AN: I should explain that in this slightly AU, Jon Snow hasn't been stabbed (yet), the Boltons are still in Winterfell and Stannis is still in the snow waiting to attack. Jeyne Poole has made her escape from Ramsey with Theon. The Tyrell/Lannister alliance is still holding together (barely) and they are now aware of the threat from the Stormlands. It is an adjustment of the timeline of sorts. Think of most things as being as they were at the end of DWD with only Arya's arc progressing and Aegon having a bigger foothold in Westeros.

Excuse the lack of detail on the battle. I'm not great at writing action scenes. I'm not sure I'm happy with this chapter. It may be edited a little yet. I'm worried Arya is a little too stupid towards the end and I had trouble writing her character for that part

Chapter 5

She was spared from the awkwardness of figuring out how to act around Aegon by him leaving. Her head hurt from thinking about the night before. She still didn't understand what had happened. He had been drinking, it was the wine she told herself. He didn't really want you.

She wasn't sure what she felt about him. She knew she didn't hate him, she had been aware that she liked him as a person, as a friend of sorts (stupid, she thought, he's the king) but it frightened her that she had liked him kissing her. Her pack was gone, she was on her own and letting somebody else get under her skin like that, wanting somebody else was dangerous. They all eventually left.

She couldn't relax with him gone. She stalked around, keeping close to the halfmaester. She was greedy for any information on the battle. She hoped Aegon wouldn't be targeted while he was out of her reach. She was powerless to prevent anything and she cursed again over the injustice of being a woman and the exclusions it brought with it. She had been tempted to follow, particularly given they were fighting Lannister forces but she knew it was pointless. She would never get close in a battle, not in the way she needed to. Her presence would be a distraction.

Thankfully it wasn't a long wait before she heard that the battle had been a success. Aegon's forces had dealt a heavy blow to the Lannister/Tyrell armies though it worried her to hear that the losses were heavy on the Targaryen side too. There was no word on Aegon himself apart from hearing that they were on the return march.

The closeness of the Lannister soldiers made her think of her list. She had been forced to keep it in the back of her mind but it never went away. She was itching to cross off a name. She rested fitfully, running through the list again and again in her head, this time having a dreamless sleep though the wolves sounded closer. At one point they almost sounded as though they were in the camp. It was early morning when she was half awake, half asleep and heard a voice, a whisper.

You have disappointed me. You were meant for this task. Didn't you wonder why you were given the coin? Didn't you wonder why you were chosen to serve? You were going to be my greatest achievement.

She sat bolt upright in the tent wondering if it had been a dream. Then she saw the shadowy figure leaving the tent. Her mind took a moment to clear then she panicked as she realised what it meant. She charged from the tent in the direction of Aegon's pavilion. The shadowy figure was gone.

She could hear people stirring in the tents. Within an hour there was the sound of horses approaching. Arya strained to see but the sky was dark and wasn't likely to lighten much during the day. A storm was coming and the clouds were thick in the sky. She paced and waited and saw the dragon banners come into focus. They were back.

Thunder rumbled in the distance as the men began to enter the camps drunk on victory. By the time the vanguard had finished trickling in and the main column arrived the thunder had become louder and the lightning was coming more often. Arya waited impatiently, worriedly outside the tent. A light rain began to fall. Haldon drew up alongside her.

"You'll catch a chill Cat"

She muttered that she would be fine and stayed where she was. She hadn't forgotten the shadow and the whisper and she had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. She saw Duck first, his white cloak blowing in the wind. When he drew closer to the tent Aegon emerged behind him with Connington glued to his side. There were extra guards around them. She began to feel a sense of relief as Aegon dismounted and she could see he was unharmed. He began to walk towards the tent leading his horse and as he removed his helm she though he might be smiling.

Her relief was short lived as she saw the figure approaching him. He was quick but that didn't surprise Arya. He had always been quick. She saw the way he was holding his hand and knew he had a weapon. Panic rose inside her. She was too far away still. She screamed to Aegon but the thunder drowned her out. She began to approach, all thought of disguising herself forgotten. She screamed again.

Connington had heard her but instead of moving to aid Aegon he was staring at her as though she had two heads. Aegon was staring at her too. She saw the other guards spot the threat but before they could intercede Aegon's horse began to act as though it was possessed. Arya felt her heart leap into her throat. He had done it. She knew it. All attention was drawn to trying to stop the animal from trampling Aegon and she knew it was going to be too late. The assassin was almost on him.

The lightning flashed again and illuminated a monstrous animal approaching far faster than the men could move. A chaos of frightened shouting began and Arya's senses went into overdrive. Her sight, hearing, all her senses were stronger from her training but this was on another level. She could smell the fear of the men around her and in that instant she recognised the animal. It was Nymeria. She was bigger and she was wilder but it was her, Arya knew it.

The wolf saw her and then suddenly she was the wolf and she felt as though she had wings. Running on four legs she lunged, pulling the man down a fraction of a second before he could plunge his dagger into his victim. She saw the disbelief in his eyes. He mouthed her name, Arya, before she tore his throat out. Then she fled through the chaos of men shouting, running back to the safety of her pack.

When Arya came back to herself she was dazed and she could still taste the blood. She was lying on the ground. She leapt to her feet unsteadily and ran towards Aegon. The guards had managed to get hold of his horse and the animal was settling down. Aegon was frozen looking at the body in front of him. Before she could reach him Connington grabbed her arm. His features were twisted in anger.

"What sort of trick is this?"

Arya tried to pull away but he wouldn't let go. "I tried to warn you. I told you they would come for him". She made to move towards Aegon. He was looking at her uncertainly.

"Cat" he said hesitantly. "Who are you?"

Connington wrenched her arm. "Look girl. Stop playing games".

Arya was beginning to lose her temper. "I'm not playing any games. Let go of me before I make you". She glared at him and felt for her finger knife.

"Why are you wearing that face" he snarled. "Why are you wearing her face".

Arya suddenly realised what was going on. Oh no. She cursed. "This is my face" she retorted.

Connington let go of her like she had burnt him. "Who are you? Why do you look like Lyanna Stark?"

Arya was so irritated she let out a rather undignified squeal of frustration. Why are people so stupid. "I don't look like Lyanna Stark! Lyanna Stark was beautiful. I'm Arya Stark. Horsey looking Arya Stark". She blinked back tears. "I saved him" she said, pointing at Aegon "and all you can do is interrogate me about my resemblance to my long dead Aunt".

She turned on her heel and ran for the shelter of her tent. She waited to hear them follow her, certain they would try to stop her. They didn't.