iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 179 Blood Gate and Eagle's Nest City

Hearing the still familiar voice, Catelyn Tully seemed to go back 20 years in time, taking her back to her childhood.

She smiled from the bottom of her heart and said, "Uncle, aren't you also far away from home?"

Brynden Tully pointed to the Blood Gate Fortress and said, "Kate, my home is here."

Uncle Brynden and her father have been at odds for as long as Catelyn can remember. The two brothers had a big fight when she was eight years old. Her father accused Uncle Brynden of being the black sheep of the Tully family. Uncle Den smiled and said that the symbol of their Tully family was a trout jumping out of the water, so he should be a black fish, not a black sheep... From that day on, he took the black trout as his coat of arms.

The dispute between them did not end until the day she and her sister got married.It was at the wedding feast that Uncle Brynden announced to his father that he was leaving Riverrun with his niece Lysa to serve her new husband, Lord Jon Arryn of the Eyrie.

"Your home is in my heart..."

Caitlin clasped her hands tightly and kept her eyes on her uncle: "My uncle, take off the helmet. I want to take a good look at you again."

During Caitlin's girlhood, her father was often too busy and her mother was too ill, so the person Duke Hoster's children shared their joys and sorrows with was Uncle Brynden.

Whether it was Catelyn and Lysa, or Edmure Tully and his father's adopted son Petyr Baelish, Uncle Brynden listened patiently, laughed at their successes, and was naive to them. Sympathy for the trouble caused.

"I'm afraid that after all these years, I still can't see where I'm going..."

Although Ser Brynden said this, when he lifted his helmet, Catelyn thought he had lied... Although his uncle's appearance was weathered, and the years had stolen his auburn hair, leaving only a head full of gray, but he His smile is still the same, his thick eyebrows as fat as caterpillars are still the same, and the smile in his deep blue eyes is still the same.

"Kid, you shouldn't be here at this time."

"Uncle, I am no longer a child."

"Little Kate, you just look grown up..."

Ser Brynden turned in the direction of the Blood Gate and continued, "You will need a fireplace and hot tea now."

Catelyn jumped on her horse and followed Ser Brynden.

The long battlements are built on the cliffs on both sides, and the mountain road is narrowed to barely allow four people to ride side by side. Two watchtowers climb on the rock wall and are connected by a weather-beaten graystone airtight arch bridge.

Catelyn could feel the silent faces watching them from the tower's archery holes, the battlements, and the stone bridges.

In front of the thick city gate, Sir Brynden stopped his horse. He looked at Caitlin and his party, and said loudly: "In the name of Robert Arryn, Duke of the Eyrie, Guardian of the Vale of Arryn, and True Guardian of the East. , I let you pass through the Blood Gate and ask you to maintain peace in his name.”

Catelyn said loudly: "I, Catelyn Tully, the Duke of Winterfell and the wife of Eddard Stark, the Warden of the North, in the name of the Lady of Winterfell, pass through the Blood Gate and promise peace."

After Caitlin finished speaking, a smile appeared on Ser Brynden's face: "Let's go."

Catelyn rode beside Brynden, her Winterfell guards following behind.

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The valley was bathed in morning light.

After passing through the shadow of the Blood Gate, Caitlin arrived at the other end of the stone fortifications. The peaks and mountains suddenly spread out in her field of vision, and the green fields, blue skies and snow-capped mountain tops suddenly appeared. It was so beautiful that it took her breath away.

The canyon stretched before them, until it reached the misty east.

The valley is a peaceful and quiet country, protected by mountains on all sides, with fertile black soil in the interior, wide and gentle rivers, hundreds of large and small lakes that are as bright as mirrors in the sun, and fields of barley, wheat and The corn is fruitful.

Caitlin and the others continued riding.

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In a stone house at the west end of the canyon, Caitlin stood at the window and looked up. The mountains to the north were so close that she seemed to be within reach.

The fire danced in the fireplace, adding warmth to the room.

Ser Brynden, who was sitting in front of the fireplace, turned to look at Caitlin, with a smile on his face: "Little Kate, you just look like you have grown up."

Caitlin's cheeks turned slightly red when she heard her uncle's joke. She left the window and sat in front of the fireplace.

"Uncle, the valley is so beautiful."

Brynden's voice was low and hoarse: "Beauty is just the appearance. I have seen a lot of ugliness hidden under the beauty recently."

Caitlin held a cup of hot tea in her hand, her blue eyes showing doubts.

"Kate, you should send a message first. The valley is not peaceful."

Caitlin looked sad: "Uncle, I have indeed learned a painful lesson. The savages at the foot of the mountain harassed me day and night. We lost a total of six people. I almost thought we were doomed."

"They are the mountain clan tribe of the Moon Mountains. After Lord Jon's death, these wildlings became more and more bold."

"Didn't Lysa send any troops?"

Ser Brynden stared at Catelyn for a while and said, "Kate, it seems you have not received your husband's letter."

Caitlin's eyes were mixed with resentment and uneasiness: "Uncle, I am here just for my husband and children. Queen Lannister is simply a madman. She not only framed Ned for rebellion... but also forced Sansa to write Commit a crime..."

Her eyes became a little moist: "Robb has summoned the vassals of the Stark family in order to rescue Ned, and the army from the north is moving south. I came to see Lysa for the cavalry in the valley..."

Catelyn looked at Ser Brynden firmly and continued: "Uncle, I must save my husband and daughter from Cersei."

After Catelyn finished speaking, Sir Brynden nodded slightly: "Kate, don't worry, the troops of the Tully family and the Stark family can ensure the safety of your husband and children."

"Uncle, I want to see Lysa as soon as possible."

Sir Brynden said slowly: "Kate, not long ago, all the important nobles in the valley received your husband's personal letter. He investigated the murderer of Duke Jon..."

Caitlin's eyes moved: "Is the murderer a Lannister?"

Ser Brynden shook his head: "Kate, your husband said that Lysa Tully poisoned Lord Jon."

Caitlin was shocked and looked at her uncle in disbelief.

Ser Brynden continued: "When I wrote this letter, Robert was still alive and Ned was still living in the Hand's Tower."

Caitlin turned pale and murmured: "How is it possible...how is it possible..."

Ser Brynden said solemnly: "It is indeed unbelievable, but everyone believes in Ned's character. Kate, you know your husband better than anyone else."

"Gods, why is this happening!" Caitlin's pupils dilated, her lips trembled slightly, and the terrible news made her feel the world spinning.

"Little Kate, are you okay?"

"Is my sister crazy? How could she do such a cruel thing?! Gods, what should she do?!"

Ser Brynden stretched out his big hand. He tried to comfort his heartbroken niece like he did when he was a child, but he was held tightly by Catelyn. She buried her face in his palm, and he felt the tears. piping hot.Family, responsibility, honor...Sir Brynden looked at Caitlin and sighed secretly.

…………

Caitlin looked strong on the surface, but deep down she was constantly worried about her husband and children. She was awakened by various horrific nightmares every night, and hearing such shocking news today finally made her collapse.

After a while, Caitlin let go of her uncle's hand and vented her tears like a child beside her uncle, which made her heavy heart feel a lot lighter.

"Kate, our Lysa is safe now."

Caitlin picked up the tea cup and took a sip. She was a little embarrassed and said, "Uncle, I may be exhausted."

"Child, people are not iron. Men need wine and women need tears."

"Uncle, I am no longer a child."

"Little Kate, Ned is a good husband."

Caitlin wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at her uncle with red and swollen eyes in confusion.

"A good husband will let his wife retain her girlish nature."

Caitlin couldn't help but laugh, and she said helplessly: "My good uncle, I am already a mother of five children."

Ser Brynden smiled gently and said, "Kate, I plan to leave with you, and together we will save your family from the hands of the Lannister."

"Uncle, this is really exciting news. Robb needs your help..."

As she spoke, Caitlin's excited voice turned into worry: "My sister...is the current situation in the valley very bad?"

"Almost everyone is outraged. Lord Jon is loved by the people of the Vale. Lysa has committed an unforgivable crime."

Caitlin already knew that her sister had made an unforgivable mistake, so she was even more worried.

"Then Lysa..."

"Lysa will be fine for the time being. She said that Ned's letter was deliberately slanderous, and that it was a conspiracy by the North to seize the valley... Many people in the valley believed her excuse and chose to support her."

He added: "Lisa expelled all suspicious people in the Eagle's Nest City and blocked all entrances. She firmly believes that the Eagle's Nest City is impenetrable and no enemy can break it."

"Uncle, how are you now?"

Ser Brynden looked worried: "I am busy loading various supplies into the gondolas in the Eyrie every day. The only thing my uncle can do now is this. Not long ago... the Eyrie was crowded with Lysa's children. There are as many suitors as crows on the battlefield. Now... almost all of those suitors have joined the Alliance of the Righteous."

"The Alliance of the Righteous?"

Ser Brynden nodded: "The nobles of the valley have formed an alliance. They said they will use all necessary means to get Lysa the justice she deserves."

Caitlin exclaimed: "That means...are they going to start an army?"

Ser Brynden sighed: "Sooner or later, civil war in the valley is inevitable."

After a pause, he continued: "The Alliance of the Righteous will not believe me, but Lysa only believes in her trusted knights."

"Knight of your heart?"

Sir Brynden's tone showed a little helplessness: "Most of them are sworn knights who were born in the small lords of the valley. They swear allegiance to Lysa alone. The gods bless her."

Caitlin leaned back in her chair. She raised her eyes and stared at the roof and thought for a while, then said, "Uncle, I feel very uneasy. I want to meet Lesa as soon as possible."

Ser Brynden advised: "Kate, because of Ned, she will most likely not welcome you."

Kate's voice was full of determination: "Uncle, I believe Ned will not slander Lysa, but I still want to confirm with Lysa face to face. Even if there is no hope, I hope this is a misunderstanding."

…………

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According to the standards of the nobles in the kingdom, the Eagle's Nest City is not large in scale, with only seven white spiers huddled together like arrows in a tube, sitting on the top of the mountain.

Although the Eyrie has no stables, forges, or kennels, its granary is as big as Winterfell's, and the castle's tower can accommodate five hundred soldiers.

Petyr Baelish was a little embarrassed in his clothes. He left the gondola with the help of a young waiter... Looking around, the castle looked extremely desolate compared to his previous memories.

…………

Stomp, tap, tap, Petyr walked in the hall made of white stone, echoing everywhere.

"Petyr!"

A voice full of excitement sounded, and Lysa's bloated figure appeared, holding up her skirt and trotting towards Petyr.

Petyr showed an elegant and tired smile, and slowly opened his arms towards Lysa.

Lysa threw herself into Petyr's arms. She hugged him tightly and cried: "Petyr, my little finger, is it really you? Am I not dreaming?!"

Petyr patted Lysa's back and said warmly: "It's me, my Lysa, I finally see you."

Lesa choked up: "Your men sent me a message, saying that you were imprisoned in a dark prison. I'm so scared. I have nightmares every day. I'm so afraid of losing you, wuwuwu."

Petyr comforted softly: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here, I'm here."

Petyr's hoarse whisper quickly comforted Lysa.

He lightly pinched Lesa's chubby cheeks, raised the corners of his lips slightly, and said, "My Lesa, you are still so crying. You are really a girl who has not grown up."

Lysa easily becomes shy in front of Petyr: "I won't cry anymore..."

Lysa looked at Petyr. Her blue eyes were dim and moist, and her lips were very light in color.

"Petyr, how did you escape?"

Petyr's eyes trembled slightly and said: "My Lysa, I thought that I alone could bear the crime of killing Jon Arryn, so I just surrendered, but I didn't expect that Eddard Stark still didn't. I want to let go of my beloved girl..."

As he spoke, he stroked Lysa's hair lovingly and continued: "If I want to leave, no one can stop me... When I learned that your rebels appeared in the valley, I came back, and I will I will always protect you, my Lysa."

"Petyr..." Lysa was moved to tears again.

Her voice was full of remorse: "My Petyr, you love me so much, but I doubt you! I am mainly too scared. I think everyone will harm me. I live in fear every day. Please Forgive me, you must forgive me!"

(End of this chapter)