New students start from 'Game of Thrones'

Chapter 17 Bloodshed

By the time Owen and Harris finished patrolling the entire camp, dusk had begun to fall. On their way back, Owen noticed a commotion in the direction of the king's camp. His senses were sharper than most, and he could faintly make out voices drifting over.

"The prince is hurt..."

In an instant, Owen remembered he hadn't seen Arya or Sansa all afternoon while patrolling outside the camp.

"Harris, did you see Lady Arya or Lady Sansa this afternoon?" Owen spun around, urgency in his voice.

"No, I didn't. Why? What's wrong?" Harris asked, confused.

"We're in trouble. Go back to the camp immediately and tell Lord Eddard—Arya might be in danger. If Lord Eddard isn't there, find Lady Sansa first and get her to safety. Then locate Lord Eddard and have him send men to secure our camp," Owen said, his face grave.

"What about you?" Harris pressed, alarmed by Owen's seriousness.

"I'm going to find Arya," Owen replied. He sprinted back to his tent, donned his chainmail, then layered his leather-faced iron armor and iron bracers over it. Grabbing his longbow and quiver, he hesitated—then slung two extra quivers over his back, anticipating trouble. He raced to the stables, saddled his horse, and galloped out of the camp toward the Trident's banks.

"Lord Eddard! Lord Eddard!" Harris rushed into Eddard's tent, following Owen's orders.

"What is it, Harris?" Eddard was inside, thankfully. He looked up, startled by the guard's urgency.

"Lord Eddard—something's happened at the king's camp. Owen sent me to warn you: Lady Arya might be in danger. He told me to find Lady Sansa and protect her, too. Owen's already ridden out to look for Arya," Harris reported, breathless.

Eddard's face darkened. He sat in silence for a moment, then said, "Do as Owen ordered. Find the septa—ask if Sansa's back. If not, take men to the king's camp and get her. If anyone tries to stop you, say it's by my command. Bring her to me at once."

"Yes, my lord!" Harris saluted, then ran to the nearby carriage and banged on the door.

"Septa! This is Harris, Lord Eddard's guard. Is Lady Sansa inside?" he called out.

The septa heard the commotion, glanced at Sansa, then opened the door.

"What's the matter? Sansa's here," the septa said, looking at Harris.

"Septa—Lord Eddard wants to see Lady Sansa," Harris said politely.

"Very well. I'll bring her," the septa replied. She took Sansa—who looked pale and flustered—by the hand, and the two walked into Eddard's tent.

"Lord Eddard, Lady Sansa is here," Harris announced, stepping aside.

"Sansa, tell me. What happened this afternoon?" Eddard asked, his voice stern.

Sansa stared at him, trembling. After a long pause, she finally stammered out the story of what had happened by the river.

Eddard's expression grew even grimmer. He paced the tent, stroking his beard, deep in thought.

Finally, he turned to Sansa, his tone serious. "This is about your sister's life, Sansa. If the king or queen asks you about it, you must tell them the truth. Do you understand?"

"But Arya hurt the prince! It's her fault!" Sansa cried, her mind still fixed on how Joffrey—her beloved prince—might blame her for Arya's actions.

Eddard stared at her in shock, at a loss for words.

"Lord Eddard, a messenger from the king has arrived. He wants you to bring Lady Sansa to the king's tent," Vayon Poole said, lifting the tent flap and stepping inside.