The Farosi

I own nothing but my OC's

Chapter Three

The Innocent of the Trident

'Any sign of her?' Jon asked Corporal Donley as he reigned his horse in.

'None,' the man with a truly impressive moustache answered. 'Our lads are doing their best but there's no sign of the poor lass.'

'Alright, keep looking.'

That little shit Joffrey had done something to provoke Nymeria, Arya's Direwolf, which led to the wolf attackig Joffrey and now both Nymeria and Arya were missing. For the past two days or so they had been searching for her, Lannister, Baratheon and Stark as well as Jon's troopers. Each of Jon's men had been given a whistle they had been ordered to blow if they found Arya. Jon hadn't told anyone else about it, worried the Lannisters would find out and under no circumstances would he let them get to Arya. Well, that's not true, he had told his father who entrusted the message to a few of his most trusted men.

Jon, Ghost by his side, rode through the woods, in the distance he could hear shouts of "Lady Arya!" or "Hello!", all the while hoping that he would hear the sharp blast of a whistle.

'Mister Snow,' he heard a voice ask and he turned to see a woman riding towards him.

Princess Radwen was wearing a light blue jacket, riding skirt and a top hat with a veil, a riding crop held in her hand. On a string around her neck he saw that she was wearing a whistle as well.

'Your Highness,' he said and nodded his head to her. 'I think you should return to the holdfast. It's not safe out here.'

'I am not a defenceless dove, Mister Snow,' she said and reached into her jacket to pull out a small of the right size to fit into a small pocket. It was a work of art as well as a weapon, the handle made of pearl, the barrel and cylinder gilded and her initials were carved into the grip, for Radwen Aneti Lissia Cassius. 'Now, Mister Snow, I will help you.'

Knowing he would not be able to change her mind he allowed her to join him as they rode through the woods. In the gloom ahead he saw a group of Lannisters looking for Arya with their swords drawn, one of them was carrying a double barreled shotgun, one of the only firearms the Westerosi were allowed to buy until recently.

'I don't trust those men to not harm your sister,' she said to Jon.

'I think they'll probably shoot Nymeria on sight,' Jon confided in her.

'Rogues,' she cursed.

'I agree.'

'You know Mister Snow, when you arrived at the embassy I looked at your record from Whitestone, I'm fairly impressed.'

'You are?'

'Indeed Mister Snow. Your teachers at Whitestone described you as a man with a natural talent for leadership. Since your sister went missing I have to say those reports have been confirmed very well.'

'Thank you Your Highness,' Jon responded.

'You can dispose of the formalities when no one's around Jon,' she said to him.

'If you insist Your Highness, Radwen I mean.'

'I do insist. I've been called Your Highness enough for several lifetimes. Tell me, what do you think really happened? Prince Joffrey's been insisting that Arya, the butchers boy and Nymeria attacked him.'

'May I speak freely?'

'Of course.'

'I think he's talking shit. At Whitestone I met plenty like him, privilaged twits who thought their birthright was to do whatever they liked. He probably just threatend Arya and Nymeria tried to defend her.'

'I agree with you, and with the Queen calling for justice I dread to think what will happen next.'

The sound of a galloping horse filled the air and one of Jon's men, trooper Hensin, rode up to them.

'Your 'ighness, Lieutenant Snow sir, I need to talk to you.'

'What is it?' he asked.

'Well it's like this sir, I saw the whole thing.'

'What do you mean?'

'I was takin' me horse down to the river for a wee drink sir and I saw the prince, your sisters and that butcher lad. The bairns that have gone missing, they were just playing with sticks when the prince and your other sister arrived. The prince, he,' Hensin looked down nervously.

'Tell us,' Princess Radwen said gently.

'He drew his sword and cut the lads cheek. It looked like he was going to do more so I got ready to stop him when Arya gave that little bastard a good whack with a stick and threw his sword into the river. Her wolf snapped his arm once but that's all the beastie did.'

'Good for her,' the princess said aprovingly.

'Do you swear this is true?' asked Jon.

'I swear sir, before the True Queen herself.'

'Good, when we find Arya return to the hold and then we'll make sure the king knows.'

'Yes sir.'

'Return to your duty.'

'Yes sir.'

The trooper rode off and galloped off into the woods.

'Thank goodness he came to us,' said Radwen.

'I agree. Let's get back to looking for Arya.'

The two rode on for a while, Jon keeping his hand near his revolver in case something very bad happened.

'Are you looking forward to being back in the capital?' she asked him.

'I suppose so. After weeks on the road a rest will do us all good.'

'I agree completely. I enjoy travelling but it does get exhausting.'

'True, it's a shame that Lady Shireen's not there anymore.'

'The poor girl, lost everyone and is being treated like an unwanted pet.'

'Did Lord Renly even have the right to send her as a ward to the Tyrell's?'

'With the king gone and no Hand I think that Renly was the highest official left in the city. At least in Highgarden she'll be away from the queen.'

Then the whistle came, sharp and clear through the trees and Radwen looked at Jon before cropping her horse and galloping towards the source of the noise. Jon looked around and saw a trio of Lannister men who had seen the princess galloping off and were now following on foot. Jon urged his horse forwards and galloped after the Princess, a few minutes later they made it to a cluster of his troopers who were dismounted next to their horses with Arya who was eating some army biscuits. Laying down next to Arya was Nymeria, and Ghost went over to her as soon as they locked eyes.

'Jon!' Arya shouted when she saw her older brother and ran over to him, hugging Jon the second he was off his horse.

'You're alright Arya, you're alright. Don't worry anymore, you're safe.'

'No I'm not. When the queen gets hold of Nymeria she'll want revenge for biting Joffrey. I was going to send her away when he found me,' she pointed at one of the men, Trooper Bonbin.

'Arya dear,' Radwen said and knelt down next to her, 'look at me. One of your brothers men saw what happened and we know the truth. I won't let that viscious woman harm a hair on Nymeria's head, do you understand?'

'I do,' she said.

'Good,' as she said they heard shouted voices close by and they weren't northern by their accents.

'Lannisters,' said Jon and Nymeria began to growl.

'We can't waste more time,' said Radwen as she stood up. She pointed at five of the men. 'Stay here with the wolf. Don't let the Lannister's touch her, do you understand?'

'Yes ma'am,' one of them responded.

'Good. The rest of you, we're taking Lady Arya back to her father.'

By now most of Jon's troop had arrived.

'Quickly,' she said and mounted her horse, Jon putting Arya on his and climbing on behind her.

The large number of cavalry began to ride back towards the holdfast they'd borrowed for the search but after just ten minutes they were stopped by twenty Lannister guardsmen who stood in two solid ranks with their spears forwards.

'Hand over the wolf girl,' one of them said. 'We're under orders to take her to the king.'

'I am taking Lady Arya to her father,' Radwen told him.

'You have no power here,' the Lannister man responded.

'The correct way to address a princess is "Your Highness". Now would you be kind enough to say that again, properly this time?'

'Your Highness, hand over Arya Stark.'

'No. Now, be kind enough to get out of our way. If you don't we'll ride over you.'

'I'd like to see you try,' he shouted back.

'Mister Snow,' Radwen said in a relaxed way to Jon, 'charge.'

'Your Highness?

'Charge them down,' she said loudly.

Jon cleared his throat and took in a deep breath.

'Troopers, draw!' Jon and his men drew their swords, Arya stiffening in front of Jon as he did so. 'Troop, make ready!' his men raised their swords and he saw a few of the Lannister men take some steps back. 'Charge!'

With a mighty shout the horsemen galloped forwards and the Lannisters began running in every direction. Soon there was no one in front of them and Radwen breathed a sigh of relief.

'Let's make a dash for Lord Stark,' she said to Jon.

'Here, here.'

The horsemen galloped as fast as they could towards the holdfast and made their way towards the tent used by Lord Stark.

'Section One, stable the horses,' Jon gave the order. 'Everyone else, form a ring of guns around the tent. No one is allowed in if they're not of House Stark.'

'Yes sir,' Sergeant Osini shouted. 'You heard the Lieutenant of Light Horse, form a ring.'

So they formed a ring around the front of the tent with their carbines, two ranks deep while Jon, Princess Radwen and Arya stepped into the tent. Ahead they saw Lord Stark, sitting behind a desk looking anxious and flanked by a pair of Stark guards and Jory Cassel.

'Arya,' he said in relief and the girl ran over to him. 'Where have you been Arya, where have you been?'

'Hiding from the Lannister's, Lord Stark,' said Radwen as she sat down in the chair before him. 'Jon's men found her and we need to move quickly.'

She then told him about what had happend with the Lannister soldiers on the way back and the colour drained from his face.

'Your Highness, if Jon's men had killed any of the Lannister men it would have led to a crisis, your people would be dragged into it.'

'I thought it was worth the risk. We are responsible for a large amount of the royal income, the king would never risk damaging it, and under the Protection of the Innocent Act of fifty one hundred and one we are obliged to provide security to any person of any nationality if there is reasonable grounds to suggest that her life or health is in danger. Legally I did nothing more than my duty.'

'Good,' Lord Stark said and looked at Jon. 'Well done, you did well.'

'Thank you Lord Stark,' he responded in a crisp military tone.

'Arya,' he said to his daughter, 'before we take you before the king you have to tell me everything.'

And so Arya spoke, telling her father exactly what happened and when she was finished Jon nodded.

'One of my men saw this happen,' Jon told him. 'The stories match exactly.'

'Where is that man?'

'Outside the tent now.'

'Good. I want him there when we talk to the king.'

'I understand.'

'And twenty of your men, make sure their carbines are loaded. Jory, go and find Sansa.'

'Yes Lord Stark,' he said and left, patting Jon on the shoulder as he went out.

'This is not going to be good,' Lord Stark said to everyone in there.

'I agree. By doing this I am placing myself at odds with the future king. This will be very difficult,' Radwen said formally, placing her riding crop under her arm as an officer would with his batton.

'Yes it will be. Are you sure you want to risk your peoples business in Westeros over this?'

'As I said the king wouldn't risk our business. You have my support Lord Stark.'

'I'm glad to have it.'

Jory then entered the tent, worry on his face.

'Lord Stark, Lady Sansa is with the queen. The king wants to see you and Arya now.'

'Then let's go,' he said and stood up, leaving the tent.

As they proceeded inside the keep of the hold fast Jon looked to eitherside, his hand close to his revolver, and saw Lannister soldiers, all waiting for the order. Behind Jon were a mix of Farosi and Stark soldiers. The men of House Stark were better armed than the Lannisters, about a quarter of them were armed with double barrel shotguns and the others had revolvers as well as their traditional weapons, the Lannisters only had a few with shotguns. The Baratheon soldiers were standing back, this was a Lannister-Stark problem, none of their business. Ahead of him the king was looking frustrated, the queen was full of barely concealed rage and Sansa looked unsure. Lord Renly and Ser Barristan of course looked concerned, they had expected to be on the road by now and not watching a dispute between the children of nobles. He looked at Radwen whose hand was at her jacket near where he knew the revolver was sitting.

'Now then Arya,' King Robert said as calmly as possible, 'can you tell us what happened?'

And so she repeated what happened, telling it exactly as she had told it to Princess Radwen and their father, Jon couldn't help but smile in a bit of pride. When she reached the part about beating Joffrey there was a burst of laughter and everyone looked to Lord Renley who was clearly enjoying the fact that Joffrey was defeated in combat by a child, and a girl.

'Tell that part again,' he asked and laughed before walking out.

'That is not how it happened!' Joffrey snapped, physically shaking in rage. 'That is not how it happened.'

'It certainly is,' Jon told him.

'Wait till you're spoken too, bastard!'

'He's telling the truth,' said Sansa. 'It all happened very fast but, but, Joffrey's telling the truth.'

'Liar!' Arya shouted at her an Lord Stark gripped her shoulder.

'One tells it one way, the other says another story. What am I to believe?'

'Someone must be punished for my son being maimed,' Cersie said coldly.

'I know someone who can confirm the truth,' said Princess Radwen. 'Trooper Hensin, please come here.'

The soldier stepped forwards and saluted the king.

'Your Grace, I'm one of Lieutenant Snow's men and I saw the whole thing happen between your son, Mister Snow's sisters and the bairn from the butcher.'

He then spoke as politely as possible of what had happened, with every word Joffrey's face grew red and he was physically shaking in rage. When the trooper finished he stepped away and saluted, first to King Robert and then to Jon.

'As you can see, Your Graces,' said Radwen, 'it is apparent that Prince Joffrey attacked Arya and her friend, Nymeria was simply protecting her mistress as any animal companion would do.'

'Lies,' Cersie said simply. 'I see no reason to trust the word of one of the small folk led by a bastard. This whole thing is a lie made up by the same poeple who attacked my men.'

'Attacked them?' asked Radwen. 'I have no idea what you mean.'

'You charged at Lannister soldiers, nearly killing them.'

'Oh that, Your Grace, that was just a misunderstanding. I had no intention of seeing your men killed, if I wanted blood spilled I would have ordered the troopers to use their guns.'

'Where is Arya Stark's wolf?' Cersie demanded, ignoring the subtle threat. 'I want that dangerous beast killed.'

'NO!' Arya shouted and, for the first time, Ghost growled.

'You are not getting anywhere near Nymeria,' Radwen told her, her tone as cold as the queens, her crop shifting back to her hand. 'Tell me, how long did it take for you to persuade Sansa to lie against her kin? Did you threaten her, manipulate her? Tell me, I want to know.'

'How dare you?' Cersie growled.

'Easily. At my command my men can gun down all yours in seconds.'

'Enough,' Robert said with enough strength to silence everyone. 'I believe the trooper. Joffrey, you are a little boy with no idea on how to fight anything larger than a mouse.'

'Your son was atttacked!' Cersia snapped at him.

'Let it teach him what happens when he behaves like an idiot,' Robert dismissed the matter. 'Arya, your wolf is safe. Sansa, never lie to me again.'

Robert got up that ended it all. Inwardly Jon breathed a sigh of relief at this ending well. As the queen got up to leave she stopped in front of the princess and hissed something at her before she left.

'What did she say?' asked Jon.

'That I'd regret this, the usual drivel. She has the imagination of a ten year old. Now, Mister Snow, please send one of your men to fetch Nymeria.'

'Yes Your Highness. I don't trust the queen, I think at least two of my men should stay with you at all times from now on.'

'Is that really necessary?'

'Yes.'

'I'm surprised you don't insist on having a trooper in my bed with me.'

'I'd never suggest it,' he said quickly, feeling the embarrasment of the thought as the Princess chuckled.

'I know, still, there are a few men I wouldn't object to,' she said and left, Jon quickly ordering a pair of troopers to follow her, leaving Jon slightly smitten.

AN: Thanks for all the feedback and to everyone who has favourited, followed and reviewed. Please review, let me know what you think.

Review Response Time:

Pinoy Gamer: I'm glad to see you're enjoying this. I've always loved the look of the age of 19th century armies and applying them to Westeros was irresistible. Thanks for the review.

Tertius711: True, the technology of Farsos does give them a massive advantage but, as shown at Little Big Horn and Isandlwana, a good use of tactics can allow less well equipped armies to triumph. For seeing the Farosi army in action, that's still to come.