Disclaimer: I don't own the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

Author's Note: As always, thank you to everyone who has been reading this. I'd especially like to thank those who has followed and favourited this story. I'd also like to thank Guest for your review. I hope that you enjoy this chapter, and please review and tell me what you think.

Chapter Two: A Family Reunion

The ship that the Arryn twins took from Gulltown was sleek and built for speed. They both wanted to reach King's Landing as soon as possible, and this ship, The Blue Falcon, had been the fastest one in port when they had arrived.

Alyssa stood on deck, letting the brisk wind whip through her long hair as she stared out at the approaching city. The journey had been uneventful, and things with her brother were thankfully normal now that the argument had mostly been forgotten.

Alyssa sighed at the direction her thoughts had taken. Despite the peace between her and Artys right now, she felt a little uneasy. After all, Lysa was in the capitol, and she hoped that Artys wouldn't stir anything up while they were there. This was to be a pleasant visit after all, and the last thing her family needed was drama.

"Is everything all right, Lys?" Artys asked, and Alyssa turned to see that her brother had joined her on deck.

"Of course," She said, giving him a smile. "Everything is fine Artys, why do you ask?"

"You looked a little troubled is all," He said, sounding slightly concerned for her. "Are you certain that nothing is bothering you? You can talk to me, you know."

"I know, but everything is fine, really. I was just thinking about the tourney, that's all. You haven't entered one since you got your knighthood, have you?"

"I haven't," He agreed. "But I had things to deal with. This tourney is mainly a chance to visit father, Lys, it's been strange not seeing him for so long. Besides, we both know that I'll win, despite my lack of experience."

Alyssa couldn't help but agree, but she rolled her eyes at his last remark nonetheless.

Before they'd gone back to the Eyrie, they'd never been apart from their father for more than a few moons, and it was strange not seeing him every day. At first, Alyssa hadn't wanted to stay in the Vale, but she had, knowing that she shouldn't leave Artys on his own with so much to do.

"Do you think he will be pleased about our arrival?" Alyssa asked, looking at her twin. "I may have neglected to send a raven to let him know that we were coming."

Artys smiled at her. "Of course he'll be pleased, Lys. And he'll be even more pleased when I prove my skill and win this tourney."

Alyssa snorted good-naturedly. "If you win the tourney." She retorted, and Artys pretended to glare at her.

"If you doubt my skill again, I'll name someone else my Queen of Love and Beauty." He threatened, and Alyssa rolled her eyes.

"Oh? And which fair maiden would you name, dear brother? The lady Margaery Tyrell perhaps? We met her that time we visited Highgarden, remember? Perhaps she'll grace King's Landing with her presence, I hear her brother is competing."

Artys scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Oh please, I wouldn't pick her," He said dismissively. "I'd crown someone else, instead."

"And yet you refuse to say who," Alyssa let out a dramatic sigh. "You shouldn't keep secrets from your twin, Artys."

"My sincerest apologies, Lys," He smirked. "You'll just have to wait until I win to see who I pick."

Sighing in defeat, Alyssa conceded. "Fine, brother," She replied. "I'll wait, and then I'll laugh when the Tyrell boy unhorses you."

"Oh, he won't," Artys said confidently. "Loras Tyrell is a good knight, I'll grant you, but he's also too arrogant."

"Oh? And does that remind you of anyone, brother?" Alyssa asked sweetly.

"I have no idea what you mean." He said, and she laughed softly.

"Of course you don't." She muttered, just as the captain of the ship hurried up to them.

"My lord, my lady, we are here," He announced. "Will you need my men to help carry your belongings to the castle?"

"We would be much obliged, captain," Artys said, and the man beamed, and nodded in acceptance.

It had been two years, and yet in Artys's mind King's Landing hadn't changed at all. The awful smell was the same, as were the buildings and the smallfolk who milled about the city. These people lived in filth, he thought, and he was ashamed that the realm had such a poor and stinking capitol.

As he thought about this, his horse carried him on up Aegon's High Hill and towards the Red Keep. He had to admit that he was eager to see his father, although being back in this snake pit of a city was not a pleasant thing for him at all.

As he and Alyssa rode through the gates of the Red Keep, he saw the smile on his twin's face. Unlike him, she didn't mind the capitol, and she didn't seem to notice the stink in the streets.

"Let's go and see father immediately," Alyssa said. "Our servants can move our things. Come on."

Artys gave the necessary instructions to the servants, before following his sister to the entrance of the Tower of the Hand. He had to admit that his sister's excitement was infectious and as they reached the tower, he found that he was smiling as much as she was.

As they climbed the Tower of the Hand, they came upon little Robert with his mother. Alyssa smiled and greeted their half brother warmly, and the Toxic Trout watched on, her Tully blue eyes as cold as ever.

"Artys!" Artys looked down and saw the sickly little boy smiling at him. He did his best to smile in return, not wanting to cause the boy to have one of his shaking fits, which he had often when he was angry or upset.

"Robert, you look well." He lied, trying to sound encouraging and it must have worked, because the boy beamed at him and even lady Lysa smiled thinly.

"Robin is strong," The Tully woman said proudly. "A strong healthy boy, he always has been."

Artys did his best not to snort as his sister murmured something polite that would satisfy the mad witch before them. Lady Lysa then left them, picking up her son as though he were a babe while the twins carried on, until they reached their father's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in." His father called and he and Alyssa moved into the room, smiles spreading over both of their faces.

Their father stood and beamed at the sight of his heir and his only daughter. In his expression, Artys knew that they'd been missed, as much as their father had been.

"Artys, Alyssa, I didn't know you two were coming to visit the Capitol," His father said, moving around his desk towards them. "Why didn't you send a raven?"

"We wanted to surprise you, father," Alyssa said and their father laughed as he embraced his daughter warmly.

"Well, you certainly managed that," He said fondly. "I've missed you both very much."

"We've missed you as well father," Artys said, and his father gave him an embrace as well. Artys smiled, it truly had been far too long since their family was together.

That night, the Arryns dined together in the Small Hall, within the Tower of the Hand. Alyssa smiled as she looked around the familiar room, and at her family who sat around her at the high table.

"Are you going to joust in the tourney, Artys?" Little Robert asked, looking at his older brother with wide eyes.

"Yes," Artys said, not looking at him. "I plan to. Are you going to watch?"

"Of course he isn't," Lady Lysa snapped, shooting Artys a cold glare. "Sweetrobin is far too young to watch such things."

"I think the little prince Tommen watches tourneys," Alyssa said mildly, trying to defuse the situation. "Mayhaps Robert could only watch the very start, lady Lysa, that way he'd be able to see Artys in his armour. I'd be glad to sit with him."

Lysa did not look happy about that, but her father looked thoughtful as he cut his meat. "There would be no harm in letting the boy see the knights and lords at the start of the tourney, and Alyssa would keep him safe." Her father said, smiling at her. "And Robert would enjoy it, wouldn't you son?"

Robert perked up and beamed at his father and sister. "Oh yes!" He said. "I would, oh please mother say that I can go."

Lysa looked between her son, her husband and Alyssa for a moment, and Alyssa wondered what she would do. The woman hadn't been pleased by her suggestion, but on the other hand she hated to tell Robert no.

"Oh, very well," Lysa relented, looking like she'd just tasted something awful. "You may watch, Sweetrobin." Lysa then turned to Alyssa, her eyes as cold as ice. "You'll ensure he only watches the start though, Alyssa. I don't want him frightened."

"Of course, lady Lysa." Alyssa responded, smiling sweetly at her father's wife. "Robert will be fine, I promise."

Her twin caught her eye then, and he gave her a smile. She knew he'd be pleased by her handling of Lysa, but Alyssa was mostly just relieved that she'd saved the family dinner from going downhill.

The rest of the meal was quiet, and afterward Alyssa volunteered to take Robert up to bed. She'd missed her little brother, despite how spoiled he acted sometimes, and she wanted to spend some time with him.

"That's a lovely idea, Alyssa," Her father said, smiling approvingly.

Lysa looked unhappy but she said nothing, so Alyssa turned to Robert and held out her arms and he allowed her to scoop him up. For a boy of five, he was so small that he was easy to carry. Alyssa knew that she shouldn't encourage Robert's childish behaviour, but just this once she'd let it pass.

"Come on sweetling," She said as she carried him out of the room. "If you like, I'll tell you a story." She added, and her little brother smiled up at her.

"Really, Alyssa? One about knights and dragons?" He asked eagerly, and she nodded, chuckling.

"Yes," She said. "One about knights and dragons."

Robert was an innocent, she thought as she tucked him into bed and began the story, and despite the tension in the Arryn household Alyssa found that she was more than happy to be back in King's Landing. She'd protect her family, she thought, and she'd keep them together, because otherwise, how could their house endure?