Harys Swyft

While Tytos Lannister still ruled Casterly Rock, Ser Harys borrowed money from his house. When Tywin returned, determined to restore his family's standing, the demands came due: whoever could not pay at once had to send a hostage to the Rock. Harys obeyed at once —"the lion has woken," he said— and handed over his own daughter, Dorna, into the custody of Tywin's younger brother, Kevan Lannister.

The debt was settled in the most lasting way possible: Kevan married her.

Ser Harys served in the army Lord Tywin led into the Riverlands, and was present at the Battle of the Green Fork. When word came that Ser Jaime Lannister had been captured, it was Harys who openly doubted the Kingslayer's skill as a commander; Kevan Lannister spoke up in his nephew's defense.

At Harrenhal, under Tywin's command, Harys went so far as to dismiss cooks who spat in his food. His squire had worse luck: he was killed in a quarrel with men of the Bloody Mummers over Beric Dondarrion's supposed death at their hands.

Later, at the Battle of the Blackwater, Harys's horse fell on him and pinned him down; a man-at-arms named Willit pulled him free, taking grave wounds in the process.

Ser Harys was among the lords who accompanied Tyrion Lannister to receive the delegation arriving from Dorne in King's Landing.

By now a weak man, he was named Hand of the King to young Tommen by Queen Cersei: someone easy to control, and in Kevan Lannister's eyes, one more hostage. She later moved him to the office of Lord Treasurer after Gyles Rosby's death.

When Cersei herself was arrested, Harys joined Grand Maester Pycelle in taking charge of the young king to request Kevan Lannister's return as regent until Tommen came of age.

Harys still sits on the small council as Master of Coin, writing to the banks of Pentos and Myr in search of a loan to appease the Iron Bank of Braavos. He proposes raising taxes; Kevan refuses, wary of stoking rebellion in the realm.

Before he dies, it is Kevan who suggests that Harys himself sail to Braavos to negotiate in person.