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[HARRENHAL]
[While ARYA prepares food, LORD TYWIN LANNISTER presides over his war council.]
"The Starks have overextended their lines. Now that summer's over, they'll have a hard time keeping their men and horses fed."
"The Starks understand winter better than we ever will. The cold won't beat them."
"Our spies report growing discontent among the Northern lords. They want to return home and gather the harvest before the crops turn."
Rickard clicked his tongue in distaste. That was always a threat.
"And I'm sure if those same spies snuck into our own encampments, they would report growing discontent amongst the Southern lords. This is war, no one's content. We've underestimated the Stark boy for too long. He has a good mind for warfare, his men worship him. And as long as he keeps winning battles, they'll keep believing he is King in the North. You've been waiting for him to fail. He is not going to fail, not without our help. So how do we stop him?"
"We've worked through the night, my lord. Perhaps we'd profit from some sleep."
"They thoroughly underestimate Father just because he is blood" Tyrion rolled his eyes.
"Yes, I think you would, Reginald. And because you're my cousin, I might even let you wake from that sleep. Go, I'm sure your wife must miss you."
"My wife's in Lannisport."
"Well, then you'd better start riding. Go, before I change my mind and send her your head. If your name wasn't Lannister, you'd be scrubbing out pots in the cook's tent. Go!"
[REGINALD exits. ARYA comes to TYWIN's side to pour him some wine. He stops her.]
"Not wine, water. We'll be here for some time. Girl, where are you from?"
"Maidenpool, my lord."
"He knows you're not lowborn now" Tyrion warned.
"How? I did nothing!" Arya shouted.
"You spoke. Lowborn don't speak like that" Tyrion explained.
Arya scowled. How was she supposed to know how lowborn people spoke?
"And who are the Lords of Maidenpool? Remind me."
"House Mooton, my lord."
"And what is their sigil?"
[ARYA does not answer, she does not know.]
"A red salmon. I think a Maidenpool girl would remember that. You're a Northerner, aren't you?"
"Perhaps we might benefit from the girls knowing house sigils like the boys" Ned suggested and Catelyn nodded.
[ARYA nods]
"Good. One more time, where are you from?"
"Barrowton, my lord. House Dustin. Two crossed long axes beneath a black crown."
"And what do they say of Robb Stark in the North?"
"They call him the Young Wolf. They say he rides into battle on the back of a giant direwolf. They say he can turn into a wolf himself when he wants. They say he can't be killed."
"And do you believe them?"
"No, my lord. Anyone can be killed."
[They stare at one another, unblinking.]
"Fetch that water."
"You've... impressed Father" Tyrion was not sure how to feel about that. He's tried all his life and this girl did it in one conversation.
Arya smiled smugly... before she remembered who she impressed. Then she scowled.
[Arya walks to fetch water. She turns a corner and sees JAQEN H'GHAR coming towards her, dressed as a gold cloak. She lowers her head, trying to be unnoticed. They pass and she continues. She enters the catacombs and passes a helmet. She realizes that JAQEN has forgotten it and that he might return. Indeed, JAQEN turns the corner, walking slowly.]
"A girl says nothing. A girl keeps her mouth closed. No one hears, and friends may talk in secret, yes?"
"He's strange" Elia commented.
"Not many speak like that" Oberyn nodded. There was something odd about the man.
"A boy becomes a girl."
"I was always a girl."
"And I was always aware. But the girl keeps secrets. It is not for a man to spoil them."
"You're one of them now. I should have let you burn."
[ARYA picks up the helmet and thrusts it into JAQEN's hands.]
"And you fetch water for one of them now. Why is this right for you and wrong for me?"
"I didn't have a choice."
"You did. I did. And here we are."
[ARYA fills her water pitcher, and steps back as JAQEN approaches her.]
"A man pays his debts. A man owes three."
"Three what?"
"The Stranger takes what is his, lovely girl. And only death may pay for life. You saved me and the two I was with. You stole three deaths from the Stranger. We have to give them back. Speak three names and the man will do the rest. Three lives I will give you, no more, no less, and we're done."
Oberyn inhaled sharply.
"Brother?"
"He's a faceless man" Oberyn whispered. "Only a faceless man would keep records of such a thing. He's one, I am sure of it!"
Elia turned to the wall with worry, unable to withhold it for the Stark girl. Because if the faceless men is interested in her that means he wants to recruit her, and seeing how she has gotten the reward of gaining her future skills it means that she already has the skill of faceless men luckily she doesn't appear to be emotionless like the faceless men.
[THE NORTH]
[Some men pull a large sled. The Night's Watch marches in single file.]
"He's not here yet. He'd have seen us, blown the horn."
"When will he come?"
"The Halfhand does things in his own time."
"Qhorin still lives?" Rickard asked with pleasant shock. He'd known the ranger for a long time now, having seen him a few times and even welcomed him at Winterfell.
"And still as savage" Ned chuckled. The man was a legend amongst the Night's Watch and something of a perfect example when it came to how a ranger should be. Ned knew Benjen looked up to the man.
"My uncle told me stories about him."
"Most of them are true."
"I heard the Halfhand spent half of last winter beyond the Wall."
"The whole winter. He was north of the Skirling Pass when the snow came. Had to wait for the thaw."
"He sounds like a capable man" Robert murmured. "Perhaps I can meet him sometime soon."
"I'm sure he can be arranged to be there when you bring aid to the Watch'' Jon Arryn explained.
Robert nodded. He was more excited to meet this man than the aid if he were to be honest.
"So it is possible for someone to survive out here on their own." Robb Stark asked
"There are plenty of Wildlings who have done so no doubt" Oberyn Martell pointed out. "What is a Wildling If not a man like you and I?"
"I am like no Wildling, Prince Oberyn" Robb swelled as if insulted.
Oberyn chuckled at that.
"Perhaps not. You have had more comforts than one."
"Well, possible for the Halfhand."
"Beautiful, isn't it? Gilly would love it here."
"The boy's useless on the field. Should have left him at the Wall" Olenna grunted in displeasure. She could see why Randyll Tarly had sent this boy away.
"There's nothing more sickening than a man in love."
[A SNOWY CLIFFSIDE]
[One of the Night's Watch stands guard while the other sets up camp.]
"The Fist of the First Men. Think of how old this place is. Before the Targaryens defeated the Andals before the Andals took Westeros from the First Men. Thousands and thousands of years ago, the First Men stood here where we were standing all through the long night. What do you think they were like, the First Men?"
"Savage people who ruled by conquest than anything else for certain" Renly muttered.
"I think they were afraid. I think they came here to get away from something. And I don't think it worked." Jeor Mormont said
"White Walkers" Robb muttered as the room grew even more sombre. Perhaps this was one of those strongholds the First Men used to fight the White Walkers.