The climbing to the Eyrie was as challenging as it was magnificent. It was what Andar Royce thought ever since the first time he made the climb.
From then on, he made the ascent many times over, and despite that, his young guide was the expert by far.
It was early morning when he and Mya Stone entered the waycastle Sky.
"Go back to the Gates with Lord Nestor," Andar said to the girl. "Pack your belongings. I'll find you a place in Runestone, as I promised."
He had to make the girl see reason during their climb. She was sweet on Mychel Redfort, but Andar knew that couldn't be. Lord Horton Redfort wouldn't allow a son of his, to marry a bastard. King's seed or not, Mya was a Stone. Hence, the girl accepted his offered place in Runestone.
When the portcullis of Sky closed at their backs, the girl had a cautious look on her. "My lord, do you need me to sent a message to Lord Nestor?"
Andar sighed, the girl recklessly worrying for him reminded him of Ysilla and her antics. He had found her sister a new friend, he was certain. "Yes, tell him to find me someone competent to see over our new commercial ties to the North."
If his tone wasn't cutting enough, his serious gaze got his message across.
"A-aye, my lord."
Mya didn't have a reason to worry for him. He turned and walked to climb the chimney to the Eyrie. Lady Arryn had summoned him to question him about his father's actions no doubt. Mayhaps, she'd even ask about the iron the North was buying from him and his allies.
The Lady Arryn couldn't do much more than questioning him in public. In part because most of the Vale wanted to march to war, and in part because of the ones who might have sided with her, only Lord Eon Hunter could be at the Eyrie as of now.
The chimney was as familiar to him as before. The handhelds carved into rock finding his hands with little to no difficulty. It had been good exercise when he was a boy following around his uncle, it was good exercise now.
With a final push, he was received by the Eyrie's guards, and, as expected, the he was escorted to the High Hall at a moment's notice. He was ready for this, so the travel doublet he wore, was in his house's colors and finely embroidered with the same runes his plate armor had.
It was morning still when he reached the doors of the Hall. He had started the climb from the Gates of the Moon at dawn.
He reached the big oaken door studded with iron and bronze when the herald announced him. Each of his steps measured, and his head held high. All to project the image of someone who did nothing wrong.
In the weirwood throne, sat Lord Robert Arryn, next to him was his mother, Lady Lysa Arryn. The boy of eight was the new Defender of the Vale. Just like many lords before, Andar's father had asked to foster the boy, and just like many lords before, he had been rejected by the boy's mother.
In the austere room, other lords and ladies were already present. Lady Arryn wanted to make an example of him and his family. He wouldn't let her, his actions were on the side of justice and honor, no shame would befall the Royce name today.
He approached the weirwood throne, but before he could even bow before his liege, Lysa Arryn spoke:
"What's the meaning of this?" she shrieked. "First you defy me by participating in the Hand's tourney. Then your father insists on joining the war, and when I reject him, he goes and joins the war anyways!"
That he was the one being summoned to a public audience while Lady Waynwood, Jasper Redfort, Lord Melcolm were part of the public was telling. Lady Arryn didn't know to pick her battles, that at least, Andar understood.
"My lady, my lord father explained how our participation in the Hand's tourney was due to the word of your command not reaching us in time."
"And what of now? Did my command not to get involved in the war didn't reach your lord father as well?" Lady Lysa mockingly asked.
"Of course not, my lady. Your command arrived to Runestone with no issue," Andar said. He kept his tone placid as a summer breeze.
Lady Arryn pierced him with her eyes. "Then why is your father in the Riverlands with two thousand men on his back?"
"I believe my lord father sent you a raven before departing. He went to retrieve Robar and bring him back to Runestone." Andar looked around the lords and ladies gathered. "As we all know, the roads in the Riverlands are not safe, so I insisted on him taking a larger retinue to guarantee his safety."
Lady Arryn's balled her hands into fists. "So you were the one who disobeyed me? You, who is dragging us into this war."
"Disobey?" He pronounced the word as innocent as one could. If his daughters heard him, they'd be outraged at how easily it came to him. "No, Lady Arryn. The Valelords of old used to travel with big retinues in order to not fall to Mountain Clansmen's surprise attacks. This is just an instance of that. As for dragging the Vale into the war… no valemen killed a Lannister just yet, no farmhand was plucked from his crops to fight a war, and while Gulltown's commerce took a hit at the beginning of the war, now is showing signs of recovery."
Andar had been thorough when looking for a way to offer support to Robb Stark. There were instances when Valelords moved around with as many as five hundred men through the Vale, the only requisite, was to ask permission to the lord of the land.
"…Even still, you should've notified me!"
He had to smother a laugh. What he heard of Lady Arryn was true, the woman had lost her head ever since her lord husband's passing.
"We did notify you. Around three days before his departure, my lord father sent you a raven." That the letter didn't include the amount of swords that were following his lord father, he didn't say. If Lady Arryn raised the topic, it would only paint her as careless, well, much more that she was already doing for herself, for not asking further clarification.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Andar stood his ground. Firm and straight as an arrow, looking past the Lady Regent, straight at Lord Robert Arryn. "My lord, your father would've raised his banners to support a just cause. Say the word, and we'll follo—"
"Shut up," Lady Arryn hissed and moved in front of her son.
"My lady, you know ho—"
"Shut up!" she screamed. "Your father has cost me Petyr's favor!"
"Who?"
Lady Arryn became enraged at his question. "The only friend I know in this world, the only man I can count on! We were close, so close… but Yohn Royce went to the Riverlands… and now sweet Petyr lost favor with the crown and is guarded like a criminal."
Andar had to dig in his memories to find who was she referring to. The Master of Coin wasn't someone he had talked to. The man was too lowborn to be of notice, except… after Lady Arryn's words…
"Why would he lose favor?" Littlefinger was just the Master of Coin, he couldn't influence his lord father and his, admittedly, big retinue. No man could fault him for that, not even Lord Tywin.
Lady Arryn's eyes widened. "He… he didn't lose favor… Lord Baelish's… he did not… he wouldn't…"
He looked around the lords and ladies present. They all shared his disbelief.
He had an ugly suspicion growing inside him, a suspicion that looking back, should've come sooner. "My lady, why didn't you raise your banners to defend Riverrun?"
Lady Arryn stopped her mutterings and turned to him. "The Lannisters are dangerous, they-they could've killed sweet Robin, just like they killed my lord husband."
A moon ago he would've believed her, a woman's heart is not fit for war, and Jon Arryn's untimely dead had been a devastating blow.
His shoulders tensed, a growing suspicion on Lady Arryn's true intentions was gnawing at him. "The Lannisters were defeated in the Green Fork and in Riverrun. Why didn't you raised your banners then, my lady?"
"I… uhh… it's… You wouldn't understand."
Andar wasn't expecting an answer, Lady Arryn's reasons were getting clearer. Now, the only thing he could decide was on how to deal with this. If his father was here, he would've demanded answers, and when those answers confirmed his suspicions… Lady Arryn was lucky Lord Yohn wasn't here today.
He looked around the hall, seeking for allies and friends. This needed a delicate touch and for the Vale nobles to support him. Lady Waynwood gave him a grim nod, Lord Melcolm and Jasper Redfort did the same.
"Lord Baelish is in danger, I gather," Andar asked in a worried tone.
Lady Arryn sucked a breath. "Why would that matter?" she said in a wary tone.
"He's a noble of the Vale, is he not?" He put his right hand on his chest. "Lord Jon Arryn raised his banners against the Mad King's crimes for his charges. Lord Baelish was raised alongside you, my lady. It is only fitting for you to raise your banners for a just cause."
Whatever response she thought he was going to give, that wasn't it. "But-but they have him. The Lannisters have him, and they might… gods forbid it, kill him."
"May I speak?" Lady Waynwood said from the side. Lady Arryn gave her a weak nod. "Lord Tywin is a vicious man, yes, but he is not a fool. He only responds to strength, my lady. He can threaten the most heinous things, but he won't dare to move his hand when a powerful army is within reach."
Lord Melcolm and Jasper followed. Ser Baram of the Arryn guards declared he'd rescue Littlefinger from the lion's maws. A few more declared the same.
A curve of a smile painted on him and his allies. The Valelords wanted to join the war, and were happy to join in with the narrative he'd put forward.
"Is that wise?" Lady Arryn asked.
"Lord Baelish is alone in King's Landing, my lady." Andar said. "No doubt, shielding your nieces from the worst of the Lannisters. I have no doubt he's in great danger." Well, he had doubts on how such a frail man could be assisting Lord Eddard's girls, but he had found Lady Arryn's weakness. He needed to exploit it.
"It's as Lord Andar says, my lady," Lady Waynwood added. "Lord Baelish is a prisoner in all but name, but prisoners can be kept safe. You just ought to look at the Stark girls. Robb Stark soundly defeated the Lannisters, and now Tywin would be a lackwit to touch a single hair of them."
More voiced joined, almost all piling up to join the war.
"There's one last fact that can uncover the whole truth," Andar said. "Lady Arryn, did you receive ravens from Lord Baelish?"
"No!" she said immediately.
He had doubts before, but now he was certain the Vale not joining the Starks was Littlefinger's doing. "Lady Sansa wrote to his brother before the beginning of this war," he said mostly to the hall rather than to the Lady Regent in front. "The letter asked him to put down his arms and return to the king's peace." He waited for the murmurs to begin before continuing. "King Robb believes the letter was written under duress, the words dictated by the queen. The similarities should be clear. So I ask you, Lady Arryn. Did you receive a letter asking not to commit the Vale to war?"
"I-I" she said, struggling for words.
"Don't misunderstand me, my lady. I'm not accusing you of any wrongdoing," today, "A woman's heart is not meant for war. If I was a prisoner and my wife was asked to not fight, she'd comply. But it'd be a mistake."
"It would?" asked Lady Arryn.
He gave her a reassuring smile and a nod. "Aye, doing so would put us all in danger. But if you show your strength… the enemy will think twice before committing an atrocious crime." He took a breath to sort the words on his mind. "Let us show the strength of the Vale, my lady. Let us make the Lannisters think twice before harming Lord Baelish!"
The hall erupted with shouting. "The strength of the Vale!" he heard more than once, Lords and ladies repeating the chant. Lady Waynwood's eyes found him, and they both shared a look of understanding. The Vale was going to war and all it cost, was an insignificant lord of little rename. Any other time, Andar would've been reluctant to pay that price, but after Lady Arryn's outburst…
Andar turned to look at Lord Robert Arryn. The boy was weak. He had heard whispers of people claiming the boy wouldn't last a winter. With a mother like Lady Arryn, Andar thought that would be the case. The boy needed a place to grow strong and thrive. Sword lessons and good meat will have to be enough for the little lord to become as strong as an aurochs.
Lady Arryn raised her hand for silence. "It is as you say, my lords," she said looking frantic. "Petyr needs our swords. I-I shall raise my banners."
The hall's screams got higher and higher with the confirmation. In normal circumstances, Andar would feel elated. He had done what his lord father couldn't, but there was still an issue. They hadn't uncovered the whole truth.
There was still something amiss and Andar vowed to find out what that was.
###
Renly's army's arrival was a surprise. Mostly because everyone expected Stannis to get to King's Landing first.
The moment Cerati spotted the younger Baratheon, I kept stalking him for a long while. By the time they reached the city, they only had time to set up camp across the Blackwater Rush.
The next day, the city woke up restless and nervous. Everyone knew of the army knocking at its doors. That, together with the general exhaustion plaguing King's Landing, was a recipe for disaster.
With an army arriving from the south via the kingsroad, fishing became a riskier endeavour. A quick journey to Fishmonger's Square confirmed my suspicions. Very few fishermen went out to try their luck against Renly's arrows.
"Well, my gloomy friend," a cheerful voice said on the couch in front. "Will Tywin conscript us before or after the walls fall? A golden dragon says it'll be after Renly insults him, but before we all starve to death."
I did my best not to look into Prince Oberyn's direction. The man was way too jolly for being in a city under siege.
"Prince Oberyn~," Alayaya singsonged a chastising tone from the prince's lap. "You shouldn't try to extort coin from people."
If I was being honest, what the prince did wasn't extorting. It was just that he was the luckiest man alive.
Oberyn chuckled and buried his face on Alayaya's neck. "My lady's wish is my command."
I rolled my eyes at the exchange. "First of all, I'm not gloomy." Alayaya nodded at once while the prince's lips curved up slightly. "And second of all, only a fool would bet against you."
Yesterday he and Perwyn wagered on what kind of fish we would bring back, the prince won. Then, this morning he wagered Renly wouldn't attack before midday. And well, guess who is five silver stags poorer? Hint: it wasn't the prince.
And then the most outrageous bet he took. He made Alayaya think of a number, we took turns to guess it from her… Obviously, I took offense at his shameless scam and asked for a double or nothing with me thinking of a number. That could someone guess forty-two, defied reality in the most obscene way.
I buried myself on the couch, totally in a un-gloomily manner, of course. It was way past midday and we were hunkered down in Chataya's lounge, waiting for the initial buzz of organizing a defense to be over.
"Very well, my cheerful friend, any idea when Lady Dacey's joining us?"
Just as any of her sisters, Dacey couldn't just sit and wait. She went to the courtyard to sweat the stress off. I would've joined if my brand of stress wasn't stalking Renly's army with Cerati. Other than Renly's bannermen, I found a most unusual sigil on his camp. I saw the Stark direwolf, in a group of tents.
"Not a clue," I said. "By the by, I know you saw through her, but please Prince Oberyn, call her Daven for the time being."
"Hah! I won't expose her identity. Do you take me for a fool?"
I didn't answer. Mostly because Alayaya's chuckles delivered my thoughts better than any words could.
"Betrayed by my own lover," the prince said between chuckles. "Well, since Ser Perwyn is still indisposed…" Stuck in the privy, he ate something bad from the streets. According to Oberyn's expert advice, he'd recover in the next hour or so. "What do you say my cheerful friend," he said while caressing Alayaya's neckline and piercing me with his eyes. "Shall we have some fun."
And there it was. Oberyn's endless flirting got under Dacey's skin. Specially so when she was dressed as a male guard. The prince's nature was a surprising find. From what I've seen, Westeros is not very accepting of anything other than heterosexuality, therefore I never expected to find a man as open as Prince Oberyn. 'Open' in more ways than one.
Dorne seemed fun.
"I'm not into men," I answered.
"Hmm, it's a common if boring answer north of the Red Mountains," he lamented. "Tell me Alayaya, are you into other girls?"
"Our gods taught us to love everyone, my prince." Alayaya said while playing with Oberyn's deep neckline and looking at me. "If you only love men or women, you are missing out on half the world's beauty."
Huh. That sounds almost like it makes sense.
"See, my cheerful friend?" Oberyn added and moved Alayaya between his legs. "You should surrender yourself to the Summer Isles' wisdom."
"Shouldn't we all?" Even if I accepted that line of reasoning, there was one fundamental problem. "I believe we can accept that out of the three of us here, Alayaya is the most alluring by far, but then, I lay my eyes upon you… and well…" I shrugged. "You are not the other half of this world's beauty."
He faked an 'et tu Brute' kind of moment, with white eyes and last spasms even.
Alayaya on her part brightened the room with her laugh. She stood from the couch and with impossibly fluid movements, she appeared sitting by my side.
"I am half the world's beauty then?" She asked with a teasing smile. Weaker men would've stammered.
"N-Not really, my lady." Her smile widened a little. "I'd say you are a little more than half the world's beauty."
Alayaya rested her body on mine, and her hand searched mine. Her laughter reverberated in my chest, it was nice.
On the couch in front, Oberyn sent me a look of approval while picking up his cup of wine. I myself sent me cheers of approval in my mind.
"Jaren," Alayaya said, caressing my chest with her finger. "How about we have a little fun? Just the two of us."
Well, shit. There was only one acceptable answer to that. I gave her an impish smile. "It would be my ple—"
Cerati saw movement from the west, a large force of horsemen were approaching the city.
Why now of all times.
Twenty four hours in a day, sixty minutes in an hour, sixty seconds in a minute… and it was now that Renly decides to attack? I sent Cerati on smaller circles around where Renly's banner was.
My companions noticed my change in demeanor. Before they could ask what happened, we all heard the wall bells tolling.
I really needed to punch someone. Perhaps many someones.
"Duty calls," I said and stood up.
Prince Oberyn was faster than me, he was already on mail, leather and shin protectors by the time I put on my half-plate.
With our spears in hand, we went running to the alley door where Janick was already waiting. In short order, Dacey and Perwyn arrived too. With all of us accounted for, Janick got his hand in one hole in the floor and opened a hidden passage connecting to the front of Chataya's brothel. Janick stayed behind to keep an eye on the alley.
After going through the dark and narrow passage, Oberyn got up into the ladder first and knocked.
"Who's there," a voice said. It sounded like Marei.
"The High Septon and his Warrior Sons," Oberyn replied.
The door was secured from the other side. Chataya set up a password system to improve the security. Dealing with passwords wasn't something I expected any time soon in Westeros, but well, I guess it was only logical.
Marei opened the door looking a little nervous. Probably her first time on a siege.
"Follow me," Oberyn said and guided us to the common room.
The brothel was still active, as the sounds from upstairs kindly reminded us.
As for why we were posing as Chataya's personal guards, currently the crown was recruiting as many able men as it could. The gold cloaks had never been as numerous as they were now, and, since Tywin put on a reward for good recruits, the City Watch was quite aggressive at scouting new recruits.
We didn't have much to do, really. It was only in times like these when we kept looters and general criminals under watch.
The Street of Silk, or the part of the most exclusive establishments at least, had security, second only to the Red Keep, or so Oberyn claims. Which in turn means that looters getting here, would mean that the city has fallen.
I found a quiet corner to guard and pulled on Cerati's string.
I still couldn't understand why Renly decided to attack just now. His banner was stuck south of the River Gate, across the Blackwater with no way to get across. Earlier in the day Cerati saw some ten thousand horses going west, crossing the White Ford upstream and marching east to attack the King's Gate. The bells were tolling for them.
Even then, I couldn't quite understand why Renly didn't march his whole army through the White Ford. The only reason I could find, was that it would slow him down a day or two. But even then, ten thousand men storming the King's Gate and maybe the River Gate wouldn't be enough.
It was then, Cerati made me focus on the Kingswood. The trees were moving without wind. Rafts emerged from the forest, each carried by six men.
From the looks of it, Renly was planning on a two pronged assault. Ten thousand men attacking the King's Gate, and using rafts to assault the River Gate.
It was going to be costly. I could picture many rafts not making it past half of the Blackwater, and that was with no defender arrows stopping them.
The King's Gate was keeping the attackers at bay. A mix of bows and slings were slowing down the assault.
Someone in that front, presumably the commander, reorganized the attackers and put them in a turtle formation to advance with siege ladders in their midsts.
On Renly's side, the first rafts were pushed into the river. From the city walls, I didn't see much reaction. It was to be expected, Renly's army was still out of arrow range.
Also as expected, some of the rafts tumbled over drowning most of their crew, sometimes one or two were able to swim to another raft. However, not one slowed down, in every heartbeat more and more rafts were pushed forward from the shore.
I took a quick look at the King's Gate, it was clear as day that most of the defenders were focusing there. Out of all the Westerlander banners I saw, most of them were there. That gate wouldn't fall today, no matter how relentless the assaults were.
Siege ladders were cut down or broke under the soldiers' weight. Rocks crushed helms and arrows killed poorly armored men.
I kept my eyes there for a while. The very few men who were able to reach the walls met fierce resistance. Not once, did the defenders buckle. Their morale was steadily increasing with every dead attacker and every wave repelled.
Meanwhile, on the Blackwater Rush, the first rafts reached the city's shore. The defenders showed no reaction other than firing a few arrows. That wouldn't be enough to stop any serious storming attempt.
And so, the rafts kept arriving, one by one Renly's men reached shore. If that was all there was to it, with the defenders on the River Gate seemingly not fighting, anyone would've said that no matter how costly Renly's assault was, King's Landing was about to fall. That was if one were to ignore the two details that showed Tywin was expecting an assault on the river side.
First and foremost, the harbor was deserted. Only small fishing ships were present, the royal fleet was evacuated.
As for the second detail, well Renly was about to know about it.
To be fair to the young king, he couldn't have known what the King's Gate was facing. Or in this case, what it wasn't facing.
Renly's men were forming up when the unthinkable happened. The River Gate opened.
The royal banner rode at the head of three hundred knights. In a swift charge they shattered the half formed would-be assault force. Many men were able to hide themselves on the buildings along the piers, but the damage was already done.
The cavalry force turned and did a double tap over the small units trying to huddle together. And just like that, Renly's first attack was repelled.
###
A/N: Andar be like: We take freebies when we can!
I originally wrote a lot more of Mya Stone (the whole climbing to the Eyrie) but felt like it was clogging up the narrative. But meh, I'm happier the way the chapter reads on Andar's part. Now Mya has a little more backstory that I may or may not explore later, who knows.
Btw, if it wasn't clear before, Jon (or any warg/skinchanger) doesn't have an easy tell indicating their skinchanging (white eyes are show only, I believe).
You can read two chapters ahead: p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / yorud.
Anyways, give me your comments! (눈_눈)