Disclaimer: I do not own anything from A Song of Ice and Fire or Game of Thrones. Everything here belongs to George R.R Martin.

Chapter XXII - Names and Battles

Alyssa POV

They slept at an empty inn at the night. It was only Alyssa, Arya and their father. Alyssa lied her back onto a wall with Arya beside her. They have been travelling at least two days after the situation with the Gold Cloak. Her father's legs seemed to got better, they had many healers and nurses from inns that they passed who went to heal their father and even taught Alyssa how to stitch up a person. Alyssa almost fainted at the idea of sewing a person's skin back together. Nonetheless, it was necessary.

Alyssa slapped her arm, because a mosquito flew up here. Arya was sharpening Needle as usual, their father layed on pile of straw next to then. Neither of them could sleep, because of the memories in King's Landing were not over. How Syrio died, how they thought their father died and now Sansa is with the Lannister clutches, their family divided. News around the Riverlands travels quickly, and they heard how Robb is now betrothed to one of Walder Frey's daughters. Their father didn't seem to like it and shudder at the thought of being related to Walder Frey. Apparently, Walder Frey is a ninety years old man, despite that he had eight wives and has countless of children. His current wife is at least eight years younger than him. Alyssa felt sick, how could any parent allow their daughters to marry him.

However, parts of Alyssa was excited for a wedding. After the trauma in King's Landing, a wedding is what they needed, so their family could recover. The rest of the camp fell asleep, and Yoren closed the inn's door and locked it. Alyssa watched as the campfire flickered, imagining Joffrey and Cersei in there, and the Kingslayer for injuring her father and also Tywin Lannister, the Mountain for what they did to the Riverlands.

"You both should go to sleep now." Her father told Alyssa and Arya.

"I can't sleep." Alyssa said.

"Tomorrow is a long march." Her father told them. "Thirty miles, according to Yoren. Do you want some wine to help you both sleep?"

"I don't like the taste." Arya said and Alyssa was quite shocked to hear her father offering them some wine in the waterskin, to allow them to sleep better.

"What's wrong then?" Their father asked.

"King's Landing." Arya replied.

"Ah." Ned said. "You've been having trouble sleeping because of that, the memories."

They nodded, and Alyssa said, "How do you get to sleep? After..."

Ned sighed and sat up straight and said, "After my father and brother were killed by the Mad King, I wanted to avenged them. The Rebellion had started because of that and I wanted to get my sister back too. When I marched to King's Landing, I saw King Aerys being killed by Jaime Lannister. He took away my vengeance and justice. I couldn't kill the Mad King because of that. I wanted to kill the Kingslayer, but I knew that he has to be brought into trail first. Then, Robert and Jon Arryn pardoned him, to keep Tywin Lannister's peace. I was so angry that I left the capital, refusing Robert asking me to be his Master of Law."

"And then?" Alyssa asked.

"And then I prayed at the godswood everyday, try to get myself to sleep, and over the years, my anger towards the Kingslayer faded. But he is still an oathbreaker." Ned said bitterly.

"I heard how whispering the people you want to kill, their names, it will help you to get better sleep." Arya said quitely.

"Don't let vengeance consume you Arya." Ned said sternly. "One day you will have your justice, whether from life or death."

They nodded and tried to go back to sleep, but Alyssa stayed awake and heard Arya muttering, "Joffrey. Cersei. Ser Illyn Payne. The Hound. The Mountain..."

oOoOo

As they were preparing for sleep, suddenly they heard shouts and screams, the Gold Cloaks telling them to come out. Ned had told his daughters to quitely evacuate, knowing that the Lannisters will probably set this inn up on fire. They ran out along with the other boys, Arya grabbed Needle and Alyssa held her father and Arya's hands. They could see things burning and the boys who would go to the Night's Watch were yelling. Yoren was also yelling, giving orders, but no one listened.

"Where's the bastard crow?" A man demanded. This time he brought more men with him.

"There are more and few bastards here, who's asking?" Yoren spat, his voice laced with disgust.

"Armory Lorch, sworn bannermen to Lord Tywin Lannister. These men from the capital requested our assistance. Drop your weapons in the name of the King." Lorch said.

Ned exhaled sharply and quickly brought his daughters close to him. Armory Lorch, he murdered Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Rhaegar's eldest daughter, stabbed him hundreds of time. Ned had demanded Lorch and Clegane to be killed but Robert refused. Lorch was there the day when Ned said that, Ned knew without a doubt that Lorch would try to kill him and possibly his daughters would suffer the same fate as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen or Princess Elia Martell.

"Which King would that be?" Yoren scoffed bravely.

"This is your last chance." Lorch warned. "In the name of King Joffrey, drop your weapons."

Yoren spat to the ground and said dangerously, "I don't think I will." He walked forwards bravely.

"So be it." Lorch ordered. The Lannister guards shot a crossbow onto Yoren who fell to the ground and Alyssa and Arya gasped, but Ned covered their mouths. Gendry was behind the bush with them, watching furiously. Yoren to the surprise of Alyssa stood up, dealing with the pain and said, "I always hated crossbows."

Yoren yelled something inaudible but then they heard steels clash together. Yoren killed the man who shot an arrow at him. However, the spears of Lannister guards advanced towards him and Lorch immediately killed Yoren, who had blood spilling out of his mouth. Alyssa watched horrified. Many of the boys began to run out, except for Hot Pie. Including Arya.

"ARYA!" Alyssa yelled not caring how Arya's identity is supposed to be Arry. Ned immediately raced there, taking Alyssa with him, they watched as Arya freed the men in the cages and immediately the men fled. Ned grabbed Alyssa and Arya and hoped to get his daughters out of the chaos. He ran only to hit someone's arm. Ned could hear many of the boys captured and Arya, Alyssa coughed from the ashes of the fire.

"What do we have here?" Polliver taunted. He grabbed Arya's needle.

"No!" Arya cried, Needle was a gift from Jon. Polliver pointed Needle towards Arya and Ned quickly held Arya and Alyssa, Ned begged, "Please, please don't."

"That's a fine little blade." Polliver taunted ignoring Ned's pleas. He pointed Needle towards his nose and said, "Maybe I'll pick my teeth with it."

Arya was panting and Alyssa had tears in her eyes, she tried to get Arya up gently, but Polliver simply grabbed them up and pointed a sword behind their back and forced them to walk. They walked next to Hot Pie and Gendry. Ned was glad to see them safe. The Lannister guards were pushing them, ordering them to move fast. Alyssa gasped seeing an arrow out from Lommy's legs, no one was near Lommy. Polliver walked closer and said with amusement, "Something wrong with your leg boy?"

"Look at it." Lommy said angrily, annoyed at the man's taunts. They watched as Polliver moved forward and Lommy trembled, "You-you're going to carry me?"

Polliver smirked and drew his sword into Lommy's throat and blood flowed from his mouth as he fell to the ground. This time, neither Alyssa or Arya screamt, for their mind has been adapted to the concept of death. Lorch pushed Yoren's corpse aside with his blade and said, "We're looking for a bastard named Gendry."

Ned inhaled sharply, no, he would have to protect Robert's son.

"Give him up." Lorch continued. "Or I'll start taking eyeballs."

They all trembled and the brothers looked at each other, wandering what they should do. Alyssa's eyes were focused on the Bull's Head helmet that layed next to Lommy, she stepped forward and Ned was about to pull her in but Alyssa pointed at Lommy and said, "He's Gendry."