Because it is located in the east of Westeros, morning in the Eyrie always comes earlier than elsewhere.
While other castles in the valley were still sleeping in the deepest darkness before dawn, this white castle built on the peak of the Mingyue Mountains could already see the first ray of sunlight piercing the sea of clouds.
The golden light first illuminated the tallest tower of the Gates of the Moon, and then slowly spread downwards, coating the entire castle with a flowing luster, like a palace where the gods lived in mythology.
The former Chancellor of the Exchequer, now Harrenhal Earl, the Eagle's Nest... well Lord Petyr Baelish, the husband of the Duchess, stood on the top of the peak, holding a glass of golden wine produced by Arbor in his hand.
The wine took on the color of Gold Dragon in the morning light. Gently shaking the crystal cup, the wine left short traces on the wall of the cup.
Cool!
He took a sip of the wine, letting the sweet and slightly astringent liquid linger on his tongue for a moment before slowly swallowing it.
Looking over the stone railing of the balcony, I cast my gaze towards the rolling sea of clouds below. The clouds were changing colors in the morning light, spreading before my eyes like a huge tapestry.
Everything is going almost as planned.
This thought brought a smile to Petyr's lips.
Valley.
Among the Seven Kingdoms, the Seven Kingdoms is the easiest to defend and difficult to attack. It is surrounded by mountains and has only one man in charge of the Blood Gate. As long as you hold on to those dangerous passes, even if you have thousands of troops, it will be difficult for you to even take a step forward.
And now, he stands here.
Not as a guest, but as a host, or... soon to be a host.
Lysa Tully was more manageable than he expected.
This stupid woman has been extremely obsessed with him since the Maiden era. Twenty years later, instead of dissipating, that obsession has fermented into a pathological possessiveness due to the torture of time and multiple miscarriages.
Recalling the wedding half a month ago, a hint of sarcasm flashed in Petyr's eyes.
They got married on the barren territory of the Five Fingers Peninsula, a small territory with more rocks than soil.
The so-called "castle" was nothing more than a fortified tower with peeling walls, smoke leaking from the fireplace, and bedroom windows that didn't close tightly, allowing the night breeze to find its way in.
But Lysa doesn't care.
"As long as I can become your wife immediately, Petyr, I am willing to get married even in a thatched hut."
At that time, she held his arm tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh. Her eyes, which were cloudy due to long-term consumption of moon tea and miscarriage, were full of desperate fanaticism.
Petyr originally wanted to insist on holding the wedding in the Eagle's Nest. After all, it was in line with his status and it could also show his authority as the husband of the new duchess to the princes of the valley.
But Lysa's eagerness made him change his mind.
Sometimes, satisfying a person's trivial desires can lead to her blind obedience to your greater needs.
So he agreed.
The wedding was ridiculously crude.
The only participants were a dozen maids and guards brought by Lysa, plus a few old farmers from his territory. They stood in the hall, helpless, their coarse clothes were washed white, and the patches were piled on top of each other.
The monk was an old man with half of his teeth. When he recited the prayer, his saliva sprayed everywhere with the sound of air leaking.
But Lysa cried.
When Petyr put the cheap silver ring that he bought casually in a small town on the road for less than a Silver Stag on her finger, Lysa cried like a child receiving a gift for the first time.
She threw herself into his arms, her tears soaking the front of his clothes, and she murmured repeatedly, "I finally waited, Petyr, I finally waited..."
And that night Bridal Chamber was even more of a disaster.
Lysa was too eager and too clumsy.
Time seems to have made her body stiff and sensitive, and every touch can cause her to have an extremely exaggerated reaction.
After she was done, she kept talking, recalling every detail of their youth at Riverrun...
Early the next morning, they set off for the Eagle's Nest City.
In the next half month, Petyr barely spent a full day in the castle.
He visited the valley princes, Fushi City, and Xinsu City one after another, and even Sisterton who was as far away as Bay of Crabs was not spared.
Every time he visited, Petyr demonstrated his political talents almost perfectly.
Showing appropriate respect for the elder and conservative, he talked about Lord Jon Arryn's legacy and promised to "assist Lady Lysa in guarding the traditions of the Vale."
To the young and energetic one, he talked loudly about the new situation in King's Landing, implying that following him would lead to greater glory and wealth than being trapped in the valley.
For those who were in debt, he even generously offered to lend them some funds to tide them over.
After walking in a circle, the effect is remarkable.
Due to severe self-isolation, the valley lords are almost all one-minded, and sometimes their level of cunning is not even as good as that of the North's gang of barbarians.
Although most of the princes were suspicious of the sudden appearance of the Duke's husband, they at least remained polite on the surface.
The few who clearly expressed their dissatisfaction, such as the bronze Yohn Royce, were temporarily suppressed by Petyr using "Lady Lysa's wishes" and "the overall situation of stability in the valley".
Just give me one more year.
Petyr looked at the sea of clouds with high spirits, thinking constantly in his mind.
One year was enough for him to install his cronies, buy spies, find out the secrets of each family, and weave his own web in the valley's power network.
Then, find a suitable opportunity... get rid of that crazy woman Lysa!
Vale men would believe such a story about a crazy woman who lost her mind and fell from the moon gate. After all, Lysa's mental state was obvious to all.
By then, as Lysa's husband, Petyr Baelish will naturally become the regent of the Vale.
At least that was the case until Robert Arryn Aylin came of age.
However, whether the child will "accidentally" die on the way depends on Petyr's needs.
Perfect plan.
Simply perfect!
It's just...
... Suddenly, Petyr's smile faded a little.
The only variable at the moment is Sansa Stark.
He raised the glass and took another sip. The liquid slid down his throat, bringing a brief warmth, but it couldn't dispel the uneasiness in his heart.
Before leaving King's Landing, Petyr sent Dontos Hollard to kidnap Sansa in the chaos of Joffrey's wedding party, take her to a pre-arranged cargo ship, and transport her out of King's Landing.
The reward is one thousand Gold Dragon, and a ticket to start a new life in Braavos.
The plan should have been seamless.
The chaos of the wedding banquet is the best cover. Tyrion will become the prime suspect in poisoning Joffrey, and everyone's attention will be focused on Tyrion.
Sansa's "disappearance" will be interpreted as her escape after conspiring with her husband to murder the king, and no one will even defend her, because Sansa is the daughter of a traitor after all, and there are too many people who want revenge on the Stark family.
The cargo ship will meet the Braavos merchant ship arranged by Petyr outside Blackwater Bay, and Sansa will be secretly sent to the Five Fingers Peninsula, where she will be imprisoned until Petyr takes complete control of the valley.
But...
No news.
The cargo ship did not arrive at the pick-up point as scheduled.
Dontos did not transmit any Ravens.
Sansa Stark seemed to have evaporated, disappearing from King's Landing but not appearing where she was supposed to.
Petyr sent people to investigate secretly, and the information they got was vague and contradictory.
Some people said that they saw a sloop being intercepted in Blackwater Bay, but there are different opinions on who the interceptor was. Some said it was Royal Fleet, some said it was a privateer of a certain noble, and some even said it was a pirate who suddenly appeared.
But no matter who it is, there is no follow-up news.
There was no ransom demand, and no one claimed to have caught the the North heirs.
This is so right.
After all, Sansa Stark is too valuable. She is the legal heir to Winterfell and the key to controlling the North.
Anyone who catches her will be eager to use her, either for blackmail, marriage, or as a political bargaining chip.
Unless...
Unless whoever captured her has a longer-term plan.
Or, there is a bigger plot.
Petyr frowned and drank the remaining wine in his glass.
At this moment, the bedroom door was pushed open.
Lysa Tully walked in.
Because Petyr said that he liked her to wear blue, saying that it made the color of her eyes softer, this stupid love-minded woman almost only wore light blue silk nightgown from now on.
She was carrying a tray with a bowl of steaming porridge, a few slices of golden toasted bread, and a small dish of honey.
"I prepared breakfast for you, dear."
Lysa's voice was so sweet that it was completely different from the bitter and resentful look she had when she married Jon Arryn.
She walked to the balcony and placed the tray on the small round table. "You always get up too early. It's impossible not to eat."
Hearing this, Petyr turned around, with a gentle smile on his face.
"You don't need to do this, Lysa." He took the bowl from her and brushed the back of her hand with his fingertips intentionally or unintentionally:
, just let the maid do these things."
"I don't want it!" But faced with Petyr's kind words, Lysa immediately shook her head stubbornly, like a frightened child. "I don't want those little bitches to get close to you. I can see the way they look at you, they all want to seduce you!"
As she spoke, her voice suddenly rose in pitch, and a familiar look of madness appeared in her eyes.
"Especially that Terri, the one with curly brown hair. When you talked to her yesterday, her face turned red. This little bitch, I will send her to the Blood Gate today and let the Royce family discipline her...
"Lysa." A trace of disgust flashed in Petyr's eyes, but he still held her hand and comforted her softly but firmly, "Calm down."
"Teri is just a maid. She just delivers messages to me. If you do this, you will scare the other maids and make the adults think you are not stable enough."
"I don't care!" Lysa's lips trembled. "I don't care what they think, I only care about you, Petyr!"
"You are mine and mine alone. I have waited twenty years to marry you. I can't let anyone take you away again!"
Lysa was very moved when she spoke, and tears welled up from her eyes.
Petyr sighed inwardly, put down the porridge bowl, gently hugged Lysa into his arms, and stroked her loose long hair with his fingers.
"No one can take me from me, Lysa." He whispered in her ear. "I am your husband. Always."
This sentence worked like a magic spell.
Lysa's trembling gradually subsided. She hugged Petyr tightly and buried her face in his chest, like a drowning person grasping at straws.
"Promise me, Petyr, promise me you'll never leave me."
"I promise you."
"Promise me you won't look at other women."
"I only have eyes for you."
"Promise me we will have many children, many, many...
"We'll have a big family, Lysa, I promise."
The lie spewed out of Petyr's mouth smoothly, as naturally as breathing.
While comforting the woman in his arms, he looked over her shoulder to the rolling sea of clouds in the distance.
He needed Lysa, at least for now.
This woman's madness is a double-edged sword that can both hurt him and be used by him to hurt others.
As long as she is controlled carefully, she will be his most powerful weapon in the valley, a weapon that can clear obstacles without his own hands.
As for the kids...
Petyr narrowed his eyes slightly.
That depends on whether Lesa's body can survive the pregnancy.
Multiple miscarriages had seriously damaged her health, and the maester had told him privately that it was unlikely that Lysa would become pregnant again, and that even if she did, she probably wouldn't be able to keep it.
But it doesn't matter.
If Lysa couldn't give birth, he could always find another way.
The key is time.
At this moment, a burst of footsteps came from behind.
Heavy, clumsy, with obvious anger, it clearly belonged to a man, a huge man.
Petyr turned around.
I saw the eternal guardian of the Gates of the Moon, Nestor Royce, walking from the stairs.
He is one of the important members of the Royce family branch. When Lord Arryn died, he had served as High Steward of Arryn Vale for fourteen years.
He was very strong, with a bald head, his scalp was shiny in the morning light, and his thick beard was already mixed with a lot of white strands.
However, the Eyrie City manager did not have any polite smile on his face at this moment. Instead, he was suppressing his anger. His eyes sunken under his thick eyebrows were staring at Petyr like a wild beast that had intruded into his territory.
"Ser Nestor, so early...
,"Ravens is here." Nestor interrupted him, his voice rough, like two stones rubbing against each other.
He pulled out a roll of parchment from his arms and did not hand it to Petyr, but held it tightly in his hand. "It just arrived. It has the Prime Minister's wax seal on it."
As soon as these words came out, Petyr's heart sank.
But the smile on his face did not change, and even became gentler. "Oh? Lord Tywin, do you have any instructions?"
However, Nestor did not answer, but looked at Lysa Tully in his arms.
"Whatever happens to Tywin Lannister, please tell me quickly, Ser Nestor."
There was obvious displeasure in Lysa's tone, as if she was very dissatisfied that Nestor had disturbed her and Petyr's early morning alone.
Hearing this, Nestor took a deep breath.
"Madam." Nestor's voice became more hoarse. He turned to Lysa and bowed deeply. "There is news from King's Landing. Prime Minister Tywin Lannister has sent an urgent order."
As he spoke, he paused and glanced at Petyr, with a trace of barely concealed hostility flashing in his eyes.
"Lord Petyr Baelish is requested to return to King's Landing immediately for questioning!"
He said the last four words very loudly.
Petyr's pupils shrank slightly.
Accept inquiries?
What did Tywin know?
Although being questioned rather than tried, this means that Tywin does not have conclusive evidence yet, he is just doubting and testing.
But this also means that if you go to King's Landing, you will be trapped in a trap.
On Tywin's territory, when faced with Tywin's questioning, no matter how good Petyr was at speaking, there was no guarantee that he would not reveal his flaws.
Can't go.
Absolutely can't go.
These thoughts flashed in a flash of light.
Petyr smiled again, a gentle and calm smile.
Because he knew very well that Lysa would not agree.
Sure enough, in just a few seconds, Lysa's expression had changed.
Her face turned red, her lips trembled, and her eyes that always looked cloudy were frighteningly bright at the moment.
"He dares!"
Lysa screamed, her voice sharp. "How dare he order Petyr like this, Petyr is my husband now! Even as Hand, Tywin has no right to order us!"
She grabbed Petyr's arm and dug her nails into his flesh. The force was so strong that Petyr could feel the pain, but he didn't break away.
"You're not allowed to go!"
Lysa stared at him, with crazy possessiveness and a hint of fear in her eyes. "Did you hear that, Petyr, I don't allow you to go!"
"King's Landing is a dirty, evil place. People there are jealous of you and want to harm you! They don't want to see you well, and they don't want you to be with me!"
Her voice became higher and shriller.
Nestor frowned.
The old knight's loyalty to Lysa is unquestionable, but he is obviously not used to dealing with her hysterical state.
He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but Petyr spoke first.
"Lysa, calm down." Petyr raised a hand and gently touched her cheek. "Ser Nestor is just conveying the news. We can have a good talk and discuss it."
"There's nothing to discuss!" Lesa shook her head violently. "You can't go! You just can't go!"
"If you go, they will definitely detain you, frame you, or even... even kill you!"
Tears welled up from her eyes, mixed with anger and fear.
"They have already taken away my first husband!" she cried, "Now they want to take you away, no, I will never agree! I have lost too much, Petyr, I can't lose you again!"
She threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly, her body shaking violently with sobs.
Petyr hugged her, caressing her back with his fingers, but looked over her shoulder and looked at Nestor.
Nestor's eyes are extremely complicated.
There is concern for Lysa, disgust for Petyr, and a deep sense of powerlessness.
This old knight loved Lysa, and maybe he is still in love with her now. Seeing her going crazy for a man like this must have made him feel uncomfortable.
"Ser Nestor." Petyr said, his voice still gentle, but with a hint of helplessness. "You have also seen that Lysa is too worried about me."
"I thought maybe we needed some time to discuss this."
Hearing this, Nestor pursed his lips tightly and said stiffly, "Lord Tywin's order is immediate." Ravens It takes time to fly from King's Landing to the Eyrie. If you spend more time discussing it, by the time a decision is made, I'm afraid it will be...
"Then let him wait!" Lysa suddenly raised her head from Petyr's arms, her face full of tears, but her eyes were extremely fierce. "My husband does not need to obey the orders of King's Landing! If Tywin Lannister has any objections, let him come to the Eyrie in person to speak!"
This sounds extremely arrogant, but it is also very consistent with Lysa's character.
Nestor's brows furrowed even more tightly.
He looked at Petyr, as if waiting for his response.
Petyr sighed.
The sigh was very soft, but full of helplessness and doting, at least that's what it sounded like.
He held Lysa's face and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his thumbs.
"My dear, you can't talk like this." He said softly, "Lord Tywin is the Prime Minister of the Seven Kingdoms, his authority must be respected, and there must be a reason why he asked me to go back to "accept questioning"."
"Maybe something happened in King's Landing and I need to provide information. If I refuse to go, it will make me look guilty, as if I have something to hide."
He spoke very frankly.
Even Nestor was slightly moved, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes, maybe this guy really has a clear conscience?
But then, Petyr changed the subject again.
"But I'm not worried about myself, I'm worried about you, Lysa, and Robert Arryn."
Lysa was stunned.
"If I leave the Vale and go to King's Landing, the trip will take at least a month."
Petyr continued, stroking her cheek gently with his fingers. "For this month, you are here alone, facing the adults in the valley, and facing the rumors that may come from King's Landing... I am not worried."
As he spoke, his eyes turned to Nestor.
"Ser Nestor is loyal and reliable, I know, but after all, he is just High Steward, not a duke."
"If some people take the opportunity to make trouble, question your authority, question the legitimacy of our marriage, or even question the inheritance rights of Robert Arryn...
He didn't finish what he said, but the meaning was already obvious.
Lysa's face turned pale.
She is just stupid, but not a fool. She knows very well who caused Jon Arryn's death.
After swallowing, Lysa's breathing became rapid, and her hands gripped Petyr's shirt tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"No." She murmured, "No, you can't leave, I can't be alone...Robert Arryn needs me, the valley needs me, I... I need you."
She raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes again.
"It's too dangerous out there, Petyr."
Her voice was trembling. "There are wars and betrayals everywhere. The Stark family is almost over. Who will be next?"
As she said that, Blue Shark she hugged Petyr tightly, buried her face in his chest, and sobbed. "We are not going anywhere, we are just staying in the valley."
"There is the Blood Gate and the Gate of the Moon in the valley. It is safe here. People from outside can't come in, and we won't go out. This is the safest way."
Petyr hugged her, and Ziguang met Nestor again.
This time, Nestor's eyes were more complicated.
He could tell that Petyr was manipulating Lysa, but on the other hand... Lysa's reactions were real, her fears were real, and she did need protection and support.
And Petyr, no matter what kind of person he is, at least for now, he is Lysa's chosen husband and someone she is willing to trust.
If Petyr was forced to go to King's Landing, Lysa might completely collapse.
That would be an even greater disaster for the valley.
Nestor took a deep breath and looked down at the parchment in his hand. The wax seal of the Prime Minister's Tower on it was particularly dazzling in the morning light.
Then, he slowly handed the parchment to Petyr.
His movements were stiff, as if he was handing over something unclean.
Petyr took the parchment, rerolled it without looking at it, held it in his hand, and then looked at Nestor.
"Ser Nestor." He spoke, his voice returning to his usual gentleness and courtesy. "Please send Ravens to reply, saying that Petyr Baelish is grateful to Lord Tywin for the summons, but due to the busy government affairs in the valley, and the need for care of Lady Lysa and Master Robert Arryn, he is temporarily unable to go to King's Landing."
"If you have any important questions, you can pass them through Ravens, and you will be answered truthfully."
Hearing this, Nestor stared at him and remained silent for a long time.
Finally, the old knight nodded slowly, as if he had accepted his fate.
Turning around, heavy footsteps sounded again, and he walked down the stairs of the observation deck step by step, disappearing into the shadows.
Petyr watched him leave, and then looked down at Lysa in his arms.
She was still sobbing, but her mood had calmed down a lot.
"It's okay, dear, we are safe. We will stay in the valley and not go anywhere."
"I will protect you, protect Robert Arryn, and protect our home."
Lysa raised her head and looked at him with tearful eyes.
"You really won't leave me?"
"Never."
"But what if Tywin sends another letter?"
"Even if Tywin comes in person, I will not leave you."
These lies came out of his mouth smoothly, as naturally as breathing.
Lysa smiled.
"I love you, Petyr."
"I love you too, Lysa."
Petyr hugged her, but looked over her shoulder into the distance.
King's Landing.
He will go.
But at least not now.
He wants to stay in the valley, consolidate power, weave a network, and wait for the opportunity.
Wait until he is strong enough, so strong that he doesn't need to fear Tywin or anyone else.
Only then will he go back.
Thinking of this, Petyr let go of Lysa, held her hand, and walked towards the exit of the observation deck.
The sun has fully risen, illuminating the entire valley.
The sea of clouds rolled beneath our feet, the mountains rose all around, and the white towers of the Eyrie shone in the morning light.
All this is in his hands.
This time, he will be the one to make the rules.