✦ House Lothston ✦ —“What Endures, Rules.”ׂ 𓈒 ⋆ ۪
obsidian silk against candlelight, gold that glows rather than gleams, pearls resting like quiet verdicts, the scent of river air, water beneath stone bridges, lace veils and heavy sleeves, braids threaded with memory, soft voices in vast halls, shadows that linger, the hush before a decision is made, the weight of silver worn as a second skin
Excerpts that are italicized are copied from the official Westeros wiki The seat of Halleck Hoare, King of the Isles and the Rivers, was a modest tower house at Fairmarket on the Blue Fork. His son, Harren the Black, built Harrenhal along the Gods Eye as a monument to himself, intending it to be the greatest of all castles in Westeros and for it to dwarf any other.
The construction of Harren's dream took forty years. Thousands of captives died in the quarries chained to sledges or laboring on the five huge towers. Men froze in winter and sweltered in summer. Weirwoods that had stood three thousand years were cut down to provide rafters and beams. Harren beggared the riverlands and the Iron Islands alike to ornament his dream.
Upon its completion, Harren boasted that his new fortress was impregnable. However, he did not account for Aegon the Conqueror and his dragons invading Westeros. On the day Harren took up residence, Aegon came ashore at what would become King's Landing. Aegon flew his dragon Balerion, the Black Dread, above the high walls and forbidding towers and then roasted Harren alive in the tallest of the towers, now known as Kingspyre. Harren and all his line perished in the burning of Harrenhal. Due to the extreme heat of dragonflame, the castle took on a charred, melted appearance.
Harren allegedly mixed human blood into the mortar for the stonework; some believe that the castle is cursed and haunted due to Harren's hubris and the horrors that have occurred within the castle's walls, with the early deaths of its many rulers as proof. The curse is thought to prevent any lord from holding Harrenhal indefinitely.
There was something to be said about House Lothston for residing in a castle built upon the greed of man and the blood of his captives and the curse that etched itself into the very walls of the Keep, if one so dared to speak ill of the house. It's been studied by scholars and independent folk alike whether the burning of Harren the Black was political or personal, for Aegon the Conqueror to bestow House Lothston the castle of Harrenhal. Although the charred appearance can still be found in some corridors if you look close enough, it is with pride that House Lothston kept the marks. Whether that's in recognition to what the former King did or for something else remains unclear.
Lord Aethan Lothston is recognized as the first Lothston of the name and contributor to its weight. Even though he married a lady from a smaller baron house, Nyrella of House Ruft, as vassals of House Piper the union helped established their first stronghold along river trade routes. Their children, Maelan and Ilyra Lothston, both went on to have political marriages of their own. It was said that Ser Maelan was a formidable opponent in battle, though there are rumors of him ending battles without drawing steel. The young Lord married Ellyn from House Piper. Which bought them further into the Riverland’s power on their own terms. From Lady Ellyn, House Lothston established their unique hair, having it braided for ceremonies, celebrations, mourning and to display their power. Although she was a beauty in her time and well-sought out, it is unclear who Ilyra Lothston married, she birthed a legitimate son and named him Aethan II, who became a knight and bent the knee to House Darry.
Lord Maelan and Lady Ellyn went on to have two children, Maelor Lothston and Cyren Lothston. The heir and the spare were extremely close, even mores after the stillborn death of their sister Anaera Lothston. Maelor was involved in Harrenhal’s creation, going so far as to be in charge of logistics; it is here if scholars wonder if the young Lord had wanted the castle for himself. Maelor chose to connect his wealth to construction in trade, as he supplied stone, labor and routes for other Lords. His union was of one to Lady Rhea Moordu and was one of the rare Lothston marriages purely for love. They had a single child, a son, Daemion Lothston, the Black Ledger, who went on to marry Selyse Blackwood as an alliance between the two Houses. Lord Daemion and Lady Selyse made House Lothston feared with silence. Has kept every record of alliance, betrayal and debt in The Riverlands—all of them remain present day deep in the throws of Harrenhal, untouched, and it is said that some debts are still left unpaid.
Lord Saelem Lothston, their son, married Lady Myrielle from a far branch of House Vance, their union creating a bridge between the old and new world. Ensured Lothston survival over the rumored conquest that was said to begin from House Targaryen by exchanging letters with Lord Aerion Targaryen in secret for multiple years (rumored to be romantic, believed to be platonic, unclear if Saelem was aware of the political advantage this would bring at the time).
During Aegon’s conquest, Lord Caerlen Lothston, the Unburnt, firstborn son of Lady Myrielle and Lord Saelem, sat as the head of House. The first Lothston to speak to a Targaryen directly, the first to watch Harrenhal burn. He married Lady Vaella from another lesser known Riverland House but one with trading routes so advantageous it stayed in the family for generations. Their marriage was one of celebration across the lands, with Riverland being largely untouched by Aegon’s Conquest. Their union brought about four children: Jaeneth, Laencion, Aelrah and Jaedyn Lothston. For House Lothston’s loyalty, Aegon the Conqueror gave Caerlen free rein to rebuild Harrenhal and use it as he saw fit. In addition to that, Aegon I Targaryen proposed marriage between his master of coin, Crispian Celtigar, and House Lothston’s eldest daughter, Lady Jaeneth Lothston. Seeing as House Celtigar is of Valyrian descent, the marriage was seen as favorable. The two wed in 4 AC and Jaeneth moved to the Crownlands. During his final year of life, Lord Caerlan Lothston was able to see the full, rebuilt scale of Harrenhal and passed away peacefully in his chambers.
His sons: Laencion and Aelrah went to further continue the line—excluding Ser Jaedyn who became entrusted as a Kingsguard. After a failed attempt on the life of King Aegon I, Visenya convinced him to establish a body of seven sworn bodyguards that would be named the Kingsguard. Due to the strict rules, he never had a family. However, this was an honor and was viewed as such by his house.
Aelrah married one of the ladies from House Caswell of Bitterbridge. The house is noted for their allegiance to the Targaryens throughout history. Aelrah’s wife, Lady Tanora of Caswell had a bastard a year prior to their marriage, even as the eldest he had no claim, but was legitimized as a Caswell (not a Lothston, however) and became a knight, later married to a daughter from House Strong. Their first daughter became heiress of House Caswell while their second daughter became a Septa of the Seven.
Lord Laencion married Lady Alarra, the youngest daughter of Lord Mallister. Lord Mallister was known for his staunch refusal to bend the knee to King Harren Hoare. He found the marriage fruitful since his line would live and rule Harrenhal. Lady Alarra and Lord Laencion had four children in total: two daughters and two sons. Their daughters, Kaira and Vaennah married noblemen from the Stormlands. With Lady Kaira having a union with Lord Brontë from House Dondarrion producing an heir and a young spare. While Lady Vanneah swore herself to silence after, her husband, a rich but less known noble, died early into their marriage. Leaving her in wealth and entitlement but alone with no wish to remarry. As for their sons, the youngest, Daeren married Lady Gamora from House Allston, a minor house in the Vale sworn to Arryn that gave way for hosting events that left House Lothston with more allies than ever recorded. They had a son, Aelric, and a daughter, Serinea. Lord Laencion and Lady Alarra’s eldest son, Kaenneth, became Lord of House Lothston and trained for his duties in Harrenhal. With an arranged marriage to the youngest daughter of Lord Thortsten and Lady Yenn of House Blackwood of Raventree Hall. From their arranged union brought about the current heiress to House Lothston Yasminael, and her two younger siblings: Laencion II and Vaenora.
Throughout the years, many houses attempted to marry into House Lothston. Some for the hope of getting closer to House Targaryen, others for the political advantage of Harrenhal. Until the Dance of Dragons, marriages for House Lothston stayed within the Riverlands and parts of the Stormlands. Despite not being directly involved with major political decisions, House Lothston is always at an advantageous position within the Realm. Lord Lyonel Strong had been the master of laws and Hand of the King for Viserys I Targaryen. He had two sons, Ser Harwin and Larys and three unnamed daughters through his three marriages. One of his daughters married into House Lothston. With that, she brought some of the Strong family members, such as Ser Simon Strong, to Harrenhal. House Lothston defended themselves during the Dance, swearing allegiance to Rhaenyra Targaryen. The remaining members of House Strong were killed in battle, being too restless to remain within the fortress, and Larys Strong was killed by Cregan Stark during the Hour of the Wolf. While most of those found guilty followed Perkin in taking the black, Lord Larys and Ser Gyles of the Kingsguard chose death over the Wall. Cregan beheaded the pair with his Valryian Steel greatsword, Ice. Cregan granted Larys' last request, that his clubfoot be removed from his corpse so Larys would at least be free of it in death.
In 42 AC, Ser Aelfric Lothston—distant branch of House Lothston from Aethan II’s line—was slain defending Maegor I Targaryen during the king's Trial of Seven. Ser Lucas Caswell was the descendant of a knight (grandson of Lady Tanora’s bastard son). In 135 AC, after the secret siege and the failed plot against King Aegon III Targaryen, Lucas was named masters-at-arms of the Red Keep by Lord Torrhen Manderly to replace Ser Garreth Long. Lucas earned the respect of Prince Viserys Targaryen and his elder brother, King Aegon III and was legitimized as a true Lothston from the Targaryens and my father, Lord Kaenneth Lothston.
at the end !! tags ꪆ୧🏷️ HUGEEEE shoutout to @maravdrs for helping me create my family timeline <3 love you cool kat
#black reader #reality shift#aesthetic#asoiaf#akotsk#baelor breakspear#baelor targaryen#baelor#prince targaryen#king#queen#lady#prince#sword#sea#cutie#patootie#corner#jae's corner
