After talking with Stark I immediately rush towards the girl's room. The way Ned Stark was talking, it was clear that he would be confronting the Queen and others tomorrow. If I have to protect them then I have to act now.
While walking past the long corridors of the Red Keep, I look outside to see the darkness slowly fading. The night was almost over, none slept due to the King's death and maybe none will get any sleep for the time to come.
Increasing my pace I came directly outside their room, due to me taking Arya's pre-assigned room, now both of them were sharing one room.
Knock Knock.
Nothing...
Knock... Knock.
Knocking again with more intensity I waited until finally I heard some groans from inside.
"Who is it?"
"Open the door Arya. It's..." I was saying but even before that I heard a clang sound and the door swung open only to be followed by a muffled yelp.
"Arya..." Sansa glared daggers at the little girl who was grinning at me. I only needed one look to notice why, Sansa was furiously trying to straighten her hair out and if possible get into something more presentable than just her pajamas.
"Apologies for disturbing you this early girls but it's an emergency. Don't make noise and start packing your things quickly. We are getting out of here." I first look around to check if anyone was eavesdropping before getting inside and closing the door behind.
"We are going on an adventure." Arya's eyes, which didn't have a hint of sleep on them for some reason, lit up. Candles were utterly useless in this room with her around.
"I'm afraid not child. Your father thinks that the city is soon going to be dangerous for either of you to stay here. He asked me to take you back to Winterfell." I replied with a sigh, of course I didn't plan to take them back immediately, I had to wait until that fool lands himself in the dungeons before rescuing him out of there.
Even one Stark less and the North will be at war. Not gonna happen under my watch.
"What? But what about father?" Arya's face immediately fell.
"Meaning we both gonna travel back to Winterfell." Sansa broke in while still hiding away in the darkness trying to fix herself. Not sure what's going on in her mind early this morning. She has woken up, yes?
"All three of us, yes. Though I do have a slightly different plan and if it works then maybe we could take your father with us as well."
"Okay then, let's do that." Arya immediately said, not even waiting for the other option. Shaking my head I just ignored her and turned to Sansa.
"Please be ready to depart within an hour. I'll be here before the sun's out. Make haste and make sure to cover your faces. We don't want anyone seeing you two." I said and was ready to get out when suddenly I heard this.
"Wait..."
"Hmm?" I turned back, seeing Sansa hesitate to complete her sentence.
"Hmm, what... what about my betrothal with Prince Jo..." Sansa said with such a small voice that if this was the noisy morning in King's Landing after the sun came out then none would be able to hear her.
Sansa hesitated for some reason, maybe because seeing this was Thor, her heart wasn't sure what to do. She remembers all her expectations crashing down when in the tourney he made Myrcella the queen of beauty and love.
But she still didn't want to believe that there was no chance, saying Joffrey's name in front of him felt...
"For all intents and purposes my dear, for the time being consider the betrothal called off. Right now going back to the North with our lives is our sole objective." I said and made sure to give Arya a look.
Knowing how horribly foolish Sansa was in her early years, before practically getting raped, I hope that Arya keeps an eye on her. The last thing I wished for was her to run off to the Queen, requesting to stay here in the capital for the purpose of marrying Joffrey and giving him little princes and princesses.
Sighing I saw Arya look back at me then back at Sansa before a look of recognition appeared on her face.
Good, at least there is one Stark who is not an utter dunderhead.
"Be quick." I said and left, now I have to secure a way out of the city for them.
There is none who I can trust in the capital. The only way to really ensure their safety is to take them away from this damn city. But then I won't make it back in time to save that Honorable idiot.
If they are gone then Cersei won't have any leverage to hold against the North, none beside Ned Stark himself, meaning they won't kill him. But that's really stretching it. Even in the original Cersei never intended to kill Stark, she was planning on sending him to the Wall while keeping Sansa as a hostage in King's Landing to deter any war from the North.
But she gave birth to someone like Joffrey. What's stopping him from doing the same here? I have to do something about it. From the Queen sending people after us when we go out and from Joffrey doing something which would throw my plan in a wrench.
For the time being though, I must find Mr. Dancing Master, definitely could use some of his help right now...
---
[North]
Robb Stark rode hard, the cold wind biting at his face as Castle Black came into view. He wasn't alone. Ser Rodrik, Theon, and a dozen Stark men rode with him, all tired but determined. The raven from the Wall had been clear—Bran was found, and the Hound had been captured.
Robb didn't wait. He had to see his brother with his own eyes. It was not just him though, if he didn't come here personally then his mother would and that would have been another fiasco he wanted to avoid if possible.
However, by the time they entered Castle Black's gates, they saw men were running about, shouting orders. Men gathered in groups, whispering with fear on their faces.
"What's happened here?" Ser Rodrik asked a passing man in black. At first the man didn't recognize him but after seeing the House Stark Banners, they immediately straightened up.
The man looked pale. "They're gone," he said.
Robb froze. "What do you mean gone? Who's gone?" A sinking feeling came to him.
"That's..." the man stuttered a little, obviously afraid to say the next thing.
"There was a break-in in the lower cells. When we checked in the morning, the Hound was gone." Suddenly another voice came, they saw it was from an older member of the Night's Watch.
Robb's hands clenched into fists. "What do you mean they?"
He didn't care about the Hound, of course, he wished to see him punished but Bran was who really mattered here.
"The boy is not here anymore..." And then the man said exactly what Robb was fearing.
"We don't have evidence but it has to be the Hound. He must have taken him after breaking out of the cellar."
Everyone in the group stiffened at this, especially Robb who was gritting his teeth, he had ridden day and night, hoping to bring Bran home. And now he was gone again.
Theon swore under his breath. Ser Rodrik looked grim.
"Search the area," Robb ordered. "Talk to everyone. Someone must have seen something."
"Find them."
"We already sent riders, don't worry my lord, they will find the boy."
"They better..."
xxx
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