Here we are then, into the last three chapters of this story! I may do either a sequel or just add on to this story if I can at some point, but that won't be for a long time yet. For now, there is this chapter, next chapter and an epilogue to go!

I own nothing other than Roland and his family. Everything else belongs to HBO and George RR Martin.


302 AC

The wedding was fairly rushed. King's Landing was in the process of starting to rebuild itself, so not a great deal of expense was spared. The couple themselves seemed happy enough with it though, as Denys cloaked Margaery he had a small grin on his face. The party afterwards was fairly held back too. Stannis had attended, and knighted the Arryn boy and dubbed him 'Denys Lionsbane' much to Denys' delight, and while Roland was pleased for his son, his mind was firmly back at the Eyrie.

They had discussed the matter at great length. Varys countering every argument each member of the Small Council had come up with to try and allay the fears, leaving no room for doubt that Robin wasn't an Arryn. The solution they had come up with was that Baelish and Lysa would be arrested, and Midlor Point, Baelish's seat, would be Roland's to do as he wished.

Roland had insisted that he wanted to lead the army back home to arrest Baelish, and it was a couple of weeks after the wedding that Pycelle had given him the all clear. He still limped slightly, but that would clear up with time on the road. Denys had decided to join his new wife at Highgarden for a few weeks, as the Tyrell family couldn't make it to the wedding. So, after a brief goodbye, Denys and Margaery, accompanied by 100 Arryn soldiers left along the Rose Road as Roland, with the rest of his army left up the King's Road, accompanied by the Stark children, Gendry and the boy Hot Pie. Jon had been given the greatsword Ice to carry too, with Stannis handing it back to its rightful owner.

Gendry had been told that he was to squire for Roland, and he was trying to be as dutiful as a commoner could. Luckily Jon was there to help him in his duties, and the duo were forming a slight friendship. A few days after leaving King's Landing, Roland was riding alongside Gendry as the Starks were in front. Roland noticed that the Baratheon bastard couldn't stop staring at one of the girls.

"Which one? Arya?" Roland asked in a jovial manner.

"What milord?" Gendry asked nervously.

"Which one are you staring at?" Roland grinned. "I presumed Arya, as you're good friends with the girl."

"Pardon milord, but Arry… Arya, she's a friend and all but she's…"

"She's not a woman yet." Roland said, understanding. "One day she will be, and when that day comes she shall marry a Frey."

"I know." Gendry shrugged, before looking back at the sisters.

"Or is it Lady Sansa?" Roland asked, eyebrow raised. The boy turned beet red, and tried stammering out denials. "It's ok, she's an extremely comely young woman."

"I barely know her but she's nice. Especially after everything…" Gendry said. "We both got talking when Arya was locked up."

"I'm glad. It makes things easier." Roland admitted, to which Gendry just looked confused. "King Stannis now has three seats of power. King's Landing, Dragonstone, and Storm's End. King's Landing is his, Dragonstone has been given to his daughter, Shireen, but Storm's End needs a new Lord. I suggested that as King Roberts eldest surviving son, that after a period of learning, you could be placed there."

Gendry looked half in awe, and half scared. "Me? I'm a smith…"

"You're King Robert's son." Roland said firmly. "I promise you, I will help you to prove yourself. Robert was many things later in his life that were caused by severe unhappiness, but one thing he always was to me was a great man."

Gendry slumped forwards in his horse, trying to take it all in. "So, what happens now?"

"You learn from me. I will take you under my wing and teach you all there is about ruling. Then when the time comes we shall see if King Stannis has a spare heir that will inherit Storm's End. If not, I shall put forth to him about a legitimisation." Roland explained. "It won't be easy, you will have to work extremely hard for the rest of your life."

"I understand." Gendry nodded. "I want to do it. I want to prove myself, but I can't even read or write."

Roland chuckled. "That will come soon enough. We have enough at the Eyrie to help you there."

Gendry smiled weakly, still processing, before he asked. "Can you tell me more about my Father?"

Smiling, Roland nodded, and the rest of the day was spent telling tales of years gone by, when all seemed right in the world.


A week and a half was all it took for them to reach the crossroads that marked the convergence point of the River Road, High Road and Kingsroad. They stayed a night there, but it was soon time to part ways. Letting Sansa and Arya say goodbye to Gendry, Roland pulled Jon to one side.

"I know you want to go with them." Roland stated.

"I do, My Lord, but my duty is with you." Jon said.

"True, but I've been thinking." Roland said, catching Jon's attention. "You fought valiantly at both Darry and King's Landing. You were first through the gates at King's Landing too. For that, I ask you to kneel."

"My Lord?" Jon asked, wide eyed.

"Kneel Jon." Roland urged. Jon got to his knees, as Roland unsheathed Talon and placed the flat side on Jon's right shoulder.

He felt the eyes of Arya, Sansa and Gendry on them, and had to refrain from laughing when Arya asked. "What's going on?"

"He's being knighted silly!" Sansa whispered. "Shush."

"Jon Snow, do you swear before the eyes of gods and men to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to protect all women and children, to obey your captains, your Liege Lord, and your King, to fight bravely when needed and do such other tasks as are laid upon you, however hard or humble or dangerous they may be?" Roland asked, remembering the more informal ceremony.

"I swear it. By the Old Gods and the New." Jon stated loudly.

Roland then moved Talon over Jon's head to rest on his left shoulder. "Then arise, Ser Jon of Winterfell."

Jon rose to his feet, and Roland immediately shook his hand fiercely, before letting the boy go and embrace his family. He smiled at the happy faces, and the thought made him long to hold Artys and Teora once more.


The Western campaign had been successful. Plunder had been taken from all over the Northern Westerlands, and each Lord of the North had taken their share. Robb had just arrived at Pendric Hills when the rider came telling of King Stannis' victory at King's Landing. With the end of the war, Robb had ordered his men to fall back to the North, pleased at what he had accomplished.

The Lannisters had tried to raise another, smaller army at Oxcross, but it was filled with men that could barely fight. Old men and boys made up the bulk of the force, and it had been put to the sword easily enough. Lord Karstark himself had slain his great uncle by law Stafford Lannister.

Once he was back in Riverrun and reunited with his mother he heard the full news. Stannis had all but been defeated until the Knights of the Vale had arrived. The thought of Roland Arryn still angered Robb, but he had finally come to understand the man's position, even though he didn't like it. News also had come of Arya and Sansa being escorted back to Riverrun, which delighted Catelyn to no end.

They were sat with a sleeping Lord Hoster when Edmure Tully entered the room. Lord Hoster was in his final days the Maester had said, so Cat and Robb spent as much time as they could sat by his bedside.

"Nephew, Cat. Riders from the east carrying the banners of Houses Arryn and Stark." Edmure said quietly. Cat looked up at him with a smile on her face.

"Sansa, Arya." She breathed, rising to kiss her Father on the forehead before she led Robb out of the room towards the drawbridge.

They lined up formally as the drawbridge lowered, and it took all of Robb's restraint to not just run to his sisters and never let them go. He watched as Jon led the girls forward, stopping a few paces away.

"Lord Robb." Jon said formally. "King Stannis sends his gratitude for your victories in the West."

"I'm just glad His Grace won in the East so it wasn't all for nought." Robb said, just as formally.

"We found this in the Red Keep, the King immediately sent it North with us as soon as it was found." Jon said, being handed a greatsword in a wolf skin pelt. Robb's breath hitched, as Jon handed him the Valyrian Steel sword of House Stark, Ice.

"Thank you, Jon." Robb said.

"Ser Jon." Arya corrected. "He's been knighted."

"Can we get this over with." Catelyn snapped impatiently, and Robb nodded to her. Rushing forward, she swooped her daughters into her arms, all three of them soon bawling their eyes out.

"My babies. My babies." Cat kept whispering over and over. Robb walked over to Jon.

"So, a knight." Robb said.

"Aye, I was first through the gates of King's Landing too." Jon said, nervous about talking to Robb again. Robb sighed.

"I understand why you did what you did, even if it still pains me." He said.

"You are my brother, now and always." Jon said. "But all I did was obey my King."

"Let's not talk on it." Robb said, shaking his head. "Tell me all from the war, what happened at King's Landing?"

They all walked inside the castle, telling stories from each other's campaigns over dinner. They laughed, cried, and felt all kinds of emotions that night, but no tale was listened to more intently than Arya's.

"Syrio saved my life, told me to run." She had said. "So I did, I got to the cart that was going to take us home and everyone was dead."

"Seven Hells, for one to see that so young." Cat whispered.

"I looked for my Needle, I found it and a stable boy found me and wanted to take me to Cersei." Arya spat.

"A needle?" Robb asked confused.

"Her sword." Sansa answered, cutting her knife through a sausage.

"You have a sword?" Cat asked, surprised.

"I had it made for her in the Vale." Jon said. Cat gave him an icy look, but her attention was captured by Arya again.

"Don't go telling Jon off Mother! Without Needle I'd be dead." She exclaimed.

"I'm sure you're overexaggerating." Cat said, her face going pale however.

"No, I'm not! After Father died I was with the Night's Watch going North, to find you, when Lannisters came and we had to fight them." Arya told them. "Lommy died and I lost Needle, but it saved my life."

Jon already knew the story. "We'll have another one made for you back in Winterfell. I remember the size and measurements, it can be the same."

"Aye." Robb said. "If it saved your life, then we can have another made back home."

Arya grinned widely, and carried on explaining her story, talking all about Harrenhal and serving Tywin Lannister, until she got to being brought to Roland.

"Thank the Seven that man didn't know who you were." Cat gasped.

"He really said you were more competent than his commanders?" Robb asked, a grin on his face.

"He said I could read better." Arya shrugged.

"I remember that letter, it served us well to avoid the main host after we won at Oxcross." Robb grinned.

"Anyway, we went with Roland, but as the Knights rode off I snuck away with Gendry and got back into the castle." Arya said.

"Why? Why would you risk your life like that?" Cat asked.

Arya looked towards Sansa and gave the red head a smile. "I thought Cersei would kill Sansa so I wanted to get there while the battle raged."

"Well, it seems you've had quite the adventure." Robb smiled. "We'll leave for home soon I reckon, and then we can stay in the North, where we belong."

Everyone agreed with that statement, but Arya had to let her feelings known. "Until I have to go to the Twins." She said bitterly.

"That isn't going to happen." Robb said defiantly, and silence fell over the table.

"Robb… you swore…"

"Aye, I swore an oath the get the bridge I know, but Arya isn't a woman yet and Winter is Coming. If you think I'll marry my sister to one of his brood, then think again." Robb said strongly. "We shall see what happens after Winter. For now, we go home."


Roland knew that something was amiss as soon as they got to the Bloody Gate. Luckily, the men there were still loyal to Roland, and once they had heard the argument Varys had provided, they immediately let the remainder of the Vale army through the gate. 10,000 men were soon camped by the Gates of the Moon.

Ever since Ser Nestor had been executed by Lysa Arryn, the men of the Eyrie and the men of the Gates of the Moon had been locked in a stalemate, neither able to move against the other. Roland again explaining the news of Robin Stone's parentage managed to persuade the new commander to back him. He decided to take a small force of 20 men up to the Eyrie to start with, to try and sort everything peacefully, and if Roland hadn't sent word in a day then the army would move in.

Before he moved up the mountain however, he decided a meeting had to take place. He led Gendry outside to the courtyard, and walked over to the stables.

"Now you know who your Father is, I want to introduce you to somebody." Roland told him on the way.

"Ok." Gendry said nervously.

They stopped before entering the stables, and saw a girl tending to one of the horses, brushing it. Gendry was confused at first, but as the girl raised her head, his eyes widened.

"Is she…"

"Aye." Roland said. He had told Mya about her parentage at the end of the last winter, and she had grown up to resent the former King. "Mya, over here girl."

The short haired girl looked over, and stopped what she was doing to walk up to Roland. "My Lord." She curtseyed quickly.

"How are you?" Roland asked.

"Well My Lord." She admitted. "I was very sad to hear about Ser Nestor though."

Roland looked sadly at her. "Aye, nasty business up there, it will be sorted soon though."

Mya looked curiously at Gendry. "Hello." She said.

"Hi." Gendry said nervously.

"This is Gendry, he's a smith from King's Landing." Roland introduced. "He never knew his Father either."

Mya looked intently at the Baratheon bastard, and acknowledgement hit her. "No, you wouldn't."

"Would you mind showing him around the castle while I'm up at the Eyrie. You two have a lot to talk about I'm sure." Roland smiled. Mya nodded, and took Gendry's arm to lead him around the winter home of the Arryn's.


The Eyrie seemed quiet, but Roland's men were strangely allowed right in to the Throne Room. Baelish and Lysa were standing by the Throne, talking quietly to each other. They noticed Roland, and turned to face him.

"Ah, Lord Arryn. Good to see you again." Baelish greeted.

"Baelish." Roland grunted. "I have an arrest warrant here for you. Come quietly please My Lord."

"On who's authority?" Lysa asked angrily.

"King Stannis Baratheon, My Lady." Roland said sternly.

"On what charges? I've been nothing but faithful to the crown." Baelish defended himself.

"On the charges of treason, adultery, and fraud, My Lord." Roland said.

"Liar!" Lysa screamed.

"I also have a warrant for you My Lady!" Roland shouted up. "We know all about your secret. We know all about the circumstances of Robin's conception."

Lysa looked furious, but Petyr looked non-perplexed. "Speak carefully Lord Roland, I don't wish for you to regret anything."

"The only thing I regret, is having faith that Lady Lysa was sane in the mind to recommend you for a role at Gulltown." Roland spat. "Take them." He said to his guards.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Baelish said loudly. With that men came through all the doors leading into the throne room. Arrows began flying and Roland's men were dropping to the floor. One arrow caught him in the shoulder, and he was forced to his knees in pain, later to be hoisted up by two men and brought to the now opening Moon Door.

"Your time is over, Lord Roland. Lord Robin has a capable teacher now. Retire yourself to Falcon's Rest and see out your days with your wife and children." Baelish said softly.

"If you've harmed them…" Roland growled, pain throbbing in his shoulder.

Baelish rolled his eyes. "Do you take me for such a man? They're here."

Ilene, Teora and Artys were brought in by more guards, Teora was looking angry, Artys seemed scared and Ilene looked worried as soon as she saw her husband.

"You won't get away with this Baelish. Robin is no true Arryn, if you give up now you can still escape this with your head attached." Roland told the man.

"Lies again, Lord Arryn." Baelish sighed.

"No lies. The King knows, and even if I fall, he will come for you." Roland laughed, trying to shake off his captors. "Give up Robin, return the Eyrie to me and I promise you, I'll let you all live.

"You see! He's plotting against my son! Your Lord! He lies about Robin not being Jon's child because he wants the title for himself!" Lysa screeched.

"Stop this now Lysa!" Roland shouted, struggling as he was being held. "Nobody needs to get hurt!"

"You're a usurper!" She shouted again. "Petyr, do something!"

"We can't hurt him my love." Petyr told her. "He has King Stannis' ear, and he's popular with the Lords of the Vale."

"I want him gone!" Lysa screamed.

Baelish whispered something in her ear, and walked down the steps towards Roland, who was still close to being thrown out of the Moon Door. "Lord Roland is a hero of the Vale; his valour and courage is well known throughout our lands." He said. "But he is also a usurper, trying to take the place of the rightful Lord of the Vale based on lies."

"They are no lies you traitor." Roland snarled.

"Shh, My Lord. It's ok, you can admit your guilt and no harm shall come to you." Baelish told him, resting a hand on Roland's shoulder. "Artys, come here child."

"No!" Ilene screamed. "Artys stay here please."

The eight-year-old didn't know what to do, but a guard pushed him forwards, so he walked towards Baelish and Roland. Baelish smiled, and leant down to meet Artys' eyes. "Your father claims he has papers from King Stannis in his pockets, and I can't let him go because he will try and kill many people in this room. Would you fetch them for me so we can sort all of this out?"

Artys nodded nervously, and made his way to his Father's front. Roland pointed his son towards where the letter was, and the boy retrieved it. Baelish grinned, and walked towards Artys.

"Good, now hand it over to me." Baelish said, his arm stretched out. Artys placed the paper in his hands, and Baelish began reading. Nodding as he finished, he looked towards Roland.

"A very good forgery My Lord, but a forgery none the less." Baelish grinned, ripping up the document. "This level of treason shall not go unpunished."

With that, he let the remaining pieces of the document fall to the floor, and shoved Artys Arryn through the Moon Door.


I can tell people won't like this chapter already purely for the ending, but it's been in the plans ever since I thought up the Robin Baelish plot. Roland needs to be angry, I want Ilene even more broken too, remember she's unable to have more children.

For the Mya scene, the layout of the way between the Eyrie and the Bloody Gate is different in the show, and there is no need for her role. That's why I said she was serving in the Gates of the Moon.

I hope the reunion with the Starks was ok as well. Jon's also been knighted, I felt I had to as I knighted Denys too, and I can't say it isn't deserved!

Remember to please let me know what you think. Your reviews keep me going as quick as I can!

Reviews:

10868letsgo: It's a widely thought of theory, and I thought for the final part of this story it was a good enough plot device to cause some problems for Roland.

Vatsyayana69: He could demand that, but then Tyrion would just rise up in rebellion again. Better to keep the peace after such bloodshed than to cause more strife.

XBolt51: He hasn't had a son, he's planning for the future. As for Arya, she is effectively Robb's to marry off as he will, and she was promised to Elmar Frey. Stannis is the type to see that through.

Stannisfan: Yeah, I put that in intentionally to plant thoughts in the reviewer's heads. Like I've said in another review, he could but Tyrion would revolt. Half of the debt has been written off, but the crown needs the Lannisters on side, especially with the Iron Bank looming. As for the Lannister must rule the Westerlands I see your point, but for me a Lannister is the only one that will provide true stability. If not a Lannister then it would have to be another strong Westerlands House, and that choice would cause infighting between all of the powerful Lords and the remaining Lannisters. Myrcella's children can't be a threat either, as the law states that a female, nor her heirs can claim the throne. That's potentially a story for another time, however while Stannis is many things, he only turned to murdering little girls when times got hardest.

Supremus85: I thought about it I really did, but while Stannis is a stickler for Justice he needs to keep his allies on side, so making her swear what she had to means that all parties are happy enough. Yeah, many people thought it was too stupid for Tywin, but I needed the tension between Roland and Tywin to hit breaking point for the final confrontation.

jean d'arc: Davos still questions himself remember, I thought of that just as Davos understanding that to raise a lowborn commoner up to such a high status is tricky, and Davos only went from a smuggler to a landed knight. Varys, well I think he's a Targaryen supporter, but for now all he can do is gain the trust of Stannis and his supporters. So by telling the truth to Roland and Stannis for now he's keeping his head and his position. I agree with you about Cersei to a point. If she was a man Tywin would have had her trained more. As a woman, she isn't as smart or cunning as she thinks she is, relying mainly on her name and position rather than actual smarts. The remaining Lannisters will be spared… For now ; )

Fantasymaker76: I didn't hurt Ilene, but I did kill off Artys, sorry! Roland definitely wants Robin left alive, he wouldn't kill children.