Chapter 544

"Lord Commander… Lord Commander! Bad news—Miss Arya attempted to assassinate the Queen! The Unsullied have arrested her!"

"Pffft— what?" Aegor had been eating breakfast when the news hit him so hard that he spat out the half-chewed food back onto his plate. "When did this happen? Where is she now?"

Robb Stark was on his way to Winterfell, leading four Northern houses to formally swear fealty to Daenerys. He’d arrive no later than the day after tomorrow. If he returned home only to find his little sister locked up as a would-be assassin, what would he think? What would he do?

This was no coincidence. Varys had orchestrated this—he had to have.

"Just now! You told us to keep an eye out for anything unusual, so the moment someone saw it happen, they came to report to me. I think she’s been taken to the Queen—she’s in the guest hall."

"That damned eunuch." Aegor’s fury ignited instantly. He shot to his feet, slamming his fist against the table so hard that the plates and cutlery rattled. The soldiers around him, still eating, jumped at the sudden outburst.

"Take me to her!"

He stormed toward the door, not even bothering to grab his coat before pushing into the freezing wind. His sheer urgency was infectious—so much so that even soldiers who weren’t on duty that day abandoned their meals, grabbed their weapons, and rushed to follow him.
----


Since securing Winterfell and welcoming Daenerys, Aegor had deliberately kept a low profile. He had reined in his pride, suppressed the arrogance that came with command. Around the Queen, Baelish, and Varys, he had tread carefully, making sure not to appear too bold or threatening.

But this time—this time, Varys had crossed the line.

No matter how much he downplayed himself, no matter how much he deferred to authority, the Gifted Lands army was the most powerful military force in the Seven Kingdoms right now. And he was the de facto ruler of everything north of the Neck.

For the Spider to dare pull something like this, on his land, against someone he cared about?

Unforgivable.

Aegor was a patient man. It took a lot to truly provoke him. But Varys had succeeded.

He could use Arya to spy on her father’s thoughts. He could manipulate her to twist her brother into knots. He could strip her down and whip her raw if he had to.

But no one—no one—laid a finger on her without consequence.

There was no reason for it. He simply wouldn’t allow it.

He had been running on fumes the past few days, working late into the night to ensure the upcoming fealty ceremony for the Northern lords went smoothly. He’d been so exhausted that, just minutes ago, he could barely keep his eyes open over breakfast.

Now? He was wide awake.

Fueled by rage.

Boiling with murderous intent.

All thoughts of patience, of careful maneuvering—gone. As he stormed toward the Queen’s chambers, his mind spun with violent imaginings of tearing Varys limb from limb. He was so consumed by these thoughts that he barely noticed the Unsullied spears pointed at his face.

Leading fifty armed men straight toward the Queen’s quarters in a battle-ready formation—it looked like a coup. A full-blown mutiny.

It was no wonder the Unsullied on guard had reacted as if they were under attack.

"What are you doing?" Aegor snapped back to his senses, scowling as he turned to the men behind him. He waved a hand, issuing immediate orders. "Anyone not on duty disperse at once. Those on duty, wait for me outside."

The soldiers, most of whom had simply been caught up in the heat of the moment, hesitated—then obeyed. The crowd broke apart, leaving only a handful of actual guards stationed outside.

Only then did the Unsullied lower their spears and permit Aegor to enter.
----


The Queen’s audience chamber wasn’t large, and with at least thirty people inside—including Unsullied, handmaidens, and court officials—the space was stifling.

Daenerys sat calmly at the front in her high-backed chair. To her left stood Missandei. To her right, Varys.

And in the center of the room, surrounded by prying eyes, was Arya Stark.

She stood in the exact same spot where, just two days ago, Bolton men had been whipped bloody—like a criminal on display.

But to Aegor’s relief, Petyr Baelish was already there. He had a firm grip on Arya’s arm, likely to keep her from mouthing off or doing something reckless.

Aegor pushed his way through the crowd, forcibly tamping down his fury as he stepped into the circle, taking position on Arya’s other side.

Flanking her, one on each side, he and Petyr formed a protective wall.

He bowed slightly to the Queen. "Good morning, Your Grace… Now, would someone please tell me what, exactly, is happening here?"

"You don’t need to pretend to care!" Arya snapped instinctively, still bitter over his betrayal of the North.

"Enough." Aegor turned and glared at her, lowering his voice to a warning growl.

He was yelling at her?

She was already upset—already furious—but something about his tone, his sheer presence, made her breath hitch.

Her pulse quickened. Her body tensed. Her legs ached—as if the bruises from her last punishment had been reawakened by his command alone.

She wasn’t stupid. She knew she was in danger. And Aegor… Aegor was trying to protect her.

So she huffed, grumbled under her breath, and fell silent.

The shift in power was tangible.

For the first time, the gathered courtiers saw a side of Aegor they hadn’t before. Until now, he had been known as a businessman, a warrior. But now—now—they saw something else.

The way he positioned himself in front of Arya. The way he bristled like a wolf protecting its cub. The way he radiated a quiet, simmering threat.

A beast guarding its own.

After a brief silence, Missandei stepped forward. "Lord Aegor, the Lady Stark was seen wandering the castle with this weapon." She raised the object in question.

Aegor immediately recognized it.

It was Needle.

The very sword he had let her keep.

Had she truly planned to assassinate Daenerys?

As if sensing his suspicion, Arya scoffed. "Wandering? I was just getting some air on top of the library tower!"

Varys, ever-smiling, shook his head. "Lady Stark, forgive me, but carrying a weapon through the castle at a time like this is… unwise."

"Shut your mouth, Lord Varys." Aegor cut him off coldly.

The room froze.

Aside from Robert Baratheon, no one had ever spoken to Varys like that.

Daenerys, intrigued, straightened in her chair. "The soldiers who detained Lady Stark are here. Let them explain."

An Unsullied soldier named Black Shell stepped forward.

"You took Arya from the library tower?" Aegor asked.

"Yes."

"The tower is two hundred feet from this hall, with no direct access between them. Why did you think she was a threat?"

"Because she was carrying a blade and had a view of the Queen’s quarters."

"And how did you even see her from the ground?"

"I didn’t. Mizerdan told me."

Aegor smirked. His eyes flickered to Varys, predatory.

He didn’t know who this “Mizerdan” was, but he knew how the Spider worked.

The Queen had no real intention of treating Arya as an assassin. But Aegor wasn’t here to defend her life.

No.

He was here to demand justice.