In which Arya lays her plan out.
*Year 298 After Conquest(AC) - New Past*
Arya has never felt this peace and comfortable in a bed since she learnt about her time travelling. With all the troubles that she has experienced, she finally able to sleep peacefully now.
Although it really doesn't last that long. There are murmurs floating around her in the darkness and she cannot help but feel slightly annoyed and wish they would stop, whatever they are.
Again, her wish is not fulfilled. Instead, the murmurs continue and sounded clearer. She can even make up the words now.
"What if she never wakes up?"
"She will."
"How do you know? How can you be sure?"
A long silence.
"If she dies, will they bury her in the crypt too?"
"Rickon! Don't say that! If you are going to sputter nonsense again, you might as well get out now."
"He didn't mean it like that, Sansa."
Arya decides she cannot bear the commotion any longer. Ever so slowly she wills her mind to attach itself to her body, gaining control of her other limbs. She can feel her eyes flutter a few times before they open fully and found herself staring at Bran who sat at the edge of the bed. His face lightens up almost instantly as he notices the movements.
"Arya!" he shouts, smiling. She can only stare back at her younger brother.
"Bran, go get father." Sansa's voice echoes next. Bran wastes no time and jumps over the bed and runs out of the room. Rickon trailing close behind him.
Sansa stands from the chair she was seated beside the bed only to plop down again at the edge of it, closer to her sister. "Are you feeling alright? Does it hurt or anything?" she asks, a slight furrow on her brows. Her eyes are red and swollen. Arya swallows a lump inside her throat trying to answer, but her dry throat protest and she ends up coughing.
"Here." Sansa gently places a glass of water to Arya's lips, urging the girl to drink.
Arya sips them down and naturally let out a sigh of relief as it cools down her throat soon after. "Thank you." She said softly. "What happened?"
Sansa's frown deepens. "You don't remember?" she asked, waiting for the younger girl to answer. WhenArya doesn't,Sansa continues. "Someone tried to kill you! He stabbed you and I found you passed out outside my room." She finished looking flushed.
Oh right. How can I not have remembered, I fucking stabbed myself.
Now that Arya thought about it, the idea was too risky and stupid. What if Sansa didn't come to her aid? What if there were other Lannister's assassin waiting outside? There were endless possibilities and she just risked her life because of her own stupidity. If she had died, her family would be too and that would put all of them in jeopardy.
"Right... Yes, now I remembered." Arya answered calmly. She finds blue eyes. "I owe you my life, Sansa. If you didn't find me in time, I don't think I would have made it. So, thank you."
Sansa stares back, her features soften every second pass. She tries to smile but it comes out as a grimace instead. "You're welcome… Is it hurting? Your stomach I mean."
Arya looks down to where she had stabbed herself. She lifts her tunic up, revealing a bandaged underneath. "Well, I think I can manage. It's certainly not as bad when I ate old nan's stale apple pudding." She covers back herself while grinning to her older sister. A small smile tugging at the corner of Sansa's mouth in return.
A creak enters their ears, interrupting the sisters' moment. Ned, Catelyn, Robb and Jon come rushing inside in a hurry.
"Gods, Arya. You're awake." Catelyn strides off directly towards the bed, replacing where Sansa just sat moments ago. She throws her arms around her daughter and embraces the girl in a tight hug. Arya hesitantly wraps her arm around her mother. Letting her eyes wander to the people inside the room.
Jon is smiling, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. Her father is no difference, although he looks actually happy for a change. Robb is clenching his jaw and trying to smile at the same time that it comes out as a grimace instead. At times like this, that Arya finds her brother is similar to Sansa in a way. Even their grimace looks about the same. Bran and Rickon are standing the farthest across the room, eyeing everyone silently and by their side is, Nymeria?
What is she doing here?
Bran grins as he noticed Arya's startled face. She is brought out of her trance when Catelyn breaks away from the hug. She cups the younger girl's face with both her hands. "How are you feeling?"
Worry plastered on her mother's face and all Arya feels is guilt. "I'm sorry, for making everyone worried."
For doing what I had to do and lied to you.
"None of this is your fault, my child," Catelyn speaks up firmly. Her hands capturing the smaller ones now. Arya forces a smile at that. "I'm going to prepare some food for you. You must be hungry. You were unconscious for two days."
Grey eyes grew wide at the statement. "I was?" She asked dumbly, earning a nod as an answer.
Not realizing that her body would be this weak only adds on to the list of her stupidity. She didn't think about the consequences of what this kind of wound would do to her younger and weaker body and she ends up overestimating herself.
"I think Sansa here needs food too," Robb speaks up for the first time.
"Yes. Come, we'll get something for you as well." Catelyn answered, standing up and caught Sansa's shoulder.
"But, Arya-" Sansa stops short, reluctant to leave. She locks eyes with the said person. Arya blinks, not knowing how to react with the sudden and obvious care, especially from her sister.
"Your father will look after her, don't worry. Come, child." Catelyn answered then. Sansa eyes however still linger at the person on the bed.
Arya holds her gaze then. "Sansa, I'm alright... Truly." She offered, smiling for good measures.
That seems to do the trick as Sansa finally lets her mother drag her outside the room. Bran and Rickon follow close behind the two women as her mother ushered them out too. As soon as they were out, Arya trails over the three men that were left. She settles on her father last.
"Is Sansa alright? She seems a bit…strange."
Ned walks closer and sits at the edge of the bed with a small smile. He takes her hand into his and caress her cheek with another. "Your sister was left shocked and worried when she found you bleeding outside her room. She never left your side, not until today."
Surprise and guilt wash over the young Stark again. But her father doesn't let her thoughts wander far as he continues again.
"I'm glad you're safe," he said, placing a soft kiss on her temple and lingers. Arya sighs in content as warmth spread her entire body.
He lets go reluctantly to look into her eyes then, searching. "What happened, Arya?"
Her body stiffens as she ready herself for a believable act. She had imagined the possible reactions from her family because of her act and questions they would ask and was prepared for them. Clearing her mind, she put on a mask.
"I killed him." She started, looking pass her father, remembering the night the assassin tried to best her. The feeling of his blood on her hand felt good at that time but she cannot show that. She is supposed to be an innocent young girl who had just experience a traumatic event and to kill her very first man. She tries her best to play that role and continues softly. "I- I didn't mean to. He tried to hurt me and I fought him…but, I killed him." She finished looking down anxiously, fidgeting.
Ned tightens his hold before pulling her into a full embrace. "Arya, it's not your fault... You defend yourself against him. Any man would do the same." He said soothingly.
She closed her eyes as her head lay against her father's chest. It feels so warm and comfortable and his beating heart is calming. But, her father breaks away and places another kiss on her forehead. His dark grey eyes much like hers are searching before he continues. "You're a brave and strong girl… and I'm proud of you." He finished with a firmness in his voice as if to dare anyone to tell him otherwise. She forces another smile at that.
"Who is he?" she asked, looking unsure.
"He's an assassin," Robb answered while moving to sit across the bed, making himself comfortable. Jon is still standing silently looking wary.
Arya raises her eyebrow at the remark, faking her surprised. "What? But, why- why would anyone..." she trailed, loss of words.
Ned clenches his jaw. "Do you remember anything…anything at all that may have led to this? Can you think of anyone that might want to hurt you intentionally?"
"What do you mean, father?"
"Jon said that you were troubled by something that you saw the other day. Something that's worth treason if being mentioned... What did you see, my child?"
Arya shifts her attention at Jon in an instant. She remembers the day she almost spills the bean at him.
I guess it works on my favour now.
"I don't- it's nothing." She stutters, looking down nervously to her hands again.
"Arya… it's alright, you're safe now." Ned speaks up trying to comfort the young girl.
"No. I can't. It's nothing really."
"Arya, tell us!" Jon interrupts, "Please." He pleads softly.
Debating for the last time if this is the right thing to do - If this secret that she's about to tell will save her family. But, she knows she won't find out until she has tried.
She straightens, catching her father's gaze again. "I went to the broken tower the other day, and I saw…The Queen with Jaime Lannister." she trails awkwardly at the confused face in front of her. "They were doing things that people do when they visit brothels."
The silence that comes after is deafening to her ears. The three men's expression is mixed. Anger, disgust and horrified. She wonders if this is really the right to do.
*
It was night again and as always, the young girl cannot rest and find sleep. One cannot simply find solace with the secrets of the future is within her grasp.
She recalls the event from the day for the hundreds of times. It was rather anti-climactic after she had told the royal's dirty secret. Her father simply listened as she recounts the day that she found out about the Lannister twins. And then, he was gone not before assuring her that everything will be fine.
Arya, on her part, cannot feel that way at all. The day goes by with nothing happened. She doesn't know if that is a good thing or otherwise.
"Argh!" she groans loudly inside her room. A whine can be heard soon after and Nymeria props herself up from the ground onto the bed, joining her mistress.
"What if it doesn't work out, Nymeria?" she locked eyes with the beast that has grown to a normal-sized hound now. "We cannot trust the Lannisters… The bitch queen might already send someone to kill father or mother." She continues.
Nymeria simply stares at her, looking with judgmental eyes. It was as if she's saying 'So, get up and do something instead of whine about it'
"You're right. I should." She pushed herself up from the bed and hisses in pain at the sudden movements.
The wound from her stomach is protesting and Arya cannot help but to instinctively wrap her arms around her middle. Nymeria nudges closer and licks the girl's face, pushing her back into bed.
Arya pushed back softly. "I have to go and check on them." she groans and the pain soon becomes bearable.
Ever so slowly, she swings her foot over the bed and places them onto the ground. She pulls a warm robe around herself soon after and walks towards the door. She stops short when she realizes Nymeria trailing close behind her.
"I cannot bring you with me. People will see... Stay." She said, stroking her companion, feeling sorry. Nymeria whines in protest as the door closed leaving her alone in the unoccupied room.
Arya is about to turn the corner when distinct voices echo along the stone wall. She stops abruptly, peeking through the corner of the wall, and finds two men walking towards her direction. Their faces become clearer as they walk closer.
She curses under her breath when the two men are her father and Robert Baratheon. On instinct, she turns the other way around, her robe billowing behind her as she blends herself among the shadows.
When they walk past her and out of the way, she wastes no time and follows them. They walk until they reach outside where the cold greets them and Arya tightens her robe around her body. By now, she can guess where they are going and her guess is proved right when her father opens the steel door that leads to the underground crypt.
Robert goes in soon after and Arya silently thanks him for letting the door open. She waits in the corner not far, eyeing for possible intruders besides herself. When she is sure that no one else is there, she strides towards the gate and into the darkness. Her steps short and silent. Her only guide is the voices of the men that carry around the confined space.
"What are you saying, Ned?"
Arya stops as the voice enters her ears loud and clear. It sounded like The King. Another voice which she guesses is from her father's, can be heard soon after. But she has to strain herself to hear his soft-spoken voice. She takes another step forward then, hoping to hear them both.
"She's just a child, for goodness sake. Are you going to believe her?"
"She's my child, and I believe her."
"Ned-"
"She has no reason to lie, Your Grace. The choice is yours, and I accept whatever decisions you make, but… I will make no promises to be your Hand. I will stay here in Winterfell where my family needs me. I hope you understand, Your Grace."
A long silence as Arya takes another step and she stops again when she can see their faces now.
"She's The Queen," Robert speaks up, clenching his jaw.
Ned holds his gaze, unrelenting. "And you're The King."
"Ned, if this is true…"
"It's the truth, Your Grace. I swear by the Old Gods." Ned reaches inside his robe and pulls out a long knife.
The lights from the candles make the knife glows. Arya takes another step to view it better and soon regrets it as she doesn't realize she had stepped onto something on the ground. The foreign noise alarming the two men.
"Who goes there?" Ned's voice carries along the crypt as he unsheathed his sword, ready for an attacker. Arya wastes no time turning around and runs the other way.
She is still panting hard when she's finally out of the crypt and safe within the shadows and the walls again. The conversation between her father and the king replays inside her mind, accompanying her as she retreats back to her room.
She stops short however when another presence interrupts her. Two guards that she recognized as her father's men are chatting along the hallway, blocking her only entrance to her room. She stays inside the shadow silently, hoping the guards to walk away but they stay put, unmoving.
She can, of course, walk towards them and act as if nothing happen. But, they will no doubt question and reporting back to her father of her uncanny strolling activity in the middle of the night, no less.
With a sigh, she turns around searching for another entrance. Luckily for her, her room is not that high from the ground. She can see her open window and dim lights flickering inside from where she stands. Seeing no other way that she can find to her room, she made a decision. With the cold crept into her bones every second, it only strengthens her next action.
The climb is harder than usual. Probably because the fact that she is still in her weakened state and her wound is still fresh. Every climbs and stretches she makes, she lets out a grunt.
The pain is aching now and it feels like forever, but finally, she reaches her room. She climbs over the open window with difficulty and landed unceremoniously on the floor.
Nymeria let out a bark to greet her. Arya chuckles lightly as she gathers her strength to stand up again, breathing hard as she did so. "Keep it down, girl... Or you will wake everyone." She commented looking around the room to find the direwolf.
Her grin fades when she finds dark grey orbs instead. Jon crosses his arms against his chest. "Explain yourself, little sister."
Shit.