Chapter 1 - Eagle and Lion

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My first order of business was marrying Cersei Lannister. Despite my best attempts, I could not break off my affair with Alle - I had grown quite attached to the young woman. She was staying for a little while longer. Mine and Cersei's wedding began organisation immediately, and King Joffrey gave a generous dowry of lots of gold and silver, worth a hefty 400 gold coins. The Lannisters really did pay their debts.



I was a man of forty and two years, and it was of utmost importance I provided an heir for the Arryn line before my fertility dwindled and I fell into the trap my brother had. If that couldn't happen, I'd have to acknowledge the Arryns of Gulltown - and that is an option I'd like to steer well away from.



While I was busy getting married, I received word that Jon Snow, Eddard Stark's bastard, had become Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. This could mean interesting things for the realm.



Night came, and the bedding began. I, for one, enjoyed it. I didn't leave to lead my army before I was certain my 'lioness', as I had taken to calling her, was with child. I received news that Alle would soon be bringing my bastard into the world before I knew Cersei was with her fourth child, a legitimate Arryn we had decided to name Tybolt, provided the babe was a male heir. The news of my bastard presented multiple problems, but I decided I'd cross that bridge when I came to it. I had a war to fight. The last time a war of this scale had happened, the Vale and the Stormlands were allies - not this time.



Before I left the Vale, Alle gave birth to a daughter. My plan was to ignore the child, denounce it. Upon seeing the child though, I had to acknowledge it as my own. Bastard or not, the child was an Arryn, and I was its father.​



I soon received word that Cersei had given birth to Tybolt, meaning that if I were to die, my dynasty would not be extinct.​





I got word that Stannis 'the Imperious' had been captured by Joffrey Lannister and had surrendered. He was executed. With this news, me and soldiers began the long trek home. I would have joined Joffrey in his war against Robb Stark, but I did not think it wise to go to war on a Kingdom so large and so close. Joffrey was now known as 'the Kinslayer', and was widely regarded as a tyrant.​



Soon after I returned home, Robb Stark surrendered to King Joffrey. Despite my step-son's various threats against the so-called 'King in the North', he let him go free.



Tywin Lannister offered to betroth Tybolt to Sansa Stark - an alliance with the North? How I could refuse?



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