Vale of Arryn. The Eyrie. 277-281 AC.
Axel Arryn
I had always wondered: why was I so special? Whatever I turned my hand to ca easily. Whatever the maester taught I understood the first ti. Because of this my father, my mother, the servants, the knights, Rob and Ned... they were all delighted by . And when I asked why I was the way I was, everyone gave a different answer. Father said it ca from him. Mother said it ca from her and from grandfather. The servants and knights pointed to the blood of the Kings of Mountain and Vale. Rob and Ned said that when you surround yourself with the best, you beco the best yourself. The septon said I had been blessed by the Father Above. Who to believe was anyone's guess. But I felt that none of them were right. I could not say why, but none of them were right.
I loved the old knights' stories. I knew they dressed them up, but I did not care, because they were real, unlike all the tales about the Others, Snarks, Grumpkins, and dragons. That was one of the reasons I ran from my nursemaids. The other was that I simply enjoyed being chased. It made my heart pound, and you had to give everything you had to get away. But one could not do it too often, or there would be punishnt.
The first ti I watched n fight with swords, I thought it would be easy, as lessons usually were. I asked for a sword, and the master-at-arms laughed and handed one. It was the first ti in my life that sothing did not work. I could barely lift a one-handed sword while they all stood around watching and smiling. In short: I was cross with all of them. And then it dawned on . I had failed to do sothing. Ordinarily one is supposed to feel low about that sort of thing, but I was glad.
The next day I set upon Ser Creighton Redfort, the master-at-arms of the Eyrie, with triple the enthusiasm and twice as many questions. He was pleased enough with them at first, but that feeling passed, and he eventually excused himself on the grounds of his duties. I went to ask the people closer to . Father could not help because of his own troubles. Mother understood none of it. So I went to my elder brothers, Ned and Rob. They were happy to explain and show everything, but after two hours they were wearing thin, and Ned suggested I simply watch them during their training bouts and figure it out for myself. I agreed.
From that day forward I watched their sparring in the yard every day. It was magical. Each ti they were a little better, a little stronger than before, and it made think. A book can be read and everything in it learned, but skill with a sword has no ceiling. That was how I found the thing that would never be finished for . It was endless.
Birth is a magical word. It ans a new life coming into the world by the grace of the gods. When my mother fell pregnant, I did not know how to feel about it. Then it was explained to that I was to guard her, help her, and look after her and the child growing inside her. Not fully understanding why, I began doing all of this, and whenever I asked, the answer was: "You'll understand soon." And I did. It all beca clear the day I pressed my ear to my mother's belly and felt the baby kick. After that I helped with greater care than before, and even found ti to pray to the Seven, asking them to watch over my family.
Everything was well. Father gave a serious task: to choose a na for the child. It was tedious work, but necessary, because my brother or sister deserved the finest na there was. Over the months I read a great many books, including books about the gods. There was much in them I could not understand. What is death? What purpose does it serve, if the gods give us life? What purpose does life serve, if death always follows? But I did not dwell on any of that. I was too full of anticipation for the mont I would et my younger sibling.
When the labor began, I decided to go to bed early so I could rise before dawn and see the baby as quickly as possible. In the morning everyone's faces were dark. Why, when my mother had given birth? I went to see her but was not let in, no matter what I threatened or begged. I went looking for Father but could not find him, and found Rob instead. He told Father had been up through the night and had gone to rest, as had my mother.
On the second day they told that my mother and sister had died. They said: "It is the will of the Seven," and "The Seven have sent a trial to test the strength of our spirit." But why? They themselves had blessed my mother with child. Why take back what they had given, and more besides?
Later, Father and I went to the Arryn family mausoleum. It is one of the seven towers that rise above Sky, and from its balcony one can see the whole of the Vale spread out below. The bodies of all the Arryns are kept there, so that they may look down upon us from the highest tower. It was the first ti I had co here, with Father, to pay our respects to my mother. We simply stood and looked at the coffin. Father broke the silence.
"All the Arryns lie here, and will lie here a thousand years from now."
This troubled , for I was an Arryn and had no wish to lie here.
"Will I be here too?"
"Yes."
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