Chapter 175 - The Reconquest of Eyrie (IV)

"Blame fate for dying like this, if it weren't for fate, you'd still be alive." Aenar thought, watching the man cut in two before him.

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Aenar was sitting in the seat of the Lords of the Vale, looking at all the vassals before him. The death of Lysa and Robert Arryn had already spread and everyone knew that the king and the king's regent had died moments ago.

While Robert died by accident, Lysa died by Petyr's hand.

"I demand justice for my niece!!!" Brynden shouted as he looked at Petyr with an extremely furious gaze. The Blackfish was about to draw his own sword and kill Petyr on the spot with hardly a care in the world.

No one was against his words, every man had the right to avenge his family, Aenar himself had the same motive, how could he stop a man from taking revenge on his niece's murderer?

"The Trial by Combat will take place." Aenar pronounced the sentence, he looked at Petyr and asked. "Will you represent yourself or will you choose a representative to fight in your place, Lord Baelish?"

"I'll choose a representative." Petyr didn't hesitate to speak his mind. He would never dare fight a famous knight like Brynden Tully, the Blackfish.

Petyr's decision made the Northern Lords look at the man with contempt. A man who didn't fight his own battles wasn't even considered a man in his own eyes.

Eddard and Harold stood side by side, both at the side of the Mountain Throne looking at everything happening with calm expressions.

Harold was so happy that he wanted to laugh, but he didn't dare laugh at such a sad and tragic scene, but inside he was thanking the gods for killing Lysa and Robert without him having to tell them to. Something he would do in the future.

As Aenar and Petyr had hoped, Harold had never planned to keep them both alive, especially Robert. He would never give others the chance to rebel against him. Robert was too dangerous to be alive and in a castle.

The death of Lysa and Robert was like a gift to him, who became the New Lord of the Vale.

"I choose Lord Eddard of House Stark as my representative." Petyr spoke aloud, oblivious to the looks of contempt he was receiving from the Northmen.

Everyone stared in shock at Petyr Baelish, who dared to choose the Lord of the North as his representative, who was impassive in the face of Petyr's summons. When everyone expected him to refuse, the man stepped forward and agreed to be Petyr's representative at the Trial by Combat.

Causing the Northmen to widen their eyes in shock at the sight of their liege stepping forward.

"I choose myself." Brynden spoke aloud as he drew his sword from its scabbard. The men from the north began tapping their feet on the ground hard, they looked at the Blackfish with admiration. At least someone in House Tully was truly loyal to the family.

Eddard drew Ice from his scabbard, the Valyrian steel sword coming out of its sheath with a cold, cutting sound, causing the audience to exclaim in admiration.

The Gates of the Moon opened, revealing an abyss beneath the castle. Anyone who fell into it would be crushed when they came into contact with the ground. After all, what killed people from a height was not the fall itself, but the abrupt change in speed.

"Why did Lord Stark agree to be the representative of this cowardly murderer?" Brynden asked with a genuinely confused tone. Eddard was Catelyn's husband, how could he fight the man who killed his wife's sister?

"If it hadn't been for Lord Baelish, I would have killed Lysa Tully myself." Eddard commented with a cold tone, his gray eyes staring at Brynden with an analyzing, murderous gaze.

According to Aenar, Lyanna had sent a letter to Lysa Tully, warning her that the kidnapping was nothing more than a conspiracy by other people. But that letter never reached his father, Rickard Stark, what did reach him was a letter stating that Lyanna was being held in King's Landing, in the Red Keep.

Because of that letter, his father left Winterfell and arrived in King's Landing, burning himself alive in that cursed city, and soon after his brother was strangled to death.

Even if Petyr hadn't killed Lysa, Eddard would have done the job without any hesitation. The Lord in the North would have killed Lysa himself without any remorse or shame at killing a defenceless woman.

The words surprised everyone in the place. No one had expected the Lord of the North to speak those words. Although they knew that House Tully had orchestrated the conspiracy, they never imagined that Lysa Tully was involved in it.

Aenar looked at Brynden with a calm gaze, but he himself knew that Brynden Tully would die in the Trial by Combat.

Aenar knew that Brynden would certainly not stand by and watch him destroy House Tully, the man would help his brother either by guarding Riverrun or even trying to kill the king to save House Tully, so to save time and a lot of trouble, Brynden Tully must die in the Trial by Combat.

Aenar knew that his uncle wanted the blood of House Tully and he wanted Brynden to die, so both stood to gain from Brynden's death.

Brynden was even more confused by Eddard's words, was there a grudge big enough for Eddard to want to kill Jon Arryn's wife, who had raised him like a son?

He tried to recall his memory, but found nothing to justify Eddard wishing for the death of Lysa, his wife's sister.

However, seeing the Lord of the North circling his body with the Legendary Valyrian Steel Sword of House Stark, Brynden concentrated fully. Eddard Stark was no ordinary swordsman, he was the man who killed Arthur Dayne!

(Note: Before you ask, no one knows that Eddard lost the fight, he didn't even claim to have killed Arthur, but when Eddard returned Dawn to House Dayne, everyone thought Eddard had killed Arthur).

With a quick lunge, Brynden ran towards Eddard. As Ice was a large broadsword, the sword was difficult to handle at close range. As a veteran, Brynden knew how to use his advantages against his enemies.

Eddard was also a veteran, he certainly knew the disadvantage of fighting with such a large sword, but differently from what Brynden expected. Valyrian steel was very special; it was as light as an ordinary metal sword.

So when Brynden attacked, Eddard swung the sword as if he were wielding an ordinary sword. Brynden, although surprised by the speed of the sword, reacted quickly and used his own sword as a shield.

A rapid exchange of blows began while both swordsmen were fighting to kill each other. There was no hesitation in the blows or even any exchange of words, it was a fast and brutal fight.

Clang!!!!

Clang!!!!

Clang!!!!

Clang!!!!

Everyone held their breath and watched the duel unfold before them. Leda in particular looked at her father's movements and couldn't help but be surprised. Her father was a very good swordsman, which surprised her.

His footwork was that of a master and his sword skills were those of an expert in many fights.

Brynden was equally deadly and a master with his sword. He was fast, dodged blows like a fish and attacked like an untamed horse.

With one swift movement, Brynden's sword left a large scratch on the Lord of the North's armor. Eddard also took advantage and attacked his enemy, but unlike Brynden, Ice tore through the Blackfish's armor with shocking ease.

Blood oozed from the wound, showing that it wasn't just the armor that had been pierced by Lord Stark's sword.

"Lord Stark!!!!"

"Lord Stark!!!!"

"Lord Stark!!!!"

The Lords and Ladys of the North sang Eddard's name with pride as they watched their liege cause injury to a warrior as good as Brynden Tully.

Eddard showed no joy or pleasure at his Vassals' words, he circled Brynden like a wolf circling its prey. The Valyrian steel sword subtly scraped the ground, leaving traces behind.

Brynden looked at the tear in the plate armor and sighed helplessly. He looked at the sword and saw that the sword he had used for decades was more broken than an old woman with a few teeth in her mouth.

Ice was a Valyrian Steel sword, no ordinary steel sword and armor could survive for long against a weapon of this level.

But Brynden couldn't back down, he saw his niece's body and he had to avenge her death, even if he died in this place.

Brynden didn't hesitate and attacked Eddard again. This time, the man spared no effort or energy in his attack.

Eddard showed no weakness and attacked head-on, Ice slicing through the air with brutality as it collided violently with Brynden's sword.

Collision after collision, steel against steel. Sparks exploded every time the swords collided with each other.

Clang!!!!!

Suddenly, after a brutal collision, Brynden's sword broke in two!

Taking advantage of the gap, Eddard acted with voracity. Using the full force of his body in a diagonal slash, Ice cut through armor, skin, flesh and blood in an instant.

Brynden stopped moving, his eyes filled with regret, confusion and remorse. Suddenly, half of his body slumped and fell to the ground, while his lower body remained standing as blood dripped in heaps to the ground.

Brynden Tully, the Blackfish of House Tully had died at the hands of Eddard Stark, Lord in the North!

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