(Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire nor its characters. Those all belong to George R. R. Martin, aside from my OC.)


(Ironoaks, the Vale)

An exhausted Anya Waynwood sat within her solar.

Irritation was visible on her face, her eyes bloodshot from a lack of sleep. Ever since the King had declared that his bastard by Lysa would inherit the Vale, she had been both furious and ecstatic.

More the former rather than the latter.

She had hoped that she would be able to use the subsequent outrage coming from that decision to rally support for Harrold.

That came undone once she realised that a significant portion of those she hoped to rely on was either dead, too young, or too loyal to the blasted King.

Not to mention the significant amount of bastards that now ruled. 'Bastards surround me from all sides.' The thought ran through her mind.

She had hoped that Harrold would show some signs of being a true Arryn, he had the looks and pride at least.

Unfortunately, her cousin had managed to fuck that up.

She knew Arryns tended to be too proud, as one of the purest Andal lines in Westeros, it was to be expected. Jon Arryn had been just as proud during his younger years, though that had been tempered by marriage and age.

Harrold had managed to offend quite a few Valemen when he loudly complained about the looks of a lord in comparison to his wife.

"How can that horse-faced drunk be wed to such a dainty flower." were his exact words. The Hunter heir was not pleased.

This was only days after she had gotten news that her son Donnel was killed in a tragic hunting accident. It was during the funeral that Harrold had managed to offend the Hunter heir, who had been passing by and wanted to give his condolences when he had gotten word of the funeral.

He and his posse had swiftly left shortly after. The apologies she spared him doing nothing to still his anger.

It was a complete mess. An unavoidable one at that.

Ever since Erlend had completed his projects within the Riverlands and secured his borders, he had been focusing his attention on the rest of Westeros, particularly the Vale, which he declared that his bastard son would inherit.

Predictably, there was some outrage at that. Which she used to elevate Harrold's position, but it was far smaller than she had expected.

The combination of the loyalty many Vale Lords held to Erlend, Royce's support, and the several legitimised bastards who owed their positions to him gave him more than enough leverage to secure his natural-born son's position as heir.

There were also those blasted 'Gentry' who couldn't be ignored. 'Military' Men' they called themselves. Having gained much power from marrying into landed widows and heiresses.

Thankfully Essos had been causing quite a fuss. Something she took immediate advantage of as Erlend turned his focus from the Vale.

She had gotten an interesting offer from both Pentos and Braavos.

Gold she could use to bribe the greedier Lords to her side and promises of martial support should she raise an army against Erlend.

Of course, she wasn't stupid enough to take it, she didn't want Ironoaks to follow Pyke. Instead, the offer changed from open rebellion to quietly destabilising the Mudd's position in the Vale.

The Bastard being heir had been a somewhat valid cause she could have used, but the Royces blocked her at every turn. Both Nestor and Yohn refused to budge an inch on the matter.

With that failing, she decided to use the Mountain Clans instead, bringing up the fact that Erlend had been late to suppress the rebellion and that it was his Uncle Lorimas who had done most of the jobs.

Wanting to cause a divide between the two. That hadn't gone well, Lorimas himself killing the man she set up to take the blame for spreading the news.

It was a bloody affair, one which earned Erlend's amusement if rumors were to be true.

So she jumped on that, painting him as the second coming of Maegor, who took pleasure in the suffering of his subjects.

There was some support for that, the man had wiped out several noble lines in the Greyjoy Incursions after all.

Beyond complaining and muttering no one was willing to voice it loudly. The cowardice they showed was ridiculous.

Still, she persisted, she wanted an Arryn with Waynwood blood reigning over the Eyrie she wanted a Waynwood to reign over the Vale. It wasn't easy for a woman to rule, at least not before the rebellion.

If it wasn't for the support of her Uncle Elys, her distant cousins would likely have forced her to wed one of them to gain control over Ironoaks.

She wanted to repay the man for his support, and what better way than to have his blood ruling the Vale?

Going over the last parchments, she raised her head as a polite knock could be heard on the Solar's Door.

"My Lady, Ser Wallace requests entry." One of the guardsmen said.

"Allow him in." She responded.

The door opened suddenly, letting in her youngest son.

"'What is it, Wallace? Is Harrold acting up again?" She asked.

In a deadpan voice, "I merely wanted to talk Mother." Wallace said.

Raising her eyebrow at his tone, she turned to look at her son. His usually stern eyes looked vacant, almost absent. As if he wasn't there.

"Are you alright Wallace?" concern filled her tone.

She had already lost a son, fearing that her youngest might have caught something.

"I'm perfectly fine, mother." His voice remained impassive.

Genuinely worried for her son, "No… You are not fine, we should take you to the Maester." Anya insisted.

"We are pushing to put Harrold on the High Seat when King Erlend made clear his natural-born son was to be the next Lord." Wallace suddenly pointed out, taking her by surprise.

Flustered by the sudden statement, "A bastard cannot reign over us." Anya said, she had already made this clear to her children before, there was no reason to bring it up again.

"Yet, Harrold would not make for a good Lord."

"His blood is purer."

"His blood is as red as everyone else's."

"That's enough Wallace. You're a grown man, act like it."

"I'm sorry mother, but I must insist on your true reasoning."

Letting out a loud sign, Anya stared at her still vacant-eyed son. "Power… Wallace. Thats the true reason." She said.

"I see." He responded.

"Now, will you go see the Maester?" She demanded.

"I'm perfectly fine mother, I already told you."

Anya frowned at her son's words, Getting up from her seat, she made her way towards him.

He did nothing as she placed her hands on his face, trying to perceive what was wrong with him.

"I'm perfectly fine, mother." He repeated.

Before stepping forward and grabbing the knife by his side.

Faster than she could react, Wallace stabbed her straight to her heart, as she looked at him in shock and horror.

"Standing firm." were his words to her as she crumbled into his arms.

Confused and terrified at the implications of her son's words. The words of House Mudd.

How? When? Why?

His stony eyes remained on hers as he held her close to him.

She wanted to understand what was happening, why did her own son betray her, did he also kill Wallace?

Would her eldest follow her next? What did this all mean?

He stayed there watching her, her eyes beginning to fade while he held her close, the dagger still in his arms.