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[THE FAR NORTH]
[The Night's Watch camps on the top of a cliff. The wind howls. GRENN, "DOLOROUS" EDDISION TOLLETT and SAMWELL TARLY dig in the snow. GRENN's shovel clangs against something metal. He plants his shovel and starts digging and clearing with his hands. SAM comes over to see. GRENN reveals a round stone cover, engraved with markings.]
"Looks to be from the age of the First Men" Jon noted out loud. "The Far North has a lot of these."
"Have you seen any before?" Shireen asked.
"Not with my eyes but in visisons" Jon Snow stated.
[GRENN lifts the cover and finds a bundle wrapped in a cloak.]
"If you find something you're not supposed to, best thing to do is pretend you've never seen it."
"That's a Night's Watch cloak."
"It's been here a long time."
[GRENN opens the bundle to reveal a set of dragonglass knives.]
Jon's eyes sparked with a knowing curiosity.
"Oh. Must be dragonglass."
"Dragonglass?"
"The maesters call it obsidian."
"Why would a brother hide it here?"
"Because dragonglass can be used to kill the wights" Jon Snow explained when eyes turned to him. "They are fire made earth, much like a Valyrian Sword is fire made Iron."
"And you're telling me there are hidden catches all over the greater North?" Rickard demanded
"The Greater North, possibly even around the Wall. The oldest first might have them if you look closely. Skaagos has their own collection beneath their grounds, as do Dragonstone."
Ned made mental notes of the names. He'll need to think of ways to get them to the Watch and arm them.
[HARRENHAL COURTYARD]
[ARYA carries a yoke with two buckets of water. She bumps into a Lannister soldier, and the contraption falls, spilling her load. The SOLDIER smacks her across the head. ARYA looks dejected and crouches to pick up the empty bucket. A SOLDIER stops next to her.]
"I'm sorry. I'll-"
[ARYA stands, and realized that it is JAQEN H'GHAR.]
Catelyn released a breath she was holding. Never in her life did she imagine a faceless man would bring her comfort.
"Where were you?!"
"A man has patrol duty."
"Tywin Lannister was right here, and now he's gone."
"You should have given his name before Lorche" Oberyn shook his head with disgust. They were close to getting rid of that man, and the child let it slip.
"A girl owes one more name. The Red God demands it. Give the man a name."
"How long after I give you the name does it take you to kill someone?"
"A minute, an hour, a month. Death is certain, the time is not."
"Which is odd when you consider that this Jaqen listened to Arya and killed Amory Lorche in haste. Efficiently done, but quicker than expected" Doran pointed out.
"Why did he do that?" Daenerys asked.
"That I can't tell" Doran sighed. Faceless men were a mystery, everything about them was a mystery.
[JAQEN puts down his helmet and sits.]
"He's taking his army to attack my brother. I need him dead right now."
"This a man cannot do."
"Why not?!" Oberyn asked in outrage. The man owed the Stark girl a death! Why not Tywin?!
"Perhaps it can't be done right now?" Elia guessed.
"You promised you'd help me."
"Help was not promised, lovely girl. Only death. There must be others. Give a name anyname"
"Well there goes that thought" Elia muttered. "Why won't he kill Tywin Lannister?"
"Perhaps he has an understanding with Tywin in some manner" Daenerys suggested.
"No, the faceless men do not have an understanding with anyone but death" Oberyn clicked his tongue in distaste.
"Perhaps we keep watching and find out" Doran pointed out.
"All right. Jaqen H'ghar."
Everyone was shocked at the name, even Arya in the hall.
"A girl gives a man his own name?"
"That's right."
"Gods are not mocked. This is no joking thing."
"I'm not joking. A man can go kill himself."
"Un-name me."
"No."
"Please?"
"I'll un-name you. If you help me and my friends escape."
"This would require more than one life. This is not part of our bargain."
"Fine, Jaqen H'ghar."
"A girl lacks honour. If I do this thing, a girl must obey."
"A girl will obey."
"Interesting" Oberyn muttered. The faceless man seemed to have taken an interest in the Stak girl. Only that would explain why the man was so lenient with her.
[KING'S LANDING, CERSEI'S CHAMBERS]
[PODRICK PAYNE pours wine for TYRION, who is seated at a table. QUEEN CERSEI LANNISTER stands in the background. TYRION removes his napkin from his neck and wipes his face.
"Excellent lamprey pie. Were you slaving away in the kitchen all day? I hear Joffrey plans on fighting. An inspiration for the troops. The young king in his shining armour fighting to defend the capital against the wicked old rebel."
"He's only a boy."
Brandon snorted. Women of the South were too soft with their children. If it were his mother she'd have sent him without any doubts.
"Younger boys are off fighting his war."
"He's not ready."
"If he is not ready at that age, I question the Master at Arms you have at the capital" Olenna Tyrell stated snidely.
"It's less about the Master at Arms and more about Cersei not allowing Joffrey to learn properly. Any injury done was punished severely, so people did not try to fight properly in training with him" Jaime explained with a sigh. He had once tried to talk about this with his sister, but Cersei had shut him up with choice words.
"Stupid woman" Olenna grunted and Brandon smiled.
Perhaps Brandon had been too hasty in judging all the women in the South,
"What is he, seventeen? Remember Jaime at seventeen?"
"Better than you. Some men have a gift for this sort of thing, some don't. His place is not on the battlefield."
"It's not on the throne, either, sadly for all of us."
"You are too carefree about what you say or how you act. Your sister hates you, and your nephew, the King, despises you. You won't be hand for long and I don't think your father would still have a hand out to help you" Elia pointed out grimly.
"I always find a way to save myself, worry not Princess" Tyrion smiled tightly.
"You shipped off my only daughter. And now you want to send my eldest son to the battlefield to die."
"He'll have his Kingsguard protecting him. He has the finest armour gold can buy. He needs to be out there. The men will fight more fiercely seeing their king fighting beside them instead of hiding behind his mother's skirts. Any dessert?"
"Do you know why Varys is so dangerous?"
"I am flattered she thinks so" Varys muttered.
"Because he has thousands of spies in his employ. Because he knows everything we do before we do it."
"Because he doesn't have a cock."
"I am certain Lord Tyrion's assessment is a better one" the Master of Spies muttered, perhaps he would have been a little insulted by Cersei's assessment before but now that he has his cock he doesn't feel the sting anymore.
"Neither do you."
"Perhaps I'm dangerous, too."
Tyrion snorted.
"You, on the other hand, are as big a fool as every other man. That little worm between your legs does half your thinking."
Tyrion scratched his head, unsure of what to say.
"Well... she's something" Tyrion finally muttered, to the amusement of his brother and mother.
[CERSEI laughs and sits]
"Because I have your little whore."
"I thought you preferred blondes."
"Such a droll little fellow. Tell me, have you married this one yet? No? Good. Father will be so pleased."
"I'm sure him learning of who you fuck will please him so" Tyrion muttered darkly. He wasn't angry that she'd found a person his future self cared for, he was angry Cersei thought herself clever enough to think she could walk away from this with no repercussions. If she was here he'd kill her for sure. He'd had enough of the woman.
"Why do you care who I fuck?"
"Because a Lannister always pays her debts. You stole my only daughter, you plot to have Joffrey killed."
"This is madness. Stannis will be here in days. You need me."
"For what? Your skill in battle?"
"That idiot would rather give leadership to some imbecile like her son than trust me to protect them all" Tyrion fumed.
"You didn't leave her much choice" Myrcella pointed out. "You sent me away without telling her about it directly. She has no reason to trust you."
Tyrion's brows furrowed.
"Pretty thing, your whore. Lovely body. The bruises will heal in time."
"Where did you find her?"
"Varys isn't the only one who hears whispers. Really, a Lannister lion necklace? You need to hide your secret whores more carefully."
Jaime raised a brow.
"You're an idiot," Joanna said blandly, unimpressed by her youngest.
Tyrion for his part lowered his head to hide the blush. He was an idiot.