(Third-person perspective)
The lords of the Vale gathered to discuss their next course of action, and the war council hall echoed with heated discussions. Lord Horton Egen, a disheveled veteran known for his strategic acumen, spoke first.
"My lord, I have fought alongside you for many years, and I do not advocate surrender. But Grafton is right. We cannot resist the Druid ' offensive indefinitely. Our people will suffer, our land will bleed. I say we should consider a peaceful route, at least for now."
Lord Harlan Ruthermont, a fanatical and proud nobleman, slammed his fist on the table. "Peace? Are we to bow down to this mysterious puppeteer? Our ancestors will writhe in their graves! I cannot tolerate it. Bring the Druid, and we will raise our blades to meet him!"
Lord Jon Lynderly, renowned for his diplomatic skills, offered a measured perspective. " Horton is right; Harlan has his own view. We cannot ignore the threat, but open resistance could lead to our destruction. Perhaps we can coexist peacefully for now while we regroup and assess our options."
As the debate unfolded, Lord Gerold Grafton, a staunch supporter of the Vale's traditional values, also voiced his opinion. "We've heard enough of this, my lord. We cannot tarnish our honor by kneeling before a wizard. We will find a way to break his spell, strengthen our defenses, and protect our people. Druid will not dictate to the Vale."
Eric Grafton added with great enthusiasm.
"We need to protect our people and our land. If that means seeking peace temporarily, then so be it. But make no mistake, this should be a temporary truce. We cannot allow the Druid to think he has permanently defeated us."
Eric couldn't understand how they could be so fanatical and reckless in opposing someone with such great power.
Jon Arryn listened attentively, absorbing all the opinions. The challenge lay in striking a balance between defending the Vale's honor and ensuring the well-being of Vale people. The discussion continued late into the night, echoing the Vale's own internal struggles, and after two days of debate, they finally reached a conclusion.
Eric Grafton's expression was resolute as he reiterated his proposal. "My lord, we must demand that the Druid release our people on Paps and remove his creatures from our land. This is a necessary condition for any peace negotiations. If he refuses, we will know that his intentions are not honorable."
A chorus of nods of approval filled the meeting hall, indicating that everyone understood Grafton's reasoning. Lord Jon Lynderly, his gaze fixed intently on Lord Arryn, added.
"Then let's have a peace conditional. We demand the release of our relatives, and we demand that the Druid refrain from using his supernatural powers while we engage in diplomatic discussions."
Jon Arryn said firmly.
"I have made up my mind. As Lord Grafton advised, we have no way to reclaim these islands. We will preserve our strength for another day, and we will refuse to pay war reparations and sue for peace. We cannot accept any more humiliation unless the Druid press us further. If they do, then we must fight for the Seven Kingdoms and the Vale; we must fight for them and defend them."
The War Council, united in its approach, put forward a proposal that balanced the urgency of recuperation with the determination to uphold the Vale's sovereignty. Some lords were reluctant, but they had no choice but to accept their lords' decision. Now, Jon continued in a more measured tone.
"We will send envoys with these conditions to the Druid. If he values peace, he will abide by our terms. Otherwise, we are prepared to face anything. But remember, this is not the end. This is a strategic move to protect our people and build up our strength."
Lord Grafton added.
"Diplomatic means are necessary. We should have Lord Stark as our guarantor for the Druid' actions, since he is the Warden of the North. If either side disrupts the peace, we will have a legitimate reason to appeal to the King. Even if he is a friend of Lord Stark, the Protector of the Kingdom and the Faith, he will have no choice but to raise his banner against the Druid. Then we will be able to see Lord Stark's true stance against the Druid."
They had informed Lord Stark and Lord Drasil five days ago, but the news came not only from the North but also from the south. Jon Arryn summoned his lords again. This time the news was serious. He told them what had happened. Eric Grafton slammed his fist on the table.
"I knew something was wrong; it must have been the Druid."
"Lord Arryn said."
"We cannot prove what is stated above."
He displayed another message,
" Drasil is on his way from the Three Sisters with Lord Stark; they will arrive tomorrow. The Druid has also been seen on the islands. This doesn't make sense; it's impossible for him to reach the Three Sisters in a day and then return in such a short time, even if he could fly. No bird can fly that fast, not even a dragon."
Eric Grafton said in an angry voice.
"That's too much of a coincidence. He just happened to imprison our people when the Mountain Clans revolted."
Jon sighed and continued.
"Even if he did it, he covered it up very well. We can't prove he instigated the uprising. I'm curious why we only received this information now. According to this message, it all happened a week ago; we should have received the news five days ago."
Jon turned to the Lord of the Vale and spoke.
"As you heard this morning, I have deployed the majority of my forces to the Vale of Arryn in case of another attack, and have placed every Citadel on high alert. I have ordered them to triple patrols in every area. We cannot afford to be attacked again without preparation."
Lord Horton Egen said,
"It seems that Druid is even bolder than we thought; he looted and burned all our spoils. Is he preparing to invade?" You can see that all the lords from the Vale of Arryn are furious about the losses they have suffered.
Eric Grafton shook his head.
"No, if that were the case, he should have come alone, not with Lord Stark. We still have five thousand men here. He might be able to escape, but he definitely couldn't take Lord Stark with him. I don't think he would harm Lord Stark like that; he must have other plans."
Olenna Tyrell was pruning roses in Highgarden's famous rose garden. It was, in her words, one of her routines, tending to those poor flowers. She despised anything associated with Lady status, but as a Lady, she had to do it. As a member of House Tyrell, she had to be perfect.
Don't misunderstand her; her family is everything to her, but a so-called high-ranking lord of the Reach wouldn't follow a woman while a man is in the picture. She simply has no illusions; she has to do everything indirectly.
At least her son knew his mother was smarter than him, and as long as she didn't blatantly trample on him, he would continue to follow her influence. She trimmed her hair with a mocking smile, believing that most of her power depended on her son's obedience. She deserved more, and she had won more, but the long years had taught her that life was never fair.
As she pondered what to do in this turbulent political climate, a large black Crow perched on the pergola beside her and began to caw, startling the maid and Margaery. Margaery screamed and ran into her arms. It was the largest Crow she had ever seen; it was bigger than the eagle in its cage. At first, she was about to run away when she noticed a large piece of parchment tied to its leg.