If the Arryn Kings had eradicated the Hill Tribesmen during the Age of the Seven Kingdoms and plundered the Riverlands after passing through The Bloody Gate, then it would not have been the Storm Kingdom and the Ironborn who stirred up trouble in Westeros. House Arryn's geographical location was originally very good. However, House Arryn's conservatism meant they rarely expanded towards the Riverlands, otherwise, they wouldn't have fought with the North over the Three Sisters Islands for a thousand years.
As Gendry and his companions appeared at the mountain pass, The Bloody Gate was not far away. The trout banner already flew in the sky, followed by the banner of Runestone, the golden quartered banners. Four riders on four horses: a young man and three Old Knight's.
A knight galloped forward, holding high the banner of House Arryn, a blue field with a white crescent moon and falcon. Not far behind him were twenty other knights and soldiers, who looked with concern at the four knights before them: Blackfish, Bronze Yohn, Gendry, and Ser Barristan. Behind these few, it seemed, lay an army of thousands.
"Lord Brynden, how is it you, and Lord Yohn, and Lord Barristan?" Ser Donnel said. He was a young man in his twenties, strong and honest despite his plain looks, with a wide nose and a mop of unruly brown hair. He rode forward first, his soldiers still some distance behind him.
"Long time no see, Donnel. Now you are the Knight of the Bloody Gate," Blackfish said. Though his face was weathered and time had stolen his auburn hair, leaving only a head of grey, his smile remained, as did his thick, caterpillar-like eyebrows, and the amusement in his deep blue eyes.
"Yes, thanks to you, my Lord. You should have told me when you left," Ser Donnel said to his former superior. His armor was blue and white, but his cloak had been changed to green, and his sigil was a black broken wheel on a green field.
"I left unhappily, so why bother old friends?" Blackfish waved his hand. When he left, he and Lysa had a big argument because Lysa refused to commit even a single soldier.
"This is..."
"Gendry," Gendry said, removing his visor to reveal a handsome and untamed face. He wore a horned helmet, tall and handsome, with his warhammer and arakh tied to his horse.
Ser Donnel's expression changed dramatically. He had already heard of the chaos outside The Vale of Arryn. "Gendry the Smith" had shone brightly in the war, defeating the Kingslayer and relieving Riverrun. Seeing Ser Barristan, he had already guessed the general situation. The news received in The Vale of Arryn was still only about the Battle of Riverrun, not Luanhe City. However, The Vale of Arryn did not welcome any outsiders; Lysa had long since ordered that none of The Vale of Arryn's defenders would leave, and The Bloody Gate, even more so, would not allow anyone to enter.
"Lord Yohn, you have indeed joined the war," Ser Donnel said, looking at Bronze Yohn, understanding many things in his heart. Yohn had appeared from here again.
At Bronze Yohn's deployment, Lysa Tully was furious, declaring that House Royce had defied its liege. The atmosphere within the valley had recently been tense. Ser Donnel dared not allow these people to enter The Bloody Gate. Yohn, Gendry, Brynden, and Barristan were all rebels named by the iron throne.
"I owe allegiance to House Arryn, but I owe greater allegiance to the King and the lawful heir. As for Lysa, she is not my liege," Bronze Yohn stated.
For all the Lords, they actually pledged allegiance to both the throne and their liege lord, a dual allegiance structure. However, when conflict arose between the throne and the liege, how the Lords chose depended on the influence and popular support of each liege. The War of the Usurper was clear proof of this; most of the Lords of the Falcon, Wolf, and stag rebelled against the iron throne. Families like Lannister, Stark, Arryn, and Baratheon, these old royal houses, also held the greatest influence.
"My Lord," Ser Donnel was somewhat shocked. Bronze Yohn seemed intent on a complete break, rejecting Lady Lysa's title and regency.
"There are many things you may not be aware of," Ser Brynden said. "Do you remember the shadows we suspected? The Lord Hand, the cause of Lord Arryn's death. We need to go to The Eyrie and discuss these matters with Lady Lysa."
Ser Donnel looked at his former superior, listening intently to these words. Blackfish's hints were so real; it seemed Lady Lysa was also in great danger.
"I, what should I do?" Ser Donnel said hesitantly.
"Let us through The Bloody Gate to see Lysa."
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