Chapter 21: Life in the Vale

~~~ Ronan POV ~~~

It has been a week since my wife had gone to Sothoryos. As I trek the path to the Vale alongside Robert, Ned and Lyanna, riding beside a carriage currently occupied by Jon Arryn. I still couldn't help but feel angry. Angry at myself for having yelled at her in such a disparaging way. Angry at that fucking Prince that caused me to do so.

"Oh come off it!" yelled Robert. "You did what you thought was best! Frankly you ain't wrong about it! I'd be scared for them too if I was in your position." Ned nodded in agreement with his friend.

I smiled at him and said. "I don't regret what I did Robert, just how I did it. I still see her heart broken face sometimes. It doesn't feel good having did what I did."

"You apologised, and you apologised immediately." We looked to Lyanna who spoke. "How you went about it certainly isn't the best way as you know now. But... I believe her to be happy, knowing you did it out of love. That is also important."

Robert nodded, taking to remember her words for sure. As with Ned who nodded as he sported a small smile. I took a deep breath to ease my heart a bit. It doesn't make what I did right in my eyes but, well... I'll just have to make it up them.

~~~ General POV ~~~

Robert and Ned smiled seeing the tension leave their friend even for a little bit. Robert on the other hand couldn't help but be contemplative on what he just heard. He had been learning more about his betrothed as time goes on. And he falls in love with her even more. Still, he never knew about women as much as he knew now. His mind wanders off to his daughter and her mother wondering about them too.

Jon Arryn listened from the carriage as the four spoke and japed at one another. His charges had grown extremely well in the past few weeks, specially Robert. And sad as it is to admit, he is not the one to be credited to such personnal growth. And for that he is grateful for the foreign lord.

"AMBUSH!!" a knight shouted. Arryn quickly unsheath his sword and stepped out of the carriage.

He saw a large group of mountain men poured out from the forest. Three hundred Vale knights went against five hundred of the mountain clansmen. Though out numbered Arryn couldn't help but think. 'Why attack such strongly guarded Caravan?' The mountain clansmen doesn't shy away from such fights, but neither are they stupid. 'They should know there is nothing but death here.'

The fight raged on, Lyanna fought with her sword and dagger alongside Valka and the other three Ruby Knights. Her training making itself known as she fought against a savage with his lustful grin on full display as he eyed her. Lyanna parried and dodge the attacks waiting for an opening. When the man over extended a thrust Lyanna immediately took advantage of it. Parrying the attack harshly she closed the distance as she sank her new dagger into the man's eye. Killing him instantly.

Blood spurted to Lyanna's face, and Lyanna froze, having killed for the first time. Robert and Ned noticing her inaction and the panic in her eyes immediately surrounded her. Ronan noticed her reaction as well realising the grave situation, begun killing in a more aggressive manner.

Seeing their fellow clansmen be cut down near instantly with no hope of fighting back struck fear towards the savaged. His blue armor and sword caked in blood painted a demonic image. Most begun to run away while a few fought off the fear and attacked, only to die achieving nothing. Minutes pass and the enemies died but with a hundred casualties on their side all the while the Ruby knights secured three women for interrogation.

Valka carried Lyanna unto another carriage and cleaned her. She sent meaningful looks to both Robert and Eddard and they nodded in acceptance, knowing this will be better handled by another woman. And so with reluctance and worry, Robert stepped forward for a kiss in Lyanna's bloody hand and only then he stepped outside.

Jon Arryn soon received the report of a hundred casualties and fifty injured. He lost half of his knights, but soon he was presented why. The bandits were all using, steel blades, even in their arrows. This was a cause for alarm.

Seeing the look in recognition in the Aged Lord's eyes. Ronan approached Jon Arryn "You know something Lord Arryn?" asked Ronan.

"..Yes, Lord Sieghart. You see this has been going on for three full moons now. The mountain clansmen has been aggresive because of this." Arryn held up a sword "Steel. Who are supplying them I do not know. But 'why', I have my suspicion." replied Jon.

" ....The union between Baratheon and Stark, Stark and Tully. Would be the wedding to look out for, adding to that is the fact that their sons were fostered by you... You would be the biggest coalision in the Seven Kingdoms."

" ...*sigh*... yes we would be."

"I see, so you believe this an attempt to weaken at least on of you. This isn't a counter meassure Lord Arryn, this is an attempt to buy time."

Jon chose to keep quiet of his suspicions. Saying too much unveils the political climate of the Seven Kingdoms which can be dangerous in the hands of an unknown. A foreigner at that.

Ronan stared at the aged lord for some time. He then said. "You hope for this unity of yours to prevent the Iron throne from trying anything against any of your houses. Is that right?"

"Only the heinous acts. We are far from nefarious schemers. That and I know the Starks will not allow themselves to be dragged into war born of greed. We simply wish for the Iron throne to be fair."

". . . . .You under estimate a man's Madness Lord Arryn."

"Maybe, but if I could have peace at such low cost would it really be so bad to do so?"

"....for the greater good.....aye...?"

"Yes." Jon nodded in resolute.

Ronan softly placed a hand on the aged man's shoulders. "Strong words of a leader, I only ask of you one thing Lord Arryn. You must draw the line somewhere, have care of your eyes, not to lose the trees for the forest."

The march continued after the clean up. The carravan soon moved. Jon sat inside his carriage, contemplating the young Lord's wisdom. Lyanna sat on another as Valka herself spoke to the girl trying to pull her out of her shock. 'Giving meaning to killing is dangerous and difficult. But a must in this day and age.' Thought Ronan as he rode beside Robert who rode beside Lyanna's carriage sending worried looks to it.

It took five more days but soon they were close enough to The Blood Gates. The sheer size of it, and it's location makes it a nightmare for any army to pass on through. A Gate safe guarding a narrow pathway. 'This is a fucking kill box.'

It was also here did they finally saw Lyanna step outside of her carriage. Robert seems to stop himself from rushing the young woman. He settled instead for holding her hands. He was doing good until he opened his mouth and said. "How are you feeling?" Ronan couldn't help but whince at that.

As expected Lyanna softly pulled back, with uncertainty in her eyes. Robert was initially confused but he stepped back aswell rather than force the issue which is a good thing. Not really knowing what to do, he just gave her a reassuring smile at Lyanna whose eyes regained a bit of color. A good sign if any.

He is standing at the top of the battlements, overlooking the gorge and beyond. 'The mountains of the Vale is different than what I imagined. It is a combination of lush green fields with grey and green mountains rising from them, contrasting heavily from the flat fields of green with their jagged edges devoid of life. The sun, warm but not hot, adds to that the fine summer breeze. The swaying leaves of grass and trees. And it's sound gentle to the skin and ears. What a picturesque scene.'

"I wish they could have seen this..." Ronan said to no one in particular.

"One day, perhaps they will." replied Lyanna who walked towards him from behind, followed by her brother and Robert.

Ronan smiled at that. "yeah. . .one day."

The four stood there, basking in comfortable silence. As Ronan dreamth of a peaceful future with his family, Lyanna gains a small amount of determination as well. Bringing warmth to her grey eyes once more.

~~~Jon Arryn POV~~~

Arriving back at the Eyrie, Jon had expected to be left some small semblance of peace compared to the hectic event of a tourney they had just come from. But instead he was greeted by his most hated enemy. Paperwork.

Though he would like to tackle it all right now, there is something else he needs to handle. The Mountain Clans. They have begun getting bolder and far more deadlier. According to the reports, it all started just as the tourney of Harrenhal had been announced. Though he had indeed received reports of a more aggressive Mountain men, he had discarded it at the time. But now it is different. Their agression coupled with their new Steel weapons makes them far too dangerous to be left be.

Lady Anya Waywood had begun to investigate the matter but she would need more time. He had intitially sent out a message to nearby lands for a conscription of 500 knights to attack them in the mountains but that all came to a halt seven days into the tourney. A massive coordinated attack was done by several of the savage clans.

Black Ears attacked House Belmore at Strong Song, Burned Men and Painted Dogs attacked House Redfort at Redfort while the Moon Brothers and Stone Crows attacked House Waynwood at Iron Oaks. Though the attack was twarted, the cost was just too high. Three thousand people unaccounted for, most were woman and children. The knights lost numbered around a thousand, while killing twice that number. And that is the alarming part, the total numbers counted during the attack was 7000 men. And from what Lord Royce has told me, some of them he recognized were sellswords. 'Since when could they afford sellswords!?'

The only good news is that the peaceful settlers like the Redsmiths returned three hundred of the taken people when they had a run in against the Stone Crows.

Groaning in his chair, Jon couldn't help but wonder what to do. The mountains are too perilous to be a battleground. They will be picked off one by one. Then there is still no news of where the supply of steel is coming from and how it was being delivered. His knights are too strained to fight and with the latest tension bought about by the prince himself, he needs to be ready even more for a call to arms.

*knock!* *knock!* *knock!*

"Enter"

The guard at the door peaked inside and asked. "My lord, there is a Lord Sieghart here hoping to speak with you."

"Let him in."

"At once my lord."

Jon straightened himself. Moments later the young Lord entered his solar with a respectful bow, one he replied with the same courtesy.

"I hope I am not disturbing you Lord Arryn."

"You are not Lord Sieghart, please sit." Jon indicated at the chair before him.

"Wine?" asked Jon.

"No thank you, water would be fine." Jon took note of that. Realising he had barely seen the young lord drink more than one cup in every feast.

"Tell me Lord Sieghart, what can I do for you?"

"I come hoping to offer a solution to the current problem." Jon nodded for him to continue.

"I have need of men, workers to be precise. And I hear you have an abundance in the mountains."

Jon's eyes widen at that. A very good offer but unachievable in his eyes. "If you could take them, The Vale will owe you a great deal Lord Sieghart." He replied humorously.

"I worship BOTH, The Old Gods and The New, Lord Arryn. I can convince them." The Young Lord replied with certainty in his voice.

Jon looked at the young lord before him. It was true that not only is his wealth unprecedented, but even more so is his personal power. Strength, Speed and Skill he has in abundance. A monstrous talent never before seen before. But still Jon couldn't help but feel doubtful, for the quarrel they've had with the Mountain Clans has been there for thousands of years.

"Then you will have the support of House Arryn should you succeed. I will agree to any terms they may have for their relocation outside of the Vale as long as they are within reason." before Ronan could agree Jon continued. "But! no savages, our feud with them runs too deep as blood to be set aside."

Ronan stood and stretched his hand towards Jon. Jon then clasp Ronan's hand with his own and shook it.

Ronan was by the dooe when he stopped and turned to Jon. He said "Oh! and by the way, I noticed those steel weapons they were using."

That took Jon's attention. "I am a smith myself. And I tell you despite their quality material and make, there were signs of poor work, or fatal mistakes on those weapons."

Ronan turned to Jon and continued. "Smiths usually sell failed works at bulk to merchants. I mean lets face it, they were failed products. Besides, it's cheaper that way. But still worth plenty of coins. Gold coins worth." Ronan then nodded and left.

~~~ Ronan POV ~~~

An entire day of trekking the mountain close to Ironoaks has finally paid off. They can now see the lumbering village that was said to be occupied by the Sons of the Tree.

Showing themselves in greeting to the clan had them raising their copper tipped spears. Despite their defensive display, Ronan showed no sign of pulling out his weapons, the same with his four Ruby Knights. Showing his hand and creating a fist size snowflake floating above his palm had them gasping at the scene. Seconds later an old woman came forward with a weirwood cane.

Looking at Ronan up and down. Seconds later, a look of recognition and hope was set upon her face. She asked with expectations in her aged voice. "Why have you come?"

Ronan smiled and replied. "To renew your faith, to The Old Gods and The New."