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Chapter 30

The end of an adventure

Jon POV

The Bloody Gate stood in front of us, imposing and unmoveable. It brought countless armies to an end. There was no around it but face it directly. Tyrion looked at me, and I looked back at him. We both knew that it was up to Ser Brynden Tully to help him. If he decides not to, there is nothing I would be able to do.

"Who would pass the Bloody Gate?" A voice asks us.

"Ser Lyn Corbray and his companions," Ser Lyn replies.

"So you still alive?" A gruff voice asks after opening the gate.

"I am, Blackfish," Ser Lyn responds with a smirk. "You have a bastard waiting for you."

"Ser Brynden Tully, I am Jon Snow, squire to Ser Patrik Mallister," I call him out. "I have a letter to you from Ser Patrik Mallister, and it is of most import."

"Come inside then," He motioned for me to come inside.

Ser Brynden took a look at my companions and me before he read the letter. After a couple of moments, after he read it, he burned it.

"Have you read it?" He asks me.

"No, ser, nobody has," I answer.

"Good. Otherwise, I would have to kill you," He spoke in a gruff voice.

His words gave me shivers. It wasn't a jape. I could see from his hand on the pommel that he meant it. The only thing keeping me alive was the seal on the letter that was unbroken before I gave it to ser Brynden.

"How many of fighting men to have?" He asks.

"Four with me," I answer.

"So we are five against the whole Vale," He remarks. "The knight you serve gives impossible tasks. Nonetheless, it has to be accomplished."

"Ser Patrek Mallister said that I would be rewarded for my job," Bronn tells us.

"And you will come with me to the Eyrie, and there you get a bag of coins," Ser Brynden responds.

"It is a long climb," Bronn comments.

"It is. You wouldn't be afraid of heights now, would you?" Ser Brynden asks.

"For you, I would. But if you don't pay, I know someone who will pay his debts," Bronn tells us. "Well, will it be Lord Robert Arryn who will reward me?"

"If your reward entails falling to your death, then he would happily do so," Ser Brynden responds.

"Why would Lord Arryn do so?" I ask.

"He's just a boy, a sickle boy," Ser Brynden answers. "If you ask him of anything, he will throw a tantrum. You don't want him to do so."

"Ser Brynden, why are we against all the Vale?" I ask after Bronn is done.

"Well, not all, just those that are in the Eyrie," Ser Brynden explains. "Lysa, I mean Lady Lysa Arryn has convinced them that it was Lannister's who killed their Late lord, and everyone who tries to say otherwise is being treated as traitors. But there aren't many of them, and most are happy to accept Lady Lysa's words."

"Does Lady Arryn has any proof?" I ask.

"It isn't the court of Winterfell, boy," Ser Brynden replies. "The honor is gone, and only gold matters here."

"It can't be. My father told me many stories of the honorable knights of the Vale," I argue.

"When he was there, it was just like the stories. Now you only need to look at ser Lyn Corbray. He will do everything to have a favor from Lady Lysa, and it isn't for honor or love," He responds with a bitter voice. "Enough of this talk, let's go. Lysa won't treat her uncle as a traitor if I say some words. At least, I hope so."

With his words, we left the Bloody Gate.

…

After two days, we reached Eyrie. The castle was taller than the stories I heard. The seven towers went up and beyond the skies. I only could imagine how it was built, as it was hard to comprehend it.

Ser Brynden pushed away all those who thought they could stop him. We were a little behind Tyrion and ser Lyn Corbray. We arrived just as the trial began. It seemed that Lady Arryn wanted to end it as soon as possible. Lord Robert Arryn sat on his mothers' lap, looking down on Tyrion.

"Is he the bad man?" The little lord asks.

"Yes, he is," Lady Arryn replies, caressing the boy.

"He's so small, smaller than me," The boy exclaims.

"He is Tyrion Lannister, the Imp of Casterly Rock. He is one who murdered your father," Lady Arryn explains and then continues in a louder voice. "He is the one who slew the Hand of the King."

"We need to stop this madness," I tell ser Brynden.

"Is too late," He responds with a gruff voice.

"And do you have any proof of it?" Tyrion asks. "As I stand here accused of murder, yet I don't see any evidence presented nor any witnesses. Are you, lords and knights of honorable Vale, think this is justice. I tell you that neither my father nor my brother will see my death like that. Are you ready to shoulder the consequences of this action you have taken against me?"

"Imp," It was Ser Lyn Corbray who called Tyrion out. "This is Vale. All of us loved late Lord Jon Arryn. Every one of us would gladly die to avenge him. So please don't bother with your threats."

"Oh, they are no threats, but facts. You know well how my father will act," Tyrion responds. "He will burn Riverlands from West to the East before he gets to the Vale. My brother, one of the greatest swordsmen in the world, will butcher you all."

"You can't hurt us," Exclaims little lord from his mother's lap. "Nobody can hurt us there. Tell him, mother, tell him."

"The Eyrie is impregnable," Lady Arryn declared. "The imp is lying, trying to scare us. Don't worry, my boy. The Lannister are all liars."

Her words were valid. Looking at what it took for us to reach the castle, it would be almost impossible to reach it with an army. And before you could get to the castle, you had to pass the Bloody Gate. But it seems they have dismissed Riverlands entirely.

The Riverlands were opposite of the Vale. It didn't have mountains nor great castles to protect itself with. Lady Arryn is ready to sacrifice Riverlands, her brother, for this farce. Looking at the grim face of ser Brynden, he thought so too.

"I want to see the liar fly," Little lord proclaims.

"Don't worry, my little one. He will," Lady Arryn replies with a dark smile. "You asked for proof of your crime. There it is. If you please, ser Lyn."

Lady Arryn passes a letter to ser Lyn Corbray, who reads through it. It explains how Tyrion purchased the poison. As the Master of Coin, Lord Peter Baelish found out about it and knew how Lannister ruled the court. He presented it to his Lady instead of the King for Lady Arryn to get justice for her husband's death.

"What have you say, now imp?" Lady Arryn asks. "Lord Petyr Baelish is someone who my husband chose as the master of the coin. We can be certain where his loyalties lay."

There was a great commotion within the gathered Lords and knights. "With his head," some yelled. Others too joined, calling for his head. Only little Lord Robert Arryn yelled for Tyrion to fly. No, he commanded for Tyrion to fly.

"So this is the justice of the Vale. A letter from someone can dictate it. Someone who isn't even there," Tyrion's voice rang through the hall. "No, there is no justice there. Very well, I will get my justice then. I demand a trial by combat! Let the gods judge me."

Brilliant, he knew that no one could deny him this. He was of highborn, the son of one of the most powerful men in Westeros. Trial by combat was his right. There was a great mummer in the High Hall.

"And will you fight by yourself?" Ser Lyn Corbray asks with a dark laugh. "My lady, let me bring justice for your husband."

There were dozen other knights who wanted to bring justice as well. All voiced their declaration, probably thinking that it would be an easy fight against a dwarf. But I knew Tyrion. He fights with his mind, not a sword.

"Thank you, my lords. No men in the Seven Kingdoms are as bold and true as the knights of the Vale. Would that I could grant you all this honor. Yet I can choose only one." Lady's Arryn silenced the hall with her words. "Ser Vardis Egen, you were ever my lord husband's good right hand. You shall be our champion."

She chose the one who didn't volunteer. The knight looked at his Lady with a troubled face and knelt in front of the throne.

"My lady," He began gravely. "Please give this burden to another. I have no taste for it. The man is no warrior. Look at him. A dwarf, half my size and lame in the legs. It would be shameful to slaughter such a man and call it justice."

"I have to agree," Tyrion's voice rang again.

"It was you who commanded a trial by combat," Lady Arryn says, puzzled.

"And now I demand a champion, such as you have chosen for yourself. My brother Jaime will gladly take my part, I know." Tyrion says.

"Your precious Kingslayer is hundreds of leagues away. No, that won't do," Lady Arryn informs Tyrion. "The trial will happen now, name your champion now, or face my knight yourself,"

Tyrion looked around the High Hall, but no one moved. He knew as I that there was no other choice. Lady Arryn didn't care for his wishes and wanted to finish it already. Nobody will fight for him. So I took a step forward, at least tried, before ser Brynden stopped me.

"Don't, even if you defeat ser Vardis, wish I doubt. You only make it worse for yourself and ser Patrek," Ser Brynden informs me.

"What do you mean? I can't let him die," I demand an explanation.

"Yes, you can. The war has already started. If you fight for him as a squire to ser Patrek Mallister, you proclaim that he supports the Lannisters. It will only bring discontent in Riverlands," Ser Brynden explains. "All you accomplish, after winning, will be a deny for justification for Lannister's attack of Riverlands. And both of us know that Tywin Lannister doesn't need any, to begin with."

"It seems there is no one who would fight for you," Lady Arryn says. "Open the gates of the Moon door. You can step through it yourself, or my knight will throw you."

Looking at the Moon door opening and seeing what was below, I freed myself from Ser Brynden's grasp and stepped forward. But before I could proclaim myself as his champion, another voice rang first.

"I will fight for the Imp," Bronn tells everyone.

Tyrion POV

"Make them fight!" The little lording commands after Ser Vardis and Bronn readied themselves.

I saw Jon preparing to step in. Fortunately, Blackfish stopped him. I didn't doubt Jon's ability with a sword, but I don't think he could win against a seasoned knight like ser Vardis. It wasn't very reasonable of him to even consider fighting for me. He didn't owe me anything, and we barely knew each other.

"For the Eyrie and the Vale," Ser Vardis proclaims.

"Fight!" The boy yells with delight in his voice.

Their swords rang through the hall. Once, twice they were testing each other, but with every clash, I got nervous. Bronn leaped away from ser Vardis slashing and then circled him to the left away from ser Vardis shield. Bronn danced away for ser Vardis's sword. Every time he comes in reach, Bronn moves away from him.

Voices were heard in the hall calling Bronn craven. Fools all of them, it was clear even for me why Bronn didn't face ser Vardis directly. Even the most muscular men tire themselves with heavy armor and enormous shield. It was a dance when the smallest of missteps could cost your life.

"I want them to fight, mother," Little lording pleads his mother.

"They will. The sellsword can't run all day," Lady Arryn informs her son.

Neither can ser Vardis, and it's clear who of both of them will tire first. Already he was starting to block Bronn's sword clumsily. Bronn stikes fast and hard. Sure enough, ser Vardis made a mistake, and Bronn managed to cut in the knight's elbow, in the joint that his armor connected. Blood fell between ser Vardis fingers.

Even other lords could see what happened. Even in their arrogance, they could only accept that Bronn was winning. Ser Vardis knew it too. Throwing away his shield, he charged at Bronn. Bronn swiftly stepped around the knight and cut at the back of his knee. Ser Vardis knelt, and before he could gather his strength again, Bronn slammed his sword at his shoulder.

"Is it over, mother?" Little lordling asks.

"Yes," The mother answers with a gloomy voice, and I could only smile.

"Can I make the little man fly now, mother?" Little lordling asks with delight.

"No, this little man will be leaving through a different door," I answer him.

It was over. Even Lady Arryn could do nothing but let me go. But I will remember this when I have a chance, and I won't let them go. Ser Lyn Corbray, Peter Baleish, and most importantly, Lysa Arryn. A Lannister always pays his debt.