Nestor Royce
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 Nestor Royce, by Vanessa Cole © | ||||
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| Culture | Valemen | |||
| Spouse | Deceased wife[2] | |||
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Lord Nestor Royce is the senior member of a cadet branch of House Royce and Keeper of the Gates of the Moon. He is the cousin of Lord Yohn Royce, and is a widower.[2] He has served as High Steward of the Vale for the fourteen years prior to Lord Jon Arryn's death.[2]
Contents
Appearance and Character
Nestor is a massive, barrel-chested man,[2] with a thick neck[3] and a bluff face.[4] He is balding, and has a greying beard.[3] According to Lord Robert Arryn, Nestor has a mole.[3]
Nestor is a gruff, stern, and suspicious man, proud and prickly.[2][3] Lysa Arryn called him a rock, but not as a compliment.[3] Though Nestor is from a lesser branch of House Royce, he is still a formidable lord in his own right.[2] Because he virtually ruled the Vale for so long while Jon Arryn was serving as Hand of the King, Nestor feels he is owed for his long years of service.[3] Nestor is somewhat envious of his senior relatives from the main branch of House Royce, and wants more for his son.[3]
History
Lord Jon Arryn made Nestor Royce Keeper of the Gates of the Moon and High Steward of the Vale, to rule the Vale while Jon served as Hand of the King in King's Landing.[2][3] Nestor served in that position for fourteen years.[2] Nestor hoped to marry his daughter, Myranda Royce, to Harrold Hardyng. However, Harry's guardian, Lady Anya Waynwood, rejected the offer, though it's uncertain whether she was displeased with Myranda's character or her dowry.[5] Nestor was somewhat annoyed that his daughter was widowed so quickly after her marriage.[6]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Lord Nestor hopes to marry the widowed Lady Lysa Arryn to become regent for young Lord Robert, but she rejects him. Nestor greets Lady Catelyn Stark and her companions when they visit the Gates of the Moon en route to the Eyrie.[2] He is present in the Eyrie for Tyrion Lannister's trial by combat.[4]
A Storm of Swords
Sansa Stark, in disguise as Alayne Stone, bastard daughter of Petyr Baelish, briefly meets Nestor Royce when Lysa and Petyr's wedding party stays overnight at the Gates of the Moon before ascending to the Eyrie, but he barely notices her.[3] Sansa hears that Nestor's frolicsome daughter, Myranda Royce, keeps the Gates of the Moon for her father.[7]
A Feast for Crows
Nestor comes the Eyrie to hear Lord Protector Petyr Baelish and Alayne Stone give witness about the events of Lysa Arryn's murder, and to hear the singer Marillion's confession to the crime.[3] In order to secure Nestor's loyalty, Petyr grants him hereditary lordship over the Gates of the Moon, forming House Royce of the Gates of the Moon. The parchment contains the Arryn seal, but was signed by Petyr as Lord Protector since Lysa was murdered before she could sign it, making Nestor's family's advancement dependent on Petyr's status.[3]
Lord Nestor closes the Gates of the Moon against the Lords Declarant when they besiege the Eyrie. He later escorts the Lords Declarant up to the Eyrie to meet with Petyr and Lord Robert Arryn, and seats himself next to Petyr during the meeting.[8]
With the onset of winter, Lord Robert Arryn's court descends from the Eyrie to the Gates of the Moon. Lord Nestor prepares a feast for their arrival, and his daughter Myranda arrives at Sky to escort Robert and his party to the Gates.[5]
The Winds of Winter
| Warning This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change. |
Lord Nestor hosts a tourney at the Gates of the Moon. The winners of the tourney will become the first members of a new knightly order, the Brotherhood of Winged Knights. Nestor is happy to show his guests the hunting tapestries that once belonged to King Robert I Baratheon, gifted to him by Petyr Baelish.[6][8]
Family
Quotes
I will not say I had not hoped for this. Whilst Lord Jon ruled the realm as Hand, it fell to me to rule the Vale for him. I did all that he required of me and asked nothing for myself. But by the gods, I earned this![3]
—Nestor Royce, to Petyr Baelish
Lysa often called Lord Nestor a rock, though I do not think she meant it as a compliment. She called his son a clod.[3]
—Petyr Baelish, to Sansa Stark
Our rock is a Royce, which is to say he is overproud and prickly. Had I asked him his price, he would have swelled up like an angry toad at the slight upon his honor. But this way... the man is not utterly stupid, but the lies I served him were sweeter than the truth. He wants to believe that Lysa valued him above her other bannermen. One of those others is Bronze Yohn, after all, and Nestor is very much aware that he was born of the lesser branch of House Royce. He wants more for his son. Men of honor will do things for their children that they would never consider doing for themselves.[3]
—Petyr Baelish, to Sansa Stark
References
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Nestor Royce.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 34, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 10, Sansa I.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 41, Alayne II.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Winds of Winter, Alayne I
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 80, Sansa VII.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 23, Alayne I.