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

Author's Note: I know this is a lot quicker than the last update, and I hope that you all enjoy it. Also, I apologise for the shorter length of this one, but I promise that the next chapter will be longer. Please feel free to let me know what you think in a review.

Chapter Eight: The Tourney Begins

In the last few days leading up to the tourney, the Red Keep was a veritable hive of activity. Servants ran in every direction, carrying everything from food supplies to tourney banners, and everywhere Alyssa turned, knights and lords preened, sure that they'd be the one to win the tourney.

Alyssa knew that most young ladies would love this kind of fuss, but she did not. It was all so unnecessary, so over the top that it was almost ridiculous. Of course, the Vale had many tourneys, but none of them were so elaborate as this one. The lords of the Vale were clearly more sensible, and Alyssa was glad of that.

On the morning of the tourney, the Arryns had a rather quiet breakfast. This is partly because Artys, already preparing for the jousting to come, was not present, and partly because Lady Lysa seemed to be in a sullen mood. Robert, sitting beside Alyssa, was the only one not affected by the cold, stiff atmosphere in the room.

"Can we go to the tourney ground now, Alyssa?" Robert asked, practically quivering with excitement. "Oh please, can we?"

Alyssa smiled at her little brother. He'd been so happy since she and Artys had told him the plan that he was to go to the Eyrie. Truly, it seemed that Robert was already leaving the capital's negative effects behind him. "Soon, sweetling," Alyssa promised. "But you must eat your breakfast first. You can't cheer for our brother on an empty stomach, can you?"

"I suppose not," Robert agreed, and he dutifully began to eat his eggs.

"Please remember not to stay too long," Lysa said, speaking for the first time. She shot Alyssa a cold glance, and got a placid one from her in return.

"Of course, my lady," Alyssa said, her voice polite. "I assure you, Robert will see the beginning of the tourney, and no more, just as you asked."

"Good." Lysa snapped, and once again, the room was silent, apart from the scrape of cutlery on fine plates.

Artys Arryn was nervous, and he was not enjoying the sensation. He had never entered a as big as this before, before, and the sheer number of competitors in this one had surprised him. He had thankfully managed to get his armour on time, he mused, but armour was not everything. He had to win this, for his honour, and for his house's honour, but Artys feared that he would fail.

He knew that Alyssa would tell him not to worry. His twin had always been so kind, so gentle and positive, he sometimes wished that he could be more like that. Lys would make a good queen, he thought as he as his squire fastened on his armour, she'd care for the people, and that is more than can be said for most queens.

"Ready for the jousts, Ser Artys?" Asked a voice from the mouth of his tourney tent. Artys looked up, and found the Knight of Flowers looking in at him, looking very smug in armour that was more jewels than anything truly useful.

"A certain amount of wariness is sensible, Ser Loras, as I'm sure you have released," Artys said calmly. "And may I ask why you are here? You should be preparing yourself for your first pout."

"I am more than prepared, have not fear. I simply came to wish you good fortune, Ser. I hope that we will have our long awaited rematch on the field."

With that, the young knight strode off, and Artys scowled to himself. That Tyrell boy was hotheaded, and far too smug. To the seven hells with his nerves, Artys thought, he would win this tourney, and he'd knock that fool's confidence whilst he did it. Smiling grimly, he continued to get ready for the tourney, his jaw set with pure determination.

"Oh! Look, it's so exciting!" Robert babbled. "Look at all those knights, Alyssa! Don't they look just like the ones in the stories?"

Alyssa smiled indulgently, pleased by her little brother's excitement. "Yes, they do, don't they? Are you excited to see our brother?"

"Oh yes!" Robert beamed, his gaze on the knights on the field. "I am, and when he wins, he'll be just like the Winged Knight!"

Alyssa smiled at that. Robert truly was an innocent, she thought, and she was glad that he'd be moving back to the Eyrie with her and Artys.

"Oh look!" Robert cried suddenly, looking delighted. "There he is, Alyssa, there's Artys!"

Alyssa looked to where Robert's gaze was fixed and saw that indeed, Artys was there, in his new armour. It was shining silver, and the helm, which he was just then putting on, was shaped like the head of a falcon. The beak formed Artys's visor, and the falcon's eyes were made from two glittering blue stones.

Alyssa turned to Robert, who was staring in awe at their brother. "Oh, he has to win," He said. "Look how shiny his armour is. Alyssa, he will win, won't he?"

"I think so," Alyssa said. "He looks very steady on his horse, so let us hope that he wins."

Robert nodded happily. "Can I stay and watch?" He asked her hopefully.

"No, sweetling you know you cannot. Your lady mother said so."

"But I want to watch!" Robert protested, tears forming in his eyes. "I want to see Artys win!"

"I know," Alyssa said, trying to sooth him. "But you can't, Robert, I'm sorry. Your mother would be very angry if I let you, you don't want her to be angry with me, do you?"

"No..." Robert said slowly. "But Artys...he's going to win, and I won't see it."

"I will tell you all about what happens tonight," Alyssa promised. "It can be your bedtime story, does that sound all right?"

"All right," Robert sighed after a few minutes. "I'll go, as long as you promise to tell me everything."

"I promise," Alyssa said, and with that, Elyse came to take Robert back up to the Red Keep.

A short while later, Elyse rejoined Alyssa to watch the jousting unfold. She looked thoughtful, Alyssa thought, glancing at her, and a little pleased as well.

"Is Robert settled?" She asked her friend quietly as two hedge knights faced each other on the field.

"Yes, my lady, I made sure of it. He was quite upset that he had to leave though."

"That's his mother's doing," Alyssa sighed. "And anyway, knights get hurt in tourneys, I don't want him to see that either."

"You're very good with him," Elyse said, looking over at her. "He'll be fine with you in the Eyrie. The child needs time away from here, the capital is no place for any child so young."

Alyssa considered this for a moment. Elyse was right, she thought, the capital was a viper's nest, and no child, especially not an Arryn child, should be made to grow up here. "Sometimes, I think you may be the wisest person I know," She told her friend.

"My lady, you are too kind," Elyse responded, but she smiled, and Alyssa knew that she was quietly pleased.

Just then, one of the knights was knocked from his horse, and the crowd applauded. Alyssa politely clapped as well, and for the next hour, she and Elyse watched the matches with little interest.

Finally, after what seemed like far too long, Artys's first match begun. He was riding against Ser Arys Oakheart of the Kingsguard and Alyssa watched on anxiously as the two knights bowed to the royal box before heading to their respective sides of the field.

"Do you think he can win?" She asked, looking at Elyse.

"Oh, yes I think so. Arys Oakheart is skilled, yes, but I believe that white cloak of his makes him a little too confident."

"Truly?" Alyssa asked, and her handmaiden nodded seriously. Alyssa watched as her twin and the Oakheart knight rode towards each other. Artys's lance was raised, and as the horses passed, it struck Arys Oakheart's shield and shattered, while the other's lance missed Artys entirely.

"A good first pass," Alyssa murmured, as the knights returned for new lances. "Let us hope that he can do it again."

"Indeed," Elyse answered, and as Alyssa watched, Artys took a new lance from his squire and began riding for his opponent at top speed. This time, Oakheart managed to hit Artys's shield, but Artys, who had changed the angle of his own lance at the last possible moment, struck him in the chest. The lance shattered, and Arys tumbled backwards, falling from the horse onto the ground with a loud crash. Alyssa and the crowd cheered, as Artys made a slow lap of the arena.

"Oh, thank the gods," Alyssa whispered, clearly relieved by the outcome of the match. "I wasn't sure that he would manage that."

"You see," Elyse smiled at her. "I told you that your brother would win, didn't I?"

"You did," Alyssa agreed. "Now, let us see how he fares in the rest of his jousts, shall we?"

"As you wish." Elyse murmured, and the two friends smiled, settling back in their seats to watch the rest of the tourney.