Nestor Royce
The journey from the Gates of the Moon to Riverrun was a long and slightly tiring one for Nestor Royce, Lord of the Gates of the Moon. He was no longer the young and sprightly man he had been twenty years ago the last time a dragon had sat the Iron Throne, hells he wasn't even as sprightly as he had been three years ago when Petyr Baelish had wed Lysa Arryn. He felt the cold more so now, the Vale had done well during what the maesters and the smallfolk were calling the war of the Kings, it seemed Lysa Arryn's paranoia had paid off in some sort of regard. The Vale's food supplies were all intact, their smallfolk were hale and hearty and their lands were untouched by the war. Of course Nestor knew that many of the Lords his cousin included had not wanted to remain out of the war, Jon Arryn had been a brilliant lord and his wards Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon were still remembered fondly in the Vale, so much so that when Stark was executed for the wrongful crime of treason, the Vale had been up in arms and ready to mobilise. It was not to be, and though the Vale had avoided the deaths that would undoubtedly come from the war, many people had questioned the honour in such a thing, especially when Baelish had come to wed Lysa Arryn.
Baelish, the man had honoured Nestor and his family by naming him to the Lordship of the Gates of the Moon and making what was once an honorary title and hereditary one, something for Nestor to pass onto his son once his days were done, instead of having to scrounge off of the main line's holdings, like his father had had to do. Still there was something about Baelish that made Nestor uneasy, he had known the man from his time as a customs official in Gulltown, he had seemed dedicated and hardworking, but his time in King's Landing seemed to have changed him, he seemed more scheming and more conniving. Nestor knew why the Lords Declarant had arisen, Baelish wished for great things, things that were above his station, he wanted to use the Vale for these things, and Nestor knew that information had reached his cousin Yohn about Baelish's involvement in Ned Stark's death, and that was something that could never be forgiven. Nestor had played as Baelish's ally in the Vale helping him win the other lords over, all the while helping Yohn and the other Lords Declarant undermine the man's position. Until the dragon queen came.
Daenaerys Targaryen, the girl was young, but she had a fire to her, that Nestor remembered seeing in her brother Prince Rhaegar, she had dragons as well and was convinced that the iron throne was hers by rights, that King Aegon was not who he said he was and that the boy, Jon Stark- Targaryen now he supposed- was also an usurper and a threat. She saw threats everywhere Nestor knew, had heard her speaking in tongues with Baelish, the man was her hand now, and so things were beginning to look interesting at least from a political point of view, it seemed the Vale would finally be involved in the goings on of Westeros at last, just as Yohn had wanted. It had been Baelish who had suggested sending Nestor to Riverrun to try and bring Edmure Tully to the fold, Nestor had been good friends with Hoster Tully, the two shared a kinship, for Hoster's father had married Nestor's aunt and so the two had often spent much time joking and laughing amongst the banks of the Trident. Though Edmure Tully would be a stranger to Nestor now, he had not set foot in the Riverlands since Robert's Rebellion, and then Edmure had been but a child. Still he had a role to play, and a job to do.
As the banks of the Trident began to disappear from view, Nestor heard his companion sigh with relief. "Thank the seven. I thought we'd never see the end of this godsforsaken river." Lyn Corbray said. The man was in Baelish's pay, was his man through and through, and had been sent along by Baelish to ensure that Edmure Tully got the message clearly, this might be a problem as far as Nestor was concerned, and Corbray was a fool, a man who thought with his sword and not his brain.
"Well remember what we spoke of Lyn. Try not to antagonize Lord Tully or his uncle before we've had a chance to properly explain everything." Nestor said, as Riverrun's great walls came into view.
Lyn Corbray had no chance to reply, for the minute the gates came into sight, they were greeted by riders, bearing the leaping trout standard of House Tully, rightfully restored to their seat of Riverrun, and Lord Paramountship over the Trident. "Lord Royce, Lord Corbray it is a pleasure to see you. Please follow me into the castle." One of the men said, and so they rode into the castle and then walked into the solar where they were greeted by Lord Edmure Tully who looked exactly how his father had at that age, and his lady wife Alysanne Lefford.
"Ah Lord Royce, Lord Corbray so nice to meet you. I trust your ride was pleasant?" Edmure Tully said, a smile on his face.
"Pleasant enough my lord." Nestor said. "I am sure you are aware of why we are here."
At that the smile from Lord Edmure's face fell and his shoulders tightened. Nestor saw the man's wife lay a calming hand on his shoulder, though the man's voice was cold when he spoke. "Yes I am, and I must say I am most disappointed that the Vale has chosen to side with Daenaerys Targaryen."
"And why would that be Tully? Because you sided with the wrong king twice? Aegon Targaryen is a fake, and not the rightful king. And that Young Wolf was an idiot who made the wrong decisions." Lyn Corbray snaps.
Nestor sighs internally, and is only thankful that it is Lady Alysanne who speaks and not her husband. "Forgiven me for asking this Ser Lyn, but is it not true that the Vale wished to fight for the Young Wolf when he rode to war? And is it not true that your own brother wished to wed the Lady Sansa in the hopes of allowing the Vale to march for the Young Wolf? And is it also not true that the Vale is being ruled by a man who was most involved in seeing to the war between the Starks and the Lannisters in the first place?"
Lyn is left speechless, and Nestor can't but help think that this meeting is not going at all how he had envisioned it. Before he can speak though Lord Edmure speaks, and his tone is still cold. "There is no point in denying it Ser Lyn, we learnt the truth of what happened in King's Landing during my goodbrother's stay there, whilst Daenaerys Targaryen was off marrying a barbarian and the Vale remained sucking its own thumb. Daenaerys Targaryen claims to be the rightful queen, and yet she has done nothing to win the people to her cause. She has married Victarion Greyjoy and has therefore sealed the alliance with one of the Riverlands most common enemies. She was complicit in the death of Prince Quentyn Martell, and she has named my niece a traitor to the realm, simply because she was not there to stand trial with her husband when Joffrey the ill born was murdered. So tell me why should I bend the knee to her, when Aegon Targaryen has fought a war in the north to defend the realm he rules, and has done everything in his power to bring peace to Westeros?"
Sensing that this trip might be a complete failure unless he tries a different tact, Nestor speaks, "Perhaps that is true my lord, but what you must consider is that Riverrun and the Eyrie are bonded together through blood. Lord Robert is your nephew, and as such has been advised by Lord Baelish to declare for Daenaerys Targaryen, as I am sure you will agree saying no to a woman with dragons is not the best possible idea. You called your banners when the Young Wolf marched south, and rightfully so, for the Young Wolf was kin to you, but Lord Jon Stark is no kin to you, nor will any children he or Lady Sansa have be directly in line to succeed him as Lord of Winterfell. So why not help protect your nephew in the Vale and bend the knee to Daenaerys Targaryen, after all House Tully's words are Family, Duty Honour."
Edmure stiffens at his words, and Lady Alysanne links their fingers together. And it is she who speaks. "Is that a threat Lord Nestor? I was not led to believe that men from the Vale made threats such as that."
"It is only a threat, if your fool of a husband does not agree to listen to the terms that we have come to discuss with him, Lady Lefford." Ser Lyn says, his voice laced with venom and Nestor groans inside, why has this man come with him, has Lord Baelish finally lost his control.
"I will not have my wife threatened Ser Lyn, if you do so again I will send you back to the Gates of the Moon without a few fingers. Now Lord Nestor what are these terms then?" Edmure asks coldly, sounding more like his father with each syllable.
Nestor sighs aloud, this trip has already proven to be a failure, he knows that now, and he regrets it, almost as much as he regrets the part he agreed to play in the game his cousin is playing in the Vale. "Very well then Lord Tully, the terms are thus. If you and your bannermen agree to bend the knee to her grace, she will formally acknowledge you as Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident, and she will even allow one of your children to become Lord or Lady of Harrenhal. She simply asks that you bend the knee to her and recognise her as the rightful queen of Westeros. And..." he pauses here unsure how to say what else was put into the terms, without causing a full on confrontation with Lord Edmure.
"And, there is more my lord?" Lady Alysanne asks.
"Yes my lady. Her Grace believes rightly or wrongly, that seeing as the Lady Sansa has just reached the age of maturity, and that seeing as you are her only remaining direct blood relative, that it is your duty to arrange a match for her, and for her to spend some time with the Queen." Nestor says hurriedly.
Lord Edmure's reaction is as expected, he tenses and his eyes narrow. His voice sounding even colder than it did two minutes ago, "I am not sure I can agree with that. For one my niece has reached the age of maturity and is already betrothed to her cousin Lord Jon Stark. It is not possible for me to end that betrothal, as Sansa is in Winterfell and wrote to me to inform me she was quite happy with the betrothal, and the King has given his own express permission for the match to go ahead. Therefore I cannot agree to the terms."
Ser Lyn snorts. "Of course you'd say that. Was it not you who wedded the Frey girl after your nephew sent an Ironborn hostage to bring him ships? How did that end for you again Lord Tully? Oh yes, your nephew and sister both died. I tell you know Lord Stark will not live to see his wedding day, the Queen will not allow it."
"That is quite enough Ser Lyn." Nestor says sharply. "Forgive him my lord, my lady. I understand that you do not wish to recognise Queen Daenaerys as the rightful monarch, I am sorry for wasting your time. We shall leave as soon as our horses are rested."
With that Ser Lyn gets up and walks straight out of the room, Nestor tarries by the doorway a moment, and after Lady Alysanne has bid her husband and he farewell Lord Edmure speaks, and he sounds tired not cold. "I know you did not wish to come here Lord Nestor. So why did you?"
Nestor swallows nervously and then says "Because you are in grave danger my lord."
Edmure perks up at that and looks at him questioningly. Nestor deciding that he might as well tell the whole truth now after so long quickly explains. "Littlefinger means to see you and your wife and children dead; Ser Lyn was brought here for a reason my lord. I will ride away with him tomorrow, before he has a chance to get to grips with the castle."
Lord Edmure simply stares at him for a long moment and then says in a choked voice "How do you know of this?"
"The man talks when he drinks my lord, it was not hard." Nestor replies.
Later that day Nestor spends much of his time keeping an eye on Lyn Corbray and making sure he does not spend too much time around the Tullys, though it is hard what with his other duties and trying to keep his nerves in check. It comes to a head just after dinner, Ser Lyn has been in his cups once more and confronts Nestor as he is making his way back to the Great Hall. "I know you spoke to Tully Royce." Corbray slurs.
"I am sorry Lyn but what do you mean?" Nestor says.
"I know you told him about what Lord Baelish sent me here to do. You Royces are too damn honourable. That's why you lot never succeeded in getting into Lysa Arryn's bed and yet Lord Baelish a sellswords grandson did. It is why Daenaerys Targaryen will sit the Iron Throne and Lord Stark and his brat and Aegon the false will all die." Corbray slurs.
Nestor merely stares at the man before calling for a guard. "Please see Ser Lyn to his room, he has had too much to drink. Keep a man on his door at all times as well please."
"Yes my lord." The guard says.
Nestor watches the guard escort a very drunk Ser Lyn back to his room, and finds his thoughts going back to the Vale, and My Stone- Connington now- that fierce woman, he had helped raise her, once Robert Baratheon had become king, Mya had become like a second daughter to him. She is every inch the Demon of the Trident's daughter, fierce, passionate, stubborn and protective of those she loved and cared about. She would make a fine Lady of Storm's End, she had always been destined for great things Nestor knew, had known from the minute she had said her first word. That she had named her and Lord Connington's son after him only served to heighten the feeling of protection he felt for her. He would need to warn her about everything that happened here and in the Vale, so she could tell her husband. If possible Nestor would try and avoid war, the kingdom could not afford any more bloodshed.