Artys Arryn POV
"Big bro, you said your castle was big, but it's kinda small," Maria joked as she sat in front of me on the horse. She didn't want to board the carriage along with Lady Waynwood and insisted on traveling with me.
"Idiot, it's the gate of the castle. Look at the top of the mountain, that's the famous Eyrie," Noll corrected her with a smirk, riding beside me.
Maria looked back at him, cheeks puffed, clearly annoyed.
"I am not an idiot, you are an idiot," she snapped.
"Why did you build this castle so high up?" Noll asked.
"It wasn't built by me, but by my ancestors thousands of years ago. If you want to study about it, I can have a maester teach you. You could become a maester if you want," I said while observing the path. It was narrow, with room for only two horses side by side, and as we moved forward, it narrowed further.
No wonder the Eyrie was unconquerable. No army in Westeros could attack it without suffering huge casualties, and even then, they might not even cross the Bloody Gate. And even if they did, there were more gates before they could reach the Eyrie.
"Hey, big bro, what's a maester?" she asked, trying to look back.
"It's maester. Let's say it's someone who knows a lot and is smart," I said, simplifying it for her.
"Just like me," she said innocently.
"Yeah, just like you," I laughed, and the others joined in.
She's a lively child. Though her being this close to me has raised several eyebrows, considering she was a commoner and I am the heir to House Arryn and the Vale.
I looked at her tiny hands gripping the reins as tightly as she could.
Who cares? Let people talk.
"My lord, what if someone falls from the castle?" Noll asked, his eyes fixed on the Eyrie, now visible.
"Why don't you try it? Maybe I'll have Ser Jasper throw you from one of the windows," I replied.
"Yeah, maybe then his brain would start working," Maria added, catching all of us by surprise. Laughter followed.
Ignoring the laughter, I focused on the castle above. It's not big, no larger than Maegor's Holdfast. The castle is made of fine white stone, with seven slim towers bunched together.
Yeah, it's not big, but at least it's safe. Until the dragon queen comes.
Maybe I will build something like Minas Tirith, though a smaller version, in the Vale. Carve it out of the mountain. But I don't have the people, by people I mean skilled ones who could do that.
"Who would pass the Stone Gate?" one of the guards yelled from above.
"Yohn Royce, Lord of Runestone of House Royce, and I come with Artys Arryn, son of Jon Arryn, Lord of the Vale, along with Lord Grafton and Lady Waynwood," Yohn Royce declared in a commanding voice.
I will never understand these formalities. Can't these people see their lord is coming? Or technically, their future lord.
Since we came from Gulltown to the Eyrie inside the Vale, we didn't need to go through the Bloody Gate, as it is at the entrance of the Vale and at least a day's ride from the Stone Gate.
Soon, the iron gates opened for us, and knights wearing blue, led by an old man, came forward. He wore bronze clothes. There were wrinkles around his eyes, and his hair was a mix of black and white.
"My lord, I am Nestor Royce, High Steward of the Vale, serving in the name of Jon Arryn, Lord of the Vale and Hand of the King. I welcome you to the Eyrie," he said, giving a long introduction about how he serves my father.
He, along with several guards, knelt down.
"Rise, sers," I said in a loud voice, and with that, they all stood up.
"Why do they always bow to you?" Maria asked.
"Because I am a noble."
~~~High hall,Eyrie~~~
The hall is elegant. The walls are made of blue-veined marble. It has narrow arched windows, though it was not too large, especially compared to those of King's Landing.
I sat on the throne, which was carved out of a weirwood tree, and below me, the feast was in full swing. The lords of the Vale had gathered as per my father's summons. Soon, Lord Royce would open the letter and see what was inside.
"Ser Lyn, your brother doesn't seem to hold you in much regard," I said, turning my head toward the knight on my left.
"He is just jealous of me," Lyn Corbray said with a smile, his grip on his Valyrian sword tightening.
From what I remember, during the Rebellion, more specifically during the Battle of the Trident, their father passed away. While the elder brother rushed to take their father to the maester, the younger one grabbed the Valyrian sword and charged at the Dornishmen who fought for the Targaryens.
Now Lyonel is without an heir, leaving him with his younger brother, whom he hates, since he got the sword from their father for his achievements during the battle, something Lyonel believes should have been his, along with the rest of the inherited titles and lands.
"Little lord, why are you not eating anything?" I heard Lord Royce say as he walked toward me, holding a goblet in his right hand and a letter in his left.
"No, I am not hungry," I replied.
Just get on with it. I need to talk to the birds later.
He rang the bell, and with that, the bustling hall went silent. There were not many people to begin with, only lords and ladies, and even their children.
Oh God, I just want to be done with this. During the feast, I met them, and it's not good. They won't betray me, but these people are entrenched in a medieval mindset, and they look down on merchants.
From my subtle questions, I came to that conclusion. With my plans, it looks like a lord's discontent will form soon. But hey, unlike Lysa and Petyr, I am not an outsider, I am an Arryn.
"My lords and my ladies, I hope you are enjoying the feast. Today we have gathered here as per Lord Arryn's instructions. During my visit to King's Landing, he ordered me to deliver this letter to you all and instructed me to open it only in the presence of the lords of the Vale and only them," he announced.
He broke the wax seal and opened the letter.
"My lords of the Vale, some of you are my friends, while others are as close as kin. We have faced many trials together, but age has caught up with me. I do not expect to see the Eyrie again.
I have sent my son and heir, Artys, to the Vale. I ask that you serve him as you have served me and guide him, as loyal men of the Vale should.
Until he comes of age, he is to rule with the counsel of Yohn Royce and Nestor Royce.
Jon Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie, Warden of the East."
A murmur ran through the hall. Some lords nodded, others exchanged glances.
Well, there wasn't much in that. But the last part was really useful. I could run things much more smoothly now since the old man gave me approval. The only people I need to convince are Yohn and his cousin Nestor, who currently serves as High Steward of the Vale.
"House Arryn has never lacked for loyalty in this hall," Lord Corbray said, his voice carrying across the chamber. "We swore our oaths long before this letter was written."
"He is just worried about his son," one of the lords muttered.
"The lord's seat is no place for children. He needs to come of age, or at least be grown enough to wield a sword before he could rule the Vale. Looks like Lord Arryn's love for his son has clouded his judgment," Horton Redfort said.
"Lord Hunter, Lord Arryn has clearly said each decision must be consulted with Lord Royce and Ser Nestor. It is just a way of giving young Artys some experience," Gerold Grafton said.
"Forgive me, Lord Grafton, I have no objection to that, but Artys is too young to be given responsibility to rule a kingdom. Even a little, it must still be carried by a guardian, not him," Lord Waxley added.
No wonder even Littlefinger had a hard time dealing with them. Well, at least these people I could trust. None would stab me in the back. After all, honor is deeply woven into Vale politics.
"I think we must send a letter to Lord Arryn to ask him about his decision," someone said from the back of the group. All eyes turned to an old man dressed in black robes.
"Ser Jasper, do you know him?" I asked, my eyes never leaving the group of nobles.
"Yes, I think he serves as the steward in Baelish Keep," Ser Jasper replied.
"Why is he even here? He is not even a lord. Not to mention House Baelish is not even important, a lower house, nothing more," Ser Lyn said with disgust.
"ARE YOU QUESTIONING LORD ARRYN'S DECISION, SER RAYMOND?" Lord Grafton shouted, anger filling his voice.
He seems to be supporting me a lot. Well, that's a good thing, after all, Gulltown is under him.
Could it be the tax benefit? Or me snatching the Valyrian steel sword from House Baratheon, whom he clearly hates? Or my Valyrian looks? After all, House Grafton was one of the few that stood for House Targaryen during that fat man's rebellion.
"No, that's not what I mea—" the old man tried to justify himself, only to be cut off by Yohn Royce.
"Not to mention, do I need to remind you, thanks to the little lord, we don't have to pay taxes to the Crown for the next twelve years," Lord Grafton said calmly.
Well, about that… I don't necessarily plan to lower their taxes.
I mean, they don't really pay taxes to the Crown, they pay to House Arryn, and House Arryn sends a portion of it to King's Landing. Except for port taxes, which the Crown collects directly.
If these people are hoping I would lower that, or that Royce would, they are surely waiting to be disappointed.
"Look carefully at Lord Arryn's words. The little lord will be guided by Lord Royce and Ser Nestor. The Lord of the Vale has spoken, that should suffice," Lady Waynwood said calmly.
Finally, a sensible person who knows how to listen. Though Jon is being very generous with me, no one gives his heir this much power at such a young age. Of course, there are exceptions, like Tywin Lannister, who took it from his father.
Maybe his father is his trauma, that's why he acts like this.
"I think you should address them," Lord Royce said in a low voice.
Yeah, I should.
"My lords and my ladies, many of you have not met me, but I am as much a Valeman as you. The blood of House Arryn runs thick in my veins." My voice echoed in the silent hall. All eyes were on me.
"My father, and his father, and his father before him, for generations, have ruled over the Vale for thousands of years, since our ancestors defeated those savages and drove them into the forests. I might be young, but I still have Lord Royce and Ser Nestor, who have experience in ruling. With their assistance, and with your help, we can make the Vale a better place to live, not just for us, but for its people."
I stopped and scanned the room. Many seemed impressed, like Lady Waynwood and Lord Grafton. Many were skeptical of me, especially the Baelish dog and Lord Hunter.
They will fall in line soon.
POV ends.