A/N: Apologies but this chapter does not cover the events you are waiting for from the previous chapter. There is some stuff in this I felt needed to come first. See parts of it as possible foreshadowing.

Thanks for the lovely reviews on the last chapter.

Chapter 60: Connington

Jon Connington paused at the entrance to Aegon's tent. The laughter from within carried out across the camp. There was a gathering inside comprising Aegon's leading bannermen, some of the Northern advisors, Ser Brynden Tully, Lord Jonos Bracken, Duck, the Prince himself and of course Arya Stark. They were seated on campstools and the braziers had been lit spreading warmth through the partitioned area.

The army was camped outside Stone Hedge. The Blackfish and the Stark girl had met with Lord Jonos earlier in the day. Jon did not know the details of it but it could not have gone too badly considering the man had left his castle to break bread with Aegon as well as Brynden Tully. Lord Jonos gave Arya a queer look every so often but that did not strike Jon as overly strange. It seemed only natural given the tales the Riverlands lords must have heard.

It was a light hearted gathering. The men traded japes and stories and at intervals somebody would burst into song. There was good reason to be in high spirits. They gained more allies with each passing day. Dissent against the Lannisters grew and the most recent trigger was higher taxes. Each battle had been a success but Jon knew their work was far from done. It will not be over until Aegon sits on the Iron Throne.

While he watched he became aware of a pair of eyes on him. Arya Stark had a smile pasted on her face to match the others in the tent but those grey eyes were not smiling. She was seated next to Aegon who at intervals glanced at her, a soft smile gracing his features. Jon felt a knife twist in his gut every time he saw that look. He was aware that the girl had tried to end things again but it had not worked. She knows more of the world than almost everybody here. Those knowing eyes were now trained on him.

He saw her make a minute gesture to a stool and gave the slightest shake of his head. Aegon took this moment to notice him and called out a greeting and an invitation to join them. Before Jon could answer him Arya (he could not manage to call her Queen and she had not insisted) leaned over and said something quietly in Aegon's ear before excusing herself.

The men in the tent did not question the Northern leader leaving to speak with the Prince's Hand. It was not unusual for her to leave them to speak with one person or another. She continually stopped to speak with her men, Aegon's men and smallfolk along the way. It had bothered him at first but she was not costing them time during the march and because Aegon was often with her it helped win even more of the people to their cause.

As much as Jon feared for the risk she posed to Aegon taking the throne and his chances of winning Daenerys, he had grown to grudgingly respect her. She of all people seemed to understand what needed to be done. He was vexed by her presence but at the same time she was an asset they needed. He had spoken with her on occasion and he was aware she had intervened on his behalf with Aegon when the prince was being particularly trying.

"Will you walk with me my lord?" she asked him now.

Connington nodded and they both walked in silence for some distance.

"Tell me of the meeting with Lord Jonos."

"Aegon already knows" she replied quickly. "You will have seen that Lord Jonos came to the camps rather than inviting us to stay in his castle. My uncle is quite wroth with him."

"Will he join us?" Jon prompted.

The girl chewed on her lip for half a second. A brief scowl crossed her face then all expression disappeared. "Uncle Brynden says that he turned his cloak first. He knelt to the Lannisters as soon as Robb died, before any of the other lords of the Riverlands. He besieged the Blackwoods when they would not kneel."

The girl was angry. She spoke dispassionately, almost as she would about the weather but all the same it was plain to Jon that she was enraged. "Will he join us?" Jon prodded again.

"Yes" the girl finally said. "The Lannisters have taken his daughter as a hostage though."

Connington looked at Arya. There was something hard in her eyes as she spoke of Jonos Bracken and he remembered the way Lord Jonos had looked at her in the tent. Aegon had spoken of her confrontation with Stannis at Winterfell. Jon had yet to witness her full power. Part of him would have liked to have been there to see her speak to Lord Jonos. Something of import had clearly transpired for the man to have angered her and yet become an ally. He ran through their list of allies in his head, remembering the news he had just received.

"You are troubled." She did not phrase it as a question. He frowned in response. Jon prided himself on hiding his feelings well but the girl always knew. "I do not ask you to tell me. I just want to know..." They stopped and he saw her struggling with some inner turmoil.

"He is not in danger" Jon said gruffly.

The smallest flicker of relief, almost unnoticeable crossed that face. Most people would have missed it. Jon had often thought the girl was toying with Aegon. The prince insisted she was not but the infatuation had appeared one sided for a time. Jon now knew better. Arya Stark would never admit it but she was clearly just as attached as Aegon was. Connington hesitated before telling her of the raven from Dorne.

"Daenerys' people have returned Quentyn Martell's body to Prince Doran by ship."

Another person would have exclaimed over the prince being dead. They would have expressed foolish notions over his passing and uttered false courtesies about how sad and awful it was. They would have asked question after question of Connington. How did it happen? What did Doran say? Arya Stark was silent. When she did speak the thought she voiced was the same one Connington had.

"Prince Doran will want vengeance now."

Doran had dithered and waited. Connington suspected that he was waiting for the dragons and the girl obviously thought so too. He was not stupid. There was a reason Quentyn Martell had been sent to Daenerys and if the boy had been successful Dorne would have been split. It would have been a choice between supporting the dragon queen who had taken a Dornish prince as her consort or Princess Elia's son. That choice was now taken. The dragons had killed the Dornish prince.

"He does" Jon confirmed. "Aegon has Dorne now. They will not wait for the dragons to destroy the Lannisters."

There was more and Jon could see the girl knew. She would not know the details but she knew there was more to it. It had not been expressly said in the letter but Dorne would not welcome Daenerys kindly. He had thought about the Stark girl, Dorne would not have liked her linked with Aegon. It would be a reminder of the insult to Elia but this was worse. Arya Stark was innocent of the actions which sparked the Rebellion, no matter the resemblance she bore to her Aunt. Daenerys however was responsible for Quentyn's death if the rumours could be believed. The union is still necessary, Daenerys and her dragons are a threat to Aegon's claim.

"Would you like to spar my lord? I know a place."

Jon was relieved not to be asked more of Dorne but the offer caught him off guard. He scowled for a moment before he caught her expression. She was studying his right hand thoughtfully. They were still standing in the one spot and he felt strange as she touched his fingers over his glove. He looked around quickly and saw a brief rather wicked smile cross her face.

"Are you afraid somebody will think we are lovers?" The thought had not crossed his mind. Jon was more concerned that somebody might suspect his greyscale. Her face became still again but he could see amusement twinkling in her eyes. "If I am asked I can tell them you refused me."

Jon did not smile and her amusement quickly faded. He confirmed for her that he could not feel his hand and after retrieving a blunted sword he followed her to an empty clearing. It was a useful exercise. Jon was under no illusions that Arya was not using her full skill against him. He held back at first himself, testing his own reflexes. It had been some time since he had truly been in combat. Command kept him out of most of the fighting but everything came back to him easily.

"It does not seem to be causing you much of a problem" Arya observed. He could not help feeling satisfied when he heard that she was breathing heavily. She evaded him but it was taking some effort on her part. He had watched her with the other men. It was not often she was tested.

"It is not" he confirmed. He could barely feel his grip on the sword but his fingers were doing as he asked nonetheless. He knew it would not remain so. It would not be long before he became slower and clumsier. The practice was over earlier than he would have liked although he would never tell her that. He flexed his fingers as he returned the blunted sword to its place. They began the walk back to Aegon's tent. Jon kept his gaze straight ahead.

"I do not know what to do my lord" she said softly.

Jon did not need to ask what she referred to. He wanted to tell her she should go far away but he knew that even if it was possible it would do no good. Jon had raised Aegon and he had called him his son. He knew the boy. Aegon's heart was loyal and it was clear he loved this girl with all he had. Even when she had been half a world away the bond had not been severed. They argued about it but it changed nothing. Jon no longer tried to fight him over it.

"You will leave before he meets Daenerys."

If she was surprised she covered it well. Her only response was a nod. Jon would have advised her to be discreet but he knew she was not the problem. When others were around Arya Stark gave no indication that there was any improper warmth between her and Aegon. In private it was a different matter. He heard them some nights talking in hushed voices in the tent. Once he had interrupted them. Aegon said they were dancing. It appeared to be the truth although given the Stark girl's aversion to dancing Jon had thought it strange.

"I did not want to" she protested, still trapped in the prince's arms. "He blackmailed me."

Aegon had smiled triumphantly despite Jon setting a cold gaze on them. He did not ask about the blackmail. He did not want to know. Recently they had begun something new. Jon walked into the tent and found Aegon with his eyes closed and his fingers gently tracing the Stark girl's face. Duck was watching them curiously and Connington was exasperated. She had looked at him quite calmly and made no effort to break away from the improper contact.

"I am teaching Aegon the lying game. He is not very good at it"

Aegon's fingers paused and he opened his eyes. "Is that a lie?" he asked with a crooked smile.

Arya had looked at him with unconcealed frustration though she still did not remove his fingers "Don't be stupid."

Jon held his tongue as she explained how the House of Black and white taught her to see and hear lies. He could not object to her trying to teach the prince but he wished that Aegon did not look so content. He consoled himself that it was unlikely they would be seen and if they were they had an excuse, however flimsy.

He knew Brynden Tully suspected something but the knight was keeping his suspicions to himself. Duck knew but he would keep quiet. He was loyal to Aegon and his fondness for the girl would also ensure he did not risk her reputation. Jon knew that Duck spent time in her tent when he was not on duty. He had seen them laughing together and trading stories. Arya was more affectionate than she should be towards the knight and Duck had now taking to fondly calling her the little queen even in the company of men who did not approve of Northern independence.

Haldon and Lemore both knew of the affair as well though they pretended not to. The others merely thought Aegon was another of the Stark girl's admirers. She had no shortage of those. It would need to be explained away if word reached Daenerys. There were other concerns which bothered Jon more. He had learned to his frustration that Arya's presence had a positive effect on Aegon. He was better when she was close. The prince did not doubt himself, he was more focused, happier and less inclined to make rash decisions. The girl gave him good counsel. She was showing her value more and more and it only made the situation more difficult.

Her voice cut across his thoughts and brought him back to the present.

"I will take them back to my tent so that you can speak with him."

Jon grunted an acknowledgement. He originally came to the tent to speak with Aegon but the time spent with the girl had been of much use. When they reached the tent it only took a quick word from her and the tent was all but vacated. He did not doubt she would tell her bannermen of Dorne but it mattered little.

Aegon asked far more questions than Arya had. He did not mind it from the prince. Aegon grasped the implications of his cousin's death rather quickly. He frowned over the manner of the death.

"Would my Aunt really set her dragons on people like that?"

Jon thought of Aerys. She would if she is her father's daughter. "We do not know" was the reply he gave. "It is a rumour but we do know Quentyn was burnt by the dragons. The circumstances will matter little to your uncle." He paused. "There is something else. A messenger brought a letter from Harrenhal. Lady Lemore will be joining us."

Aegon smiled broadly and began to talk rapidly of the things he had to share with the septa. Jon did not think it wise for Lemore to be in the war zone but the presence of the red priest had made it necessary. It was known that the faith resisted Stannis because of his closeness to the red priestess. Aegon could not afford for it to appear that he had abandoned the Seven. He studied Aegon as the young prince spoke.

Aegon had grown his hair and Connington could not help but notice it was worn like Rhaegar's. The resemblance had grown as the boy aged. Aegon's speech was not the same. The son did not quite have the steely tones of Rhaegar though if he was truly vexed it came close. His disposition differed and of course Rhaegar's eyes were indigo rather than violet but they shared many other features. He is a dragon when he has to be.

It became late and Jon rested his gloved hand on Aegon's shoulder, interrupting his stream of chatter. The prince suddenly seemed to realise and he looked a little guilty.

"Goodnight my lord."

They resumed their march the next day after a brief visit inside Stone Hedge. Lord Jonos was not overly welcoming and Jon guessed he was trying to be cautious for the sake of his hostage daughter. The servants whispered as they walked through the castle and part of the cause of Arya's annoyance was revealed. Lord Jonos had tried to eject her to speak with the men, claiming war was a man's business. Jon seemed to remember a time when he had made the same claim himself, completely unaware of who he was speaking with. Lord Jonos should be thankful the direwolf was not present.

Jon was accustomed to seeing the wolf by Arya's side however since they had crossed the Trident the animal had all but disappeared. It was rarely by the girl's side now. They heard it often. There were other wolves in the Riverlands and the direwolf had joined with them. It was troubling. Those who were there when Arya first came to Storm's End had not forgotten the huge wolf pack attacking soldiers. The numbers were much fewer now but there were whispers. The Stark girl was rumoured to be a warg and Jon had seen enough to know it was not mere rumour. There was a time when that knowledge would have had him contemplating her end. Now he simply found it useful.

They were only three days from Stone Hedge when Aegon received a visitor. He was a flamboyant man and strangely dressed. He was tall and gaunt and introduced himself as Tycho Nestoris, an emissary from the Iron Bank of Braavos.

"I have come to treat with His Grace."

Connington insisted on staying even after the banker made a courteous remark about the matter he needed to discuss being delicate and his business being with the claimant to the Iron Throne. Aegon was polite to the banker even though he looked a little bewildered. Surely he is wondering at the timing just as I am. They found out that the Iron Throne had ceased repayment of debt under Tommen's reign. It seemed strange that the bank did not try to treat with Aegon earlier. They waited until it was certain that they had no choice.

Jon swallowed his fury as the banker calmly announced that once Aegon took the throne he would inherit all debt owed. Aegon's reaction was not so controlled. The prince did not suppress his rage at having to repay the debt of the Baratheon and Lannister usurpers if he wished to have the gold needed to govern the realm. It was in the middle of his angry outburst that Arya Stark swept into the tent almost silently. She did not look herself. Connington faltered a moment but Aegon saw through the mummer's tricks.

"Arya" he said, sounding flustered. "I was not expecting you."

"I am displeased Your Grace" she said in a light tone but Connington suspected she meant what she said. "You cannot meet with Braavosi without me."

The banker looked at the new arrival expectantly. Aegon was still grappling his anger and introduced her through clearly gritted teeth.

"This is Her Grace Arya Stark, Queen of the North."

The Stark girl proceeded to speak briefly in Braavosi before taking a seat by Aegon's side. Connington saw her touch his arm and the prince's expression softened, even offering her a smile. He still shot the banker a dark look.

Tycho Nestoris also smiled at Arya and reverted back to the common tongue. "How does a Northern noblewoman learn the tongue of Braavos?" he asked pleasantly.

There was a flash of teeth under the hood which might have passed for a smile though Jon was certain it was not genuine. "I lived there for a time."

The conversation returned to the matter of Aegon being required to assume Robert and Tommen's debts. Connington saw Arya looking at each person in the room as they conversed. She showed no emotion. Aegon was clearly trying to keep his temper in check now but the banker was not helping matters. Despite the appearance of courtesy the man was being rather difficult and looked to be trying to take advantage of Aegon's inexperience.

They swallowed down the injustice of having to pay the debt but the terms for any new debt were poor to say the least. Connington finally had enough.

"Perhaps we can resume our negotiations after the dragons arrive."

He saw Aegon look startled. Tycho took it ill.

"I do hope that is a poor jest my lord. We Braavosi do not take kindly to threats of dragons and we do not make good enemies."

There was a tense silence in which Connington saw something change in Arya's expression. Her hand brushed Aegon's arm and when they looked at each other the prince spoke up.

"Do not fear, Lord Connington was merely vexed."

The banker's demeanour remained chilly even though he dipped his head to acknowledge Aegon's words. Connington was distracted by a movement out of the corner of his eye and saw that Arya was playing with a coin. It rolled through her fingers as though it was an extension of her arm. When it abruptly fell from her fingers to roll in front of the banker Aegon laughed although it sounded a little forced.

"You are not usually so clumsy."

Arya smiled sweetly. "I'm sure our guest does not mind. Bankers are used to handling coins after all."

Connington looked at the banker. He was studying the coin and his eyes flicked to the Stark girl's face. The expression he wore gave Jon pause. He was suddenly certain that dropping the coin was no accident. It looked harmless enough. It was only a worn small black iron coin.

"My lady?" he asked questioningly.

Arya Stark smiled again but there was no warmth in it. "You need not fear dragonflame." She looked down and plucked at a thread on her cloak. "Valar Morghulis."

The banker nodded but he looked a little pale. "Valar dohaeris."

The remainder of the negotiations went much more smoothly. Aegon was given much less difficulty and Arya remained silent until they were finished. Connington still was not happy with some of the terms but he supposed apart from the necessity of taking on the debt from Robert and Tommen that it was fair. The Banker rose to take his leave and paused to speak with the girl on his way out. They spoke in lowered voices in Braavosi.

Aegon walked out with the banker and Jon took the moment alone with the girl.

"What was that with the coin?"

She raised her chin defiantly and her eyes glittered under the hood of the cloak. "I wanted to help. I understood what he said of Braavos to be a threat. I wanted him to know that I knew and have him know who I used to be." She rose and left him, making no sound as she walked.

Jon watched her leave wondering exactly how many more times the girl would surprise him. He sighed heavily as he stood to make his way out to join Aegon. The banker was leaving but Jon heard him speak of the ironborn threatening the citadel. He stood with Aegon to watch the man go.

"The last thing he told me was that the Iron Bank was glad to be of service." Aegon said quietly.

Connington watched the banker fading into the distance. "Yes, he did."

"I do not need Arya's lessons to know he was lying." Aegon frowned.

Neither do I. The contract was written however and Aegon had signed. They would have the gold needed to govern when Aegon took the Iron Throne. The Iron Bank will also have its due.

A/N 2: Before Dany fans get worked up this chapter does not mean I think she is a villain. I am merely trying to keep it realistic. I expect Dorne to be pissed when they find out her dragons roasted Quent. I also expect the story of his death might be somewhat misconstrued. I have posted a teaser for the next chapter on Tumblr. It is mostly kinda romantic so it may not be your cup of tea. I have partially written the next chapter, I think it will be enormous compared to length of other chapters... too much to fit in.