A/N: A quicker update this time, this one was almost done before I finished the last one :-) One thing I disliked about a couple of the recent Arya/Aegon chapters was that I knew I had certain things I needed to cover to move the story along so I tried to cram more in to get the story moving. The result was chapters which covered more of the aspects I wanted to address or touch on but did it in a hurried, rushed fashion and did not read in a way I'd personally like to read it. I'm adjusting my formula for now. It will take more chapters to get through the story but I should be able to write them a little quicker and be happier with how they end up.

Chapter 70: Aegon

Aegon greeted the newly arrived Riverlands lords. They were courteous enough to him but he could see where their real interests lay. Arya looked dignified and proud. She might not have been wearing a gown but her crown and her bearing alone marked her as a leader, as their queen. Her voice carried through the hall and she sounded strong and confident.

He kept his distance after greeting the new men knowing that there would be time enough for more lengthy talks with them later. He conversed with Lord Connington and Nym, ignoring Nym's goading questions. She was using that innocent tone of hers to ask questions that seemed harmless but Aegon knew better. He saw her go to Arya and knew from the lack of conversation that Nym had fared no better there.

When a day and a night passed without seeing Arya Aegon began to wonder if she was punishing him. He kept busy enough making preparations to leave Pinkmaiden. A messenger arrived from the Night's Watch and Aegon ate with the black brother in one of the pavilions outside the castle. The man gave him a letter from Jon Snow and Aegon read it before questioning him about the situation at the Wall and agreeing to send new recruits from any captured men who could be spared from the next battle. The man looked thankful for hospitality and reluctant to leave.

"It is so warm here."

Aegon laughed at the notion but the man's expression gave him pause. It was winter everywhere and Aegon constantly felt cold. He knew it was much worse at Winterfell. He could scarcely imagine how bad it must be at the Wall.

"You are welcome to stay in our camps until it is time to return with recruits" he offered.

Aegon sought out Arya afterwards, wanting to tell her of the messenger. He found her surrounded by people and talking with a fair bit of animation. Lemore was by her side, clearly no longer avoiding her. Her handmaid sat with her too, looking rather like she did not know why she was there. Arya was also surrounded by knights and sons of the Riverlands lords and there was no mistaking their intent.

He stood at the entrance to the solar, his fingers flexing as one man became bold enough to touch her arm and point to something he produced from a satchel he carried. It looked to be an old brooch of some sort but rather than scoffing at it as he would have expected Arya smiled. She bent to look at it and her hair fell forward. He had to resist the urge to lunge at the man when he raised his hand as if to touch her.

"Why are you not sitting with the other admirers, cousin?"

Aegon almost leapt out of his skin. He scowled at Nym. "I did not hear you coming."

She smiled "Clearly." Her hand when to his wrist and he realised his fist was clenched. He unclenched it and shook his head to clear his thoughts. When he looked back at the huddle of people Arya had lifted her head to look at him. Her grey eyes were set on him and she had a slight smile. She raised her hand and opened her mouth but he did not get to hear what she planned to say. One of Lord Vance's sons from Atranta entered with flowers in his hand. There was a sheltered garden bed in the castle grounds but Aegon knew the man would have had to hunt for them (or had somebody do it for him). Little grew in winter.

"Fool" Nym hissed beside him.

Aegon soon saw what she meant. He knew Arya was not one for jewels. It had not occurred to him to pick her flowers and when he saw her reaction he was glad. She visibly stiffened and although she accepted the flowers she clearly was not happy. Her eyes were downcast and the smile she pasted on now was one Aegon knew not to be real.

He took a seat nearby, speaking with Lemore while Nym said she would arrange water for the flowers. They were snatched rather unceremoniously and removed from the room, Arya's handmaid scurrying at Nym's heels. He caught Arya's eye a few minutes later, remembering why he was there.

"There is a messenger from the Night's Watch in the camps. I thought you might like to know."

The mask dropped and she shot to her feet, the men around her looking rather startled. Her expression turned hopeful as she excused herself and Aegon saw a few ill-concealed glares turned his way. The room slowly emptied now that the object of their attentions was gone. He caught Lemore smiling reassuringly at him.

"You achieved more than any of them without even trying."

Aegon frowned. "I'm used to her having suitors. I just did not expect them to be so persistent or for her to let them be so close."

Lemore shook her head. "They are new allies. Humiliation is a sure way to make enemies."

Aegon wanted to argue. He preferred seeing her fight her suitors. At least then he knew where things stood. "Why did the flowers upset her?"

Nym overheard the question, having returned without the flowers. "She used to pick them for her father and that was all she would say. She clearly does not want men bringing them to her."

Aegon understood. He knew certain reminders of her parents triggered painful memories. He left Lemore in the castle and went with Nym to meet with his men. A raven had arrived from Dorne and their fleets were in place. All that remained was to gather the remaining Riverlands forces for the march. Aegon did not want to stay in Pinkmaiden any longer. It had been difficult biding his time while they sent out ravens and gathered supporters. He felt impatient. The attack by Ser Robert still occupied his thoughts and he would not be seen as slow to act in the aftermath.

"Daenerys conquered Volantis" Lord Connington reminded him. "She must be close now."

They heard the news from Lord Vance from Wayfarer's Rest. It was all the sailors could talk about and the story was spreading quickly. Aegon knew the information would be old. His Aunt could arrive any time. While he eagerly anticipated seeing the dragons and he wanted to know the only other living member of his House, he had not forgotten Tyrion's words.

"I am not waiting for my Aunt" he declared. "I won't have it appear that I needed her help. She is not the only Dragon."

I will not meet her as a beggar. He still felt a surge of anger remembering the insinuations the dwarf made. It had been good counsel though. If he had tried to go to Meereen he would have had little to offer. I was an arrogant boy expecting her to fall at my feet. They needed to meet as equals. The original plan was foolish but Aegon knew little of women at that time. He thought of Arya with a mix of guilt and frustration. There were days he still felt he knew little.

They decided to march for Harrenhal in two days. The remaining Riverlands forces could meet them there and march down the Kingsroad to Kings Landing. Aegon went to the great hall for dinner intending to share the plan with Arya and his other allies. Ser Brynden was attentive and thought it reasonable but Arya was otherwise occupied again. Aegon tried not to look at her, focusing on the ladies he was seated with and the men nearby. When he stole a glance the Blackfish caught him.

"They are all wasting their time" he said, amusement in his blue eyes as one of them bent close to Arya to share something with her. "That one won't be confined." He gave Aegon a pointed look.

He means me too.

He went through the motions of dinner then gathered the Northern and Riverlands lords into a meeting to confirm the plan for moving from Pinkmaiden to Harrenhal and Kings Landing. Arya sat close by him, voicing her support. She had removed her crown and was running her fingers over it but her eyes were locked on him. She and Nym wore almost identical, fervent expressions.

"I want to show Cersei what wolves can do to lions."

Nym laughed at that and Aegon smiled a grim smile. The other lords offered their own support to the plan, each eager to serve justice to those they held responsible for the death of their Northern king and his father. After the meeting they separated and Aegon retired to his chambers.

Arya startled him when she entered a little while after he crawled under the furs. She wore a roughspun dress as her disguise, much like the one she wore when she came to him at the inn at the crossroads. The memory was a good one.

"I did not expect to see you" he said softly.

Arya hesitated and took a step back, biting her lip. "I can leave."

"No" he said quickly. "I just meant we have been separate for a time."

Arya took a step forward again and wrung her hands. "People made demands of me."

"I know" he assured her, jumping to his feet and closing the gap. He stopped short of touching her and she did the same.

"The man from the Night's Watch is keeping things from me. He said Jon is well but there is a secret he would not tell."

Aegon hesitated a moment before turning away and fumbling for the parchment from the Night's Watch. "I have a letter from him, there was an attack but they fought them off." He handed it to her and she quickly moved by the candle to read it. Her shoulders slumped a little.

"He said the real danger was the North" she whispered, so quietly that Aegon almost did not hear her.

"Jon said that?"

Arya shook her head and chose not to explain. "What do I do Aegon?" she said suddenly. "They killed my parents and Robb but Jon and Rickon are in the North and Bran- I'm trying to do this for them but what if it is all wrong?" Her brows were knitted and she looked at him beseechingly.

Aegon barked out a short laugh and Arya shot him an accusing look. "I have been as stupid as you always say I am" he explained. "I saw you with your suitors and I hated it and the whole time you have been thinking of this, haven't you?"

Arya nodded and took his hands in hers. "My uncle gave me instructions to be careful not to offend them. I put on a face with them, that is all. It is just like it was in Braavos." She looked up into his eyes with an earnest expression. "I might look like me but I'm not."

Aegon had a disturbing thought. "You have done this before?"

Arya lowered her eyes. "I have done it too many times. You haven't answered my question."

He pondered it for a moment trying to hide his feelings at the prospect of her leaving so soon. He gave her hands a slight squeeze. "Even if you thought it best to go North now how do you think your men would take it? Jon is safe. The men who attacked him did not harm him and I will send him more men as soon as I can."

She lifted her chin to look at him again and he let go of one her hands to tentatively tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. He took comfort in the thought that she allowed him this though it still bothered him that she might let somebody else touch her in the same way. Arya chewed her lip and he kept quiet, resisting the urge to give more reasons for her to stay. Finally she nodded.

"I want Cersei dead. Father and Mother would want her removed too. She cannot be allowed to stay as Queen. It won't be much longer. I will write to Jon."

Aegon nodded in response, pleased at knowing her decision was to stay. He pushed aside nagging worries about the stories from the Wall bringing to mind the prophecy. He did not understand his role in it. The prophecy made him uncomfortable. Lord Connington told him that his father once thought Aegon was the prince who was promised. He did not live his life by prophecy apart from knowing that he was meant to be one of the heads of the dragon.

I am meant to have a dragon.

He thought back to earlier in the day just before he told her of the messenger. "I'm glad I never gave you flowers. I saw how unhappy you were."

She changed instantly, her fingers lifting to trace down his cheek before stopping at his lips. "You cannot give me flowers but it would not be the same from you. You would not give them for the same reason."

"What reason?"

Her eyes were focused on his lips and she moved closer. "They all want to be my consort and rule the North. They want power and wealth and they think to have it through me. I am an amusement who they think will birth their children and grant them castles and holdfasts and that is all. I hear them talk about me, I spend time with the stableboys and the serving girls and I hear what they say. They think marriage will make me a meek little lady. They do not even know me and they do not try to know me."

Her expression was open, her face flushed with passion from her anger. She is so beautiful. When she was like this, when she dropped the mask to be open with him he forgot all his thoughts of how it had to end, that he had to find a way to move on. She does not wear a face with me.

She must have seen something in the way he looked at her because she lunged at him. Her kisses were urgent, almost desperate and her hands worked feverishly to pull at his clothing. Aegon grunted as he almost tripped against the desk. She gave a dark chuckle and it was his undoing. He pulled at the laces of her dress more roughly and she cursed as his hands got in the way of her undressing him.

He was down to his breeches and her dress hung off her frame and none of it was moving quickly enough for either of them. Arya pulled him into another hungry kiss and her fingers began to walk from his navel, tracing down the line of hair to his lacings. He pushed the dress off her shoulders and when she shimmied out of it he groaned as he realised she had no smallclothes on.

"What are you trying to do to me?"

Her only response was to keep unlacing him as she pressed kisses down from the hollow of his throat to his chest. He interrupted her, shifting his hands down from her waist to pick her up. She gave a little squeak as he lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist before he captured her lips again. They fell onto his bed together and Aegon pushed the thought of what the guards outside were likely to hear out of his head. He knew Arya, if they even heard they would not know it was her.

Aegon did not hold back as he fucked her into his mattress. His thoughts of her suitors were distant memories as he claimed her the only way he could. Her dark hair fanned out on his pillow and it was him she called out to, his name uttered in ecstasy and it was to him that she murmured without shame that she wanted more. "More Aegon" she moaned in his ear again until he couldn't take any more himself and it was a struggle to keep from collapsing on her as he finished.

Arya caressed his quivering muscles as he hovered over her, panting from the exertion. She looked tranquil as she always did when they were done, a smile curving her lips as her chest rose and fell to show she too felt their efforts. He leaned down to kiss her once more, less needful this time as his tongue swept into her mouth more gently. Arya tangled her fingers in his hair and hooked one leg more tightly around him, holding him securely to her until he finally moved to break away.

"Careful" he whispered to her as she wriggled against him and he felt his cock twitch again "We're not in the loft now."

Her smile faded and he wanted to curse. He brought it up remembering how free they were to savour each other, how one night he spent so long with her that he was a wreck the next day and Lord Connington frowned at him throughout their meeting. Instead of making her grin though he knew he had reminded her of their argument.

I knew we would speak of it some time.

He climbed off her with a sigh and tugged at her hand gently to make her look at him. She had never judged him before, no matter what he said.

"I still dream of you and Duck but now I dream more of dragons."

Arya rolled to face him, squirming closer as she looked into his face. He took the unspoken offer of affection, resting his hand at the curve of her hip as she pressed a kiss to one of his scars. She didn't say anything, instead looking at him expectantly. He ran his hand up her body, watching her face to see how she would react. She did not encourage the distraction, instead simply shifting her head to rest beside his on the pillow.

"I worry that I have the taint."

He braced himself but all she did was search his face, her expression softening.

"No Aegon. It is only normal you would dream of dragons. They are in your thoughts now. You know you will see them soon."

He wanted it to be true. He wanted to accept the comfort of her explanation but it wasn't right.

"No, it is more than that," He hated how childish his voice sounded. "They feel like more than dreams. They feel real."

She gave him a queer look then and his heart sank. She did not leave though.

"It does not mean you are going mad" she said insistently after a moment of silence. She shifted even closer to him, letting him embrace her. "Will you tell me of the dreams?"

He took a deep breath. "One dragon is so close I can touch him. I still remember the feel of his scales under my fingertips. I see him look at me and it is as though he knows me." He stopped but Arya only brought her fingers to his chest, tracing a light pattern. Her eyes were wide and focused on him. She looked fascinated but she did not look as though she thought him mad yet. "The others I see less clearly. I only know that there is one who brings destruction. I see the flame and I hear the screams."

"This is what you dream at night?" she asked.

He nodded and her fingers went to his face, tracing his jaw. "Sometimes it is you I hear screaming" he whispered. "Those are the worst dreams."

Arya kissed him, tangling her tongue with his and guiding his hand to her breast. He cupped it as the kiss deepened. "You are not mad" she whispered breathlessly in his ear before she caught his lobe with her teeth "The dreams will pass with time."

He halted her reluctantly while he still had some capacity to think. "You seem so certain."

Arya gave him a wry smile. "I know of dreams. If they are more than dreams you will know with time. Do not fret Aegon."

He looked at her, naked and smiling at him in a way that was so far from innocent. She always knows how to make me feel better. He hoped his next words would not ruin it.

"You have not told me of your dreams."

She lowered her head again and kissed his neck. "I dream of my brother, Bran. I know he is alive."

Aegon caught her wrists to stop her from further distracting him. I know of dreams. Her words took on new meaning. Arya looked at him reproachfully and he relaxed his grip on her. She had the blood of the First Men in her veins and Aegon heard queer tales of them. "How can you know?"

Her eyes narrowed. "I just do. I really don't want to talk about my brother right now."

He let it go as she pulled him into another heated kiss. Arya could have lied to him and she didn't. Aegon would not press her on it now. She whispered in his ear what she wanted and threw her head back at his touch when he obeyed. Her expression flickered strangely for a moment before she took charge, murmuring to him that she wanted him now.

All thoughts of dreams, both his and hers disappeared as he lost himself with her. He could not help but think to himself that was exactly what she intended.

A/N 2: I'm going back to Sansa and Jaime next chapter. I know the story is Arya centric but I neglected Sansa too much earlier on and I did leave her storyline dangling. I may alternate for a few chapters, depends on how much of Sansa's story gets covered in the next chapter. I think I'll need at least two chapters to cover what I need to there so it will be S & J, Arya, S & J then probably Arya again. I don't know exact POVs for Vale chapters apart from chapter 71 will be Sansa POV. Too many POVs to keep track of, I need to write one from the Wall but I'm putting it off for now.