THE DARLING OF THE VALE

Denys Arryn stood in the practice yard watching Ned and Robert trade blows. It had been a long night full of wine and celebration. As usual the future Lord of Storms End celebrated harder than the rest. It was surprising to Denys how much Robert could drink himself under and yet be awake and ready for a good sparring after only a few hours. Ned, on the other hand, did not share his friends constitution. The Lordling was having a hard time keeping up with Robert and it was obvious to all that a long hard night of drink had taken its toll.

"Oh come now Ned," Robert spat as he easily relieved the young Stark of his sword. "You cannot tell me that one night in your cups and you are as useful as a babe on its name day."

Ned stood with his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"That is the last time - you will convince me - to drink as much as I did."

"Oh, so you're trying to blame it on me now," Robert bellowed in a laugh that caused his entire body to shake. "It's not my fault that you cannot handle both your drink and your weapons."

"Shut up Robert."

"I know that it can't be a Stark thing either. I mean Brandon can drink himself silly and still beat a man's ass into the ground."

The mere mention of his older brother caused a change in Ned. He reached down for the sword and charged Robert with all his might. Catching the Baratheon boy off guard, he fell to the ground with a resounding thud. Both men lay momentarily stunned on the ruddy, mud fueled earth before both broke into fits of laughter. Denys smiled at the sight. Being Ned's friend since he was a small child, Robert always knew the right buttons to push to light a fire in his friend. The ever quiet Ned lived in the shadow of Brandon. The heir to Winterfell was everything Ned was not and there wasn't a day that went by that someone did not remind him of it. He felt sorry for the lad in that way. Ned was a fine man, a great leader in his own way, and yet, he would forever be cast aside for someone whose behavior reeked of spoilt immaturity over the crime of coming forth second from his mother's womb.

"Copper for your thoughts, cousin," came an all to familiar voice from behind him.

Denys turned around, slightly startled.

"You really need to know to not sneak up on a man like that Elbert. If I were armed, one may have lost his head."

Elbert only laughed, "I'd love to see the day when you of all people could catch me off guard."

"What do you want?" Denys asked turning to his cousin, a look of annoyance across his face.

"What do you think?"

"A full day has yet to pass and you come to me looking for answers. Our Lord Uncle is busy tending to matters of the Vale. It is highly doubtful that I would even be able to see him this day, let alone this week. We only spoke of this matter last night, I see not the reason for such urgency."

"You truly are thick, aren't you?"

Denys smiled wryly,"Keep calling me thick and you will have to find yourself another go between."

"Oh, don't take things so personally."

"Need I remind you that it is my own reputation and good standing with Lord Jon you are asking me to risk, dear cousin. not to mention its going to take time to find someone that can be trusted with such a task. If we are to be sending in spies, we need to make sure that they are up to the task."

"Oh, I can think of one person in particular, dear cousin, who would be more than amiable."

Denys stared at Elbert in a moment of confusion before the realization began to slowly dawn on him.

"You are insane."

Elbert grabbed his cousin by the shoulders, "He is everything we need, Denys. He's loyal, trustworthy, and bound by honor."

"Lord Jon has plans for him. And besides, he doesn't know the first thing about politics. If we send him to Kings Landing, he will get eaten alive."

"Do you really think being married to one of your sisters would do him any better? And you know as well as I do that Lord Jon favors him. Whose to say that he won't pass us over to give him the Eyrie?"

"Is that what this is? You are afraid of losing you're position as Heir to the Vale? Are so so frightened that you are willing to throw a boy to the wolves? If this is your line of thinking, cousin, I want no part of it."

Denys turned back to Robert and Ned, his face a mirror of irritation flashed across his face.

"Robert, Ned, that's enough for one day. Head on up to the castle and go break your fast."

The men nodded as Ned helped Robert up. Laughing they threw down their tourney swords and headed back towards the castle.

"I will not allow it, Elbert. Neither will Lord Jon. If you want me to go along with your plan, you find someone else."

"Denys -"

"I mean it, cousin. I will support this ridiculous plan of yours on one and one condition only: we leaved Ned Stark out of it."

Having said that Denys turned his back on his cousin and walked away.