THE KEEPER OF THE GATES

The sound of bawdy songs and tawdry whores greeted them as they walked inside.

The three of them had endured a long day in the training yard and were in dire need of some relaxation. As he pointed to an empty table at a nearby corner he took a good look at his companions. Both boys, in his eyes, but men grown to the rest of the world. He remembered the day when they had first come to the Eyrie. They were children, not much older than his own son was now. Fresh faced and wide eyed the little lordlings had never known life beyond the walls of their homes. And yet they had been fostered away to one of the most remote places in all of the realm. Wards of his uncle, Jon Arryn, Lord of Eyrie and Warden of the East. He was not yet old enough to be considered a man grown himself when they arrived, and so he became their good friend. They looked to him with all the enthusiasm that a child would look upon an older peer and he was protective of them as if they were his own brothers. Now, years later, that relationship had little changed. Despite being a married man with a child of his own, Ser Denys Arryn still looked upon these two men with him as the boys they had been when they were still children. A right combination of curiosity and mischief about them both. Although, if he had to be honest, one was more mischievous while the other was more curious.

Robert Baratheon, the elder of the two, liked a good fight, a hearty drink, a willing wench – and little else. Despite being the rightful Lord of Storms End, Robert liked little of the politics that came with his position and more of its spoils. This often led him to make brash, reckless decisions with little forethought or care for the consequences. Having already fathered a bastard, Robert was notorious for playing with his cock more than his weapons leading him to gain a rather lecherous reputation. This was a bit of an embarrassment to his uncle Lord Jon, who had done his best to try and instill a sense of honor and duty into the young man who had gained lordship after the death of his father Lord Steffon Baratheon.

Ned Stark, the younger of the two, had a more inherent maturity. While he loved a good fight and could drink Robert well into his cups, Ned had a sense of honor that caused him to be slightly more pragmatic than his longtime friend. The second son of Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, Ned didn't stand to inherit the lordships or the duties that came with the title as Robert had. So while he would never have to deal with the types of politics and decision making than came with being a lord, he was much better suited for it. Rarely did Ned make a reckless decision (and all the ones he had were the result of a situation that Robert had pulled him into). He took the time to carefully think his actions through, weighing the consequences before he would move forward. It was a quality that Lord Jon greatly admired and one of the reasons why he was attempting to broker with Lord Rickard a marriage between Ned and one of Denys' sisters. He had suspected primarily to bring Ned into the Arryn line of succession.

Denys knew as well as anyone that being Arryn brought with it a sense of misfortune. Tragedy seemed to befall their family in all manners. His Uncle alone had lost two wives and bore no children, leaving the heir to House Arryn in the hands of his cousin Elbert, with Denys being named Elbert's heir until such time as he produced a son. And while Denys himself had a son, there were no male heirs after him, meaning the fate of House Arryn in the hands of Denys' sisters. Since they could not rule the Eyrie, the control would fall into the hands of their husbands (and later to their sons), so it was important for Lord Jon to make matches for them with honorable men who would not exploit them or their power for their own means. Neither Denys, nor his cousin, felt at all slighted by this. Their Uncle was just being practical and cautious given their family history. And if anything befell him or any of the male line of House Arryn, Denys felt comfort in knowing that it would fall into the capable hands of a man like Ned.

It was the way of the world and he would be an idiot to protest it. House Arryn has been around since the time of the Andals and House Stark can trace its lineage back to the time of The First Men. The joining of these two ancient noble houses was something to be celebrated. As his Uncle always says, only the petty allow individual jealousy to get in the way of the needs of their family. Denys tended to agree. Family first. It was the honorable thing to do and was the antithesis of their words: As High as Honor. Although Ned was largely unaware of the negotiations that were currently going on between Lord Jon and Lord Rickard, Denys knew that the boy thought of Jon as a second father, and would be honored to become a member of his family. While it was not uncommon to be discreet in manners of marriage contracts, both Lords knew that news of the possibility of joining two ancient houses could potentially be considered a consolidation of power to some of the more paranoid lesser noble houses who would try to make moves to prevent such a union. It was only logical to Denys for them to keep quiet until an official announcement was made to protect both Ned and his sister.

As Denys watched Robert's eyes narrow to a particularly buxom blonde woman with a sly grin and loose hips, Ned took a seat at the table, talking to the tavern wench about their drinks. The level of discomfort on the young man's face made Denys cringe. Ned was rather shy when it came to the opposite sex and his stalwart sense of honor made it almost impossible for him to seek the simple pleasures of a woman for even a night. Robert teased Ned relentlessly for it making the young man even more shy and self-conscious than he already was.

"There will be time to quench to quench that thirst later Robert," Denys said as he patted him on the back and led him to their table. "Why don't you sit with Ned while I rough up some ale?"

Denys could see Robert wanted to protest. However, taking one solemn look back at Ned, Robert relented.

"Aye, the night is young. And so am I," Robert replied as he went to take a seat near his friend.

Denys made his way to the bar fetching three pints of the best ale in the Eyrie. He had reached to pay when a hand came out from behind to stop him. He turned to see his cousin, Elbert, who took the liberty to pay for him. Denys said nothing until the barkeep was out of earshot.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he gave two drinks to a nearby wench and pointed her over to where Ned and Robert sat. Denys knew that his cousin didn't like to come to these establishments of his own free will as he enjoyed partaking in such activities in more private quarter. His presence was disconcerting. The fact that he had paid for a round made it alarming.

"We have had word back from King's Landing. A member of the Kingsgaurd has died."

"Who?" Denys said as he quickly took a swig of ale.

"Grandison."

"Not unexpected," Denys said with confusion. "The man was ancient."

"Ancient. Aye. Unexpected. Not. However, timing and circumstance are suspect, dear cousin."

"How did he die?"

"In his bed."

"The man was quite old Elbert, dying in his bed isn't a cause for alarm. In fact, given his position I would say it was a blessing."

Elbert paused before taking a look around, stopping briefly to to spy at Ned who was trying to fend off a rather buxom wench that Robert had sent in his direction.

"Rumor has it that he was spied with the prince and three fellow members of the Kingsguard stalking about the castle the night before he died -

"Prince Rhaegar is next in line for the throne it is not uncommon to see that he is protected."

Elbert looked to Denys exasperated, "I swear sometimes you are unbelievably thick. Please let me finish before you speak further."

Denys nodded.

"He was spotted with the Prince and three fellow members of the Kingsguard stalking about the castle the night before he died at a rather late hour. Late enough so that there were few eyes to spy them but not late enough where it would be considered normal to be walking about at that hour. It is believed that the Prince was off to meet with someone."

"Who?"

"No one knows for certain. But it has been rumored that a Wolf had come down from Winterfell to visit the Merman of White Harbor. Both men left shortly after for parts unknown. It was said that a ship from White Harbor was docked in the ports off Kings Landing for the better part of a week and set sail shortly after Grandison's demise."

Denys shot a quick glance at Ned before turning his attention back to Elbert.

"The Lord of Winterfell is not someone who can just blend in. Neither is Manderly for that matter. What you are suggesting is impossible without Aerys being aware of it. Especially with that spider of his spinning webs about the Keep."

"He could, if he was there at the Prince's behest. Aerys isn't the only one with spies, Rhaegar has webs of his own."

Denys' patience with Elbert was wearing thin. He had come to drink away his troubles not be overloaded with new ones, "And for what reason would Prince Rhaegar have to meet with the Warden of North in secret?"

"Therein lies the question, cousin. The North, while expansive and underpopulated, is a seat of power. Ancient power. The Starks are long respected by many, and not just in the North. Should Lord Stark calls his banners for a cause, many others will follow."

"And what cause would that be?"

"Rebellion," Elbert whispered softly.

Denys sat his drink down and pulled his cousin by the collar to a desolate and empty space near the corner of the tavern.

"Are you mad?" he stated in hushed terror. "You should know not to speak of such things here. While he may be holed up in his castle, Aerys reach is wide and well known. What would make you even suggest such treason?"

"I am not the only one thinking it. There are whispers all over the realm of Aerys continued madness. The man is beginning to be more unhinged as time passes. There are many who think and want Rhaegar to take his place. Aerys, however, is not a man to abdicate. Force may be the only way to take him off the throne."

Denys threw up his hands in frustration.

"Don't pretend as this is the first time you have thought of such a thing, cousin. You know as well as I that if it were to come to it, Lord Jon would throw the banners of the Vale behind the Starks. We would have no choice but to follow his lead."

"Why did you bring this to me? Now? Could you not wait until we were back at the Castle?"

Elbert only shook his head,"As you said cousin, Aerys reached is far and wide. And it is better to be in a place where our conversation is less likely to be heard and better off excused as drunken misadventure should it be. Besides talk of Rebellion is only part of the reason for my visit."

"I fear to ask about the other."

"As I mentioned, Grandison died. And given his possible activities the night prior to his death, it is unlikely it was of old age. While I cannot begin to fathom how or by whom, all I can state is that there is now a position open on the Kingsguard. One that the spider has been urging the King to fill sooner rather than later. Even if it means bypassing the custom time of waiting."

"I am venture to guess he wishes to put someone loyal to himself in that position of power. If Rhaegar is planning what you propose he may be planning he would need proof. Going by Grandison's word alone wouldn't be enough. The man was old and it wouldn't be too far to suggest that he was ill informed of such tidings. What does this have to do with us."

"As I mentioned earlier. Ancient houses are powerful. The Arryn's are one of the few families who can trace their lineage back to Andal invasion of Westeros. Our words have meaning. So should Lord Jon be persuaded to make a suggestion for who might fill such a seat. And to do so in a grand spectacle as to deliver such a suggestion to the King himself it would be in His Majesties dishonor to refuse to take it under advisement."

"We are going to put our own man on the inside. Beat the spider at his own game." Denys was intrigued. "If I were to take your word cousin, I would assume that you were more involved in this situation than your conversation earlier suggested."

Elbert could only give a slight grin, "I have suggestions in mind, but you know how Lord Jon frowns on my extramarital activities. He would be more willing to be broached about such subject from someone of a sounder mind and reputation than myself."

"You want me to do your dirty work?"

Elbert's grin got only wider, "That my dear cousin, is what family is for."