In which Arya starts to change things.
*Year 298 After Conquest (AC) - New Past*
Mind games were never Arya's strong suit. She had learnt it a great deal at the House of Black and White, courtesy of The Waif. But that doesn't mean she didn't enjoy playing them, especially if she was the one that has the upper hand.
That is why she was here in the dining hall, enjoying her dinner along with the royal family, even though she just witnessed a major incident on that very same day. Her father and brother, Robb were still on their hunting trip with The King leaving only her mother and her other siblings, though Jon didn't follow the hunt troop, he was not here. He seems to keep disappearing a lot these days.
Cersei was with her children along with The Imp, Tyrion who finally decides to make an appearance. He was merrily chatting away with almost everyone at the table. Arya didn't realize how talkative he was. The occasional giggling and laughing can be heard filling the hall, lightening everyone's mood.
But, one person was unaffected by all of this. Cersei Lannister was uncomfortable. Even from the corner of her eyes, Arya can sense her tension. The older woman was even drinking more than The Imp.
Arya would have laugh at that, but she holds back, putting her own façade in place. She squirms intentionally on her seat once in a while and poke her food, not really eating. If anyone was paying any attention, they would think the little girl was uneasy about something, scared even. Lucky for her, one woman was doing just that.
A servant boy does his duties and refills Cersei's glass of wine when it became empty yet again. She continues taking another sip, all this while, stealing glances at the young girl.
Arya chuckled inwardly. Can she be more obvious?
"Mother…" Arya speaks up, earning full attention from everyone presence. Cersei stiffened.
Arya put on her innocent mask, trying very hard not to grin. Perhaps she thought I would rat her out now.
"May I retire for the night?" she continues. Catelyn studies her youngest daughter for a while before breaking into a smile.
"Yes, of course. Go on." She said back.
Hearing that, Arya slowly stands up, facing the queen now. "Your Grace." She curtsies, not making any eye contact at all, hoping that could annoy her further before walking out.
As soon as she was out of sight from everyone, her stance changes. her shoulder straight and her face break into a smug grin.
*
It was a surprise that Arya had a good night sleep last night. Considering that she had witnessed a rather scandalous affair of the queen with a certain Kingsguard, she wonders why nothing hasn't happened to her yet. It was certain that they saw her and yet they still have not taken any action. The calm disturbs her.
She stops short, a familiar back enters her vision from not far. She continues walking towards his side now, but still out of his view. The man was still unaware of another presence as he swings his steel sword onto a torn human-sized sack that was tied up against a pole.
"Will you leave the poor sack alone?"
His steel sword stops midair and he turns around to face the little girl. Arya tilt her head to the side, staring back at her half-brother. "It won't help with your brooding."
Jon frowns as he catches his breath. "I'm not brooding."
"Is it? Then what do you call this then?" she asked, nudging her head towards the scene. Jon turns back around, facing the sack again.
"I'm practicing."
"I see. That's why you stop our usual sword training? Because you find that practicing with a sack is a lot better than practicing with me?"
Jon turns to her again at that, startled. "What? That's not it." he trails, studying her serious expression. "I was just…" he tried but fall short of words to say.
Arya narrows her eyes at him, crossing her arms, trying to act angry. But seeing him speechless and restless was amusing. She can't help it when her face finally breaks into a grin. Seeing that, Jon instantly relax, sighing before chuckling himself.
Satisfied by his smile, Arya continues. "Why aren't you at dinner yesterday?"
"The queen was there."
"So I've heard. You still haven't answered my question yet."
He sighed again. "It's not appropriate for me to dine on the same table with the royal family… you know that."
Arya frowns. "No, I don't. Who asked you to? Mother?"
He shakes his head lightly before continue. "No. But, I know she wanted to, so I save her all the trouble."
Arya takes a few steps closer to him. "Well, obviously you know nothing, Jon." She sighed, snatching away the sword from his grasp. The sword was heavy but still manageable for her. She takes a stance in front of the torn sack and take the first swing. "This is your home, you should be able to eat wherever you like." She finished, the slashing sound of steel against rag accompanying them. Jon walks ahead, standing in front of the young girl now.
"It's not that big of deal anyway." He shrugged. Arya stops swinging and looks up at him instead.
"Yes, it is." She held her gaze. "They are our guest and should follow our way, not we them. Especially for that wretched queen and her cunt son, Joffrey."
"Arya!" Jon shouts, aghast by what came out from his little sister's mouth. Arya ignores him completely.
"What's so special about being royal anyway? Respect should be earned, not bought. Just because they are born of highborn family, doesn't mean they can step everyone else below them." she argues, anger radiates off her body. "And… and they've been walking in here like they own the fucking place…this is our home!" she shouts at the last part.
Arya didn't even realize that Jon was kneeling in front of her, his hands on her shoulders. His dark grey eyes meet hers, lacing with concern. They stare at each other in silence for a while, accompanying only by her heavy breathing. Seconds pass and then minutes, before she calm herself back.
"Little sister…" Jon trailed, looking unsure. "I've never heard you curse that much before." He finished. Arya chuckled, barely keeping her eye rolls at him.
"Yeah, well… I save them for the deserving people." She said softly. Jon breaks into a slight smile.
"What's wrong?" his face serious again. Arya clenched her jaw tight, debating from within.
Everything!
"Nothing." She settles instead, looking away. But, Jon makes her looks at him back.
"Arya, tell me what's wrong?"
Seeing that Jon will not let it go, she takes a deep breath before answering. "What if I tell you that I saw something that I shouldn't?" she started. Jon frowns.
"Saw what?"
"Someone who did something that can be considered as treason."
Jon's frown deepens. "Then, you should say something about it."
"But, what if it's not enough?"
"Why wouldn't it be enough?"
Arya stays silent, leaving his questions hung. She let out a heavy sigh soon after. "Just…forget about it."
Before Jon can say anything further, Arya slip off his grip and run off, leaving him behind with a lot of questions unanswered.
*
Sleep hasn't come by easy, later that night for Arya. Not that it ever did anyway since she learnt about her time travelling. The truth was she never plan to tell anyone about what she saw inside the tower. But, earlier today, in front of Jon, she nearly told him everything.
She sighed, shifting to her right side of her bed. But, thinking back now, it might work out to her favor, though she cannot be sure yet. The Lannister twins still hasn't make any move. So she can only wait patiently.
When the moon was high up on the sky, she was finally able to close her eyes, although it only lasted for a short while. She heard a creak and on instinct, her hand slide under the pillow where a small knife was hidden, which she borrowed from the kitchen.
It looks like the Lannister's finally here to send their regards.
Footsteps can be heard now and Arya can't help but to question this person's ability. Isn't assassin supposed to be quite as shadow? Or maybe her ears were always this sharp.
She heard again the rustle of clothes and take that as a sign for her to act. As she rolls off her bed to the other side, the sound of steel slashing enters her ears.
Arya stands up, and found a man was standing not far. The bed separates them. With the help from the moonlight, she can make up his features. His face was one of ordinary and he was holding a knife too, although his, was a lot longer and bigger. He pulls off the knife from her bed, leaving a huge opening around the center.
"I was waiting for you." She started. The man shifts his stands.
"You what?"
"Cersei and Jaime send you to kill me, isn't it?"
"How did you -"
"Because I saw them fucking inside the broken tower."
The man gape at her, probably shock of her statement. Arya stayed calm, playing with the small knife around her fingers.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Arya shrugged. "I reckon you want to know what it is you were killing for…" she trailed, gripping the small knife tighter. "And what it is you were dying for." she finished with a smirk. The man stiffened.
But, not long after, he changed his stance and walked around the bed to her. Arya does the same, leading him to the open space of the room. When the man finally launch himself at her, she easily dodged his attack, smile plastered on her face. Excitement and adrenaline rush in. It's been awhile since she felt like this.
The man let out a grunt with every strike he takes making it easier for Arya to anticipates his next moves. So, when he strikes next, she pushed it away and gifted him with a cut on his striking arm. He stumbles backward, hissing in pain.
Seeing the open mark, Arya reverse the grip on the knife and dash forward. Her blade finding another open flesh successfully. He hisses louder as his flesh cut open again. Rage was filling his eyes as he extends his knife arm all the way towards her, leaving it vulnerable for a counter attack.
She ducked it away and send her waves of disarming strikes, poking through him as much as she can. He stumbled backward, nearly tripping himself and she wasted no time, launching herself at him with the knife safely pierce through his heart. His body crashes then along with her on top. The knife still stuck on him.
Arya stays still until his eyes were no longer seeing. She pulls off the blade and gets up, throwing the bloody knife on the floor.
"Valar Morghulis." she said her prayer softly.
Now that the assassin was dead, she had to do something else to make her plan work entirely. No one would ever believe that a little girl was able to defeat a trained assassin without a scratch, let alone by herself. So, to make it believable, she had to stage her injury. She thinks.
Arya shakes her head repeatedly out of her stupor. It was no use in having doubts now. She had make this decision long before the assassin had come and because it was the best solution that she can come up with.
The assassin's knife was glowing from the moonlight, calling for her. So, she takes it out from the cold fingers and studies it. The handle was decorated with tiny golds and gems. Arya chuckles, typical Lannister.
She reversed the knife, the blade was facing her now. She takes a deep breath, both her hands gripping the handle. "Gods, help me." she mumbles through her breath, while trying to calm her nerves. It will not do well to have shaking hands before trying to make a self inflicted wound.
With one last intake of breath, she thrust the knife into her stomach, hoping and praying that the blade did not damage any of her vital organs.
Almost instantly, her knees gave up and she fell to the floor. The pain was no stranger, but it didn't make it any easier. She can feel her blood oozing out of the edge of the steel. Time seems to stand still as she kneels on the floor with a knife sticking through her stomach.
Arya tightens her grip on the handle one last time. With another deep breath, she pulls it out. Blood was coming heavily now that there were no constraints. The steel clatters against the stone floor as she tossed the knife towards the dead body.
Her time was running short. If she stays like this without any treatment, she can end up dead. Pulling herself up with all the energy that she has left, she stumbles out of her room and along the corridor. Sansa's chamber was the nearest from her own, so she decides to make her way there. The wall was really helpful as she practically pushes her body forward against the stone wall.
As seconds goes by, her vision became unclear. She keeps seeing things doubled. Blood was dripping heavily from her open wound, leaving a trail on the ground. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.
She chuckled humorlessly.What was I thinking? Stabbing myself.
Arya finally stops when a familiar door was in front of her. She raised her arm and pound the door with all her might, though the sound was barely audible for her. Only silence greets her back.
"Sansa-" she calls, but her voice was muffled with something else. It sounded like she was underwater. Before she can raise her arm again, her vision blurred completely and the feel of hard stone floor on her back. She heard a creak before everything disappears.
AN: Yes, many of you have stated that it's stupid for Arya to stab herself and she should be dead, etc.. But, I wanted to portray her action rather impulsive and rash at the beginning. So, I think I'll stick with this one. Thanks for the input tho!