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

Chapter XXIV - Harrenhal

Harrenhall

They have been marching for days. Everytime when someone slows down, the Lannister guards will poke them with their swords. They have been marching for a long time. Alyssa's legs were tiring, even though the soilders noticed she was a girl, they did not offer her any hospitality, but fortunately they didn't rape her, something her father was relieved at. Alyssa stood between her father and Arya. Hot Pie and Gendry were beside them. Everytime when someone falls, the Lannisters will kill them. It was terrifying, and Alyssa forced herself to continue walking.

Ned Stark looked up and immediately recognized the castle. Though it has been many years since he came here but the huge castle, some partially destroyed still remain familiar, he whispered, "Harrenhal."

Alyssa looked up and looked at the castle in awe. Harrenhal was one of the largest castles in Westeros. The last King of the Isles and Rivers, Harren of House Hoare had declared to build the immense strong castle, declaring it to be impregnable. Thousands have died building this castle and it was too expensive to maintain, Harren was said to use human blood mixed into motar for stone work. Unfortunately of House Hoare, the castle only lasted for few days. Aegon the Conqueror wanted to unite the Seven Kingdoms and Harren had refused, and Aegon burned the castle despite Harren's boasts of stones cannot be burnt.

After House Hoare was exinct, the castle was later given to House Qoherys by Aegon the Conqueror, however House Qoherys died out during the reign of King Aenys I. Then, it was granted to House Harroway but House Harroway was destroyed by Maegor the Cruel who rode the dragon Balerion. House Towers were granted Harrenhal after winning a Meele. Queen Rhaena Targaryen, the widow of Maegor the Cruel and also the eldest sibling of King Jaehaerys I and Queen Alysanne had settled in Harrenhal after the death of her daughter Princess Aaera Targaryen. King Jaehaerys I granted Harrenhal to House Strong, but House Strong died during the Dance of Dragon, after supporting Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. They were killed by Sunfyre and Vhagar, rode by Aegon II and Prince Aemond respectively. Aegon III granted Harrenhal to House Lothson, however they were seized back when House Lothson supported the Blackfyres during the Blackfyre Rebellion. Finally, they were granted to House Whent, her grandmother's family.

Rumors said that Harrenhal was cursed. Ned remembered the famous Tourney of Harrenhal, when Lord Whent decided to host the greatest Tourney the Seven Kingdoms has ever seen in honor of Prince Daeron and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen's second nameday. He remembered the Knight of the Laughing Tree and also it was the place where he befriended Howland Reed. He also remembered how Prince Rhaegar defeated Ser Barristan and crowned Lyanna as Queen of Love and Beauty.

However, ignoring the history, they can hear screams of torture inside the castle. Lannister guards barking orders at the people.

"What kind of fire melts stone?" Gendry asked shocked. He was a blacksmith for his entire life and never seen stone melt by fire.

"Dragonfire." Arya replied.

"There are dragons around here?" Hot Pie asked stupidly and Ned cracked a grin.

"Of course not." Alyssa said. "The Dragons are gone."

"What's that smell?" Hot Pie asked and they sniffed the air.

"Death." Alyssa and Arya replied together and Ned was shaken how they seemed so calm about this now. Alyssa and Arya continued to walk with the prisoners along with Ned as the Lannister guards grabbed Gendry and Hot Pie away.

oOoOo

Ned POV

They were chained, held with the other prisoners. Ned sat on a fence, holding Alyssa and Arya's hand, he was breathing deeply. Never before has he felt so utterly helpless in this situation. After he took the position as Lord of Winterfell, he had promised to keep his family safe foreover. Yet, he felled. He noticed that none of the prisoners cringed or flinched at the screams of the tortured prisoners. He noticed a woman with white hair standing before him. White hair, not like the Targaryen white, more like old white. The woman had few wrinkles and watched upset seeing a man being tortured and killed through Lannister's brutal methods. He wondered, how could he serve the realm now, watching innocent people die. Not even the Targaryens were this brutal, compared to burning to death and the Lannister guards torture methods, the Targaryens seemed more gentle.

"He's dead." The woman said calmly. "He was my son."

Ned looked down and was about to give his condolences but the woman continued, "My sister was three days ago. My husband the day before then."

"They take someone everyday?" Gendry asked, though trying to brave, his voice was laced with fear.

"Does anyone live?" Alyssa asked and the woman did not answer, giving them their answer. Alyssa looked down and took Arya's hand. Hot Pie was shivering, fearing that it will happen to him next. Ned quickly took his daughters and hugged them, wanting to spend the last few moments with his daughters in his arms. The same thing happened the next day and the day after, they slept in mud with Ned cuddling his daughters. They were waken up with the yells of Lannister guards who were beating them with sticks, they were penned up like animals. Is that what the people felt when Riverlands were raped? Ned thought silently.

"That's him." Hot Pie said nervously. "The man with the armour. The man with pikes."

They looked up to see a huge man, Alyssa remembered how Arya told her that Hot Pie claimed to see a Battle before, because two men were fighting.

"The Mountain." Arya said trembling, trying to keep her fear in. Ned quickly held onto his daughters, he will not allow the fate of Elia Martell happen to his own children. They all turned back, not wanting to be picked, except for Hot Pie.

"Turn around." Ned whispered.

"You stare him, and you don't get picked." Hot Pie muttered. To Ned's surprise, this happened and the Mountain glared at Hot Pie and then move towards another prisoner and said, "You."

The Lannister guards grabbed the prisoner which was a man in rags, he screamt, Ned wanted to defend him, but he couldn't do anything with chains on. Especially when the Mountain pushed Arya aside.

"No! Please no!" The man pleaded as the guards tied him to the chair with his neck tied. He was forced to sit. They begin to question him about the Brotherhood and the man said he doesn't know. Suddenly, a guard placed rats into a bucket and the man screamt, "Please NO!"

Ned watched helplessly as they stuffed the bucket into the man's stomach, with the bucket burning. Allowing the rats to eat his skin. Alyssa and Arya turned around, closing their eyes with hints of tears in them. Ned winced and heard his screams, and the next day, the man had died with his head on the pikes.

oOoOo

Day after day, prisoners were tortuered. Alyssa was trembling, it was very humiliating when she had her moon's blood, with blood flowing from her maidenhood. Then, the next day, the Mountain walked towards her, her father held her arm and the Mountain pointed at her and said, "You."

"No! No please-" Ned began, pleading for Alyssa but the Mountain smacked her father.

"Father!" Alyssa gasped as Gendry and Arya helped Ned up. "Let go of me!" Alyssa yelled trying to kick the Mountain, but the Mountain's firm grip was on her.

"Take me, take me instead, please, spare my daughter-" Ned began but the Lannister guards only laughed at him. Arya's angry eyes looked into the Mountain and Gendry and Hot Pie were looking fearful. Alyssa was tied to the chair, with her neck. She was shaking and her father and Arya were held by Lannister guards, they were forced to watch her. Ned and Arya's faces were stained with tears.

"Is there gold or silver in the village?" The Tickler asked.

"I'm not from the village." Alyssa said trying to be brave.

"Where is the Brotherhood?" The Tickler asked finally sitting down.

"The what?" Alyssa asked but judging by her father's expression, he knew about the Brotherhood. The Tickler sneered and Alyssa feared that the Tickler would begin to rape her. Her father and Arya looked fearful and they began to struggle, along with Gendry and Hot Pie. Alyssa eyes widened and tears flowed from her eyes as the man began to put the rats into the bucket.

"NO!" Ned yelled struggling but the Lannister guards kept a firm hold onto him. Alyssa willed herself to open her eyes, to see her father and sister one last time, as the man forced to place the bucket onto her stomach. However, suddenly a group of men marched into Harrenhal and the man stopped. Ned sighed in relief, never has he has ever been happy to see Tywin Lannister.

"We weren't expecting you until tomorrow, my lord." The Mountain said in a deep voice.

"Evidently, not." Tywin spat. He turned to the prisoners and removed his gloves and said, "Why are these prisoners not in their cells?"

Ned sighed in relief, better spending time in cells then be tortured. The Lannister guards let go of him and Arya and they fell into the mud.

"Cells are overflowing, my lord." The Mountain said.

"These ones won't be here for long, don't need no permanent place." Polliver said and Tywin looked at Alyssa who was tied. "We hardly interrogate them, we usually just-" Polliver said pointing at the ropes hanging from the wall. Tywin's eyes focused on Arya.

"We can afford to discard able young bodies in skilled laborers?" Tywin asked Polliver. Polliver looked down ashamed. Ned watched fearfully as Tywin moved closer to Alyssa and Tywin asked, "You! Girl! Do you have skills?"

"My niece can cook well." Ned suggested. Tywin turned back to Ned who immediately hid his face, Tywin then asked, "Have I met you?"

"I served as a cook in King's Landing, my lord." Ned said solemnly. Tywin made a gesture of having Alyssa freed who immediately pushed into Ned, Ned hugged Alyssa tightly and Arya grabbed her hand and squeezing it, but her eyes focused on Needle.

"What are you looking at boy?" Polliver demanded. He swung his sword and Arya fell back onto Ned's lap. "Kneel! Kneel boy!"

"Stop!" Tywin said and turned to Alyssa. "Your sister? I could see the resemblance."

"Yes, my lord." Alyssa said.

"This one is a girl you idiot." Tywin remarked. "Dressed as a boy, may I ask why?"

"Safer to travel my lord." Arya said nervously.

"Smart!" Tywin praised. "Bring these people into their jobs, and as for these three, the two girls would be my cupbearers. And their uncle could serve food for the soilders."

Ned sighed in relief, at least his daughters won't have to do manual labor, serving food would seem easy compared to other labor, some were forced to make reparations, others like Gendry were much fortunate who took pleasure as a smith.

I know in the books, Arya worked for Roose Bolton. However, the entire point of this part of the story was that Ned did not get notice. Now, Ned and Tywin probably haven't seen each other since Greyjoy Rebellion, which was seven before the series began.