AN: Nothing you recognise is mine. Mostly it belongs to GRRM. Apologies for any mistakes regarding form, but I think I got practically everything.

TRIGGERS: Off-screen premeditated murder, awareness of this premeditated murder and relief/happiness when they learn about the murder taking effect. Mentions of illness related to pregnancy, pregnancy, and birth (off-screen). Mentions of stillbirth and mother's death in childbirth. Mentions of security risks during a trip, mentions of threats of bodily harm (not terribly explicit). Mentions of the inherent threats of travelling. Mentions of woman giving birth without the husband. The fact that women's thoughts do not hold as much weight as men's. Smallest mention of War and an attack. Overall, not a very interesting chapter with few triggers.

Abuse of random capitalization of letters, but I'm too lazy to fix it. Oh, and I've just realized that some of the kids (Tommen, Myrcella, Bran, Shireen) ages are not technically accurate, but to be quite honest, I don't care and am going to just role with it.

I think that's all.

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Visiting the Vale (part 2)

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Lysa was talking with the most matronly of her personal maids when news of the return of her uncle Brynden reached her. He had not stayed long after the welcoming feast to the Eyre, instead asking her Lord husband for leave to wander around the Vale lands. Jon had kindly granted it, and uncle Brynden had kissed Lysa on the cheek and told her that he might be back in two moons, maybe two and a half. Lysa had felt some surprise that it took so long to reach the Fingers until her uncle told her that visiting some of the lands here and there before coming back was less suspicious than reaching the Fingers in four days, taking care of businesses and coming back. She appreciated his explanation, and with a soft kiss on the cheek and a red and blue favour tied to her uncle's arm, she saw him go away the next day.

Now, almost three moons later, uncle Brynden was coming back and she had some news to share with him. She went to the small courtyard to welcome him with a hug, even when he complained about smelling like horses and poor hygiene. Lysa's stomach mostly agreed with him, but she didn't care. Among the letters that had reached the Eyre since Uncle Brynden was gone, two held significant meaning to Lysa. The first one had come after two and a half weeks, speaking of an illness that had gripped Lord Baelish. The second one had arrived a week after that and talked about the maester's best work failing to bring Lord Baelish back to health, and the sad passing of the Lord and who should now take the title, since Lord Baelish had no other relatives from his paternal side of the family.

Lysa had felt both guilty and relieved to hear the news when her husband had called her into his solar to share the letter with her. After the first letter, she had been expecting something like that, and had wisely prepared herself to maintain her composure and beg to be excused into her rooms after hearing the news. Once there, her tears had run down her face while she sobbed one moment and laughed the next. She had not been able to pinpoint the feelings that were running though her, only that there were a lot and that she didn't hold uncle Brynden accountable for anything. He had done what needed to be done. The next morning, Lysa had woken up and returned to her learning of how the Eyre castle was run, lessons she shared with Sansa, and then both of them had played and sang until they were out of breath.

Speaking of whom, she was in a blue dress running towards uncle Brynden as fast as her little legs could carry her. She didn't stop and instead just jumped towards uncle Brynden's waiting arms with her white cloak blowing behind her like the Arryn sigil. He spun her around while she giggled and chatted excitedly about everything that had happened while he was away.

"... and mother is expecting another baby!" She said eagerly. Uncle Brynden's eyebrows raised and he looked over at Lysa, who just nodded with a small smile. It seems to have been conceived around Sansa's Feast, so Lysa was now five moons along.

Lysa called for some servants to take care of uncle Brynden and his knight (who had rapidly been introduced as Bronn)'s horses, and then she showed them the rooms she had had prepared. Lord Arryn sent word that he was quite busy and would greet uncle Brynden later in the main hall with the evening meal.

When they saw each other again, uncle Brynden asked her about her pregnancy and how she was feeling. Being committed to a life of singleness, uncle Brynden had very little experience with pregnant women except, many years past, Lysa's mother Minisa, who had difficult times with the pregnancies and at least 3 babies born dead, the last of which took her to the grave with him.

Lysa eased her uncle's worries and told him that she felt quite well, all said and done, and so far the pregnancy had been one of the easiest ones she had had. One of her maids had suggested it was perhaps due to the cleaner air and water of the Eyre, but this guess was hard to confirm. When Lysa had shared that comment with her husband, after telling him of her pregnancy, he had thought about it for a minute before asking her if she would be opposed to them spending the rest of her pregnancy in the Vale, and maybe some extra time after the baby had been born. "After all" he had said "It might be the next Lord of the Vale, and it will be good for him to be born in the castle he will one day rule. " Lysa cared very little for the place as long as the baby was born healthy and he remained alive until he was at least able to meet his own grandchildren.

Uncle Brynden had then asked her if that was the reason why they had remained in the Vale for longer and how had the King taken the news. Lysa confirmed that she would remain in the Vale for at least another half year, so the baby would be born and grow a bit before moving back to King's Landing. Lord Arryn had decided that unless a war or a pandemic broke out in the Realm, he would similarly remain in the Vale until this baby was born, and then return to the capital. This time will serve her husband to review the Vale bureaucracy and laws and make them more self-sufficient and easier to govern from away.

King Robert had not been happy with the decision, but since his brother Lord Stannis had proved to be a sensible Hand, King Robert had decided to grant this petition to Lord Arryn. And so, when Lord Jon was not reviewing laws and cases, he took the time to take Sansa and a contingency of soldiers around the Vale, to some of the closer fortresses and keeps. They stayed for some days, never more than a week, got to know the Lord, his family, lands and people, and then they came back to the Eyre. Sansa's general lessons, those that related to the education of noble children, had been paused in order for her to learn about the Eyre and the Vale. When she was in the Eyre, she learned about the building and how to run her own keep or she was taught by the maester about her next visit: name of the House, words and coat of arms, ruling family and their family tree, history, bannermen, how many forces could they call upon, amount of wealth in their hands and the source of that richness, products imported and exported as well as the state of their roads and smallfolk, and if there were specific traditions for that House. Lord Jon had been their Lord Paramount for the longest time and he was well aware of all these details, but he still made approving and impressed noises when Sansa recited the information she had learned. He then quizzed her on the finer points and Sansa was slowly figuring out the intricacies of Vale politics.

At the beginning Lysa expected to feel a bit abandoned when father and daughter went to visit their Lords in their keeps, but surprisingly she was entertained by three things: ruling the Eyre in the absence of her husband, pregnancy's tiredness, and an ever growing amount of correspondence. Lord Arryn had invited her to join them in their excursions, but honestly, Lysa's pregnancy left her feeling tired more often than not and she was not in the habit of riding, especially in this mountainous terrain. As long as Jon promised her to take care of both himself and Sansa, Lysa was quite content to wait for them in the relatively peaceful and warm Eyre. Jon had vowed to keep Sansa safe no matter what, and when Lysa had wondered aloud about the Mountain Clans, he had firmly stated that he would hunt each of its members before allowing one of them to ever look in Sansa's direction. He was making an exemplary coordination effort with the other houses to provide security in the trips, with most times two sets of escorts for their trips. Uncle Brynden and his knight had been offered to join their escorting party for the next trip and, after consulting with Lysa, uncle Brynden had accepted "There is no point in keeping you here with me" Lysa had argued "You will be bored to death watching me write letters and sleep". So he had taken her word and decided to be an extra pair of eyes to ensure Sansa's security.

Lysa used this time by herself to learn how to rule. In King's Landing, in the few cases when Lord Arryn was not available, his duties as Hand of the King didn't fall on his wife, but on the King and the Small Council. Lysa ruled the Arryn's servants in the Tower of the Hand, but the most politics she did was sewing or gossiping sessions with other ladies, and sometimes interceding between squibbling nobles. Here she was Lady of the Vale, and issues were brought to her attention. Not many, and usually not very important, but she did sit to listen to petitions, reviewed judgements, and even issued fines and punishments. She was in these cases supported by the steward, the maester and the castellan of the Eyre (who acted as Lord when neither the Lord or Lady of the Vale were present and ensured that the Lord's will and orders were followed). She felt a powerful woman, and although she often ended quite tired after these sessions, she appreciated her husband more for allowing her to rule in his name and stead, to give her the power to rule.

Her days usually started a bit early, when she was awakened by her hungry stomach. She broke her fast, washed and dressed and reviewed some of the cases that would be brought to her attention that day. Most often than not, when she finished listening to petitions it was time for the midday meal, and then she tended to feel sleepy and let herself nap in her rooms for a time before awakening and requiring some fruit while she reviewed some aspect or other of the Eyre's domestic works. The castle had been working without a Lady's touch for some years, and although it was appreciated, it was not necessary and more often than not these meetings were finished early. She took the time to visit each corner of the Eyre, including the Sept. She rarely prayed these days, except for the services once a sevenight, but she did sit and pray for a good pregnancy and a strong baby who would live healthily to meet many of its descendants, a good sibling to Sansa. She then took herself to her rooms and started to answer back the letters that messengers and ravens had brought.

When news had reached the Court of the trip the Arryn's planned to make to the Vale, many of the Houses had decided that their time in King's Landing had been a learning enriching experience, but it was time to go back home. They used the opportunity to make a safe and less expensive trip back to their lands, and now many of the ladies Lysa was used to socialising with at Court were in close proximity to her and wrote to her regularly. For every sewing session she didn't have to host now, Lysa received three letters. They were full of gossip and news, so she felt quite happy to read them at her leisure before going to sleep and answering them the next day. Lysa felt she had a net of friendly acquaintances among the Vale ladies. Not terribly close, but very dependable. And although she sometimes missed the immediate responses of a conversation, she also appreciated the opportunity to take naps and be able to rest quite often, which was not so easy while in Court.

The Valewomen who had remained in the capitol let her know in their letters that they were quite bored, for King's Landing was, as they said, "depleted of Vale birds" and the Queen was not bothered to host them often and Lady Selyse, the wife of the Acting Hand of the King, was not known for her levity or humour. They, therefore, anxiously awaited the return of their Vale Lady, but they also understood that her pregnancy was a delicate issue and they all let her know they prayed for her safe pregnancy and delivery.

Speaking of the pregnancy, Lysa had started feeling anxious and had visited and decided to redo the Eyre's nursery. She had called merchants and viewed their textiles, ordered the furniture in the nursery to be re-organized three times and started singing lullabies at random times. Lysa had heard the gossip saying that it was good that "the Falcon Lady was nesting", but she found the term quite adequate.

Finally, the birth's day came. Similarly to Sansa's birth, she was seated while observing the birds when her water broke. She called the servants and sent Sansa to her Septa. She had already done this process two times, and she was cautiously hopeful for a good outcome. After half a day, she was blessed with a boy with strong screaming lungs that quietened when he rested his head to her heart. Lord Arryn came a bit later to the chamber and kissed her in the forehead before doing the same with baby Arryn.

"How shall we name him?" he asked. Lysa was not surprised that he was aware of the gender. News of this type flew fast. Nevertheless, she appreciated that he was willing to hear her thought on the naming and rearing of their children.

"My sister Cat has a son named Robb that must be now 10 years old. I was thinking we could name ours after the King and Cat's boy, so that they both lend him their strength. I know it's not an Arryn name, but…"

"Say no more. I think the King will be honoured. And no one could say a word against it" Lord Arryn said. Then, he stroked the baby's forehead. Sansa and her Septa were shown to the room in that moment and he stood up to pick her up and introduce her to her new brother.

"Sansa, this is Robert Arryn"

Sansa's smile could light up the sky at night. She kissed her mother on the cheek and then moved her hand as if to touch her brother, but in the last moment she slowed and with a feather touch she caressed the baby's cheek.

"Hello Robin. I'm Sansa, and I'm going to be the best older sister ever"

Lysa's heart was ready to burst, but at the moment she just cried big silent tears of joy and overwhelming feelings and love.

Some days later, they sent a formal announcement to the other Kingdoms. In addition, Lysa sent a letter to Cat to ask her about baby Brandon and tips on how raising boys differed from raising girls and expressing her excitement about the cousins being of an age.

Two days later, a murder of crows arrived at the Eyre's rookery. The Iron Islands had declared their independence and attacked Lannisport. The Realm was at war. Lord Arryn was required to return to King's Landing and rule the Realm while the King and his master of Ships engaged in the war.

In a deep, dark corner of her mind, Lysa couldn't help but think that Jon had jinxed it with his careless remark. She hoped the Gods would only take one of the options and not both.

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