[Chapter Size: 3000 Words.]
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Third Person POV
King's Landing, 298 AC.
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"Let's take this load of stone to the other side and clear this space."
A man comnted as he began picking up stones weighing 4 or 5 kilos, placing them in the wooden cart while other n helped him.
It had been 6 moons since Winterfell began undergoing renovations. With the sept destroyed, they started fixing other areas, and many workers were coming to the castle looking for jobs, as the demand called for manual labor.
They began pushing the carts through the castle, placing the debris on the other side, passing by servants and guards walking around the place.
In the training yard, n were fighting under the direction of Ser Rodrik Cassel, as he assessed the current skills of the n who would defend the castle.
Outside the walls, a group of three hundred Unsullied were performing repetitive movents under the supervision of Grey Worm, overseeing the training of his n to protect his lady.
anwhile, Arya was not with the Unsullied. Her gaze was fixed on one of the castle balconies, observing all the movent below, able to see everything from that angle—except the other side of the wall.
"You seem focused..."
Jill approached Arya at that mont, keeping an eye on everyone walking around.
"I must be..."
Arya replied in a calm but alert tone.
"Any idea who the killer might be?"
Jill asked, also looking at the people below, following Arya's lead in trying to spot any suspicious movent.
"I don't know... it could be a worker, it could be a guard... it could be anyone..."
Arya replied with a serious look.
"He's already here... I can feel it, but now it could be anyone, and he could change his appearance after killing another victim." She finished.
"Do you think the letter might be arriving in Artica right now?"
Jill asked.
"It should arrive in the next few days... I hope he cos here, but I also want to settle this once and for all... this killer is trying to murder soone in my family, I can't let that happen."
Arya said.
"We’ll deal with him..."
Jill replied.
They had arrived in Winterfell a few days ago. Obviously, Arya had been watching everyone in the castle since then, even more so with so many people arriving. It frustrated her knowing that this faceless assassin was there, among them.
She had also inford her father about the situation, which imdiately made Lord Stark furrow his brow and want to act. But Arya tried to explain how a faceless assassin operates, and it wouldn’t be solved by simply asking around.
The first thing Arya arranged with Lord Stark was to remove all nobles from the other houses of Winterfell. anwhile, Ned had a private conversation with each of the n, giving them the information in a closed room and asking them not to tell anyone about it—just to leave, because it would be much safer.
Because of this, almost all had left after the first two nights. So questioned why, while only the Reeds remained, since Jojen wanted to help them, and Arya knew having two wargs would be better than just one.
Arya made her way down the corridor, passing by servants who greeted her, calling her princess. She kept a sharp eye on all of them, looking for anything that might give soone away.
She walked to her father's solar, while Jory imdiately asked for permission to inform Lord Stark that Arya Stark was there. He returned shortly after.
"Lord Stark is waiting for you in his room, Princess Arya."
He inford.
Arya entered the next mont, while Jill remained at the door with the entrance guards.
Lord Stark looked tired as he continued trying to deal with the crisis that had fallen upon Winterfell. He wasn’t even sleeping properly, constantly fearing that an attack might be made inside the castle against his children. He was nervous.
"Arya..."
He looked at her seriously.
"Father..."
Arya murmured.
"You should get so more sleep."
She advised.
"I know... But I can’t... if he’s after one of your brothers..."
He said with a hint of nervousness.
"Yes... I can understand, you’ve already increased the guards, but we need to find him quickly before he attacks soone..."
Arya said.
"How can we find soone who can take on the face of anyone here? He could be one of our guards. I think we should check them one by one..."
Ned said.
"I don't think that will work. It’ll only alert him and he’ll beco cautious... we’ll have to catch him off guard...
Jojen is watching the castle through his animals all the ti, and I’m searching the castle while I sleep... We’ll catch him, father..."
She said in a serious tone.
"I hope so. I swear I’ll send an army straight to Braavos if anything happens to our family..."
He murmured.
"You received Jon’s letter... but you haven’t even read it yet, have you?"
Arya said.
"There’s no way I can in this situation... even though I want to know what he finally answered ."
Lord Stark replied.
"You’re afraid of him... of his response."
She said, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes..."
He admitted.
"You should face him—at least after we deal with the assassin."
She murmured.
"Do you think he could co help us?"
He asked.
"Jill asked the sa thing. I hope we won’t need that... Jon will co with a dragon straight to Winterfell."
She replied.
"The Night’s Watch sent this."
He picked up one of the letters on his desk and handed it to her.
Arya began reading the letter, raising an eyebrow.
"So it’s begun..."
"The war against the dead... It sounds like madness."
He comnted with a sigh.
"It’s not a lie, father. The Long Night is coming."
Arya said.
"I believe you... But it still doesn’t stop from worrying."
Ned said.
"If Artica falls... there will be no other force in the world that can stop them. So don’t worry—Jon will win this war."
Arya made it clear.
"I hope so... but I’m curious about Benjen..."
He comnted.
"Uncle Benjen must be enjoying what Artica has to offer... Either way, I’ll be heading to Artica soon."
She said.
"I’d rather you didn’t."
He replied.
"I’m still going to war. My place is in Artica, and I don’t intend to stay in the South while Jon is fighting the White Walkers."
Arya said in a very serious tone, making it clear she didn’t want to negotiate.
"I won’t say I agree with that, but I won’t stop you from going back to Jon."
He said at last.
"Anyway, I’ll keep watching the place."
Arya said after talking a bit more with her father, returning to patrol the castle.
"Princess Arya."
As Arya continued walking with Jill through the castle, she was greeted by Cassandra, the woman who had taken over her mother’s duties after she was expelled from the castle.
"Lady Cassandra, how are you?"
Arya asked.
"I’m well, thank you for asking, princess, but I’m not a lady."
She replied.
"You’re in charge of the castle, so to , you deserve so respect.
Anyway, I hope my sister hasn’t given you too much trouble."
Arya said.
"Lady Sansa never gives trouble, princess. You don’t need to worry."
She replied, but Arya knew she was lying.
Obviously, with Cassandra managing the castle in the absence of Lord Stark, Robb, Arya, and Bran while they traveled through the North, Sansa seed to have so conflicts with Cassandra.
Cassandra had always been respectful and took good care of the castle along with Sansa and Rickon, who hadn’t gone on the expedition with them. But at the sa ti, Sansa had started picking fights, and Arya knew what was happening through castle gossip and even from seeing it with so of her animals that remained in Winterfell.
Sansa accused Cassandra of trying to steal their mother's place and often rejected her help whenever Cassandra tried to assist or take on a specific task.
"I understand..."
Arya rely comnted, letting Cassandra pass to her other duties.
Arya and Jill continued down the corridors, turning another corner and finding Sansa and one of her remaining friends.
The mont they saw each other, everyone stopped. Arya stared at Sansa with a knowing look, while Sansa had a cautious gaze, though a flicker of anger still lingered.
"You should treat Cassandra with more respect."
Arya broke the silence while the four of them stood there. She knew Cassandra had just co from so sort of argunt with Sansa but hadn’t said anything to avoid conflict, since Sansa was a noble above a woman like her.
"She told you?"
Sansa asked with so bitterness.
"She doesn’t need to. Cassandra is very respectful to you. You could stab her and she still wouldn’t say a word, but I know you, Sansa."
Arya replied, and her sister seed a bit horrified by the stabbing taphor.
"She’s been ddling in things she shouldn’t."
Sansa quickly recovered and spoke seriously.
"About Rickon? You shouldn’t be taking care of the boy all the ti. Cassandra has to do that sotis."
Arya said with a firm tone.
"She can’t."
Sansa said coldly.
"Because Rickon is calling her ‘mother’?"
Arya asked.
"..."
Sansa said nothing.
"You can’t look after our younger brother forever. Or do you plan to spend the rest of your years doing that?"
Arya asked.
"Until mother returns... Cassandra will leave after that."
Sansa said.
"You must be joking. Catelyn is not coming back here."
Arya said with a serious tone, while her sister looked deeply deluded.
"She will! She’ll co back to father and to us! If you don’t like that, then leave."
Sansa raised her voice, hating to hear that from Arya.
"You’re a fool and always will be. Let’s go, Jill, we have nothing more to say here."
Arya said, beginning to walk away.
"She’ll never replace our mother! This is your fault!"
Sansa shouted, stomping as she passed Arya, while the younger Stark simply shook her head, thinking it was just another spoiled reaction as always.
"What’s going on here!?"
Suddenly soone else appeared in the corridor—it was none other than Ned, with Cassandra beside him. She had been calling him to see sothing in the castle when they heard Sansa’s shouting as they approached the hallway.
"Ask Sansa, I’m sure she has plenty to say to you, father."
Arya said in a dry tone, while Sansa looked nervous under her father’s questioning gaze.
Arya left the scene imdiately, walking out of the castle and passing through the courtyard filled with servants and soldiers, with Jill alert for any sign of an attack against Arya.
But everything was calm, and everyone greeted Arya as she made her way to the godswood, where she found Jojen sitting at the heart tree with white eyes. Near them were Bran and era, watching over Jojen, taking care of him.
Arya approached them.
"Arya! You finally made it."
Bran said.
"Yes... I need to speak with Jojen."
She said as a bird up in the tree let out a sound upon hearing her voice.
Jojen began to shift his eyes, returning to normal, blinking a few tis as he stared at Arya, waiting, with everyone in silence.
"Anything?"
She asked.
"Not yet... no one suspicious today..."
He replied.
"Damn, that’s bad... I’ll keep watching too."
Arya said.
At that mont, soone appeared in the bushes, making everyone go on alert. Arya and Jill drew their weapons, while era readied her bow, with Bran and Jojen being protected, unard.
But stepping out of the bushes ca a royal guard from Artica, and behind him, Buri appeared, dragging soone who was groaning.
"I got the one we were looking for."
He announced, pushing a man with his hands tied in front of everyone.
"Please! I didn’t do anything!"
The man said imdiately as he was brought before the others.
"Tell , did you leave White Harbor more than two weeks ago?"
Arya asked.
"Yes... and my friend, looking for work. I don’t know why you’re arresting —did Albert do sothing?!"
He seed horrified.
"I have nothing to do with it, he disappeared days ago!"
He said in a tearful tone.
"Then this is our killer..."
Arya murmured coldly, as everyone looked on in surprise.
"After all that searching, we finally have a lead?"
Jojen murmured, almost unable to believe how the answer had co right to them.
"In White Harbor, so houses were burned..."
Arya began.
"At least three houses were taken, and so people died. The fire was intentional, so I imagined it was during that chaos the assassin ca to Winterfell. I took the nas of those who arrived from White Harbor in the last two weeks, and this man and another nad Albert were among them..."
She said, looking directly at the man who thought he was being accused of so cri.
"Tell , where is this Albert now?"
Arya asked.
"Albert? I don’t know... he just vanished when we got into Winterfell..."
He replied.
"Then he took on soone else’s face... but there’s been no body found..."
Arya noted.
"Could he have hidden the body, princess?"
Jill suggested.
"Most likely. We must now be on alert for any sll of a corpse—whether in Winterfell, Wintertown, or the Wolfswood."
Arya said seriously.
"And what do we do with this one?"
Buri asked.
"He can’t say we had this conversation, and he can’t be seen being taken to the dungeon. The faceless assassin might get cautious if he sees that—he’ll know we’re onto him."
Arya murmured.
"I want you to make him look like a common thief and hide his face. I’ll speak to my father about it."
Arya said, while the man looked increasingly scared.
"Wait! I didn’t do anything!"
The man cried out, declaring they were making a huge mistake.
"I’m sorry for this, but once it’s over, you’ll be rewarded with more gold than you could earn in your entire life."
Arya said, and before the man could react, Buri struck him on the head, knocking him out.
"Arya... that’s a bit..."
Bran seed alard, thinking it was unfair.
"Sotis we’ll have to act hard, Bran... he’ll be rewarded for this. All that matters now is saving our family."
Arya said with a serious tone, not proud of putting an innocent man in the dungeon, but knowing it was necessary.
Arya watched the man being carried away as Buri handled it, then turned back to the others.
"Let’s keep searching for him..."
Arya said.
anwhile, a man was fastening his armor inside a house in Wintertown, adjusting everything in place as he proudly displayed the Stark sigil on his chest.
He stood up and walked to the counter, where his shield and sword were resting, preparing for his watch at the castle that night.
Before leaving, he checked the place and felt sothing as he looked at the flies and blowflies buzzing above the floorboards of that house.
"Tsk."
Clicking his tongue, he approached while pulling out a powder he had made from so herbs and began spreading it around, driving away so of the flying insects.
He checked that everything was in order before starting to leave the house, while beneath the floorboards, a corpse was being devoured by maggots, the entire face skinned, as all manner of bugs feasted on the decomposing flesh.
It should have reeked, but the man had a powder that could mask so of the sll, though another strong odor still lingered in the air.
"Damn it, Murty. That stink again—what kind of perfu is that?"
His neighbor complained imdiately.
"Sorry about that. I’ve got a fly problem, and I’m using sothing to keep them away."
The young man replied with an apologetic tone.
"You really should find yourself a woman soon. That house your parents left feels too strange with just you in it."
The elderly woman comnted, coughing from the strong scent coming from him.
It was better than the sll of a corpse, for this faceless man, as he said goodbye to the neighbor and moved on, heading toward Winterfell through the town.
When night quickly fell over Winterfell, the faceless man stood on the wall with the other guards.
"Is it just , or is it getting colder?"
One of the guards comnted.
"Wait till winter really cos... they say this one’s going to be the worst yet!"
Another replied.
"Damn it... I heard they caught a thief earlier and threw him in the dungeon. Just wait till winter truly hits—there’ll be people stealing left and right if food runs low."
A third one said.
"..."
anwhile, the fourth man in the group, Murty, wasn’t engaging in the conversation. His eyes remained on the castle, analyzing it as always.
Looking for weaknesses.
To execute his mission.
Everything seed ordinary until sothing caught his eye—a young woman slipping out of the castle, glancing around as if checking whether anyone could see her.
Murty was too far away for the girl to notice him, so he calmly watched as she passed along the side of the castle and entered the godswood. From what he could tell, it was Sansa Stark.
‘Interesting.’
He comnted internally.
"Hey, Murty! What are you doing over there?! Co here, we’ve got sothing to show you!"
A Stark guard called out, while Murty shifted his focus from the castle—no longer able to see the girl—and walked over to his companions.
"What’s going on?"
He asked in a friendly tone, without a hint of suspicion that he was a faceless assassin, perfectly mimicking the late Murty’s voice and face.
"Erick snagged this from the pantry. Vodka! That drink the Articans make up north of the Wall—it warms you up real quick. Let’s have a little!"
He suggested, and everyone agreed.
"Sure..."
Murty murmured, unable to do anything else while among his fellow guards, though he cast another glance back at the castle.
Maybe he’d switch shifts starting tomorrow.
And so, he would begin to draw ever closer to his target.
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Raccoon Here:
I was going to do everything in the sa chapter, but I thought it would feel odd to have a few nights pass just for Arya to fight the faceless man, so I’m going to split the next chapter with Jon dealing with the rebel tribes and Arya fighting the faceless man. It will end with Jon heading to Winterfell.
-------------Nexts Chapters ----------------
Chapter 271 - Val.
Chapter 276 - The Daily Life of the Royal Family of Arctic.
Chapter 286 - The Wager Between Arya Stark and Joffrey Baratheon.
Chapter 295 - The Recklessness of a Rebellious Daughter.
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