AN: This chapter is longer but I couldn't figure out how to break it up. If I've done the ideas in my head justice I would hope that by the end of the chapter you can imagine all hell breaking loose. I was so tempted to write Cersei, Ramsey and Jon's reactions to it but I can't make chapters out of that without indulging in far more procrastination and going down rabbitholes than I'm comfortable with.
Chapter 9
Arya soon found out Aegon had slipped his guards. She was torn between worried and furious. A search began but it was fruitless until Arya decided to stop by her chambers to get a coat before taking the search outside the castle. She found Aegon waiting in her solar. She blasted him.
"What were you thinking!"
His expression was unhappy. "I needed time on my own to think".
Arya tried to stay mad at him, she really tried but he looked so miserable. "What's wrong?"
He sighed. "Is the thought of marrying me really that objectionable?"
Arya was speechless. "That is what's bothering you?" she blurted when she could finally find words.
The look on his face confirmed it. She wasn't entirely sure why he was so upset. She supposed he felt rejected. "It isn't you" she explained. "I don't want to marry anybody. I've always known that".
He didn't look convinced but he moved closer. "So it isn't about me" he said uncertainly.
"No stupid" she retorted.
She should have seen it coming but she didn't. Aegon pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She knew better this time, she really did but instead of pushing him away she knotted her fingers in his hair and made things worse. He moaned into her mouth as her nails scraped his scalp and one of his hands edged inside her tunic. They sprang apart when there was a noise outside and Arya panicked that somebody was going to come in. It passed and Aegon stepped towards her again. She quickly backed away.
"Arya" Aegon pleaded.
"Don't" she said abruptly. "You know this can't happen".
She made sure the coast was clear and pulled him out of her solar. Duck was beside himself when she deposited him at his own chambers. She then fled back to her quarters cursing herself for being weak and desperately hoping Aegon wouldn't be stupid enough to tell anybody what they had done.
Despite the marriage discussion being dropped Arya soon figured out that she couldn't escape being courted. Everywhere she turned throughout the castle hopeful suitors pursued her. Aegon's supporters seemed to include an endless number of knights and lesser lordlings hoping to gain her favour. It was a struggle to be left alone. Between that and Aegon's sad eyes watching her Arya was close to breaking point. Duck found it amusing and she put him in his place when he began to tease her about it over a game of Cyvasse in Aegon's solar.
"They want Winterfell, not me" she said bitterly. "I'm not a pawn and they're not using me to take my home".
She soon found a distraction. Arya had been aware that with the battle being victorious prisoners had been taken but it slipped her mind until there was a gathering in the great hall about a week after they had returned from battle. Men had been removed from the cells for questioning.
They tried to stop her attending but there was no way Arya was going to be kept out of a judgement of Lannister soldiers. She stalked into the great hall and looked around, taking note of the banners on the wall. She had been focused more on the people when she'd been in here before. Aegon's red three-headed dragon on its black field featured prominently. She recognised some of the others but not too many. They should have the Stark banner up there she suddenly realised. Arya may not have bannermen but she represented the Starks now and of all the claimants to the throne Aegon was the one she would choose. The thought was sobering.
Arya marched up and sat on the dais next to Connington. The prisoners eyed her with a mix of disdain, curiosity, fear and something else she couldn't put her finger on. As each was marched forward and questioned she picked the lies from the truths. She leaned to whisper in Connington's ear at one point about the liars and a touch of a smile played about his lips.
"They all lie. It makes no matter."
It soon became tedious until she spotted a familiar face. She froze in place, hardly believing her luck. It was Dunsen. It was all she could do to wait until Connington was finished with the laborious process. It took hours but it was worth it. By morning he was crossed off her list though Connington looked at her suspiciously after Dunsen was found dead in the cells.
Aegon was still looking at her with sad eyes when he looked at her at all and Arya resolved to do something about it. He had gotten sick of being cooped up and watched, she knew that so she arranged for a ride in the woods. There was still a group of them but it was far freer. It also meant she could have some escape from her suitors. Arya was getting plenty out of the ride herself as she nudged her horse into a gallop, closely followed by a laughing (finally) Aegon, a selection of lords and guards.
They were about to return back to the castle when Arya heard a familiar howl so close by that she was surprised she couldn't see the wolf. Before the others could stop her she dismounted and whistled. She wasn't confident it would work but Nymeria suddenly appeared. She heard Aegon behind her and realised that he was now on foot too. She hesitated a moment then called out. "Nymeria".
The wolf loped forward and Arya heard the men behind her becoming agitated. She wanted to see what they were doing but she couldn't break eye contact with the direwolf. She was beyond grateful when she heard Aegon say in an authoritative voice "The wolf is not to be harmed". Nymeria came up to her and Arya ran her fingers through the shaggy coat. It was far thicker than before, she supposed that was only natural now it was colder. She laughed as Nymeria began to nip at her hands without drawing blood just as she had as a pup.
Her laughter stopped when the direwolf paced away from her and approached Aegon. She began to feel panic set in. Just as she was trying to decide what she should do Nymeria closed the distance and dropped down in front of Aegon, laying her muzzle across his boots. There was a hushed silence. Arya moved to stand with him.
"Why?" he asked, looking down at the huge she-wolf.
"She trusts you" Arya replied. "Just like I do".
By the time they returned to the castle the other men in the group had begun to jape about it, likening Nymeria's actions to the direwolf equivalent of bending the knee. Nymeria was always close to the castle afterwards and although nerves were frayed at first, the lack of attacks soon helped the situation to settle down.
Arya's thoughts returned to the banners hanging in the great hall. She broached the subject with Connington and Aegon the next time she saw them together."You said we need to announce my presence. I want to do more than that".
She spent hours closeted with Connington and Haldon before they had the plan worked out. Aegon and Duck found her after dinner sitting with Lemore with a pile of parchment in front of her and a quill in her hand. There were screwed up pieces of parchment around her feet from failed attempts.
"I want to write to my brother but I can't get it right". She tried to keep her voice level. "I'm not the same as when I saw him last. I have done things. What if he doesn't want to hear from me?"
Aegon smiled. "From what you've told me there would be no chance of that". They joined her, offering encouragement until she got it written. She then handed it to Aegon to read.
Dearest Jon,
I have thought of you so often and I wish I could have written earlier. I have only recently found safe refuge in Storm's End and it is from here that I write. I have heard that Ramsay Snow claims to have married me. It is a lie. You know me Jon, I would never submit to such a creature. Whoever Ramsay has married they are an imposter.
I am currently under the protection of His Grace Aegon Targaryen, the Sixth of his name. They are looking after me well though they are almost as bad as Septa Mordane with their insistence that I wear dresses. I console myself that they lose more battles than they win.
Nymeria is with me. I also still have the Needle you gave me when we parted. I practice my needlework whenever I can and I have become very good. I miss you
Arya Stark
Aegon was grinning as he put the parchment down. "He gave you a needle as a present? You don't strike me as the sewing type".
Arya promptly darted into her bedroom and retrieved the precious object from under the bed where she had hidden it. When she returned to the solar she held out the sword. "This is Needle".
Duck and Aegon roared with laughter. When they finally calmed down, Arya produced the first letter she had written, the one not intended for family and wordlessly handed it to them to read.
I write this in my own hand from Storm's End where I am under the protection of His Grace Aegon Targaryen, Sixth of his name, rightful King of Westeros.
I am the trueborn daughter of Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell by his lady wife Catelyn of House Tully. I declare upon the honour of House Stark that House Bolton and House Lannister have knowingly and wilfully installed an imposter in my place to usurp my rightful claim to Winterfell. By right of birth and blood and in the absence of my sister the Lady Sansa I do this day lay claim to Winterfell.
I have proof of my identity if I must assuage any doubts however no one who has met me can deny that I am a Stark, that I am in fact a wolf. My father once said that the lone wolf dies but the pack survives. I am sorry to say that in this he has been wrong. I am not completely alone but it appears I am the lone wolf in this matter. He also said however that Starks endure and in this he was right. I will endure and the enemies of my House and of those who remain loyal to the Starks will soon rue the day they betrayed us.
I call on those who see the murder of my father and the abomination of the Red Wedding as the butchery that it was to stand against those responsible.
The North Remembers.
Arya Stark
Lady of Winterfell
Winter is Coming
Duck let out a low whistle and Aegon looked awed. "You didn't hold back, did you?"
She set her jaw. "I wanted to send a message". She was glad it was done. They needed to send many copies and Arya had been determined to write it in her own hand. Her hand was so cramped now that it hurt.
They took the letters to Haldon. Connington was with him. His jaw worked and she saw alternating expressions cross his face as he read but when he was done, Arya could see he approved. They had jointly decided it needed to be stamped with the direwolf of Stark and Arya felt a surge of emotion seeing Haldon apply the seal to the many copies.
"It will stir up a hornet's nest" Haldon warned.
"Good" Arya declared. "Let it"
