A/N: Hey! Back with the next chapter, finally. what can I say, after last Sunday's GoT ep, I just couldn't face anything for a couple of days - I was even worse than reading the scene, little bit of PTSD I think - anyone else get that, or was it just me? In saying that, I am so looking forward to seeing Lady Stoneheart. But, I digress...
Thanks for all my reads, my favourites and my follows - you guys are awesome. ANd thank you to all my reviews, you're so generous, and I'm loving the feedback. Last chapter's lyric proved more elusive than the others, it was: 'I know that I will never be politically correct, and I don't give a damn about my lack of etiquette.' from Everything Louder than everything Else, by Meat Loaf. (Arya says it, towards the end of her talk with Aegon.)
This chapter's lyric is a little bit shorter, and it's from a song by David Guetta (I won't tell you who it features, I don't want to make it too easy :P). enjoy
xBx
Chapter 6: Arya
Arya left Aegon to the blazing row that would undoubtedly ensue in her absence: while Lord Connington had seemed to warm to her eventually, and Aegon had warmed to her quickly, the Princess Arianne of Dorne didn't seem to care for her too much, and Arya was certain the woman was struggling to refrain herself while Arya remained. Arya wasn't the least bit phased, at the end of the day, she had got what she came for: an alliance with Aegon, without having to bend the knee to the Iron Throne.
After taking back her sword and dagger, Prince Aegon's guards escorted Arya back to the main gates, where her men awaited her, she smiled at her men as she approached and gave them a curt nod, telling them that all had gone according to plan.
"Open the gates and let them through." The guard commanded, and the men posted on the gates hastily obliged, Nymeria immediately bounding through everyone to make sure Arya was perfectly fine. Every man surrounding her took several hasty steps of retreat away from the beast, and the dogs around the kennels began to whine and yelp at the unfamiliar scent. Once Nymeria was satisfied that Arya was perfectly well, she sat on her hind legs, looking up expectantly. Arya smiled a small smile; this was what Nymeria did when she was ready to hunt.
Arya looked her direwolf right in the eyes, "Go hunt. When you return, find me. But make sure your pack stays in the woods." She told her, never breaking eye contact. She could feel the questioning looks from those around her, and knew they thought she was somewhat crazy thinking a wolf could understand such a command. But Nymeria was a direwolf, and she blinked once before turning and bounding back out of the gate.
Arya looked at the two men on the gate, "I have given Nymeria a command, and she will follow it. You would be wise to let her through the gate when she returns." She told them, "She will get through, one way or another. But at least if you let her through, there will be no bloodshed." Arya warned, before turning and following one of guards who had taken to leading her men around the castle.
"Your men will be able to camp in the tilt-yard: all the rooms and towers are taken – though His Grace will be able to find a room for you," The guard addressed Arya, as Maester Mathos came along side her with her horse in tow.
"I can remain with my men," Arya said, taking the reigns, "I would not wish to be an inconvenience."
"His Grace gave orders to find you a room, so a room you will have." The guard stated.
"Take the room, My Lady." Maester Mathos said quietly, "You're men will not think less of you. On the contrary, it will do them good to see you treated like the Princess you are by rights."
"I will see my men settled, and then I shall follow you back to the castle." Arya conceded, and the guard left them saying he would send someone out to them in an hour or so to take them to the bathhouse.
It took less than an hour for her and her men to set up camp, small in number as they were, and once the horses were unsaddle and tethered, Arya spoke quickly to the men who had become part of her council. Lothor Knott, Brynden Norrey, Roddick Liddle and Martyn Wull had all naturally emerged as leaders of the men as they travelled north, and it was these men who gathered around her now, along with Maester Mathos, to hear details of her meeting with Prince Aegon.
"He has given us what was requested, with very little argument." Arya said, "In all honesty, I am surprised by how little argument he presented." She admitted.
"You can be quite persuasive, My Lady," Lothor said with a grin, "You speak with a confidence that shows you believe you will have your way in the end, and that resistance with you is futile."
Arya gave a small shrug, "A man who fears losing, has already lost." She repeated the words Syrio Forel once spoke to her. "And besides, I believe that what I told them they already knew, with regards to the attitude of the north. I could see it their eyes, when I told them we would never kneel to the Iron Throne again, it did not come as a surprise: I don't think they had fully admitted it to themselves, but they knew I had the right of it."
"So what do we do now?" Roddick asked.
"We will remain here a few days – three at the most – to rest ourselves and when we leave we will be accompanied by fifty of Aegon's own men. I will acquire us some maps, and go through our route on the Morrow. I will also be able to tell you more of our full intentions tomorrow, after I have spoken again with Prince Aegon and his council. But when we leave, we will be going in search of the Brotherhood without Banners." She told them.
"Is that wise?" Mathos cautioned.
"Necessary." Arya stated, "Before I left Westeros, I spent many months with the Brotherhood," she told her men, "I have just heard the rumours that they may be looking for me – and have been since I disappeared. If we do not find them, they will find us. Besides, their numbers will be useful to us."
"You're thinking of bringing them under your banner?" Roddick confirmed.
"I am counting on it." Arya said, "But we will discuss it more on the Morrow, when we are better rested." She declared, looking up toward the entrance of the large tent. "Someone should be coming to show you around, I'm sure you are all desirous of bathing. We shall meet again in the large hall in a couple of hours for supper." She said, just as two new persons arrived: A young lad, and an even younger girl.
"Beg pardons for the interruption, Milady." The lad spoke, addressing her with a formal bow. "I was told to escort your men to the bath house. Lucie here is to escort you to a room where you may bathe in peace." he announced.
"Thank you. If you wait out side, my men will gather and follow you. Give me a moment, Lucie, and I will follow you directly." Arya said, moving to pick up her bedroll that contained her possessions, and slinging her quiver of bow and arrows over he shoulder and leaving the tent, saying over her shoulder as she went, "Tell your men what I have told you, I will see you all at supper."
Lucie led her through several corridors before ascending a good way up a spiral staircase, coming to a stop at a door where the Princess Arianne was waiting for them.
"I hope this room is acceptable, My Lady." Arianne announced with cold courtesy, "You must forgive me, with no prior knowledge of your arrival, nor your intention of staying, I was a little rushed."
"I've been sleeping on the ground for six weeks, and in a cramped cabin for a month before that," Arya said, "I am sure the room will be more than acceptable. I thank you for your hospitality. Are you ever going to tell me why you hate me so?" She then asked, "Or are you just going to continue to glare at me every time you see me?"
"I do not hate you." Arianne stiffly, "I just do not trust you."
"Why?" Arya asked.
"You are a Stark," Arianne declared, "Fraternising with a Stark woman has done us little good in the past."
Arya allowed herself a laugh, though her eyes showed no amusement, "Usually my name invokes trust: the honour of a Stark is almost legendary. But I see your concern. Rest assured, Arianne, I have no intention of involving my myself in a repeat of history: The likeness between my Aunt and I stops at looks, I have no desire to run away with a dragon belonging to a Martel." Arya then moved past Arianne into the room, depositing her belongings onto the bed, and immediately began to strip from her clothes to climb into the tub of hot water waiting for her.
The girl remained with Arya, helping her to wash her hair – something that Arya was reluctant to allow at first, but after nearly making Lucie cry, Arya tried to be extra nice. When the water had turned cold, and Arya had been scrubbed clean, she removed herself from the tub and sat in front of the fire to try and dry her hair, while Lucie went to remove Arya's clothes from her pack.
"Would you like me to fetch up the rest of your things, My Lady?" Lucie asked meekly, after pulling out the two dresses and the spare set of tunic and breeches, and clean underclothes.
Arya gave an amused smile, but stopped herself from laughing, "That is everything I have with me. I like to travel light – you move quicker that way." She said. "I'll wear the grey dress this evening." She said, standing. Thinking back to Mathos' earlier words, it would be good for her men to see her as a Lady – or Princess, as she supposed she technically was. Lucie helped her on with her gown, before pulling Arya's hair into a braid that knotted at the nape of her neck. Fastening her sword and dagger back around her waist, she exited her room and made for the hall; she most likely didn't need her steel, but she always felt better with Needle at her side.
When she entered the hall, she found her men seated on a table at the end of the hall, each and every one rose when she joined them, and she saw more than one appreciative glance as they took in their leader dressed like a woman for the first time.
"You don't have to rise on my account," Arya smiled, taking a seat, "Who has the wine?" She asked.
"Allow me, My Lady." Brynden Norrey said quietly; he was the youngest of her leading men, and fairly quiet – at first glance one wouldn't put him as an obvious leader, but he had a way with words that left little objection and he instilled such loyalty that men would willingly follow him off a cliff if he asked them to.
"Thank you, Bryn." Arya smiled, "You were quiet earlier, when we discussed searching for the Brotherhood." She said as she was served food by a passing serving girl. "What are your thoughts?"
"I will reserve judgement until you tell us more." Brynden said simply. "But I swore my sword to you, I will follow wherever you lead. I trust your decisions." He told her.
At that moment there was a commotion at the doors; dogs began barking, and a few men let out a string of curses in shock and fear. Turning to view the commotion, Arya saw Nymeria making her way past tables and benches. Arya joined in with her men and laughed at the reactions of others – it had taken some time, but her men had become used to Nymeria's presence, and it seemed that just like her master, the direwolf held a certain charm that no one could resist. Nymeria laid at the bench on which Arya was sat, pushing her head into the space between Arya's legs and Brynden's.
"Here," Arya said, feeding her some food from her plate, "Though I know you've already eaten." She told the wolf: ever since Nymeria had returned to her side, their connection had grown stronger, and now Arya didn't need to slip into Nymeria's skin to sense her feelings. And right now, Nymeria was feeling the satisfaction of recently sated hunger, the taste of blood still lingering in her mouth. After eating her fill, Arya took her goblet and meandered through the hall with Nymeria at her back, failing to notice the many appreciative glances thrown her way by many of the men in the room, to take a seat next to Maester Samwell, whom she hadn't spoken to since their arrival. Out of everyone she had travelled with, Sam was the only one whom didn't cower at the first sight of Nymeria, and the direwolf had taken an almost immediate liking to him. When they reached him, Nymeria gave him the same look she had given Arya, and Sam was about to feed her some leftovers when Arya stopped him.
"Don't bother, Sam." Arya smiled, taking a seat, "She's already been given plenty from my men and I. And she's been hunting. She's just being greedy."
Sam smiled shyly, and put the scraps back on the table, while Nymeria gave Arya a reproachful look, before settling on the floor.
"You set off again tomorrow?" Arya asked.
Sam nodded, "Yes. Prince Aegon has given us men from his dungeon, and Big Al has convinced a few boys to follow us as well. Are you continuing with us?" He asked.
Arya shook her head, "No. Prince Aegon and I have more to discuss. I'll be here another day, possibly two." She said, "I'll miss you Sam." Arya told him suddenly, "I've enjoyed talking with you, about Jon. It's nice to know he has a good friend."
As they had travelled from Oldtown, Arya had grown to like Sam more and more. The more time they spent together, the less shy he became and the more he talked. Before long, he could even look at her while talking to her. Sam also had a gift with animals: as well as befriending Nymeria quickly, Arya's raven had also taken a shine to the man – and thanks to Sam, the raven's vocabulary had expanded to include words in the common tongue, as well as Braavosi.
"I'll miss you too." Sam said, so quietly Arya almost missed it, "You're very like Jon. Not many people have patience with me, or listen to what I say; I think they find me boring. It's nice to have someone listen." He said simply.
"Sam, I have a favour to ask of you, as you travel north." Arya said, "Two favours actually."
Sam nodded, "Anything." He smiled.
"When you reach the North, will you and your brothers spread word of my return? I know whispers will have already left Oldtown, but I want more than whispers. I need men,but they won't come to me if the don't know about me. Of course, you will have to show discretion when choosing whom to tell: The Greyjoys, for example, can go without knowing for a while longer. And no one needs to know about my alliance with Prince Aegon," she added, "the less people who know about that, the better for both of us I would think. I don't want to risk word of our alliance reaching the Lannisters anytime soon." Arya said thoughtfully, glancing up at the top table, before looking back at Sam. "Could you do that?"
Sam nodded, "Of course. But the more people we tell, the quicker it will get to the Iron Men, eventually. It's likely they will be ready for you by the time you make it past the Neck." He said.
Arya nodded, "I know." She said, "Leave that to me, I'll figure something out."
"You said there were two favours." Sam reminded her.
"Yes." Arya smiled, and pulled out a scroll from her sleeve, "Could you deliver this to Jon. It is only a small note, telling him of my intentions, and that I am still alive." She said. Sam nodded, "Thank you, Sam." She said, before taking her leave of him, and going to say her farewells to Big Al and young Calloway.
The next morning found Arya once again in Prince Aegon's map room, this time with his entire council present, and accompanied by two of her own men: Brynden Norrey and Roddick Liddle.
Arya and her men remained silent as Aegon told his council of the plans he had begun to form yesterday.
"With Lady Stark, and the Brotherhood, keeping the Lannisters at the Rock from crossing the Riverlands, we should have enough strength to take King's Landing, once the Dornish armies join us." Aegon declared to his men, and Arya noted a few wary faces.
"How can we be certain Lady Stark will succeed with the Brotherhood?" One of the men asked; Arya believed his name was Strickland.
"Because I never fail." Arya spoke confidently. "The certainty of the Brotherhood is not what we need to discuss. Timing is what we should be focusing on. You would be foolish to set forth until I have reached the brotherhood. If you can spare me half a dozen ravens, to take with me when my men and I leave, I can keep you informed of my progress." She said.
"Ravens can be intercepted," Strickland spoke again, as Aegon was nodding his acquiescence.
"Then I will send men back with a message – but Raven's will be quicker. Prince Aegon is to send fifty men with me, two can return with a message if need be." Arya compromised.
"We can surmise, however, that it will take the Dornish armies as long to reach Storms End as it will for Lady Stark to gain the Brotherhood. Arianne, you should send for them." Aegon said.
"No." Arya said immediately, causing all of Aegon's men to stare at her abruptness.
"No?" Asked Arianne, clearly offended, "I serve Aegon, not you." She said.
"Dorne holds Myrcella, but Aegon holds you," Arya said directly to Arianne, "The allegiance of Dorne is in question - "
"How dare-" Arianne began to explode, but Arya spoke over her.
"Let me finish!" She commanded, "The allegiance of Dorne is in question among the common folk, and no doubt by the Lannisters also. You would be wise to use this to your advantage." Arya said carefully.
"Go on." Lord Connington said slowly, after a moment of silence.
"Call the army, but have them follow you a day or so behind, instead of join you." Arya said, "Leave people wondering: are they marching to join you? Or are they marching to take you in the rear?" She let the assumption hang in the air for a moment, before pressing on, "Plus, if you march on King's Landing without the Dornish host, you will seem a lot less of a threat, than if you march with them." She pointed out.
"And the Lannisters won't take the threat to King's Landing as seriously." Aegon finished. "Especially if they believe reinforcements will be coming from the Riverlands."
"You may even want to try and get a handful of men in there, before you attack. Bring them down from the inside out." Arya suggested.
The room was silent for a moment, and Arya had nothing more to say; her own course was of no significance to these men, and she wasn't about to indulge their curiosity that showed plainly on many of their faces.
"If we are done with my part in this, I will take my leave." Arya said, rising as she spoke, "No doubt you and your men have much and more to discuss."
She left them to it, returning with her own men to the tiltyard, where Nymeria was waiting for her by Maester Mathos who was tending to her raven.
"You'll have half a dozen more to tend to, come the Morrow." Arya said as she walked up to him, "Though I'm sure they won't give you half as much trouble as this one does." She said, as the bird took flight to perch itself on Arya's shoulder; it left her from time to time, to explore the surrounding area, but most of the time it either remained it's cage or on her shoulder.
"Do we leave on the Morrow?" Mathos asked, and Arya nodded.
"Yes, as soon as we break our fast, we will be ready to depart. Aegon will gather the men he is to send this evening, and they will join our camp at first light. Prince Aegon has also been kind enough to supply us with maps, a range of provisions, and another few tents." She told him. "Now, I am going to go to the training yard, and see what kind of men fight for the future King on the Iron Throne." Arya left the camp with Nymeria trotting at her heels; it had been a while since she had trained properly with a longsword.
She had been in the yard only ten minutes, but she was already drawing a crowd, as she went up against one of the younger men whom the Master at Arms had been training. He was a good mover, quick and agile, and matched Arya well, but in the end, Arya got the upper hand and got him to yield. After taking on another couple of newly trained boys, Arya stepped back from the yard to where Mathos and Lothor Knott had been watching on the sidelines.
"I've heard stories, from my Uncle, about your Aunt Lyanna." Mathos said with a smile, "Apparently she was good with a blade, though her father would never permit her to carry one. But I believe you have the edge on her, that's quite some talent you have." He told her.
"I have many more talents like it, I can assure you." Arya said. Before the conversation could progress, a young boy of about thirteen came toward them and spoke hesitantly to Arya.
"I never seen anyone fight like that." The lad said, "You were really good, but I've never seen that fighting style before."
Arya grinned, "The Water Dance of Braavos." She told him, "Or a version of it, at least. Do you know how to use a sword?"
The boy shrugged, "Some." He said, "I watch them every day when they do lessons. And I practice with branches and the like. But I haven't wielded proper steel against steel. And I never learnt that dance you said."
"What's your name?" Arya asked, looking at the boy carefully; he wasn't a highborn, that much she could see, and hear in his accent. He was nearly of a height with her, and well built; he had the makings of a good fighter, if he were to be given the right training. He also had a truthful face: lying would not come easy to this boy, she believed.
"Lomnick Storm." He said with a frown, "But people call me Lommy."
"I once knew a boy called Lommy," Arya said, an old memory coming back to her, one she thought was long forgotten. Before she could dwell she looked over at Lothor.
"Knott," Arya called out, "Would you be so kind as to lend my your sword?" She asked.
"Of course," Lothor said, somewhat confused, offering her his hilt. Arya withdrew the blade, tossed it from hand to hand, before offering the hilt in turn to Lommy.
Lommy looked at it wide eyed before looking back up at Arya, clearly unsure. "Wh...What..?" He stammered.
"Take it," Arya urged, "Lets see how well you've been observing." She said. When Lommy took the blade, Arya withdrew her own longsword from its sheath, and took up her stance. "Mirror me." She said.
Lommy looked at Arya's stance, and copied it hesitantly, when he got it right Arya smiled, "You're standing sideface." She explained, "It presents a smaller target to you enemy, thus making it harder for you to be hit. Now, lets dance." She said, and she parried forward, though she didn't use her full strength and speed.
Lommy had good reflexes, and knocked back every one of her thrusts, gaining in confidence with each block, as Arya gently coached him, "That's good." She told him, "You've been watching closely. With the right training you could be a very a good fighter."
At that moment, a young woman, who could only be Lommy's mother, came up to the group, shouting at the top of her lungs. "Lommy! What in seven hells do you think you're playing at?! Who did you steal that from?!"
"I didn't steal anything!" Lommy protested, turning red, clearly embarrassed by the scene.
"My apologies, My Lady." The woman said to Arya, "My son has been taught his proper place, but I'm afraid he oft forgets himself." She said, thwacking her son's head.
"Ow!" Lommy complained, rubbing the back of his head, while she hissed at him to give the sword back. Lommy handed the sword back to Lothor with a mumbled 'sorry' and 'thank you', now even redder than before.
"No apologies are needed." Arya said kindly, "Your son told me about watching the boys train, he said he practiced some himself. I offered him the steel, to try against me. Lommy has talent. Have you ever thought of squiring?" she asked the boy, but it was the mother who answered with a laugh.
"Squiring?!" She said, "He is no Lord's lesser son, he's a bastard and I'm just a kitchen wench. Who's going to look to the likes of him to be a squire, when there's better blood to pick from?" She said with a shake of her head.
Arya frowned, "Blood doesn't make a person what they are. There are some with the noblest of blood who wouldn't be able squire if their life depended on it." She said, and then shrugged, "I'd have him as my squire." She said suddenly, and the woman snorted.
"You have him then." She said, "Gods know, I could do with one less mouth to feed. He's got no steel mind, no armour or ought the like. All he has is what's on him now."
"I'm sure we'll find him something," Arya said, before looking at Lommy, "How about it? Do you want to be my squire while I take back the North? My men can train you to fight with steel while we travel, I can teach you the Water Dance, and archery, and some other useful things. Serve well and you could make it as a Knight, I can give you a title and lands; once I take back what is mine I will have the entire North at my disposal." She told him.
"Do you really mean it?" Lommy asked, looking like he didn't dare believe his ears.
Arya nodded, "Yes. But if you agree to follow me, there's no turning back, or turning your cloak. Cut me down, but it's you who has further to fall: If you betray me, either I will get you, or Nymeria will." She warned, glancing at the direwolf.
Lommy looked at the wolf, then back at Arya and nodded, before dropping to his knees, "I'm yours, milady." He said.
Arya smiled and looked at Lothor, "Knott, take him to the tent and introduce him to the men, and see about kitting him out and get him started with his training."
"Aye, My Lady," Lothor said, dragging Lommy to his feet, "Welcome to the pack, Lad." He said pushing him forward, "now let's get moving."
"Treat him well." The woman said, as she watched her son walk away.
"Of course." Arya said, "He's a squire to a Stark, well is the only way he'll be treated." She assured her, before following the others to the camp.
That night she dined at the high table with Prince Aegon and Arianne; while Arianne was still distant, she was a little less cold at least, and conversation was pleasant enough. Arya was awake at the break of dawn, gathering up her belongings she made her way to where her men were starting to stir and beginning to pack up ready to leave. It only took a couple of hours before they were on their way, accompanied by fifty of Aegon's men, who at first were flying Aegon's banner.
"You can put that down right now." Arya declared, "You don't see my banner flying: best we keep low for now." The men obeyed immediately, for which Arya was glad.
Her squire rode at her one side, Nymeria trotted at the other and her grey raven perched on her shoulder, squawking the odd word here and there, sometimes in Braavosi, sometimes in the common tongue.
When they moved out, they avoided the main road, keeping instead to the other side of the Kingswood. The closer they got to the Roseroad, the more Lannister outriders they began to come across; those that Nymeria and her pack didn't take out, Arya and her men finished off with little problem. Lommy bloodied his sword ten days into the march and was clearly pleased with himself.
Lommy would train with a different man of Arya's council each night after they made camp, and occasionally Arya would have him join her when she hunted birds and squirrels in the forest, teaching him the basics of the bow and arrow. They crossed the Roseroad two weeks after leaving Storms End, and from then on, it was relatively open land that they were crossing as they progressed further into the Reach. The further North they travelled, the deeper the snows became, though Arya knew they were nothing compared to the snow drifts of the North.
They had been travelling a total of three weeks when they were nearing the place where the Blackwater crossed the Goldroad. Every night, Arya slipped into Nymeria's skin and scouted the surrounding area, usually finding nothing except the odd Lannister scout here and there. But tonight was different; the scout she saw wasn't wearing Lannister crimson, and he wore no sigil on his surcoat. Arya could feel that Nymeria wanted to attack, but Arya held her back wanting to know more. She moved around the scout unseen, padding silently on four paws, despite the deep snow she was moving through. Further on she saw a camp, and counted at least a dozen men. Come back Arya thought, commanding Nymeria, before pulling back into herself.
She rose from her bed in the tent that Aegon had supplied her, which she shared with Mathos and Lommy, and moved out into the camp. She pulled Lommy to the side, along with Roddick, Martyn, Lothor and Brynden – her four stealthiest men. When they were a good distance from the fire, she spoke.
"We have company." She said quietly, showing no emotion, "They're hidden in the woods, only a dozen of them at camp. Probably the same number surrounding on all sides." None of her men questioned how she knew this, they just accepted that she did – perhaps they suspected of her unique relationship with Nymeria, but they never spoke it aloud.
"What do you want us to do?" Martyn asked, getting right to the point.
"We approach with caution. As quiet as possible." Arya whispered, "I want to take them by surprise; but they aren't bearing any sigils or colours." she explained.
"You think it might be members of the Brotherhood?" Brynden asked, ever the quick thinker.
"It's a possibility, but by no means a certainty, so we shouldn't let our guard down." Arya replied, "Try to refrain from killing – if they are part of the Brotherhood, I would hate for us to get off on the wrong foot. Get the upper hand, and find out who they are." She told them, "And stick as close together as possible."
"Why am I here?" Lommy whispered, and Arya grinned at him, she realised she had been ordering her men, saying 'you' instead of 'us'.
"Do you think I'd send out men and miss all the fun myself?" Arya asked him, "We're going first." She told him. "No plate and mail, only leathers. We want to be as quiet as possible."
Nymeria came into the camp at that moment; coming from behind Arya's tent, she sat on her hindquarters and waited patiently. Arya nodded to the men and moved, Lommy half a step behind her, the other four half a step behind him. They were walking for half an hour, following Nymeria into the woods, before Arya held up a hand in a silent command to stop.
Closing her own eyes, she looked out through Nymeria's that were better able to see in the pressing darkness. She saw three men, relatively close together; one directly in front, the others on either side. Opening her eyes, she looked at Martyn and Roddick and pointed them in the direction of the man to the left, before looking and Brynden and Lothor and signalling them to go right. Looking at Lommy, she signalled that they were moving straight ahead. She gave the signal and they all moved quiet and swift, though none as quiet and swift as Arya. When they accosted the unsuspecting lookouts, a small ruckus ensued: steel clashed with steel and shouts went up; the lookouts put up a good fight, but by the time the rest of the camp came to their men's aid Arya and her men had the three lookouts with steel at their throats, close together, with Nymeria patrolling between Arya's group and others.
"Put down your weapons, answer my questions, and your men will not be harmed." Arya called out clearly, "Attack us, and Nymeria and her pack will eat well tonight." In response to her words, howls erupted from all sides, giving the others pause. Slowly, steel and bows were lowered, and one of the men stepped forward cautiously.
Nymeria growled when she thought he came too close, but the man sheathed his sword slowly, and held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. He was close enough for Arya to make out some of his features. "Arya Stark?" he asked slowly.
Arya's grip on the blade she held at the lookout's throat didn't let up, despite her suspicion that these men may in fact be friends. "Who are you?" She demanded, though she thought she knew. She thought she recognised his features, but in the dark she was cautious.
The man smiled, "You once begged me to recognise you, a few years back, when you were travelling from Harranhal, disguised as a simple page, in the company of a baker and a blacksmith." She said, his smile broadening. "And now, I'm begging you to remember me."
Arya's breath hitched, and she even felt relief flooding through her. She relaxed her hold on the lookout. "Harwin." She said in recognition, releasing the lookout form her grip, giving a small smile of her own.
"At you service, My Lady." Harwin smiled, going down to one knee. "Stand down, men. This is Lady Arya Stark, heir to the Winterfell and the North."
A/N: So not a lot of action, but we're moving closer to it. And, of course, we're now one step closer to that meeting we're all so desperate for. Next chapter: Gendry.
Let me know what you thought, thanks for reading. Keep up to date with my progress on Twitter - follow me CelticPagan3 :)
xBx