An Old Friend (William Godwinson)

[targaryen]

Lena and the Lannister were touring the Vale as Emre Arryn set off on his snow white destrier with 500 men flying Arryn banners at his back. The sun was high and the Vale was beautiful as they rode. Smallfolk waved and shouted joyfully as the Arryn convoy passed their fields, and whistled and hooted in approval from their houses as the horses galloped on dusty dirt roads that meandered upwards over hills towards the mountain passes. Emre was gathering his bannermen to march, but would not divulge the destination until closer to the day. Emre had sent ravens to all but one of them - Lord William Godwinson of God's Hold. As a boy Emre had hated William Godwinson, who held a place in Jon Arryn's heart that Emre never did. But by the time his father died, Emre knew the value of House Godwinson, and he knew House Arryn had no better ally than Lord William. Up ahead, protected by jagged rocks and old trees stood God's Hold, with the Godwinson banner fluttering in the warm breeze.

[michael]

A one-eyed peregrine falcon swooped over the Arryn entourage, dipping and diving with the air currents. With astonishing speed, it returned to it's master, atop the Gatehouse of The God's Hold. The Keep was a simple thing; a stone and wood hall encircled by a high, old, stern wall. It was no Storm's End, but it sat atop a furtive hill, with lush fields and hardy forests surrounding it for miles, and jagged outcroppings of rock protecting the base of much of it's wall.

Lord William stood in muted silence in the Gatehouse, arms crossed and face creased in a look of concentration. The Old Eagle has died, and now the young comes to secure the allegiance of the loyal hawk. The baited hunting bird. It was a pointless journey in that respect; Lord William would've marched over The Wall without seeing Emre Arryn were he commanded, but it was a good thing to portray the image of the gruff hunting bird liking his liege's boy just as much.

Old Tom settled onto William's shoulder as the column of men came into view.
"M'lord! The Banner of Arryn!"
"I see them, Bale. Drum out my mesnie and get the boys into their finery."
Such it was that as the Lord of The Vale was trumpeted into The God's Hold, he was greeted by armoured Knights on either side, five score pikemen infront, and infront of those, the Lord Godwinson and his two sons, Edward and Michael. All three were dressed simply but well; cleaned and brushed tunics freshly washed.

As their Lord came through the gates, William muttered to his sons - "We are Hawks first, lads. But even Hawks dip their crests to the Eagles."

Once his liege came within speaking distance, William calmly stepped forward and bowed low, from the waist.
"Lord Emre Arryn, of the House Arryn, Ruler of The Vale. I, Lord William Godwinson of The God's Hold, welcome you to the keep of your humble servants, The Godwinsons."
Repetitive and abit tacky, but it got the point across.

[targaryen]

Emre surveyed the gathering of Godwinson men, guards and knights - they looked happy he thought; their lord was a temperamental man, but decent to the core all the same. "My dear Lord William" breathed Emre in a tone with a mild inflection of happiness as he dismounted, "it does my heart good to set my eyes upon your face and feel the warmth of the Godwinson welcome". Emre was wrapped in golden robes of silk and lace that spilled messily over the ground around him, and his mask was pure gold, sculpted to show a smiling face - the lord of the Eyrie looked regal. Emre stooped and took a young girl who had somehow found her way into the congregation by the hand gently, "You're a very pretty girl" said Emre warmly, before rising and turning to who he assumed was the girl's brother. "And you my boy, will you march for the Vale when you are a man grown?" he asked, taking the boy by both shoulders. The young boy stammered a pledge of servitude to Emre before taking his sister by the hand, "When you come of age, and if you prove yourself on the field of battle, you will be knighted, boy. I know this because I will knight you myself". The boy blushed and smiled as Emre turned to the Godwinson sons. Their family name was etched all over their hard faces - strong boys threatening to be stronger men. "The future of your House is in good hands, Lord William" said Emre moodily, contemplating his silent Eyrie, devoid of a wife and heir.

[michael]

The Lord William bowed once more, in thanks to the compliment levelled to him and his kin. Inside, he could feel a slight dislike overcoming him for his liege. There was none of Lord John's heartiness, none of that quiet, elderly prowess that had made William feel a kinship, an admiration...Or maybe it was just the fact he didn't like the man making promises that might be hard to keep... Either way, it had no matter. A Godwinson obeyed The Arryn Lord. No question.

He supposed he was now the senior servant, even if he was far from elderly. Even so, all three Godwinson men stood tall, straight, almost to attention as their Lord addressed them. William himself spoke again, this time with a softness to his tone.
"They are good men, and will do me proud." The steel re-entered his tone. "Their strength will make them fine warriors, should battle come, my Lord Arryn."
Will they be forced to die for you, boy? That was Godwinson's thoughts. That was what scared him. Nonetheless, he stepped calmly aside, gesturing stiffly to the Great Hall.
"Shall we enter, Lord Arryn? It is doubtless you've had a long ride."

[targaryen]

Emre eyed William Godwinson as he spoke - William was an Arryn man, a Jon Arryn man. "The warmth of your halls would do me some good Lord William" sighed Emre gently. As they walked he turned back to look at the Godwinson boys, "No doubt I will have need of you and your sons before the Winter my lord - I assume you have heard the reports from King's Landing?". Emre stopped and faced William, standing toe-to-toe with the warrior Lord, "I will be calling my bannermen soon my friend, and I want your counsel before I do".