I closed my eyes and snapped my head to the side to try and avoid the spray of warm blood as best I could. I felt the hands around my neck loosen before there were another couple of squelching sounds. The man's heavy body fell forward onto me and I froze, my mind taking me back to a time I had spent my life trying to forget.

I could feel the blood pouring out of both of his wounds and onto my face and torso, but not for long. The body was lifted off of me and fell to the ground beside me with a loud thud.

"Thought no man would take you unless you wanted him to."

With a wheeze, I opened my eyes and saw Benjen standing by the man, wiping his sword on the sleeve of the corpse's shirt. He looked down at me with a roguish smile. I took several deep breaths, staring up at my savior. His smile faltered as he examined my face. He sheathed his sword and then bent down to grab my knife lying not far from the corpse. He flipped it in the air, grasping it by the blade and pointing it down at me handle first.

I raised a hand and gingerly took it, holding it close to my chest. Benjen offered me a hand, lifting me from the ground. He kept his hand on mine and used his other to pull a piece of hay out of my hair.

"Are you alright, Fallon?" he asked quietly, looking into my eyes.

I took another deep breath and nodded. "Thank you," I muttered, bowing my head and sliding my hand from his grip.

"What were you doing out here by yourself?" he asked.

I gulped and felt tears start pricking in my eyes. I didn't want to cry at all, let alone in front of Benjen Stark, First Ranger of the Night's Watch. I looked away from him, afraid the tears would fall if I answered. I was trying to remain strong. Trying and failing.

His eyes stayed on me. Out of my peripheral vision I could see him unfastening his cloak. He wrapped the heavy sheet of black fabric around my shoulders and then put one of his gloved hands on my face. I winced as he touched where I had been slammed into the post.

"I'll have Maester Luwin look at this," he murmured.

"No," I shook my head and restored our eye contact. "I'm f-fine. I need to get back to Winterfell."

"You're hurt," Benjen said.

"I n-need to find Shevaun. She has my lute. I have to play tonight," I said, pulling the cloak closer around me and trying to step away from him. "F-For the King."

"You need to calm yourself down," Benjen grabbed my shoulders and kept me in front of him. "I'll get Essence of Nightshade from the maester as well."

"But Lord Tyrion said he'd ask me to si—"

"Lord Tyrion is likely drunk in the brothel right now," Benjen told me. "Put your knife away and come back with me. We'll give you a bath and put you to bed."

"But the song," I pleaded, my tears welling up in my eyes. "I have to."

"Fallon," Benjen shook me. "I will smooth everything over. You're in no shape to perform."

I gulped again and nodded. Benjen released my shoulders and watched as I bent down to reattach the knife to my leg under my skirt. He put his hand on my back and led me towards his brown horse. He climbed onto the saddle and reached down to help me sit in front of him.

"You're trembling," Benjen said in my ear as we made our way out of the winter town.

I clutched at the cloak, holding the dusty bottom of it over my lap to keep it out of the way. As I was sitting side-saddle, I reached one of my arms around Benjen's waist to hold myself steady. I fit my head under his chin and closed my eyes. Though I had long since moved past my feelings for the younger Stark man, I felt very safe with him.

Arya Stark paced in her room. She could feel Nymeria's eyes following her every step from where she lay before the fire. Fallon hadn't yet shown up to make sure she was washed up for dinner. The young girl had reluctantly scrubbed at the dirt under her fingernails herself, wondering where her handmaiden—no, her friend—was. It couldn't have taken her that long to get her lute re-strung, could it?

There was a knock at the door and Arya ran to it, hoping she would find Fallon on the other side apologizing profusely, red-faced. She grasped at the knob and swung the door wide open. Her face fell when she only found Sansa.

"Arya, you're going to be late," her sister said in an accusatory tone.

"Fallon isn't here," Arya retorted. "I'm not leaving without her."

"You must," Sansa pressed.

"I can't and I won't. If she doesn't eat, then neither will I."

"I don't care whether your stupid handmaiden eats or not."

"Fallon isn't stupid!" Arya replied fiercely, furrowing her brow.

"Clearly she is if she can't find her way to your room on time," Sansa shot back. "Septa Mordane says you must come to dinner. The royal family are still here and we must receive them."

"Septa Mordane and the royal family can—"

There was a faint whinnying sound from outside of Arya's window. She could also hear a guard shouting about a horse without a rider. Arya ran to the window and looked down to see Fallon's mare, Shevaun. A guard was holding onto her reins, trying to calm her down.

Arya felt her heart drop. Something must have happened to Fallon on her way back from the winter town.

"You must come to dinner, Arya," Sansa whined. "I'll tell father."

The eleven year-old hitched up her skirts and whipped around. She ran to the door, shoving past her sister, and hurried down the stairs, passing various servants on her way. No one tried to stop her, no matter how much Sansa yelled.

Arya stepped outside into the cold air. The sun was almost entirely set and so the torches were getting lit outside. Arya scurried over to Shevaun, who was eating a carrot from the hand of the guard holding her reins. Arya slowed down and went to examine the mare. Arya couldn't find any signs of blood—a small consolation. Poking out of the saddlebag was Fallon's beloved lute.

"What happened, girl?" Arya asked, pressure setting on her chest as she patted the horse's neck.

"Arya! Arya Stark!"

"It appears you're late for dinner, little lady," muttered the guard, cocking his head to the door Arya had just run out of. He bowed his head to her and led the horse back to the stable.

Septa Mordane had followed her outside, her face screwed up in anger. She clutched at her skirts, carefully stepping over the mud on the ground. Sansa appeared behind her, scowling at her younger sister.

"Arya Stark, you will hear about this from your father," Septa Mordane fumed, approaching the girl.

"I think Fallon's hurt!" Arya shouted. "She wouldn't run away! She wouldn't leave Shevaun! She wouldn't leave her lute! She wouldn't leave me!"

"Come along, Arya," the septa grasped Arya's wrist tightly, pulling her away from the horse.

"Let go of me!" Arya dug her heels into the ground and wrenched herself free. "I'm not leaving! We need to find her!"

"Hush, child, you're making a fuss. As if you haven't embarrassed your family enough."

Ned rushed out of the keep, followed by Jory Cassel, his Captain of the Guard. Ned didn't seem angry, instead appearing confused and concerned.

"What is the meaning of this?" he bellowed, striding over to his daughter. "Why are you yelling so?"

King Robert stomped his way outside the door, his brows knitted together. Joffrey stepped out behind him as well with a shit-eating grin on his face. The Hound stood after the prince, staring intently at Arya.

Sansa turned her head and noticed the audience they were accruing. When she looked back at her sister, her face crumpled. "Come inside, Arya! You're embarrassing us!"

"Silence," Ned glanced at his older daughter and then turned to get on one knee and grab Arya's arms. "What happened?"

"Fallon is missing and all anyone cares about is that I'm late to dinner!" Arya cried.

"Worry not, sweet niece," called out a voice over the nearing clopping of hooves. "Your Uncle Benjen has found your lovely handmaiden."

Arya whirled around and watched as Benjen and his horse came to a halt not far from where they stood. Seated before him, draped in his dirty black cloak, was Fallon. Arya felt her breath hitch as she noticed the darkness sprayed across the woman's stoic face.

Benjen dismounted from his horse and put his hands on Fallon's waist, easing her down from the animal. His hands lingered on her as he examined her shiny eyes. Then Fallon bowed her head and removed the cloak from her shoulders to hand it back to him as a squire stepped forward to lead his horse away. Arya could have sworn she saw bruises on Fallon's neck.

Behind Arya, Septa Mordane emitted a loud gasp. She shielded Sansa's eyes, fearing the girl would faint from the amount of blood staining the front of Fallon's dress. Arya searched for cuts, holes, tears in the fabric, but ultimately found nothing. The only wound she could place was the scrape on the right side of Fallon's face. Where had all of that blood come from?

"Septa, send for Maester Luwin," Benjen called out, protectively wrapping an arm around the brunette's shoulders. "Fallon's had a rough night. She'll be needing some rest."

Arya darted out before her father could snatch her and threw her arms around Fallon. The damp fabric of the handmaiden's dress squished under her touch and she knew that the blood was fresh. Fallon went rigid at first, but then her body relaxed and she patted Arya's back.

"You'll ruin your dress," Fallon said softly, stroking Arya's hair.

"I don't care," Arya looked up at her handmaiden. Even at her innocent age, she could tell that Fallon was struggling to keep up a façade. "What happened to you?"

"A nasty man paid a nasty price," she said quietly, taking the young girl's cheeks in her quivering hands. Fallon furrowed her brow, examining the girl's face with her glassy eyes. "You're absolutely covered, sweet child. You'll be needing a bath as much as I do."

"A skell in the town tried to take advantage of her. Luckily I was riding through on my way to supper," Benjen explained, looking at Ned. "Apologies, Your Grace," he bowed his head at Robert. "I'm afraid your song shall have to wait."

"The bloody hell are you talking about?" Robert responded harshly. "I've never seen this girl in me life."

"She said she had to come back and sing you a song at dinner tonight. Fought me for what seemed a fortnight over it," Benjen glanced at Fallon with a grin tugging at his lips.

"Like lady, like handmaiden," Ned muttered as he stood up, looking at his youngest daughter.

"Fallon? Fallon? My dear, are you alright?" Tyrion said, shoving his way past Joffrey and the Hound. "Who did this to you? Surely he'll be hanged."

"He's been punished," Benjen squeezed Fallon's shoulders as the halfman came closer. "Lord Tyrion, what's this she was telling me about a song?"

"I overheard her singing today. I told her I would request a song before the king and queen as we dined. Her voice is quite lovely—I knew they would enjoy it," Tyrion frowned. "Perhaps another night."

"Perhaps," Benjen echoed. "Ah, here comes Maester Luwin now."

Arya felt him tap her on the arm and she let go. Benjen led Fallon away, leaving Arya standing by herself. Arya turned herself around and noticed how everyone's eyes were on her small figure. Well, nearly everyone's. Standing just outside the door that led into the keep, just behind Prince Joffrey, the Hound's gaze followed her trusted handmaiden's retreating body.

"Arya, go to your chamber," Ned ordered. "Wash up. Food will be sent to you."

"What about—?"

"Fallon will eat when Fallon is ready to eat," Ned raised a hand to interrupt his daughter. He raised it higher when he saw her mouth open to protest. "Now."

Arya heaved a sigh and slowly made her way into the keep. As she went on her way, she could hear her father apologizing to the king for the disturbance. She glanced over her shoulder one more time and watched as Joffrey went back through the door from whence he came. The Hound stood vigil, however, watching as Fallon and Benjen disappeared with Maester Luwin.

Bet you all thought Sandor was going to be the one who saved Fallon, didn't you? (Muahaha)

Thank you all for the lovely reviews! I hope this chapter is to your liking! Sorry there wasn't a lot of Sandor in this installment. I had initially planned for him to be in it a little more, I just figured this was a good place for the chapter to end as I was writing it. Worry not, though, he'll have more time in the sun, haha

January 10, 2019: I edited a few minor things that were bothering me. Nothing too important, just little things