Hearing the still familiar voice, Catelyn Tully felt as if time had flowed back twenty years, taking her back to her childhood.
Dust-laden, she revealed a heartfelt smile: "Uncle, aren't you also far from home?"
Brynden Tully pointed to the Blood Gate fortress and said, "Cate, my home is here."
Ever since Catelyn could remember, Uncle Brynden and her father had been at odds. When she was eight, the two brothers had a big quarrel. Her father accused Uncle Brynden of being the black sheep of the Tully, but Uncle Brynden laughed and said that the Tully Family's sigil was a Trout leaping out of the water, so he should be a black fish, not a black sheep... From that day on, he adopted the black Trout as his personal emblem.
Their dispute didn't end until the day she and her sister were married. It was at the wedding feast that Uncle Brynden announced to her father that he was leaving Riverrun with his young niece, Lysa, to serve her new husband, Duke Jon Arryn of Eyrie.
"Your home is in my heart..."
Catelyn's hands were tightly clasped, her gaze fixed on her uncle: "My uncle, take off your helmet, I want to see you properly again."
During Catelyn's maidenhood, whenever her father was too busy and her mother was too ill, Duke Hoster's children shared their joys and sorrows with Uncle Brynden.
Whether it was Catelyn and Lysa, or Edmure Tully and her father's foster son, Petyr Baelish, Uncle Brynden patiently listened, rejoiced with them in their successes, and sympathized with the troubles caused by their immaturity.
"I'm afraid after all these years, it still hasn't gotten any better..."
Though Ser Brynden said this, when he lifted his helmet, Catelyn thought he had lied... Although her uncle's face was weathered, and time had stolen his reddish-brown hair, leaving only a head full of gray, his smile remained, his thick, caterpillar-like eyebrows remained, and the amusement in his deep blue eyes remained.
"Child, you shouldn't be here at this time."
"Uncle, I'm not a child anymore."
"Little Cate, you just look grown up..."
Ser Brynden turned towards the Blood Gate, and he continued, "You need a fireplace and hot tea right now."
Catelyn jumped onto her horse and followed Ser Brynden.
Long battlements were built on the cliffs on both sides, the mountain path narrowed to barely allow four people to ride abreast, and two watchtowers clung to the rock face, connected by a weathered gray stone enclosed arch bridge.
Catelyn could feel silent faces watching them from the arrow slits in the towers, the battlements, and the stone bridge.
Before the thick castle gate, Ser Brynden stopped his horse, looked at Catelyn and her party, and declared loudly, "In the name of Robert Arryn, Duke of Eyrie, Protector of the Vale of Arryn, and true Warden of the East, I allow you to pass through the Blood Gate, and I ask you to maintain peace in his name."
Catelyn proclaimed loudly, "I, Catelyn Tully, wife of Eddard Stark, Duke of Winterfell and Warden of the North, in the name of the Lady of Winterfell, pass through the Blood Gate and pledge peace."
After Catelyn finished speaking, a slight smile appeared on Ser Brynden's face: "Go."
Catelyn rode beside Brynden, her Winterfell guards following behind.
...
The Vale of Arryn was bathed in morning light.
Passing through the shadow of the Blood Gate, Catelyn arrived at the other end of the stone fortifications, where the peaks suddenly unfolded into view, and green fields, blue skies, and snow-capped mountain tops abruptly appeared, breathtakingly beautiful.
The valley stretched before them, extending to the misty east.
The Vale of Arryn was a peaceful and tranquil land, sheltered on all sides by mountains, with fertile black soil, wide and gentle rivers, and hundreds of lakes of all sizes, bright as mirrors in the sunlight, and fields abundant with barley, wheat, and corn.
Catelyn and the others continued their ride.
...
Inside a stone house at the western end of the valley, Catelyn stood at the window, looking out. The northern mountains were so close, they seemed within reach.
Firelight danced in the fireplace, adding warmth to the room.
Ser Brynden, sitting in front of the fireplace, turned his head to look at Catelyn, his eyes smiling: "Little Cate, you just look grown up."
Hearing her uncle's teasing, Catelyn's cheeks flushed. She left the window and sat by the fireplace.
"Uncle, the Vale of Arryn is so beautiful."
Brynden's voice was low and hoarse: "Beauty is only skin deep. I've recently seen a lot of ugliness hidden beneath the beautiful scenery."
Catelyn held a cup of hot tea, and her blue eyes showed confusion.
"Cate, you should have sent a raven first. The Vale of Arryn is not peaceful."
Catelyn's face showed sadness: "Uncle, I have indeed learned a painful lesson. The wildlings from the Mountains of the Moon have been harassing us day and night. We lost six men in total, and I almost thought we were finished."
"They are the mountain clans from the Mountains of the Moon. After Jon's death, these wildlings have become increasingly audacious."
"Didn't Lysa send troops?"
Ser Brynden gazed at Catelyn for a moment and said, "Cate, it seems you haven't received your husband's letter."
Catelyn's eyes were filled with resentment and unease: "Uncle, I came precisely for my husband and children. Queen Lannister is simply mad. She not only falsely accused Ned of treason... but also forced Sansa to write a confession..."
Her eyes became somewhat moist: "Robb has already gathered the Stark vassals to rescue Ned, and the Northern army is marching south. I came to see Lysa for the cavalry of the Vale of Arryn..."
Catelyn looked at Ser Brynden with determination and continued, "Uncle, I must rescue my husband and daughter from Cersei's hands."
After Catelyn finished speaking, Ser Brynden nodded slightly: "Cate, don't worry, the Tully and Stark armies can ensure the safety of your husband and children."
"Uncle, I want to see Lysa as soon as possible."
Ser Brynden slowly said, "Cate, not long ago, all the important nobles of the Vale of Arryn received a personal letter from your husband. He investigated and found the murderer of Duke Jon..."
Catelyn's eyes moved: "Is the murderer Lannister?"
Ser Brynden shook his head: "Cate, your husband said that Lysa Tully poisoned Duke Jon."
Catelyn was shocked. She looked at her uncle in disbelief.
Ser Brynden continued, "When the letter was written, Robert was not yet deceased, and Ned was still living in the Prime Ministers Tower."
Catelyn's face was pale, and she murmured, "How is that possible... How is that possible..."
Ser Brynden said in a deep voice, "It is indeed unbelievable, but everyone trusts Ned's character. Cate, you know your husband better than anyone."
"Gods, why is this happening!" Catelyn's pupils dilated, her lips trembled slightly, and the terrible news made her feel the world spinning.
"Little Cate, are you alright?"
"Is my sister insane? How could she do such a cruel thing?! Gods, what should she do?!"
Ser Brynden extended his large hand, trying to comfort his heartbroken niece as he had when she was a child, but Catelyn gripped it tightly. She buried her face in his palm, and he felt the hot tears.
Family, Duty, Honor... Ser Brynden looked at Catelyn and sighed.
...
Catelyn appeared strong on the surface, but she was constantly worried about her husband and children. She was awakened every night by terrible nightmares, and today's shocking news finally made her break down.
After a long while, Catelyn finally released her uncle's hand and cried like a child beside him, which made her heavy heart feel much lighter.
"Cate, our Lysa is still very safe right now."
Catelyn took a sip of tea, feeling a little embarrassed: "Uncle, I might be exhausted."
"Child, people are not made of iron. Men need wine, women need tears."
"Uncle, I'm not a child anymore."
"Little Cate, Ned is a good husband."
Catelyn wiped away the tears from her eyes, her swollen eyes looking at her uncle with confusion.
"A good husband allows his wife to retain her childlike nature."
Catelyn couldn't help but smile, and she said helplessly, "My dear uncle, I am already a mother of five children."
Ser Brynden smiled gently and said, "Cate, I plan to leave with you. We will rescue your family from the Lannister together."
"Uncle, that's truly exciting news. Robb needs your help..."
As she spoke, Catelyn's excited voice turned to worry: "My sister... Is the Vale of Arryn not doing well now?"
"Almost everyone is filled with righteous indignation. Jon was deeply loved by the people of the Vale of Arryn, and Lysa has committed an unforgivable crime."
Catelyn already knew her sister had made an unforgivable mistake, so she was even more worried.
"Then Lysa..."
"Lysa will be fine for now. She said Ned's letter was a deliberate slander, and that it was a Stark conspiracy to seize the Vale of Arryn... Many people in the Vale of Arryn believed her defense and chose to support her."
He added, "Lysa has expelled all suspicious persons from Eyrie and sealed all entrances. She firmly believes Eyrie is impregnable, and no enemy can breach it."
"Uncle, how are you doing now?"
Ser Brynden appeared worried: "I'm busy every day loading all kinds of supplies into the Eyrie's gondolas. That's the only thing I, your uncle, can do right now. Not long ago... Eyrie was crowded with Lysa's suitors, as numerous as crows on a battlefield. Now... almost all of those suitors have joined the Alliance of the Righteous."
"Alliance of the Righteous?"
Ser Brynden nodded: "The Vale Noble have formed an alliance. They claim they will use all necessary means to ensure Lysa receives the judgment she deserves."
Catelyn exclaimed, "Does that mean... will they raise an army?"
Ser Brynden sighed, "It's only a matter of time. The civil war in the Vale of Arryn is unavoidable."
He paused, then added, "The Alliance of the Righteous won't trust me, and Lysa only trusts her sworn knights."
"Sworn knights?"
Ser Brynden's tone carried a hint of helplessness: "Most are sworn knights from minor Vale Noble. They have sworn allegiance to Lysa alone, gods bless her."
Catelyn leaned back in her chair, she looked up at the ceiling and thought for a while, then said, "Uncle, my heart is very uneasy, I want to see Lysa as soon as possible."
Ser Brynden advised, "Cate, because of Ned, she is very likely to not welcome you."
Catelyn's voice was filled with determination: "Uncle, I believe Ned would not slander Lysa, but I still want to confirm with Lysa face to face, even if there is no hope, I hope this is a misunderstanding."
...
...
By the standards of nobles in the kingdom, Eyrie was not large, just seven white spires clustered together like arrows in a quiver, perched on the mountaintop.
Although Eyrie had no stables, blacksmiths, or kennels, its granary was as large as Winterfell's, and the castle's towers could accommodate five hundred soldiers.
Petyr Baelish, looking somewhat disheveled, left the gondola with the help of a young attendant... Looking around, compared to his past memories, the castle seemed unusually desolate.
...
Thump, thump, thump, thump, Petyr walked through the great hall made of white stone, his footsteps echoing.
"Petyr!"
A voice full of excitement rang out, and Lysa's plump figure appeared. She lifted her skirt and trotted towards Petyr.
Petyr revealed an elegant yet weary smile. He slowly opened his arms towards Lysa.
Lysa threw herself into Petyr's embrace. She hugged him tightly and cried, "Petyr, my Littlefinger, is it really you? Am I not dreaming?!"
Petyr gently patted Lysa's back and said softly, "It's me, my Lysa, I've finally seen you."
Lysa choked back tears: "Your men sent me a raven, saying you were imprisoned in the Black Cells. I was so scared, I had nightmares every day. I was so afraid of losing you, boo hoo hoo."
Petyr softly comforted her: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here, I'm here."
Petyr's hoarse whisper quickly calmed Lysa.
He gently pinched Lysa's chubby cheek, and a slight smile played on his lips as he said, "My Lysa, you're still so prone to crying. You truly are a girl who never grows up."
Lysa easily became shy in front of Petyr: "I won't cry anymore..."
Lysa looked at Petyr, her blue eyes dim and moist, her lips very pale.
"Petyr, how did you escape?"
Petyr's eyes trembled slightly as he said, "My Lysa, I thought I alone could bear the guilt of killing Jon Arryn, which is why I surrendered, but I didn't expect Eddard Stark to still not let go of my beloved girl..."
As he spoke, he affectionately stroked Lysa's hair and continued, "If I wanted to leave, no one could stop me... When I learned that there were rebels against you in the Vale of Arryn, I came back. I will always protect you, my Lysa."
"Petyr..." Lysa was moved to tears again.
Her voice was full of remorse: "My Petyr, you love me so much, yet I doubted you! I was mainly too scared. I felt everyone would harm me. I lived in fear every day. Please forgive me, you must forgive me!"