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[NORTH OF THE WALL]
[GHOST plods ahead of the Night's Watchmen.]
"There goes your pet."
"He's not a pet."
"No, you're right, he's not. You can't tame a wild thing. You can't trust a wild thing. Wild creatures have their own rules, their own reasons. And you'll never know them. Now the wildlings we're looking for sleep during the day and hunt at night."
"I thought you said you couldn't know wild things."
"I said you can't. They find a nice cave to hide in while the sun's up and do their killing when it's dark."
"We could do the same."
"Suicidal" Brandon th Elder muttered, still ticked off about Theon. "You'll die in that place if you go in blind."
"They are going in blind as well aren't they?" Robb asked.
"No, they are not" Brandon the Elder shook his head, "they know the land better than you ever could. They know what they are doing."
Jon nodded, seeing the sense in the statement.
"No, we couldn't. This is their country. They know where to walk, where not to walk. I've lost good men who fell into a crevasse they didn't see till they were in it."
"My father always said I'm of the North."
"Not the same North as ours I fear" Ned smiled tightly. The image of Rodrik's beheading was still fresh in his mind, haunting him. If only he'd been smarter...
[QHORIN laughs]
""Look around, boy. This look like home to you? You start thinking you know this place, it will kill you. You understand me? No, you don't. We're at war. We've always been at war. It's never going to end 'cause we're not fighting an enemy. We're fighting the North, and it's not going anywhere. The Watch has given you a great gift. You only have one thing to give in return, your life."
"I'll gladly give my life."
"I don't want you to be glad about it. I want you to curse and fight until your heart's done pumping. And know this, boy. Your death will be a gift for them south of the Wall. They'll never know what you've done. They'll never know how you died. They won't even know your damn name. But they'll be alive because some nameless bastard north of the Wall gave his life for theirs. Now, do you understand me?"
"That's a little harsh" Daenerys mutered.
"Harsh, but not untrue. Not many would care who dies on the Wall. Nobody South of the Moat cares about the Wall anymore. And it only got worse in the future it seems" Elia murmured softly.
[HARRENHAL]
[LORD TYWIN LANNISTER meets with his war council. LADY ARYA STARK comes in to serve wine.]
"Can you read?" Tywin Lannister asked Armory Lorch
"My lord?" Armory Lorch asked
"Can you read?" Tywin asks again
[AMORY stares blankly.]
"This letter detailing our infantry movements was meant for Lord Damon of House Marbrand. It was sent to Lord Marlyn of House Dormand." Tywin explained
"Surrounded by idiots" Tyrion snorted.
"Surrounded by like-minded savages" Elia muttered.
"My apologies, my lord. I must have-"
"Girl, fetch me the History of the Greater and the Lesser Houses. It's the one on this-"
[ARYA picks up the correct volume right away and brings it to the table. TYWIN chuckles and stands.]
"Oh you're not very good at hiding are you" Tyrion whistled.
"I didn't need to hide before" Arya shrugged defensively.
"It might be good to learn still. Who knows when it might come in handy" Tyrion suggested, not shying away when the girl's parents glared at him. It was a positive suggestion.
"My cupbearer can read better than you."
[TYWIN opens the book]
""To whom does House Dormand owe allegiance?"
"My lord, I-"
"To the Starks of Winterfell! Who have twenty thousand men and my son! I judged you might be good for something more than brutalizing peasants. I see I overestimated you. If you ever put my son's life at risk again... Now Leave us!"
[AMORY stands and leaves.]
Joanna frowned up at the wall. Is this what the knights of the Westerlands were reduced to? Incompetent bullies? Her husband would have never allowed it to get this bad.
Yet he had.
What had gone wrong there?
"Put the book away, girl. Maybe you should devise our next battle plan while you're about it."
[There is a knock on the door and a guard enters.]
"Lord Petyr Baelish."
Catelyn stiffened. He'd seen Arya before, he'd recognize her.
Catelyn gripped her husband's arm tightly.
"Give us the room."
[The war council leaves.]
[TYWIN to ARYA]
"Clear all this."
[LORD PETYR "LITTLEFINGER" BAELISH enters.]
"Baelish."
"He doesn't seem too fond of Baelish" Lyanna noted.
"I'm afraid anyone of good standing is fond of that man. My father has his edges, but he is a man of good standing I'd like to believe."
That was the one thing Ned and Tywin Lannister agreed on, their mutual dislike of Baelish.
[ARYA continues to clear the table.]
"What news from the capital?"
"I travelled here directly from Renly Baratheon's camp."
"Ah, the late King Renly. Rather a short reign."
Renly stiffened at the reminder of his demise.
"Murdered by a woman, I hear."
"The easier thing to believe. Who would have thought it!" Tyrion jested.
"Perhaps we can try it with you and see if anyone else thinks it" Renly said with a sharp smile.
"Calm, Lord Renly, I only jest."
"Find something else to jest about!"
Tyrion kept silent this time.
"So they say. There has been talk of other forces at work. Dark forces."
[ARYA serves wine to LITTLEFINGER, who raises his glass to his lips. ARYA tries to walk away from the table, but TYWIN stops her and hands her more to clear.]
"Men love to blame demons when their grand plans unravel."
"Wonder how Father would have reacted to all of this" Tyrion motioned to 'all of this' with his hands.
"Much like how you did" Joanna stated calmly.
Tyrion scowled at his mother for the reply.
"It is my belief that a moment of chaos affords opportunities lost soon after." Baelish said
"You say that as if you were the first man alive to think it. Yes, a crisis is an opportunity. What other brilliant insights have you brought me today?" Tywin asks
"After the Lannisters and the Starks, the Tyrells command the largest host. Their lands are the most fertile in the Seven Kingdoms, feeding horses and soldiers. The Tyrells have not yet declared for any of the surviving kings. Loras wants revenge. He blames Stannis for Renly's death. And Margaery-"
"Wants to be queen." Tywin completed
"Yes, she does." Baelish said
"I do not like being used as a bargaining chip like this" Margaery muttered.
"Perhaps next time you'd keep your ambitions in closer circles then" Olenna eyed her granddaughter critically. "What have I taught you about reigning yourself in?"
"To be composed around anyone that is not family."
"Remember it"
"Yes Grandmother."
"House Tyrell rebelled against the Iron Throne. Against my grandson."
"They did. And perhaps that treason should be punished one day, after Stannis and Robb Stark are defeated."
"More wine for Lord Baelish."
[ARYA continues to move so that LITTLEFINGER cannot see her face clearly.]
"If you will allow me to represent your family's interests, I believe that an advantageous agreement-"
"The Tyrell host has returned to Highgarden?"
"They have."
[ARYA spills some wine, and tries to mop it up in a panic.]
"Pardon, my lord."
"It's only wine."
[LITTLEFINGER tries to look at ARYA's face, but TYWIN pulls his attention away.]
"You would ride there yourself?"
"Tonight, with your leave."
"I'll have an answer by nightfall. That'll be all, girl."
[ARYA steps away from the table but continues to listen as she walks away.]
Catelyn released a sigh of relief. The rat did not notice... Arya was safe... for now at least.
"And what else?"
"On your son Tyrion's directive, I met with Catelyn Stark. He had an interesting proposal for her concerning her daughters."
"I quite dislike being tattled on to my father" Tyrion muttered dryly. That man has to be the first one to go. If the King didn't do it personally, he would.