Eagle of the Valley of Ice and Fire.

Chapter 271 Renewing the Oath
269. Repeated Oaths

Attis could clearly sense the excitement that was about to stir. Except for the private whispers of the blue-robed people and the rustling of the grass and trees, the silence enveloped everyone like the blooming weirwood and the crescent moon in the sky.

The children of the forest, the narrow cat eyes in the distance flickered, and their leader stared at him directly, with a burning look in his eyes. The giant stood solemnly like a hill against the treetops, looking at him quietly.

They are waiting for their response.

"Return to the Valley?" Attis spat out these words, feeling uneasy. "According to your opinion, the Andal family, who have believed in the Seven Gods since ancient times, want to convert to the old gods of their ancestors?"

The Child of the Forest blurted out, as if he couldn't wait to hear his response. "Children of the Forest return to the natural forest of the Moon Mountains, the place of protection bestowed upon our race by the gods of nature. The contract between Arryn and the Children of the Forest will take effect, and the talents of the aliens will return to the Eagle's Nest." It came closer to him, its words full of pious awe. "As long as... humans, the Children of the Forest, and many natural creatures swear to renew their oath."

Attis looked at the short, hunchbacked child of the forest, and it seemed as if mankind's instinctive affinity for nature was also projected onto it.

He looked back at the blue robes behind him and said, "The belief in the Seven Gods is the glorious tradition of the Andals. I cannot abandon my people and turn to believe in the old gods."

A visible droop appeared on the shoulders of the Son of the Forest.

"However, for you and me," Attis said, "what is more important is the establishment of friendship and the exchange of trust. It symbolizes the alliance between humans and the children of the forest. The Long Night is the most important thing. In front of it, the old gods, the seven gods, and so on can all be allies."

The Child of the Forest looked up at him, as if thinking.

"In winter, the valley is often covered with snow. It is not easy for you to cross the long and steep valley road." Atis smiled and folded his hands in front of his stomach, posing a relaxed posture. "As the guardian of the valley, I don't see how this oath will harm Arryn and the kingdom."

The many narrow cat eyes in the darkness suddenly widened, and Attis even heard cheers from them.

He held out his hand. "But," the cheers stopped abruptly, and Artis looked around. "You must swear allegiance to Arryn for generations."

The eyes of the Son of the Forest in front of him also widened. "Never. Never has a human proposed such a treaty. We Sons of the Forest are the favorites of the Old Gods. We only belong to the vast forests and the boundless natural creatures."

"Although humans of the blood of the First Men adhere to the faith of the Old Gods, they are also loyal to the Iron Throne. The nobles of the North, the Blackwoods of the Riverlands, and even Royce of the Vale are all like this. Even the Children of the Forest, the favorites of the Old Gods," he emphasized deliberately, "can also follow this example."

The Child of the Forest obviously had no experience in dealing with humans. It seemed as if its tongue was tied. "But. But but." The short figure swayed back and forth, pacing on the surface of the pond, revealing its entire thought process and whispering, "He is an Andal, he is Arryn, Artis Arryn, a human, not the First Men. The Greenseer asked me to find him, why? To be loyal to Arryn? Impossible, impossible, there is no precedent."

"But," Attis saw this and his tone became much gentler. The Son of the Forest really stopped and stared at him. "After all, the Son of the Forest is the favorite of the Old Gods and a creature of nature. It is impossible for him to submit to humans in just a few words."

"Yes!" it cried out.

Artis looked at it for a few more times. The smell of a church monk had completely disappeared. Now it looked like a little noble who didn't know how to play cards and went to the card table to play cyvasse.

"Therefore, all decisions regarding the valley must involve the Children of the Forest!" Attis raised his voice, sounding righteous.

"Yes!" The Child of the Forest blurted out, rolling his eyes. "Therefore," Artis said, "just like the maesters of the Citadel, the Children of the Forest cannot be isolated from the world like they are here, on the Thousand Faces Island. They need to send the best of their race to the Eyrie and the Gates of the Moon to show the wisdom and abilities of the Children of the Forest to some ignorant humans, and to participate in the decision-making of the Eyrie. This is beneficial to both sides."

The ravens were crowing, and the surface of the pond was calm, without even a ripple. The children of the forest deep in the woods did not discuss in whispers as expected, but all of them looked at a row of crows standing on a branch, crows with three scarlet eyes.

It seems that the person in front of him cannot make decisions on behalf of the Son of the Forest, Attis thought.

Greenseer, Attis thought of what the Children of the Forest had mentioned.

The Child of the Forest bowed respectfully, tore away the red vines that were wrapped around him, retreated to the edge of the pond, and disappeared behind a huge weirwood.

The crow screamed and flew into the sky.

Attis was not in a hurry. He looked up at the sky and saw the clouds gradually approaching the crescent moon, and time passed with it.

The giant picked the fruit from the tree above his head and handed it to Attis.

"Grove~" said the giant.

Attis looked at the fruit in his hand, but couldn't tell what it was by its shape. He smiled gently at the giant and took the fruit.

"Arts Arryn," the voice of the Children of the Forest regained its previous dignity, as if he had been personally instructed. "The pioneer of the Andals, the conqueror of the Vale, and the protector of mankind, we can agree to your terms, but swearing allegiance to the whole clan is not in line with the traditions of the Children of the Forest and the gods of nature. Kneeling is not an option for the Children of the Forest."

Artis frowned.

"But," the Children of the Forest said, "Children of the Forest sent to the Eyrie and the Gates of the Moon do not have to endure the conditions of their race. It is our duty and sincerity to swear an oath to the lord of the castle."

Atis understood that not kneeling to him was the bottom line, but the conditions that should be given to Arryn could not be less. No matter what the Children of the Forest consulted, he at least understood that he wanted to get something from the Children of the Forest, such as knowledge similar to that of a bachelor, and the magic and ancient knowledge of the Children of the Forest were also included.

Attis nodded and stretched out his hand. Compared with a human's palm, it was large and broad.

The Child of the Forest stood on tiptoe and held out his hand.

The two hands were clasped together, and the oath that had been signed thousands of years ago, the oath that the ancestors had signed on behalf of mankind and the children of the forest, was now replaced by the Andals and continued.

In the middle of the blue robes, a knight stared at his duke and the son of the forest next to him. Looking at the magnificent scene before him, he wished he could take out his paintbrush right now and record this scene stroke by stroke to witness this history.

(End of this chapter)