Chương 16: Chapter 16
The Stark soldiers frantically tried to conduct a fighting retreat out of the keep but were being cut down left, right and center. Sandor Clegane kept cutting his way through the soldiers. A few of them desperately tried to form a line to defend the escaping Stark servants, but they hadn't been expecting combat, and were only wearing basic armour and carrying basic weapons. The Lannister forces on the other hand were in full armour and carrying weapons of war. A handful of knights were even among them.
Sansa and Septa Mordane were walking down a hallway within the Red Keep while this was happening. "She's so stupid." Said Sansa, referring to Arya. "She doesn't know what love even is."
"I agree she is too young, but she did go with Prince Steffon to Dragonstone. That was-" Mordane started, before she was cut off by the sound of swords clashing. :Go back to your room. Bar the doors and do not open them for anyone you do not know."
"What is it? What's happening?" Sansa asked, confused.
"Do as I told you. Run." Ordered Mordane. Sansa obeyed, hurrying off and narrowly avoiding the Lannister men-at-arms the confronted her Septa. She raced up to her room faster than she thought possible. Soon, she reached it. She fiddled with the lock for it before she heard trudging steps. She looked up to see the terrifying burnt face of Sandor Clegane, the Hound, approaching her.
"Stay away from me!" She squealed, frightened. "I'll tell my father! I'll tell the Queen!" She screamed.
"Who do you think sent me?"
Ned was languishing in the Black Cells below the Red Keep. Gods, it was dark in here. He couldn't even see his hand when he held it up. How long were they going to keep him down here? How long had it even been? Hours? Days? He had no way to tell. He then noticed a small light approaching him. As the light got closer he could that it was a person holding a torch. Varys.
"Lord Stark. You must be thirsty." Said Varys, pulling out a water skin
"Varys." Ned greeted, looking pointedly at the skin.
"I promise it isn't poisoned." Varys responded. Ned still refused to take the skin. "Why is it no-one ever trusts the eunuch?" He asked rhetorically, before taking a drink himself to prove that it wasn't poisoned. He then handed the skin to Ned, who took a long drink, despite Varys' warnings about making it last.
"What of my daughters?" Asked Ned. He wanted to know what had become of Sansa and Arya.
"Sansa remains in the capital as a captive of Cersei. To what end, even I do not know."
"And Arya?"
"Still on Dragonstone with her betrothed. The Queen has sent a letter demanding he return to King's Landing to renegotiate his betrothal with your daughter and to swear fealty to his brother." Varys explained. Ned chuckled at that.
"Steffon will never do anything like that. He hates his brother and he adores Arya. He wouldn't give her up for anything." Ned mused.
"You are correct, of course. But would he start a war over her? Make no mistake; if he does not acquiesce to his mother's demands, then it will be war." Varys said as he left. Ned had to think on that for a few moments. Yes, Steffon did adore Arya more than life itself, but even he must not want to start a war over her.
Ned shook those thoughts from his mind. Steffon wouldn't give her up, even it meant a war. He had to know that handing Arya over to the Queen was like to result in Arya being held as a hostage so Robb wouldn't march a host southward, and would alsmot certainly result in her execution the second a Northern sword crossed the Neck. No, the boy wouldn't give Arya up. Even if a war was bound to happen as a result.
I hope
Dragonstone, later that day
The raven arrived soon after midday with instructions that the message was only to be delivered to Steffon. Jon was puzzled as to why only Steffon was allowed to read it, but decided that it was Steffon's own business; not his. When Jon found him, Steffon was staring out over the port of Dragonstone, his arm around Arya's waist and her head resting on his shoulder.
"Steffon, pardon the interruption." Said Jon, handing the piece of paper to him. "From the Queen." Steffon took the paper.
"Thank you Jon." He said, before Jon turned around to leave.
"What is it, Steffon?" Asked Arya. Steffon's eyes trembled with anger as he read the letter aloud.
"' 'The father of your betrothed, Lord Stark, has attempted to seize the Iron Throne for himself, my son. We managed to stop him before he could though. You must return to King's Landing immediately; we need to not only discuss your betrothal to Lady Arya, but will also need you strategic skill in the war that will doubtless come. In loving regard, mother' " He read. Arya grew angry just hearing it.
"What does she mean?" She asked.
"Well take out all the sweet words, and she basically wants me to break my betrothal to you and aid them in fighting your brother Robb when he leads the Northerners south to free your father, which he will doubtless try to do." Steffon said. Arya was impressed with how he was able to discern the true nature of the letter that quickly, but she was worried too. " I saved the best to last, Arya." He said. She looked at him curiously. "Joffrey's declared himself King. They're demanding I swear fealty to him." Steffon explained. Arya's face lost colour at that.
"But . . . can he do that?" She asked.
"Our father's dead. He's next in line. I had no real choice." He answered. Arya's face dropped, then she registered that he'd said had instead of have.
"You said you had no choice. What does that mean? You haven't already done that, have you?" She asked, worried.
"Why would I? Your father would never want the throne for himself, Arya. We both know that." Said Steffon, as if it were obvious. He knew Eddard Stark's reputation for honour as well as anyone else in Westeros, even if had only known the man personally for a short time. There were stories of how the man never broke his word once he had given it, and how he lived by his honour till it damned him. And it seems it has this time.
"So what will you do?"
"Well I have to go to King's Landing, but not to swear fealty to Joffrey. I'll go and collect Jon, Syrio and Barristan soon. We'll break your father out, then find out what's going on."
"That seems like a bad idea. Trying to free my father now will start a war."
"Your brother will be at war when he receives this message, Arya. I can demand your father's safe release as dues for me aligning with Joffrey. If they don't then we break him out." Steffon said. Arya was amazed he'd formulated a plan that fast.
"Well, then I'm coming with you." Said Arya.
"Arya, it's too dangerous."
"I'm coming and that's it. I love you, Steffon, and you're not going into danger without me. Someone needs to watch your back no matter what." Arya said. Steffon sighed.
"I'm not going to be able to convince you otherwise, am I?" He asked.
"Nope." She answered.
"Okay then. Just make sure you're close to me at all times, okay?"
"Okay." She replied. They both decided to wait a few more hours before leaving though; there were no ships currently available and they needed to mentally prepare. As the night began to descend over Dragonstone, Arya went up to their room. She wanted some time alone. She stared out over the sea from their room, and could vaguely see King's Landing on the horizon. They were going there tomorrow. They were going there to free her father. Hopefully she could convince Steffon to free her sister too. That is, if she was over her silly fantasies of Joffrey.
Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist from behind. "Scared about tomorrow?" Asked Steffon.
"Of course I'm scared Steffon, but I know you're more scared than I am."
"Is that so?" He asked jokingly.
"Yeah, it is." She replied. Steffon laughed lightly, though he was deeply scared by the whole thing. Any number of things could go wrong, he realised. His backup plan to free Lord Stark mostly hinged on the City Watch, Lannister guardsmen and Kingsguard being slow to respond. The City Watch would likely be slow; Slynt had been filling their ranks with nought but people that bribed him and depended on him for advancement in their careers. The Goldcloaks had fallen a long way from when Daemon the Rogue Prince had been their Lord Commander.
"Arya, there's a possibility that we might be captured or killed. You know that right?" He asked. Arya leaned back into him.
"There's going to be a risk of that no matter what we do next . . . but I can't let my father suffer and die in a place like that. They'll make him repent for everything and Joffrey will kill him anyway." Arya was almost on the verge of tears as she said that. She couldn't help herself though; it was her father that was in there, being held prisoner by their enemies.
"I just wanted to make sure you were aware of what faces us, Arya." Steffon replied. "We may end up having to fight our way out."
"Then that's what we'll do." She said before turning around. "Steffon, are you . . . are you trying to convince me of the danger or are you trying to talk me out of it?"
Steffon stayed silent at that. Truth be told, he did not want to do this. Such an intervention risked a war with with his own brother, with his mother's house as well as any number of other houses that sided with Joffrey. It wasn't an idea that he relished. "I'll do my part." He said, as sincerely as he could.
"I hope so, Steffon. You're a Prince of House Baratheon. You're effectively leading us through this; even Lord Stannis will do what you say." She said before kissing him deeply. Steffon welcomed the softness of her lips as they kissed, his hands beginning to go to her waist in another instinctive movement. Arya let out a very uncharacteristic gasp as he did before breaking apart, only for her to lean in and start kissing his neck. He let out his own gasp before pulling her away.
"You're amazing, Wolf Girl."
"I already know, Stag Boy. Come on, we need to go and get ready."
And I'll end it there. So, Steffon's formulating a plan to get Ned out. Do you think he'll succeed? Just wait and see.
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