The Vale of Arryn.
A land of tranquil beauty, blessed with broad rivers and hundreds of lakes.
The Eyrie, perched atop the Mountains of the Moon, and the Gates of the Moon below it both lay on the western side of the valley.
From the Bloody Gate, the Gates of the Moon could be reached in only a few hours on horseback.
After leaving the Bloody Gate, Galon wasted no time, riding hard down the mountain road as it gradually widened.
Four hours later, at nearly nine o'clock that evening, the soldier from the Bloody Gate escorted him to the Gates of the Moon.
"Who goes there?"
From atop the castle walls, Ser Andar Royce, having already received word of the visitor's arrival, called down loudly.
The escort rode forward and halted outside the moat.
"My lord, this is Lord Glover, commander of the Northern and Riverlands alliance."
"I've been ordered by Ser Donnel to escort him safely to the Gates of the Moon."
Andar Royce stiffened.
"The Protector himself?"
"Quick! Lower the drawbridge!"
Even Galon was somewhat surprised.
He had not expected things to go so smoothly.
Moments later, the drawbridge creaked down.
Galon and his escort crossed it at an unhurried pace before arriving at the castle gate.
Under the warm glow of torchlight, Andar Royce approached with several attendants.
His face shone with excitement.
"Are you truly Lord Glover, the Protector?"
Galon dismounted with a smile as he regarded the lean young man before him, who appeared to be in his twenties.
"I am. And you are?"
Andar bowed politely.
"I am Ser Andar. Lord Royce of Runestone is my father."
Galon's smile broadened.
"So you're Ser Andar. Is Lord Royce within the castle?"
Andar nodded enthusiastically, his expression mirroring the excitement Galon had seen earlier on Ser Donnel's face.
Like so many others, he admired the legendary exploits of the Protector.
Ever since the days of Ser Duncan the Tall, Westeros had produced few warriors whose reputation rivaled Galon's.
"After your letter reached Runestone, my father summoned the leading lords of the Vale.
Only recently did everyone gather here at the Gates of the Moon.
Not only is my father here... So are all the great lords of the Vale.
Oh, they're in council right now. I'll take you to them."
Galon accepted with a nod.
Handing his reins to one of the castle guards, he followed Andar toward the great hall.
Before long, Andar had led him into the presence of every leading member of the Alliance of the Just.
At the entrance stood Bronze Yohn Royce himself.
The towering veteran seemed as immovable as a mountain.
Beside him stood Lord Hunter, Lord Redfort, Lady Waynwood, Ser Lyn Corbray, and the other influential nobles of the Vale.
"Lord Glover."
Bronze Yohn's deep voice carried the same metallic weight as his famed armor.
"Welcome to the Vale."
"Though I'm afraid you've arrived at an unfortunate time."
Galon returned the greeting with calm dignity.
"Lord Royce."
"On the contrary. I believe I've come at exactly the right moment."
He acknowledged each of the assembled nobles with a respectful nod.
There was little time for pleasantries.
Once everyone had entered the council chamber, Galon withdrew Catelyn's handwritten letter from inside his cloak and placed it before them.
"My lords."
He first handed the letter to Lord Royce before addressing the room.
"After learning the truth about King's Landing from the Lannisters, I immediately wrote two letters.
One I sent to Lord Royce. The other I sent to Lady Catelyn."
He shook his head with a look of regret.
"I believed this would ensure Lady Catelyn's safe return to the North while allowing the lords of the Vale to take control of the situation.
But I miscalculated.
I underestimated the relationship between Lady Catelyn and Lady Lysa.
As a result... Lady Catelyn has been forcibly detained within the Eyrie."
He slowly looked around the chamber.
"Now I come on behalf of the northern lords and Lord Edmure Tully.
They have entrusted me with bringing Lady Catelyn home. I hope you will lend me your aid."
His words were met with silence.
Lord Royce carefully finished reading the letter before passing it to the others.
Only after everyone had examined it did he finally speak.
"Lord Glover.
To be honest... We're troubled by the same problem.
Ever since we assembled here, Lady Lysa has locked herself inside the Eyrie and refuses to receive visitors.
Littlefinger handles every matter in her place."
Lady Waynwood sighed.
"We're men and women with strength... But nowhere to use it.
That upstart from the Fingers actually intends to marry Lady Lysa and seize control of the Vale.
He has even invited us all to attend their wedding tomorrow."
Lord Hunter shook his head in open contempt.
"Seven hells."
"That madwoman actually dares."
One by one, the great lords described the current state of affairs within the Eyrie.
At last, Lord Royce turned toward Galon.
"Lord Glover.
When I was in King's Landing, Lord Stark often spoke highly of your wisdom.
And now your victory at the Green Fork has made the Protector's name known throughout Westeros.
So... I'd like to hear your opinion."
Galon paused only briefly before answering.
"My lords.
Our greatest obstacle is that, aside from confessions, we possess no concrete witnesses or physical evidence proving that Lord Jon Arryn was murdered by Littlefinger and... Lady Lysa.
So our first priority must be rescuing Lady Catelyn.
I'm certain she possesses evidence. Otherwise she would never have been imprisoned inside the Eyrie."
He paused before continuing.
"Since Littlefinger has invited you all to his wedding tomorrow... Why not allow me to accompany you?
I've heard of this... Littlefinger from the Fingers for a very long time."
Bronze Yohn frowned thoughtfully.
"You intend to rescue Lady Catelyn during the wedding... And have her testify against them?"
Galon nodded, then slowly shook his head.
Looking toward Lord Royce, he spoke vaguely.
"I have... a rather unusual friend. He recently provided me with certain information regarding Littlefinger.
I believe I can force the truth about Jon Arryn's murder out of him."
Lord Royce's brow furrowed immediately.
"What friend?"
"What information?"
Galon simply smiled and shook his head.
There was no mysterious friend. Everything he knew came from the story itself.
Naturally, he could never explain that.
Lady Waynwood frowned.
"We're all tied together now."
"You wish to ally with the Vale, yet you still won't tell us something this important?"
Galon gave an apologetic smile.
"The matter is too sensitive... I hope you'll forgive my silence.
But I can promise you this: If anything goes wrong tomorrow... I alone will bear every consequence.
None of you will be implicated."
Lord Royce studied Galon for a long moment before finally making his decision.
"So be it.
Tomorrow we shall all attend the wedding at the Eyrie.
No matter what happens...
We will never allow a husband-murdering madwoman and a scheming upstart from the Fingers to rule our proud Vale."
Every lord present voiced their agreement.
With that settled, Galon seized the opportunity to conclude negotiations regarding an alliance.
The agreement was simple.
Once control of the Vale had been taken back from Lysa, the alliance between the North, the Riverlands, and the Vale would officially come into force.
Now, all that remained was to await tomorrow's outcome.
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