The Trouble with Ruling (Torin)

[Lena Arryn]

It was very noticeable now that Lena was pregnant, if counted backward the Maester said she would be at six or seven months, it wouldn't be very long now before the babe was brought screaming into the world. But before then it seemed that her swollen belly only served as a reminder of her gender to the lords that served under her, and that meant often enough times that they thought her weak.

Sitting on the high seat just after high noon Lena kept a sigh to her self as she listened to the prattling on of two or so of these lords now. One was complaining of the choice in Luthor's bride now.
"Should we continue to entangle ourselves with the south, what if this rebellion continues on?" The lord went on, Lena couldn't really have been sure but the might have been Luthor's first father-in-law if he'd done right by his oaths and raised his banners when Jon Arryn had called them. He was a man who hadn't supported her father when he rode against the Iron Throne and now a man who wouldn't support her while she stood with it.
"Then we shall continue to support our allies on the Throne until we are no longer able to do so." Lena said calmly. "I see no reason why Lady Redwyne should demonized because she was born further south than you have ridden."
The man seemed to be taken aback. "She is a foreign element in Gulltown our most prominent port!" The lord nearly shouted.
Lena sat up and pinched the bridge of her nose counting to three before speaking. "Forgive me Lord Grafton I must have failed to see the poison she was carrying in hopes of damaging our trade." The Lady of the Vale sat up straighter, a feat that was not to be praised given that she was so heavily pregnant. Lena had heard just about enough of this silly argument and she was very much in need of a lie down. She was just about to dismiss Lord Grafton when he spoke up. "Admit it now, Lady Arryn, you have failed, by climbing in bed with those Lannisters for your shot at your brothers title and by further entrenching us with the southerns who have no business here you have failed this House and the Vale."

Lena paused her blue eyes taking in every inch of the Lord as if she could turn him to stone if she stared hard enough, jaw set tight she returned to her seat and slowly her features softened.
"My Lord Grafton, perhaps you are ill and are in need of some time to rest? I should certainly hope you are because only a fool could honestly believe that by not aligning our selves with the crown and by not opening trade to the south that we have failed." Her voice never raised, but it certainly took on a more demeaning tone. "I have brought an industrious blessing to the Vale and if you so desperately want to return to the days where your Lord suckled at his mother's breast while harpist played I can arrange for you to visit him at the wall." Lena stood again. "You are dismissed Lord Grafton, and if you ever waist the council's time by questioning what I have done for the Vale before my assembly again you shall have your wish to granted to serve under my brother again, though the Black may not suit you as well as you might think."

With that the Lad of the Vale stepped lightly down her stairs pushing away the hands that offered to help her. "We are dismissed for now, we will convene again in the morning."

[Torin Lannister]

Torin Lannister was seated beside his wife, adorned in the red of R'hllor that he was becoming increasingly well known for wearing. Although some would say it was becoming more well known that the red he wore was not for Lannister but for R'hllor. The meeting was terribly boring but his presence was a constant reminder of what supported the current House Arryn leadership, especially during this period were Lena was more vulnerable with her big belly. The situation took a rather amusing twist when Lord Grafton decided to get rather dangerous with his words and outright demanded Lena to admit to failure. Suddenly the Lion in her belly was roaring and she was giving the good Lord a warning. Lord Lannister himself couldn't help but hum 'The Reigns of Castamere' mainly to himself.

When it was all said and done and Lord Grafton (a name Torin had committed to memory) had lost his spine before slinking away like a little rodent Torin arose from his seat. It wasn't as nice as Lena's seat but she was the Lady of the Vale. In Casterly Rock he would sit in a larger chair, and it would be much nicer than the one she had here. But Casterly Rock was much nicer than the Eyrie in general. As they were stepping away he fell into step beside her and offered his arm so that she might take some of the weight off, he did not do so until they were gone from the prying eyes of her loyal supporters and bannermen. It would simply not do to show weakness in front of the supporters, one had to always be mindful of that.

"Another day of that finished." Perhaps Lord Grafton would be accosted by bandits along the road and robbed of all his fine jewels and robes. That wouldn't work either however, it would make it seem like bandits controlled had control on the roads and the Lords were not safe. A weak internal security said little for external security. Torin would be more clever about it. What would Tywin do?

[Lena Arryn]

Lena placed more than just her hand on her husband's offered one when they were away from the eyes of her council, she played almost the entirety of her weight upon him, knowing he could support her and the added weight of what would hopefully be their son.
"Aye another day done, and I grow more and more exhausted as each moment passes." She could sleep for days if she wanted too. It wouldn't be hard to let Luthor take over her hearings while she ate and rested from her pregnancy symptoms.
"The sooner this little one is out of me the better." Lena divulged to her husband. He could see the trouble she had raising from bed in the morning, and the way the trouble she had putting up with his lusts. She had a right mind to ward him off entirely, after all she was not feeling extremely desirable as it was.

"Lord Grafton, hasn't wanted us involved with the southern conficts since I was a girl. I remember my father giving him a verbal undressing in that very same spot, some people never learn." Though the same could be said of her, she had been a girl wearing a toy sword and shield that day, Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark had been sitting near by as well, stern Ned had tried to talk her out of her sword many times, but she never learned. Robert would have quite the laugh when she had insisted upon fighting him. Those two men were the pride of her father, it gave her some comfort to know he hadn't lived long enough to see Robert die unredeemed and Ned die a traitor.

[Torin Lannister]

"He'll be born when he means to be and not much sooner I expect." it would be a glorious day when Torin had his son and the final chain was linked to unite House Lannister with House Arryn. They would be unified and strong and could ride with impunity to harass the Starks and bring the Young Wolf and his dipshit Uncle to the King's Justice. The Seven Kingdoms would celebrate Torin's name and he would proceed to bring the Lord of Light to Westeros until Tywin died and Torin finally came into Casterly Rock and became the most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms. Perhaps the world. Torin Lannister was looking forward to that a great deal indeed.

"So long as the others see his cowardice, that what matters." some would rally behind someone that challenged the ruling power if they had similar interests but a failed effort to throw ones weight around would make that ruling power seem all the more powerful. Grafton just might have done them a boon after all but only time would tell. The corridors were quite, the leather of his boots against the floor put something in the background as they spoke. The servants were quiet as mice today. That was good. Silent and unseen until needed, that was a good servant. The Knights would need action soon though or Lena's serving girls would find many an eager suitor pursuing them with eternal love. Such love only ever lasted until the next morning of course.

[Lena Arryn]

When he means too Lena thought of their soon to be born child. Hopefully he's not as stubborn as his father. If that were the case the child would be able to walk before he decide it was time to be born. Torin's stubbornness was a trait Lena certainly wouldn't stand for, especially not one passed on to her child.

"As long as learns his place I shall be content." The Lady of the Vale spoke of Grafton. "Besides he's a red faced old fool and I don't think he's going to gain any momentum among the other lords." It was Lena's personal opinion that those who couldn't embrace prosperity brought on by furthering their ties with the south would be replaced, not by her threats but by people with enough foresight to accept change.
Despite being a slimy little toad Petyr Baelish was one of the Vale's most forward thinking men- though his line of thought was often to ruthless for Lena's taste. She couldn't imagine the type of filth one had to wade through in Kingslanding while simultaneously running a brothel.

"Has your father sent word as to when you'll be marching away?" Lena wondered if Torin would be present for the birth of their child, Tywin could feel the fighting had reached a head for now and not need Torin for some time, but he could at any day send a raven with word that the Knights of Casterly Rock should mount up and ride into battle. The serving staff would probably be pleased with that, who knew how many bastards would be born from their stay so far.

[Torin Lannister]

The Lord and Lady of the Vale stepped through a great archway that brought them into one of the rear towers of the Eyrie, there was a comfortable little room with a nice view they had taken to retreating too where Lena could get the weight off of her feet and they enjoyed lunch. "We could make an example of him. There have been rumbles since we took the high seat and his show was overtly bold." why so many Lords continued to plague the Eyrie he didn't know. Didn't they have their own lands to run? But that was a matter for another time.

"He has not, but I may send some men to Harrenhal regardless, fresh meat will bring up morale and put some energy back into the army. They've likely grown bored and lethargic. Not to mention put the eyes back on the Riverlands as opposed to the Westerlands." he still wasn't keen on Robb Stark having a foothold in his land. The truth was the army was doing very little in the Vale, it was a sleeping lion. But the Lion would wake sooner or later. For now he would allow Robb to guess and play at how much strength was behind the Bloody Gate.

[Lena Arryn]

She nodded as he spoke. "They make me nervous, all those fighting men in one place." She let her hand rest atop her swollen belly, the baby was kicking now. He'd be a runner for sure, strong and agile. "How long before they become bored with the drinking and the brothels and begin fighting with one another, Harrenhal might be a good move for them, it might be good to let them stretch their legs." Though if they left Torin himself mght leave, and Lena wasn't sure how she felt about that.
Their baby born without his father there to look upon him, it would be unfair to both babe and father. But then again if she were to give birth to a daughter it might be best if Torin was away, return from his fighting to find something to protect in the Vale. A daughter first might a disappointment to Torin if he weren't pumping full of blood and victory.

"Would you ride with them?" Lena asked gently rubbing the fabric covering her belly. She wondered how much longer she would be so large. How long would it take before she was back in a saddle and riding again, before she could swing a sword or sit properly, before she could wear trousers and tunics. Perhaps now she did look her part as a Lady but men's clothing always seemed to be a much more practical style of dressing to Lena and she missed it dearly now that she was unable to fit it.

[Torin Lannister]

"The journey from the Vale to Harrenhal should stretch their legs indeed." the idea of that put a little chuckle on his face. As they approached their little corner Torin stopped one of the servant girls and requested soup and wine to be brought. Soup would be easy on Lena's stomach and Torin rather enjoyed chicken soup himself. A little wine would help her sleep too and what helped her sleep helped him to sleep. They both needed to conserve their strength. "No, I'll not ride out. But I might in time. I'm growing restless. There's only so much of it I can handle when I know Robb Stark is in my lands." Lannister and Arryn infantry marching out would clear the place up nicely. Torin could arrive later with the cavalry.

Once they were in the little room where they had taken to having their meals Torin aided his wife in sitting down before moving to the opposite side of the table and falling into a chair himself. The padding was velvet, this was acceptable. Eventually a girl arrived with the wine and assurances that the soup would be along most promptly. The largest lion of Lannister poured wine for his wife and wine for himself. He was drinking too much wine and not swinging his sword enough. Clashing steel in a practice yard was no replacement for a battlefield, espcially when there was battles to be fought.

[Lena Arryn]

"I fear there isn't much for you to do here." Lena informed as Torin helped her into her chair, seemed to sink into the wooden frame with velvet cushions. They were comfortable enough but lately Lena longed for something softer, if only she could conduct her business from bed surrounded by a wall of feather pillows. "But it would settle my mind if you were to be on hand when the baby is to be born, perhaps it's just lingering fear from your jaunt on the coast of Dragon Stone, but I do not want such fear upon me when our babe quickens." Torin had gotten quite comfortable calling their unborn child a he but Lena was unsure.

"Once the child is born you will ride out I'm sure, taking the rest of the men and set your own mind to ease." She of all people knew how it was to have someone who shouldn't be in your home there, especially when they had intent to rule when they had no right. Though Lysa Tully had been a sickness coming on for a long time Robb Stark was a cancer in the West. His father would have turned over in his grave if he knew his son had crowned himself some rebel king in the North, what ever crimes Ned had committed against the crown he was still a loyalist through and through.

[Torin Lannister]

"He'll have his father with him sooner or later, but if Robb Stark moves I'll need to move. Either way I'll send the entirity of the foot I brought with me. Between the pikes, swords and bows there's near enough ten thousand if not more. I'll assume you can dedicate just as much. Afterwards I'll ride out with the horse. Clegane and Creyon still hold Harrenhal, we can join up there and use it as our staging ground against Riverun." Twenty thousand troops should keep Edmure, Bryce and the Blackfish at bay. He had almost forgotten about the Blackfish.

"I'll certainly ride out after he is born, if the Stark's give me the time." When the soup arrived Torin wasted no time in bringing up his spoon and starting to dig in. It was unavoidable that the gold strands around his face strained his lunch but he didn't let it deter him. It was good soup. It was a miracle there was any chickens left in the Vale with the amount that must have been required to feed the army, probably put a hit in the grain reserves too. But that was why Lena kept that Luthor cousin so close. He was a talent for trade or so Torin heard. He had secured a marriage with the Redwyne's at the very least.

[Lena Arryn]

The soup arrived as they were talking and Torin most voraciously started in on his. Lena on the other hand was a bit more dainty, not because she wasn't hungry but because she was hardly able to keep down a lot of food.
Older women in the house had told her that the sickness would go away once her belly began to show but for Lena it hadn't been true. She was less sick than she had been in the earliest of days but her stomach still churned most days. If it wasn't her stomach other times it was a burning in her chest and throat as if she'd eaten something hot and it wouldn't wash away. Pregnancy wasn't for the faint of heart, it was truly a test of endurance and discomfort.

"Perhaps if you send them a Raven explaining the situation they'll hold off." Lena teased her foot brushing his under the table as she gave his boot a playful kick. The two were much more acceptant of one another since his return, be it his finding religion or her bearing his baby something between the two shifted and for the better.
"Though I must say I think it will be a relief on the people for the Soldiers to march out." Lena informed as they ate. "The head drudge in the kitchens is getting complaints from the serving girls about the lusts and the food stores aren't much better." Honestly men from the west ate and fucked more than any Lena had ever heard of, Torin was proof enough of it on his own, his men just drove the point home. "Action should do them good."

[Torin Lannister]

"It would be more likely he'd attack out of spite, he has not been a reasonable boy since this all started." of course there had been no purpose in being reasonable, the war wasn't going to end over a negotiation table. Robb had a hatred of the Lannister's and Joffrey that wouldn't let him simply stop and go home and so long as his Lords supported him then he would continue fighting. When Lena pointed out that the troops moving out would make life easier in the Vale the largest lion of Lannister simply gave a nod. "Aye, ten thousand less Wester-men mouths and ten thousand less Vale-mouths to feed should allow some breathing room. Not to mention the washer women and whores and any other camp followers. Let the stocks re-build." unless of course many of those soldiers were from the farms, but with winter so close it was hopeful most of the harvest would be collected at this point.

Torin continued to sip the soup and occasionally he washed it down with wine. Soup didn't require much washing down, but he made sure regardless. "Action will do them well indeed. Torin had claimed Ned Stark's sword in King's Landing, the Valyrian steel greatsword Ice. He was rather eager to use it. He was long passed adapting to the weight of it.

[Lena Arryn]

Washer women and whores... it had always made Lena uncomfortable the idea of these bed warming women following along with the men of war. It was known that men often took women to bed when they were in the field and their wives were not, but Torin had so many bastards as it was she could hardly stomach the idea of another, especially when she was so large in the belly with their own child.
If any one had told Lena she was the jealous type when she was a girl she'd have laughed in disbelief.

Taking another spoonful of her soup Lena leaned over the table only to feel the baby kick hard she sat down her spoon and placed her hands upon her belly closing her eyes for a moment as if concentration would will the baby to relent from his kicking, when the wave passed Lena returned her focus to Torin though the babe was still moving and her discomfort was etched onto her face.
"The stock has been collected for the most part, feeding men of the westerlands has been a drain but not so much as to threaten us if what the Maesters say about the Winter lasting only four or five years is true." She certainly hoped it was.
A long Winter could kill a country, starting with the ever important farm land and creeping it's way into the large store houses of the nobility. It wouldn't due for Torin to return to the Vale to find Lena's people had starved and she and the baby were wasting away in the Eyrie.

"I'd say their action shall do a great deal of good for all the Vale, including her Ladyship and peoples." The Lady of the Vale's face softened as the wave of discomfort passed entirely. Pregnancy was draining her terribly, and her body was certainly taking a harsh toll.

[Torin Lannister]

"With all the Westerland soldiers and Vale soldiers gone, it'll ease the burden. Each one that dies will be a mouth less to feed when he returns. There's too many peasants these days, King's Landing is choking on them. You can't escape the smell of their shit." Every year that passed the ratio of peasants to highborn shifted, the peasants were breeding like rabbits and there was less and less land to put them on. Perhaps the war would be a miracle. He'd do Lena a boon and put her men at the vanguard, let them take the brunt of the Northern Cavalry and when the fighting was all said and done and Robb Stark was dead there would be five or six thousand less commonfolk to feed in the Vale.

When Torin was down to the bottom of his soup he brought up the bowl to his mouth and downed the last of it. His belly was warm now. It was terribly windy in the Eyrie, so high up. But a belly full of hot soup took care of it. "It would be best to get them moving again while they remember there is a war to be fought, let them rest too long and they'll start to miss home. That's a moral issue to say the least." not to mention desertion would go through the roof. Torin couldn't have that. Not at all.

[Lena Arryn]

Lena shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the baby continued to move. "Without the common folk and their stench we be lords over nothing." It was a known fact that so many seemed to forget. "War will give the men something to do and might take the strain off of the winters supplies but when what men remain return from war they'll fall into any woman's bed that will open her legs, if you consider that along with all the bastards they'll sire abroad war is only increasing the number of unproductive members of society." She watched as her husband finished off his soup, she was slowly going through her own, it wasn't a lot but she either ravenous or could hardly stomach food these days.

"But getting the soldiers moving will be good for morale, keep them excited for blood and victory and with proper promise of pay they'll keep up the good fight." It was the promise of pay that really made for good fighters, noble men fought for honor of house and glory of name but common men fought to keep food on the table. "You'll be off in no time and weathering the snow and harsh conditions. Should do you good."
She on the other hand would be wrapping up and weathering the winter while she could in the Eyrie, until she could be safely moved with the baby down to one of the smaller Waycastles should the cold become to harsh for the large fires to overcome.