the mines beneath their castle. Their end is inevitable."
The chamber felt colder with every word.
Even from leagues away, the stench of blood and death seemed to seep into the room.
King Jaehaerys II and Lord Ormund exchanged solemn glances. They had known Tywin to be capable—but not this decisive, this merciless.
Only Prince Aerys appeared unmoved, his careless expression unchanged.
What unsettled Rhaegar most was Tywin's ability to muster such numbers despite Lord Tytos Lannister's weakness. The power of the Westerlands, once unleashed, was terrifying.
Outside Castamere, banners of many houses snapped in the rain—yet red was the dominant color.
Lannister soldiers in crimson cloaks and lion-crested helms had erected a complete encirclement. Wealth alone could sustain such an army.
Miners moved constantly, hauling tools and stone.
Every vassal remembered what had happened to House Tarbeck.
With Ser Gerold Hightower, the King's own White Bull, standing beside Tywin, no one dared hesitate.
Castamere's outer structures were already ruined. Its true defense lay underground.
The mine entrances were narrow, reinforced with oak and iron—but Tywin had no intention of storming them.
Instead, he sealed them.
Miners collapsed the tunnels with stone and earth, sealing every exit. Then Tywin diverted a nearby stream toward the mines.
Soon, the sounds of war faded—replaced by the roar of rushing water.
From higher ground, Tywin Lannister watched in silence as the flood poured into Castamere's depths.
Red cloaks.
Black armor.
Blue water.
Gray stone.
The underground halls became a drowning tomb.
"The mines are fully flooded," Ser Gerold Hightower said.
"House Reyne has nowhere left to flee."
House Reyne—the Red Lion—was finished.
Tywin accepted the words without expression.
Gold and jewels were brought forth as gifts for the Kingsguard—rings, necklaces, badges stripped from Tarbeck corpses, still stained with blood.
Ser Gerold recognized them… and said nothing.
Castamere was gone.
Cold light shone in Tywin's eyes.
The debt had been collected.
The Westerlands now knew his name.
And across the realm, the Rains of Castamere began to play.
Because a Lannister always pays his debts.
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