The midday sun brought a warm temperature, melting away the thin frost on the ground.
Under the gaze of a group of soldiers, officers, and nobles, two young people, one big and one small but bearing a striking resemblance, reunited, adding a touch of warmth to this bloody war.
"Jon!"
"Arya!"
With just one glance, two pairs of grey eyes recognized each other.
Both had changed significantly compared to the other's memories. In Arya's eyes, Jon seemed taller and stronger, his temperament closer to the Eddard Stark in her memories.
In Jon's eyes, Arya had clearly suffered on the road, looking like a scrawny cat.
Despite this, no unfamiliar distance grew between them; their shared blood connected them tightly.
Only when they hugged tightly did everyone realize they both had the trademark long Stark face and grey eyes.
"Arya? Arya Stark, Lord Eddard's youngest daughter?" Beric Dondarrion exclaimed in surprise.
Those witnessing this scene were somewhat incredulous. The news they had received clearly stated Arya was still in King's Landing.
Of course, this was partly because they didn't know Arya. She wasn't some delicate noble lady; she had plenty of means and strength.
Jon hadn't expected to meet her here either. He had thought he might see Arya on his way to King's Landing.
Upon asking, it turned out she had heard news of Jon heading south and slaying The Mountain, so she sped up, heading straight for Harrenhal.
She happened to encounter the Brotherhood Without Banners on the way, leading to this early reunion.
Ultimately, it was because the Eastern Army had Jon. Successive victories prevented Tywin from ravaging the Riverlands at will, giving Arya the chance to bypass the blockade.
Seeing Arya, Ghost also whined and sniffed at her.
His wet tongue licked Arya's face repeatedly, finally revealing the true complexion beneath her dirty face.
Arya was also very happy, hugging Ghost and giggling. But after the joy of reunion passed, Arya remembered she had driven her wolf away, and she was once again enveloped in the grief of losing her father.
"Jon, Father... Father is dead. Joffrey killed him!" Arya buried her head in Jon's chest, her body shaking uncontrollably like a wounded little beast.
"I know, I know, Arya. We will definitely avenge Father! I will kill that bastard Joffrey with my own hands!"
Although Arya was born tough, she was still young. Disguising herself as a boy all the way, she used her belief in revenge to mask the fragility in her heart.
Now seeing Jon, she could no longer hide her emotions. Tears rolled down, soon turning her face into a painted mask again.
The scene before them moved Old York, Sora, and the others deeply.
Before Sora could burst into tears too, Jon asked her to take Arya for a bath and a change of clothes.
After all, having left King's Landing for so long, even the sweetest-smelling noble lady would be sour and stinking by now.
Moreover, Arya was more active than the average boy; Jon even noticed her hair was somewhat matted.
But the sense of security Jon, her big brother, brought her was so comforting that Arya insisted on staying with him a little longer no matter what.
"Good little sister, be obedient. After you wash up, we'll sleep together tonight."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
Watching Arya leave, Jon felt even heavier hearted. He was about to make a big move. With this girl suddenly arriving, Roose Bolton would definitely know. If something went wrong then—
Wait!
Jon suddenly thought of something and turned to Beric Dondarrion beside him.
"Lord Beric, did you encounter a Night's Watchman on the road?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"Where is he now?"
Among the Night's Watch, there were "Wandering Crows" responsible for traveling the Seven Kingdoms to recruit new recruits. Jon had met one when he left Winterfell for the Wall.
That Night's Watchman's name was Yoren. He knew Arya's identity, and Arya escaping King's Landing was largely thanks to him.
When encountering the Westerlands army, despite declaring the Night's Watch's neutrality, he was killed. And his killer was Amory Lorch, whom Jon had captured at the Battle of the Green Fork.
Since Amory was captured, Yoren might have escaped his fate. In fact, Jon didn't care about Yoren, but the Faceless Man Jaqen H'ghar he was escorting!
If he could make a deal with Jaqen, trading a dragon egg for him to eliminate Roose Bolton, it would be a very profitable bargain!
However, faced with Jon's question, Beric looked troubled, as if unsure how to answer. Thoros stepped in to smooth things over.
"Jon, the Night's Watchman you mentioned should be Yoren. He said you are the only deserter he has seen in thirty years. Now that you hold a great army, he didn't want the new Night's Watch recruits to see you and get ideas, so he went straight to Riverrun. We parted ways four days ago."
"I see." Jon nodded, not displeased by this. It seemed the Night's Watch had a big problem with him now.
Unexpectedly, Thoros leaned close to Jon and whispered, "Jon, Yoren doesn't hate you. He said it's truly unfair for a child like you, just come of age, to guard the Wall. To freeze your life at the Wall without seeing or experiencing the world is too cruel."
"Oh?" Thoros's words surprised Jon. He hadn't expected Yoren to be so humane.
Even more humane than Ned. After all, Jon was his sister's orphan, yet he was tossed to the Wall and forgotten? Was that appropriate?
Ned, you are my biological uncle!
Then Thoros spoke again: "By the way, Jon, you haven't slept with a woman yet, have you? I think that maid of yours is quite nice—"
Jon looked Thoros up and down, not expecting this guy to be a lecherous monk.
"My Lord, a letter from Riverrun." In the Kingpyre Tower, the maester delivered a letter. Upon seeing it, a smile appeared on Roose Bolton's lips. He happily handed the letter to his confidant, Bolin.
Bolin read it and also laughed happily: "My Lord, now no one in the army can threaten your position."
It turned out the letter was from Robb. He ordered Jon to hand over command of the army as soon as possible and proceed to Riverrun within half a month to accept Edmure's orders.
As for the troops, Jon could take at most one thousand men.
It seemed Robb knew about Jon refusing Catelyn that day.
Receiving the letter put Roose Bolton in a great mood. "It's said the Brotherhood Without Banners also brought Ned's youngest daughter. Why not let Jon go to Riverrun with her?" Bolin suggested.
"No," Roose Bolton rejected the proposal. "I will see her later to confirm she is really Arya. Then have the maester write to Riverrun, saying we found Arya. Only then will Robb trust us more."
Hearing Roose Bolton's plan, Bolin praised his wisdom.
Roose Bolton stood by the window, overlooking Harrenhal. His window faced directly toward the Tower of Dread where Jon was.
As soon as Jon left, this army of twenty thousand would be under his command. Without Jon leading them, none of those annoying lords would dare disobey his orders.
After a hot bath and changing into clean clothes—though somewhat ill-fitting, with cuffs and pant legs needing to be rolled up—Arya looked much better than in her sour, smelly rags.
Getting close to Jon, she smelled of fresh grass.
Having received Roose Bolton's invitation, Jon took Arya and a dozen guards to the Kingpyre Tower.
"Jon, when are we going to attack King's Landing to avenge Father?" Arya asked seriously on the way.
Jon's hand, calloused from years of gripping a sword, was rough but very warm, making her reluctant to let go.
"Roose Bolton is the army commander. We need to follow his orders.
"Besides, leave avenging Father to me and Robb. Tomorrow I'll send someone to take you to Riverrun. Lady Catelyn should be there too." Jon patted Arya's head as he spoke, naturally meeting fierce opposition.
Jon didn't tell her she had been betrothed to the Freys; otherwise, with her temper, she might run away halfway.
"No!" Arya stomped her foot angrily, then pulled away from Jon to demonstrate her martial skills.
She swung her sword with flair, her steps light and movements agile. She was a natural swordsman.
Setting aside physical strength and stature limitations, she would surely become a top-tier swordsman in the future.
"Look, Jon! This is called Water Dancing. I can kill enemies too!"
Jon glanced at the shortsword in her hand, thinking it might snap if it hit armor. So no matter how much she clamored, Jon wouldn't relent.
After all, sending Arya back to Riverrun could somewhat appease Catelyn and ensure she wouldn't do something stupid like releasing Jaime.
But just then, Arya offered a condition Jon couldn't refuse: "I know a secret passage into the Red Keep!"
"Secret passage?"
Jon stopped in his tracks. The guards behind him also halted, standing alert.
"I know a secret passage, a passage into the Red Keep! I was practicing catching cats that day, and then—" Seeing Jon's reaction, a glint of triumph appeared in Arya's eyes. She vividly described how she accidentally discovered the passage and heard people whispering.
Although she didn't see who it was, she remembered the passage.
"Do you still remember where that secret passage is?" Jon bent down and asked very seriously.
"Of course! I remember it very clearly!" Arya patted her chest, sticking her neck out proudly.
This news excited Jon. If he could master that secret passage, he could control Joffrey and Cersei in the shortest possible time.
Even if the Lannister and Tyrell armies attacked King's Landing, he wouldn't be afraid! Joffrey was the foundation of their alliance; killing him would cause the alliance to disintegrate on its own.
As for Cersei's other two children, Myrcella and Tommen, Jon knew they had been hidden in Rosby before the war started!
Rosby was just a small town, guarded by an old man too frail to run.
Jon was confident he could take Rosby quickly before attacking King's Landing, capturing Myrcella and Tommen.
Now everything was ready except the east wind. As long as he could figure out a way to completely control Roose Bolton, it would be time to march on King's Landing!