Hi everyone! Voilà the new chapter! This time girls will be the main focus!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything apart from the plot, original characters and new ideas and notions introduced to the general universe. Every right goes to the great GRRM for his genius, and HBO for their great adaptation.
Being blind made her learn a great many things she would not have guessed even existed beforehand. Arya now knew to see without sight. Observe only with sounds, air and touch. Judge without the lying appearances. Those were deadly indeed.
Sometimes, the lines on a man's face, or the crease on a woman's lips spelled to everyone willing to look the hardships they endured during the course of their lives. The dark spots acquired from work under the unforgiving sun, the frail feeling of bony hands lacking meat grasping for strength they did not have, the slouch bending a peasant's back even as he walked through the market… all those were supremely telling. She knew that from her wanderings in Winterfell, visiting bakers, smiths and simple land workers, when the nickname 'Arya Underfoot' had been gifted to her. She knew it from her first jobs with the Faceless Men too.
However, without sight, how does a girl read those signs ? "A girl will learn." Jaqen had only told her.
A girl listens to the movements of body, the sounds of rustling in the clothing (soft for the richer silks and more rugged for the harsher inexpensive wool or linen), the various intonations in a man's voice transposing their emotions even when the said words mask them: anger, fear, disgust, greed, lust. As she went blind longer and longer, her ears told her much more easily where a lie dwells. What seemed like the harshest punishment now invoked gratitude and satisfaction in Arya.
Because now Arya knew how to become a girl without a name. She did not know the intended purpose of making her sightless, she guessed it was to make her learn humility and obedience, to rely solely on their wisdom and orders, instead she learned skill and defiance. Her name, that they wanted to make her forget, she will never let go. But she will hide it masterfully. Controlling one's voice, body and voice became a daily exercise she, as time passed, excelled in. It became gradually second nature to the wild girl she had been. She was grateful for the elongated blindness because it made her more mature, less hasty, stronger.
However, that strength shattered and rebuilt itself each and every time that she shared a wolf dream with Nymeria's eyes. It broke her heart and mended it at the same moment. She saw her direwolf leading a pack, fasting on various preys: sheep, dogs, deers and sometimes men. The smaller gray brothers were afraid to eat the human flesh, but Nymeria was not. A prey was meat. She ate those that were harming to their presence, or threatened her packs, the one she conquered and ruled, and the one she was born with, that will always hold a link to her.
The thoughts of pack reminded Arya of her missing family, their uncertain status. Of the moment she heard Nymeria howling incessantly when Lady was butchered, and when she felt through her direwolf the link connecting her with Grey Wind and its human mate die forever. Arya had not needed the written confirmation or whispers on the roads to know that Robb, the Young Wolf, King in the North, had been murdered, betrayed, she had felt it deep in her guts.
Her dreams of Nymeria showed her the path her direwolf and the wolf pack took. Through their link she knew that even though the coming winter diminished the amount of prey they found, the female direwolf had to go away from the watery lands that still was bustling with resources. Even if she had to abandon the small gray cousins on the road to reach her goal.
In one of those dreams, she had now every time she went to sleep, or even meditated deeply, she saw through the wolf's eyes that they were headed towards large mountains leaving sometimes space for green valleys. Arya recognized it immediately as the Mountains of the Moon and the Vale. Why was Nymeria going to the east towards the Eyrie? It didn't make sense. She should head north if she was leaving the Riverlands.
The answer came to her days after that particular dream. Nymeria was hidden behind tall trees and advancing slowly towards someone.
Her hair was darker than she remembered even under the dark light of dusk, her height even greater (she would not be surprised to learn she was sometimes taller than men), her figure as graceful and softly enticing as always, and her beauty still remained unparalleled. However the hurried and silent steps of her walk, the look of urgency mixed with what she recognized now as cold acceptance shook her profoundly. She looked worried, nervous, afraid and seemed to be running from someone. And still, she remained as proud and determined as a true wolf.
Sansa was alive! She had changed, grown up, but Arya felt pride and relief surge through her.
She woke up abruptly in the cold room she had been assigned to sleep in and wept for her sister.
The sister she had despised as a child. The sister that made her feel uncomfortable. But also the sister she missed dearly and never loved more than at that instant.
'Nymeria, keep her safe, please.' She willed her wild companion to hear her plea, even if an entire sea separated them.
It gave her purpose to be the best liar she could be. She had to learn everything she could, because soon, her pack she will rejoin. She had to survive and win the game of faceless lies.
A convocation was mentally sent to her mind. She had to meet the Supervisor again. As she prepared herself, clothing her body with the tender woolen robes, adorning her neck and hands of jewels, she mused about the convocation and the subject th at will be discussed.
Living in Asshaï confronted her with many things people thought impossible or only myths. One did not need to send written messages if one knew the higher teachings of the shadows. Rhaenys still was not accustomed to that particular form of communication. She had only learned how to do it a few moons before Rhaegal's arrival. However, the feeling of a dark cloud invading the brain to show the meaning behind the message was not comfortable. And she guessed it never would be. She was not from the Shadows, she only learned them, thus they would always feel estranged from her. She would always feel violated by the intrusion. Also, she feared for what they could maybe do to her mind if they could reach it as easily as they already do.
She touched her dragon's mind through the shared connection, as she was going out on the dark streets leading to the center of the city. The vision of dark stone and a grim sky was what she met. Rhaegal slept on the Great Tower he landed on the first time he came for her. It was an indisputable condition for allowing him and Rhaenys to stay in Asshaï under peaceful terms, and she had to agree for she knew she had one more thing to acquire before their departure.
"Go hunt and scout the horizons Rhaegal. You know how to feel for Drogon and Daenerys's presence. It should not be long before their arrival. Please feed well, I sense tedious times soon, and it would be better to prepare ourselves for any eventuality."
She felt the dragon's agreement and saw him, a few moments later, flying over towards the sea. Awe still reached for her every time she looked at her dragon. In the time he spent at her side those few past weeks, he had become even more ferocious and grand. Even more majestic and ravenous. She was aware it was their bond that reinforced him, but she was still in the harder time of accepting that something of that scale has happened to her. Even if she had a preview long before. She could only guess the befuddlement Jon most certainly felt…
As she arrived before the great stony doors that opened by their own selves and quickly reached for the room she had been summoned to, she feared the purpose of the convocation. She could not determine the exact reason as to why she had such a bad feeling about it, but it did not presage anything good in her opinion.
The room her sight was met with was still as dark as it had been the last time she was in. Shadows inhabited every single part of the space, the rich ornaments made of bronze, gold, and every possible precious stone seemed muted and cheap, with a menacing aura, from the lack of light reflecting on them. The seat where the Supervisor – in Asshaï tongue Mushlardefhaï- sat quietly was encroached in darkness.
She could not see his face, nor his body. Nobody, except a very restrained council of elders that denied it when asked, knew who exactly the Supervisor was. His purpose was to mold the different aspects of Asshaï together, so it would not be touched by the pettiness and greed of human nature. Without him, the different cults present in the city would wage incessant war on each other, the tensions already existing would be at their higher points and the magic and sorcery living in the dark walls of the Shadowlands capital would clash and destroy everything. The buildings, the people and the knowledge.
At least, that was the offered explanation when she had asked the question in the first year of her arrival. Having lessons in politics since her early years and living in the city since then taught her to never trust anyone nor any information easily given. The city of Shadows relished in its mysteries and darkness. The agenda of the higher positions, even in the Old and most noble Asshaï, was never known to the lower steps on the food chain.
"Is the Valyrian Queen soon to come?" his rumbling voice and the harsh language her throat was still uncomfortable with, interrupted her musings. She was confused and slightly anxious about the name he designated her aunt with. She knew of the contempt the shadowmen felt about the dragonlords and the Freehold of Valyria, she experienced it firsthand every time someone gazed at the pale hair and deep amethyst eyes that marked her as a Targaryen. Even centuries after the Doom, in this part of the world the people did not forget the resentment they felt at the Valyrian's power and magic, so why would he call her thus? What is the motive behind it?
"The Queen of Meereen is soon to arrive, indeed." She didn't offer anything more, nor ask any question, her instinct told her to remain guarded, and she trusted it implicitly.
Humming could be heard from the dark place she guessed he was in. If it was indeed a man, no one knew, and the outer worldly voice did not help to conclude anything. Sorcery had a great many uses it seemed.
"As she arrives, I wish to meet her and the other dragons. Arrange it for me, little child of the West."
Alarms sounded in her. A deep rooted, and instinctual, need to flee or flight. She did not now what he meant to do with them, Daenerys, her and their dragons, but she felt deep in her bones that none will be good. Furthermore, he counted on all three of the dragons to be present, it had to signify he needed them all. Nonetheless, she schooled her features and nothing of her inner agitation showed through the carefully constructed mask of pleasantness and obedience she painted on her face.
"Of course, I will do my best. Is that all that was needed, Lord Supervisor?"
"I also have to share with you a development that concerns you. Your lessons and access to the Source will be restricted once the Valyrian Queen lands. We do not accept her in it and don't want her to use you. You understand? It is for the safety of the Source and yourself."
"I respect and understand your decision, the Source has to be protected. Although, can I finish the tome I began on the day before now, it is the most interesting thing about the power of the Faith in the Kingdoms of Westeros during the early years of the unification? It is something about my birth land that catches greatly my interest."
"Of course you can, it will be a great finish on the path you took years ago. You may leave if nothing of concern you have to share."
"Thank you, Lord Supervisor, I bid you farewell, may the Shadows bring fortune."
The book she had told him about had been one she had finished months ago, but it was the first thing that came to her mind at the instant and it could serve well if there were spies following her. She had to get away from Asshaï as soon as possible, they were all in danger.
She went as quickly as possible, without seeming rushed and concerned, only excited, towards the great Library, a part of The Source of Knowledge (the largest section certainly but not the most unattainable). Once there, she moved swiftly towards the aisle where books on religions and their historical impact were stored, because she felt under scrutiny. Maybe she imagined it, but it would not do to act without caution in such a sensible matter.
On the way, she greeted the usual faces she recognized, even those that were completely masked, and behaved in her usual way as much as possible. She did not look fazed at all with her previous meeting.
The book "Faith and power" she had mentioned to the Supervisor in hand, she steered down that same aisle and reached a small cranny in the dark and cold stone where a bench and table, adorned with small candles for the reading, were carved and sat down.
To anyone observing her, she would seem peaceful and only reading a book of great size, as per usual for her. She opened it to one third of the mass, as if she had scrolled previously through it already, and read silently and studiously. At least it looked like she did.
Her left hand, that would usually rest on the folds of her layered dresses between her crossed legs, patted guardedly under the carved table until it found a small protrusion she pushed on as strongly as possible. She had been a little uncertain in the beginning, but she trusted her gift, and two days after she bonded with Rhaegal, she had dreamed of herself doing so and finding a book essential for the future. If not taken with her, she saw that their ultimate fight will be a loss without the ancient tome. She did not know why it was needed nor how it happened to be waiting for her at that exact place. Soon, she will learn.
Slowly, she extracted what felt like centuries old parchment under a binding of smooth engraved leather and carefully she hid it underneath the first layer of her robes.
After a little more than an hour, she began miming fatigue and sighs. Twenty minutes later it seemed like she was slowly falling asleep on the table. A few moments later she acted like she woke up suddenly from a quick dream, and decided to finally relent from reading. She stood up, grabbed the huge book and after a dozen steps replaced it in its place on the library shelf. She verified her pouch of coins was still on her bronze belt (in the event a thief passed through rows of books to rob sleeping damsels) and slowly, sleepily, trudged down the path she had taken a few hours before. She bid goodbye with a nod to the keeper, as stony as ever, and gently pushed through the door leading to the crowded street. Years of acting as a sweet and gentle lady, frail and manipulable, made of her a phenomenal liar.
She feared that an alarm would ring at her departure, as it had happened sometimes when the magic of the ancient building detected a book being stolen, but, thankfully, nothing happened.
As she walked unhurriedly towards her house, a vision through Rhaegal's eyes pushed itself in her mind. She saw in the distance, above the bustling forests of Yi Ti and not far from the shoreline of the Jade Sea, a black dragon mounted by a woman with fair hair.
She did not have much time, she feared. Her cadence was taken up a notch but she still had to seem like she was just impatient to arrive home and lie down so it was not an outright run.
Finally, she reached her house and closed swiftly the door behind her. She was grateful, once again, of the advice the now deceased lady that welcomed her in the beginning gave her when she searched for a residence, "take an ancient house, it is protected from sorcery and harder to break in". She could pack the few things she needed imperatively in the dark without fear of being observed in her house. Dragon sight helped her greatly in that moment to see clearly in the all encompassing darkness.
Hurriedly, she grabbed leather satchels she knew would resist dragon flight, put a few clothes, the jewels she inherited from both her families, the little toy harp that was a gift from her father Rhaegar, the documents that proved her identity, the book in her robes, and a few things she needed to practice the magic she could never hope to find outside of Asshaï.
She changed her clothing too, the soft dress that had adorned her body for the entire day had been exchanged for lather breaches, high sturdy boots, a thick tunic and leather vest that was closed tightly around her waist. Around her middle she buckled her thick leather and bronze belt that hid small sharp scales she could throw, and she added on it a few knives and daggers she would need.
She pulled her pale hair in a bun and secured it with a headband to be free of pieces flying in her face while riding Rhaegal.
The leather bags in hands, she went to the kitchen where she packed another one full of food and a skin of water. After, she went up the stairs and, once she reached the end of it, she pulled open a trapdoor that led to the roof.
The moment she stepped on the stony roof, she felt shadows watching her and quickly approaching. She was grateful to Rhaegal swiping in just before they could reach her. She had called him minutes before through their link and expressed the urgency of the situation.
Carefully she climbed up on the nape of his neck and urged him to fly even faster. They had to get as far away of Asshaï as possible before meeting Daenerys and the black dragon.
Looking down she saw archers aiming up for them and sorcerers conjuring shadows to hunt them through the airs. She knew that dragonfire could destroy them and asked Rhaegal to torch them all in flames. She did not care if some could be innocent, she would not let harm happen to her bonded companion. She did not care if maybe she had known some of them, because if they captured them, and if they did so to Daenerys too, they would all be doomed.
The smell of jarred flesh and smoke invaded her nostrils and she gagged slowly, she was not accustomed to death, not when she was the one to carry it out.
She felt relief swoop through her once they reached the sea and passed the immediate area of the harbor. She sent the image he showed her what seemed like hours before, to Rhaegal's mind and asked him to lead them to his brother and Daenerys.
Underneath her, she felt him move his wings even harder and faster in response to the rushed tone she had. Affection led her to pet him and kiss softly the top of his scaly head during long minutes where she allowed herself a few tears. She did not care, but it was still the first time someone died directly because of her and a small measure of guilt still pinched her chest. The embracing of her dragon was a result of mixed gratitude and need of comfort.
After a long while of endless water and sky, she saw in the horizon not far from the isle of Leng, a dark dragon sweeping through the airs.
"Rhaegal, can you communicate with your brother?"
Through their connection she felt him hesitate, as if unsure of the answer, and slowly acquiesce.
"Then, please, make him understand to land in the forest, away from people where we can talk without worry."
She observed him and the black dragon silently, and after a few moments of a feeling of frustration being sent to her mind she saw his birth brother spitting flames and slowly head towards the rich forests of the eastern island.
Rhaenys and Rhaegal were further away than Daenerys of the woods, thus reaching it later too. But, once they did, they landed a few meters from the black dragon and the silver haired woman that mounted him.
She saw Daenerys wearing a mixture of emotions on her face: relief at Rhaegal's well being, surprise to see him there and anger at the figure of the woman mounting him as if it was her right.
Rhaenys approached silently the slightly taller woman and stopped a short distance form her.
"Hello, Daenerys."
I hope that you all liked it, and thank you for reading!
What did you think of Arya's introduction in the fiction? And the meeting?
As always, if you have any comment, recommendation, criticism, a grammar or spelling error to point out, or would simply like to share your feeling about the newest chapter, please do so by reviewing!
See you soon!
