It was still early, the morning light was just right, and Ser Barristan felt quite refreshed. As he aged, he needed less and less sleep. As an Attendant, he used to sleep ten hours a night, still yawning as he stumbled to the training grounds; now, in his sixties, five hours of sleep were more than enough. And today, he felt that despite his travels, he could still wield a longsword.
"The garden is probably another fools' festival," said Ser Brynden Blackfish.
"Pretty much what you'd expect," Ser Vardis said, his face darkening. "Lord Jon spent a lot of his wealth on that Singer. Now many are backing out, but they're still unwilling to give up."
Most noble ladies would at least feign grief when their husbands died, but Lysa was so unrestrained that she didn't even bother.
Baron Nestor's face was also unpleasant; he was one of those fools, and the first to be rejected. Lysa, that fat sow, looked down on him, calling him a bumpkin. If it weren't for a bit of power, why would he humble himself?
"You vile woman, let's see how you end this." Thinking this, Nestor wanted to watch the show. The other five were ruthless: stormbreaker, Kingsguard, Bronze Yohn, Blackfish, and Anguy.
On the balcony were jars of thick cheese and baskets of blackberries. Guests held carved silver goblets, sipping sweet wine flavored with orange. A fools' festival, no wonder Ser Brynden said that.
"Hahahahaha." On the balcony, Earl Hunter told a joke that made Lysa laugh heartily, and then she bit a blackberry from Ser Lyn Corbray's dagger. Among the crow-like suitors, these two were the most popular, though only on the surface.
"Her figure is so out of shape," Gendry said, seeing Lysa, the first foolish woman in Ice and Fire.
After marrying Jon Arryn and enduring multiple miscarriages before finally giving birth to Robin, Lysa's figure began to expand. Though two years younger than her sister Catelyn, Lysa looked a full decade older; her body was bloated and flabby, and her pale cheeks were powdered. In terms of appearance, she was not at all attractive.
A group of six broke the merriment of The Eyrie. Ser Nestor wisely stood at the back; in fact, only five were involved. The blue robes, led by Ser Vardis, remained silent, scattered on both sides of the group.
"Get out! The Eyrie does not welcome you!" As soon as they met, Lysa immediately shouted, clearly not in a harmonious mood.
But the five Knights stood firm: Gendry in black scale plate armor with a golden surcoat, his cloak adorned with a beautiful quartered design, the Stag and the dragon reborn. Anguy was similarly dressed, though his plate armor was replaced with lighter leather armor, carrying a Myr crossbow and a sharp sword. Beside them stood the Old Knight Barristan, clad in white plate armor as bright as snow and a milk-colored cloak; Bronze Royce in silver-plated armor, with red runes carved on its exterior; and Ser Brynden Blackfish in grey armor, but his cloak bore the dashing blue and red pattern of Riverrun, with a gleaming blackfish meticulously crafted from gold and obsidian set on his shoulder.
"Presumptuous! These words should be spoken by a herald, but I must repeat them," Barristan the Bold said, looking at Lysa. "You should welcome His Royal Highness Gendry, King of the andals, the Rhoynar, and the first men, ruler of the seven kingdoms and protector of the realm, the legitimate heir of His Majesty Robert I of House Baratheon, Lysa."
"Gendry." Hearing this name, the Lords and Knights of the Vale all changed their expressions. This man was a strong contender for the Iron Throne, and they hadn't expected him to come in person.
The young and impetuous Gendry was a butcher who had slaughtered across both sides of the Narrow Sea. The Vale was close to the Free Cities, so they naturally knew of "the Butcher" and "King of the Two Cities" Gendry. What's more, even the proud and arrogant Kingslayer had recently been utterly defeated. Many songs circulated in the Vale about this brave Stag.
"Robert, what right does Robert have to command The Eyrie again? He's busy sleeping with women and hunting, letting Jon work himself to an early grave. And what's the reward? He wants to send his foster father's son into the lion's mouth, and he couldn't wait to give the warden of the east to the Kingslayer!" Lysa began to shriek hysterically.
"Indeed, The late King did many wrongs to Lord Arryn in the past. However, My Lady, that is no reason for you to poison and murder Lord Jon Arryn, and also poison the young Lord," Gendry said, looking at Lysa.
As the words left his lips, the previously jovial and fawning atmosphere on the balcony fell completely silent. These uninvited guests were accusing her of poisoning and conspiracy. The Lords of the Vale stood frozen, unsure of what to do.
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