Chapter 6

Arya was tense as she sat in her tent, trying to calm herself. She could hear unfamiliar voices at the entrance of her tent but they didn't enter. She wasn't quite sure why they were leaving her alone but she was grateful for small mercies. She crawled under her furs and tried to still her thoughts. She needed to process something, something which had bothered her from the time she had been set this mission.

The Kindly man had instructed her to use her own face. The assassin that day, the one she had known as Jaqen H'ghar all that time ago had said she was meant for this task. She couldn't forget Connington's expression, his anger and his questions about her connection to her aunt. She hadn't been happy when she finally realised that she was killing for gold but she consoled herself that she had gotten plenty out of the bargain. She was furious now knowing they were using her all along.

She didn't quite understand what it meant but she now knew there was something about her, something they wanted to exploit in connection with Aegon. Hours later when Duck came to her tent she was calm and she was ready. He looked nervous.

"Will you come with me my lady?"

Arya sighed. "Of course Duck". She stood and gave him a stern look. "Don't call me my lady" and was rewarded with a weak smile.

She stepped out of the tent and found guards at the entrance. They flanked her as she walked and she wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it. Duck must have seen her expression.

"They were the compromise" he explained. "I told them that you weren't likely to run after sticking around all this time. We also guess you mustn't want to harm His Grace, the two of you spent so much time together but the Hand said you couldn't be roaming freely around camp, especially after what happened with the wolf".

Arya repressed the urge to tell him that the guards would be next to useless in stopping her and simply nodded. They passed Aegon's tent and Arya looked back. Duck's mouth set in a grim line.

"His Grace did not take the news well".

Arya tried to ignore the twinge of guilt she felt at hearing it. They entered Connington's tent. The Hand looked as though he had eaten something which didn't agree with him. He looked at Arya with distaste and told her to sit. She flopped down into the chair gracelessly and crossed her ankles. Connington studied her.

"Wait outside Duck"

Duck looked uncertain but he left. Connington paced for a minute then stopped.

"You will answer my questions".

Arya felt her anger flare. She was not going to be ordered around. "I will not".

Connington's mouth twisted and his pale blue eyes were cold and unfriendly. "You will not cooperate?"

Arya studied her nails for a moment. "I didn't say that. I said I wouldn't answer your questions".

Connington ground his teeth. "I don't want you anywhere near him".

Arya looked up and met his gaze. Her voice was small when she responded to him. "Is this about my Aunt and his father?" Connington didn't answer but Arya didn't need him to. The look on his face told her all she needed to know.

"I didn't know" she said finally. "The one they sent today, he came to me, whispered to me that I was specially chosen but I didn't know. I didn't know why"

Connington grimaced. "You are her come again only worse. The scandal alone could finish his chances".

Arya bristled at the insinuation. He thinks Aegon will lose support because of me. "I have no intention of telling anybody. Nobody needs to know. I told you of my orders just to warn you. I could never have followed through. It doesn't need to spread any further".

Connington clenched his fist. "It won't" He began to pace again, darting unhappy glances at her at intervals. Arya cleared her throat.

"I will answer any questions I can but I want His Grace to be there".

The look Connington gave her was pure venom but Arya stood firm. He tried to test her but she wouldn't break. Finally she was escorted back to her tent. She was interested to note that the other servants had shifted out of the tent in her absence. She didn't care. She settled down and slept.

The march back to Storm's End began the next morning. Arya did not enjoy her ride on the return journey as she had on the original trip. She was surrounded by guards and she felt stifled. She fought the temptation to try and break free. She knew she was better on a horse than most of the men but she also knew it would cause trouble and she didn't want to give Connington anything more to hold against her.

It was four days before she broke and snuck out of her tent at night. It wasn't difficult to gain access to Aegon's pavilion. She knew the layout well. She was silent as she crept and she found him sleeping. She woke him gently and clapped a hand over his mouth, holding a finger to her lips. He nodded and she moved her hand. She half expected him to raise the alarm anyway and was pleasantly surprised when he didn't.

"I'm sorry" she blurted.

He frowned and ran his hand through his hair in an absentminded gesture. "I wanted to talk to you. Lord Connington said I should keep away".

Arya snorted. "Since when do you do what he says?"

Aegon grinned and Arya felt a load lift but his grin soon faded. "Why didn't you tell me?"

She sighed. "I did try. I couldn't very well blurt out the whole truth. How do you think you would have reacted if I had just come out with it? Oh your Grace, I was sent to kill you but I changed my mind because I've decided you are a decent person. Oh and I'm now watching your every move so that my replacements don't finish the job I was sent to do".

His eyes brightened. "You think I'm decent?"

She punched his arm lightly. "Don't be stupid".

He laughed. "Good to know it was only your face that wasn't real". He went very quiet and Arya started to make her escape before his guards began to pick up on her presence. Before she could leave she heard him say in a sad voice "Did you only spend time with me out of duty?"

Arya sighed. "That depends".

She could see his confusion in the candle light. "Depends on what?"

She grinned. "It depends on whether you'll get a big head if the answer is no".

She could still hear him quietly laughing as she ducked under the flap in retreat.