CHAPTER 10

Robb enters his mother's tent, finding Catelyn at her desk.

Robb said angrily, "Tell me this isn't true." Catelyn doesn't answer. She looks up at him.

Robb frustrated with his hands in the air, "Why?"

Catelyn said flatly, "For the girls. We just found out that Lyarra is in Tywin Lannister's custody now too. So, I did it to get my girls back."

Robb growled, "You betrayed me."

Catelyn said, "Robb…"

Robb shouted at her, "No! You knew I would not allow it and you did it anyway!"

Catelyn said forcefully, "Bran and Rickon are captives in Winterfell. Sansa and Arya are captives in King's Landing. Lyarra is in the hands of Tywin Lannister himself. I have six children, and only one of them is free."

Rickard Karstark walked into the tent and growled at her, "I lost one son fighting by your son's side. I lost another to the Kingslayer, strangled with a chain. You commit treason because your children are prisoners? I would carve out my heart and offer it to the Father, if he would let my sons wake from their graves and step into a prison cell."

Catelyn said, "I grieve for your sons, my lord."

Rickard Karstark spat angrily, "I don't want your grief. I want my vengeance. And you stole it from me!"

Catelyn explained, "Killing Jaime Lannister would not buy life for your children, but returning him to King's Landing may buy life for mine."

Robb snapped angrily, "Jaime Lannister has played you for a fool. You've weakened our position. You've brought discord into our camp! And you did it all behind my back! Make sure she's guarded day and night!"

Catelyn asked him, "Robb. How many men did we send in pursuit of the Kingslayer?" Robb looked at a soldier.

A soldier answered, "Forty, Your Grace."

Robb commanded, "Send another forty with our fastest horses."

Catelyn pleaded, "Robb…" Robb ignores her and exits her tent angry and disgusted.

In the evening one night, while Lyarra was alone in her room after getting ready for bed. She was in a dressing gown her servant woman got for her. She was staring into the flames sitting in a chair relaxing in front of the fireplace.

She heard a small noise on the balcony of her room. She sharply looked over and jumped up running to her bed and grabbed a kitchen knife from under the mattress. She turned to look at the balcony and the door slowly opened and a soldier stepped into the room. She had her arm back to throw the knife. She recognized Jaqen. Their eyes met.

She exhaled blowing out taking her arm down and whispered hissing at him, "What are you doing? I almost threw a knife at you." He walked over to her.

Jaqen whispered, "A man is sorry to frighten a beautiful woman, Lyarra. He had to find a way to collect his payment without interference."

She asked him, "What is your name that I can call you?"

He smiled walking up close to her and said, "A man is no one, but if a name a beautiful woman must have, Jaqen H'ghar."

Lyarra smirked, flirting and whispered, "I don't like kissing men when I don't know their names. You certainly like taking chances, Jaqen. Then again, what is the excitement in life without a bit of chances and risk?" Jaqen grinned looking at her lips.

He whispered softly, "A man agrees with a beautiful woman, Lyarra. Where would the excitement be?" He glanced up at her blue eyes.

He reached down and took her wrist. He put a bracelet on her wrist and clasped it. She looks down at it. It had pretty little purple stones in each setting like the darkest of amethyst.

He said softly, "It is a poison bracelet made only by the Faceless Men, for the Faceless Men, no one will notice it unless they are in the guild. The stones are a poison called The Strangler. It is a very painful death instantly. It will kill if only drank or eaten. Dissolves instantly. Use it if needed, but always keep it dry." He reached out and brushed her bottom lip with his thumb. His other hand slid around her waist.

Lyarra leaned in and softly put her mouth to his soft lips and kissed him. He put his arms around her and pressed harder. She opened her mouth and they started smoothly caressing tongues. He deepened the kiss holding her tighter. Her one arm went around him on his armored back as the other caressed his cheek and jaw as she kissed him. He was getting hot in his armor. He started sucking on her lower lip making her moan softly.

He broke the kiss, putting his hand up cupping her head gently and brushing his thumb across her temple. He was looking deep into her eyes and whispered, "A man could get lost in kissing such beauty. Eyes so blue a man could drown happily forever in them. A man will find safe passage for a beautiful woman's sister, on his honor he swears. A man will remember this kiss forever."

She leaned in and whispered, "Perhaps, Jaqen will let me steal another to make sure he remembers and to thank him for the extra gift?"

She pressed her mouth to his again and he aggressively kissed her passionately. She moaned softly, pulling his lips and kissing him more. Jaqen groaned deeply. He was so hard in his pants, but was enjoying this more than he could say. He truly believed she was definitely worth the kiss and risk to collect it.

He broke the kiss and smiled looking at her brushing his thumb across her lips and whispered, "A woman has such a lovely mouth. A man thanks a woman for such an extra payment." He slid his arms slowly down her and backed away.

He smiled and whispered, "Goodnight, beautiful woman, Lyarra."

She smiled and whispered, "Goodnight, Jaqen H'ghar. Sweet dreams." He nodded with a lusty smile on his face. He went out on the balcony and closed the door silently. She inhaled and exhaled deeply then giggled softly touching her lips with her finger tips. She looked at the bracelet and how it was made.

The a few days later, Tywin sits in council with Ser Kevan Lannister and other Lannister bannermen. Arya attends to them, and listens intently to the conversation.

Kevan said seriously, "King's Landing will fall an hour after Stannis lands his forces. It's not too late for King Joffrey and Cersei and the court to ride west to safety."

Tywin looked at him and said incredulously, "Surrender the Iron Throne?"

Kevan shrugged and said, "Better than seeing their heads mounted on the city gates. Stannis will execute them all."

Tywin growled and said strongly, "No, a king who runs will not be king for long. He's a Lannister. He'll stand and fight. Stannis, two days from the capital and the wolf at my doorstep."

Kevan said looking at his brother, "The scouts assure us Robb Stark remains north of Ashemark."

Tywin said not trusting a word, "Ha! The last time the scouts assured us of Stark's movement, he lured us into a trap. Which is why my son is his prisoner." Arya serves wine to the table of men.

Tywin said pensively, "Too close to Casterly Rock."

Kevan said thinking, "He sent a splinter force to recapture Winterfell. The Greyjoys have done us a great favor. Stark won't risk marching on Casterly Rock until he's at full force."

Tywin said looking back at his brother as he moved across the room, "He's a boy and he's never lost a battle. He'll risk anything at any time because he doesn't know enough to be afraid." Tywin ponders for a while by the hearth. He makes his decision.

Tywin said seriously, "We'll ride at nightfall. I want a full night's march before he knows we're on the move. Clegane, you'll maintain a garrison here at Harrenhal. Track down this brotherhood and destroy them. The girl has proven herself a good servant. She'll stay on with you. See that he doesn't get drunk in the evenings. He's poor company when he's sober, but he's better at his work." Arya looks worried because her sister would be going to.

Tywin found Lyarra in her room and knocked, entering and opening the door. Lyarra was tending the fire with the iron stoker rod.

He cleared his throat, she turned, putting the screen up and the poker in its rack. He said with authority, "Lady Lyarra, we are leaving at nightfall. I need you to pack up everything because you are coming with me when my army leaves this place. We are headed into battle but you will stay with the guards, wagons and supplies until it is over."

Lyarra was saddened to leave Arya but masked her emotions. She replied formally, "Yes, Lord Tywin." He nodded and left the room. Lyarra hurried to pack up changed clothes into her men's black leather outfit with a cream colored shirt and her black cloak with the hood down. She then went out to find Arya with her guards following.

After searching, Lyarra finds Arya in the courtyard and comes up to her as her guards hang back. She says to get her attention, "Girl!" Arya turns around and walks up to her.

Lyarra took her hand and put a small leather bag in her hand wrapping her fingers around it and said, "Hide this on your body somewhere so nobody can steal it. Use it in emergencies. It's twenty five gold dragons and some smaller change. I am going tonight to the battle they are going to have in King's Landing but I won't be in it. He's keeping me with the supply wagon under guard. I love you, my little one. I want you out of here. Remember, do what Jaqen tells you to do. I had a talk with him."

Arya said and was about to cry, "I love you, Lyarra. Stay alive, do what you have to, but stay alive down there. It is full of horrible people that are murderers, all of them have blood on them."

Lyarra bent down, kissed her and had a tear fall from her eyes. She caressed Arya's face and said, "You carry my heart with you wherever you go, just like Jon does." Arya flung her arms around her waist hugging her and burying her face into her.

Arya said muffled, "I am going to miss you."

Lyarra said softly rubbing her back gently, "I know my little one. I will see you again, be safe. I have to go, my love." Arya let go and Lyarra walked backwards looking at her. She turned and walked away with her guards.

Arya walks through the dismal courtyard feeling depressed about her sister leaving. Soldiers are busy torturing their prisoners.

A guard demanded, "You've got some questions to answer."

A soldier asked, "Who killed Ser Amory?"

The prisoner cried out in fear, "I don't know! Please!"

The soldier growled, "Give me the name. Take this one out for the crows."

The prisoner begged, "I told you, I don't know! Please!"

Arya comes across Rorge and Biter sitting with some Lannister soldiers.

Rorge spat at her and said, "Look, it's Yoren's little cunt. Used to be a boy, now it's a girl."

Arya asked, "Where's Jaqen?"

Rorge snarled, "Don't care. Where's your stick now, bitch? I promised to fuck you with it."

The guard sitting with them said, "Come on, time to kill some wolves." They stand. Both Rorge and Biter eye Arya as they walk past.

Hot Pie sits at the forge talking while Gendry works some horseshoes, listless.

Hot Pie is chatting away saying, "You need sour cherries to make it right. And the secret is you dry the stones, and then you break them with a mallet. That's where the real flavor is. You crush 'em up real fine. And then when you're finished, you sprinkle them over the pie crust." Arya walks up to them.

Arya asks, "Where's Jaqen?"

Hot Pie replied, "How would I know?"

Arya said frustrated, "I need him now. Lord Tywin's marching tonight."

Gendry looked at her strangely, "You need him?"

Arya said seriously, "He's helping me."

Hot Pie said casually, "I saw him."

Arya asked, "Where?"

Hot Pie shrugs and pops his pastry in his mouth. Arya comes over and grabs his ears.

Arya demanded, "Where?!"

Hot Pie exclaimed, "Ow!"

Arya demanded louder, "Where?!"

Hot Pie said in pain, "They went riding out the gates a few hours ago." Arya tightens her grip.

Hot Pie said quickly, "On patrol. Let go of my ears." She lets go.

Arya turns at the sound of horses, and watches Tywin mount his white stallion. Lyarra is next to him with her black cowl hooded cloak on. Lyarra's eyes lock to Arya's. Lyarra mouths the words, 'I love you'. She walks towards them a few steps and mouths the unspoken words back. Lyarra smiled in a melancholy way.

Hot Pie said, shrugging, "What do you want with him anyway?"

Arya watches Tywin, her sister and his soldiers ride off.