The wind was sharp but welcoming in the Vale, crisp with the scent of pine and stone. The journey from King's Landing had been long, but not unwelcome—not when the mountain peaks of home rose once more to greet Rodrik. The banners of House Arryn flapped proudly overhead as he arrived at the Gates of the Moon, and his heart, though heavy with matters left behind, felt just a bit lighter.
Waiting at the entrance stood Lord Yobert Arryn and Lady Jeyne—his sister, his family, and the closest people in his life.
Yobert, ever the composed lord, smiled as Rodrik dismounted. "The Vale has missed you, My Lord."
Rodrik clasped his forearm. "Not more than me."
Then came Jeyne, arms folded, lips pursed in mock displeasure. She said nothing as Rodrik turned to her with a teasing smile.
"Nothing?" Rodrik asked. "Not even a 'welcome home'?"
"You left me behind," Jeyne said coldly, her voice tight with dramatics. "You promised to show me King's Landing, and then you vanish like some traveling bard."
Rodrik tilted his head, feigning deep thought. "Did I promise? I seem to recall vague mentions of perhaps."
"You liar," she shot back.
Rodrik turned to Yobert and sighed theatrically. "Well, Lord Yobert, clearly my dear sister no longer wishes to speak to me. I suppose I shall take my lonely self elsewhere. Come, I'm sure there are taxes or treaties to bore ourselves with."
He turned as if to go, but before he took a second step, Jeyne grabbed his arm—firmly.
"Wait," she said, her voice slightly breathless. "If you're that desperate to spend time with me, I suppose I can put aside few hours of my precious time."
Rodrik grinned, only to be surprised as Jeyne practically dragged him by the arm down the corridor. "Where are we—?"
"To my room," she said. "You're telling me everything. Every scandal, every dish, every noble brat who thought they were better than you. Don't leave out a single detail."
Inside her chambers, Jeyne flopped onto her chair and pointed at the seat across from her. "Sit."
"Aye, your grace," Rodrik said as he sat, raising a brow. "Should I kneel and kiss your hand too?"
"Try it and I'll throw a boot at your head."
"You've changed," he said with mock-seriousness. "More violent. Is that what my absence has wrought?"
"I've matured, unlike you."
"Oh? What part of dragging me across the castle says maturity?"
Jeyne grinned wickedly. "The part where I'm smart enough to know you'd dodge half my questions if Yobert was around. Now, start talking. Was the Red Keep really as grand as they say? Did someone try to kill you? Did you fight Daemon? Wait, don't skip the part about you challenging Daemon Targaryen. Are you insane?"
Rodrik raised his hands. "That was… complicated."
"Oh, I bet it was," she scoffed. "You've been gone a few weeks and managed challenge a prince who was knighted at 16, get invited to royal dinners & I bet had some encounters with the princess as per the rumours coming from kings landing. What's next? You marrying into the royal family?"
Rodrik gave her a long, unreadable look. "Stranger things have happened."
Jeyne blinked. "Wait. What?."
Rodrik leaned back with a grin, "I mean I could marry Princess now she is even heir to the throne I suppose I could be King & move to Kings Landing & you can stay here & take care of Vale."
Jeyne got shoked & then laughed " You marry princess? You, who don't even know how to carry a sword properly & Just waves it around like a stick" she was laughing lowdly.
Rodrik spoke with seriousness " I totally can if I want"
Jeyne " Yes Yes I believe you"
Rodrik got frustrated " at least I know how to write properly not like some people whose writing even maesters can't understand"
She shrieked and threw a pillow at him.
The room filled with laughter, and for a while, the burdens of court, dragons, and kingdoms melted away. It was just brother and sister again, sharing warmth, stories, and the easy bond of those who know one another better than anyone else in the world.