It had been a long day for Arya, but no different then had she been a part of the Brothers camp still. Fetch the wood, fetch the water, peel the potatoes, never ending list of chores for her to do, all the while trying to keep an ear and eye open for any signs of Jaqen, and attempt a moment to herself out of the watchful eye of her guard to fidget with her leg irons. She got such a moment when the guard was called away to attend the king and when the cook was occupied, she took off silently towards the Smiths, laying claim to a tool, she began to beat and pry at the leg irons till one fell off followed swiftly by the other! Now free, she made it look as she still walked with them on, for they had been hidden by her pants, best to keep up the concealment for a bit longer as she made her way back to the cookery.
She was stopped by three guards who surrounded her suddenly, like wraiths from the mist that seemed to now forever surround these parts.
"So? Not a boy after all are we little One? The Lord wants a word with you!" Said one guard as he reached for her!
Fear flooded her but she did not fight him as he roughly grabbed her and lead her back to the Main Hall and threw her in front of none other then Theon Greyjoy
"Little Arya! Imagine my surprise that the little wolf would return to her Den!" His voice grated on her ears, high pitched and full of himself as he paraded in front of her, enticing her to anger. She must remember control...Jaqen had taught her that lesson well. Control or die..and she choose life. "Who was the Man you came with? Hum? He wears Lannister red? Is he one of them? Why are you with one of them?"
throughout all of his questions, she remained mute and simply shot daggers at him. her eyes on fire once again as she watched the pretender pace in front of her. But his words gave her hope, Jaqen was still alive or he would not be questioning her so furiously! His temper grew as she, too, would not answer his questions and finally grew tired of this game to which he was clearly not winning! "I tire of this! If she will not answer, throw her in the dungeons till she loosens her tongue! We have need of this one alive!" His smirk filled her with dread "...but not the other, let him rot deep in the darkness I have thrown him in! We deal with him later!" Turning upon his heels, the guards grabbed and dragged Arya off but this time she fought them! Clawing and scratching, and trying to bite as they dragged her off. Once down below, she turned complacent but it was only farce as she walked behind the first guard, with the second behind her. As she past a cell to the left of her, her eyes flashed to it and happened to catch a swift glimpse inside of it! Her heart went still, her body turned cold and hot at the same time, both happiness and fear flooded her for Jaqen was still alive as her eyes met his! She rushed to his cell door and grabbed the bars before the guards came behind her and peeled her fingers from the bars.
"JAQEN! Your alive...!" She gripped for as long as she could, her strength fading, as they pulled her away. She growled at the gaurds and fought them every step of the way before they finally threw her in a cell, not four doors away from his own. At least she knew he was alive, and knew this place like the back of her hand. She would escape, they would ALL be sorry!
Jaqen's head nodded. It was becoming too difficult to stay awake. He stirred once, looking around with half-open eyes, his mind floating down to contemplate his predicament. A thread of moonlight reached in through the small barred window beyond his reach. He moistened his lips. They had dried and cracked. Nagged by the thought of what Theon may do ... or may already have done ... to the girl whose insistence to return to her home had pierced his will to take her elsewhere. He chastised himself for allowing her challenge to sway his acumen.
Approaching footfalls drew his attention beyond the barred confines, but it was his name that caused him to cringe. Thankful to the gods that Arya yet breathed, he tensed when she cried out announcement of who he was.
she sat against the stone wall, cold at her back she paid it no heed. three times food had been brought to her, three times she had denied it, not touched it! she was hungry, thirsty but would not touch the food nor drink the water, surely they were laced with poison, even though Theon had said that he needed her alive. How many hours had it been? how many days? one? two? more? She didn't know.
They had stopped hassling her after that first hour, when she would not move to the bars so they could touch her, nor did she bite back at their degrading comments, sitting facing the wall and ignoring them completely and instead turned their focus on Jaqen instead, which deeply angered her. When one Guard came to close to her cell as she was standing near the door, trying to get a glimpse of her friend, she noticed the dagger that he had at his waist and with a stealthy hand, relived him of it and he was none the wiser. She did not do well in a cage, and knew Jaqen was more hurt then he let on. They had to get out of here and now! She settled back in the straw, propped up against the wall, pretending to sleep. she didn't have long to wait.
The Lord did say we need this one alive, but I don't think he'd mind if we took liberties with her first. Maybe that will loosen her tongue." A deep voice said, as she heard the door to her cell click open after a jangling of many keys. Her breathing came slower for her as she kept her eyes closed. she held absolutely still and refused to even shake as she heard footsteps coming closer to where she lay. "So small, I don't like them small, but it has been months since I even seen a woman.." She 'felt' him lean closer rather then saw him, smelled his acid breath as it wafted across her skin, oil, leather and dirt graced his skin as he came closer. She laid perfectly still, for she would only get one chance and she MUST strike true. gripping the small dagger tightly at her side, hidden in the straw upon which she lay, she listened as he began to disrobe his armor, piece by piece. She slit her eyes and tensed herself as he removed his chest plate and in a quick thrusting motion, took the guard completely by surprise as she drove the dagger into his chest and through his heart
"For my family..." she whispered through gritted teeth as she shoved deeper into him, letting him feel the extent of her blade before yanking it out* and what will happen to your pretend king! *standing, she quickly searched him for the keys, before covering him up to hide him as best she could, slamming the cell door behind her. She walked with purpose to Jaqens cell and opened the door quick as she could. going to his side, she held up the keys so he could see, as she began to unlock them. "You alright?" She whispered low to him as she met his eyes "we are leaving...now...can you walk?"
Jaqen looked to where Arya stood holding the keys out, a devious smile proclaiming her triumph. Death's distinction clung to her presence. The unmistakable pungency had pervaded his nostrils with immediate petition the moment she'd appeared at the iron portal. The look in her eyes was haunted and frenzied despite what appeared to be outward calm. Without having to ask he knew she had killed to achieve this chance at their freedom. As to whether it had been her first time to take a life he had no way of knowing, nor did he care - not now anyway, but strangely he found his emotions were mixed, anger and appreciation flowing together in convolution. To risk her own life for his was an admirable undertaking, dangerous beyond her most wild imaginings. The Ironborn stood staunchly upon belief in The Drowned God whose blessing came only in the form of resurrection. Death was the ultimate reward of their devotion - What is dead may never die - the words by which they served the sea. These were no ordinary soldiers, but men who fought without dread for to die meant to be brought back in a form far more fearsome. So, yes, he was impressed at Arya's brevity, but enraged she had placed herself in the embrace of such peril.
"A man is alright," he firmly assured her. "Walking is simple, but fighting somewhat less so. As to taking leave now ..." His voice trailed off as he turned away from her. "A man's name has been spoken ..." He brought his right hand to his face, the change taking place instantaneously. When he turned back around emerald eyes peered at Arya from beneath a cascade of long auburn locks. Thin lips, high cheek bones, an angled nose. Everything about him was different and unrecognizable. "Now we are leaving." He grabbed her hand and dashed out the door.
she could tell he was mad at her, for the look in his eyes made her want to cringe, would have sent the older, more vunerable Arya cringing back a few steps as if had struck her, but not now. Now, her eyes met his his with a look that was both unreadable and unfathomable. She had killed, and though it had been her first, it had been her first that she had MEANT to do so! The boy from the stables having been an accident! She smirked slightly as he talked, barely listening to his words as instead her ears strained for any sounds of guards approaching, the darkness kept most at bay and only the truly brave...or the truly depraved ventured where only 'ghosts' walked. Finding his chains was easy, since she had spent years in this very fort, knew it from inside out, from chamberpot to chains upon the wall of the darkest cell She had felt badly about giving his name away, and frowned at his words, another lesson learned. The sparse light from the moon that trickled through his bars gave her the light she needed to see, and when she looked up at him again, it was not the face she knew looking back at her, but another. Uttering but a small gasp before she caught herself, for she knew the man beside her, no matter what face he wore, she took his hand as he grabbed her and followed swiftly behind him.
She pulled him to a stop, balking just before they reached the top of the stairs and nodded in the general direction they were going. "Guards wait there, or did, when my Father was Lord here." she whispered softly to him. "None like the darkness below and instead guard the stairs." there was no fear in her voice, but a gentle calm that flowed from her very being and out of her mouth. She was not afraid, not anymore, and knew from her lessons with Syrio, that that was the first step to defying her God, Death. "Not today.." she whispers more for her benefit and she nudges Jaqen gently towards the right side of the wall. "Door there, hidden, would lead to the main hall if you took the right path. My brothers and I used to play in the compartments. We either go that way and hope to avoid, or go up the stairs and fight." She unsheathed the dagger she had stolen and then killed her guard with, the steel glinting in the faint light of the moon, much like her eyes burned with the inner fire of her rage that she kept firmly ahold of. "A Man and a Girl might escape unseen, if we try the hidden way..."
He realized she knew this keep as none other could for it was her home ... or had been at one time. Nothing here belonged to her anymore. Something more which they shared in the growing list of commonalities. His home was now in the hands of ...
He grimaced as she nudged him against the wall, his wounded shoulder taking the brunt as it grazed the rough stones. He reached out to steady himself, closing a hand tightly over her shoulder and meeting her gaze with clear understanding. Their best option was secrecy for it wouldn't be long before the guard's corpse was discovered and their flight common knowledge. Greyjoy would send his men out in droves, risk all that he'd gained to get Arya back into his waiting hold. She was a trump in his hand at the game that would serve to secure his precarious stand. If he were to wed a Stark then rightful claim of Winterfell would be his to own. Yet again regret cloaked Jaqen's shoulders. He KNEW the danger of bringing her back here and yet he'd allowed her to suit her whim. br / br / "A man is not in his best fighting form at the moment, but have no doubt he could best any Ironborn given necessity." He glanced toward the door which she'd earlier indicated. "However, chances increase within stealth's shadowed grasp."
Then we go the hidden way." she reached out and pressed on a stone and a door opened slowly, giving way to more darkness. Stairs led to the side and down for a few flights before the path got smaller, they would have to walk for a few feet, backs pressed literally to the wall. She turned back to him after the door opened and noticed, for the first time, how he stood, how pale he looked as he grabbed her shoulder as if to steady himself. Worry flooded her eyes as she took his hand in hers, helping him to steady himself. "Your hurt..." her words whispered softly, carried the worry and the guilt she felt. It was her fault he was hurt thusly, for it had been herself who had made him come, made him take her here that led to this moment. She was flooded with shame at bringing him pain, and anger at those who had done so.
Taking his hand more firmly into her own, she gave it a light squeeze before her eyes again hardened. She would get them out, somehow, lead him as far as she knew and hoped it led past the gates. "Hold tight Jaqen, I will be your eyes in the darkness. This girl might be a wolf when free, but she is also the mouse, skittering silently across the floor, unseen, unheard, by the cat." Turning back to the door, she breathed deep, whispered another "Not Today..." faintly, repeating it over and over in her mind, did she lead them into the near pitch blackness that was the inside of the castles walls. Bare glimpses of light pierced through, here and there, but she knew these passages, and led them true as she could, unseen, unheard, or so she hoped. Their breathing their only company, she kept close watch upon Jaqen, for she knew he was more hurt then he let on and again her very being was filled with hell fire! She would return one day, and make all of them pay!
'Not today' The words of a Braavosi water dancer. He knew them well. A smile lit the darkness of his effort as he interlaced their fingers and allowed her the lead. It was a rare indulgence, but he had to submit to reality's stronghold if only this one time. The narrow, winding passageways were unfamiliar though undaunting. Still he had to admit to his disadvantage. Pain wasn't the hampering factor as he was well trained to ignore its inhabitance, but he'd lost enough blood to bring him to weakness. And so he followed in silent accord, his footfalls certain despite the occasional waves of dizziness that threatened to capsize him./
She was no fool, she could tell how hard it was for him as she led him deeper into the heart of the castle. His breathing changed as she pulled up, having reached the other side after a few moments of uncertainty and slow going. She looked back at him, to see how he was for she knew he was fading, felt it in his grasp, heard it in the slight shuffling of his steps. Worry tinged her face for a moment as she turned back to the door and slowly opened it. Peeking through, blinking a bit at the light that flooded the darkness around them. "good, just as I thought. Main Hall..."She presses her back to the wall to allow him to see past as she points through the hall to the open door and beyond it, the gates. "It's empty, I don't like it." She looks back at Jaqen and decides they can't wait. She would drag or carry him out if she had to but she wouldn't leave him behind if he collapsed. "Think we can make it?" her own breathing had picked up, as had her heartbeat. Her eyes darting about, looking for the slightest movement around them, her ears again straining for the slightest out of place sound. "The forest is just beyond the Gate, and an Ironborn is no match for a wolf in her own path. we can easily lose them, if we can just get to the forest beyond the gate." she turned to him for his opinion, for he had more experience in this sort of thing then she. "What does a Man say? Can He and a girl make it through the gates?"/
He met her gaze with mild disdain. "A man is fine," he lied as he flattened himself to the wall beside her. His breathing was ragged and sweat ran in small rivulets down his temples. He had to believe they would make it regardless of the fact that the odds were against them. To believe anything otherwise would be their defeat. Ahead loomed the Great Hall. Devoid of occupancy, tapestried panels woven with hunting scenes covered the walls. Ornate iron stands held flickering candles. There were bear skin laid out on the tiled floor. A long narrow table flanked by wooden benches took up the Hall's center. At the far end beyond it, were widely flung doors. Concentrating on the task that lay ahead of them - the management of passing undetected from their present position to the outer baily - distracted him from his troubled thoughts. If they were to encounter guarded opposition he would have to fight with his hands since he'd been disarmed when tossed in the cell. He drew a deep breath and squared back his shoulders. "A man says he and a girl are on their own. May the Red God be with us." He gave her hand a tight squeeze before letting it go, then did something he could not explain nor gave a care to. He lowered his head and sought out her lips, brushing his own to their fullness before nodding toward the Hall and stepping out of the darkness into the room.
All her senses straining to the surroundings around them, she looked back and took in his countenance. the sweat that rained down his skin, and the raggedness of his breathing told her of his lie, but she said nothing. The Great Hall looked devoid of life, but it could be a trick as well. Theon knew well that she knew these halls better then he did, and he had only to wait once he discovered her missing for her to come to him! She could ill afford such a thought now, and pushed it out of her mind, for the doors were wide opened and freedom beckoned. She nodded at his words and as he let go of her hand, she looked up at him to smile softly, only to be taken by complete surprise when he kissed her! Had she time to focus on the moment, her heart would have raced away with her, her body would have flushed with warmth, but she squashed it as it raced through her. Escape first, plenty of time for that once they were safely away. /p
p class="MsoNormal"She stepped out behind him, dagger drawn just in case she should need it, gracefully flitting across the room, making no sound as she went. For she was the mouse, and her steps were silence. They reached the doors and relief began to flood her as they paused to look out of the Main Hall and into the courtyard. It was strangely empty and some emotion she had no name for slide up and down her spine as she cast her eyes about. A donkey chewed upon the grass as it waited in its flour pit, the smithy was in full force but the occupants busy and hardly paying attention. For now, it seemed, the Red God was with them. After checking one last time, the Open gates and the forest beyond became to much of a calling to her, that she grasped Jaqens hand roughly in her own, and tugged him none to gently forward, dropping his hand as she began to run! Freedom beckoned, but loyalty slowed her step to match her pace with his own. They reached the forest without so much as a hail after them and she took them deeper into its hold, through a moving river and into a thicket before they / br /"Your hurt..." she said again, after catching her breath. "Let me see..." she took two steps towards him, reaching out her hands to the ties and straps of his armor. She knew his shoulder was more wounded then he let on, and her Ama, had taught her a little of healing. She did not think what her actions would seem to him as she reached to remove the armor that hid his wound.
He was back in his element now, having no need of assistance to further their progress ... or should be having none ... The forest unexpectedly changed its character. Birds that passed croaking overhead seemed to be calling a name he could not catch. Trees looked as though they were human figures frozen in the midst of some contorted movement. Somewhere up ahead there was a rustling and the sharp crack of a fallen branch giving way beneath the heavy snow. For a few tense seconds he crouched in preparation to feint off an attack, relieved to discover that none was forthcoming. He suddenly lost all sense of direction, his weight increasing toward impossible carriage.
"You're hurt." He raised his head toward the voice, seeing her through a haze of confusion. A hand reaching out to unfasten his armour met with a swipe of his own in refusal. "A man is fine as he told a girl before.
her eyes met his own, seeing the confusion in his eyes as hers bore into him. Her hands, paused their movement at his swipe but a small smirk lit her lips faintly before it fled and she hid her emotions again. "Jaqen, you are not fine. Look at you, you can barely stand." her voice both soft yet stern as if disciplining a wayward child. "I'm not going to look at you, just remove the Braces so that I can see your shoulder. Hold still..." She lowers her voice at the last as it went soft, her eyes never leaving his "and let me help you..." again, she reached up towards his armor, having to smirk at his attempt to stop her. She would have her way, or she would wait till he fainted and then help him nonetheless, she just hoped he would do as she bid without further complaint./
Glowering, he shook his head in attempt to clear it while with the same motion continuing in his persistent refusal. Instant regret became his possessor as the woods spun around him in dizzying circles. "Hold still for what?" He forced the words through teeth gritted swallowing back the bile that rose in his throat. Again he lifted his hand and pushed hers away. "A man could stand just fine if he had half a mind to. A girl should sit as well and stop pressing concern where none is warranted." He shifted, pulling just out of her reach.
she had had enough of this bravado when it was clear, to her, that he was not just hurt, but in trouble! Reaching out a hand, made rough in her anger did she grasp one of his own in hers and squeezed a little to hard as she turned him to face her. She saw the blood that soaked the cloth around the armor and that gave her new strength as it was now her turn to take his chin into her fingers, glaring hard at him, letting her see both her anger and her worry. "Jaqen, you sit still this instant and let me see to your shoulder! You are bleeding, more so then you should and don't try to tell this girl that you aren't!" her eyes flashed as she held his confused gaze, letting go of his chin, did she again reach for the straps that held his shoulder armor in place, he could fight all he wanted, she would not be stopped nor hindered in this endeavor. In the end, her persistence won out and she managed to undo the main strap to the braces and gently as she could, removed the arm and shoulder armor. She felt instantly sick to her stomach the second she laid eyes to his wound and her emotions got the better of her as they showed upon her face. "You ARE hurt...badly!" her words filled more with shame then anger. "Don't move, you will just lose more blood." she got up and broke off a small birch twig with her dagger and shaped it, as best she could into a needle of sorts, she then cut a small piece of fabric from her own shirt, one for a bandage, the other she pulled small threads from and drew them from the needle she had crafted earlier before returning to his side. Saying a prayer to the Red God and casting up thanks to her Nana and Brother both for teaching her the ways of the healer, or as best as the could teach her, she took his arm back into her hand and cast her eyes up to his. "This will hurt...but it must be done, the girl asks permission before she does so." She bites her lip, looking into his cerulean eyes "A girl must do this, or a Man will die..."
"A girl tries a man's patience," he sighed in resignation. The loosened bracer fell to the snow, the blood soaked under surface quickly turning its color from white to dark red. She was right, of course. The wound needed tending. His strength had been waning since it was received. He knew he was on the brink of awareness and still he struggled through pretense of strength. Arya." Her name was a whisper as it left his lips. "A man asks for dignity. He ... Alright. Permission is granted. But speak of it to no one." It was the closest he'd ever come to death's door, the first time inattention to combat had owned him. By the old gods and the new and his own, he would be damned that would happen again.
" I would never tell Jaqen, not ever." She says softly as she got a better grip upon his arm, and settling beside him to get a better view. She inhaled softly and tried to imagine his flesh the cloth with which she had spent long, laborious hours over, stitching and making pretty designs she detested. Ignored the blood that rained down and across her fingers as she stitched the wound, tied a knot and began again. She was as gentle as she could be, given the circumstances, having never had to sew someone up before, but she knew how it was done. Once the last knot was tied, did she look at her handiwork and decided it would hold, if he as not to rough on himself for the next few days. getting up, she walked to the stream and washed her hands of his blood, watching as it melted into the streams clean water. Reaching out to grab a handful of grass did she weave a cup out of it and filled it with water and returned to his side once again. She cleaned the wound as best she could before wrapping it with the hem of her shirt that she had cut before, tucking the ends in upon itself so it wouldn't come out. Emptying the cup, she returned to the steam again and filled the cup yet again. Walking back to his side, she knelt beside him and propped his head up gently with her hand, in case he needed help, and offered him water. "Drink...you need it." all the time, her senses on alert for the slightest sound or smell around them, she wouldn't relax until they were well away from this place.
She settled down beside him, looking at him, wondering about his actions back at the castle, about the kiss he bestowed upon her, but was unsure how to go about asking him about it. Instead, she slipped her hand into his, entwining their fingers and leaned up to kiss him softly upon the cheek before settling back down beside him. "Rest...a girl will keep watch for now..." she had picked her spot well, Theon would have a hard time trying to find them here, hidden in the shadowed forests hold.