When his boat reached Dragonstone, Ned ordered his men to be cautious but not to act unless expressly ordered to. They were met by Ser Jorah Mormont, Missandei and a group of Dothraki. They looked unimpressed and eager for a fight, some already had their weapons out. What he didn't see was Arya and he didn't see Daenerys.
"Lord Stark," Missandei said formally, speaking for them all. "We weren't expecting you, but please follow me. The Khaleesi awaits your arrival inside."
"Where is Arya?" he asked as he looked in all directions for this child.
"Please come inside. All will be made clear."
On the walk. he fell in line next to Mormont. "Not dead yet?"
"Not yet," he said with a humorless chuckle.
Ned decided to try and provoke him one more time. He'd never liked Jorah and he found his actions both despicable and dishonorable. "The bounty is still in place. It was a risk coming here."
"All things involve risk, including coming here but you and I and everyone else on this island have much bigger problems than my crimes."
His words gave Ned little relief as he neared and then entered a place he absolutely detested. Where was Arya?
R-C
She took a step closer, intending to take a look at the bruise. Arya wanted to ensure her sister was okay, but Sansa panicked. In a flurry she knocked over her chair and darted to her left, toward the window. "Stay back! Guards are close, I'll call them."
"Sansa calm down," she said slowly, taking even steps. She kept her hands in the air and showed off one scarred palm and one smooth. "I'm not here to hurt you. Why would you think that? You're my sister."
"T…they." When she stammered the words stopped completely. With Arya watching she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then her lips began to move as though she were talking to herself. Within seconds she opened her eyes and pinned Arya with a serious stare.
"Still using that old trick the Septa taught us?" Arya said with a laugh. She could hear the old hag's voice in her head. 'Ladies do not stutter,' she'd say. 'If you do, stop at once, close your eyes, take a few deep breathes and then count to ten.'
"Why are you here Arya? You shouldn't be here? How did you get in? And where did you find that dress it's hideous?"
Still the same old Sansa. Somethings never change. "I came to see you," she said, telling only half of the truth. "I visited most of the family in Winterfell, and then rode to the Wall to see Jon. You were the only person I had yet to see."
Less frightened now Sansa stood tall with her arms folded over her chest, a sure sign of her anger. "Well now you've seen me."
Arya's actions were deliberate, giving Sansa time to see what was happening. "I got this dress from a servant near the kitchens. I'll be burning it as soon as we're done here," she said, hoping her mention of the dress would ease some of the tension.
"Is she dead?" Sansa snapped bitterly.
"Seven Hells, I haven't killed anyone tonight. In fact, I released dozens of innocent women and children unharmed. Why do you assume I kill?"
Her eyes moved from side to side but never stayed on Arya for long. "They say you brought savages to kill everyone. The city is closed and they've doubled the number of guards."
"What else do they say about me?"
"That you brought the Targaryen with you, and that she wants the throne. They say you took Dragonstone and King's Landing is next. Guards whisper that you cut off the heads of children and sent them to the King. They say if your horde of beasts get inside the walls, they'll kill the men and enslave the women."
A wave of pride rushed through her. "Wow. Sounds like I've been a very popular topic around here. All of that is shit." She thought she was done, a clear rebuttal, but then she realized something. "Oh, you were right on one count, I did come with the Targaryen, but Daenerys has no desire for the throne. In fact, I think she covets it less than me, and I personally think the swords should be used to kill King Robert and then be melted down and dumped in the sea."
"If you're not here for the throne, why are you here?"
She shrugged, an action that no longer hurt. "I told you, I wanted to see you and make sure you're okay." She angled her chin toward the bruise on Sansa's throat. "Can I take a look at that?"
Sansa instantly covered the mark with her hand while she blushed. "It's nothing."
"You don't have to live like this," Arya said, and she didn't mean the castle and the opulent things. "I can help you."
"Help me? Now you want to help me? I'd be married already if you hadn't taken Dragonstone. The stress is making everything worse. Just like always you keep messing everything up."
She didn't want to be, but Arya was hurt by the words. "Helping you is what got me into this in the first place," she reminded her sister. "If I hadn't come in…"
"Stop!" Sansa said loudly. "I don't want to talk about that."
"He would have raped you," Arya stated simply, "and we both know it."
"You don't know that!" she said, using a finger to point at Arya. "You don't understand. He was drunk and it was a mistake. He apologized. It wasn't a big deal." She said all the right things but the Khal didn't believe her. It was like an actor delivering the proper line, at exactly the right moment. It was too perfect to be true.
"It is a big deal. If he's done it once, he'll do it again."
Sansa was growing frustrated. She threw her hands in the air. "You don't know Joffrey. You don't know anything."
"I may know little of Joffrey, but I've known plenty of men like him or worse. He won't stop, he can't."
She looked to the ceiling and sighed. "Gods, its just like when we were children, you show up at the worst time and make everything worse. Can't you do this one thing for me and leave?"
Again, Sansa's harsh words tore right through her. "Do something for you? I went into exile for you or doesn't that count? I stood there in front of the whole court and listened to Joffrey lie, I listened to other people lie, saying I attacked him without cause. One by one they stepped forward and they lied." Grey eyes glared at Sansa as she remembered.
"I didn't lie," she said feebly.
"No, you didn't say anything, not one word to defend me." She shook her head. "I knew nothing I said would matter, so I made no statement, not even when they put me on the boat. I didn't tell father or anyone else you were almost raped. I kept that secret, never once speaking about it in all the years I was in Essos."
"Why would you do that?"
"For you! I did it for you. I hate Joffrey, but you're my sister."
"Everyone makes mistakes," Sansa said, trying to defend the indefensible. "If he hadn't been drinking he wouldn't have…" Arya recognized the lie when she heard it. Sansa was a much better liar than she had been before, but Arya still noticed the way her eyes would dart from side to side, giving her away.
"Was that another mistake?" Arya asked, drawing attention to the bruise again. "I know what it's like Sansa, to be trapped under a bigger stronger man who thinks he can just take what he wants from you. It happened while I was gone, so believe me when I tell you I understand better than you think."
"What happened?"
"It doesn't matter, what matters is now. Do you want to stay here and marry Joffrey? Is being Queen really that important to you?"
"I'm sworn to Joffrey and I will marry him. I love him," she recited in a well practiced way. Casually Arya wondered how many times Sansa had said those words? Enough to convince even herself?
"I won't force you to leave," Arya said, concerned with the time this was taking. "I won't, but I can get you out of the city. You can be free to live your own life, find a love that wasn't picked for you and see how big the world is. I've done all of these things and I promise they are so much better than this," she said, holding her hands out gesturing to the lavish decorations.
She paced while she waited for Sansa's refusal. She never expected her sister to accept her offer but she knew she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't try. "Can you really help?" Sansa quizzed after a long stretch of nothing.
A weight Arya didn't realize she was carrying lifted from deep in her chest. "Yes, I can. My men are nearby, they'll escort you wherever you want to go. Winterfell, if you want, anywhere."
"You have men? It's still hard to believe."
"Start packing, one bag, choose the things you can't live without."
Sansa was in the process of undressing as she pointed to the corner of the room. "Move that table, underneath is loose stones."
Arya did as she was told and sure enough found that six of the eight stones were removable. Inside was a secret compartment, with a leather bag. She lifted it out and then replaced the stones. By the time she had the table back in place Sansa was wearing a red dress and her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail. She held out her hand to take the bag. "What is this?"
"My most important things," Sansa said as she opened it up and checked the contents. Arya couldn't see inside, but Sansa seemed pleased with what she found. "I've been waiting for a chance to escape for years. I even tried once, before the guards caught me and returned me to him. A friend's been helping me, but we're still months or maybe a year away from being ready."
"My men are ready tonight. They'll protect you and get you where you need to go." She thought of the Dothraki who screamed their voices raw outside King's Landing for her. "They aren't much for conversation, but they'll keep you safe."
"What about you?"
"I have other plans," she admitted. "Does Joffrey still sleep in the same room?"
"Yes."
"What about Tommen and Myrcella?"
"Their chambers are on either side of Joffrey's, Tommen's first then Myrcella's. Why? What are you doing Arya?"
"I won't harm the younger two," she swore. "I just need to get Robert's attention."
"What does that mean?" she asked as they left the safety of her room and began moving down the hall. Arya was carrying the bag, doing her best to look like Sansa's handmaiden.
"Where will I tell father you've gone? He's going to ask."
Sansa's hand on her arm stopped her from continuing on. "Arya, father's not here."
"What do you mean he's not here, he's the Hand of the King." Her plan had very specific steps, return Stannis, visit Sansa, visit their father and then take something Robert actually cared about. During the escape she also hoped she might be able to free her captured man, if he wasn't yet dead.
Pulling Arya into a dark alcove where they could speak freely, she whispered, "King Robert sent father to Dragonstone to negotiate with you."
That was unexpected, but good. "Fine, he'll be safe there and I can talk to him when I get back."
Turning around she headed toward the area of the keep reserved for the royal family. The number of guards was staggering, patrols, two-man teams stationed outside nearly every door, but Arya had come too far to quit now. To her amazement, not a single guard questioned her presence as she followed Sansa.
They stopped and Arya took a minute to gather information. Best she could tell there were three six-man patrols wandering this portion of the castle. In addition, each of the royals had two Gold Cloaks positioned at their door. "How many men are inside with Joffrey? Do you know?"
Sansa looked down at her shorter sister. "Inside the room? None, just those two outside."
"What about when he wakes up?"
"Then the Hound follows him wherever he goes," Sansa explained.
"Fuck he isn't dead yet," Arya hissed. The Hound had been one of the people who lied when she was brought before King Robert. She'd wished him dead often in the years since.
Drawing her dagger, she looked over her shoulder at Sansa. "Do you remember how to get down to the sewer, that grate in the floor near the room where I used to meet my dancing instructor? I'll meet you there when I'm done."
"No!" Sansa refused. Arya ignored her and took the first step toward the Gold Cloaks. Before she could take another Sansa had freed her hair from the ponytail and was shaking it out, fluffing it with her fingers. "Follow my lead."
With a confidence Arya hadn't see in her sister she walked right up to Joffrey's door and spoke to the guards. Within seconds they were opening it for her. She waved Arya over and the guards barely glanced at her as she slipped inside. "What in Seven Hells was that?" she whispered.
"They think I'm here for sex," Sansa admitted, her cheeks burning, "and they think you're going to join us."
More than a little impressed, she smiled gently. "Nice thinking. Now stay here."
As she crept up to a sleeping Joffrey it occurred to her just how easy it would to end his life. She'd be doing the world a favor. He was going to be a terrible King, but that was Westeros's problem, not hers. His hurting Sansa was harder to overlook. She wanted to close her hand around his throat and squeeze until he had a bruise far worse than Sansa's. She wanted to hear him beg for his life before she ended it, but she needed to focus. Robert was the prize, Joffrey was just the bait.
With one hand covering his mouth he woke for only a second before she used the handle of the heavy dagger to knock him unconscious. She bound and gagged the Prince and then glanced at Sansa who was watching with her mouth gaping open in a very unladylike way.
"Call for the guards."
Sansa hesitated, but Arya nodded to assure her it was right. The sun would rise soon and there was still a lot to be done.
The door opened, shielding Arya from view with the wood. She listened through it as Sansa said she thought there was something wrong with Joffrey. Hurrying in to check on their charge, they left themselves vulnerable. When they were both inside she kicked the door closed and attacked their backs. The first man didn't stand a chance, she grabbed his hair in one hand and pulled his head down toward the blade. Three rapid thrusts kept him docile, mute and dying.
The second guard had been well trained. When he heard Arya's attack, he stepped away to assess the situation and drew his weapon. Her dagger no longer sufficient she bent down and took the dead man's sword. As the combat stole valuable time, she knew she needed to hurry When he lunged for her, she could see his angry green eyes. He wanted her dead.
Her plan was to kick him in the groin the next time he got close enough. The guard, whoever he was, never got within range of her boot, instead the room echoed with a deafening crack. Behind him, she could see Sansa, holding a silver serving tray in both hands like a battle axe. The guard whose ears were liking ringing inside his helmet turned away from Arya and looked at Sansa in shock. That opening was enough. He pulled back his hand meaning to strike Sansa, but Arya got him first, slashing him across the middle.
His scream was loud, and immediately had Arya worried. On his hands and knees in front of her, she brought the sword down hard and took his head, but she still feared someone overheard. If they did, they would be arriving soon and she and Sansa needed to be somewhere else. "Thank you," she said earnestly before Sansa dropped the tray. Reaching out with a bloody hand she waited for Sansa to take it. "Come on, someone heard that, more guards are on their way."
Her sister remained perfectly calm, looking at the headless body. "No one heard," she said confidently. "You can't hear anything through these walls, trust me."
Arya didn't want to even consider how Sansa knew that. The elder Stark extending her hand, offering a cloth. "Clean the blood and we'll go. Where do you want to go next?"
"Can you find paper?"
"At the desk," Sansa pointed.
She wrote in quick, barely legible handwriting, just as she'd done with Stannis. It took less than two minutes but Arya could feel her time was running out. "Can you lift him?" Arya asked Sansa.
"I think so, why?"
"Take the gag from his mouth and prop him up, as if you're helping him walk. If anyone asks, he's drunk and you're aiding him. If they question where you're going, say Cersei wants to see her son. That should keep anyone from checking too closely."
"What about you? People are beginning to wake Arya, if they catch you…"
"They won't. Go please, I'll meet you. If you get to the sewers before I do, don't wait, just go, I'll catch up."
Desperate to get out of the dress she traded it in for Gold Cloak armor. There was a time when wearing such steel would have pleased her, been the fulfillment of a lifetime of dreams and wishes but now it was nothing.
Rather than take the hall and deal with another four Gold Cloaks at least, Arya went to the balcony. It had a marvelous view she noted, before she climbed over the right side and jumped for the balcony next door. If Sansa's memory was valid, she'd be going to Myrcella first. Standing over the King's only daughter she hesitated briefly. She wouldn't harm her, that wasn't why she'd come, but even doing what she planned made her feel dirty. When the note was finished she stuck it to the headboard of Myrcella's bed, using the bloody dagger to keep it in place. As she was turning to go she watched blood drip down and land on the unsuspecting girl's hair. Her guilt only grew.
She smiled as she landed back on the center balcony. She wouldn't have been able to do that in a dress. The jump to Tommen's was longer. She almost didn't make it. Hanging by the tips of her fingers while she frantically tried to lift her body, the first colors of sunlight warmed her already sweating skin. Time really had run out. How long before someone came calling on Joffrey? They'd find the guards, they'd find one missing armor and they'd search every Gold Cloak in the keep. She needed to hurry.
In Tommen's room she did as she had in Myrcella's. She let him sleep, leaving a note above his bed, held there by the Gold Cloak's sword. If Arya could say so, it left a pretty dramatic looking scene.
The return trip to Joffrey's balcony went much smoother. Inside she debated whether it was better to be a Gold Cloak or an unknowing servant now that the castle was waking. She wanted to carry a sword, she felt safer with it in her hands but the truth was undeniable. Once they found a guard without armor, she'd be discovered. A serving girl in a dress on the other hand, would largely go unnoticed.
She put on the ugly dress again and then did what she could to redress the dead man. When it was finished she slipped out into the hall, put her head down and started walking as fast as she could without running.
The keep was busy, guards everywhere, servants moving in all directions to ready things for the upcoming day. She did what she could to join them, hoping to look like just another faceless young woman who played a small part in keeping the castle running smoothly. Carrying a basin of water to add to the charade, she rounded the corner and her heart stilled in her chest. Sansa was there, propping up Joffrey, while she spoke to the Imp. Without weapons, armed with only a bowl of water and wearing a dress, Arya prepared to kill Tyrion Lannister.
She took stock of the dangers. In addition to Tyrion there was a guard posted at each end of the hall. Luckily the middle, where Sansa and Tyrion were, was unguarded. She'd need to be quick and within seconds all of the keep would be after them, but she could do it, if she had to.
When she got close enough she heard Tyrion say, "Oh really? Well that was unexpected." There was something in his voice she couldn't identify. He sounded pleased.
Arya moved faster in response. "Lady Sansa," she called, "I have that water you asked for."
She arrived next to her sister and found her smiling along with Tyrion. "And you must be Arya. Pleasure to see you again."
She ignored him completely. "Sansa what have you done?"
"Arya calm down!" she hissed. "Tyrion is my friend, he's the friend who's been helping me prepare to leave King's Landing."
She pivoted and looked at the Lannister with new eyes. "You're helping her?"
"We should continue this conversation, while we walk. If anyone stops us, let me do the talking." Being stronger, Arya took over the task of supporting Joffrey and Sansa looked relieved to be done with the burden.
"You're helping her?" Arya repeated when they were in motion.
"No one should be forced to live with a man like my nephew, regardless of his title. He's a self-indulged, spoiled, ass who takes pleasure from hurting those around him because he knows they can't object. Well I can, and I do."
"Tyrion protected me from Joffrey. He'd find reasons to keep us apart, and make sure he was nearby if Joffrey was in one of his moods," Sansa explained.
"Thank you," Arya said between grunts as she dragged his body toward the entrance to the sewer.
"Yes, yes, I'm the hero of the day. They'll be songs and there'll be statues. How glorious it'll all be. What of Myrcella and Tommen?" Tyrion inquired.
"Sleeping safely in their beds, they never knew I was there."
"So why were you there? Why go to them at all?" Tyrion wondered.
"To prove I could. If I did it once, they'll have to wonder if I might do it again. Tell them I took Sansa and Joffrey and I'll expect the King to be in touch."
"Oh, you'll hear from him," the dwarf predicted. "You left him little choice."
"Good. Check the storage rooms near the kitchen, you'll find Stannis if someone hasn't already."
"He's alive?"
"Do you know what happened to my man? The one they took captive?" she asked, already doubting her ability to free him from the heavily fortified dungeon.
"Died overnight. He came in with grave wounds according to Jaime. He went down fighting, killed a Maester and a castle guard with nothing more than what the Maester left within arms reach."
She smiled a grim smile. "That sounded about right."
She bound and gagged Joffrey with practiced ease. Next to her Tyrion and Sansa were whispering together. She wasn't trying to listen, but she was too close not to.
"I'll contact you at High Garden, perhaps we can have wine together without fear of who might be listening."
She laughed, it was light and airy and real. "I would like that. Thank you, Tyrion, thank you for everything you've done." She sank down and kissed his cheek, causing the infamous Lannister to blush, a singularly rare feat she was sure.
"I hope you know what you're doing Stark, because a lot of people you love are going to die if you don't," Tyrion commented as she followed after Sansa, dragging Joffrey with her.
"I guess we'll see soon enough. Thank you, and goodbye Lannister."
"Goodbye Stark."
R-C
When he entered that room, he fully expected to find Daenerys sitting on the throne exactly as her ancestors once had. Instead the throne remained empty and she sat in a simple wooden chair. Another waited empty across from her, the implication clear. She stood when she saw him, approaching with Dothraki flanking her. "Thank you, Ser," she said to Jorah warmly. "Lord Stark, this is an unexpected visit. Please sit. Are you well? I can have some food prepared if you're hungry."
"I didn't come for food," he snapped rudely, while his eyes sought out his daughter.
Daenerys's tone matched his own, all traces of courtesy gone. "Why have you come?"
"I came to see my daughter, to see if we can put an end to all this insanity," he said without looking at her, still searching for Arya in the crowds. This wasn't right, if she knew he was here, she would greet him, unless she couldn't. "What happened to her?"
"Lord Stark, please sit. I'd be happy to answer all your questions."
"Don't play with me! Just tell me where Arya is now or…"
Just as it had the last time he challenged her, her kind words and polite offers vanished in a blink. "Or what?" she asked, seeming taller than her tiny body could possibly be. "You came here with ten men. All of whom have been relieved of their weapons, just like you. They live by my grace, as you do. One word and I could have your men brought in so you could watch them die painful and horrible deaths."
Ned knew the truth even if he struggled to pretend they were lies. He was heavily outnumbered and without Arya to ensure his safety he was beginning to wonder if he'd survive. "The Mad King's daughter you are!"
Once again, she was back to being soft spoken. "Perhaps I am. Now would you like to stand here threatening one another or would you rather sit down and enjoy some very fine wine while I tell you where Arya is?"
The choice he'd been offered wasn't real and they all knew it. Without another word, he went to the chair and sat. "Missandei would you find us something to drink please?"
"Of course, Khaleesi."
R-C
"High Garden huh?" she prompted as they neared the spot where Arya snuck in hours ago. That was the place where she knew at least five hundred Dothraki would be. "The Tyrells?"
"They are good people. I met their daughter Margaery at court. She was kind to me. Like Tyrion, she knew how Joffrey was. Her family had considered trying to match them before father and Robert arranged us. I'll be safe there and Margaery's brother, I think he likes me."
She was pleased that her sister had people in her life who sounded decent. That would make the transition from would-be-Queen to Sansa a bit easier. At least she hoped it would. "Sounds like a good choice."
They stood on the beach with waves coming in. Joffrey was awake and belligerent, trying to talk against his gag and failing. "What about you? What will you do next?"
The answer was out of her mouth before her ears had heard the whole question. "I'm going to finish things with Robert and then go home."
"You're going back to Winterfell?" she verified with disbelief.
"Winterfell hasn't been my home for a long time. I have a life in Essos I need to get back to. The sooner I can do that, the happier I'll be."
Sansa looked like she wanted to ask a question. Her lips were moving, but no sound was coming out. After each attempt she'd close them tightly and look away, until she tried again. "Just ask," Arya finally said. "Whatever it is you want to know, just ask. Now's the time."
"Is it true what they say?"
"What do they say?" Arya replied, unsure which rumor she was supposed to address.
"They say you lead an army of blood thirsty savages."
That sounded exactly like something an ally of Robert's would spread around. "To you they're blood thirsty savages, to me, they're just my friends." When it was clear Sansa wanted to know more, Arya elaborated. "We had more than one hundred thousand fighters when we left Essos. Fewer now, after Dragonstone, but still lots."
"Are you a King or a knight? Do you rule them too or just lead them in battle?"
"A little of both," she confessed. "I lead them in battle, and if someone challenges me for control I fight them, but I leave the serious stuff to Daenerys."
"The Targaryen?" Sansa clarified.
"The one and only," Arya answered with a cocky smirk. "I help where I can, but Daenerys's the one who really does all the heavy lifting."
"It sounds like you admire her."
"I do, more than you could imagine."
"What's she like?" Sansa asked, moving closer.
In the distance Arya could hear approaching horses and knew her men were coming. "You mean is she crazy like her father?"
Sansa looked away. "No, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that all I know about Targaryens is what I read in books the Septa gave me. What's she really like?"
She smiled as she thought of the woman she loved. "She's kind and fair, decent and beautiful, she's stronger than she knows and braver than any knight I ever saw here in Westeros. She's…" she couldn't think of a word to do Daenerys justice, but she tried, "she's incredible."
Sansa understood right away. "You love her! She's who you meant when you spoke of love!" It wasn't a question, but a certainty.
Arya nodded proudly, picturing the woman in her mind. "I do, and by some miracle she loves me back."
Their sisterly moment was ended by the arrival of the Dothraki. After speaking the common tongue all night, she effortlessly shifted to Dothraki to greet the commander of this group. "This is my sister," she explained as she dusted off her ruined dress. He looked at her attire and smiled. "Not one word," she threatened seriously. He nodded in understanding and submission. "Take care of her, protect her. She is blood of my blood."
"What did you say to him?"
"I told him you were family. His name is Tiber and he will keep you safe. He'll get you to High Garden."
"You can't leave me alone, they don't even speak our language," Sansa protested.
"They aren't big talkers anyway. Listen, just lead them to High Garden. They'll protect you, they'll hunt and cook for you, and they'll kill anything that tries to hurt you."
"Arya wait…"
She stopped and went back, fully expecting Sansa's wrath but she got a hug instead. "Thank you. Thank you for coming to get me. I don't know how much longer I could have survived in that place." She looked at Joffrey with hatred. "The things he made me do…"
"Shh," she purred as she guided Sansa to her, forcing her eyes off the Prince. "He's not going to hurt you anymore. No one can hurt you anymore. Go to High Garden and make a life for yourself, one you choose and don't let anyone stop you."
She sniffled against her sister's filthy dress. "I will." Arya was nearly turned again when she heard, "You be safe too."
"Good luck Sansa."
R-C
It felt strange sitting across from a man she knew hated her. That that man was the father of her lover only complicated matters further. Oh, how desperately she wished Arya back. With every passing hour, her concern grew. Her plan, Arya's plan made sense, it was a good, solid idea, but good plans didn't always guarantee success.
She sipped her wine and watched while the Lord across from her tried not to speak first. Daenerys wasn't going to break. If he wanted to know, he was going to have to ask.
"Where is Arya," he questioned as his grip on the wine turned his knuckles white.
Daenerys glanced sideways toward the window and looked out. The sun was shining and it was a nice day. "By now I hope she's on her way back."
She didn't need to guess at Ned's emotions, they were written all over his face. "Back from where? Where could she possibly have gone? She brought you all here insisting she didn't want to leave you in Essos and now she's gone?"
He made a valid point. "Trust me Lord Stark no one wishes her safe and speedy return more than I. I tried to dissuade her from going to King's Landing, but she was determined. As I'm sure you understand, stopping Arya once she's set her mind on something is really rather difficult."
He was out of his chair in an instant, spilling his wine. "She went to King's Landing? You sent her to King's Landing?" He made it half a step before the Dothraki reminded him of their presence and he retreated.
Daenerys saw flickers of the woman she loved in the Stark's anger. They were brief and more controlled but they were definitely there. "Missandei," she said calmly. "Let's see about getting Lord Stark more wine."
"I don't want wine!" he said through gritted teeth.
"Lord Stark we are both left waiting until Arya's return. I suggest you make yourself comfortable, I think it's going to be a long day for the both of us."
R-C
Tyrion Lannister walked toward the throne and quickly assessed the situation. It had been hours since he'd left Sansa and her sister and in that time, he'd wandered the keep learning what he could. Even though he was likely the most well-informed man in the room, he played dumb, something he was exceptionally good at.
"Where have you been?" Robert asked. He had a hand under his chin and redness around his eyes suggesting he might actually be feeling something.
"Shorter legs, takes me longer to get anywhere," he responded.
"Now is not the time Tyrion," Jaime chastised.
He sighed dramatically. "Very well, I was speaking with my contacts around the city, learning what I could about the abduction."
"What did you find out? Do you know where Joffrey is?" his sister demanded.
"By all accounts Joffrey was taken back to Dragonstone. The ship used to deliver the prisoners left on a return voyage. One man I spoke to even said he thought he saw a captive onboard." This was a lie, he hadn't spoken to anyone who had seen a thing but the lie sounded good and that, he knew was the hardest part.
"I'm going to kill her," Cersei announced. "I'm going to kill her slowly. Obviously, the return of the hostages was a ploy so she could kidnap Joffrey."
"Yes," Jaime agreed. He was equally concerned but did better at hiding it. "Now it makes sense why none of those Dothraki last night spoke, they were there to distract not negotiate."
"Where are they now?" Robert asked.
"Hiding as they were before. I could send out more patrols but I doubt they'd return and we'd likely just end up with another bag of heads," he guessed.
Tyrion hid his smile behind his hand. Regardless of his allegiance he had to give Arya Stark credit, the girl had a flare for the dramatic.
"What of the savage you captured last night? Can he tell us anything?"
"Not anymore," Jaime stated bluntly. "He went to his God or Gods or whatever it is those people believe in."
"They're not people!" Cersei objected. "They're animals."
"Do we have any idea how an exiled girl got into the keep when the gates have been sealed for days?"
"According to Stannis, they entered through an old broken sewer grate and followed the maze of tunnels that run under the city," Tyrion provided helpfully.
Suddenly all eyes were on him. "Stannis! How in the fuck can Stannis tell you anything?"
Tyrion bowed his head in imaginary shame. "Apologies your Grace, but the Stark left Stannis bound in a rarely used storage closet."
"Is he injured?" Jaime asked, his curiosity clear.
"He is being checked by the Maester but he is largely unharmed."
Robert growled, more animal than man. "This fucking girl. Why would she bring Stannis back?"
He let the question hang in the air for as long as he could, enjoying the discomfort of those around him. When it couldn't be prolonged any further he answered. "She left a note with his body," Tyrion said holding it out.
"What does it say?" his sister cried.
Clearing his throat, he read the message for the third time, enjoying it as much as he had the first two.
Most Honorable King Robert Baratheon,
Apparently, Stannis isn't an appropriate hostage. You wouldn't even send a raven. I understand your thinking as I've had him here at Dragonstone for weeks and he's been of little use to me. I'm returning him, so he can once again be of little use to you.
Sincerely and with Thanks
Arya Stark and Daenerys Targaryen
As he finished he heard Jaime chuckling, until Cersei's glare quieted him. "This bitch and her fucking notes!"
This had Tyrion's attention. "There were others?"
"She left a note in each of the children's rooms."
"What did they say?" Rather than answer, Robert held out a collection of papers. Tyrion took them and couldn't help but notice the blood dotting the pages. Very creative indeed.
He started with the note found in Joffrey's room. Tyrion knew of the two dead guards who were killed there and he was privately impressed anyone could kill in the Red Keep and escape without detection. Maybe Arya Stark was more intelligent than originally advertised.
Gracious and Kind King Robert Baratheon,
Stannis was a poor choice as a hostage. My mistake. I think I did better this time. What do you think?
You have one week to make contact with me at Dragonstone (that island and castle where Stannis used to live. Ask him for directions if you get lost.) Ignore me again and Myrcella will be bumped up in the line of succession.
With the upmost respect and love,
Arya Stark and Daenerys Targaryen.
This was like a good book he couldn't put down, he quickly flipped to the next page, the note found subtly tacked above Myrcella's head.
Oh Wise and Fair King Robert Baratheon,
As you read this I hope you understand how easily it would have been. One choice made differently and I could be slamming this dagger into her heart instead of wood.
Killing an innocent and defenseless woman asleep in her bed, that would be a lot like trying to poison a pregnant woman don't you think? I guess that makes me a better King than you.
You brought this on yourself. One week and not a second longer.
With admiration,
Arya Stark and Daenerys Targaryen
He turned to the final note, the one left in Tommen's room. If it was anything like the others, it was going to be entertaining.
King Robert Baratheon, Our Brave Stag,
Is it just me, or is Tommen growing to look a lot like his Uncle King Slayer? Hey King Slayer, if you get this, you could save everyone a lot of time and effort by just doing what you've done once already. If you did, I'd be on the next boat back to Essos.
Okay, the time for wishful dreaming has come to an end. I was in his room too. I could have ended your bloodline with a few swings of my blade, but I didn't. I suppose that makes me a better King than you.
Let me know if you need the name of a good assassin, because the one's you've been using aren't top notch. One week.
Thinking about you,
Arya Stark and Daenerys Targaryen
As he set the notes down on a table beside the throne, Tyrion caught Jaime looking his way. The stress on his brother's face was obvious and after reading those notes he could see why. Arya really did know how to twist the knife.
He rejoined a conversation already in progress. "Even with the savage dead, we have leverage," Cersei decided.
Tyrion knew where this was going, so he took a half a step back and worked tirelessly to look innocent.
"What do you mean?" Robert asked his wife.
"Ned Stark, and his daughter Sansa. This Arya's father and her sister. She isn't the only one who can hold someone hostage."
"Ned's gone to Dragonstone to negotiate peace," Robert reminded them all.
"It's too late for that," she rebelled.
"Still, he isn't here."
"Sansa then. Send for her, and prepare a raven. Tell this Stark that any harm visited upon Joffrey will be delivered to Sansa five-fold."
Tyrion wasn't touching this with someone else's hand. No, he'd done his part, he 'saved' Stannis before he ran out of air in that cupboard. It was up to someone else to tell Cersei that Sansa had escaped.
News came when the servant returned alone. "Where is she?"
"I don't know, my Queen. H…her hand…handmaidens say she wasn't in her room this morning."
"What?!"
"They've been searching for hours Your Grace, but no one can find her."
"Perhaps she was taken," Tyrion inserted.
"Or she was involved in Joffrey's kidnap. I never trusted that little whore."
"Could she have been with Joffrey when Arya came?" the dwarf proposed.
"They aren't even married yet," Robert said to refute the idea. Being the second biggest whoremonger in the room, Tyrion found Robert's objection laughable.
"No, but they have been promised to one another for years. At this point the ceremony is a formality," Jaime offered.
"He's a prince and she's to be his wife. He's well within his rights," Cersei said, defending her son to the end.
"Precisely my point. If she'd been there, perhaps Arya took her too."
"You think she kidnapped her own sister?" Robert asked him.
"I think it's certainly possible," he lied. He wanted to give Sansa as much of a head start as he could. He knew from first hand experience that Cersei was not the type to let things go. She wouldn't shed a single tear when Arya gutted Robert, but if Joffrey got his feelings hurt, she'd want to march on Winterfell and kill everyone in her wake. Hopefully Sansa would be safely behind High Garden's walls before that could happen.
R-C
Behind her ship, were others carrying the Dothraki who she once left on the mainland. In addition to the extra soldiers, they were also bringing all the goods stolen from the merchants they stopped. Arya had yet to look through it, but she suspected there would be a lot of useful things.
Nearing Dragonstone, she went down into the hold and took the gag from Joffrey's mouth. "I'm going to kill you!" he said as soon as he could. "Do you have any idea who I am. I am…" She stuffed the fabric back in place.
"Yes, Joffrey I know exactly who you are. I don't go around kidnapping people at random. I think it's my turn to reintroduce myself. My name is Arya Stark, you remember? The girl who beat you so badly you had to run to your mommy and daddy for help."
She feared blinking on the chance that she might miss it, the moment of understanding followed so rapidly by panic. It had her skin tingling with excitement. She took the gag out again. "Go ahead and yell Joffrey, your parents aren't here this time and my friends won't understand a word you say."
At the sight of the Dothraki he screamed for her to come back, but she kept walking. Not unexpectedly the shore was lined with people awaiting her return; Daenerys, Missandei, Jorah, and the Blood Riders as well as her father all had spots on the sand to watch the boat come in.
As soon as she was over the side Daenerys was running to her. They shared a hug as Arya spun her around in a wide arc. The kiss was hungry and passionate and Arya matched it with vigor.
When they were finished getting reacquainted, for the moment at least, she looked around at the others. She instructed the Blood Riders to go and get Joffrey and then looked to Daenerys. The older woman was studying her body inch by inch looking for damage. "It's not my blood. I barely had to fight, just a couple of guards."
Daenerys was brightened by the news. "You're really okay?"
"I am. Everything went fine. Although I may have gotten a little carried away trying to pick a fight."
"What does that mean?"
"It means we all need to be ready because Robert won't be far behind."
Listening in on their conversation Jorah ordered the Dothraki to begin preparations. Off to the side, separate from the rest Arya saw her father watching her. She dropped a kiss on the crown of Daenerys's head and whispered, "Excuse me a minute."
While she approached, he stayed rooted to the spot, forcing her to walk all the way to him. "Arya, I came…"
"It doesn't matter anymore."
"How can you say that, I'm trying to save your life and avoid a war," he said wringing his hands in front of him.
"The war is coming and nothing is going to change that," she predicted. "Whatever offer you brought, we both know Robert would never honor it, especially now."
"What have you done?"
"It doesn't matter. The consequences are mine alone. Take the boat, take any boat and go North. I'll give you the rest of the civilians. They shouldn't be here for this."
"I have a duty," he said, pushing his hand through his thinning hair. "I can't just run, I can't, I won't."
She shook her head. He still didn't understand. "That duty is meaningless now. Robert's coming with every ship and every soldier he can muster. It's not safe for you in King's Landing anymore. I kidnapped Joffrey. They'll think you aided me, or they'll punish you out of spite. Don't go back there."
She said nothing further and gave it a moment to sink in. She could see the wheels turning as he tried to make sense of how drastically she'd changed his world with a few sentences. "Arya," he said, before he stopped, apparently unable or unwilling to continue.
"I'm sorry you got caught up in this, I am, but you shouldn't waste your life enthralled to him. You're ten times the man he is."
"Do you realize what you've done?" he asked when he could once again speak.
She understood perfectly. "I couldn't attack King's Landing, so I had to bring the fight here. Only taking Joffrey would do that. It had to be something he couldn't ignore, otherwise he'd take weeks and bring all the armies of Westeros together against me. Now he can't wait. As an added bonus, I get to punish him for all the years he hurt Sansa."
For a few seconds Ned seemed resigned to the way things were, but at the mention of his eldest daughter the fire was back in his eyes. "Sansa, she's to marry Joffrey."
"Not anymore," Arya said, setting the record straight. "Did you know he was beating her?" She chose to leave out the remainder of her suspicions, not wanting to punish their father cruelly
"What!? Are you sure? She told you that?"
"She didn't have to. I walked in to her trying to cover a bruise on her throat in the shape of a hand."
"That's meaningless. It could have been anyone's."
"It was his," she said with confidence. "Do you remember the night I got in trouble? I beat Joffrey nearly to death with my bare hands."
"Of course. What of it?"
She swallowed hard and hoped Sansa would forgive her for this. He needed to know, he needed to understand. "I told you that I heard him calling Sansa names, so I hit him, but that's not what happened." Ned squatted down and put his hands up as if to protect his face. He didn't ask for more details but she provided them anyway. "I walked in on him trying to rape her, that's why I beat him and if those guards hadn't stopped me I would've killed him."
After a curse, she almost didn't hear over the water Ned stood again. "I have to go back, I can't leave her."
"Sansa's fine," Arya said quickly. "I got her outside the walls before I left. She's riding for High Garden with hundreds of Dothraki."
"The Tyrells? She always liked them."
"I told her my men would take her anywhere in the world and that's the place she chose."
He sank down again and looked out over the horizon. Arya did the same from next to him. "You're a good sister. Thank you for taking care of her."
"I'm a horrible sister," Arya corrected, "and I'm likely a worse daughter, but I do love you all, in my own way."
Ned put his arm around her and drew her in for an awkward hug. She squeezed him tight, just as she had when she was a little girl. "We love you too."
After the hug was over they stayed in that position. "Go North," she told him. "Mother has waited long enough."
She knew he understood the hidden message in her words, but he asked for clarification anyway. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying your place is in Winterfell, with mother, and Robb, Bran and Rickon. I always thought we should have our own King anyway. Be a good one, be a better one than the man you served."
"A Northern King? Generations have only dreamt of such things," he said with no shortage of doubt in his tone.
"Make it a reality. They'll follow you," she declared confidently.
Ned looked like he wanted to agree, but he wasn't quite there yet. His next words proved she understood him well. "Even if I wanted to, it wouldn't matter. Robert will never allow the North to be free, and he'd rally others. It would be a massacre."
"Robert won't be your problem anymore, or anyone else's. However this ends Robert's army will be decimated. It'll take years for them to rebuild to what they were, longer if I win, and cut the head off the Stag. After all I've done wrong I wish I had more to give you, but I'm afraid that's it, just a head start."
"And then?" her father wondered.
Arya was confident he was asking what was next for her, but she chose to frame the question around him. "Use the time to get ready, build up your army, increase your defenses, ally with the other houses."
"You think that'll be enough?"
"If it isn't, you can always summon your exiled daughter and her horde of savages," Arya tried to joke.
"You'd come back?"
"I can be a Khal and a Stark. If you need to find me send word to Vaes Dothrak."
She could feel the end of their conversation looming over them. "I could stay. I might not have an arakh but I could help."
Arya smiled. "I love you, but this isn't your fight. Go home to mother, kiss Little Robb and be a grandfather. Your days of risking your neck in other people's wars are over."
Ned boarded the ship already loaded with the remaining civilians from Dragonstone and they were off. She stood on the shore and stared long after the boat had faded from view.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Daenerys asked as she snaked her arm around her lover's waist.
"No," she replied honestly.
"Very well, we can discuss something else – are you wearing a dress?"
The words sounded strange until she looked down at herself and remembered. "Fuck, the dress was ugly before I put it on, now that I've crawled around a sewer the smell matches too."
R-C
Author's Note: There you go. This one took multiple attempts to come up with a version of Sansa I didn't hate. I figured after years with Joffrey, she'd be a little further along in her scheming, even without Littlefinger's influence.
Next chapter – Arya finally gets the fight she's been waiting for. More than one in fact.