A/N: I'll never please everybody. I expect there are people who'll like this and people who'll hate it. It has been coming for a while. I just wasn't sure how to work it in. It became rather long but I couldn't split it.
Chapter 48
Arya was determined that she was going to ride with the group setting out to treat with the Targaryen representatives. Nobody tried to argue with her, they all knew better by now.
She held her head high as they rode forward, nudging her courser into a trot as they crossed the drawbridge and entered the grounds of the castle. They were meeting on the bridge between the castles near the water tower. She couldn't help feeling a little nervous though she also felt proud to be riding under the Stark banners. The Blackfish was by her side along with Duck, Ser Robett Glover and the She-Bear. Arya was determined to hold her own. Nymeria loped along beside them.
They spotted the small group moving steadily forward to meet them, the dragon banner leading the way. It only took Arya an instant to recognise one of them and she had to steel herself.
"Aegon is with them" she murmured.
Duck's face had lit up. Her uncle Brynden looked surprised and rather suspicious Ser Robett and the She-Bear merely looked curious.
"Are you sure?" Ser Brynden asked.
Arya nodded. She would recognise him anywhere. He wore his black armour inset with red stones, just as his father had. His cloak was Targaryen colours. She could see his silvery hair blowing in the breeze as they drew closer. He and his men dismounted first. She recognised them as his guards and a couple of the leading commanders of the Golden Company.
Arya slid from the saddle. She could feel the tension coming from the Blackfish. His brother had, after all, fought against the Targaryens when Aerys had the throne. She put a hand on his arm in the hopes it would calm him.
She felt her heart flutter a little in her chest as the two parties met and she desperately hoped her face wasn't betraying anything. Aegon was smiling though she could see he was uncertain. Duck immediately knelt but the others did not. Aegon bid Duck to rise and clasped his arm enthusiastically. Nymeria greeted Aegon as though no time had passed. He bent and ruffled the fur around her neck and Arya saw those in her group look taken aback.
"Lady Arya" he greeted her. "It is good to see you again. I hope that Lord Rickon is well". She saw him study her and look concerned.
Arya gave him a formal nod of acknowledgement. "My brother is well, thank you Your Grace. He sends greetings from Winterfell".
He looked disconcerted by her formal tone and Arya wanted to hit him. Don't say anything stupid she thought. The Blackfish was already suspicious, it wouldn't take much. Aegon quickly flicked his eyes to the others in the group and Arya wanted to breathe a sigh of relief. She began introductions. Aegon acknowledged each of them politely. Arya introduced her uncle last.
"This is Ser Brynden Tully".
Arya saw both men tense. The Blackfish was unsmiling. Aegon gave a sad smile and began to speak in a respectful tone.
"Ser, the North is fortunate to have such an able and experienced adviser. I heard what happened at Riverrun. I do hope to restore it to your family".
"Why?" the Blackfish asked sharply.
Aegon looked taken aback and Arya felt mortified. "Uncle!" she protested.
Aegon regained his composure quickly. "Why not?" he countered. "The Tullys are not my enemy and they have been known to be honourable unlike the Lannisters and Freys. I am not my grandfather. I do not wish for old grudges to fester". He turned to Arya and grinned. "I don't know why you are looking so worried my Lady. I never took offense when you spoke your mind. I'm certainly not going to be offended by your uncle doing the same. It is the people who do not say what they mean who worry me".
The Blackfish still was not smiling but he appeared more relaxed. "Good to see you have some sense boy".
Aegon only smiled again. Arya interjected next. There were other things which needed to be said.
"You are flying the Targaryen banner above the castle".
He frowned. "Yes".
Arya tried to be patient. "The Stark banner must be raised".
She saw him look dismayed. "Of course, it will be added. You must not think-"
Arya cut him off before he could say anything too familiar. "We will also need to meet with Lord Connington. The prisoners from the wedding must be returned to us".
Aegon was beginning to look a little strained. "That was the agreement my lady".
Arya felt eyes on her. Those in her party looked satisfied. The Blackfish no longer looked at all suspicious. She nodded to Aegon and he sighed, looking weary.
"I would be pleased if you and your men would join me my lady. We are well provisioned here and I would like to celebrate our alliance".
"We would like that too, Your Grace" Arya replied, trying to sound less abrupt.
She returned to the camp briefly then let the others gather the men. She sought out Connington before attending the feast. He was sitting at a table in a room extending off the great hall writing letters. She was surprised to see him smile at her though it barely met his eyes.
"You have been quite formidable".
She took a seat near him. She was alone apart from Nymeria. Her advisors had objected but she had told them she would be quite safe. Connington did not react to the direwolf.
"I have had to be" she replied. "Are you well my lord?"
He nodded. "As well as I can expect to be".
They studied each other briefly. Connington broke the silence first.
"The Prince tells me you requested the prisoners. They were mingling in our camp. I expect that they are on their way to the feast now".
Arya smirked. "I know what you said to Edwyn Frey".
"Aegon does not know" he said quickly.
Arya knew what he meant. It was not about what he had said. Aegon would hear of that easily enough. Arya could tell what Connington's real concern was. He had meant what he said and Arya knew it. She also knew Aegon would not have agreed.
"I will not tell him" she assured him. "What were the terms of the surrender?"
Connington grimaced. "Those not involved in the Red Wedding will be unharmed. They all deny personal involvement but quite a few are pointing fingers at each other. They have been confined in the other castle and we have men guarding them".
"I will question them" Arya said grimly. "We will punish those who took part. The banner-"
"It is being raised now" Connington replied. "What are your intentions".
Arya knew what he was asking. She could not answer him. She did not know.
"I intend to eat my lord".
He glowered at her and she pretended not to notice.
Arya ate better than she had in some time. There was no shortage of food in the Twins and it was warm inside though Arya was not overly comfortable given what had passed in the castle. She tried her best not to be seen but she couldn't help glancing at Aegon more than once. He had seated her and Ser Brynden in places of honour as befit the representatives of the North and the Riverlands so she was seated very close by him.
She retreated from the hall when the wine began to flow more freely and the men became more raucous. She heard somebody begin singing but she was not in the mood. She thought she had managed to escape undetected but it was not long before she heard footsteps. He ducked into an alcove and Arya followed. He still looked strained.
"I had to ask those things" she blurted. "They expect me to. It wasn't because I think badly of you".
The tension visibly left him.
"You haven't been eating well" he said, his violet eyes looking concerned.
Arya knew she was thinner. She hadn't given it much thought as long as she still ate. Aegon was lean but he always had been. He did not appear very different.
She shrugged. "It is winter. I'm not the only one". She looked down the passage. "I hate being here".
"I know" he murmured.
Aegon's gaze penetrated her and she felt almost naked. "You were supposed to forget me" she said softly.
His hands twitched. "I tried" he said abruptly. "I couldn't". He looked around with a worried expression. "If we are seen it will go badly for you".
He has grown up a little, she thought. He is less reckless. She knew he was right but she could see the desperation in his expression. He is only trying to hold back for my sake. She stretched her hands out at the same time he did and their fingertips met. It was just the lightest contact but it was enough. She knew she needed to see him, to talk with him and not like this.
"I will find you later" she whispered.
She left before he could answer.
It was very difficult to make her escape. Too many people demanded her time. It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that she was able to creep from the quarters she had been given, a disguise in place in case she was spotted, and move quiet as a shadow until she found his chambers. His guards were not difficult to evade. He had clearly requested space. Aegon was still wide awake and waiting, sitting in the solar.
"I started to think you wouldn't come" he said.
Arya resisted the urge to lecture him about his safety, instead dropping into a seat across from him. She suddenly felt nervous. She looked around the room. It was so heavily ornamented with his things that she almost could not recognise it as being part of the Twins. His cloak was hanging in place of the Frey tapestry. Aegon cleared his throat.
"How are you really?" He smiled, gently this time. "You are good at hiding things but I know you better than to believe all is well".
She hesitated, looking down at her hands. "It is so hard Aegon, even harder than I thought. They have doubted me, I'm tested so often and they expect so much".
His fingers grasped hers and she looked up at him, feeling startled. She could see understanding in his features. This is what he faces every day too. He prompted her gently to go on. The floodgates opened and she told him everything she could. She had forgotten how easy he was to talk to. She told him of Rickon, of how difficult he was but how close they had become. She told him of Jon, how close they were now and yet she could not see him. His visit had been so brief and it only made her miss him more.
"He knows about us" she admitted. "He has this way of seeing things".
"I knew he knew something" Aegon said softly. "He sent me a raven. It was rather abrupt".
Arya could not suppress a smile at Aegon's expression. She did not tell him of Robb's Will and the vision and she did not tell him of the attempt on her life but she told him almost everything else. In turn he told her of his own struggles, how many of his supporters constantly wanted things from him. He spoke of how he had nobody to really talk to. He said how he worried of making the wrong decisions.
"You will do what is right" she whispered.
She met his gaze again. In the candlelight his eyes looked almost black. His thumb began to stroke her palm and she felt a shiver go through her. The gesture was quite innocent. Her reaction was anything but and she could tell he knew.
"I was going to respect you this time" he said.
"I'm not sure why you want me" she said, frowning. "I smell most of the time, I'm dirty and I dress like one of the soldiers".
Aegon grinned. "It only makes you more interesting. Anyway, I like the way you dress. You're like a warrior princess".
Arya flinched. That word again. "I've killed men" she said flatly. "I killed Ramsey Snow".
If she thought that would put him off she was wrong. He leaned towards her, his hand came up to cup her face and his thumb brushed her bottom lip. Suddenly, he pulled back, shaking his head. "If they find you here it will ruin you. I should not have kept you this long".
All of Arya's arguments left her head. She moved closer to him, taking his hand again and brushing her lips lightly against his, her other hand squeezed his knee. He had grown whiskers and it tickled as she kissed him, making her smile. Aegon looked startled. "Are you sure?"
She knew she was going to make trouble but she was tired of duty, tired of being denied what she wanted to do. She wanted just one thing for herself, just one night so she nodded.
His expression was full of wonder as though he almost couldn't believe what was happening as he pulled her into his lap. His mouth was tentative against hers at first, then hungry as his tongue began to seek hers. He must have been drinking spiced wine. Arya could taste it. His fingers threaded through her hair as his other hand pressed against her back, holding her close to him. He nuzzled her neck and when his teeth scraped her earlobe the jolt that went through her removed what little self control remained to her.
She pulled away to begin shedding her clothing. There was a minor clatter as her weapons hit the floor and she heard Aegon chuckle quietly. He moved slowly, barely touching her but she felt a rush of heat at the way he looked at her. It only made her need greater. He did let her pull his jerkin and tunic off with fumbling fingers and then it was her turn to admire him. She heard his breath catch as she ran her hands over his chest and pressed her lips to the puckered scar he wore from his injury at Dragonstone, muttering to him how angry she was when he wrote her about it. His lips returned to hers, stifling her lecture and when his calloused fingers ghosted lightly over her skin, doing enough to excite her but not nearly enough to satisfy her she whimpered.
"I want you Aegon" she whispered.
He lifted her with ease, carrying her to his bed. His touch became more insistent as he impatiently worked to remove what little fabric remained between them. In no time they were tangled limbs, completely intertwined. Aegon was telling her he missed her, he loved her and Arya forgot her worry, her fear, her pain as she focused only on him and what he was doing to her. When he finally pushed inside her she eagerly wrapped her legs around him, wanting him closer, pulling him deeper and he uttered a strangled moan.
He didn't last long and Arya tried to suppress her frustration but he knew.
"I'm sorry Arya".
She was about to try and say it didn't matter when he ran his fingers along her thigh and slipped them inside her. Her moan was stifled by his mouth on hers again. He knew her body well and it wasn't long before he gave her the release she had craved for so many moons. She trembled against him and for just a few moments she was at peace.
"We can't keep doing this" she said wistfully, laying her head against his chest as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"We could" Aegon said hesitantly.
Arya frowned as she looked up at him. "You have to-"
"Marry Daenerys" he said impatiently "I know". He smiled. "Targaryen's have taken two wives before you know".
She was more torn than she had ever been before. I want to say yes she realised with a shock. It wasn't that she wanted marriage but she wanted him. She wanted to be free to talk with him when she wanted, to touch him and have him touch her without hiding and without judgement. She thought about King's Landing, of the court there. She thought of what would be expected of her and knew it would feel like a prison. She thought of Winterfell, her family and her list. I need to finish it. She might want him but she wanted freedom more, even though she had little of it. He looked so hopeful that Arya felt cruel. "I can't. I can't marry and I definitely can't be queen".
His face fell.
"Daenerys wouldn't agree anyway" she said, trying to soften it. She took his head in her hands. "Please don't hate me".
"I could never" he protested. He smiled but she could see it was strained. "I shouldn't have asked. I should know better".
Arya knew she should be leaving. She would only make it worse but she couldn't leave things as they were. One last time she told herself as he pressed his lips to hers and her fingers traced down his body and found him wanting her again.
When morning came she left the hated castle and joined her men in the camp. They had a meeting about the Freys and it was organised for Arya and the lords bannermen to attend at the other castle and see the Freys being held there. They were gathered into the hall and Arya could see a mix of fear and hatred on their faces and she looked them over. Decisions on what to do with them were delayed when she heard one of the children speak before they could be hushed.
"Is that the lady who is going to die?"
Arya tried to find out what they meant and nobody would answer her. The Blackfish tried to put it down to Frey treachery and intimidation tactics but Arya was not certain. She left them, seeking Connington in the other castle. He said he would look into it. It did not take long.
Arya ate her lunch in the camp in her pavilion. Aegon and some of his men had joined them, wanting to speak with her bannermen. He had been quite composed and relaxed, not showing her any more attention than would be expected. While they were there Arya saw Connington appear alongside Aegon. A piece of parchment was produced and Arya saw Aegon's expression change to fury as he read it. He leapt to his feet.
"She cannot do this!" he shouted.
Everybody went quiet and looked at him. He glanced at Arya and frowned. Something is wrong. He stormed out, followed by guards and Connington left when he did. Aegon was back again in mere seconds. She had never seen him so angry. She wanted to go to him, to see what the problem was. He called to the Blackfish instead.
"You need to read this" he said abruptly.
Arya watched as Ser Brynden read and she knew it was something bad. He clenched the parchment in his hand.
"It is an order from King's Landing. Arya Stark is to be stripped of all claims and titles. She has been charged with treason. They want her head. Queen Myrcella demands it".
All eyes turned to Arya. She stood.
"If the Lannisters think to scare me they are even stupider than I thought". She laughed. "They can take my title. I still remain a Stark and no piece of paper will stop me". She raised her voice louder. "No piece of paper will stop us".
The room erupted into cheers and the men were on their feet. She saw the Blackfish with his head bent, talking the other Northern leaders. More and more gathered around him, nodding and looking rather too happy. Arya had a sinking feeling. They were plotting something and she suspected by the look her uncle was giving her that she wouldn't like it. She was right.
They rose, moving towards her. They had smiles on their faces.
"We said once before we would never call a Lannister our King" Ser Brynden announced loudly. "We are even less inclined to call one our Queen".
The Skagosi leader began to talk in faltering common tongue. "We have woman. We have better woman".
Oh no Arya thought.
Mors Umber added his voice. "Her brother was King, she has shown herself no less worthy. We don't need to call her lady, they can take that title". He grinned. "Let her be Queen instead".
No, No, No.
The men all began shouting. They joined together. "Arya Stark, Queen of Winter!"
I did not want this she thought. Gods, I did not want this. The Northmen and her uncle knelt and placed their swords at her feet. Even the recently released prisoners joined in. Arya pictured Cersei's reaction and had the urge to laugh but it was no laughing matter in truth. The men began shouting again.
"The Queen in the North!"
Arya looked in Aegon's direction. What have they done, she thought, frightened. He didn't look angry but he disappeared. She was worried it would come to swords when the Targaryen army heard.
She tried not to appear worried as the hours wore on. She forced herself to try and be gracious as the Northmen called on her to swear their allegiance. She forced herself to smile and accept them calling her "your grace". It is temporary she told herself. I am not disinheriting Rickon. She knew that he would take her place when he came of age but that was little consolation now.
She avoided the castle at dinner time, preferring to stay in the camps. She left the pavilion to mingle with her men and when she returned she found the She-Bear waiting for her. She knelt as Arya entered. Duck was with her and he looked self conscious. He muttered "your grace" and took his leave. Arya could barely look at him let alone scold him for the title. She was more distracted by what Lady Maege held in her hands.
"The prince had it brought to the tent"
It was a circlet wrought from bronze and silver. It was modest as crowns go and didn't have a dragon in sight. Arya suddenly realised her mouth was hanging open and she was staring at it. The She-Bear was watching her carefully but she stepped forward and placed it on Arya's head.
"He wants you".
Arya began to shake her head and Lady Maege became impatient.
"We are not stupid, Your Grace. He would not have given in so easily if it was not true"
Arya touched the circlet. I did not want this.
"I will return it" she said quickly.
"That would be a mistake, Your Grace"
Arya was confused. Lady Maege smiled. She pointed at the crown.
"That is not just a crown" she said. "That is the future Iron Throne giving us independence".
Arya sat heavily, feeling even more burdened. She did not want to be a lady. She wanted to be Queen even less.
Postscript: Something just appealed to me about Cersei trying to stop Arya becoming Queen and her actions directly contributing to Arya becoming Queen. Then of course there is Arya saying she can't be queen to Aegon then becoming queen anyway. Of course she is sort of regent rather than queen in truth but considering Rickon won't be of age for several years the distinction doesn't matter so much right now. Others might not agree with me but indulge me just for this story.
In case you are wondering I have not forgotten Tom. He will feature soon.