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Chapter XXXXVI - Incident at the Tavern

Riverlands

Alyssa, Ned, Arya and the Hound rode across the Riverlands. They pass by overturned carts and dead bodies, including those of children. Alyssa grimaced seeing this, seriously, how could people be so cruel.

"When could we get a horse of our own?" Alyssa asked, referring to her and Arya. She was sick of riding with either the Hound or with her father. She felt like she had no freedom.

"The little ladies wants a pony?" The Hound asked gruffly.

"The little lady wants to be away from your stench." Arya spat.

"Arya!" Ned rebuked harshly.

"Horses aren't easy to come by, this isn't Winterfell where your stables would be fill with them. Even if they were, do you think I will put you on your own horse?" The Hound demanded.

"Why don't you have any money?" Ned asked. "Don't you steal like your brother?"

"Don't compare me towards my brother Stark." The Hound spat. "And I didn't steal, I'm not a thief. Now all of you shut up, before I start killing one of you, last time I checked, I will only need one of the Starks to be alive, so Lysa Arryn will give me my gold."

"Lysa?" Ned asked in surprised.

"As in Aunt Lysa, mother's sister?" Alyssa asked bewildered.

"Yes. The rich Lady of the Eyrie." The Hound said.

"I don't think Lysa would want us." Ned said. "She didn't help Robb during the war."

After all, they heard nothing of the Vale helping Robb. Alyssa knew her father grew up in the Vale, fostered with Robert Baratheon at the Eyrie and made many friends. So far in the Seven Kingdoms, only the Vale, Reach and Dorne are untouched by wars. Though the Reach is helping the Lannisters, their lands hardly suffered any war. As for Dorne, Princess Myrcella, not just Myrcella Waters since she is a bastard, Myrcella Waters is betrothed to Prince Trystane Martell, the youngest son of Prince Doran. However, Dorne did not send their men to help the Lannisters.

"Will we go back to Winterfell?" Arya asked timidly. "To get it back from the Lannisters?"

"Boltons." Ned corrected. "And yes, the North remembers."

"Don't get your hopes up." The Hound muttered. They spotted a tavern and could smell the food. They hid behind a bush and saw two men walking out of the inn. Arya recognized one of them and said, "I know him. The small one. His name is Polliver."

"He took Needle right?" Alyssa asked. "And he killed Lommy."

"What the fuck is a Lommy?" The Hound asked, and Ned did not bother to tell the Hound to mind his language in front of his daughters, it seems that his daughters already accepts it.

"He was Alyssa and Arya's friend." Ned said remembering how Polliver killed Lommy through his chin. Both Polliver and a huge man were pissing in the forest.

"Look, Needle." Alyssa said. Arya's eyes narrowed, it was the last gift she had from Jon. Immediately, Arya began to run, and they followed her.

"Arya, wait." Ned began.

"He has my sword, I need to get it back." Arya said. The Hound ran in a fast speed and grabbed Arya by her neck.

"Let go of my daughter." Ned yelled.

"I don't care if he ate your friend, we are not going back there." The Hound spat but the door to the tavern opened, and they had no choice but to go there. Their eyes widened in horror seeing a family, no doubt waiting to be killed, while their daughter would be raped. They walked slowly behind and sat at the very back, with Ned thinking of how to save the family. The Hound took out some coins.

"Please, she's a good girl." The inn keeper begged.

"Shut your mouth and pour us some ale. We may take it with us when we're done with her." Polliver said.

"Father." Alyssa said taking Ned's hand and Ned held it dearly. "We have to save them."

"Your father failed in saving your brother and mother, do you think he could save them?" The Hound asked amused. It took all of their willpower to not stab the Hound for what he just said. Polliver looked into their direction and said, "I know you."

Arya's eyes widened and so did Ned and Alyssa's. They looked at each other worriedly, and the Hound didn't seem to care. Ned grabbed a sword but Polliver stood up and said, "You're the Hound."

The Starks sighed in relief and the Polliver moved to sit next to them. Polliver asked, "What brings you here?"

"Could ask the same of you. What are you doing here?" The Hound asked gruffly.

"Just keeping the King's peace." Polliver said.

"This is peace?" Ned demanded.

"Shut up." The Hound said to Ned.

"So, I heard, Stannis was defeated at the Battle of Blackwater, Robb Stark killed at the Twins. And where am I for it? Stuck with your brother." Polliver commented. The Hound stopped and Polliver quickly added, "Meaning no offence."

"None taken." The Hound sneered.

"He's good." Polliver commented. "The Mountain, best at what he does. But torture. Torture. Torture."

Alyssa glared at Polliver, remembering how she was tortured in Harrenhal. Polliver continued to talk, going as far to consider Alyssa and Arya as the Hound's whores. Ned kept his hands clenched at the bottle of ale.

"You should come and join us." Polliver said. He gestured at the back and said, "This kind always got something hidden away somewhere. Gold, silver, more daughters, all something that could make them talk. And there's plenty between here and King's Landing. Do well for yourself."

The Hound glared at Polliver in amusement and said, "I'm not going to King's Landing."

"Think about it." Polliver suggested. "We could do whatever we like, wherever we go." He gestured to his armour and said, "These are the King's armour. No one is staying anyway now. Which means no one is staying in our's."

The Hound leant closer and sneered, "Fuck the King."

Alyssa let out a small laugh, Arya smirked and even Ned let out a cough. Polliver's smiled faltered. The Hound continued drinking and Polliver said, "When I heard Joffrey's dog ran from the Battle of Blackwater. I didn't believe it, but here you are-"

"And here I am." The Hound said. "Bring me one of those chickens."

"What?" Alyssa asked offended.

"Not talking about the girls." The Hound whispered, but Polliver didn't hear him.

"You got money to pay for it?" Polliver asked.

"You pay for it." The Hound sneered.

"Huh?" Polliver asked amused. "No. But we are the King's men. So, you got money?"

"Not a penny, but I'll still take that chicken." Th Hound smirked.

"Tell yah." Polliver said. "We'll trade you, one of our chickens and one of your's. I'll take the older one."

Polliver looked at Alyssa, and Ned let out a yell and drew out his sword, Polliver too. Ned started to attack Polliver, and the Hound after drinking the ale, also drew out his sword. There was a battle among the Lannister guards and Ned and the Hound. One of the guards came closer to them, Alyssa quickly smashed a tray onto him, as Arya grabbed his fallen sword and stabbed the Lannister guard.

"There." Alyssa said pointing at a walking away Polliver. Arya immediately used her sword to stab Polliver's leg. Polliver let out a scream and Arya grabbed Needle and pointed it towards Polliver's throat.

"Something wrong with your leg?" Alyssa asked amused at Polliver.

"What-what do you mean?" Polliver asked confused.

Arya pointed Needle towards her mouth and said, "Fine little blade, maybe I should pick my teeth with it."

Polliver grew pale and before he could say another world, Arya pointed the sword towards his throat and stabbed him. They watched as the blood gush out from Polliver's mouth. A few minutes later, the inn keeper who was thankful of saving his family, gave them two extra horses along with a chicken for the Hound. Alyssa rode on her horse, Arya too with Needle on her belt. The Hound eating his chicken and Ned who was riding after the Hound.