The Gates of the Moon

The Gates of the Moon stands at the foot of the Giant's Lance, the massive mountain that looms over the Vale of Arryn. It is the first and most accessible of the fortifications guarding the approach to the Eyrie, the sky-high seat of House Arryn. Unlike the Eyrie itself, which is reachable only by a perilous climb, the Gates of the Moon is a conventional castle with a moat, drawbridge, portcullis, and ramparts, capable of housing a substantial garrison and hosting travelers before they undertake the ascent. It is the seat of Lord Nestor Royce, the High Steward of the Vale, who holds the castle in service to the Lord of the Eyrie.

Location and Strategic Role

The castle is situated at the base of the mountain, where the high road from the Bloody Gate ends and the steep, winding path to the Eyrie begins. It commands the entrance to the final, most difficult stage of the journey to the Arryn stronghold. Travelers bound for the Eyrie must pass through the Gates of the Moon, where they can rest, obtain fresh mounts, and prepare for the climb. The castle's position makes it the logistical hub for all traffic to and from the Eyrie, controlling the supply lines and the movement of people. Its stout walls and moat provide a formidable defensive barrier, forcing any enemy to first reduce this stronghold before attempting the far more arduous ascent to the Eyrie itself.

Events and Associated People

Catelyn Stark and her party, including the captive Tyrion Lannister, arrived at the Gates of the Moon after a harrowing journey through the Mountains of the Moon. They were greeted by Lord Nestor Royce, who informed them that Lady Lysa Arryn had commanded Catelyn to ascend to the Eyrie immediately, that very night. The rest of her party, including the wounded Ser Rodrik Cassel, were housed at the Gates of the Moon while Catelyn made the dangerous night climb with the guide Mya Stone. Tyrion Lannister was imprisoned in a tower cell at the Gates of the Moon before being taken up to the Eyrie's sky cells. The castle also served as the gathering point for the lords of the Vale who had come to court Lady Lysa, and it was here that Bronn, the sellsword, agreed to champion Tyrion in his trial by combat.

Narrative Significance

The Gates of the Moon functions as a threshold between the wider world of the riverlands and the isolated, impregnable world of the Eyrie. It is a place of transition, where characters are sorted: some are allowed to ascend, others are left behind. For Catelyn, it represents the last point of relative safety before she must confront her unpredictable sister, Lysa. For Tyrion, it is the first stage of his imprisonment, a place where his fate hangs in the balance before he is taken to the more terrifying sky cells above. The castle's solid, grounded nature contrasts sharply with the ethereal and precarious Eyrie, emphasizing the latter's otherworldly isolation and the immense power—and vulnerability—of those who dwell there.