I do not own Game of Thrones.
A few weeks passed with not much news from the rest of the world. Arya passed her time training with Bronn and Jaime while learning all the secret passages around Casterly Rock from Tyrion. Slowly she was learning more about her captors and companions.
They all sat in the shade of the training ground munching on rolls a maid had brought on Tyrion's request. "So tell me, how did a gutter rat from Flee Bottom become a squire?" Jaime asked as he regarded the blond haired lad. He could pass for one of his many cousins or second cousins.
"Funny story that is." Bronn spoke up. "So I'm looking around tryin' to find someone suspicious. Didn't spot anyone right off the bat. Then I see this head of dirty golden hair. Thought it might've been the little Lord who took a tumble in the dirt. Then I get a good look at the friend beside 'im." Bronn looked over at Arya. "You didn't look like a highborn lass the first time I saw you, so I recognized you better than those damn gold cloaks." He took a bite of his roll as he paused before continuing. "But when I took off after the lass, this little devil somehow managed to trip every man in front of me. Then after I caught this one," He pointed at Arya, "this one," he point pointed at Tyrion, "asked me to find the little friend that had a knack for getting in my way."
"How good are you with a whip?" Tyrion asked Jesse with a small smirk.
Jesse shrugged. "All I've ever used was this." He showed off a leather cord wrapped around his wrist. "I can pick 'ow long I need. Then I can 'ide it well." He smiled fondly down at the cord around his wrist.
"Who taught you?" Arya asked the boy. In truth he was around the same age as her, but he was even smaller than she was.
"My mum." Jesse admitted. "She told me I 'ad to be able to defend myself. Said this world was dangerous." He reached into his shirt and pull out a necklace. "She gave this to me when she kicked me out. Said it was 'er mother's before 'er, and 'er mother's before that. Passed down from mother to daughter, 'til it came to me."
"And you're not a girl?" Bronn asked half serious.
Arya chuckled a bit. "Want him to take his cock out and take a piss?" A few of the men in her group and several others that were nearby began to cough or stifle their laughing.
Tyrion wiped a stray spray of wine that Podrick had coughed out of his nose when Arya had spoken. "Do warn us next time you plan to cuss. Some of us aren't used to it."
Jaime leaned over trying to get a better look at the boy's necklace. "May I see that?" Jesse nodded and handed the trinket to the knight. Jaime regarded the jewelry curiously. "Is this a lion claw?"
Jesse nodded. "Mum said they found it dead in front of their 'ome one day. So they made jewelry out of it's teeth, claws and bones. Mum said they were treasures. Guess they 'ad to feed themselves somehow. But she kept this one."
"A shame they set it in pewter." Jaime remarked as he passed it back to the boy. "It's got a nice color to it though. Almost like they sealed it with blood." Jesse nodded as he agreed with he knight, storing the necklace back under his shirt.
There was a bit of commotion as a young lad ran out of the castle and towards their group. He came to a stop and took a deep breath before speaking. "Sir Jaime Lannister, Lord Tywin Lannister has asked you to accompany him. House Lannister has been requested by the Crown to lead their army against the War on the North." Silence rang out in the training grounds.
Jaime nodded slowly as he got up from his seat. "Alright, so be it." He then looked over at Arya. "Anything you would like to convey to your family, should any of them get captured?"
The corner of Arya's chin quirked up. "Tell them they should have stayed North. If you get caught, try not to get yourself killed."
Jaime chuckled. "Your brother has never fought in a war. Probably never had to fight for his life before. If he defeats me in battle, I'll declare for House Stark."
"Don't say words you don't mean to keep." Arya countered his words.
Bronn chuckled. "My bets on you joining the Starks." He declared proudly.
"Ten dragons say Jaime wins." Tyrion spoke up. He took a drink from his wine cup. "I never bet against my family. Plus, that would mean that Jaime would be fighting against the side we are currently living with. I personally do not want to have to be opposed to my brother in any conflict."
"Tie his right hand behind his back, I could take him." Bronn challenged.
Jaime looked around at the little group. "So I have a sell sword betting i will become a captive, my brother saying I will win, and your bet Lady Arya?"
Arya looked around at everyone before looking back at the golden haired man. "Direwolves like to be scratched behind the ear, but not if you have a knife nearby. They'll go for the throat."
"Wolf food it is then." Jaime turned away from the group and began making his way into the keep to prepare to leave for war. No doubt his father would be planning to depart as soon as possible. Leaving under the cover of dark would Regent enemy spies from seeing their forces leave. If they could move silently and smoothly without torches that was.
Arya watched as Jaime went off to prepare for war. This war was going to be a bit different than the one that had taken place after her father had died. At least, she hoped it would be different.
"What about us?" Jesse asked curiously. "Are we goin' to war?"
"Not likely." Tyrion clarified for the boy. "No doubt my father will take any man with a sense for military and warfare with him. Which leaves all the others to man the castles and keep them in order." He reached down and picked up the pitcher of wine from the ground. "I already know that my father would never leave Casterly Rock in my care, so I need not worry about that."
"If I was Robb's prisoner, he would have me follow him from camp to camp." Arya spoke up as she watched for any guards or soldiers, but there were none paying their group any mind.
Bronn nodded. "Makes sense. Can't find a target if you don't know where it's at."
"Your family knows you are here." Tyrion spoke up. "My sister announced it loudly when your brother's emissary was at court." He frowned as his mind rolled forward, ignoring the wine he was drinking. "Although perhaps your brother interpreted that as a lie. This is war after all, and we Lannisters are certainly known for our schemings."
Arya had to agree with Tyrion. Everyone was probably telling Robb the Queen would not send her to Casterly Rock. It would put her very close to Riverrun and the North.
"Can we help you?" Arya looked up as Tyrion spoke. A guard stood a step away form their group, his eyes fixed on Arya. Tyrion watched as the red haired soldier continued to watch the girl patiently.
Arya studied the man. He was familiar, but she did not know his face. "Valar morghulis." The man greeted her.
Arya's eyes widened as he spoke. "Valar Dohaeris." She responded.
"May we speak in private?" Arya nodded as the man spoke in High Valerian.
Arya got up form her spot. "Excuse us." She walked towards an alcove beside the stable. They were still in sight, but not within sound. "A man makes his way around."
"A girl knows curious things." Arya watched the man closely. "A girl keeps curious friends as well, and allies that are as dangerous as enemies." The man pulled a small piece of paper from his armor. "A message from a friend?"
Arya took the note, opening it carefully. On the corner there was a small spider insignia, naming the sender. "What did you get in return?" She doubted this man would have just done this without being paid. There was always a price when someone else got involved.
"A girl has no need to know what others give up." The man spoke before checking around to see who was watching. "I must go. There is much work left to be done." Arya watched as he changed his face before stepping in line with passing soldiers.
Once the men had passed, she returned to her group. "Was that one of them?" Bronn asked seriously.
Arya noted a bit of worry on his face, or maybe it was fear. "Yes, but you won't see that face again." She doubted that face would be used again anytime soon. There were enough faces in the House of Black and White to use a different face everyday for years without repeating a face. Not to mention he probably knew how to get new faces.
"And what does your little note say?" Tyrion watched as Arya unrolled the note once more, then pass it to him. Tyrion took the note and skimmed over it. "It's not going to be easy. We'll likely be spotted in town."
"You'll be spotted." Arya corrected him. "No one in town knows what I look like."
"We going out?" Arya could hear the bit of excitement in his voice. "You still know all the girls in town?"
Tyrion chuckled. "Only the ones that I like, and you can't have any of them."
"Shall I arrange a carriage?" Podrick asked.
Tyrion sighed. "No Pod. We aren't going by carriage. We don't want to be seen leaving." He looked between the two squires. "You both will have to act like we are here, even though we aren't."
"Go' it." Jesse saluted. "No one'll know."
"Am I tagging along?" Bronn asked, kind of hoping it would be a no.
"If you give me back Needle, you can stay." Arya held Bronn's gaze as he studied her. "Tyrion has never been on my list."
Bronn chewed his lip as he thought. He couldn't tell if she was telling the truth. If he let her have the sword and she killed Tyrion, he would not get paid. If he gave her the sword and she didn't kill the Imp, he would get paid for doing nothing. She was not making it easy to make a choice.
"Why don't you come along then." Tyrion offered. "Then you have nothing to worry about." Bronn slowly nodded, reluctantly making his decision. "Excellent. We should get going, while they are still busy preparing to leave. They won't miss us while they are too busy making ready to leave, and we have a long journey ahead of us."
Arya was surprised how much of Castemere still remained. She had heard stories of how House Reyne had perished. The halls and tunnels beneath the castle flooded with water while the castle above ground was destroyed, but most of the castle was still intact. She would have thought they had simple abandoned it and left it to ruin. Arya wondered if the tunnels were still flooded.
"You weren't kidding about the journey." Bronn commented as he shifted in his saddle. "Are you not sore?" He looked over at Tyrion.
Tyrion smirked. "My saddle is specially designed. I made sure it had enough cushion that I could ride for days." he spurred his horse forward, closer to the ruined castle.
Arya followed beside Tyrion, wanting to get a closer look at the famed Castle of Castemere. As they passed through the ruined front gate, they spotted another horse nearby. "He's here." Arya commented as she urged her horse towards the other. She dismounted and tied him to the post. "It doesn't smell as much as I thought it would."
"Maybe they cleaned." Bronn offered as a suggestion. He had smelled rotting water before, and she was right, it didn't stink.
They entered the castle cautiously. It was quiet. Only Tyrion's boots made any sound against the stone floor. It was only when they heard the sound of birds chirping did they investigate any of the rooms. This room was missing a wall, it had crumbled long ago. Moss grew atop the stones while vines covered shelves of long forgotten books.
Amid the fallen stones, Varys sat reading a book. "Some of them are still legible." The Spider commented as his guests finally arrives. "It's surprising, considering what they went through."
"Good to see you Lord Varys." Tyrion greeted the Master of Whispers. "How did you sneak away from King's Landing? I'm sure my sister is missing you. You even managed to sneak through the River Lands."
"I have my ways." Varys commented before turning his attention to his most important guest. "Everything still going as planned Lady Arya?"
"How is Sansa?" She asked the eunuch, ignoring his question.
Varys set aside the book he had been reading before tucking his arms into his sleeves. "Sadly she has yet to meet up with Daenerys. From what I have heard, Khal Drogo is dead and Daenerys now has three baby dragons."
The room was silent as they all processed this new information. Tyrion was the first to speak. "Dragons are extinct."
"Doesn't change the fact that she has them." Varys argued. "The closest city she could reach out to would be Qarth. Lady Sansa is on her way there. She will reach the city before Daenerys and depending on how Lady Sansa plays her cards, she may be able to grant Daenerys entry to the city."
Arya nodded. Sansa, as she knew her in this time, was not capable of playing the game well enough to make such a play. However, things were different now. "Do you think she can do it?"
"With the right help." Varys knew Lady Sansa would need some guidance in the ways of politics, but she had her own strengths. Her perceived innocence and naivety would prove a great asset. "There was an incident along the King's Road. Lannister soldiers attacked a Night's Watch convoy in the River Lands."
"Looking for Robert's bastard?" Arya asked the Master of Whispers. "How are they?"
"They didn't get the boy." Varys confirmed. "Nor did they even catch a glimpse of him or Lord Stark and his men. They went on ahead after reaching the River Lands, taking the path around the lake opposite to Harrenhal." The girl looked very releived to hear his news. "My birds tell me he should be reaching Robb Stark's camp at Riverrun within a fortnight."
"That's not good news for my father." Tyrion commented mostly to himself.
"It brings us one step closer to ending this war." Varys eyed Arya carefully. He wasn't too sure what she had planned beyond this. "My lady-"
"I'm going to Dorne." Arya interrupted Varys. The three men looked at her with a bit of confusion. "Dorne was the only Kingdom that withstood Aegon's conquest. I would rather have them as an ally than an enemy."
"I can't let you go." Tyrion argued. "I would be labeled a traitor."
"Not like you're valued now." Bronn added in. "You just have gold to save your neck."
Arya looked from Bronn to Tyrion. She didn't doubt that Bronn would turn on Tyrion if he received a better offer. She could just kill him, but Jaime had told her long ago that Bronn saved his and Tyrion's neck many times. For now, he was of more use alive. "You won't be a traitor." This got both of their attentions. "You won't know when I leave, but you'll know I'm gone."
"And what of the golden lad?" Bronn asked curiously. "You gonna leave him behind with the lions?"
"Jesse is a lion himself." Everyone looked over at Varys. The eunuch had a smug grin on his face. "That boy is not a bastard either. By right he should be Lord of this castle."
Tyrion blinked as his brain caught onto what the Spider was saying. "That boy is a Reyne of Castemere? They were all executed."
"All who bore the name Reyne." Varys clarified. "Jesse's Grandmother was a Reyne that married a Lannister before Castemere fell to ruin. Their family managed to escape and settled in King's Landing, abandoning both the name Lannister and Reyne. Their daughter was orphaned when she was eight and she became a whore. One night, she and a lover of hers were married by a sept, and thus began the family of Jesse Waters."
"Does he know?" Tyrion asked seriously.
Varys tilted his head as he thought. "Hard to say, but it does not change that he is the last true born son of House Reyne. There seem to be a few of those cases coming to light." He looked over at Arya. "My Lady, I'm afraid i must be off. Lest the court notice my absence." With that he bowed and left the room.
"How well is the boy learning to fight?" Tyrion asked Bronn.
Bronn chuckled a it. "Scared he's going to kill you in your sleep?" The boy had actually shown little interest in fighting with weapons, but he could hold his own with that whip of his. "He's about the same size as you, might be the fairest fight you'll ever get."
"We should get back as well." Arya interrupted the two. "We've been gone long enough." She walked past them both and back out towards the front courtyard. There were so many things out of her hands now, she hoped it all worked in her favor.
That's another chapter done. I was thinking of adding a little bit from Ned and Sansa's point of views, but I kind of want to keep it to just Arya...for now.
Did any of you see the twist with Jesse coming? Any guesses as to his role coming up?
So that covers all of the episodes from season 1, or at least the chapters I had based around those episodes. So there is going to be a short break while I finalize the next batch of chapters. But it probably won't take too long. Stay tuned.