Just to clarify so you don't get confused,

this chapter begins after Aegon gives Arya Robb's crown (in the middle of the last chapter)

Have fun:)

Arya

She left Aegon's room with Robb's crown in her hand. Her eyes were swimming in tears. She couldn't let anyone see her like this, they will ask her questions and she would have to kill them all. She wanted to kill something to bury all these stirred emotions. She sneaked along the never ending walls of the Eyrie, through all the hidden pathways that she discovered in her short time here. She entered her room and closed the door swiftly yet silently behind her, then leaned her forehead on the heavy wooden door, releasing a long sad sigh.

She was not alone. She could smell Connington's musky scent from miles. He used it to try and cover up the smell of the ointment he used for treating his grey scale illness. But one of Arya's skills was concocting medicines, and she would recognize that smell everywhere, no matter how hard he try to hide it. Maybe she can kill him.

"Get out", she spat angrily, not even turning to look at him.

"We need to talk", he said in an annoyed tone, making it obvious that he didn't want to talk to her. That means it was concerning state affairs. She inhaled slowly through her nose and let out a long sigh. She turned to her little desk and gently placed the precious crown on it, not wanting to part from the only thing left of her brother. I will avenge your death, Robb, She swore. Connington cleared his throat to let her know he was still there. She turned to face him.

"Well?"

"Did the prince asked you to marry him?" he asked quietly. She had almost forgotten about that part of their conversation. Aegon wanted her to stop being the King's Justice and start being, well, his. He said that he didn't want to be with the Dornish princess, that he wanted her.

"Not exactly, but he implied it"

"Right", Connington said, scratching his gloved hand and flaring his nostrils. He looked as if he were searching for the right words to say to her. "Well, Lady Stark, I'm here to help you decide." She laughed in contempt, and made a little bow, "Thank you lord Connington, but no. if I need any advice on my love life I have my dear sister to advise me, she is an expert on that matter". He looked even more annoyed, and gave her a look full of loathing.

"Silly girl" he spat "your decision has effect on all the seven kingdoms; it is my duty to make sure you won't make a rash one and destroy the lives of thousands. Now sit down and listen to me!" he sounded desperate, and it made her curious, so she sat down on her bed and looked silently at him, gesturing for him to continue.

"Look, the prince loves you, and I guess that you love him back, if a creature like you can still love something. He is a better man when he is around you. And, a pact between the North and house Targaryen will be strategically wise, but… but you… you are no princess. You are not fit to rule a kingdom. You will be the ruin of him and he will be the ruin of you. Yes, you play along perfect now, but if you become a princess, you cannot kill any more people. You will not get to continue with your revenge. You will have to smile and hug Freys, not slice them up in half. You will dance at Bolton's weddings; your hand will be kissed by people who had cursed your father's name, and you will smile to them and be polite. if you won't, if you will want to be your wonderful wild self, protecting the prince in battle, practicing sword with the local blacksmith, running barefoot with your wolf in the godswood… you will ruin Aegon's reputation and name, you will cause disputes and allegations, and you will make his life miserable." He walked to the desk and picked up Robb's crown. He placed it in her lap. He bent down so he can look up to her; his eyes were sad and old.

"I see that he gave you his gift. You know, when we were at the Twins they said that the night of the Red wedding your mom had gone crazy, seeing her last son being murdered by his own bannerman. One Frey bastard told me that she started pulling out her hair and scratching at her eyes as she saw her son's eyes shut forever and that she killed some halfwit cousin of his. He told me, that after ruining her pretty face, they didn't even want to rape her anymore, so they just stripped her and tossed her into the river, so the fish could have her if they want". He got up and walked to the window. Arya looked at her lap to find that she was clasping the crown so hard, it started to bend. She let it go and dug her nails in her hands instead. She was angry at Aegon all over again for not letting her go with him to the Twins.

"It will never end, your vengeance. It will never give you peace, either. If you say that you can let it all go and be happy and content with the prince and life at court, I will do all that is in my power to see you two together, because I know that he'll be the happiest man alive". He took a long pause, and gave her a meaningful look, to make sure she knew he was serious. "If not, my lady, you should end this now. Get your wolf and go free, lurk in the shadows to all the bad men out there, take your love stricken blacksmith with you, avenge your lost family. Let the Seven kingdoms have the best rulers it ever had and enjoy a long quiet peace".

He opened the door, "Whatever your choice is, remember that a king always has to act for the good of the realm." And he left.

Arya lay on her bed, watching the ceiling intensely. Her brother's crown was burning at her side, her mother's corpse vivid before her eyes, the sound of the horde cursing her father and calling for his death rang in her ears, and she could taste blood in her mouth and sense her Dire wolf calling for her to get back to her. her heart pumped icy water through her veins.

She was not done yet, not by a long shot. I'm sorry Dragon prince. She found a flagon of wine and drank it all.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

She snuck into Aegon's room by the open window; it reminded her of their first encounter. She looked at his sleeping form; she would not confuse him with anyone else now. He was so handsome, and he was smiling even in his sleep, his short silvery blond hair shined in the moonlight, his lean body relaxed and inviting. Arya realized that she had grown to love him. She didn't know how she could leave him, how she could cause him any pain. If she could just give him something… she wanted to kiss him goodbye, to ask him to understand. She decided that she will still be the King's Justice, at least for a bit longer, so she could still protect him, so she could see him marry another and let him out of her heart for good. She sighed, and he opened his eyes. He asked her what was wrong, and she hurried to leave, before she changed her mind. When he grabbed her and looked into her eyes, with so much love and tenderness she decided to give herself to him.

When they lay together it had felt like nothing before. She didn't want it to ever end. After their first time he whispered in her ear that he loved her, and he touched her face so gently she thought she might cry again, knowing what would follow this encounter. Instead of just walking away then, she pulled him to her again and then again.

When he pulled from her the third time he was exhausted. He lay on his back panting and closed his eyes. She knew that if she will stay the night she would stay forever. With great regret she managed to pull her unwilling body from the bed, quickly dressing.

When she left him he had the most heartbreaking face, she just wanted to run to him and hug him and tell him that it was all a joke, she was just teasing him… Nymeria was howling somewhere down the mountain, and it gave her back her resolve.

"It's for the good of the realm", she told him and closed the door behind her.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

She didn't want to go back to her room; he might try to find her there.

She didn't want to be alone with her thoughts, she might go back to him, or just kill some innocent by stander.

She could go to Sansa, hear her sister babble on how to be a lady and the arts of matching colors. Yes, Sansa was a great distraction, if she was awake. Arya started marching towards her sister's room. It's a pity Aegon didn't fall for Sansa, she would have been a great queen to him, and they would have beautiful babies. But on her way to Sansa Arya's feet took a sudden turn and she found herself standing in front of Gendry's room. She touched the little wolf on her neck, the little ornament he made for her, and immediately felt better. She can't trust Sansa, her sister was always pushing her to flirt with Aegon, she would probably convince her to go back to him and beg for his forgiveness. But Gendry was different, Gendry saw her pain, he knew her when everything was taken from her and he knew her soul, she can always trust Gendry, he was her only true friend.

She pushed the door gently and walked into his dark room. His sleeping face was lit by the moonlight. He was so unlike Aegon. His messy black hair cast a shadow on his closed eyes, and his mouth was set in an angry line. His body was big and muscled, and he looked like he was going to attack if someone was to get near him. Arya decided to take that chance and climb into his bed. She snuggled close to him and he opened his eyes slowly. His eyes met hers, and he probably saw something there, because he wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her close to his warm body. She buried her face in his chest and started crying.

She hadn't cried like that since she was 7 years old, and her puppy just died. But then she had Jon to comfort her. Her favorite brother lost to her too, thousand miles away. She cried for him, and Robb, and her mother and father. She cried for Bran and Septa Mordane and Maester Luwin, she cried for Greywind and Lady and Yoren. Lommy, and Jory and Mikken. She cried for Aegon and the future they could share, she cried for the happy Arya Stark of winterfell and her innocence, lost forever. She kept on crying for all these painful years until she had no more tears to shed and she was just staring blankly, gasping for air.

All the while Gendry was holding her tight, stroking her hair, kissing the top of her head. He never said a word, never asked her what was wrong. And that was exactly what she needed. She fell asleep safe in his arms.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Gendry woke her up just before dawn.

"Arya, you should go and pack your things, we're leaving in a bit".

Her eyelashes were stuck together and she rubbed at them painfully. Her head was throbbing. She got up quickly, gave Gendry a little peck on his cheek and hurried along.

When she got back to her room she quickly wrapped all her stuff in a bundle and changed her clothes. She would never wear that dress again, so she left it there. She washed her face and hair quickly. She tied her hair in a loose pony tail and ran down to join the other men.

Harry was giving a long goodbye to Aegon and Connington, mainly talking about himself and his good hospitality. Arya tried to hide behind Gendry to avoid Aegon's pleading look, Gendry looked at her weirdly but didn't say a word. Sansa came to her and gave her a long hug.

"It was great seeing you Arya, be sure you visit here often. I want you to get to know your nephews." Arya nodded at her and gave her a nice little smile. Sansa lingered a bit, and then pulled Arya away from Gendry.

"I think you made a terrible choice, and you will come to regret it. You will not find a better man than him, believe me, I know". Arya's mouth dropped open, how could she possibly know? Sansa seemed pleased with Arya's reaction and gave her a wicked smile. "How do I know? Well, Petyr always talked about King's Landing full with Varys' little birds. Well, in the Vale I have my little butterflies. And with a beat of their wings they can also cause chaos." Arya frowned at her sister, and opened her mouth to tell her that she's just as bad as the others but Sansa's just laughed and pulled her closer.

"My butterflies fly all the way to King's Landing, yes. And they tell me that a very pleasant surprise awaits you there! You'll be so happy!" Sansa clasped her hands together and showed Arya her most graceful smile. Arya was getting annoyed.

"What is it?" she asked impatiently.

"Ooh, but for this secret you would have to pay"

"What do you want?"

Sansa's smile widened, "Oh, you know how I love songs about princes and ladies and happy endings. I want Lady Stark and the prince to have a perfect love story; I want you to give our prince another chance! You'll be perfect together, I just know it".

Arya knew that this would never happen, but what did she care if she lied to her sister to get what she wants. She looked at Aegon again, his face sad and strained, his shoulders slumped. "Fine", she said angrily. "What do I have waiting for me in king's landing?"

"Remember Arya, I have my butterflies everywhere, if you break your promise, there will be consequences… people can get hurt". Was Sansa threatening her? Her sister sure have changed.

"What IS it?" she asked, furious.

Her sister giggled merrily, "it's not what, silly, it's who".

Arya was losing her patience. "Who, then?"

"Why, it's your favorite bastard brother. It's Jon!"