Artys Arryn POV
"Ser Jasper, can't my father come down to have a talk?" I said, while looking at the stairs. Oh, For fuck sake, I am tired right now, and that old man wants me to climb all these stairs.
"I am afraid not, little lord, but I could carry you up," Ser Jasper offered, looking all grim and soldierly.
Well, that's tempting.
A slow clap echoed from above, deliberate and mocking. Boots shifted on stone.
When I looked up, Ser Robar Royce was standing there, clapping while looking at us.
Oh, for fuck sake. Why is he here? And looking at the expression on his face, he is about to say something embarrassing.
"Ser Jasper, I think you should carry the Lady of the Vale up the stairs. After all, it's the fantasy of every young girl," he spoke while looking at me, trying to hold his laugh.
"Very funny," I replied nonchalantly, trying not to give him any reaction. After all, it's not a good thing to fight with a pig, because in the end you will get dirty and the pig would enjoy it.
"Ser Robar, what are you doing here?" I asked him. This person is annoying as hell. He thinks he is funny.
"Nothing, just looking at the sight of a young princess who is about to be picked up by a knight in shining armor."
This motherfucker. Will he ever be serious?
"Ser Jasper, would you mind showing Ser Robar what a shining knight's skills look like and then carry him around the Red Keep in your arms?" I shot Jasper a knowing smile.
"It would be an honor, my lord." Jasper smirked, stepping forward.
"Oops, I just remembered Lyn called me for practice!" Robar bolted, trying to dodge left, only for Jasper to grab him by the collar from behind.
"Really, young lord, I was just joking, I meant no insult," he spoke. I don't have time to deal with this shit.
"Ser Jasper, let him go," I ordered.
With that, he released Robar. I reached below my pocket and took out a small sack of coins and threw it at him. I always keep it, you know, just in case.
He looked confused, but then opened it, and his facial expression went to disbelief.
"My lord, this?" Ser Robar asked with enthusiasm.
"Enjoy. I know your allowance is all spent this month, and I just won ten thousand gold dragons in the tourney. You can keep this," I said, and looking at his facial expression, it told me something, or the place where he is going to go after this.
"Thank you, young lord," Ser Robar spoke and hugged me, picked me up and spun me in the air, gave a sloppy kiss on my right cheek, then put me down and ran away.
"Ser Jasper, where do you think he's going?" Jasper just lowered his gaze with a knowing smile.
A man like Robar can't control his urges. The whores of King's Landing will empty his pockets and his balls by morning.
"Let's go," I said with a smirk on my own face. I wonder, do STDs exist in this world? I mean, Robert was slain by that kingslaying boar, not an STD after all.
~~~Few minutes later~~~
"I swear to the gods, next time he calls me to the Hand's Tower at night, I'm not coming," I muttered, exhausted. Tourney, feast, now these fucking stairs, too much for one day.
Ser Jasper knocked on the door.
What the fuck. I'm not a servant. And what's the old fool doing in there? Definitely not enjoying that Tully whore. His balls are probably dry as dust.
I walked past Ser Jasper and pushed the door before anyone could reply.
There was my father sitting at the head of the table. Next to him, as I expected, Ser Robert Royce, drinking wine, and drinking wine, I guess.
He really loves wine so much. I bet his wife might get jealous, if she loved him to begin with. Fucking fat ass.
Besides, I wonder, would his cock even reach her peaches, or would that fat belly of his come in between?
"You seem rather happy, young lord. What could it be, I wonder?" Ser Royce commented.
Shit. Did I grin at my own thoughts? I can't exactly say I was thinking about his wife's ass.
"Oh no, it's nothing. I was happy about my tourney victory," I spoke as I dragged back the chair and sat at the table, reaching for the cup, only for it to be taken away by Jon before I could reach it.
"You have drunk enough for the day. I saw you during the feast. You reminded me of young Robert," Jon spoke, his other hand taking the wine bottle.
What? I am not that desperate that I would drink from the bottle. Besides, I don't drink like him. It was a celebration after all. I am the youngest person in the history of the Seven Kingdoms to win anything in a tourney. Even though it was an archery competition, which is not seen in the same light as joust or melee, but still, an eight year win, I think that's big.
"So what did you call me here for?" I asked, putting both my hands on the table.
"Don't try to act innocent. You would have probably already asked Ser Jasper about the reason," Jon dismissed my innocent acting.
"Is Lysa Tully and her son coming too?" I asked him straight forward. I hope that bitch is not coming, and that little shit too, otherwise I might have to kill those two.
"Artys, we've discussed this. Show respect. She is your mother, and Robin is your brother," Jon raised his voice, anger flashing.
For god's sake, I would rather die than call that Tully bitch mom.
"She is your wife, not my mother. There is a difference. Besides, I don't like her, not even a little bit. Let's not talk about it. So, I'm going to the Vale?" I asked him, clearly drawing a line between me and the Tully.
I looked at Jon. He just sighed, exhausted by the day. He is old after all. He can't go on with a lecture to his son about calling his new bitch mom.
"Never mind. I don't want to waste time on this. And yes, you are going to the Vale. You will go to the Vale and learn how to rule. Lord Royce and his cousin, Ser Nestor Royce, will help you rule and introduce you to the lords of the Vale and our ways," Jon sighed, looking old and tired. No energy for a lecture tonight.
Looks like the Lord of the Vale has made up his mind. It's a good move to send me back to the Eyrie, far from this city. The Lannisters already disliked me, not to mention today's victory. I mean, it's a pity I don't have a camera. Otherwise, I would have captured Cersei's face when she saw my victory.
"So it's just me going there, right?" I tried to confirm my earlier doubt. I don't think Lysa would come to the Vale, far away from her dear Petyr or whatever. I doubt that boy is Petyr's son anyway, or honestly, I don't care. Once Jon is dead, I would throw that little shit from his favorite Moon Door.
"For now, your mother and your brother won't come. I will send them when Robin is a little older," Jon Arryn clarified.
Good. That's good news.
"Wonderful. When do we leave? I should start packing accordingly." I got up, the sound of the chair being dragged echoing in the quiet room.
"Day after tomorrow. Pack whatever you need. I will send twenty men with you. Plus, you will have Lord Royce and his men. That should be more than enough for safe passage through the Crownlands and Riverlands," Jon spoke while rolling up the paper. He put wax on it, then his sigil, and handed it to Yohn Royce.
"I think we should go by sea. My new ships are ready. Soryn bought three, and the flagship dwarfs the King's Hammer. Gulltown to the Eyrie. I can see more of the Vale that way," I expressed my intention to go there from the sea.
"That seems like a good plan. Besides, it's been a long time since I have met Lord Grafton," Yohn Royce added, supporting my suggestion.
We both looked at Jon, because it was he who would make the final decision.
"Go ahead. You can travel through the seas. And Artys, about the slaves?" Jon gave his approval to our voyage.
"Well, I had Soryn send two men with my signature to Volantis. The slaves would be freed and they would be free to go, but they could work for me again if they chose. I would give them coins for their work. Now it's time for me to leave. I will go take some rest," I said, and started walking toward the door.
Ser Jasper followed and closed the door, leaving Jon Arryn and Yohn Royce alone to spend some more time to get drunk and bond together.
POV ends
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/Merchant0014