Arya

"Boats are coming!" A voice cried. "The boats are back!"

Arya covered her ears as the shouting started and the loud clanging of a stick against metal ruined her brief rest. The noise was followed by a sharp kick which made her bolt awake as Weese stood over her scowling as ever as he nodded toward the shore.

"Back to work," he said. "And don't let me catch you napping again, boy. You'll regret it."

Arya only nodded as she quickly rushed over to a line where she picked up a bucket and spoon near a pot of boiling stew the scent made her stomach roar like a dragon, but the food was not meant for her. Ever since she survived getting captured by the Mountain's Men, she, Hot Pie, and Gendry were brought to Harrenhal where they were greeted by the largest military camp she had ever seen along the shore of the God's Eye and the terrifying sight in the middle of the lake made it clear.

She had not seen the falling stars during the night of their descent, but the rumor spread throughout the countryside. She had heard some travelers talking of falling castles, and men from the stars some claimed they were messengers of the gods who were angry with men for bringing war and sorrow to the land. Some more said they were foreigners from across the Sunset Sea wielding impossible magic and some even claimed they were the Others come to consume men's flesh and bring about the end times. Arya had believed none of it until she saw the fallen castle, it sat awkwardly jutting out of the water like an abandoned sword a grey and twisted thing, yet it shimmered in the light. Worst of all was the sound every once in a while a booming noise would echo across the lake like the groan of a dying giant.

None seemed to know what it was and whenever she dared ask it was usually mindless rumor or being told to shut up. It had the interest of Lord Tywin Lannister, she did not know the man by sight, but it was clear enough who he was whenever he rode into the camp with his red and gold lion armor brushing his large side-whiskers as he inspected the work. Every man, woman, and child from Harrenhal and the surrounding villages had been gathered for a grand project investigating the fallen castle. Men were gathered on boats and rushed toward the lake where they were ordered to go inside and recover anything of interest from within. Many feared the castle and begged not to go but the refusals were quickly silenced after Lord Lannister had the Mountain behead a few of them and threatened the families of the rest.

Arya was tasked with bringing them food, an exhausting process. Every time the boats returned the men rushed to grab bowls where they were a simple porridge with no meat save for the odd maggot that fell inside. They would eat ravenously and then catch a brief rest after delivering what they recovered as the next load of men was herded into boats by irate Lannister men. Arya was unable to get a good look at what they recovered but occasionally, there would be an overflow of baskets, and they would be rushed toward the shore. Most of what the men found was pieces of metal, boxes with unreadable language written on them but now and then there would be more interesting discoveries, pictures, a few books, and what the Lannisters valued most of all strange transparent trinkets which glowed with light.

There were also bodies, not many but every few trips a boat would return with a dead body clad in blue outfits that hugged their bodies. Mostly men but there were a few women among them some terribly burned, others crushed, and many more simply battered by the fall of the castle. The bodies were all wrapped by Silent Sisters and sent off to Hannenhal where they were being kept in a crypt. The castle was becoming a crypt of sorts with the only people traveling inside being Lannister men, Lords, and the occasional caged wagon where Arya had seen living strangers for the first time wearing the same blue jumpsuits. Most of them looked terrified pleading miserably for help as they were carted inside, Arya dreaded thinking what the Lannisters were doing with them, but it was nothing good.

"Here boy." A man grunted. "Get a move on."

Arya was snapped out of her thoughts as she stared at the full bucket. She quickly rushed toward the shore where men were offloading boats eager to receive their porridge. Most simply thrust their bowls into her face grunting for food, others gave quiet thanks as they found a quiet spot to sit. She wandered around pouring as generously as she could while not wasting time moving between them all. As she moved she noticed a circle of men staying clear of a boat where a man was standing before a Lannister.

She recognized the man, Tiber Hill a tall man-at-arms who oversaw the recovery efforts whenever Lord Tywin stepped away he stood before a man who was coughing fiercely, blood on his hands as he wiped them clean before speaking.

"We forced the door open again we placed the wood and iron bars as planned," he said. "The fumes began snaking out from the hold we made one made tried to squeeze through but then he started screaming, his skin grew red like it was boiling and we when pulled him out he was choking on his own blood."

"No matter," Tiber said. "Did the door shut again?"

"It remains open, ser but I do not recommend sending more men. There is a curse in that room something invisible is killing us. I can feel it now in my lungs."

"Enough of your prattling," Tiber said. "Prepare the next load of men, you and others go to the Maester and recount everything you have seen. Men keep them away from the others they're diseased."

The coughing man looked as if he was about to speak again when he suddenly coughed loudly, he collapsed gripping his chest before he groaned loudly unmoving. The crowd murmured in fear as Tiber looked around annoyed.

"Clear out all of you!" Tiber roared. "Get the next load of men ready and clear these bodies."

Arya moved away not wanting to linger any longer. She felt fear run down her back every instinct told her to run away from the scene whatever the men had discovered within the castle was something deadly. Maester Luwin might have been able to explain what had killed those men, but he was far away in Winterfell which made Arya miss home as she rejoined the line and held up her bucket.

She looked around for Weese not wanting to get in trouble again for some unknown slight when she saw him speaking with a messenger. The moment her eyes fell upon him the man's head whipped in her direction as he pointed.

"You," he said. "Come over here now."

Arya ducked her head down but obeyed. She approached as swiftly as she could bowing as meekly as she could.

"This man needs a cupbearer, boy," Weese spat. "Go until he's rid of you and then return to your post."

"Right away!"

Arya bowed as she fell behind the messenger who beckoned for her to follow him as he broke into a quick jog. Arya had little trouble keeping up recalling her training but struggled not to move too fast. They entered a tent where cooks and maids were working tirelessly preparing fine meals not meant for the smallfolk working the fallen castle. A woman looked up noticing Arya and motioned to her shoving a flagon of wine into her hands.

"Take this and go to the large gold tent, you cannot miss it now go hurry and do not dare to drink any!"

Arya simply nodded and quickly raced out of the tent. The tent she mentioned was impossible to miss a gaudy gold and red thing covered in the hated golden lion with banners dancing in the wind. She held onto the wine tightly as she danced through the crowd moving lightly on her feet.

Swift as a deer. Quick as a snake. Calm as still water.

Though she was simply Arry now there was no reason not to take advantage of her lessons where she could. She refused to forget a single thing as she moved. As she approached the tent she took a breath before stepping inside and had to stop herself from running out the moment she stepped in. Tiber Hill stood before a table where Tywin Lannister, the Mountain, and several other men were sitting patiently listening to his report.

"The sealed doors are breached my lord," Tiber said. "But the men continue to die after exposure to the smoke. It may be whatever is inside is producing toxic fumes. I fear there might be a plague within."

"That is no plague," Tywin said. "It acts too fast and sudden. Send a rider to bring a prisoner from the castle, the medical doctor with the red symbol perhaps she will be able to identify it. For now, continue to send men to see if any can survive long enough to identify anything of use. Have any weapons been recovered?"

"Still no weapons have been found my lord," Tiber said. "More trinkets and some more boxes some with the medicines you told us to identify and some carrying foodstuff. I have had it collected in the assembly."

"The food serves no purpose. Give it to the camp and supplement the stews, perhaps if they eat they will move faster."

Tiber Hill bowed and departed from the tent. Lord Tywin held up a golden goblet and stared at Arya who stared in horror before immediately correcting herself. She filled the goblet to the top before moving down the table filling each one before standing at her position. None of the men regarded her, by the mercy of the gods she had gone unrecognized.

"Ser Gregor," Tywin said. "Any news on the hunt?"

"Some ravens brought news that our sellswords had found more of these rafts," he said. "The Blooded Sons sent word they found three men in the south. My men found two women hiding out in a village, we captured them and burned the village as punishment."

"Fair condition I hope," Tywin said.

"My men followed their orders. They'll live."

"Do try to restrain yourself, Clegane. If they are to be of any use in negotiations we need them in the best condition we can manage."

"You believe their tales that this Union will come?" Another man said.

"I know they will," Tywin said. "No one who wields powers lets a blow go unanswered."

"Then do you intend to treat with them? Should we not have better conditions for the ones we have?'

"I am not some begging boy like the wolf," Tywin said. "Their conditions are fitting to their status. They are not captive Lords and Ladies, mere foreigners who have no right to be in our land. I will not appear weak before this Union when it arrives when they request their people back they will do so according to my conditions. They are trespassers and will be treated as such."

Arya was listening closely unsure of what exactly they meant as she poured another round of wine. As she approached Lord Tywin he placed a hand over the cup refusing more as she stepped back.

"That could be a dangerous move," The doubter said. "They could wield a great power."

"They could wield dragons for all I care," Tywin said. "It makes no difference what they are capable of. They are as mortal as any men and so long as we wield our strength they will need to meet us at our level. We wield the advantage. Now enough of the Strangers, any reports on the wolves?"

"The young wolf is still encamped at Riverrun for the moment my lord," Another man said. "Our reaver campaign continues with little response from him though the Riverlords have returned to their lands attempting to face us. Only defensive stance for the moment."

Arya perked up slightly at the mention of the wolves. Especially the young wolf, that could only mean one person, Robb. Thinking that her brother was no near brought a feeling of hope which was quickly replaced by sorrow. With such an army here, there was no way she would have a chance to slip away without being noticed. Even if she left behind her friends, the very thought of doing so abhorred her, there was little chance of avoiding recapture. All she could do was hope perhaps Robb could gain a great victory and the northern army would scatter the Lannisters and she could escape in the confusion.

For the moment she was stuck being Arry, the little mouse servant. As she glanced down at the flagon she prepared to step away and hopefully pass cupbearer duty to someone else there was safety in the crowd. As she pulled the tent however Lord Tywin spoke up suddenly.

"Refill that flagon and return quickly, girl."

"Girl?" A man said.

"Cutting your hair is clever," he said. "My daughter was fond of such games. Remain as a cupbearer for now."

Arya nodded reluctantly. "Yes, my lord."

She quickly returned to the tent with the cooks, raising the flagon was enough for the same woman to quickly rush over and refill it. The scent of cooking meat made Arya's mouth water as she walked away and made her way back to Lord Tywin's tent slowing her pace to think. She had gone unrecognized but being so close to an enemy Lord was dangerous, she considered all her options from making mistakes and getting dismissed and even trying to steal something, but each option was far too dangerous. She had no choice but to keep her head down and play the meek servant.

As she returned to the tent she could hear voices inside including a feminine one speaking rather loudly. When she re-entered the tent a pair of knights were flanking a tall woman with long raven hair tied back wearing the curious blue outfits she had seen with a long white coat of some sort with a red symbol. She had sharp brown eyes and fair skin, almost northern to Arya's eye but there was an odd cleanness and beauty that surprised even Arya with how it impressed her.

"The conditions within Harrenhal are unacceptable," The woman said fiercely. "There are wounded among our people and your guards refuse to provide alternative bedding. If you want help you had better get my patients' beds that are not crawling with insects. Even you cavemen should be capable of that. Or at least give us access to our equipment."

"You may receive your equipment provided your cooperation. You told me the oaths of your order demand you care for all sick?"

"To some degree, yes," she said. "Though I must prioritize my people. What issue are you having?"

"It concerns your ship."

She sighed loudly. "I told you already the Karlsefni is irreparably damaged, no technology exists on this entire planet that could come even close to repairing her systems. Why do you insist on-"

"Reactivation is not the issue," Tywin said. "We have been recovering materials from within your vessel. Though our men have found a sealed area when they breached it they have been exposed to a disease which has killed them."

"Sealed area?" The woman said. "There's no telling what damaged area of the ship could be leaking hazardous materials. You need to get your people out…What symptoms are they experiencing?"

A Maester that Arya did not recognize stood up.

"They have experienced rapid and violent sickness with symptoms such as flux, cough, greensick, and dizziness," He recited. "They have been observed with burns on the body followed by swift decay of the flesh with death after a few days. Some of those treating the sickly have experienced similar symptoms."

The woman's eyes went wide with horror as she reeled back.

"Oh my god," she said. "You breached the fucking fusion reactor. It was breached when the Karlsefni was shot down!"

"And what is this 'fusion reactor'?" Tywin said plainly.

"The technology that powers the ship," she said. "It would take too long to explain but the power generated is incredibly dangerous it leaks an invisible element called radiation. In small doses, it's harmless it's present everywhere but in high concentrations, it can and will kill humans and it can spread. I'm sorry but you need to dispose of those bodies and put the dying out of the misery there's no saving them with the medical technology."

"I'll have the bodies burned," Tywin said. "That will be the end of it."

"Absolutely not!" She roared. "Unless you want to die a very painful death from radiation sickness you will not do anything to those bodies but dig a very deep hole and bury it. Have men handle the bodies for brief rotations and if you give me, the damn equipment I can handle the arrangements, and for those with less exposure we can maybe use some treatment. Cancer might be unavoidable at this point but the alternative…"

Lord Tywin for once was given pause as he studied the woman's intense reaction. There was an urgency and immediacy to her concerns blind to the fact she was addressing the Lord of a Great House. Arya could see that for as prideful a man Lord Tywin was, he recognized fear when he saw it.

"Accompany a knight and select the tools you need and only what you need to address this radiation."

"Thank you," she said. "That would have killed this entire camp. Now the reactor chamber, did you reseal it?"

"It has been opened through force. We intended to send more men-"

"You need to close it," she said with regained urgency. "Right fucking now, that fusion reactor is unstable and leaking any foreign elements, God forbid water, get inside and that will explode. You know what an explosion is right?"

"I am not a fool."

"You might as well be. You just turned the Karlsefni into the largest bomb on this planet."