Chapter 53: Aegon
Aegon was flustered as he left Arya's pavilion. He had been forced to leave before he was ready. Arya had covered for him with her uncle but he still felt uneasy. She had been so abrupt when he first went to her tent. They had barely spoken though she had offered him some comfort.
He felt foolish for being so bothered about the Ruby Ford. It was not as though he remembered his father but it was difficult hearing the men speak of him. The Northmen discussed his death so calmly, talking of how his chestplate had been hit so hard with Robert Baratheon's warhammer that the single blow had taken his life. The worst part was imagining the men searching for the rubies as his father lay dead. He did console himself that nobody was talking of his father's death as though it was something to be happy about.
Hearing that somebody had tried to kill Arya had affected him even more. He had not known his father but his bond to Arya was strong, even though she often told him it would have to end. He did not want it ended with her death. She seemed so calm about it. It was stupid he knew but it felt wrong that he had not been able to protect her. Of course if she knew what he was thinking she would scoff at the idea of needing protection.
He made his way back through the camp and rejoined Asha Greyjoy. Lady Asha had called to him, asking if she might speak with him. He had known that Asha had wanted to discuss the Iron Islands with him so he had hesitantly agreed to speak with her. Lord Connington had warned him that the Ironmen were not to be trusted but he had to hear what she said.
She had spoken for a little, professing to want to deliver the allegiance of the Iron Islands to him. She swore that her uncle would not last on the Seastone chair and that she and her brother could take it. When they did she said they would bend the knee. He had asked how she expected to gain the chair and she had begun to speak of Kingsmoots and strange customs.
She was a different sort of woman, fierce and proud. Before they had begun to speak his guards supervised her removing throwing axes from her person and Aegon could not suppress a smile over her attitude as she parted with them and he saw Duck grin too as she japed about them as though they were her children. She was bold of tongue and in action though Aegon had the unsettling feeling that she was amused by him. He did not help matters when she related the story of the boy attempting to poison Arya by way of explaining resistance to women as rulers. He suspected she added some dramatic flair to her description but as soon as he had heard enough details he had quickly excused himself to confront Arya.
Asha Greyjoy looked highly amused as he returned. He only hoped he looked composed. He took a seat with her again.
"I apologise for the interruption Lady Asha"
She smirked and he dreaded to think what she might know. From the way she behaved he knew she must have thought she knew about him and Arya. He cursed himself for leaving so impulsively but her response was polite enough.
"Not at all, Your Grace".
She resumed telling him of how the Kingsmoot worked and the precedent where one had been called invalid where a claimant had been absent. Aegon started to understand her plan.
"You want to use your brother to overturn it".
Asha grinned. "I see you are not all looks".
Aegon flushed which prompted Asha to laugh at his expense and assure him she had no interest in fucking him. That in turn made him even more uncomfortable and he tried to change the subject.
"You will need your brother released".
Her smile faded. "I will".
Aegon thought a moment. "How does la-Queen Arya feel about this?"
"More receptive than her men but she resists the idea. It will not work anyway while my nuncle is convincing the ironborn that he can conquer the seven kingdoms".
Aegon told her he would consider what she had told him but her brother's imprisonment was a Northern matter and he knew he could not interfere, even though he might want to. He had returned to his own pavilion after leaving Asha. He excused himself from having to talk to the men he passed, trying not to be rude. Lord Connington gave him a look as he entered the tent, no doubt having heard that he had seen Arya. He did not push it though. The only person more unhappy as they had passed the Ruby Ford than Aegon was Lord Connington.
Arya was different during the march the next day but then again he supposed he was too. They no longer avoided each other though it was still not quite what it had been between them. He wished her uncle had not interrupted them. He had wanted to fix things and although he had offered an apology of sorts he was not sure of its effect. He could not tell what she was thinking. She was guarding her expression and although he did not think she would rebuff him if he spoke to her in the presence of her guards, he was not certain.
He was glad she did not ride ahead that day. It was not the time to be taking risks and particularly after what he had just learned. They also encountered heavier snows and were unable to cover a great deal of distance. They had to keep stopping and rode a little longer than usual to try to make it up before giving up and making camp before it became too dark.
Aegon ate in his pavilion feeling weary. Not long after he removed his boots and swordbelt and climbed into his bed. It was too cold in camp to undress to sleep. He could still hear noise in the camp and he knew he was early retiring but he had enough for one day.
It had not been long when he heard Arya whisper his name and knew she was close. He sat up to look at her and saw she looked uncertain.
"I was not sure whether I should be here" she whispered "You looked like you needed..."
He knew what she meant. He needed to see her. They had hurt each other, he knew that but he needed to know that things were not still broken. He held out his hand to her and she darted forward, resuming the embrace her uncle had interrupted the night before. After a moment she squirmed and he realised she was taking off her boots. He lay down and when she finished she snuggled close to him and he pulled the furs over both of them.
"I won't be able to stay long" she said apologetically. "It was hard to get in here without being seen. As it is I think Connington knows I'm in here".
He brushed his lips against her brow in response. His pulse raced a little having her so close but he knew that holding her was as far as it would go this time. There was even more chance of being found out in the tent than there was in a castle. Arya felt deceptively soft against him, even clothed. He could feel her curves, even thinner she was still womanly but he was not misled. She was not like other women. She was strong and toned and he would not be surprised if she didn't have a dozen different ways she could kill him, even after she had discarded her knives to lie in his arms.
He had always tried to be gentle with her. He had learned she was not fragile, she was not what he had been led to believe a highborn lady should be from his lessons. He had been led to believe he should use soft touches. Arya had known violence and did not respond well to being handled roughly but he had learned to take his cues from her. She told him, sometimes without words and sometimes vocally when more was permitted and at times it was hard to keep a measure of control when Arya responded so ardently to his every caress. Arya was wild and all the training she had been given, all the restraint she had learned in other aspects of life fell away when he touched her.
He thought of his father again and wondered whether Arya was like Lyanna Stark in other ways, not just in looks. The thought made him feel uncomfortable, he did not want to think of Arya's Aunt in that way but he was trying to understand why his father would have taken her and caused so much trouble. By all reports he was honourable in every other way. Aegon knew he loved Arya but he liked to think he was not so mad that he would let thousands die to be with her. He started when Arya pressed her finger to his forehead.
"You have such a frown. What is it?"
He sighed. "I am trying to understand my father".
Arya bit her lip. Aegon had seen her doing it a little more often, especially since she had begun wearing the crown. "Are you speaking of him and my Aunt?"
Aegon nodded and he saw her look thoughtful as she brushed his hair back with her fingers. It had become a lot longer, it now reached past his shoulders. He had not cut it in many moons.
"I spoke with Howland Reed" she said softly. "He was there at the Tower of Joy when Father went to rescue my Aunt. He and my Aunt were friends. Your father did not take her".
Aegon caught her hand to still her fingers. "What do you mean?"
She gave him a wry smile. "I am more like her than I knew. She could fight too though not like me". She paused. "I think my Aunt did not want to marry Robert Baratheon so she ran away with your father. She wanted to go. Nobody made her. I asked and Lord Reed confirmed it".
Aegon could only stare at her.
"I might have run too if I was her" Arya whispered "but I do not think I would have hidden away with a married man and I would like to think I would have told my family so they would not worry so much".
Aegon tried to imagine it. He had never believed his father would force a woman. He had believed his father loved Lyanna. He had heard the story of the tourney at Harrenhal.
"We are both different" he said slowly. "I cannot imagine you being wooed by me naming you Queen of Love and Beauty".
Arya snorted and Aegon grinned as she tried to stifle her laughter against his shoulder.
"I would have likely thrown the flowers back in your face". Her smile dropped. "It had begun before then".
He listened as she told him of Howland Reed being bullied and of the mystery knight at the tourney. When she began to speak of his father being tasked with unmasking the mystery knight he did not need her to finish the story.
"I could imagine you doing something like that" he said softly. "I could see that being us minus the flowers".
Arya shook her head but he silenced her protests by pressing his mouth to hers. She squeaked a little but her resistance was brief and it was him who had to pull back first when she had clutched handfuls of his tunic and pressed the length of her body to his. He had to fight to resist her and they were both panting a little as they separated.
"You are worse than I am" he teased her.
She flushed and he felt a small triumph. It was not often he could discomfit her. It was usually the other way around.
"I should go" she whispered but she did not move.
"What did your uncle say after I left?"
The corners of her mouth quirked "He said he feels sorry for you. He told me that throwing wine at a man who is trying to win my hand is a poor response".
Aegon could not repress his own wry smile even though her rejection of him was a sore point. "At least I have one supporter".
Arya sighed and moved to rest her head against his chest. "He likes you. He did not want to but he does". Her fingers laced through his. "You meant what you said didn't you?"
"What?" he asked.
"I don't think you would have killed the squire but you would not stand aside and do nothing if somebody really hurt me or my family"
Aegon nodded at her as she looked up into his face, her grey eyes shining and for once looking a little shy. She nestled back against him again.
"You should not want me" she said quietly. "Nobody who knows what I've done should want me".
He pressed his lips to the top of her head.
"You should have told me".
She sighed. "I know".
She began to pull away and he reluctantly let her go. He watched as she pulled her boots on and retrieved her knives. She gave him one last look and it was almost reproachful.
"You make this difficult".
The march the next day was more comfortable. Aegon found himself talking with Arya's guards as much as his own. The Skagosi was a challenge. Arya laughed at his initial attempt when she saw what he was doing and moved up closer to translate. He grinned listening to her speaking the old tongue.
"You must teach me"
When she translated that it was met with laughter and the rest of the day was spent with him trying to learn a few words. He frowned when they laughed at him though he was not truly offended.
"This is harder than when you tried to teach me some Braavosi"
Her expression did not change but he saw her flush a little and he grinned. The memory was not really one he should have been bringing to mind when they were surrounded by people. She regained her composure quickly and nobody else seemed aware.
They reached an inn just before the end of the march. Ser Brynden Tully pulled up alongside Arya and notified her. For a moment Aegon thought she tensed then her expression became unreadable. They were advised that it was being used as an orphanage of sorts and when Aegon dismounted as they reached it, Arya leapt off her own horse and made a move almost as if to stop him.
"I'm sure we will be safe with children" he told her gently.
She gave him the look which usually preceded a proclamation that he was stupid but she said nothing. She stayed close by him as they approached and she insisted on having guards. He thought it strange but then again he remembered she often insisted on safety measures back in the Stormlands when he visited different places and she could not be certain of who they might meet.
When he approached the inn he saw that the singer had reached it ahead of them. He was playing his harp for the children. Two girls met Aegon as he approached. When he asked who they were they introduced themselves as in charge or the inn, giving their names as Willow and Jeyne Heddle. He began to understand why Arya was concerned when more children started to gather behind them and he saw that some of them were armed.
"We mean you no harm" he began to say.
"What do you want?" the younger Heddle girl asked, her eyes hard and suspicious. "We don't want armies. We had enough trouble from the lions".
He introduced himself and noticed Arya had her hand on his arm, seeming to have forgotten that she was supposed to distance herself in front of others. It was not overly improper but it was familiar. She is worried. Duck and his other guards were tense too. Aegon suspected that if the children raised their weapons things would turn ugly fast. He was wearing armour but a well placed crossbow bolt could still do damage. He turned to Arya to introduce her and the singer interrupted him.
"That is Arya Stark, Queen in the North".
Willow and Jeyne Heddle had recognised his name but Arya's had a greater impact. Her name is known in the Riverlands. They were allowed inside though Aegon still did not feel overly welcome. He was appalled by the conditions inside. It was tidy enough but the inn was full of children, dull eyed, scrawny children.
"They are starving" Arya whispered.
She held onto him tighter when he offered food in exchange for rooms. The offer was readily accepted and the children discarded their weapons.
They did not really need the rooms though Aegon knew they could use them. They had a little gold and could have paid but this was better. The Heddle girls were proud, he could see that. They did not want charity and gold would have gotten them little food now. He gave the order and some of the rationed food was brought in. He saw one of the men give him a sceptical look but he dismissed it. He would write to his supporters in the Reach now that they were getting closer. Their food supplies, although still likely to be limited, could be replenished from there.
Lord Connington came to see him in the room he had taken and Aegon could not decide whether he approved or whether he thought Aegon was mad.
"We had to camp anyway" he said defensively.
"We did not have to camp here" Connington said in a resigned voice.
Aegon's highborn supporters would not have agreed. The decision was popular with them at least. They had not slept under a roof since the Twins. Connington left to go to his own room and Aegon began to make himself more comfortable. He did not realise the extent to which Arya approved of his actions until he heard a knock at the door. When he opened it, he found a woman he thought he did not know on the other side bringing in linen. He let her in but when the door closed behind the woman her face changed and he saw it was Arya.
"I will not get used to you doing that" he said. He looked her up and down. She was wearing a gown of roughspun. "Where did the dress come from?"
"It doesn't matter" she murmured. "It got me in here". He closed the gap between them taking the linen from her. It was thrown aside rather unceremoniously in his haste to get back to Arya. She rested her hands on his chest almost casually.
"Sometimes I think you are mad" she whispered, looking at her hands. "You do know they wanted to hurt you".
Aegon put his hand to the side of her face, prompting her to look at him. He traced the line of her neck and shoulder with his fingers as he brushed his lips against hers, just gently at first. Her response told him she did not want gentle kisses. She caught his bottom lip with her teeth and grasped his hands, guiding his fingers to the laces on her dress. "Do you want me?"
Always
He grasped her waist with one hand, pulling her against him to let her feel his response to her closeness. He was rewarded with a brilliant smile. "What if somebody catches us?" he asked, unable to stop himself from accepting the invitation even as he asked the question. His fingers quickly worked at the laces.
She threaded her fingers through his hair as he kissed her again and she moaned as he palmed her breast. "I'll change my face if I hear anything" she said breathlessly "as long as you don't mind".
Aegon was too far gone to care as she kissed his jaw and sucked gently at his neck. He had shaved and she muttered something about him being less scratchy. Her words became unintelligible when the dress fell to the floor and he slipped his hand inside her smallclothes. He found himself glad he had one of the few rooms with a featherbed though he expected Arya didn't really care. He wanted to savour having her bare against him, being inside her once more. He wanted it to last and although she made it very difficult he had some degree of success and by the time he spilled his seed he was satisfied but he was exhausted.
"I want you to stay" he murmured, running his fingers down her back and pressing his lips to her shoulder.
"You know I can't" she said in a reprimanding voice as she slid from his arms and began to dress. It was eerie seeing her change her face before she left the room.
He woke in the morning to the sounds of shouting. When he emerged from his room he found a gathering at the doorway to Arya's room. His guards accompanied him as he walked down to find out what was going on. Arya looked pale and he found his heart thudding in his chest.
They know about us.
She looked in his direction and her expression was almost pleading.
"Olyvar Frey is missing".
Aegon's relief was short lived. He soon knew what the shouting was really about. Olyvar was being named traitor and deserter. He had been branded for his family name. Aegon had not had much to do with Olyvar but he thought he had a sense of the man. Arya had told Aegon often that he was too trusting but he could not believe Olyvar had turned on them. When his eyes met Arya's he realised she did not believe it either.
There is something else going on here.
He joined the men in the camps and listened to the discussion. Search parties were to be sent out. Aegon could take no part, the Northmen were taking charge and a halt was called to the march. He returned to his room at the inn. Hours passed with no news before his door was thrown open and the Northern advisors burst in. Aegon was meeting with some of his supporters. They were not impressed at the interruption.
"My apologies Your Grace" the She-Bear said in a stiff voice.
They began to retreat and Aegon called them back.
"What is it?"
He could see the strain on their faces. Ser Robett Glover offered the explanation. "Her Grace is gone".
A/N: Next one will be Brienne before I get back to Arya. I'm not purposely making you guys wait to find out what has gone on with Arya (some of you might guess where she is anyway) but if I can gather my thoughts properly the Brienne chapter is relevant to the next Arya one and it makes sense in my head to write it that way.