Chapter 9

Last Time:

The next morning, she helped Tamo prepare breakfast and the two ate in companionable silence. They washed their implements and completed the other daily chores. Once they were finished, Daenerys sat opposite the woman that she was told would be her tutor.

"Where do we start?"

Tamo smiled.

oOoOo

Cat wore the face of a young man and was dressed as a highborn. The merchant didn't ask too many questions and the small bag of silver bought compliance. He would see the letter sent from White Harbour.

oOoOo

A month later, Jon Arryn picked up the letter that had appeared on his desk overnight. His steward was an efficient man and had no doubt deposited it on his desk. He picked it up and looked at the seal. It was odd, almost as if a coin had been pushed into the wax. He looked more closely and realised that it was some sort of foreign coin. It was a hooded face, its features obscured by a cowl.

Something about that sparked a memory. He had seen that image somewhere before. It wasn't the seal of a House, that much he was sure of.

He called out to his steward and a moment later his door was open, "My lord?"

"Did you place this letter on my desk Adam?"

Adam nodded, "I did, it arrived from the harbourmaster's office last night, my lord."

"Did you recognise the seal?"

Adam shook his head, "No, it looked like a merchant's seal."

"That might be possible," admitted Jon. Still, something about that image…bothered him.

Using his belt knife, he carefully removed the seal without breaking it. Opening the missive, he began reading and his face paled. When he finished, he lowered it to the desk, his thoughts racing.

"Adam, please send for Varys, I have some questions."

oOoOo

Varys wondered what was bothering the Hand of the King at this early hour. Jon Arryn had never really approved of him, despite his usefulness and he doubted that had changed. It was almost unprecedented for him to request his presence when the small council was not in session.

The two House Arryn guards studied him carefully but still knocked announcing his presence.

The Hand was sitting behind his desk with a frown on his face.

"My lord hand, you sent for me?"

"I did, I have a question about a seal and the letter itself. Could you tell me if you have seen this seal before," he passed the wax seal and Varys let himself smile indulgently as he took the wax, glanced down and froze.

"You know it then?"

Varys forced his face to calmness before he looked up. "I recognise it. It is an imprint of a very special iron coin, that is only used by one organisation. The house of black and white in Braavos."

Jon Arryn's eyes narrowed, and he passed over the letter, "What do you make of this?"

To Jon Arryn, Hand of the King.

I write to warn you about Petyr Baelish the master of coin. He has, since childhood desired Lady Catelyn Stark and since he could not have her, he has instead seduced your lady wife.

He whispers in her ear that if you were removed from the game, then he could marry her.

I am to understand that he will ask her to poison you and then they shall cast suspicion toward the Lannisters. He hopes that, in the chaos following such an event that he could secure a more prominent position.

I would also recommend that you look at his finances as the Iron Bank expects it's due and under the management of Baelish more coins find their way to him than to either the treasury or the bank.

He owns the city watch and many unfortunate fools owe him large amounts of coin so choose your friends wisely.

No one

He read it and again had to school his expression. "These are some extraordinary accusations."

Jon Arryn's expression was cold, and he was controlling his expression. "They are indeed. I want it looked into Varys. Investigated thoroughly by you as I conduct my own investigation. If this is true…"

"Then poor Petyr will be in serious trouble. I must point out that this is an accusation only."

Jon nodded slowly, "I know but given the nature of the accusation I will be taking this to the King."

"Of course," he managed as his thoughts raced. "Petyr Baelish is after all the Master of Coin."

"A fact I am well aware of, and Varys, make sure he doesn't get wind of this and flee. I will be…displeased should that occur."

Varys found himself nodding.

"Good, then I need to speak to my wife."

oOoOo

Lysa Arryn did not hold up well to questioning, indeed she was almost happy to expand on what Jon knew. Boasting about 'her Petyr' and how he had convinced her that they would marry, and he would become the Protector of the Vale and guardian to her Sweet Robin.

She seemed almost unaware that what she had planned was a crime. Indeed, she truly believed that any moment now Petyr would come through the door and spirit her away.

At that moment Jon knew that Lysa's inconsistent behaviour, the fits of anger and the weeping and moaning were more than a weak disposition. His wife was mad.

He had done his duty as a husband and allowed her whims and wants. All the time it seemed that he was being cuckolded by that worm Baelish.

He had coldly explained that he was divorcing her, words that had her laughing and crying tears of happiness. Those tears dried up when he informed her that she would be going to the silent sisters.

"You cannot!"

"I can, you are an unfaithful wife and I fear that your madness would put our child at risk."

She wailed about their son and pulled out clumps of hair, begging and then screaming, wishing him dead.

Feeling tired more than angry, he left the room.

The guards knew their duty and he made damn sure that they knew that she was not to leave or have visitors admitted.

"My lord?"

He looked up to see his steward, "What is it, Adam?"

"Our men have Baelish, but he is demanding to see the king."

"Is he now? Well then, let us go and see the king."

oOoOo

Robert Baratheon was sober and in rather a foul mood when Jon explained and produced the letter and then told of Lysa's confession. When Baelish was dragged in, the king was frowning direfully at his master of coin.

"Your grace, I demand…"

"You demand, Littlefinger?"

Baelish looked taken aback by the King's words or perhaps the anger on his face.

"I misspoke your Grace, I meant to say that I feel that there has been a misunderstanding." Baelish didn't even glance at Jon Arryn.

"A mistake? Well, it seems quite the misunderstanding. Sleeping with my Hand's wife, talking her into killing her husband. Oh, and misappropriating funds to buy more whores and it seems poison. Am I missing anything, Jon?"

"No, your grace," replied Jon coldly his eyes locked on Baelish.

Baelish flinched but quickly rallied, "Lies told by a mad woman. I am innocent."

Robert laughed, "Innocent?"

"I demand a trial."

Robert stopped laughing and looked at Baelish with a narrowed gaze. "Demand?"

Baelish flinched but didn't back down. "I am highborn and a member of the small council, I am entitled to a trial and then should justice not be done a trial by combat. A path it seems I shall be walking as I have been found guilty without a trial."

Jon had to admit that the worm didn't lack gall.

Robert looked over at Jon and the Hand nodded.

"Very well Baelish, you may have your trial, until then to the black cells with him Ser Barristan, now," the king looked over at Ser Barristan. "Ser, see that Baelish is secured while my Lord Hand finds just what my former Master of Coin has been doing."

Baelish was led off complaining and demanding that he receive a fair trial…he was yelling something about a champion when his voice faded away.

"Your grace, while Lord Baelish's crimes are quite shocking if they can be proved, there is little precedent for not holding a full investigation and trial," injected the Grand Maester.

Jon studied the old man, making sure he reined in his temper. What was the old fool trying to do, protect Baelish?

Robert shrugged, "We have a confession, from the soon-to-be former, Lady Arryn. He'll get his trial but to me, it seems his guilt is clear."

"I would think that enough to dismiss Baelish, but a trial?" Mused the Grandmaester. "Some might, with respect, say that he has already been found guilty, your Grace."

"We have a confession," injected Jon in a cold voice.

Seeing that both the Hand and the King were not only angry but furious the Grand Maester slowly nodded. "I suppose she did. I just had hoped to advise you how matters might appear to others, your Grace." He sighed and shook his head. "The court might find such a ruling…concerning."

When the Grand Maester had shuffled off to who knew where…actually, where was he going? Jon summoned one of his men and instructed him to discretely find out where the wretched man had gone.

The King led a small procession toward the room where the small council met. While the king usually avoided the meetings, today's revelations guaranteed his attendance.

A page had been sent to summon Ser Barristan. A few minutes later the white-faced boy reappeared.

"You Grace!"

The King turned to see a young page with blonde hair running toward him. Ser Aerys stepped forward slightly as the running youth skidded to a halt.

"What is it, boy?" The king demanded.

"Lord Baelish has disappeared, and Ser Barristan has been injured!"

Confusion reined for the next few hours.

Baelish, Lady Arryn and several senior gold cloaks were missing, and Ser Barristan had been shot, twice, in the back by crossbow-wielding attackers as he escorted Baelish to the black cells.

The King was furious and had ordered an immediate search but to no avail. Baelish and Lysa Arryn had somehow escaped the Red Keep and seemingly the city.

Ser Barristan survived his injuries and indeed had killed his two attackers and another thug with them, but the heavily bleeding Kingsguard had been distracted long enough for Baelish to disappear.

"Fuck," cursed the King as he slapped a large hand on the polished wooden tabletop. "How the seven hells did they get out of the Red Keep without being seen?"

"We'll find out," Jon promised with a scowl.

"We had better," agreed the King. "Find the fucking spider and tell him that I want them found."

oOoOo

Winterfell

Luwin looked at the message he had retrieved from the third raven of the morning. All three bore the seal of Jon Arryn. He was about to leave the small room when two more arrived. These bore the seal of the King. Luwin looked at the five messages with some trepidation. Five ravens arriving together left little doubt that the words they bore were of high importance. Lord Stark was due to ride North soon. He wanted first-hand information from the wall in light of Lady Tamo's warning.

At this time of the day, Lord Stark was likely in his solar. Luwin descended the stairs as quickly as possible and made his way to the Lord of Winterfell's rooms.

Lord Stark was indeed in and Luwin passed all five scrolls to him. He gestured for Luwin to sit, and he lowered himself into one of the old comfortable chairs.

Eddard Stark looked surprised and then concerned as he considered five messages from Kingslanding arriving on the same day. He quickly broke open the first that bore the King's seal.

His expression froze and he quickly read the other four messages.

Luwin watched as Lord Stark's shoulders stiffened and finally, the Lord of Winterfell spoke.

"Here Luwin read them." He passed the scrolls over and Luwin read the first.

After a few moments, he looked up, "Ill news, my Lord. Lady Stark may take it poorly."

Lord Stark nodded, frowning direfully as he considered. "She will, her sister is a hunted outlaw, dishonoured by her childhood friend. Murder or the attempt at such of her lord husband and the hand of the King…she will be lucky to keep her head. Not to mention bringing her son's parentage into question. "

Luwin said nothing, Lord Stark was right.

"I will let Catelyn know now. I cannot wait for fear that this news will spread before I do. The king commands that they be found and that the word be spread."

"That is wise, would you like me to prepare a calming draught?"

oOoOo

Catelyn Stark did not take it well, neither did the Blackfish.

"That fucking piece of shit…I'll hunt the rat down myself!"

Catelyn did not doubt that her uncle would set off immediately to do just that. He had never liked Petyr and while that had been more about what he saw as his lack of character, the fact that the bastard had twisted Lysa into…madness was enough for her uncle to go for his sword.

"And ride where Uncle? They could be on the way to Essos for all we know," Catelyn stated firmly. "Lysa can be easily led, and Petyr knew this, and it sounds…it sounds as if he took advantage of her." She held up a hand, "I am not excusing her…actions. But I am saying that Petyr was a planner. He always had a plan and while I thought him a friend it is clear that he has turned into a manipulative dishonourable man. If he was doing what he was accused of, he would have had a plan. He must know that his life if forfeit if he is caught, he'll run away and hide, just as he did as a child in Riverrun."

The Blackfish scowled and then sighed, "Well then, I hope that whoever catches him…them, is rewarded." He shook his head in frustrated anger. "Will you still ride north Ned?"

Eddard looked to his wife, who slowly nodded, she was giving her permission. "I will, but tomorrow will do."

oOoOo

Tamo was finding being in two places at once exhausting. Maintaining the link between her selves was the hard part. The distance wasn't a factor, but it was draining, and she might well be doing it for many months. She rolled over and looked at her bed mate. Cat looked peaceful when she was at rest. Their moments together were too precious to pass up. She smiled as she remembered their night together. For a woman that had never slept with other women Arya/Cat was a very quick study. Delightfully quick.

But still, she would need to either leave Daenerys for a while, not ideal or leave Winterfell, equally not a palatable choice.

"I can almost hear you thinking," said Cat as she opened one eye.

"I'm tired of not being here with you, my love. But maintaining a copy of myself a thousand miles away is tiring…as is keeping things separate." Tamo grinned, white teeth and slightly longer canines showing for a moment. "I have to be careful not to let things bleed through too much. No need to scare poor Daenerys too much by writhing around in the bed."

"How does it work, you never truly explained," Cat asked curiously as she sat up.

Tamo's eyes flicked down for a moment as her smile grew wider.

Cat rolled her eyes, for a very old supernatural being Tamo could be easily distracted.

Tamo gestured and a flower appeared in her hands, and she handed it to Cat. "It's not real, it smells and feels real, but it is not, and it will fade when I cease to concentrate on it. I can maintain a copy of myself, and it will be me…well an extension of me. Think of it like a reflection in a mirror. Except my reflection can go on adventures." She said with a laugh. "You need, as my mother taught me, to have a strong sense of self to manage it. Well, that and magic."

Cat shook her head, Tamo was amazingly powerful and yet was here with her. "Could I learn to do it?"

Tamo frowned, considering the question.

"You have your own gifts, and I can sense that magic, different magic, but still magic flows in your veins. So….maybe. Wu Jen in my land have learned some of my people's magic. The thing is that making a copy is hard. Well, one that is more than an illusion is a difficult skill to master."

Cat deflated a little bit and Tamo chuckled. "Now, now don't pout. Here stand up and let me have a look at you."

"You know what I look like," re-joined Cat as she stood.

"Intimately", replied Tamo with a mock leer. She studied Cat for a moment and then sighed. "I am not sure if it is your magic hiding itself…or the face you wear but I cannot sense your magic clearly."

Cat slowly nodded, "So what now?"

"Can you transform back to you for a minute?"

Cat shrugged and there was a burst of magic that was nearly visible to Tamo and Arya Stark of that other world stood before Tamo bathed in the moonlight. She frowned and studied Arya, there was still a…not precisely a blockage but something there, a familiar feel to what she was sensing.

"Cat, transform back for a minute, I think I can feel it," requested Tamo.

Cat transformed back to Cat's Valyrian features.

Tamo looked like she had been given a present. "You are a true shapeshifter!"

Cat looked confused, "You know that I can take others' faces…it is the many-faced god that gives us the ability."

Tamo shook her head, "No, that is simply a trick, a good one but it is a simple magic. This is true shapeshifting. Have you ever tried to take the form of an animal, one that you knew well?"

"No, why would I…it is not possible, is it?" Cat replied thinking of Nymeria and then of Tamo and her fox form.

"I think it is, concentrate on that animal…picture it in your mind and then picture yourself changing."

Cat closed her eyes and imagined being Nymeria, taking her form but an image of Tamo as a fox-like woman kept appearing. Sudden pain erupted in her temples, and she felt herself falling….

"Cat!"

Cat opened her eyes to see a concerned-looking Tamo looking down at her. She was, she realised, lying on the floor. She felt washed out and tired. So very tired.

oOoOo