The two talked for a very, very long time before Lord Nestor found an opportunity to stroll onto the balcony.
"Prince Gendry, Lady Mya, your reunion as brother and sister is deeply moving. But I believe I must formally introduce Lady Mya to the lords of the Vale as well. Lord Jon once entrusted me with looking after her," Lord Nestor said respectfully. Mya found his manner a little overwhelming. After all, Nestor had been her overseer for a long time, though he had treated her reasonably well, partly because Lord Arryn had specifically instructed him to.
Gendry nodded. After saying goodbye to him, Mya followed Lord Nestor back to the Eyrie's great hall. From then on, she was no longer the Eyrie's little guide, but a princess of House Baratheon.
Only Gendry and the old knight, Ser Barristan Selmy, remained on the empty balcony. The other knights and servants who had been watching the spectacle resumed their bouts.
"Your Highness, can that child truly live to sixteen?" Ser Barristan asked softly, still concerned. The old knight had seen the little duke: pale skin, pitifully thin limbs, a soft, sunken chest, eyes that were always red-rimmed and hollow, and a small, flat belly. It was not his fault. He had been born small and frail.
"We can only do our best." Gendry sighed.
"If something happens to the Vale's heir again, I fear the Iron Throne will have to intervene. House Arryn's main line has already died out twice, and each time the Iron Throne stepped in. Let us hope this time passes peacefully." Ser Barristan's expression was bitter.
Such was House Arryn, perhaps the unluckiest of all the houses. Its main line had already ended twice since Aegon's Conquest. If Little Robert were added to that count, this would