Long May He Reign

Dressed in a black garb to show his sorrow. The acting, no, the new Lord of the Vale awaits his brother and his mother at Gulltown, he is also awaiting the returning of his father's corpse to be brought to the Eyrie and put to rest inside the crypts of his forefathers of House Arryn. Joined by him was House Grafton and a retinue of Arryn men and Waymar. He wore the face of a lord to show his people that he can handle the death of his father and move on to bring the Vale more prosperity as his father had entrusted to him.

It has been two weeks since he had received word about the late Lord Arryn, not from Lysa or his brother, but by the King and Queen of all people, he expected such from Robert but he has seen writings from the Queen and memorized her handwriting. She said her condolences and informed him of his fathers death in the night, he cried that night, alone on the highest tower of the Eyrie for a few hours before getting things in order and having the news spread to the entirety of the Vale, they deserve to know about the man they served for sixty two years.

His 'mother' and brother are also arriving and with the Arryn household. The letter that the Queen sent said that he suddenly came under a fever and fell ill, passing in the very next night. Robert sent a raven three days ago and said that he would be riding North to see Eddard, he already got the gist of what is going to happen and prayed to the Seven to look after the Quiet Wolf.

The next letter he received was from Lord Stark and Lady Stark, they said that if he needs anything that their family will be there to help him, it was a nice gesture.

He imagined it was strange to receive words from Cersei, but from her father six day after. A small condolence was made before he went to business by offering a squire from his family, some boy of Kevan named Willem, he hasn't responded yet and would think on it, the falcon wouldn't allow a lion cub to his home without thinking.

He mind then went to his own lords and ladies that flooded into the Gates of the Moon, an ancient seat of his house to pay their respects, even Domeric who came all the way from his home in the North before going home, he was told the heir to the Dreadfort has a little brother, a bastard named Ramsay Snow. He said thank you to each of them and got all of their oaths of fealty to get everything out of the way before heading home again whilst his companions remained.

A small smile crept on his lips as he remembered one more letter that arrived with the Spear sigil of House Martell. Its contents were from Arianne who he has been in contact with every once and a great while, she was an arse at first, but his King had been okay with the deaths of Elia and her two children whom still haunt his eyes when he sleeps, he should have remained in Riverrun. He sent another letter to her and thanked her for her kindness.

The sigil of the soaring falcon made his breathe a breath of relief. His family is home, with fathers widowed fish to boot.

His brother looked saddened as the company made their journey to the Gates of the Moon and then to the Eyrie, he shared that as they both lost their father. As for the Mad Fish, she had no looks of sorrow and simply wanted to get to safety as she kept rambling to Robert, and his brother obliged and wanted the same as if they would be attacked in the open, his frequent scouring of the Vale and patrols to the passages of the Mountains of the Moon caused less and less raids by Clans to drop immensely, unless the tribes happen to gather together as one.

He called for dinner to be made as he and his brother went with Lord Royce, Lady Waynwood, Lord Nestor and Ser Brynden the Blackfish and Lysa's uncle escorted the former Lord of the Vale to the tombs and put him besides his father, Lord Jasper. The funeral will begin soon the day after everyone is settled back into the castle which seemed as if it went by too fast and the feast would soon begin.

All lords and ladies that remained were seated in the great hall, eating in quiet silence, speaking to one another in conversation. He stood to his feet and cleared his throat to get everybody's attention.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!, I thank all of you for coming and sharing your grief with my own, me and my brother greatly appreciate it." He started whilst staring at the banner of the falcon on the wall, he took a deep breath and rose his cup high, "A toast. To the greatest Lord that the Vale has ever seen, to the Lord of the Eyrie and Warden of the East, to my father, Jon Arryn!"

"To Lord Arryn!"

"Nicely done, but Sweetrobin would have done better." He heard the wretch speak venomously and he returned that with an icy blue glare to the Tully woman on his left, but he shook his head and wouldn't be lured into a fight right now, not while he mourns.

"Robert." He called to his right and his skinny brother turned to him, fifteen now. He looked at Lysa for a moment and beckoned the teen to follow him away, Lysa attempted to follow but a nod to Vardis made her stop. He sighed and put a hand on his brothers shoulder, "How have you been?, I know its been a few weeks but, I hope my lessons to you remained." He started and his brother shifted his feet, giving him his answer, "Its fine. Because I was asked to send you to the North, to stay with your aunt and uncle for a few years." His brother looked surprised which meant their father hadn't spoken to him about it.

"But I don't want to go... " Robert pled to him, he sighed with a small smile.

"And neither did I when father sent me to rule the Vale for him, Lord Stark will treat you well and all, now with this I need one thing, silence." He told him and he crunched his eyebrows in confusion, "As much as she cares, your mother will not let you go, she cannot know until the day we leave for Gulltown, then sail to the Three Sisters and then to White Harbor and finally, to Winterfell." He added and his brother didn't seemed convinced and he assumes that by tonight or on the morrow an angry Lysa will come to him, but he is the Lord now and it is his decision.

The next morning he was busy setting some things when the door to his solar was thrown open and an angry Lysa Tully barged in, despite the refusal of Waymar and Robar telling her to stop.

"You have the gall to try and send MY son away!, I am Lady Arryn and Jons wife, I demand you stop what your father tried to do!" He stood to his feet at that and sent a strong stare at him.

"My father is gone. You are allowed to remain here at my word, do not test me. I am doing this for Roberts own good and it will stop you from turning him into a spoilt little child." He nodded for his friends to leave as the woman had no intention to go herself and looked to want to argue further, Waymar chuckled and shut the door and left him with. "He will be with family, that's better than going to someone he doesn't know, I understand you love the boy but know this will give him a good future, maybe even a woman to marry." He added and the auburn haired woman didn't seem moved.

"I wont let you take him away, he needs to be here and safe!" She urged and he narrowed his eyes, What is she talking about! He thought and was going to go back to his writing whilst ignoring his fathers lunatic wife, but what she said bothered him.

"What do you mean?" He asked and she smiled weakly and sat down onto a chair.

"Your father was dying, but not from illness, no. He was poisoned, and, and he told me that it was the Lannisters!" His eyes widened and with every word spoken he rose back from his chair.

Questions went through his mind, why would the Lannisters want his father dead and an obvious answer would be to put their own in the position, but they would have more power with Joffrey ascending the throne one day. Then his eyes went back to his 'mother', the darkest parts of his mind began thinking she had done it in an insane motion to make Robert the heir, he has to figure this out and see who it was as he had a small inkling that poison was involved with his fathers death, his father was as strong as an ox when he had last seen him and didn't look sick.

"Why didn't you bring this to the King?" He asked and she didn't respond, "Why did you not tell Robert about this conspiracy of yours!" He demanded as his emotions began taking hold, if his father was poisoned, he would have anyone that had done so pay with their life.

"If I had, the Queen would say otherwise." He scoffed as she told him a sorry excuse, if Robert truly felt a familial bond to his father, then he would act and see whoever was responsible put to death. If she hadn't done what was right then he will.

He went to the door and opened it, "Waymar, Robar, go and gather a hundred men. You, me and Ben will be riding to join the King and his party on their journey to Winterfell, and have my brother get ready as well." He ordered and they listened without a second thought and left to prepare.

"I said you cannot take him away, please!, leave him here!" He heard Lysa beg and for a moment he felt sorry for the shrew, but he knocked that sympathy to the dirt with his suspicions against her.

"You attempted to go behind my back and have me replaced as heir. When I am finished with my investigations, and I discover you had something to do with my fathers death, pray I am quick with my retribution." He promised before leaving to his chambers, the lords chambers. He will be ready in a hour and a half.

Make that two hours as he had to put people in charge. Ser Vardis would keep his position as Captain of the Guard, Lucas is the new Castellan, all other matters consisting of troubles in his domain will be brought to Lord Nestor Royce as High Steward of the Vale. As for Lysa, she will not be allowed to send or receive letters unless seen by Colemon first. Mya smiled and waved at him and his brother as they walked to the start of the road where his men were waiting for them.

Mya is the firstborn child of Roberts bastard children, she is also a good friend who is star struck by Mychel, a shame how that love turned out with Lord Redfort making a betrothal between Lady Ysilla and himself, she smiled sadly at Mychel and he supposed they should get on the road before seeing the man she loves cause discontent. He placed a gentle hand on his brother who still looked unsure about leaving again, and he might be ashamed about telling Lysa on his plans to see him to proper hand. "Do not worry, you will be fine." He assured and gently pushed on.

When started the journey, he thought he would be the last to arrive at Winterfell, thinking the King would have been up there since the King had left a week ago. He couldn't have realized that they were camped along one side of the river where he won against the royal army of House Targaryen, he was caught by the roaming patrols headed by the Kingslayer who smirked at him.

"The Falcon flies from his nest, two it seems. Thought you would mourning good Jon Arryn." Jaime said to him and the new Lord of the Vale frowned and glared at the man, knowing he was mocking him and his late father.

"Move aside Kingslayer, I have business with the King." He snapped harshly and saw the smile fade from the blond and green-eyed twat and replaced with a frown, he moved and allowed his men into the encampment, almost two hundred men and women, several tents scoured the area. "Mychel, Ben, set camp in that empty space, me, my brother and Robar will see the King."

"Yes my Lord!"

Whilst he made his way through the camp he took in the site and remembered his father telling him about how the river was red from blood, how all of the bodies floated along with horses and bolts of cloth of several sigils. He stopped at the entrance to the Kings pavilion and waited to be announced and when he was allowed in he saw the royal family eating their dinner, a twelve year old Joffrey, ten year old Myrcella and four year old Tommen. Queen Cersei gave him a nod and a courteous smile, as for Robert, he jumped up and gave out a very joyful laugh.

"Gods bring me joy to see a good friend, especially after such a trying matter. I was going to invite you but Cersei advised that you would be mourning Jon, I am glad you're here, though." He heard Robert tell him and it was good to hear he had invited him but the Queen was right in this, he would have if not for what he had heard from Lysa. He knelt before Robert and head too.

"Robert, My King. I come to pledge my fealty to you, and vow to serve you as my father had done."

After his pledge the evening went by as the he caught up with the King. Next he was allowed to go and rest but as he reached the entrance, he was greeted by the Queen and two of her own guards.

"Your grace." He greeted and the woman smiled at him, a cunning smile but a smile all the same.

"The night beautiful, is it not?" She asked and he looked around the sky, the moon in a crescent shape, a shape like the falcon on his sigil. He nodded in agreement, "The King will be happy to have his 'brothers' at his side, maybe you and Eddard can reign him in when your father couldn't." It was true, his father could never say no to Robert, he and Eddard were his first children in all but blood and name, whilst he came later in life. He was often jealous of it and grew more envious as a child but now he's a man and has to stop such things.

"We will, I swear it." He said and she didn't smile, just pursed her lips and looked away, "Have a beautiful night, my Queen." He said and went inside to rest, they continue their journey on the morrow.

Afterwards the Lord of the Vale and the King of Westeros rode out the next day after, heading for Winterfell.