Yes, I know I said I was done, that I wouldn't post another story until one is finished.
What Is Dead May Never Die and The Falcon Flies High are almost finished. Long May They Reign is following right behind them if I focus on it.
This was originally going to be The Falcon Flies High but things changed and one idea seemed better than the other. This What-If is about if Jon and Lysa's first night was fruitful (hence the chapter name). A son was given to him early, I read that she had no Moon Blood so she thought her and Cat were both heavy with children but hers came and the marriage went downhill with two stillborns and a few miscarriages including a daughter.
This change drastically changes a bit, making Lysa less looney along the way, though, she still carrying some paranoia.
I based this character off of Chris Hemsworth's brother, Liam. It seems only right. He'll have a more carefree personality, though he- Like Robb takes great counsel from his mother and 'uncle' Baelish. A bad combo, yet, it is a human thing for a son to listen to his mother. Rodrik cared little for Lysa, seeing her as just a woman looking to get rid of him and place Robert as Lord of the Vale. This one will care a lot.
The pairing, like many, is up for some debate until the story head in a direction I see. But Margaery, Myrcella, Shireen, Sansa, Arya, or Myranda and Ysilla Royce, even. They are all in the circle.
I tarried too long, please enjoy and fear not, all game of thrones stories are safe.
Chapter 1: Eyass Now A Falcon in Flight
Two boys sat on either side of the bed, holding an aging man's hands.
"Father... " The eldest of the two boys whispered. His hair was a dirty blond, eyes a clear blue and red from tears. He was a strong youth, slender with a strong jaw and aquiline nose, this tragedy would be marked every year for his age... Because it is his name-day, he is fourteen, now.
The other boy was quite young, he'll be seven name-days old in three months, too young to lose a father at this time.
These boys were the sons of the man lying in bed, his name was Jon Arryn, the Warden of the East and Lord of the Vale... And he is dying.
He tries to speak, he has for almost an hour but each time, he coughed heavily. His sons held onto his hands as he felt himself fade with each passing moment.
But someone needs to know. The King needs to know, he gritted his teeth as he raised his head up.
"Strong... The seed is strong... Tell... The seed is strong!" He saw his wife and King Robert enter the chambers, his King was shouting for Pycelle to do something.
Robert was so angry, he was always angry ever since Rhaeger took Lyanna Stark. Eddard was so saddened, so sorrowful and empty. They were his sons first, will always be his boys even if blood doesn't make it so.
The Rebellion was good for his family and bad. He lost a cousin, a nephew, all gone but he gained a son nearing the end of the war. A good son, a healthy son. He named him Artys, after the founder of his House. He's grown into a strong boy, an intelligent boy, squiring for Stannis Baratheon... The true heir to the Iron Throne.
His other son, the youngest, he knows the boy won't live long, too sickly and unwell. He trusts Artys to keep his brother comfortable, keep Robert cared for until the Father comes for him. Or finish what I began, get him away from Lysa and put under Stannis at Dragonstone. It worked well for Artys, it will no doubt work for Robert.
Lysa hated him for it, despite that Stannis was named Master of Ships and brought to live here.
In all honesty, she was no more his wife than the Mad King was kind. She is a prideful woman, though he still treated her with kindness all the same. His sons are loved by their mother, he can only hope that his wife will continue to love their children and help in any way they may need it.
"Jon? Don't worry, now. I'll take care of your sons." Robert was never one for farewells, even to those dying.
"Robert, listen... Must tell you... The seed is strong... " He couldn't think, can't find the will to bring out the words. "The seed is strong... The seed... Is... "
Jon Arryn. Lord of the Eyrie. Lord Paramount of the Vale and Warden of the East breathed his last. Behind he left a legacy of two sons, one fourteen and another six.
Six hours pass by, Robert sat in silence but tears were falling. He was angry that the Gods would take away another parent of his, he curses them and hopes that they feel what he feels. He looked and saw Artys comforting his little brother as the Maester has Jon taken away by the Silent Sisters.
The seed is strong. What is that supposed to mean? He grunted and turned to Lysa who remained stone-faced during all of this.
"What did he mean?" King Robert asked those in the room, and it would be Lysa who spoke up.
"Our sons. They are strong, your Grace. Yes, yes, indeed they are. My Artys and Robin are strong boys, smart and cunning." Lysa said quickly, coming over and bringing her sons close to her, "They are good boys, honest and true. They don't need to leave for they have all they need." She added and hoped that whatever Robert had planned will be put to a stop... But it wasn't.
"I spoke to Jon at length, but I believe Tywin will be the best path. Stannis will turn your boy too rigid, just like this one- No offense, Artys." Robert joked, though the eldest son of Jon Arryn did not speak, he understands that as their father just died a few moments ago.
Lysa's facial expression hardened as Robert brought up that outrageous idea, her husband for the last fourteen years has died. Her children are fatherless and alone.
"This can be discussed at another time. Now, please leave, your Grace so I and my family can grieve." She ordered about the King and Robert bristled in anger before storming to the door, stopping and turning to her and her sons once more.
"I will be heading to Winterfell in a few days, but before that, I would hold a ceremony to name Artys the new Lord of the Vale. Also, there are things to be discussed between you and me, boy." Artys grunted in agreement as the King left and a moment after that, Petyr Baelish entered the room, looking distraught and sorry for them.
"Uncle Petyr!" the six-year-old Robert ran from the bedside and smashed into the Master of Coin. "My father, he, he is... " the boy tried to speak, but tears and sadness got in the way.
"Shush, I know, Sweetrobin. I am sorry for your loss, sorry for the three of you." Petyr told Robert and turned his eyes on Artys who remained standing beside his father's bed, though, his mother walked over and embraced him with Robert.
He was once tempted to trying to get Lysa to slip some of the poison in Artys cup at supper. It was a greedy option, one his love wouldn't comply with and would soon turn on him if he had. She loves the boy, her firstborn son, she would turn against me if I even insisted on killing him. He thought as he narrowed his eyes on the boy who turned away from his comfort.
He supposed that he could work to manipulate him, he's older but still a boy, a youth and inexperienced in politics and combat.
"I do have terrible news, may I have the room, boys?" Artys reluctantly agreed and pulled Robin away and left the room. Once they knew they were alone, he eyed Lysa, "He didn't suspect anything?" He asked Lysa who shook her head with a smile, and so did he smile. "The Queen knows of Jon's plan to foster Robert at Dragonstone, heir or not, a hostage is valuable to her and will work to force her husband to send your boy to the Westerlands... But there is more." Her eyes watched him, and he smirked on the inside.
"What? What is that bitch planning? Tell me." She commanded, no one was going to harm her child.
And he counted on that protectiveness to keep his power. He stroked his mustached and scratched his chin before turning to her, again.
"Artys is grown but not a man, he needs a regent, a man to guide him and I cannot leave my station. She's tricked Robert into naming the Kingslayer as Lord Protector of the Vale and Warden of the East." Lysa snarled in anger and threw over a small table, venting her anger out after such news. "I suggest leaving, as soon as you can."
"I am not afraid of the Lannister bitch." She said with venom, he put his hands on Lysa's shoulders, keeping her focussed on him.
"Don't be afraid, then. Protect your sons, get them away and ensure that Artys doesn't agree to let House Lannister get a foothold in the Vale. Get them out of the city, get them away from here, Lysa." She was reluctant, so he pushed the matter, "I have a ship ready to take you three to Gulltown, leave and stay behind the Vale." He added, gently kissing Lysa on the lips, she pushed inward and intensified the motion.
If he closed his eyes, he can picture these lips being Catelyn's lips, the woman who he desires most in this world.
The morning after, the ship was gone, Lysa and her sons left for home and Cersei gritted her teeth as she watched the Silent Sisters dance around Jon Arryns body.
"As your brother, it is my duty to warn you, that you worry too much. It's starting to show." She scoffed, wondering why he has to joke around so much.
"And you never worry about anything. When we were seven, you jumped off the cliffs of Casterly Rock, you were never afraid." She said, reminiscing on everything they were doing when they were little.
"There was nothing to be afraid of until you told father. 'Lannisters! Lannisters don't act like fools'." She smiled, keeping the seriousness down a bit before the frown had returned.
"What if Jon Arryn told someone? Or that bookish boy-heir of his, what if he knew, or the bitch- They left under the cover of night, a bit suspicious, no?" She wondered and was afraid for her, for Jaime, for their children who are at the most risk. Jaime furrowed his brow and frowned back at her.
"And what would he have told? If so, both of our heads would be on the Traitors Walk by now, and Pycelle, our children, even our father, and Tyrion. We would all be dead by now like I said, you worry too much." And like she said, he never does. "Whatever Jon knew or didn't know died with him, and if his pups know anything won't come to anything, not unless they come here and if they do, they'll die." That made her feel a little better, despite everything, " And besides, Robert will soon choose a new Hand of the King while he hunts whores and fucks boars, or is it the other way around? And life will go on."
"You could have been Warden of the East, Robert was going to make you a great-lord, for however long it would be." Jaime scoffed at the opportunity, thinking that it wasn't in his interest, he wants to be here with his sister and not anywhere else.
"A great-lords life is hard with responsibility, and theirs tends to be a short one, I'd sooner let the Arryn finish dying out than freeze in the Eyrie for a few years."
Three Months Later
Catelyn Stark, her guard Rodrik Cassel, her prisoner, Tyrion Lannister, and some twenty horsemen were riding toward the Bloody Gate, the entrance way into the Vale of Arryn and The Eyrie.
She has Tyrion Lannister prisoner because the evidence was put forth that the Imp was responsible for attempting the murder of her young son, Brandon, further evidence points to the youngest son of Tywin to be responsible for sending someone to assassinate Bran.
Over their journey, she wondered about the secret that Tyrion has to need a child's death? It was unethical and a crime of nature to want a young boy murdered.
She tried to get an answer out of Tyrion, but he would reply with innocents and that he had no knowledge of what happened. As a mother, she cannot believe him, cannot let it go until she knows the truth. Unfortunately, they came under attack by Mountain Clansmen and she reluctant released Tyrion who saved her from death.
Her party was twenty and eight, now a mere twenty and weary from their travels.
"Who comes to the Bloody Gate?" She smiled, remembering the sound of the man asking them why they are here.
"You remember me, uncle? It is Catelyn Tully, of the House Stark and wife of Lord Eddard Stark." The Blackfish barked in laughter before ordering for the gate to open up for them. Moments later, her uncle appeared and happy to see her.
"I heard about Bran. What brings you so far from home?" He asked her, worried why the mother he's known since she was a girl was in the Vale of all places. She frowned and gestured to the small passenger on one of the horses.
"I need to see Lysa. I need to see my eldest nephew."
Brynden said nothing except when he turned and ordered for the garrison to let them pass, her uncle grabbed a horse and escorted them there himself.
She's never seen the Eyrie or the Gates of the Moon. It looked like something out of a storybook, one her eldest daughter would read.
The Eyrie was built at the peak of the Giant's Lance, there is one road there and one road out, easy to defend but worse when being sieged. On the western side of the Giant's Lance is Alyssa's Tears, it falls far but never seems to land anywhere.
"Move past, Ser Vardis, we are here to see my niece and nephew." The younger knight nodded and moved when they reached the Eyrie's entrance. The gate opened and they were led inside where some boys were waiting to take their horses.
Rodrik hoisted Tyrion Lannister from his horse, putting him on the ground as she and her uncle started walking up the steps to the great hall.
"I must warn you, your sister is, unwell. She coddles those two boys like they might disappear if she were to blink, bah, the only good thing is that Artys is getting annoyed by it all and of the men who claw for marriage with Lysa, they believe marrying her will make them Protector of the Vale." Are things getting so terrible? Even in the Vale? She frowned as they made it up the way and entered the hall which led to a room.
In the hall there were a dozen or so people, all mostly Lords eyeing her sister who stood to the right of her nephew, Robert was sitting in a chair to Artys left, playing with a toy. Maester Colemen stood in between the two brothers offering counsel on a matter.
"As you can see, my liege, this man has sold me on a bad deal." A man standing at the center of the room pointed to another beside him, "I had bought a herd of sheep, ten of'em an he charged me a high amount but the bastard only gave me eight! I asked where the last two were and he told me that a pair of Shadowcat's got to them the night before." The lowborn paused before continuing, "I asked he come down on the price but he said no." The other man went to argue until her nephew spoke.
"Gentleman, before you argue, I would remind you that the agreement was on ten sheep, not eight. I favor the buyer in this matter, come down on price or take the sheep back." A shrewd decision, her sister looked at Artys with disapproval on her expression, yet Artys remained calm and uninterested but his eyes narrowed down on the seller.
The man selling the sheep caved in, agreeing to lower the price on the sheep and it seemed that was the last matter of the day.
"My Lord. My Lady, I present the Lady Catelyn of the House Stark." Artys eyes lit up as he got up from his throne made of Weirwood.
"Aunt Cat!" He exclaimed, embracing her and she laughed, patting his back, "Why did you come here? how's cousin Robb? I heard about Bran, I am so sorry." She tried to speak, tried to say something but Lysa screeched in horror.
"Why is he here?! Sister! Why did you bring one of them here!" Artys grunted and sighed, ordering for everyone who isn't family or his Maester to leave the room.
Artys life after his father's death has been anything but smooth, his installation as Lord of the Vale even more problematic as his more ambitious vassal Houses are moving to make themselves Lord Protector as he is too young to come into his full power as Warden of the East. He has grown quite annoyed seeing them sweet-talk his mother who giggles and laughs at their attempts, giving them false hope which won't come.
The day his father died, he's never cried so hard before. The man he's looked up to for as long as he can remember, Stannis too, the man left not long as they did. His mother rustled them awake, telling them that they need to leave the city and although he wished to tell the King and wait for his father's body to be ready for transport.
His mother was frantic, in distress, he hated seeing her like that and reluctantly went ahead and gathered their things.
The King he heard had been angry, sending him a command to come North with him but he was encouraged to refuse, so he didn't. He stayed in the Vale and was planning a tour around his many lands such as Runestone, Three-Sisters, Ironoaks and Heart's Home. He has much to learn and though he enjoys a good book, eyes and ears can learn more than that.
He looked to his mother, then to the one she was screaming at.
Tyrion Lannister. He doesn't know of many half-men but one, now, why is he here and in chains? "Aunt Cat, why do you have Tywin Lannister's son captive?" He asked her and Lady Stark spun her tale of why and how.
"The King and his family came to Winterfell, we welcomed them into our home in peace. This man, almost murdered my son, Brandon when he saw whatever the dwarf was hiding then sent an assassin to finish him and if it weren't for his wolf, Bran and I would have been murdered." He nodded and sent a grim stare at Tyrion and crossed his arms.
"I have no doubt that Lord Tywin will have heard about your capture right now." He started and then turned to his aunt, "Cut him loose. Give him a chamber to rest but have two guards at his door at all times." He closed his eyes and waited for his mother to say something, but she simply frowned, holding her hands together. "Mother, what has you so distressed?" He asked and his mother didn't speak, she simply shook her head and called for Robert to follow her and together had left the hall.
"It is a delicate matter, nephew. Ned might need the Vale on his side." He gave Catelyn a quizzical look, "A lot has happened since your father's death, and the Realm is unraveling from it." He sighed, looking at his aunt to his great-uncle and back to his aunt.
"... Tell me. All of it." Maybe things will be more interesting, something he can prove to his Lords and Ladies that might think he isn't ready to lead the Vale of Arryn.
Later on that night, he asked his mother to join him for dinner, she reluctantly came and only after she put his little brother to bed.
He had some mutton made, his mother loved mutton and so he had some made. She eyed him with suspicion but eventually, she smiled and began eating her meal. A while later he thought this was a better time than any and cleared his throat.
"Mother, I want to run this through you, as my regent." She stopped eating and put down her fork to listen, "Aunt Cat said something is happening, that war is soon to be upon the Seven Kingdoms if something isn't done to stop it. I can stop it- " Right after that, his mother wasn't interested in hearing him out.
"No, no, no! I will not let you go to that damned city, the city that took your father from us." He got up and followed his mother to the door as she was going to run from this argument, it seems like that is all she's done since the day his father died.
"Uncle Ned has discovered a plot, the Lannister are reaching for power. If they killed father then I have to do something, I promise to bring men with me, I- " He was stopped when his mother cut him off, shouting at him.
"And what if you died? What if they kill you, too. I won't let you or your brother come to harm, no, I will not." If this was another situation, he would have caved in and stayed home.
But if the Lannisters did kill his father, the Hand of the King? It is an act of treason and he is his father's son, justice has to prevail.
"... No." His mother was surprised by the action, shocked that he'd say no in the first time since he was a two-year-old. "Father was Hand of the King. He served Robert for fourteen years and was poisoned by House Lannister, I can't let that slide, I can't let father go unavenged." His mother watched, everything was quiet and still.
"... Fine. Go. But not alone, you will have 500 guards, all skilled and should any danger be sensed, you come right back home." His mother whispered with tears in her eyes, stroking his cheek lovingly and he took a deep breath before nodding.
"Don't worry, I will always come back."
AN: There will be some more new stuff. Another Lannister Story, A triplet Tully boy one, some Stark, a BOLTON AND FREY?! All this along with usual update for the other stories.
Now, without further adieu, i bid you all a very good day and happy Presidents Day too. I'll see you all in Arthur Snows story and then some more Falcon Flies High.