Chapter 202: Political Marriage
"This girl refused to come see you, saying you 'sold' her because she's suddenly and inexplicably got a fiancé," Egger said as he set Arya down from his shoulder and nudged her toward Robb, pre-emptively lodging his complaint before the girl could speak. "She was even clamoring for me to take her back to Winterfell, threatening to tell everyone I touched her butt if I didn't."
"Heh—" Though her hair had been cropped short, Robb recognized his sister instantly. As the brother who had watched her grow up, he was naturally well-acquainted with her temperament and unhesitatingly chose to believe Egger, the outsider. "Alright now, Arya, I apologize. It was wrong of me to settle this without consulting you. But these are extraordinary times, and this alliance is critical... I promise you, however, that no one will force you to marry just yet."
"Hmph—" Arya dodged Robb's attempt at a hug and ran crossly to a chair. The moment her backside touched the seat, she jumped back up with a wince, turned away with tearful eyes, and refused to look at either of them.
In the original timeline, Catelyn had gone to House Frey to negotiate an alliance at a critical moment when the Northern army desperately needed to move south. To secure the crossing, she had been forced to make many unfavorable concessions—including the conditions that Arya would marry into House Frey and Robb would wed one of Lord Walder's daughters. Now, the plot had changed drastically. Since they were already related by marriage, House Frey had stood firmly with the Northern faction without wavering, consistently charging at the front lines in the campaign against the West...
Furthermore, with their eldest son already a son-in-law to the Freys, it was impossible for House Stark to use either of their two daughters to repeatedly court a house of lower status. For House Frey, an alliance with House Stark was already a step up; one such match was a bargain, and they simply weren't high-born enough to merit a second.
So this time, who would be Arya's betrothed?
As the girl's nominal master, Egger felt a subconscious sense of responsibility toward her. Combined with a touch of gossip and curiosity, he couldn't help but ask the question.
"Harrold Hardyng, Robert Arryn's heir. We all call him 'Harry the Heir,'" Robb replied. It was common knowledge, so there was no reason to hide it. "It was Grandfather Hoster's idea. He wrote to tell me that this would make the triple alliance more secure."
"So it's him," Egger realized.
After Lysa Tully had been sent back to Riverrun due to Egger's note, her sickly, temperamental, and epileptic son Robert Arryn—Ned Stark's nephew—remained the last blood link in the alliance between the Vale, the Wolf, and the Fish. If he were to die, the factual basis for the alliance between the Vale and House Stark would vanish. An alliance built solely on friendship is never stable. Not to mention, powerful lords like Yohn Royce, who were close to the North, had been sent to the Wall by Robert during that recent mutiny.
A marriage between Arya Stark and Harrold Hardyng would ensure that even if the current Lord of the Vale passed away, the future Lady of the Vale would be a Stark... and the Great Alliance of the Wolf, Fish, and Falcon would endure.
Maintaining stability through marriage was Lord Hoster's specialty... and looking at Robert Arryn's frail condition, it was quite possible he would perish before leaving an heir. Under these circumstances, Egger realized he was looking at an extremely serious political marriage. It was no exaggeration to say Arya bore a heavy burden; there was no room for child's play or whimsy.
"A reasonable arrangement," Egger remarked, having understood the stakes. He quickly donned the mask of a kind elder, speaking from the perspective of his apprentice: "However, I believe the young lady has the right to see her fiancé first."
"Naturally. Tell you what—tomorrow I'll find an excuse to call Ser Harrold to the council room downstairs. Arya, you can dress as a squire and get a good look at him then." Robb looked at Arya's tomboyish short hair, knowing there was no way she could have a formal first meeting with her future husband looking like that. "In my personal opinion, Ser Harrold is well-proportioned and quite handsome. Great-Uncle Brynden even says he looks like Lord Jon Arryn in his youth. Based on looks alone, you aren't being slighted at all."
Arya shook her head vigorously. "No! I won't look, I don't care how handsome he is! I just heard the men outside saying he already has several bastards!"
"Bastards..." Robb was momentarily at a loss for words. Having been raised under the influence of his father, Eddard, he naturally viewed this as a stain on one's honor. However, the situation left him no room for such thoughts. "The bastards won't affect... the inheritance rights of your future children to the Vale."
"To hell with his inheritance! Who said I'm having children with him!" Arya stomped her foot, which jarred the spot where she'd been swatted, causing her to wince in pain.
Still swearing, Egger thought irritably, mentally blaming Tyrion for corrupting the girl. He shot Arya a stern look. "You eat the best food, wear the best clothes, have horses to ride when you want to learn horsemanship, and have masters to teach you swordplay. When you cause a massive disaster, I—a supposedly neutral officer of the Night's Watch—risk my life to escort you home. Why? Simply because your name is Stark! Fine then—you're perfectly happy to enjoy the benefits the family provides, but the moment you're required to fulfill your duty to the family, you throw a tantrum and refuse to pay your dues?"
To an adult, these words were reasoned and convincing, but a rebellious child doesn't listen to such logic. "I don't care... anyway... anyway, if you force me to marry him, I'll... I'll kill myself!"
"Arya! What nonsense are you talking!" Robb frowned. However, because he had always doted on his sister, his image in her eyes was fixed; no matter what face he made, he lacked authority. His words carried less weight than Egger's.
"What do you mean 'we' are forcing you..." Egger caught himself, suddenly realizing he shouldn't be meddling in House Stark's internal affairs. If Arya wouldn't accept her family's marriage arrangement, why was it his business as a swordmaster to convince her? It was a classic case of a meddling outsider looking for trouble.
Having grasped the key issue, he didn't hesitate to take his leave of Robb. "Arya has been delivered safely. I'll head down to prepare; I set out for the Golden Tooth tomorrow to take the Kingslayer to the Wall. I ask, my Lord, that you notify the lords along the Kingsroad in advance. I don't want any of the Lannisters' enemies leading troops to maliciously block or attack my column as I head north."
"No problem, I'll write the letters tonight," Robb nodded. "Furthermore, I'll assign a hundred soldiers to you to ensure you and the Kingslayer arrive at the Wall safely."
"That would be for the best. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. You two siblings haven't seen each other in a while; you should talk."
"Mm."
As Egger headed for the door, Arya's complaints echoed behind him: "Why me? What about Sansa! She's older than me, and she loves the idea of getting married! Why can't she be the Lady of the Vale!"
"She is still Joffrey's fiancée. Betrothing her to Harry without a formal dissolution of that contract would be a sign of disrespect. Only after Joffrey takes the black and the engagement is publicly recognized as void can we make other arrangements..."
"What!" Egger jolted and spun around instantly. "Joffrey is taking the black too? You're letting him and the Kingslayer... father and son... reunite at the Wall? Are you not afraid of trouble?"
"All three bastards are on Dragonstone now. Stannis said it was my father's wish... Sigh, as for these matters, I'll let my father decide once I've rescued him from King's Landing." Robb looked helpless as well. Despite his appearance at the council as a composed and steady commander, he was still a teenager. Leading independently for the first time, he was actually quite anxious. After a moment's thought, he called out to Egger again: "Wait, I just remembered. I'm about to lead the army to King's Landing, and it's not safe for Arya to follow me. I don't trust anyone else with her... Since you're heading back to the Wall anyway, why not take Arya back to Winterfell on your way? It saves me from sending another detachment of soldiers to escort her."
"No way! He just hit my butt!"
"Stop being ridiculous, Arya!" After being harassed by his sister's stubbornness for half the day, Robb didn't believe a word she said anymore. His expression turned stern. "Either go back to Winterfell with Egger, or I'll hand you over to your fiancé and let him protect you during the campaign. Choose one!"
Arya pouted and stared at Robb for a while. Seeing no sign of him backing down, she shot a resentful glance at Egger and gave in with a sigh. "Fine. I choose to go home."
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