Chapter 42 Chapter 42 A-Lian

She grabbed the hoop and pulled the door open with a slight creak. "Good Robin?" she called. "May I come in?" "Be careful, miss," warned the old servant Giselle with wet hands, "Your Excellency just threw the chamber pot at the maester." "Then he's got nothing to throw at me. Have you nothing to do? And you, Maddie... are the windows shut? Are the furniture covered?" "It's all done, miss." Maddie assured. "Confirm again," Alian slipped into the dark bedroom. "It's me, Robin." Someone sniffed in the dark, "Are you alone?"

"Yes, my lord." "Then come here, it's only you." Alian locked the door behind her firmly.The door was solid oak, four inches thick—Gissle and Maddie could eavesdrop, but they couldn't hear anything.This is a necessary precaution. Although Giselle is cautious, Maddie has a big mouth. "Did Master Cormont want you to come?" asked the boy. "No," she lied, "I heard Robin is not well." The maester, struck by the chamberpot, ran to Ser Lothor, and Ser Lothor ran to her. "If Miss can make him get out of bed obediently," the knight said, "I don't have to drag him away."

Not so violent, she promised herself.If Robert was treated roughly, his epileptic seizures would strike instantly. "Are you hungry, my lord?" she asked the little duke. "I'll send Maddie to bring berries and cheese, and fresh bread and butter." Switch off, the oven has cooled down.It's all right, I can order them to relight if I can coax Robert out of bed, she reassured herself. "I don't want to eat," the little prince screamed petulantly. "I'm going to bed today. Read me a story." "It's too dark here, I can't see." There were thick curtains on the windows, and the room was pitch black. "My dear Robin, have you forgotten what day it is?"

"No," said the boy, "I'm not going. I'm going to be in bed, and I want you to read me the story of the Winged Knight." The Winged Knight was Ser Attis Arryn, who, it is said, not only drove the First Men out of the Vale, but rode a gigantic falcon, flew atop the Giant's Lance, and slew the Griffin King.There were a hundred stories about his adventures, and little Robert loved them so much he knew them all by heart, but he preferred to be read to him. "My dear, we are really going," she told the boy, "and I promise to read you the story of the two winged knights as soon as we get to the Gates of the Moon."

"Three." Robert raised the price immediately.No matter how much you ask, he always asks for more. "Three," A-Lian agreed, "Can we open the curtains?" "Don't. The light hurts your eyes. Go to bed, Alian." She made her way to the window, carefully avoiding the shattered chamber pot—she would rather smell it than see it. "I won't pull too far away, I just want to see what good Robin looks like today." The curtains were luxurious blue velvet. She opened it by a finger's distance and fastened it tightly.Dust danced in the pale morning light, and the thin diamond-shaped panes were blurred with frost.A-Lian wiped it gently with the heel of her palm, looking out the window at the beautiful blue sky and the floating clouds among the mountains.The Eagle's Nest City put on a white cloak, and the Giant's Spear above its head was covered with waist-deep snow.

She turned around, and saw Robert Arryn leaning on a pile of pillows, looking at her with small eyes.The dirty boy was the Lord of the Eyrie and lord of the Vale.He was covered with a woolen blanket from the waist down, and naked above. His complexion was pale, his hair was as long as his daughter's, his hands and feet were pitifully thin, his chest was soft and sunken, his stomach was small and flat, and his eyes were always red and sticky.It's not his fault, he was born small and weak. "You looked mighty this morning, my lord," he liked to be praised for his mightiness. "May I ask Maddy and Giselle to get you hot water for a bath? Maddy will rub your back and wash your hair and let you dry." Go out clean and refreshed, okay?"

"No, I hate Maddie! She has a mole on her eye, and rubbing her back hurts. Mummy never rubs her back." "I'll take special care of Maddie, don't hurt my good Robin. You'll be comfortable only after you've got a clean wash." "I don't take a shower. I told you I had a terrible headache." "May I give you a hot compress? Or a glass of sleeping wine? But, you can only drink a little. Mia Shidong is waiting in the Long Sky Castle below. If you sleep on her later, she will suffer." No. You know, she likes you very much." "I don't like her, she's just a mule girl." Robert sniffed. "Master Comont has added something to the milk, and I can drink it. I told him last night that I wanted this sweet milk, and he refused to give it to me, not even to order it! I am the master, and he should obey I do what I say. No one does what I say!"

"I'll teach him a lesson," A-Lian promised, "on condition that you get up. Robin, the scenery outside is so beautiful, the sun is shining, and it's a good time to go down the mountain. Mia is waiting at Long Sky Castle with her mule... ..." His lips trembled. "I hate these mules. There's a mule trying to bite me! You go, you go tell Mia I'm not going." He sounded like he was about to cry. "Stay here, no one can hurt me, Mommy said, Eagle's Nest City is invincible." "Who will hurt my good Robin? Your vassals and knights love you so much, and your people pray for you day and night." He is afraid, she thought, and he has reason to be afraid.The boy had been afraid to stand on a balcony since his lord mother's fall, and the perilous journey down from the Eyrie to the Gates of the Moon would have scared many sane people.Alayne's own heart was in her throat when she climbed the mountain with Lady Lysa and Lord Petyr, and going down the mountain was definitely more terrifying, because you had to keep looking down.Mia had told her how many great princes and gallant knights were pale and incontinent.Moreover, none of these people suffered from epilepsy.

But they had to go.The valley is still full of autumn, the climate is mild and golden, but winter has firmly embraced the mountains.There had been three previous snowstorms, and another severe ice storm froze the castle for two weeks.The Eagle's Nest City may be really hard to attack, but the irony is that soon no one will be able to climb up the mountain, and the road down the mountain becomes more dangerous and unpredictable day by day. A dozen or so remained to look after Lord Robert. "My dear Robin," she said softly, "what a joyous adventure it is going down, indeed. Ser Rosso and Mia will protect us, and her mule has come and gone this way a thousand times."

"I hate mules," he insisted. "Mules are dirty. I told you there was a mule trying to bite me when I was a kid." She knew that Robert had never had a chance to learn how to ride properly, that to him a donkey or a horse or a mule was no different, but a monstrosity as horrible as a dragon or a griffin.He had come to the Vale when he was six, in his mother's arms with a bulging teat in his mouth, and had never left the Eyrie since. They had to go, otherwise the snow and ice would completely seal the mountain.No one knows how long it will last. "Mia will take care of the mule," Alian continued to promise, "I will ride behind you. Look, I'm just a girl, not as strong and brave as you. If I can walk down, then you must do it, boy Robin."

"Of course I would," said Lord Robert, "but I don't want to!" He wiped the snot from his nose with the back of his hand. "Tell Mia I'm going to bed today, and I'll go tomorrow—if I'm better. It's too cold outside today, and I've got a headache, come, let's drink sweet milk, and tell Giselle to bring up lots of honeycombs. We You can kiss, sleep, play games, and then you read me the story of the Winged Knight." "I will read it, three stories, I promise... I will read them when I arrive at the Gate of the Moon Castle." Alian's patience was at an end.We had to go today, she reminded herself, had to get below the snow line before the sun went down. "Lord Nestor has prepared a great feast for you, with mushroom soup, venison, and cake. You don't want him to wait, do you?" "Does he have lemon cake?" Robert loved lemon cake, perhaps because of Alayne. "Lots and lots of delicious lemon cakes," she said seductively, "as much as you want." "Are there a hundred?" he tried to find out. "I want a hundred." "Of course," she sat down on the edge of the bed, stroking his long, smooth hair.His hair is beautiful.In the past, Lady Lysa combed and trimmed her son with her own hands every night. Since she fell, every time anyone approached with scissors, his epileptic seizures would occur violently, so Petyr ordered his servants to stop taking care of his master's hair.At this moment, A-Lian curled her hair with her fingers, "Now, Robin, can you get out of bed and get dressed?" "I want a hundred lemon cakes and five stories!" I'll give you a hundred butts and five slaps, you don't dare to do that in Petyr's presence.The little duke was afraid of his stepfather.A-Lian forced a smile on her face, "I obey, my lord. But you must obediently take a bath, change your clothes, and get ready for the road. Come on, don't waste the good morning light." She held the boy's hand firmly and dragged him out of bed . Before she could summon the servant, Good Robin put his pitifully thin arms around her, and kissed her.It was a child's kiss, very clumsy, and Robert Arryn was clumsy at everything.Close your eyes and think he is the Knight of Flowers.Ser Loras gave Sansa Stark a red rose, but never kissed her...and no Tyrell would ever kiss Alayne Stone.Although she was beautiful, she was born out of illegitimate and was disgusted by others. The boy's lips pressed against hers, reminding her of another kiss she couldn't get.All kinds of things at that time were vivid in her mind, and she still remembered that rough face.On a night full of greenery, he came to Sansa's bedroom.He asked for a song and a kiss, but left me nothing but a blood-stained white robe. It didn't matter, that day was history, Sansa was history. Alian pushed the little duke away, "That's enough, you can kiss me again when you keep your promise and arrive at the foot of the mountain." Maddie, Giselle and Master Cormont were waiting outside the door together.The maester has washed the shit out of his hair and changed his clothes.Robert's two squires were also there, and Terrence and Gales were good at finding trouble. "Lord Robert is much better," Alayne told the maid, "prepare hot water for him to bathe in, and don't scald him. Also, don't wash your hair too hard, he hates that." A servant chuckled, Alian turned around and said, "Terrence, take out your lord's riding clothes and the warmest cloak; Gales, clear away the broken chamber pot." Giles Grafson grimaced. "I'm not a servant." "Just do what Miss Alayne says, or Rosso Brune will ask you," Master Cormont warned.Then the bachelor followed her through the long corridor and the spiral staircase, "Thank you, Miss, thank you for intervening, you really have a way with him." The bachelor hesitated for a moment, "When you get along with him, do you have any signs of seizures?" "His fingers trembled slightly, but fortunately I held them tightly. He knew you put something in the milk." "Know?" Ke Meng blinked his eyes, his Adam's apple rose and fell anxiously, "I only put a little... Is there any bleeding from his nostrils?" "No." "Okay, that's great," the necklace hanging on his surprisingly thin neck nodded softly, "this trip is going down the mountain...Miss, just to be on the safe side, I'll make another dose of poppy flower milk for your lord to make him doze off. Mia Stone will choose the steadiest mule for him to ride." "That's a good thing, the Duke of Eyrie City can't be tied down like a bag of oats." Alian was very sure about this.Her father had warned her not to expose Robert's sickness and weakness to the light of day.He just wants to run the show here, he always knows what to do. Yet Petyr Baelish was far across the valley, attending Lord Lyonor Corbray's wedding.Petyr had married the childless forty-one-year-old widower to the robust sixteen-year-old daughter of a wealthy Seagulltown merchant, and the bride's dowry was said to be very rich.This is not difficult to understand, after all, she is a commoner who climbs high and dignitaries.All the vassals of House Corbray were present to congratulate, as well as Lord Waxley, Lord Grafson, Lord Linderley, and many lesser lords and local knights... Lord Belmore, who has reconciled with her father, will also attend the wedding.The other members of the League of the Righteous chose to avoid it, so Petyr's presence was all the more important. Alayne understood the importance of all these arrangements, even though it meant that the burden of caring for Robin fell on her own shoulders. "Give your lord a glass of 'sweet milk'," she emphatically ordered the bachelor, "in case he falls ill on the way down." "He had a drink less than three days ago," Cormont protested. "He also wanted it last night, but it is said that you rejected it." "The interval is too short, miss, you don't understand, I told the guardian of the canyon that a small pinch of sweetsleeper can indeed help suppress epilepsy, but the toxin will gradually accumulate, as time goes by..." "It's a long time coming, and if your lord gets sick and falls down the mountain, nothing will happen. If my father were here, he would want you to do whatever it takes to keep Lord Robert safe." "Miss, I have tried my best, but his seizures are still becoming more frequent and more intense, and his blood has become so thin that I dare not bleed him again. Sweet Sleeping Flower... Are you sure his nostrils No bleeding?" "He kept sniffing," Alayne admitted, "but I saw no blood." "I've got to speak to the Valley Keeper. Is this feast... wise, miss, to hold it as soon as you go down?" "It's not an extravagant banquet," she assured him, "nearly forty guests, including only Lord Nestor and his subordinates, the Knights of the Blood Gate, several little lords and their entourage..." "Lord Robert hates strangers, you know that, let alone drinking, playing games, laughing and making noise... Music, he is most afraid of music." "Music soothes his nerves," Alayne corrected, "especially the harp. What he can't stand is singing, because Marillion killed his mother." She told the lie a thousand times, almost believing it to be true. , thoughts other than that are nothing but nightmares that torment sleep. "Lord Nestor has no singers, only dancers and flute players." What should she do when the music sounds?It was a vexing question, and her heart and her head gave different answers.Sansa likes to dance, A-Lian... "That's enough, give him a cup of sweet milk before going down the mountain, and another cup before the banquet, and everyone will be safe." "Well," they stopped at the bottom of the stairs, "this is the last time. No more drinking for at least half a year." "You can discuss it with the guardian of the valley yourself." She opened the door and walked into the garden.Kermun was doing his duty, and Alayne knew it, but it was a pity that the world had different expectations for the boy Robert and Duke Arryn.Petyr had told her, and he was right.Komon only knows how to care about children, and my father and I have to think more. Chen Xue piled up in the courtyard, and countless icicles hung down from the balconies and steeples, like twinkling crystal spears.The Eagle's Nest City was built of the above-mentioned fine white stone, and now it looks even whiter with the winter cloak.It's so beautiful, A-Lian thought, it's hard to break through, just like a castle in the Heavenly Palace.But she still couldn't like it here, no matter how hard she tried, even when the guards and servants hadn't left, it was always very desolate, like a tomb, let alone now after Petyr Baelish came down from the mountain.No one sang here, except Marillion, who was once a nuisance, and no one dared even laugh aloud, and even the gods were silent.There are no monks in the sept of the Eyrie, and no heart tree in the godswood.Praying here, the gods can't hear it, she often thinks about it, but often repeats it when she is alone.Only the cold wind responded, and the cold wind wrapped around the slender tower of T, knocked on the moon gate, and sighed endlessly.The winter here is terrible, she thought, the winter here is a freezing hell. But at the thought of leaving, she was as frightened as Robert was, only more deeply hidden from discovery.Fear is not a sin, Father said, it's the act of fear that kills. "All must learn to live in fear," he taught her.Alian didn't know if she could do it.Petyr Baelish is fearless, and he said this to make me brave.In any case, after going down the mountain, she had to be braver, because the possibility of being caught was greatly increased.Petyr's friend at court brought word to him that the Queen had sent for the Imp and Sansa Stark.She wants my head, and as she walks down a section of frozen steps, she reminds herself that anytime, anywhere, I have to be Alian, even here, in my heart. Lothor Brun was in the winch room, helping Jailer Maud and two footmen in stuffing boxes and bundles of clothes into six large oak baskets, each big enough for three.The basket was lowered down the great chain, the easiest way to get to Skyhold six hundred feet below, otherwise you had to climb up the hillside holding hands, or take the way of Marillion and Lady Lysa. "Is the child up?" asked Ser Rosso. "They are bathing him and it will be ready in an hour." "I hope so. Mia waits until noon at the most." The winch room was chilling, his words frosting the air. "She has to wait," said Alian, "she has to wait." "Don't be so sure, ma'am, she's an ass herself. I think if we do anything bad to her cattle, she'll throw me up on the hill and starve," he said, laughing.He would smile when talking about Mia Shidong.Mya was much younger than Ser Rosso, but her father had told her when he married Lord Corbray to the daughter of a wealthy merchant that it was best for a young girl to find an older man. Say. I don't know how Mia feels about Sir Rosso.With his snub nose, square jaw, and flat gray hair, Brun wasn't exactly handsome, but he wasn't ugly either.A loyal samurai of ordinary appearance.Although he was a knight, he was of very humble origins, and he told her one night when he was chatting, that he was a distant relative of the Brunn family in Brown Hole Mountain, the old knight family on the Crab Claw Peninsula. "After my father died, I ran to my family," he confided, "and they threw dung on me, saying we were not their offspring." Rosso refused to narrate the later story, only saying that he worked hard and finally learned. All martial arts.Yes, he's a cool, silent man who doesn't talk much, but is very strong.Petyr thinks highly of his loyalty and trusts him as much as possible.For an illegitimate daughter like Mia Stone, Brun was a good match, Alayne thought.Of course, if her real father recognized her, he would lose that hope, but Robert was dead, and Maddie said she was no longer a virgin. Maud picked up the whip and whipped hard, and the first pair of bulls spun around and pulled the capstan.The iron chain was gradually loosened, scraping the stone floor with a "click", and the oak basket slowly descended towards the Long Sky Fort.Poor cows, thought Alayne, Maud would cut their throats and leave them for the falcons when they left.If the leftover meat of the falcon has not spoiled, it will be grilled by people when returning to the city in the early spring, as food for the spring celebration.Old Gissle said the frozen meat heralds a bountiful summer harvest. "Miss," Sir Rosso reminded, "did you know? Mia is not alone, Miss Miranda is also here." "Oh," why did she ride all the way up the mountain?To ride again the next day?Miranda Royce is the daughter of Viscount Nestor. The only time Sansa visited the Gates of the Moon was on the way up the mountain with Aunt Lysa and Lord Petyr. The guards and handmaidens of the Hive City have heard many stories of her.Her mother had died of illness for a long time, and she had been in charge of her father's castle for a long time. It is said that as long as she is there, the city will be full of vitality. "You'll meet Miranda Royce someday," Petyr once warned Alayne, "and be careful when that happens. She's pretending to be a cheerful fool, but inside, she's stronger than her father." Sly. Be sure to keep your tongue in her presence." I will, she promises silently, she just didn't expect it to come so soon. "Robert will be very happy," he said, fond of Miranda Royce. "If you'll excuse me, ser, it's time for me to pack." She climbed the steps alone, and returned to her room for the last time.The windows were all shuttered, the furniture covered, some things were packed away, but most remained, including all of Lady Lysa's silks and brocades, the finest linens and richest velvets, the finest embroidery and She doesn't want any of the elegant Myrlace.After going down the mountain, Alian's dress must be simple and decent, so as to be in line with her status as an illegitimate daughter.It doesn't matter, she told herself, I wouldn't dare to wear fine clothes even on the mountain. Giselle made the bed for her and put her belongings on it.Alayne was already wearing woolen stockings and two layers of underwear under her skirt, so she added only a lambswool tunic and a hooded fur cloak, which she fastened with an enamelled mockingbird pin Petyr had given her, and Wear it with a scarf and pair it with fur-trimmed leather gloves and riding boots.After dressing up, she felt like a fat and stupid little bear.This is necessary equipment for mountain walks, she reminded herself. Before leaving, she looked back at the room for the last time.I'm safe here, she thought, down here... Alayne returned to the winch room to find Mia Stone standing impatiently with Lothor Brune and Maud.She probably couldn't wait any longer, so she came up on the basket to find out what happened.Mia was lanky and strong, as tough as the old riding leather she wore under her silver-plated light ringmail.Her hair was as black as a crow's wings, and it was short and messy. Alayne suspected that she had trimmed it with a dagger.The most touching thing about her is her eyes, big and blue eyes.If she puts on her daughter's clothes, Mia does have a somewhat charming temperament.Alian didn't know that Sir Rosso liked her in iron armor and leather, or dreamed of her wearing lace and satin.Mia said her father must be a goat, and her mother must be an owl, as Alayne had learned from Maddie.Yes, she thought as she looked, those eyes, and that mop of hair, hair as dark as night as Renly's. "Where is he?" the illegitimate daughter asked straightforwardly. "My lord is taking a bath and changing clothes." "He's gotta hurry up. It's getting colder, can't you feel it? At least get to Snow Mountain before the sun goes down." "How strong is the wind?" A-Lian asked her. "Yes...it's getting stronger and stronger, don't mention it after nightfall." Mia swept away her black hair that was hanging down in a bun. "If he continues to delay, we will all be trapped in the mountains, and we will have to eat me and eat you in winter." Alayne didn't know how to reply, but fortunately, Robert Arryn arrived just at this moment.The little duke put on a sky-blue velvet coat, a gold sapphire necklace, and a white bearskin cloak.His squires each hold a corner of the cloak to prevent it from being dragged to the ground.Maester Cormont followed in his old gray cloak trimmed with squirrel fur, and Giselle and Maddie were not far behind. He felt the cold wind blowing against his face, and suddenly became frightened, but with Terrence and Gales leading the battle, he couldn't escape. "My lord," Mia said, "please come down the mountain with me." You are too abrupt, A-Lian thought, you should smile and coax him, tell him how strong and brave he is. "I want Alayne," said Lord Robert. "I'll just go with her." "The basket can hold three people." "I just want Alian. You smell as bad as a mule." "Of order." Mia replied blankly. In addition to the solid oak baskets, there were also baskets made of wicker. They were all taller than Alayne's, with iron hoops around the edges of dark brown branches.Even so, she felt apprehensive as she carried Robert inside.When the side door is closed, there will be only wood on the left and right, and you can only see the top of your head.As good as it gets, she told herself, we can't look down.Nothing but air below is air, six hundred feet of air.For a moment, she couldn't help but absurdly calculated how long it would take for her aunt to fall before she could fly this long distance and end up kissing a certain mountain top intimately.No, don't think, don't think! "Go!" cried Sir Lothor.Someone pushed the big basket in response, it shook, the bottom scraped the floor, and then hung in the air.She heard Maud whip and whip, and the chains click.They began to descend, the basket twitching oddly at first, then slowly leveling off.Robert was pale and his eyes were red, but his hands were not shaking.Eagle's Nest City shrinks and shrinks overhead, and the countless sky prisons look like honeycombs when viewed from below.Black ice honeycomb, A-Lian thought, Wind and Snow Castle.The cold wind also wrapped the basket in. After another hundred feet, a hurricane caught them suddenly, and the basket tipped violently, spinning in the air, before smashing hard against the rocks behind.Countless ice crystal fragments smashed in, and the oak groaned in pain.Robert gasped, held her tightly, and buried his head between her breasts. "My lord, you are so brave." A-Lian felt the other party trembling. "I was so scared that I didn't even dare to speak. You are really my role model." She felt the other nod. "The Winged Knight is brave, and I am like him," he boasted to her bodice. "I am of House Arryn, too." "Hold me, Robin, will you? I'm scared." She could hardly breathe, though he gripped so hard. "Yes." He said softly.He held her tighter, and the two finally reached Longsky Castle. Calling this a castle is like calling a puddle a lake. After opening the side door and entering the fortress along the way, Alian thought to herself.Longsky Castle is nothing more than a crescent-shaped city wall made of old and rough mountain stones. The city wall surrounds the stone ramp and the entrance of the cave. ladder.There are broken rocks piled up everywhere outside the city, and there is the danger of landslides at any time. Six hundred feet above the head, the Eagle's Nest City is so small that it can be covered with one hand, but the valley below is green and golden. Twenty mules were waiting inside the fort, plus the two mulemen and Miss Miranda Royce.Viscount Nestor's daughter is short in stature, about the same age as Mia Stone, but contrary to the latter's slender and strong, she is a little fat, with a charming smile on her face, wide hips, fat waist, and plump chest A round, flushed face with small lips and lively brown eyes set off by thick chestnut curly hair.Seeing Robert step out of the basket carefully, she knelt in the snow and kissed the young duke's palm and face. "My lord," she praised, "you have grown up!" "Really?" said Robert cheerfully. "Soon you will be taller than me." The woman lied.She stood up and brushed the snow off her skirt. "Are you the daughter of the Guardian of the Canyon?" she asked, and the basket creaked back to the Eagle's Nest City. "I heard that you are beautiful, and it is true." Alian bowed her knees and saluted, "Miss, thank you." "Excellent?" The older girl laughed. "Really, then you have to make it up to me. I'm going to be a bad guy because I'm going to be bored on the road later... Hey, you have to tell me all your little secrets. Well, can I call you A-Lian?" "Of course, miss." I won't tell you any secrets. "In Gate of the Moon, I'm 'Miss', but on the mountain, just call me 'Randa'. How old are you, Alian?" "Fourteen, miss." Alayne Stone was older than Sansa Stark. "It's 'Landa'. Hehe, it's been a hundred years for me to be fourteen, how pure I was then. How about you, are you still 'pure', Alian?" She blushed, "You don't... yes, of course." "Yo, for Lord Robert?" teased Miss Miranda. "Or some warm squire who thinks of you every night?" "No," said Alayne, and even Robert protested. "She's my friend. Terrence and Gales don't want to touch her!" While talking, the second basket also arrived, it bumped lightly on the frozen snow pier, and Master Cormont came out with his attendants Terrence and Gales.The third basket brings Maddie, Giselle and Mia Stone.The illegitimate girl immediately started calling the shots. "We must not be crowded together on the mountain road," she told the other mule-walkers. "I will take Lord Robert and his retinue. Take Ser Lothor and the others, Oss, and wait an hour after I set out." On the way. Carrot, you are in charge of the luggage and the boxes." She turned to Robert Arryn, her black hair flying in the wind. "Which mule would you like to ride, my lord?" "They all stink. Well, I want the gray one, but it has no ears. I want Alayne and Miranda to ride with me." "Where the road is wide enough. Come, my lord, get on the mule. The air smells of snow." It turned out it took them half an hour to get ready to go.When everyone settled down, Mia Shidong gave the order briefly, and the two guards of Longtian Castle opened the city gate.Miaad led the way, followed by Lord Robert in his bearskin cloak, followed by Alayne and Miranda Royce, Gistle and Maddie, Terrence Lindley and Gales Graff Sen, Master Komun led a mule with boxes of herbs and potions. Outside the city wall, the cold wind suddenly intensified several times.There are no trees here, and the mountains are bare, so A-Lian couldn't help but be thankful that she had extra clothes.The cloak flapped around the body, making a crisp sound, and the hood was blown up from time to time.She laughed out loud, but Duke Robert in front squirmed and said, "It's too cold, we'd better go back and wait until it's warmer before going down the mountain." "It's warm in the valley, my lord," Mia assured, "you'll know when you get down." "I don't want to go down!" said Robert, and Mia ignored him. The road was a series of winding stone steps carved along the mountainside, but Alayne was relieved that every step was familiar to the mule.Due to hundreds of years of freezing, melting snow and trampling, some places are quite damaged, and the old snow has accumulated on the stones on both sides of the road, reflecting a dazzling white light.The sun is high, the sky is blue, and the falcons are circling in the sky, soaring in the wind. Because the slope is too steep, the roads here are full of twists and turns.Sansa Stark on the way up, Alayne Stone on the way down.Curious.Before setting off, Mia told her to keep her eyes on the road and not look down. "Look at the top if you want to see it." She said... However, how could it be possible to go down the mountain without looking down.I can close my eyes, and the mule knows the way without my guidance.But this is something that frightened little Sansa would do. Alian is an adult, and as an illegitimate daughter, she has to be brave. At first they went single file, then the road widened enough for them to ride together, so Miranda Royce stepped forward to join her. "We've got a letter from your father," she confided, as if they were sitting in front of the nuns, gossiping while they sewed, "and he said he was coming back in the starry night and was looking forward to seeing his precious daughter soon, and that Leon Nor Corbray is very satisfied with his bride, especially happy to receive a generous dowry—I personally hope that Lord Leonor will not forget to fulfill his responsibilities. Petyr wrote that at the last moment, Countess Waywood and The knights from Nine Star City appeared at the wedding banquet together, which surprised everyone." "Anya Waywood? Is she really here?" Then the League of the Righteous has been reduced from six towns to three.On the day of his departure, Petyr Baelish was only sure that he could win the support of Simon Templeton, and the Countess of Waywood should be a masterpiece after going down the mountain. "Did he say anything else?" The Eagle's Nest City was a lonely place, and she was eager to learn about the outside world, no matter how trivial or boring the news was. "Oh, your father has nothing to say, but other birds have come to us. There are wars everywhere, but the Vale is at peace. They say Riverrun has surrendered, and Stannis' Dragonstone and Storm's End are crumbling. .” "Lady Lysa is so wise that she didn't let us get involved in the battle." Miranda smiled the most slyly, "Yeah, she's sensible in her heart, what a lady." She adjusted her sitting position. "Why are the mules so skinny and bad-tempered? Mia must have skipped rations. It would be better to ride on a fat and docile mule. The archbishop has changed, do you know? Oh, and the Night Watch Corps has also changed. The boy commander, said to be Eddard Stark's bastard son." "Jon Snow?" she blurted out without thinking. "Snow? Oh, of course, Beidi's surname is probably him." She hadn't thought about Jon for a long time.He was only a half-brother after all, and yet... and yet Robb, Bran, and Rickon were all dead, and he was her only brother.I'm an illegitimate daughter, just like him, oh, how sweet it would be to see him again.But that was impossible. Alian Shidong had no brothers or relatives. "My cousin Bronze Yon held a group competition in Runestone City," Miranda Royce obviously didn't intend to shut up. "The scale is small, and only the attendants participate. The purpose is to let the heir Harry get honor, and finally achieve purpose." "Heir Harry?" "O adopted son of the Countess of Waynwood, Harold Hatton. He may now be called Sir Harry, and Bronze Eon himself bestowed upon him." "Oh," Alian couldn't understand why Countess Waywood's adopted son became her heir?毕竟，她身边儿子成群，例如现任血门骑士唐纳尔爵士就很厉害。不过她不愿示弱，只说道，“希望他当个好骑士。” 米兰达小姐哼了一声，“希望他早点得天花。知道吗？他和某位平民姑娘已搞出了私生女。我父亲大人打算让我嫁给他，却得不到韦伍德伯爵夫人的支持。不晓得她是嫌我地位太次，还是嫁妆不多。”她叹口气。“我需要一个丈夫。我的前夫被我干掉了。” “干掉了？”阿莲震惊地问。 “噢，是的，他骑在我身上死的，如果说实话，他那玩意儿还留在我体内呢。你知道婚床上是怎么回事，对吧？” 她想起提利昂，想起要吻她的猎狗，点了点头，“这一定可怕极了，小姐。他死了，在那时候死了，我的意思是，在……在……” “……在干我的时候？”她耸耸肩，“是啊，多恶心，多失礼啊。他根本不能播种，老头子的种子都极虚弱。所以啦，我成了寡妇，却还根本没和丈夫做过。说到哈利，他将来娶的人也许糟糕得多，韦伍德伯爵夫人多半会让他上她自己或青铜约恩的孙女。” “是的，小姐。”阿莲忽然记起培提尔的告诫。 “兰达。这挺顺口的，来，跟我念：兰——达——” “兰达。” “好多了。很抱歉，说出来你也许会把我当成不要脸的女人，事情是这样，我跟那帅气的马瑞里安睡过，当时还不知他是个怪物。他歌唱得那么好，指头又会做最甜蜜的事，如果我晓得他将犯下把莱莎夫人推出月门这等令人发指的恶行，便决不会接纳他。我不和怪物睡觉，这是规矩。”她瞧瞧阿莲的脸蛋和胸脯。“你比我漂亮，但我的乳房比你大。学士说乳房的大小和乳汁的产量无关，我可不信，你见过乳房干瘪的奶妈吗？其实依你的年纪而言，乳房也算可以，总之你是私生女，我就不跟你计较了。”米兰达催骡子靠近，“我们的米亚不是处女，你知道吧？” 她知道，有回米亚送补给上山时，胖玛迪给阿莲咬耳朵。“玛迪跟我讲过。” “噢，她当然讲过，她大嘴巴大腿，你见过她的腿吧？米亚爱着米歇尔·雷德佛，此人曾是林恩·科布瑞的侍从，真正的侍从哦，和林恩爵士现下收的粗鲁小子不一样——这位是交钱当侍从的。米歇尔可谓是峡谷里最年轻最优秀的剑士，为人英雄豪侠……至少可怜的米亚现下这么想，等他跟青铜约恩的女儿成了亲，她大概就得转变观点了。我很确定，霍顿大人没留给他别的选择，不过总归对米亚是件残酷的事。” “罗索爵士喜欢她，”阿莲扫视着二十多级石阶下的管骡女孩，“很喜欢。” “罗索·布伦，”米兰达抬起一边眉毛，“她知道吗？”她不等回答，“他没希望，可怜的男人，我父亲为米亚提过几次亲，结果她统统不要。她啊，就是个倔骡。” 阿莲发现自己不由自主地与年长的女孩亲近起来，珍妮·普尔离开后，她已很久很久没有朋友闲话了。“你觉得罗索爵士是喜欢穿铁甲皮衣的她，”她询问这位女智多星，“还是喜欢换上蕾丝绸缎的她呢？” “他是个男人，他梦想着她的裸体。” 她想让我脸红吧。 米兰达小姐似乎读出了她的想法，“你的脸粉嘟嘟的，真可爱，我脸红时像个苹果。唉，我好多年没脸红过了。”她倾身靠近。“你父亲准备再婚吗？” “我父亲？”阿莲没考虑过这档子事。不知怎的，想起这个她就害怕，她忘不了莱莎·艾林跌出月门时脸上的表情。 “我们都清楚他有多钟爱莱莎夫人，”米兰达承认，“但他不能永远这样，他需要一位年轻貌美的妻子为他洗去悲哀。我猜谷地里一半的贵族少女都梦想嫁给他，挑谁当丈夫能比峡谷守护者更好呢？不过呀，我希望他换个名儿，别叫小指头。他有多'小'，你知道吗？” “你说他的指头？”她又脸红了，“我不……我不知道……” 米兰达小姐纵声大笑，引得米亚·石东回头查看，“别介意，阿莲，我相信他那里够大的。” 他们从一面风蚀拱崖下走过，长长的冰柱从白石上垂下，水珠串串滴落。路的远端突然变窄，几乎垂直地降下一百尺，米兰达只好放慢脚步，走在后头，任由阿莲领先。路到惊险处，阿莲牢牢地攀住了骡子，由于被蹄铁长年踩踏，此处石阶非常平滑，甚至变成空洞的凹陷，碗状凹陷里满是积水，在午后的太阳下闪烁着金光。现在是水，阿莲心想，入夜后就成冰了。她不自禁地屏住呼吸，大气也不敢出。米亚·石东和劳勃公爵已几乎走到下面的山脊上，那里的坡度逐渐和缓。她试图瞪着他们，只瞪着他们。我不会摔下去，她告诉自己，米亚的骡子值得信赖。强风击打着她，她艰难地、一步又一步地走下去，骡子颠簸，好似过了一生。 她终于来到米亚和小公爵身边，笼罩在一块扭曲危崖的阴影里，前方是一条高耸的结冻小路。冷风凄厉地号叫，撕扯阿莲的斗篷，上山时她便对此处记忆犹新，此刻更是怕得想回头。“您看看路有多宽，”米亚用欢快的声调对劳勃公爵说，“一码长，八码宽，除此之外什么都没有。” “什么都没有？……”劳勃的小手痉挛起来。 噢，不要，千万不要，阿莲心想，求求你，不能在这里，不能在这时，千万不要。 “这里我们最好牵骡子过去，”米亚道，“大人，请注意，我先走过去把骡子拴好，然后回来接你。”劳勃公爵没有回答，他用发红的眼睛难以置信地望着狭窄的小路。“没几步路的，大人。”米亚担保，阿莲觉得男孩根本没听她说话。 私生女孩领着骡子踏上小路，强风立刻把她裹住。斗篷飞扬，在空中旋转拍打。米亚踉跄了一下，似乎就要被吹下悬崖，但最终她维持住平衡，走完了那段路。 阿莲抓着小劳勃戴手套的小手掌，以止住他的颤抖。“乖罗宾，”她说，“我好害怕。抓着我的手，给我勇气，好吗？我知道您不怕。” 他抬头看她，眼睛瞪得跟鸡蛋一样又白又圆，瞳仁则闪烁着微小的黑光，“我不怕？” “你不怕，您是我的飞翼骑士，乖罗宾。” “飞翼骑士可以飞。”劳勃低声说。 “飞得比山峰更高。”她挤挤他的手掌。 这时，米兰达小姐也已赶到。“飞得比山峰更高。”她发现眼前的状况，立刻应和道。 “乖罗宾爵士万岁！”劳勃叫道，阿莲明白她不能等米亚返回了。她把男孩抱下骡子，两人手拉手踏上光秃的小道，任凭寒风席卷斗篷。两侧为虚无的空洞，直落万丈深渊，脚底的土地结了冰，无数碎石等着绊人摔倒，而风嘶吼得更厉害了。这声音就像冰原狼，珊莎·史塔克心想，一头雄伟的冰原狼，此群山更高大。 等他们到达小路对面，米亚高兴得笑起来，把劳勃抱在空中。“小心点，”阿莲嘱咐她，“若是癫痫病发作，他会弄得你很痛。你看不出来，他力气大着呢。”他们为小公爵在山岩下找了个缝隙歇息，以阻挡寒风。阿莲一直照顾他，直到痉挛停止，米亚则回头去接其他人。 大家在雪山堡换乘新骡子，还吃了一锅山羊肉加洋葱炖的浓汤。她跟米亚和米兰达一起用餐。“看来，你不仅美丽，而且勇敢。”米兰达对她说。 “哪里。”对方的恭维让她脸红。“我很怕，真的很怕，没有劳勃大人，我肯定过不来。”她转向米亚、·石东。“刚才你几乎摔下去。” “你错了，我决不会摔下去。”米亚的头发垂下额头，盖住一只眼睛。 “我的意思是，你几乎摔下去。我看见的。你怕吗？” 米亚摇摇头，“当年我还是个小婴儿时，有个男人喜欢把我往空中扔，他长得跟擎天柱似的，双手如此有力，我就像在飞。我们俩笑啊，笑啊，笑得我喘不过气，连眼泪也笑了出来，把他逗得更乐。我一点都不怕，我知道，他总会抓住我。”她把头发揽上去。“结果有一天，他却失手了。后来，那男人走了，男人就是这样，要么撒谎，要么死去，要么离开你。大山和男人不同，石东是它的女儿，我相信我的父亲，我相信我的骡子，我决不会摔下去。”她用手撑住一块锯齿状岩石，站起身来。“动作快点，还有很长的路，我闻到风暴的味道。” 过了危岩堡，大雪终于降下，这是三座沿路堡垒中最低也最大的一座，保卫着通向鹰巢城的要害。暮色深沉，米兰达小姐建议干脆回头，在危岩堡过夜，等太阳升起再行下山，但米亚根本不听。“到明天大雪已积上五尺，连我的骡子也走不了了，”她坚持，“我们应该坚持，走慢点就好。” 所以他们继续前进。危岩堡下，石阶相对宽阔平整，道路在巨人之枪底部的高大松木和灰绿色哨兵树之间蜿蜒。米亚的骡子似乎了解每一个树根和每一块石头的所在，偶有意外，私生女孩也敏捷地亲自排除。夜半时分，他们终于透过飞雪看到月门堡的灯火，随后的旅途舒坦多了。雪，越下越大，将周围的世界化为纯白。乖罗宾在鞍上睡着了，随骡子行动而上下摇摆，连米兰达小姐也打起呵欠，抱怨精力不济。“我们为所有人都准备了房间，”她告诉阿莲，“不过你得跟我同床，那张床睡得下四人。” “我很荣幸，小姐。” “兰达。幸运的是，我今天累了，只想倒床便睡，一般情况下，跟我同床的小姐都得上税，把她干过的坏勾当交代清楚。” “如果她什么'坏勾当'也没干过呢？” “是吗？那她就得透漏自己所有的坏念头。当然啦，你不在内，我已经知道你是多么纯洁，啊，玫瑰色的脸庞和大大的蓝眼睛，多教人羡慕啊。”她又打个呵欠。“希望你的脚很暖和，我讨厌脚冷冰冰的床伴。” 终于抵达米兰达小姐父亲的城堡时，小姐本人已打起呼噜，阿莲则满心想着那张床。一定是张羽毛床，她告诉自己，又软又暖又大，铺满毛皮。我会做个美梦，醒来的时候，猎狗在外面叫唤，女人在身边闲话，男人在庭院练剑。随后开始宴会，宴会上有音乐和舞蹈。经历过鹰巢城的死寂，现在的她无比渴望笑闹喧哗。 大家爬下骡子，一名培提尔的贴身护卫突然从城中走出。“阿莲小姐，”他禀报，“峡谷守护者正在等您。” “他回来了？”她吃惊地问。 “傍晚刚到。他在西塔等您。” 还有几个钟头就是黎明，全城都在熟睡，不过培提尔·贝里席不在内。阿莲发现他坐在噼啪作响的炉火前，跟三个她不认识的男人对饮热葡萄酒。她一进门，大家纷纷起立，培提尔和煦地笑道，“过来，阿莲，给父亲一个吻吧。” 她尽职尽责地抱住他，在他脸上印下一吻，“很抱歉打扰您，父亲，我不知道您有客人。” “怎么会是打扰呢，亲爱的？我正对这些好骑士们夸你是多么地尽职尽责。” “尽职而且美丽。”一位蓬厚金发如瀑布般披散到肩的年轻骑士说，他长得很俊。 “是的，”第二名骑士生得结实，豪放的大胡子，根茎状红鼻子上布满破裂的脉络，粗糙的手则如火腿一般，“您把她的美给忽略了，大人。” “换我也会这么做，”第三名骑士身材瘦小，笑容扭曲，长着狐狸脸、尖鼻子，乱蓬蓬的橙色头发根根竖立，“尤其是向我们这帮粗人介绍的时候。” 阿莲浅浅一笑，“您们是粗人吗？”她逗趣道，“太谦虚啦，我认为您们三位都是英勇的骑士。” “他们的确是骑士，”培提尔说，“但他们的英勇还需要得到证明——我相信一定不会让人失望。阿莲，请允许我向你介绍拜伦爵士、莫苟斯爵士和夏德里奇爵士。爵士先生们，这位是阿莲小姐，我的私生女儿，她非常地善解人意……所以喽，请您们原谅，我们父女重逢，有些贴心话要说。” 三位骑士鞠躬告辞，其中长得最高的那位金发骑士吻了她的手。 “雇佣骑士吗？”阿莲关门后问。 “饥饿的骑士。我替我们多买了三把剑。时局愈发有趣了，亲爱的，当有趣的时刻终于到来时，剑是不嫌多的。人鱼王号刚回海鸥镇，老奥斯威尔带来许多消息。” 她懂得不要主动发问，培提尔想说的话，自然会说的。“没想到您这么快就回来，”她答道，“我很高兴。” “从你给我的亲吻中，我可感觉不出来。”他把她拉近，用手捧起她的脸，对准嘴唇，长久地接吻。“这才叫'欢迎回家'的吻，下次记得表现好些。” “是，父亲。”她红晕上升。 他不再强吻她。“你决不会相信君临发生的事，亲爱的，瑟曦的愚行一桩接一桩，而她那个由聋子、瞎子和白痴组成的御前会议又推波助澜。我早料到她会丧国败家，没想到报应来得这么快！真矛盾啊，原本希望经历四到五年的和平时光，等待播下的种子茁壮成长，等待她自投罗网，最终让我收获果实，现在嘛……反正我以混乱为养料，抓紧时间就成，恐怕五王之战留给我们的短暂和平熬不过这三位女人的时代。” “三位女人？”她不懂。 培提尔笑而不答，“我给我亲爱的女儿带回来一件礼物。” 阿莲又惊又喜。“是裙服吗？”听说海鸥镇的裁缝很棒，而她受够了单调的服色。 “比裙服更好，再猜。” “珠宝？” “世上没有珠宝配得上我女儿的眼睛。” “柠檬？您找到柠檬了？”她答应给乖罗宾做柠檬蛋糕，柠檬蛋糕需要柠檬。 培提尔·贝里席握住她的手，将她拉到膝盖上，“我为你签订了婚约。” “婚约……”她喉咙发紧。不，我不要再婚，不是现在，也许是永远。“我不想……我不能结婚，父亲，我……”阿莲朝门口望去，确认它紧闭着。“我结过婚了，”她低声说，“您知道的。” 培提尔用一根指头压住她的唇。“侏儒娶的是奈德·史塔克的女儿，不是我女儿。放心吧，现下还只是约定，真正的仪式得等瑟曦完蛋，珊莎安安全全地当寡妇之后举行。但你得先与那男孩会面，并赢得他的爱情，韦伍德伯爵夫人不想违拗他的意愿，她非常坚持这点。” “韦伍德伯爵夫人？”阿莲简直不敢相信，“她情愿把自己的儿子嫁给……嫁给……” “……嫁给私生女？首先，你别忘了，你乃峡谷守护者的私生女。韦伍德家族非常古老非常骄傲，家道却不殷实——我为他们还债时早发现了。当然，安雅夫人决不会为金钱出卖自己的儿子，但养子嘛……年轻的哈利只是个表亲，而我提出的嫁妆比给莱昂诺·科布瑞那份更丰厚。这是必要的牺牲，因为她冒着惹怒青铜约恩的风险，这份婚约将使罗伊斯的所有计划花为泡影。亲爱的，你的未婚夫是哈罗德·哈顿，你只需去赢得他那颗幼稚的心……对你来说，这应该是很容易的事。” “继承人哈利？”阿莲试图回忆米兰达在山上说的话，“他刚受封为骑士，还跟某位平民姑娘生了私生女。” “另一个姑娘肚子也有了他的种。我向你保证，亲爱的，哈利是个好小子，柔软的沙色头发，深蓝色的眼睛，笑起来还有酒窝。听说他非常英勇哟。”他以微笑来逗弄她。“亲爱的，不管你是否出自私生，这段姻缘将让谷地每一位贵族少女为之哭泣，说不定还会引来河间地和河湾地的嫉妒。” “为什么呀？”阿莲不明白，“难道哈罗德爵士是……韦伍德伯爵夫人的继承人？她不是有儿子的吗？” “她有三个儿子，”培提尔确认。她闻到他嘴里的酒气，还有丁香与豆蔻的味道。“以及许多女儿和孙子。” “他们都排在哈利之后？我不懂。” “你会懂的，听着。”培提尔执起她的手，用指头轻轻刷她的掌心。“我们从贾斯皮·艾林公爵说起，他是琼恩·艾林的父亲，留下三个子女，其中两个儿子，一个女儿。长子琼恩，鹰巢城和爵位给了他；次女亚丽，嫁给伊利·韦伍德爵士，即当今韦伍德伯爵夫人之叔。”他扮个鬼脸。“亚丽和伊利，不挺配的吗？贾斯皮·艾林公爵的第三子，罗纳·艾林爵士，娶了贝尔摩家的老婆，但只和新娘子做过一二次便因胃病发作而奄奄一息，可怜的罗纳临死前，他儿子艾伯特在大厅另一边降世。你在注意听吗，亲爱的？” “我在听呢。琼恩、亚丽和罗纳，然后罗纳死了。” “很好。后来，琼恩·艾林结婚三次，但头两个老婆都没给他留下子嗣，所以他外甥艾伯特一直是他的继承人。与此同时呢，伊利却拼命在亚丽肚子里播种，她几乎每年生一个孩子，最后给了丈夫八个女儿和一个宝贝的小男孩，也取名为贾斯皮——做母亲的则因难产而死。男孩贾斯皮历经千辛万苦方才诞生于世，却很幽默地在三岁那年被马儿踢中脑袋……接着天花夺走了他的两个姐姐，剩下六个当中最年长的嫁给丹尼斯·艾林爵士，他是鹰巢城本家的亲戚。你知道，峡谷里到处都有艾林家族的分支，他们个个傲慢瞧不起人——海鸥镇艾林家除外，这一支晓得与富商们结合，结果既发了横财，又不引人注目，终于兴旺发达。丹尼斯爵士来自于一个更骄傲更潦倒的分支……他在比武场上建立了名声，长得英俊，为人豪侠，知礼虔诚，号称'谷地的宠儿'，再加上他冠有神奇的艾林姓氏，因此韦伍德的长女嫁了他。他们的子孙也将是艾林，并成为自艾伯特之后谷地的继承人。真凑巧，疯王要了艾伯特的命，你知道那个故事吧？” 她知道，“他谋杀了他。” “没错，细节我就不讲了。总之，丹尼斯爵士很快抛下怀孕的妻子前去参战，并在鸣钟之役中阵亡，由于过度的英勇而死于战斧之下。人们把消息告诉他老婆，她便因悲死去，她的婴儿也死了。但这些在当时都不成问题，因为琼恩·艾林娶了个年轻老婆，一个他觉得会很丰饶的老婆。对此他充满信心，但你我都知道他从莱莎身上得到的只有死产、流产和可怜的乖罗宾。” “让我们回头来考察亚丽和伊利剩下的五个女儿。次女同样得过天花，留下严重的伤疤，因此作了修女；三女为佣兵所诱惑，伊利爵士将其逐出家门，结果她生的野种死于襁褓后，她加入了静默姐妹；四女和乳头岛伯爵成婚，却又终身不孕；五女嫁去河间地的布雷肯家族，但在途中被灼人部抢了亲；第六女，作为最年轻的女儿，嫁给一名效忠韦伍德家族的地方骑士，生下一子，取名哈罗德，随后去世。”他把她的手掌翻过来，轻轻地吻她的腕部。“所以啰，告诉我，亲爱的——为何叫他继承人哈利？” 她瞪大眼睛，“他不是韦伍德伯爵夫人的继承人，他是劳勃的继承人！如果劳勃有个三长两短……” 培提尔抬起一边眉毛，“如果劳勃有个三长两短……唉，我们可怜又勇敢的乖罗宾是个百病缠身的孩子，出什么意外也只是时间问题；如果劳勃有个三长两短继承人哈利就成了哈罗德大人，鹰巢城公爵和艾林谷的守护者。琼恩·艾林的封臣们永远不会喜欢我，也不会喜欢咱们成天犯病的劳勃，但他们会追随少鹰王……等他们在婚礼上齐集之时，你散开枣红的长发，穿着灰白的新娘斗篷，佩带冰原狼胸针出现……那样的话，峡谷骑士们将会纷纷宣誓效忠，为你赢回北境。这就是我的礼物，亲爱的珊莎……哈利，谷地和临冬城。这难道不值得另一个吻吗，亲爱的？”