Author Note 1 – I am sorry for the little delay between posting, I had planned to be constantly releasing stories on the weekly schedule. But there was a family emergency and had to go home for a couple weeks to help my parents and there was just a lot going on that needed to be done. However, I feel everything that could be done is done and I am back home, so everything is back on track for editing and posting. Will be releasing a couple more bonus stories or chapters as my way of thanking everyone who has been interested in my stories and those of you who reached out.


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As Ned left the room, Jon turned his attention back to the table, puzzled by his uncle's cryptic words. He had been on the verge of asking for more details but missed the opportunity as Ned had quickly departed and seemed hesitant to speak more on the matter. Resuming his meal, Jon made several attempts to draw Arya into further conversation, but she appeared preoccupied with his previous words, offering brief and half-hearted responses that made it difficult to sustain a meaningful exchange.

Shifting his attention to Bran, Jon had much more luck engaging him in conversation and they proceeded to spend the rest of the meal talking about the various responsibilities and expectations that rested upon their shoulders in their respective roles as a squire and a page.


Over the next few days, Jon's routine proceeded without any significant incidents, even though he was unable to catch a glimpse of Arya during that time. It appeared that Arya had sequestered herself in her room, seeking solitude and privacy. According to Sansa, on occasion, Arya would vanish for several hours, completely unaccounted for, missing her scheduled lessons or other commitments, only to randomly reappear later, as if nothing peculiar had occurred.

However, the situation reached a critical point three days after the evening meal where Ned had excused himself when Jon had brought up the topic of Lyanna. Jon once again found himself dismissed from his tasks by Ser Barristan earlier than usual, affording him the opportunity to spend the afternoon with his family. Upon returning to their quarters, an unexpectedly surprised Ned approached him.

"Do you have any idea where that girl has disappeared to?" Ned inquired, his voice tinged with evident worry and stress.

"Hello, Father," Jon greeted. "Sorry, who are we talking about?"

"Hello, Jon," Ned, clearly exasperated, responded to his question, "Arya." He continued to explain, "According to the staff, she went missing earlier this morning, and though she's been prone to vanishing over the past few days, today is different. She missed her morning lessons with the maesters, skipped her afternoon meal, and what's more, I've just been informed that the girls were invited to spend private time with Queen Cersei and Myrcella, but only Sansa showed up."

Jon's surprise was evident as he looked up, listening intently as his uncle continued to express his concerns.

"Now, I worry that she might have done something reckless, such as sneaking out of the castle and headed into the city. The Gods only know that if anyone could pull it off, it would be Arya," Ned grumbled, his voice filled with apprehension.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Jon concealed the smile that had crept onto his face in response to his uncle's words. "I'm sure she's alright," he reassured Ned. "Arya's always had a free spirit, but she's been showing a lot of maturity lately. Her conflicts with Sansa have been less frequent, and maybe today's lessons simply didn't pique her interest. Besides, she hasn't shown much enthusiasm for Queen Cersei or Joffrey, and her indifference to Myrcella, due to their differing interests, might explain her reluctance to spend time with them. Arya has always been quite headstrong," Jon added with a chuckle.

"And as for missing a meal, I believe she's made a friend in the kitchen, hasn't she? The boy who traveled with us works in the Red Keep's kitchens. I'm sure Arya has amassed a few friends down there by now, I am sure she managed to eat."

Ned's nod was slow but deliberate, and some of the tension in his demeanor seemed to dissipate. "Very well … we'll give it some time," he acknowledged.

Jon, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, we'll wait. If Arya hasn't returned by the time supper begins, I'll set out to find her."

"Thank you, Jon. I appreciate your willingness to help," Ned replied with a hint of gratitude, but there was also a trace of frustration in his expression. "It's unfortunately rather ironic, though. As the Hand of King Robert, I'm tasked with governing the realm, as it appears that Robert has no desire or intention to do so. Yet, here I am struggling to keep track of my own household."

Jon's smile was warm as he offered his insight to his uncle. "I can't help but wonder if Arya's recent disappearances are a result of her boredom. Perhaps it would be beneficial for you to have a heartfelt conversation with her, to discover something that truly ignites her passion and then provide your support in helping her pursue whatever it is."

Ned regarded Jon thoughtfully, appreciating the wisdom in his words. "There is … merit in that suggestion," he admitted, his voice tinged with a sense of reflection.

Jon maintained eye contact with Ned, his expression earnest. "Arya means the world to me, and I'm certain she holds a special place in your heart as well. But anyone who has known her for more than a minute can't deny that she possesses a certain … wild spirit. I worry that all attempts to mold her into a traditional Lady may drive her to rebel, especially if she lacks an outlet for her boundless energy. It's clear that the life of a Lady, as Lady Stark envisions it, doesn't align with Arya's desires. Perhaps a different approach is needed to guide her toward her true potential." He offered.

Ned initially considered defending his wife but decided against it, taking a moment to contemplate Jon's words. He found himself admitting that there might be a measure of truth in what Jon was saying.

Jon's gaze briefly shifted toward the hallway leading to Arya's room before he continued, "I'm confident that if you have a heartfelt conversation with her, you'll discover something that truly captures her enthusiasm and keeps her occupied, and keeps her too busy to get into any serious trouble. Maybe you can encourage her to focus on her ... needlework."

At this, Ned couldn't help but burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room. "I believe I'm more likely to witness Robert taking his kingly duties seriously before I see Arya willingly holding a needle in her hand," he chuckled. He then looked back at Jon with a grin. "That being said, your words do indeed have merit. Assuming we find her safe and unharmed, I will follow your advice. Perhaps there's something out there for her, and I've heard there's someone at court she might be interested in meeting."

Jon's curiosity lingered as he looked at his uncle, but Ned chose not to provide further details. Instead, he redirected his focus to Jon, studying him intently.

"You've grown and matured, Jon. You're no longer the same boy who left Winterfell," Ned remarked with a sense of pride. "Your lessons and training have served you well. Perhaps ... perhaps we'll have to have a more in-depth conversation soon about ..." He trailed off, his words haven taken on a cryptic quality before he shook his head. "But that's a matter for another time. If you happen to come across Arya before I do, please let her know that I wish to speak with her." With that, Ned left for his solar, leaving Jon to ponder his enigmatic remarks.

Realizing he had little to do but wait, as Sansa remained with the Queen and Bran had not yet returned from his duties, Jon made his way to his own room, hoping fervently that Arya had managed to avoid any trouble and would soon reappear, and settled down with a book about the history of Westeros from the time of Aegon the Conqueror.

Several hours had passed since Jon had immersed himself in the book at his desk when a sudden knock at the door broke his concentration. Assuming it was either someone coming to fetch him for a meal or Ned Stark seeking his help in the search for Arya, Jon rose from his seat. He approached the door and, without hesitation, swung it open to reveal an astonishing sight. Standing before him was a figure completely cloaked in dust, with cobwebs tangled in their hair.

Caught off guard by this unexpected sight, Jon instinctively took a step back, his eyes wide with surprise. Hesitantly, he greeted the mysterious individual, "Ummm ... hello?"

The dusty figure met Jon's gaze, and a cute, childish laugh escaped their lips. "Hello, Jon. Is that truly how you greet your own sister?"

His jaw dropped in disbelief as he began to recognize the girl hidden beneath the layers of dust and cobwebs. "Arya ... what in the Seven Kingdoms happened to you?" Jon exclaimed concern evident in his voice.

Arya, displaying her typical irreverence, retorted, "Are you going to let me in or make me stand out here in the hallway all night?"

Reluctantly, Jon took a step back and allowed her to enter the room. He gestured to a chair for her to sit in and took his place on the corner of the bed facing her. "Arya, where have you been? Once Septa Mordaine discovered you had missed your classes and the invitation to spend time with the Queen, she's been absolutely furious. She's been shouting up and down the hallways since … well since before I finished my tasks with Ser Barristan today ..." Jon's voice trailed off

Arya interjected with a dismissive tone, "I couldn't care less about my classes, or Queen Cersei, or what Septa Mordaine thinks ..."

Jon cast a concerned gaze upon her, his worry evident as he cut her off. "Arya … even Father was deeply concerned," he revealed.

Arya's confident demeanor wavered, and she cast her eyes downward guiltily.

Jon gestured toward her when she looked up, indicating her disheveled state. "But honestly, ignoring the fact that seeing you in this condition would likely give Septa Mordaine a heart attack ..."

Arya couldn't help but release a small laugh. "It would serve her right for never leaving me in peace," she quipped.

With a mixture of amusement and concern in his eyes, Jon shook his head. "Setting that fact aside. Father would probably be quite displeased with your current appearance, you'll need to clean yourself up as best you can before leaving this room," he advised, gesturing towards a fresh washbasin positioned on his desk.

Pushing the matter of her disheveled state aside, Jon leaned in with curiosity. "But let's not dwell on that for now. Where were you today?"

Arya's eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at him. "I was in the walls! I discovered secret passages that wind along behind the walls, and I've been tracing them for the past couple of days. Today, I might have gotten carried away, and it took some time to find my way back here."

Jon nodded in agreement, not the least bit surprised, understanding that castles like the Red Keep would have secret passages for various purposes, including quick transportation and potential escape during a siege.

Arya's smile widened as she continued her tale, her eyes shining with excitement. "The passages were incredible, Jon. I believe I managed to explore the entire Red Keep without once setting foot outside the walls. One of the corridors even runs alongside the King's meeting room; I overheard Father holding a meeting there this morning. And to top it off, I found another passage that led right into Father's solar."

The initial revelation about the secret passages running alongside the Small Council Meeting Room was a cause for concern for Jon. It was clear that such passageways could pose a security risk if not properly monitored, allowing individuals to eavesdrop on important meetings. He was about to delve deeper into these concerns when Arya dropped another large suprise.

"And one of the pathways runs right past the Queen's room," she began. "I could recognize the room through the narrow cracks from that uncomfortable afternoon when Father made me join Sansa and Myrcella for cakes with the Queen. But this morning, I'm pretty sure I overheard the King ... with her."

Jon's head snapped up, his eyes fixed on Arya in disbelief. "Sorry ... you saw what ...?"

Arya blushed slightly but stared at him. "I'm not a child, Jon. I know what those sounds mean. I didn't look more once I heard the moaning and screaming."

Jon froze, a sinking feeling in his stomach as he recalled a conversation he had with Ser Barristan earlier that morning. He had asked the knight why his sparring session with Ser Jaime had been canceled, and Ser Barristan had looked at him before answering with a touch of embarrassment and disappointment in his tone. He had explained that King Robert had requested that Ser Preston Greenfield and Ser Blout escort him into the city in disguise to visit … an acquaintance. Consequently, Ser Jaime had been assigned to guard the Queen in the morning. The realization that Arya might have overheard something she shouldn't have was deeply unsettling.

As he vividly recalled his earlier conversation with Ser Barristan and the guarded manner in which the knight had responded to his inquiries, Jon realized these were not questions he should be asking. The rumors he had heard about King Robert's … tendencies combined with the tone of the conversation with Ser Barristan had quickly connected the dots for him, and he chose to let the subject drop.

As Arya shared her news about the Queen being with someone while the King was out and her brother was supposed to be guarding her, it felt as if it was obvious as to what had been happening this morning, while Arya had been exploring the tunnels. It seemed all but confirmed that Ser Jaime had indeed been laying with the Queen that morning.

Jon found himself deep in thought, his gaze fixed on the wall as he contemplated potential strategies to separate Ser Jaime from the Queen, both physically and, perhaps even more importantly, emotionally. He understood the Queen's role in orchestrating the death of his uncle and igniting the War of the Five Kings, knowing that should would be an obstacle in whatever the future had in store for the Seven Kingdoms as she cared for little beyond her own ambitions. Still, he also recognized that Ser Jaime, despite his flaws, had a sense of honor. If he could be separated from his sister's influence, he might become a valuable ally in the future.

Jon was startled from his thoughts realizing that Arya had continued her account of her adventures within the castle walls. Her next statement, however, grabbed his full attention.

"... and there were dozens of young people within the walls!" she exclaimed excitedly once more.

He froze, a deep sense of concern etching across his face as he leaned in to ask quickly, "Did you speak to any of them? Did anyone recognize you?"

Arya flashed a reassuring smile as she shook her head. "No, I didn't speak to anyone, and no one spoke to me," she replied. "I had been wandering the passageways for some time by the time I nearly bumped into one of them. I was already quite a mess, and I figured they all assumed I was one of them. Besides, they were all too preoccupied with eavesdropping on what was happening in rooms beyond the corridors. Some were even taking notes on little pads where there was enough light seeping through the cracks."

Jon's concern was palpable as he leaned in and firmly grasped Arya's shoulder. He locked his gaze onto hers, his eyes filled with urgency. "Arya, I need you to promise that you won't speak about this again, except to me, and only when we're in a place where you can be absolutely certain there are no secret passages on the other side of the walls, and where no one is close enough to overhear. Preferably, we should be out of the city, riding on horseback. You must especially promise that you won't mention this to any of your friends among the Red Keep's servants. No matter who they are … no matter how much you trust them."

She stared up at Jon, her expression a mixture of shock. "Why?" she asked, her curiosity piqued by Jon's intensity.

"Arya, those people are spying because secrets have great value. If the ones who arranged for them to spy knew that you were aware of the tunnels or even suspected that you might have uncovered their secrets, you … all of us would be in grave danger," Jon explained earnestly. "Some secrets are considered so valuable that people are willing to kill to protect them."

Arya regarded Jon with a serious expression, her realization of the seriousness of the situation evident. After a moment, she nodded slowly and replied, "You have my word, Jon. I won't breathe a word of this to anyone."

Jon's face softened into a smile, and he bridged the gap between them, reaching out to cover the few steps that separated them. "I'm relieved to hear that, Arya. Thank you," he said, his gratitude evident in his voice.

Once Jon released Arya from their hug and took a step back to resume his seat on the bed, he noticed that she seemed to be looking at the floor with a nervous air about her. It was evident that something else was weighing on her mind. "What is it, Arya? Did something happen?" he inquired, his concern evident in his tone.

Arya hesitated for a moment before she began to speak. "Well …" she started, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty, "… most of the people I encountered within the secret passages were around my age, and they weren't speaking at all. However, at one point, I crossed paths with some older men in the lower tunnels. They were dressed in dark-colored robes with hoods, and they seemed to be having a conversation amongst themselves. So I decided to follow them." She paused and looked up at Jon. "That's why I was gone almost the entire day. They must have walked for what felt like hours. It was as if I traversed the entire length of King's Landing multiple times."

She looked up at Jon, who nodded for her to continue, encouraging her to share the rest of her experience.

"Every now and then," she resumed, "they would stop at these rooms with big metal doors that had large locks on them. During each stop, one of them would enter the room in complete darkness, leaving his companion behind holding the torch outside. They never brought the torch into the room, only relying on the hallway's faint light to see by as they communicated with the person outside. I never had the opportunity to sneak into one of the rooms because they were always careful about locking the doors when they finished. However, at the last room they visited, they were startled when they noticed a liquid seeping out from beneath the door. Almost immediately after spotting the liquid, they panicked and bolted back in the direction they came from."

She paused for a breath and looked at Jon in the eyes, "I had managed to stay hidden quite well while trailing them during the day, but they spun and rushed towards me so quickly that I didn't even have time to find a hiding spot. Strangely, it didn't seem to matter; they either didn't see me or didn't care. After they went by me, I ran over to see what the liquid was before having to run to catch up with them … I didn't want to get lost in those dark tunnels all alone."

Jon nodded in agreement, understanding how getting lost in a dark, labyrinth of tunnels could be a terrifying prospect, especially after experiencing the freedom of his adventures North of the Wall and during his flight on dragonback.

Arya met Jon's gaze, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and unease. "The liquid itself was strange," she continued. "It had a greenish hue in the dim light of their fading torch, and it smelled really bad."

He furrowed his brow, his confusion evident, but he nodded nonetheless. "Thank you for sharing this with me, Arya," he said. "But you probably shouldn't disclose what you saw to anyone else. Perhaps Father, but only if you're absolutely certain that no one can overhear." Jon's words carried a tone of caution.

As Arya gazed at Jon a tinge of disappointment colored her expression, perhaps having secretly hoped that he might have had some insight into the mysterious events she had witnessed in the secret tunnels. However, Jon was just as much in the dark about it as she was. Disappointment flickered in her eyes, but she did not press.

Instead, Jon nodded to her and provided some advise. "Go and clean up now, Arya. Seek out Father, he is looking for you; we spoke earlier today, and he plans to have a conversation with you tonight. I think it might be a good idea for you to express your interest in ... needlework." He offered giving her a meaningful look.

Puzzled for a moment, Arya stared at him for a moment before realization dawned upon her understood the implication of Jon's statement her expression shifted to a large smile.

Jon couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Arya dash over to the washbasin and vigorously scrub away the dirt and grime. Her speed and enthusiasm in cleaning was something Jon never anticipated from his spirited sister.

Once she was finished tidying up, Arya hurriedly left his room, sprinting down the hallways in search of her father. As she disappeared from view, Jon was left alone, gazing at the wall, his thoughts dwelling on the secrets and mysteries that Arya had seemingly uncovered.

What exactly was going on?

And what had Arya discovered?


Kind Regards,

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Sk8ernv - I am glad you are enjoying it!

explodingbunnies52 - Thanks so much!

Guest - Well I love the feedback

ReynesofCastamere - As did I. Obviously GRRM had a reason for doing what he did but I feel Tommen and Myrcella got the short end of the stick and felt bad for them. They will both definitely get a better outcome.

kingmanaena - Thanks! I really enjoyed writing the tourney, so I hope you like this.

cliffwest - Hmmm who says there wont be ...


Disclaimer – It has come to my attention recently that I unfortunately do not own any part of the Game of Thrones universe or the characters mentioned below. Who knew.

Thanks to those of you out to those of you who enjoy my stories, I promise to keep updating the stories as long as you enjoy them, and a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to leave feedback or reach out to me directly.


I hope you all liked the start to the new story, and I look forward to hearing your feedback. This is a story I have been looking forward to writing for a very long time.


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