"The Honored Guest" Chapter 11 Prelude to a Battle

Note: Arya sets back chivalry by a thousand years.

All of the company that was involved in the attack on Harrenhal had secretly and quietly moved closer in the woods towards the castle. Aegon was to accompany Lord Jon and the leaders of Golden Company. Before leaving base camp, the prince came to Arya, looking awkward but impressive in his junior knight armor, and asked for her favor. Gone was the vision of loveliness from the council meeting. She had been wrestling with Nymeria and climbing trees, and her clothes were muddy, her braid held twigs, and there was a streak of dirt on her cheek. Arya had returned to her normal self.

Arya looked at him with mischief in her eyes, "You mean like at a tourney? Like all that nonsense about 'queen of love and beauty'? Are you going to bring me a crown of blue roses?" she snickered, "Wait here," and ran off to Ashara's pavilion.

Arya was not the type of girl to own headscarves, embroidered handkerchiefs, or colorful hair ribbons. She even secured her braid with only a rough leather cord. She looked at the floor of the tent, saw clothes scattered everywhere, but nothing that interested her. Ashara had scolded her about untidiness, but Arya had spent ten years ignoring her mother's scolding, and had paid no attention. She found the bag of clothing that her father had brought, and way down in the bottom of the bag she recognized an old faded cloth item. It was an ancient set of smallclothes. She pulled them out and inspected them critically. She saw that the cloth was frayed, the laces were broken, and the crotch was almost completely worn through. Arya had no idea why she still possessed them. She buried her face in the smallclothes and sniffed. Running back to find Aegon, she muttered, "At least they smell clean."

"What is this?" Aegon asked as he curiously examined the crumpled ball of grey cloth she had tossed to him.

"My smallclothes."

Aegon rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Only you would offer smallclothes as a favor." Nevertheless, he tied it around the hilt of his sword for good luck. Then Aegon took Arya's hand and looked intensely into her eyes and said seriously, "My lady, there is a chance that I may not return alive from the battle."

Posh, she thought, Duck and the other knights would never let him come to harm. Still, he remained staring expectantly at her. Arya considered, I know what Sansa would do. She stood up on her tiptoes, gently placed a palm against his cheek, and pressed her lips against his. Aegon was surprised, but returned the chaste kiss, placing a hand lightly on her narrow hip. They silently remained in a partial embrace for almost a minute, and Arya murmured, desperately stifling a giggle as she stroked his peach fuzz, "Stay safe, my prince."

Aegon pulled away, looking starry-eyed and pleased. Melodramatically, he announced, "Until good fortune allows us to meet again!" and went to find his horse, thinking, I am a man! My lady kissed me and sent me into battle! I wish there had been tears in her eyes!

Arya watched him leave, swaying like a drunken sailor, and put her hand to her lips, surprised that she actually got a thrill from kissing Aegon. But then she snickered to herself, What fun! I can't wait to tell Sansa that I gave a prince my favor and a kiss and sent him into battle! She is going to be sooo jealous!

Aegon rode up to travel next to Duck, who was looking at the hilt of his sword. He asked, "So, you received a favor from a lady before going into battle, eh? What is that?"

Aegon had a dreamy look on his face. "Lady Arya's smallclothes."

Duck laughed loudly, "Yes, I wager that the wolf girl did not have any embroidered handkerchiefs to give you. But don't tell Lord Connington. He will be wroth. He thinks you spend too much time with Lady Arya and that she is a bad influence on you."

Aegon replied stubbornly, "I still want her to be my betrothed."

Duck smiled at the thought, "The one person who would need convincing is your intended herself. She has made it quite clear that she does not wish to marry."

Aegon looked smug, "I have been persistent, and Arya is warming up to my intentions. She confessed that she is worried about my safety."

Duck chuckled, "She probably thinks that you are stupid enough to get knocked on the head. Arya has no confidence in your fighting skills yet."

Now Aegon looked annoyed, "Then I must prove myself in battle for her, and she will admire me!"

"Like I said, don't do anything stupid. You will only convince her that she was right."

Connington had given Arya strict orders to stay in camp, but she was used to ignoring such orders, and would not have missed the battle for the world. After tying Nymeria to a pole of Ashara's pavilion, Arya went to see Lady Nym, who was in the tent that had had been erected for her and her traveling companions, preparing for departure. Nym had decided that she preferred Arya as her bedmaid, and slept in her bed, but her companions, two Dornish ladies and three handmaidens, occupied the guest pavilion.

The Sand Snake smiled at Arya and said, "Of course you may travel with us, but you will have to wear a disguise. You can wear the silk robes of one of our younger handmaidens, including silk smallclothes. You will feel more womanly in Dornish clothing. Outdoors, we will wear silk scarves around our heads, so you will not be recognized."

Arya noticed that the other Dornish ladies were also beautiful and had lovely silk robes, but they wore shortswords and daggers in their belts, and their stern faces as they fingered their weapons told Arya that they knew how to use steel. Arya thought, they are warrior women, also! I love Dorne!

The groups of riders assembled for the journey. Lady Nym arranged for her personal handmaiden to look after Nymeria, and Arya borrowed the girl's sand steed. After a few minutes on horseback, she considered, this horse is so beautiful, and rides so smoothly! I wish that I owned a sand steed!

Nym looked over at the group of knights that included Lord Connington and the prince. She remarked, "Aegon appears to have a favor tied around the hilt of his sword." She turned to Arya and said with a sly smile, "I wonder whose it is."

Arya replied indifferently, "The favor is my smallclothes."

Lady Nym's eyes went wide and she looked at the girl shrewdly, "Wait, how old are you again?"

She told Nym proudly, "My ten and first nameday will arrive next week."

Nymeria shook her head in awe, "It seems you can teach me a thing or two about womanly wiles". Then she grinned wickedly, "Before the next battle, if the prince asks for another favor, give him those silk ones." The Sand Snake laughed at her own jape, "Ha! He will insist that Lord Connington arrange a betrothal to you on the spot!"

Arya appeared not to appreciate the jape. She pouted, "But I don't want to marry anyone!"

Lady Nym replied, "I know that, sweetling, but playing with a man's affection is so much fun. There is no better game in the world! I think you will like it better than cyvasse." She reflected on Arya's story of teasing the squire, "And from what I have heard, you are a better player than you realize."

Nym saw that the knights had increased their speed. "Let us hurry now," she added, "We have a long journey," and put her heels to her horse's flanks.

Notes: I had this chapter planned for more than a week and couldn't wait to post it. Please tell me what you think.