A/N: I amended some parts of chapter 81 in response to some constructive criticism. It is not drastically changed but I did not realise that what I wrote did not accurately communicate my intent. Arya and her men are not subservient to Aegon (though they also do not have authority in KL beyond being his allies, the Riverlands and the North are their dominion). I tried to add some context for the behaviour of Arya and the Blackfish and I changed the part about Ashara confiding her identity to Aegon.
I kept second guessing this chapter. It was tempting to hang onto it but hopefully it is okay. I didn't want it to seem to do a 180 from the last one but I'm trying to get through the KL stuff.
Chapter 82
Nym was waiting for Arya when she entered her chambers. Nymeria appeared to be waiting too and Arya darted forward, crouching to ruffle the direwolf's fur and check her over.
"How did he receive you?" Nym asked.
"You know how" Arya replied. "He is angry with me and he blames me."
Nym moved to sit on the bed. "He will not stay angry with you. He is more angry with Lord Connington but you are an easier target because Connington is no longer here."
Arya did not look at her. "Did he tell you this?" she asked.
Nym laughed. "He does not need to. I know my cousin. I saw him after his knight died and I saw how he was when you lay injured. He suffers fits of passion. It is his Dornish blood."
Arya finished fussing with the wolf and pulled her boots off to climb into bed.
"My uncle guarded his door" she said slowly.
"Yes" Nym replied. "Ser Brynden stepped into your place in your absence. Once Aegon determined he had no knowledge of the greyscale he took your uncle further into his confidence." She paused a moment and rose to check for listeners. "He thinks of the secret as a betrayal and that hurt him" she said after a moment. "Between that and one of his own men being responsible for those arrows, there are few he trusts. Your uncle is one."
Arya thought for a moment. "Aegon still hasn't filled his Kingsguard or his small council."
Nym sighed. "Yes. We have made suggestions to him but he only wants to govern. Even that does not bring him joy. He does not want to choose people to fill positions. I think he is afraid to make the wrong choice." She gave Arya a calculating look. "The Blackfish wants to be sure Aegon lives long enough for him to find out if your uncle Edmure lives."
Arya could not repress her scowl. "That is not true."
Nym smirked and cocked her head. "It is partly true. I suppose the Ser Brynden knows there will be chaos if Aegon dies." Her tone became teasing. "He also knows you will grieve."
Arya snuggled into the bed. "You should not jape about these things. There have been attempts on his life."
Nym pulled at the coverlet. "There may be more" she said in a serious voice. "I will make him see sense. Varys whispers in his ear but Ser Brynden counsels wisely. I will steer him to the course he must take." Her fingers brushed Arya's messy hair out of the way. "If you have anything you wish for him to hear you must tell me."
Arya looked into the Dornishwoman's face but before she could say anything she heard the door and knew Tyene joined them. "I will not use a messenger" was all she said. She turned her back to Nym and avoided looking at Tyene. Sleep took a long time to come.
She brought Nymeria with her to the solar the next morning. The direwolf walked on three legs and her movement was slow but she looked around alertly enough. Cara walked with them and when Arya arrived she found Lemore. She sat and wrote letters to Jon and Rickon, watching Nymeria lay by the fire.
To Rickon she wrote that the battle had been a success. It felt like a lie writing it. She told him of Nymeria's injuries hoping it would not make him angrier. Her letter to Jon sounded upset no matter how much she thought on it.
Dearest Jon,
I will return North. The South in not my place. Winterfell is my home. I belong there and I belong close to you and to Rickon. I will return and you will see me.
Arya
Lemore walked with her to the rookery while she left Nymeria with guards. From there she went to the Small Hall. Her Uncle arranged the use of it and her bannermen and closest advisors gathered there. She knew the Blackfish had been keeping them appeased but it was time. Arya could not remain unseen too long. They would understand her tending to the direwolf for a little time but they needed to see a Stark.
They are Winterfell's men.
She asked for reports and received them. Arya knew they would be overheard but she proceeded nonetheless. She heard of men lost in the battle and of the accommodations for the injured. Nobody seemed in a great hurry to immediately move from the city after time spent marching and in battle but they did grumble about the Faith Militant. Arya heard mutterings objecting to their notions and restrictions. They are angry on my behalf as well as their own. The men avoided speaking of the septa installed in Arya's chambers but she saw they were angry.
I do not disagree with them. For a moment Arya thought of the many faced god and the teachings of the Kindly Man. She could imagine what he might say. They are all him of many faces. Arya might not agree with him but she did think it stupid to be hating people or punishing them for the gods they kept. They did not do this in Braavos.
She thought of Aegon and wanted to frown. Her men did not ask the truth of the rumour. She knew some thought it a lie while others doubted. Arya did not want to speak of it. It is not wrong. If she and Aegon had been other people, if Arya met him in a village and shared his bed nobody would care. Armies would not eye each other and septons would not shake their head upon hearing it.
If I was a man nobody would judge me.
Discussion shifted onto the next move. Those from the Riverlands wanted their liege lord, Edmure Tully, freed from Casterly Rock if he still lived. The North men differed in their views. Some wanted to join the search for Cersei and Myrcella. They wanted the blood of the one who gave the orders, not just those who carried them out. Others saw their dethronement and Aegon's ascension as going a long way to avenging the deaths of their kin and liege lords.
"Aegon sent out ravens offering a reward for the capture of the Ladies Cersei and Myrcella" the Blackfish said with an unhappy expression.
He does not know whether to pursue them or Uncle Edmure.
She told them she would think on the decision. She knew they must find out if her Uncle Edmure lived and if they went West, they might find Cersei too. They pressed her on obtaining information about the West from Aegon and eliciting formal agreements from him. Arya nodded and kept her face neutral though she felt less than certain.
I must make Aegon hear me. He might be angry with me but we are still allies.
Arya ate with the men, trying to look as though her attention remained with them. It wasn't though. She was partway through the meal when she warged into Nymeria. She wanted to know that the direwolf did not suffer for her absence. The pain felt less though it still hurt. Arya saw the wary guards remaining close but not too close and returned to the Small Hall.
Robett Glover looked concerned when she regained her senses. He questioned her with concern in his voice.
"I am well my lord" she assured him.
Her connection with the direwolf had changed but she did not tell them that. Before Nymeria was hurt, Arya had limited control over her warging. It often just happened. Sometimes it almost felt as though Nymeria sought her rather than the other way around though Arya knew that not to be true. With the time spent caring for her wolf, it now felt more deliberate. If Arya wanted to be the wolf, it seemed effortless to choose and to seek the other skin. She wondered if it might be the same with the raven but decided not to test it. The raven never felt right, Arya didn't like how her feelings and thoughts became confused with Bran's.
It is enough now. As it was she felt Bran. He wanted her to return North. Arya felt it and the urge to do so grew more with each day. It is where I belong. Not all of her men would agree. Many still wanted their vengeance. They felt robbed by Cersei's escape and others wanted the rewards from their victory.
They cannot see it was no true victory.
They agreed to help Aegon take the throne and that was done. Arya was angry about Cersei's escape too but they had fulfilled their promise. She remembered her conversation with Aegon in Pinkmaiden. I worry more now than I did then. She doubted what she should be doing before the march to King's Landing. She doubted even more now.
Cersei will die. Aegon will make certain of it.
She wished she knew what he was thinking. Before she left she needed to know he would be safe. I need to make peace with him. Her men expected her to speak for them. They needed her to be their queen again and that meant getting through to Aegon. I need to be more than just a queen though. Arya might not be his lover now but she would still be his friend.
He once needed my friendship. I must trust that he knows he needs it still.
She did not have time to change her clothes before court but this time Arya had other matters to deal with. She had no interest in standing in court any longer just to watch. The more time I spend as an observer the more it looks like I did something wrong. She could find out what happened afterwards. Her advisors had already seen her. She evaded the septas, retrieved an old cloak and a stick, discarded her crown, changed her face and made her way out into the streets of the city.
Arya blended in quickly with the crowd. She leaned heavily on her stick as she walked and watched those around her, seeing the thin, haggard faces. In place of the gold cloaks were men wearing Targaryen colours and men wearing Dornish colours. Arya recognised many of the faces but they did not know her. She kept moving past them further into the city.
The people thought her to be one of them and took little notice of her. She listened to them noticing the differences in the scenes now to what she remembered as a girl. There were no baked tarts being wheeled about on carts now. A man offered hard loaves of bread for sale. The quality appeared poor and yet the price was very high. Some still lined up to buy it though most left without it. Others just looked at it longingly.
Arya limped to the man's street stall and he looked her up and down. The face she wore was scarred and plain besides. He scowled at her.
"Be off with you. I'll have no thieving."
Arya fumbled in her pocket for coppers, making a show of seeming to have difficulty. If they knew she had coin it would make trouble and she did not want a scene. She would learn nothing. She placed an amount just short of the price in front of the man and saw him look undecided.
"You won't be able to keep charging this much" she told him. "Things will change."
He spat in response and took the offered coins. Arya accepted the bread in exchange.
"It won't make no difference to us" he grumbled. "You are a little fool if you think different. The high lords will get their rewards alright but one King is much like another."
An old man piped up alongside her. "That is not so. Things were better under King Robert than his sons. Things were better under King Aerys and this young man is his kin."
The baker scoffed at that. "Do you think what his armies did was better than the whore Queen and her men? He does not even bestir himself from that castle to see the fruits of his labour."
Arya could not deny the truth of the second statement. She wanted to defend Aegon but this man would care little for Aegon's grief. The first thing he said bothered her. She tried to think of how to ask what he meant without sounding strange. I am meant to be one of them.
"The Queen brought this on us" the old man said. "If she planned to flee there did not need to be war. Her men cannot have known. The gold cloaks surely did not. They weren't likely to die for nothing."
"They should not have died at all" the baker snapped. "They are meant to defend the city not the cause of Kings and Queens. I can promise you my brother cared naught for the Lannister Queen but the soldiers don't care none about that."
Arya tensed. "Your brother died during the battle?"
The baker gave her a suspicious look. "Aye" he said "Him and many more." He darted a furtive glance behind her. "Be careful now. If they hear us we might get the treatment some got in the aftermath."
Arya clutched her stick more tightly. "What do you mean?" she hissed.
He gave her a strange look. "Folks who lingered in the street did not fare well once the city fell into the hands of the army. They might have found a use for you. I take it you had a hiding place."
Arya did not answer him. I was one of them. She fumbled and put two more coppers in front of him. He looked at her in surprise and she began to walk away, leaning on her stick. When she knew he could no longer see her she tossed the loaf to two gaunt looking girls crouched in an alley. They looked stunned for a moment before other children joined them and a fight broke out.
Arya moved clear of them before she could be drawn into the fight. I cannot help them she realised. She began to walk towards nearby stables just to find a place to stop and think when she realised somebody watched her. He was stout, barefoot and wearing patched robes. Arya might have taken him for a begging brother but he showed too much interest in her. He looked away from her gaze but when Arya looked back at him again he inspected her still.
He does not belong either.
Arya thought she might escape his scrutiny. She managed to limp to the stables but little time passed before he followed. She saw him approach and swung her stick out so that the end made enough contact with his chest to make him take a step back.
"Come no closer" she warned.
His startled expression matched hers as she took in his features and recognised him.
"Varys"
He looked at her searchingly before smiling to show a mouth full of seemingly rotten teeth. The smile did not meet his eyes.
"Lady Arya."
Arya wanted to curse. She ignored his use of the different title. His recognition of her concerned her more. She did not know whether her glamour slipped or he saw through it. It did not work on everybody and Varys was clearly more than he seemed. His voice sounded deeper and he smelled terrible. I was not careful enough when I left the castle. His little birds must have seen her leave.
"How did you know it was me?"
He moved sideways with his hands held up and Arya lowered her stick. Varys moved to lean against the wall of the stables.
"A mummer knows a mummer" he said without hesitation "though your skill is exceptional. I might not have known if you were not your father's daughter. You care too much about what is honourable."
The comment about her father pleased Arya but she hid the feeling. "You listened to me."
Varys nodded. "I did though the coin and the bread made me more certain. Aegon speaks of you often. I know of your past interaction with the smallfolk."
He lies she thought. He became curious but I gave it away when he followed me in here.
What he said of Aegon made Arya feel hopeful. That she knew was truth. "Why are you here?" she asked. "You are meant to be in court with Aegon."
Varys smiled another false smile. "I begged His Grace's pardons. You evade my little birds and not for the first time. I knew you left the castle and after what happened six years ago I was curious about how you blend in unnoticed. I think I understand now."
You understand nothing she thought. I will not let you find me next time.
Talking of the past reminded Arya of her father. "I do not trust you" she told him. "I have not forgotten my father. He died not far from here."
Varys shook his head in apparent sadness. "That was a tragedy" he said. "It was not meant to happen that way. I spoke with him in his cell. I convinced him to falsely confess his treason so that he might live."
Arya was appalled. She swung the stick so that it pressed against his windpipe. "You doomed him to die."
She saw fear in Varys eyes and he quickly shook his head. Arya pulled the stick back just enough to let him speak. "They agreed to let him take the black. Lord Eddard agreed in exchange for your sister remaining unharmed. Cersei had it all arranged until somebody spoke in Joffrey's ear."
Arya brandished her stick once more "Who?"
Arya must have shown something in her expression because Varys smiled thinly and this time his smile looked real. "I believe it was Petyr Baelish." He put his hand on the end of her stick. "His Grace will be most displeased if you harm me."
Arya lowered the stick. Petyr Baelish was in the Vale. Arya could do little about him now. She eyed Varys who looked rather more comfortable than she might have expected. Lord Connington did not trust him. She thought of Nym's narrowed eyes as she told of Varys whispering in Aegon's ear.
"What do you want Varys?" she asked. "Why have you been scheming all these years to put Aegon on the throne?"
Varys sighed. "Nobody loves a spider. I want peace. I want the people to stop suffering. Aegon has suffered and he knows what it is like. He will not make the mistakes the others made. He will rule for the people, not himself. The innocents will not keep suffering."
Arya felt a surge of worry. He expects too much. Aegon had good intentions but he did not have patience. What will Varys do if Aegon is not what he thinks? Aegon was good and he could be a good king but the words of the baker stayed with her and the threat of the Faith Militant hung over them.
Aegon said nobody can withstand dragons. If Aegon does not bring war then Daenerys might instead.
"You do not know Aegon" she told him.
The Eunuch looked at her in a way she did not like. "You mean well but you will bring war. I know of your killing. I know of your ideas of justice. I admit I feared your coming here with him but it seems your notions of loyalty have set him right." Arya clenched her stick more tightly. She wanted to strike him but suspected that might be what he wanted. "You belong in the North my lady" he said softly. "It is where your father wanted you. You need to return there and take your men with you."
Arya fought to control her expression.
"I will want to speak to you again Lord Varys."
Varys nodded sadly. "I expected nothing less."
Arya made certain Varys did not follow her this time. The market square by the Gate of the Gods was where she found what she was looking for. It was deserted by people but the wolves remained. Arya stopped to look at them, unsure what to do next. They hunched over the remains still lying in the dirty snow, looking at her with golden eyes. They did not fear her but without Nymeria she was not sure they would heed her.
Some had already died. I lost men and wolves. She stepped closer to them and they watched her still. They did not bare their fangs. Some even stepped closer, beginning to move around her. Arya kept her breathing even. There were still so many.
I am a wolf. I am not afraid.
She began to relax when all they did was sniff at her before going back to what they were doing. She was still trying to decide what to do when she heard the horses. The ground crunched under men's feet and Arya knew she was cornered.
"Get out of the way girl" a voice called out. "The wolves are dangerous."
Arya stood her ground. "They haven't hurt anybody."
"They will" the voice responded. "Move out of the way. The King gave us orders."
Arya screwed up her face and shook her head, giving the new glamour a moment to disappear before she tossed her hood back and turned to face them. Her heart sank when she saw that half were Dornish but she did not back down.
"I know the King's orders" she said as she looked at each of them and took in their weapons. More than one already had arrows notched in bows. "He said they were to be killed if they threaten harm. They are not threatening harm."
One of the Dornishmen trained his bow on her and Arya heard a wolf snarl behind her.
"They are threatening harm now" he said with a smile.
Arya took a deep breath. "I will do more than threaten if you do not put that bow down" she retorted. She had her stick and her knives but knew if she had to use the knives all would be over. "Do you know who I am?"
One of the others pushed forward and began to utter a string of curses along with Queen Arya. Arya recognised him as one of the Golden Company. He took hold of the Dornishman's bow and called him a fool. Two more stepped forward and one of them fell to his knees.
"Forgive me Your Grace."
The sellsword scowled and tried to pull him to his feet but the man kept muttering about how if the wolves didn't rip out his entrails the King would surely gut him. The Dornishman who had held the bow on her gave her a wary look.
"What are you doing out here and why are you dressed like that?"
Arya met his gaze. "I do not have to answer your questions." Silence lingered for a moment. "I know how you can make the wolves move on without killing them. You will solve two problems."
She heard them muttering disbelievingly. The Dornish showed no interest in what she had to say but the men who had more knowledge of her beckoned her closer. They met halfway and although they appeared sceptical they agreed to try. Messengers hurried to the Red Keep and more men returned with carts. Her own men numbered heavily amongst them and Arya took a deep breath and hoped for the best.
Arya started when she heard his voice. She still felt tired after her time in the city. She had returned to her chambers afterwards to check on Nymeria then attended dinner with her men. A night's sleep still had not stopped her feeling weary and she now sought refuge from those who watched her. Tyene did not care and she evaded Lemore. Now she thought herself alone but Aegon's voice echoed in the cellar. His footsteps came closer until he drew level with her and Arya almost held her breath.
The torchlight shone across her face and shadows were cast on the walls. Aegon took a step back and cursed.
"What are you doing here Arya?" he whispered.
Arya blinked as her eyes adjusted. "I like it here. The skulls feel like old friends. It is the only place I do like here. I always wanted to see a dragon."
Aegon looked at her for a moment before setting the torch in a sconce on the wall. Arya glanced back behind him and he shook his head.
"Nobody comes in here with me. It is my place. I intend to have the skulls moved but there have been other things to do first." He did not scowl at her but he did not smile either. "Where are Lemore and Tyene?"
Arya did scowl. "I do not need a chaperone. I did not expect to see you so I did not think to need a witness. I do not need a witness regardless. I have done nothing wrong."
Aegon flinched before his expression darkened. "Is that so?"
"I was not speaking of Lord Connington" she said quickly. "You know that."
He looked at her, his fingers curling and uncurling. He looked as though a war waged within him.
"Nym told me you wept after leaving my chambers. You do not weep."
Arya bit her lip and did not know how to answer. I asked her not to be a messenger.
"Nym should not have told you that."
Aegon sighed. "So it was a lie." He looked very weary. "I gave you everything I could. Why did you do this to me?"
Arya felt her eyes sting and she blinked. She stepped forward not knowing what to expect and put her hand on his arm He stiffened but he did not push her away. She removed it and wrung her hands together.
"I did not keep it from you to hurt you" she said. "You needed him and if you knew they would make you send him away. I watched first to make sure he did not put you at risk. I promised him before I knew you but I did not keep the promise just for him. You know more of me than anyone Aegon. I have not even found it in me yet to tell Jon what you know of me. I am still the same. I am still-"
The words froze on her tongue. I am only to make peace. I need him to know he can trust me and no more. The problem was she wanted more. She wanted him to look at her the way he did before the battle. Lord Connington's words echoed in her head and she pushed them out.
I need to reach him first. Then I can tell him what Connington said.
Aegon's face softened for a heartbeat before he began to move away from her. He looked confused and he shook his head.
"I look like a fool: he said bitterly. "How did I not see?"
Arya pursued him again, taking his hands in hers. "You are not a fool" she said insistently. "He did not want you to see."
His mouth set in a line and Arya let go of him. She turned back to the skulls, moving to the largest one.
"I will leave when Nymeria is able to move" she said quietly as she ran her fingers over the bones. "I cannot stay here. I will not be kept in a cage and looked at like a criminal."
Silence lingered before she heard Aegon's boot scuff against the floor. His hand brushed her back and she felt his breath against her neck. "I do not think you a criminal" he said hoarsely.
Arya traced the sharp tooth being careful not to cut her finger. "The Riverlands men want to go to the West" she told him. "They wish to see for themselves if my Uncle Edmure still lives. Others want to find Cersei and others still want to go home." Arya could not keep the longing from her voice as she thought of Winterfell.
She heard Aegon swallow hard. "I heard what you did with the wolves. You took a risk."
Arya shook her head. "I took no risk with the wolves. They know me. They want food and they want Nymeria. They will stay where they can feed for now and the Kingswood will keep them away from people."
"There are people who do not like the wolves feeding on the dead."
Arya sighed. "If it is not the wolves it will be the carrion crows. Until they are buried it will not be helped. I did not want them killed for it." They are Nymeria's pack. That makes them mine. "The market square is now cleared for the people to return and the gates can be repaired."
"You always sound practical."
Arya tensed, thinking of things she had done and said with him. Her finger slipped and she felt the sting as the sharp bone cut her.
"Not always" she whispered, jerking her hand back.
Aegon moved quickly. She heard a rip and he spun her around and wrapped cloth over the finger. The blood seeped into it and Arya looked into his face as he held her hand tightly to stop the bleeding. He frowned as he kept the pressure on it. When he lifted the cloth to look he grimaced.
"You will have another scar."
Arya shrugged. "Scars do not bother me."
Aegon's eyes met hers and she saw him flush. He kept hold of her hand and ripped a smaller strip off the cloth, wrapping it more tightly around her finger and knotting it to keep it in place.
"You will need to wash it" he said softly. "That will hold it until you can clean it." He paused. "You should stay until it heals."
The excuse was a flimsy one. He wants me to stay but he will not ask. Arya took a deep breath.
"The longer you shut me out of your meetings the more people think we did something wrong. I meant what I said. I stayed away because I needed to think, I needed to care for Nymeria and saw you did not want me near. I will not stay away because the Faith thinks I have the wrong religion to be in your bed."
Aegon's mouth fell open. He almost looked as though he wanted to smile but his eyes still showed doubt. "I almost forgot how blunt you are."
Arya reached out to him again, pushing his hair out of his eyes with her uninjured hand. Her fingers brushed the scar he would not let Margaery touch. He leaned into the contact and closed his eyes. His hand rested over hers for just a moment before he moved away.
"It is a mummer's farce having septas watch me" she whispered. "The new High Septon need not fear me, whoever they choose. I will not seek your bed though it is not to please them. If it is not wrong for a man to lie with a woman then they cannot say I have committed a crime."
Aegon shook his head and looked doubtful. "It is different for women."
"It shouldn't be" Arya retorted. "I bedded you in secret because I did not want Daenerys to know. I did not want trouble for my family and I did not want conflict between your men and mine because they confuse us with another Stark and Targaryen. I never truly thought it wrong. If I had I would not have done it."
"I am still angry with you" Aegon said weakly. He did not look angry. He looked sad and a little lost. Arya resisted the urge to try to comfort him. She inspected her finger once more and he fussed briefly with the binding again. It was not necessary but she knew it was the only contact his pride would allow.
"I will help you until I leave if you let me" she said hesitantly. So many things were on the tip of her tongue but she held them back. He needed to know things and she needed to ask him questions but it was not the time. "Even if you are angry you must know I want to help."
"I know" he said quickly. "Nym keeps telling me you should have a seat. Varys counsels against it and Ser Brynden says little but I know what he thinks. My men keep asking why I don't use your skills." He ran his hand through his hair and winced. His injury clearly still troubled him. "I will expect you later."
He turned abruptly and strode from the cellar. Arya watched him leave and waited before leaving too. He might still be angry with her but Arya knew him. She had seen this from him before. He still cared for her even if he would not accept her affection.
He will listen to me now.
A/N2: Obviously I went with the idea that Varys followed Illyrio's instructions and did not mean for Ned to die. This assumes he told Tyrion the truth when he said Littlefinger whispered in Joffrey's ear. I know the transition from the wolves to Arya in the cellar is a little abrupt. If I write everything in detail the story will never progress.
I still need to resolve more stuff in KL. I will write chapter 83 as an Aegon POV.