The Lord of the Eyrie

The Lord of the Eyrie is the paramount ruler of the Vale of Arryn, one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The title carries with it dominion over the mountainous and often isolationist region, and its holder is traditionally styled the Defender of the Vale. The seat of power is the Eyrie, a virtually impregnable castle perched high in the Mountains of the Moon, though the more accessible Gates of the Moon often serves as the practical seat of governance, especially during the harsh winter months. The sigil of House Arryn is a white falcon soaring against a sky-blue field, and their words are "As High as Honor."

The Current Lord and His Regent

At the time of the narrative, the Lord of the Eyrie is Robert Arryn, a sickly and nervous boy of eight years. He is the only surviving son of the late Lord Jon Arryn and his third wife, Lysa Tully. Due to his youth and frail health, the actual governance of the Vale falls to his appointed guardian and Lord Protector, Petyr Baelish. Littlefinger, as he is commonly known, has effectively seized control of the region following the death of Lysa Arryn, whom he manipulated and ultimately murdered. He rules from the Eyrie, using his position to consolidate power and pursue his own intricate schemes, which include harboring Sansa Stark under the false identity of his natural daughter, Alayne Stone.

The Vale's Role in the War of the Five Kings

Throughout the War of the Five Kings, the Vale remained conspicuously neutral, a policy initiated by Lysa Arryn. This neutrality was a source of frustration for her sister, Catelyn Stark, who sought the Vale's swords for her son Robb's cause. The Vale's isolationist stance was maintained by Lord Petyr Baelish after Lysa's death, who saw no advantage in committing the region's considerable military strength to a war that was already turning against the Starks. The Vale's bannermen, including powerful lords like Yohn Royce of Runestone, chafed under this inaction, but Littlefinger's political maneuvering kept them in check, at least for the time being.

The Lords of the Vale

The Lord of the Eyrie commands the fealty of numerous powerful houses, including the Royces of Runestone, the Corbray family of Heart's Home, the Waynwoods of Ironoaks, the Redforts, and the Belmores of Strongsong. The mountain clans of the Vale, such as the Stone Crows and the Burned Men, are also nominally subject to the Eyrie, though they are often unruly and prone to raiding the lowlands. The Three Sisters, a group of islands off the coast, are sworn to the Eyrie through the Sunderlands, but their loyalty is tenuous and self-serving, as demonstrated by Lord Godric Borrell of Sweetsister, who weighs the political winds before offering aid to any claimant to the Iron Throne.

Significance in the Narrative

The Lord of the Eyrie, as a title and a political entity, represents a significant but largely untapped reservoir of power in the Seven Kingdoms. The Vale's armies have not been bloodied by the wars that have ravaged the rest of the realm, making them a potentially decisive factor in any future conflict. Petyr Baelish's control over this power, and his manipulation of the young Lord Robert, makes him a key player in the game of thrones, a threat to both the Lannisters and any other claimant to the Iron Throne. The fate of the Vale, and the true nature of its lord's rule, remains a crucial unknown in the broader struggle for Westeros.