The Gates of the Moon

[Fel]

The castle which guards the treacherous path up to the Eyrie.

[Fel]

The five Dayne men-at-arms are halted by the guards at the gates of the castle, asking what their intent is so far from Dorne.

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

One of them explains they aren't from Dorne, but from King's Landing and they request permission to continue to the Eyrie as they were ordered to do so by their head of house.

[Fel]

The guards looks amused, "err, well that's a strange order for Lord Dayne to be making, did he give any reason for sending five armed men into another lord's castle that the guards of said castle might possibly accept?"

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

The same one answers that there is no Lord Dayne and that they know full well who they have come for.

[Fel]

The guard raised his eyebrow. "'Fraid we don't, mate. Now you'd be best served heading back where you came from."

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

They leave begrudgingly.

[Marie]

//////////

The Royce entourage arrived at the Eyrie. . Joanna, Jon and their chidlren were accompanied by guards and servants.

[Fel]

The guards seemed surprised by the visit, but it is not long before the gates are opened and Lord Royce, Princess Joanna and their family and entourage are welcomed into the keep.

Jon and Joanna are shown to the solar of the steward of the Gates of the Moon, Ser Esmond Donniger. A man in his mid-forties, once a renowned knight, age had widened his belt, though his shoulders still looked broad and strong beneath his simple clothes.

He stood and smiled through his beard when they were shown in. "My lord, my princess, forgive us for our lack of preparation for your arrival, your bird must not have reached us successfully. But an unexpected pleasure is still a pleasure all the same."

[Marie]

"Indeed it is," Joanna agreed. "It's good to see you again, Ser Esmond. We've come primarily to see my mother though naturally it will be pleasant to revisit my childhood haunts once more. I would like to ride up in the winch, if I may. With three daughters to care for, Septa Aalina and myself must choose the safest and easiest route up the mountain even if it is the least dignified."

[Fel]

"Ah, my princess, if I had known of your plans to journey here I would have sent word. Maester Polsen has told us that Her Grace the Queen Mother is much too sick to receive guests currently. We are all praying for her swift recovery."

[Marie]

Sorrow filled the princess' eyes.

"I will add my prayers to yours. But I will see my mother when I choose to do so. I don't think a woman's own daugher counts as a 'guest.' Mother would want to see me, I know it."

[Fel]

Ser Esmond shook his head sadly. "If it were in my power to grant you this I would do so at once. But your brother's orders are that under no condition is anyone to see your mother, and I understand these are her own wishes as well." He sighed. "You and your family can of course continue up to the Eyrie as you wished, and your men will be well catered for here, but I have my orders concerning the queen. I hope you understand, and beg you to write to your brother should you wish to further pursue the matter."

[Marie]

She couldn't understand why her mother would refuse to speak with her own daughter but she decided to let it pass, for now.

"We're here now so we shall stay," she decided. "Where is Prince Maekar at present? Still with the King's court?"

[Fel]

Ser Esmond seemed relieved to no longer be having to enforce stopping a princess from seeing her sick mother.

"Yes, he is at court. His Grace is currently keeping court at Storm's End with Lord Baratheon, I am to understand."

"May I ask how long you and your family will be staying in the Eyrie?"