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

Chapter XXXII - Brotherhood without Banners

Riverlands

In the Riverlands, news travelled very fast across villages. It even reached the news of Alyssa, Ned, Arya, Gendry and Hot Pie. They've heard how Robb Stark had married a woman called Jeyne Westerling. Though Alyssa and Arya were pleased, especially since they are not going to be related to the old lecher Walder Frey, whom they heard from their father, their father seemed a bit grim.

"Walder Frey is a prickly man. Though you should never make him angry." That was what her father said. This made Alyssa worried for Robb, especially a few days ago, when they were hiding in the forest, they saw the Frey men marching away. Worse of all, even the news of the North was made aware to them. Bran and Rickon, both just little boys, were dead. Killed by Theon Greyjoy who was said to burn them. The news made Alyssa scream and cry and even their quiet father had raged. As for Arya, Theon Greyjoy had just added his own name into her list of people she wanted to kill.

Alyssa heard how Winterfell was sacked by the Iron Borns. Bran and Rickon are dead, and possibly Hodor, Maester Luwin, Ser Rodrik and Old Nan. All the people she knew when she was small, the people she grew up with were dead. Their father promised that justice would be served, and that the Greyjoys and Lannisters will get what they deserve one day, however Alyssa didn't care of justice, she wanted vengeance, an eye for an eye.

Currently, they were following their father at the forest. They have decided to go to Riverrun, where Alyssa's grandfather Hoster is a Lord there. Alyssa has never met her grandfather before, but her father assures them that Hoster Tully would welcome them. And Robb is possibly there too, after all Riverrun was a strong castle, even though it was still attacked by the Kingslayer and his men. They would have to reach the Red Fork first.

"So I'm just trying to understand..." Gendry began as they walked through the forest.

"Will you please shut up about it." Alyssa said annoyed. For the past few days, Gendry has been questioning about Arya and Jaqen H'ghar. They all had different views about him. Arya worships him, Ned felt like they owe a debt to him, Hot Pie only cares that they escape and so does Alyssa.

"Jaqen H'ghar offered you three kills." Gendry said swinging his sword. After all, Ned has been teaching them how to use one.

"I'm not listening." Arya said.

"But just explain to me, he offered to kill any three people you wanted, dead. All you have to do was to give him the names." Gendry said.

"You want him to kill Joffrey, Tywin Lannister?" Ned asked raising his eye brows.

"It will stop the war." Gendry suggested.

"Killing Joffrey does nothing, I was betrothed to him and he is a coward. Cersei rules through him." Alyssa said as they chuckled.

"Or Tywin Lannister." Ned said grimly. "Jaqen H'ghar got us out of Harrenhal, we shouldn't complain."

"But you could've ended the war-"

"Will you shut up!" Arya yelled.

"Arya, we do not say shut up." Ned said.

"Alyssa did-"

"Because I'm older." Alyssa said and Ned hid a smile seeing how his daughters, even in the worse circumstances, still argue like sisters.

"Where are we going?" Arya asked annoyed.

"North." Hot Pie replied.

"If we were going North, we would've come to the Red Fork River by now." Alyssa said looking at her father.

"Maybe we passed it." Hot Pie suggested.

"It's huge, we can't pass it." Ned said. "The Riverlands is a huge place, girls. Maybe by horse, we could reach to Riverrun in a few days, but we are walking on foot."

"We should've stolen some horses." Arya said.

"We do not steal." Ned said. Their father still had some morals despite the circumstances. "If we do, we could loose a hand if anyone finds out."

"Or maybe they will send us to the Night's Watch instead." Arya suggested. "And we could send Jon instead."

"Yes, but you both are girls." Ned reminded.

As they walked, suddenly they stopped, hearing whistling. Ned ushered them behind a stone wall to tell them to hide. He could hear someone whistling the Rain of Castemere. Must be Lannister men, Ned thought. After all, the Rain of Castemere usually sings about the Lannister victory. Alyssa watched from one of the holes of the stone wall. As the singing gone louder and louder, Ned could've sworn he thought this singing seemed familiar.

Suddenly, an arrow shot through the holes of the stone wall and they all gasped. They quickly hid further behind the wall and heard a voice said, "What's lurking behind that wall? A lion or a wolf?"

"Just a dirty little cover thing." Another voice sneered.

"Loose a few more shots." The voice said and it immediately clicked into Ned's mind. It was Thoros of Myr, a friend. Ned came out raising his arms and the Brotherhood's jaws dropped.

"Lord Stark..." Thoros the Myr said surprised. "We...we thought you were dead."

"I survived." Ned said smiling seeing Harwin who was slack jawed. "Harwin."

"Lord Stark..." Harwin said also surprised. Sooner, Alyssa, Arya, Gendry and Hot Pie came out.

"This is my eldest daughter Alyssa, my youngest Arya, then these are their friends, Gendry the smith, and Hot Pie." Ned introduced them.

"Who are they father?" Arya asked watching them warily.

"They're the Brotherhood without Banners." Ned said.

"The Brotherhood..." Alyssa whispered and Ned winced remembering how Alyssa was tortured for information about the Brotherhood.

"Carrying castle forged swords." Thoros noted seeing the swords in their hands. "Did you escape from Harrenhal?"

"Aye." Ned said. "And it's all thanks to my daughter."

"Let's have a drink, shall we?" Anguy the Archer said. "Lord Stark is still alive."

"No one must know except for us." Ned said. "The Lannisters have my daughter..."

"All right then." Thoros said. "But let's have a drink."

oOoOo

Inn

The Brotherhood without Banners paid for their foods in the inn. Alyssa ate the bread and drank the drinks they gave them. She was so hungry that she did more listening then talking. The Brotherhoods listened closely as their father detailed how they escape. Though, Alyssa noticed how her father left out some of the details. One which it was Varys who freed him, not Yoren who sneeked into the dungeons to get the criminals of the Night's Watch. Another thing was about Jaqen H'ghar. It seems that the less people know how they escaped, the better. At first, Alyssa was worried that people might overhear them, however many were much more concerned of having their own fun time.

"So how did you escape from Harrenhal?" Thoros asked. "Last time I heard Lord Stark, you had a cane and you walk with a limp. The other children-"

"We're not children." Alyssa said, her mouth full of food, not caring about Septa Mordane and her mother's teachings.

"Alright then." Thoros said. "Four young people untrained in warfare, escape from Harrenhal."

"Gendry is a smith." Arya said munching on the bread. "He was an apprentice in the army."

"A smith?" Thoros asked sarcastically. "Where did you train?"

"At King's Landing." Gendry said. "I served Tobho Mott."

"That criminal." Thoros said and Ned gave out a small laugh. "He charges twice as much as every armour in the city."

"That's because his twice as good." Gendry said proudly, despite Tobho Mott wasn't really nice to him and also the fact that he sent him to the Night's Watch.

"Ah Hah!" Thoros said amused. "A smith and a salesman."

"Gendry still has weapons." Alyssa said.

"Forged in Harrenhal?" Thoros asked.

"He knows how to use a sword and so do I." Arya said and all the men laughed, Alyssa giggled and even Ned let out a small grin. "My brothers taught me." Arya added, earning more laughter. Annoyed, Arya immediately drew out her sword and Ned said shocked, "Arya! Put the sword away." Arya ignored her father and Alyssa gasped as Thoros removed his own sword and knocked Arya's out, earning cheers as Arya moved back.

Arya glared at Thoros who did a dramatic swing and said, "To your brothers."

They all cheered and Alyssa laughed as Arya's angry expression and Ned patted Arya's head.

"Eat your meals." Ned said. "We would go to Robb soon."

"They'll help us?" Alyssa asked looking at Thoros.

"Of course." Thoros said looking at Ned who nodded. "For gold."

"You'll have gold." Ned assured. Though the Brotherhood without Banners protects smallfolks, they weren't wealthy.

"But before you all go, allow me to raise a cup to-" Thoros began, but was interrupted by a cheer. Anguy the Archer along with several other groups of Brotherhood without Banners brought in a huge man, who's face was covered with a bag. They came in with a cheer.

"That is an uncommonly large person." Ned noted.

"How did someone managed to subdue that?" Thoros asked walking drunkly. The man under the bag growled and tried to move but he was held on tight.

"We waited him to drink until he passes out." Anguy said proudly.

"Poor man." Thoros said. "You have my sympathy." He removed the man's bag, revealing a man with a scarred face from flames. Ned immediately turned back, facing his daughters to another direction, they all realized it was the Hound.

"Ah ha! Not a man at all." Thoros said and then yelled, "A HOUND!"

The people in the inn cheered and Thoros turned back with a deep voice and said, "So good to see you again Clegane."

"Thoros." The Hound hissed. "The fuck you're doing here."

"Drinking and talking, same as everyone." Thoros said and some in the inn laughed. Ned took Alyssa and Arya's hands as they walked away, avoiding the Hound.

"Pretty prize lads." Thoros said. Alyssa, Arya and Ned managed to walk away successfuly, until the Hound looked at them and sneered, "You three!"

They all paused and the Hound turned to Thoros and sneered, "What in seven hells are you doing with Lord Stark and his bitch daughters."

The inn became quiet and all eyes turned to Ned, Alyssa and Arya. Many were shocked to see Ned alive, and they all knelt and said, "Lord Stark..."

So...Ned is revealed to be alive to some people.