The Prince and the Falcon | Aegon II Targaryen

04

The gods must not be on Leysa's side because only a fortnight after she arrived back in the Eyrie, she received a rather excited letter from Helaena that they will be visiting her soon.

"Leysa, it seems that we don't have to wait for long to see each other again. Father has told us that we will be traveling to the Eyrie. I can't wait to see your home as you have seen mine. I look forward to the tour of the castle and the neighboring woods you have told me about."

She must've forgotten to tell Helaena that the "neighboring woods" were further down the Eyrie itself. She didn't think much of it, a mistake on her part, when she wrote back just as excitedly saying that she looked forward to seeing her dear friend again and Helaena would be delighted with the animals they might see.

It was not long after she received the letter that Lady Jeyne Arryn also received a missive from King Viserys I Targaryen of his visit to the Vale along with his family that she finally understood what the upcoming visit meant. Her mouth tightened at the realization and she locked herself in her room upon hearing the news, barricading it with a chair. 

She cursed herself for being naïve and stupid to not realize it sooner. On one side, she was happy that she will get to see her friend again, but she also knew that Helaena wasn't the only child King Viserys would bring with him to the Eyrie.

The knocking on her door had been incessant since the moment she had closed it. At first, it had been her handmaid Mya. She had been sent over by Lady Arryn when Leysa failed to show on supper. Then came Lady Jessamyn, pleading with her to open the door so they may speak. By this time, they had finally understood that she had locked herself in her rooms. Leysa had been stubborn and refused to answer. 

Finally, it was Lady Arryn herself who went to her room, threatening to tear her door down. "Leysa Arryn, you open this door this instance! Or so help me, I will tear this door down."

"Go right ahead, my lady!" she yelled back. "It would be yours to have replaced anyway."

They left her alone and she hid herself beneath the covers, willing it to be a different day and all of it was only a dream.

Leysa was throwing a tantrum, she was aware of this though she would never vocally admit to it. It was very unlike a lady to throw one, and yet she didn't see why she wouldn't be entitled to. She didn't want to deal with them. She knew why they would venture to the Vale. And it sure was not to ask to sight-see or go for a hunt. 

She knew as well that she's being difficult, but Leysa had her life set out. She was to live peacefully in the Eyrie, no adventures, no quests, nothing that would snatch her away from her life of stability. She knew marrying to the Targaryens would not warrant that.

Leysa felt all of the life she had envisioned for herself slowly drift away from her. And no matter how hard she tried to hold on to it, there would always be someone to take it away from her. She was angry for all of it.

"Leysa?" She heard a voice different than that of Lady Arryn's or Jessamyn's. "Open the door, I know you're in there."

Begrudgingly, she slipped from her bed and opened the door to her dearest friend, Alys Stone. They have grown up together, as Alys was a natural daughter of House Arryn, though her exact parentage was still blurry. They may as well be sisters. Alys served as her handmaiden and companion, and she had raised Leysa as much as Lady Arryn and Lady Jessamyn did.

"What are you doing here?" She knew by this time during the day, Alys would be to help the servants clean up and take whatever produce sent to storage. Though Alys was her companion, she had also other responsibilities in the Eyrie.

"I heard," Alys beamed, pushing her way in Leysa's room. "The king is to visit the Eyrie and he'll bring his family with him. Do you reckon they would bring their dragons? What are you doing holed up in your rooms anyway? You should be down there helping Lady Arryn with the preparations."