Vale of Arryn (valley)
The Vale of Arryn is a fertile valley bordered by the Mountains of the Moon in eastern Westeros.[2][3] The valley gives its name to the larger realm ruled by House Arryn, commonly called the Vale of Arryn, which includes the Mountains of the Moon, the Fingers, and islands in the Bite and the narrow sea.[4]
Contents
Geography
The Vale proper is accessible by the high road, which passes through the formidable Mountains of the Moon, and the Bloody Gate.[5][6] The Vale proper is a tranquil land of wide rivers, and hundreds of lakes. Wheat, corn, barley, pumpkins, and fruit grow in its fertile soil.[6]
The Vale is narrow at its western end near the Bloody Gate, no more than half a day's ride across, and the mountains tower above. The Gates of the Moon and the Eyrie are located in the west of the valley.[6]
The Vale proper is bounded by a series of mountains which stretch northeast to the narrow sea and southeast to the Bay of Crabs. Longbow Hall is located in the hills of the northern border; north of these mountains are the Fingers. Redfort is located near the southern wing of mountains. Ironoaks is situated by a large lake in the middle of the Vale, while Old Anchor is located farther east along the sea. Gulltown and Runestone are located on a peninsula which extends east, south of which are the Bay of Crabs and Crackclaw Point.[7]
History
According to The Seven-Pointed Star, Hugor of the Hill had a vision of a "golden land amidst towering mountains".[3] During the coming of the Andals, King Gerold Grafton began the development of Gulltown into the only city of the Vale. King Robar II Royce united many of the First Men of the Vale against the Andals, and he defeated the Hammer of the Hills, who had held the eastern Vale. Robar's alliance was crushed by Artys I Arryn at the Battle of Seven Stars, however.[3] Some First Men who refused to submit to House Arryn fled the Vale for the Mountains of the Moon, becoming the mountain clans.[3]
During Aegon's Conquest, Queen Regent Sharra Arryn fortified the Bloody Gate to block access to the Vale of Arryn. Visenya Targaryen flew on Vhagar to the Eyrie, however, and secured the submission of the Vale.[8]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Catelyn Stark brings her captive, Tyrion Lannister, through the high road to the Bloody Gate and the Vale of Arryn.[9] After leaving the Eyrie, Catelyn and Ser Rodrik Cassel cross the Vale to Gulltown,[10] where a ship takes them to White Harbor.[11]
A Feast for Crows
Access to the Vale from the west is blocked by snow on the high road.[12] Lord Petyr Baelish travels from the Eyrie across the Vale to Gulltown, where he attends the wedding of Lord Lyonel Corbray.[13]
Quotes
The Vale of Arryn—a long, wide, fertile valley entirely ringed by the great grey-green peaks of the mighty Mountains of the Moon—is as rich as it is beautiful.[3]
—writings of Yandel
It stretched before them to the misty east, a tranquil land of rich black soil, wide slow-moving rivers, and hundreds of small lakes that shone like mirrors in the sun, protected on all sides by its sheltering peaks. Wheat and corn and barley grew high in its fields, and even in Highgarden the pumpkins were no larger nor the fruit any sweeter than here.[6]
—thoughts of Catelyn Stark
On the valley floor autumn still lingered, warm and golden, but winter had closed around the mountain peaks.[13]
—thoughts of Alayne Stone
References
- ↑ The Lands of Ice and Fire, Westeros.
- ↑ George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Mountains of the Moon.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The World of Ice & Fire, The Vale.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Vale: House Arryn.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 31, Tyrion IV.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 34, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ The Lands of Ice and Fire, Westeros.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 34, Jon IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 40, Catelyn VII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 55, Catelyn VIII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 25, Brienne V.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 41, Alayne II.