[b]House Arryn[/b]
[img]http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/e756cbf02ad4a740193815065f5c7049.jpg[/img]
[b]Seat: The Eyrie[/b]
[b]The Vale[/b]

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[u][i]Lady Jeyne Arryn - Maiden of the Vale[/i][/u]

The younger half-sister of the late Queen, Aemma Targaryen, Jeyne Arryn became Warden of the East upon the death of her Lord Father, Rodrik Arryn in 100AC, she was five years old. Her mother, Wilma Royce (younger sister to Rhea Targaryen, Prince Daemon's estranged first wife), had married Rodrik in the hope she might be able to provide the aging Lord of the Vale a male heir. Aemma was Queen and destined to diee in childbirth and her daughter Rhaenyra (b. 97AC) would be heir to the Seven Kingdoms. When Jeyne was born late in 95AC, it was hoped there was plentiful time for a younger brother who might become heir to the Eyrie but despite Wilma being young and hale (just fourteen when Jeyne was born) she suddenly sickened in 98AC and passed away. Jeyne was two years old.

So it came to pass that she came to inherit the ancestral seat whilst scarce more than a babe herself. Despite this, she had sound advisors left behind by her late father and grew swiftly into her office. Patient, wise beyond her years and savvy, the Vale prospered and she was well loved. She got along well with young Princess Rhaenyra whenever occasion brought them together, just a year and a half separated the girls in age and their shared Arryn blood meant Jeyne felt a responsibility for the Princess whilst Rhaenyra seemed to listen to Jeyne a deal more than any of the females at court, including Viserys' new queen, Alicent Hightower. 

By the time her Aunt Rhea died in 115AC, advisors (now mere subjects) were keen to press upon Jeyne the idea of marriage. She was approaching her twenty-third nameday and had earned the monicker 'The Maiden of the Vale', she understood well enough that producing an heir (preferably male, though Jeyne expressed no opinion on this) was part and parcel of her duty to her office and to her name. The problem was that she simply didn't [i]like[/i] men. Most of her court were men and she found those who weren't greybeards or sots were dullards so armed in chivalry and courtesy that she ofttimes had to bite her lip sharply to stay awake through some of their dreary monologues.

She could certainly feel pleasure of the flesh but found that the soft, porcelain caresses of Aya, a Lysene girl brought to foster at the Eyrie as a refugee from Daemon's infernal war on the Stepstones, were preferable to the notion of a man's rough, calloused hands pawing at her bare skin. Jeyne had longed for some female company in that high, lonely Citadel and would eventually raise her to the role of her personal stewardess. Aya had come to the Eyrie aged six (Jeyne was ten years her senior) and by age fourteen Lady Arryn had taken the girl into her bed. The 'search' for a husband, it seemed, was set to continue.

What she hadn't banked upon, however, was Daemon Targaryen's temerity in requesting poor Rhea's former home of Runestone for his personal seat. Here was a man who married too young and then cruelly shunned her Aunt for the rest of the marriage (and Rhea's life). He had even famously declared the Vale bored him and made scandalous accusations about the relationship her subjects had with their sheep! It gave her a real satisfaction to reject his claim and honour Rhea's nephew (her cousin) as the new Lord Royce. Daemon's reaction was predictable. He attacked and Jeyne had to call the banners to weedle him out and restore the peace. In honour of the brave men that gave their lives (including the Knight of Ninestars- a half-crippled, but brave man) Jeyne banished Daemon from the Vale forever. It was disappointing that Viserys had elected not to bestir himself to intervene in the conflict. 

It has been disappointing to see how Rhaenyra and Queen Alicent have developed such a cold enmity over the years, but Rhaenyra is Jeyne's blood- half an Arryn herself- and should any presume to supplant the Princess and steal her rightful Crown, there is little doubt where her loyalties lie. The only sticking point being that Rhaenyra has wed that infernal uncle of hers, Daemon. Now, in 129AC, Jeyne is in her thirty fourth year and winter is coming. Snows already cover the slopes of the Giant's Lance as far down as Stone (one of the Eyrie's wayhouses along the treacherous approach). 


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[b]History: [/b]
The Arryns can trace their history right back to the purest Andal stock. Ever since Ser Artys Arryn, the Falcon knight became the first Arryn King to rule over Mountain and Vale have the Arryns held sway over the Eastern lands of Westeros. From the day Ser Artys defeated King Robar II at the battle of the Seven Stars, the household has held a storied place in the history of the Seven Kingdoms. 

When Aegon the Conqueror came, the Arryns became Wardens of the East and have staunchly stood beside the Iron Throne ever after. As well as defending Westeros from enemies across the Narrow Sea, House Arryn has kept tight controls over the savage Mountain Clans that plague the mountains of mist. 

More recently, House Arryn was honoured with the distinction of being allowed marriage into the Targaryen bloodline; Lord Rodrick Arryn offered the hand of Princess Daella Targaryen and their daughter, Lady Aemma Arryn was wed to the lately passed King Viserys I. Lady Aemma is long dead now but was mother to the Princess Rhaenyra, making Viserys' preferred heiress half Arryn herself. 

Rhaenyra's newest husband, however, her rash uncle Daemon is no friend in the Vale. His first wife Rhea died in 115AC and when he petitioned that he should inherit Rhea's ancestral home, Runestone. Not only did the current Lady Arryn forbid this, she expelled Daemon from the Vale altogether!