For the prompt: Aegon is intrigued by her but Arya has an ulterior motive. Jon senses that there is something wrong with her so Aegon volunteers to figure it out.

"So, how exactly do you plan on storming King's Landing?"

Aegon and Jon simultaneously looked up from the maps on the table just in time to see Arya stride inside the tent, her hair in its customary messy braid, twin blades dangling on either side of her hips. She grinned at them, perched herself on the edge of the table, and waited for both men to compose themselves.

Aegon blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"King's Landing," Arya said, enunciating the words slowly as though she was talking to an imbecile. "You have plans to march to the city as soon as possible, yes? Have you found the best way to accomplish that?"

Jon ran a hand through his hair and shot his sister a weary smile. "Have you been eavesdropping in on our council meetings again, Arya?"

She shrugged. "Only because you persist in leaving me out of such important matters of state," she replied, barely able to conceal her irritation.

"We've been through this before, Arya," Jon whispered softly. "I'd rather you occupied yourself with the rebuilding of Winterfell rather than with battle plans and strategy meetings. I've no wish to burden you with such tedious talks."

Arya rolled her eyes and muttered something in bastard Valyrian. Aegon raised his eyebrows in surprise, and thought it prudent not to translate for Jon. "Very well then," she stated in a bored tone. She stood up and made to leave. "Come find me when you're finally ready to hear some real advice."

Jon glanced at his half-brother and abruptly came to a decision. "Arya, wait," he called out.

She stopped in her tracks.

"If there's something you know that can help us…"

Arya smiled, leaned both elbows on the table, and whispered to them, "What if I told you that there was a way to get inside the Red Keep undetected?"

Aegon frowned. "Is such a thing possible?" he asked.

"Can dragons roam the skies again? Of course it's possible, silver prince," she replied in a contemptuous voice she solely reserved for him. She turned to Jon. "When we reach the outskirts of King's Landing, send me ahead. I will sneak inside the Red Keep and pave the way open for you. Wait for my signal. Disguise your troops as common folk and position half of them near the King's Gate. The other half will storm the castle from the inside, under my command and guidance. That way we can have the element of surprise."

Aegon rested one hand on his chin and stared at Jon's sister with wonder and newly found appreciation. "That's not a bad plan," he admitted. "If you can truly find a way inside the castle without being detected –"

"Not if. When."

Jon, however, did not share their enthusiasm. "I don't know, Arya…" he began. "I don't want you risking your life in this battle. Perhaps if you told us the secret passage you are privy to, one of us can take your place instead."

Arya shook her head, and the look she sent him was serious. "It's me or no one at all, Jon."

To his credit, Jon did his best to resist the idea, but in the end, as Aegon had known he would, he eventually gave in. Jon Snow had but one weakness, and that weakness was now staring them right in the face, smiling at them.

"Tell me one thing though, Lady Stark," Aegon abruptly said. "Why help us? You have no love for me or for my cause – you've made that clear enough – and yet you would risk your life to aid us. Why? I thought you didn't trust me?"

"I don't," Arya replied bluntly. "But Jon trusts you. And for now, that would have to be enough."


When Arya finally took her leave, Aegon cleared his throat. "Your cousin..." he began to say.

"Sister," Jon immediately corrected him.

"Fine. Sister then," Aegon conceded. "She is... a rather remarkable woman. I've never met anyone like her."

It was true. Aegon had seen a great deal of the world and interacted with people from all walks of life. But in all those years, he had never encountered a woman (or a man) quite like Arya Stark. She intrigued him, this wild Northern guest of theirs. It was a good thing she was wary of him, or else Aegon might not have been able to stop himself from doing something that would have caused great enmity between him and his newfound brother.

Jon interrupted his thoughts and sighed. "I am worried for her," he confessed in a small voice.

"Don't be. She slew thirty men in the Battle of Winterfell and crippled four of my Golden Company when they tried to make a pass at her. She can take care of herself."

"That's not what I'm worried about," Jon said, shaking his head. "She has learned to stick men with the pointy end. I know that. But I didn't like the way she looked earlier, Aegon. There is something wrong with her. She's... changed somehow."

"War changes us all, brother."

"Yes, but Arya... She's my sister. I'm supposed to protect her from the horrors of the world and the cruelty of men. But I fear that it is too late now. She has seen and suffered too much."

"Jon, listen to me. If there is anyone that can bring Arya back to herself, it's you," Aegon told him. "You're the only one she listens to. Hell, she would have cleaved me in half that first night she came into our camp if you hadn't intervened and talked her out of it."

"Yes, but... How am I to help her if she won't tell me what's wrong?"

Aegon clapped him roughly on the shoulder. "Leave that to me," he promised. "Maybe I can help."


"Did you know that you talk in your sleep, Lady Stark?"

The aforementioned lady shot up in bed so fast Aegon was barely able to make out her form in the darkness. In a matter of seconds, she had her blade pointed at his chest. "Do you know what happens to men who trespass in my chambers? My brother puts them to the sword. But not if I don't kill them first," she hissed.

Aegon raised both of his hands in an act of surrender. "Easy now," he said slowly. "I mean you no harm, my lady. I just want to talk."

Arya threw back her head and laughed. "Talk? Is that what men call it these days?" She lowered her sword arm so that the tip of her blade rested on the one part of his body Aegon valued more than his heart. "Give me one good reason why I should spare your life."

Aegon swallowed and forced himself to look away from her blade so that he could meet her eyes. "I came here because of your brother," he told her earnestly. "He's worried about you."

"He shouldn't be."

"No. He has good cause to worry," Aegon said. "As do I."

She scoffed at him. "You're just saying that because you want to fuck me," she said blithely.

Aegon smirked at her, his eyes traveling from her face to her breasts and back again. "True enough," he admitted with a shrug. "I do want you. But that doesn't mean I don't care for you, Arya Stark."

He tilted his head to the side and gazed at her. "Tell me. How do you think your brother will react when he finds out that you intend to kill Cersei Lannister in King's Landing?"

"About as well as he reacts when he finds out that his half-brother wants to fuck his favorite sister."

"My, my," Aegon said, grinning handsomely at her. "Are you trying to blackmail me, Lady Stark?"

Arya returned his grin with a wicked smile of her own. "Think what you will of my words," she whispered. "But make no mistake. Cersei Lannister is mine. I owe her a debt, Aegon Targaryen, one that can only be paid with blood. And one way or another, that debt shall be paid."


AN: That thing with Jon killing intruders in Arya's room... well, that one was obviously a joke :)

Happy Game of Thrones Day, everyone! :)