The noisy chatter outside brought Aegor back to reality. Now wasn't the time to get lost in thought. He handed his horse's reins to the captain of Eddard Stark's guards and gestured for them to enter the partially set-up Night's Watch office. The two guests—one a stern soldier, the other the spirited Arya Stark sat down. Aegor followed them inside, all the while continuing to plan in secret.
For the sake of his deception, he might now have to position himself as a peacekeeper, which struck him as ironic. But there was no room for laughter. This was a serious and messy problem. Stopping the War of the Five Kings, just thinking about it gave him flashbacks to his failed attempt to stop Bran from falling. Was this war another machination of some divine entity?
Wait. This line of thinking led nowhere. Forget those meddlesome "gods." The best solution to stop the chaos, logically, would be to eliminate Littlefinger and Varys—these two master manipulators—in one fell swoop. But he couldn't do it himself. The idea of relying on outside help naturally brought him to Jaqen H'ghar, but even that led to a dead end.
The wounds from his encounter with Melisandre were still healing, and his thoughts about the Faceless Man only deepened his headache. He hadn't forgotten Jaqen; he simply didn't know how to approach him.
---
Jaqen H'ghar was from Braavos, a city unique in more ways than one. Braavos wasn't just known for the Iron Bank. It was a haven of multiculturalism, a city-state founded by former slaves who had permanently abolished slavery. Its trade networks were unmatched, its religious and cultural diversity widely respected. The Iron Bank wielded immense financial and political influence, and then there was the House of Black and White, home to the legendary Faceless Men, assassins renowned for their lethal precision. Overseeing it all was the Sealord, a ruler chosen through an enigmatic and intricate selection process.
Braavos had never lost a war, even against powerful opponents like Pentos. Such consistent victories were no accident. Winning at that scale required unparalleled coordination between its institutions—the Sealord, the Iron Bank, and likely even the Faceless Men. These groups were likely interconnected, perhaps even operated by the same elite ruling class.
It wasn't far-fetched to imagine the House of Black and White doubling as an intelligence agency, training spies and assassins to eliminate threats to Braavos' interests.
Jaqen H'ghar was no ordinary killer. He was a high-level Faceless Man capable of training apprentices, a spy and an agent of a city-state known for its far-reaching influence. Why would such a man allow himself to end up imprisoned in King's Landing? Was it a mistake, or was he there on purpose, perhaps with a mission to kill someone in Westeros or gather information?
Aegor had nothing solid to work with. Creating an "accident" to rescue Jaqen and earn his favor had briefly crossed his mind. But without reliable allies or a team he could trust, it was impossible to execute such a plan.
---
Violent solutions like killing were off the table. That left only one viable option: stabilize the situation in King's Landing and help Eddard Stark gain the upper hand, or at least avoid a catastrophic defeat.
But going head-to-head with Littlefinger? Aegor didn't think he had the skill for that. On top of that, Littlefinger had a temporary ally in Varys, another schemer eager to sow chaos albeit for different reasons.
Aegor's foreknowledge of the plot seemed almost useless in the face of these two high-level players. While they thrived on manipulation and intelligence gathering, he was juggling multiple responsibilities and struggling just to maintain his footing. The bonds, the Night's Watch office, the chaos in King's Landing, it all threatened to overwhelm him. One mistake could expose him and get him killed.
Besides, what he knew was only the original plot—before the divergence.
He thought back to his failure to stop Bran's fall. That experience had taught him that direct interference in the plot could easily backfire. How had he managed to escape the mess in Winterfell?
By secretly informing the Stark family.
---
Past successful experiences suddenly gave Aegor an epiphany. Just as he had avoided directly dealing with the assassin to clear himself of any connection with Bran's attempted murder, if he wanted to help Eddard, there was no need to confront Littlefinger directly. Eddard Stark, as the de facto ruler of the North, had his own resources and intelligence. All Aegor needed to do was to sow discord between Eddard and Littlefinger, preventing the former from being led by the nose. That alone would suffice.
---
"Aegor, my lady is talking to you."
A male voice abruptly interrupted Aegor's train of thought. He looked up and found himself face to face with a young girl's stern, expectant expression.
"Ah, sorry. I was just thinking about recruitment. What can I do for you, Miss Arya?"
"Are you the Aegor that Jon talked about?" Arya pouted, repeating her earlier question. "The Night's Watch ranger who killed the White Walker?"
"Yes."
Aegor reluctantly admitted it, noticing the incredulous look on Jory Cassel, the captain of Eddard Stark's guards. It felt strange, even guilt-inducing, to tell the truth for once.
"Are White Walkers really that strong?"
"They're terrifying. Gary and I fought one, two against one, and we still almost got killed."
"But you managed to kill it in the end. You must be very good with a sword!" Arya's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Come here. I want to talk to you alone."
"Don't follow us!" she yelled at Jory and the other guards, then promptly grabbed the still-confused Aegor by the arm and dragged him into the unfinished "Chief Logistics Officer's Office." After closing the door behind them, Arya leaned in with a conspiratorial air and asked, "Can you teach me how to use a sword?"
"Huh?" Aegor blinked, taken aback. Shouldn't Eddard have already hired her a swordsmanship instructor by now? Wasn't it supposed to be that Braavosi water dancer, Syrio... Syrio Forel?
"Why not ask your father to hire a teacher for you?"
"How could he agree to that? Are you stupid? I'm a girl!"
Something felt off. What change in the storyline had led to this deviation? Aegor strongly suspected it was because of his own meddling. The butterfly effect: a small disturbance in initial conditions could lead to a massive chain reaction over time. Maybe it was his fabricated accusation against Joffrey that shifted Eddard's priorities, or perhaps Arya had hidden her "Needle" from her father too carefully this time. Whatever the reason, it wasn't worth worrying about now.
Right now, he had enough on his plate. He couldn't be distracted by Eddard Stark's spirited little girl.
"I'm sorry, young lady, but I'm busy," Aegor said firmly, though inwardly, he thought, I'm busy trying to save your father's life. He shook his head politely. "Why don't you ask your father's guards?"
"My father just helped you a lot, and you won't even do me this one small favor?"
Your father helped me, not you, Aegor thought bitterly. Arya was undoubtedly a key character in the grand scheme of things. If circumstances allowed, she could be considered a potential ally. But right now, her worth to him was close to zero, at least until she completed her training with the Faceless Men.
It was utilitarian, no doubt, to measure someone's value solely by their usefulness. But Aegor was in a precarious position. He couldn't afford to indulge in sentimentality.
He shook his head again, this time more decisively, preparing to decline her request outright. Under Arya's fiery glare, he began formulating the words of rejection in his mind. Yet, at the last moment, a sudden idea struck him.
***
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To be fair, Arya is a lively, adorable, and lovable child, just like her brother Bran. She's not as skilled at dressing up as her sister Sansa, so she often gives off the impression of being "plain-looking." However, from a modern perspective, judging by her facial features and bone structure, this little girl is actually quite the beauty.
Apparently, someone agreed with this judgment. If Aegor remembered correctly, someone in the original story remarked that Arya resembled her aunt Lyanna and shared the same "Wolf Blood" as her.
---
"The wolf blood represents a relentless pursuit of freedom, a dangerously intoxicating romance, and an untamable wildness. Only through spontaneous journeys, reckless love, endless adventures, and the thrill of the unknown can those who carry this blood find fulfillment."
And what did Arya's aunt Lyanna do to make her "name in history"? She eloped with Prince Rhaegar, who already had a wife and children, while she herself was betrothed to Robert Baratheon!
Sure, the marriages between Lyanna Stark and Robert Baratheon, and between Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell, were arranged for political gain, not personal happiness. Perhaps Lyanna and Rhaegar met during the Harrenhal Tournament, believed they'd found true love, and then made the foolish decision to act on it. From a modern perspective, Aegor might reluctantly support their choice for the sake of "following their hearts."
But running away without leaving a word? That was a whole other level of stupidity. Even a six-year-old knows to tell their parents where they're going before heading out to play. A teenage girl not understanding this basic principle? If something happened, who could she blame but herself?
Lyanna, the daughter of House Stark, eloped with the crown prince of House Targaryen and became his lover. What followed was a scandal that rocked the North, the Stormlands, and the royal family itself. At worst, it might have canceled the Starks' betrothal to the Baratheons, tarnished Rhaegar's reputation, and required a hefty price to clean up the mess he caused.
But because of Lyanna's foolishness and ignorance, a disaster was set in motion. Her father and brother assumed she'd been kidnapped and stormed into King's Landing to demand her return. They spoke out of turn to the Mad King, who, in his paranoia and cruelty, had them burned alive. Then Jon Arryn, the Warden of the Vale, refused to hand over his wards, Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon, prompting the rebellion known as Robert's Rebellion.
In the end, the two star-crossed lovers paid the ultimate price: Rhaegar died in battle, his dynasty was destroyed, and Lyanna herself succumbed to childbirth. All that remained was her beauty, immortalized in a cold statue. Her reckless actions were no different from Robb Stark's later betrayal of a marriage pact, which ultimately led to the infamous Red Wedding.
This is the world of ice and fire: if you court disaster, you'll meet it.
---
Of course, while both the Stark children and Joffrey, Cersei's spoiled son, were willful, there were important differences. To put it simply, the Stark children still had redeeming qualities. They understood basic manners and had virtues like kindness, integrity, and loyalty. If the world weren't about to plunge into chaos, Aegor wouldn't have minded making friends or forming partnerships with them. But right now, what he needed were allies with wealth and power and partners with cunning and foresight. The Starks, prone to getting their friends and families into trouble, were far from his first choice.
Besides, Arya was only ten years old. Unless Aegor had some unsavory inclinations, which he didn't why would he take an interest in her?
His initial thought was simple: keep a safe distance from the Starks, who seemed cursed to bring misfortune to those around them. If he stayed out of their way, they wouldn't drag him down when calamity struck. His swordsmanship wasn't bad, perhaps good enough to teach Arya a thing or two. But if he stepped into the role of the Braavosi sword master and followed the original plot to its tragic conclusion, he'd be courting disaster himself.
But upon further thought, even if this little she-wolf had no remarkable abilities for the time being, her status as a Stark child was intimidating enough. Arya could trick Eddard into giving her a certificate, which would usually be convincing enough. And if clients frequently saw a girl from the Stark family coming and going from the Night's Watch office, wouldn't they have more confidence in the bonds they held?
Additionally, though Aegor had not yet devised the best way to create a rift between Littlefinger and Eddard, he realized that whatever plan he chose, winning over a Stark child would make things much easier.
"Hmm..." After a brief internal struggle, Aegor reluctantly stroked his chin and said, "It's not completely impossible, but there are conditions. If you want me to teach you how to use a sword, then I am your master, and you'll have to listen to me."
"Okay, Master! I'll listen to you!"
"Hmm." Aegor continued to deliberate. Suddenly, he remembered that in the original events, the Faceless Man he'd never managed to recruit seemed to have some connection to the girl standing before him.
There was an old saying that people naturally gravitate toward each other, just like Aegor and Tyrion. Even if Aegor hadn't gone out of his way to get close to Tyrion in Winterfell, given the right opportunity to meet and collaborate again, they would still likely hit it off. Could the same principle apply to Arya and Jaqen H'ghar, both young and old?
After some thought, Aegor dismissed the notion of recruiting Jaqen through Arya as pure wishful thinking. He ultimately decided to let things play out naturally and see what would happen if he put the two of them in the same place. "Here's my first condition: don't come to me dressed like a boy anymore. Learn from your sister—dress like a proper girl, and then come for your sword lessons."
"Why!"
"Because dressing and fighting like a boy isn't exactly unique or remarkable, is it? But if you can be a proper lady and a skilled swordsman, like a rose with thorns, that would be a challenge, wouldn't it?"
The reasoning was mostly nonsense. Truthfully, Aegor just didn't want to teach a tomboy in his precious free time. He was already drowning in work, and having to deal with Arya in boy's clothing would only add to the monotony.
"That makes sense." Arya pondered his words and was unexpectedly drawn to the idea of being a "rose with thorns." She nodded. "Then I'll come here starting tomorrow?"
"It's up to you. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be staying here for a while," Aegor replied with a shrug. "Second condition: before you leave for your lessons, make sure you inform your father or his guards, and have someone escort you. Even though the Red Keep isn't far from here, it may not be entirely safe for someone like you."
"I'm not a child anymore!"
"If you say you're not, then you're not," Aegor said dismissively. "But do as I say. If you want me to teach you how to use a sword, don't cause me unnecessary trouble."
***
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