A knight of house Stark - chapter 3
What Arya said that day could be less called an explanation and more a loose collection of points intermixed with a confused timeline.
The little Stark kept jumping between the present and now and some distant empire that sounded more akin to a myth than an actual reality. Nevertheless, some things could not be denied. The multiple Stark direwolf markings and even the name Stark being written on the chest of the Knight meant with almost absolute certainty that this thing was a part of house Stark.
When all present Starks as well as the half-Stark heard how Arya controlled the knight, they all climbed up to the throne and sat upon it, but the ancient machine awoke only for her. Ignoring the visible disappointment on Robb's face, Eddard focused on his daughter, his grey eyes shifting between her and the metal monstrosity when they returned to the ground. The northern lord sighed loudly and rubbed his temples, his shoulder slumping.
"Oh, Arya, what have you done…" Ned mumbled.
The northerner walked up to the knight and places his hand upon the cold metal before casting his gaze upward to the towering machine.
"Arya, you will not be comin-" he began before Robb cut him off.
"Father, please, we all kn-" but his father shushed him with a hand gesture and a glare before continuing:
"Arya, you will not be coming here, alone." Arya's previously downcast expression looked hopeful. "As your brother blindly tried to interject," Robb looked away sheepishly "nothing short of binding you to your bed will stop you from returning here." The four Starks shared a smile and a small chuckle at the statement they all knew to be true.
"With that said, not a word of this to anybody. And I mean it. No stableboys, no blacksmith' apprentice, no butcher friend. No one." Ned went on one knee and cupped his daughter's face with both hands, grey eyes meeting grey:
"I need to see it in your eyes that you understand this. This is something unusual, dangerous. If it is to become known, it will draw outside attention to our house and more so, to you." Arya visibly gulped. "I need you to promise me. Not even your mother and sister are to know of this." Arya nodded.
"Do you promise?"
Arya nodded again.
"I need to hear it."
"I-I-I promise." Her voice was uncharacteristically small and uncertain, almost scared.
Rising up from his kneeling position, the northern lord looked at the knight once again, his gaze locking onto where he knew the two eyes laid extinguished. He shuddered, remembering the when those eyes locked onto him. Even thinking on it now that he knew what it was, he cannot in a million years imagine someone taking this thing down. Ancient myths and legends speak of great heroes defeating giants. But what if the giant was armored? What if the giant was an armor? No, he cannot imagine it.
While the initial problem was sorted, what comes after? What in a year? What in ten? This thing will not remain hidden, the only thing worse Eddard could imagine would be trying to hide a dragon. Several of his men already knew. He knew in general his household can be trusted, but with this? He wondered how long this knight would remain hidden after his men had had a few drinks in Wintertown.
"Father, we cannot leave this here, like this, open." Spoke up Robb, breaking Eddard out of his thoughts.
"And Arya opened the door." Stated Jon in a light teasing tone., causing the smallest Stark to look away.
Ned looked back at both boys before casting his gaze over the many books and items scattered on the floor and walls. Even if the knight responded to Arya only, what of everything else? His mind went back to his earlier thoughts. 'No…' resonated across his mind 'We cannot keep this hidden…'
He looked up the stairs towards where the busted gate stood, daylight streaming through the massive hole and Eddard knew they would need a full-sized castle gate to cover it up.
A heavy sigh echoed across the hall.
"No!" nearly screamed Caitlyn as she angrily paced the deck above the yard, her husband standing with his arms crossed and his gaze far away, Arya sheepishly hiding behind him.
"She is a lady! A lady, Ned!" she rounded once again and meeting Ned's eyes. "It is bad enough Bran continues to climb every stone that is stacked on another and now this?" she raged before outstretching her hand towards Arya.
"W-w-w-what was it? A metal knight in a cave? That she can ride?"
Ned ignored her, turning to Arya and bending down to her level.
"Go to your brothers below, we leave in a few minutes." The little girl hurried past him towards the yard below, avoiding her mothers gaze.
Mother and father in silence tracked her small frame as she made her way between the men in the bustling yard below, dodging horses and carts full of materials ready to go into the dark forest. With a tinge of fear, Ned noticed how the handful of men that were part of the original party looked at his daughter with suspicion and fear in their eyes.
"Say something!" his wife's hiss snapped him out of it.
"Cat." He began in a soft voice "We know too little."
"And you decided our children should go, head first into it?!" she snapped back, Ned's gaze hardening.
"That place is somehow connected to our hous-"
"Why? Just because there are some old banners inside?"
"Enough! That place is somehow connected to us and moreover, only Arya can control that thing."
"By getting inside of it! What if it devours her!" Cat was at her wits end. "Our baby girl, Ned. Please."
Maester Lewyn arrived at this moment, oblivious to the conversation that was taking place.
"My lord, I am ready." Said the old maester, receiving a nod from his lord.
"My decision is final." Said Ned in a firm voice before moving closer and cupping his wife's face gently in his hands. "Cat, we need to know more and Arya is the key. I will keep her safe. Everyone will keep her safe."
A single tear rolled down Caitlyn's face as she closed her eyes and shook her head, freeing herself from her husband's soft grip and rushing past him in silent anger. Eddard in turn only bowed his head in defeat before solemnly making his own way to the yard below.
Now that they knew where they were going, the trek was short. So much so, that Ned suspected that one would have been able to see the location from Winterfel if not for all the trees. As they approached the sound of trees falling echoed, men already at work creating what can maybe be called a fortified camp, the rough plan been for a rudimentary palisade and a few watch towers. Entering the camp, most of the accompanying men dispersed to their task involving the construction, Ned noting how everyone avoided the ravine in the middle where the metal door stood, no one approaching and constantly gazing towards it. Even the guards around it standing quite a few paces away.
The heavy stench of rust assaulted his senses as they entered the chamber, Arya dismounting to flick the lever on the side, bringing the area to life. As maester Lewyn looked on in awe and wonder, they descended down to the knight. The maester briefly looked over the knight itself before almost uncharacteristically shrugging his shoulders.
"Nothing like this exists anywhere on this world, my lord, but looking at it will not give us the answers." He stated before turning to the many books lining the walls. Arya chipped in, explaining that the ones with a cog wheel usually pertained to how the knight worked, while the ones with the double-headed eagle were more general, usually history books.
Numbly nodding, one can almost see the old maester salivate upon looking at the hundreds of books lining the walls. The whole group was so focused on it, looking at the titles, discussing where to start that Arya silent snuck away and towards the knight. Before anyone can notice, the loud clang of the metal hatch closing echoed across the chamber, Jon instantly recognizing what it was and yelling out Arya as he turned to the knight while everyone looked around in wild confusion.
A deep rumble shook the chamber as the machine awoke, the two glowing orbs flickering to life. Almost like a human, the metal construct stretched, as if a man awakening from slumber. For a moment, Ned instinctively wanted to protest, but he knew it was both futile to stop Arya if not outright impossible now as well as this, in part atleast, been what they came here for.
"Gods…" whispered out Lewyn and Ned cannot help agree, the memories of the previous day flooding back to him, that thing towering over them in the dark forest outside, a feeling of awe and helplessness creeping up his spine.
The knight, or rather Arya looked upon the limbs, the saw-like sword and the broken lance as Ned called it in his head on behalf of the small shield just where the wrist would be.
"Jory, run outside and warn the men. We do not want them…spooked." Ordered Eddard, carefully choosing his words, his eyes not leaving the knight.
"Yes, my lord."
As expected, Arya decided to go outside of the vault, the Stark men rushing to their horses to keep up with her. Outside, the camp had fallen silent, nothing but silent awe as the pale rusty machine of war scanned them all.
Workers scurried out of the way like rats when the knight made for the entrance of the camp, the foreman silently making a note that they will need a bigger gate. Hundreds of eyes then followed the nobles, riding in hot pursuit as the knight disappeared between the tall dark pine.
Arya moved in silence and seemingly with purpose for she did not look around, nor did she make any turns. Multiple times did Ned, Robb and Jon call out to her only to receive no response, not even a glimpse in their direction.
Eventually, the knight cleared the woods and came into the open fields, coming to a stop. With some dread and annoyance, Ned noted Winterfel in the distance, but he would deal with that when it came to it.
Arya, or the knight stood unmoving, seemingly gazing into the fields, the barest turning of the head from left to right been any indication. The three Stark men dismounted and went before the knight, concerned at their kin's erratic behavior. Jory and several horsemen came up behind the knight just as the humming of the machine died down.
Jon, already knowing what was the next step moved away from the metal machine so that he can see the top of it, just in time for the hatch to start opening. Arya climbed out from inside, stepping onto the carapace but paid them no heed even as the wind picked up, the men yelling at her to get down in case she fell.
Not dissimilar to the knight a few moments before, Arya too scanned the horizon, her head slowly moving from left to right and back. Despite his fear for his little sister, Jon did occasionally glance at the distance where her gaze would be, trying to find what she was so deeply looking at.
But there was nothing but the cold, windswept northern plains. Nothing. Nothing save Winterfel, standing like a dark monolith amongst the grey of it all. In tense silence did Arya finally descend from the knight, the men gathering around her.
"Arya, what was that about?" asked Robb, Jon shooting his brother a look at how direct he was.
Arya said nothing, her grey eyes meeting theirs before sweeping past them, back onto the plains surrounding Winterfel. Slowly she walked forward, moving between her father and older brother, coming to a stop a few paces later.
"It's gone…" Arya whispered, just loud enough for all to hear. Jon moved so that he can be level with her, seeing her eyes far away, her lips remaining parted. Almost as if in a trance, she raised her left hand, loosely pointing to the fields north of Winterfel.
Her hand remained outstretched before she swept it south.
"The walls. The hangars. The space port. The launch bays. The warehouses."
She closed her eyes and drew her arms in closer, as if she was painting on an invisible piece of paper.
"The main road north, perfectly smooth and straight… five statues on each side. The castle in the middle with spires and towers ever going up. The launch bays…. Ten gates. Wolf heads on them all. Same, but different." She opened her eyes, sad and tired. "It is all gone."
"What is gone, sweet child?" asked Ned, falling on one knee, placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder, gently prodding for information, afraid for his daughter, but curious nonetheless.
"Our castle."
"Winterfel is there." Pointed Robb.
"No, Winterfel is like the top of it." Responded Arya
"You mean like there is more underground or something? Like in the crypts?" pressed Robb.
"Underground…" mumbled Arya before suddenly her eyes widened in excitement.
Before anyone can stop her, the little girl shot passed them all and up the knight, the yells from the men falling on deaf ears. A few moments later, the knight was back to life and at a much calmer pace, moving directly towards Winterfel.
As Robb and Jon tried to dissuade Arya, Ned turned to his subordinate.
"Jory, ride fast to the castle, tell them not to worry, that there is no danger."
"Yes, my lord." The younger man sped past them
'I hope there is no danger.' Internally added Ned. As he turned towards Winterfel, riding on the right side of the knight, he can already see the crowds gathering atop the walls. 'So much for secrecy.'
The closer they got to Winterfel, the more erratic Arya's movements became. She would stop and go, look back, move left and right, backtrack and so on.
Finally, she came to a stop. It was strange to see the massive metal knight seemingly looking around like almost like a person. As they waited for Arya to make her next move, the sound of horse-beats began to be heard, Ned surprised to see Cat with a small escort.
"Ned!" she yelled out before coming to a stop.
"Is that… is she…?" she began, her frantic eyes darting between her husband and the metal monster.
"Aye. This is it. And she is inside." Ned responded, his voice resigned.
Her mouth agape, Caitlyn struggled to formulate words. Looking over the imposing metal knight, she cannot help but compare it to a moving castle, despite the clear knightly motif. But what brought her dread was that there were many old and established castles that were shorter than this knight.
"Arya!" she finally managed to get out only for the knight to finally stop its pacing.
"Stand back." Came the response from the knight, the voice clearly Arya's, yet distorted.
"Arya, get out from that thing this instant!" demanded Caitlyn only for the knight to point the thing in its right hand at the ground where it had been starring for several moments.
A low hum filled the air.
Jon began to feel a pit in his stomach as he remembered the melted metal door at the underground hall.
"We should move back. Now!"
"How dare you tell me what to do." Hissed out Caitlyn.
Jon shared a desperate look with his father and brother, but before either of them could react, it happened.
The hum became a loud hiss and for a moment, the dreary northern weather became as bright as Dorne. A sharp bang, followed by a wet splatter echoed across the field, not dissimilar to soft rotten apples been smashed.
They all turned to the knight only for this event to happen again, this time all seeing that the lance-like right hand shot golden light into the ground, the impact causing an explosion.
The horses became spooked, Robb and Caitlyn nearly been thrown off before their reigned them in and move away. All the while, the entire Stark family was yelling out to Arya to stop, to cease her madness of attacking the ground.
Yet the Stark knight continued.
Two times.
Three.
Four.
By the fifth, they slowly began to realize what Arya was doing.
She was digging. A small crater had begun to form where the blasts landed. Small by knight-size standards. It was enough for Jon or Robb to fully disappear inside. While the two younger boys had child-like wonder and marvel, Ned could not help but think what would happen if that thing turned on Winterfel.
Two more blasts and just as suddenly Arya stopped. Smoke rose from the ground infront of the knight, painting a dread picture that would send shivers down many a spine. Wet splotches of the displaced ground were scattered all around them, some bubbling like boiling tar, few cooling down to what may be rock.
In silence, they watched as the knight went into the hole and seemingly got on one knee. This pose would have looked comical on the massive metal machine if the whole situation was not terrifying to the northern family. Not a sound was heard across the fields or Winterfel, all watching mesmerized the actions of Arya.
Arya began to prod the center with the saw-like sword in her left arm before she pulled back. Many expected for her to jam it in the center and continue digging. No one expected for the teeth of the saw to start moving around the edge of the blade. A roar, growing louder the faster the teeth spun drowned out any words the onlookers might have attempted to say.
When seemingly satisfied with the speed, Arya jammed to tip into the center of the crater, slowly moving it down. About half way down, the wet sound of the ground been moved suddenly became the screech of metal, Arya stopping the spinning in an instant. She stood motionless for several moments, seemingly contemplating her next action before resuming her digging.
She wiggled the saw sword left and right, widening the hole before stopping and stepping outside of the crater.
The hum of the knight once again died down and the hatch on the very top opened.
"Arya!" Caitlyn yelled out as the form of her daughter came into view. The little girl remained unfazed by her mother's shouts, a look of satisfaction on her features. Arya rose her left hand and pointed to the crater.
Approaching the edge of it, all assembled could see, at the very bottom, the smooth edge of a metallic structure, the right half of the double-headed eagle looking back at them.
There might be a small time skip along with reactions from the rest of Westeros in the next chapter.
Thank you for reading.