Wearing the mask of a "loyal Night's Watchman," occupying the moral high ground, and pretending to act for everyone's good, Aegor suddenly became invincible.
There was no doubt that if a brother of the Night's Watch dared speak to any noble of the Seven Kingdoms outside the North in such a tone, even if he was not immediately punished, he would certainly be tortured to death later. But at this time and place, Aegor's outburst caused no adverse reaction. The room was already in an uproar. He was simply adding his voice to the chorus, and what he said was framed as a personal opinion, not a direct challenge to anyone…
Given the natural bond between the people of the North and the defenders of the Wall, this quarrel felt more like "a family argument" than a true confrontation, and there was no sense of discord.
Aegor's outburst didn't shock anyone, but it was clear that voices in favor of making peace with Tywin now outnumbered those against. The room was still noisy, and Robb had to knock on the table again to restore order.
"The Chief Logistics Officer reminded me of something important: our enemies are not only Renly and Tywin. We cannot afford to lose too much strength or waste too much time in the south. After all, winter is coming." For the first time, Robb found his family's words to be perfectly suited to the moment. He paused for a few seconds, then turned to the Night's Watchman. "Aegor, I agree to let Jaime join the Night's Watch. But are you sure you can control him and prevent him from escaping or causing trouble in the North?"
"If he deserts or violates Night's Watch discipline, the order will punish him severely according to the rules. The lion's wrath cannot reach the Wall."
"Very well. If there are no objections, then it's settled. Everyone, return to your duties. The army will rest here for two days, and we will depart the morning after next for King's Landing."
With the decision made by the commander, the remaining lords had no grounds to object further. They had all profited greatly from the campaign under Robb's leadership. The general who led the army to victory must be respected. In the end, Jaime joining the Night's Watch did not harm the interests of any lord present. On the contrary, it was the same as sending a hostage north. At the very least, the Riverlands no longer needed to fear invasion from the Westerlands.
…
The lords passed Aegor and exited the room. The Night's Watchman remained, waiting until Robb had finished giving instructions to Edmure Tully before approaching.
…
…
"Robb, if you'll excuse me a moment."
"What is it?" Robb took two steps toward the corner of the room, looking puzzled.
"Arya is with me."
"Arya?!" Robb's face lit up. "Where is she? Is she hurt? What happened? Why didn't she flee to Dragonstone with Sansa and Stannis that day?"
"She's outside the door." Aegor explained everything that had happened on the day Renly attacked the city, then added in a low voice, "Doing this violates the Night's Watch's vow not to interfere in the affairs of the Seven Kingdoms. You can take her away quietly, and don't make any noise about it. When my team returns north, I'll announce that we found your sister and that she escaped from King's Landing and made her way to you."
"I understand. My quarters are upstairs. I'll dismiss everyone and you can bring her in." Robb gripped Aegor's arm with excitement. "You don't know how worried I've been about that mischievous little sister… I owe you one, Aegor. If you ever find trouble in the North, come to me. I'll help however I can."
"Then I'll thank you in advance. I'll head out and bring her in shortly."
"Good."
…
Aegor stepped out of the meeting room and looked around, but didn't see Arya. He turned to his guards. "Where is Arya? Didn't I tell you to wait here?"
"A big gray dog came out of the hall just now, and Arya ran after it…"
Another guard corrected him. "What dog? That was a wolf!"
They were probably talking about Robb's direwolf, Grey Wind. Aegor felt a bit more at ease. With that wolf around, at least Arya wouldn't be harmed. Still, this girl… Why did she always wander off the moment someone needed her?
No, maybe it wasn't that she wandered off when someone looked for her—it was that she wandered constantly.
Grumbling inwardly, Aegor began asking nearby soldiers about the direwolf's whereabouts. Grey Wind was well known in the camp, and after some effort, Aegor found her in a stable several hundred meters away in Harrenhal.
"Arya, what are you doing over there?" Arya was crouching by the wall, back turned, seemingly playing with Grey Wind. A little Night's Watch servant getting so friendly with Robb Stark's direwolf… If someone with ill intent saw this, they'd be suspicious. Aegor grew anxious. "Come here!"
"No, leave me alone!" Arya turned, eyes red, on the verge of tears. The huge gray wolf lowered its head and gently nudged the girl with its nose, as if comforting her.
"What's wrong?" Aegor approached cautiously. He had to admit, the direwolf had grown—only a year old, yet already as tall as his waist.
Grey Wind looked up and bared his teeth, but having seen Aegor several times and with Arya clutching his neck, he didn't attack.
Arya turned her head and buried her face in Grey Wind's fur. She mumbled, "I miss Nymeria…"
Nymeria. The wolf she had been forced to drive away. Aegor understood then. No wonder her eyes were red. He sighed. "Nymeria must be alive out there, running free. Don't dwell on it. Come on. Let's go see your brother."
"No." Arya stood up and patted Grey Wind's head. The direwolf wagged his tail, walked up to Aegor and sniffed him, then turned and ran back toward Robb's tower. "He sold me out. I'm not going."
"Sold you out?"
"I suddenly have a fiancé. Robb chose him for me! He didn't even ask what I wanted!"
So that's what this was about. Arya must have overheard something while the northern lords were arguing.
"That's a family matter. My job was to bring you back safely. Go talk to Robb. You can settle it with him. Even if nothing changes, he won't marry you off right away."
With the direwolf gone, Aegor wasn't nervous anymore. He reached out to pull her back.
"Don't touch me! I'm not going to see him!" Arya leapt and ran toward the stables. Aegor checked to make sure Grey Wind was gone before giving chase.
"Stop! Accepting an arranged marriage is part of being a noble. Don't turn out like your aunt… it'll only hurt yourself and others!"
"I don't care! I want to fall in love freely and marry who I want!" Arya ran fast, dashing past the soldiers scattered across Harrenhal.
Free love? Wasn't that something he'd told her once to win her favor? Aegor realized he'd dug his own grave. He shoved through the crowd and chased her. After several hundred meters, he finally cornered her in a dead end and caught her just as she tried to slip past.
"Girl, you've got some nerve!" Aegor hauled her back, annoyed.
"If you… if you dare sell me out to Robb… I… I'll…"
"You'll what?"
"I… I'll tell Robb and my fiancé that you touched my butt!"
"When did I touch your butt?"
"You touched me anyway!" Arya squirmed like a live fish. "I don't care! Take me back to Winterfell. I don't want to see Robb!"
This girl was clever. She even knew how to threaten him… Molesting a noblewoman was a serious crime. At best, you'd lose a hand. At worst, you'd be executed—by House Stark or her future husband.
Good intentions unappreciated. Aegor lost his patience and hoisted her over his shoulder, slapping her backside twice. "Not only did I touch you, I hit you too! Keep struggling and you'll get more!"
He hadn't held back with the smacks. Arya flinched in pain and almost cried out, but the sting was enough to subdue her. She whimpered and quieted, her eyes brimming with tears she stubbornly refused to shed, letting Aegor carry her back to Robb's tower and into his room.
(To be continued.)
***
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