~:The Harpy:~
"Jaqen." Arya smiled brightly at her old friend and master. She felt so pleased to see him again, but she couldn't help but wonder why he had travelled all the way to Meereen. Had something happened back in Braavos? Had she done something wrong or failed in her mission? Maybe he had come to help her and spped things up? Things had been far more complicated than she had hoped when she set off from Braavos all those moons ago and she knew his presence in Meereen could only be a good thing.
"A friend of yours?" Varys asked calmly as the powdered eunoch looked over at Arya and Jaqen, suspicion written all over his face as he studied them. Arya was surprised that the former Master of Whisperers didn't know of Jaqen or his presence in Meereen.
Arya turned to Varys and nodded, to let everyone know that Jaqen wasn't a threat. "Yes, an old friend and my mentor."
Jaqen stepped forward and placed his hand on Arya's slender shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze for reassurance as he spoke calmly to the others. "A man has come to help, time is running short."
Arya felt relieved that Jaqen had come to help her, though was she was also concerned that time was short. Had the Night's King and his army already marched on the Wall? Had winter finally come? She wanted to ask him so many questions, but somehow she managed to focus on the task at hand.
For over an hour they discussed the situation with the Son's of the Harpy and Euron Greyjoy. They all agreed that the most immediate threat came from the Sons of the Harpy and that they must be dealt with swiftly and decisively. They threatened everything that Daenerys had built in Meereen. Daenerys couldn't possibly turn her back on all of that and hand Meereen back to The Masters. So long as Euron Greyjoy was watched and didn't suspect anything, he shouldn't be an immediate problem.
It was also agreed that Daenerys was to hold court that day as usual so as not to arouse any suspicion from Hizdahr Zo Loraq or Euron Greyjoy. Jaqen and Arya were to think up a plan to take care of Hizdahr and the rest of the leaders of the Sons of the Harpy. Hizdahr and the other leaders did not know of them and so they wouldn't cause any suspicion.
"My little birds tell me that the Sons of the Harpy are hiding out at this location." Varys pulled out an old map from his sleeve, unrolling it and pointing to one of the pyramids that waz marked on it. "And just like the Great Pyramid, it also has a hidden entrance here." He moved his powcered finger and pointed to an alleyway close to the pyramid. "You should be able to sneak inside as it's only guarded by one man, a beggar no less."
"Why not just storm the pyramid with the Unsullied? Wipe them all out?" Daario suggested, shrugging his shoulders. "Some of them are itching for some action, they are more than just guards to patrol the streets."
Arya looked over at him and nodded, agreeing with him. The Unullied easily outnumbered the Sons of the Harpy as well as being far superior warriors, a surprise attack would surely succeed and wipe them out.
"We must make sure that Hizdahr Zo Loraq and the two other leaders, Biraz Do Zeen and Hafaz Fa Ziraq are killed and not given the opportunity to escape." Ser Barristan said calmly. "They must eliminated before they are aware of any danger and escape."
Arya nodded knowing that Ser Barristan was right, they could not take that chance. If Hizdahr, Biraz or Hafaz suspected anything they would flee. "Are you sure that they are hiding there? Would they really hide somewhere so obvious?" Arya asked Varys, thinking that there must be some kind of mistake or maybe even a trap.
"Often the best hiding places are those found in plain sight." Varys replied in his usual soft tone.
Jaqen gave her a knowing nod, his face had almost no expression as usual and Arya knew that the information about the hideout was genuine. "A man will eliminate these three men." Jaqen said in his usual calm manner before looking over to Arya. "A girl will come too."
"A girl will." She agreed, nodding slowly. She was keen to put her training to use and work alongside Jaqen again.
Later that day and back aboard the Seabitch, Arya sat with Jaqen in the cargo hold with Nymeria to discuss his plan to take out the leaders of the Sons of the Harpy. He made it sound so simple, but Arya was starting to realise that simple didn't mean easy and that things rarely worked out as planned. Tyrion and Ser Jorah had also returned with them along with some Dornish Red that Tyrion had acquired from somewhere, though Arya didn't ask how or where he got it from.
That afternoon, after they had eaten some lunch, Arya went to scout the location of the secret entrance. It was easy enough to find and just as Varys had told them a beggar sat in an alleyway in the shadow of one of the pyramids. She handed the beggar some hard bread as she walked past him.
He must have been five-and-sixty or more. He wore dirty rags which could barely pass for clothes and his leather shoes were heavily worn and looked to have several holes in each of them. His tanned skin was wrinkled, his thinning hair was grey and dirty and he had lost most of his teeth. If this was by old age or from fighting in his younger days Arya could not say.
She looked around taking note of anything suspicious that she saw along the way. Potential spies and traps or anywhere that they could walk into an ambush. From what she could see it shouldn't be too difficult so long as the beggar didn't raise any alarm.
Arya and Jaqen waited patiently aboard the Seabitch until nightfall before heading out in Meereen through the dark back alleyways to reach the base of the pyramid. The streets and taverns were unusually quiet, probably because the common folk feared the trouble from the Sons of the Harpy.
"The bread worked." Arya whispered as she looked over to see the beggar slumped to the side and sleeping soundly against the stone wall. The bread that she had given to him earlier had a simple sleeping draft in it. Arya knew that the old beggar could be out for hours giving them plenty of time.
"A girl will follow a man and obey." Jaqen told her as they crouched in the shadows as still as stone.
Arya nodded and after checking that there was no danger they sneaked over to the beggar and quietly dragged him off the worn blue rug that he had been sitting on. Arya knelt beside him to check that he was still alive. She wasn't sure how much sleeping draft to use when she had prepared the bread and hoped that she hadn't killed him. Thankfully he seemed to be fine, just sleeping very heavily.
Jaqen lifted the worn blue rug to find an old wooden trap door was hidden underneath it. Arya watched as he pulled on the iron handle and peered inside before opening it fully to reveal a wooden ladder heading down to what looked like a small chamber below. The smell that drifted up was terrible and nearly made Arya heave.
Arya climbed down first, followed by Jaqen who had moved the worn blue rug back to cover the trapdoor before closing it behind him. He climbed down the wooden ladder after her into a low arched shape tunnel which was probably a sewer from the smell of it.
The chamber was dark and felt cool, but Arya's eyes soon adjusted and some dim light shone in from narrow vents that were from the streets high above so it wasn't completely black. The smell of shit was bad too, but she soon got used to that as well.
"A girl must stay close and move as quiet as a shadow." Jaqen told her softly, keeping his voice low so that it didn't cause any echoes against the stone walls. "She must follow a man's instructions without hesitation." He continued, leading her further in, sticking to the shadows and staying low.
"A girl will follow." She whispered back, remembering back to her training in the maze room back at the House of Black and White in Braavos. Even though she had never reached the end of the maze, she had improved so much since she had first attempted it. At least she wouldn't have to try and sneak past any ravens down here, only Harpies! 'Girl, girl, girl' She could hear the stupid ravens screach. Some day she would sneak past them, some day!
Arya followed Jaqen through the tunnel for a few minutes as they made their way up into the basement of the pyramid. There was so many barrels, each filled with wine, meats and fish. There was also wooden crates of cloth and silk. Several iron sconces lit the room, the flickering flames made the shadows dark and long making hiding easy.
They knew that Hizdahr, Biraz and Hafaz would most likely be at the top of the pyramid where the largest, most luxury chambers were always found. Arya just hoped that they managed to avoid detection until they reached that far. If they were discovered and the alarm was raised it would make thing far more difficult and dangerous.
Further in they came to what looked like an armory, sticking to the shadows and remaining hidden where they could. The stone walls were lined with spears and curved swords, along with several piles of brown leather armour. There were chest pieces, grieves, helmets and gaunlets of various size and condition.
Jaqen suddenly froze and put his finger up to his lips before calmly pointing with the same finger over to a doorway on the far side of the chamber. Arya stayed as still as stone and looked over to see a man wearing colorful robes and a golden mask guarding it. He held a spear and seemed to be looking in their direction. He hadn't seen them as he didn't raise any alarm, but Arya could still feel her heart beating in her chest. 'Fear cuts deeper than swords' She thought to herself, trying to remain calm.
After a few tense moments he looked away and Jaqen leaned in to whisper in to Arya's ear. "A girl must stay close."
Arya simply nodded and then followed close to Jaqen as he moved as swift as a deer and as quiet as a shadow until they were both in the corner of the chamber. From the shadows they were only twenty feet from the doorway where the guard stood.
Arya reached for Frost but Jaqen shook his head, picking up a small rock. Arya looked at him a little confused and then watched as he threw the small rock across the chamber, hitting the stone wall by the shadows.
The guard held out his spear in front of him as he walked forward to where the the stone had hit to investigate, leaving the doorway unguarded. This was their chance. As swift as a deer they sneaked from the shadows in the corner of the chamber and through the doorway, quickly heading up some stone steps that led to a long corridor above.
Arya remembered back to her training in the maze at the House of Black and White, remembering how to step quietly to avoid making echoes. Jaqen made it look so easy, effortless even, whereas Arya had to really concentrate hard. She may have always been small, but she had never been naturally graceful unlike Sansa. She was glad that her shoes were soft though, it made sneaking a little easier.
They sneaked past several closed wooden doors, always sticking to the shadows where possible and always avoiding any light. Voices could be heard behind one of the doors so they were extra careful as they sneaked past that one. They had to avoid detection until Hizdahr, Biraz and Hafaz lay dead. If any alarm was raised, surely they would escape and all of this would be for nothing.
After climbing another set of twisting stone steps they came to another corridor with more closed wooden doors. Slowly they crept forward in the shadows, pressing further into the pyramid, heading up to where they hoped to frind Hizdahr, Biraz and Hafaz.
Just as they were about to head up another set of stone steps a door opened behind Arya and out stepped a man in colorful robes. He was as tall as Ser Jorah, though not as heavily built and had brown wavey hair. Arya froze as still as stone in the shadows hoping that she hadn't been seen, but the man had spotted her. Jaqen moved swiftly, jumping up and putting his dagger through the man's heart and covering his mouth all in one smooth movement.
Arya stayed as still as stone in the shadows, her heart beating fast in her chest, watching as Jaqen dragged the dead man back into the chamber where he had just come from to conceal the body in a wooden cupboard. 'Fear cuts deeper than swords, fear cuts deeper than swords' She thought as she tried to compose herself.
Arya followed Jaqen up some more stone steps into what looked like a trophy room. The was a bear, a wolf, a stag amongst many other dead creatures. Some large, some small and some just had only their heads and hung on wooden plaques on the walls. A man in colorful robes and a golden mask was walking around the room. He didn't hold a spear or any other weapon so they knew that he wasn't a guard, though he could still raise the alarm if he spotted them.
They stayed as still as stone in the shadows to watch the man to see what he was doing, hoping that he would leave. After a few minutes another masked man in colorful robes came to join him and they started to talk in a tongue Arya didn't understand. This was their chance.
Jaqen gave Arya a nod and started to sneak from shadow to shadow as swift as a deer, staying low and using the trophies for cover where possible. Jaqen moved first and then signalled to Arya when it was safe for her to move. One trophy and one shadow at a time they sneaked across the chamber, watching the two men carefully to ensure that they weren't spotted until they finally made it across to head up even more stone steps.
The stone steps eventually brought them out into a large chamber which had three closed wooden doors. One to the left, one to the right and one straight in front of them. The chamber was beautifully decrated with drapes and rugs of all colors. There was a large wooden desk in one corner of the chamber and lots of old wooden cupboards, chairs, wardrobes and drawers scattered throughout as well as a large stone table that was covered in parchments, books and scrolls amongst other things.
Jaqen signalled to Arya to check the door on the left side of the chamber before he sneaked over to check the door on the right, sticking to the shadows and staying low behind any furniture for cover. She watched as Jaqen pressed his ear against the door and listened for any voices before slowing pushing the door open to peek inside. Moments later he slipped inside and closed the door quietly behind him.
Arya decided to copy him, pressing her ear against the door to listen for a few moments. She listened, but she couldn't hear anything so slowly pushed the wooden door open and peered inside. The chamber was dark and it was hard to see so she slipped inside and carefully closed the door behind her, trying to make as little noise as possible.
She stayed as still as stone in the shadows in the corner of the chamber while her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Slowly pulling Frost from her belt, she started to sneak over to a large wooden bed on the far side of the chamber. As she got closer she saw that somebody was sleeping on it, a large man from the look of him. She knew from the description that Varys had given to her that it was one of their targets, Biraz Do Zeen.
Biraz Do Zeen was a large portly man with long wavey black hair. He didn't look like he could run far if he tried to escape. She couldn't quite make out his age from the darkness but figured it had to be him. He would be too large and slow to escape, not that Arya would give him the opportunity.
She slowly stood and looked down at him through the darkness before covering his mouth with her hand and opening his throat with Frost. Biraz opened his eyes as he started to choke on his own blood. Seeing her he moved to try and get up but Arya pushed him back and drove Frost deep into his heart and then into his side through his ribs. He didn't struggle for long. "Valar Morghulis." She whispered into his ear before closing his eyes with her fingers.
After wiping her hands and Frost clean on his silk bedsheets she crept over to the door and opened it slightly. She peeked through the small crack and saw that Jaqen was waiting for her in the main chamber. He looked over and gave her a nod to signal that it was clear for her to come out.
Arya quietly crept out and closed the wooden door behind her before rejoining Jaqen. "Biraz Do Zeen is dead." She whispered to him.
"A girl has done well. Only Hizdahr Zo Loraq and Hafaz Fa Ziraq remain." He said quietly before pressing his ear against the final wooden door. A small smile appeared on his face before he nodded once at her.
Slowly he opened the wooden door, just enough for them to slip inside and hide in the shadows. They waited for a few moments to scout the chamber, searching for hiding spots and looking and listening for signs of any guards.
Once they knew it was safe they started to sneak 'as quiet as a shadow' further into the chamber. Staying low, sticking to the shadows and using furniture for cover. Arya was glad that she put so much time into her training in the maze back in the House of Black and White. 'As quiet as a shadow' She thought to herself as she moved, staying close to Jaqen.
Jaqen suddenly stopped and pointed over to an open doorway which had red drapes either side of it, a slight breeze ruffled them. Carefully sneaking closer they finally saw their targets. Hizdahr Zo Loraq and Hafaz Fa Ziraq were sitting on cushioned stone chairs on a great balcony as they looked out over Meereen towards the Great Pyramid, talking and sipping on wine. Arya could smell the wine even from across the chamber in the shadows where she sat as still as stone to observe them.
Hafaz Fa Ziraq was clearly the older of the two with streaks of grey in his shorter, but just as wavey hair. He had an elaborately decorated supporting stick resting by the side of his chair for when he walked. It was white, possibly made from Weirwood and covered in carvings. The handle looked to be gold and also had engravings etched into it. She figured wouldn't be much of a problem, he was old and weak.
Their main target Hizdahr Zo Loraq sat next to him. He perfectly matched the description that Varys had given to them. He had oily tanned skin, fluffed black hair and colorful robes.
Jaqen gestured for Arya to kill Hafaz while he would kill Hizdahr. Arya simply nodded in agreement. She figured that it made sense as he was the more experienced so he should take the harder target.
They carefully crept out onto the balcony and up behind them, staying low and in the shadows. Arya gripped Frost in her left hand and looked at Jaqen, waiting for his signal.
Slowly they stood and then it happened. Arya covered Hafaz's mouth as she drew the sharp valyrian blade of Frost across his winkled neck, opening it up. She then drove it through his heart, once, twice, three times. His lifeblood poured out and soon the old man was gone. "Valar morghulis." She said as she wiped her blade clean on his robes.
"It is done." Jaqen said as he wiped his blade clean on Hizdahr's colorful blood stained robes, before sliding it back into his belt.
"The signal." Arya replied as she walked back into the main chamber, sliding Frost back safely into her leather belt.
They quickly set about setting fire to things, the drapes, wall hangings, books and scrolls, anything that would take a spark to signal that the deed was done and to signal to the Unsullied. Soon thick black smoke poured out onto the balcony and into the dark night sky.
"We must leave, now!" Jaqen said calmly as he walked over to the door.
Arya had heard the voices and footsteps too, and they were getting closer. "Yes." She nodded in agreement and ran over to join him, drawing Needle with her left hand.
"Stay close." Jaqen said as he drew his sword, a thin vicious looking blade.
Arya nodded and followed close to Jaqen back down the stone steps where they soon ran into two men in gold masks holding spears. One of them thrust at Arya, but she saw it coming and skillfully ducked under it. Seeing her chance she quickly lunged forward and up, driving Needle up into his ribs and out between his shoulder blades. The man dropped his spear, before dropping to his knees. She pulled Needle from him and let him drop to the floor, dead.
Jaqen lay the other dead man on top of him and gave Arya an approving nod before continuing down the stone steps and into the trophy room. The two masked men were still talking, only this time they wouldn't need to sneak past them.
Jaqen signalled to Arya which man she was to kill, he would take care of the other. She stayed close to Jaqen as they crept up behind them both, driving Needle into his back, through his heart and out of his chest before opening his throat with Frost. "Valar morghulis."
After wiping both of her blades clean on the men's robes, Arya followed close to Jaqen as they continued to make their way down through the pyramid. Arya could hear men shouting and the clash of steel ringing louder the closer they got to the entrance. The Unsullied were attacking, storming the pyramid to wipe out the Sons of the Harpy just as they had planned. The signal had been successful.
By the time Arya and Jaqen had reached the main entrance there was a battle taking place between the Unsullied and what remained of the Sons of the Harpy, the Unsullied outnumbered them five to one. Dead bodies were strewn across the blood stained stone floor. The smell of blood and death was in the air, there was no escape for any of the Sons of the Harpy.
EXTRA CONTENT - Shireen
The young princess opened her eyes, wearily looking around at the dark, damp cell that had been her home for the last three days and nights. Or was it four? It seemed like much longer, Shireen couldn't be sure. The stone walls were dark and damp and the stone floor felt cold and hard beneath her. Surely this was the most miserable place in the Seven Kingdoms.
Shireen wasn't even sure who her captors were, though she guessed it was probably the Bolton's. A few nights back a raiding party had come to her fathers camp north of Winterfell, burning tents and destroying supplies, distracting her fathers soldiers while he sneaked in to her tent and took her for his prisoner.
Shireen had been down to the dungeons back on Dragonstone when she had visited her friend Ser Davos after he had been accused of being a traitor, but those dungeons didn't feel as cold and dark as this one. But then maybe that was because she was on the wrong side of the bars this time?
She felt cold, hungry and thirsty and she could feel what little strength she had left slowly draining away from her. If only they fed her something other than scraps or stringy meat or moldy hard bread. She would give anything for a proper meal or even a lemoncake and some fresh water.
The lack of sleep didn't help too. Back on Dragonstone she was used to a comfy feather bed and furs to keep warm, but that seemed like a lifetime away now. The bed that she slept on in her fathers camp wasn't the most comfortable, but it was much better than the cold and damp stone floor that was her bed here.
She couldn't help but wonder if Ser Davos had survived the attack. And what of her mother and father? Though she knew that her father wouldn't have been killed easily. He was a great warrior and she knew of the stories told about him during the rebellion. She hoped that Ser Davos was still alive, he was a good friend to her ever since she was a little girl. He didn't care about her greyscale and had always treated her like a normal person.
Her heart sank as she heard footsteps approaching, echoing off the cold stone floor and walls. A key turned and the heavy oak door creaked on it's rusted iron hinges at it swung open. Shireen looked down at her grubby bare feet, trying not to look at him. If she looked at him he would beat her or pull her hair. The last time she had looked at him for too long he had pulled out a thick clump leaving her head bloodied and raw.
"Stand up." He ordered her as he stood outside her tiny cell, folding his arms across his chest.
Shireen glanced up at him briefly to see a devilish smirk on his cruel face. She dared not to defy him and stood.
"Take off your clothes." He continued, placing his hands behind his back.
Shireen couldn't help but blush shyly, knowing that she had little choice.
"Take them off now!" He demanded, banging the metal bars of her cell with his fist as she delayed for a moment.
Shireen briefly looked at him, her heart filled with fear before slipping out of her grey wool nightdress to stand only in her small clothes, wrapping her slender arms around her waist to try and keep a little warmth and to hide her slender young body from his gaze.
"All of them." The man continued as he peered through the gloom at her, she could feel his cold eyes on her soft pale flesh and it made her skin crawl.
She blushed deeper and shyly removed her small clothes to stand naked, doing her best to keep her dignity. How could someone enjoy being so cruel?
"You are my guest, and a princess no less. What kind of princess stinks like you?" He asked as he continued to look over at her. "Maybe I should prepare a bath for you?"
Shireen kept looking at her grubby feet, only briefly daring to look at his cruel face. He had cold soulless eyes and a wicked smile.
"You reek. A princess should not reek. I'm beginning to wonder if you really are a princess?" He continued, sniffing at her through the bars and mocking her cruelly. "I have an idea. From now on that is your name. Reek" He smirked wickedly. He paused for a few moments as he looked over her slender body. "Now, what is your name?" He asked her.
Shireen knew that he already knew who she really was. That was why she had been taken captive. To taunt her father and force his hand. Surely he must attack Winterfell and attempt to rescue her. But that's what the Bolton's wanted. From behind Winterfell's high walls they had the advantage, even she knew that.
"Princess Shireen Baratheon." She replied, somehow finding the courage to defy him.
He glared at her through the gloom and then opened her cell with an iron key that hung nearby on the wall. As he stepped into her cell she backed away before he struck her across the face. The soft flesh on her cheek stung from the viscious blow, reddening as it stung.
"I'll ask you again." He said as he squeezed her neck, almost choking her. "What is your name?"
"Sh...Shireen Baratheon." She replied defiantly, gasping to catch her breath. She was a princess, she was her father's daughter.
"Wrong!" He yelled at her, striking her hard across the cheek again, knocking her to the cold stone floor and almost knocking her unconscious. "This is the last time I will ask. Now, what...is...your...name?"
"R...Reek, it's Reek" She replied, fighting back the tears as the last of her courage left her. "My name is Reek."
"Good." He said as he left her cell, taking her clothes with him before locking her cell door behind him. "Don't disappoint me like my last Reek, I had to flay him living and send him back to his father." He laughed coldly. "You wouldn't want that to happen to you, would you?" He continued before leaving and slamming the heavy oak door behind him, locking it.
Shireen sat naked in the corner of her cell, hugging her knees and shaking her head, crying.