A/N: I know this one has taken longer. I'm slower and I'm balancing commitments. The first bit was posted on tumblr yesterday as a tease, I'd like to do that more often but it can be hard to find an extract I'm happy with posting on its own. I'm on tumblr as madaboutasoiaf in case anybody was unsure.
I do have a question for my readers. I haven't named members of Aegon's kingsguard because I have no idea of who would be right. Actually that isn't entirely true, I have ideas for a couple of contenders but they are not for now. Suggestions are welcome.
There is limited action in this chapter. The action will return but I have so many threads I'm dealing with in this story and that is what this chapter and the next are probably going to try and deal with. It overlaps a little with the last Arya chapter. It begins just before Nymeria Sand spoke with Arya to tell her Aegon has his act together.
Thanks as always for the reviews and hello to the new readers who have followed/favourited
Chapter 65: Aegon
Aegon stalked back to his tent after the war council. The men were glad he was back to strategizing but Harry Strickland had vexed him again. The man opposed anything worth doing. They were limited in what they could do for now anyway. The march could not resume until the Northern army was ready to move.
He found Lemore waiting for him in his tent. She smiled at him fondly until she saw Nymeria Sand following close behind him. Lady Nym unsettled the Septa for some reason. Aegon thought little of it, Nym unsettled most people.
"Lemore" he greeted her with a smile and she patted his shoulder affectionately but darted another glance at Nymeria. "You should visit Arya. I'm sure she will be pleased to see you."
Lemore smiled again. "I will but first I must work. There are so many sinful men in an army."
Aegon frowned. A septon would take that role if they had one with them. All Lemore could do is have the men pray with her and it was not something she had to do. It was not the first time Lemore had given reasons not to see Arya. He let it go before but now he was beginning to think something was wrong.
"Did you quarrel with her at Storm's End?"
Lemore laughed. "No" she said, looking amused. She saw his frown and her expression softened. "I will see her when I finish my duties."
"I won't shy away from visiting our Northern Queen" Nymeria said. Her expression seemed very innocent but her smile was sharp and her lilting words did not disguise the wit underneath. "She is such good company as I'm sure our prince will agree."
Aegon watched her leave hoping she was not going to stir up trouble. He had not known her long but he knew she was dangerous. It had not stopped him developing a fondness for her. We share blood. Lord Connington wanted him to keep her at arm's length but Aegon was never very good at doing that. For him people were either enemies or friends and when Nymeria was not teasing him she was quite warm. Even her teasing often had a note of affection.
Lemore shot him a look of concern. "She knows."
Aegon flushed. "The night she arrived she found us together. She will not tell anybody." He sat and Lemore moved to his side, her fingers tidying his windblown hair as she had done when he was a child. The gesture was comforting.
"Remarks like that will be noticed" she said softly. "You must be careful my prince."
"Nym only does it around people who already know" Aegon said weakly. "She likes to play."
Lemore sighed. "You are still such an innocent boy sometimes. It is admirable to see the good in others but do not let it blind you."
Aegon grinned. "You almost sound like Arya."
An emotion flickered over the septa's face very quickly, so fast he could not identify what it was but for a moment he thought she looked guilty. She sighed and left him to his letter writing. He had so many he needed to send after spending a week not wanting to remember. The images of Gregor Clegane still stayed with him, both real and imagined but he now tried to think of them in conjunction with spilling Lannister blood. With that in mind he put his quill to parchment.
His hand was cramped and the stew brought for lunch was cold when Lord Connington came to his tent. Aegon looked up at him and blinked, trying to focus after squinting at the pages so long. Connington had been evading him since Aegon became increasingly worried about his injury. It did not matter how much Aegon urged him to let Haldon treat it he wouldn't. Connington looked increasingly unsteady when they met earlier but he still refused attention.
I do not want him to die. It would be like losing a father.
"Will you please reconsider seeing Haldon" he pleaded, not caring what he sounded like. Orders did not work with Connington, not when it was about personal matters. The man was set in his ways.
"There is no need" Connington replied gruffly. "How are the letters coming along?"
Aegon shot to his feet, his anger overriding his fear. "Why must you be so difficult? You will leave it too late and nobody will be able to help!" He felt tears trying to form, a remnant of his still fresh grief and he brushed roughly at his eyes.
I won't weep, that will get me nowhere.
"Calm yourself" Connington replied, his tone losing most of its edge. "I saw somebody. The infection is gone."
Aegon did not believe him but when he looked more closely he could see it was true. The hand was hidden inside a glove but the smell was gone along with all signs of fever. "How?" he asked in astonishment.
"It does not matter" Connington said dismissively. "You no longer have need of concern." He began to rifle through the parchment and Aegon knew to let the matter drop. Pressing him would only irritate Connington. They spent the remainder of the time before dinner speaking of arrangements to be made and meeting with the men tasked with putting those arrangements in place.
Aegon made sure to mingle with his men as well as the Northmen after dinner. Certain of them joined him in his tent before retiring. There were many remarks that they were pleased to see him well and he was angry at himself for allowing his loss to turn him into a child. I am a dragon. He knew his behaviour had been unbecoming of a king. I will make up for it.
He slept restlessly, still plagued by nightmares. When he finished breaking his fast, he washed and dressed. The sting of the water against his face prompted him to call for a looking glass. It took an inordinate amount of time to retrieve one and he began to think they were stalling. In the end Lemore brought it in. By that point he had begun to worry about exactly how unsightly the scar would be. Arya did not think it bad. Others stared but Arya had looked at him the same.
Aegon studied his reflection feeling embarrassed about his vanity. The man looking back at him had dark shadows under his eyes. He had not shaved and the wound on his face was red and far from healed. It still gaped a little but it was smaller than he originally thought. It still drew the eye though and he inspected it, lifting his fingers to touch it.
"You should try not to do that."
Aegon looked up to see Arya approaching. Lemore retreated leaving them alone and he wondered again why she was avoiding Arya. His wonderings ceased as Arya reached his side and her fingers traced the unmarked side of his face.
"I did not see you yesterday" he said, setting the looking glass down.
"I had many visitors" she replied. "I could not get away." She propped up her stick within reach, sat in the seat Lemore had vacated and let him kiss her forehead. "I think my uncle knows about us."
Aegon froze in the middle of tucking a loose tendril of her hair behind her ear. "How does he know?"
Arya looked thoughtful. "I think I defended you too much when he said you had behaved improperly. What did you do when you visited me in my tent?"
Aegon did not need to ask which visit she meant. "It was little more than what I just did. I... kissed you. He thought I was drunk but I wasn't, not completely. I did forget myself. When he became offended I might have said something reckless in my defence."
"What did you say?" she looked more curious than angry.
"I think it was something about not doing anything to you if you did not wish it."
Arya sighed. "It is the first time I have seen him look really disappointed with me." She began to scratch at the end of her cast, her brow furrowed.
"I'll speak with him" Aegon offered.
Arya smiled, looking wistful. "I am not surprised at your offer but that would make things worse." She scrunched up her face as she began to scratch the other end of the cast. "People would not judge me so if I was a man. Men visit whores and nothing is said about it."
Aegon grinned. "I'm not a whore."
She stopped her scratching to hit him. "Don't be stupid. You know what I mean."
He sighed. "I do know but it would make no difference if you were a man. Our birth-"
Arya cut him off with a noise of clear frustration. She composed herself quickly but her voice was sad when she spoke again. "My uncle compared one of us to Robb. I don't know who he meant."
Aegon thought of what he knew of Robb Stark and drew his own conclusion. Whatever Arya felt she always put her family and the North first. He meant me. "You won't be responsible for any mistakes on my part" he said quickly.
"I know that" she said in a determined voice. "There won't be failure. My uncle is just worried but he does not need to be."
She told him of small parties of Northmen being sent to Seagard and Raventree Hall. It was something planned before they were attacked. Now that the injured were recovering it was time to act. The men would treat with other Riverlands Houses as they passed them.
"Do you want some of my men to go with them?" he offered.
Arya shook her head. "They need to see that the North really is independent" she explained. He could tell it was something she had been told but it made sense. They were allied with the North once before. "Ser Robett is going to lead the party to Raventree Hall. It will be strange not speaking with him until he returns."
Aegon nodded. "He has given you very good counsel."
Arya frowned. "It has been more than that. He is loyal and his brother died for me. I wish there was something I could do."
Aegon thought seriously for a moment. "There is. You could raise him to lordship. You could do it yourself but I would confirm it if needed. His brother died for both of us"
Some of his followers would be unhappy but he did not care. Titles would be given out based on merit and those who fought against Ser Gregor and survived were already lords with the exception of the Myrish priest, Ser Robett Glover and Sandor Clegane. He was grateful to Clegane but not so grateful that he would give him a lordship. The man was infamous and not for heroic deeds.
He was not sure what Arya thought at first. Her face was very still then a small smile appeared. "I thought he was a lord the first time I saw him." She pressed a small kiss to his cheek then left him alone in the tent.
He did not see her again until just before dinner. Aegon knew he needed to get back to training so he ventured into the makeshift training area. It was difficult at first but he soon fell back into it. When he was finished he had lunch with Lady Nym and a quiet Connington before hearing grievances from his men. Most were about the delay to the march. He assured them they would move soon.
When Aegon ventured to Arya's tent before dinner he was a little apprehensive. He was glad to find her alone but the sight of her surprised him. She stood balanced on her left foot, her injured right foot safely off the ground. The stick she used to help her walk was held in her right hand and she was wielding it against an imaginary opponent in a manner which made him realise exactly how skilled she was, even injured. Her back was to him.
"Aegon" she greeted him without looking. She planted the stick on the ground and swivelled on her foot to face him without the slightest wobble. He did not bother to ask how she could do it. It would be another disturbing tale of torture inflicted by the faceless men and defended under the title of training. He still had not overcome the discovery that they blinded her.
"You are trying to train" he said, stating the obvious.
Arya pulled a face. "I'm not trying, I'm succeeding." Her hair had worked a little loose from the braids and he smiled to see her trying and failing to tame it. "I have to do it in here" she explained. "Everybody thinks I am an invalid." She sat and patted the stool next to her. He took the invitation.
"How much longer will you need the stick?" he asked, partly out of curiosity and partly because he had been pestered over when that Stark girl would be able to sit a horse.
Arya responded by crossing her right ankle over her left knee and prodding at it. Aegon was studying her closely and he saw the flicker of pain register in her face. "A day or two should do it. It doesn't hurt much now." She must have seen his doubtful expression because she became defensive. "I'm only keeping the stick now because my uncle and Haldon insist on it."
Aegon sighed. "I should have expected you to be stubborn."
She shook her head. "We need to move. I know what they are saying."
Of course you do.
"I'm sure the cast is bothering you more" he said sympathetically.
She scowled in response and began to scratch at it again. "I'm just glad it isn't broken. I'm counting down the days until it comes off. I told Haldon I would stay still but he insisted on the plaster."
Aegon couldn't help a grin. "That is because he knows you."
Arya laughed but she stopped abruptly, her features falling into a frown. Aegon was about to ask what was the matter when he heard harsh laughter outside. He gave her a questioning look.
"It is the Hound" she said sourly. "I'm trying to get gold so that I can make him leave. I still don't know if it will work."
Aegon could not help frowning as well. Arya became distracted and he left her to her training. She had the focused look he had seen before and he knew he would get little from her. Sandor Clegane was not far from the tent as he left it. He was speaking with knights from the Northern army and it did not look to be a friendly conversation. When he saw Aegon he broke away from them, his mouth twitching into what looked to be a smile.
Aegon did not really know what to think of the man. He had been sworn to the Lannisters and Aegon had heard the tales of what he did in their service and what he was rumoured to have done afterwards. He did take Arya captive and Aegon found that hard to get past. Having said that the man did save both of them but the circumstances made him uneasy.
Sandor took a knee with much less attitude than previously. "Your grace" he murmured in his raspy voice.
Aegon told him to rise and come with him. Clegane looked surprised but he followed. Aegon saw men fall into step with them, their hands on their sword hilts and he wanted to tell them not to be foolish. If the Hound had wanted him dead he could have left him for Ser Gregor.
When they reached his tent Nymeria Sand was inside. Her face darkened when she saw Clegane but she remained silent. Aegon dismissed the guards but Nymeria stayed. He saw Sandor look at the Sand Snake, his composure slipping and Aegon smirked. Somebody had lit the brazier and she was only wearing her Dornish silks. He still remembered the first time he had seen her dressed like it, only a few days earlier and while partially under the influence of wine. He had not known where to look and she had laughed at him.
"I'm not trying to seduce you cousin" she teased. "I just find it easier to coax secrets from men when I'm nearly naked." When she saw his expression she laughed again. "I'm not wearing these for you. I'm quite sure I know your secrets and if I don't you will soon tell me without the need for tricks."
Aegon knew she must have had a plot in mind and his return had interrupted her. It made no matter, her presence was useful to him and he saw her rise to the challenge. There was a mischievous sparkle in her eye as he began to question Clegane.
"You are known as the Hound for your service to the Lannisters" he began.
Lady Nym busied herself with pouring wine. Aegon refused but Sandor took the offered cup, eyed it suspiciously while trying not to look at the scantily clad woman leaning over him then downed it in one go.
"That is not me anymore" he said abruptly. "I'm no one's dog but my own." He shot a sharp look at Nymeria. "I'll have more wine so long as you're not trying to poison me."
Aegon stifled a laugh at the wounded expression on Nym's face. "You wrong me" she said before breaking into a sly smile. "The poison will wait until my cousin is done with you."
Aegon shook his head when Clegane's expression turned malevolent. "Nobody is being poisoned today" he said smoothly.
Nymeria pouted. "You are no fun." She perched on a stool and Aegon tried not to look in her direction. He had more success than Sandor.
Aegon cleared his throat and forced his thoughts back to more serious matters. "You burned your brother."
Clegane snorted. "He burned me first. It seemed only fair."
Nymeria's laugh rang out like a chime but Aegon was disturbed. Sandor Clegane was known for his scars but Aegon had not known that Gregor was responsible for them. He remembered what Arya told him about how Sandor spoke about his brother. No wonder he hated him.
"I don't know why people are concerned about me killing Gregor" Clegane continued. "The bastard cared nothing about any of them. He wouldn't have hesitated to kill them in their sleep." He looked at Aegon closely. "Of course I don't need to tell you about my brother do I."
"He was already dead" Aegon said slowly.
Clegane snorted. "I figured that when I saw his bloody head was gone." His mouth twitched. "I knew much earlier though, that was why I left."
"Left where?" Aegon asked.
Sandor looked at him closely before finishing his wine. "My place of atonement"
They looked at each other a while and the silence was only broken when Nymeria refilled Clegane's cup again. He grunted an acknowledgement. "Are you trying to get me drunk?"
Aegon did not answer him. "You have much to atone for" he said instead. There was no reaction. Aegon cleared his throat and hesitated. "Arya does not want you here."
Clegane's face tightened. "She still hasn't forgiven me for that boy and for her mother."
Aegon did not know why he leapt to her defence in front of this man but he did. "She has lost much. When it comes to her family she is unmoveable. I know you could not save Lady Catelyn and Arya knows that too but blaming you is easier." He did not speak of the butcher boy. He had given his own guards orders in the past and they were sworn to obey. Still, he shuddered to think of giving such an order let alone having a person in his service who would carry it out so brutally.
"I tried to protect her sister" Sandor said in such a low voice Aegon almost didn't hear it. "I tried to get her out. A pretty girl that one, prettier than the wolf bitch and more grateful too."
Aegon's hands curled into fists almost involuntarily and Nymeria rose swiftly and put her hand on his shoulder. "You should be more careful what you say" she said sweetly but he could hear the threatening undercurrent. "Poison will be the least of your problems if you are heard talking of a Stark in that manner here."
Sandor curled his lip and paid her little mind. "I should have gotten her out of there before they married her to the imp."
Aegon tensed. He did not like to be reminded of Tyrion. "Tyrion Lannister is dead" he said quietly. Connington insisted he had just escaped but Aegon knew better. Somebody had taken him. Tyrion had wanted to return to Westeros with them, he knew that. He saved me.
Clegane took the news differently. He laughed a harsh laugh. "That is bloody good news." He flicked his gaze to Aegon who was still trying to calm himself. "I take it you still don't know where the little bird is."
Aegon had his jaw clenched so Nymeria responded instead. "Who is the little bird?" she asked, crossing her legs in a way that made Aegon flush and Sandor stare.
Sandor responded impatiently as he averted his eyes "The sister. She chirps her courtesies like a trained bird, not like the she-wolf."
It did sound in line with what Aegon had heard of the Lady Sansa. Given the lack of knowledge of her recent years he wondered if it was still true. Our experiences change us.
"I did hear she is beautiful" Lady Nym said, her voice so very innocent. Aegon looked at her sharply before turning back to Clegane who was nodding agreement, his mouth twitching. "You seem most interested in her." The man had tensed and Aegon realised his cousin was right. He became glad Arya was not here. Aegon was angry enough for both of them.
"Arya wants her sister found but not by you" he said abruptly.
Sandor's expression darkened. "There is worse than me out there." His mouth twisted, emphasising the ruined part of his face. "I never hurt her, not like those bloody knights."
Aegon pressed him for details and was sickened by the tale. The thought of kingsguard knights beating a girl for no reason... it was one of the worst abuses of power. His anger gave way to curiosity as Clegane spat and swore about the Lannisters. He caught Nymeria's eye and saw she was listening intently. When there was a break in the conversation Aegon cut in.
"Arya told me she is organising gold for you."
His mouth twitched again. "Aye, she is."
"It will take her time. In the meantime I am wondering if there is something you might do." He saw Lady Nym give him a warning look but he pressed on. "I have something I want delivered to Cersei Lannister. Nym can you get the helm and the cloak?"
She looked at him as though she thought him quite mad but she collected the burnt and caved in helm and the bloodstained cloak nonetheless. Part of the dented in section of the helm still showed the white plate. He rose and went to his pile of parchment, selecting the almost finished letter he had not been sure how to send. He quickly finished it off and sealed it.
Clegane was looking from the helm and cloak to him with an almost amused expression. "You want me to take this to Cersei? I'd be mad to march into the Red Keep."
Aegon shook his head. "You don't need to go into the Red Keep. You merely need to make sure she gets those and the letter. Arya told me how you got into the Twins. I know you can be resourceful. When you return you will have your gold."
"Why send the cloak?" Sandor asked. "She won't care about your knight."
Aegon smiled a grim smile. "She will care by the time I am done."
Clegane took the helm, cloak and sealed letter. "Why are you sending me?"
I did not want to get any of my own men killed. Sandor gave a raspy laugh and Aegon suspected he had read his thoughts. "You said to Arya you might be of service" he said instead. "Now you can prove it."
After Clegane left Nym all but hissed at him. "Have you lost your senses? He is a brute, just like his brother."
"Nobody is like his brother" Aegon said defensively. "Besides, if he betrays me, Arya will kill him."
Nymeria rose and paced the tent. "Not if I get to him first."
"You can tell him that if you like. He will probably laugh but it might be good for him to know."
She softened a little. "I should kill him anyway. It would be blood for blood. Clegane blood should be spilled for my father and for your mother."
Aegon shook his head again. "He is not his brother. We will not kill him without cause. This is his test."
Nym moved closer and gave him her hand. He pressed his lips to it as he knew she wished. "Cousin you are too generous but at least you are quicker to act than my uncle."
"You will get your chance Nym" he said softly. "I wish it as much as you and Arya do."
She squeezed his hand gently. "I do not doubt it."
Clegane left late the next day. The following day the march resumed. Arya no longer needed the stick to aid her movement. Aegon watched her mount her horse. The cast seemed to hinder her little. He saw her personal guards gather around her protectively. He glanced at her at intervals during the day and more than once caught her looking at him, deep in thought.
When they stopped to camp he did not get to speak with her. He heard somebody say something about fetching a maester and was concerned. When he visited her tent before retiring he found her uncle inside. The Blackfish tensed but he did not glower at him as he had the last time they saw each other. If anything he just looked resigned.
"I see you are recovered Ser" he said politely.
Ser Brynden sighed. "I am but that is not why you are here. She is resting." He shook his head. "She spent too long ahorse today."
Aegon knew he should leave but he hesitated. "She is too stubborn. We could have stopped earlier."
Ser Brynden smiled at that. "Arya would never have allowed it."
Aegon knew it to be the truth. "What did the maester say?" he pressed, knowing he had no right to ask but unable to help himself.
The Blackfish frowned. "One of the maesters who travelled with us is gone. He gave no reason. The other was tending to people so Arya refused to have him called."
Aegon began to retreat. "I will tell Haldon to come."
Haldon was with Connington who scowled when he heard of the missing maester. He said nothing though and Haldon hurried off to see Arya. When he returned he dismissed Aegon's concerns.
"It was only too much too soon your grace" he said, his mouth forming an unhappy line. "She will adjust."
Aegon slept fitfully as he had since the attack. When the march resumed the next day he saw that Arya had taken her place again. Lady Nym rode with her for a time but Aegon did not hear her speak much. When Aegon guided his horse alongside Arya she gave him a small smile. A light snow had begun to fall and she had flakes in her hair.
"We could stop early today" he offered. "It is snowing."
He could tell Arya had seen through his excuse. She lifted her chin defiantly. "This can hardly be called snow. There is no reason to stop early." He was just trying to put off the person calling him away when she spoke to him again, this time less abruptly. "Your cousin tells me you are still dreaming. You look very tired."
Aegon was not surprised he looked tired but he wondered what Nym was playing at. I hope she did not tell Arya too much of my nights. He had woken twice to find camp followers in his tent. He did not know whether they had become bold after the rumours from the Inn or whether certain of his men were trying to win favour now they believed he was not so averse to whores. The first time had been humiliating. Aegon was groggy and mistook the girl for Arya. When he realised his mistake she put on a demure act.
"I can pretend m'lord."
Nym was far closer than he had realised and she found it highly entertaining as the girl was ejected from his tent. When she saw exactly how unhappy he was though she did something. The second girl did not fool him and there were no more after that. From then on it was Nymeria who woke him if the dreams became too bad.
He met Arya's concerned gaze now. "It is nothing" he said dismissively.
They separated again and after making camp Aegon was kept busy. They would reach Pinkmaiden in a day. He hoped for a positive reception. It would be nice to sleep in a castle. He crawled into his bed, leaving candles burning. It seemed no time before the dreams began again. They had changed. He no longer saw only Ser Gregor, Duck and Arya. Images of dragons were woven into his sleep. It always began pleasantly, he would feel excitement before it turned to claw and flame and death.
Aegon jerked awake trying to resist the person in his bed when they touched him. She did not take the hint. As he regained his full senses he recognised the voice before seeing it was her.
"Arya" he whispered in disbelief. "How are you here?"
She did not answer him and he willingly accepted her embrace, the soft touch of her fingers down his back as he buried his head against the front of her tunic. Aegon was greedy for the comfort she offered, wanting her close and not wanting to let her go. Her murmurings were soothing and it was a few moments before he realised her cast was gone. He touched her arm and she understood the wordless question.
"I still have to be careful but Haldon says it has healed enough that I don't need plaster."
He took her hand in his and pressed his lips to it. His eye was drawn to a rather larger than usual pile of knives discarded next to the bed. Arya saw him looking and her eyes were sad.
"After what happened I wanted to be better prepared."
Aegon did not want her thinking of it. He did not want to think of it himself. He kissed her, nibbling at her lip until she allowed his tongue access to brush against hers. He had not realised how desperately he needed her until he felt her pressed close to him. His hands roamed every inch of skin he could reach but it wasn't enough. Her breathing was ragged as he pulled at her tunic, lifting it to press tender kisses against her chest.
Arya was trying to keep quiet but he relished the little noises she made to indicate he was pleasing her. It was not until he began to pull at the laces on her breeches that he realised that although she was not resisting him, she was not actively taking part either.
"Please Arya" he whispered, his lips leaving a trail from behind her ear down her neck. "I need you to want me too."
"I do" she said in a faltering voice and as he reached inside her breeches he knew it was true. She was wet and she whimpered loudly as soon as he touched her.
"Then what is it" he asked before he realised how stupid he was. "It is too soon isn't it?" He began to pull back, feeling shame but she whined and wouldn't let him.
"You won't hurt me. You would never hurt me." She said it with such certainty he had to believe it. She embraced him, holding him to her as he finished what he had started. Their coupling was gentle rather than their usual passionate encounters. Aegon used as much restraint as he could, silently seeking reassurance from her which she readily gave. Any doubts that might have lingered were removed by Arya's breathy moan of "Oh gods Aegon" right before he spilled his seed.
They reversed their usual positions afterwards, with Aegon seeking her embrace. He rested his head at her breast. Arya showed more affection than usual, caressing him for some time and bestowing little kisses on him.
"Nym sent you didn't she?" he finally asked. "Where is she?"
"In my bed" she replied and Aegon noted the lack of a denial. "She has been visiting me of a night."
Aegon tensed and felt more guilty. He tried to pull away. "She should not have made you come here." Arya stopped him moving.
"I came because I wanted to" she said firmly. "Are the dreams getting any better?"
Aegon didn't know what to tell her so he didn't answer. I cannot tell her. He could not tell anybody. Targaryen's dreaming of dragons and destruction was not a good sign. She tightened her embrace and pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
The next time she spoke was on a different topic. Her fingers caught his chin and lifted it so that he would look at her. "I know what you did." Her eyes were shining. "You sent the Hound away."
Aegon sighed. "Don't be too excited. If Clegane doesn't betray us he will be back for his gold."
Arya took his hand in hers. "If he does betray us Nymeria will kill him."
"Which one?" Aegon asked, slightly amused.
Arya laughed quietly. "Mayhaps it will be both."
He remembered what Lemore had said and fell silent. It was not long before Arya prodded him. "What bothers you?"
"Lemore said something about Nym. She thinks I am acting blindly because I won't distance myself." He braced himself for an identical lecture but it didn't come.
"This time you are right" she said softly, running her fingers up and down his arm. "I don't believe your cousin would harm you. Blood is important to her."
Aegon worried for a moment exactly what his cousin and Arya spoke about before deciding it didn't matter. He felt calm and sated when he finally fell into a dreamless sleep even though he knew when he woke Arya would be gone.