Gulltown

[Deleted]

They all mounted up, and Aranya rode hard.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

The Falconclaw sets off on the soonest tide, Lord Arryn and retinue aboard.

[Deleted]

The party ride to Gulltown, where they are to take ship to the Stormlands. Aranya eyed the seas warily. Her dreams had shown the waves coming inland. She couldn't believe that she had seen this, yet not seen it.

They rode to the port, where the ships awaited them.

[Deleted]

Aranya strained her eyes, as if trying to see across the bay.

[Deleted]

The Falconclaw pulled into Gulltown. Aranya and Yohn were aboard the Arryn flagship, with Rhodri's knights and the silver globe and the plain ore collected.

The core of the star was carefully unloaded under Aranya's watchful eye. Aranya, Roland and Yohn mounted up and rode with their knights and the secured silver globe and the ore.

[House Dustin]

Ser Jonas Waxley and his 10 men arrive by ship and immediately ride for the Gates of the Moon.

[Ellinda]

The snow storm that had hit Castle Black with a fury now spreads across the Wall and starts moving further south. Heavy flakes blanket the world, creating white out conditions. A bitter cold cuts through clothing and skin.

[mel]

The storm bringing heavy snowfall to the North had driven the "Seabird" swiftly across the troubled sea. With a keen eye the first signs of Gulltown could be seen ahead.

Laren was wondering whether his aunt would have come herself from Runestone to pick him up at the harbour and give him a good hitting. Well she had never really hit him, but her tongue could be worse than that. On the other hand she might punish him with a dead silence, waiting for him to come to her, begging on his knees for forgiveness. Well he was likely to find out soon enough.

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Waiting to pick up the boy, however, was not Alayne. As Laren disembarked from the ship, he found a woman who was a stranger to him waiting at the docks with her guards. Her skin and countenance were of the Dornish of the far south, with nary a trace of Royce in her eyes...but nonetheless, she wore the colors of House Royce of Runestone.

"You must be the young Laren who's gotten himself in so much trouble up on the wall?" she asked with a mischievous grin.

[mel]

"Yes, I am. Not that I was in any trouble, but well....
I expected my aunt or some Royce house guards to meet me, but I'm very pleased to meet you, my Lady."

He hoped that it wasn't a bad sign to be met by this Dornish Lady, who must be the Lady of Runestone. Not that he had expected that his family would welcome him back, as if nothing had happened. Well, he would find out soon enough.

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Princess Doria laughed lightly at Laren. "I chose to lead your escort back, little boy. Mostly because you don't need to have your head smacked right away." She looked at Laren. "I'm actually here to tell you that you should be grateful that my dear sister doesn't have space for another fosterling at the Water Gardens. I assure you, she is excellent at...reforming wayward youngsters." Doria looked at Laren like a cat playing with a mouse.

"But other than threatening you, I'm here to welcome you back to the Vale."

[mel]

"I thank you for that Lady Doria. But perhaps you would care to tell me what had happened in the Vale of late."

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

"Well, it's the first time I've ever seen snow, that's for sure. Autumn has hit, and I suppose that means winter will come soon enough as well." She shrugged. "These words seem strange to me. In Dorne it's always summer."

She looked at Laren. "Other than that, we've been raising troops and stockpiling supplies. War also may be coming, especially if the Ironborn persist in trying my sister's patience." She shook her head sadly. "My sister doesn't confide in me though, but there's a lot of to-ing and fro-ing going on." She patted her belly.

"But then, intrigue is bad for the little one on the way."

[mel]

"The snow is nothing new to me." he smiled rembering "You should have seen it up on the Wall and the Wall itself. I myself found it very beautyful.

"I hope my aunt and family are well? Will we go directly to Runestone?"

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Doria nodded. "They are, and we will," she responded. "I'm sure your aunt will have a few strips to tear off your hide, so I'll keep it nice and pristine for her."