"It's not... a stomachache!" Arya sat wiping her tears, sniffling a few tis before speaking with reddened eyes. "My father... died in King's Landing."
Eddard Stark is dead? He was still alive when Stannis seized the city, so how could he have died now? As Aegor puzzled over this, a wave of regret washed over him. Regardless of personal feelings or character, if the head of House Stark were still alive—whether remaining in King's Landing as Hand of the King or returning to Winterfell to rule the North—he would have been an invaluable ally to the Night's Watch in tis of crisis. No doubt, even the Greyjoys likely dared to make their move only after learning of his death.
Though he felt sympathy, Aegor was filled with frustration. I'm your swordsmanship teacher, not your elder sister or a grieving confidant. Yes, your father's death is tragic, but why co to for comfort now? I'm barely managing the food crisis. How can I deal with a heartbroken girl who just shows up out of nowhere?
"It's a pity, but the dead cannot be brought back..." After all, she had lost her father. Aegor's irritation faded. He sighed, touched Arya's head gently, and comforted her in a soft tone. "No matter how painful it is, you have to keep living. It's too dangerous to run off without telling anyone."
"I'm sorry... I know I shouldn't have done that." Arya replied in a muffled voice. "But... I was already heartbroken, and Sansa wouldn't stop saying that it was my fault—'I killed Father, I killed Father.' I got so angry, I ran away."
So the sisters fought, and the younger one ran away and ended up here? Aegor frowned. "You killed your father? What makes her say that?"
"It seems Father... died of poison." Arya wiped away more tears. "They say he was poisoned while imprisoned by Renly and the Tyrells. Margaery replaced the people who were looking after him with her own, and then it happened... Father didn't escape King's Landing with King Stannis that day because he was looking for . I thought Margaery was my friend... Why would she do that to him?"
So Eddard Stark was murdered while imprisoned... That made more sense than all his retainers being wiped out without resistance. The brutal truth before him reminded Aegor: never let yourself fall into soone else's hands. No matter how harmless they appear, you never know what they'll do once they have control.
(But doesn't that an Arya really did cause her father's death?)
Aegor almost blurted it out. You caused trouble by running around once already. Why repeat the sa mistake?
...
...
If he hadn't known that Theon hadn't been returned to the Iron Islands, he might start suspecting that—given Arya's nature of "trouble follows when she runs off"—by the ti he took her back, Winterfell would be flying a different banner.
"I don't think Margaery killed your father. Think about it... what good would it do the Tyrells to murder Lord Stark? All it would achieve is making enemies of House Stark forever." Would Renly and the Tyrells poison Eddard Stark? They'd have to be mad. Littlefinger wasn't in Westeros anymore, so it must have been Varys. It took Aegor only a second to guess the real culprit. "Since you considered Margaery a friend, you should give her a chance to explain. So you rode all the way to the Gift to catch up with lisandre, and no one from Winterfell ca after you?"
Arya thought about it and shook her head. "I left secretly after lunch. Even if they noticed, it would have been night by then. I ride fast, and I'm light. No one can catch ."
"Oh... fine, fine. You win." Aegor rubbed his temples. "Just stay here for now. I'll find soone to take you back tomorrow."
"No. I'm not going back. I... I want to go to Castle Black. I miss Jon."
"Castle Black is full of all kinds of people. How can a little girl like you go there?" Aegor glared at her. "No more running around. Stay here. I'll go to Castle Black tomorrow and tell Jon you're here. If he wants to see you, he'll co."
"...Alright." Arya, still in mourning, didn't argue and was surprisingly obedient.
"Good. Co with to supper. When you see Lady lisandre, be sure to thank her for escorting you to Queenscrown. Got it?"
"I don't feel well. I don't want to eat."
"You'll eat even if you don't want to. You're now under the care of the Night's Watch, and that ans you follow our rules." Aegor glared at her. "Who was it that crawled into my bed crying in pain and said she'd listen to from now on?"
Clearly, Arya hadn't forgotten. She pouted, humd miserably, and nodded.
---
Though food was tight, Queenscrown had not yet hit rock bottom. The kitchens did their best to provide a warm and frugal welco for the reinforcents. lisandre had brought more than just herself—her followers all wore robes bearing the flaming heart of R'hllor, signaling their devotion to the Lord of Light. Among them were several of Stannis's bannern, such as Ser Axell Florent.
When their lord had taken the Iron Throne and marched south to put down rebellion, they had foregone the chance for glory and followed lisandre north to face the wildlings and the White Walkers. Say what you will about the morals and character of those called the "Queen's n," but their faith in R'hllor was indisputable.
In addition to believers, lisandre also brought a group of high-quality "recruits" for the Night's Watch—Westerlanders captured by Eddard Stark during the purge of Lannister loyalists in King's Landing, including so of Aegor's fellow prisoners during his brief incarceration. There were also nobles from royalist houses arrested after Stannis reclaid the Iron Throne—so of them major contributors to the Night's Watch industry in the past.
Political prisoners. In most places, a troubleso category to be avoided. But here at the Wall, they were a welco sight. Compared to common criminals—murderers, rapists, thieves of uncertain origin—these n had background, education, and far better discipline. With seven new castles opened and a new town like Queenscrown built, officers and administrators were in high demand. These arrivals would relieve much of the burden.
Many of them were familiar faces to Aegor. He trusted them. He would ask Mormont for a few more. Yam had his hands full managing Backcrown and was constantly running errands for him.
…
Political prisoners were not given the courtesy of a personal reception from the Chief Logistics Officer, so they were absent from the dining hall. After dining with lisandre and several Queen's n, Aegor outlined the food crisis plaguing the Wall to the Red Priestess and her followers, openly asking for their suggestions and assistance.
Ser Florent shrugged with regret. "The situation in King's Landing isn't much better. His Grace has done all he can to stabilize grain prices. He even executed two grain rchants... I'm afraid I cannot help."
Aegor nodded in acknowledgnt, then turned to another figure. "Lady lisandre, do you have any ideas?"
"I am rely a humble priestess. I do not have the power to summon grain from thin air." The red-robed woman hadn't touched the food on her plate, sipping only a bit of soup. She wiped her mouth with a napkin, then continued, "But though I cannot solve the food crisis, that does not an my lord is powerless. You have worked tirelessly to defend the Wall, Lord Aegor. As servants of the Lord of Light, we will not turn a blind eye. I am willing to look into the sacred flas on your behalf, to see if R'hllor has prepared a path forward for the Night's Watch."
With that, lisandre rose from the table, walked slowly to the hearth in the dining hall, gathered her robes, knelt slightly, and stared intently into the crackling flas.
What now, is R'hllor going to conjure up food from fire? Aegor frowned. Arya looked on curiously... but the Queen's n seated around the table stopped eating and turned their attention solemnly to the Red Priestess. So even closed their eyes and began to pray. The hall fell silent.
A few minutes later, the red-robed woman rose again and returned to the table, a confident smile on her lips. "The Lord of Light has heard my plea and given a vision. Would the Chief Logistics Officer like to hear it?"
(To be continued.)
***
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