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| “ | I mean to take the boy with me to Runestone, and raise him up to be a knight that Jon Arryn would be proud of. | „ |
| ~ Yohn Royce telling Lord Petyr Baelish his plan to foster Lord Robert Arryn at Runestone. |
| “ | I like it not, but it would seem you have your year. Best use it well, my lord. Not all of us are fooled. | „ |
| ~ Yohn Royce to Petyr Baelish. |
Lord Yohn Royce, also known as Bronze Yohn, is a supporting character in the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series and the TV adaption Game of Thrones.
He is the lord of Runestone, the head of the senior branch of House Royce, and a sworn powerful bannerman to House Arryn. Yohn has three sons—Andar, Robar, and Waymar— a daughter named Ysilla, and several other unnamed daughters. He also has several unnamed granddaughters.
According to a dialogue in A Storm of Swords regarding a candidate for Lysa Arryn's marriage, Yohn appears to be a widower. Yohn is a cousin of Lord Nestor Royce, head of the newly-founded cadet branch House Royce of the Gates of the Moon.
Known household members of Bronze Yohn are Maester Helliweg, Septon Lucos, and Ser Samwell Stone. Known bannermen and sworn swords of Bronze Yohn are Lord Royce Coldwater, Ser Damon Shett, and Lord Uthor Tollett.
In the TV series he was portrayed by Rupert Vansittart.
Appearance[]
| “ | His armor is bronze, thousands and thousands of years old, engraved with magic runes that ward him against harm. | „ |
| ~ Sansa Stark to Jeyne Poole. |
Yohn has a lined face, grey hair, slate-grey eyes, and bushy eyebrows. His height makes him as tall as Sandor Clegane and he has large-gnarled hands. Being a tourney knight, he wears a set of rune-inscribed bronze armor while participating in tourneys. The armor is said to be thousands of years old, having belonged to the Bronze Kings of House Royce during the age of the First Men. The armor's runes can allegedly protect its owner from harm.
Personality[]
Yohn Royce is proud and fierce but also solemn and quiet. When he speaks, its usually in a booming voice. Both in the novels and in the TV series, he has a strong distrust of Lord Petyr Baelish and even sees him as a bad influence on Lord Robert Arryn (Robin Arryn in the TV series). In addition, he is not gullible and is fully aware of Lord Baelish's manipulation and political games.
Biography[]
Background[]
During the year of false spring, 281 AC, Lord Yohn Royce participated in the joust in the tourney at Harrenhal but was defeated by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. A few years later, in 289 AC, Yohn participated in the tourney at Lannisport, which honored King Robert I Baratheon's victory over Lord Balon Greyjoy during the latter's rebellion. In the joust, Lord Yohn was defeated by Lord Jorah Mormont, who became the tourney's champion.
As Lord Jon Arryn served as King Robert I's Hand, the former was left with much of the responsibility of running the Seven Kingdoms. While Jon lived mostly at court, Yohn's cousin, Ser Nestor Royce, ruled as High Steward of the Vale from the Gates of the Moon, the winter castle of House Arryn.
At some point, Lord Tywin Lannister offered his son Tyrion for marriage within House Royce, but Yohn turned him down, and most likely felt slighted by such offer.
When his youngest son, Ser Waymar, joined in the Night's Watch in 296 AC, Yohn escorted him north. While on their way, they stayed at Winterfell, the seat of House Stark. There, Yohn Royce participated in hunts and spoke with Lady Catelyn Stark, the wife of Lord Eddard Stark. He even sparred with the latter and Ser Rodrik Cassel, defeating one and then the other.
In 298 AC, in King's Landing, during the tourney that was held to the twelfth name day of Crown Prince Joffrey Baratheon, Yohn participated in the mêlée and used a mace to defeat Thoros of Myr after the flames of the latter's sword had guttered out.
A Game of Thrones[]
In 297 AC, Yohn's son, Ser Waymar Royce, disappears beyond the Wall during his very first ranging, as he was traveling in the Haunted Forest with fellow rangers Gared and Will in search for a Free Folk band of raiders. According to later reports, Waymar and his companions were last seen by the wildling Craster, who had hosted them in his keep. Unbeknownst to Yohn, the Night's Watch, and House Stark, Waymar and Will were both murdered by the Others. Waymar is still officially declared missing in action.
In 298 AC, Lord Jon Arryn, Yohn's liege and the de-facto ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, suddenly dies by some unspecified "illness". His widowed wife Lysa Arryn leaves King's Landing to return to the Eyrie, where she becomes Lady Regent of the Vale.
Later that year, Yohn travels to King's Landing with his sons, Ser Andar and Ser Robar Royce, where they all participated in the Hand's tourney. In the joust Andar is unhorsed by Ser Jaime Lannister, while Robar unhorses Ser Lothor Brune, but is later defeated by Ser Loras Tyrell. Yohn participates in the tourney as well, but no details are given, and it is unknown if he entered the lists and if he took part in the mêlée.
After the tourney, Yohn and his sons remain at court, with a retinue of knights and sworn swords. Yohn and Andar participate in King Robert I Baratheon's hunt in the kingswood for a white hart, along with a large royal hunting party. Later Lord Eddard Stark, Hand of the King, sends Ser Robar Royce to the kingswood to inform his father and King Robert of Ser Gregor Clegane's raids in towns in the Riverlands and how a royal host has been sent to execute him and his warband. While Robert's hunting party find the carcass of their target hart, Robar reaches them and delivers them the news of the growing hostilities between the Houses Tully and Lannister. Yohn, his sons, and almost the whole party return to the capital, but Robert decides to stay in the kingswood with his brother Lord Renly Baratheon, Ser Barristan Selmy and his squire Lancel Lannister to hunt a monstrous boar.
Bronze Yohn is back in the city, Robert ends up getting gored by the huge boar and is brought back mortally wounded. That night, as the King lies dying in the Red Keep, Yohn is named by Lord Petyr Baelish, master of coin, as a possible ally for Ned Stark against Queen Cersei Lannister in the matter of succession, though ultimately Ned chooses to rely on the gold cloaks.
That same night, Yohn, his heir Andar and their entourage immediately leave King's Landing before King Robert's death is confired. Robar instead decides to flee the capital with Lord Renly Baratheon, Ser Loras Tyrell, and their respective households, in the hopes to find glory and a proper place by serving as Renly's vassal in the south.
During King Joffrey I Baratheon's first court session after Ned's imprisonment, Lord Royce is listed by Grand Maester Pycelle among those required to swear fealty to the new king or be named traitors of the Crown.
A Clash of Kings[]
During the War of the Five Kings, Yohn wishes for the Vale to join forces with the North and the Riverlands to defeat the forces of House Lannister. Despite being pressured, Lady Lysa Arryn, however, stubbornly refused, due to her paranoia, and she maintained a neutral state.
Yohn's second son, Ser Robar Royce, now serves as a member of King Renly I Baratheon's Rainbow Guard. Later, at Storm's End to face King Stannis I Baratheon, Lady Catelyn Stark asks Robar why he is not with his father in the Vale, and Robar explains that he left service in Runestone because a second son must find glory where he can, so he joined his friends Renly and Loras. Robar states that Yohn and Andar are the ones meant to serve the Vale.
Unfortunately, Robar's search for independence and glory meets a tragic ending when he is killed by an enraged Ser Loras Tyrell, his Lord Commander, for failing to protect King Renly and letting his alleged murderer escape. With Robar's death, Ser Andar Royce becomes the only known living son of Bronze Yohn.
A Storm of Swords[]
Several Lords of the Vale and King Robb Stark keep sending pleas for aid to Lysa Arryn, urging her to join forces with her nephew, but Lysa ignores all the messages and remains isolated in the Eyrie, to the frustration and anger of both Robb and Yohn Royce. With Renly Baratheon dead and Stannis Baratheon defeated at the Blackwater, the Lannisters are rid of the only ones strong enough to end their reign and the Iron Throne is seemingly secured under the Lannister-Tyrell alliance. Lord Yohn is mentioned as a suitor of Lysa by Ser Kevan Lannister, suggesting he is a widower. Queen Cersei reminds her uncle that Lord Royce never swore fealty to King Joffrey and is a Stark sympathizer who is still trying to rebel against the Iron Throne. Petyr Baelish, now disputed Lord of Harrenhal and Lord Paramount of the Trident, is betrothed to his childhood friend Lysa.
After Robb ponders his next move, following the betrayal of Lord Rickard Karstark at Riverrun in 299 AC, he considers that the knights of the Vale could make all the difference in the War of the Five Kings. But Lysa keeps them in the Vale with no hope of aid. According to Lysa herself, Yohn is constantly pressuring her into participating in the War of the Five Kings, at this point presumably in defense of Riverrun against the returning armies of the Westerlands.
House Arryn's bannermen resent Lysa's marriage with Littlefinger and begrudge Lord Baelish for his authority as Lord Protector of the Vale. Yohn's senior branch of House Royce is close to open revolt over Lysa's refusal to aid the Starks, and the Waynwoods, Redforts, Belmores, and Templetons gave their support. However, before any further development and Yohn is busy rallying the knights of the Vale, Robb Stark, his mother, and most of his men are murdered at the Twins by House Frey during the Red Wedding.
A Feast for Crows[]
The lords and knights of the Vale, including Yohn Royce, will have none of Petyr Littlefinger's schemes. In 300 AC, determined to rid the Vale of Lord Baelish, Lord Royce gathers the most powerful lords of the Vale at his seat of Runestone, shortly after Lysa Arryn's death, and creates a new political movement known as the Lords Declarant. As the greatest of them all, Yohn is the leader of the group. At the castle these nobles make a pact together, vowing to defend Lord Robert Arryn, the Vale, and one another.
Yohn's cousins, Ser Nestor Royce and Ser Albar Royce, along with Ser Marwyn Belmore, go to the Eyrie to inquire about Lysa Arryn's sudden death, which Littlefinger blamed on the bard Marillion. In the end, the nobility of the Vale, accepts Littlefinger's testimony, which is backed by his bastard daughter Alayne Stone and Lord Robert Arryn; Marillion pushed Lysa through the Moon Door. Aside from the fact that Marillion is hated by many nobles for his insulting works, it is also possible that Nestor Royce is on Lord Baelish's payroll. Before leaving, Nestor warns Littlefinger that his cousin Bronze Yohn is not so placable, and intends to come in force alongside more of the most powerful lords of the Vale, in order to remove Littlefinger from his position as Lord Protector of the Vale. He also intends to question Marillion himself about Lysa's murder. Littlefinger regards this warning rather stoically.
In order to gain Nestor's support against Yohn, Petyr grants him House Arryn's second castle, the Gates of the Moon, and the hereditary title of its Lord, winning the support of the new cadet branch House Royce of the Gates of the Moon. Lord Nestor is very pleased, as he felt that his hard work in governing the Vale for many years in Jon Arryn's name was never properly acknowledged and rewarded. Nestor is also easily flattered by Littlefinger, unlike Bronze Yohn who is too honorable and stern for political ingratiation.
The Lords Declarant sign a letter indirectly stating their intent to remove Lord Petyr Baelish from his office of Lord Protector of the Vale by any means necessary. However, their official declaration makes no mention of Baelish himself, but instead speaks of "misrule" that must be ended and of "false friends and evil counselors". It is also implied that Yohn is likely sure that Littlefinger is involved with Lady Lysa's sudden and convenient death. As the greatest lords of the Vale, these lords have the greatest power and influence and control over the rest of the nobility and knightly factions. As House Baelish is a family of extremely low birth with no business controlling House Arryn, Littlefinger has very little support, though he has many friends and lordlings in the main city of the Vale, Gulltown, having controlled the main trade of its harbor in the past. The most important supporters of Lord Baelish are House Grafton, House Lynderly, and House Corbray, as well as the recently gained House Royce of the Gates of the Moon, but none of these is match to the Lords Declarant. Littlefinger's title of Lord Paramount of the Trident is only nominal so far, as it is actually the Houses Frey, Lannister, and Tarly who are trying to restore the Crown's order in the Riverlands. There is still no Baelish influence and no real Baelish garrison at Harrenhal, despite Littlefinger being the current Lord of Harrenhal. The only reason the Lannisters gave him that castle was only because he needed to own an important seat to marry Lysa Arryn and win the Vale back for the Iron Throne.
The Lords Declarant's letter is signed at Runestone by Lord Bronze Yohn Royce of Runestone, Lady Anya Waynwood of Ironoaks, Lord Gilwood Hunter of Longbow Hall, Lord Horton Redfort of Redfort, Lord Benedar Belmore of Strongsong, and Ser Symond Templeton the Knight of Ninestars. The letter is sent both to the Eyrie and King's Landing. Dowager Queen Cersei Lannister, who would rather have Littlefinger back to the small council, replies to Yohn that he can do what he wants with Lord Baelish, but no harm must be done to him and she orders safe passage for him out of the Vale, if he is removed from his position as Lord Protector. Actually, Cersei hopes that Yohn and his fellow lords will succeed in their intent, because she feels the need of having Petyr back to court to resume his old office of master of coin.
After sending the letters, Yohn Royce, Lady Anya Waynwood, and other nobles ascend to the Eyrie to face Petyr and take custody of Lord Robert Arryn so that he can be fostered at Runestone, the seat of House Royce. The Lords Declarant gather six thousand men to the Gates of the Moon, demanding that Petyr give up his position of Lord Protector and leave the Vale. Each lord brought a thousand men to form their host. Yohn's cousin, Lord Nestor Royce, can only close the Gates of the Moon against the Lords Declarant, but his garrison includes only fewer than three hundred men. The Lords Declarant deny access of food and other goods from the outside to the Eyrie. The first one of them to arrive at the Eyrie's valley was Lord Benedar Belmore, who sent a raven to Lord Baelish telling him that no more food will go up to the Eyrie until Lord Robert Arryn will be sent down to meet the Lords Declarant. At such high altitude on the mountains, the Eyrie depends from the other castles nearby to receive food, mainly the Gates of the Moon, and currently the Eyrie's granaries have mostly just oats, corn, and barley. Normally, all fresh foods are brought up from the valley floor by a young girl named Mya Stone, the first child of the late King Robert I Baratheon, but the Lords Declarant prevent her from delivering anything to the Eyrie. Despite all this, the situation is still not considered a siege, but only a protest from a political movement. The main official demand from Yohn Royce and his fellow lords is that they want to pay homage to their young Lord of the Eyrie Robert, though what they really want is political control over the Vale.
However, it is being feared that this might escalate into a real siege if the Lords Declarant's demands are not met soon. Robert "Sweetrobin" Arryn does not care to see his protesting bannermen and wishes to have all six of them executed by being tossed out of the Moon Door, if they reach the Eyrie. A short time later, Petyr Baelish negotiates a meeting with the Lords Declarant, promising them a safe conduct to the Eyrie and guest right. Thus, Yohn and the other five nobles are allowed access through the Gates of the Moon, which is the first line castle of the Eyrie's defense, the first one to reach after crossing the Bloody Gate stronghold. The Gates castle is the first of a line made of defending strongholds on the long way to the Arryn seat. On their way to the parley, the Lords Declarant are escorted by Lord Nestor, and they picked the vain and hot-tempered Ser Lyn Corbray for their bodyguard. They chose Lyn for being one of fiercest knights of the Vale, having slain many men in battle and being a veteran from Robert's Rebellion, but also personally hated by Sweetrobin.
Littlefinger knows that of all the Lords Declarant the only one who matters is Yohn Royce, the one leading the faction and the Lord of the Vale whom Tywin Lannister distrusted the most, for having been a vocal supporter of Robb Stark's cause and having been close to rally the armies of the Vale to join the rebellion of the North and the Riverlands. As such, there's an uneasy mistrusting relationship between Yohn and the Iron Throne, made worse by the fact that Yohn and his sons had left King's Landing immediately the night King Robert I died, like Renly Baratheon did, and he never swore any official oath of fealty to either King Joffrey I and King Tommen I Baratheon. And Yohn's is also known for his personal dislike toward the Lannisters and their lickspittles. Littlefinger thinks it is impossible for him to win Bronze Yohn on his side, so he must try to win all the other Lords Declarant, which will leave Yohn alone.
The Lords Declarant and their escorts make their long climb through the three waycastles of the defense line, which are named Stone, Snow, and Sky, each commanded by a chief knight. It takes several days to make the climb to the Eyrie afoot, and a whole day to make it on mule. Defense aside, the three waycastles serve to let travellers rest and sleep before continuing their climb. As the final six hundred feet of the ascent are vertical, the visitors have to dismount their mules continue their journey to the Eyrie by choosing either a swaying wooden basket that is used to lift supplies, or climb afoot up a rocky chimney. Lord Redfort and Lady Waynwood, the two most elderly of the group, and the fat Lord Belmore choose the winch, while the two Lords Yohn and Nestor Royce and the rest continue the climb. They reach the Eyrie late at the end of a whole day of climb, Yohn and Nestor being the last ones to join. They are welcomed in the Crescent Chamber by Alayne Stone, the apparent natural daughter of Lord Baelish, who serves them hot mulled red wine with honey and raisins as a relief after the cold climb, and refreshments of bread and cheese. This gives both visitors and hosts guest right, despite the fact that since the Red Wedding it means less to most people, who are now wary of it. But Alayne cannot believe that a lord as noble as Yohn Royce will ever step as low as the Freys and kill her and Littlefinger in this meeting.
Knowing that Yohn saw her twice—during his visit at Winterfell on his way to the Wall with his son Waymar, and in King's Landing during the Hand's tourney—Sansa fears he might recognize her, though Littlefinger is dismissive, as she was 10 when Lord Royce was at Winterfell and only glimpsed her on a few occasions in King's Landing when she was almost 12. Sansa considers throwing herself at Yohn's feet, reveal her true identity and ask him for his protection, but she decides not to. Unaware of Yohn's constant pleas to Lysa to join with Starks and the Tullys during the war, she reasons that Yohn never fought for her brother Robb and has no reason to fight for her, especially not now that war seems to be done and Winterfell has fallen. When offered wine, Yohn looks at Alayne closely and asks her if he knows her. Sansa cannot bring herself to speak, until Nestor gruffly assures his cousin that she is Alayne Stone, Petyr's bastard daughter. It is still possible that Yohn might have recognized her as Sansa, or realized it later.
Negotiations begin poorly when Ser Lyn Corbray and Lady Anya Waynwood have a hostile exchange caused by Lyn's lack of courtesy and hot-headed behavior. Not wanting the Lords to see him sitting on the high seat of Arryn, Littlefinger receives the guests in his solar instead of the castle's High Hall. The lords and the Lord Protector are seated on a long table, along with them Alayne. The only ones standing are Ser Lyn and Littlefinger's bodyguard, the former freerider Ser Lothor Brune. At dinner, Petyr starts the parley by bringing up the declaration letter of the Lords Declarant, complimenting its choice of words about "false friends and evil counselors". The lords fall in a silent surprise when Petyr asks them why he was not invited to Runestone to join them and sign their letter, claiming to love young Robert Arryn more than anyone else and to support the Lords Declarant's goal of removing the Vale's false friends and evil counselors out. Although he knows that the enemies the Lords talk about are nothing but himself, Littlefinger insists that he is with Bronze Yohn's group and begs to let him add his signature on their letter. The Lords fall into a confused silence, until the more blunt Yohn breaks it by rejecting Petyr's false politeness and innocent behavior, as to him it seems obvious the letter is talking against Petyr himself.
Yohn quickly brings the parley to blunt words and the Lords declare that they want Petyr out of the Vale, for he has no business ruling it. Lord Gilwood Hunter points out that Petyr is Lord of Harrenhal and Lord Paramount of the Trident, so Petyr's place is in the Riverlands, which right now are in desperate need of a new ruler, as Riverrun is still in rebellion and under siege by Iron Throne forces, the Lords Jonos Bracken and Tytos Blackwood are at open war, and outlaws and broken men ruined by the war are roaming freely everywhere, burning, killing and stealing. Lord Baelish claims to have more pressing duties in the Vale of Arryn, the first one being raising his stepson, the weak and sickly Lord Robert, whom he cannot drag into a dangerous chaotic place such as the Riverlands.
The Lords Declarant confront Petyr with their objections to his rule and their insistence in taking Robert away from him. Since the death of Lysa Arryn, Sweetrobin's shaking seizures have grown worse and more violent. Colemon, the maester of the Eyrie, leeches him as often as he dares, and mixes him dreamwine and milk of the poppy to help him sleep, which is twelve hours a day, but the boy remains very weak and he is also very undisciplined. Bronze Yohn declares his intent to foster Robert at Runestone as his ward and squire and to raise him to be a knight that Lord Jon Arryn would be proud of, and in time as he grows older the boy will travel around the Vale to see the castles and towns and meet his other lords bannermen and vassals. Yohn has the group's backing, having already agreed with the idea back at Runestone. Lady Waynwood reminds Baelish that Lord Royce successfully raised three fine sons—Ser Andar, Ser Robar, and Ser Waymar— and all of them came out perfect by Westerosi standards; strong, well-trained, and knighted. The Lords find Yohn perfect to foster a sickly and spoiled child such as Sweetrobin. Lady Waynwood also points out that Robert's shaking sickness might receive better treatment from Yohn's own maester, Helliweg, who is way older and more experienced than the young Maester Colemon, and thus better suited to treat Lord Robert's frailties. Yohn means to have Robert learn the arts of war from the strong and fine master-at-arms of Runestone, Samwell "Strong Sam" Stone, and learn the matters of the spirit and faith from Septon Lucos.
Furthermore, the Eyrie is currently lacking young boys closer to Robert's age, and the boy is surrounded by women and Lord Baelish's sellswords, but at Runestone there are many boys, more suitable companions, that Robert can befriend. Littlefinger admits that Robert does need companions, though he also says that Robert loves Alayne dearly, which is not a lie. Petyr already sent word to Lord Gerold Grafton and Lord Jon Lynderly, asking each one to send a son to ward at the Eyrie, and both lords have have a boy of an age with Sweetrobin. Ser Lyn Corbray laughs and dismisses the Lords Grafton and Lynderly as a pair of lapdogs, however. Baelish states that Robert must also have a teenage boy, a strong squire, that he can admire and try to emulate, and thinks the perfect example of this is Ser Harrold "Harry" Hardyng, who is Robert's cousin by being the son of one of Jon Arryn's deceased sisters. As Harrold is serving as her ward at Ironoaks, Lady Anya calls Littlefinger a bold thief, but the Lord Protector claims he just wants Robert and Harrold to be friends. Bronze Yohn promises that Robert shall befriend Harry, but at Runestone under his care and as his ward and squire. Once again, the Lords Declarant tell Petyr they want the boy and have Petyr and his freeriders and mercenaries depart the Vale unmolested for his proper seat at Harrenhal where he belongs.
Littlefinger takes offense at their demands of him leaving, implying that him staying will only cause harm. He defends himself by reminding them that his late wife Lysa considered the Eyrie to be his proper seat. But the Lords Declarant remind him that Lysa Tully was just Jon Arryn's widow and the mother of his child who only ruled the Vale as the child's regent. Petyr on the other hand is no Arryn and has no blood tie with Lord Robert. When asked by what right he presumes to rule the great lords of the Vale, Petyr reminds them it was Lysa herself to name him Lord Protector, through an official document as well. But Lord Hunter reminds him again that Lysa was a Tully of Riverrun, not someone of the Vale, and she had no right to dispose of the real lords of the Vale in favor of someone coming from an upjumped family of Braavosi origins. Littlefinger retorts that Lysa also "disposed" of her own son. Having remained silent throughout the whole parley, Nestor Royce loudly speaks up, telling the Lords Declarant that he was one Lysa's many suitors, along with them also the late Lord Eon Hunter, one of Lady Anya's sons, and Ser Lyn Corbray who never left Lysa's side for half a year, before it was decided she would marry Lord Baelish. Nestor points out that if Lysa had chosen anyone of her suitors, none of the lords present would even dispute his right to be the Lord Protector of the Vale. But it happens she chose Littlefinger and entrusted her son to his care. Bronze Yohn and Lord Belmore remain firm on their intent and demand that Robert, the only pureborn Arryn left alive, come with them. Littlefinger refuses as since Robert is a small and frail child, the journey to Runestone would only hurt him, and as his stepfather and Lord Protector he cannot permit it.
The parley moves to threats from the Lords Declarant when Bronze Yohn remains firmly persistent and cold-eyed Ser Symond Templeton reminds him that afoot of the Eyrie's mountain are 6,000 men, a number that can be largely increased if need be. Lord Baelish takes this as a threat of open war, but he is not impressed nor afraid, and it seems the parley is not moving anywhere. However, the Lords Declarant's demands are then stymied by a display of belligerence from Ser Lyn Corbray, who grows tired of the conversation and threatens Petyr with his sword, Lady Forlorn, violating the laws of hospitality. Corbray challenges Petyr in a duel to settle matters, telling him to use his own dagger or ask Ser Lothor Brune to give him his sword. Ser Lothor moves to intercept, but it is the intervention of Yohn and the other Lords Declarant that causes Lyn to put up his sword. Angered by Lyn's insolence, Yohn demands him if he is a Corbray or a Frey for having just violated guest right before commanding him to leave the parley. All the other Lords add their anger and outrage to Yohn's, but Ser Lyn first insists that he is thirsty for Petyr's blood, causing Yohn to put himself in Lyn's path. This caused the latter to disdainfully mock the Lords Declarant as weak women before leaving. However, unbeknownst to the Lord's Declarant, Lyn Corbray is actually in Petyr's employ and secretly worked as his agent among the Lords Declarant; the scene he made was nothing but a planned show to allow Petyr in his manipulation of the lords and to join every conspiracy against him and inform on them.
Littlefinger believes the weaknesses of all the Lords of the Vale will make them easy to manipulate from now on, now that he he is able to manipulate the Lords Declarant into letting Lord Robert Arryn stay under his care. Following a brief uneasy silence, Lord Royce and Ser Symond apologize for Ser Lyn's display and claim they never had any intent to use violence inside the castle. Littlefinger is visibly upset, perfectly feigning anger and outrage, and scolding the nobles for bringing Lyn to the Eyrie. Now it would be within Baelish's rights to call his guards and have all of the Lords Declarant arrested. When a shocked and upset Lord Hunter reminds him that he gave them safe conduct, Littlefinger states that in fact he has more honor than Lyn and thus he will let the parley continue civilly. He brings forth his own terms; the Lords Declarant must remove their armies from the mountain and go back to their homes, leave Lord Robert alone, and stop their rebellion against Baelish's rule. During the last two years the Vale has been misruled, with its isolation from the rest of Westeros and allowing the Mountain Clans to grow stronger and more dangerous, but Littlefinger defends himself by pointing out it was Lysa's work, not his. When the Lords Declarant show distrust for his promise of good rule, Petyr reminds them of Ser Lyn's treacherous display that just happened in the solar and points out that the Lords wrote of defending Lord Robert, yet they deny him food while pretending they're not laying siege to the mountain. Petyr threatens to call for the Crown's aid if the Lords Declarant do not lift the siege, which will result with King's Landing sending an army, marking the Lords as rebels and the Vale going to open war.
The prospect of causing the Vale to suffer from warfare and Lyn Corbray's dishonorable act caused the Lords Declarant to give Peter Baelish a year to prove his prowess at raising Robert and ruling the Eyrie. The Lord Protector promises that he and Lord Nestor Royce will take care of the main political matters of the Vale, and none of its nobility shall have any cause for grievance, for all the lords can continue to manage their own regions as they like. If by the end of the year the Vale will not be set to rights, Littlefinger promises he will willingly step down as Lord Protector. The Lords Declarant and Lyn Corbray shall be pardoned and there won't be any accusation of treason or rebellion ever. All of the lords present agree, except for Bronze Yohn, who admits that Littlefinger has won. Visibly angered, Yohn studies Petyr for a moment and warns him to use his one year of rule well, stating "Not all of us are fooled." This implies that Royce has seen through Petyr's scheming and realized Lyn's scene was staged. He storms off in anger, opening the solar's door so forcefully that he wrenches it off its hinges. Yohn departs from the Eyrie immediately to descend the mountain, as Ser Lyn before him, while the other lords stay until the following morning.
Petyr means to make good use of his year as Lord Protector of the Vale and he is optimistic about the Lords Declarant's fates. Horton Redfort and Anya Waynwood are old, so one or both of them may die. Gilwood Hunter will likely be murdered by his brothers, Ser Eustace and Ser Harlan, most likely the latter, who is said to have arranged the death of their father, Lord Eon. While Benedar Belmore is corrupt and can be bought and Ser Symond Templeton can become a friend to House Baelish. Ser Lyn Corbray will publicly remain Petyr's implacable enemy, who will speak of him with scorn and loathing to every man he meets, and join every secret plot to bring Petyr down, while secretely being his agent and informant. Petyr confides to Sansa that he believes Yohn Royce will be the only one who will continue to be hostile and a threat to his plans. He considers Yohn the biggest threat to his plans to take over the Vale, as he has great influence over the other lords and cannot be easily bought, extorted or disposed of, in contrast to the other lords of the Vale. Petyr hopes to win the support of all the other lords through his manipulation and corruption, since as long as Lord Royce stands alone he is not so much a threat.
Later that year, Bronze Yohn holds a small melee at Runestone only for squires. Apparently Yohn means for it to be won by Ser Harrold Hardyng, Jon Arryn's second heir. Harry the Heir indeed wins the melee and Yohn knights him as his reward. Yohn's cousin, Myranda Royce, gossips that Lady Waynwood might wed Harry to one of Yohn's granddaughters. Lord Royce weds his daughter, Ysilla, to the newly knighted Ser Mychel Redfort, much to the heartbreak of Mya Stone, who was in love with the knight.
Yohn does not attend a noble wedding, when Lord Lyonel Corbray marries the sixteen-year-old daughter of a rich Gulltown merchant, the marriage brokered by Littlefinger. Lyonel receives a significant dowry for marrying a lowborn commoner. It is a well-attended wedding, with a surprise attendee in Lord Benedar Belmore, who had recently reconciled with Petyr. The Lords Declarant were expected to shun Lyonel's wedding, but in the end, Lord Belmore, Lady Waynwood and the Ser Symond attend, as well as the Lords Waxley, Grafton and Lynderly. This might eventually leave Yohn as the only Lord Declarant growing more and more on his own against the rest of the Vale's nobility.
Lord Royce is insulted once again when he is robbed of Ser Harrold Hardyng, who was expected to marry one of his daughters or granddaughters. Thus, Yohn lost a person with Arryn blood to Petyr Baelish once again. Littlefinger has bought up the debts of the Waynwoods for a marriage contract, having persuaded Lady Anya to give permission for Alayne to marry her ward, Ser Harrold, if the knight agrees, because Anya will not force him to marry a bastard. Part of the reason Anya accepted is because Alayne Stone is still Peter Baelish's "daughter", even if she is illegitimate. However, this forces Anya to risk Yohn's wrath as well. By the will of the late Jon Arryn, should Sweetrobin die without issue, the rule of House Arryn will pass to Harry, who will legally renamed Ser Harrold Arryn, passing over House Arryn of Gulltown, a very rich but uncouth cadet branch of distant relatives of the main Arryns. Littlefinger is sure that the marriage between Alayne and Harry will cause all od Bronze Yohn's plans to go awry. However, it seems the whole main nobility of the Vale, at least the lords who truly matter, is now standing by House Baelish's side, leaving House Royce of Runestone the only powerful faction still opposed and hostile towards the Lord Protector.
A Dance with Dragons[]
News reaches Sisterton and White Harbor about Yohn Royce's personal feud with Petyr Baelish. In White Harbor, Lord Davos Seaworth hears that Yohn has publicly vowed to remove Lord Baelish from power in the Vale. This takes place while the Lords Declarant were still opposing Baelish's rule as Lord Protector, as the first half of this novel occurs at the same time as all the chapters of the previous one.
The Winds of Winter[]
Now winter, the whole population of the Eyrie has moved to the Gates of the Moon, as the former is uninhabitable, covered in snow, and frozen during winter. At the Gates of the Moon, Lords Gerold Grafton and Benedar Belmore discuss selling their reserves of food. Benedar believes the current prices are fair, but Petyr wants to wait for the merchants' demand to go higher, reminding them it's winter. To prevent the lords from ignoring orders and sell to merchants anyway, Gerold and Benedar are to post guardsmen on the docks of their ports, and even seize all the ships if necessary, so long as no food leaves the Vale for the time being. However, Gerold is sure that Yohn Royce will ignore Littlefinger's orders and will sell food to merchants outside the Vale anyway, as he doesn't need Gulltown's harbor since he has his own ports. This means that while Littlefinger and his supporters hoard their harvests, Yohn and the other Lords Declarant will gain a lot of silver. Petyr is dismissive of this, hoping that Yohn and his allies will eventually empty their granaries and then they will be forced to buy sustenance from Petyr and his allies during the long winter.
When Alayne Stone informs her "father" that the Waynwoods have arrived at the Gates of the Moon with Ser Harrold Hardyng, Lord Benedar is stunned to hear that Bronze Yohn allowed Harry come to participate in the tourney for the Brotherhood of Winged Knights, where the personal guard for Lord Robert will be assembled. Benedar, who seems to dislike Yohn and hold a grudge against him, mocks the choice of letting Harry come to the tourney. Petyr tells him that Yohn is too honorable deny Harry the chance to prove himself in the tourney, and doing so could create a rift between them, so Yohn will let him join the Winged Knights, if he manages to win a place in the new order.
However, Harry behaves hostilely and rudely toward both Alayne and Littlefinger, prompting the latter to believe that Yohn had warned Harry against him before the young knight traveled to the Gates of the Moon.
Quotes[]
| “ | Yohn Royce, Lyn Corbray, Horton Redfort... these are dangerous men, each in his own way. And proud. | „ |
| ~ Kevan Lannister to Tyrion Lannister. |
| “ | The Lord of Runestone stood as tall as the Hound. Though his hair was grey and his face lined, Lord Yohn still looked as though he could break most younger men like twigs in those huge gnarled hands. His seamed and solemn face brought back all of Sansa's memories of his time at Winterfell. She remembered him at table, speaking quietly with her mother. She heard his voice booming off the walls when he rode back from a hunt with a buck behind his saddle. She could see him in the yard, a practice sword in hand, hammering her father to the ground and turning to defeat Ser Rodrik as well. He will know me. How could he not? She considered throwing herself at his feet to beg for his protection. He never fought for Robb, why should he fight for me? The war is finished and Winterfell is fallen. | „ |
| ~ Thoughts of Sansa Stark. |
| “ | Our cousin Bronze Yohn had himself a mêlée at Runestone, a small one, just for squires. It was meant for Harry the Heir to win the honors, and so he did. | „ |
| ~ Myranda Royce to Alayne Stone. |
Gallery[]
External Links[]
- Yohn Royce on the A Wiki of Ice and Fire.
- Yohn Royce on the Wiki of Westeros.
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 Heroes
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