Lion at the Gate (Lena/Matilys/Brynden)

[Torin Lannister]

A week after Ser Torin Lannister had made Lady Lena Arryn his wife they had left Casterly Rock with twenty thousand men at his back to meet Lena Arryn's loyal Vale Lords at the Bloody Gate. With her loyal men in place none would bar her path from the Gate to the Eyrie.

Ser Torin was at the front of the army. He was like a colossus in his red and gold suit of full plate armour, his helmet framing his face and the Lannister cloak building his stature all the more. It was a testament to the strength of his horse, a proud black destrier. Some distance back was a triple decked carriage. Ser Torin's cousin, Matilys Lannister switched between joining him on his horse and riding in the carriage where one could enjoy a smooth ride and eat lemon cakes, the proud new husband had assured Kevan that no harm would fall to his daughter and the trip to the Vale was not expecting any action. Ser Torin & Lady Lena slept in the top deck. Tywin had been most insistent on the urgency in putting a baby in her.

But now they were under the shadow of the Bloody Gate, it was time for Lena to have the way opened so the army could pass trough and join the army she had waiting to keep away Lysa's loyalists.

[Lena Arryn]

For Lena long ride to the Vale had been strenuous, not because of the riding or the walking, it was the constant hounding of her new husband like a dog in heat. Every night he'd mounted her like his own personal horse intent on putting a son in her before they reached the Vale.
It was enough to make her feel ill some mornings.

But that was over now, she was sitting atop her horse at the gates of the Blood Gate, what had been a frightening sight for intruders of days past it was now a warm and welcoming sight to Lena Arryn who hadn't returned since before she left for Casterly Rock to propose marriage to Torin Lannister who was now beside her as her husband.
"So it begins." She said under her breath, steering her large black stallion up next to Torin.

"We should go into the gate, my men should be waiting inside, they'll welcome us and be ready to begin to march." She said feeling more like herself since she crossed the threshold of Casterly Rock.

[prominos]

The Bloody Gate stood, ominous and looming above as it always had. Brynden had had trouble sleeping throughout the entire journey from that damned Lannister hive of Casterly Rock to here. He was completely aware that once they went through that gate and met with Lena's army, they would be marching on the Eyrie-a place Brynden had sworn to protect for a decade, a place ruled by family, by his blood. He had thought over and over again, and firmly made his decision countless times, but still his actions gnawed deep within him. One look at Lena would calm him-to see the resolve on her face throughout the ride, the discomfort she tried to hide when near her new husband Torin Lannister, the relief and joy she had shown upon returning home. That was why he was doing this, for Lena.

Lysa may be his niece, Lord Arryn his great nephew, but Lena was...more. She was not blood but oh how Brynden wished she were. Jon Arryn had been so lucky to have a daughter such as she, and he had revelled in her, raised her with love and care, raised her almost as a son in the use of weapons, duties of a ruler. Brynden had seen the change in this happy young girl upon the birth of Jon's son. Just like that all Lena's hopes and dreams about ruling the Vale were gone and she had changed a great deal. In those dark days Brynden had continued his service faithfully and dutifully, but over time he had grown an affection for her and their bond had grown. Now he was just a foolish old man with his foolish hopes but he knew what he was doing was right, it had to be. Accompanying a Lannister host to the gates of his Lord....it must be right.

As he sat atop Flood, conflicting emotions churning through his mind, he saw Little Lena ahead talking to her husband. Even in his mind Brynden had trouble speaking that mans name. He steadied himself and calmed his nerves as he had learnt to do many years ago and led his horse to the other side of Lena, nodding respectfully towards 'Ser' Torin.

"Remember you are not alone in this. An army awaits the other side of the Gate, your army. Do not fear and above all do not fear to falter. This is the first time you have led an army in war and there are many here who wish to help you rule where you rightly should, use them for their purpose but treat them with respect and they shall do the same. Foolosh advice of an old man I know, but please, do not fear to falter Little Lena. When you do, remember my ears are hear to listen, my words are for advice, my strength is yours to have. Use them for their purpose and use me for mine."

Brynden looked forward towards the Bloody Gate, preparing his weary body and mind for the task ahead. For Little Lena.

[Matilys Lannister]

This was the longest journey Matilys Lannister had ever taken. It was also one of the most pleasant. She had spent most of her time in a beautiful tall carriage, and hardly felt the bumps in the road, and whenever she grew tired of that she had gone forward to ride with her cousin Torin, right at the front of an army of twenty thousand. Many a time she had looked back over her shoulder and marvelled at the sheer numbers of the long column that stretched behind them.

They were not, as had been made clear to her from the very beginning, riding to war. Now that Torin was married to Lena Arryn, the might of House Lannister would stand beside her own loyalists and - here Matilys was a little hazy on the details. Lena was older than Robin Arryn, and a good deal more capable, but it wasn't as if the Vale was Dorne, to play about with the lines of suucession. She hadn't said anything to that effect, of course. Lena ruling in the Vale meant Torin ruling in the Vale, and she wasn't going to complain about her cousin's good fortune.

She was with him now, as they drew closer to the mountain pass. The Bloody Gate. Matilys knew the stories about the place, of course. The gate had never been breached, though not through lack of trying over the centuries. There would be no bloodshed here today, though. The gate would open for them, and they would ride straight on through, all the way to the Eyrie.

As she saw Ser Brynden Tully's horse draw level with Lena's, Matilys, still gazing at the sight of the gate ahead, said to Torin: 'It's bigger than I imagined it. I wonder how long it took before they started calling it bloody, all those years ago.' Her words might have been morbid, but her tone was cheery. She had been in high spirits throughout the journey, a novel experience for her, and today was no exception.

[Torin Lannister]

"Lead the way." This was Lena's power-play after all. She had come to him to offer her hand in marriage in exchange for an army. They were flying Lannister flags and would respond to Ser Torin's command but Lena was leading the march. She had earned it. "And we have the Knight of the Gate with us." He turned to Ser Tully now, the Gate's Commander. "A good sign, I would say."

His little cousin was sitting in front of him on his horse, his armour clad arms on either side of her as he reached around to hold the reigns and if it kept her place all the better. "Perhaps your cousin-in-law will introduce you to her Maester when we are at the Eyrie?" It was an interesting question indeed, how long did it take for the Bloody Gate to get such a name. He half regarded Lena after saying it. "Still, the Rock has never been taken either and I think it a far more comfortable place." That was whispered for his cousin's benefit.

Regardless, the largest of the Lions waited for Lena to move on, then followed. The great red and gold wave of soldiers following behind as they moved to pass through the gate and start the long march through the Vale proper.

[Lena Arryn]

Lena steered her horse onward, and spoke to the Knight who was taking charge of the Gate while Bryden had been away. "Who would pass the bloody Gate?" He asked, his voice deep and full of purpose.
Lena sat confidently. "Your Lady Lena Arryn, daughter of Jon Arryn wife of Ser Torin Lannister and I would pass through the Blood Gate with the lion's army." Suddenly the Bloody Gates opened and Lena looked back at the red horde behind her.
"Let's move ahead." She said her horse walking in farther to the gate. "We have to move fast if we intend to reach the Eyrie by nightfall."

Lena's intention was to reach the Eyrie by nightfall, bring Torin, Brynden and Matilys into the Eyrie's Solar to be greeted by Lysa and Robert and make their demands known. Lysa wouldn't act right away, and if she did it would be over quickly.
As they moved forward Lena spoke quietly back towards Torin and Matylis.
"They call the Bloody, Matylis, because thousands of armies have attempted to breach the wall and have broken and bloodied themselves to death upon the gates but none could pass."
Until now. She added silently to her self.

[Matilys Lannister]

Matilys smiled at Torin's whispered comment. 'Almost everyone knows better than to even try to take Casterly Rock,' she replied, mirroring his low tones. 'That's the only reason it doesn't have the same reputation. Maybe I willask the Maester at the Eyrie about it.' She doubted that she actually would. It had been an idle question, an unimportant one, and most Maesters had better ways to occupy their time than bothering with her questions.

She looked ahead then, to Lena, a little puzzled by the explanation she had given. Matilys had asked when it had got its name, not why. The questions were quite different, though she supposed Lena assumed that she didn't know the answer to either. There was no harm in that, she meant well. There was no need to be disagreeable about it when she didn't have to be. Matilys called out to Lena brightly: 'Is that so? Fascinating, isn't it!' I never would have guessed it. 'And now the gates have opened for us!'

She imagined they all looked very grand, riding through those gates. It was a good thing she'd insisted on having a new travelling dress made before she left, all in Lannister red, with skirts that draped all about her as she rode. And there was Torin behind her in all his fine armour, and Lena riding ahead. It was good of her cousin to ask Lady Lena to ride out in front, she thought. He might have led the way himself, but he chose otherwise, and that had to be in consideration of her. So far as Matilys could tell, this trip was more important to Lena than to Torin, so why should she not lead them?

[prominos]

As Lena approached the gate, Brynden felt his stomach began to jump around again. An enemy army was to be allowed passage through and he was its commander. Ser Torins comment seemd to dig at him but he responded pleasantly all the same,

"Yes Ser, I suppose it could be taken as that"

Brynden barely heard the Lannister girl begin to witter on about something or other. It had not taken him long to realise that her head was full of fantasies of glory in battle and the lovely lives led by Lords and Ladies. Brynden usually had plenty of patience for all, especially children like this Matilyn Lannister, and he tried to be patient with young knights like Torin who saw all battle as glorious and ways to win honour. But there was something about them both that made it near impossible for him. Maybe it was because of their shared name, but Brynden even allowed for that extra bit of arrogance that come with being a Lion. Maybe it was because he still had a head full of doubts. Or maybe it was simply because he could not like Torin no matter how hard he tried, and listening to his damned cousin for the entire journey had shortened his fuse by some degree. She didnt see the seriousness in anything, she was obsessed with asking questions that meant nothing, she talked and talked and talked and she was always bloody happy. That was the worst thing. No matter what sad, dark things she spoke about she always had a happy demeanour. Even now, when asking about the history of a place so wrapped up in death it was named the Bloody Gate she still sounded happy. It was enough to drive Brynden mad, why had a child come at all on an occasion such as this? This was serious business not some game, but he supposed thats exactly what it was to Torin and his father. A way to gain more power, a way to solidify their presence in the land. Bloody Lannisters. Always trying to gain.

Brynden suddenly realised they were moving towards the gate which had opened. He instantly moved forward and passed quick orders to the Knight to continue in charge in his absence and continued through behind the rest. He hadnt even noticed with his mind so full. He instantly felt bad for what he had thought about Matilys. He had let his conflicting emotions run away with him and berate the poor girl, albeit only to himself. She was just a child, she meant no harm. Brynden only wished the same could be said for Torin

[Torin Lannister]

They passed through the Bloody Gate and entered the Vale proper. Torin was hoping it would not take long, he was eager to see the supposedly impregnable Castle that was the Eyrie. "They say the Eyrie is the smallest of the great castles, can only hold five hundred men. But they also say it is impregnable." Of most Castles they said they only needed five hundred men. A good thing too, if the Eyrie could only hold that much. A compact thing, not as grand as Casterly Rock. It was said for his little cousin's benefit of course, and spoken lightly as her ear was not far from his mouth.

"How long a ride is it to the Castle? I would have our words with little Robin and have this matter resolved quickly." He wanted to get in there, inform them what was happening and have that little brat take the black so his seat was forfeited to Lena. They'd stay a few days while her power was consolidated and then return to the Rock for more pressing matters such as Stannis Baratheon & Robb Stark needed to be dealt with and now that House Arryn was joined to House Lannister their immediate future was rather connected.

[Lena Arryn]

Riding on towards the main road Lena saw a group of men before her, Lords; all of them bannermen of her father, of the Vale.
Her chest began to unknot as she watched them all straighten in their saddles.
She looked over her shoulder at Torin and regarded him lightly, suddenly he didn't seem like such a big man.

"We'll reach the Eyrie by night fall Torin, Don't wear your self out on the journey up."
Her words were loose now from the sight of the men gathered her army might very well match his and with roughly thirty to forty thousand men the vale would be theirs with very limited blood shed if any.

[Matilys Lannister]

Matilys nodded as Torin told her of the Eyrie. So it was small, then. It probably shouldn't have surprised her; she had never visited the place, but from what she'd heard, it wasn't the type of castle you wanted to visit without good reason. The only way to get to it was up a very high and narrow path. Matilys wasn't afraid of heights, but then she'd never been to the Eyrie and so had no cause to be afraid of heights.

She too straightened a little in the saddle, where she sat in front of Torin. If that baby, little Lord Robin, could go up to the heights of the Eyrie without any trouble then so could she, twice his age and a Lannister. The very thought gave her courage, and she resolved not to worry overmuch about the path ahead.

Lena said they would be there by nightfall. That wasn't so very far, then. 'I look forward to seeing it, even if it is a little small,' she muttered quietly to Torin. 'I haven't ever been further from home than King's Landing.' Home, of course, being Casterly Rock itself.

[Torin Lannister]

"It is small for the Great Castles, but it is still a Great Castle." Being the smallest of the biggest still made it very large. It was like Matilys herself, she was the smallest of the Lannisters, but was still worth more then every peasant in Lannisport combined. "We shall celebrate your long journey by finding some keepsakes." Torin didn't know if the Vale was any good for fineries, for dresses or jewellery but he was sure there could find enough of fine make to fill some trunks for his little cousin.

"Ser Brynden, what resistence do you expect your sister will bring? Are we likely to need to take the Eyrie by force or be invited inside so my wife can explain this little march?" It would be absolutely ideal if they could get into the great hall for an audience with Lord Robert of the Vale and Lady Lysa Arryn. Then it was good as over.

[prominos]

Brynden had been unsure of what to expect the other side of the Gate. But the sights of the bannerman he saw lifted his spirits on the one hand for her fathers retainers saw her daughter who they had seen grow up their rightful ruler, but on the other hand he felt they had a duty to their actual ruler and also slightly downhearted that one of his own family members could inspire such little loyalty. She would have much to say of loyalty when they arrived at the Eyrie.

Brynden kept all hint of venom out his voice and spoke as one would speak to a Lord when the Lannister buffoon spoke to him-Brynden had always had a knack for hiding his distaste of others, especially when in their company. He didnt even rise to the fact Torin knew so little about his relations.

"I suspect my niece will not wish to fight. Nearly all the bannerman of Jon Arryn are pledged now to Lena so she would not be able to fight should she so choose, she isnt a complete fool. Her son may wish to see death but she will accept an audience. Although she will not be happy to see any of us."

And I will have hell to pay he thought.

To keep his mind of that particular encounter for a little longer, and to ease his own mind of his cruel thoughts earlier Brynden decided to appease the curiosity of the young Matilys.

"Matilys, the Bloody Gate is so called because during the Age of Heroes many many armies smashed upon it without success. Ever since that time thousands of years ago it has been known as the Bloody Gate."

[Lena Arryn]

Despite the chattering of the two golden haired lions behind her Lena rode on ahead silently, her eyes fixed on the Eyrie the halls she had run through as a girl, this very path she had sat on her pony beside her father all while growing up, they all seemed so distant to her now.
She felt different, she felt ill...

Steering her horse to the side of the path Lena dismounted and quickly relieved her guts on the side of the path, regurgitating the mornings meal before straightening up and making the shameful walk back to her horse. Her stomach was in knots, she was nervous and scared of what would happen if the Nobels were to find her unfit, to have the reaction that Brynden had first given her about her marriage to ser Torin. She doubted if she told them all that he'd given her a ravishing in a garden before their wedding they'd think very highly of her, it would do no endearing thing to her cause.

A knight came to her side and offered to help her back into her saddle. "I'll be fine." She said climbing into the stirrups on her own. "I'm just fatigued from riding."
The knight moved back into ranks his blue and grey armor standing out amongst all the red cloaks.
"Let's move on, we can't waist more time."

<At the Gates of the Eyrie>
Lena dismounted at the gates of the Eyrie, the guard there was shocked to see nearly every bannerman of the Vale as well as twenty thousand red cloaks and two Nobel Lannisters all standing at the Path.
"Send a message to Lysa and Robert in the solar, tell them that Lena and Bryden have returned with more Lannisters, and let her know that we would have an audience with her." Lena commanded.

[Matilys Lannister]

'That would be just delightful!' declared Matilys, enthused by the idea. 'Perhaps there will be some pretty jewelry I might have. It seems like forever since I've had anything new.' Given the number of gold ornaments that Matilys adorned herself with whenever the opportunity presented itself, this was something of an exaggeration, but she knew Torin would understand. There was no harm in wanting nice things, and she did want something to remember their trip by.

She listened to the exchange between her cousin and Ser Brynden, not too caught up imagining the prospect of the fine gifts she might have to realize that their conversation was an important one. Of course Lysa Arryn wouldn't want to see them. Matilys had nothing but scorn for the woman, who had always struck her as plain and sad-looking. Maybe she couldn't help that - Matilys knew she'd had trouble with childbearing, and that was enough to make any woman miserable, but the way she treated the son she did have was the source of much quiet amusement among the ladies at King's Landing.

Lysa Arryn certainly wasn't fit to rule, and neither was Robin, but Lysa at least wasn't completely unreasonable. She'd have the sense to cede the Eyrie to Lena without putting up a fight, Matilys was sure of it. She didn't expect that either Torin or Brynden wanted or needed her to add her agreement to their assessment, though, and so for once she stayed quiet.

Until, that was, Ser Brynden addressed her, answering her earlier question. 'It was in the Age of Heroes? Such a very long time ago?' She smoothed back a lock of her golden hair that had fallen forward, and then smiled at him. 'I might have known you would have an answer for me, Ser Brynden. You must know a great deal about the history of the Vale.'

She might have said more, but was distracted by the sight of Lena's horse veering off to one side. Once she saw the reason for it, Matilys politely averted her eyes. She hoped Lena hadn't taken ill. It was a terrible time to be struck by sickness, and that seemed the only explanation. There were other reasons a woman might take ill, she knew, but Torin and Lena hadn't been married nearly long enough for a child to be making its presence known in such a way.

'Ought we to stop for her?' she asked Torin quietly once Lena was back up on her horse, genuine concern in her voice. Lena might need a rest, and it wouldn't do for her to be indisposed at the time of their meeting with Lysa.