Things hadn't been the same in Storm's End since Jasper had left for the second time, everyone was far more serious, not one of them had thought that the war would ever reach the ancestral home of House Baratheon, but it had, and it was only thanks to Arya that there had been a victory, well, Arya and Edric, but it was Arya who was being treated with far more respect and having her opinion asked, since Edric had left to squire for Jasper's Sworn Shield Beric. The mood in general was also much changed from before the attempted coup of Ser Cortnay Penrose, everyone was far more serious and hard working, eager to prove that they were not traitors but loyal to their lord. Unfortunately for Arya, that meant that they were constantly fawning over her, giving her little peace and quiet when she wanted it, or solitude when she sought it, instead she had to entertain knights and lords and squires and stableboys, just as her mother had told her a noble lady should do, something that she had always refused, yet here it was, thrust upon her. The only person who seemed to understand who was left in the castle was Nymeria, who now almost never left Arya's side.
The only place in the castle where the two of them seemed to be able to get some peace and quiet, apart from her chambers, was the roof of the Drum Tower, where few went. One of those few was Ser Gilbert Farring, the new Castellan of Storm's End after Ser Cortnay. He at least seemed to respect her enough not to constantly be asking her questions or trying to win her favour, for which she was thankful, for Arya only ascended the roof so as to think on one matter recently. Jasper.
She had been struggling ever since he left to understand what she felt about him. She had undeniably felt a great sense of relief when he had ridden through the gate, although she was unsure where it had come from at the time, for she had not thought that she had worried about him too much, after all, she would have heard if something was wrong. However, she had only recently, in the last few days even, begun to understand that she had been anxious every time a letter arrived from the Dornish Marches, fearful that Jasper had been killed. But it made sense, she had reasoned to herself, after all, Jasper being alive was the only think keeping her alive as well, or at least free, if he died there was no doubt that she would at the very least be taken back to King's Landing, to be a prisoner there until Robb won his war. Robb had also been absent from Arya's mind, ever since she had discovered the plot against Jasper, Arya could not remember feeling worried for Robb, but he was her brother, there was no reason to worry, was there?
Arya shook herself from her thoughts and looked out over the Stormlands. She could not see King's Landing, but she knew it was somewhere to the north, and given that it was morning and the sun was on her right, that must be straight ahead, she assumed that she was looking at it. They had hear all about how Jasper had arrived just in time to save the city, and Arya had felt angry that she was not part of the battle. But then other rumours began to bear fruit, ones that said that Jasper had fucked an old lover of his before the battle. That rumour had sent a funny feeling into her stomach, as did one that said that she was now carrying his bastard, she couldn't put her finger on it. She wondered if her mother had ever known that her father was bringing Jon with him when he came home, or if she only knew when he rode through the gate clutching him in his arms. She also considered how she would feel, if Jasper returned with one of his own. Would she be like her mother, or would she care for it? She did not know, she hoped that she never would have to.
Thinking back to Jasper, Arya knew that he should be in the Reach by now, his host having crossed the Blackwater Rush and following King Renly, but they had not heard of him since King's Landing.
"Lady Arya", Arya spun at the voice, angry that she had been disturbed, but her expression changed rapidly when she saw that it was Heward, one of her guards. "The men were wondering if you wished to train with them." Arya smiled, glad for a distraction. The one benefit of the attention she was now getting was that the castle guard now let her train with them, they had been eager to see her in a fight after it was told that she had saved Jasper's life and fought the traitors alongside the guards. She nodded and followed Heward down, darting into her chambers to change into breeches and retrieve her swords.
She was able to defeat several of the guards, but the more experienced ones were able to beat her, so much so that she had several bruises up her arms and one of them gave her a bad knock on the head, so much so that she had to sit out for several rounds. It was then that maester Varwyn came down the steps to her. "Lady Arya", he said as he approached, "there has been a raven for you, from Lord Jasper." Arya held out her hand and yanked the letter from the maester's hand as soon as it was within reach. Using Needle, she slit the seal, which was white, not Jasper's yellow, so he was using the ink of some other castle, but it still bore the sign of his ring, so it was from him. She set Needle aside and unfurled the letter.
Arya
I write to you now from Bitterbridge, I had force marched to the castle from the border of the Reach, hoping to catch Renly before he crossed, unfortunately he had already done so and is still retreating south, towards Highgarden and Randyll Tarly's host. The good news is that all houses north of the Blueburn and east of the Mander have bent the knee to me, but most of the others seem ready to fight to the end.
I am sorry for not coming back to Storm's End after the Battle of King's Landing, I had meant to, except that I failed and Renly escaped, but worse he has not surrendered, he still thinks he has won. So I have committed now, as vile as my brother may be he is the king now, and as Lord Paramount of the Stormlands I have to serve him, it brings bile to my throat, but that is the case.
I realise that answering these questions that I am about to put to you may be difficult, since I will be moving on from Bitterbridge shortly to defeat Renly once and for all, but I must ask them all the same, if only to satisfy my own desire for your safety, I would not forgive myself if you were harmed. So, how have things been for you with the new appointments in the household? Ser Gilbert was my very first appointment to the Storm's End household, several years ago when Renly let me appoint the new captain of the guards, I trust him, and I hope that you do as well, for he is a good man, an honest man and a loyal man. I hope you can get to know him, like him and trust him as I do, for when we are married, if we do get married, remember I have no wish to force the issue on you, he will be your man as well as mine.
Marriage, Arya had not contemplated the prospect of actually marrying Jasper in some time, she didn't want to. If she had a choice she would remain unmarried and free as long as she could, but how long could she last in this world alone. As proven when she tried to get Ser Loren and Ser, or Lord Ronnet now, to join her in assisting Jasper, women could clearly not do much in the world, they needed men. No, Arya thought stubbornly, I need no man, I am as good as any of them. But was that true? She was not as good a fighter as most trained men, she was not as strong nor as well respected. Indeed the queen had power, but it came from her husband, as her power as Jasper's wife would come from him. If she had to marry, she would rather marry someone like Jasper, who at least let her have some freedom, but was it really freedom if Jasper had to give it to her.
Not wanting to think too long and hard about it, she turned her eyes back to the letter.
I hope that they are all treating you well whilst me and Edric are gone, he sends his regards by the way, he is currently cleaning Ser Beric's armour, Beric is leading my scouts for now, and he is working Edric to the bone, but there is something, I suspect that it is the fact that both of them are bastards, that draws them together, they work seamlessly and one day Edric will be a fine knight. Indeed, in two years he could be knighted, should Ser Beric grant it to him.
Have you written to your sister? If not then you should, she is anxious to hear from you, I do not know if she has or is allowed to write in King's Landing, my mother can be overbearing in that respect, it would not surprised me if she was forbidding contact between, what she sees as her hostages. I have no such restrictions, write to her if you wish to, it would be good from her to hear from you, and you from her, for neither of you have had contact with your families, hearing from each other should help heal the pain of that separation. I wish I could relate to how that felt, but I know nothing of the sort of feelings, when I was away from my family I was mostly glad, I missed Tommen and Myrcella, as I miss them now, but Joffrey was a prick, my father as drunk and my mother overbearing. It was a relief when I could escape them, go to Storm's End, Winterfell or even where I am now, the Reach.
I wish you could see this place Arya, the view from the castle is magnificent, the North holds a harsh beauty, the Stormlands have a savage beauty to them, the Westerlands have a majestic beauty, but in terms of shear sunlit beauty, the Reach outclasses them all. I hope that I can bring you here one day, when the war is over maybe, so you can see the land when it is unblemished by war camps and the dust kicked up by marching hosts, I want to see that view again myself, although whether I will be welcome in the Reach again depends on many things, who is the Lord of the Reach, if we have a blood relationship, how harsh my brother is to them in defeat, or indeed should we lose the war.
That is my final message to you Arya, should I fall in battle, and only if the report is conclusive that I am dead, then I want you to show the other message enclosed in this to the shipmaster, that will allow you to take Winter's Fury North, to White Harbour, where you can go home, amongst other things.
Arya looked at the second piece of paper that had come in the message.
Last Will and Testament of Jasper of the House Baratheon. Lord of Storm's End, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.
It is hereby stated, that, should I fall in the campaign against Renly Baratheon, that the following items be bequeathed unto my betrothed, Arya, of the House Stark: My shortsword, Low Justice, shall be given to her to do with as she pleases. My marble Cyvasse set, a game that I hope she learns in full, and finally all my horses, including all of my warhorses. It is also my Will, that should I fall before the end of the war, that Arya be transported by my ship to White Harbour, there to be re-united with her family in Winterfell.
All of my other items shall pass to my uncle, Stannis of the House Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone and Master of Ships at the time of writing, I also name my uncle Stannis, my heir should I fall, to assume the Lordship of Storm's End after me and all his line after them. The Valyrian Steel Longsword, High Justice, shall be passed down through this line to be the ancestral sword of House Baratheon of Storm's End.
Jasper Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.
Arya was stunned, Jasper would not die, he couldn't but, he had planned for it, and he was leaving her with his shortsword and horses, he knew she loved riding, but she never would have thought that he would leave her with so much.
However the main image in her mind was one of Jasper's body, clad in his black armour, fallen, an arrow in his chest, his vacant eyes staring at her. She nearly screamed at the sight of it, his black hair matted with blood, his shield dented and ruined, his sword the only bright thing in the image and his greeves were coated in slick brown mud and his skin was a white as snow.
She shuddered and turned back to the main letter that was sent by the raven.
Arya, be careful, do not be too reckless, whilst that is like you we cannot have another incident like at Castle Darry, this time I am not there to dive in and save you, there are people who want you dead, there are people who want to hurt me by killing you, trust your judgement and be wary, I shall see you again after I have defeated Renly.
Your Friend
Jasper.
Arya turned to the maester, who was simply watching her. "How long would it have taken this raven to get here from Bitterbridge?"
The maester considered, "several days, he is no doubt gone by now."
Arya hissed in frustration, she wanted to send a raven back to Jasper, telling him that he was not to die. "You could always write the letter anyway", the maester continued, "give it to him on his return."
"What would be the point in that?" Arya asked.
"It would show Lord Jasper what you were feeling when he returns."
Arya thought, and then shook her head. "If I remember I will tell him", she told the maester, "if not then it is clearly not important enough."