It had all gone wrong. She had finally just gotten rid of the old lout when her Sweetrobin changed. Was it possible that he suspected that he knew? No, of course not her Petyr was too smart to let it slip. But then what had changed? Even giving him extra sweetmilk did little to help my little boy see reason.
But that did not deter her, no it did not. She would see sweetrobin become stronger and smarter than any of her hated sisters northern barbarian get. All that he needed was his mothers milk for that would surely make him strong of muscle. Unfortunately her increasingly petulant son refused to be weaned. And even her guards would not force him to suck on my teat
Useless idiots the lot of them. She would be sure to throw them out the moondoor when her son came back to her. And it was those very same useless idiots beside her right now as she ate dinner with her son and uncle. An uncle that as of two days ago was just as cold to her as Sweetrobin. Oh how he would regret the way he was treating her.
"My sweet, who are we waiting for?" Her son barely acknowledged her "Lord and Lady Waynwood as well as cousin Harry are the first arrived to pay their respects" "Cousin Harry" she fought hard to keep a grimace off her face. A battle which she did not win "Mother if you have something to say, Say it" Her face reddened at the confrontation "The Waynwoods and "Cousin Harry" are a pack of grasping usurpers trying to steal your birthright, And you are not to meet with them"
The words flew freely from her mouth and Sweetrobin moved to speak only to be interrupted her uncle "Robert is lord of the Vale now and you will speak to him as such" That traitor! Lysa had half a mind to set her guards on him but alas no one could claim Lysa Tully to be impatient instead, she would gain her vengeance another time.
It was at that moment the door to the dining room opened and the guard, a common sellsword with a particularly foul tongue Sweetrobin hired on the way up through the riverlands announced the coming of the Waynwoods. Immediately her son's cold glare became a wide smile as he excitedly greeted "Cousin Harry '' catching the Handsome Hardyng off guard. Who does he think he is? Looking the exact image of a young Jon Arryn, is he trying to insinuate something?
"My lord Arryn I-" Sweetrobin cut him off "To family it's Robert" he said with all the joy a six year old can muster earning what seemed like a genuine smile from the traitor but she knew that he was faking it. Hah no one could call Lysa Tully an idiot no one at all.
"Please, sit down My lords and ladys" as he pointed to the seats marked for them and that's when she saw it, the place card for Harrold Hardyng was right next to Sweetrobin. Her Sweetrobin, A distant cousin setting closer to the lord then his own mother!? She would not stand for it, could not stand for it she moved to grab her knife but before she could kill the traitor her uncle placed a hand on her shoulder
"Lysa I think you should go to bed" When did he get over here? She looked up towards Sweetrobin to see the cold stare returning once again she saw Anya Waynwoods slightly heightened brow and Harold's amused look. Her gaze returned to Sweetrobin once again pleading for help only for him to nod towards his Brynden "I think that would be the wise choice uncle"
How could he abandon her even now? Was there really no love left towards his mother in him? No of course not her little Sweetrobin was different. He would not treat her like this. So if not Sweetrobin who was residing in her precious son's skin? And the answer hit her, A demon brought from the seven hells to terrorize her and as a pious woman she knew there was only one thing she could do, Kill the demon.
—-
Anya WaynwoodThe boy was a surprise that was for sure. Oh she heard the tales of the sickly son of the late Lord Arryn (seven rest his soul). still weaned on his mothers breast at the age of 6. But he proved to be a different entity altogether. While it was true he was sickly he also proved surprisingly diplomatic as any true son of Jon Arryn's loins ought to be.
But the even more surprising twist was when he, with the suggestion of his uncle, sent his mother away. She knew not many boys having just lost their father who would be able to do that. All that is to say that the new Lord Arryn was proving surprisingly clever for a 6 year old boy. Even one tutored by the grandmaster himself
But even then she was surprised at this latest move "You see my lady I intend to create a stronger sense of friendship in the Vale by fostering the next lords of the Vale at the Eyrie. Like how my father fostered Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon" In truth the idea was incredibly appealing given what those two later did together in life. And having a member of her family become close friends to the lord of the Vale was always a plus
However she could not help but wonder who put the boy up to this. It seemed much too clever by half to be Nestor's. And judging by his frosty relationship with his mother Littlefinger was no longer pulling the strings. She sent an evaluating glance to Ser Brynden, she had never thought him to be an apt player until now. But it seemed he had the little lord of the Vale wrapped around his finger
"That's why I hope to foster Lord Rolland's son Jasper at the Eyrie" She mulled it over before asking her final question "And what other lord's sons do you hope to foster at the Eyrie" The little lord took a deep breath before answering. "Mychel Redfort, Elbert Belmore, Gerold Templeton, Willam Royce, Gyles Grafton and Eustace Melcolm" She shot another approving glance at the Blackfish who looked nonplussed at the insinuation. Alright alright Brynden you fooled me you no longer have to keep up the mummers show.
"I will of course have to Consult Rolland but I think the answer will be a yes" The boy gained a massive grin "well then Lady Waynwood a toast is in order" he raised his small wine goblet "To a united Vale" she raised hers in return "To a united Vale"