Chapter Sixty-One

The Eyrie. The Vale.

Getting up into this castle had been a pain in the ass so I was in a rather foul mood even before I entered the throne room. At least things were under control around here, the men and women of Thrax 2nd regiment had done a good job in securing this fortress with a minimal loss of life.

This was because most of the knights and other nobles had surrendered. Lucky for the majority I had no interest in taking their lives and so their fates could be left to Lord Yohn Royce who would soon be Duke of these lands.

From here I could see the throne of the Arryns, a seat carved of weirwood, and for a few moments I considered taking it as a trophy of conquest, but given the sheer amount of trouble involved in getting things in and out of this castle it simply didn't seem worthwhile. Although I did remind myself to ask my brother-in-law for one of the larger dragon skulls that had been moved up into the throne room in the Red Keep.

My attention was soon diverted to the moon door, which was basically just a fancy hole in the floor that was used to execute people. In the show Lady Arryn would say that there was no executioner here because they lived an elegant life or something like that, but unless people jumped to their deaths of their own accord then whoever pushed them was the executioner.

"Lady Arryn you wanted on charges of murder, treason" I informed the woman who was sitting on the throne "And adultery".

The noble woman did not look happy about this.

"How dare you come here and accuse me of such crimes," she replied in a shrill voice. "I have never committed adultery, I was loyal to my lord husband".

I had proof that she was lying.

"Your son is not of Arryn blood" I stated "He is the child of Petyr Baelish".

Lady Arryn's protest made my ears hurt.

"While adultery is a sin, and you have no proof of that, there are no laws against it" argued a Septon "And certainly there is no justification for this attack unless you prove the charges of murder and treason".

This was true and by the traditions of the Westeros the sin was cast upon the child via the stigma of bastardy, which was just a way for powerful lords to have children outside of marriage without causing too many problems with the lines of succession, the tradition existed to absolve them of responsibility for that child. I fully intended to have my bastard children raised alongside my heir and to be given a proper inheritance even my children with Dany would carry on the dynasty.

"There is proof as Lady Arryn refused the king's summons and she has tried to pass of her bastard son as the heir of Lord Arryn" I let the court know "The king is not fan of the late Lord Arryn, however even he will admit that Jon Arryn was a strong man, he could not be the sire of such weak boy. By trying to place her son on the throne she is usurping the authority of the House of Arryn".

I felt sure that a few of the nobles here had already considered this, but it wasn't if they had DNA testing here to check up on such things.

"There's no point in denial, my lady" I was now saying "Lord Baelish has already provided a full confession and he certainly was not lying".

Not after what I'd done to him.

"Lord Baelish convinced you to murder your hushand and to claim that Robin is Arryn rather than your bastard" I stated.

The boy whined and the mother almost frothed at the mouth.

"Petyr would never ask me to poison my husband!" Lysa yelled.

Her sanity was slipping.

"I never mentioned anything about poison," I said.

The smirk on my face seemed to enrage Lady Arryn most of all.

"I demand trial by combat," she insisted.

While I could have pointed out that this was not a trial, going along with her demand and killing her champion would make her guilt clear to those who actually believed in the Seven, and should save time later since Viserys would only have to pass sentence.

"Very well" I said "Choose your champion".

A brave and foolish knight stepped forward to defend his lady, or to gain a big reward, either way it didn't matter.

"To the death!" shouted the warrior.

I waved my bodyguards back.

"As you wish" was my reply.

Before he could get close enough to strike me I shot him twice with my laspistol and he staggered back before falling backwards out the moondoor.

"That was not an honourable duel!" screamed Lysa "You used your vile sorcery".

I shrugged.

"The only condition anyone set down was that it would be to the death" I argued "You should choose your words more carefully in the future. Not that you have much of a future".

I turned to a couple of Imperial Guard members.

"Take her away," I ordered.

The boy, Robin was his name if memory served, screamed as his mother was dragged off, and I turned to Lord Royce.

"Since Lord Arryn has no heir his line has ended. You are now Duke Yohn Royce" I told the man, this having been decided some time ago "I'm sure you can bring some sort of order to this mess. I'd rather not have to repeat this lesson".

There was one last bit of business.

"Oh and the bastard boy is innocent so he is yours to deal with. Assuming he survives to adulthood he can always take over his father's holdings in The Fingers".

It wasn't really my concern and I had confidence in Lord Royce's ability to keep his peers in line since he was well respected and after today they would know that no castle could keep them safe.