Catelyn and her party are being escorted by Ser Donnel Waynwood and a party from the Vale. Two more of Catelyn’s men,Lharys and Chiggen, died in a second clansmen attack, and Morrec died soon after when his wounds festered. When Ser Donnel approached, they drew up for a last stand before realizing who it was. The clans have been bold since Lord Jon died, and Lysa has pulled all her men into the Vale of Arryn, refusing to let them leave, even for the Hand’s tournament. Catelyn asks for Maester Colemon to tend to Ser Rodrik’s wounds, but he is commanded to stay at the Eyrie at all times and care for Lord Robert. They approach the Bloody Gate, and Ser Brynden Tully rides out to greet them. They pass through the gate and leave Ser Willis and Ser Rodrik, both wounded, before continuing on. Marillion and Bronn ask to continue on with her andTyrion and she allows it.
On the way, Catelyn tells Brynden all that has occurred. She thinks how her uncle was always a good listener, except when it came to her father, whom he quarreled with often. When Catelyn was eight, Lord Hoster called Brynden the black goat ofHouse Tully, and Brynden retorted he should be a black fish since the Tully symbol is a trout. He took a black fish for his personal emblem and has been known as the Blackfish ever since. They continued to fight until the day Lysa wed and Brynden left to take service with Lord Jon. Brynden is worried by Catelyn’s story. The nobles of the Vale are angry thatJaime Lannister has been named Warden of the East and many suspect Jon was murdered. Lord Robert is sickly and weak and many feel that Lord Nestor Royce, who ruled the Vale for fourteen years as High Steward while Lord Jon was serving as Hand, should rule until he comes of age, while others believe Lysa must marry again. She has already rejected a dozen suitors. Brynden also says that Lysa may not be helpful. She is changed by hard years, including two stillbirths and four miscarriages. They ride to the Gates of the Moon, where Lord Nestor greets them. He says that Lady Lysa has asked that Catelyn be sent up right away despite the fact that it is after dark. A young woman, Mya Stone, will take her to the top. Tyrion is escorted to a cell at the Gates.
Catelyn starts her climb, which takes her past three waycastles as the journey continues, Stone, Snow, and Sky. Mya talks as they go, telling Catelyn how she is in love with Ser Lyn Corbray’s squire, Mychel Redfort, and that they are to marry when he becomes a knight in a year or two. Catelyn thinks to herself that House Redfort is one of the oldest houses in the Vale, tracing their lineage back to the First Men, and that a son of this house would never marry a bastard.1 The path gets narrower and windier on up, and by the time Catelyn reaches the last waycastle, Sky, she is too nervous to continue and has herself hauled up from Sky to the Eyrie in a basket. She is greeted by Ser Vardis Egen and Maester Colemon, who take her to Lysa. Her sister is all smiles until everyone leaves, at which point she turns vicious. She is furious that Catelyn brought Tyrion to the Vale and dragged her into her quarrel with the Lannisters. She had never meant to fight them, only to hide in the Eyrie. Lord Robert comes in as she shouts, and he is very sickly. He gets scared, and Lysa breastfeeds him. She wonders what to do with Tyrion, and Robert asks if they can make him fly.
Quotes…
“They were your quarrels first sister. It was you who sent me that curse letter.”
“To warn you, so you could stay away from them! I never meant to fight them!”
by Mel…
Begin Rant…I don’t even know where to begin here…the more I re-read this book, the more irritated I am with Catelyn. She should be home with her children, the little ones that she left Robb in charge of. Instead she has lost men trying to get to the Vale and then as she’s watching her sister breastfeed her 7 year old she remembers Rickon. Not like, oh I miss Rickon but, hmmm I don’t breastfeed Rickon and he’s 3 and seems so much more mature!!! OK, first of all, ewwwwwww! Now that I got that out she’s up there on this high hill with 7 towers on it…nothing bad can happen there…her sister is a wee bit crazy, her nephew is just…not…right! She’s thinking, ‘hmmm, Tyrion really doesn’t act like he’s guilty….’
How frustrating this is for me, knowing what I do now, that Catelyn is dealing with this madness, when she should be at home with her children…End Rant
Also, what is her deal with bastards. Mya Stone, who was sweet enough to get her up the mountain, talking about her boyfriend and then once Catelyn finds out she is a bastard then she feels sorry for her and knows she will not marry who she loves. Also, next chapter we get a hint of who this bastard belongs to if you haven’t already figured it out.
Books to HBO…
Ser Vardis is younger, and he essentially replaces the Blackfish for this scene, with that role not being cast this season. No mention of the Bloody Gate, and the Eyrie is rather different in design. We do not see Catelyn’s tortuous climb up the side of the mountain with Mya Stone (another uncast character). Also Robert Arryn has had his name changed to Robin for the sake of clarity. Kate Dickie is a much more slender Lysa, as well. Beyond these physical details, however, the scene captures the hysterical Lysa’s fear and anger very, very well, as well as Robin’s completely spoiled, immature nature. However, it should be noted that in the book, Tyrion is not actually in this scene—Lysa and Catelyn speak privately.
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